When You Give A Two-Year Old A Mini Shopping Cart

October 10, 2016

My hometown’s grocery store recently closed and reopened under a new franchise brand. The change brought about a reorganized produce section, complete with some organics, better pricing (my opinion) and a great perks program (again, my opinion). But, by far, the greatest addition is the kid-sized grocery carts. (INSERT – Complete sarcasm! HERE)

I thought I was the cool mom. I thought she was the disciplined child. I learned that those two things really do not go hand in hand.

Here is what happens when you give a near two-year old their own personal kid grocery cart.

It all started with her big eyed gasp, that seriously gets me every single time. How could I resist? She spotted the little shopping cart and reached out her hands, little fingers erect, nearly leaving my arms. Then with her little voice, “Mommy, cart, Mommy, cart.” There was a smile on my face. “I got this!” No, “We got this!” I thought proudly to myself.

Looking back now, there were other adults starring at me. Eyeing me up. I am sure they were all thinking the same thing… “What a cool Mom. Great Mom.”

Ahh, who am I kidding? They were secretly judging me. “Just you wait!” They all probably smirked.

But, she was so cute, cruising through the produce. “Mommy, orange,” she yelled. “Nana.” (That is banana talk, folks).

I think the first item in her cart was a pack of blueberries, then a yellow pepper, then said Nanas.

“Follow Mommy.” I would sweetly proclaim and smile at other shoppers. As if my smile and nod was really communication to cue them to look at my sweetheart.

The frozen foods were next. As she slowly lagged behind me, I scanned the freezers while constantly looking back. My concentration and meal planning game was totally off, but hey, I needed a “few” things.

As we made the turn, I noticed the produce guy hauling the empty cart up the aisle behind us. “Watch where you are going,” I softly encouraged her, smiling at the gentleman who did not return my sincere gesture. Nah, instead he sighed, looking around his cart, knowing he could easily take her out. There was no, “She is cute,” or mere awe from him. More like disdain and I felt it then, he was thinking, “Who the hell invented these things?”

We avoided a mid-aisle collision and rounded the end cap to the chips. Lo started to grab items. Up until this point, things were too high or behind freezer doors, but now they were just a hand away. “No,” starting to be said.

“I don’t think so. We don’t need that. Come on, Lo. No.” All the discipline started to come out, but she was still so darn cute. All disheveled and grimy from the day, pushing her cart. Ya, know, just like, her Mom. I got out my phone. I videoed her. Posted it to Instagram, then SnapChat. She was a bit more confident with the cart and I was still the cool Mom.

We scanned the next aisle and encountered an enthusiastic shopper. “Oh, would you look at her!” The happy lady said to her husband as he picked through the brats (actually I don’t know if that is what he was looking at in the meat section, but it sounds good now). He turned, holding his brats and chuckled, “Are you shopping young Lady?”

Of course, Lo replied, “Yesh!” (Not yes. It is Yesh!) I smiled back. THIS is what I was talking about and what I was envisioned in my head when we first spotted the cart in the front of the store. A happy Mommy / Daughter night.

I was growing in confidence too. I added some soup cans to her buggy as we made the turn to the next aisle revealing… more canned goods. Before I knew it she had beets, spam and tuna in her cart. Ya, know, typical items a two-year old desires! I secretly removed them, returning them to the shelf when she would turn her back. Half way up the aisle I realized… she was starting to take control. She started running. Grabbing a canned good here, grabbing one there. Actually she could no longer push the buggy. Well she could but she was exercising the same exertion I do, when I am loaded down and sliding into the check out lane.

“Why don’t we take a break form the buggy and you ride in Mommy’s cart I asked?” Surprisingly, she obliged. I transferred the items from her cart to mine, loaded her in the front, left the child’s cart in the aisle and went on my merry way. So, I thought…

Once the cart was out of sight, the meltdown began. Screaming, crying, tantrum status in the SODA section. Just like a shaken bottle of pop, there Lo was erupting. I tried shhhing her. I tried distraction. I talked about McDonald’s. I actually thought about aborting the whole damn mission. “But you have come so far!!” I mentally told myself. “You are right I have!” I mentally replied.

