The eve of something big

It's the eve of Caitlin's 5th birthday.  FIVE YEARS.  Is it over the top to say that it flew by?  It so totally did.  Five years of anything is a big deal, five years of marriage, the five years between 16 and 21.  So on the eve of what seems like a big deal, I'm reflecting. 

On motherhood and on me.

Caitlin in utero.

Five years ago today, I was fat, hot, and super preggo.  I was in pain, and peed every time I moved (tmi?).  I also was half way through a gallon of mint chocolate chip when I switched to rocky road.  I'm being super serious.  And I was so darn mad that this baby had missed all three of her due dates.

I was also naive.  Naive at the change that was about to happen.  That it wouldn't effect me so.  I was lost in a motherhood dream where I was blissful, on a cloud of happiness, with a child who slept and ate, and pooped perfectly.  Where everything was perfect.  Just like the books.

Five years ago it was still just me and the hubbs.  Watching Daniel Tosh, before he was Tosh.0.  Dropping "f" bombs about every little thing, like empty gallons of rocky road.  It was just the two of us, and a decked out pimped out nursery, a very expensive breast pump, and the hope that in the next month we'd get some sleep.

Five years ago, I didn't know this little person named Caitlin.  Who would challenge every fiber of my being from the moment she arrived.  I didn't know that she would have my hair and my eyes, but daddy's personality.  That she would hate to sleep, but love to be held.  Constantly.  I didn't know that she would challenge every rule of potty training, challenge every definition of motherhood, challenge every idea I had about love.

I had no idea that she would change me into a better person.  She would teach me everything I needed to know about being a mom.  That she would demand nothing more from me than love.  Just love. 

I didn't know that Caitlin would be one of my greatest collaborations, and assign me my hardest job to date. 

Five years ago I was just Megan, pregnant and waiting.

Today I'm mom, learning, loving, and living the best part of my life.



  Meet Joanna!  She blogs at Moda Mama.Follow Joanna's life and fashion diaries provingthat motherhood can be fashionable.

  

Dear Week, WHOA {Friday Letters in Instagram}

Dear week,

You blew me away. 

Things got REAL. 

And I've got pictures to prove it!

Dear Instagram,

Thanks for making this blurry photo awesome.

My best pic of the week.

Happy Father's Day indeed!

1

Dear PC,

We had some good times this week.

Thanks for letting me get it all out.

The emails are a little overwhelming.

See you Sunday.

2

Dear someecards.

Thanks for always describing how I feel.

How do you know?

source

3

Dear Mr. Sun,

I get it.

It's June, it's Fresno, it's hot.

You love me.

Awesome

4

One Oh Eight,

Besides the sunburn, you didn't ruin Father's Day.

I know you tried, but we got this!

Just don't get all One Fourteen on us, thanks...

5

Dear Tanned Butt,

You are the cutest!

You are so dark, don't you know Snookie's

baby is already jelly of you.

I love watching you splash in the pool.

Is it possible to get any darker?

6

Dear cuddly baby,

Love that you still want to crawl in my lap.

It's getting close to the time that this is going to go away.

I don't even mind the wet swim diaper on me

when you are too tired to change.

Don't stop wanting cuddles, that's an order!

1

Dear Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,

I feel like I'm at a church revival picnic.

And I love every minute of it.

2

Dear sewing machine,

Show me a sign.

What is it exactly that I'm doing wrong?

Bobbin, check, threaded check, plugged in check.

Sew and rip seams, check.

Oh, "catch" the bobbin.

Got it.

3

Dear WIDN,

You are so fun, but seriously you always catch me doing this.

"This" being on Instagram instead of cleaning the mess I'm looking at.

Thanks for checking me, I'll clean it right after I take a picture of the mess,

post it on Instagram, hook it up to Twitter,

check Twitter to see if anyone relates,

and then double check Instagram for likes.

4

Dear Neon shorts,

I. Love. You.

5

Dear Grumpy,

I know it seems unfair, but you need sleep.

So be a dear, and close your eyes, and have sweet dreams.

It's late, and mommy has to blog...

6

Dear Readers,

Did you know that Hello Kitty fedoras are all the rage?

Well, they are.

Now you want one, am I right?

Dear Anonymous Commenter,

You are my first "Anonymous" commenter!

I feel like I should award you a prize.

Instead I'll immortalize you here.

You have already thanked me for making

you famous on Instagram.

Your welcome, but wouldn't that make me famous?

I'm just not that cool.

Dear Friends and Readers,

YOU ROCK MY BLOG!

DON'T FORGET THAT.

EVER!!

I'm linking up here.

You must check out these fabulous Friday lettters!!

AND

Wondering what to do with all your Instagram pics?

Check out my gal Sue at As It Seems.

Check out what she does with her Instagram pics!

What Caitlin Wore {The "Stylish"}

Most of the time getting Caitlin dressed is the biggest fight of the day.  Girlfriend has her own style.  At a week shy of 5 years old, she could in fact be the next Rachel Zoe.  I say that because she mixes prints like you see pinned on Pinterest.  She wears the oddest color combos, and yet pulls them off gloriously.  It's not uncommon to see her in a tutu and halter top, which by the way, why are we making halter tops in 5T? 


Anyway, Father's Day was no exception.  Let me start by saying that it was 109 degrees on Sunday.  One. Oh. Nine.  So right off the bat, I was pushing for a nice sundress, one of four hanging in her closet.  I was also pushing for it to be a fairly new one, since lately she wants to wear the ratty one, since the other nice ones are for "later".  "Later" is used quite loosely.  Since we were going to be swimming most of the day anyway, I just nodded in agreement to her fashion choices.  Here is what she picked out.

