Thursday, May 31, 2012

Somewhat obvious unsolicited advice



Ya know what ticks me off... people with no patience. In particular, parents with no patience!

I want to change those people.
I will ALWAYS want my child(ren) to have a happy childhood, not because it was perfect, but because Mom was happy.(Dad too)

In order for people to change, they need to know what causes this irritableness; this need to rush through life. Haven't you ever heard of  the saying "Stop & spell the roses???"

I think this is kind of obvious advice, but it's certainly worth saying after noticing how parents forget what life is all about..'ahem' heres a hint, YOUR CHILDREN!

I think its time we all make the efforf to be different. Stop to think about what you say before you say it. Stop to look around you and acutally see the people and step into their shoes. Stop to look at your child crying beside you and feel their pain and realize they need you. Stop to hear your spouse compliment you, stop to hear a bird chirp, or even a rain drop hit the ground. 
Stop...that is the message, Stop.
Be patient. There is nothing worth rushing in life. Every moment is so raw and precious. Each day should not be taken for granted. Each moment is a blessing. Yes, parenting is a true test of your patience, but your child no matter their age, they need you.


"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).


Love,
Jayme

How to get out of a slump?!

It can happen to any one of us on occasion and right now its happening to me...I was so busy preparing for the wedding, packing for our honeymoon, planning A's first birthday party. Now it suddenly seem to have come to a screeching halt and frustration is settling in. A sense of the blues even, well kinda-sorta, It's not like i'm depressed or have any reason to be bored, but I am just thinking "what now, what's next." When you're in a slump, it's not pleasant. If I can tell i'm not up to par, then i'm sure my hubby is losing his mind!  {It feels like 24/7 PMS, not cool} In fact, it can be confusing and hard to feel motivated to do anything more than feel stuck. However, my general feeling of malaise and dissatisfaction with myself is telling me something, it's telling me it's time to reroute my direction and start finding a new pathway to a brighter future for myself.  I think everyone can aim for bettering themselves. I love, love, love being a SAHM. I feel like the most privileged person in the world. So it's not that I'm needing a job if that's what your thinking. I know my journey to pick myself up and out of this slump is going to be a very personal and internally guided one, provided that I trust my own voice and the advice of others. For starters I need to relax, enjoy the small things in life; more does not mean better! I need to distant myself from the things creating this slump (still trying to figure out what those are though). I need to get inspired and crafty; I need to create new goals and hold myself accountable for those goals and I need to re-inject excitement into my life! Don't take me wrong, I'm a totally happy person and I love life, my daughter, my husband, & my entire family; I'm just putting my thoughts from this overactive brain onto paper! I need that. Writing helps me, thanks for listening to me vent (;
Have you ever been in a slump? What gets you out? What did you do to fill your time? I think it just comes down to that I'm a super duper busy body & I love having things to do & no... cleaning is not one of them!! ahem!



Thanks for listening to such babble,
Jayme

P.S. I've taken some medicine to help me have a monthly cycle the past few months, I think that might be taking a tole on these hormones of mine!!!

How to get our of a slump.

It can happen to any one of us on occasion and right now it's happening to me...
Life was so exciting when I was planning the wedding, getting ready for our honeymoon, preparing for A's First Birthday Bash. Suddenly my life seems to have come to a screeching halt! My busy body is just eating away at itself & frustration is setting in. A sense of the blues even. When you're in a slump, be it your career, your sports game, your studies or your personal life, it's not pleasant. In fact, it can be confusing and hard to feel motivated to do anything more than feel stuck. However, your general feeling of malaise and dissatisfaction is telling you something pointed––it's time to reroute your direction and start finding a new pathway to a brighter future for yourself.
Most of a journey to pick yourself up and out of a slump is going to be a very personal and internally guided one (provided that you trust your own voice). However, this article seeks to help you to restore your energy and sense of purpose with a few suggestions.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wordfull Wednesday| A recipe

Ooey, gooey, decadent, delicious, choclately goodness!
My all time favorite sweet treat in this world...
The Carmelita


See, a Carmelita is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill treat. Rather, it is like a buttery oatmeal cookie that swallowed a caramel-filled chocolate bar and then got bibitty-bobitty-booed by the dessert fairy godmother and received an extra dose of deliciousness. I swear, once you taste one you will be telling me that 'its the most wonderful thing ever.' I'm not exaggerating! I tasted my first Carmelita as a child. My grandmother makes them every year for Christmas Eve. My entire family raves about these bad boys. She has to make pans  & pans of them so that everyone can take some home with them too! She individually wraps them up in plastic wrap so you can grab a treat any time of the day! Its seriously the perfect dessert. Sprinkle some sea salt on top & baaaam its like obviously the most perfect creation!

