Hello all!

First day of Spring has arrived for the 2016 year (yes, I know, it was yesterday).  

Here in the Pacific NW it was pouring down rain.  However, Saturday was B-E-A-uuuutiful sunshiny!

Didn't do anything too exciting to speak of this weekend, but it did get me thinking about all things purple.  Light purple/lavender/lilac to be exact.  

If you didn't know, purple is my favorite color of all time.  

Not the red tint, but the blue tint of purple.

I like cool colors.

For today, I've decided to dedicate a post about purple! 

[I love me some purple- hair, nails, flowers, room themes, outfits, accessories, makeup...all of it!]

[Next nail color I get will be a light purple of some kind.  I'm a huge fan of Essie, but also like OPI.  I've always been a fan of purple eyeshadow for using in the outter corners of my eyes]

      

[Because it makes complete sense to have mommy-daughter matching Chucks]

     

[How about that North Face for the little ones?!]

      

[I'm definitely on the hunt for a pair of those lavender pants this season.  I think they are so adorable and Springy!]

   

[I just love statement necklaces - adds a pop of color to any kind of outfit!]

   

[If I had enough guts, I'd so do this with my hair!!!  I went purple underneath once - loved it!]

      

[My home...one day]

[Naturally...by Anthropologie #swoon]

And there you have it - all things purple and Springy for me!  I absolutely love the color - so calming!

Hope everyone has a wonderful start to their week!  Happy Spring!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston

**All images pulled from Pinterest.  I take NO credit for any of these photos. I just admire from afar.

What A True Oregonian Understands

Being from the Pacific NW [Oregon to be exact] there are things Oregonian's totally get and understand.

Here are [my] top things about being from Oregon.

[1] It rains. A lot. In which case, you probably own several pairs of stylish rain boots - some even designer.  You may even have matching umbrellas [yes, I used the plural meaning - meaning multiple umbrellas you may own].

Weekending: Accomplishing the list

HELLLLOOOOO FRIENDS!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I'll be linking up Biana over at B Loved Boston.
[Head over and link up too! It'll be one big link party.]

One word sums up my weekend: Productive.

I got a ton of stuff done.

Last Monday morning I woke up after an emotional and draining weekend with a different kind of feeling.  A feeling of - it's about me and McKenna, getting things done, and getting life on a different [better] track.

And this last week was just that - no cell phone in the evening [I've grown to hate talking on the phone now...even texting can annoy me, but at least I can pick and choose when I want to respond. Sounds bad huh?!  Eh, I need some away time from electronics], no outside distractions in the evenings while doing the evening routine with the little one, cleaner eating habits, and figuring out a routine that works best for the little and I.

Friday I had started a list of things I needed to accomplish over the weekend.
Things I had been wanting and needing to get done for quite some time.
[Although my list of 'to-dos' never truly end, these have been weighing heavy on my shoulder - small tasks, seem to take a backseat on the day to day life, but not this weekend]

I got most everything completed this weekend that I've been needing/wanting to accomplish on the list...except a few.

And it feels amazing!

I feel like I can think more clearer, get more things done and now am ready for the next weekend of challenges: figuring out what I want in life, having some more 'me time' and getting my study on for the next adventure in life.

Do you ever just feel that your 'happiness tank' isn't full?
Or even half full?
Yeah, I've been feeling that way for a long time now...which is why I've decided to take the bull by the horns and concentrate on my little and I for a little bit.
#TimeForChange

The weekend brought us all kinds of weather - sunshine, clouds, rain, down pours, hail, thunder and lightening...just about everything except snow and ice.  

#TypicalOregonWeather

The newest obsession: mom's new umbrella.  Because it's that cool to carry an umbrella in the rain and leave mom without an umbrella.

#TheLittleThings

Oh, and remember how I was working on Phase 1 of the South Beach?
So that went very well all week, until Saturday when a Baja Fresh black bean/cheese burrito was in order.  Since then I haven't had any sweets.  It's hard to complete this kind of detox when your the only one who's being super strict on foods in the house.
But it's a good kick start for me!
#YahMe

Move over world...I've got my sassy pants on!  There's no stopping me now!

