Where have I been?!?!?

Omg, work has been so busy lately and yes I mean my 9-5 but I also mean my home life too! Nik is going through a growth spurt so he's all over the place wanting to play, learn and just keeping us busy! I love it but I am exhausted at the same time. I watch a Brazilian soap opera my mom got me into (grrrrrr, but not really because its awesome and oh so addicting! haha) anyway, I've been so tired that I've missed a few episodes because I'm snoring (according to hubby I sound like a baby T-Rex when I snore, but if you ask me I'll deny it and tell you I sound like a beautiful bird while sleeping) by 930pm.

Nik has been sleeping through the WHOLE these past 3 nights which have been great (but I am starting to miss our latenight nursing sessions...) and has allowed us to get sleep.

Anywho, birthday plans are coming along. My brother and I are slowly buy surely starting to talk normally again (I think all my mother's prayers are finally paying off) and the hubby and I couldn't be happier.

2013 went off without a hitch and I think it's only going to get better.

I've got a couple beauty box reviews I'm working on for ya, my first ever make up tutorial just in time for the spring weather (whenever it finally decides to show its face) and lots more other goodies including a small, teeny tiny giveaway...shhh...

Happy Friday Friends!!

I leave you with this small dimple of wisdom....

Time is a true teller of what's right. Have patience and let time tell you, in the meantime stay true to yourself and keep doing what you're doing. You are amazing!

I Can't Beleive it's almost here!

My little baby boy Nikolas will be 1!

In a little over a month we will be celebrating his birthday with a small get together of family and close friends in our shoe box of a house and if the weather cooperates we'll probably be BBQ'ing (Like all as 'good' Brazilians do to celebrate) and then we'll take a small trip up the street to the local school park to play.

The theme will be Nik's World- Based off of PBS' show WordWorld. Since he was a baby-baby I would put this on as background noise and today he dances as soon as he hears the inital horns that starts off the theme song. It's perfect! The TV show is about Dog and his WordFriends- Pig, Duck, Ant, Bear and Sheep along with other cute animals who have many adventures where the only way to save the day is to "build a word". Richard does the voice of Duck to a T- it's hilarious!

Unfortunetly, the show is now just in syndication so there are no birthday party themed pre-made materials that I can purchase.  Besides a few ideas from other parties I've found on pinterest, two very overpriced (but of course I bought them- I'm a sucker) toys on amazon and some free printables like a banner, invitations and confetti on their website it's going to be my interpretation of this show. But this is probably a crafty person's (HI!) dream come true because I love that I will get to create this expereince for him!

I am so exicted for him, I can't wait!

Follow me on Pinterest to see what I have in mind. And if you have any ideas, I'd love your input!


Happy Wednesday!

Happy 30th Birthday to me! And Women's International Day!

Today I turn 30! 

Today I also share my day with all the women of the world! 

Happy Women's International Day! Today is a worldly celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. Many women in this world today still don't feel or are free, so for them today I pray and am thankful I am free.

I can't even believe I am tying a 3-0. Seems like yesterday I was buying lotto tickets and cigarettes (legally for the first time) after school with my friends to celebrate my turning 18!! 

Now all that plays in my mind is Ahmad's song lyrics "Back in the day when I was young I'm not a kid anymore but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again" over and over again, nostalgically. 

I get nostalgic every birthday as I think about what I've been through, the friendships I made, the people I have lost either in spirit or in flesh, the things I should have or shouldn't have done, but this year this birthday is different. 

My son, Nikolas has changed my way of thinking. 

As I celebrate another birthday today, it becomes not just another birthday. Its now a year in which God has granted me to see my son grow. To be granted one more year to parent, one more year to learn, one more year to love oh and there's so much love I want to experience with my son and my husband.

This year marks an important decade, one that up until now I hadn't thought much about. But today as I turn 30 I enter this decade in my life refreshed, in good spirits and excited for what my life will bring me. 

This decade to me signifies my stability. 
-Stability in my marriage as we will celebrate our 5th and 10th years together both big markers in any relationship as far as I am concerned. 
-Stability in my professional career as I have finally settled into something I like and actually went to school and got my master's degree in (shocker!) so it wasn't all in vain as the societal norm usually goes. 
-Financial stability for both my husband and I. We've finally paid off silly college/going out credit card bills and now just have 'grown up bills' to pay for. 
-Stability in our parenting. We will settle into what it means to be a mother and father in a committed relationship raising a son (and hopefully more sons and daughters) and focus our lives on raising good citizens who one day will go out into this world and do great wonderful things with love. 

