Makeup brushes

Alright, so every time I wash my make-up brushes my husband kind of laughs and doesn't get why I do it. The only reason I could ever give him was because I thought it was gross not too, it's like never washing the makeup off your face and it just gets built up. He still thought it was silly I cleaned them and told me he had never seen or heard of girls cleaning their makeup brushes... Then I got to thinking, how many people actually don't clean them?... So I did research to find out better reasons to clean makeup brushes and decided to share more disgusting facts.

So I was right with the make up getting built up. BUT, not only does it get built up with makeup, it gets your old skin, dirt, oils, and bacteria. If that's not enough to get you clean your brushes.. I guess I could convince you to do it because it puts your makeup on smoother. 

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES

1. Run your brush under lukewarm water.

Try not to get water in the metal claspe. It can make the glue holding the bristles go away and bristle will start falling out. 

2. Get your soap

You can use mild shampoo or soap (baby wash works great)

Use a quarter sized amount and start swirling your brush in the palm of your hand. 

You'll be surprised all the makeup that will come out.

 3. Rinse

Gently massage the bristles under the water until the soap is completely out.  

4. Dry

Again very gently squeeze remaining water out.

Shape it, make sure none of the bristles are bent.

Lay out to dry

 

5. After drying

After it's been drying for a bit, swirl it in your palm again and fluf the brush. 

Loving You

Women... We are so hard on ourselves. It's a horrible habit we all have. And if we like how we are, we normally would be considered stuck up, snob, or "she thinks she's better than us." 

I don't get it. Why is it so wrong to love who you are?! Yes I think no matter what there will be things we wish we could change. But why can't the things we like about ourselves out rule those?... 

I think that it is perfectly ok to love how you look. In fact, I love this selfie generation because you are taking pictures of yourself feeling pretty. What's wrong with that? 

I know that sometimes it is very hard to not compare yourself to the girl next to you and wish you had what they have, I'm definitely guilty of that. But, at a young age I wanted to be happy, no matter what. So I started training myself to think of the good whenever I acknowledge something I don't like. And it has helped me to always love the way I look at that time. And I have had many not pretty stages in my awkward growing years. 

I find myself wishing I had someones style. Someone's legs, hair, boobs, smile, eyebrows, house decorating skills, the list goes on. I'm sure everyone does the same. And a lot of people find ways to put those people down to try and build themselves up. That's another thing that makes it shameful to love yourself. People really hate you for doing that. 

It's always bothered me hearing people hate on themselves so much. Do you not see the good? I hate that any person showing their love for themselves gets put down. There's so much I could say on this matter, but I find when I get passionate about something I start to babble and things start getting confusing.  I'm not the best with words. I think every person in some way is beautiful, I just wish they all could see it. So to wrap it all up. Love yourself.. PLEASE! 

 

(I would love to hear all the things you love about yourself in the comments😍)

Things I love about myself

 ~I really care for people.

 ~I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt before I judge or get angry.

 ~I'm good at make up.

 ~I love my eyes.

 ~I'm talented with stitching or crocheting.

 ~I have a high motabalism (got to love it before it's gone😉)

 ~healthy hair the stands the test of time.

 ~I'm a good mom.

 ~I love that I can eat anything.

 ~I'm confident 

 ~I love that I love being a house wife. 

A little Advise

So I know a few people that got married recently, so I decided to do an advise blog. I also see a lot of people already having divorces. I don't know what happens, but I feel like this world is just very ok with giving up and taking the easy road. I don't know if anyone has realized.. Life, it isn't easy. So we need to learn to handle situations and not run. Now let me make it clear that I am NOT an expert in this category.  But I feel as if mine and Jordan's relationship has been bumpy and our personalties clash and we have really learned how to handle things. So without further ado... Some advise.

 Learning their Love

Now everyone has thier own way of showing love and their own way of wanting love to be shown. Figuring out how your hubs/wifey likes to be shown love can sometimes be a difficult road, especially when you just want to do what you think the best way to show love is. 

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/
Here is a link to a test you can take to find out what kind of love language you are. So with all of this, as hard as it might be to remember your hubs/wifey might not feel very loved by the way you are showing them. I have found that if you try to show them you love them how they would like to be shown. More smiles come with. 

 Thank you

Along with showing their kind of love. No matter what they do to show you they love you, say thank you! Even if it's not the way you like to be shown love. Having gratitude towards each other helps build a steadier stronger relationship. 

