Happy Good Friday! This is not the fanciest cake in the world but I made it & my boys seem to enjoy it! (Did you read my post about why I typically outsource my cake-making? Go back and read it ;)

If you celebrate Easter I hope it's hoppy! If not have a great weekend!

Happy Thursday Pretty People.  This past weekend we visited Rowan Oak - William Faulkner's home.  Clearly there is a ton of history there- but we really enjoyed stomping around the porch.  LITTLE even did his happy dance.  Go if you are ever anywhere near Oxford, Mississippi- it's stunning! 

Whoever said tax day isn't fun (me!) obviously doesn't have out-of-town friends visiting. It was so great to catch up with our friends Effie (my 5 year old guest blogger- she covered the president's state of the union address for the blog!) Heron and their folks. It was a bit windy by the river but we had a great time.

I love that Minnesota people wear short sleeve shirts in 40 degree weather. So great to see you C&A!

I love those pictures where families reenact pictures from the past.  I hope that one day when my little boys are grown men they recreate these shots for me.  I just think it would be funny.  Enjoy some sweet feet, a hint of derrière  and chunky monkey legs! 

Hope you have a great day!

We love to stroll.  Especially when the weather is nice.  That being said- it's ridiculous the number of strollers I have/have had.  My first and THE BEST STROLLER IN THE WHOLE WORLD was a gift from my mom and sister at my baby shower.  It is AMAZING. It's the {swoons when she types the name! throws glitter in the air and hears birds chirping} urban mountain buggy.  I wouldn't have needed another stroller ever except we had another baby. And BIG still liked to stroll.  And I am kinda lazy and baby wearing didn't really work for me- So we needed a double stroller.  I found this one on craigslist for super cheap so I bought it.  It was fine- but it was no UMB.  I knew it wasn't my dream double stroller.  But for that I had to shop around.  And save. 

Then one day on a whim, we drove to Oxford.  Sans stroller.  Oh lord- what were we thinking? We stopped and bought two cheap umbrella strollers.  I knew that wouldn't be my double stroller solution either.  Those things are a nightmare to maneuver.  Think broken shopping cart- where you have to pull more than push.  UGH- more work than actually carrying the boys.  Not for me.  

And then I found our double stroller.  It's great.  But it's no UMB.  The UMB double was not in my price range (it's a stroller- not a car for crying out loud!) So I settled for the BOB.  It's nice and gets us where we want to go.  I've even jogged with it a few times (note: it's much easier to jog when you aren't pushing 60 extra pounds!) But I find myself comparing it to my UMB.  If only the wheel pivoted like the mountain buggy.  If only it was as quick to fold up... The most important thing is both of our boys can ride.  

Up until recently BIG has been like his mama in that he would rather ride than walk.  But in these last few weeks he's been showing a little more independence [gasp/frowny face/smily face/mixed emotions because he's growing up! ] and has started to walk by our side... so maybe it's time to go back to the dream stroller and let LITTLE enjoy being pushed solo.  

Hope all of you pretty people are having a happy hump day! 

I started a tradition when BIG was a baby.  Pictures with the Easter Bunny.  I think this is a semi-new thing.  I don't remember a big bunny at the mall when I was a tot- I'm sure my mom would have had us on his lap in matching Easter dresses the same way we visited Santa.  

As you can see- there are mixed reviews.  Year 1 was a hit.  Year two... Ummm... we were sticking out our tongue and pulling the bunny's glasses.  

Year three was GREAT!  We sat.  We smiled.  We weren't scared.  We had on cute bow ties! (My fancy friend Briana made them) It was perfect.  But it was also planned.  I knew what day we were going to see the bunny.  I talked about it.  I made it sound fun.  "Tomorrow we are going to see the bunny!!!" 

This brings us to year 4.  LITTLE is clearly not pleased.  It's not his fault.  I kinda just sprung the bunny on him.  No prep at all.  We were at the mall and there he was.  BIG was looking at him longingly from a distance.  LITTLE was in his stroller so he didn't see him.  Until we were upon him.  Then neither one wanted much to do with the bunny.  I snapped this quickly with my phone.  Believe it or not this was better than the package picture I opted not to buy.... I think I've said this before... maybe not all traditions are meant to keep forever.  

