This month:

Violet started preschool. 

She was VERY upset about being dropped off and it broke my heart (and I completely sobbed when I got to the car. Amateur.) But luckily I had the day off with Ronnie so we eased the pain after with a quiet breakfast and day of relaxation together. She came home as happy as could be (when I finally got that "first day of school" picture) and all has been just fine since. She's on a Monday/Wednesday schedule and I'd love to add on a Friday sometime soon. She's thriving there, that's for sure!

I left on my "big work trip".

My annual Vegas work trip of course had to be this month. I left to the airport after dropping Violet off for her second day of school. That broke my heart too but I'm so thankful I was able to switch around flights to at least be there for her first full day of school. It was a good trip, our event went well and I came home with a ton of goodies for Violet but 8-10 day trips are no longer fun when you leave behind a child and a busy with his own schedule husband. But we all survived! And the reunion when I got home was perfect. It's amazing how much I missed just loving on my girl. 

I turned 32!

Not sure why there's an exclamation point up there - I'm not that excited about being this age. Thirty was just fine by me but thirty twooooo. That was a hard pill to swallow. Closer and closer to mid-thirties, y'all! But still no sign of crows feet around my eyes (just bags under them. ha!) so the longer I keep those away, the less old I feel. (Silly, I know.) We didn't do much because we just never do for birthdays but I had a fun dinner with my little family and then another dinner with my mom and sister and got tons of good gifts. Even my co-workers joined together and got me my favorite, an Old Navy gift card! It was a good birthday.

Violet got her first sinus and ear infection. 

It started off as just a runny nose so she went to school that first week but by that Friday (9/26) she got worse so that next Monday we took her to the doctor. She surprised us and actually did WELL for the first time ever at the doctor's office! I think it was the really sweet (new?) nurse who put her at ease and calmed her for the doctor. It was kind of amazing and a HUGE relief for us. Hopefully we can stop dreading those appointments now! *fingers crossed* She was prescribed antibiotics for 10 days and missed school that week but by the end of the week, she started feeling better, right in time for October! 

Notable pictures:
Our new "adult" table from IKEA!
My new favorite blanket ever.
Shared September birthday lunch with coworkers included the yummiest wine. 

I'm alive!

I really hate apology posts and I'm not here to say sorry, as if you were just sitting there waiting to hear from me ;) But I'm alive and finally taking a breather after the most insane time of year at work. Our event went SO well and I'm happy it did but I'm more happy about the fact that it's over for now. We work on it all year and then the 2 months before are absolutely stupid busy and then I have to leave for 10 days for the actual event. I was beat when I got back but am slowing getting back to normal. Thank goodness it's Fall and I have THAT to boost my spirits.

Soooooo. What's been going on?

September: 

We got to ride in a giant Target cart car thingy - yes, that's one of my notable September moments. Y'all know I love me some Target. Violet turned 19 months (WHAT?!). I turned 31 (HUH?!). I celebrated my birthday with a date night with my honey and on the first cool morning of the season, I got my hair did by my wonderful sister-in-law as a birthday present. That was a good "me day". I'd only had a cut recently but hadn't colored my hair in over a year, at least. I need to get back into that, my hair just looks SO much better. Then a week after my birthday, I had a joint birthday lunch with my cousin and some close family. It was a nice end to my birthday week!

October:

VEGAS. That's about all that has consumed my life this month. The month basically was prepping for the trip, spending lots of time with the fam before I left and then spending 10 days in Vegas. Fun times were definitely had in the evenings (hello, it's Vegas) but I promise you, I actually worked, too. At least 12 hours every day and all on my feet. But it's ok because that's a requirement to balance out the kind of good eating and drinking we did at night!

When I got home, I basically squeezed the stuffing out of Violet and haven't let her go since. She hasn't let me go either and has been super clingy but I get it. I love being a mom and also having my career but doing both is tough, for sure. Days like these really make me wish I could give it all up and just stay home with her. I know that's not an option though right now so I try and just give both "jobs" my best. But I digress.

