My Memories Review and Giveaway!

I was so so soooo excited when My Memories contacted me about doing a review/giveaway.  I had seen reviews of their company on other blogs and was just dying to get a chance to work with them! 

So what is My Memories you're asking?  It is a website where you can buy digital scrapbooking software!  I know there are tons of you out there who love scrapbooking, and now you can do it online!  Once you've made the scrapbook, there are so many different ways to share it with your friends and family!  You can print it, make a movie, or even add it to your Ipod! 

Besides the scrapbooking software, My Memories also has wedding software {for invitations, thank-you notes, etc} and a photobook studio!

I was able to review the scrapbook software.  Of course I immediately started making one for my baby girls.  I was happy with how easy the process is, and how many options I had to change and tweak things around.  Check out my sweet girls

Now here's the best part for you.  My Memories has graciously offered to give one of my readers the My Memories Suite software {an $80!} for free!!

 Here's how you enter:
{Mandatory}
Go to My Memories and tell me which scrapbook design is your favorite!
Here are some ways to earn some extra entries into the contest.
1. Go to the My Memories Blog and become a follower. 
2. Like My Memories on Facebook

3. Follow My Memories on Twitter
4. Be a follower of my blog
5. Like my page on Facebook
6.  Follow me on Twitter

That is SEVEN total entries to win!!!  Good luck everyone!! Contest will run until February 18th at midnight EST. 

They have also offered a Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value! Just make sure to enter my discount code : STMMMS43255 when you place your order!

Disclaimer: I received the software for free in order to do my review.  All opinions are my own.

It's Not Just Morning Sickness...

Sorry to fool you with the title, but no I am not pregnant.  I never will be again in fact, and this post goes into detail as to why.  I'm going to be taking a little break from social media for a while, blogging included.  Maybe I'll be gone a week, maybe more.  But there is a lot going on over here right now, and I really need a break from all the Twitter drama.  I do have a giveaway I'll be posting later that will be running all week, so I will be staying on top of that.  Otherwise I'll see you all when I get back...

Last night when I was on Twitter, Diana linked on her latest blog post, "Done".  I immediately clicked over to check it out, and by the end I was sobbing.  For the first time I felt like all the emotions I felt while pregnant were so eloquently put into words by someone else. 

Growing up, I always thought I'd love being pregnant.  The belly, the attention, and sweet little kicks, I wanted it all.  But what I got was hyperemesis, a really severe case of morning sickness.  With Little M it lasted 20 weeks {which seems like nothing to me now} and with Baby C it lasted every single day of my pregnancy.  The only times I wasn't huddled around the toilet, literally unable to stop throwing up, was when I took the maximum amount of Zofran allowed...8mg 3x a day.  And even then the nausea never went away.  24/7 for 40 weeks I was nauseous.  The medicine gave me headaches, other stomach problems, and made me even more tired than pregnancy should.  Healthy foods?  Made my nausea worse, as did not eating a little something all day long.  So thankfully I was able to put on the weight my sweet babes needed to be healthy. 

I thought it was tough when I was still teaching while pregnant with Little M, but it was nothing compared to the pregnancy with Baby C.  Having another child to take care of made everything so much more difficult.  My pregnancy really took a toll on my family.  Skip didn't work much overtime because I couldn't deal with him being gone too much.  I needed him to watch Little M whenever he was home so I could rest.  He let me sleep in every single day he was home in the morning.  And when he had to leave for work at 6?  He's pack a lunch bag with milk for M, and breakfast for both of us, since it was too much for me to get out of bed without eating something first.  Poot Little M didn't have her mom really...I was a shell of my former self.  Thankfully she is so independant and would play alone, but all the other time together we would just watch TV.  It was all I could handle.

My mom and sisters came over to help out all the time too...cleaning my house, doing laundry, and taking turns watching Little M.  As much as I appreciated their help, it was so hard not to do it myself.