Horrible selfie, but this is what I felt like Sunday afternoon after getting [most] everything accomplished this weekend!  

#DayOldMakeup

#DayOldHair

[I did shower though]

However, what you don't see is the venti Starbucks on the coffee table.

#MotivationAtItsFinest

Here's to an awesome week!  I've got my list going for the next weekend to come of things to get accomplished!

#ImOnFire

What are some things you do to make your happiness tank full?

How was your weekend? 

Share details below - I'd love to hear your ideas and stories from the weekend! 

Wednesday....What's Up?

What I'm excited for:

Last week I was asked if I wanted to attend some trade shows for work...which meant travel. Um...yes!  Count me in! I'm super excited about the (very soon) upcoming work travel scheduled.

Tacoma, WA.

Long Beach, CA.

Eugene, OR.

All West coast travels.

What I'm wearing:

Jeans. Maternity tank with built in bra. Sweatshirt. White crew socks. Latte in hand.

No makeup. Although I did straighten my hair #score

I'm a hot mess right now.  

Don't judge.

Woke up not feeling too hot, took the child to the babysitters, and am now working from home.

Amen for working from home.

I feel like death warmed over.

#HotCoffeePlease

What I'm watching:

As of now, I've been catching up on The Bachelor, Younger, Teen Mom OG.

I just love this show!

Catelynn and Tyler in Hawaii?  #jealous

And how are their kids now turning 7!?  I mean, 7!  Gees.

Oh...and Reba.

Does anyone else watch Re

ba?  

That show cracks me up!

Barbara Jean is the best.

If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest watching an episode or 3.

What I'm reading:

I hate to admit this, but I'm still reading the same book I've been reading for a few months now.

With my little one, it's hard to find "quiet" time around here.

So, occasionally, I'll flip through Pinterest late at night or read some of my favorite blogs.

That's the extent of my reading right now...since that's what time allows.

What I'm dreading:

I'm really, really dreading this cold I feel coming on.  

Woke up this morning with a sore throat.

Picked up some more EmergenC.

I feel super exhausted.

Hopefully, I'll be able to shake this tiredness and sore throat square in the butt soon! 

This is my favorite flavor in EmergenC. I mix with about 3-4 ounces of water, stir with a spoon, let fizz for about 30 seconds...and then chug.

Tastes way better than with 8 ounces of water.

Just saying...

What we're eating:

Lately, a lot of roasted veggies.

Brussel sprouts.

Carrots.

Butternut squash.

Tossed with a little olive oil, sprinkled with salt/pepper (or any other kind of seasoning).

Bake in oven.

BAM. Healthy side dish!

What I'm listening to:

As I type this right this very second...I am listening to "When I Come Around" by Green Day.

Taking it back to the 90's - yo!

I usually put iHeart radio on during the work day...either to my Sum41, Kesha, or Weezer station.

What we've been up to:

Birthdays. Birthdays. & Crafts.

Seriously, my sister, mine and my daughter's birthdays all fall within a 30 day span after the holidays.

And, lately, my aunt has been coming over to have me help her assemble 100+ invitations for an event she's part of. 

(the crafty side lives!)

What I'm annoyed by:

The fact that my child still doesn't sleep through the night.

That's a tough one for me, especially because I require about 8-10 hours of sleep a night.

Which, does not and has not happened in several years.

It's a slow adjustment, but man...it's tough!

#patience

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

True Confessions of A Mom

Oh Tuesday...how I love you!

My friend (& old co-worker) Jess @ Jessica's Little Bits of Joy had linked up with Momfessionals and I thought, why the heck not!

Being a mom is great and all, but let's me honest here mom's...we all have little things that slide when it comes to our own kids. I have a ton, I'm sure...actually I know I do.

Being a first time mom, I had a great idea of how I was going to parent and exactly how my kid was going to act.

Isn't that farthest from the truth. I laugh now looking back at my thinking...but hey, I was totally optimistic!

