Beauty on a Budget

I am always on blogs and watching YouTube videos of makeup tutorials.  The one thing that always drives me nuts is the products that they are using.  It is always some uber expensive foundation or eye shadow.  Now, I will say that I have been known to drop some serious dough ray me at Sephora but I love finding amazing and super affordable products.  I love a good deal!  I also have seen "Beauty on a Budget" list where the least expensive item for an eye shadow that costs $12.....for one color....  I'm sorry but thats not "on a budget" to me!  I will also share some things that may not be considered budget friendly but are worth the money (in my opinion). 

I'm going to start with things that you would normally find in your bathroom but I don't actually use them for their intended use. First thing is the Target brand Night Time baby wash. I use it to take my eye makeup off.  It is gentle on your eyes, won't burn and works so good when I decided to do a super heavy cat eye and lots and lots of mascara!  I will never use anything else to take off my eye makeup again.  Forget about the expensive eye makeup remover. You will thank me once you try it! Next, I use organic sugar cane to exfoliate my face. Crazy! I know. It will cost you $4 and last you and entire year!  It's natural and leaves my face looking so much better.  I have super oily/acne prone skin.  Why my skin decides to breakout now is beyond me but this helps a lot!  Lastly, I use whatever is the cheapest conditioner or whatever is on sale at the time to shave my legs.  My legs are always silky smooth after I use conditioner.  I am super picky about what kind of shampoo and condition I use for my hair but I don't care what goes on my legs.  

1. E.L.F. - Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer. This will only cost you $3!!  I love this to contour my face and the shade is perfect for my pale skin! I use St.Lucia.

2. Nyx Butter Gloss in Deep Peach - This is $5 and stays put! Only recently have I been wearing something on my lips.  I love this.  It isn't sticky and doesn't get all over my teeth. This is a winner!

3. Nyx: The Smokey Eye pallet- I do love this pallet.  It is only $7 and you get a great choice of colors. I love the nude color in this pallet and wear it daily!  The color last and has great pigment. 

4. Nyx Concealer Stick - The cost is $5. As you can tell, I like my Nyx makeup! This is a great concealer for on the go touch-ups.  I actually use MAC studio finish concealer when I first do my makeup. I am NC20 (super pale). But I carry around this Nyx concealer stick with me and touch up as needed.  I also have the green stick to put over redness on my face. Love love love!

5. Palladio Cosmetics Rice Powder - This will only set you back $5!  Thats one stop at Starbucks.  I get this translucent powder to set my makeup.  I have really oily skin and this takes it all away. I rarely even need to touch up during the day.  I swear by this stuff.  I give it as gifts. I worship it!

6. Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse - This is $10. I love this foundation.  It helps keep my oiliness down but I will say, it soaks into my pores a little by 3 p.m. I use this foundation on days when it isn't going to be so hot.  

7. E.L.F. Eye Widening Pencil - I love this pencil. I use it in the corners of my eyes and as a highlighter under my eye brow.  It really makes my eyes pop and you can tell in pictures. It is also $1.

8. E.L.F Essential Liquid Eye Liner - Last but my FAVORITE! I love a great eye liner. This one is even better than great because its $1 and will stay on ALL DAY! I love Kat Von D's liners but when you are on a budget, this one works just like hers! THE BEST! Go get it...right now! :) 

E.L.F. cosmetics are available at Target and Nyx can be picked up at Ulta!

Now that I've done my "on a budget", I will share my things that I feel are worth the splurge.  

1. MAC Apres Chic Mineralize Blush in Gentle- I don't use any other blush besides this one! It gives me added coverage over my problem areas. I break out a lot on my cheeks and this helps cover it! It doesn't settle into pores either.

2. MAC Studio Finish Concealer - Love this so much! It's hard to find a color that really matches my pale skin and NC20 fits me perfectly. This concealer stays put and does the job! 

3. MAC 4 Lash - If I am going out or dressing up, I am wearing these lashes.  They don't look super fake at all and gives my eyes that extra pop they need.  I used to use the $4 lashes in drug stores but they are hard to mold. These lashes rock! Worth the $16! And I always get a few uses out of them.

4. MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara - My friends know that I am a complete lash snob.  I love my mascara with a passion. I don't leave home without it on! Well , I don't even wear makeup to the gym but everywhere else I do.  I recently purchased this and SO happy that I did.  Its actually two in one.  It has two different caps. One cap pulls off all excess mascara for longer lashes. The other cap adds more mascara for fuller lashes.  If they ever discontinue this mascara, I may have a melt down.

5. Mario Badescu Facial Spray - This is $7 and worth every single cent. I love this skin care line anyway. I would have put everything single that I have on there but its A LOT because I love this line so much.  It has changed my skin. I use this facial spray to set my makeup and as an afternoon pick me up.  It leaves my face feeling super refreshed and the smell is amazing! 

6. Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser - Like I've mentioned before, my face is oily.  I use this product 3 times a week and the oiliness has gone down so much! My pores are smaller and my face feels so clean. This was a game changer for me.  I use Mario Badescu buffering lotion, drying mask and special healing powder. You can not go wrong with this skin care line!

7. Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour  in Palpitante -  I wholeheartedly believe that all woman should own something Chanel. (Even if that means its just lipstick)  I swear when I am wearing this lipstick, I stand a little taller and feel a little sexier.  Its a great lipstick that lasts a long time and feels like heaven on your lips.  I also like Chanels nail colour.  Go ahead. Get yourself some Chanel and feel sexy!

8. Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Petal -  I have this in Petal and in the clear color. I will never use any other chap stick again. Yes, it's expensive but it really works and last a long time.  I am all for saving money but I believe in spending more when you want great quality.  This is great quality! 

What are some of your beauty "must haves"?

Losing Weight After Baby...

Losing weight was so much easier the second time around after having a baby! I learned what to do and what not to do during the pregnancy and after to stay in good shape.  I wish I knew that the first time around.  Let me give you a little back story. When I found out I was pregnant with Allison (who is now 5), I was 105lbs.  I was in the best shape of my life.  As soon as I heard those words "you're pregnant", it was like getting the green light to eat whatever I wanted.  We lived in Memphis at the time and everything had bbq sauce on it and deep fried. You know, REALLY good food!  I indulged. A lot.  When our little princess was born, I was 152. At Allison's 6 week check up, I had gained another 10 lbs. By the time she was 6 months old, another 10 lbs.  I didn't do anything but eat and take care of the baby.  I always heard "oh, that weight will fall right off".  Well, it never did.  I didn't even notice I had gained that much weight until Allisons first birthday.  Seeing those pictures of myself was a huge wake up call.  Huge.  I was no longer that tall and skinny girl.  I was miserable, overweight, unhealthy and depressed.  

This was Allisons first birthday. I did a good job of hiding my weight with big clothes. You can tell in my arms!

When Allison was one, we moved to Arkansas and I basically lived in the gym. Kiko would work during the day and I stayed home with Alli. Once he walked in that door, I was off to the gym. I would take a Zumba class, toning then kick boxing in one night 6 nights a week. On a nice day, I would stroll Alli around our apartment complex for hours then head to the gym.  This is where I fell in love with Zumba.  It got me dancing again.  It was nice! It took me 9 months to lose the weight. It wasn't easy AT ALL. I was determined to not let myself go like that again because it took a lot time out of my life to fight my way back into shape. 

When I found out I was pregnant with Alexander, I was 126 lb.  I had a terrible case of morning sickness in the beginning.  I lost 16 lbs the first 3 months.  The day I had Alexander, I was 135.  I didn't gain a lot of weight due to the morning sickness and my prenatal yoga.  I also ate super healthy.  Lots of fruits and veggies helped my morning sickness.  I lived on watermelon! I think my healthy lifestyle also helped with my labor.  Labor with Alexander was even easier than Allisons.  I was in labor for 6 hours with Alli.  My water broke at 3:30  p.m. with Alexander and he was here at 5:56 p.m.  I pushed 3 times and there was our little prince! Super easy.  No terrible stories here! But I think my life style changes REALLY helped.  After he was born, he had some troubles so he was in the NICU. I was able to walk that hospital with no problems just 4 hours after I had the baby.  I would sprint throw the hospital to go see him.  I started walking with Alexander at night when we brought him home. It helped him sleep and I got in a workout!