I cried every single day I was pregnant.  That is not an exaggeration....every single day.  I just wanted to crawl into a whole and not come out.  I cried going to bed since falling asleep is hard when you're nauseous.  I cried when I woke up in the morning because the sweet relief I hoped for was not there.  I constantly had to cancel plans and disappoint my friends because I was just too sick.  I could only shower every other day because it was too much to do every day.  I would have to lay down for about 45 minutes after every shower before I had the energy to get dressed.  As much as I tried, I could not think about anything other than my sickness.  And it wasn't just nausea...I was achy, my body hurt all the time.  It's like having the stomach flu all day every day for nine months.

So the day after I delivered Baby C, when the doctor came in to check on me, and she said that if I was thinking about another pregnancy in the future to know it would be worse and that my only next option would be the Zofran pump, I knew I was done.  I couldn't do this to myself again, or my family, or my future baby.  What if the Zofran didn't stop the throwing up?  What if I had to be hospitalized the whole time? What if I lost the baby by not gaining enough weight? What if something happened to me? Those were not risks Skip and I were willing to take.  So Baby C is definitely our last baby.

Am I okay with that?  Sometimes no.  I never wanted two kids.  I wanted three or maybe even four.  I'm mad at my body.  Yes, I was super lucky to get pregnant very quickly with both girls, but my body does not gestate them the way it is supposed to.  I so want to be one of those girls with a little sickness in the beginning and then coasts through the rest of pregnancy.  If we are only having two kids, I wanted it to be more of our decision, instead of feeling like it was out of our hands.  And other than Diana?  I haven't found anyone else that has suffered through this and come to the same conclusions as me.  That's why I was so happy to have read her blog last night.  I felt like it validated my feelings.  I'm not being selfish in that I just don't want to be sick again for 9 months.  Hyperemesis is life altering, and I cannot put my family through this again.

Everytime Baby C out grows an outfit or baby toy I shed a few tears, for the babies we will not have in he future {adoption is just not something Skip and I are called to} I know it will get easier as time goes on, but it is still a tough reality to live with that I cannot have all the children I want to.  But then I look over at my two beautiful girls and know that I am blessed more than I deserve.

Thursday Five

Today I'm linking up with Nicole over at Flip Flops and Combat Boots for her Thursday Five!

Today I'm going to talk about the five things that make me.....

Joyful

Giddy

Excited

Thankful

Jubilant

The fact that the Giants won the Super Bowl is still making me feel so joyful!  The parade and rally NY/NJ threw for them were just awesome!

I'm giddy about Skip's and my upcoming date on Monday {we're going out a day early for Valentine's Day} We haven't been on a date since the beginning of January and we are long over due!

I'm excited that we leave for Florida in just FIVE weeks today!!!! It will be so amazing to be away and in the warmth!

I'm thankful for my sweet little family.  We are all happy, healthy, and I couldn't ask for anything more. 

The fact that it's Thursday makes me jubilant....girls night with my bestie to watch Grey's tonight!!

What is making you extra happy this week??

eShakti Custom Clothes

Raise your hands if you've ever had to return something that you ordered online because it didn't fit correct.  Yeah that's what I though.  It's so tough because I love the convenience of ordering online {what you thought dragging two little girls to the mall to try on clothes endlessly was my kind of fun?!?!  hahaha}  But I hate that sometimes the exact size I wear, still doesn't fit me correctly.  But with the website I was recently introduced to, eShakti, that problem is no more. 

eShakti is seriously revolutionizing the way we, as women, order clothes online.  Their mission statement is: "We want to make you look and feel fabulous by providing uniquely classic styles in a wide variety of fabrics and color choices in sizes from 0-26W. Giving you the ability to tweak measurements for any item, ensures the best possible fit. We also offer options like changing a neckline, hemline or sleeve design for a truly customized garment, all for just $7.50. "

It is amazing, seriously.  When you go to order your item, you can choose a standard size {which lists the measurements for you, and you also input your height} or a custom size.  With the custom option, you put in your measurements for everything, and the piece will come tailor made to YOUR SIZE.  You also have the option of custom styling...such as the length of the piece...how you want the sleeves on the dress to look, etc.  And you would think with all of these specifications, the clothes would be really expensive.  But they're not!!  I have yet to find anything on there that is more than $100.

