Why's the WEEK Hafta END?!

How weekends are supposed to go:

Celebrating a beloved friend's birthday over mexican and cerveza

Getting our bounce on at the Midwest Hot Air Balloon Festival

People watching in awe

Experiencing all that is carnival-ous

Showing our true colors

Closing down Splash Cove for the season with Mommas and their littles

It was the perfect end to our version of summer, leaving the competition for fall to be stiff. Here's to the memories of the season and all that is to come!

Mommas Being Strong

Let's face it: Moms don't need lessons on how to be strong. Day in and day out they are role models for their children, serving as the entire C-suite of the household, kissing little foreheads away for nine hours, finding patience in all things, preparing meals, washing bottles, folding towels, hosting board meetings, attempting to look her best and maintain friendships, soothing boo boos, tripping over army men, trying to be sassy for her husband and so much more. But one area Moms could probably get some education in:

Taking a little time for themselves. To breathe. Recover from the 18 hour days. To feel a little bit good about herself and unite with others who understand.

Enter: Momma Strong.

I first stumbled upon Momma Strong from friend and blogger Melanie Knopke, who featured the site and an overview of the different web workout programs and immediately thought: YES. I can do 15 mins a day when the kiddos are asleep and I won't miss a second, on my time and my dime. And mommy branded and thoughtfully planned for women with children? Sign me up.

So sign up I did through one of Melanie's blog giveaways, and though I didn't walk away a winner, I still received a discount to sign up for the program for $15 - that's it! With that I gained access to the postnatal series, a 30-min manageable workout for a two week session delivered via the web and designed to regain your core strength and lengthen those mommy-needed muscles for toting and doing everything one-handed. After that, I'll commit to "The Hook" for 30 days, where Melanie and several of her friends experienced some great results. In addition, Momma Strong includes a suite of valuable and helpful resources, all designed for the Mom on the go that totally gets that 15 minutes is still a lot of time and that you're tired of running your knees into the remnants of your last c-section.

Courtney, the founder and trainer, is genius. Comfortable, approachable, doable and flexible the programs are tough and leave you sweating, but leave you guilt free as you're doing your time at home and the cost is extremely reasonable. Her customer service is over the top awesome, and it's easy to throw up your iPad or grab some space near your PC to get in your 15 mins a day.

So whether you're a new Mom or a seasoned one that's ready to get back into the groove without committing to all those 13.1s your gal pals are doing, take a minute to find "strength in the middle" with Momma Strong and sign up today. Then holler at me so we can do "The Hook" together and share our burpee war stories!

Happy workout, Momma!

Caught on Camera

On days like this where I only spotted the tops of my wee one's eyelids vs. his actual baby blues, I'm grateful for the sleep cam:

Sure he's actually only in there about eight minutes a day as he adjusts, but that's enough to feel as if he's just within my reach despite I'm 15 miles away lost in the clutter of work.

In the blessing vs. curse argument for technology, I'm going to go ahead and call blessing on this one.

Thank you, sleepcam.

Down With Diaper Rash

"Dude, I feel for him - can you imagine if your hiney felt and looked like one of those flame throwers from Mario Kart?" my husband states as I take a minute to wrap my brain around the analogy. Giving up I made a mental note to talk to some of my mommy friends and bring up the lash of the diaper rash at his upcoming appointment. As usual, I received some great tips and tricks, but this one by far won the prize:

Calmoseptine - made for those in the nursing home but perfect for wee ones with sore bums. Just remove the diaper, clean them up, slap on a bit of your favorite regular diaper cream and then coat in Calmoseptine and wa la: a clean set of buns that's pain free.

Pair this with diapers that work best for your baby's skin and cotton swabs that are wet vs. wipes that contain alcohol and you're golden.

Find it over the counter at your local pharmacy store but grab two when you go because for some reason they disappear fast.

Cleaner, calmer kiddos - happy pasting!

A Warmer Welcome

It's been said that the highest form of flattery is imitation. Well, I sure hope Andrea of Life.Love.Larson agrees because in reading her latest post on her back patio and then digging a bit further and scoping out her front door color, our stoop is starting to resemble hers:

We're still searching for that perfect  mat and a tiered planter to adorn the right corner, but other than that this was a quick fix to provide a warmer welcome to all who call to enter. Sure we'd love to replace the gold, get a screen, etc., but this was an inexpensive way to change it up and bring a little sass to the front of our chocolate and cream home. (PS: if it were my dream home I'd have those double antique looking doors that are uh-mazing). Even better, Andrea made it super easy with her beautiful taste. A friend of a friend and quickly becoming a gal pal, her home is remarkable and one I fell in love with instantly at a baby shower she hosted. The girl has mad taste!

But don't worry Andrea, I don't have an inkling of your DIY talent and vision, so this is likely as far as I'll be able to stalk and mimic you for awhile. Though that mudroom with the chalk wall of yours is calling my name...

Thank you for the inspiration A - we owe you!

Smile: It's Friday

Or in this case, give a little giggle:

This is his second laugh we've ever witnessed. And true to his name, it kinda squeaks too, don't ya think?

Have a weekend filled with all that's lovely!

Monday Momfessions: July 28 Week

Dude, it's nearly Friday. This is bad...

1. Last evening before bed in a wild game of hide n' seek, our missing son emerged from his closet bare naked, threw his hands in the air and boldly stated: "Hello ladies!" I can only blame this on his father's parenting skills or potentially genetics. Note: truly go out and purchase one of those cheesy "lock up your daughter" tees.

2. I'm already daydreaming about my "Office Space" copier moment with my pump. That's not good only three months in. Not applying storage to the end of the cones and getting so riled up about a work issue that milk is spraying three feet in every direction from small tubes is not helping. Did I mention I happened to be on a conference call in a hands-free bra on a cloudy day with the blinds open to our parking lot when this occurred? Awesome.

3. Next to Google: "how the hell boys can already stink at age three."

4. Two of my dearest had mommy meltdowns this week. This makes me feel much more normal in this universe and I'm so grateful they called.

5. I've decided to label my return to work schizophrenic. Like clockwork, one day is rainbows and productivity and the next is the greatest desire for slumber and motivation there ever was. It's quite interesting and slightly unnerving. Some days I wonder who I'm going to wake up to. Did I mention I'm her?

6. I'm definitely on the naughty list this year as I used Santa - yes SANTA - to convince my son to move his furniture back to the location I preferred. I may have a slight control issue around furniture placement. I'm uncertain as to whether this is a better bribe (or white lie?!) than chocolate chips at bedtime.

7. I may have confessed this before, but after nightly relations with Star Wars videos to get our kid to sleep, I'm not entirely convinced that Squeak did not come back as an incarnate of Yoda. Seriously - the resemblance is uncanny.

8. This week a horizontal dress I sported caused my Mom to say "you look like you just delivered." Note: this is NOT  a compliment. Then again, can I still say that I did just deliver? When is that drop dead date? Because I sure could use that excuse for awhile given my recent taco and candy consumption. I'm going to go ahead with two or three years and potentially lie to strangers who follow that chat up with "so how old is your kid?" I don't do math, new friend, and neither should you. PS: the princess totally got away with that sh*t.

9. Creating Little Dude's invites that contain the number 4 melts my heart into a little puddle. Even working so hard to enjoy every little moment, where do they continue to escape?

10. Murphy's Law ensures that after a 3 a.m. nursing session, the oldest then will always stumble out and wake. Despite my peepers are still perky as I lay down in bed 10 seconds before this debacle, I pretend to be asleep and whap my husband so he actually has to get up for once. Shhhhhhh.

Got any guilty pleasures this week Momma?