waiting for you.

I cried myself to sleep last night. My heart was hurting, once again. I feel sad, angry, frustrated, discouraged, tired...

It's been an emotional cycle for the past few months now. 

Getting pregnant with my son wasn't planned - it just happened. You'd think the same would happen when you're actually trying for a second one. 

It's been a routine now - tracking my period, checking my ovulation, making note of how I'm feeling emotionally and physically. I find myself thinking, "Oh, was that pain a pregnancy symptom?" No, it wasn't.

When it doesn't happen, I'm reading blogs about other women who are also trying to conceive. It's funny, I've heard stories about people trying for months or years, but I never thought it would be this hard. I guess we all want to think positive and believe it will happen fast. 

It's pretty discouraging when you feel like you're doing everything you're supposed to do and then when it's that time, it's not the result you were hoping and working so hard for. 

People have said...
"Don't stress or think about it too much." 
"It'll happen when you least expect it."
"Maybe it'll happen when you stop trying." 
"Keep trying every day!"
"Just relax!"

Easier said than done, right?

Last night, I did feel like I wanted to stop trying. But that thought instantly made me sad - Why stop when you want something so bad?

Five Indoor Crafts and Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy

Whether you’re snowed in or it’s simply too hot to play outdoors, you know what cabin fever feels like when you’re home with kids. And while the TV might be able to provide a little entertainment, you don’t want that to be an all-day affair. But what’s a parent to do when the kids are bored and you’re fresh out of ideas? Foster your children’s natural curiosity and creativity with these five crafts and activities for kids.

• Create a racetrack. Grab an old fun noodle from the pool area and cut it in half lengthwise. Prop both pieces up, side by side, so they’re angled downward and make two parallel racetracks. Make sure they both end in a shoebox on the floor. Then, find marbles of all different sizes and your kids can race them. After all, what kid doesn’t love a little competition? Create fun prizes for a variety of things, like fastest marble, slowest marble, silliest marble race name, and more.
• Design a photo book online. This is an especially great activity for older children, who seem to understand technology better than us sometimes! Work with your kids to choose pictures from the past year or a special family vacation. Then, find an online site like Shutterfly where they can create personalized photo books. This should keep them busy for hours! If their attention span is shorter, ask them to help you design fun family photo cards for any upcoming holidays or events.

Build a fort. This traditional activity is one that parents often forget simply because it takes time and can be a bit a messy for the average day at home. But for an extended period of days when you know you’ll be stuck inside, what could be more fun than creating an elaborate maze of sheets in your living room or kids’ rooms? Not only will it tire your kiddos out physically, but it’ll require them to use brainpower and creative juices too!

• Write and illustrate a book. Regardless of age, this is a great activity for kids! First, create blank books for them by folding in half a piece of heavy cardstock and approximately ten to fifteen sheets of printer paper; then, staple along the seam to create a homemade book. Sit your kids down with pens, crayons, and markers, and ask each of them to create a story to share. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – you can help younger children come up with the words to match their pictures.
• Make playdough. For those kids who love hands-on crafts, this is perfect. First, browse recipes to make homemade playdough for one that works for you. If you think they’re old enough, let your kids help make the dough – then, let them create away!

Rainy days, snow days, and summer days can be tough, especially when your idea well has run dry. Hopefully these ideas have sparked some of your own. Foster and engage your children’s creativity and you may be surprised at the result. Happy crafting!

Author Bio: Heather Hewitt is a seasoned writer and guest author who enjoys connecting people with thoughtful products, services and ideas as they relate to crafting, photography, gift giving and personal expression.

happy friday.

life happens.

It's been quite a while since I've been here...

My last post was written about 10 months ago and a lot has happened since then. I'd been meaning to open up my blog and start writing on a regular basis again, but we all know that it's not as easy as it sounds.

Things happen, right?
Weekends get filled up with social and family events. 
Weeknights are filled with catching up on your loved one's day and cuddling with your child before he goes to bed.
Friendships and relationships become closer...or can drift apart. 
An exciting time comes in your relationship. 
New opportunities and ventures arise. 
Life happens.

I love writing about what goes on in my life and what hilarious thing my son said so it took a while for me to accept the fact that I couldn't always find the time to sit down and write. 

I may not come back tomorrow for another post. 
I may not come back next week. 
And that's ok! 

I would love to share everything that's happened since I last wrote, but I'll leave it with the biggest and most exciting moment of all. I'll leave the story for another post...hopefully. :)

May 7, 2013 <3

fashion forward friday

One of my favorite pairs of shoes growing up was a super cute pair of black bow flats from Sam & Libby {which I am wearing in the picture below}. I was absolutely in LOVE with them and I wore them all the time. Sometimes I wish I had held on to that pair because it reminds me so much of my childhood. I loved the simplicity of it and the fact that they were adorned with adorable bows, which by the way, I am STILL a fan of.

 

You can imagine my excitement when I found out that one of my favorite shoe brands as a child has a collaboration with Target, another favorite of mine! Yes, Sam & Libby and Target have an affordable shoe line launching on May 5th. It's amazing when Target has a collaboration with just about anybody, but this will be simply awesome. And yesss...there will be bows! :)

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my first hike - check!

If you told me 5 years ago that I'd actually be experiencing a hike, I'd call you crazy. I can't stand the thought of camping so I'm not much of an outdoors person. Over the last several years, my fitness and personal goals have changed a bit. I'd like to be able to say that I did something adventurous at least once in my life. {Maybe turning 30 this past January has something to do with it.} I made a goal to be more active and to participate in more active events.

So yes...I can sit here and tell you that I just went on my very first hike!

Four of my friends and I headed over to Mission Peak in fremont on Sunday and began our hike. I don't think I knew exactly what I was getting into because I was already sweating and huffing and puffing on the first incline. Soon after, we all could feel it in our thighs and calves. Hiking up to to the top would definitely NOT be easy. We finally got to the last stretch and that part was tough! It was a rockier terrain so it was a challenge just getting to the top.

As soon as we made it to the top safe and sound and stepped foot on the very top of the peak...it was exhilirating! Looking down at where we started to where we were standing at that moment felt like an amazing accomplishment.

Of course, I am paying for it today with a sore body. But hey - no pain, no gain!

wordless wednesday



{my first mud run!}