devoted 2.0

while we make the transition from Utah to Arizona, i have some wonderful guest bloggers lined up to fill in on the blog. i hope you enjoy their awesome posts and show them all the love & respect they deserve!

i’m really happy Elizabeth from The Bradleys  agreed to guest post for me and shared her beautiful insight.
in a world that seems to be every changing all the time {for the worse}, it is important to realize what we as parents need to be doing for the rising generation.

me and Adam were just talking the other day how we know that we need to be spending more time with Elijah and show him more undivided attention & love.
we know that if we can start at a young age to get into the habit of spending quality time with one another we’ll be able to raise a more well-adjusted child.

it can be hard, sure.
life is busy and ever changing.
but there definitely is a lot of truth in the idea that by spending time with your children, showing them love and attention, will help them be more happy & independent adults.

i hope you enjoy Elizabeth’s post today and i would love to hear your insights as well!

  mky (1)

I am so very grateful to have the chance to write on my favorite blog, and to share a little bit of our family's thoughts on life and our family centered lifestyle!

About a week ago, I had an interesting chat with two teachers from the States. They were on their summer vacation and were enjoying time off from teaching; they happened to be mother and daughter, and one resided in Chicago and the other Colorado. I asked out of curiosity what schools are like now in the US and they explained to me that they were at alternative public schools and that most of the children attending had some serious academic and social issues they were facing. Many of their kids are pregnant and some drive to school illegally. A number of them cannot read. I asked what they thought was an underlying issue and was quickly told it was that they lacked either their father or mother. 'Wait, what about drugs?' I asked. They assured me many were using drugs, but the reason they did was because they felt neglected and basically took care of themselves; one or both of their parents were not in the picture. 'Is this a common problem then, or just in your schools?' 'No, this is nationwide.' I was pretty shocked that the Mother-Daughter duo had said this, and after at least 2 hours of conversing the Mom told me that they had to actually spend most of the class period teaching the kids right from wrong, basic morals and ethics and other things that traditionally are taught at home. 'They have no one to model this for them, we're doing the parent's job.' she went on.

They were both what I would call 'liberal' and progressive, so for them to lay out that they felt the number one problem across the US was a lack of parental involvement in children's lives took me aback. My husband is also a teacher, and he concurs with them. Both when he taught here and in Korea, he noticed the kids were very disconnected from either one or both of their parents. He has some students who are dropped off at his school almost 4 hours before their class begins...they sit around, jump on chairs, and eat junk food. It is treated like a babysitting service.

george

I have many friends who are single parents and have done a stellar job in raising their kids, but all are super involved in their children's lives, and conversely I know moms and dads who are not at all involved or intimate with their children. So what's going on and how can we unite families?

About 6 months ago I began reading conservative 'mom blogs' that 6 years ago I would have viewed as old fashioned. Today, they are a daily must read as they show me what I am doing is important, that my being 'just a Mom' ( as some people have put it) is in fact an integral, underrated job that has the power to transform lives. We home school our daughter and it was a choice that didn't float well with our families at first, but once they saw how much we all love it and how our daughter flourishes, they understood. The most precious gift any parent can give their children is their time and attention. Are we being present for our children and listening to them? It's a bust world and getting distracted is easy. Are we listening to what we 'should' be doing with our lives or doing what is right for our family? Being genuine in this world is a challenge as we are taught from a young age to conform to certain standards and ways. The journey of parenthood may be a challenging road, but it is the most worthwhile thing we can do.

I see things changing on a daily basis. Many women are finding that some forms of feminism are just not bringing about the satisfaction we thought they would give us. Moms like Dr. Mayim Bialik for example are debating with feminists over breastfeeding and that it in not 'enslaving' women (as some ladies have said). I read bloggers like Modern Modest Mom and Casey Leigh and I see a blending of having a passion or career and also maintaining close ties with our children. Things are changing, sometimes out of desperation. We need true satisfaction, and can that be found by competing with men or by shopping? Hardly. It is something inside us that we need to discover. I would like to argue that by being involved with our families we can find our paths just as easily, if not easier, as we have a team of little ones that love us and want us to be happy. What could be a better gift?

kiss

The Slash Blog


Meet Nichelle and Elise. Nichelle blogs at Vintage Wanna Bee and Elise blogs at Elise's Pieces.
They are BFFs and they think they are way funny slash, they are actually pretty funny.

