This One's For the Girls

Da-da-da-daaaaaaaaa! Introducing: my entire face regimen.

A few people have asked my what I use on my face- so I thought it would be simple and easy just to stick it on here! All these things are things that I love. I have used most of them forever and all of them are the cheapest, best-quality-for-what-I-needed, easiest things I have used so far in my 23 years of life. These are all things I use every day I wear makeup and have right now in my bathroom (except for the paint, which I need to get more of). But anyways, they are all my very favorites. Explanations are as follows!

Skin stuff: I am a firm believer in less-is-more when it comes to skin. I have tried Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Proactive, etc. etc. etc. but Cetaphil seriously works the very very best, hands down. I have always had combinations skin- oily on my forehead and cheeks (and that is where I breakout too). Cetaphil is gentle, clean, and simple. It's the only cleanser I will use on my skin. And the most IMPORTANT step is wiping it off with a clean, hot washcloth after you wash your face at night. It's a little thing that has seriously made ALL the difference for me. Honestly, 95% of the little bumps on my forehead completely went away when I started doing that! And also, it's kind of gross/satisfying to see how much dirt and makeup you actually have on your face. It exfoliates too, so while I used to use a scrub every few days, I don't really need to anymore! Then obviously in the morning, I just wash my face in the shower. Then, I use Cetaphil Moisturizer (just in the mornings). Vaseline, I use for eye cream, and the Carmex I use for chapstick (unless I have to go somewhere and then I just use lipgloss or whatever! FUN TIP: Boys hate Carmex...so if you want do so something like...watch Real Housewives with no husband pressuring you into a make out sesh- just spread on the Carmex!) Both cheap and work wonderfullyyy!

Isn't this fun/boring so far? I am actually really mad right now because I wrote this entire thing already and then somehow deleted it! :) 

On to the makeup!...

NARS Concealer: Okay, so I seriously avoided buying pricey concealer for forever. I used Neutrogena in college and it just wasn't doing it. Then I got Bare Minerals and had tried Laura Mercier (still a fav) and Bobbi Brown and Benefit and others, but then I tried this and HOLY COW IT IS THE BEST. I don't use foundation, so I needed something that would cover my huge, tired mom dark circles and also my redness around my nose and zits- and this stuff WORKS. It's super concentrated, stays on, and has a really pretty satin-y finish, while still blending well with plain, natural skin. Loveee you Nars workers!

Mac paint: This stuff is a perfect base for eyeshadow. You can even get a shimmer one and use it as your highlight (if you do a shimmery highlight). I just get "Untitled," which is like a sorta-peach matte paint, and it totally keeps everything on while brightening and evening my eyelid. I've used this stuff since I was like 14. 

Bare Minerals bronzer: I guess I kind of lied when I said I don't use foundation. Technically, this is foundation. I actually went to the store, and matched one of their foundation colors to their "Warmth" bronzing powder. I actually like the foundation color better- less orange. It has a little bit of coverage too, I think- and is just a good base. I use this on my whole entire face just to warm it up prior to bronzer and blush. I use a lot of bronzer. I am pale. 

MAC eyeshadow: This is the best. Super concentrated. Not that expensive. All the best colors. I have tried other stuff and I always go back to Mac. There are a few I always have: Vanilla, Satin Taupe, Trax (my very first color from them. don't know why I remember that.), Folie, and a few others. Right now I use a satin, cream-colored base (I would go see which one, but it's in my room where McKay is sleeping), All that Glitters, and Folie. I always use three: light (all over), medium (crease-down), and matte dark (corner crease). ALSO, I use their Vanilla shadow sometimes as a setting powder for concealer. The pale whiteness of it matches perfectly with my pale skin! ha! But if you can find the perfect color, it's seriously awesome because it's so concentrated and it stays. I actually don't really need that with the Nars stuff though. 

Elf eyeliner & shimmer stick: These are like...one dollar? So cheap! I like simple, thin, black eyeliner with a little swoop on the end- so this is perfect for me! I love the applicator. The shimmer stick I use along my lower lashes and in the corner of my eye. I don't use eyeliner on the bottom so this helps to brighten and open my (tired mom) eyes.

