Our Christmas Eve outfits

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve at my dad's house and the next day we went by a friend's and then to my in-laws. I look forward to dressing up the girls each Christmas and this year I really joined in on the fun.

I recently became obsessed with tulle skirts so I thought it would be fun and cheaper to make one myself. Serena also wanted one so I made one for her as well. Settling on the measurements to make the first cut took the longest, but the skirts were surprisingly easy. For mine I used 5 layers of tulle and for Serena I used 4. I attached them to a sparkly elastic and they came out adorable if I do say so myself.

Have a great weekend!

I'm still alive!

I hope you guys haven't written me off the blogosphere yet. I'm still here and kickin. Things have been crazy. So much has gone on. Trials and tribulations, but mixed in with a whole lot of love and blessings too. I have much to talk about, but I can't talk about it just yet. I hate to be vague. Lord knows I hate when people vague post on Facebook, blogs, or forums, but yet here I am--doing just that. 

Before any speculating begins, let me cross a few things off the list. The girls are happy and healthy, my husband is great, business is good, and I'm not pregnant. There, now that that's clear, can you believe it's almost the end of the year? I'm so ready for 2015. There's a lot of exciting things in store for my family and I and I can't wait to share them. 

Have a great weekend!

Formal dining room tour

Happy Monday. I hope everyone had a good weekend eating turkey leftovers or spending time with family and friends. We spent time with family and also working around the house. I've had requests to do a house tour in the past and never got around to it, but I did photograph our formal dining room about a week ago.

The nursery is my favorite room in the house, but the dining room comes in second. I hadn't been able to entertain in it as much as I would have liked, but over the years I have here and there. It's usually not as neat. Sometimes it doubles as an office, sewing or storage room for things like the vacuum or random toys.

Our dining room set is Italian from designer Antonio Marelli and the crystal chandelier is a Schonbek. H and I loved the dining room set instantly almost 5 years ago, but I'd like to move onto something else. We bought it because we have a victorian house and wanted to have furniture that flowed with the house. I still love elegant furniture, but I'd like to move towards something a little more modern.

Thankful

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and if you're shopping out there today on Black Friday, well be careful and try not to get too annoyed by people. I know I probably would, so I think it's best I just stay home this weekend with the girls if I can. I don't have much patience for long lines and crowds.

Thanksgiving was delicious and fun, but a little different this year. It's only the second I've ever spent away from my parents, but the first where I knew my parents weren't together anymore. I mentioned it only once before but they divorced this summer. It still seems weird to acknowledge it. I missed my mom yesterday and thought about my dad's and my brothers coping with their own thoughts on Thanksgiving this year, but I also remembered that I'm a big girl who has her own family now. H and I will be making our own traditions now with our girls. 

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity so today I'm thankful. Thankful for my husband that loves me even through my shortcomings and my bad days. Thankful for my three girls who are healthy and happy. My family is my whole world.

Thankful for my extended family who are also healthy for the most part. I mentioned a month ago about a very stressful time when my father was sick and he was recently diagnosed with Lupus, but I'm happy to report that he's been doing so great. He started a regimen of a few medications once the doctors figured out what he had and is now symptom free. He's feeling like his old self currently and that's the best we can wish for. 

Thankful for my business that helps me provide for my family and that has also given me a great gift of being able to help others. It's allowed me to contribute and donate to organizations that either provide assistance for children who have cancer or need medical assistance, or for families in need. I know it sounds crazy but since I was in elementary, I used to imagine that I was going to be a designer and have a factory and be able to help those in need. It's weird to know on a small scale I'm accomplishing some of the dreams I had as a child. It's also amazing having an outlet to create and share my creations with the world.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Topknots and toes

White & mint scalloped tops: {Target}

I have way too much fun dressing these two. Happy Monday!

My big girl!

I tell you what. I'm going to cling on this last year like white on rice before the "teen" years start.

 

Hold me blogger. My first born is 12.

 

 

Surviving Hurricane Mariam (When you're still in the storm)

A little over a year ago, I wrote a post about Mariam's temperment and crying. I'm back now to give you a little update on things. If you never read the original post, click here for a little insight on her type of personality. 