Here are my confessional mom-moments:

COATS

I laugh and cringe at the same time on this subject.  I know many moms out there will fight with their kids to wear their coats while others simply could care less.  I'm the one who could care less.  I mean, don't get me wrong here, I care that my child is warm and stays dry from this NW rain, but as we are shuffling out the door in the mornings...I don't care to have a struggle and full on meltdown with the issue.  I simply throw the coat in the diaper bag.  My child however, just loves the rain. (She is a true NW child).  I figure, eventually, she'll learn that it's much colder without the coat and *gasp* want to wear it outside.

Obviously, it was her idea to wear a coat this time. (go figure) #fashionstatement

MATERNITY JEANS

Even though I haven't been pregnant for almost 2 years now, I do have 1 pair of designer denim that I absolutely love and can't get rid of them!  Despite the fact that they have the elastic band...they are amazing designer denim (with a nice elastic band to make my stomach appear much slimmer). #thankyouverymuchjeans

LATE-NIGHT COUCH SURFER

This is another struggle I tend not to fight. It's been decided: my child is a night owl and does not require that much sleep.  Bedtime around here is usually 10. Sucky. And for some odd reason, she wakes up in the middle of the night to go sleep on the couch. Whatever. It's a phase, right? (one could only hope)

CLEAN CAR

Wanna know my secret for cleaning up the crushed up goldfish crackers and randomly dropped fruit snacks?  One word:  Emily.  She's my little car Dyson that cleans up after baby anytime there's messes. #thanksEm

This is Emily Grace. Also known as the car vacuum.

GERMS ARE NOT WELCOME

I used to be a hand sanitizer freak when it came to being clean and touching things in public. Turns out, now that I have a child, I'm the farthest from that. Whatevs. Grocery carts?  Nope, never wipe those down (unless my mom is with me). Hasn't gotten sick yet. Dropped pacifier?  Just wipe it off on the shirt and we're good to go.  Highchairs at restaurants - have you seen how sticky and dirty those things are?  Yeah, gross, but I don't wipe those down either unless its blatantly obvious that it needs a wipe down.

PACIFIERS

Yes.  I'll admit it.  We have a decorative bowl in the living room where we keep my little's stash of pacifiers.  We have like 20. But never in the bowl at once. Some in the care, in the bag, in the purse, under the couch, under her bed. It's never ending of hide-n-seek with these things.

TIME IS NOT OF ESSENCE

I may (or may not) take advantage of time when my mom watches my little one.  Or take the looooong way home just for some added extra quietness in the car.  I think it's normal as moms to just want some peace and quiet and some alone time.  Hey, when my mom says she'll watch my little one for a few hours....you better believe, I am going to do as much "extra" activities I can fit in.

Wheeew.  There.  I've confessed. I feel much better!

But seriously, life isn't all glitz and glam as much as much as we'd like it to be as mothers.  We all have our little secrets that help us get through life with little ones.

What are some of your confessions?!

One Word Sums Up Today: Icy

Here in the Pacific NW when we get bad weather, we usually get snow followed by *gasp* ice. It's nothing like the light, fluffy, powdery snow like the Mid-West or East coast. We get wet miserable weather.  It's not that we can't drive in it...it's just the ice.

Here in the NW, AWD or 4WD vehicles are sought after.  Especially for those snow bunnies who love what adventures the mountains offer.  These kinds of vehicles work wonders in the snow...but once we get the layer of ice...it's game over.  Our whole city freezes. Literally. Schools close, county offices close, roads close, government offices close, power outages happen.  It's a mess. It's not like we get this kind of weather often either. Usually once or twice a year...and that's enough. Plus that's all we can really handle.

And that's just what happened last night.  We had a little snowfall in the valley on Sunday morning. Which, of course, we all freak out, get excited, go out in play in the dusting of snow and we're content (for those of us who don't go to the mountain to play in the snow at least).  But see, then we get freezing rain, which then forms as ice on top of the snow.  Creating this horrible mess Monday morning.