When we were on the search for a house last year, one of our top priorities was to have a nice big yard. I have dreamed of having a vegetable garden for years now. I’ve never had much of a green thumb though. So when Miracle-Gro approached me to be part of their Gro Project, I jumped at the chance to make my garden a reality. I wanted to prove anyone could get out there, enjoy the outdoors and grow a little something! Now, since I am a newbie to all this I decided to try out a little container garden first instead of jumping head first into a big ol’ garden. I wanted it to be really fun, manageable, and a little more personal than just planting in some store bought containers.

Here are the steps to creating your very own container garden…

^^I bought this big tub (well feeding trough) at the Tractor & Supply Store. The other round container is just from Home Goods.

^^Create a stencil and hand paint any kind of pattern you want on your tub. I went with some black triangles. I painted 2 coats and then sealed it so it wouldn’t come off.

^^With the round tub I taped it up and spray painted the bottom a neon pink.

^^Since they aren’t meant for gardens I needed to drill holes in each of the containers so that I could create drainage for the plants. You can fill the bottom of your containers with recycling to take up sq. footage letting you to use less soil and making them not so heavy in case you want to move them.

^^Planning everything out.

^^I only planted a few vegetables this year to test the waters, but planted quite a few herbs.

Visit Miracle-Gro on Facebook and Pinterest for some other great ideas and products for getting out there and growing something!

This post was sponsored by Miracle-Gro. All opinions and diy are my own.
We choose to work with specific sponsors when it’s a natural fit in an effort to raise money for our monthly charity/service projects. Thanks for supporting that!

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I wanted to write some deep, well thought out post on being a Mom for Mother’s Day but over and over I’ve been drawing a blank. I just keep coming back to the idea of being grateful. I am just so grateful to be a Mom. What a blessing it has been to my life. It has stretched me in ways that have been joyous and painful all at the same time. I feel like Motherhood really brings out your true self. I wish I could say that it was always my best self, but it prunes you. It brings to light the areas you struggle with (hello patience!) and forces you to work it out. To get better. To take that deep breath and fight to be a better example for your children. It is the toughest, hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had and for that I am grateful.

I also want to say a big huge THANK YOU to all you wonderful Mom’s out there (and non Moms too!). Your comments, tweets, emails, etc.. throughout the year always mean the world to me. I am honored to be walking this road with you all. You daily inspire and encourage me to be a better Mama.

Our Mother’s Day was spent all together as a family going to church, out to lunch, and a wonderful walk through a sculpture garden/Museum. So happy to spend it with my own Mom, Kev, Rowan and Finley…

p.s. Although spray sunscreen is God’s gift to Mom’s, it is quite greasy. Add that to a 95 degree day and Rowan’s hair takes on a life of it’s own. I could not stop laughing about her crazy do in these pictures.

and my skirt is from the LOFT

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There is something so wonderful about bringing your kid to Disney. Yes, it’s hot, crowded and ridiculously expensive (ever seen the Jim Gaffigan skit?) but I have to say, none of that compares to seeing your kids face light up over it’s pure magic. I pumped for like 2 weeks just to get enough milk so that we could leave little Miss Finley home with my Mom and just take Rowan. It would have been nice to have her with us but let’s face it, a baby at Disney is not the easiest. It was such a special day to give Rowan. Mommy and Daddy all to herself! She was in heaven. We brought her last year at a little over a year and half years old and it was good, but now at a little over two and half years old it was even better! I think this was the perfect age for her. Still free, but at an age to totally enjoy it all!

I had to bring my pump to pump during the day and let’s just say that was an experience I hope I quickly forget. Yikes. Not my most elegant moment. I only had an electric pump with me so I had to head to the Baby Care Center to find outlets. The “nursing rooms” at Disney are a little scary. If Finley was with us I would not have been nursing her in that dingy closet of a room.

NURSING MOMS TIP: Head to the Hall of Presidents. It is a long show, clean, dark and air conditioned.

Anyway, as I have mentioned before Rowan is obsessed with Princesses. I think her mind just about exploded from getting to meet them all. It was so hard not to get all choked up watching her get so excited over everything. I am going to say her favorite moment of the day though was getting to meet Minnie Mouse though. What an awesome day we got to have all together. One we will not be forgetting anytime soon.

We made a short little video of our day at Disney…

p.s Rowan was like a cm too short to go on Thunder Mountain. We were so bummed but umm how is she almost 40in? Such a big girl!

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1. Rowan is a little fish. I think she could stay in the water all day long. Ocean, pool doesn’t matter. As long as she is swimming she is in heaven.

2. Finley took her first boat ride today. The white noise of the wind, waves and motors put her right to sleep. Can you blame her though? Being on a boat is one of the most relaxing things to me. I think it’s safe to say I am my happiest when I’m on a boat. I’m now obsessed with the idea of getting a pontoon boat.

3. Kev is here!!! It was a long week away from him but he arrived on Thursday and now we start are 2 weeks here in FL together. Rowan and him had just about the sweetest little reunion at the airport. Can you hear her giggling as she runs to him?

