Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

July 31, 2013

spoiled the first time around.

When Ava was a newborn we had the typical days vs. nights confusion that most newborns have. I remember this one awful night we had with her at just a few days old. She was having a screaming crying fit in the middle of the night.

I fed her, check.

She was changed, check.

So why oh why was she still screaming?!

{Ava just a few weeks old}

But she was still crying and screaming like bloody murder, like the kinda crying that makes you feel like you're absolutely going to go crazy. The kinda crying that makes you want to cry too because you're so exhausted yourself. I remember during this crying fit my mom slowly coming in our room and offering to take her and try to calm her so we could get some sleep.

Thank God for Grandmas, right?! My mom was able to calm her down in a couple of minutes and stayed and slept with Ava for a few good hours so we could get some sleep. I was forever grateful for those hours of sleep and for my mom knowing just what to do and that we needed help.

I endured many nights of little to no sleep, late night feedings and lots of crying as most mothers do. Then around three months old Ava did something amazing, she started sleeping for about 8 hours straight at night. I remember the first time she did this, I was waking up all through the night checking on her and making sure she was still breathing. I just couldn't believe she was sleeping still, and sleeping so well.

 {Zane just one day old}

At first you kinda think it's a fluke or something. Like surely this is to good to be true, right? After a couple of weeks of her sleeping so well it was time to declare her a champion sleeper in my first time mothering account.

Around the same time I began sleep training Ava and she was starting to get into a nice little routine of napping twice a day for 2-3 hours. I remember it being so glorious, finally I was able to take a shower, get laundry done and feel somewhat human and on top of my household. Those first couple months seemed like a blur as result of being overly tired, not sleeping and trying to make sense of this new mom thing and this new life as parents. At times we felt like we were in a constant fog, the newborn haze I liked to call it.

But once we got a rythm it was good, oh so good. I remember blogging about he sleep habits and other moms telling me how lucky I was. Ava was always a very chill, very content little baby. She always played really well by herself, napped well too. She hardly ever cried except for when she needed something like to eat. She was like my dream baby.

And I remember friends telling us that we couldn't get this lucky twice, that the next one would totally be different. At the time we smiled and laughed having no idea what to expect the next time around but were completely enjoying this new rythm we'd found with our baby. She made parenting easy for us. She was an easy baby.



When you're a new mom all you know is your first baby. What you did with your first baby, how they acted, how they slept, what you did to make them happy and content is all based on the first time account you've had with baby #1. Then you have baby number two, and even though you thought you knew what you were doing all of a sudden everything you knew to do now had to change because baby #2 is oh so very different.

Everyone tells you that each baby is so different, I've heard that a million times. I didn't realize how different they would be till we brought Zane home. I'm slowly trying to figure this whole mom of two thing out.

see I was spoiled by my first.

I'm still trying to figure out #2.

Did you have a similar experience with your children? Tell me about it in the comments below.

July 29, 2013

{Our Home} Defining an Entry Way

Hi friends! We're back from vacation and refreshed just like the way it should be. We enjoyed a week with my family in Iowa, I can't wait to share some snippets from our trip.

 photo entrywaybanner_zpsea7a26bb.jpg

Today I'm excited to share with you a project that we did to help define our entry way. We started this project on 4th of July weekend, but it always takes us longer than expected to complete projects than I think. We actually finished it a couple days before leaving on vacation. Here's what that space looked like before;

 photo entrywaybefore1_zps55ebd9db.jpg

I realized that I didn't get the best before picture and when I was going through them this was the best one, but we're talking about that wall to the right. I've starred at this wall so much over the last couple months. We don't have a really big entry way, it all just leads right into an open living room. We wanted to define this space as an entry way as much as we could, after browsing a few blogs and coming up with some ideas I showed Hubby this post which was our inspiration for the project.

We decided to screw our boards right into the studs like the tutorial suggested. We headed to Home Depot to get our supplies. We ended up using a thinner bender board than what was originally in the tutorial since our space wasn't as big and these boards are a little thinner. Everything else we did the same as the tutorial.

We used Frog tape to keep the boards in place while we measured and checked to make sure things we level. 

 photo IMG_4607_zps85e5e074.jpg

After screwing all the boards down it was time to fill in the holes and sand things down. 

 photo IMG_4608_zps737d1bca.jpg

Filling, sanding, repeat.

After that we painted them a crisp white. Olympics "Snow" in semi gloss. We used the paint + primer for even coverage since I didn't want to do two steps. Which worked great and covered well. 

 photo IMG_4672_zps554716db.jpg

Here's the completed after; we wanted this space to have the style meets function factor. We wanted it to look pretty but also be a space where we could hang coats and put our shoes.

 photo entrywayafter1_zps6f9cc4f8.jpg

We both really love how it turned out after it was all painted and the hooks were in. I love the clean lines and the crisp look with all the white. 

