Happy Halloween - Favorite Edition

Friday! Yay, not feeling much better, but you know what? It's Halloween, how can we not go out and have some fun?! I'm just hoping when the littles wake up they're feeling a bit better too.

Happy Halloween Friends! Onto Friday Favorites!

I realized that I haven't shown you my sparse Halloween decorations.

I've gathered these things over the years, mostly from Home Goods, gotta love that place! But this is the first time I've actually decorated my mantle for Halloween, not sure why I haven't in the past, it was fun having this up for October!

That picture frame...empty all month long, lazy, lazy, lazy...maybe now that I'm going to be packing it up, I'll put one in for next year.

 

My Monster Wreath, I love this guy and Mini Fox absolutely adores him and loves kissing and batting at his face.

 

My nails are all ready to go for tonight.

These are Jamberry nails and this is day 10 with them on. Not too bad right? The first time I did them I was sort of iffy on them, but now after trying them again, I really like them. I would definitely use these if I was going on vacation for 2 weeks and wanted something that lasts. I don't really like the gel polish only because it's hard to get off and I don't have time to go back to a salon to get them taken off or have the time to do it at home. These are a good alternative. This second time I feel like I put them on better and now 2 weeks later they are still pretty good.

Pumpkin carving, my Dad was supposed to watch the kids while I went to the gym, but things happened and I couldn't go, but my Dad had this pumpkin carving activity already planned, so he came over anyway.

Such concentration!

Red Power Ranger reporting for pumpkin duty

When it was all said and done, and we lite it up, Baby Fox freaked out and said, that's what it looks like? I don't like it! And went running.

 

 

 

I love that we found some friends to celebrate the holidays with. Our 4th year together, times go fast, I want to cherish every moment with these guys.

 

2011

 

3 kids 

Apparently us Mom's didn't get a picture with the kids

 

2012

 

4 kids

 

2013

 

5 kids

One of them was sleeping in the stroller

 

2014

 

6 kids, funny enough each one of us had a boy and a girl combo. Random.

Only one of the kids was missing, would rather play with the hay than take a picture, hehe

 

 

I know you guys are dying to find out what we are going to be for Halloween, well wait no further...

Get it, the kids are super heroes (fighting crime one bad guy at a time) and the we're the bank robbers

It's actually supposed to rain tonight, no rain for almost a year and it decides to come on Halloween, whatever we'll still have fun and bring it on rain!

One more just for fun.

 

When we took Mini Fox to the pumpkin patch last weekend, she basically had the same reaction to hay that Baby Fox did...these make me laugh.

2011

 

Definitely siblings, hopefully next year will be better. And we even put a blanket down for her, haha

2014

 

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  

When Mama is Sick

So this is a funny topic for today, because I happen to be sick. Actually everyone in my family is sick. Baby Fox is just getting over it, Mini Fox was up all night, Mr. is just at day 2ish and I'm starting round #2 with this silly thing...just leave my house already!

 

A picture when we were all healthy, haha

I think we have it pretty good, since I work full time and we have someone to watch the kids, when I get sick I still have them watch the kids, so I can pretty much lay around and do nothing while being sick.  Knock on wood, when I get sick usually it's just some sort of sinus thing. Which can more easily be ignored, unlike getting the flu or something. I have been really sick (think double eye infection), but luckily it was before the kids arrived and I could literally just lay on the couch and catch up on my shows, although with the double eye infection, it was horrible, but I also worked on my Masters Thesis, so I guess I wasn't totally lazy. I actually finished all of the research while only being able to see very little out of my eyes. For me, I tend to muscle through it. When evening rolls around, I know that it's only a few more hours until they go to bed. Right now Mini Fox still takes an evening nap, so basically from 5-7 she's sleeping. So I just have Baby Fox to worry about, and when I'm sick I admit it, I pop in a movie, cuddle him and try to relax. Dinners are usually some left overs or something super easy like spaghetti. By the time 7 rolls around Mr. is home and ready to help out.

 

For me, it's what Mr. and I like to call the electronic baby sitter. Sometimes you have to do what you gotta do, even if it's not what you wouldn't normally do. You just need to rest and get better and if that entails watching endless hours of Power Rangers with your kid, then so be it.

 

*I would like to put this out there, when I am sick, I still do everything that I need to do around the house, when Mr. is really sick, he becomes this huge baby and can't do anything...don't worry he knows he does this and we I make fun of him all the time. Anyone else's husband do this?

 

How do you survive those dreaded sick days with your children?  Check out the other mama's blogs for their tips.  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this topic. 

In the difficulty of motherhood, it's so important to find other mamas to relate to.  Toddlers can be a handful and leave you wondering what to do next.  This series is here to help you navigate through toddlerhood while being able to relate to other mamas going through the same thing.  We may not always know what we are doing but we give it our best shot anyway.  Come back each week to check out our new topic and read along with the other hosts of our One Year and Beyond series!  

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

Call Me Converted - I'm a Vest Lover

Week 3 of the Fall Style Me Challenge with Alison. Here are the previous weeks posts: Week 1 and Week 2 if you want to see those. I won't delay much longer, here are Days 10-16:

Day 10

I was trying to figure out a way to wrap this pretty blanket scarf, the people on YouTube make it look much easier.