What are your thoughts pretty people?  Are you pro bunny?  Do you have something you started as a tradition that you let die?  Tell me what you do!  I read and love all of your comments.

xoxoxo

Day like today I'm just not in the mood to clean up the mess...I will put if off as long as possible!

Y'all already know I love hats, mustaches and bunny ears- so are you surprised to find out that I love funny glasses as well?

Hope you are having a great Thursday my pretty people! I will let you know who will sparkle & smell better tomorrow! Xoxo

My baby will be 2 next month! I can't believe it. He has cut back on the number of times a day he calls himself a baby. That makes me kinda sad- but he will always be my baby! My sister and parents gave him an awesome early birthday gift- a 10 week mommy & me music class. It's going to be our weekly date for the next 2.5 months. Today was day 1 and he loved it!

I'm not surprised he loved it. He was actually there before. When I was pregnant with him I took BIG to the same class. LITTLE was dancing too- I thought he might be a rockette!

Happy hump day pretty people!

Hi everyone- I mentioned to my friend Jennifer that I was thrilled to reach the 11,000 reader mark.  (holy smokes!  Who are all of you?!?  Thanks for reading!) She said- "let's give something away!"  YAY!  I love her!  And of course all of you for reading.  So All you have to do is like the blog post on Facebook to be entered.  If you write a comment on the blog- you get another entry.  We will announce winners on Friday!  I have the seascape drop earrings in coral and let me tell you my pretty people- the picture doesn't even do them justice.  OMG!  So sparkly and AWWWWWESOME!  Read below and good luck!  

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I'm so delighted to contribute to this wonderful blog.  Like Kris, I have two little energetic boys that keep me on my toes and are, along with my husband, the light of my life.

Kris asked me to write about why and how I came to be a merchandiser with Chloe + Isabel.  More specifically, she asked "how did you decide to sell sparklies?" (Seriously, don't you just love her?! Sparklies!)

My answer might surprise you but I decided to join Chloe + Isabel after reading several articles about our CEO, Chantel Waterbury, in various business journals. I fell in love with the idea of working in fashion for an innovative company with a new, disruptive business model led by an amazing female CEO who was building this lifestyle brand slowly and thoughtfully to offer women a way to earn an extra income through social retail.

Oh, and it was fabulous that I also adored the jewelry. Now I am even more excited to welcome the first fragrance, Jardins du Midi.  

To celebrate Kris and her blog readership and women everywhere, I am delighted to give away a bottle of our new fragrance, Jardins du Midi, featuring top notes of Italian bergamot, juicy mandarin and lush peach nectar and warmed with notes of jasmine sambac, white violet, vanilla absolut and creamy musk.  Jardins du Midi will be released at 10 PM on Tuesday, April 1st, and one lucky reader will get a bottle before anyone else!

And just to celebrate spring, I'm also offering these beautiful, limited edition Seascape Drop Earrings in coral.  

Visit my website at www.stylewithjennifer.com and learn more about why Chloe + Isabel jewelry is loved by fashion editors from Vogue to Real Simple!

Thank you Kris!
Jennifer
 
Merchandise Manager
Chloe + Isabel
Visit my Online Boutique Today
Like my Facebook page for special offers and events
"Style is a simple way to say complicated things." ~ Jean Cocteau

We've had a bit of rain these last few days. I left the boys clean and in my sister's care for about an hour on Friday. I received several text pictures of this muddy mess. When I got home the boys were in the tub being scrubbed. I will tell you that the pictures don't do the mess justice. We were cleaning mud out of ears for 2 days. The boys bathtub looked like I dumped out a bag of potting soil. But in the end they had a great time with their aunt Bird. That's all that matters.

Hello Spring!  Glad you are here!  Please stay and linger.  You are a welcome visiting season.  May you be longer than summer and shorter than winter.  Here are a few images of my pretty people to get you in the mood for the sunshine & warmer weather

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

If you ever see cupcakes sitting on the counter at my house... You may not want to eat them.... Thanks to my friend D for making them!

I love photo round up day.  It's the day I get to share some of the awesome pictures I've seen on social medial last week.   As always I have permission from my friends to share.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did! 

Have a great Wednesday pretty people!  Thanks to everyone for letting me share your pictures.  They are amazing! 

xoxo
MommyOhhhh

Here are several examples of what hijinx happens when I let my guard down and turn my back for a minute. You see pretty people, I get a false sense of security at times because when he's good he's soooooooooo good- so good he makes you forget about the naughty michief. He can go through a pack of stickers and band-aids in less than a minute.  