She was screaming! Clinging to my neck, looking into my eyes. Oh damn, we were deep. I started sweating. Like full on drench mode, as I passed Captain Crunch and Tony the Tiger. If they could talk, I was no longer the cool Mom. I was what-the-heck-did-you-do-to-your-child-Mom.

Then there were other children. A distraction to Lo. And, an end display of Beanie Babies. Who knew they made these anymore? I took her out of the shopping cart (BIG MISTAKE). I let her play with the toys to calm down. I grabbed some items quickly, we made the turn and then we each saw it… three children pushing mini shopping carts. I repeat pushing MINI SHOPPING CARTS. She freaked! She wanted one, had to have one, and then in the open she spotted the one I had abandoned mere moments earlier, sitting there alone and she took off. Full run through the meat section. I had a choice. I chose chase. I left my cart, my purse, wide open I might add and went after her. By the time I grabbed her arm, she grabbed the cart. I was defeated. I succumbed. “Fine. Push the damn cart!” I yelled. People looked at me. I was Mean Mom.

My cart was untouched. No one stole my snacks and my purse remained in the front seat. Wallet still intact.

At this point just wanted to hurry up and get the hell out of the store, while my mini shopper followed in tow.

As we made it through the dairy aisle I became a Bully Mom. “Come on, Lo. Hurry up. No. Pay attention. Stop that. Don’t touch that!” I felt like a jerk since I set this whole thing up. When she spotted the Popsicles, I felt like I HAD to buy them for her for the mere subtle sorry for the trouble I caused. I allowed her to put them in her buggy then hurried her along.

As we eyed the check out lanes, the finish line in sight. I snagged this picture.

She had actually opened the box, while she followed behind me and was two-seconds from eating one. I quickly threw the Popsicles in my cart. And drug her, her cart, my cart and all of her tears and screams to the open check out lane. Yes, for an open check out lane.

I ditched her mini shopping cart. I wanted to drop kick it or shove it as hard as I could into the nearby wall. Instead, I mildly pushed it aside.

When I thought I was home free, when I thought I had suppressed her anger and even my own, with gummies (fair trade-off for a Popsicle), the kind couple from aisle #3 appeared. You know, the ones who encouraged me, who made me feel like the Cool Mom, she heard my daughter’s squeals and thought now would be a great time to interact a bit more. She reach for the Snow white balloon in the check out lane and presented it to my daughter. I now realized I needed the mini shopping cart to run it into her heel. No, I am kidding, kidding. HaHa. But, I did want to ask her if she wanted to babysit my screaming daughter, while I peeled the balloon from her fingers.

We checked out. I spent more money than I planned. I actually had no idea what I even bought until I unpacked at home. And, I drove us straight to McDonald’s for our evening dinner. I was too exhausted to cook.

Then another fight broke out between the two of us in the fast food lane as I asked her if she wanted chicken nuggets and she started screaming and crying for pancakes and sausages. I thought I had lost all hope. But then a heavenly angel came through and spoke to me , using the drive-thru speaker as her medium and asked – “Welcome to McDonald’s. Breakfast Menu or Dinner Menu?” The light shined at the end of a long tunnel and I ordered breakfast for dinner.

Thank you, McDonald’s for the win!! I will take the all-day breakfast idea over the mini shopping carts any day.

The end!

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Dear Little Sister

October 8, 2016

There was a time I was your age. While it feels like ages ago, please understand, when you look back at me, I was once in your shoes. You can sit there quietly. You can put on a brave face, but what I am not acknowledging when I sit there looking at you is that I know on some days you are fighting back tears. And, I won’t call you on it. I know when someone says, “Are you crying?” or “Honey, don’t cry.” You will, because I too had those very questions asked at your age and before I knew it the waterworks would turn on and I would be a blubbering mess into someone’s shoulder. It is like the question turns the faucet on.

Being a teenager is hard. Don’t let anyone tell you it is not. Friends from elementary and middle school that you proclaimed as your BFF, splitting heart necklaces and making pinkie promises suddenly disappear. Or worse, sometimes you actually feel like you are the one who has disappeared as you pass them during the school day without a wave or a smile. Your body is changing. Suddenly things are happening that you heard about in 5th grade health and you want to crawl under your bed sheets and stay awhile. You want to be a kid but you also want to grow up. You are learning who you are while navigating the halls of a school filled with judgment, pettiness, competition and jealousy.

