Things to Do

My little man is getting so big...as of today, he is a year and a half and I look at him and can't even remember where the time has gone. Yes, I know everyone tells us how fast they grow and before you know it, you will packing them up for college and moving them out of the house. Really? :(

Chrispy is a busy little man. His days are non-stop, except for the little break from Chrispy's natural disasters during nap time. There are times I have to grab him and give a good squeeze and hug, and then he is off again. It's obviously not the same as those newborn months we first had, but it is so much fun. His personality is really starting to come out and what I know of him now is that is a wild child, super funny, and loves animals.

It's amazing looking at old videos and photos of him and to think, he has things to do now. His only job used to be to eat and grow, and now, it's to rearrange all of his toys (and living room), climb all the ledges he can, run down all the hallways back and forth laughing until someone catches him, and to be a happy little boy.

I'll admit that my happy points in the day, being selfish that is, are the nap times. Not because he is going to be giving Mommy a little break that ends up usually turning into clean up time or how much time do I have to do a quick work out video, but because that is the time he is still and calm and lets me wrap my arms around him and snuggle his body into mine. That is when he doesn't have anything to do but be loved.

I know he will soon never want me to hug him or kiss in public, but for now, in this brief period of time, he is my little man to love and cherish. He is my thing to do everyday, my accomplishment.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

This Too Shall Pass

My heart is broken, every breath I take, it feels as if it hurts my chest. I feel lost almost, something is foreign to me, and at times, I lose myself in a thought or memory. There are moments that I doubt my strength and become afraid, will my life every be the same?

If you are a personal friend or family member, you know, my father has passed away. It was just like any other Tuesday afternoon. Chrispy and I had just finished our lunch and were getting ready to take our afternoon nap when I got the call. The call. My mother was in tears and I could barely understand her but what I did get will forever stay in my memory, my dad was at the hospital, he had a massive heart attack and they were unable to retrieve a pulse. My mom said goodbye and than I waited.

I sunk to the floor of our kitchen and couldn't move, couldn't breath, and felt like the room was spinning. Tears began to fill my eyes and cover my face. Call my husband, call my husband.....that's what ran through my head. All it took me was to say my dad had a heart attack and he said he would be right there. It felt like in the time it took for my husband to get off the phone to getting to me, I could remember everything about our time together, my dad and I, our precious time together.

My husband arrived and immediately grabbed me into his chest and squeezed me so tight, at that moment, I knew something was wrong. My husband than grabbed my phone to call my mom, I held my breath, and than, she said it, he was gone. My heart sank, I grabbed the side of a cabinet and had to hold on as if I was holding it in place and controlling it, and began to feel my heart brake. The pain was unbearable.

My father was my rock and taught me to be the strong woman I am today. He was my first love, the one I could always run to, and the reason I was able to know what a good man was when I found my husband. I knew, no matter what, I could always count on my dad, and now he is gone. I know I'm not the only girl who has lost her dad, but it is a pain that I have never known.

I know there is a reason God took my father after only 64 years of a well-seasoned life, but I'm still trying to come with terms on why, for my own selfish reasons. I only got 27 years with my dad, far too less than what I would like, but at least he got to see me grow into a woman, to marry a great man, and to give him his first grandson.

I don't ever think the space in my heart will fill again, because it was his space. Everyday will be a little better, a little brighter. One day I will be happy I got to spend some time with my dad before the winter of his life was over. One day I won't cry randomly at every stop light in my parents hometown, or when I smell someone that smells like him. I can still see his face, every detail, and still here him laugh. At times I wish he were here just so I can sit up an  argue with him :)

The point of this random post is, I miss my dad. I loved him. He will always be the best man I have ever known. Time can only heal this pain.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -Psalm 34:18

The Aztec Sweater

The Aztec Sweater, what a great fashion piece. I have loved it since I've seen it for Fall fashion. I adore graphic prints and since this is a sweater that almost anyone can pull off, it makes it so effortless. I love that I can wear this with jeans and boots for the day and be causal, as well as wearing leather leggings and some pumps for a night out. To me, it just screams cozy and chic.

These are more beautiful photos by my friend Sarah before I left Japan. I couldn't have asked for a better photographer and a better view. I loved the many idealic scenes Japan gave us, and I will always look back on these pictures and think to myself how lucky was I. Ohio does have some amazing views too, with their lush and rustic evergreens in every corner. Right now the trees are pretty amazing because of the snow, the glorious snow that has graced us. It really is a white winter land but unfortunately, it's -17 degrees out so no pictures for this gal...no bueno.

