wasted

hiya lovelies,

   It's been awhile. Lots of chaos in this lovely life. I'm not the type to air the dirty laundry so you'll have to remain guessing while I keep moving toward utter happiness.

   Oddly enough, this song popped on the radio today. I hadn't heard it in quite some time & I think it has a special meaning for me right now. Everything happens for a reason & every little sign pops up to give you inspiration to keep moving forward. All I can do is keep taking steps in the right direction. 

      I'm young & there is so much potential for the rest of my life. Though things seem like a jumbled mess right now, this too shall pass (that is the only quote I ever thought about having tattooed on my body). There have been many times in my life that I needed that lovely reminder. 

     God has an outrageous plan for me & waking up every day reminding myself of that is the only way I can continue on this beautiful road called life. He has asked me to wait patiently to reveal his great plan & all I can do is trust in that. 

Stay Lovely.

back in business.

Hello my dearest lovelies,
It has be sooo long since I've seen this lovely blank sheet of blog internet paper! My overly long hiatus consisted of nothing. There is no reason I wasn't blogging, I think I'd just call it laziness, or lack of words? or, maybe, I was putting my efforts into other things! yeah, we'll go with that. Since we last spoke, I've spend a lot of time behind the camera lens which I must say, makes me ridiculously happy. Not only that, I've usually had some kind of tool in my hand whether it be my camera, a marker, a captain america shield, a curling iron, a diaper, or knitting needles. Let just say I've stayed busy but now it's time to get back to blogging business. Over here at blogger.com, I can show off my talents & maybe even spark some outside interest. so, You wanna see what I've been up to? No, Okay. Too bad.

First & foremost, I've been mommy to these two balls of terror & joy! They manage to keep me sane & insane all at once. How is that possible you ask? Only the Lord knows.

oh yeah, & they light up my life!

& I did some wedding hair! 





& shot some photos! ( i'll have a separate post to show my work)

& worked on my calligraphy!

 

& my knitting! ( first project ever) 

oh & not to mention, went to california with my momma for my cousin's wedding in palm springs! it was just at frank sinatra's house. nbd! 

So, as you can see, this girl has kept her little hands busy. As Lee Ann Rimes says so eloquently in this video, "Momma says, idle hands are the devils handiwork" so I like to keep myself overachieving!

Keep Busy & Stay Lovely!

do as i do.

Hola lovers,

  This post should have been written yesterday but when you're busy rockin' the world with two little handsome men, seconds alone are few & far between. While driving to visit a stellar friend at her city view pool yesterday, I had a breakthrough. Judeman, the Duck, & I were bouncing to some Mumford & Sons, I looked in my rear view mirror to see that both of my boys were mimicking me. I had my hand out the window tapping the side of the car to the music & at that second it hit me. These kids are my clones. They watch every move I make. They will do whatever I do. They will love like I do. They will find happiness if I do. They will fight to be the best they can be every single moment... if I do. So here I am, pushing through struggles & I will overcome & because of that, they will too & that feels good. 

there's my little man mimicking mommy.

(via pinterest)

It's truly as simple as that. As I sit around & complicate things, the truth is all there slapping me in the face. Be happy, Carly & your kids will be too. They will face so much in this world, it's inevitable & if they learn from you that happiness is key then you, in turn, are a successful mother. They will never long for love, or attention, or discipline, or joy. It will all be instilled in them by their happy mother. 

Short insightful post for today! writing things like that down helps keep myself accountable for staying happy despite the battles. Now, off to meet the newest edition to our circle of friends, little baby Derek Thomas Schueler! this momma can't wait to get my hands on him & my camera into his little face!

Stay Lovely despite all struggles.

never ever ever

hola lovelies!

since i am what you would call a suckaaa for my buff, katie girl, i am doing this post per her request! so here goes nothing..