I was lucky enough to be able to review this dress. 

You can never have too many little black dresses right?  It shipped in a timely manner and I could not wait to try it on.  And believe me when I say it fit like a GLOVE.  It is perfect to, because with strapless dresses I am constantly pulling them up if it doesn't fit properly.  Not this one!  I'll be able to dance the night away without having it slip down at all.

So make sure to head over to eShakti and check out their vast array of stock and place your first order today!

Disclaimer: I did receive this dress for free in order to do this review.  I was not monetarily compensated at all.  All of these opinions are my own and I was not swayed in any way. 

How-to Throw a Super Bowl Party

With my Big Blue boys in the Superbowl this past weekend, you had to know that I would be throwing a Super Bowl party!!!  It was just a small gathering with eight of our closest friends.  But with the Giants on, it was one heck of a party!  Now, there are a few key things you need to include if you want a successful Super Bowl party.{I am apologizing for the pictures now...I was in a big rush and a lot of them aren't in focus}

{1} First up? Decorations.  Make sure you team, and football in general is highlighted all around.

Lots of team colors around!

My new CRUUUUUUZ Jersey {from my dad!} and some other Giants shirts hanging in the window

I also had a blue table cloth, and Giants plates and napkins.


{2} Next you need to make sure you have some favors.  Always fun to pass out to your guests!

Blue mardi gras beads

Small soft footballs...perfect for throwing when your team starts losing!

{3} Obviously you need to have a ton of food.  We had chips, pizza, candy, some delicious appetizers and of course, some Giants-specific items:

A giant Giants deli sandwich!  Made by a local pizza place in our town

Cookies and football trophy cakes

More football cake

Close-up

{4} Dress the part!  Make sure to throw on a team t-shirt or jersey....or at least wear the team colors!  Make sure your guests do the same....adds to the fun!

{5} Facepainting...possibly a little excessive, but again gets you in the spirit!

{6} Have some cute sidekicks....remember...football is a team sport and I could not have done it without these cuties!

And that my friends is how you throw a Super Bowl party and successfully help your team become SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

2 on Tuesday - Hair Products

I am also linking up with Andrea today for 2 on Tuesday!

It is such a good topic this week I just had to join in!  Today's topic is:
What are your two favorite hair products.

Okay now the first thing you need to know about me, is that I am no longer a natural blond....I'll let that sink in a minute.  I had blond hair as a kid, but it slowly got darker as I got older.  But I really hate dark hair on me, so I've been going light, pretty much ever since.  And well, that much bleach on a person's hair can really wreck it.  Hence the short hair right now...I had to just chop off all the dead ends and start again.  So I am constantly looking for great conditioners to help repair the damage. 

The two I have found to work best so far are these:

Pantene beautiful lengths replenishing mask
Image found here

Bio Silk hair therapy
Image found here

These are the best products for my hair that I have found yet {without paying a fortune}  I also try to do an olice oil treatment on my hair every few weeks.  Saturate your hair with olive oil and leave on for at least 1/2 hour {I normally do much longer}  Wash and condition as ususual!

What are your best hair products??  I am always looking to try new things!

Our Love Story

I am so excited to be linking up with Becky today to share Skip's and my love story! 

Here are the questions Becky asked:

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

The day we started dating

Skip and I have been together for 8 1/2 years


2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
We met back in August of 2003.  His best friend from high school and my best friend from high school were both dating.  One night Skip was over her house and describing who is perfect girl would be.  K said she looked right at him and said, "I know her!"  They then invited me over the next night to hang out {I had no idea it was a semi set-up}  We hit it off that night...all hug out a few nights later....had our first date the night after that, and even though he took me shooting I still wanted to see him again!!  It was rough in the beginning because I moved back to college in Connecticut two days later and Skip was in the police academy here in Jersey, but we made it work.  Lots of phone calls and visits back and forth.  He "officially" became my boyfriend on September 20, 2003. 

