Last weekend, after we got back from our failed trip (still bummed about that one), we did some fun stuff in town. Saturday, we went walking around one of our fave parks, Brackenridge and took V on the Zoo Train. The last time we went on it was months ago and we had to hold her tightly on our laps - this time she sat by herself (next to me, of course) and she was just such a big girl about it. Made me proud :) 

The weather all weekend was windy and cool and totally perfect. That night, Ronnie was fiddling around in the yard (his favorite) and I finally joined him on the front porch. We had some beer, talked about the future and I was freaking out the entire time that I was hanging out with my HUSBAND. Oh, it feels so nice to say that!!

Sunday, we went looking for bluebonnets. I'd read online that there were some good ones at McAllister Park (right down the street from our house) and while there were some good patches, it wasn't anything very lush. I think we're already late in bluebonnet season - which is typical of my procrastination every year, which is why I've never gotten a picture of Violet in them until this year. I just can't handle this picture. So big and so sweet. Love this girl!

Monday, I was surprised at work with a little wedding celebration! One co-worker made cake pops for the first time because she knew I loved them and they came out so good! We had chips and dips, champagne and those big, fake wedding rings you get for bachelorette parties. Such a fun afternoon and I'm seriously so grateful to work with these people. Drinking on the job never gets old either.

Monday night, this is the only picture I got but you can tell why it was a must. Girlfriend only got one bite of chocolate pudding and while I was behind her cooking dinner in the kitchen, she made the biggest mess of her whole life. I guess it's good we got this far without huge messes. ha It was hilarious, she was squishing it between her fingers and loving life. She got a goood bath after that!

Last night, I took this picture because now every time we get home, she has to sit in her chair for a bit before we go inside. It's so cute and I'm glad she got the relaxing gene from us ;) And if you're wondering, the chair is from Walmart. FIVE DOLLARS! Get your kids one stat!

 

A date with Santa

On Sunday I had my first ever "we met on Instagram" date with my new friend Chelsea, from Austin. She and I met through my Instagram shop, she has one also and an Etsy shop too where she sells hand painted leggings (more on that in another post!). There's not a whole ton of girls in our area on the Instagram shop "circuit" so we chatted a lot and we both have girls the same age so decided to make plans to meet up, somewhere between SA and Austin. Chelsea had the idea to meet in Gruene since that's a great spot in the middle for us and we could get the girls' Santa pictures taken there with Cowboy Kringle. (Seriously. So cute, right?)

After two failed attempts (weather related), we finally made it happen yesterday! It still was bad timing with Violet in awful teething, whiney mode but I was determined to make the meet up happen and I'm so glad I finally got to meet Chelsea and Addi! I didn't get any pictures of Chelsea and I but I did get a couple of the girls while we were in line for Santa. The line wasn't that long but it was pretty unorganized so it took longer than it probably should have. Good thing for the abnormally cold day and getting there early so there wasn't much of a crowd!

So, back to when I said Violet was in whiney mode? Yeah, that lasted the whole time. Hence the baby pacifier for most of the day. UGH. And by the time she got up to see Santa, she was already wearing down and I knew it wouldn't be good. I even changed the original picture package I'd signed up for because I figured we wouldn't get a good shot. But I guess if you consider crying pictures to be good ones, then hers was great! Poor Santa still asked her if she wanted anything for Christmas and I told him a doll would be great to which he replied, "I will see what I can do!". I took that to mean, girlfriend's getting coal for Christmas. She's still pretty cute though :)

After pictures, I totally pushed my luck and we took the girls to eat at the Grist Mill. Enter toddler nap time meltdown. I got to eat a few bites and then it all went way downhill. Poor Chelsea packed up my food for me while she and her angel of a child ate and I walked outside to calm down my child. We had to leave soon after but thank goodness for Chelsea being so awesome and helpful throughout it all. It was so great meeting her and I hope we get to do it again soon! Next time though, my kid's staying at home and we'll be in Gruene for another reason - WINE.

If you need me...

I'm either playing (and sucking badly at) Candy Crush.

or

on Instagram, selling my kid's clothes like a mad woman.

or

extra busy at work because I've been given yet another job duty (#smallcompanyproblems)

or

loving on this girl who is growing way too freaking fast!

Yeah, shiz is busy.

So, super big sorry for sucking at blog reading, emailing and tweeting. I promise I'll be a better friend one day soon!

monday things.

I really hate it when fun plans fall through (like going to the Highland Games) but then I remember NETFLIX and I'm able to move on. I have a major addiction, y'all. Seriously, it's out of hand. At some point literally every night after work, I plop down on the couch to watch 1-2 episodes of Mad Men or Breaking Bad. All this while my child plays all by herself. (This independent play thing is awesome though.) I'm pretty sure this qualifies me as 2013's Mom Of The Year.

