The Pacifier Mystery Solved!

The days are getting shorter, I'm going to have to find somewhere in my house to start taking my pictures. Usually I take pictures after work, pretty soon it's going to be dark when I leave and when I get home, sigh.

It seems almost impossible that I haven't put this outfit together. So simple on these hot days. I went to Payless to pick up a pair of their Defelex Comfort shoes (and yes they are super mega comfortable) in nude and the sales lady said...I never would have thought to put that turquoise color with purple/blue. Well thank you!

When walking out the door for work, instead of grabbing my jean jacket, I decided to grab this blazer. Not sure if I totally like it, but I'm leaning towards the I like camp right now.

Now onto some random things.


Remember how I told you I was watching this show? Well how perfect was it that Alfonso did the "Carlton" on Dancing with the Stars this week. Made my week.

I'm so ready for cooler weather. I seriously feel like we've been in a constant Spring/Summer mode for the last two years. Last year it rained maybe 3 times and all of our flowers were blooming in March! Seriously? We've had in the 90° weather for the last week or so. We're supposed to be getting a "cold front", you know 80° weather for a few days before it goes back up. This happens every October, why am I always surprised?

I found out this week there can be too many raisins in Raisin Bran. This is the best one out there, they are small little flakes that are chewy and delicious! But every once in a while we get a box where the raisin machine must have had a freak out and dumped 2-3 boxes worth of raisins in...I love raisins, but 10 raisins on each bite is a bit much.

We've had the case of the missing pacifiers. Slowly but surely all of Mini Fox's pacifiers were disappearing. It was like the mystery of the socks in the dryer...couldn't figure out where they were going. Well turns out Little Miss, was throwing them behind her crib...we found 11 back there. LOL, sneaky girl. Mr. retrieved them on Friday and guess what? This morning she was back down to 4...silly girl. At least we don't have to keep buying new ones...just move the crib. haha.

 Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy, Tucker Up

Things I Shouldn't Be Afraid of But Am

I have a lot of irrational fears. Sometimes I just want to scream at myself, like get it together! These are so silly...but none the less, they're fears, and here they are. In no particular order, and I hope we can still be friends after you really find out about what a freak I am.

1.

Back when I first got married, Mr. and I would always watch scary movies. I like being scared, I didn't mind them, but then slowly I started having more nightmares and we decided it was best if we stopped watching scary movies and just like that the nightmares almost ended. Unless I watch something scary, and then all bets are off. That being said The Grunge shower scene. You know what I'm talking about. When SMG is washing her hair and suddenly she feels hands on the back of her head...yea, I haven't seen that movie since the movie theater, and it still haunts me. For a few months after that, I sort of would have a 2 second freak out.

2.

Closing my eyes in the shower. Seems weird right? But in my head, some serial killer is going to come into my bathroom, knife and music going (you know the music I'm talking about)...ready to kill me...but if I keep my eyes open...then they won't come right?

Apparently I have shower issues.

3. 

Stepping on a lizard/bug/snail while taking the garbage out at night. This hasn't happened to me, but doesn't prevent me from freaking out. I should just turn on the light, but usually I just hop a few steps, throw out the garbage, then hop a few steps back. Less steps means less chance to step on one right? Note: I think this fear steams from the fact that while in college and I was walking home from class one day, I step on what I thought was a rock, but when I turned around to look, it was a baby frog...suffice to say those sandals went into the trash.

4.

I once heard about this apartment in NYC where someone found  freaking snake in their toilet. I guess it had gotten out of it's cage, and went into the toilet and was just roaming around in the pipes and popped up in some random person's toilet...so I always look, ALWAYS...

5.

I'm afraid of the ocean. The part where it's not light blue, but super dark blue. That part, terrifies me. When we went scuba diving, the only thing getting me through it, holding Mr.'s hand (yep under water) and thinking, I can swim faster then that girl over there...haha. But in general if I can't see the bottom I won't go in it. Even in the wake of the wave, when I'm just up to my ankles, nope, won't do it.

This is a picture from our honeymoon...see the light blue around the huts, that is barely acceptable, I can see the bottom and it's about chest deep. That really dark blue (where the boat is), that's not okay to swim in, really deep and you never know what could swim up from the bottom and get ya.
 

From our honeymoon in Bora Bora, we took a helicopter ride and this was one of the first pictures we took. This is the hotel we stayed at (the helicopter picked us up from our hotel, cause we're fancy like that...no really, it's a super small island where each hotel is basically it's own island. The center island being the "mainland" and where all the shops/restaurants are located,  and I'm fairly certain all of the hotels probably have a place for helicopters to land...)