I'm lucky we still have a house since I magic erased nearly every wall we have.  But I wouldn't change him for the world.  Except maybe the part about him drawing on my walls.  (and kitchen island!) That part I would change- as long as it didn't change who he is or break his little spirit! 

Thanks for reading- hope you are having a great- marker-on-the-wall-free day! It's 1:30 and so far we've had no incidents.  But we still have 7.5 hours until bedtime! 

In addition to bunny ears & silly hats- I also love fake mustaches. No more to report. I think they speak for themselves.., especially the blonde one!

Happy Monday pretty people!

Happy Friday pretty people!  If you haven't already, like MommyOhhhh on facebook.  JAve a great weekend! 

Welcome back!  Happy hump day.  By now you should know that I am reviewing (a nice way to say stalking) all of your social media pictures!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at them.  Here are a few of my favorites from this week.  All used with permission of course.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  

Thanks for visiting today pretty people.  If you haven't already- like MommyOhhhh on facebook.  

The other day I noticed that LITTLE smelled especially good.  I mean REALLLLLLLYYYYYYY good- almost yummy... Which was kinda odd because it was the end of the day- and he hadn't had his bath yet.  But boy did he smell delicious.  Then I noticed that it was because he had chocolate frosting in his hair.  I mean- why wouldn't you have frosting in your hair, right?  Well- that's a good question that he can't answer just yet.  Believe me- I asked and he said "No."  Which is his go-to answer for everything right now. 

Then there is the just out of the bath smell.  I was holding BIG tonight after his bath just sniffing his sweet wet little head.  He must think I'm a bit koo-koo.  And he's right- but he just smelled so fresh and clean.  Not that he normally stinks or anything- but he just smelled soooooo good.  I know this phase won't last forever.  I remember when my friend's son outgrew the good smelling age and started to wear that silly manly teenager deodorant/cologne stuff.  Good grief that's some stinky stuff. 

Right now I'm fine with my boys smelling.  Because it's usually a good smell.  (There are times when they come in from outside smelling like little hound dog puppies- but that isn't the norm.) They usually smell like sweet babies.  I know I will never forget the smell because it's burned into my nose from all the baths I've administered.  

I may just keep a bottle of baby aveeno shampoo on hand just in case- so I can always remember. 

Indeed!  Happy St Patrick's day pretty people! 

Remember the other day when I told y'all that I love hats?  Well, that goes for bunny ears too.  Unfortunately BIG does not appreciate my love of the big ears.  Up until now he's humored me.  Well that my pretty people stopped last week. 

 We were at Target- where I typically get said bunny ears- and there they were.  In the dollar spot area.  This year they had pink and brown too- oh my!  A little variety in the bunny ears selection- they were speaking to my heart.  As I grabbed the brown pair and approached my cart BIG looked up at me.  Held his finger up and said it.  The one little word that I've been dreading.  "NO!"  He knew exactly what was about to happen.  And he said no.  So- it's with much sadness that I will not be purchasing a pair of bunny ears for him this year.  When the boy says no to the ears- he gets a pass.  So while I have a bunny-ear-clad picture for years 1-3, I will not have one for his 4th Easter.  Unless I can convince him otherwise in the next few weeks.  But I guess at some point traditions can retire.

Have a hoppy day pretty people! 

I learned a great lesson last week.  Hot Husband was out of town and LITTLE was sick.  Not super sick- just a little stomach bug.  I had to cancel a play-date that I was really looking forward to.  But we aren't that family that takes our kids out sick.  I won't mention names but that family drives me crazy and ALWAYS gets my boys sick.  Public service announcement time: If your kids are sick keep them home! Unless you absolutely HAVE to get them out to take them to the Dr. or to pick up medicine.  But I digress...

I talked to my girlfriend Courtney that morning- she called to check on LITTLE after I cancelled our play-date. (southern belle manners y'all!) I updated her and she said "do you need anything?" Nope.  I'm good.  But as I said that I was thinking.  Yeah I kinda need more pedialite- I may run out.  And I could use some drano (you don't want to know why.  Let's just say it involves string cheese.) But I don't want to bother her...Soooooo... "No- I'm good.  Thank you for asking."