32 unwrapped Carmel squares
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips


Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.
*A stint in the fridge will help them cool off if you're pinched for time. They shouldn't be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. They should be stored and served at room temperature.
**To make a 9x13" version, simply double the amounts

Alright, I'm serious make them & you won't be disappointed! In fact, I know your family will be asking for more! I do not make them too often because I will eat the entire pan myself! There simple to make GF too (if you can handle oats), Substitute the flour & waalah!

Enjoy this deliciousness,
Jayme



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sunday, we had a Pinkalicious First birthday party for Avery Anne! The party was fit for a princess & although Avery is indeed 'little miss attitude' already this will probably be her very last pink party ever! She doesn't seem like the princess loving type; she's a bit more rough around the edges!!! The party was a huge success & everything turned out picture perfect! We had family & friends, that were local, gather for a fun celebration & even though the birthday girl was a bit tired, she loved all the attention!



Hope you enjoyed that photo dump as much as I did!


Love,
Jayme

12 Month well-check

This morning we visited the doctor bright & early for Avery's 12mo well-check. It sure wasn't a great way to start the morning by waking Avery out of sound sleep to go get shots, but we made it & she's sleeping it off now!


9 Months:

Weight| 20# 13.2oz (75%)
Height| 30 1/8in (97%)
 Head Circumference| 17 7/8in (75%)
4 Teeth.
Letting go & taking 3-4 steps.

12 Months:
Weight| 22# 7.2oz (72%)
Height| 31 1/2in (98%)
Head Circumference| 18 1/2in (75%)
8 Teeth.
 Walking for 3.5 months now.

 
Lets just say the worst part was the band aide they put on her finger after they poked it for Hemoglobin & lead screening. She was NOT having that.
She is right on track with her developments & growth.
Food is still the major issue in her life. We are struggling to get her to eat anything, but the doctor assured me she is thriving & I just need to keep her on a strict schedule with meal/snack times & no more milk during nap/bed time. {Only H2O} So we are transitioning her to milk with her meals only. This will be a big adjustment for Avery, but hopefully in time it will trigger her to eat more at her meals.
All-in-all shes growing just beautifully & we now have a toddler on our hands!!!



Love,
Jayme

Monday, May 21, 2012

I'm Back.

The honeymoon was so amazing, but it's the last thing I want to talk about! Sunday morning I woke up to this beautiful face, a face I missed so much the last 8 days! We spent our entire Sunday playing in the sun & giving kisses! We had buckets of fun! I've never been so happy to be a mother & have my baby girl in my arms. This vacation really opened my eyes to what life is really about; my daughter & my husband bring me complete happiness. Sure the honeymoon was exotic, beautiful, romantic & fun... all the things a honeymoon should be & more, but damn it feels good to be home!




I Love this little chunk & I'm pretty sure she fell a little deeper in love with both sets of grandparents this past week!

 I promise, a Honeymoon update is in the making...


Love,
Jayme

Friday, May 11, 2012

Leaving| I'll be back again.

See ya in a week,Completely refreshed & more than ready to snuggle my lady love!
I have a slight bit of anxiety thinking about getting on a plane without my baby girl, but I'm focused on the beach, the sun, my mister & some much needed R&R.


I'll leave you with a little sneak peak of what came in the mail today...








Okay it was more than a sneak peak, but I couldn't help myself! I LOVE them all.What a great surprise to get in the mail the day before our honeymoon!
Great memories of a PERFECT day!
XoXo


Also, Happy Mothers Day to all you amazing moms out there! Each & every one of you deserve a weekend full of love, laughter, & family! (And in my case...an entire week away from reality!)


Love,
Jayme

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

If I can dream, I can act. And if I can act, I can become.

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by
dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.
- Greg Anderson


Love,
Jayme



Monday, May 7, 2012

It's just another...

Manic Monday!