But, here is the thing. This won’t last forever. These feelings you feel today as you scan Facebook to see what “he” is up to, or where all your “friends” are tonight, while you sit at your older sister’s home, they too shall pass. Because once you throw that cap in the air and earn your high school diploma, high school drama ends and real life begins. This I promise.

So, here are some things the real world doesn’t care about.

How popular you were.
You are going to graduate from high school and just like that, each and every one of you will scatter. Some will go into the workforce right away, some will take time to find themselves, some into the military, some into their hometown college and others will pack up and cross the country for school. But, you will scatter and you will start over, and I repeat, you will start over. So, popularity, in high school will soon in the snap of a finger mean nothing. College and / or the real world doesn’t gauge acceptance and hiring on how many people sat with you in the lunch room.

If you know how to contour your face or not.
Unless you are becoming a makeup artist, no one cares if you can contour your face or not. So, the need to be beautiful and cake your face in makeup is just plain silly. In fact, if you are not a makeup artist, don’t even try contouring. You are most beautiful without a drop of makeup on.

Who you dated.
Life goes round. Boys will come and go and your heart will break. If you are like most, it will break more than once and you will probably even break a heart or two, too. The thing is you are in that in between stage in life. Not quite a woman, and not quite a girl. It is the same for boys. Believe me. While it hurts today, in a few years you will look back and laugh. And, if you are anything like your sister, your brothers and uncles will one day pick on you for your young love crushes and choices.

Who Your Best Friends Are.
Friends will come and go. I promise you this. It will happen now and even when you become an adult. People change and adapt and because of this, so does friendship. Do not define yourself by quantity but by quality. One great best friend is worth the weight in gold than 10 sub-par “friends.”

But, here are the things the real world does care about.

Your Grades – Yes, this really is the main reason you are in high school. Take school seriously. Do well. Try hard and place your attention and efforts into learning and loving to learn. You never stop learning and high school is the stepping stone to what your future holds.

That You Can Multi-Task – Try out for the drama club. Play soccer. Join the Yearbook Team. Do all the things you want to do and possibly can! Use high school to your advantage. Show that you have initiative.

That You Respect Authority – A respectful teenager is a respectful adult and it goes both ways. Meaning, when you leave high school with the mentality that adults can be mentors and by exhibiting this trait, adults will look at you as a young adult with an equal amount of respect. Understand that you are not a know-it-all. Sometimes, adults know what they are talking about and their tough love is just that. They are guiding and shaping you.

That You Are Kind. Don’t be a bully today or tomorrow. Life is about acceptance. Be humble, be kind and don’t stoop to the level of others. My favorite Maya Angelou quote is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Remember this. I promise you in ten years you will pass an old classmate in public and they won’t remember who your best friends were or who you dated but they will remember how you made them feel right now. Be the shining person who strives to be that very person that in ten years from now is remembered for being accepting, friendly and kind. It is a better legacy than the mean girls.

Finally, dear sister, go to bed each night loving yourself today. You are special. Hold your head high with self-confidence not self-boasting. Love yourself for your own reflection each day, never the reflection you see through others. Unless of course it is through me, because what I see is something beautiful!

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Sunday Morning and Poison Control

October 3, 2016

This past Sunday morning started out like most. Pajamas and coffee in bed. A little bed head toddler beauty squished in between us for morning snuggles and sausage thawing in the refrigerator, awaiting the pitter-patter of our feet as we make a break from beneath the warmth of our bed covers to rise with the sun to start a new day. Where did I lose you? I lost myself at sausage. Cause’ Lord knows I forget to thaw meat out and then scramble by placing it in a scalding bowl of hot water and praying to the thawing Gods.

This is the morning I envisioned in my mind pre-baby and still even living crazy Sunday after crazy Sunday, envision will miraculously occur.

Picture perfect none the less. The real Sunday went a little something like this.