 The above picture was the only acceptable picture, the others...they just freaked me out just looking them up, didn't want them on the blog forever. haha...

So make me feel better, what are your irrational fears?

 

 

After 5 Years....and some Weekend Stuff

I was itching to get out and start shopping for the Fall Challenge (not too late to sign up*, do it!). Anyway, I really wanted to take advantage of Target's Cartwheel, so I asked Baby Fox if he wanted to go to Target with me. He always loves going to Target, mostly because he probably gets a toy every time he goes. Anyway, I told Mr. that I thought tonight would be a good night to have just us to go dinner. So Baby Fox and I went to Target and then went out to dinner at Cheesecake Factory. It was great just spending some time with him.

It's blurry, but I don't care

He's put bread in his mouth for a smile...he's such a boy!

When we got home, put Baby Fox and Mini Fox to bed, I wasn't sleepy (it was 9pm), but Mr. was, so off to bed he went and I stayed up and watched Star Dust and this: I haven't watched one of these episodes in forever!

Saturday morning we took Baby Fox to get a much needed haircut. At first he was super hesitant and crying, but then realized it didn't hurt to get your haircut.

And then he realized he wasn't going to get a toy for getting his hair cut, cue, end of the world type crying.

We went to Whole Foods afterwards to pick up some food...Mini Fox's first time in a cart.

She was doing pretty good, until she decided to turn around.

I've been wanting to hand this picture for 5 years, yes we've lived in our house for 5 years, and Mr. finally hung it. I love it!

Mini Fox was sleeping, what better time to take a selfie?

Finally finding a spot to hang some more pictures. So happy to finally have some stuff on the walls. We spent so much time patching holes and painting it was hard to put more holes in the walls, but it felt good, and I might go on a picture hanging craze.

Saturday night we went to my Aunt and Uncle's for dinner. It was yummy and my sister was there, always a good time.

They were the only kids there, so we brought a movie for Baby Fox to watch.

This girl finished before everyone, and played nicely with this while we all finished dinner

We spent the night at my Aunt and Uncle's, and let me tell ya, Mini Fox is a loud sleeper and she sucks her pacifier all night long...

Taking a walk to the park before it got too hot.

Whenever Mini Fox was on Mr.'s shoulders, Mini Fox would pull his hair, Mr. told her not to pull on his hair and that it hurt, so her solution, is to just not hold on at all...talk about giving Mama a heart attack, but somehow she stays on and has a smile on her face the whole time.

On our drive home, we saw a clown car..litterally, a guy dressed up like a clown in a car that said clown car on it. You can't really tell, in this picture, but this guy has a little tiny hat on his bald head...things you see in LA.

While the kids were sleeping I decorated our mantle for Halloween.  Yep our family room has a bunch of toys everywhere, Mom Life...

He's smiling...

She's smiling...which do I pick? Both...

To end the day we talked with Grandma for a bit.

It was a good weekend, so far next weekend we have NOTHING planned...yay! But I'm sure we'll find some trouble to get into though...haha.

How was your weekend?

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Heather for Mommy Moments

and with Bella & Lisa
*this is an affiliated link and I will get referral money

Friday Favorites #7

Yay, it's Friday! We made it, and with it comes some favorites. Here are mine for the week.

1.

I saw this commercial this week, I seriously love the Esurance commercials, they crack me up. Best line in this one: "Three in a row... sweeeeet, Level 2!"

Anyone else love their commercials? Yes I still watch commercials, sometimes when I'm hitting forward I see something that catches my eye and I stop, rewind and watch it.

'

2. 

Mini Fox is so close to walking. Baby Fox keeps telling us that she walks, but as soon as well look over she sits down...I think she's just practicing in private so that when she does debut her new skill, she'll be able to run. We're in trouble now!

3.

I love how much the kids love each other. Mini Fox walked up to Baby Fox to give him a little snuggle

4. 

Sneak Peak into our Halloween Costumes. See previous years here, here and here.
Can you guys guess what Mr. and I are going to be?

I think the pacifier makes Mini Fox's costume don't you?

 5.

You know when your hair starts to feel super heavy and just sort of icky from using too much shampoo and conditioner and hair products? Use this stuff. It's the most awesome stuff EVER! You just wash your hair with this, don't use any conditioner though. After you get out of the shower dry your hair, your hair is going to feel light, and it's going to be SO, SO soft, it almost feels like you've gone to a salon, no joke! Seriously, it's the best thing you can do to just refresh your hair. I use it every month or so, just depending on how I feel. It's only $6ish at Target, so what does it hurt to try it out. If you do, let me know how you like it. Everyone that I've recommended it to, loves it too.