Now that I am a busy full time working, taxi cab driving, therapist, ring leader, wife and mom, I need structure and schedules in my life! I made lots of lifestyle changes to make a very healthy and stress free life!  I now find time to work out whenever I can. If that means waking up at 4:45 to work out then it means I get up with the roosters! I found that making myself a priority helps.  

Every Sunday, I food prep for the week.  I make the same breakfast and lunch for all 7 days. I also prep out my snacks for the week.  I always make 3 snacks for the day. Dinners are always something that goes in the slower cook.  (I love my slow cooker sooo much) I think food prepping the best thing when you have kids, a husband, and a full time job (or 2). 

I will give you an example of what my meals look like for the week.  This is actually my meal plan for next week.

Breakfast:  3 Egg whites on a tortilla with homemade salsa verde. 

Snack: Cucumbers with homemade hummus. 

Lunch: 4 oz. chicken with Mrs. Dash seasoning, brown rice, broccoli, carrots, squash and peas.

Snack: 2 Rice cakes with a tablespoon on peanut butter. (I LOVE this snack)

Dinner:  Slow cooker chickpea chili with a spinach salad. Slow cooker Italian chicken with roasted sweet potatoes, leeks and brown rice.  

Snack:  (I only eat this snack a few days) Carrots with fat free ranch dressing.

Once you get the hang of food prepping, it will CHANGE YOUR LIFE! I promise.  You make one big mess for the week then your food is done. It really helps to stay on track.  It is now part of my life to be fit.  I also want to mention that I no longer look to my scale for validation.  My goal is not what the number is on the scale.  My goal is not run a half marathon and not puke or give up! I'm getting there slowly! 

I am ALWAYS happy to be someones cheerleader.  You can make great life changes but you have to be ready and willing to do it.  I do this for my daughter really.  I don't want her to grow up with a mother who has a bad relationship with food or hates her body.  I want it to be easy for her to make good healthy decisions because it is what is normal for her.  I want to be the healthiest and happiest I can be for my kids.  They are the center of my world and I want to enjoy them as much as I possibly can.  

Traveling with kids and not turning into an alcoholic!

I have been asked by many people throughout the years how I fly with my kids and not need a bottle glass of wine when we land.

I have to admit that it took me a few horrible flights to really get it down! Alli was my test baby. Flying with Alexander is a breeze now! When I first started flying with Alli, she was about 2 months. I would visit Ohio a lot and there was no way I would drive plus Kiko and I both worked for an airline and that always helps.  The first flight with Alli was a hot mess. I thought I needed to bring all this stuff and wasn't sure what I really needed. I wanted to ensure I had everything I needed so I brought it all! I later realized what a mistake that was. Not only was it a lot to carry but I couldn't find what I needed when I needed it. I found myself trying to juggle a screaming 8 week old while digging through my diaper bag and not elbowing the person next to me. Not easy! At all! 

 My first lesson I learned was to only pack the essentials. The absolute essentials. What do you need baby lotion, a tooth brush, 5 bottles, an entire pack of diapers and every stuffed animal your baby has on a plane? The flight is only around 2 hours or so. There is no need for lots of stuff. You may want to bring extra formula or snacks in the event of a delayed or canceled flight. It will save you time on the plane to not pack your life in your bag! Not to mention the stress you feel and in turn your baby senses.

I'll break it down by ages but I can only tell you how to entertain your kid until the age of 5 since my oldest is 5!

Let's start with before you even book that ticket!  If it is possible, try to book your flight when you know your kid will be sleepy! A sleepy baby/kid makes for a great flight!  Actually, I'm going to start with my DO NOT EVER DO's!!!! Ever!!!!  Maybe if I start off with those, you won't do them!