Its vacation week! Saturday just Bryce & I will be on a 6-hour flight to St.Lucia. Yep, you heard that right, were going on our honeymoon Saturday! Sunny blue skies, Clear sparkling water, breath taking scenery, unlimited food & drinks, our own schedule, and no wake up call! Sounds like a dream, right!?


This week is going to be crazy getting ready for our departure. My nerves are all built up with the thought of leaving my 'almost' one year old! It's bittersweet.
I am one of those, "Love Potion #9" kinda girls. Let me explain myself...
When I fell in love with Bryce, my hormones went crazy. It was like I took Love Potion #9. These hormones mixed with my brain & this did a number on me. See, that potion is powerful stuff. I couldn't stop thinking about my man. My heart would beat faster every time I saw him, my hands would sweat, he swooned me with my eyes; but let's be honest, the Love Potion runs dry every so often & you start to notice the flaws in one another. You stop focusing on what's important, the ooey-gooey-smooshy love stuff goes right out the door!


Well, apparently we know how to rekindle this love...
6 years later we have a kid & our married!
So I've never been worried that our relationship didn't kick ass! I've never worried that we couldn't get the flame burning time after time. However, I have always seen the importance of taking time for one another & this honeymoon vacation is coming at the perfect time! With Bryce graduating this past weekend, we finally have time to reconnect. He is home a lot more, every night by 5! He has way less stress & more time to focus on the 3 of us each day! It's awesome! So what a more perfect kick start to this new phase were stepping into than with a vacation, focusing on just us! Focusing on commitment & that deeper love that we have for one another. Because in all reality if our love is great, our family is great.. you know exactly what I'm talking about ladies?!!


So our honeymoon is going to consist of:
Reminiscing about our first 6 years together & the excitement of our future. Staying in bed a little longer to hold each other a litle tighter, kissing for 30 seconds longer, and mainly just keeping that 'spark' lit for one another!
It's going to be hard as hell to leave my baby girl, but ^^ is all the more reason to enjoy the hell our of this trip! We have the most amazing little lady to come home too! Life is so good to us!


I want the house to be spotless before we leave. I need to make sure Avery has every single thing possible for our parents; I never realized how hard it is to pack a child either. Bryce & I need to be all packed up by Friday & right now, Bryce does not much to wear!
{He spoiled me with a few new dresses yesterday!!!}
So that is how my crazy week is going! It's just Monday, so we have a lot of time! Ohh & I need to hit the gym hard this week; I'm going to be on a beach Saturday people! Ekk!






Love,
Jayme







Saturday, May 5, 2012

Did you know.

Did you know I live my life 'Gluten Free'? Did you know I have been diagnosed a Celiac for 6 years? Did you know no matter what medical issue, physical or mental obstacle you have to overcome in your life, it only makes you stronger? It only makes you a better, more educated, aware person. I do not look at Celiacs as a barrier or a disease. I do not think my life is unfair. I am unique. I have my own story, my own background, and many hurdles to overcome daily that are not the norm. But then again, what is the norm in today’s society?

Living Gluten Free has made me healthy & strong again. Although sometimes I wonder what triggered this & if it was preventable, I do not look back & wish my life differently. When I have to tell people I am GFree the notorious words shooting out of their mouth are always “that sucks.” But life does not suck. I am healthy, able & willing to teach anyone the benefits of ‘eating clean;’ which is basically how I live my life now! I have made a beautiful daughter since being GFree. I am healthier than I have been in many many years & I am thankful for that.

I sometimes say that ‘my body hates me’ because I feel that way time to time, but my body does not hate me, it’s just acting how it was created to run. My endocrine system is altered a bit differently than others, my intestines don’t move as fast as they should, my menstrual cycle doesn’t run properly or regularly. But that’s okay, because I wouldn’t have been dealt this path if I couldn’t handle it! I am bigger & stronger than any bump I have to get over in life & so are you!
What have you overcome in life that has made you the person you are today?
Share your story &  link it to my page!




Love,
Jayme

Friday, May 4, 2012

Thank You.