Day 11

I am totally loving this outfit. I wasn't totally sold on the whole puffer vest thing, but Old Navy has a light weight one, so it makes it makes it a little better to wear, not so much bulk.

Day 12

I absoultely love these leopard wedges! They are actually pretty comfy, and they are on clearance right now at Target, even better! The scarf is super comfy and I love the colors.

Day 13

Again the vest, love it! Paired with the plaid shirt is perfect. One of my favorite outfits!

Love these  boots! I bought them in cognac too. These are the wide calf and they are totally perfect!

Day 14

This day was a little too warm for my liking so I put a t-shirt under the military style jacket. Super comfortable

Day 15

Fancy sweatshirt, grey jeans and a military jacket for those cool mornings.

Day 16

This outfit called for a striped shirt with a neutral sweater under it. I thought that it was just missing something, so I added the leopard scarf and I love how the you can see the striped shirt through the sweater and peeking out behind the leopard scarf.

Can't wait to see what Alison has in store for us next week! Until then, be safe and dress well :)

Oh and guess what didn't show up this week? My jean jacket...it's a first, maybe I don't need JJA afterall :)

Go see other fall challenge styler's take on the same outfits!

Deena | Christy | Jordan | Carrie C. | Shaunacey | Danielle | Beth | Joy | Sarah | 

Leslie | Katie | Jennifer | Carrie M. | Lisa | Mary | Sheila | Lana | Lauren | Anna | Alison

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

Food Allergies: Something is Wrong

When I was thinking of what I should write about today, I realized that I've only briefly mentioned my food allergies, here, here, here and here (when I say briefly I mean less than a sentence).  So today I give you part one of my food allergies, how I found out I had food allergies.

Let's begin with the most asked question I get. No I didn't have this all my life. I found out when I was about 26, so yes I do know what everything tastes like, but over the years, I have started to forget what things taste like, like cheese, and ice cream, horrible I know!

So I'll start from the beginning. When Mr. and I were dating I had no problems. I would occasionally get a stomachache after eating, but justify the reason why. I ate a donut for breakfast, I ate too much Mexican food, I'm just really full. I kept explaining away my stomach problems. I was also getting sick a lot, getting sinus infections every 6-7 weeks. It was awful!

Mr. and I got married and were in wedded food bliss for about a year and a half when the stomach issues started getting worse. I decided to keep a food diary, I wrote down everything and how I felt afterwards. We narrowed it down to dairy, cheese, ice cream my beloved food. So we thought maybe I was lactose intolerant. I started taking those Lactaid pills. It worked! ...for about a week...

Mr. and I discovered that BJ's had the BEST happy hour ever (not sure about now, since this was quite a few years ago). We were frequenting it at least once a week. Each week we would get different mini pizza's (half off), a beer and of course their famous Pizookie

yum!

Anyway, one night we met there after a particularly hard day at work and went about our usual order of 2 mini pizza's (one of them was the Southwest Pizza, and I think a BBQ chicken one) to split, beer and of course the Pizookie. We finished, I was feeling fine and we got into our cars and followed each other home. By the time we got home (about an 8 minutes drive) I was in so much pain I could barely walk. Mr. had to practically carry me upstairs to our condo. The pain was so bad, it felt like a million knives were stabbing me and then someone was twisting the knife. It was horrible, I was in so much pain that I eventually passed out and slept the rest of the night.

When I woke up feeling much better I knew I just wasn't lactose intolerant, that it had to be the cheese...little did I know. I made an appointment with an Allergist for just after the new year. I went in, she asked questions about my diet, what I ate the most of, did I eat this or that..first we took a blood test to see if anything would come up in my blood work. It turned out negative, I was disappointed, I knew something was wrong.

The next step was to do the famous "scratch test". Let me tell you it's as awful as it sounds. Especially if you are allergic to everything like I am. I had over 80 scratch test performed. And by the time she was done even putting the allergens on my back, the first ones were already starting to react. But we had to wait 20 minutes to get a full reading. My mom was with me and she was staring at my back saying, wow this is amazing, you are allergic to a lot. I told her, I know, it hurts! Around the 10 minute period the nurse came and and with wide eyes, said, I think you're allergic to his, let me wipe it off to give you some relief. They were starting to bubble. 20 painful and itchy minutes later the doctor came and "read" the results.

Want to know what it said? Come back next week, haha, just kidding. It said that I was allergic to EVERY tree, plant and grass in Southern California. Crazy right? It also said I was allergic to milk, soy, corn, peanuts, chicken and most nuts. I can eat cashews, but I just don't like them. I'll let all those allergies sink in for a second.

Think of everything that has corn syrup in it...yep all those things gone. Doing a quick search I found this site with a list of corn products and a list of potential corn products. Did you know that food labled with anything 'ose, like dextrose, sucrose can be a corn derivative? Also carmel color, ascorbic acid, sorbitol (used in gum), citric acid...those are just to name a few others. It's everywhere.

It was a hard adjustment, but I think this has gotten long enough, next time I'll go into the first few months and how I dealt with it. Let me just tell you, there was a lot of pity parties, party of one going on.

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Heather for Mommy Moments