Too Faced bronzer: Love this stuff. I used Mac bronzer for forever, but I actually like the color of this much more. It's less orange. I put it in my cheeks, along my hairline, and brush it on my chin and nose. You have to get the darker one though. The lighter one was even too light for me...and I am light. And it smells like chocolate! Fun when you're not pregnant. Kind of gross when you are. 

MAC blush: I use the color Melba and it is my favorite blush and color I have ever owned. And I am picky with blush. The lady told me it looks good on everyone. I think she was telling the truth!

Mascara: I like the cheap mascara. I have tried some of the expensive ones and I always go back to the cheap. I usually jump around the Maybelline mascaras with the big fat brushes. I used Full & Soft for about 2342 years. Right now, I am using the one up there. I tried the "wonder" mascara from Sephora with the spandex brush-on layer (I think it was Too Faced) and it sucks. I always brush on a coat, let it dry, curl, and then brush on another coat! It makes them semi-stay. 

The end! That is seriously all I do.

Oh! And BONUS- One weird thing I have always done with my eyeshadow: when doing my eyeshadow, I always take a square of toilet paper, fold it in half, and place it along my lower lashes. Then I brush on all my eyeshadow. I then flip it again (to the clean side) and do the other eye. It totally keeps my eyeshadow in place! Then I blend the clean line with a brush.

Now it's the real end. 

If anyone has any equal or better suggestions, please share! (or weird tips)

I am serious. We all need them. 

Child Feeds Birds...again!

My very favorite thing to do with Jax is to feed ducks (/seagulls/crows/etc.). Maybe it's because he's so cute throwing entire slices of bread, or eating the bread while feeding the birds. Or maybe it's because I'm just boring and this is the only activity I can ever thing of. Regardless, we went to the beach on Monday night for family night and it was great! The seagulls were kind of being snobs- sitting way up high and not coming down for any of our bread chunks. At the beginning, Jax and McKay gave up- and went to play on the playground- but I was determined. I went to the grass and stood there, throwing bread and mentally forcing the birds to the grass. And guess what! They came. I felt like mother nature and I told McKay that I was her. hahaa. But it didn't last long, and soon the birds just flew away again. Spoiled, snobby birds. Then Cody came and met us, and instead of feeding the birds, he molded chunks of the bread into little hard balls and tried to hit the birds. After that, we tried to look for crabs- but no crabs! And then the boys threw rocks into holes in the logs and challenged me to get my rock through the hole, which I DID. I seriously did! But of course, I was the only one who saw it and no one believes me! But you guys do right??!!

In other news:

Baby has been kicking! Pregnant girls/moms- do you ever lay on your stomach (which I guess kinda squishes baby) just to feel baby kick?! I have been doing that so much lately! It makes me so happy, but  I'm not sure if it's mean or not. Also, McKay thinks he felt him, but I don't think he did yet. He just pretends to feel stuff, and about 15% of the time, he says "was that a kick?!" after an actual kick. Can't wait till he can really feel him.

We have got to get Jax's bed time routine under control. I have never been one of those read-all-the-books...force-a-schedule-moms. I kind of always felt like I'm a stay at home mom! My day revolves around the baby, so they can sleep/wake when they want! NOOOOOOOO. The other moms are smarter. I am not talking anything harsh, but more like try and up the bedtime, naptime, and wake time. Jax does not goes to bed until about 10, which forces me to have my "me" time until about 12/1 in the morning (I require a lot of me time). And that doesn't even allow time for "us" time. I sometimes sacrifice me time for us time, but 80% of the time, it's a combo which means cuddling + zoning out. Sooo my point is, is it too late to have a 7:00 bedtime?

I am going to post a belly pic soon. As soon as there's a day that I get dressed in actual clothes.

We Are Having A Little...

We went in for the ultrasound earrrrrly this morning. My appointment was at 7:30am, which was kind of killer because yesterday I (of course) got the first bad flu I've gotten since like high school and was throwing up all day long. Last night McKay even slept on the couch because he couldn't stop coughing and I could not get comfortable. But miraculously, we woke up, and were both able to shower and get to the doctor's office...EARLY...which is kind of another miracle in itself. 