Mariam has always been a crier. She was colicky from the beginning of her days on this earth and sometimes I think she never grew out of it. Around 11 months when I wrote that post she started getting better in regards to not crying as much, but that only lasted for a couple months. It started again and since then, she has her good months and her bad months. 

Shortly after I wrote that blog post, the website whattoexpect.com contacted me and asked if they could share my story. In their article they mentioned Mariam being a "high needs child". That was and is the perfect way to describe her. She is still sweet and loveable but she is very much high needs. She still cries about almost everything and is quite feisty. Right now I'm at the point where I'm finding it very difficult to take her anywhere, which stinks for me because I don't always want to be stuck at home. To make matters worse, Mariam stopped sleeping through the night earlier this past summer. She wakes up every night trying to crawl into our bed--along with Layla. We only have a queen sized bed, so yes between my husband and the girls we are squished like sardines, when I'm too tired to put them back in their bed. Not enough sleep and other stress probably means you don't feel like running through the hills a la Julie Andrews style from "the sound of music." It makes me downright moody sometimes and sleepy. Oh so sleepy.

Sleepy may not be the only thing 2 years of Mariam has brought me. I can add cranky mom to that resume. I ventured out this morning to try and buy Serena's birthday gifts and once again Mariam kept trying to get out of the cart and Layla was giving me a hard time too. At one point one of the employees at the store says very snippy and judgey "She's gonna fall out!" I hoisted Mariam on my hip with one hand, and with the other maneuvered my things on the counter. I look at her and said "You know what!" I took a pause wondering what to say next because I hadn't thought it through and then said. "I'm doing my best."

I turned away so I could compose myself and give my eyes a minute to clear since I could feel the tears welling up. The lady didn't say anything and I ended up just saying I changed my mind about these things and left the store. As I buckled Mariam in her car seat wriggling and all, I did cry there in the parking lot. I wasn't angry at the lady, I was angry at Mariam and I was angry at myself for being angry at Mariam. Being a mother of two toddlers isn't easy, being a mother isn't easy period. I feel like I don't have the best advice to give at this point like I did 11 months ago, because I'm still trying to figure things out, but I will say this: Hang in there and be kind to other mom's out there. You never know what kind of struggle they might be having.

Happy Birthday Mariam!

{Baby bib: FHJ Baby} {Tassel garland: Pretty posh shoppe}

You guys! My baby is two! 

I may or may not have held for for over an hour last night at bedtime, because I didn't want the day to be over and her a day over 2.

It's Friday!

A few outtakes..

Have a great weekend! Stay safe.

Let's talk about boots.

 

It's that time again to bust out the boots--if you haven't already. Or if you live in Houston.

 

I live in Houston. Sooooooo....I guess it's not that time for me yet, but it's been on my mind. I've had my eye on buying either brown or cognac boots this year, but there are a lot of black ones I like as well. I'd like a flat riding boot so it could go with several of my casual outfits. Let's face it, we all know I don't get much opportunities these days to dress up with three rowdy kids and working from home.

 

 

From top left: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

 



Wordless Wednesday

 

Ok. Maybe a few words. My husband picked these costumes.

 

A little girly Halloween...

When I received the October issue of Better Homes and Garden last month, I fell completely in love with their floral pumpkin display. I knew I had to create something similar. I found fake carveable pumpkins at Hobby Lobby along with faux floral bouquets. The gold studs and the glitter paper for the bat garland were bought at JoAnns. The glitter owl was bought from Target and the plush witch from Marshall's.

Have a great weekend!

Recent purchases

Before we left the resort on Sunday, I stopped in one of their boutique's called "Bella's" because I noticed a royal blue top kept grabbing my attention every time I passed by it. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was absolutely gorgeous and I had to have it. It was also marked down to 75% off. Score! I probably can't wear it till spring when it gets hot again but that's fine by me. I also have to take it in because it's a medium and I wear small or x-small. Once I got home, I also realized that it's from Whitney Port's clothing line Whitney Eve. I loved watching her in The Hills.