Lo fought me to go down Saturday. Our fault. We missed her mark and paid royally. Let me go back a bit further and explain that Friday night I finally got the new bed sheets on the bed that I purchased on Thursday. We only had the real joy of sleeping on them, Friday night. Lo decided Saturday morning was the morning and a good time to pee in our bed. Not even 10 hours on our mattress, I stripped the bed, yet again, to rewash the new sheets. So, by Saturday night when the clock struck 10 pm and my wired toddler poked me in the eye balls and flopped around like a fish out of water, I carried her into her own crib and crashed hard. On the bed with our missing fitted sheet. When Nathan finally awoke from the couch and pulled back the comforter at midnight, I knew he was tired too as he did not even bulk at the sheet-less situation
By 6:45 am on Sunday, Lo was calling out our names. We convinced her the “sky was not awake” (Frozen reference since she is slightly obsessed) and were able to convince her to give us about 30 more minutes of laying in bed time. Notice I did not say sleeping or even cuddling. 30 extra minutes to lay in bed.
Eventually, she crawled over my body and onto the floor and stood at the foot of the bed so we could only see her eyes, forehead and hair and repeatedly yelled,”Down. Down. Down.” Until we got out of bed.
At this point we caused our own chaos with an hour and a half until church. I skipped the breakfast ritual and opted for cinnamon rolls only to discover an odd oozing liquid that seeped out and onto the baking sheet. Realizing we were passed the expiration, I reluctantly tossed them. I say reluctant, because I Googled – Can you eat Cinnamon Rolls pass their expiration date? and then figured stomach cramps weren’t my thing. That morning we ate oatmeal and berries. I know, we are great people. Eating healthy as our last resource. I literally told Nathan, “It takes no food in the house to eat well.”
Lo hates showers and baths when the timing is right and when they are necessary but is obsessed when you have 40 minutes to get yourself and everyone out the door. So, after a quick shower, she was bathed, dried and dressed for church.
I let her play in our spare bedroom, which houses my childhood Barbie dream house that is now hers, while Nathan and I rushed around getting dressed, gathering an offering and packing her diaper bag. I believe I was semi-curling my hair when I heard Nathan call out my name. When I walked in the room our daughter was laying in the bedroom closet, against a pile of debris (otherwise known as junk you don’t know where else to put so you shove in a closet) and just starring at us red faced and weird. Yes, weird. “What is wrong with her?” Nathan asked. She was coherent. She kicked me when I approached, so I assumed all was well and I scooped her up, checked her over and then placed her back on the floor.
Minutes later when we returned to check on her. She had returned to the closet, squatting in the doorway. This time her face was red and she was blotchy. Nathan went to grab her and instead picked up a bottle of wood clue that he found beside her. “She is eating wood glue, Ashli!” He yelled. Of course I silently freaked out.
At this point, church had started 5 minutes ago. And, maybe we should have been there praying we were better, more observant parents. Nathan rushed to his phone to call someone for advice and I scanned the bottle for the words – “toxic.” Which I could not find. So, I grabbed my phone and Googled – Toddler ate wood glue – and then I slightly chuckled and then I got mad at myself for laughing at what could be a serious situation, because at this point, how the hell did I know?
Detective mode kicked in and I squeezed the bottle. I could not even get the wood glue out of the half dry rotted bottle so how could she? Then, at the same time, Nathan and I realized, she ate the hardened glue the gathered at the opening. You know, when you last use glue and it collectively gathers.
Once my Google search screen loaded, Poison Control’s number was the first thing I saw, so I dialed. And, to my surprise a nice lady answered quickly, “Poison Control, how may I assist you today.” Lo continued to lay across from me in the closet, starring at me, pushing me away as I reached for her, saying, “No, Mommy, go.” At this point a smell filled the closet air and I realized her red, blotchy face wasn’t from the wood glue.
Distracted by the whole situation, I answered, “Hi, umm yes…” I literally did not know what to say so I blurted it out, “my daughter ate wood glue. Is she going to be okay?” Now Lo was refusing eye contact.
The lady was so sweet and professional and asked me if she was choking or coughing or showing any symptoms and I actually said, “She is being quiet and starring at me.” Omitting the redness and blotches which I at this point knew had nothing to do with the wood glue. The kind lady actually chuckled. Then I explained that I was sure it was not actually glue but the remnants of glue that hardened onto the cap. She reassured me she would be fine, even double checking the “site.” She warned the worse would be she may experience a stomach ache or be bound up but to give her some water and she would be just fine.
I felt relieved. Slightly embarrassed but so thankful for that number, which is 1-800-222-1222, by the way. Write it down!!
When Nathan returned to the room, I was hanging up the phone, and picking up my daughter. “What did they say?” he asked.”Oh, she will be just fine! The only toxins we have to worry about are in her diaper.”

