Giggles, Glitz & Glam: May 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

Tuesday Glam Party #83

The Rules are continually not being followed so I think that the Glam Party will soon be ending for good. I put too much work into this each week for everyone to disregard the rules. I am going to give it one more month and if nothing has changed the Glam Party will no longer be active.

The Rules?

Do me one favor and link back to my page with either my button or text link. You can include this on a link page as long as you refer to the link page in the post you are linking up. Please link no more than 3 posts as a time. Also, please go ahead and visit 2-3 other links and leave some comment love. I am going to start featuring the most viewed links each week and this has made me aware that most people are arriving, linking up & heading out. You know you love a little comment love on your own blog & traffic for the items you linked up so return the favor to your fellow party followers! Even consider pinning a few if you want...who doesn't love to see their stuff pinned?!

Pin It

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Five Months

Dear Emily,

You are already five months old, my how time flies! You are the best thing that has ever happened to us & we love you dearly.

You are getting so big. I can't believe how much you seem to be changing. A lot of people have been telling me you look like daddy lately. However, I keep seeing your cousins in you and your Aunt Nicole. It will be neat to see who you end up looking like.

You are a moving machine. You roll from one end of your crib to the other within a matter of moments. When you play on the floor you seem to cover a small area so quickly. You want to go somewhere so bad, but not yet little one...not yet. You continue to love to sit & stand as much as possible and are always raising your head to let me know you want to do so.

You are a talker just like your mom and dad, but seem to be shy too. When we are out in public you are so quiet but as soon as we get in the car you start cooing and babbling as loud as you can. Perhaps it's a good thing you are pretty quiet when we are out to eat or out somewhere else.

We love you more today than yesterday and this will be true tomorrow and every day after that. You are the best thing that has ever happened to us.

Love,

Mommy Pin It

Monday, May 21, 2012

Tuesday Glam Party #82

Last weeks most viewed, the Lace Pillowcase Dress from Sew Fantastic.

I just love this view of the dress & how sweet she looks in it, but you just MUST see the rest of it.

Two weeks agos most viewed is the Nautical Dresser from A girl and a brush.

I absolutely love this Birthday wreath from Happy-Go-Lucky. I have been wanting to make one like this for E's 1st Birthday!!

These Red Velvet Cupcakes from Feeding My Temple look simply delicious! Not to mention I think my husband would absolutely love them.

Loving this ruby red desk from 551 East Furniture Design. It's gorgeous!!

The Rules?

Pin It

Friday, May 18, 2012

Visiting Cousins

We went to visit my sister last week which is the reason that I haven't been blogging. One thing is for certain, Emily is very loved!

The day we got there her cousins (all 3 of them) smothered her in kisses and lots of love. They couldn't seem to get enough of her. She didn't know what to think of it but took it like a champ. By the end of the week she was just as madly in love with them as they were with her.

My niece (picture below) has still been asking about her. Walking around asking if she's sleeping or where is she. I love E's cousins so much & hate that we are so far apart.

We enjoyed our trip so much and hated to go, but were excited to get back to the hubby/daddy!

Pin It

Monday, May 14, 2012

Tuesday Glam Party #81

Sorry there are no features this week as I am out of town on vacation. Be sure to check back next week & I'll try to add some features from last weeks party as well for a few extra features!

The Rules?

Pin It

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Relationship Ramblings: 1 Cor 13, Part 2

I am moving Relationship Ramblings to Thursdays now. Hope you don't mind the change, but I'll be doing InstaFridays now so I don't want to go post happy on Fridays!

Does this sting for anyone else? Or am I the only one that has a hard time loving well.

When we were trying to conceive I had a hard time hearing that others were pregnant. So hard sometimes that I did not respond in a loving manner. Cody's cousin became pregnant quickly and I envied her because of it. When she told us she was pregnant I could have cared less. I disappeared. I hid from her. I wanted something so bad and when I couldn't have it for myself I envied those who had it to the point that I let it hurt relationships in my life. Envy destroys relationships, love holds them together.