Elise and Nichelle met in a Women's Organization that focused on personal growth, faith and sisterhood. After becoming besties, and realizing they blog were obsessed with blogging, they decided to create




The Slash Blog is a sisterhood that focuses on faith, friendship, service and sisterhood.

The Slash Blog is officially live as of today! Head on over to check out this new blog that focuses on and is based on friendship. Elise slash Nichelle invite you to join along with their Weekly Inspirations, Weekly Challenges, Weekly Uplifting Printables, Monthly Serviced Projects and more! Head on over to the blog, 'Join The Sisterhood', or just come by to get a smile or a laugh!

Check out The Slash Blog here:


The Slash Blog is also having a "Slash Bash" in honor of the new blog launch!
If you are in Northern Utah, or Southern Idaho, Elise slash Nichelle invite you to come to this Super Awesome Blog Party! Please RSVP on the facebook event here.



If you would like to get involved, have questions, want to say hello, have a funny joke, or have a charity or organization you would like to see on The Slash Blog, you can send an email to The Slash Girls at:
theslashblog@gmail.com




birth of a mother

while we make the transition from Utah to Arizona, i have some wonderful guest bloggers lined up to fill in on the blog. i hope you enjoy their awesome posts and show them all the love & respect they deserve!

this post from Rachel of Her Threaded Needle is absolutely beautiful!
she so very eloquently puts into words the incredible, overwhelming feeling of motherhood once your child is born.
i haven’t had a similar experience {yet} with Elijah and his doctor but there have been many other times where i knew, without a shadow of a doubt, despite what books or blogs or doctors said, what was best for my baby.
that amazing mama instinct has come over me countless times to help bless all of our lives.

i hope you enjoy this post as much as i did.
and for you all you mothers out there—future, pregnant, new, veterans—i hope you are able to be blessed by Rachel’s story to feel the comfort you need for you and your children.
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I asked my mother once if she loved all her babies the same.  She has this thing she does, you know, where she says "you're my favorite" to each of us.  But I wanted to know if she loved her first baby the best, just a tiny bit more than the rest.  She said she loved us all, and of course she does.  I don't know, you see, how you love other babies, because I only have one tiny man.  But I think first babies are special, and not just because I am one.

First babies are special because their birth is the birth of a mother.

It's funny; the changes that happen to a mama when she is born.  A baby, a precious, tiny, new baby, and a mama.  One grown inside the other, two hearts beating in separate bodies now, but inseparably linked.

Photobucket
After I birthed my son, I laid him on my now-empty stomach, and looked at his perfect face.  And in those moments, a mama tiger grew, and filled the empty spaces inside me, and there.  A mama was born.

The tiger grew to protect my son with a fierceness I never before possessed.  I didn't like conflict, and I always accepted authority figures- the doctors, the teachers, my parents.  The mama tiger was there to give me the strength to fight for my son, to research and pray, to listen and teach and guide as only I could.

My own mama told me it's a mother's job to be an advocate for her child; to go to bat for them while they're still so small.  To know when to stand between them and the world, and when to let the child venture forth on his own.  It's difficult, I think, to know when to tame that mama tiger, and when to release her from her cage.

My Luke was born tongue tied, and the lactation consultant at the hospital told me to make sure to have his pediatrician look at it.  I did; he glanced at it and said it was fine.  My mama tiger was still very new, still growing and weak.  And what did I know about nursing and tongue tied babies?