We missed church. We changed into comfy clothes and I changed Lo’s diaper. Lo returned to her Barbies and I hid the wood glue. I Googled – When so you start potty training a toddler? I learned Lo is definitely showing the ready signs. I still think Lo ate some wood glue and I posted Poison Control’s number on our refrigerator.

The end!

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Puffer Vest Probs

September 29, 2016

Hi. My name is Ashli and I have a Puffer Vest problem.

one | two | three | four | five

There, now that I have that out in the open, let me share my latest fall fashion finds with you.

The Puffer Vest is such a versatile piece. They are hardy, meaning an investment in one is well worth it. They last! Years and years, might I add, so don’t go out of style. Okay?

I love how they provide the outerwear layer that is needed in the fall. You know, when the temperatures are in between. It is too warm for a coat, yet there is enough of a chill in the air to need an additional layer.

Let’s not forget, they are cute! Yes, they can be paired with gingham, chambray, plaid, you name it. I love how I can mix and match with tops in my closest and wear one vest in multiple ways.

The only problem I see is that I am obsessed; therefore, I can’t stop shopping and buying! Now I see these five options for this fall fashion season and I am torn on which to invest in. Decisions, decisions.

So, which is your favorite? Comment below or share a link! Am I crazy? Don’t answer that.

Happy Shopping!

Easy Pot Roast Recipe

September 22, 2016

Happy first day of Fall. It is Fall, right? I mean apparently it is officially, but where are the bright orange and red leaves? Where are the cool temperatures? Where are my favorite Steve Madden boots? No, seriously, where are my boots?

All this lack of Fall feels has me longing for Fall even more. So when this past weekend came around and the temperatures dipped into the mid to low 70’s, I was all flannel and comfort food craving.

So, I turned to the easiest meal there is. Crock Pot Roast.

EASY CROCK POT ROAST
Serves 4

1 Tbsp of Olive Oil
2.5 Lb Chuck Roast
1 Pack on French Onion Soup Dry Mix
1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 Cup of Water
1 Yellow Onion
6-8 Carrots (peeled and chopped)
1 Tbsp of Rosemary
Sea Salt and Pepper, to taste

Want to know the secret? You need to sear your meat and turn your crock pot on low before you begin. Add 1 Tbs of olive oil to a heated pan. Season all sides of the roast with sea salt and pepper. Divide the 1 Tbsp of rosemary and season the top, bottom and longest sides of the roast with the rosemary in addition to the salt and pepper. Sear each side of the roast, including sides. Once seared, transfer to the crock pot. In the same pain sear the yellow onion, which has been peeled and quartered. Sear all three sides of the onion, then add to the crock pot. Add peeled and chopped carrots to the same pan and allow the heat to season and sear the carrots, before transferring them to the crock pot. Add one pack of french onion soup mix, one can of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of water to the crock pot. Stir and cook on high for five hours or low for eight hours.

I like to serve up pot roast with homemade mashed potatoes. Recipe below! Yes, this is a two for one. And, yes you are welcome.

HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES

Serves 4

4 Russel Potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 Stick of Butter
3/4 cup of Milk
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Peel and chop potatoes. Heat a pot of water and season with salt. Add the chopped potatoes. Cook until tender. I use a fork and when I can easily poke, they are ready. Drain the potatoes and mash with a fork. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the butter and milk slowly, using an electric hand mixer. Once the mashed potatoes are at a mashed consistency you like, you are finished.

Just like that, dinner!