I also am wearing my new favorite foundation in these photos that literally make your skin look amazing without very much product. It's called Radiant Lifting Foundation by SHISEIDO and I'm in love with it. I get asked a lot about my skin and my skin care regimen which I'll do a post on soon. I really owe a lot to this foundation too simply because it seems to really feel like I have nothing on and it covers with just one pump for me, and believe it or not, I actually don't wear a lot of product. I do test lots of different products and I have always found that if the product, for example using eyeshadow, has better pigmentation of color, you honestly don't need to wear very much.

I also have started on staining and painting my chairs for a farmhouse style table my hubby and I are redoing. Only problem is that I'm trying out a new stain concept for me called Polyshades and I don't know if I'm in love with this product yet or not. It is a mixture of stain and polyurethane and can even go on top of other stains. I am doing a test on my first chair and will give you some feedback on how well it works.

With -17 degree weather here in Ohio and me without any furniture in my house, to say my life is boring is an understatement. It's more like I have to be stuck in the house for purposes of not freezing to death, plus, I don't think Chrispy really likes the cold too much. He gets really upset and even starts crying because it was cold outside, no matter how many layers I put on him. Hopefully he will grow into it because it doesn't look we are moving anytime soon, at least not for another 3 years ;)

Sweater: Forever21

Leather Leggings: Normstorm

Chiffon top: H&M(old)

Necklace: J.Crew

Earrnings: J.Crew

Braclet: Stella and Dot

Ring: Stella and Dot

Happy Monday Y'all! 

Snow Day!!!

We have been in our new house for maybe about two weeks now and love it. It's perfect for our family and what we need right now. The hard part is waiting for our furniture and belongings to finally get here. Infact, they are probably on a ship right now, as I type this, heading our way. The house is very empty and I just can't wait to lay on my couch finally instead of a floor.

I've been trying to hold back from going crazy with shopping just yet because we do have amazing pieces of furniture and decor from our travels, but it is so hard. I always tell myself to wait until everything gets here, and if they so happen to be ruined or damaged, they will replace it for you ;) Hopefully some choice pieces I don't really care for have a "less than safe" journey.

I was getting kind of restless with nothing going on in the house and nothing in it. I also was about to lose my mind if I had to drop my jacket on the floor one more time because there was no place to hang it. I just couldn't take it anymore, so I finally fixed the problem. I made what is our laundry/mud room useable while our stuff is on its way. Just by simply hanging some hooks and a key holder did all world for my crazy obessions.

I also decided instead of a boring key holder I would use a magnetic knife rack. It really is just so much simplier this way. I also nabbed up some of these adorable elephant hooks just so Chrispy could have a reach for his own stuff :) I LOVE THEM!!!

With a blank canvas and no furniture in my house to destroy, it might be the best time to paint, if I do decide to paint. I am not really wanting to paint my whole house, just this long hallway that leads you from my front door to my kitchen. I see long gray stripes and lots of family photos down this hallway maybe? If I do decide to do the stripes, it would only take a little bit of paint to cover it back up when we leave or change our minds (my mind) so it's something I'm really considering. What do you think?

Just a few samples of gray paint that I like, one is more blueish and don't know if will look right.

With all this house planning in my head I completely missed the fact that there was snow on the ground outside! It snowed so hard all day to the point the base even closed down and the hubby got to come early from work. First order of business was to show Mr. Chrispy the snow, for the first time. He was nervous at first to walk out to the backyard to see all the white stuff.

But to be perfectly honest, I don't think he liked it too much. He isn't really used to colder weather, so it will take some time before it grows on him...I hope. Even though Chrispy wasn't having the time of his life, the boys sure were. They nose dived straight into a pile of snow and spent most of the day outside rolling and eating it.



After hours outside playing in the snow, shoveling the snow, wiping the snow, cleaning up the snow, and pretty much everything having to do with snow, this Momma was tired. I was even more tired of the fact that I own two pairs of snow boots and they both happen to be in my shipment with my furniture....of course! So my toes pretty much were frozen all day! Bummer :( I know we will have many more of these days and for that I'm really thankful, but they can wait till I get my boots ;) Just hope they don't come in blizzard form ;)

Happy Thursday Y'all!