I'm just glad to be back to real life and a calm life, for a bit. I'm so pumped for hopefully the pumpkin patch this weekend and Halloween next week! And today we're throwing a surprise office bachelorette party for a co-worker who shocked everyone and married her boyfriend on the last day we were in Vegas! We all left to go home but they stayed behind a couple extra days to get married. SO awesome but I wish we'd known so we could've had a legit bachelorette party in Vegas!! But we're doing mimosas, food and games this afternoon for her at the office and I'm excited!

Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of blogging soon but fair warning - I think for sure this time that I'm going to turn this blog into a 95% baby book for Violet. I've been awful at keeping record of things happening in her little life and that needs to change... So, definitely less of me-me-me and more of the mom stuff that might get sappy and annoying (yeah, I even annoy myself sometimes). Don't say I didn't warn ya ;)

Late in the day Birthday wish!

My sister doesn't read my blog. Hell, she doesn't even know about it. (As most of my IRL friends and family don't. Crazy, right?)

But I have to say it anyway because I love her...

Happy 19th Birthday to the cutest baby stister EVER. Love you!

seriously. cutest babe born in '94.

why my child looks shocked half the time, we'll never know. but she's cute anyway.

Also, GO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY NOW.

It's for $50 worth of jewelry. That's what they call a no brainer, friends.

See ya tomorrow for a post about my child's 1st and quite possibly last birthday party ever ;)

Just one more month.

Today, our girl is 11 months old!

Exactly one year ago today, I was being showered with all things pink and basically having zero clue just how much my life and OUR lives would change forever. Definitely a naive newbie mama :)

Today? (Well, these were taken yesterday) 

We have a wild child on our hands! (with bumps and scrapes to prove it ;)

She's crawling up a storm, loves cords and scaring the hell out of her mama (ha!), she's babbling 24/7 (and is close to saying "baby"!), she has 4 teeth on top, 4 on bottom and goes to bed by 10 most nights (that's early for her, believe me). She still wakes up a couple times a night but also sleeps in late if our schedule allows. She stands on her own for a couple seconds at a time and shocked us the other night when she squatted down to get something without holding onto anything. She bends over all the time and I swear she's gonna tumble one day. She is obsessed with the dogs' crates (which is where she got her big forehead scrape from), obsessed with standing at the patio doors (where she got that forehead bruise from. ha) and loooves seeing herself in the mirror. She eats so much and so well and is definitely slowing down on the amount of bottles she drinks. She's turning into a big girl every day :(

I can barely scroll through the pictures on my phone or on Facebook without tearing up over just how much and how quickly she's changed and grown up. We're always so proud to see her reach milestones but it all happens so dang fast!! I know it's just life and we're "doing our job" in raising her and teaching her new things but someone please tell that to my crazy Mama heart. ha I just want to cuddle her and keep her out of harm's way forever!

So in just one month we'll celebrate the craziest, happiest, BEST year of our lives! I'm not sure if I should just smile about it or go hide under the covers and cry about it some more ;)

Happy 11 Months, toots.

The last birthday post, I promise.

After a week of being spoiled, I'm so bummed it's over!! I'm a brat, what can I say. I'm not sure about you but in my world, the actual birthday day is just a starting point right? ;)

So the day after, birthday money in hand, I went shopping during lunch and got sucked into all that is Versona. Do you have one in your area? It's like Charming Charlie's but I think it's a good mix of more of the "older" jewelry and accessories that my mom would like (ha) and a lot of trendy accessories. I was overwhelmed with the jewelry, scarves, shoes, purses, you name it! Super affordable too.

On Friday, my boss took the office to PF Changs for my birthday lunch then that night, Ronnie and I dropped V off with my parents and he took me to Kona Grill (my favorite!!). Good thing I was wearing an old maternity dress that day - I so needed that extra space. ha! I had some of the yummiest sushi AND we split a ginormous red velvet cupcake! The cupcake was ridiculously good and totally on the house for my birthday!