We added three brushed nickel hooks for hanging coats and bags when we aren't using them. And it's easy access for when guests come over and when we come home to kick off our shoes and hang my purse. 

 photo entrywayafter2_zps964470dc.jpg

We added a basket to store one or two pairs of shoes when we're not wearing them. It helps keep the shoe clutter at bay. 

Let's take a look up close at this frame. I took an old frame I had sitting around and took some hymns out of a book and placed them in the frame. These five hymns are my faves and they mean a great deal to me, I placed them right where I will see them every time I walk into our home. 

 photo entrywayafter4_zps77bc1cb6.jpg

 photo entrywayafter3_zps35218a6d.jpg

We both love how this project turned out, and we love the look and the character it adds to our home.

What projects are you currently working on? Does anyone else like me take forever to complete a home project? I wanna hear about them! Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

Budget Breakdown: 
bender board sheet $40 (cut to our specifications)
paint $14
hooks $9
caulk, screws, sandpaper, wood filler we already had on hand

Source List:
basket: World Market
silver frame: Ikea
Hooks: Home Depot
White Paint: Olympic Paint + Primer in Snow

July 24, 2013

5 Questions: Destiny from A Place For Us

 photo 5questionsbanner_zpsf2ee8fb1.jpg

Today's 5 Questions comes from Destiny at A Place For Us blog. You may know her from her House Proud Segment on the Nate Show, or for her awesome brown paper flowers that were featured everywhere in blog land. But I know her as my internet turned real life friend, she's sweet like tea and is just as fun in real life as she is on her blog.

Thank you Destiny for being apart of this series with me.

 photo DestinyAPFU2_zps5497dc10.jpg

 photo destinyAPFU1_zps63cf6b39.jpg

Connect with Destiny by visiting her social media links below.


All images by A Place for Us. 

July 15, 2013

Cilantro Lime Pork Chops

 photo cilantrolimeporkchops_zps4f24832f.jpg

Happy Monday friends! Today, I'm excited to share with you an easy dinner you can make any night of the week. So simple and easy but packs a big flavor punch. 

I love mexican food, and I'm always looking for new ways to use my favorite flavors: cilantro & lime! 

Cilantro Lime Pork Chops (serves 4)
4 boneless pork loin chops
1 bunch cilantro chopped
2 limes
salt & pepper to taste

Here's what you'll do;
Take your 4 pork chops and season both sides with salt and pepper. In a pan over medium heat sear both sides of your chops for 2-3 minutes on each side. Once seared on both sides reduce heat to low and cover with a lid, cooking for 30 minutes. 

I love cooking pork chops this way, the searing locks in the flavor and cooking them on low for a while allows all the juices to stay in and not dry them out. After you're done cooking place the chops on a serving dish and squeeze the lime juice all over the tops of your pork chops and then sprinkle your cilantro on top. 

Serve with cilantro lime rice. 

July 12, 2013

Coffee Date // 7.12.13

Happy Friday friends! 

A little afternoon coffee date for you! 


Happy Weekending friends! 

xo! 

July 11, 2013

My Fitness Journey Part 1: Loosing the Baby Weight

Let's back up to beginning shall well, and let me start by saying that I have never really been into health and fitness in the sense that I have "cared" or thought to much about it. In high school I was really active, I was a cheerleader for two different sports and that kept me pretty active during the school year. I spent my summers swimming and being outdoors. I've always eaten pretty healthy as well, and never been to concerned. 

Then I went to college. I stopped being active, not like I was in high school anyway. I put on some weight during my first couple years of college. Then lost it all by the time I got married a few years after college. When Orion and I got married I was the thinnest I think I've ever been. I was happy with my weight and the over all healthy lifestyle I'd created. 

Fast forward a couple years, had my first baby. It took me about 9 months to loose all the baby weight I gained with Ava and feel like I was in a good place. Then I started working full time again and time for working out and eating healthy took a back seat to working full time and trying to figure out how to be a wife, mother and homemaker in all of that. And really, I just didn't care. There were times when I was just staying a float. 

When I got pregnant with baby #2 I was already a bit over weight. But in the weeks prior to finding out I was pregnant I had lost 10 pounds. I am a small person in height only 5'2'' I was over weight for my height for sure. I had such intense sugar cravings during my pregnancy with Zane that I just ate whatever I wanted. I gained those 10 pounds back so quick, and really gave myself license to eat what I wanted to because I was "pregnant." 

Such a crappy attitude to have, ladies don't be like that during your pregnancy. Stay active, eat well for you and for baby. 