 Talk! Talk! TALK!!

Not only talk about your day. Talk about how you are feeling. Tell your hubs/wifey things that are bugging you. Tell then your love language. Tell them you would like help with things. Just talk!! 

 The NEVERS

    1. Never mention a divorce 

        If it's never brought up, it's never eating away at your insides.

    2. Never run to your parents!!

        Your parents don't love this person like you do, therefor making it hard for them to forgive them for anything. Parents also only think about you in a situation and in most cases will make matters worse. -if you need to vent, go to anyone but your parents- 

    3. Never undermine them

         Making them feel stupid in front of others. Slowly shattering their self confidence will bring a wedge and sense of not being loved to a relationship. 
(section is red because I think these are big huge giant NO NO's.)

 Be by my side

Relationships get rough. And people are not perfect! And there will be a point one of you will struggle. Wether it be depression, sickness, addiction, fights.... The best way for your loved one is for you to be there by their side helping them through it all. In most cases, they aren't happy with themselves, they don't need you being not happy with them as well. They need someone to help them walk through the storm. And they will turn around and help you when it's your turn. 

 Keeping Christ the center

It's pretty easy to figure out what has happened when things start getting bumpy and it seems as if yelling is the only form of communication either of us know. We have gotten lazy and put worldly worries first. As simple as it sounds, is as simple as it is. Keeping Christ the center of the home keeps the home happy and at peace.

Like I said, I am not perfect at these. I am always working on them. And as life grows older and we change. So will the challenges and we will have to relearn how to handle situations. It is a never ending process. But if you both continuously try, things will become easier. You will learn how this person thinks, acts, and understand their emotions and soon both of you will fall into harmony and things will be figured out a lot faster, maybe not a lot nicer.  No one ever told you marriage would be easy when you where jumping into it (and if they did, they are living a lie) It is two completely different people, living different lives, coming together and trying to figure out how they should live a life together. 

Yay for Food

If there is one thing I know how to cook. It's Lasagna. That's one of my go to dishes. So I thought I would share with you my secrets of an amazing lasagna so you can go impress your inlaws, boyfriend, and husband too. 

So for the meat I use 1/2 sausage and 1/2 ground beef. The sausage helps add the good flavor.

Then add your stewed tomatoes (I also like to used seasoned stewed tomatoes) and tomato sauce. That parts good now.

I like to use cottage cheese, cream cheese and spinach. So mix those all together and set aside.

Now you start layering. First the noodle, meet, and the the cheese mixture. I like mine cheesy so I also put a layer a grated cheese as well. Then repeat.

I always found lasagna bland and kind of boring. So this was my spiced up version of a good Lasagna. Hope you enjoy.

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 30 min 

Total time: 45 min

Servs: 6

Ingridiants

1 pound medium Italian sausage

1 pound ground beef

1 can Mexican style stewed tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup cottage cheese

3 cups spinach

2 cups shredded cheese

9 lasagna noodles

Oh the Struggles

Alright, I'm about to spit out some honest truth... Being a mom is hard and with our awesome girly hormones, pretty depressing at times. But I decided to do what I do best and look for the good. So here is a simple list of things that I feel at times (as some of you other moms might have as well) and my solutions.

1. Where is my reward?  You know those days that by the time you get through it you feel like you should be lead up to the tallest pedestal and handed a big shiny medal and everyone starts chanting your name and cheering for you, because you did it!! Well, why hasn't it happened. Why don't I get paid for this job. Where are all those high fives as I make it to the finish line.? 

You finally crawl into bed, just exhausted, and your eyes begin to role back in your head when you hear the cries begin again.. So you shuffle your way into the bedroom look down at your little one.. And the biggest smile stretches across their face and they kick with excitement to see you.  That, that is your reward. A little angel who is just so happy that you are there for them, no matter what. When they figure out how to sit, role, crawl, or walk and each new milestone brings a new excitement into their eyes. There is your reward. 

2. What more do you want!?  The crying that never ends.. The frustration that just builds every minute.. The confusion to what the problem is.. What more do you want kid!? So you pick them up and cradle them because you just want to cry with them and then the chubby little hands you love so much pull your hair. And you yell in pain and your baby laughs and the crying stops. Then your baby hugs you so tightly and rests their little head on your shoulder.. 'Thats all I wanted mom, is you.'