{ things you will never evaah hear outta this mouth}

+ " jude, you are listening to every word i said"
+ " no, i don't want to go home to cincinnati this weekend"
+ " sorry, i don't have my camera with me"
+ " no, i don't want to help you" 
+ " i think i'm going to be underdressed"
+ " i don't care if it doesn't match"
+ " i think i over planned that"
+ " i'll just go out like this, i don't need to get ready"
+ " i'd rather have a miller lite"
+ " i don't want to go for a run"
+ " i want to change the diaper genie this time"
+ " i want to share a blanket"
+ " i hate the sun on my face"
+ " i think i'll pass on the starbuck's very berry hibiscus refresher"
+ " i'm tanner than you"
+ " no, you don't need to iron that"
+ " i think my finger nails look better with no polish"
+ " flowers are a waste of money"
+ " i think i'd rather sit at home alone instead of have friends over"
+ " jude & declan, i'd rather not read you a story tonight"
+ " nah, i don't have OCD"
+ " i have too many dresses"
+ " my whole life doesn't revolve around my kiddies"


i could go on & on for like evahhh but i'll keep things a little bit mysterious! Hope everyone has a wonderful week :) 


StayLovely.

for safe keeping.

It's been almost a month since my brother & sister in law, Phil & Megan tied the knot. Wow! Time flies. I just wanted to post my speech for safe keeping & also so I can reminisce about their special day!  

Matron of Honor Speech

Hi everyone, First off congratulations to the bride and groom and thank all of you for being here to help celebrate this happy occasion. Thanks to Megan's parents, Mark & Beth, & Missy & Steve, for hosting this beautiful wedding & Phil's parents, Ken & Vickie for the amazing rehearsal dinner.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Carly Kipp. Kevin's wife, & Phil & Megan's sister in law! Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I have 3 big brothers & when i married Kevin, I inherited yet another big brother in Phil. I was never the little girl who wished for younger siblings. I've always been the baby & I'm pretty darn good at it. So now, everything has changed, & today, it is official.  I have a BABY SISTER! I always imagined hating this but I was wrong.  I now have a friend forever. A friend with such a kind heart, sweet disposition, a sensitive soul, a little bit of sass & my gosh, you look absolutely radiant tonight! Megan, I am so honored to be by your side as you start the next phase of your life as a Kipp.  I will always be your sister & friend, & I will be right here holding your hand as you & Phil hit many of life's big milestones. I will be here through anniversaries, new homes, & as you bring beautiful babies into the world. I promise to always play with your hair, paint your nails, tell you if an outfit looks okay, and answer my phone when your future babies have been up all night screaming & you can't figure out why. You forever have a sister in me & I thank God everyday for blessing me with you. 

Phil, I can't decide if I should take this time to thank you or curse you. If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have met Kevin but I also wouldn't have my 2 amazing kids & I wouldn't be standing here tonight so I think I should Thank you. Thank you for being a good friend, a loyal brother to Kevin & I, a wonderful uncle to my children, and an adoring husband to Megan. I do have a one request from you. Tonight, I ask you never to steal, lie or cheat, but if you must steal, steal away Megan's sorrows. and if you must lie, lie with her all the nights of your life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because she couldn't live one day with you! 

When I look at the Phil & Megan, I feel such a whirlwind of emotions. I know that the two of you have found your true match in each other. Separately, you are two special, remarkable people, but together you are complete. You two truly are a team. My heart is bursting with love for you two today. I know you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you.  My wish for you is that the happiness surrounding you today will be there for many years to come. On this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn.

Now before I finish, I have just one more thing I want you to do, Your wedding day is one the seems to fly by. Its a day filled with emotion, friends, rings, and dances. Many people remember how fast their own wedding day went so I want you to take a few seconds to look into each others eyes & think about the happiness that you're feeling in this moment. Really let that feeling sink in. Now, i want you to think about your life together in twenty years. where are you? what are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, but always complimentary. John Lennon once said, " a dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together, THAT is a reality." That new reality starts now.