4. Kev and I went running last night together after the kids were in bed (my mom was here to watch the girls) and it was awesome to actually get out there together and not be pushing a stroller. Although, I will admit I dragged my feet at first. So tired!

5. We bought Rowan a kite today and she was just the cutest as we went to the beach to fly it. She kept saying “Thank you daddy for buying this kite for me”. Seeing her running down the beach with kite flying over head brought one of those big ol’ mama lumps to my throat for sure.

6. Outdoor showers are the bomb diggity.

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Lately I’ve been feeling sort of at a loss as to where to shop. I can’t always justify the price at j.crew/madewell (even though I’d love too) and well, Gap bottoms don’t really fit me all that well. The more I go into Forever 21, the more I can’t stand anything in there. I don’t have a 14 year old body and definitely I don’t want shorts or jeans that show any part of my butt. Ha! It is tough finding pieces that are still younger, but not too young. Do you agree? My style over the past 2 years has become way more relaxed, more casual and much more functional. Don’t get me wrong. I see my dear Kendi’s posts everyday (so gorgeous!) and wish I had somewhere to where cute dresses and heels, oh the heels! but that is just not my life. And you know what? I am ok with that. Anyway, long story short, I went to the LOFT the other day and hit my jackpot. Some stuff there I will agree, is a little old lady like for me but, the fit of there shorts and the length of their skirts is perfect. Plus, everything was on sale! I walked out of there with like 4 pairs of shorts, 2 skirts and 2 shirts for a steal.

and just so you know… linen, drawstring shorts are like wearing pjs. So awesome!

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Eyelet Top: Old Navy
Shorts: LOFT
Sunglasses: Target
Kork-Ease Sandals (my favorite!): Nordstroms
Striped Tote: c/o Massi (so perfect for summer!)

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I was laughing the other night with a friend over the differences between having your first and second kid. It’s so funny how much more relaxed you become. I can only imagine how you feel with each subsequent kid. I think I was already pretty easy going with Rowan, so poor little Finley, no special treatment for her. Ha! Still the same amount of love though!

I thought it would be funny to list out some of the major differences between kid one and kid two…

1. I only took 1 pregnancy test. With Rowan we went back to the store twice that very night. I peed on like 6 sticks with her. With Finley I took 1 and was done. I just knew.

2. I did not read a million books. In fact I didn’t even open one. With Rowan, I read every weekly update/report there was on the baby’s progression. With Finley I peaked on Baby Center every so often but that’s it.

3. I hardly remembered how far along I was until the very end, and by then you for sure know every day closer you are to getting that baby out!. Those mid 20′s weeks all seemed to blur together.

4. I was way less cautious about everything having to do with being pregnant. I was smart of course, but I realized you didn’t have to be a crazy person. I ate things off “that list” with moderation. I went in hot tubs (kept not too hot and not for too long) and I drank a wee bit of wine towards the end too.

5. I did not prewash all the baby clothes before she was born.

6. We didn’t buy anything new for Finley except we did get a new swing. And of course I couldn’t help but buy some new clothes. Any excuse right? With Rowan I thought we needed everything and we needed it right then. Guess what? Babies don’t need a whole heck of a lot.

7. Once Finley was here, there was no addiction to remembering the number or pee/poops she had or number of feedings and how long ago. I had like 4 apps that basically all did the same thing with Rowan. We’ve been going with the flow with Finley. Following her lead.

8. We let her sleep right in bed with us. No cosleeper. And I wasn’t terrified of rolling on her or her being smothered in blankets and oooh I slept good! The fear they instill in new parents- good golly! I remember thinking oh my gosh! If I fall asleep in bed with Rowan in my arms she is going to die.

9. We moved Finley to her crib, in her own room way faster than with Rowan. We all felt ready way sooner. And guess what? We let Finley sleep on her belly. Gasp! With a blanket. Double gasp!

10. I didn’t freak when Rowan tried to feed her a chocolate popsicle.

11. Because Finley was gaining weight just fine, I never woke her up to eat just because 3 hours had passed.

12. After 6 weeks I stopped referring to Finley by how many weeks she was when someone asked. We always just say something like “she’s almost (insert number) months”. With Rowan we milked that weeks thing way too long.

13. Not pushing/dying for the next milestone. With Rowan I was always just so excited for the next phase. Always buying the next new thing she might need before she even needed it. Now I realize just how fast they grow up. I know each new stage will come so I better enjoy the one we are in now before it’s gone.

14. I’ve taken way, way more pictures of Finley (sounds absurd because we have a lot of pictures of Rowan) but looking back I wish I had more of little baby Rowan. I’m trying to capture all the sweet moments with Finley.

15. This one is my very, very favorite! With Rowan I wasn’t always confident when someone disagreed with my parenting choice. It would make me feel judged, upset and that I wasn’t a good Mom. It’s taken a while but now no matter what mean or catty thing someone has to say about my choices I can laugh and shrug it off. I will gladly stand up for myself and for friends over decisions made. I love that we all parent differently. I wish we would be more kind to each other as mothers. I am always learning and I do make mistakes, but I do always try to make the best decision for our family. I know that, Kev knows that and at the end of the day that’s all that really matters.