List of DO NOT'S while traveling with kids:

1. Do not pack everything you THINK you MAY need. It is more stressful! I promise.
2. Kid on a leash sound like a good idea? Nope! Not the least bit.  Scenario: it's your kids first time flying and is super excited once they get to the gate. Your child is on a leash and you are trying to  talk with your gate agent to make sure you are at the right gate (even though you knew it you just wanted to make sure 4 times) so you are not fully paying attention to your child. The kid wants to run to see the plane pull in. What happens? You trip the old lady standing behind you because the leash just turned into a clothes line! NEVER GOOD! I promise. I have seen this. As a gate agent, I hated seeing kids on leashes. Please, do not put your kid on a leash.
3. Do not give your child ANY kind of medicine if they do not need it.  I always hear "Oh well I will just give them something to make them sleepy." NO NO NO! Heaven forbid something happens while you are on that plane and your child is now groggy and not fully with it.
4. This is just advice - Not all people on the plane appreciate a cute little face smushed in between the seats and having that face stare at them the entire flight or little hands trying to grab their magazine. I will give tips on how to keep your little one busy so that doesn't happen!
5. Candy may seem like a good idea because you are about to go on vacation but have you ever been stuck on a 3 hour flight with a kid hopped up on sugar? I have! It's never a good flight....for anyone. (I do pack sugar free suckers)
6. If you want to get a picture with the pilot because its your child's first flight, ask after you have landed to your destination and after everyone is off the plane.  The flight attendants and gate agents all have a responsibility to get that plane off the ground on time so asking while everyone is trying to get on the plane just causes delay and you may not get a picture at all. Be patient and wait! Plus, this is something you can use to keep your child good on the plane. "I'll ask for a picture with the pilot if you are good on this flight."
7. Don't intentionally keep your child up for the flight. If they are overly tired, they will fight sleep and scream their faces off until they pass out. True story!

How your child will look after sugar on a plane!

Okay, back to before you even get to the airport!  Lets pack!  I no longer need to even check a bag.  I have learned how to condense everything I need for myself and the 2 kids into a carry on if I will be gone for a weekend.  It just makes it easier for me to get out of the airport.  If I need to pack for longer than a weekend, I will check a bag.  If you are going to bring your child's favorite night time lotion or any liquid or gel that is over 3oz, put in into your checked bag! TSA won't let you bring it no matter how cute your kid is!  Pack away anything that you will need on the trip but is not needed for the drive to the airport or on the plane.  You can always get it once you have gotten your bags from the bag belt at baggage claim.  

What goes into my diaper bag: Formula is you are bottle feeding and a bottle of water. Just bring one. The TSA won't mind just one. Don't over do it.  You can always get more water on the plane from a flight attendant.  I now bring those little 4oz juices with me.  Make sure that you "declare" that you have it with the TSA. What does "declare" mean: put it in one of those stupid bins.  Side note: put ALL liquids or gels into a bin just in case!  I have also found that having those little ready made formula bottles helps a lot. Sometimes I have had to go through extra security because I've had them but it does make it easier on the plane.  Of course wipes and I always have around 5 diapers.  Put all extra diapers in checked baggage. No need to bring a lot! I will go through each age group of what I packed later down the blog.

Getting through security: Getting through security is by far the hardest thing you will do while traveling! I do it alone with 2 kids, a stroller and a carry on roller bag.  It is completely doable! I promise. What helps the most of knowing the rules.  

• Children under the age of 12 do not have to take their shoes off so don't even bother!  
• Take off all of the kids jackets, sweaters, belts or whatever extra layers they have on.  
• Have all liquids and gels on the top of your diaper bag or carry on for easy access. 
• Laptops need to go in its own bin.
• Make sure you can put down your stroller with one arm! That really helps.  You will need to figure out a good system to hold the baby (if you are alone) while getting your bags and stroller on the belt.  A lot of TSA people will help you if they see you are alone with kids but there have been many many times that I have had no help at all.
• Take a nice calming breath! You can do this!   