-Stability in my own skin. This is probably the most important stability of all because without feeling good and free what would I am and the skin I am in, I couldn't accomplish all of the above. Having a child boosted my self confidence about my body- no I'm not 120 pounds again like I was in high school, shhhh, I'm not even down to 150 pounds, I wish. I'm still chubby, that's not what I mean when I say this. 

I mean that I became so proud of what my body did in creating such a perfect little life that I am proud of the skin I am in. I have always had curves,  yes, at times my curves have been skinner and at times they've been more reminiscent of huge waves, but they are mine and without me being who I was, I wouldn't have all the amazing people I have in my life today. I work hard, I love hard and deep. I am kind and bitchy. I am easy going and neurotic. I am straightforward and passive aggressive. I am fun and I can be a party pooper. I am not perfect and I love that. It means I have work to do with improving myself, but I can honestly say I am finally comfortable with who I am.

Today marks a big day. It's a great day. For me. For all the women of the world. 

Thank you all for all the wonderful birthday wishes, your kind words, your love and your encouragement! I am blessed. 

Happy 30th Birthday to me!

March Stork Stack Review.... with 2 Mom Presents!

It's that time again, our Stork Stack arrived at our doorsteps yesterday afternoon!

I swear, SS is so impressive with their delivery. We always receive our stacks on either the 2nd or the 3rd of each month. I subscribe to another baby box and two make-up boxes and they don't hold a candle to SS's timely delivery.

This month's SS theme was Colors + Shapes! To read up on who SS is and how it all works here is my February box review.

My blog title says this box came with two Mom presents, let me explain that in my book this is totally true! Keep reading as to why.

 

Here's our 12 month box!

 

 First we have the P'Kolino Plump Stacker (I like to say this in a Latin rhythmic voice for fun). ($29.99) This will help Nik hone in on his hand-eye coordination and teach him about size and proportion. His big ol' hands thinks he can get to anything. Right away he was intrigued. Look at my baby go!

Wee Can Too- The Original Naturally Safe Finger Paint ($7). I am BEYOND excited to try this out with Nik. We got the Pink/Red paint made with real Beets. Nik actually likes beets so I'm interested to see his face when he gives this a try. I want to buy more colors to maybe have this as a fun activity for him and his friends to do at his vastly approaching 1st birthday party. 
Nik was excited to get this hands on this too. 

Fun fact, these pictures I post are attempt number 3466 and 3467 since my little man wants to get in on the fun and show off his items too. See picture below for reference.

 I don't know why I couldn't get this picture to flip.

 


"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?" by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle ($7.99). We actually already have this book. We've been reading it to Nik since he was a newborn- he loves it. But ours took a beating after Nik's last teething frenzy...so, guess who has a new book?!

Weleda- Calendula Diaper Care ($13.50). I've never hear of this product but from what I read this is 100% natural to help with delicate baby skin to hydrate and protect. I'm all about this. 
UPDATE: We've been using this since we received it in our box and so far I'm very impressed! The consistency isn't too dense not sticky like other diaper rash creams and it has a light pleasant smell. Not to mention it's kept my son's area nice and not diaper rash-ie.

On to the mommy gift(s)! This month I received the Simple Squares ($2.49). Its an all natural, organic snack bar with vanilla and herbs. I double checked the label and yes, its truly listed as only being made with 5 ingredients! I couldn't wait til work on Tuesday to try it, its oh so yummy! I think I'm hooked! Plus I ate it guilt free!

My husband asked if they ever send a daddy gift (he kinda felt left out so I shared my square treat- yes, I share).

 Might be something to think about for June's box around Father's day, Stork Stack? I know my hubby would appreciate it. Any other subsriber's husbands also get into the box as much as mine? He's such a good involved dad :)

Annnnnnnndddddddddd my second mommy gift was....wait for it... the WHITE CONFETTI PAPER they included in my box this month!! Go ahead Chris, Haley, just admit it, you put it in there for me on purpose ;) 

I've got a package to mail out soon and this will definitely be part of it! Made my week! (Wait, is that sad? Nah, it's not. I take joy in the little things in life and this is definitely something I take joy in). March is my birthday month, (shout out to all my Pisceans!) so SS has helped it off to a great start! Another awesome box. SS did such a great job at getting items to carry the Colors and Shapes theme throughout the box, including my WHITE squiggly paper ;)

March's box was totaled at a whopping $60.97 (not including the confetti). Whoop Whoop!