Now everyone raise their glasses! Here's to love, laughter, & happily ever after! CHEERS!  

highlight of my day.

I've been having rough couple of days but there's always something to give you a little ray of sunshine! wanna see mine?

oh come on, i know you do!

StayLovely like this little sweetheart.

"you will never have this day again"

   How is this even possible? I am a stay at home mommy & I spend day in & day out with these handsome little nuggets who I am so blessed to call my own. They push me to my absolute limit. As much as I love them, they're downright exhausting. And here I am, laying in bed, sick as a dog, missing them while they are right downstairs. While in the moment of chaos with two little ones, the constant thought in your head is, "I just need a break!". One night in a hotel with room service, someone to clean up your mess, & precious silence. I am so positively sure that the entire time I spent in that said hotel room, I'd be missing my boys, turning the television on to mask the sound of quiet.  Not only that, I'd be cleaning my own mess (I can thank the OCD for that).

Jude keeps popping in my room to say, "Mommy, I'm sorry you're sick & I love you. Here's batman to make you feel better." {little does he know, a little batman would make me feel MUCH better} But my little Declan has stayed downstairs with daddy most of the day so I just want to hold him & kiss those chubby cheeks!

 --via pinterest --

I'm aware that I can't be with my babies every second & sometimes, I do need a day or even a half a day to recover but thinking that I will never get this day back makes my heart a little sad. I'm missing bath time as we speak & seeing the boys interact with each other is what I live for! Tonight, I will enjoy hearing their little voices and the pitter patter of feet around the house from this bed & I will start tomorrow loving all over my baby boys.

StayLovely.

"you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

  

    So, I know this is a repeat from my Facebook but let's be honest here, it's true. In our house we don't watch "adult tv" while the kids are awake. Heck, we barely watch any television really which is nice, although by no means does it make my house quiet. Both of my boys could take it or leave it. Any who, while at the gym last night I was able to watch the footage from the Terror Attack at the Boston Marathon. Naturally, It made me very emotional & my heart poured out with sadness for everyone involved. As a mother, your whole body clenches in rage when you hear about a child being killed. You think the normal thoughts like, "Who would do this?" "Why would someone want to hurt innocent people?" but I find myself getting so angry when people say things like, "What is this world coming to?". 

   This is not "the worlds" fault. This is ONE (or more) person. You watch the footage and you see THOUSANDS of people helping. Putting themselves at risk and running to lend a hand anyway they can. There were soldiers, police officers, firemen, & bystanders actually running toward the explosion while it was still happening.  For every one horribly sick person there are tens of thousands of good souls on this earth. Why can't we focus on that? If we would put our energy into the good, maybe less bad would happen. 

   Of course I fear for my kids. I'm scared of what might happen to them but I also am afraid for them to ride their bike into the street and get hit by a car. The world is not a bad place. I do not feel like I should live in fear because of something that could happen to us. I haven't lost faith that the love in the world over powers the hate. You know why? Because we have God & because of that I feel as though my children are protected. They have someone to look over them, guard them from harm, and to show them more love than they could ever comprehend. I see the beauty in this place that God has created for us in so many ways. I see the love every day and I will continue to "Believe there is good in the world" & try my absolute hardest to "Be the good". 

StayLovely&KeepPraying.

no one is lovelier than you.

