Family Vacation!

Here is a look at the fantastic vacation we had this week!

One of the first things we did was craft! Benjamin made a Super Green Lantern Batman bear. 

We also did a lot of swimming during our time away.

Of course we did have some down time...

We also enjoyed playing on the playground. Benjamin and Henry both loved swinging. In fact, it became a family event!

The water park is a pretty big attraction where we went, so we had to stop there as well!

After a long day of water, we spent a little while playing in the arcade!

I wish I had pictures for everything else we did, but I was so busy being a part of it that I forgot! Of course we rested some, played a lot, and did plenty of eating!

Looking Forward

Still to come: a look at the best shopping trip of my life and the book I read on vacation! I also want to talk a little about my birthday and the most recent Glam bag from ipsy! I have so much to catch you up on that it may take a few days until we get deep again!

So Glad To Be Back!

I have missed writing terribly! We just arrived back today from a four day family vacation. We enjoyed ourself and I had the most successful shopping trip of my life. Enough said! I hope to get some photos and stories up tomorrow, but today is going to be mostly me getting back into the swing of things. To get started, I have a topic I wish to discuss, getting (or mostly looking) older.

So, as you may remember, during the school year I had several people mistakingly think I was in my 30s or 40s. However, I just this week turned 26. I want to know what I about me makes me look (seem) older than my age. I also want to know what will reverse some of this. Its not that I want to seem like a stupid, immature, college student, but I want to come across younger than my mother's age.

This is where you come in! Suggestions? Ideas? Please... anything. I will be glad to try and write about it, if it seems like it might work for me.

Anyway, I have several days' worth of posts from our vacation. This will include my awesome shopping experience, my most recent purchases, the new Glam Bag from Ipsy, a book review, my birthday, and many more.

I hope to see many, many comments of help and suggestions today. I'm glad to be back!

Its Good to Be Alive

It really is good to be alive. I have a story no one would believe. Yet, I will share a little of it with you today.

I shouldn't be here today.
I should not be alive.

If you don't believe me, listen to this:

Before birth I was almost aborted, but saved by my brave mother and loving Papa.
As an infant I had severe Meningitides, which leaves many permanently marred and some dead.
As I teen I had seizures, traveled into dangerous lands (during wars), and feared nothing.
As a young adult I flat-lined and spent over a week in the CCU.
As a married adult I continued to have heart issues and had a pacemaker put in.
Today, I live with constant pain and my heart has help.

I AM STILL ALIVE!

Someone once told me, "When you come through a lot, it means God has big plans for you." My response to that is, "These must be some HUGE plans."

I don't always live as thankfully as I should for everything I have gone through, for everything I am. However, I am telling God and the world now that I am so thankful He made me such a strong woman. There are so many more situations that I didn't even include that show just how amazing the fact I am here today is.

Tomorrow I turn 26 years old. Its been some kind off life and I have a long way to go!

Happy Rainy Independence Day!

America and I share the same birthday week! Its a beautiful thing to live in a country where I can believe ans speak freely. We had an absolute blast celebrating today. We lounged around, went to the fair, ate a yummy dinner with dessert and did our own fireworks. After it all, we looked up patriotic songs on YouTube and went to town.

 As you can probably tell, we got rained on all day. Still, I couldn't have asked for a better 4th of July with the family!

What did you do for America's birthday? Fireworks? Eat Watermelon? Grill?

Out of the Mouth of Babes

My son made my day today. My husband and I had two separate shopping cart in CVS today as we picked up a few things we needed to head on vacation on Sunday. Benjamin was in his and Henry was in mine. We shopped separately for most of the trip, but when I did catch up to my husband, Ben called out to me, "oh, mommy your pretty." My day was MADE! Couldn't help but feel happy the rest of the day. He is my sweet little man.

Memories

One of my all time favorite birthday memories comes from my 14th birthday. I did all the planning and it made me appreciate it all the more. My 13th birthday failed to meet my expectations and desires, so I was determined to make my 14th fantastic. I planned a superb luau party. I had everything you could need, leis, Hawaiian music, appropriate games such as limbo, perfect decoration of flowers and outdoor lamps. I even learned some hula basics. I had numerous friends come. In fact, I cant remember ever having more before or since then.

It may be that party that created my passion in creating fantastic parties. I love to plan parties- birthdays, weddings, get togethers, etc. With even a small budget and a little idea, I can create a masterpiece.

What is your favorite birthday (party) memory? Do you enjoy planning events? I'll be out of town on my birthday, should I plan something for our return? I'm open to ideas!

Looking Forward

I'd love to share some of the awesome parties I've had over my years. I may even sure about a few of my favorite parties I have planned.

Heads Up! I will be out of town starting on the 7th of July until the 11th. There probably wont be any posts during that time. Please keep commenting and I'll be back and full of ideas by Friday!

Second Runner Ups & The Intangables

Yesterday I gave you the 5 most wanted things off my Want It! list on Pinterest. Today I will cover the 5 second runner ups and the things I really want that money can't buy.

Runner Ups 

1. Amanda Logo Clutch by Tory Burch

2. Color wheel Umbrella

 3. Moss Terrarium Necklace 

4. Tank night dress with lace back (cute and sexy!)

5. Total body support pillow

Intangibles

1. For Henry to sleep through the night.

2. A good job for the hubby

3. Freedom from pain. I doubt I've mention that I suffer from Degenerative Disc Disease. My back is in constant pain. It makes lifting and caring for my children painful and life generally more exhausting.

4. Health for my family. Both my mother and my husband's mother suffer with mutiple health related issues and pain.

5. For the world to come to Christ. That being said, I'd like to get back on the mission field.
You can learn more about that aspect of my life here.

Looking Forward

Later this week I'd like to look back at my favorite birthdays in the past. I would also like to share my least favorite and the times when things went all wrong!

Spoiled with a Wish List

Truly my husband has spoiled me for my birthday this year. He allowed me to continue my subscription to Gwynnie Bee, he got me new shoes, a new scarf, and allowed me to pick something special up with my Lane Bryant birthday discount. So, today I went shopping with my sister and got to spending. Actually, my sister should get a prize. She had gift cards she didn't even realize and ended up only spending $0.25. Not bad! Anyway, today I want to cover some recent outfits and my top 5 favorite things off my WISH LIST (Want it!) on Pinterest.

My Outfits

  Both these lovely dresses are thanks to Gwynnie Bee. However my favorite part of either or them is my awesome handbag! I found it through Lane Bryant on sonsi! The colors, the shape, everything... it is so unique and fun.

My Wish List

Since July is my birthday month and this week is my birthday week... there is no better time to take a peek into my Want it! list on Pinterest. Everything I really love I put on there for future reference. So, I thought it would be fun to review my list and attempt to pick my favorite five items off it. I'll make it easier on myself and pick five realistic items (no cars, motorcycles, trips to foreign countries, etc). They are not practical at this point, so they are better left where they are right now.

1. A jewelry subscription to Mynt Box to with my Gwynnie Bee clothing.

2. Monogrammed Derby hat to go with my summer style.

3. Asian clutch and change purse off Etsy.

4. A "Diamond" candle because its such a cool idea!

 

5. Satin Nightgowns because they make me feel pretty.

So that's it. I had so many more I was going to put on here, but the were GONE! It forced me to remove them from my Want it! board and move on with life. It looks like I need to do that again very soon. Until tomorrow, smile!