This weekend is supposed to be upwards of 50 degrees in here Jersey!  

Hallelujah!

I don’t remember what it feels like to have weather above 30 lately….

and the sun?

Oh, wait what is that again?

I cannot WAIT to feel the warmth of the sun on my face this weekend!

I have already warned hubby that I will be going for a run both days this weekend-and I cannot.wait for that to happen!

In other news for the first time in almost 8 years we are officially DIAPER FREE!!

That’s right folks after changing and mastering the art of explosive diapers, and changing kids on the go we are home free!

After successfully potty training our 3rd son, Aaron (and hey it was only my 4th attempt with this one!) I am so over the moon happy to announce that he FINALLY GOT IT!

Phew!

He was by far my toughest to potty train and it literally took me listening to everyone saying “He’ll do it when he’s ready.”

I swear my other two wear a walk in the park compared to this one!

Well guess what?

He was finally ready!

I had even begun to joke with girlfriends that I would be sending Aaron off to college with extra long twin sheets and Pull ups!

Thursday night I finally took the plunge!

I became a red-head.

Like full on RED.HEAD.

Here’s my pic to prove it 🙂

And I am still kicking butt and rockin’ with my Rodan and Fields business!

This month my feature products are our ever amazing Lip serum-believe me with such harsh elements this winter my lips have had it…

NOTHING was cutting it-until I tried this!  

Simply divine….I even feel *spoiled* using it at night!

 AND 

our out of this world multi function eye cream!

Under eye bags?

NO more!

Crows feet?

Nope!

Droopy eye lids?

No way!

Seriously-all of this stuff is amazing, go check out my site!

 

I woke up this morning to a text from my office saying that we had our “typical snow day delay.”

Surprisingly I wasn’t phased at all, didn’t even bother looking out the window and re-set my alarm as our boys school had already closed for the day.

When my alarm went off for the second time I had a new text from my job stating due to the State of Emergency we would be closed for the day.

Hooray!

I’ve been there 4 years and this has never happened 🙂

Needless to say I was one happy momma!

I continued to lay in bed a little while longer snuggled up next to our 3 year old, my husband sleeping on the other side of him and did I mention our 5 year old and 7 year old sleeping on the floor of our room?

No?  I didn’t mention that?

Oh yeah-THAT!

That is for another post, another time!

Anywho after enjoying another hour or so in bed talking, laughing and giggling with Aaron he decided he was ready to use the potty (he’s FINALLY fully potty trained-thank the good Lord!), and then we casually made our way downstairs.

I enjoyed a cup of coffee while watching the news and catching up on some of my favorite morning shows and the rest of my sons, and husband made their way downstairs when they were good and ready as well.

The next few hours were filled with relaxing on the couch, breakfast, more coffee, dance parties, and me finally getting around to transferring my 2,000+ pictures from my phone to my computer!

Eventually I snuck upstairs and started gathering everyones essentials to go outside and play in the snow.

Hat, gloves, boots, snow bibs for the boys, sweatshirts, socks…you get the picture.

Everyone was dressed and we headed outside with only a few minor, “I don’t want to wear that hat” or “does anyone need to use the bathroom before I zip you up completely’s?”

There’s just something about the outdoors when it snows.

Something so peaceful and quiet.

Until my 3 boys go outside that is!

The first rule of going outside to play in the snow is always the same….

no throwing snow in anyone’s face.

And what happens as.soon.as we proceed to step outside?

Someone gets SMACKED in the face with a snowball!

Ayyyyyyye!  

That’s just life with 3 boys!

We stayed outside longer than I thought we were going to make it.

My husband cleaned off both of our cars while the boys tried to make a snowman (the snow was a little too soft and powdery to actually shape or form into anything), then we headed across the street to a park where the boys had a fun time rolling down a hill!

We came back home, got everyone undressed, had lunch and then it was time for my husband to go to work 😦

Then the most amazing thing happened….

2 out of our 3 kids were so exhausted from playing in the snow that they laid down on the couch and took a nap!

And I was so exhausted that I let them…even though it was 4pm!  

It was nice, I got to have some much needed, uninterrupted quiet time with my oldest son.

He showed me some of the latest games on his Ipad and we watched a movie!

Today was just a really, really good day.

A day where I didn’t have to threaten to take away privileges, or clean up our living room more than 4 times, or feel overwhelmed.

A day where we kind of threw the schedules out of the window, and just went with whatever happened!

Today was a great day!

