fresh eats to beat the heat.

It has now hit the 90s in Texas & it's here to stay. Other than finding the neighborhood sprinklers to jump in, here are some yummy eats to keep you cool. I found this amazing blog the other day, Linda Wagner, which is where I found the recipe for the Zucchini and Tomato "Pasta" above. I made it last night for dinner. Yum. Yum. Yum. Also perfect for a good Summer party dish. 

Plans to make that dessert next. We've also been enjoying the amazing Vitamix these days as well. So easy to make such healthy & tasty food. Perfect for a busy family. On Monday night the mister whipped up Strawberry Frozen Greek Yogurt. To die for.

What are your favorite "beat the heat" eats?

yesterday.

Yesterday, my hardest day as a mom yet. Yes things could have been worse, way worse, but it was one that I would like to put a smiley face sticker on to remember it got better in the end.

He woke for his normal feeding & diaper change around 5:30am while daddy got ready for work. As I unsnapped his pajamas I noticed his belly was lobster red. You see for about 3 weeks now I have been fighting this little belly of his. Doing all that I can to get his sweet soft baby belly back. Going back & forth between thinking it is baby eczema to heat rash & his pediatrician thinking it was just bad dry skin. She thought this because I had finally got the redness down & it just looked chapped when she saw it. Needless to say, the lotion she gave me made things worse & the fight still continues. I left his pajamas unsnapped & dabbed cold water on his poor little belly. The day carried on & I couldn't stop thinking about his sweet little body. While feeding again I noticed it flaring up on other parts of his body & I could have cried. I fought off tears, somehow all day long. I right there & then knew it was baby eczema & please mommas, NEVER google the images. Your heart will stop. I am currently still battling this skin issue & although it looks better today, I will be headed out later to purchase Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (Do you know of something that really works?). Hoping. Hoping with all of me. Keeping my little man cool, to help stop flare ups, in the Texas Summer heat is going to be a challenge I tell ya.

The day didn't stop there. He wouldn't nap, I had grocery shopping on my to-do list for the day. Enough said. #hategroceryday I wasn't going to be stopped, even by an upset baby & momma (me). I put the crying baby in his car seat so I could eat lunch before we left, eating a veggie dog in front of him (playing with my food) to make him happy. We hit the road & by the time I got there he was fast asleep. Until someones car alarm went off while I grabbed a shopping cart, "Are you kidding me!" Here's the kicker. It was MY alarm, this idiot hit her panic button by accident. Turned it off & hit it AGAIN. Baby wide awake. Baby never to fall asleep in the store & crying e v e r  time I stopped. Checkout, yeah, you were awesome. Positive note, I was in & out in 45 minute total. Suddenly a screaming baby in the car seemed like a victory. Until we hit school traffic & his pacifier had disappeared. I did a quick U-turn to go the looooong way home (with no lights). To then realizing, I  n e e d e d  gas. Pulling up to the pump facing the wrong way & thanks to the guy who took up the whole side. Thanks. From the mom with the screaming baby in the car. With the cold groceries in the trunk of the car, enjoying a cool 95 degrees, I pull over & feed my little guy in the backseat. Pulled around to try & pump gas again, pulling on the wrong side AGAIN. Who does this?? Finally back in the car with my screaming overtired baby & an hour later, a now sleeping baby, home. Home sweet freaking home. But my heart saddened yet again as I strip my baby boy of his clothes & see his little naked belly.

Yesterday, you taught me that I can kill a grocery shopping trip. No matter what. My motherly instincts are some sort of amazing, with a cherry on top. That at the end of the day, I have food in the fridge, a sweet baby who will eventually sleep & a husband that will bring me a little flower to put a smile on my face. I am so thankful for this.

Then there was night time, when I/we were supposed to be sleeping. Don't get me started.

Yesterday, you sucked, in the nicest way. xx

let's play catch up.

Wow, only one post so far this week? I guess we've been a little busy. So now we play catch up, where to start? I think I'll start with my perfect Mother's Day.