By the time he was a few weeks old, he wasn't able to nurse any longer- it hurt his poor mouth.  So I pumped, and pumped and slowly he stopped being able to eat from the bottle too.  My poor baby would cry and scream from hunger; his tongue too tired to suck more than an ounce at a time.  I squirted milk from the bottle down his throat to help him.  It didn't help; he choked.

I consulted the doctor again.  It's fine, he said.
It's not fine, I said.  He is starving.
He's gaining weight.
He's starving.

Did you know it costs $300 for a doctor to take a pair of scissors and snip a baby's frenum?  That is more than it cost us to have our baby in the first place.  Our insurance wouldn't cover it.  $300 is a lot, my husband said.  And the doctor says he doesn't need it.  We can do it if he needs it, but are you sure it isn't something else?

I was sure.  That mama tiger, she knows.  So back we went, for a second opinion.

His tongue is 90% tied down, this doctor said.  If you ever want him to be able to nurse, we need to snip it.
The first doctor said, well, if you're sure, we can do it.
So we did it.  The best $300 I ever spent.

10 minutes later, we were home.  We settled into my favorite green chair by the window, and we nursed for the first time in weeks.  The mama tiger purred triumphantly in my chest as I beamed over my little one, finally able to eat and fill his stomach. 

I slipped into motherhood easily with confidence born from this mama tiger.  There have been other battles since this, and there will be more to come.  I imagine this mama tiger will grow as my body grows more babies to love and protect.

Photobucket
because when a baby is born, so is a mother.
and I think, just maybe, they'll all be my favorites too.

 

 

---------------------------

::p.s. Cafe Rio winner announced here

Inspiration

 
 
 
 
a special Sunday treat!
you can link-up your special Sunday posts below and get some additional inspiration for the weekend :)
 
 

a word about sponsorship

with the packing, moving, unpacking, getting everything set up that we need to survive, Adam starting school & a new schedule, helping Elijah adjust to a new place & routine, me trying to adjust… i’ve decided i will not be accepting any new sponsors** for August.

i have realized lately as we are trying to get ready to move and still make time for family how time consuming blogging & sponsors can be.
i feel rather neglectful of my family lately trying to maintain everything.

i know once we move and get settled i will want to be spending the most time with my family to help us all get adjusted to the new environment and schedules.
and because i will be spending time with them, i know i won’t be able to have the adequate time needed to really help sponsors grow their businesses.
i don’t want them to not get the help they deserve.

so for everyone’s sake, i’m taking a break from new sponsors for the time being.
i hope you can understand.
i’m grateful to all those who have sponsored me in the past and all the friends i have made.
i hope that once things settle down i’ll be able to find a good balance to my life to be able to accept sponsors again.

 

** i will still be honoring those who have won ad spaces or who we have discussed ad space before i decided to stop accepting sponsors. so no worries there! i just won’t be accepting any additional ones at this time. thanks!

Saturday Favorites

thursday & friday are the big moving days!
+ wednesday the big packing day.
wish me luck as i am going to be stuck in the car alone with Elijah for 12 hours!
{i’ve been panicking for weeks about this arrangement…}
happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts…
and lots of prayers!

   photo dump collage 2 

i think Elizabeth has one of the most beautiful blogs {both content and looks} that i have ever seen. i just love looking at all the little elements and things she incorporates!

i love seeing all the great craft link-ups and highlights from Blissful 55. some seriously awesome ideas!

i needed this. and i need to write it out my own gratitude list.

guys. i cannot get over how cute this shop is. this blanket is so adorable! can Eli be a tiny baby again?

i wish i could pull off red lipstick like this.

geekdom at its best.

this post gave me chills and made me cry. i believe in miracles.

i CANNOT WAIT to try this!!! obsessed to the core.

beautiful, powerful, put-me-in-my-place post on blogging.

who doesn’t like pretty note cards? especially if they are free!

why can’t i be this creative?? this banner is adorable, amazing, and free for you! Diana, you rock so hard!

great marriage article on combating Marriage Myths. i agree {and relate} to it all. do you see these myths in your own marriage?