The ultrasound technition checked every single other thing before telling us the gender! It took sooooo long. Finally, she was checking the baby's stomach...so I knew we were getting close. All morning (and for the last few months) I have been telling myself we already know...we already know...it's going to be a girl! We even had a baby girl name picked out! This pregnancy has just been SO different than Jax's, so I thought for sure, the baby was going to be a girl. Plus the heartbeat was faster, and a couple other (unreliable) little things like that made me really really think we were having a girl. But THEN, my husband who seems to always point things out, even before the doctors said "umm...is that the...??!!" Yes it was. A boy private part. And the technician agreed with him and I just sat there in shock and excitement kind of thinking waittt...wait. what??! 

We are so excited for another little boy. I can't believe we are going to have two sweet, hilarious little boys running around our house! I am so outnumbered now. But after having Jax, I truly think that little boys are the best thing in the whole entire world. I was going through pictures of Jax as a newborn this morning (so crazy to think about what this one will look like!) And look at those little pouty lips! 

There are a few things we are worried about. McKay's #1 worry is having to go through another baby circumcision. I wasn't there for Jax's, which I am so grateful for. I am worried about what colors to do for the newborn pictures. For boys there are like...two options. And we are both worried about a name. We seriously have NO IDEA. I am worried about their missions. Because if they both leave when they are 18, I will be depressed for four straight years. And the other thing I am worried about is them moving away to where their wive's families are from. That just seems like what most boys do. If I have all boys, will I be the favorite grandma to any of my grandchildren? 

Anyways we could not be happier! Oh, and baby boy is measuring big. So they bumped my due date up four days! YAYYYY!!! 

Start to Finish

I'm bored. McKay is still sick. It's 11:41 and I am going through photobooth on my computer. It consists mostly of pictures of my family, with randoms of my brothers doing faces with the weird morphs. Some while I was giving birth with me laboring in the background! ha
We find out the baby gender on Friday. I am not freaking out...yet. I thought this week would be so slowww. Like SO. SLOW. But it's not! At all. Last night while we were in the car I did a scenario in my head: pretend that tomorrow you are finding out the gender! (That's what I thought to myself). And I got so anxious and excited! So I know that tomorrow I will be dying. But right now, I am thinking about baby number one and how big he seems- at the same time, I know he's not.
The very first picture up there is the very first photo I ever took on my computer. It was when McKay and I were just dating- not engaged yet. We were trying to "study" in the lounge of my apartment complex. Don't worry, we weren't making out. I don't even know if I had let him kiss me yet. Probably not. It may have been the day of the most sneaky cheek/lip kiss ever though. That was my very favorite shirt he wore. It was the shirt he wore the day he ignored me in the school library playing hard-to-get and the shirt he wore when he proposed.
The very last picture on my photobooth is of a squished banana in my carpet (which I actually posted on this blog...see how exciting I am now?!) So instead, I chose an almost-last picture.
I keep thinking about how our family has grown. All starting with two people who didn't even know each other four years ago. It is just crazy to me. From that, to a tiny baby boy and an even tinier baby on the way. I keep looking at Jax and wondering how it will be possible to love another little person as much as I love him. Then I was thinking about my mom and all her kids. And I just think that if I have that many kids and I love them all this much than my heart will probably just explode and I will die.

*correction. we WERE engaged I guess! I had a ring! haha

Being Mom

The night before Mother's Day, McKay got sick. He had gotten home from a campout that morning, and by the end of the day- had chills, a sore throat and "neck throbs." We drove home from my mom's house that night and in the car he said Ali, talk to me and distract me. My neck is throbbing now... ugh. my throat...etc. etc. etc. 

I have a problem with sick husbands.

I mean, honestly, I  have the problem. I get totally unsympathetic when they start describing their pain. Not in a feminist "I gave birth! Your flu symptoms are ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!" kind of way. Just in a please no... not the body-jolting coughs, play-by-play of the symptoms, acting like you're dying thing- kind of way. And I know. Definitely something I need to work on. But this is my blog and for the sake of documenting and remembering exactly how I was at 23, right before Mother's Day, I will be honest. So in response to his request of tell me stories to distract me, I replied, can I just turn up the music and you can listen to that?