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10 Things Two Years of Motherhood Has Taught Me

September 18, 2016

Grocery Shopping Actually Gets Worse
I use to spend two hours to prepare for a grocery shopping trip pre-baby. I would cut coupons online, use Pinterest to develop my weekly meal plan and then make a list, before eventually making my way to the store. I would justify the experience by treating myself to a cup of coffee from a cafe that I would sip as I walked the aisles. Even then grocery shopping was time consuming, expensive and overwhelming. Now, I laugh those feelings in the face. Grocery shopping with children in tow (unless they are 16+) is all of those things magnified times ten. I have literally left the store, drenched in sweat, and swiped my credit card not knowing the total because all can I think is, “Get me the hell of here!” As my precious daughter has a full fledged meltdown in the check-out aisle, frantically reaching for every chocolate bar and package of candy in arms reach.

Kisses Actually Heal Boo-Boos
Cuts and scrapes they happen, a lot. Frozen Band-Aids will do, but kisses, hugs and cuddles are even better. The magic of a kiss in a child’s mind and through their eyes, well I do believe that mentally, the act of kindness we parents present, is realized and felt during their time of need.

You Realize Pizza Can Be a ‘Breakfast Food’
Yep! Sometimes we try to control so much and it is not only overwhelming for us but for our children. No more bottle; time to give up the binkie; why are you not using the potty?; bedtime is made for your own bed; eat this, not that. See, the list goes on and on. We stress ourselves out keeping up with the ‘Jones’ and what society deems as acceptable. I have learned to pick and choose my battles. And, sometimes that includes food. Lo will go days eating like a bird and then make up for it in a sitting. Sometimes, I just need her to eat, something, anything! That includes chicken soup or pizza for breakfast! If it means she will eat, sometimes I turn my eye on the clock and the designated menu that exist in our minds and just feed her!

The Bathroom Is No Longer a Private Space
I use to pretend, even with the door closed that I wasn’t actually in, yet, using the bathroom, when it was just Nathan and I. Eventually, we got over that initial stage of pretending we don’t go to the bathroom, and instead the bathroom became a mutual understanding that time in there, alone, was reserved for privacy with no interruption. Yeah, not so much with a toddler in the home. I think we are lucky if the door is even closed any more. Lo hunts me down when I find myself in the bathroom alone. Heck, last night at 4:30 am, I went to pee, and she literally climbed out of our bed and followed me!

Cleaning Someone Else’s Body Fluids Becomes Second Nature (Except Vomit)
Let’s just keep this bathroom talk going, I mean, why not? You will change so many dirty diapers that you will become numb to the fact that every single day you are cleaning someone else’s body fluids. Poop, pee, blowouts – who is counting? There will be runny noses and blood from scraped knees. You will touch poop. No avoiding it. And, eventually your child will get the flu and there will be vomit and then you will be like, “Why am I here? What the heck am I doing?” And, if you have a weak, weak stomach, this is where you will draw the line in the sand, but then realize there is no one else there, and stomach all the woozies and pray it doesn’t happen again. Psst, it will.

I Should Have Installed Hardwood Instead of Carpet
A few years ago, Nathan and I replaced much of the flooring that was part of the original home we purchased. We decided then what we thought we would need now. “Carpet will be the best for children.” We anticipated that carpet flooring would allow for a chunky baby to learn to crawl and walk with ease. We did not anticipate how grimy kids are and how grimy carpets become! Spilled bottles of milk, cheese squished into the fibers, and jelly toast dragged across the floor. It is gross. If I could do it all over, I would have laid hardwood down and called it a day. P.S. – Children can crawl and walk on those just fine!

Installing a Car Seat May Be The Most Frustrating Thing You Ever Do
I literally cannot recall the last time I gritted my teeth and screamed in complete frustration as I did a few weeks ago when I had to re-install the car seat. Oh yeah, I do! I reacted the same way, the first time I installed that unforgiving biotcha. It is like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. Pull the seat belt strap, while dragging across the seat base, while snapping it in before the strap gives and locks, while closing the seat and locking it in. I wanted to pick it up and throw it into the woods. But being a Mom is all about perseverance and I pulled up my big girl pants and buckled down (literally) for my little one’s safety.

I Am Still Tired
I lost sleep when I was pregnant. Leg cramps and back pain had me tossing and turning for hours on end. After my emergency c-section, I was groggily and deep in sleep. Two nurses turned on the light above my bed, nudge me to wake up and placed a baby against my chest and said, “We need you to feed her.” In my blurry state I felt as if I could not keep my eyes open and I recall not even being able to feel anything from the stomach down from the surgery, but they held her safely against me and I realized then, sleep is for the weary. My REM schedule now answers to my daughter. And, two years later, the Boss still interrupts snoozing a lot. Yes, it gets better, but you are always, always tired!