I’ve spent far too many years letting others put me and my thoughts down.

I’ve let too many people and conversations make me feel like I am not enough.

Not good enough, smart enough, worthy enough.

This is something that started way before motherhood and I feel like the past 8 years of mothering have amplified it.

There is such a constant struggle between us mothers.

A competition of sorts.

Who’s kid has the nicest toys, who just took the most lavish vacation, the biggest house, the nicest clothes, I mean really where does it end?

And please remind me how is that being productive?

I thought we were supposed to build one another up?

Help each other through all those rough patches and let one another know there is a light at the end, and that we will get through this.

Whatever THIS may be.

Well today I’m putting an end to inferiority.  

I will no longer let others or myself, make me feel inferior.

Even if this is a journey I am on alone I know it is a journey I must take.

I don’t care how long, how tiring, or how dirty of a road this is.

It has got to be done.

I’ve got to respectfully stand up for myself.

I have to know deep down that I.am.worth.it

Otherwise what kind of an example am I setting for my children? 

What kind of a legacy will I leave for them?

More than anything I want them to know that life is meant to be lived.

There is always going to be naysayers.

But at the end if the day it’s how you show those naysayers what you are really made of that means the most.

It is how you handle and present yourself to all those who told you you couldn’t, or wouldn’t make it.

It’s time to show them that I am enough!

I am enough. 

As a family of five life is usually crazy….like ALL the time!

Life is crazy and busy and CRAZY BUSY!!

Here’s a little update on what we’ve been busy doing!

Angel started basketball season and I just love his Upwards league.  It’s  a faith based league which allows us to keep our morals and values close to us and our children while allowing them to enjoy their sports.

Ayden won Star Student at his school and the timing could not have been better!

We had 3 snowstorms in 3 weeks here in Jersey-they kids are loving all the “snow days” but I have to admit it is driving this momma crazy! In fact, as I type it is snowing yet AGAIN!!

I started my very first Good Morning Girls bible study and man is this study rocking me in ways I never knew possible! It has opened my heart and eyes beyond anything I could have ever imagined!

I had a birthday 🙂

My Rodan and Fields business has really been booming, and for that I am so, so thankful!

Need help with your skin?  I’m your gal for that!

We’ve had so much time spent in the house lately that we became desperate and as you know….desperate times call for desperate measures -like Chuck E. Cheese! #dontjudgeme  We decided to have a family day and take our boys to see the new Lego movie and let them burn off some of their energy at Chuck E Cheese!  The boys loved it….I may have been having a panic attack THE ENTIRE TIME!

That’s it for us…what have you been up to lately?

I have decided to dive into my first ever Good Morning Girls Bible Study!

Oh this is what my little heart of hearts need this season.

I haven’t even begun, but I already feel refreshed.

As thought this is exactly where I am supposed to be at this point in time.

For the first time in long time I feel relaxed and at ease.

A calmness has come over me that I have not felt in quite some time.

I am at peace.

This study is called Intentionally Focused.

That is definetly what I need more of in my life.

Being intentional?

Yes please.

Rearranging my focus?

I’ll take some of that!

I want to make sure that I am being intentional in every aspect of my life and that my first and foremost focus is God.

It is a perfect match.

I want to be able to stand confident that I am weaving Him and His way into my life not just here and there but rather every.single.day.

I want to make sure that each and every day I am making my focus Him rather than earlthy people, possesions, and things.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated along the way!

If you’re participating in the bible study, please feel free to leave a comment letting me know-perhaps we can encourage one another along our journey:)

Have you ever rushed into something?

Jumped to a conclusion you soon regretted?

Didn’t jump at an opportunity that presented itself and  immediately realized it was the wrong choice?

I’ve been there…

In fact, I think we’ve all been there at some point.

This past year I really wanted to start making very carefully thought out decisions.

I was tired of making decisions on a whim and rushing into things.

So I made the conscious choice that before any decision was made I would pray about it.

I prayed over different choices and decisions for me and our family.

Whether is was a major investment, a huge life change, or a small decision-I’ve prayed over them all.

Before any final decision was made I took the time to really think over and pray over what was bothering me or what my options were.

And do you know what happned?

For the first time in a long time I’ve been really, really happy with the decisions I’ve made lately.

If I felt a nudging to do something-I did it.

If I felt a nudging to not do something-I didn’t do it.

Simple as that!

I wanted to fill you guys in on what I’ve been up to lately.  