We pulled into our garage, and after we got McKay situated in bed, Jax and I took off to Target to get toilet paper and Airborne and milk. We were both in our pajamas and I think I said, Jax...sit on your bottom please! about seven hundred times. In keeping up with tradition, we also opened yet another box of juice that we hadn't yet paid for. And in keeping up with our newest tradition, another lady told my child to "be careful" in the cart. After which I spent probably five minutes thinking of rude responses that I will (hopefully) never say. 

The next morning was Mother's Day. McKay got up and brought me breakfast in bed. He has this way of always pulling through, no matter what personal needs he may have. And he made some really really good crepes, which I am craving as I type this. We went to church and sat together where I silently prayed that I would feel the baby kick- and I did! THREE TIMES. And McKay and I had those this is truly all that matters. THIS is what life's all about moments all day long. 

Someone gave a talk on mothers during the meeting (of course, it was Mother's Day!). But what I really really loved, was that he began his talk by saying how hard it was to talk on Mother's Day because of the sensitivity that the day really should be approached with. My favorite thing I heard him quote was this:

Some women give birth and raise children but never “mother” them.  Others, whom I love with all my heart, “mother” all their lives but have never given birth.  Therefore, we must understand that however we accomplish it, parenthood is the highest of callings, the holiest of assignments.
-Patricia Holland, A Quiet Heart

and while searching for that, I found this:

 I believe mother is one of those very carefully chosen words, one of those rich words—with meaning after meaning after meaning. We must not, at all costs, let that word divide us. I believe with all my heart that it is first and foremost a statement about our nature, not a head count of our children.

-Patricia Holland

Two true and important statements that I really love and completely believe. Also, two things that make me wonder and hope that I doing enough.

Being a mom to Jax has been the best, most rewarding, special, sacred, and fun thing that I have ever done in my whole entire life. Lots of moments are very sweet- like when he grabs my face with two hands and turns my head to watch him shoot a basket. And lots of moments are a little hard- like when we are at Target and he's screaming at the top of his lungs and chucking everything he can reach into our cart. But both kinds of moments are moments I truly truly love and am so very grateful that I am having. I love picking him up out of his crib in the morning. I love how his favorite time to cuddle is when he is in a towel after his bath. I love how he sings along to our music in the back of the car. I love to watch him play with his dad/best friend and to know that I get to have the two cutest and sweetest boys for eternity. I love how he climbs onto our counter with me when I am doing my makeup. I love how he walks around in our shoes. I love how he pushes a chair to the counter every time we are in the kitchen. I love how cute he is when he is frustrated. I love how he always wants "juishhhh." I love how concerned he is when someone is sad. I love how much he loves my siblings. I love hearing him jump in his crib after a nap. I love being tired when he goes to bed, knowing that I am tired because I have a little boy who wears me out. I love pushing him around in carts at stores- even when he is standing- because for some reason, I always feel so happy and lucky to be pushing Jax. I love bringing him to places that I know are going to be awkward- because I know I have my little best friend with me at all times. I love his cute bare legs running through our house when he is only in his diaper. I love when he falls asleep in our bed. I love holding his hand and going on walks to find dandelions. I love listening to him say prayers, and watching him squint his eyes closed for as long as he can. 

This time in my life, right now, is my favorite part of life I have ever been in. 

I love my husband. For lots and lots and LOTS of reasons. But one of the very top reasons is because he has always worked so hard so that I could stay at home with our kids. I love him because of that dad he is. I love that he always puts Jax and I before anyone or anything. I love that I don't know one other person (besides my mom) who would sincerely be happy giving their spouse or children everything they have and work for. And that's what McKay does. Every single day. 

I love my mom. I love that she is my best friend. I love that she calls me 20 times a day and leaves a voicemail EVERY SINGLE TIME I MISS A CALL (haha, kidding, I don't love the voicemail part). I love that I don't remember one time in my life that my mom has gone and bought something for herself. I have not one memory of her buying herself even one article of clothing. She lives and breathes for her kids. I love that she listened to us and our feelings the whole time we were growing up. I love that she apologizes when she makes a mistake no matter if we are 2, 15, or 20 years old. I love that she doesn't judge anyone and will be a friend to any person in the entire world. I love that she is the only person in the world who knows the exact reassurance I need in any situation. I love that her food is still the only food that tastes good to me when I am sick and/or pregnant. I love that she gave birth to my five sibling- who are my favorite people and my best friends. Growing up, I always thought I had the best siblings ever, and as I've gotten older, I've realize that it's true- times about a million! 