1. Starting Thursday off with crazy haired V! // 2. Shopping on Thursday!
3. Oh the goodness. // 4. Big ass cupcake // 5. Me looking poofy and lip color-less. Oh well. Real life, y'all ;)

Saturday was the birthday party dinner for me and my cousin who was turning 50 on Sunday. For the past 5 years or so we have celebrated our birthdays together with all the ladies in our family and I love that! I'm so grateful for my mom, aunts and cousins. I'd post more of the pics but I look pretty awful in most of them so lucky you, this is all you get ;)

1. my doll baby // 2. my presents!! // 3. me and my cousin, Mandy
4. Mom, tired V and me // 5. Mom made margarita cupcakes for us! // 6. Precious girl
7. Hanging out with cousin Milo // 8. Us with Milo & Amy // 9. V finally met cousin Connor!

Sunday, I shopped again! Ronnie graciously offered to keep the baby (during FOOTBALL, y'all!) and I met up with Kerbi and we went to Ulta and B&BW, then to Orange Leaf for froyo! We spent a long time talking and before we knew it, we'd been out nearly 4 hours! ha. This was my second time hanging out with Kerbi and I had a lot of fun with her! Maybe next time we'll actually take pictures. Afterwards I went home to take V off Ronnie's hands and she and I went to Old Navy and Target. Nope, shopping never gets old :)

Overall, best birthday week ever. And my thoughts on 30 now that it's been nearly a week?

Best age ever. It's like something clicked with me and I'm just completely loving it. So for all of you youngins, don't be nervous about 30, it's awesome!

   

30 so far

I have to admit, the night before my birthday I felt sick to my stomach. The idea of it being my last night in my 20s made me SO sad. Like the end of an era, ya know? Ronnie was so sweet to comfort me even though it was so silly. He really is too good for me and handles my craziness so well :)

Ronnie went above and beyond this year - maybe because he know how much I was dreading the 3-0 thing. First I woke up to a decorated living room and kitchen and that was the sweetest surprise! But then he opened the front door and outside was a gift, balloons and cupcakes waiting for me from my MOM! She stopped by on her way to work and decorated our front door and the whole front porch with that yellow "Over the Hill" tape. It was dark out and I couldn't get good pictures but it was such a cool surprise!

Afer taking some pictures (of course) I went inside for the gifts! Ronnie gave me a Pumpkin Cheesecake cupcake from my fave place Saweet and a card with some cold.hard.CASH!! And with that I was ordered to go spend it on Sunday - while he watches the baby! My mom's gift was a box of Lime-a-Ritas (I've been dying to try them!), some candies and random little gifts and a pretty nice gift card to Old Navy. Do they know me or what? :)

Then after making it through the work day (why must we work on our birthdays?!), we went for a quick dinner since Ronnie had a paper to write. We went to one of my faves, Habanero's for burritos! Once we were home Ronnie did his homework and I played with the girly and then got her ready for bed. She crashed out by 9:30 with no struggle so I consider that her gift to me :)

 

My day was completely perfect.

 

And to make it even better, we're leaving V off with my parents tomorrow night and going out for a REAL date (sushi!!) which I'm so excited about! Then on Saturday I'm meeting my mom, aunts and girl cousins for dinner. The ladies in my family celebrate our birthdays like that every year. I'm seriously feeling spoiled! (and so grateful!)

 

Thank you thank you thank you for all of your sweet Birthday wishes yesterday!!!

Now that I'm actually 30, I have to say that it feels pretty damn good so far :)

my birthday

 

Happy 30th Birthday to little old me :)

 

Last year I celebrated my 29th while pregnant and on a work trip.

 

This year?

 

I'm celebrating tonight with my amazing, too-good-for-me fiance and our adorable 6 month old.
 

Life is GOOD!

 

P.S. Ever wonder how Violet got all that hair? After the above picture, I'm sure you will wonder no more! ;)
P.S.S. Thank you thank you for all the tweets and Facebook birthday wishes!! And huge thank you to Rhonda for this amazing post.

The end of my 20s!

Today I woke up to one of my favorite sights:

and that's only half!

Birthday freebies!!!!

My second favorite time of year (after Christmas, of course) has begun!

And thanks to Mishi, I now know of the greatest birthday freebie list yet. Check it.