Envy is not love.

Boasting? Surely none of us does this. I would say this might easily be the opposite of envy. We have so we brag. Though I often don't catch myself in this look at me, I have this type of boasting. I am 100% guilty of always being "right". My husband is right...never...okay sometimes. Are you guilty of always being right even when you are wrong? I even sometimes once I realize I am wrong still try to convince the other person I am right. Self-righteousness is not love.

Boasting is not love.

Arrogance kind of goes hand in hand with boasting so I won't say much about this. I don't know why we tend to think so highly of ourselves as if we are more valuable than someone else.

Arrogance is not love.

When we are rude we don't show love. It's amazing to me how quick I am to resort to being rude especially when someone is first rude to me. If I am feeling impatient (love is patient) I am way more likely to respond to something that irritates me by being rude. I tend to be quick to raise my voice instead of being patient and remaining kind in my responses. It's funny how when love is patient & kind it's easier to not be rude.

Rudeness is not love.

When love is patient & kind it is not envious, boastful, arrogant or rude.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-5a

Pin It

Monday, May 7, 2012

Tuesday Glam Party #80

The Rules? Yes, I have rules that many of you have been ignoring. Each week I work very hard to get the party up and running. I would appreciate if in turn you would follow my very simple rules. I promise I'm not asking much at all.

Okay onto the features as usual...

This weeks most viewed, Strawberry Lemonade by Alana's Ramblings.

I'm drooling. It look delish, right?! While you are at it, check out the Cake Batter Milk Shake that she also linked up. Mmm!

Loving this laundry room sign from Burton Avenue.

This would be especially great & useful with lots of kiddos laundry to do. My mom probably banked when we were in our adolescent years, banked from her own money of course!

These ring bearer pillows from Rustic Living are just too cute. Plus they are perfect for your home after the wedding is all said and done with.

Loving this entry table from By The Way Jenn Gray.

You just must see the before & after. It looks so good!

Pin It

Flying With A Baby

It's really unfair to travel, more specifically fly, with a baby. They hate it and everyone around them hates it.

{source}

I probably just ticked a bunch of you off which is exactly what my response was when I saw that same thing yesterday as a friends status on facebook. My response? It's really unfair for you to think that people with babies don't deserve to travel. I understand her frustration as she was on a LONG flight back from Hawaii & the baby behind her cried for 5 hours, but at the same time maybe that was the babies first time to meet her grandparents. Perhaps they attended a funeral. Who are we to judge their decision for flying to Hawaii with a baby?! y

Perhaps my opinion would have been similar when I didn't have children. No body wants to be on a plane (including mom & dad) with a crying baby, but let's just face it...sometimes you have to fly with a baby.

Tips for flying with baby...

Give the baby a bottle or pacifier during take off & landing. Take a new toy so that they will be entertained. Try to travel during nap time if possible. If they won't take bottle or paci take a syringe to shoot a little water in their mouth which will force them to swallow. Be sure to pack a change of clothes for you and baby. Teething tablets. Tylenol.

Tips for passengers...

Wear headphones to help drown out the sound of a crying baby. If you wear earplugs & earphones you will drown out even more. Frequent flyer? Buy bose, they drown out anything. Be forgiving as you don't know the circumstances. And don't forget it isn't very comfortable for you as an adult to have your ears pop so can you blame them for crying if that's the case?!

Tips for mom...

Relax. There is only so much you can do. If the passengers are getting grumpy give them the bird. Just kidding don't do that. But you might apologize as an apology can go a long way. But again, just relax. Remember, when momma is stressed the baby can sense that & a lot of times will get stressed too. Take a partner with you if possible whether it be a spouse, grandparent, sibling, or friend so you can take turns.

Happy Flying!

What are your tips for traveling with a baby? What's the furthest you've flown with baby?