Now, I'm gonna get real with you here and share some very personal things here, specifically numbers.

When I weighed in on delivery day with my second pregnancy I weighed 190. Before I got pregnant I weighed 158, I'd gained 32 pounds during this pregnancy. Which might not seem like a lot but with swollen feet during the last 3 months of my pregnancy I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world. 

And of coarse you do not feel like yourself just after having a baby. I knew that I couldn't start working out again till I got the clear from the doctor so I tried to make better choices in what I was putting into my body. Which was hard because I was breast feeding and needed extra calories and I was still having crazy sugar cravings. 

Zane was 3 months old when I decided something needed to change. I was already back to my pre pregnancy weight at 158 pounds. I'd lost 32 pounds by really watching what I ate, breast feeding and chasing around two kids mostly Ava up and down the flight of stairs all day. 



158 pounds was still a bit over weight and I knew it. My body had changed and so I needed to change what I was going if I was ever going to loose the weight I wanted to and make a healthier lifestyle. So I decided that I was going to start working out at home. 

I began doing Jillian Micheals' 30 Day Shred at home. The first couple days were so not easy, actually I dreaded them. My first couple work outs Zane woke up screaming from his afternoon nap time. It was crazy but I kept going, crying baby and all. 


By Day 6, I was just now starting to get into it and thinking to myself "Ok, I can do this." I worked out in front of my Husband which I haven't done in years. It was an accomplishment alright. I also started to change my eating habits a lot started clean eating and cut out all dairy, sugar, extra salt, counted my calories and started drinking insane amounts of water daily. About a gallon of water to be exact, peeing all the time like I was pregnant again. 


I kept going and going pushing myself. Doing workouts with screaming kids in the background is not always glamourous but I got it done! Sweating in 112 degree heat while trying to get a run in, is also not awesome but again I pushed myself and did it. But, buying new workout shorts in a small size is! A small but needed victory. 


I'm now 3 months into my fitness journey and have seen great results as part of my transformation mind, body and soul. It really has been a workout from the inside out, cleaning up all areas of my life. I really believe that fitness is much more mental than physical. I needed to get over my mental road blocks first before I really could make this change. 

I'm so glad I did. I feel better than I have in years. I'm sleeping better, and having more energy for my kids during the day. Loosing the weight is honestly such an added bonus to the way I feel. 

I can't wait to share more of my journey in the next couple weeks. If you're needing some motivation today my advice is to just make a choice and start moving. Find someone to help hold you accountable, a work out buddy if you need to is always helpful. Start making small changes that add up to big changes. 

July 10, 2013

5 Questions: Katie from Bower Power

 photo 5questionsbanner_zpsf2ee8fb1.jpg

Today's 5 questions comes is from Katie at Bower Power! I was first introduced to Katie from her real life BFF Sherry from the blog Young House Love. I love Katie's quick whit, her over sharing writing style and the fact you can see her heart in her blog so clear!

Thank you Katie for being apart of this series!

 photo katieBP1_zps3c0afa86.jpg

 photo katieBP2_zps43919666.jpg

all images provided by Katie Bower

July 8, 2013

{Giveaway} Home Executive Planner


Happy Monday friends! Today I have a treat for you, remember last year when I told you about my new fave planner? You can read my full review here.

I've loved my planner for the last year, it's a organizers dream. It keeps my family and this blog organized. There's a place for my notes and my grocery list. I love that it has recipes inside for you to try as well.

I love the columns that it has, it helps keep my husband's schedule separate from mine and the kids. It's just awesome.


Today one lucky Worley House reader will win ONE Home Executive Planner of their own for the next calendar year.

Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter this giveaway.


In case you don't win, you can still order yourself a Home Executive Planner by visiting their website here. She's taking pre orders now for the planners, all planners will be mailed in August.

Giveaway will run from now until Sunday night. US Residents only, all entries will be verified. 

July 5, 2013

Coffee Date// 4th of July Recap

Good morning friends. I have a bit of a post holiday hang over today, and I totally feel like it's Saturday not Friday. Anyone else feel like this today?

We had a great 4th just celebrating and keeping it low key this year.


We started out the the day with a festive breakfast of star shaped pancakes and fruit. I was just excited to sit around and leisurely take our time getting ready and around for the day.

After breakfast and getting around we ran some errands and did a little shopping. We also picked up building supplies for a house project we're working on.


Ava fell asleep in the car on the way home and continued her nap at home. While she slept we played with baby brother.


We had big plans of going to the big fireworks show in Tempe this year, but the day totally got away from us and by the time we were going to think about making the 40 minute drive I made a decision to just stay home and do sparklers in the backyard. Which Ava really enjoyed so it ended up being really fun.