For quite a few months now I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to generate more income for our family of 5.

I weighed my option of signing onto a company like Avon but knew I didn’t want to have to sell 50 tubes of lipgloss for a mere $25.

I also thought about a few at home parties company  but again after thinking about it I knew I didn’t really have much “extra” time each week, and I certainly didn’t want to take away any time from my family.

***************************

 

Then it was almost like a tiny little miracle happened!

Talk about perfect timing! 

I received an email from my good friend Hanna who was so, so eager to let me know about this amazing business adventure she had just embarked on with Rodan + Fields. 

A little background on me if you are just tuning in for the first time!

I’m an Insurance Agent by trade. 

 I’m also a wife and busy mom of three boys who works full time! 

 When I found out about Rodan and Fields I was looking for an oppourtunity to bring extra income to our family. 

 I wanted to give my family that extra boost of income to make life just a little more comfortable and carefree. 

 I knew I didn’t want anything more than part time hours, and that I didn’t want to sacrifice my “family time” anymore than I already was by working a full time job. 

 My friend, Hanna, recently contacted me about this amazing business she had just become a part of.  

I was impressed that Hanna was  able to stay home from her job as a critical care nurse with her 3 small children, while earning a steady income, and that she is able to set her own hours as well as the pace of her own success.

I have already been seen first hand just how BIG of a blessing this business is for our family!

I am blessed to say that last month thanks to R +F we had all the money we needed to pay down some bills, buy some last minute Christmas presents, and even enjoy a date night!

All of this was courtesy of Rodan + Fields 🙂

AND all of this was on 2 week’s worth of pay!

I chose to be a part of this fantastic company because I knew the possibilities and opportunities were endless.  I knew that this company, myself, and the team I am building have the ability for unlimited success!!!

Contact me if you’d like to hear more about the business or if you are interested in our clinical skin care products!

As I sat down last night-barely making it to midnight-whilst reading through everyone’s resolutions I must say I felt a bit left out.

For the first year I had absolutely no desire to sit down and type out my “word” or my hopes for this New Year.

I tried!  I really did.

I willed my self as hard as I could to get in the New Year resolution spirit but just couldn’t.

Hold the phone!!!

What the heck?

Is there something wrong with me?

Who doesn’t have resolutions?

Who doesn’t want to improve?

So I went to bed feeling a little bit let down-in myself.

Maybe I had reached that age where New Year’s resolutions were out…

Then this morning it hit me.

I have all of that.

I have goals, dreams, passions, and plans.

And you better BET I am going to put them into action!

 I get the whole putting it out there for accountability thing-I really do, but I also know the flip side of NOT accomplishing or living out those resolutions to the fullest.

Those feelings of failure, defeat, and struggle.

THAT is what I don’t want to get!

Aren’t those the opposite feelings of why we made our resolutions in the first place?

That is what I am avoiding!

So that is my resolution this year:

Accountability?

Of course!  

Hard work?

You bet!

Turning my dreams for myself and my family into a reality?

ABSOLUTELY!

But nothing written down, nothing in stone so that if I happen to change my mind, or need to head in a different direction, or change paths I can do that without feeling guilty!

It’s a completely freeing feeling and I encourage you to do the same!

As I sit down and reflect on all that our family has been through this past year I am so, so thankful.

Our hands and our hearts are full.

SO FULL!

As I sit here on our new couch-our first large purchase-EVER- looking at our glowing Christmas tree my eyes well up with tears because I am so incredibly thankful.

It’s crazy really that something as simple as a couch can make one so happy!

I’m a simple creature I guess 🙂
I’m thankful that God has blessed me with this life.
This sometimes overwhelming, crazy, loud, chaotic, insane life that at the same time is incredibly fulfilling, filled with grace and forgiveness.
A life that I wouldn’t trade for any other spot in the world.
I know how tough this life can be, and I know how much it can break you down and how much you may NOT want to get back up when it does beat you down…
but that is not who I am.
I have always been a fighter!
I have always been one to make my own path when one didn’t exist, or when I was told it was impossible.
One thing I know for sure from this past year:
I will do whatever it takes, however I need to, to provide the very best for my family.
Nothing is more important to me than family!
I want my children to grow up humbly.
I want my children to know the meaning of love, of sacrifice, and of fun!
I don’t want them to grow up too early like I had to.
I want them to enjoy their childhood-for all that it is worth!
I want them to make messes-so together we can clean them up.
I want them to get in trouble and learn lessons so we can instill good traits in them
I want them to make bad choices-so they feel the difference of making great decisions.
I want the BEST for them!