HAPPY SATURDAY!!

falling in love {again}

while we make the transition from Utah to Arizona, i have some wonderful guest bloggers lined up to fill in on the blog. i hope you enjoy their awesome posts and show them all the love & respect they deserve!

i’m so grateful for Elisabeth’s lovely post today!
after writing for the Stronger Marriage blog, i feel like i have gotten out of the habit of writing posts more directed to marriage and relationships.
i honestly really miss it and have thought about doing it more for quite some time now.
but with so much going on i guess i felt a little uninspired.
then i received Elisabeth’s post and really enjoyed it so much!

i know i personally needed to hear these tips to help improve my relationship.
every marriage at some time or another will be confronted with difficulties and stresses in their lives that may make it difficult to make time for one another and cultivate your relationship.
going into this big change in our lives i know it will be even harder to find one-on-one time.
but i know that by taking the time to truly fall in love again will be the key to keeping our marriage strong during this stressful time in our lives.

i hope you enjoy this post as much as i did and can get ideas to show greater love in your relationship!

--------------------------------------------------

Hi - So I'm Elisabeth, and I blog over at La Vita e Bella.



A little bit about me:

1. I love ice cream, my husband, and the color blue.
 
2. I detest running long distances, lose-lose situations, and not being able to fall asleep at night.
 
3. I could spend my whole life dancing, eating, and traveling and be perfectly happy.
Fun fact: I lived in Tokyo 'till I was 11, New Hampshire 'till I was 18, and am now finishing school in Utah.
Ben and I met December 6, 2010
We were engaged May 6, 2011.
And we were married August 6, 2011.



It all happened a bit fast. The speed of it would scare me a little, until I remembered what it felt like to be with him; when I’d known him a week it felt like six months. When we’d been dating a month it felt like two years, and by the time we were married, I couldn’t remember life without Ben at all.

Next month we're celebrating a whole year of marriage!
If you're not a fan of love, stay away from the blog for a few weeks, at least :)

So I'm no expert, but I believe marriage is falling in love over and over again. And to do that, here are some 3 of my 10 tips:

Make time just to have fun.
Set aside specific time once a week to do something where you laugh. Maybe its going on a silly date, watching a comedy, ticking each other - whatever it is, make sure you laugh. I married my best friend, and I think I've added another 5 years to my life because of how often we laugh :)
 
Stare at each other for two minutes straight. Sounds silly, I know - but its proven to cause a connection. 
Tell them you love them, without saying it. Of course, saying it with your voice is so important, but remind them with little things: notes, favorite candy bars, random text messages, unsolicited kisses, you get the idea ;)


For the rest of the tips, read the full post here.
And if you don't want the rest of the post, I promise I blog about things other than romance :)


Thanks Megan for letting me take over today :)
Hop over to La Vita e Bella and say hi!

Love,

Elisabeth

The Care & Handling of Roses with Thorns

roses book

for BlogHer Book Club this month, i got to read Margaret Dilloway’s new book The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns. i was really excited about this book when i first heard about it and it was definitely interesting!

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns is about a 30-something biology teacher named Gal Garner who suffers from kidney disease.
she tries to live a somewhat normal, albeit boring, life teaching at a private Catholic school and going to her constant doctor appointments.
although her life from the outside can seem a little disappointing, the one thing that she truly lives for is breeding and experimenting with her Hulthemia roses and longing for winning Queen of Show in a major competition.

but her life gets “flipped, turned upside down” when her sulky, 15-year-old niece, Riley, quite literally shows up at her {classroom} doorstep being sent there by her irresponsible older sister.
she is not the little girl Gal once remembered, having grown up so much and been changed by her sister’s poor parenting decisions.