A few hours later I received a text that she is on her way to the store and what did I need?  Wow.  I need pedialite and drano.  So this time I told her.  "Ok, be there soon." 

The difference in "do you need anything?" and "what do you need" is HUGE! I didn't want to bother or burden her- but since she insisted I gave in.  I did need stuff.  I didn't want to get the boys out.  At first I thought she was just being nice- but then I thought about it.  I never offer to do stuff like that just to be nice.  I offer to do it because I think people need the help. So I put myself in her shoes and realized while it's a nice gesture- she WANTED to help me.  That day I needed more than those two items- I didn't even realize that I needed help.  She gave it to me.  Thank You sweet friend!

Y'all know I'm wild about your social media pictures!  So here are a few pictures and stories I'm bonkers about this week. As always- I have permission to use the images.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

 Above is my cousin Joe's graduation day.  Just look at the smiles on his mom, dad and sister's faces.  I don't know that I've ever seen my uncle so proud.  This is a huge accomplishment and I'm so happy for Joe (Joseph Noseph as I call him!) 

Talk about happy day!  My friend Meribeth got this beautiful yellow bike!  I don't know what happiness looks like- but this is pretty close.  I smiled just looking at it. 

My sweet friend Danielle designed, created, and produced a really cool product. It's a runningluv.  She realized she needed to focus on her run rather than her sweat or runny nose.  So she made a glove to wear while you run that takes care of those problems.  One of the coolest things about this is that she had a vision and has turned it into a fantastic business.  She didn't wait for someone to create the product she wanted- she did it herself.  So proud of her.  Go check out her website at http://www.runningluv.com/
I have one and LOVE it!  Such a great invention! If you are an exerciser- you need this!  (Vanda, Christy, Heather, Annette, Stacy, Erin, Messica...y'all know who you are!)

Hope you are all having a great week.  If you aren't following MommyOhhhh on facebook- do it! 

I love hats.  Especially silly hats.  My oldest can take em' or leave em'. My youngest is all about the hat.  So he lets me indulge in my hat purchases.  

Hope you are having a great day! 

A few weeks ago we took the boys to a big nation chain kiddie casino. I will not tell you the name but the mascot is a big singing rodent.  I think you know what I'm talking about. Anywho- it's the kinda place where you can drop $50 bucks and leave with pink eye, food poisoning, three plastic frogs, a foam airplane and possibly TB. 

Besides the excitement of the blinking lights, rat-led conga line, and clinking tokens, there are kids EVERYWHERE.  Some, like ours, supervised- and some running wild and free like a bunch of hippies at Woodstock.  As LITTLE and I were en route to our next game (think wack-a-mole) we had a very disturbing encounter with another mother/son duo.  We were walking and I saw a little boy about LITTLE's size (so I imagine about his age- 18 months oldish) pull a tween boy's tickets out of the game he was playing and then throw them on the floor near my feet.  The little boy and his mom saw me see him grab the tickets.  They clearly did not belong to him.  I picked up the tickets and handed them to the oblivious tween boy and said "here- someone took these and they belong to you."  I didn't say who took them.  I didn't look in the direction of mother or son.  I just returned the tickets to the rightful owner.  There were so many people around that it could have been anyone that grabbed the tickets- I say all of this to let you know dear reader that neither this woman nor her son were implicated in the crime.  Until the mom said in a loud exasperated voice- not directed at anyone {wink wink- totally directed at me!}  "kids are gonna steal." I was shocked.  Sure kids are going to push the limits and do things they shouldn't but it's our job as parents to teach them right from wrong.  This woman didn't say a thing to her child about taking something that didn't belong to him.  She totally missed the teachable moment.  

So the irony shouldn't be lost on any of you when I tell you that as we walked by them LITTLE grabbed a handful of tokens out of her husbands bucket.  She looked UPSET!  Someone had just taken something that belonged to her!  So different when the shoe is on the other foot I imagine.  I stopped.  Looked LITTLE in the eye and said "we don't take things that don't belong to us."  I made him put the tokens back in their bucket.  Funny how this time her attitude changed a bit and she didn't justify my child's actions by saying kids are going to steal.  Maybe I'm the mean mom here but my kids will know exactly how I feel about stealing.  I certainly won't be on the sidelines justifying or condoning this behavior.