What to pack for ages 8 weeks to 6 months:

• Whatever you need to feed them.  I always bring a small can of formula or ready made bottles. I also pack 2 bottles. 2 is always enough.
• If you are breast feeding then bring a cover and maybe try to sit towards the back of the plane and by the window.
• Hand sanitizer.
• If your child is teething, something they can chew on.
• A blanket. You will need it!
• Something soft for their little hands to hold on it. I always would bring a little stuff animal that I knew the kids liked. It is familiar and makes them feel safe. 
• Diaper rash cream.
• Diapers and wipes.
• PJs and an extra outfit.
• Thats all she wrote!  

There isn't a serious need for much to entertainment when it comes to a  little baby so you don't need a lot of stuff.

What to pack for 7 months to 12 months:

• Again whatever you need to feed them. By this time, you will need to be packing baby food and a spoon.  I use the Gerber Organic pouches.  You don't need a spoon and it is easy clean up! (It isn't easy to open a pack of baby food during turbulence)
• A toy that makes noise but isn't loud and is small enough to not take up a lot of room in your bag.  I always bring a little play cell phone. 
• Extra outfit and PJs.
• Diaper and wipes.
• Hand sanitizer
• Diaper rash cream.
• Snacks that don't get all crumbly. Try these. 

What to pack for 13 months to 5 years old:

I dread flying with this age! They don't want to sit in their seat and tend to scream a lot. So hopefully this helps.  This is the age where I start introducing their own backpack.  I always put some fun things for them to use on the plane.  I make it a big deal and a surprise.  They can't open their backpack until they get on the plane to see what the surprise is!  It makes it fun.  Here are some ideas for their backpack:

• Extra set of clothes. For the older kids, maybe a new outfit for the backpack.
• Snacks. Again, try to not pack lots of sugary things. A hyper kid makes for an even longer flight! I normally pack chex mix, sugar free candy, or granola bars. 
• Little a pack of crayons and a new coloring book or one of those books with activities. 
• Pull-Ups for those children not yet potty trained yet!
• LeapPad! That thing has saved me soooooo much!
• If you have an iPad, maybe load some kid friendly games or a few movies!
• No iPad? Maybe get a portable DVD player. I promise you will be happy you did!
• Thank you notes. Yes. Thank you notes!  I will have Alli write a "Thank you" for each of the flight attendants and pilots.  It is super cute and will make them smile! And if all else fails, you can write a "Thanks for not screaming at me" to your neighbor if you have a fussy kid.

Pre-flight routine:

This is the routine that we do once we have clear security and made it to the gate.

Walking off all energy before the plane at the Orlando Airport!

• Find Starbucks. (Okay this one might not be on your list but its on mine!)
• Figure out where your gate is. 
• If you are using a stroller, go to the gate agent and let them know you need a tag for your stroller. This lets the guys on the ramp know that you want your stroller back at the next airport.
• Change your child's diaper or make them go to the potty. You want a fresh diaper before a flight and empty bladders.
• If it is a late flight maybe put your child in PJs. My kids fly in their PJs a lot!
• Get a bottle ready but don't give it to them yet! (Below will give you a reason why you should wait for the bottle)
• Feed your child before the flight!  Trying to have your child eat dinner on a plane can get messy and if it is turbulent then it gets really messy! So if you can, feed them on the ground! Plus it will save you that "just eat a little bit more" fight while you are stuck on a plane.
• Check to see if they have to go potty again. You do not a child doing the "pee-pee" dance as you are taking off and can't go to the bathroom.
• Finish your Starbucks and throw it away. You will have too much in your hands to try to juggle.
• Make sure you phone is charged or electronic devices for your child.