So since Ronnie was stuck studying most of the weekend, that meant I had the TV (geez lady, move on!) and V all to myself. She and I did a lot of playing, a lot of clapping (she's finally learning how to!), a ton of reading, so much talking (kid doesn't shut up. but I love it), lots of eating, some grocery shopping, a few tantrums were had and....

I finally opened up my Instagram shop!!!

What's an Instagram shop, you ask?

Basically I set up a profile where I upload pictures of outfits and price them, people leave their PayPal email address if they want to buy, I invoice them, then I ship their items! Easy peasy. I was hesitant to start one but I finally "opened" it yesterday and have had a really good response so far. I've sent out 4 invoices already! I seriously owe Jenn all the credit. She opened up her shop a while back selling her own clothing and this is when she introduced me to the world of IG shopping! I've bought V so many things since then (that pink romper up there is from one shop!) so I wanted to join in too! If you're a new girl mama or have any preggo friends, send them my way!

and in other news, you may have noticed - I have an updated blog design!

All thanks to Emily of Oh, Hello Love!

I've been reading her blog for a little while and noticed she does blog design (isn't her own design gorgeous?) so I approached her about it and though she's currently taking a break from doing full blog design, she generously offered to create some design elements for me! She created my header, my "About Me" and social media buttons. She also gave me tips for updating the rest of my blog. Emily is truly amazing to work with and I'm so grateful to her for making my blog pretty! Emily's own blog is just so sweet and she talks décor, DIY, photography and gives freebies too. Her last freebie was this wallpaper which is currently on my own desktop. LOVE IT! Do yourself a favor and go visit Emily! ;)

Happy Monday, y'all!

Instalately Wednesday

Not a whole lot going on in my world at the moment so I'll just share some Instagram pictures! I'm feeling supah fancy today because I finally discovered (yes, I'm slow) how to make my pictures into circles. Thank you, Pic Monkey! I am completely obsessed with their site. Anything that allows this Photoshop-skills impaired girl to fake like she knows what she's doing is pretty awesome in my book ;)

  

Cereal lover like her mama // She was addicted to turning her aunt's TV off and on // I am so in love with these two.

 

 

Grocery shopping and considering a stop at the in-store bar // Sampled this at the bar and it was so yum., I had to buy it. // Happy girl :)

 

It was close to naptime so all smiles were gone // I can't get over all of the cute neon at Old Navy right now! // Her current favorite.

 

I'm getting antsy and want to change up the look of my blog again but don't know how to actually create the ideas that I have in my head. So for the millionth time (because I know I ask this all the time), can anyone recommend an affordable blog designer? Mama's on a budget, y'all!

Instagram love.

Geez, I am getting really bad at posting in a timely manner! Timely as in, not so friggin late in the day.

(Not sure why but late in the day posts always get overlooked. At least from my experience.)

I have so many pictures I haven't shared so no better time than today so I can link up with Jenn!

If you've never visited her blog, please do. She is my creative, DIY idol. I want to be like her when I grow up :)

 

Follow me on Instagram!

 

If you do already, you've seen these ;)

 

1. Throwback from the new mama days // 2. Books were her friend when she was sick // 3. Cutest dress evah.

1. Stop growing please. // 2. Starting her on Dumb & Dumber #parentsoftheyear // 3. The dump everything out on the counter game

1. Obsessed with Kohl's bebe clothes! // 2. My favorite lunch date // 3. Selling this precious dress for a friend if you're interested!

have a lovely night!! :)

merry nails

Happy Friday!

You know the day's gonna be good when you can start off with a little crafting! I just got done glittering up and personalizing stockings for myself and 12 co-workers. I'm a glittery mess now but it doesn't hurt getting paid to have some fun ;)

I'm linking up in 2 places today for both Amy's Merry Manicures and Tara & Vicki's Nail Files!

I tried over and over to get a good picture of my nails but it just wasn't happening. My phone's camera is normally pretty decent but it wasn't focusing well and my point and shoot was no help either...But here it is! I had fun with this one and was pleasantly surprised that pink glitter looks good over a berry color! I think it's pretty festive and Holiday-ish, no?

Essie A Cut Above and Essie Berry Naughty

I'd just finished cleaning then decorating so let's agree to ignore my cuticles, shall we? ;)

I have a new color on (as of last night) but I was pretty obsessed with this mani and want to do it again! A Cut Above is a really fun glitter too - it's "shattered" and has large pieces mixed in with micro glitter. I even had a couple people stop and ask what gold flaking I had used on my nails? ha. It's definitely a pink glitter but I can see how it looks goldish over the berry!

I never linked up any of my Instagram pictures this week so here's just a few! ;)

1. Christmas cutie booty // 2. Obsessed with V's new crib sheet // 3. Sweet girl

4. Dinner time  // 5. Influenster reviews coming soon! // 6. Cutest niece and nephew evah!

Have a great weekend, y'all!