       Oh, Zooey. You make me feel so good for being an emotional over lover. My favorite line of this inspirational is, "Don't allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart". Yes, I cry at everything & tell way too many people I love them ( I think it freaks some people out) but I can't deny the truth. I love so many people & all very differently. I love the ones closest to me with all of my heart. I love them so ardently I feel like I could burst sometimes but you know what I also love? I love the cashier at target who's line I always go to because she is so kind to my boys. I love Jude's preschool teacher because she gives me a feeling of comfort whenever I have to leave him. I love fresh flowers in my house no matter how much money it wastes. I love ribbon, & pretty pens,  & the smell of a library book. I love watching people's mouths when they talk. I love a hug from someone you haven't seen in awhile and how your stomach tingles when they hug you back as tightly as you're hugging them. I love hairlines, that one curl that couldn't quite straighten, the direction of the hairs going every which way, a widows peak, or ducktail (good thing I'm a hairstylist, although temporarily retired). I love people's eyes, the colors can tell a story - green are my favorite, there's always so much detail. Speaking of that, I love detail, I love thinking out & planning every little spec of something. I love the sound of a vacuum picking up crumbs or my Dad turning the page of the newspaper he reads every morning. 

     Now, because I love all of these things, does this make the word love mean less? Sometimes I think I should change how much I use the word but no, that would be a mistake. I wholeheartedly love all of those things I listed & I suppose that just makes me passionate. Who could ever complain about someone being too passionate? Not me. So the answer to my question is NO. Love is love & although you may love something on different scales, it's still all the same.

      I need a daily reminder. Although I am very sure of what I love, I need to open my eyes to these beauties & embrace them more. I tend to notice the tender feeling I have for these things that are dear to me when they are not around (ain't that always the truth?). If I were to consistently think about how blessed I am to have so many joyful things to surround myself with, I would for sure be a happier person. 

Lastly, I love ME. I love that I'm sappy (hey look kate, i'm sappy too) I love that I'm a little bit spastic, and OCD, and a control freak. I do have normal qualities too. I have a big heart, I want to help people, organized, over caring, down to earth, funny (at least I think I am), compassionate, sensitive yet tough, opinionated, happy, smiley, and lastly, I am a damn good mom. 

"Whatever you love is beautiful; love comes first, beauty follows. The greater your capacity for love, the more beauty you find in the world."

— Jane Smiley

StayLovely.

lovely weather.

   HIYA LOVELIES, guess what!! guess...guess. ok, you're done guessing.. all of my excitement is over the fact that it is finally starting to get warm. This is what I have been waiting & waiting & waiting for! I feel like all winter I would have been classified as a recluse. 6 inches of snow a day sure is pretty from the safety of your warm house but the second I was forced to step foot in it, I became a whiney little princess. Believe me, I'm a tough girl & I love snow but at some point, enough is enough.

   With this warmth, there are many more opportunities for us to develop our relationships with our Michigan friends! We've been enjoying play dates almost everyday & I am so grateful for some social interaction. Jude & Declan are making friends with all the neighbor kids so this will make for an amazing summer!

   We're preparing our house for our first visitors of the season. yay! Our best friends, The Kleeman's & Greg Anderson are making the trek up (again). After that, the visitors will just keep coming. I'm so excited to be able to spend time with all my favs. We'll be able to have drink fests on the beach with all the local craft breweries around & grill out on our amazing deck! Let the partying commence.

Stay Lovely.

crazy lovely weekend.

Hi, Lovelies.

  I hope your weekend was as crazy with fun & excitement as mine was! I'm not even sure I'm ready to blog about it because I feel like it will exhaust me all over again. The Kipp's started this weekend by driving to Cincinnati late wednesday night (luckily the nuggets slept the whole drive). Then the wedding festivities for my brother in law & now sister in law began!

Thursday- rehearsal & dinner, 

Friday- prep (nails & girly errands), 

Saturday- rise & shine at 5:15am for this anxious chick! -Anything that I know will make someone else nervous or anxious automatically makes me feel the same. I am the definition of "sympathy pains"- 