Parting advice and misc. things:

• When taking off, everyone's ears tend to pop.  To help those little ones ears that can't pop on their own, you will need to help them. How do you do that? Have them suck on a pacifier or give them a bottle while taking off. Do not give them a bottle as soon as you start to move. You never know how long the wait will be once you are on the runway. Wait until you start speeding up on the actual runway. The sucking will help their little ears pop and you won't have to deal with ear aches later!
• Remember: less is more!
• Take your time at the airport. Get there early! Side note: If you are flying out of Orlando (my home base airport) on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, get there REALLY early.  Don't be surprised to wait an hour to an hour to 1.5 hours just to check in and another hour for security on those days.  This is why I do not check a bag! 
• If you do not have to check a bag, you can check in on a kiosk where it says "No luggage checked" or something along those lines.  It helps so you don't have to wait to check in. 
• Use hand sanitizer!
• Children on leashes = broken hips for the elderly.
• If your child can carry their own backpack, let them!
• Do not wear a tube top or strapless shirt or dress. 2 words = wardrobe malfunction.
• Enjoy a glass of wine once you've made it to your destination! You deserve it girl!

The result of a well planned out travel trip!

Alli's Back To School Must Have's!

I can't believe that I'm even writing this blog. My first born little princess is officially starting Kindergarten in 21 days. I am completely devastated.  I am so not ready for her to have to go to school every day. However, I am ready for the funny stories that I will hear from her teacher! She was a funny girl in pre-school. Let's see how kindergarten goes!

 Alli has her own sense of style. I would call her a "princess punk rocker".  She loves to dress up, have hair done and her nails done.  She knows what she likes and she will refuse to wear something that she doesn't feel is "cool" enough.  I stopped shopping without her because she will go on strike with things that she hates. She actually told me the other day that she doesn't want me to take her shopping. She would have my friend, Allison, take her.  Allison is much cooler than me according to Alli.  I have a feeling Allison will be Alli's "go-to" person for dating, hair and friend advice when I am not cool enough!
So here are Alli's "must-haves":

1. Faux Leather Moto Jacket- Alli loves to layer her clothes.  She has been picking super edgy jackets and cute flowy shirts to go under. I love that she likes to mix it up!

2. Leopard Asymmetrical Ruffle Tank -  What can I say? The girl loves leopard! Most of her clothes look like she is about to go on a Safari and I'm okay with that!

3. Girls Capri Leggings - Leggings are a staple in Allis closet.  We have leggings in every color.  I like Old Navys because they don't fade as fast as say Target or Walmart.

4. Circo Harmony Sneaker Wedges - Alli refuses to wear any shoe without a heel.  I was the same way (until I had kids).  She may only be 5 but the girls loves a good heel! She saw these in the store and freaked out. I had to get them! Bonus: they were on sale when we got them!

5. Hello Kitty Signature Satin Headband - An outfit for Alli isn't complete without something Hello Kitty.  We saw this headband in Claires and both ran for it! It is super cute and matches the sneaker wedges!

6. LeapPad 2 - This thing is AMAZING!! She talks NONSTOP. But when she is using this, it is silent! It works wonders.  We bring this on the plane with us, in the car, when I'm shopping for myself which rarely ever happens and anytime she wants to learn something and I've ran out of ideas!  They have so many games you can put on it and they don't cost a lot! I recommend this to ANYONE who has a child who doesn't seem to stop talking!

7. Hello Kitty Backpack - No school preparation would be complete without a Hello Kitty backpack! At least in my house. She had a Hello Kitty backpack last year and insisted in another one this year. This one is literally the same as last year but with more glitter. (Ugh glitter)

8. Itzy Ritzy Lunch Happened Bento Lunch Box - First and foremost, this lunchbox is adorable! When you open it, it actually have different compartments and levels. It is an actual bento box! If something spills out, you won't have to worry about it getting onto the other food! Love love love this!!

Alexander The Greats Favorite 12 Month Things!

Now that Alexander is really getting into playing and transitioning to toddler things, we have a bunch of new favorite things! I put together some of the things that help us out at home and an outfit that we can't wait to wear when fall gets here!

1. Gerber Organic in Apples, blueberry and spinach. - Alexander loves these! It was super messy at first but now he has the hang of it.  This is the best thing for when we are traveling or out shopping.  I only use this for snack time now!

