Tindra Helene Birgit

A year ago today, at 11:11 AM, Tindra Helene Birgit was born, and I fell in love Hard. This little girl has changed my life more than I thought possible.

She is the absolute perfect addition to our family. We truly believe she was hand selected by Him to join us. She's so happy and spunky and makes every day brighter. She smiles at Everyone she meets, and is just a complete joy to be around. 

Love you baby girl, I'm so incredibly lucky to be your mom.

Today I'm linking up with Steph and Chelsee so you go check them out.

It's no secret I've turned more into a home body since having kids. I still like to go out, it just doesn't happen very often. And when I do get out, I'm more of a lame  tame version of my former self, because let's face it.  A hangover when you have to get up before 6 AM with a baby/toddler/kindergartner and now a combination of that just isn't quite the same. Or worth it.

Moving on.

Last summer, as in summer of 2011 (has it Really been that long?) when Drew and I went to Sweden on our belated honeymoon I went a few days early to meet up with two of my high school friends. One was just finishing up a year teaching in Brussels, and the other flew over to meet her, then they met me in Stockholm for an Amaaazing three days.

We did a lot of non stop sight seeing obviously, but we also (even more obvious) found some amazing bars near our hostel. And the thing about the bars in Stockholm is that they stay open till like 5 AM. Which isn't a problem when you don't have to be up before 6 with a baby like I do now. By 'baby' was in Iowa with my mom, so yep we definitely stayed out till the bars closed. And I didn't even regret it one bit when I had to be at the train station by 7 for my trip up north.

Even got to meet up with my friend (and now new mom!!) Nadja 

In front of the outdoor bar where we spent most of the night

Heading home at 5

Ah these pictures are making me 'home sick' for Sweden. I think it's time to plan another trip! Or ya know, just move there, which Is what I'm shooting for.

The Nadas

Last Saturday with my mom in town we were able to actually go on a date! First one since last march when we got to see Guster perform. 13 months with out a date night is a LONG time, and it felt so weird driving away from the house without a child or two in the back seat. After we parked down town and started walking away from the car I kept feeling like I was forgetting something in the car since the two of us walking away from a car alone is completely foreign now a days!

When we found out my mom was going to be here at the same time The Nadas were, Drew got us tickets ASAP. I (we) have been going to Nadas shows since senior year of high school back in 2004/2005 but the last time we saw them was when Jasper was just a few weeks old at the Iowa State Fair, so it's been a while!

Before they started, Drew and I were talking about wether or not we thought they would put on as good of a show as they did 'back in the day' and I honestly wasn't sure if they would. But I was so wrong, it was even better then I remembered! It was in a small venue and we were right in front and they did not disappoint at all! They played such a good mix of their old songs (some of my Favorites) their new songs (also Really good) and some fun covers. They took requests, switched up their set list (yes I was close enough to actually See their set list- with out my glasses on!) and had good interaction with the audience. All things that make for a Really fun live show. I was having such a fun time singing along to all my favorites that I didn't even realize that standing on a cement floor for 3 hrs Really kills your back. Damn I sound old, but I was seriously sore the next day. Laaaame. Afterwards we turned into those groupies and followed them out back to say Hi and get pictures. As many times as I've seen them play (5, 6, 7?) I've never done that! I felt like a total fan girl and May even have hugged Jason (one of the two leads) as we were leaving. Hoping he had had enough drinks for that not to have been super awkward/he forgot immediately.


And of course some crappy cell phone pictures to go with.

Yes!

I'm sort of a beauty product junky (Drew would probably say Major beauty product junky since my products take up a HUGE shelf in our bathroom closet-bigger shelf then our towels-and two drawers full) so it's surprising that I had yet to try out any of the YES to products!

I have seen them at Target and have been meaning to test them out, so when I was contacted about reviewing their new Yes to Grapefruit line I was of course excited!

From the Yes to Grapefruit line I received the even skin tone moisturizer, dark spot correcting body creme, the dark spot corrective serum and the dark circle correcting cream to check out.

What I love most about Yes to products and why I was so excited to try them out, is that they are known for being 99% natural, which you guys know by now is super important to me! They are also paraben free, another major bonus point. 

The Yes to Grapefruit line uses vitamin C to help correct your skin tone by fading acne marks and dark spots and brightening your skin. Yes please! While I am fortunate to not have any acne marks, who doesn't want brighter, healthier looking skin? Plus I'm a big believer in prevention, so hopefully using this will continue to prevent my skin from developing those dark spots on my face!

I have been using all the products almost daily for the past 6-7 weeks and I think I have become a Yes To Grapefruit lover!

The body creme has been what I've used nightly after I shower, it goes on super smooth and isn't greasy at All. It smells delicious enough to eat and I think has totally helped with some of the sun spots I have on my arms thanks to all the years at the pool!

The eye cream is my favorite new product! Dark circles is definitely something I have gotten over the past year (thanks Tindra!) but on the days I remember to put this one, it really does feel like it makes a difference! And it's so light weight that as soon as I put it on I can't feel it, which is super important to me. I don't want to feel weighed down by make up or skin care products.

Now the serum, this is my first time using a serum, but apparently we should all be using one daily! I don't have anything to compare this one to since I'm a serum newbie, but I like it! Again it feels light weight enough and you need VERY little, so this bottle will last quite a while!

And lastly the moisturizer. I'm kind of a moisturizer snob. Its the One thing in my face care/make up routine that I stick to pretty religiously and I've been known to throw out whole containers of moisturizer if I don't like it the first time (shh don't tell Drew that) but this has become my go to in the mornings. It feels light and refreshing, goes on smoothly and doesn't make me feel oily or greasy.

So there you have it! I definitely loved all the Yes to Grapefruit products and now it makes me want to try the other lines, especially the Yes to blueberry products- those look and sound Amazing! Has anyone else tried any of the Yes To products? What's your favorite?

Unfashionable fashion posts?

I love fashion/outfit of the days post as much as the next girl. Maybe even More then the next girl. And I love Doing them! Something about it is just fun. But most times when I think about doing them I think

"Oooh I should do an outfit post! Except, my shoes don't match."
or " I'm not wearing any jewelry." 
or "This shirt has a little smudge on it."
or "Tindra just used my jeans as a tissue"
or "This shirt is wrinkly"

So I don't. But lets face it. If I wait around till I'm wearing the perfectly put together, perfectly matching, not drooled on Non wrinkly outfit it won't happen. Because for me? That's not real life. Real life to me is wearing something I'm comfortable in and that I find cute. It might not match perfectly or be fashion forward with the hottest trend, it's just me.

I like seeing 'fashion' posts where it's something that I actually wear or own. And this isn't a fashion blog. I'm just me. So I've decided that's not going to stop me from doing an outfit post if I feel like it. And today, I felt like it!

This is what Tindra and I wore today on our very exciting day of errands and out to lunch.

On mamma:

Shirt: Target

Jeans: My old favorites (as you can tell) Gap

Shoes: Target

On baby:

Top: Jasper's old shirt from Gymboree

Jeans:Target

It's so much more fun taking pictures with your kiddos then standing there alone!

Easter

Even with Jasper getting sick later on in the day, our Easter was fantastic! Jasper woke us up bright and early (6.30) so it's a good thing the Easter bunny came to our house at midnight! After checking out the baskets from us we were out the door by 7 for a hunt. It was a bit chilly still, but the sun was up and bright and it was Perfect.