  Anyway, that's the beside the point. 8am Saturday, the real work began! Not only was I Matron of Honor, I was the on location hair stylist, which in turn made me a chicken with it's head cut off. I felt so jittery all day which made getting my make up done very entertaining. My eyeliner had to be applied then wiped off and reapplied at least 3 times. (sorry ash!) Luckily, we got everything done with time to spare! I was totally shocked at how smooth everything went & how relaxed we all felt after we had ourselves put together! We had a perfect day with 60 degree sunshine which could not have been planned any better. We had a blast taking photos outside The Madison with our amazing photographers from Innovatory Photography. & then the nerves really set in as the time to walk down the aisle came closer! but as expected, all went well. Lots of tears, lots of laughter, lots of love! The reception feels like it flashed before my eyes. We had so much fun dancing & chatting. My speech went so well it even surprised me. I was very confident in my words because I wrote them all from the heart. I was less confident in my deliverance of those words. Public speaking has always been a strong point for me but when there is so much emotion involved it makes it far worse! I'm sure you could hear the nervousness in my voice but overall, I was quite impressed with myself. 

  After helping Megan plan for months & months, I honestly can't believe it's all over! All that hard work has paid off. Now, I have a beautiful sister inside & out. I am so happy for the amazing couple. They could not be more perfect for each other! 

  

   I wish i could say that was the end of my weekend but the madness continues. Sunday was Easter so we weren't able to just relax. Luckily, my family is so laid back we were able to just hang around & watching basketball & play outside for a bit. Monday was Cincinnati Reds opening day so the fun continues!  My beautiful Jade had an extra ticket and was able to take me with her to join in on the fun! It was a bit chilly but the sun was shining & the beer was flowing so my girls & I spent the day in huge crowds enjoying each other! 

How blessed I am to have so many people in my life to enjoy so many joyous occasions with! I love the crazy chaos & the smiles that come with it. I am one lucky girl ;) 

StayLovely.

my lovely happiness project.

Hello lovelies,
  I am in desperate need of a pick me up & as of now, this book is my only savior! The winter blues have set up camp and I just can't seem to shake them. I need some spring in my life but since moving to the great COLD north I've realized it's going to take much longer for me to get to my happy place! The sun is finally shining which gives me some happy tingles but when you have to lay on the floor next to your sliding door to absorb the rays because outside is just to frigid, it doesn't exactly make you jump for joy!  

  So, I was introduced to this book by a random encounter on Instagram & I decided I'd give it a shot. I'm really not much for "self-improvement" books (they just can't keep my attention) but a close friend had read & said it was helpful so I thought, Hey, why not? so here goes nothing...

  I've read chapter one & my blood is pumping. My decluttering brain is in full force. I am set on getting my house exactly how I want it with no if's, ands, or, buts. "Do what ought to be done" is a quote from the book & it just keeps ringing in my ears every time I want to take a break. It's great to have the motivation just in time for Spring to be Sprung & all the visiting starts up again. 

  Other motivation is to exercise better which is something I have mastered so I just took that section as mentally used it as a confidence boost. I also learned tricks to get a better nights sleep which were very helpful. You don't even realize you're losing sleep when you are! 

  I am excited to continue this read and get myself back to my uppity, energetic, self! The winter blues is for the birds. Bring on the sunshine & blooms! keep in touch for more happiness updates.


Twelve Commandments that I must remind myself daily! 

 1. Be Carly.

 2. Let it go.

 3. Act the way I want to feel.

 4. Do it now.

 5. Be polite & be fair.

 6. Enjoy the process.

 7. Spend out. 

 8. Identify the problem. 

 9. Lighten up. 

 10. Do what ought to be done.

 11. No calculation. 

 12. There is only love. 

StayLovely.

greek yogurt dipped strawberries.

Do you need an easy, sweet snack to get you through your sugar cravings?  Believe me, I sure do! & I have the perfect solution. These are so simple to make, I even let my 3 year old lend a helping hand! All you need are 3 ingredients & your freezer. My husband was on grocery duty when I made this snacks so naturally he came home with one wrong ingredient but it turned out just as well. I suggest using greek yogurt instead of organic because of the thicker consistency. Although, adding a little vanilla or honey to the yogurt will give a better taste!