2. Burts Bee's Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion - This smells amazing, it is organic and keeps Alexander nice and soft! Alexander gets a massage after bath time and before bed still.  This really calms him down!

3. Born Free Sippy Cup - I would only use Born Free bottles.  I fell in love. They never leaked on me and were super easy to clean! So it was natural for me to use this sippy cup.  Alexander has taken to them very fast! So long bottle!

4. Carter's Hi-Top Sneakers - Alexander is now a stumbler "walker" so he needs shoes! These shoes are easy to put on and look super cute in just shorts and a t-shirt or dressed up with jeans and a buttoned up shirt!

5. Baby Banana Training Toothbrush - First of all, how cute is it!?  Now that Alexander has a mouth full of teeth, we need to keep them pearly white! This does the trick!

6. VTech Sit to Race Smart Wheels - This is a fun way to get around the house!! This is also something that Alexander can use for awhile!

7. Carters Boy Outfit - I love to dress Alexander like a little man. I'm not a huge fan of baby clothes so I try to get as many outfits as I can that look like something Kiko would wear!  I love Carters and The Childrens Place. That is where I do most of my shopping for A.J.!

8. I love you, Stinky Face - How adorable is the title? We love a good story and now that Alexander is finally old enough to start to sit and listen ,we enjoy story time!



I will be posting Alli's "Back to School Must Have's" in the next post! Stay tuned!

12 month check up! :)

So our little boy has come a long way from his 7lbs 5oz and 21inches long!
He is now 21lbs and almost 32 inches long! He is a big boy that loveess to eat! We haven't found a food yet that he won't eat.  I get questions a lot about what do I feed this child? I must be feeding him bricks, right?

(Our little man got two shots also yesterday.  Big sister was more emotional then he was!)

Well, no. Not bricks.  I actually make all of his food.  I think baby food is okay but I would rather make his food of my own.  I'm a meal planner anyway.  I take one day a week (normally Sunday or Monday) and make or prep breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of us for the week. It helps my busy week so much! It also helps with keeping my kitchen clean! I only have one big mess to clean up and whatever plates we use during the week. So this is what a days worth of food looks like for Alexander:

Breakfast is normally cheerios with cut up bananas or pancakes with strawberries or blue berries. He loves fruit! He loves feeding himself and the floor even more!  We don't use syrup (anymore). It was more of a hair product then a condiment!

Zanderbutt always gets a snack between breakfast and lunch.  This week it is rice cakes and peanut butter.  We just introduced peanut butter and he is doing very well with it. This also has the potential of becoming a hair product!  Snacks may also include some kind of fruit and crackers or veggies and crackers.

Lunch time is now mini grilled cheeses or what Alli likes to call "cheese tacos". Its just cheese rolled up in a tortilla with veggies.  This weeks veggie on the menu is zucchini.   Other lunches he likes are peanut butter and banana sandwiches,  pasta and veggies, or chicken and rice.  I do not give him store bought meals lunches.

Ahhh the p.m. snack! This time of the day is always hit or miss.  He isn't a huge fan of snacking in the afternoon.  If he does want to snack in the afternoon then I keep it light.  It normally is just cheez its or those little puff things.  Sometimes I can even get him to eat a gogurt, some black beans or green beans.

Dinner time is our favorite meal! We always get to sit down and eat together so we love dinner time!  Last night, the baby devoured ate turkey, string cheese and peaches.  Normally I don't feed him a different meal then we eat but last night was ribs since it was my "cheat day" and I wasn't ready to feed him that. Tonight he will be eating garlic chicken with sweet potatoes, celery, squash and onions.

 I make it a point to have him eat what we eat for dinner.  We did this with Alli and she is not picky. I don't give my children an option. I am not a short order cook and I refuse to make different meals. I also refuse feed my kids fast food, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and french fries every day.  I want the kids to love food in a healthy way!

Over the weekend, we went over to our friends Sean and Allison's house for a bbq to celebrate Seans birthday. Back story: Sean and Kiko have been friends since basically birth and Kiko hops at every chance to spend time bromance Sean! Back to Alexander! So I was getting the kids ready and the baby actually let me put sunglasses on him for long enough to snap a picture! Caution: photo include Alexanders cute little moobs!