Pin It

Friday, May 4, 2012

Post Baby Body

I don't know how many of my friends got those sweet genetics where your post baby body looks just as hot or even hotter post baby, but I didn't get it. Honestly, I don't mind the stretch marks or the gained weight necessarily. But I hate feeling fat.

Do you know what I'm talking about when I say I feel fat? Hear me say this now, I am not fat & I don't think I am fat. I feel fat. You know that feeling after you've eaten way too much of a ~~good~~ bad thing. Perhaps you eat one too many slices of pizza and then you kind of feel miserable & fat. You might even know the opposite to be true...you eat a really healthy salad or meal and you just feel good! It's kind of amazing how you feel based on what you are letting in your body. Another good example of the feeling fat would be when you are good and bloated. You know that time of the month that creeps up on you and you find yourself in the mirror feeling chubbier than usual though you probably didn't gain any weight or have a change in the shape of your body. You just feel that way.

Surely I am not alone here.

I am guilty of not knowing how to eat healthy. I ~~hate~~ loathe trying to figure out how to eat healthy. Everyone has their own opinions of what is healthy. Cut meat completely. Be vegan. Vegan is too extreme. No carbs. Some carbs but not too many. No sugar. Only healthy sugars. Only organic.

I'm overwhelmed.

I started weight watchers just shortly after Emily was born. I was good at first, but then I fell off the bandwagon.When I did WW the first time I chowed down on fruits & veggies because they were free points. This was a good thing. This time I chose to still eat fairly unhealthy from time to time or saved up all my points for a good fatty pizza. It's really no way to "diet" or eat right. A friend once told me you choose your battles when it comes to food. You eat healthy all day so you can have a scoop of ice cream or you eat healthy all week so you can out to dinner Friday night and indulge a little. I need to learn this. I need to learn to occasionally indulge because I've been so good, but the problem is...

I haven't been very good.

I head to see my sister next week and upon my return it's starting a new lifestyle of healthy eating & exercise. While I am away my in-laws will drop off a treadmill to help with that exercise thing. I will make it my daily goal to at least walk on that thing, but will also be starting the couch to 5K program. I'll go outside on the days its bearable, but those days are numbered here in Texas. The hot days are creeping up and soon running outside just won't be worth it.

For the time being though, I have got to figure out what healthy eating will look like for me. I can't go extreme, it just won't happen. I fail when I go extreme. I'd be interested to know what you do or how you eat healthy. What do you cut or avoid? I don't even know where to begin & don't want to be overwhelmed. I need simple to start me out. A couple of years ago a health nut friend taught me how to pick breads so that they are healthy for me & not just look like it on the package. She taught me to read the ingredients and which ones to avoid. I need to do this, slowly though. A friend of mine just mentioned to me the Clean 15 & the Dirty Dozen when it comes to produce. I need to remember this. But what else should I be avoiding or taking in more of?

Warning: I hate veggies.

(source)

I know they are good for me. And I have come a long way. I used to only eat green beans & corn, but now I like zucchini, squash, tomatoes (sometimes), mushrooms, lettuce (not too much), & carrots. But none of these fresh or raw, they must be cooked or dipped or drenched in dressing.

I hate complicated recipes. If it calls for more than 10 ingredients I won't make it. If it takes me longer to prepare than to cook, I won't make it. If it calls for random ingredients I'll never use again then I won't cook it.

HELP! How do I adopt a simple healthy eating style?

Pin It

Relationship Ramblings: 1 Cor 13, Part 1

Last week I encouraged you to sit on 1 Corinthians 13 & really soak in what it means to love. I am pretty sure on a daily basis I say to myself, "Love is patient."

Relationship Ramblings isn't just about the relationship you have with your spouse or significant other, but in regards to anyone you have a relationship with. I have to remind myself that love is patient a lot with my sweet baby girl. Sometimes when it's 2am and she's crying I need to be reminded that love is patient especially when she's still wide awake at 3am & I'm exhausted.

According to dictionary.com, patient is bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complain, anger, or the like.

Love is patient. Love is kind.