Michigan has some of the biggest, sweetest strawberries I've ever had & my, am I happy about that because I am known to devour an entire pack at a time.

Puncture the little strawberry with a toothpick & spin it around in the yogurt. Do a double dip to get a even layer around the strawberry.

aren't they pretty?

Place them on wax paper before freezing.

I put them in the freezer overnight. Although, I'm sure an hour or 2 will do the trick! 

These are best served after sitting out for a few minutes to thaw. 

Enjoy your healthy & delicious sweet snack! 

StayLovely.

peanut butter banana smoothie.

Have any left over bananas that the kiddies just didn't get to eating this week? Well, you are IN LUCK!   Leftover banana day is my favorite day of the week (along with clean sheet night). This means I'm able to make my favorite breakfast, snack, lunch,  dessert & even sometimes dinner! As you can see, I LOVE my peanut butter banana smoothie. 

bleck. there is NO way my kids will eat the bananas once they get to this point & personally, I do not blame them but man, do they make amazing smoothies. 

A friend of mine has been making her own greek yogurt at home & she was kind enough to bring some over for me as a little gift! This makes for a perfect amount for my delish smoothie. 

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

2 bananas

 5 oz your yogurt of choice ( i prefer greek)

 1/2 cup milk

 1/2 cup peanut butter 

ice cubes

mix it all up in your blender!

This usually makes 1 1/2-2 smoothies depending on how big your cup size is. I like to change up my peanut butter to banana ratio based on my mood that particular day! I've also added different fruits to this mixture just to spice it up but I personally prefer it with just the banana/peanut butter combo.

This smoothie is perfect for before workouts! Gets a little something in the belly but doesn't sit too heavy & obviously has lots of calcium, potassium, & protein. I hope everyone enjoys this little treat as much as I do.

Stay Lovely.

not so lovely sickness.

My angel is sick.. AGAIN!  & I am NOT okay with it. This is the first time he's been sick where I actually cried. His miserably sick eyes, sad red face, & 103° degree skin made me so entirely distraught I couldn't help shed a few dropping tears onto his tiny face. He looked up at me & actually wiped my tear with his cute little pointer finger (which in turn made me cry even more). Since then, the fever has lowered & his smile has returned so my heart is healing.

This child is not an ordinary child (which I know every mother says) but I truly believe he is part angel. His sweet disposition & warm smile touches your heart so deeply & it's not just me. People stop me to tell me how sweet his smile, his voice, his laugh, & lastly, his heart is. I am truly blessed to have this beautiful child.

Declan - (DECKlin) of Irish origin,  meaning full of goodness. 


StayLovely.

weddings.

This is the year of the weddings for me! Being asked to participate in a wedding is not a question I take lightly. I am an overachiever, if you will, for anything crafty & anything wedding. Throughout the years, I have made way to many signs, cupcakes, & centerpieces and it looks as though the trend is continuing. This March, I am the Matron of Honor in my brother in law & future sister in law's nuptials! I could not be more excited or full of ideas. The bachelorette party is all in my hands & I'm more than halfway finished with the decor which means I'm a month early. wooooooo! 

On New Years Eve, I will be in my second wedding. I will be a bridesmaid in my soulmate, Katie's, wedding & my will it be a grand affair. In my eyes, this wedding is going to be every girls dream come true. All the colors & decor Katie has begun to pick out is just breathtaking! & i wouldn't expect anything less from this classy & stylish chick! I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

 I am happy to say that I was with both of these lovelies when they picked out their gowns! I'd like to think that I'm the good luck charm :) I can't wait to see how glamourous these beauties look & to be able to be apart of it by styling both of them is a dream come true! Let the projects continue...

Stay Lovely.

cupcakes.