as much as Gal wants to be a good influence on Riley, in many ways Riley helps Gal a lot as well.
one thing i found really interesting about the book is how many times Gal questions her parenting ability and think that she is doing things wrong.
to go from having no kids to having to raise a teenager can be a little shocking i’m sure!
but i think in a lot of ways Gal actually does a fantastic job even with her self-doubts.
i loved seeing both of them grow.

the book was good although i felt it was a little slow at first…
it took me a little while to really get into it.
and even then i was expected a little more shocking revelations from the hints that they would give. but once the news would actually come out about possible drama it never seemed as big of a deal as they made it sound.
{maybe i’m just a drama queen though so that’s why i was disappointed}

i also wish there was a better conclusion at the end.
although it definitely ended happy and i was glad how it turned out, i felt like there wasn’t much resolution besides just wrapping it up so that everyone is happy.
{but again, maybe i’m just a drama queen :)}

i still really like the book and would recommend it to anyone!
it had lots of interesting elements that i never had in a book before so i enjoyed it.
and i definitely learned A LOT about roses that i never knew before!

if you end up reading the book, i would love to hear your thoughts!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

sweet tart interview + giveaway

i’m really excited to have Danielle posting today!
i have loved getting to work with Danielle and learning more about her.
she has a really fun blog & is a great inspiration to me.
even though she is going through a lot right now, Danielle has still been so kind and wonderful!
i hope you guys enjoy getting to know her
{and be sure to enter her awesome giveaway!}
 
Beauty blogger, makeup reviews, fashion reviews, photography, makeup tutorials
Thank you Megan for inviting me to your lovely blog! I'm so happy to be doing this interview for your readers and I have a little surprise at the end!


1. How would your friends describe you? My friends would probably describe me as funny, timid, loving, and friendly.

2. What is the biggest lesson you've learned about living a happy life? I’m actually still learning this lesson at the moment. But my family has been encouraging me to live in the moment. Don’t worry about the future or what you will do the next day, stay in the moment and enjoy life.


3. How did you start your blog & shop and why? I started my blog in January 2012 after much encouragement from my family. To learn more about this please read this post.I initially started it to just do product reviews but eventually developed it to include other things I enjoy such as photography and fashion.

4. What inspires you? My love for God inspires me to work hard to become a better person and to just enjoy the life I have now.

5. What would your totem-pole animal spirit be? I’m not sure about a totem – pole animal but if I had to choose an animal that describes me I would have to say a dolphin. They enjoy being around people and making them smile but they also value their alone time.


6. What are some of your favorite items in your shop or blog posts and why? If I had to pick a favorite blog post It would be a tie between my post Are We Too connected? which discusses the sudden popularity of the internet and questioning when it becomes too much and also my Dream Big post inspired by Alex Beadon, where I discuss the importance of listening to your inner dreamer.

7. How do you define success? Success for me would involve doing what you love to the best of your ability.

8. What advice would you give to new shop owners/bloggers? What did you wish you knew when you first started? Don’t focus on the numbers and ignore well meaning but sometimes harsh words from more “successful” bloggers. I wish I knew this when I started because it would have saved me so much heartache. Also just have fun!! Don't take yourself to seriously, it will just suck the joy out of everything.


9. What is a talent you have that you wish you used more? My writing skills. In school I was always told that writing was my talent. I even wrote an entire modern day Shakespeare play while in middle school. Its something I enjoyed but I have since pulled away from it.

10. What are your goals for the future {long and short}? Do you have
anything you want to change? In the future I hope to do more with my photography professionally. In the meantime my only goal is to make the most of each day.


As a huge thank you for you lovely people reading a little about me, I would like to reward one lucky reader the opportunity to score a $10 Forever 21 E-card and a 200x150 Ad space on my blog Sweet Tart Beauty!

How To Enter:
 
Mandatory

1. Follow Danielle's Blog 

Optional:

1. Follow via Facebook
2. Follow via Twitter
3. Tweet about giveaway using handle @buzzbeauty


That’s it!! Good luck to you all!!
 