5.5

Don't forget to "vote" (click like) for Baby Fox! Click the link and then click like (they just screen grabbed my IG account, so you have to click like on the FB picture. Please, please please with a cherry on top? I'd forever be grateful!

https://www.facebook.com/lmualumni/photos/a.10152275448980957.1073741827.175517010956/10152275449730957/?type=3&permPage=1 or click here 

For Mini Fox  https://www.facebook.com/lmualumni/photos/a.10152275448980957.1073741827.175517010956/10152275449730957/?type=3&permPage=1
or here

 Hope you have a great weekend! We're going to my Aunt and Uncle's again to eat the most delicious spaghetti you'll ever eat. Maybe I'll even remember to take a picture...probably not though, I'll be too busy stuffing my face!

 
Linking up with: Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites, September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday, April, Darci, Natasha and Christina for Five on Friday and Lauren for High Five for Friday 

What's In My Diaper Bag

Another round of the One Year and Beyond Series. I'm so excited to be back with these lovely ladies and to hear what they have to say. Click here to find links to all of my previous topics (scroll to the bottom). This series first topic is: What are your favorite diaper bag* essentials?

*this is actually the exact diaper bag my In-Laws got me when I was pregnant with Baby Fox, best birthday gift and totally unexpected (at the time I didn't even know Coach had diaper bags)

I guess I'll do it in list format, here it goes (wait.... first, Baby Fox is fully potty trained, I'll talk about that later)

Diapers - Duh. We like to have both the regular ones and I almost always have 1 over night diaper, just in case we're late coming home and want to get the kids ready for bed.

Clothes - I try to have at least one onesie for Mini Fox and an extra pair of underwear and shorts/pants for Baby Fox (I don't need this any more, but when we were first potty training, I would have 2 pairs of everything for him, super annoying. If we went through both extra pairs, it meant we had to go home, lucky it never happened)

Snacks - My kids aren't really snackers, but depending on where we go, I'll have some cherries or raisins in a baggie. Baby Fox thinks he's hot stuff when he has a baggie. Note: When we introduced the snack cup to Baby Fox, he did not get it! At all...so we gave up and now that he's 3.5 he totally gets it...haha.

Wipes - A must and multipurpose thing. 

Hand Sanitizer - For those times that we don't have a bathroom nearby.

Camera - I try to use my point and shoot camera. This is the one I have, and LOVE! It takes quick pictures and you can adjust the setting like a DSLR, but it's the size of a point and shoot. Love it.

Water Bottles - For both me and the kids. If Baby Fox sees my water, he immediately wants one to, so I've just learned to bring his own. This is similar to the one we have:

Before Mini Fox came, it got the point where I actually got to carry around a big purse. I would throw my water bottle, his water bottle,  1 diaper, a small pack of wipes, my phone, wallet and camera and I would be out the door, it was awesome.

I think that less is better. Most of the toys they play with are in the car, so I hardly ever put them in the diaper bag, if they want something then we grab something from the car. Yes, it makes my car messy. I pick my battles :)

What's in your diaper bag?

Now with two kids, for about 2.5 months I had to have two size diapers, that was annoying, but I would put one size diaper on the inside pocket of one side of the diaper bag, and the other size in the other side. 

Mini Fox needs a pacifier, so I try to have one of those in the diaper bag too, but I feel pacifiers are like lost socks in the dryer, you'll have 10 one day and the very next day you're down to 1, where do they all go?!

Side Story: When we took Baby Fox to his very first doctors appointment (you know a day or two after going home from the hospital) I totally forgot the diaper bag. It just didn't occur to me to bring it, and of course we get there and they tell us to take off his clothes and we realize he's pooped...we have no diaper bag and no wipes! Luckily the doctors office had a REALLY big diaper and some wipes we could use, and at the time he had just been circumcised and we needed to do the whole Vaseline/gauze thing and of course that stuff was in the diaper bag...at home. The nurse had some gauze and I happened to have some Vaseline in my purse that I like to use instead of chapstick. It all worked out in the end, but I was kicking myself for not remembering...

 What are your favorite toddler diaper bag essentials?  Check out the other mama's blogs for even more ideas!  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this. 

