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it’s a weekly thang {weigh-in wednesday}

wow. it’s wednesday again. this has been the most challenging last week, not in terms of wanting fatty foods but the fact that fatty foods were thrown in my face. between in-laws coming, a birthday party, a mom’s night out, and valentines day nothing healthy was thrown my way. i tried so hard, but there were days that i just wasn’t hungry and that doesn’t work on this diet. i made it to the gym twice, not stellar but i still went. starting friday, since i am up at my parents house until then i will get back on track. i leave you with my numbers and a picture. 



my starting weight: 170 
today’s weight: 155
total weight loss for week one: 6 pounds
total weight loss for week two: 3 pounds
total weight loss for week three: 1 pound
total weight loss for week four: 1 pound
total weight loss for week five: 3 pounds 
total weight loss for week six: 1 pound

pounds away from goal #1: 15
pounds away from goal #2: 25

i have 7 pounds to lose to get to my pre-brayden weight. 


me last weekend. i could fit in my pre-brayden skinny jeans, yippee! and an old volcom shirt i wore a few years ago. it’s a great feeling getting into your skinny (fat) jeans. ha! 

{a cleft journey} happy tears

on monday after baking away with child #1 i whisked up child #2 as he awoke from his morning nap. i placed the bottle in his mouth, my brain registered something different, i removed the bottle looking upon his sweet face and happy tears were flowing uncontrollably down my cheek. i remember the first moment i saw his face the day he was born, i cried and cried. he was perfect. i fell in love with his cleft and on february first it was bittersweet to say goodbye. that was until i met him again on that rainy monday morning. his stitches and derma bond had been swept away leaving behind a gorgeous view of a perfect lip. i sat that there bawling. payton asked why i was sad and i told her i wasn’t. just overjoyed at how perfect he is and always was. i just kept staring at him for over an hour, crying, smiling, shouting thanking God for this miracle and our plastic surgeon who i cannot wait to hug on the 24th. his sister exclaiming, i love you buddy, you’re cute. brayden was happy too, he couldn’t stop smiling which was saying a lot after the past few days and the rough patch we had hit. i find myself staring at him as he lay tightly wrapped in my arms, watching his lips quiver, how he pushes his tongue along the inside of his lips. i met my son for the second time this day.

12-days post surgery 

surprise deliveries from cupid

my little sidekick and i set out yesterday morning to make sweet treats for her friends, cousins and grandparents. this year was a lot more fun and i didn’t feel like i was making her valentines for her. i gave her choices, she chose and then she helped prepare everything. when deciding on her cards she wanted the pirates, can’t say i disagree, i think it’s fun and she loved saying “arrrr”. that was going to be it but then on a whim i went to target to pick-up some pretzels so we made some chocoatley treats, then when those were finished i asked her what else and she said cake. so we whipped up some mini brownies. brayden was finally napping so we just kept going. by the time we were done it was 12:30 so we took a lunch break and then a nap. it was the perfect morning. i love that she can converse, help out and honestly she is already a perfectionist.  while she napped i packaged up everything and then this morning at 4 am we had to drop daddy off at the airport, he is gone on a business trip for the fourth year in a row. on our way home we dropped off cupid’s treat bags for her friends. this was so much fun, i just pray no rain, animals or ants get to the bags before the sun rises. 
 pretzel kisses. 
you’ll need:
 hershey kisses
pretzels
m&m’s 
here’s how:
1. place pretzels on silpat or parchment paper on a baking sheet. 
2. place one kiss on each pretzel. 

3. put the tray in the oven and bake at 275 for 6 minutes. if you decide to use regular hershey kisses they will melt faster. i used hugs and caramel kisses, they don’t squish down like the originals. 

4. payton unwrapped the caramel kisses for the second batch while the hugs were in the oven. 

5. remove from the oven and gently place an m&m into the warm chocolate. 

6. let cool on baking sheet until chocolate has re-set again. 

7. reward your helper by allowing them to eat the first one. 

after the pretzel kisses were all finished she put the few valentines we were mailing into her purse. to those receiving these, sorry they are crumpled. she didn’t have the patience to place them in with ease.

all the goodies spread out ready for assembly.

pirate graphic was found via mer mag

i took candy bags i had leftover from my friends baby shower, placed all the goodies in and closed them up with one staple. the letters are scrapbook letters i used to differetiate for delivery.

that’s it. i hope that all the ones on cupid’s list loved their surprise treat!

happy lovey dovey day to all my readers!

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valentines day candy “machine” {diy}

a few weeks ago i raced through michael’s to purchase the items for a clay pot gumball machine. payton has been potty training and was going about 4-5 times a day so i wanted to make her a special treat jar for her potty rewards. when the three of us were racing through the store because my janky michaels had all their carts in use for stocking the abundance of crap in that store. so just picture me holding b in the carrier, p walking around wanting to pick-up every little thing. me continuously saying: gotta keep going, let’s hurry, it’s for your special candy jar. it worked. but they didn’t have the correct size votive candle holder so our globe is a little smaller then it should be. i knocked the treat jar out during nap time, wish i would’ve just slowed down i just knew that a certain toddler would want to see her pink chocolates in her potty jar as she woke-up so this mommy delivered. 
here’s what you need:
clay pot, clay pot saucer, glass votive holder, acrylic paint, wooden balls, clear spray paint, paintbrush, hot glue, ribbon. 
here’s how:
1. paint your pot, saucer and wooden ball with your acrylic paint. you will need to cover these with a few coats depending on the color you choose. i went with a baby pink so it took about three coats. let this dry. 
2. if you desire a sheen, take your painted saucer, wooden ball and pot outside and spray a thin coat of clear spray paint. let this dry. 
3. on a steady surface, place your pot upside down. apply a good amount of hot glue to the bottom of the pot. place the votive candle holder onto the hot glue. apply a good amount of pressure to ensure the glue/glass adhere to one another. let dry. 
4. take the saucer and turn upside down. place a good amount of hot glue in the center and apply the wooden ball. let dry. 
5. fill the globe with candy, tie decorative ribbon around the glass and decorate however you wish. my brown dots need to be touched up a bit.

and here it sits on our counter top. you can give these for valentines day gifts or use it as a reward jar like i did. i know my little toddler loves having her own special candy jar.