 
--------------------------------------------------
i just updated the giveaway so you can enter with Rafflecopter!
if you already entered in the comment i will be sure to include them when i choose a winner or you can also enter again with Rafflecopter.
thanks!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

SwimSpot $50 Giveaway

i haven’t had a new swimsuit since my first year of college.
for the most part it worked out fine.
i never really needed a new one because, well, quite honestly my body didn’t really fluctuate during those college years. [not enough well-rounded meals perhaps.]

well then i had a baby.
oh babies… how they change everything!
the summer after i had Elijah i remember wearing my old swimsuit while visiting Adam’s family in California. only i was so so embarrassed because a nursing mother + old swim suit from my non-lactating years is NOT a good combination!
it was pretty bad.

but it was one summer and it was pretty much over anyways so i didn’t think anything of it.
until we went to California this last April, again sporting the old swimsuit, thinking it would work out fine cause i’m not nursing anymore right?
wrong.
went the complete opposite direction… as in, it had nothing to hold on to.
[TMI maybe?]

now that we are moving to Arizona, i’ve realized that maybe it’s about time to invest in a cute, modest swimsuit that i can feel comfortable in as we lounge around the pool daily trying to survive the 110 degree heat.
{and one that can avoid more unfortunate mishaps…}

one of my new favorite swimsuit websites is SwimSpot!
SwimSpot is a great online women’s swimwear boutique that has some of the most gorgeous swim suits i have ever seen. with top designer swimwear brands like Ella Moss, Splendid, and Athena, you are bound to find something you love.

here are just a small sample of some of my favorite suits from their site:

swimspot giveaway 
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 

the other great thing about SwimSpot is that they have this really great feature called Fit Specialist that will help you find the perfect suit for your body type.
i’m really terrible at shopping for my body type because i don’t really have anything to work with, ha! it can be really hard to find things that accentuate the right parts especially with swimsuits since they are not always so forgiving.
but with Fit Specialist i can generate a list of styles that would look good on me and help me feel the most beautiful and confident while at the pool!

and you don’t have to settle for pre-made swimsuit options.
SwimSpot also has a Bikini Builder app where you can design your own combinations and choose what you love best!

today, SwimSpot is generously offering a $50 gift certificate giveaway for {And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson} readers!
lucky duckies!

--enter below--

GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

::: p.s. Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby giveaway winner announced here!

panick{ed}

zoo 2

yesterday as we were helping my parents pack up their storage unit,
this little guy went missing.

i was inside the storage unit pulling out boxes and Adam and my parents were outside loading the truck.
Elijah was near me playing with some things and then i thought i saw & heard him go outside by everyone else.
i figured the would see him out there near them so i didn’t really think to call out to tell them he was coming.

a few minutes later Adam came in to grab boxes and asked where Elijah was.
“he’s outside with you guys,” i replied.
“no he’s not.”
“are you sure?”
“i thought he was in here with you??”

Adam quickly went out another side door to look for Elijah.
i went out by the truck and looked around and when i didn’t see him started walking along the outside complex.
i called his name over and over even though knowing full well he probably wouldn’t really answer.
{he’s still so little!}

i started to pick up speed until i was in a full sprint.
i called his name over and over, feeling the rise of panic in my voice.
at the beginning i thought for sure he would just be around some corner, playing with a bug he found.
but when i couldn’t see him after turning what seemed to be an endless amount of corners i felt like everything was closing in on me fast.

i checked the gates as i ran by for any kind of opening that he could’ve possible squeezed through.
the storage place was by a really busy street so immediately my mind turned to the thought of him trying to chase the cars down the road {or into the road}.
i noticed there was another customer that showed up, what if he had grabbed him while we weren’t looking?
i went over every possible scenario in a short amount of time.

after what felt more like an hour instead of just 2 minutes, i heard my dad yell “Megan, he’s with Adam!”
i started running back over not believing it until i could actually see him in Adam’s arms.
sure enough, Adam showed up around the corner with a happy, babbling Elijah trying to get away so he could go play with the dolly again.