Life Becomes More Complicated
Scheduling can be a nightmare!! Gone are the days of going with the flow, on the go. Pop-up dinners and meetings, require a call to the spouse or a call with the sitter. Invites from friends for a night out, leaves you pondering on where and what to do with children, or even questioning their invite, “Is it child friendly or child free?” Sometimes I feel like I spend the majority of my time planning our family’s movements. It can be chaotic and stressful.

Love is Powerful
Who knew this kind of love could exist? I know I did not. This kind of love is full of grace. No day easy. No day the same. You win some and you lose some. Give yourself the grace to know when to call it a day. Go to bed and start over. Give yourself some slack. Guilt can and will eat you alive. Parenting is hard work, but rewarding. This kind of love is powerful, because you never knew it existed before your children. It is a love that even they won’t know until one day too, they are a parent. It is unconditional and full of strength. It is the most challenging work I have done in my life, yet filled with so much fulfillment that even through all the struggles mentioned above, I get back up and do it all over again in the name of love.

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The Third Voice

September 15, 2016

It is funny how loud our home has become.

Pattering of feet running hard across tile floors. The wheeling of a shopping cart buggy being pushed across the wooden planks that make up our back deck flooring. Squeals of delight as the music to Frozen starts up. Tears and tantrums. Oh the incredible tantrums. The call from one end of the home for “Mommy!” And, let me tell you one cry for Mommy will never do. It is “Mommy, Mommy… MOMMY!” Until I arrive.VIEW STORY »

Dear Pacifier

September 10, 2016

Dear Pacifier,

Let’s just cut to the chase, you are called a “Binkie” in our home, so Binkie you shall remain and be referred to through this post. Okay, now that we cleared that up, you and I have a love / hate relationship right now.

It all began when Lo was a mere few hours old. For some unknown reason, I was scared of you. Afraid, she would become addicted to your power. Sitting there holding my day old baby and all I could think of was her at four running through the yard, I chasing after her, trying to coax you from her mouth.VIEW STORY »

Fashion Finds Fall Round-Up

August 31, 2016

Ah, a week ago the cool crisp air of Fall snuck in on us. We turned off the air conditioner and fans, opened the windows and let Mother Nature do her thang, thang to cool the home oh natural. Then BAM – she was all like, “Oh, Summer I am not done with you yet! What were you thinking girl?”

I like to think Mother Nature is a virtual woman with high heels, long nails and serious attitude.

So, now it is HOT. It is humid. And, my dear little Lo is constantly sticky and sweaty from running in these temps.

Here is the thing, Mother Nature is going to snap her fingers with those long red nails and Fall is going to return. While shopping for leggings, boots and sweaters may make you cringe as you fight the beads of sweat that drip from your face, now is the time to snag those adorable fall outfits.

And, by adorable, I am talking about kids clothes. We do it all for the kids, people. Right? RIGHT!

My Lo girl has no idea how much time I spend looking through retailers websites and racks for her. I am the type of shopper that buys pieces. A piece here, a piece there and soon an outfit is created. To help you and even me, I styled from my favorite retailers and created the Toddler Fall Fashion Round-Ups below.

OLD NAVY

Hat – 10.00 | Dress – 12.55 | Fur Vest – 22.00 | Boots – 26.94 | Jeans – 11.84

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Marriage

August 25, 2016

Marriage. Who knew one little word could carry such incredible weight? It is quite hard to wrap my brain around the emotions that overcome us, the experiences we have shared and the decisions that are placed in our hands, each and every day through marriage.

When I married Nathan, four years ago today, I was a different Ashli. He will tell you that too, but he a different Nathan.

I remember that day oh too well and yet so much already feels a blur. The day was gorgeous with bright blue skies and big puffy white clouds and a subtle wind that lifted my veil. I was not nervous, which if you knew me then and even know me now, would find surprising. I am always nervous and anxious. Instead, I was incredibly calm. I was confident in Nathan and in our first real decision as a couple, which was to wed.

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