Mom bloggers are awesome: they’re punchy, smart, original, honest, controversial, full of attitude, insanely inspiring, and fall-off-your-chair funny! I seriously cannot get enough of you ladies! I think my husband sometimes looks at me like I'm crazy when I refer back to other mom bloggers stories or give advice I learned from one of you! I've learned that there are a lot of women in the same shoes I'm in. I've learned that we each have our own story, we each are taking a different path, but we are all utterly outright in love with our little’s. The passion each mother I’ve met through blogging has for their children is simply amazing! Each day I learn new tools to throw in my handbag of “motherly guidance” from all of you & I just want to say THANK YOU! There are so many pros and cons about blogging: putting yourself out there, your family, your morals, the simple things in life & the not so simple things! The tough decisions we face daily as mothers, lovers & friends; we speak about it all. It’s so raw, fresh, unreserved. It’s awesome! Thank you for helping me learn & grow into a proud mother! I continue to blog to create a memory book for my daughter. I continue to blog to inspire other women & moms. I continue to blog for the realization that together us moms can take on this big old world, one day at a time!

Right now I have some awesome sponsors on my blog & I want to give each one of you a shout out! You fricken rock ladies! Thank You!
Check these sweet blogs I follow daily: LifeAfterBlog, TableforMore, OurLittleMen, OhSimplyLovingYou, MeetingTheGills, TheDarlingWife, ThesearetheMoments, 25DesignItsaLoveThing, OhHappyMiracle, SistersnCloth These ladies are just a few of my closest mommy friends that I absolutely adore & each day I meet more & more of you!
Also, Check out these inspiring blogs. I envy these ladies & would love to get to know them! Their stories, tips, suggestions & true life blogging is inspiring to every women, mom or not!!  JenLovesKev, ProjectBabies,  AGoodLife, DearBaby, TheDayBook, BohoBabyBump, ThePaperMama, KeepingupwithKennedy, SandyaLaMode, BringingUpBuble, LoveTaza

Thanks again ladies! You all are beautiful, intelligent, captivating women. Keep doing what your doing!

Love,
Jayme

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Letters to Avery| 11 Months.


Avery,

I snapped this picture yesterday during our afternoon exploration! It was finally nice outside, so nice you were able to walk around with no clothes on. I know this is your favorite! Now that we fully transitioned into cloth diapers, I know you will be strutting your stuff half naked a lot more now! Your little fluff butt is the cutest thing ever. You really love to be outside, so I'm hoping the days of cold, chilly weather are far behind us.  You are developing into a toddler right before our very eyes. You are basically running at 11 months old & you love your freedom. Holding you is rare, but I'm trying to soak it up as much as you will let me. You are talking a lot more now. Although we don’t understand many words, you’re learning so fast. You are now into the phase of full blown temper tantrums; I did not think this stage would happen so early, but it’s definitely here and you surprise us daily! Sometimes all your dad and I can do is look at each other and laugh when you’re having one. We know you’re not really mad at us; you’re just working through your little issues of wanting everything to be yours. You will learn, sooner than later, that not everything is kid-friendly and safe. I know you will shed many tears over the word ‘no’ but I am ready for this. I am here to teach you what is right and wrong. I am here to hold your hand when you need your momma and help you grow into a wonderful little girl. You are so beautiful, inside and out!

I cannot believe your FIRST BIRTHDAY is in less than a month. I find myself so excited one moment and shedding tears the next. It is bittersweet. I miss that little innocent, fresh, dependent little baby. But I'm in love with this determined, happy, adventures little girl.  You are really the ‘apple of my eye’ baby girl and I am so excited to see what month 11 brings us!

Love,
Momma

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wordless{ish} Wednesday

Best Buds

Avery has a deep love for our dog, Moose! Considering 'Dog' was her first clear word, it only makes sense that she has a passion for these canines just like her Momma! She will even call the dog in from outside. "Gaa Gaa, Gaa" We know exactly what she means!

Happy Hump Day!

Love,
Jayme

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

One-A-Day List.

So today I feel totally lazy, unmotivated & simple gross. I'm disappointed in myself for being so not creative with my free time. I've decided to take these first 11 days in May to get my shit figured out before we leave for our Honeymoon! That means I'm making a "One-A-Day" List. Starting now!


SPRING CLEANING CHALLENGE


May 1st- Rearrange our bedroom & vacuum underneath 
May 2nd-Clean out walk way entrance & cupboards above
May 3rd-Clean & organize under the sink
May 4th-Clean stove {inside & outside}
May 5th-To busy to clean (:
May 6th-Clean cupboard above the fridge & above stove
May 7th-Organize food pantry
May 8th-Clean out shed
May 9th- Scrub both showers/ Organize Avery's Toys
May 10th- Organize the cupboard filled to the brim with pans
May 11th-Clean the fridge