3. Will my house ever be up to my standards of clean?  As soon as you put toys away, they are right back in the middle of the floor. As soon as you have cleaned the last dish and the kitchen is fabulous, the whole sick is full again. As soon as every bed is made, floor is vacuumed, every surface dusted, and laundry.. MESS!  But hey, look at you. You at least get one of these chores done each day and then you get to spend time and make memories with your baby. Way to go!

4. Is that really what I look like?  

Yuck! You spend so much time worrying about your little one or ones that you don't spend time on yourself.. And women need that time. They need to feel pretty. But hey guess what?! Your baby has just as much fun playing in the hall way while you get ready as anywhere else. It's ok to set your baby down and give yourself a good hour of pampering yourself and looking FABULOUS ;) 

And look at your milestones. 

Is the baby weight gone? Most of it.. Awesome!!!

Your hair is always in a pony, so no heat damage. it's so soft and healthy. Awesome!!!

And armpits and legs are shaved.

Awesome!!

Now start singing "EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!"

Just think this about yourself..

I know days get hard, but really we as moms have the most rewarding, entertaining, exciting, adventurous job of all time. So even though it gets hard and all we want to do in complain.. Just look what you have accomplished in your day to day life and realize you are a super human. 

Welcome Home Mr.&Mrs. Haslem

Well I'm super behind. We have been in our home for about a month and a half. And I love it!! It's so nice having our own place. It's so different than an apartment. We can do what ever we want! And we do have lots planned already.

I love our backyard! We actually looked at the backyard before we even saw the house and we fell in love! Then we decided we should probably see if we like the inside as well. AND WE DID! It's pretty exciting being in our very first home! 

Quick and easy

So I have decided to do a post for a very quick and easy meal for the busy moms, when you are just so tired and worn from the day that you just can't even. Like on a scale of 1 to even, you just can't. Tonight was one of those nights, I have been dealing with a teething baby and my days seem to drag. By the end of the day cooking does not sound enjoyable. And that's saying something, because I LOVE to cook. I love finding new recipes to try, I love challenging myself with a fancier meal. But lately I just can't even. Haha so here we go. 

I always have some kind of fast easy pasta in my cubbard, so I grabbed it and opened up my fridge.. I had some mushrooms that needed used up... And oooo asparagus is always yummy.

I got the ingredients that the box noodles call for and started my journey.

I sautéed the mushrooms and asparagus, then added a little cream and water and let it boil for 5 min. 

Then I threw in the noodles and seasoning from the pasta roni. Cooked until the noodles were soft. And.....

Done. It was so fast and yummy.

Prep time 5 min

Cook time 10min

Total 15 min 😃

Ingredients

Some sort of boxed noodles

Veggies

Butter

Water/milk

Tonight's feelings

Tonight I was laying down watching my little boy play, while he brutally kicks my stomach (and I thought it hurt when I was pregnant)

and I realized how truly amazing this little spirit is. And it's pretty special the family I get to be with forever. FOREVER! Pretty crazy when you really think about it. How cool is it that god wanted us to be here participating in his plan. It's pretty special when you realize that your doing the right thing by raising such a perfect little spirit to be strong in this world. I know lots of people are scared to have kids in this crazy corrupt world or they want to live there own life before they get the problem of dragging around a child. But that's not what god intended. And if you don't think you will do a good job at raising a strong child to handle this world, and you find that you are pregnant.. Must mean someone has faith that you can do it, so don't be rude. Just have faith in yourself as well.. And for those who can't have children, it doesn't mean your not trusted. It might just mean your even more trusted to raise someone else's child and give them a better life.. 

I love my eternal family. I would not have it any other way. 

Just my feelings for the night. 

confessions

I've been debating if I should actually write this post or not... But I decided I should, just in case any mommy's or mommy's to be out there feel the same. That way they know they aren't alone like I felt.

