1. Favorite Drugstore Beauty Find (and splurge version):

Tinted moisturizer is my number one “can’t leave the house without it” beauty product. I can put on a full face of make up in under 3 minutes (that’s what happens when you share a bathroom with 4 other sisters), but when I only have 30 seconds, I just slap on some tinted moisturizer, throw on the oversized sunglasses, and that is good enough. I love the Laura Mercier oil free tinted moisturizer, but at $43/bottle and a fear of my children breaking expensive perfume bottles in the Blue Mercury store, I decided to give the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB, only $8.25 a shot. I would definitely buy it again… goes on smooth, thin consistency so my face can breathe, evens out skin tone, and may even help me to appear as if I’ve had an extra hour of sleep??

2. Favorite Random Idea:

My kids LOVE themselves…. to look at pictures of themselves, that is. My little one could sit in front of the photo collage screen saver all day and look at himself if I would let him. One day last week I was editing some pictures on my computer and discovered “pencil sketch” mode. I thought the boys might like to color pictures of themselves and other family members because, quite frankly, I am getting tired of coloring Lightening McQueen.

I printed out some pictures in pencil sketch mode:

Demonstrated how to color mommy nicely:

And then let the boys take over:

“Mommy, look how beautiful I made you.”…. ummm, yeah, maybe we will revisit this activity once fine motor skills have matured.

3. Favorite Toy of the Week:

The YBike! No training wheels or pedals, sort of like a balance bike to help with the transition to a 2-wheeler, but not quite as pricy and my boys love it!  Zulily is having a sale on them this week, but I’ve also seen them at Home Goods for even less.

…my son asks every day, “Mom, is it a beautiful day to ride our bikes or not?”

4. Favorite “Seriously, did my own kid just do that?” moment:

Completely unsolicited, my almost 2 year old brought his breakfast dish over to the sink when he was finished. Definitely a proud mom moment! My older son has been doing this for awhile and I thought the little guy was too young for meal time boot camp, but they never cease to amaze! Maybe the transition from 2 kids to 3 kids won’t be so hard after all? Now if only I can get him potty trained….having just one kid in diapers would be nice 🙂

5. Favorite Line Straight Out of the Kid’s Mouth:

Preceding event: Big brother pushes little brother down from behind (his signature move).

Me: I never EVER want to see you do that to your brother again!

Son: (stands up and stomps his foot) Well, we are never EVER getting back together!

Bite fist, try not to laugh… thanks, Taylor…

FLOP!

My family and I went on a vacation together almost a year ago. We were sitting in the airport next to a couple who looked totally relaxed and refreshed from their trip. I could tell they were snickering as I chased my boys over and under the waiting seats desperately trying to hand sanitize after every move. Turns out the couple had four kids of their own and just went on their first vacation ALONE. They said the best part about going away without the kids was the fact that they could drink their coffee in the morning and put it down between sips without having to worry about someone knocking it over. Oh, the little things! I think about that comment quite often as I am reheating my coffee for the tenth time each morning and taking sips between diaper changes, channel changes, outfit changes etc… I made a goal for myself to try to get up before the kids, tip-toe downstairs, and drink my coffee in peace. Yeah, well that didn’t happen with my early risers…. There is always next week, but in the meantime, I’ve come to grips with the fact hot coffee without disruption is part of my past-life… and, honestly, I’m okay with that.