I hope you all subscribe to Stork Stack. They have added such a great family activity into our little growing family and their customer service is impeccable!  

The Day I shower 4 times

ALSO KNOWN AS My Sundays, lately.

Growing up, Sundays were always 'family day'. This is a tradition I am trying to instill into my little young family. We signed Nik up for baby swimming classes this winter and it’s been such a nice family activity for the past 8 weeks. This in turn has also led me to showing on average 4 times a day. Allow me to explain...

Sunday mornings I am guilt tripped into doing Zumba by my cousin Marianne (haha- well in the beginning I was, now I'm become a semi Zumba addict) with fellow mommy/old college roommate (LA PLATA 6 shout out!)/blogger friend, Katie. 

Needless to say, she works us out hardcore (no complaining here) so I come home sweaty and stinky. I shower and maybe wash my hair, if its super stinky. Oh and I would have showered in the morning just to wake me up for the beautiful day ahead type of thing.

 Starting to see a trend?

After a quick homemade lunch with my boys (usually leftovers or a creative on the fly sandwich) we get ready for swimming.

We come home from swimming and I shower- to take off the pool and chlorine smell- this time I wash my hair, for sure.

Getting ready for bed, I shower- no washing of the hair, I give her a break here- poor hair.

Today was the last day of Swimming. Ms. Meagan said Nikolas has gained his swim legs and that it was a great introduction for him when summer comes.

I felt like such a proud mama! But I can totally tell this kid will be more of a 'land' lover (most likely the Taurus in him). Unlike me; I love the water, the ocean, the waves, the salt.  It brings me such peace. When life wasn't going so well for me, I would drive down to Ocean City every weekend just to take a dip in the ocean then drive back, literally. I just felt like it cleared my head better than anything else I could do around town. It made me realize that life was bigger than what hardships I thought were the end of the world for me. Eventually it got too expensive with gas and all, so after 5 weeks straight I cut it down to once every two weeks until my life fell back into place again. The ocean is truly a place I refuge to.

But I digress. 

I can't decide if I am more excited about signing Nik up for Gymboree classes next or for the fact that I won't need take so many showers a day.
Maybe both, most likely it’s both...it's definitely both.
Don't get me wrong, I will be the first to say showers are so relaxing and such a way to feel refreshed and a great way to get that second burst of energy, but lately they've been just point blank annoying and quite honestly stressful, haha.

I'm sure the natural oils of my skin and hair will thank me too.

Here's a nice picture of my boys swimming, aren’t they lovely?!

P.S. com check out my friend Katie's blog pearlywordsofchaos.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Mr. Husband!

Today is Richard's 30th Birthday! (Dirty Thirty!)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! Richard, you are an amazing man. I wish you triple 30 more years of health, success, and patience (to deal with me). I am so proud to call you my husband and so lucky to get to spend my life with you. I love our inside jokes, our comfortable silence and our ever lasting respect for each other. Cheers to you my love, my friend, my world. ♥

 

We love you so much!

Love, 
Erika, Nikolas and Lobo

 

Nik's favorites of 2012!

I see all these make-up gurus on YouTube making videos about their Favorite items of 2012, so I figured I'd do a blog entry on Nik's TOP 10 Favorite Baby Items of 2012! 
So what if its February 25th, he's just finalizing his decision now ;)


#1- VTech Sit-to-Stand Alphabet Train- he can play all day with his train if we let him- so many things to do! 

# 2- Nuby Grip N' Sip cup  - His sidekick- literally!

 

# 3-Little Hip Squeaks mustache knotted hat and personalized toddler blanket  he loves these, so cozy!

# 4- Born free classic 9oz bottles

# 5- Melissa and Doug Linking Monkey stroller toy-we got this from his "Lil' Learners" September's Stork Stack- to read my review of SS February box click here 

# 6- Sophie the Giraffe

# 7- Babiators

# 8- Happy Baby Organic Fresh Mango Pouch Squeeze



# 9- Nuby The Twisty Bugz™ teether

# 10- Bright Starts Around We Go Entertainer- He loved this thing until he realized he could actually go places and a lot quicker when he really got the hang of crawling :) We've since detached the go around seat and just have the entertainment piece he now stands up to play with.

so, there it is- Nik's favorite baby items of 2012!  