He also let me do his hair. Super cute! He sat so patiently while I blow dried it (on the cool setting of course) and even let me put some hair spray in it.  His hair is a lot of fun!  Unfortunately the sunglasses didn't last very long. Alli and I got into a fight about what she was going to wear.  She saw that Selena Gomez was wearing combat boots on a T.V. show so of course she wanted to wear the combat boots that she has. Combat boots would be totally acceptable in Ohio at this time in the summer but we live in Florida....where its 100 degrees.... and humid....and we were going to a pool party!  So in the end she won but look how cute she looked:

I'll leave you all with a little story from Alli and Alexander.

While I was working on my food prepping for the week, Alli thought it would be fun to teach Alexander how things feels when you touch them.  I humored her. So she went to get her "teacher" glasses" and supplies for her class.

She grabbed toilet paper, a spongy candle, and a could of hard toys.  By the time she got back, the baby was in one of those "just please put me to bed" moods. I let her know that her brother was tired but that wasn't stopping her!  She started to put the smushy candle on the tray of the babys high chair and what happens? He puts it right to the mouth and doesn't pay attention to Alli!  So she freaks out and says "Mom, I can't deal with this kid." Then I get this face......

Dramatic much?

Yep! That was my weekend! How was everyone else?!

Alexander the Great....is ONE!

Our little Alexander is one! I'm not exactly where the time went.  This year flew by.  He is already feeding himself, walking, talking and terrorizing his sister!  This has been such an amazing year for our little family.  Alexander continues to follow his road of a healthy life! We have not had any health problems since he was let go from the hospital.  It is a miracle that he has continued to thrive.  He is the happiest little kid around (as long as he isn't hungry).  He spends his time laughing, smiling and being cute.  He completes our family!

The morning of his birthday, we flew to Ohio. That is where Alli was for the last 3 weeks so we have been traveling up to Ohio every weekend. I cried twice on his birthday.  I really wasn't ready for Alexander to enter into the "toddler" world.  I was fine until I got an email saying "Happy Birthday to your Toddler!".  I immediately started crying and of course Kiko looked at me like I was a nut case! 

Puffy eyes? Check! Puffy lips? Check! Yep! Thats me after crying the first time!

So we got to the airport and did our normal "airplane routine" to get him ready for the plane. I will write a blog about how I travel with my kids.  I always get questions about how I travel with two kids and not turn into an alcoholic.  Believe me, I've had some TERRIBLE flights with Alli. I like to call her my "practice baby". So by the time Alexander came, we were pros at traveling! 

Waiting for our flight!

We were going to have a big party in Ohio like we normally do but it is Jamboree in the Hills time and I know all of my friend and family like to be there! So we decided against a big party and opted for a small tiny party.  We plan on having a huge "End of summer/ First birthday bash" in August to celebrate the baby here in Florida.

I knew I wanted to have a baseball theme birthday party for the baby since I found out I was having a boy! My mom loves a theme and so do I! So baseball it was! Alli even helped make some of the baseball cupcakes! She did a great job. 

I wish we could have stayed in Ohio but life still happens here in Florida when Monday comes around.  On the way back to Florida, it was terrible weather and longgggg flights but the kids were excellent!  We weren't going to let bad weather ruin our awesome weekend!

I want to thank everyone who has been there for us throughout this last year.  It has been a seriously wild ride but here we are! Happy! Healthy! Adorable!

If you are in Central Florida and looking for a photographer,  we use Tracy Staggs Photography.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-Staggs-Photography/267941709946332

Alexander the Great: A year of pictures!

I wanted to start back up this blog because Alexander is becoming a funny little man! He walks like a drunk, cusses, and likes to pretend he is an airplane.  I'm sure now that he is growing into his personality, I will have a lot to blog about!

But for now I want to reflect on this past year and post some of my favorite pictures over the last year.  It's still a little insane to me that he is a year old already.