One amazing place checked off my bucket list! Everyone needs to visit Paris at least once in their lifetime. I got to spend Christmas with my family and it was beyond magical. We weren't so caught up on presents or spent thousands traveling back to the states to see family in such a tight amount of time. As hard as it is not being able to spend it with them I did enjoy just having the holiday with my small family. It was fun exploring, trying new foods and seeing Jax get super excited over the tower! He was a dream child during this trip. We drove from England to Paris about a 6 hr drive and spent every day out walking around (we didn't bring a stroller) and he was fantastic, he walked so much and held our hands, even posed for many pictures. I'm surprised he wasn't over it by the second day.  We can't wait for our next adventure to come!

This year all I had was a tripod and a camera on self timer while we tried to suck it up in 30 degree weather! It was fast but to the point. Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

A miscarriage is not a subject that goes around much, you tempt to keep quiet about it because you either think it's a sore subject or it's not something people should speak freely about. I get it, when I went through mine I always felt that if I told anyone I had one their first response would be pity. "Oh I'm so sorry" "are you ok?" typically follow. I have always been the type of person that doesn't like when people feel sorry for me or feel bad for me. It makes me feel weak as if I'm looked down upon and I'm thing gentle thing on the ground. I'm not this gentle thing, I just went through one of the toughest things I've even endured.

Everyone has those moments in life where we sit and wonder what the hell we're doing with our lives. Social media shoves us unto other peoples lives and we have the horrid habit of comparing ourselves and diminish ourselves because we're not doing something we think we should be doing. There's a moment when you realize all your friends have a college/university they already got accepted into and a career field they have prepared for ever since high school and you have yet to even send in an application or know what you even want to do. The moment when they've got their first "big girl" or "big boy" job and you're still serving tables and coffee. The moment when casually mentioning they've already got a bachelors degree under their belt so finding a job would be a breeze and you're wondering if you even have enough customer service years of experience to even qualify. The moment when they're getting engaged and married having big glamorous weddings and buying homes and you're struggling to pay rent and bills by tips you barely have received. Something will always feel off for yourself as if you weren't close enough. Sometimes our situations just move us onto a different direction.

After middle school I didn't picture myself as someone who would go to college or a university. Once upon a time I had huge dreams but those dreams just changed and that's ok! I got to the point in my life when I knew I just couldn't work at a sit down job with paperwork. I needed something with creativity and something hands on. I do have many talents but I never felt they were good enough to get me a career so I do a little bit of everything. Sometimes I regret not pushing myself into what I had originally dreamed for myself as if that would change the outcome of my life as is. Would I have a great paying job? Would I still be stuck working where I work now? Would I even be able to even use my degree at all? 

The truth is aside from my many hobbies such as painting art, taking photographs and creating things I have so much going on in my head that I can't seem to ever get on paper, I lack that ability. I almost feel as it's a punishment to have so many ideas and never know how to go about them. I'm shoving my fears and thoughts aside and just pushing through because if I don't ever start or even attempt anything that will all be my fault. I always read amazing self motivation books not just because they're a huge help and help me align my thoughts but because it makes me see what I want more and more clear as well as makes me act upon my thoughts. They help me push harder a little bit more day after day. I think everyone should read at least one of these type of books in their lives, they're not just for when you think you have problems, these style of books will help you whether you think you have a problem or not. 

Now onto to talking about a few dreams I've always had and the things I have never ever told anyone. Ever since I can remember I created so many stories in my mind, whether they were a story I started when playing with a doll or they were ideas that flowed from a movie I had seen. I come up with endless amount of stories that I could write a million books about. I have tried again and again to get my thoughts onto paper and failed miserably. I would begin writing and just felt as if the story could sound good in my mind but to others it might be as if a child wrote it. I'm not great with grammar or synonyms (a few things that make books so intriguing to me as I learn new phrases and words). I shouldn't be so hard on myself as English is my second language, I just expect myself to write as a master rather than a beginner (I'm working on it). Lately I have chosen to start over, write my stories or even parts of what I have in my mind, actually work at making a story and follow through to a publisher. I can't ever know what will happen but I will always know that I tried.