What were your baby's favorite items last year? Anything you think my little man would love if he tried it? We're looking for things to add to his favorites of the winter months!

Goodness, I love him so much. 

My baby boy is 10 months today!

Nikolas turned 10 months today! 

He is just the most happiest, inquisitive, kindest, smartest, funniest baby ever. Before this month he used to sit pretty for me on his big rocking chair (pictured here top left) but this was the only picture where he remotely sat still for 2.5 seconds long enough for my camera to focus to take the picture (Mommy Success!)

Now I can barely get him to sit still...God Bless him. I seriously cant remember what my life was like without him. These Brazilian lyrics by a popular Ivete Sangalo have never made more sense to me.

Talvez perdesse os sonhos- Maybe I would have lost these dreams
Dentro de mim- Inside of me
E vivesse na escuridão- And lived in darkness
Se eu não te amasse tanto assim- If I didn't love you this much
Talvez não visse flores- Maybe I wouldn't see these flowers
Por onde eu vi- That I have seen
Dentro do meu coração- Inside of my heart 

 Nos desejos, num beijo- In wishes, a kiss
Que eu jamais provei igual- That I have never felt before

Se eu não te amasse tanto assim- If I didn't love you this much

Happy 10 months, Nik!
Mommy loves you, always.  

Surviving Wednesday "Hump Day"!

It's the middle of the work week-Wednesday!- also refereed to as "hump day" When I was younger this term totally confused me. I won't go into the details as to why, but I am sure you can guess what typical high school’ers thought this day referred to...

As an adult I can totally see why. Its an idea that the week is like a mound or a hill that a person climbs, with Wednesday being in the middle or the 'peak' of the week for the typical 9-5'er, Monday-Friday'er.

Mondays- Everyone I know hates Mondays. Those are the days I'm usually running late or my train is late arriving into the station, my work coffee maker breaks (happened to me 3 Mondays ago- no joke) or when I forgot to pick something up at my local grocery store FOR THE SECOND TIME! (ugh). If you don’t hate Mondays and have better luck, fill me in on your secret, I'd love to know how you do it.

Mondays and Tuesdays are the days that a person 'climbs' up as the beginning of the work week-if you're lucky your climbs aren’t as bad as mine traditionally are.

At the end of every Wednesday work day, I usually give out a big exhale when I get home as I take it back 'old school' and pat myself on the back and give myself a big mental congratulations as I have managed to make it to the pinnacle of the work week.

Although many may view hump day like I do, Wednesday also have a bad reputation at times. Wednesday is sometimes thought of as gray unhappy, or unlucky days. Nevertheless, for many working people both out of the home and in the home (shout out to my stay at home moms and dads!), the arrival of hump day, in my book, is cause for cheering, and whether that day is windy, snowy or gray, it still means that the weekend is close!

My days at the office on Thursdays and Fridays represent my climbing back down towards the beginning of my now very baby-geared busy weekends, nonetheless, it’s the weekend away from work and it’s a weekend with my boys.

My dad used to ask us what our peaks (highs) and valleys (lows) were of the day at the dinner table and looking back now I don’t know why but my brother and I would always look forward to answering his question. Silly children.

So I ask you- what was your peak and valley of today? If your day isn’t over yet and you are reading this, what are you looking forward to towards the end of today? how do you survive the rest of the work week?

I survive by eating a banana or something else with natural sugar during those '3pm at work 'feelings unless my hands just happen to get a hold of a dark chocolate Hershey’s bar I have stacked in my mini fridge, of course.

To survive the rest of the work week I focus on the fun things we have planned for Nik for the weekend, or how much I am looking forward to snuggling with my boys in bed watching cartoons Saturday morning (If you have a 10 month baby like I do, you know this only lasts for about 10 minutes, if you're lucky), or to my husband making us blueberry pancakes from scratch!
oh and having a really stinking cute baby like this doesn’t hurt in surviving the work week either.

Ipsy February 'Red Carpet Ready' Glam Bag Review!

Hi, My name is Erika and I'm addicted to Ipsy Glam Bags!

It's a monthly subscription box started by YouTube guru make up Michelle Phan. Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products- very cool!
What's even cooler is that you can go onto Ipsy.com and create looks and browse through posts and video looks created by Ipsy stylists and members. All for only $10 a month.

My fav make up guru all-bit-of-amazing Kandee Johnson recently became an Ipsy stylist and she's just an amazing inspiring women who's really taught me a lot about make up and about life!

