Occupation: Mommy

I sat in the chiropractor's office filling out new patient paperwork and I get down to the line where you specify your occupation. I think for a moment.......... homemaker? no...... stay at home mom? no........ mommy? Yes! I hand the paper to the secretary and she laughs when she reads my occupation. She tells me she was a teacher and missed out on many parts of her sons childhood. Her eyes are filled with regret. She says she always wished she could have stayed home with her son and didn't have to work. 

I started thinking about how blessed I am. So many mothers have to work and have no choice in the matter. They miss out on so many important moments in their children's lives, moments they can never get back. I got to watch my boys take their first steps and say their first words. Every game, every award, every concert, every field trip I get to be there. I am so blessed to be able to enjoy every moment with my ever growing mini men. I love the opportunity that I get to teach them life lessons. I love that I am there for them if they have had a bad day at school. I love that I am there to comfort them when they get hurt. I am there for them always. 

I wont live with regret that I missed out on my children's childhood. These are the memories I will cherish forever. I will never take for granted how truly blessed I am to have the occupation, "Mommy."

Feeding The Mini Men, Healthy Snack Ideas!

If I had $1 every time I heard "I'm hungry!" I would have more money than Donald Trump. 

Here are some healthy snack ideas for hungry mini men (or women)!

Toast: with butter cinnamon and sugar, nutella, peanut butter, butter and honey.

Fruit: with peanut butter or Nutella to dip it in.

"Real" Popcorn (I like to make it on the stove) with butter.

Crackers : with Cheese, lunch meat, or peanut butter.

Fresh cut up veggies with ranch dip.

Tortilla: with peanut butter and honey, Nutella,  or melted cheese.

Bird in a nest (make a hole in the bread add an egg and fry in a greased skillet) That is in case you don.t know what a bird in a nest is. 


Can you tell we are obsessed with peanut butter and Nutella?

I usually make a snack after school. After that only fruit is available till dinner time. This is only fruit that doest need to be prepped. Like bananas, apples, oranges etc... My kids would eat eat till they blew up. And I don't mean threw up, I mean like literally explode!!! 


Boys!

Bon appetite!

Miracle Hair Treatment (Cheap too!)

+

1/4 c. Queen Helene cholesterol hair treatment, it is carried at either the beauty supply store or even the drug store (it looks yucky, but it works!)

3 Tbls. Olive oil

Stir till combined.

Depending on your hair's thickness this will be enough for a few treatments.

Microwave a handful of treatment for 15 seconds. Dont microwave it IN your hand, I would suggest putting it in a coffee cup instead. ;) The heat will help it penetrate into your hair better.

Leave in you hair for as long as possible. The longer the better. I wrap it in a towel to hold in the heat.

Shampoo and condition.

Your hair will be sooooooo soft and bye, bye split ends!!

Pssst...... its really cheap too!! I have used hair treatments that cost up to $50 and they do not work nearly as well as this one that cost only about $4!

Fabulous Thrift Store Finds

Here are a few of my most recent thrifted treasures to share with you all....

Polka dot infinity scarf, $3. Precious.

Grey suade Sechelles pumps, $5. Lovely.

Anthopologie top!!! In my size!! Yes please!! $4. Gorgeous!

Yes ANOTHER Anthro top!! Oh lucky girl am I! I am in love with the rosettes on the sleeve. $4.

Another bird to add to the collection. $1.

A Le Creuset cast iron pan, $2! I cant believe I found this baby! Between the finding Antho tops and this pan in only one week, I might consider playing the lottery.

A sweet little bird cage to add to my bird fetish...... I mean collection.. ;)

You lovely folks find any fabulous thrift store goodies recently? 

Please do tell!!!!

Sweet and Simple Valentines Decor

Vase, candle, candy hearts. Thank you Pinterest for the super cute idea! Isn't Pinterest the best thing EVER!?!

Free printable and a thrifted frame. I got the print here: Valentines Day Printable

Sweet and Simple.

XOXO

~Nicole~

Never Changing

I am seeing many relationships crumble right before my eyes. Marriages being torn apart, families splitting. It breaks my heart. I see them hurting with so much emotional and physical pain that it stings. 

My heart breaks for them.

But people are so flawed. When the ones we truly love hurt us so deep it is sometimes beyond repair. But God is unchanging. God is perfect. He will never leave us nor hurt us, He is constant.

And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8 )

He is the only constant we will ever have. 

He is one we can count on when ones we love let us down. 

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10  nkjv)
 

Call upon Him when you are hurting and when others let you down. He will be with you and give you strength. 

He will uphold you.

The Lord says, "If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. You will live a long life and see my saving power." (Psalm 91:14-16  cev)

What a comfort to know we have Him always!

Thank you God for being there for me always and never leaving me.

Please God be with those who have been hurt and torn apart by the ones they love. 

I pray they will call upon you and you will make them whole again.

Thank you Heavenly Father, Amen.

Gift from the Mr

Look what my Hubs bought me last night at Anthropologie!

 It has the cutest bird pattern in it! You all know my obsession with all things bird related!

 Love that guy!

what i wore... bang'in

My new bangs! Bang'in right? Just kidding...... ;)

But, yes I do love them!

Top thrifted, skinnies Macys sale, boots Steve Madden Macys, Stella and Dot necklace and earrings.

Top F21 thrifted, pants Anthro sale, boots Steve Madden gift, Stella and Dot jewelry.

I got 3 complements on this top and I like it. But am I being silly thinking it makes me look top heavy? Come on ladies be honest!

Matteri Bloopers~family pictures that make me laugh!

Laughter can bring a new perspective.

Christopher Durang

~Nicole~

I got bangs!

clearance and coupon makeup haul

I got all of this makeup for $16.52! As you can see above I saved $42.67!

My haul included:

Almay concealer

Loreal mascara

Sally Hansen lip repair

Maybelline mouse cream blush

Maybelline lip stain

2 Loreal  nail polishes (they were only $1.30 each!)

Everything was on clearance plus I had $6 in coupons, not to shabby huh?

just another day

~I woke up to Kevin kissing me on my forehead before he left for work

~I dragged myself out of bed and got my necessary cup of coffee

~got the Boys ready for school, made breakfast, dressed them in clothes without holes, teeth brushed etc.

~dropped them off at school, Yay for a quiet house

~read up on some blogs and drank more coffee

~showered

~dropped clothes off at a local consignment store

~talked to my sister on the phone

~picked up the Boys, my house is loud again

~helped the Boys with homework

~made the them a snack

~talked to my brother on the phone

~went to the bank, Whole Foods and Big5

~dropped Caleb off at karate

~went to the Goodwill with Deacon

~picked up Caleb from karate

~made dinner and cleaned up dinner

~bathed both stinky Boys

~kissed, prayed and tucked them in bed

~packed school lunches

~blogged and drank hot tea

~watched an episode of Lost on Netflix

~cuddled with the Mr

~slept

just another day. 

I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. A husband I love and adore, two mini men that drive me insane but I love so incredibly much.

I am so blessed to be a mother and wife!

I am so happy the new medicine and pain patches are keeping my pain level way down. Now I feel like I can function and handle just another day.

What an incredible blessing!

~Nicole~

~Making Valentines Decor, A Really Easy Craft!~

Is it too early to be making Valentines decor? 

Nah! 

I whipped up this little decoration because I really don't have any Valentines decor. 

For this project I used a thrifted wooden frame, some scrap book paper in red and pink, some mini clothes pins I had in my craft box, string and my glue gun. I happened to have everything on hand!

I put a dab of glue to attach the clothes pin to the hearts.

~XOXOXOXO~