What were the differences for you between your first and second (or third, forth, & fifth)…

Finley’s headband is of course from our favorite shop… Little Hip Squeaks!

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Over the past 4 months I have decided that it just isn’t worth wearing items of clothing that make nursing hard or awkward. Loose fitting tops are the way to go. Makes life so much easier. This spring I have stocked up on items that I can wear, feel put together in and still nurse with ease. Love this casual and cool look!

Other favorites from the past week…
1. Wouldn’t this outfit be so cute? These shorts, this shirt, and these sandals? Summer!!

2. What a sweet set of photos! Love this little family so very much!

3. Love these rugs from UO. I am on a major hunt for great rugs. This one, this one and this one are so pretty!

4. Isn’t Katie just the sweetest? Thanks my dear for the encouragement!

5. This necklace is so freakin’ pretty. Love the pastel colors!

6. Pretty in love with dropped waist dresses at the moment.

7. Love this patterned skirt. How perfect would it be paired with brightly colored tank tops for summer?

8. This post was just about the sweetest thing ever!

9. Obsessed with sandals lately. These 3 pairs are amazing! 1 | 2 | 3

10. Oooh this outfit! Can I have somewhere to where this please!

11. In case you haven’t noticed on instagram yet… We are slightly obsessed with this etsy shop.

12. A favorite outfit from Julie for sure! So pretty inside and out!

13. I am right there with your sweet Momma! Losing baby weight is no joke!

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Since we are on vacation for the next little while, I decided to come up with a quick and easy way to look back and remember our time here. We are going to call it “6 Pictures, 6 Things”. I think the title explains it all…

April 27th 2013:

1. Rowan got taken out by a wave yesterday. My sister was standing right there and just grabbed her quick but I think it traumatized Rowan (maybe my sister too). Today as we were sitting on the couch Rowan said “I don’t like the ocean because it is scary.” Ha! Poor Girl.

2. Rowan has been obsessed with singing the B-I-B-L-E song since we got here. She seriously sings it for like 20 mins straight. The song only has one verse!

3. Sitting in the sun at the beach with my girls, my Mom and my Sister is pretty dang awesome.

4. Rowan calling my cousins dog “FRANKS” when her real name is Frankie

5. Finley rolled over for the first time!

6. Being reminded daily how blessed I feel and how truly in love I am with my family.

For those that might ask:
Finley’s beach hat: Gap
Rowan’s Rash guard set: Oshkosh
Rowan’s Saltwater Sandals: Nordstrom

stay tuned for more 6 Pictures, 6 Things…

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Well, we left for FL yesterday. I had been a little apprehensive about flying with both kiddos but all in all it went pretty smooth. Granted, we didn’t fly very far away, but we did have a decent layover with lots of waiting around. I wrote a post last year about flying with toddlers and I still stand behind all the things I listed. Our carry on was packed with just about the same kinds of things. This time we had a few more game like toys now that Rowan is older. She loves matching games. If there is one tip I would like to add it’s this…

Never. I mean NEVER open or help your kid open any new game, snack, etc… on the plane untill they are about to cry from not being able to do it themselves. Ha! Letting them try to do it themselves buys you about 5-10 mins of time for each new item. On a plane ride that is huge.

I think the biggest thing is anticipating their every need and move. Being one step a head of them helps stop meltdowns before they happen. It’s exhausting being nonstop, over the top excited and engaged to keep their attention on that plane ride. If you have a layover, really let them run wild! Get those wiggles out. I will say that nursing is like the biggest blessing for flying with a baby. I let Finley nurse way longer than I usually do just to keep her content, quiet and help with the ear pressure as we took off and landed.

Kev will be joining us down here next week and we just can’t wait. We have only been away from him for a day and we already miss him like crazy.

What are your favorite travel tips?

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Do you think it’s possible for someone to say “I hate baby animals?” I mean it’s such an absurd statement. I maybe get being indifferent, but can you even imagine someone not loving baby animals? I even like saying “baby animals”. One of my favorite things about Spring is not only the warmer weather but that the baby animals make an appearance at the Hancock Shaker Village out in the Berkshires. We headed out to visit those adorable animals on Sunday to celebrate my Mom’s birthday. Rowan was in heaven. I have said it before but one of my most favorite things about being a parent is experiencing new things with them. I was reading up a little bit on the book The Child Whisperer and Rowan is most definitely the “Fun Loving Child”. It gives me no greater joy then to let her be free, to run wild, to make a special say for her and to be there right in the midst of the adventure holding her hand. This girl loves adventures…

Update: As I was typing this I actually asked my sister if she thought anyone out there has said “I hate baby animals?” She laughed and then told me she actually said those words the other day. Have I mentioned that my sister is April Ludgate? Oh I love her.

Also, have you seen this post over on Small Fry Blog about activities to do with your kids for each personality type The Child Whisperer talks about? Love it!

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