B&W Stripped Leggings - Target (part of a set)

Zebra Tank - Forever 21 (I'm in awe of the kids dept)

Red Butterfly Hat - Vendor at the Fresno Home & Garden Show

Purple Flippies - Old Navy (and too small)

Capri Sun - Vons

I've been told by a dearest Mommy friend, who has a 5 year old fashionista that this is normal behavior for a 5 year old.  However, we've been having this convo since the girls were 4.  I'm still adjusting to this kid, my kid, who is a super fashionista since I could not pay the girl to wear a dress the first 3 years of her life.  Sandals either.  Girlie wore Vans and leggings to pretty much everything.  Yet, now she tells me that when she grows up she wants to be the "Fashion outfit picker".  I told her that's called a "stylist", and so she now says she wants to be a "stylish". 

Looking for an awesome blog to read?

Look no further!

Lena at Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby is amazing.

Fashion, Photography, Family and more.

You can find her here

or HERE on her new Photography blog!

LunchBox Love {A Giveaway}

I was recently approached by Say Please.  Say Please sells card packs called "Lunchbox Love", little messages of encouragement with some humor added in for fun.
Here is what they have to say about themselves:

"The mission of Say Please is to improve the quality of everyday life

through the sharing of kind words.

Our core product is Lunchbox Love for Kids™

which are sets of small cards that parents put in their kids’ lunches each day.

On the front of the card is a thoughtful, loving message

and on the back of the card is fun trivia for kids.

We believe that a parent’s loving words are as essential to a child’s health

and hygiene as a nutritious meal,

and this conviction led to the creation of our company."

Not only that, but a portion of their profits go to The Lunchbox Fund.  The Lunchbox Fund is working hard to provide meals to at risk and disadvantaged youth in South Africa.  To read more about where they give click here.   


Since they were so kind in sending me my own set of Lunchbox Love for Kids, I'm looking forward to putting them in the goody bags I'm making up for Caitlin's birthday this weekend.  They are cute and colorful, and some of the trivia will be entertaining to the little folks.  Here's a picture taken from their website,
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Lunchbox Love for Kids
sayplease.com

What I really love is that the Lunchbox Love doesn't end with the kiddos.  There is Lunchbox Love for Girlfriends, Loved Ones, and Co-workers.  These little cards could be dropped into someone's bag at the gym, handed to the Starbuck's cashier, or left with the tip at a restaurant.  Wouldn't it brighten your day to see this colorful card wishing you well? 


To sweeten this deal and to thank you for reading this promotional post, I'm going to giveaway two packs of Lunchbox Love.  One lucky winner will receive one Lunchbox Love vol. 2 and one Lunchbox Love for Camp.  I'm making this an easy peasy giveaway too.  All I ask is that you Tweet about this giveaway.  For an additional entry visit Say Please and comment on your favorite Lunchbox Love pack. 


Not to worry if your kiddo isn't old enough for school or camp.  The cards are pretty universal.  I'm going to sneak one into the hubby's laptop case.  It says "I love spending time with you", and on the flip side it says, "Did you know that the stomach has to produce a layer of mucus every two weeks..."  I know, I'm such a romantic.








a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Box Swap {Want some?}

Do ya all know Tiffany?
No, well let's talk about her.
Not behind your back, it's so not like that!

Tiffany found me in the bloggy world, and little did we know...
We live in the same city.
Say what?
Yeah, so she wanted to meet up.
And I said, "Uh, yeah!"
So we did with some other Fresno Bloggers.
Seriously who knew there was such a thing!
And now I blog stalk, er, follow Tiffany everywhere.
Instagram, Twitter, Bloggy.

Tiffany is a girl after my heart, and
when we talked with Shabby Kitteh,
we all agreed on one thing.

Blog gift exchanges are the biz.
And so are beauty products.
Like mint polish that is sold out.
Or beachy wave spray.
Dry shampoo.
We all confessed a love for product.

So now what?
Beauty Box.
Full of things you may not know you want or need,
but you'll love because it will be tailored to you.

Let's hear what Tiffany has to say.
She is the mastermind behind this.
I'm just along for the ride.

Beauty Box .. Yep I said it. A BEAUTY BOX, SWAP!!!!! It's like a birchbox .. but I am going to go out on a limb & say it's even BETTER. When I met up with some local bloggies we were talking about swaps & hello genius let's do one of our own but make it specific to beauty products because what girl can say no to that?

I know this girl can't. 



Grab and share this button!
Link it back to this post by Tiffany

So here goes it ... Click here to fill out your presh little form. SPREAD the LOVE, pass the word, get it out there. You know you want to join, everyone is doing it. Nothing like good ole peer pressure. 

We will be taking information up until July 25th.. THAT'S LIKE forever away, the more the merrier is the motto. 

You will then be assigned another blogger by July 31st. Send items by August 10th, reveal post by August 20th & link it up!

Rules

• You MUST meet these deadlines, it is important that each & everyone that signs up gets what they signed up for. 

• Follow your hosts pleease, yours truly, Absolute Mommy, & Shabby Kitteh.

• Come back on August 10th for your link up.

Optional Rules

• Grab the swap button & advertise via blog world.

• Shout it out via Twitter, Facebook .. You get it right?

Emails will be sent for reminders because we roll like that.

Thanks Tiffany!

Sounds fun!

So what do you think?

Are summer themed

Beauty Boxes the biz?

Are you ready to get your swap on?