The thing I had the hardest time with....
When my son was born, I expected to have the overwhelming overflowing love for him that everyone describes. But I didn't. I knew I loved him, I just hadn't found the strength to love him yet. I was terrified! I was responsible for this little life,  responsible for who he would become as he grew. He also was a hard baby at first. Very colicky and constipated, so he was constantly crying and everything I did wouldn't help. So there were many many nights were I would just cry as well. I felt like I had to prove that I was a good mother because I didn't feel the immediate attachment that everyone describes that they feel.
My husband would try to make me feel better by saying that women don't actually feel that. That they feel just like me and pretend that they feel that. But hearing how they worded their experience made me think that wasn't true. Those women genially felt that overflowing love for their newborn.
It took about two weeks until I started feeling that love and not just telling myself it was actually there. And from there till now my love has just grown. I now know the overwhelming overflowing love that everyone talks about. I could just cry thinking about how much I love my little boy and how perfect he is to me and for me and my husband. He brings so much joy into our lives and is making us grow stronger together in new ways.
I have felt guilty for not having that immediate love and connection for my little boy. But it is so strong now, it has over powered that guilt and I have almost but forgotten that struggle.
I'm not sure if I actually am the only one who struggled with this, but I hope that telling my story will help someone know they aren't alone. Or any future mother know that it's ok, it is hard at first, but that strong love everyone talks about will be there and its the most amazing feeling in the world to love such a precious little person the way you will.

Also on a side note. I read every blog, book, article I could get my hands on to help prepare me for my baby boy. And I was told by many that no matter how much you read, it will not help prepare you for your baby. But I tell all you mothers to be, READ!! I am so thankful that I did. I feel like it has helped me know what to do in so many ways. And I am able to stay calm because I have read others experiences. So don't listen to the 'it wont help prepare you' and just READ!

Ray Woodson Haslem

First thing I apologize for the long post... but it is happening so enjoy.


So I was horrible at taking week by week pictures but I did capture some so you are able to see the change of my growing tummy somewhat.

YAY!!!  We are done with the first tri and on to the second.

And I got lazy and didn't take any pictures for my 39 weeks and 40.

 

 

Alright so my labor story. At 36 weeks I had dilated to a 1cm so I started thinking things might be going fast and he could be here sooner than we had planned and I got super excited. But.... every week after that I was still just at 1cm and I started getting sad and dreading going to my checkups. at 37 weeks my doctor decided to tell me I was at high risk for a C-section and I started freaking out. I did everything to try and get things moving faster. Walked 2 miles everyday, lots of sex, citrusy fruits and drinks, bouncing up and down. You name it, I tried it. at 38 weeks my doctor still thought I would need a C-section and that stressed me out even more. And as if my hormones weren't already on edge, the thought of a C-section didn't help at all.. Jordan started getting really bothered with my doctor for getting me stressed and telling me that I would most likely need a C-section and he started doing some research. He has a family friend that is a doctor and he talked to him and he informed us that there is no way to tell for sure if someone would be needing a C-section or not. And after lots of praying and blessings we both felt good that no problems would happen and I would be fine..... My doctor was nervous because I was still only dilated to 1cm, but my doctor and I decided to get me started on Ray's due date... So on Monday January 20 Jordan and I headed to the hospital at 9:00 pm and got ready for our lives to change. Before they put me on Pitocin, they gave my a pill to help soften my cervix. I took that at 10:00 pm, my water broke on its own at 10:30 pm, and I had dilated to 3cm and 70% effaced. So they decided to just let my body go into labor on its own without the Pitocin. At 1:30am I asked for an epidural and received that at 2:15am. And my body just stopped progressing all together. So at 5:30am they hooked me up to Pitocin and things started to speed up again. My nurse came into check me at 10:00am and I had only gone to 4cm and she said she would be back in two hours. My doctor then came to check me at 10:20am and I had progressed to 5cm but still only 70% effaced. My nurse came back only an hour later, 11:10am, and I had completely dilated and was 100 % effaced. The baby was just right there. She paged the doctor and ran off to talk to her. She came back at 11:30am and informed me that my doctor was heading to another hospital for an emergency C-section and wont be back for 45 min. My nurse had me do some practice pushing and had to stop me because the baby would be here if I pushed anymore and she would get in trouble for delivering the baby without the doctor. 1:00pm rolled around and my nurse came in to tell me my doctor was on her way and that we could do some more practice pushing. But again had to stop me because baby was coming and the doctor wasn't there yet. When the doctor did arrive at the hospital, she ran off and delivered someone else's baby first because it was their second child and she said I could hold it with it being my first. Finally 1:40 pm came upon us and my doctor entered the room and it was time for our little angel to enter this world.... Ray Woodson Haslem born on Tuesday January 21, 2014 at 1:55 pm weighing 8lb 3oz measuring 19in long. He has been such a blessing in our lives already. Jordan and I just adore him.