My sister is a patient person, I am not. It does not come naturally for me to be patient. I am always in a hurry and always want things done...5 minutes ago. I have a hard time sitting through a story that doesn't seem to come to an end. I don't like this to take me a long time to do. Life doesn't operate this way so my patience is often tested.

My husband operates at a much different pace than myself. Nothing is wrong with that. I'm early everywhere I go and he's on time or late (well early now that I'm involved). Sometimes I don't have the patience for him. And what the big deal is I am not sure. Does it really matter that he took an extra 30 seconds to get to the car? Not really. Does it matter that he can't buckle Emily in her carseat as fast as me? Or what about make her bottle when she's screaming? I have a tendency to want to overreact, to respond with complaint, anger or the like.

The response...love is kind.

Is your response to things that make you impatient kindness? Or is it complaint, anger or the like. Patience is responding in a kind manner. What does it even mean to be kind?

Words that come to mind when I think of someone who is kind are:

compassion, love, nice, sweet, friendly, helpful, considerate, gracious, tender.

Are you these things?

Love is patient. Love is kind.

I need to work on these things. I need to learn to be more patient especially when I am inconvenienced as if it's really about me in the first place. I need to be kind in that way I respond to things that make me impatient. I need to be kind in general. I need to show love because love is these things. God is love & he has made me in his image. I can love as a patient & kind person.

{source}

Pin It

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Quick & Easy Mexican Casserole

I've said it before, I hate recipes that are too complicated so again I made up my own. I had some ground beef leftover from making hamburgers the night before. It had to be used or it would go bad. I thought tacos would be nice, but I always go for tacos. So I started looking for a mexican casserole that used ground beef. Before long I was completely overwhelmed by at the ingredients and the steps so I remembered a few things from several of the recipes and made my own with what I already had in the house. I hate having to make a grocery run for one thing!

What do you need?

1 Can of Crescent Rolls

1 lb of ground beef

1 package of Taco Seasoning

1 Can of Refried Beans

2 cups of Shredded Mexican Cheese

8 x 8 Pyrex Dish

Cook your ground beef & then add the taco seasoning using the directions off the packet. Grease the pan and then place half a can of crescent rolls in the bottom of your 8 x 8 pan. Close up the crescent rolls my smoothing them together with your fingers. Place 1/2 a can (or less) of refried beans on top of crescents rolls, then 1/2 of your ground ground beef & top with 1 cup of shredded cheese. Then repeat for a second layer.

Cook in the oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes!

YUM!

Pin It

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

College Books & Cleft Lips

You may be wondering what in the world college books & cleft lips have to do with one another. For starters, my husband buys a lot of college books & happens to have had cleft lip surgery. As you already know, I love company's that give back. If I know what I am spending my money is going to in turn benefit something else I am far more likely to spend my money there.

Campus Book Rentals donates to Operation Smile with every rental. Operation Smile performs life changing cleft lip surgeries internationally on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. The improvement in the quality of life for these children lives is something extraordinary as some children are shunned and rejected for their condition. Campus Book Rentals has committed to donating enough to cover a minute of 1,000 life changing surgeries.

So if you or anyone you know is attending college & in need of books, you should consider using Campus Book Rentals for your needs.

This is Maria, read her story on Operation Smile & be sure to check out many more of the patient stories available.

Disclosure: Giggles, Glitz & Glam did receive compensation for this post, but all opinions remain 100% mine.

Pin It

Monday, May 28, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

Friday, May 18, 2012

Monday, May 14, 2012

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Monday, May 7, 2012

It's really unfair to travel, more specifically fly, with a baby. They hate it and everyone around them hates it.

Perhaps my opinion would have been similar when I didn't have children. No body wants to be on a plane (including mom & dad) with a crying baby, but let's just face it...sometimes you have to fly with a baby.

Tips for flying with baby...

Tips for passengers...

Tips for mom...

Happy Flying!

What are your tips for traveling with a baby? What's the furthest you've flown with baby?

Friday, May 4, 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

LinkWithin