Not many people know that I write or even know of any of the ideas that run through my head, I like to see it as my little secret and now something I share with any followers here that read my blog (another thing not many people know I do) but I think getting it out there is the first step, sticking by it is the hardest part. I can't tell you how many times I've gone with a gut feeling of taking something down because I regretted the decision. I often felt that my "prime time" was passing me by, now that I am 25 years old, a mom and a wife and my job was supposed to be dedicated to family entirely. Well as much as I've seen so many people make it at a young age I've also seen so many wonderful people make it after they've started having a family or after they've had a downfall. Use your surrounding as encouragement. Grow from your ashes.


This post isn't just for myself as I share my experience but for others that are feeling stuck or in a rut. Go in search of yourself for a little while, really think about what you love and what you want to do and go for it. Trial and error is how so many wonderful writer, actors and any sort of worker has gone through in they lives. You get out there and you try to aim for something, you'll catch something eventually. This is a reminder to those that are looking for a little push and some motivation as I often find myself searching for. The world doesn't have to know everything you do or how you do it, whether it failed or succeeded. This can start with just you, sometimes we need the support of our friends and family and that's wonderful however I myself find it better to keep certain things myself and only share when I succeed, however the way of getting things to work is to just remember to do it.

This was my first trial box from Toucan Box, right off the start I can see how much they put into these. This is the Petite box and it came with so much, I can't imagine how much the Super one would have. It was personalized with my sons name which made it even more unique and fun for him to see. This pirate theme came with paper, the parrot cut out, crayons, popsicle stick, glue, feathers, googly eyes, stickers, paint brush, tea bag for the paper map, an activity book and the instructions. Right away my son was attracted by the feathers and stickers. He loved coloring the bird all sorts of colors and picking where the feathers would go. He's still too young to know how to use the glue stick so I helped him with it and he added the feathers. It was a nice bonding/activity for the both of us. I'm always looking for ideas of crafts that are age appropriate and don't make a huge mess, I like to save his beautiful creations and he doesn't always get them done at school so having this for home is great to decorate my walls with his precious art as well as a perfect moment for him to be away from toys, TV, iPad etc. I highly recommend signing up and getting these crafts right to your door! I can't wait for his next box to arrive already. If you'd like to try a free box for yourself just follow the link here.

I accidentally discovered Sticky 9 by looking for magnets for my fridge of pictures. I didn't like to hang pictures because they always seemed to slide off when opening/closing the door. Once I tried those I fell in love with their quality and fast (FREE!) shipping I even shipped some off to my mom and mother-in-law for them to have some cute pictures of their grandson. I decided to order some prints for my sons 2nd birthday to create a giant number 2. It was so inexpensive and the pictures were beautiful and vibrant. They're thicker than the normal prints which made them durable and I'm not afraid my son will ruin them when he goes through them. I decided to use them for photo albums as well since they hold up so well and look even better. I have to admit they are by far my favorite. They always have great coupons like today they're having a 50% off prints! They come in 2 sizes, the ones pictured are the mediums, I've done the large ones as well to create some flash cards for my son to learn his colors, we even have some hanging on our walls and a few in some picture frames. They're the best I highly recommend them!

Living far from family and having Jax not see much of grandparents it's nice to have pictures of his dogs and family for him to see everyday and kiss goodnight. If you'd like to give it a try get 15% off your first order using this code: FRIEND125YD

This post is not sponsored.

This year my main focus and goal was to pay off any and every credit card I owned so that we can focus more on saving towards buying a house. I have it all figured out in a way that I can get them cut off within the year but I will blog about that when the time comes if it all works out well. I'm the type of person that needs to have it all written down, from the math to each bill and the amount due, which date and even the size of the debt. I've been using this particular chart since every other chart I found I felt was too noisy and loud with colors and unnecessary clip art. I like my paperwork simplistic and minimalist, it helps me keep up organized and not forget to pay any bills since it has happened before and no one likes to pay those late fees. I mean it's like throwing money away, literally! 

If you're like me and want to organize yourself and be all grown up with the bills, I added a free download of two versions of my chart for your very own use! Let me know how it works out for you!

As Jax gets older he is playing with bigger toys and he's getting into the pretend play. I've always dreamt of having a playroom big enough for him to run around in and have fun as well as a learning area with books. Currently we have his old bedroom turned into an office/playroom and the old office turned into his bedroom since I rather he enjoy more room to play than he needs to sleep in. He doesn't have a ton of toys because we always ask for either his birthday or christmas that he mainly gets money towards his account (from our immediate family) since he's still too little and he's usually happy with just one gift. This is a win-win situation for the both of us. I have put together some of his playroom must-haves that inspire me for Jaxs playroom.