i just kind of stood there in shock.
i apologized to Adam over and over.
i felt like an absolutely awful, terrible mother.
i let him out of my sight.
i didn’t know where my son went.
and horrible things could’ve happened in those 2 minutes.

my mom came over and hugged me and just started crying.
i kept saying i thought he was out here, i had no idea, and i should’ve been more attentive!
Adam then came over and hugged me and reassured me it was alright. he was safe after all
[he was just wandering around and exploring]
but no matter what words of comfort they give, i will always remember that feeling of sheer panic. 

after the devastating events that happened over the weekend in Colorado, i have looked at Elijah and Adam with a lot more love and appreciation, knowing that in an instant it can be taken away from me.
any instant, like a toddler wandering away when we aren’t looking.

looking at Elijah now i still get overcome with emotion from the scare.
even when he is screaming at the top of his lungs at the store, i know i love him more than anything.
so much so that the thought of losing him physically hurts.

i know i may complain sometimes about how hard Elijah is.
but after everything is said and done, i’d rather hear him scream than not hear his voice at all.
i never knew how much love my heart could hold until i had a son.
and i love him so very very much!

made just for me {with love}

a little while ago i posted this picture** on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and asked people to vote on which dress from eShakti was their favorite.

dress decision

it was a close tie between #1 and #3.
but after counting how many blue dresses i already own {5!! favorite color i guess} i decided to try and step out of my comfort zone a little bit and ended up going with #3**.

and oh boy i’m SO SO glad i did!

eshakti review 2 
dress: c/o eShakti, necklace: c/o Rhi’s Designs, shoes: Kohl’s

i wore it on Sunday and i felt so pretty and summery!
it definitely is a lot different {in color & texture} than anything else in my wardrobe and that is what i love about it! and i love that it is so effortlessly stylish so i can focus on chasing Elijah through the church corridors instead.

this dress was definitely {quite literally} made just for me!
the great thing about eShakti is that all their products are perfectly customizable to you including sleeve type, length, and neckline. you can choose from their premade settings or send them your exact measurements so they can make the clothes fit just right.

eshakti review 4

and you know what was the icing on the pretty, orange, ruffly cake??
POCKETS!!

eshakti review

finding pockets in a dress is one of the best things in the world!
next to freshly cleaned teeth, sno cones after swimming, & your husband cleaning the bathroom.
the only thing that would’ve made it better is if i found a $20 bill in the pocket.
{wait, why did i just settle for $20? my dreams are so sad}

eShakti is also having some great deals going on right now!
they are having a 40% off sale AND you can save $20 for first time customers!
and if that wasn’t good enough, they have also given {here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson} readers an extra 10% off your order when you use the code: MR26GAN
[code is not case sensitive and is good until July 31st]

you can check out eShakti on their website
or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest

 

** unfortunately i can only find number 4 and 5 online so the rest must’ve sold out. however i tried to find some other eShakti items that are similar if you like the above items:
:: this dress is similar in texture to #2
:: this top has the same cascade ruffle as #3 and #4. you can also find it in different colors
:: this top is made with the same fabric/pattern as #3
:: i can’t find anything for #1… sorry

Cafe Rio Catering Giveaway

have you heard of Cafe Rio?
if so, you know how absolutely delicious/amazing/wonderful their food is.
if not, well then i just feel sorry for you.

Cafe Rio is a Mexican food restaurant with that has crazy, crazy good food!
so good in fact that they have won numerous awards for their food and service including Sandleman & Associates #1 National Mexican Food Restaurant for three years in a row. 

and so good that whenever i’m sick {and when i was pregnant in particular} the only thing i craved was the Cafe Rio sweet pork barbacoa burrito smothered in mild enchilada sauce and an extra scoop of pico de gallo.
*yep my mouth is watering already*

guys, it is SO {freaking} GOOD!!
i cannot stress this enough.

and another reason why Cafe Rio is awesome,
they are giving away a 20 person catering package!!