This is my constant battle but I am extremely strong willed. Now, do I salivate over anything sweet, fluffy, & delicious. Yes, Duh! I'm a girl. However, I don't often give into my cravings & I think it's time that should stop. I eat very healthy. I'm very lucky to say that it's habitual, a habit instilled by very healthy parents. I work out, often, and hard. Therefore, next time i'm going to eat the damn cupcake, & ice cream, & cheesecake & anything yummy instead of neglecting things I love. I deserve a reward for my hard work. 

I've lost 25 lbs over the past 4 months by eating right & running. (you can also add some homesickness to that list)  Now that's something to be proud of. I've worked very hard to get where I am & I feel good. My clothes don't fit anymore which can only mean I need a new wardrobe (ain't nothing wrong with that). I also feel much more ambitious towards other goals besides exercise & eating right. I'm working to find some other extra curriculars to keep my mind & body busy! 


Stay Lovely.

snow day.

Today, We enjoyed mounds & mounds of snow! 12 inches to be exact. Moving up here from Cincinnati was a huge adjustment & I was terrified that the snow would keep me home bound because I am by far the worst snow driver on planet earth. Luckily, Michigan is very flat unlike our old home where anywhere you went you were forced to go up or down hill. Now the only hill we have to face is the small one in our backyard that Jude had a blast sledding down!

We had so much fun throwing around the snow & being completely freezing in the 14° in kalamazoo! This was Declan's first time in the snow & he was very unsure about what was going on but he seemed to enjoy watching his brother having fun in it! 

Both boys weren't as crazy about the snow getting on their skin so that resulted in these beautiful cry faces! I think they get them from their Momma. I'm definitely one for the dramatics ;)

Hope everyone is staying nice & warm!

StayLovely.

grateful.

This is my reminder today! Whenever i'm struggling, I find pictures like this & put them on my mental cork board! Mommy Carly is sick today & could use a good nap or 7. There is NOOO WAY these boys are going to calm it down for me to get one minute to relax! I've been putting off folding laundry for days (which i feel extremely guilty about so i had to hide it in my closet & closed the door) I've been working my buns off while Kevin's been traveling to keep these kids happy & entertained so tonight, I crash. Kevin's flight is landing as we speak & and the second he walks in that door he's on daddy duty. This also makes me feel guilty because who wants to travel all day then come home to 2 maniacs (maybe 3 if you count me) but he offered so I'm taking him up on that! 

Right now, As the kiddies take their afternoon naps, I will reflect on what I should be grateful for. Firstly, I think it's self explanatory but as hard as these munchkins are, they are the loves of my life. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the joy they bring me. Their smiles are my sunshine. 

Secondly, I am grateful for having a big beautiful house, heat, food, clothes, blankets, & plenty of love to go around. Up here in Michigan, we're working on inch number 7 of snow for the day so all of the said things are very important! Next, I am very thankful for my husband, although he's not here, HE'S COMING! and we've missed him. He works so hard to provide for us so I can sit here & blog about my non important thoughts ;) He loves his boys & his boys love him. Lastly, I am so grateful for all of my friends & family back in cincinnati who we miss so dearly. They are the center of our world & it is so difficult to be so far away from them! Everyday we miss the visits & play time we used to be able to spend whenever we felt like it. We will be reunited again! 

I am so very blessed to have so many things in my life that make it so complete!

StayLovely.

my lovely kids.

Today, I wouldn't say my kids are so lovely. I have been home alone with them for 4 days & am going bonkers! Kevin is in Nashville for the Sherwin Williams National Sales Meeting which he attends every January so I should be used to it by now. While staying home with these little nuggets I've developed a mild case of OCD (which is the worst thing to develop when you have a 1 and a 3 year old). I follow these kids around with a paper towel & windex. The longer it goes on, the more I realize I need to RELAX! No one expects my house to be perfect, or my hair to be done, or for me to wear makeup any other day than saturday night! The perfectionist Carly needs to take a chill pill ;) & some days I do & on those days I have the most fun with the most precious & loving two little boys around. 

days where i actually relaxed & enjoyed the love we share! 

StayLovely.