So in conclusion to this long ramblement (word I think I just made up), here's to the babies who made us moms, the mothers who taught us to be moms, the husbands who let us be moms, and the women with enough love in their hearts to be mothers to children they didn't give birth to (and yes, that even includes you- lady at Target who tried to mother my child who was standing in his cart. notttttttttttt.)

Jax Meets Uncle

I didn't mean to completely ditch this blog. I actually woke up today and missed it. It's just, the past week has been insane. INSANE. I even forgot to pay our insurance bill, which resulted in a $10 late fee this morning. bummer. 

oh well.

MY BROTHER CAME HOME FROM HIS MISSION. 

My brother who was gone for 50 2 years in New York! I guess two years isn't really that long, but it IS. Especially when during that two years, you get a new nephew...which is what happened in this fam! Before I begin, I have to explain the "Astrid" shirt. When Cody left on his mission, we didn't have a name yet for Jax. So my brother gave him one- Astrid. Which is what he called him until we named him Jax, and sometimes even after we named him, I think. 

We all got to the airport before he landed, and to the spot where we thought he would be. Here is the first group pic before everyone else got there. 

My insanely-excited mom who called me 23423 times the days before to say "I AM JUST SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN CLEANING (/crying in) HIS ROOM!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!" Sometimes I didn't answer on purpose. And my brother Jared.

Brother Chadders & Jax

Stepdad Ron, Jax, & Cody's best friends & brother

Grandpa & Jax...and also grandpa, Jax & McKay waiting/getting concerned that Cody hasn't walked out yet. Also, I think this was the (NOT)smart airport worker who told us we were waiting in the wrong spot...

So this whole entire group (plus myself, dad, grandpa, stepdad, aunt, etc.) RAN downstairs to the baggage claim where he "would be coming up to."

Once we got to the baggage claim area, we waited and watched. I was really worried- because just a week and a half before, my brother wrote me saying I had this dream that no one was at the airport to get me, except for dad. Everyone forgot. But a lady was there waiting for her husband (who was on Cody's flight) so we felt a little reassured... until she screamed "Oh, my husband's over there!"

They had come out of the first exit we had been waiting by.

SO THEN WE RAN.

I got there before my mom...but like a good daughter- I let her hug him first. 

Here's our mom & dad & CODY!!!

hugging grandpa and meeting Jaxers* for the very first time. 

Our brother is home.

two years is long.

but Chad, if you're reading this (my brother who will leave in August). It goes by really fast. :)

*Picture me telling you this story in person and taking a deep breath right now. So Jax. 

I was so excited for Cody to meet Jax. Almost as excited as I was to see Cody myself. But my sweet child could not contain his emotions/overwhelm-ment, and for the next two days with Cody, was the biggest whiner he has ever been in his life. It was not like him and I just wanted to say, I promise I promise I promise you have a cool, hilarious, happy nephew. I don't feel like I get annoyed as a mom that easily, but I have to be honest and say I was kind of a little annoyed. A homecoming for a missionary is hard. They miss their mission. They miss the people they served. And they miss the work. And not to make this about me, by as an older sister, watching my brother go through that (and continue to, even now) is hard. So I really wanted to make everything I could control in the big transition easy and perfect. But at first, the Jaxers was not easy. 

But then, after two really chaotic days, Jax took a NAP and he woke up a different child! And ever since then, he and Cody have been the very best friends. We have even have had two sleepovers so far and it is like Cody was never gone. 

And one more thing. He is available. So if any of you girls are of marriage age, or have little sisters and you/they like boys who are gentleman, funny, cute, athletic, returned missionaries, spiritual, hard workers, andmuchmore, he will be at BYU-Idaho this fall. Oh, and he likes country music and plays guitar, which is always a plus. 

But you should know, I am kind of picky. In a good, big-sisterly kind of way.