The mister made my new favorite breakfast, lemon zest pancakes with fresh raspberries & a touch of whipped cream. Served with his ever so tasty scrambled eggs. Yum. We also had his parents over to celebrate his mom as well. I wish we could have made that delish meal for my mom too. 

Then the boys kicked me out, so I could enjoy some "me time" & they could get a little crafty. I wish I had a picture video of those two boys while the paint was flying, I really wish I did. 

I came home to a bit of a war zone, but it made my heart happy. I love picturing what had taken place & the mess helps my imagination run wild. So does the look in my hubby's eyes. Lol. 

These two all pooped out from making mommy THE cutest cards that sat next to the new plant they bought me, my favorite type of house plant, as I arrived home. Phoenix decorated it with paint filled baby fingers & toes. If you look really hard you can see them. My heart. Melts.

I had such a blast shopping at Target, buying a little bit for the whole family & not stressing out about baby maybe crying. This was my first trip to Target without him. I know you feel me moms of the world when I say, a little bit of "me time" goes a long way. A looong way. 

Nothing beats that feeling of your baby falling fast asleep in your arms as you return home, as if he waited for you. I really think he does. We just have a connection I tell ya. Don't be jealous daddy. He seems to really like you too. :)

Oh my boys, thank you for the best first Mother's Day. I still can't believe I carry such a special title now. It feels so good to be loved by you two, because I sure love you back. Lots.

In other news: We've (mostly him) been crazy trying to find the next investment property, which in such an insane market right now in Austin, seems to be proving to be very difficult. Until today. We should be under contract by Monday if all goes well. Fingers crossed. It should be a really quick/easy one. We also have been trying to find our personal property as well. After getting information from the bank we didn't see coming, we thought we had found THE place that fit our new plan. Put in an over asking cash offer & still didn't get it. 7 offers total on the property & we had to wait almost 2 weeks to hear back. I feel like Pretty Woman walking around with a hand full of money but no one will let me spend it, minus the hooker boots, okay & the hooker part. Yes I know, things could be way worse. This mama & papa just really want our own place. We sold our personal property years ago now, to follow our dreams & find it so weird that with what we do for a living that we are renters. Hopefully not for long.

Happy Weekending, guys. xx

four months.

It's true what they say, "It only gets better." You are now four months old & time sure is flying, but I'm doing okay with it now. Okay, I'm better than I was about it now. Time can slow down a little.

Phoenix, you are now 12.3 pounds & 25 inches long. Most of all, our healthy little nugget. You are now interested in things like momma's hair, your stuffed animals, putting things in your mouth (like your toes), watching us in the kitchen, the microwave seems to be pretty rad to you & not to forget the ceiling fans, still your #1. We are able to keep you entertained more, this helps when mommy wants to get ready or just go pee. I die when you squeeze all your body cuteness together & smile. Die I tell ya. Can we take a second to talk about your giggles, the ones that you are still working on. We can see it in your face that you know you are doing it but then all the sudden you forget how. It's too much for one heart to handle, but could you please stop hiding it from momma's video camera, please. We have now figured out a better feeding schedule for you at night, thanks to that booby pump of mine. Getting you to sleep for 5 hours straight & only waking up once in the middle of the night (most of the time) is pretty life changing. At your appointment today they told me you will start sleeping through the night soon, I think my heart skipped a beat when I heard that. You are also almost with complete control of that cute head of yours. Your legs are still "crazy legs" & getting stronger by the minute. You know how to scoot yourself almost out of your swing & down the couch. I swear you are going to walk before you crawl. Please don't. Baby boy, you just make us so happy, every. single. day. Daddy & you finally had some alone time & you cried. The second time you were much better & I really wish I had a hidden camera for these moments. I can only imagine the overwhelming amount of cuteness that surrounds you two. This month we plan to take you on your very first boat ride & to your first concert, to see Unkie. Life only gets better & better with you around. We love you so so much, sweet boy.

dear sweet son of mine,

            I can honestly say the mornings are still my favorite times with you, your sweet smile as you wake, your funny little noises & those baby toots. Although today as I took that picture of you above, we snuggled, I kissed you, a lot, you smiled, so did I. Then we looked right into each others eyes & smiled some more. I think I could live in that moment forever, & ever. My love for you is endless & it will always be. Your sweet smile touches my soul with one precious glance. 