The bench we met on

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}
We've been married since July 2005....6 1/2 years!!!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?
We got married at the church I grew up in, and the reception was at the same place my parent got married.  It was a smallish wedding with just 70 guests.  I liked it better that way, because I felt like we were able to just hang out and relax with everyone.  I do wish Pinterest had existed when I was planning my wedding, as there are a few things I would have done differently, but overall I had the most wonderful day.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!
I call him Skip {obviously} Skipper, or Skipper Man.  He calls me Mandy, Wubbie {because he says he "wub be" lonely without me} or The Wub.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
1. He is honest and straightforward.  He never played any "dating games"
2. He is one of the most generous people I know, with his time, love, and money
3. He is the best dad I could have ever dreamed of for my girls.  He jumped right into the job head first and has never looked back.

Holding Little M

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?
Skip was activated by the Marine Corps in May 2004.  He did two weeks of training in PA before heading out to California for two months of pre-deployment training.  Before he left for CA he gave me a promise ring.

My promise ring

He told me it was "A promise he was going to come home safe from Iraq and a promise he was going to spend the rest of his life with me."  Because of this I didn't think we would be getting engaged before he deployed.

Saying goodbye in PA

I spent some time with Skip out in CA over Fourth of July weekend.  I thought it was going to be the last time I saw him before he deployed.

San Diego

 But on August 6th, I came home from work and he was standing in my bedroom waiting for me!  He had gotten five days of leave to come home one more time.
That Sunday Skip said he wanted to hang out with his sister for a bit.  Totally understandable.  I was going to be at my grandma's house celebrating my cousin who had just returned from Iraq.  I just asked that Skip not be gone the whole day, since I wanted to see him for at least some of it.

Long story short, a few hours turns in 5pm and now I'm really mad.  And when I accuse Skip of not wanting to see me, he just starts laughing {because he had just bought an engagement ring!} and I get REALLY mad and hang up on him.  Thankfully I soon went up to his parents house, and after bringing me into the backyard, Skip proposed.  All that anger was quickly forgotten!!

First picture as an engaged couple

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

If I had to pick, I guess flowers and chocolate kind of guy, mainly because those are two things I love!  But honestly, we really don't make that big a deal out of Valentine's Day for each other any more.

First Valentine's Day as a married couple

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

On the beach in Punta Cana

Sunset dinner on the beach.  Anything on a beach is better than not being on the beach!  I am my most happiest on the sand and in the water.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

After Skip retires, we have big plans to travel Europe for six weeks, spending most of our time in France again.  I can't wait!

Don't go to Paris 10 weeks pregnant...trust me

 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Other than taking Baby C to the doctor that morning, we have nothing planned yet.  Skip is actually off this year, but it's hard to find free people that night, so we're just going to stay in.  We might take the girls out to lunch or try and do something else fun with them.

March 2005...Celebrating Valentine's Day a little late..after Skip came home from Iraq

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
Honestly, nothing.  We've never really been that big on Valentine's Day gifts and with our upcoming trip to Florida, all extra money is going towards that!


13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
Talk to each other.  Tell him if you're mad, or sad, or how much you love him.  Life is too short to be vague with people.  Also, always kiss and tell each other you love each other before you part.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

"Distance cannot separate two hearts that really care"

Our family is complete





I'll Be Back....

...tomorrow....or maybe the next day.  I'm way too busy celebrating the fact that THE GIANTS WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!!  WE BEAT THE PATRIOTS AGAIN!!!!!!  It was a great {but way too tense of a game for me} and the win is so so sweet.  Great job Big Blue!!!  You went hard and the Patriots went home!!!

Me and Little M during the game...she's showing off her blue nail polish!

Baby C was ready to go!

The pictures {I found on google.com} say it all!!!!  Great season boys...let's do it all again next year!