 

So in exactly one week I turn 30, which really means:

THIS IS MY LAST WEEK OF BEING IN MY 20s, y'all.

And when I really think about that, I get a big ol' lump in my throat. I'm an overly sentimental girl in case ya didn't know so it's just an emotional thing for me. But instead of crying my eyes out and getting all negative over turning 30, I'm SO thankful for my 20s and all the milestones that have brought me to the life I have and love now:

At 24, I started dating this guy!

 

At 27, we got engaged in Yosemite!

 

At 28, I got knocked up!

 

I spent half of 29 cooking Violet!

 

At 29, we bought our cute, little house!

and best of all at 29, I became a Mom.

 

To say I'm grateful for my 20s is an understatement.
 

Here's to my last week of being a youngin! ;)

 

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for our Fall swap!

A Special Monday

Today is the special-ist of special days :)

First,

Happy 31st Birthday to my baby daddy!

(this is my fave picture from when we finally got to bring V home!!)

You are my love, my best friend and the best daddy I could've asked for for our sweet daughter.
I love you too much, bubba!!!

aaaand second, my cousin's wife delivered their baby boy Milo this morning!

I'm so excited for them and I think it's sweet that Violet will have a cousin so close in age.

Of course being Monday, it's time to dump all my recent pictures here :)

Watching me get ready for work :)

Snuck out of work to the next door Starbuck's for a break

BBQ on Saturday with Ronnie's fam for his birthday!

Love the Tiny Prints cards I ordered for the grandmas for Mother's Day!

I had dinner with a high school BFF so we could meet each other's
new babies and we called it Ayden and Violet's first date ;)

YUMMY peach cider I bought at the Farmers Market on Sunday

Looking ridiculously cute in her new bow I bought at the Farmers Market!

Love the nail polish that I won a while back from Cole's giveaway
OPI "Charged Up Cherry"
(She also sent me those cute sandals Violet's wearing above ;)

(find me on Instagram: jeyreycupcake)

A whole lotta random

{I just thought this was cute :) Via}

Happy Tuesday, good lady friends of mine!

I had a post all ready to go yesterday and totes forgot to publish it. I wasn't feeling it really. But I did have the best 3 day weekend ever and the best Easter ever! I spent quality time with my honey and doggies, then we spent some fun time with our families so it was PERFECT. And from the look of y'alls posts, your weekends were great too! :D

Now this week I am crazy busy at work, in preparation for the trade show/conference my company is holding in Fort Worth next week...which means I'll be out of town from Sunday through Thursday! I go out of town only 3-5 times a year but it's always for a week or two so I really hate the being away from home part...oh yeah and the hard work part. But it is like a big reunion every time, seeing people we haven't seen since the last conference and that is what I look forward to! During these trips we work long days and party network all night and my no-longer-21-year-old self can barely handle it. I'm so beat afterwards that I normally sleep all day when I get back into town but I won't be able to this time... because I'll be back just in time to prepare for Ronnie's 30th Birthday!!

Speaking of which, I still have not bought him a gift. AGH! I know. World's.worst.fiance. But in the off chance Ronnie decides to be sneaky and read this, I won't say anymore about his birthday... because I do have some tricks up my sleeve!! bwahahaha.

And told you this was random because I'm totally posting a pic of my cutie boys from this past weekend! After Ronnie laid out his fresh out of the dryer laundry on the bed, Niles got busted rolling around in it while Frasier didn't seem to care, he stayed cuddled under the warm t-shirts. Precious babies! :)  

Which reminds me, April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month! The month's almost over but you can always do your part to help prevent animal cruelty! We saved our black dog, Frasier and I'm so thankful we did!! Ronnie also saved another black wiener dog who he found starving and cold, chained to the porch of a house. Apparently the family had moved out and left him behind. But he's happy and healthy in his new home now so it just goes to show you, everyone can help!... Ok...Off my soap box.

But wait...there's more! Check out the amazing Tanya over at A Taste of T. She is so sweet and I love her blog! {Also, she lives right up 35 from me so I'm thinking we'll need a meetup at some point! ;)} She's having an awesome giveaway right now from Vintage Poster so get over there and ENTER!!