I love you, my son.

love, mommy

the shop >> sneak peek + mom love.

That's right, I'm getting somewhere. The vision is there. Ordering what I need & waiting for it is what's happening now. Finding time is the impossible key ingredient. Single moms, I kiss you, I don't know how you do it? I really don't, you deserve the world & more. I hope all you wonderful, amazing, baby squeezing, kissing & hugging freaks (me included), have THE most perfect Mother's Day.

We deserve it after all. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom & Joyce. 

♥

celebrating me, because of you.

It's all still such a dream, I can't believe it's true. Time is flying like they all say it does, but this is nothing new. When life is good, it flies & fast. Maybe, just maybe, this here thing doesn't make me feel so different, because baby, I was made for you. 

Mother's Day is right around the corner & I can't believe I fall into that category this year. I too get to understand the meaning of this love that is like no other. A love that feels so deep it almost hurts, when you smile at me. I can't celebrate me without celebrating you. You, my husband, my other better half. If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be mine & I wouldn't be his. His mother. I love you. My boys.

I was made for you. <<

closing on one dream & opening doors to the next.

Last Friday Phoenix put on his best threads to head to his very first closing. I couldn't help but want a thousand photos, but apparently, that's not professional in the closing room. So I stole a couple & on the way home wished I had gotten more. I just wanted a smile from my little business man. These boys were serious business. I guess Phoenix is already a pro.

There it was, a couple signatures & we no longer owned Stark. On the way home we grabbed the goods for a little family celebration on a Friday evening. 

Clifford was a very huge dream of ours that came true & allowed us to pay off all the previous years of making our dreams work. Stark has now set new dreams for us, bigger personal dreams. It has taken years but we've made it. Made it to the point were THAT check is 100% ours. We are tempted to go to the bank & withdraw it all, "in $20s, please.," hold it & redeposit with a stupid huge smile. Weird? Nah. Thank you to our family & friends who have helped us mentally, physically & financially along the way. We wouldn't be where we are today without you. Today we head to the bank & start the process to a new dream. Friday we closed the door on one dream, today we open the door to another. 

Evenings fortune cookie reads: A great pleasure in life is doing what others say you can't.

Follow your dreams guys, no matter what hurdles you may have to overcome. The reward is priceless. 

family summer staples >> H&M style

Okay so first I would like to place a complaint, which is going to come off a little ridiculous being that all I wanted before was for it to exist. So here's the thing, H&M now exist in Austin, thank freakin' god. Here's the issue: it is 45+ minutes from me, so can we please just start being able to purchase things online already? That's the ridiculous part. Plus I feel like I see all the things I want to nab up, pictured below, but I'll do the drive & some won't be there. Boo. I told you it was ridiculous.

So Mama needs all these things. Yes she does. Can we start with the nursing bras, I just miss the days of my sexy black bra paired with my loose tank tops. Now I'm all... oops, that's just my nursing pad & my boring bra. Dying to try on a high waste swimsuit bottom. A little fringe in my life, please. THAT jacket for date night or just trying my hardest to look cool. The mister hates hats on me, but he'll get over it. Or I'll just tune out the comments. Probably that one. 

Oh Papa, you sexy man you. The man that would sleep in a vintage v-neck or western shirt, if he liked sleeping in shirts. He's a simple man when it comes to his wardrobe & he'll try & tell you he doesn't have much style. Don't let him fool you. The man's got style, & a splash of good smellin' cologne to boot. I better stop there, oh that yummy scent. 

Then there is the sweet little man of the house, the one that makes a dirty sock look cute. It's safe to say once I make it to H&M, that western shirt  i s  m i n e. Daddy won't even care about the price, anything to make our little man look a little more like daddy, he's all over it. And because let's face it, he can't wear those shorts mama made him everyday, now can he?

Now we're off to close on Stark, yeah!! Get money... (for H&M shopping?) ;)
What are your Summer staples?