Cafe Rio Giveaway

i don’t know about you guys, but food is pretty much my best friend.
so when i saw this i kind of flipped out.
a catering package??
sign me up!
and i will take those 20 servings for myself please :)

Cafe Rio has locations all across the country including Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, Virgina, and Maryland. [you can see more locations here. must be near a Cafe Rio to win]
so in other words, lots of readers have chances to partake in this deliciousness!

--enter to win below--

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

also, the Mikarose giveaway winner was announced here!

July Blog Hop

Are you ready to network??
Are you prepared to make some new bloggy friends?
Well, here’s your chance!

RULES:

Link up to the homepage of your blog.

…follow Host and Co-Hosts {pretty please}
feel free to follow by Facebook, Twitter, or whatever works best for you!

…hop // network // have fun!

If you’d like to post this linky on your blog, grab the code below.
The more, the merrier! Wouldn’t you agree? {yay!}

Grab the code {here}
Grab the July Blog Hop Button {here}

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Thanks again to my ever so gracious co-hosts:
Megan @ And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Gentri @ Gentri Lee
Mindy @ My Life as Mindy
Audra @ The Kurtz Corner
Kim @ The Sasse Life
Tonya @ Understanding the Assignment

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NEW THIS MONTH!
This blog hop is sponsored by: 


 

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Thanks so much for linking up with us! Wishing you all the best in your bloggy endeavors. Blog on!!

 

Save the Date! Next Hop: 8/19

Inspiration

 

Saturday Favorites

a week and a half before the big move.
totally & completely stressed out.
yay…
i can’t wait for it to be over.

but in other news, while i’m stressing and packing and stressing and driving and stressing and moving, this little blog will be taken over by some AWESOME guest posts and giveaways!
like, seriously seriously awesome.
i’m pretty much really excited for you guys {slash} really jealous. 
lucky lucky readers!

Sat. 721 photo dump
[i realized i have TONS of photos on my phone that i don’t always get to share. and just for posterity sake i wanted to do a weekend photo dump so i can have them all at once to look back on]

favorite weekend links: 

totally can relate to this post about not wanting to get married. but glad it happened still. :)

most hilarious and truthful post about little boys ever.

Butter Beer cupcakes. need i say more?

one of the cutest little boy nurseries i have ever seen. {seriously!}

she always has the best clothes and the best goats.

can i please look like this even when i’m not pregnant? she’s so classy & chic!


HAPPY SATURDAY, FRIENDS!

{sea lions} tigers & bears

after only seeing my parents {maybe} once a year since we got married and they moved to the Marshall Islands, it has been a treat to have them able to visit a couple of times this summer already and spend time with us!
since Elijah was born, they have only seen him a few times so it has been really special for me to see them interact with him and watch him learn to trust & care about them.

one of those special moments happened this last week when my parents took their three Utah grandkids to the zoo.
there were moments where Elijah was really shy.
but then there were other heart-melting moments when Eli would sit right next to my dad to share chips.
or let my dad carry him on his shoulders and listen to him talk about the tigers.
or let my mom help him go down the slide at the playground.
or run over to my parents to show them a cool animal.

i have been waiting for these little moments ever since Elijah was born.
and now that my parents live much much closer {in the states!}, i am so grateful they can be here to watch him grow up and have that sweet relationship i have been waiting for.

   Zoo Edit 1zoo 8Zoo Edit 3Zoo Edit 4Zoo Edit 2Zoo Edit 17
Zoo Edit 6Zoo Edit 7Zoo Edit 8zoo 6
Zoo Edit 16zoo 3Zoo Edit 9 Zoo Edit 10Zoo Edit 11Zoo Edit 13Zoo Edit 14Zoo Edit 15zoo 4zoo 5zoo 7zoo 9
Zoo Edit 5

thanks for the epic day, grandma & grandpa!!