So yeah..that's all I've got today!

I didn't intend to talk so much..I mostly wanted to drop in and say HELLO! :D

But have an awesome day, y'all! It's back to work for me!

Birthday & BBQ!

OK so I feel like an annoying person with all my weekend recaps....
But 1) I have a horrible memory and I want to have this journal of my life for later on...
And 2) I am truly always working for the weekend. I live for these 2 days off {as I'm sure you all do!} and I just cherish every bit of my Saturdays and Sundays. These weekends are the most important days of my life! :)

Saturday, we met up with Ronnie's family for a belated Birthday lunch for their dad. Ronnie's step-mom couldn't make it but Ronnie's sister, Krissy and her boyfriend came and we had a great time! First stop was the famous dance hall, Gruene Hall  for some beer. Ronnie's family is just so laid back, it's easy to have a great time with them!

Krissy & Ronnie with their Dad

Krissy and her honey, Darren 

Then we went next door to The Grist Mill where I had quite possibly the yummiest chicken spinach salad EVER {but forgot to take a pic!}. There was lots of laughing and lots of YELLing over the loud birthday party next to us but we had such a fun time. I'm so grateful for such awesome future in-laws!

Partial view of the restaurant from the patio. Such a pretty day!

Us

And then today? We've had the best lounge day EVER!! I did lots of dog walking, cleaning and movie watching! Ronnie just kinda came along for that ride and gladly chilled out with his laptop for most of the day.

We did actually leave the house ONCE though. ha! I realized I had a Living Social deal expiring soon and Ronnie freaked out like a kid on Christmas morning when I told him it was for one of his faves, Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse BBQ. It's this funky little place right down the street from the San Antonio Zoo and they have a really awesome "Beer Garden" patio and of course, GREAT bbq! The patio is dog friendly and they even have a tree house cigar and wine lounge! If you're ever visiting SA and are near the Zoo, try it out! The brisket and potato salad are my faves!

Thanks for sticking around through these posts, it means a lot!..Now, go get ready for bed! It's back to work tomorrow!! :D

Busy Weekend Recap

This weekend was so busy and I love it that way!

Friday night, I saw Wicked with my mom and sis, for her 17th birthday! She was super excited but I'm so bummed that all my pictures came out really bad. My damn flash always whites everyone out. It was such an amazing show but I have to admit I was VERY bored by a couple songs. { Just keeping it real! :p }

Saturday, Ronnie & I just did some driving and ended up in Gruene where we had an amazing lunch at the Gruene River Grill and had the best view of the Guadalupe River. I had this exact salad {stolen from their website} and I wish this place was close by because I could go for some more right about now! :p Afterwards, we scoured the Gruene River Antique Shop - I freaking love that place!

Saturday night, I went to dinner with two of my three BFF's from high school. We lost touch after high school but were reunited through Facebook recently and figured it was time for a real reunion! We ended up talking at the restaurant for FIVE hours! During that time my phone died and I had an upset fiance when I got home because he'd been so worried. ha! I'm a fool for not taking any pics that night but we had a blast and will definitely be doing that again - next time hopefully the missing BFF can make it!

Sunday, I hung out with this hottie and his great family at Landa Park.

We had a little bbq for his Mom's bday which included lots of yummy food, lots of laughs and trying out some whipped cream flavored vodka for the first time. {that shiz was amazing!} We're so lucky the weather turned out to be gorgeous! It felt sooo good sitting directly in the sun all afternoon...Not so much later when we got in the car and realized we were incredibly sunburned but it was worth it :)

Then after all that sun, we had a relaxing night at home full of cuddling on the couch with the dogs, laughing our a's off at tosh.o and then we finally knocked out......for 9 whole hours!!

But today? I currently feel like I had about 3 hours of sleep and am beyond irritated with everyone at work. ha! Coffee has been no help either. {note to self: 9 hours = bitch and a half the next day.}

Anywho...Hope y'all have a Happy Monday!