Before the sun set I had Orion take a holiday picture of me with my lil' firecrackers.


We're looking forward to hosting a BBQ at our home on Saturday with friends and continuing the holiday weekend. 

If we were having coffee today, I'd love for you to tell me how you spent your 4th of July? Did you have a big bash? See the fireworks in your hometown? Or spend it pretty low key like us? Tell me in the comments below. 

linking up with Rags to Stitches today.

July 4, 2013

Reviving and Cleaning Our Carpet with Eureka AirSpeed ONE #AirSpeedONE

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

 photo AIRSPEEDONEBANNER_zps8899488f.jpg

Our home is about 90% carpet, we have carpet in all 4 bedrooms, the living room and on the stair case. Plus we have a dog, one that sheds like crazy. I swear he sheds a new coat daily. Needless to say with a shedding dog and two kids we need a vacuum cleaner that actually keeps the carpet cleaner than before.

I have a confession to make; I hate our vacuum. I mean like I hate it so much that I refuse to vacuum because of it. My husband ends up doing most of it. I've only ever owned two vacuums in my adult life and they were both by the same brand. The one we had when we first got married, I'd owned it prior to getting married and it just bit the dust a couple years ago. Then some friends generously gave us their used vacuum because they were getting a new one. I couldn't complain because it was helpful at the time and we needed one. Now after a year of that vacuum not doing its job, I knew it was time to look for a new one. Here's some things that were on my list when it came to looking for a new vacuum:

  • light weight- I don't wanna be lugging something heavy up and down stairs.
  • cleans well- we have a dog like I mentioned and two kids. Has to be able to clean up pet hair, that's big on my list.
  • runs smoothly- we have pretty thick carpet, I'd love for glide across the floor easily.
  • budget friendly- we can't break the bank here people, I need to to clean not take my life savings.
After much research and reading a lot of reviews we were excited to try out the new Eureka AirSpeed ONE vacuum.

 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE_zpsb1fdc6ec.jpg

We headed to Wal-Mart to pick up our Eureka AirSpeed ONE. Already one of the key features I wanted was listed on a nice sign in front of the vacuum that told me it weighed less than 10 pounds. It was also very budget friendly coming in under $50 with tax.

 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE2_zpsb6344bcb.jpg

Even Ava got in on the vacuum shopping fun asking to pose next to the box. You can see more of my shopping experience in my Google+ album here.

After bringing it home and tearing the box open we found that it was really easy to put together. I even did it all myself, with the help of some handy instructions.


 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE3_zps1160fb1b.jpg

Here's how the Eureka AirSpeed ONE held up to my wants and needs check list, first thing I noticed was how light it was and how easily it glided across the floor. It wasn't bulky and hard to move. I really appreciated these features.

We also have pretty thick carpet and another feature that I really like is that it has 4 different adjustment levels to accommodate this in any home with any floor situation.

 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE4_zps61502f6e.jpg

The AirSpeed ONE did an amazing job on our carpets, right away we were able to see everything that our other vacuum wasn't picking up. We have a dog and I mentioned before that our new vacuum needed to be able to pick up the pet hair that he sheds daily.

I'm happy to say that the AirSpeed ONE did just that and then some! We used the AirSpeed ONE to pick up the pet hair off our sofa as well.

 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE5_zpsc5a515b1.jpg

Also because of the light weight of the vacuum we were able to bring it up and down the stairs with ease which was really nice. My husband even got in on the cleaning duty and wanted to try out the vacuum. He really loves to vacuum and this one he gave a BIG thumbs up. He actually even finished the vacuuming that day.

 photo EurekaAirSpeedONE6_zps1d55db8e.jpg

Some other awesome features to note:


  • comes with a washable air filter
  • easy to remove dust cup for clean up
  • the cord is extra long to help you clean even more space
We really love the AirSpeed ONE vacuum and have been very pleased with it on our home. If you're wanting or needing to replace your own vacuum I highly recommend this as an option. It cleans just as well if not better in my option as some of the other more expensive brands. 

Visit Eureka on Facebook or on Twitter to learn more. 


July 1, 2013

Patriotic Clothing Ideas for your Little Ones

There's nothing like a good holiday to dress your little ones up in festive attire, am I right? I love any good excuse to get creative with their clothing and add some glitter! Today I've got a fun round up of some of the cutest patriotic clothing options for your little ones.

If you haven't gotten something yet for your little ones don't worry places like Old Navy always have tons of things. And any of these options would be perfect for Labor Day & Memorial Day too, twice the wear!

Patriotic Clothing for Your Little Firecrackers



Patriotic Clothing for Your Little Miss Independence

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...