Growing up, I didn't know much about make up and what i did know I learned from friends using drugstore products (I still wear some drugstore products).  My mom never really wore make up except for a little bit of lipstick on her lips and cheek for blush (I always found it weird her using the same lipstick she used on her lips for her cheeks but what-do-you-know! Enter our modern day cheek stains and Bobbi Brown pot rouges). But I digress.

Here is what I got in my February's 'Red Carpet Ready' Glam bag!

I was most excited to receive the MICA gel eyeliner in Black. This will be my first go around for gel eyeliner. Something about them just used to scare the Ba-Jesus out of me but I'm putting my big girl pants on and giving this a whirl! I love me a challenge! I even attempted the winged look- how did I do?! (This was literally my first time EVER using gel eyeliner). I've also got on the primer, the mascara and a touch of the eyeshadow 'candlelight' (a touch is all you need as its very pigmented). 

POP mascara was next! You can NEVER have too many mascara's! I haven't opened this one yet but I'm super excited to true it since it claims to really bring out your eyelashes!

This stuff is HA-MAZING! Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer. It goes on super smooth, does a great job of covering my pores and stays on all day. I actually just wore this and no foundation and my make-up lasted all day. Will def be buying a full size of this!

Coastal Scents mini 4 set eyeshadow set. I was hoping to get the set that had the brighter yellow colors only because I already have so many nudes, blacks and whites but I guess its the luck of the draw with these. I will absolutely wear these since these colors look great on anyone! Oops, shoot- I forgot the upload the picture of the swatches of these and now I can't seem to find the picture amongst all these others...they are super pretty though and all had a tiny shimmer to them but nothing too overwhelming.

Lastly, the LASH CARD! Another item I was super excited about. I have really long eyelashes and putting on mascara is always a battle because I always end up painting my whole face with mascara is seems like, haha. Whoa, I just realized how much that last sentence totally seemed like I was brag-complaining- complaining about my eyelashes being long while bragging how long they are because people would kill for this issue. But in all seriousness, its gets annoying something to deal with them getting in my eye, getting mascara residue on my eyebrows and eye lids. So these puppies came into great use! 2 came in the pack so I will definitely be buying more.

Overall, Ipsy delivered a great glam bag this month. I can see the 'Red Carpet Ready' theme throughout. It introduced me to some great finds like the Pixi primer and helped me get over my fear of gel eyeliner (now I just need to practice, practice, practice!).  Most of these products I will definitely get great use out of them and others its always good to have. 

The actual bag it came in didn't do anything for me (it was a black shiny reminiscent of patent leather look and feel on the outside and was red on the inside with the Ipsy logo) Guess I can always turn the bag inside out or re-gift. Recycle and Reuse! hahaha.

Disclosure: I purchased this myself. All opinions are mine and 100% honest.

Great baby/toddler Etsy Find- Little Hip Squeaks

I am a BIG supporter of small businesses and try to shop there as much as I can. When Nik was a baby-baby and during those middle of the night feedings instead of 'sleep when baby sleeps' I opted to 'shop/troll Etsy when baby sleeps'. I was in search of Eco-friendly and organic fabrics- enter Amy's shop Little Hip Squeaks! It was love at first sight and then when I received my first item, I quickly became HA-DDICTED.

She creates her own 'hip' and modern designs for baby blankets, burp cloths, baby hats, bibs and other gifts for babies, toddlers, kids and even family throw blankets. She's got cute headbands for girls and adult sizes too. Her designs are out of this world- geometric prints, chervon, mustache, elephants, arrows, and the list goes on. I believe she's currently working on more designs to launch which I am UBER excited for!

Nik loves her items too! 
How cute is this blue mustache knotted hat!

 This chervon leggings are super comfy and lightweight but warm enough to wear around the house or going out on errands. See, happy baby!

 This is my little man at his 6 month photo shoot (ahh, seems so long ago) with his personalized mustache toddler size blanket. We take this blanket with us everywhere. Its great to have for those unexpected cold days perfect for cuddling with and also to lay on the ground for an impromptu play time!

 

He loves this hat!

The most stylist 'hip' baby at this past October's pumpkin picking patch event. P.S.com Real men baby-wear!

so check out Amy and her adorable 'hip' items! I'm currently adding items in my cart for my next haul ;)

Happy Shopping!

 

Disclosure: I purchased all these great items myself and my opinions are 100% mine and honest.