I couldn't find this color online, but I did find one in white on Swell.com. Over the weekend I also bought NYX's mineral setting powder and an elf brush. I've only used the setting powder once quickly so far so I can't give a good review on it, but I will be using it again soon and writing up a post about it. 

Have a great Tuesday!

Weekend in Austin

This weekend H and I finally got a little getaway in without the kids. We went with two other couples (our closest friends) and had a blast! We left Friday around noon and got back yesterday. It was sooo nice to get a break from daily life. October has been an extremely stressful month with my father being sick and waiting on his diagnosis and dealing with a lawyer on a situation from years and years ago. On top of all that, the business had been extremely busy with wholesale orders, working with a flash sale site and the new collection. My stress level was through the roof. I literally cried off and on several times last week. 

This getaway was much much needed and you know what? I feel so much better. I've mentioned before that I'm terrible about having some time away from the kids, and just kicking back and relaxing even at home. It takes a lot to keep a household of 5 running smoothly. I keep saying I need to take some more time to myself, but then I don't, and when I do, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. 

We stayed at the Omni resort and spa at Barton Creek in Austin and I loved the hotel. The bed was super comfortable, the anemities superb and the scenery was gorgeous. I would definitely stay there again and I don't say that about a lot of hotels. I think we did a lot for a weekend. Friday we stopped in a local brewery and then headed to Duchman winery. 

Afterwards we checked in the hotel and then had dinner at Jack Allen's Kitchen. Saturday we slept in and had breakfast at the hotel then headed to the grocery store for snacks and then rented a pontoon for 3 hours. So relaxing!

Sorry for the blurry cell phone pics, sometimes it's just easier to whip out my phone than my camera. 

After the pontoon on Lake Travis, we stopped to change somewhere and then headed to The house of torment. It felt like high school again and I hadn't been to one since high school in fact. Prices have really gone up since I was younger. We paid $84 for the 2 of us. I mean there was 3 different areas, but wow! The first one was really the only good one, but I felt like the actors kept zoning in and scaring me more than the rest of our group. Maybe I looked like the one who would be most scared and they'd get a good scream. Ha! I guess it was an experience and I think I'm good on haunted houses for the rest of my life. After that, we headed to Home slice pizza for some awesome pizza. Highly recommend this place! We stuffed our faces, walked around a little bit and then headed back to the hotel. Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel again and then headed to downtown Austin for some sightseeing. 

I feel so much more relaxed now. Laughter and friends is a great remedy for stress. Have a great Monday!

My skincare routine & new foundation review

Aside from the occasional pimple in high school, I've never had an issue with acne. My complexion has always been pretty clear, but I do get pretty oily in my t-zone. I also tend to get a little red in my t-zone. Overall I can't complain too much because I spent pretty much all of my 20's never really washing off my makeup at night and just washing it off in the morning. 

I still do that now, but I don't always wear foundation on a daily basis now that I stay home. For face wash, I like to stick to sensitive products due to my t-zone getting easily red after a wash. I've been really happy with simple brand moisturizing face wash. Right after that I apply Olay sensitive face cream. If I'm going for the full shebang, I first wash my face than use St. Ives even and bright skin scrub, followed by L'Oreal's hydrafresh toner, then apply Olay sensitive face cream and finally Roc retinol eye cream. On a normal day I normally just wash my face, apply the Olay cream and then the eye cream. 

I'm going to back track for a minute here and talk about St. Ives even and bright face scrub. I absolutely love this scrub. It smells great, wakes me up in the morning and my skin just feels so refreshed after I use it. Love, love, love it! I've been using St. Ives since I was in junior high school but I used to use their apricot scrub (remember that one?) they also still make it. This new one is really great though. 

When I got back from Florida in July, I was really tan so my usual foundation was way too light. I decided to get a new one and settled on Cover girl's new ready set gorgeous foundation. For the price point I really like it. The coverage is pretty good and it has a warm look to it. I would say it has more of a pink than a yellow base. I do enjoy this foundation but I don't think it's "oil free" components work that great. I find I get oilier with this foundation more than with my Revlon or MAC foundations. 

Bare face.

After applying Cover girl ready set gorgeous foundation and rest of makeup.

Have a great Thursday!