2013 held a lot for our family:

~I started back to work full time in the office 

~We officially have a Kindergartner and a 2nd grader-YIKES!

~We have a 3 year old who refuses to potty train.

~All 3 of our boys are really really into Wrestling.  I’m talking they live, eat, and breath WWE.

~I launched my business as an independent Consultant with Rodan + Fields

~I started running

~I lost 40 pounds

~I became a soccer mom

~ I passed my P&C Insurance exam

~I attended my first blogger conference #jerseylove

~Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect

~Favorite songs:  Work B*tch by Britney Spears and Roar by Katy Perry

~ We officially have a 3,5, and 7 year old

Well I guess that about wraps up our year!  

We’re definitely looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us! 

Disclaimer: this is a sponsored post but as always, all opinions are my own.



Yesterday my family and I had the pleasure of attending Winter Wonderland located at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ.

Winter Wonderland runs November 29th 2013- January 1st 2014.

Winter Wonderland consists of Breakfast with Santa, a magical Christmas train ride, a carousel ride, story time with Mrs. Claus, and and amazing shopping village certain to fulfill all of those Christmas wishes!

Breakfast with Santa runs Saturdays November 29th 2013- December 21, 2013 with 2 seating times offered:

The first seating is at 8:30 am and the second at 10:30 am.

They also encourage you to make reservations for Breakfast with Santa as well by calling 609-884-8422.

I can honestly say this was my first time ever at Congress Hall and certainly my first time partaking in their Breakfast with Santa event!

Congress Hall certainly turned up all the magic for this event!

From the moment we arrived you could tell they completely transformed the grounds into a true Winter Wonderland complete with a carousel, Santa’s workshop where Mrs. Claus read to children for story time, a beyond huge Christmas Tree, and even an adorable little train that took you around the grounds of Congress Hall.

We started our day off  enjoying breakfast with Santa and as we entered Congress Hall’s Ballroom it surely did not disappoint!

The teal colored walls, extravagant chandeliers, and black and white checkered ballroom floor were an amazing backdrop for the enormous poinsettia Christmas tree fixed in the center of the room where Santa himself was seated!

Breakfast was out of this world delicious and the fact that it was a buffet really gave my children the oppurtunity to eat whatever suited their fancy that morning.

They had options of  oatmeal, cereal, eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, and everything in between!

After we finished breakfast we headed to the front of the room to meet the big guy himself!

SANTA!!!

I can honestly say for me as a mom, this was the highlight of my day!

Congress Hall had one of the nicest, most gentle, down to earth Santa’s I have ever met- he was even funny too!

In fact, he was able to get our 5 year old-for the first time EVER-to whisper into his ear what he wanted to Christmas!

Our 5 year old has never even gotten close enough to Santa to tell him what he wanted to Christmas!

Plus we were able to snap a quick picture with all of our children in it-and that is priceless!

Needless to say that experience in itself made the trip completely worthwhile!

After we met Santa we bundled up and headed out doors to enjoy the outside entertainment.  First up was the train!

We all piled into the train (the caboose of course) and were off for a ride.  

It was a pretty smooth 5 minute ride, and my boys were just over the moon to be riding on a train!

They could not contain their excitement!

After the train ride, we headed over to the carousel where our older boys were able to go for a little merry go round ride and enjoy themselves.  

After the Carousel we headed off to Story time with Mrs. Claus- which came in a close second for my day’s favorite activity, as well as my children!

Just as I can not say enough for the Santa Claus that is inside Congress Hall-I had the same feelings about Mrs. Claus.

The Mrs. Claus at Congress Hall just had such a cheery, upbeat disposition to her-and she’s surely got an answer for every question the children asked her!

Her enthusiasm, encouragement, and the way she prodded each child to join in during story time was just magical for our family!

You could literally see the sparkle in all of the children’s eyes that were gathered around her for 

Story time.

Once story time was over, our oldest son was able to write a letter to Santa which was addressed to the North Pole and placed it in the “Santa Mail” special mail box making sure it would reach the North Pole-he was so excited!

We certainly were lucky to experience such a magical morning this Holiday Season thanks to Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ.  I highly encourage you to  check it out with your spouse or family as well as it is an event that does not disappoint!  As we left my kids immediately asking if we could go back the following weekend because they had such a great time!

Enjoy some pictures below!