The Not Quite Military Wife// Like a Morning Cup of Coffee//  Meet the Sullivan's

 From Here to Eternity//  Pig and Dac//   Everyday Love

A Cowboy's Life// Life of Faith//  Foxy's Domestic Side//  My Delicious Adventure

Oct 2:     Toddler Diaper Bag Essentials 

Oct 9:     Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

Oct 16:   Busy Toddler Activities

Oct 23:   Keeping in Shape While Caring for a Toddler

Oct 30:   Sick Day Tips

Nov 6:    How to Not Lose Your Patience with your Toddler

Nov 13:  Favorite Toddler Outings

An InLinkz Link-up

Feathers and Flowers

I've had this skirt from Loft for a while now, but have never paired it like this before. I'm not entirely sure the scarf goes, but it was comfy and I didn't feel like wearing a necklace, ever feel like that? But I like how the skirt seems like polka dots from afar, but in reality they are little feathers (or what looks like feathers?)

Today is the second to last day to sign up* for the Fall Style Challenge, come join me and 600+ women. Learn more about it here.

*this is an affiliated link and I will get referral money

Some Randoms:

1.

Remember how I told you I went to my college for an Alumni BBQ? Well they are having a photo contest. I would be forever grateful if you guys could just click the link and like the picture via your FB account. It's that easy, no signing up, nothing. I win a giftcard to Amazon. The top 4 spots win, currently I am 5th and 6th...thanks guys, you are the best! I have until October 6th. Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/lmualumni/photos/a.10152275448980957.1073741827.175517010956/10152275449760957/?type=3&theater

and this is the picture I submitted for Baby Fox

 Mini Fox also got some action, here's her link:

https://www.facebook.com/lmualumni/photos/a.10152275448980957.1073741827.175517010956/10152275449760957/?type=3&theater

and her picture I submitted

2.

We're all set for Halloween at our house, okay we have the outfits and no decorations, but the cute outfits are what counts right?

I love that they are matching. I was going to get Mini Fox a pink pair, but Baby Fox insisted that they match.

3.

Finally Mr. is on board with online shopping obsession, habit love. This makes me so excited, he finally understands. He's been buying a ton of polo shirts trying to figure out a brand that fits him. We've found a few new brands to add to the list, he says that shopping online and getting that little email that says your package is on the way, is like Christmas everyday. Yes he's been getting packages almost everyday.

4.

Love taking him on errands and letting him do stuff like this. He loves it and it gets him to go with me on errands. It's really sad, this mall we went to is in the process of getting a make over, but first they need to get rid of a lot of the tenants, so half of the stores are closed and there hasn't been a food court since we moved here 5 years ago. Hopefully whatever/whenever they upgrade it, it makes this place awesome, it's so close to our we could walk...although right now, there aren't any of my stores in it that I shop at, so I guess that's a good thing.

Such a boy, going the hard way in - through the window of course.

5.

Taylor & Helene are doing a Blogtober14, while I can't promise I can do it everyday...I will participate when I can. 

  
Today's prompt: If I'd won the lottery I would...I'm going to go ahead and assume it's in the millions, like take home of at least 10 million (you know after those pesky taxes and stuff I want at least 10 million), hehe

• Pay off our house
• Put money away for our kids college fund
• Get new cars
• Travel the world...once the kids get a little older (hey I'm realistic), traveling across the world with a 4 year old and 1 year old? No thanks, plus they're not going to remember, we have to at least start doing this cool stuff when they can remember
• In the mean time, we'll just go to Hawaii, and go skiing/snowboarding in cool places. I want to snowboard at Whistler, ski in/ski out lodging a must, obviously.
• But some rental properties, might as well have our money make money for us.  
• Quit my job, but still keep our daycare situation :) 
• Since I don't have a job, find a philanthropy that speaks to my heart.

What would you do with 10 million? 

 Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy, Tucker Up and Greater Than Rubies
 

Lies

Last night Baby Fox told his first straight up lie. Like the kind where he looked me in the eye and just lied to me. I believed him, he's never lied before so I had no reason not to believe him. Until later in the night when I caught him in the lie.

We were getting ready for bed and I asked him if had brushed his teeth, he said yes...I gave him the side eye and he even went as far as to do the breath check. I said I don't know...he said, I did. I said okay. Then about 15 minutes later when bed time was fast approaching, he yells out, I have to brush my teeth. Caught! I said you said you and Daddy already brushed your teeth, he said he didn't. I looked at Mr., he said he didn't. I was disappointed. I was crushed that somehow my kid learned how to lie. Is this preschool? Do the other kids in preschool do this? We sat down, I looked him in the eye, told him what lying is and why it is wrong. I'm not sure it sunk it. I hope something sunk in. I don't want to always be second guessing his answers.

Where did my little boy go and when did he learn how to lie? Mr. says it's part of growing up, and that kids lie and not to worry about it too much...

What is your experience with your kids? Any advice?