The kids are home all day and they want to snack all day.

It can be a struggle to provide them with easy, healthy options and that’s why I am so excited to tell you about NatureBox.

Even during the relaxing days of summer, there can be the busy days when you are running from one sports practice to another and you can’t go through the drive-through every day.

Here’s How it Works

NatureBox is a monthly snack subscription service that delivers their yummy snacks right to your doorstep!  Each month, NatureBox will send you 5 different snacks made from wholesome ingredients and are minimally processed.  These snacks have no high-fructose corn syrup, no partially-hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no artificial sweeteners, no artificial flavors, and no artificial colors.

PiggyToes + NatureBox = HAPPINESS

• Take NatureBox in the car as an easy snack
• Make NatureBox accessible in the pantry for your kids to help themselves to a healthy snack
• Divide portions into lunch boxes during summer camp
• Bring NatureBox to the pool, picnic or to munch on during your kids baseball/soccer game

When our NatureBox arrived at our doorstep, the boys were so excited to open the box!

Rocco’s (5) favorite- Guacamole Corn Chips

Roman’s (3) favorite- Raspberry Bars

Hubby’s favorite- Guacamole Corn Chips

My Favorite- Lemon Meringue Waffles

Visit the NatureBox website for this special offer:

Enter promo code: SUMMERSNACKS10

The promotional code expires August 31st, 2013 and is valid for new customers only and may only be used towards monthly subscriptions. Cannot be used towards a purchase of a gift subscription. Monthly subscriptions may be cancelled at anytime.

Hope you enjoy these new snacks just as much as we are enjoying them this Summer!

xo

*Big Thanks to NatureBox for sponsoring today’s discussion!*

It was Father’s Day morning, Mario took a morning nap and the big boys headed out to the bike store.  I logged onto my computer to write.  I started typing how much my father means to me, what he’s done for me in my life, how wonderful he has been to me all my life… I wrote about my husband too and how beautiful it has been to watch him become a father and raise our little boys.

I stopped writing and started thinking about some friends of mine who don’t have a father in their life.  My heart was heavy for them and for all of the people who I knew would be struggling on Father’s Day.  For those who have lost their father due to many different kinds of circumstances and would spend the day mourning their loss.  Crying.  Napping.  Wishing the day could be over with a simple ‘bippity boppity boo’.

While this was a happy day for me and many others to celebrate our dads, it wasn’t happy for all.

I logged onto Facebook to post a photo of the men I was celebrating this weekend… these men…

These wonderful men who I love more than words!

After I posted, I read one long scroll through the Father’s Day Posts and could feel the sadness that was out there.  There were many pictures of father’s who died.  The person posting wrote about their sadness.  They were remembering while many others were celebrating.  The quotes and poems and e-cards that were on their news-feed were just a little too much to handle so they were logging off for the day.  I felt for them.

I scrolled over some other names who I knew didn’t have a good relationship with their dad.  It made me realize that there were probably many people out there who didn’t want to celebrate yesterday.  Either because they are angry towards their father or because their dad was never there for them.  Or maybe because their dad never treated them the way a father should treat his child.  Or that they were abused.  Celebrating ‘that man’ was last on their mind and I could feel that too.  News-feeds can be emotional on days like this.

When everything is right and ok and ‘normal’ and good in our lives, we forget about how hard these ‘holidays’ can be for so many other people.  Just like many hearts break on Mother’s Day, there are many with an ache too deep for words on Father’s Day.  So this is for you.  For everyone whose heart is breaking as you think of your father, it’s important that you know…

You have a Heavenly Father who loves you.

Psalm 68:5-6: “A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…”

Regardless of where your father is, you have a Father who is always there for you, always by your side, who will always have your back and who will never ever leave you.  And that’s something to celebrate on Father’s Day!

xo

… and we took him with us ; )

The big boys spent the evening with papa & nana and I was so excited to have time alone with Bri and Mario.  While getting ready, I smiled when I thought about how I still love to dress for my husband.  I love when I show up, or he shows up and looks at me with his, ‘I think you’re pretty cute’ eyes.  I also love to put something new together for our date nights.  Something he hasn’t seen and something I haven’t exhausted.

This is What I Wore

It was a perfect Summer night and there was a little chill in the air so I opted out of a dress or skirt.  Our date was casual so this worked our perfectly.

I wore one of my favorite pair of earrings too; from Vianca Mercedes Collection… love!

And my flowy floral top was light and airy and super cheap ; ) $17.99 (<– Buy it here!)

Bri and I went to dinner at a new restaurant called Vivo – It was so delicious.  If you go, you have to get the beet salad… incredible, fresh, so much flavor and you’ll wake up thinking about it the next morning.

We sat outside next to the live band and the whole experience was just glorious. Watch a clip of the band here…

Vivo Live Band

Brian and I smiled at each other a lot over dinner.  I think we were so happy to sit in a restaurant together, listening to music and eating great food that smiling at each other said it all.

A smile says a lot.  Especially if you can read the person’s eyes. 

Bri said he could’ve stayed there all night.  Mario even slept a little over dinner too! (Bonus)

After dinner, we walked around a ‘Night Market’ nearby.  Oh, what a great evening.  Long over-do.  Date Nights are so important for a relationship.  I always say that to new moms and to my girl-friends and then we slip back into life and forget to take time away for just us, out of the home and away from the kids.  We’ll go months without a ‘real’ date. (By real, I mean, not walking around Lowes with Starbucks… haha)

Date Night gives you the chance

to flirt, to chat, to kiss, to eat, to catch up…

to reconnect.

Rule #1 after having a baby: Don’t forget about your hubby ; )

Thanks for watching the big boys, nana & papa!  Brian and I had a lovely evening out…

xo

Break out the champagne!  We officially SOLD our home. ’1046′.  The home where all 3 of our boys were brought home from the hospital to.  We’re crazy excited and I’m just overwhelmed.  Today, the boys and I took boxes out of storage that I had been saving.  I always knew this day would come but nothing can really prepare you for when it’s right in front of you.  I took about 25 boxes out and then looked around.  For someone who is so organized in her home, I didn’t know where to begin.  I looked around a little more and then had a Klondike Bar.  I sat in our sun-room and ate it while I stared into our kitchen, dining room, entry way… and became even more overwhelmed.  I took the last bite of my Klondike Bar.  Holy BeJesus; it was gone in a flash.  The fact that I just ate from stress scared me.  But looking around was scary.

Rule #1 of Packing.  Don’t look around.  Go to 1 room.  Pack 1 room.  Move on.

I broke that rule in the first 30 minutes and packed 2 boxes in the kitchen, 2 in the dining room, 3 in the office, 2 in the sun room, 1 in the boys bathroom.  Do as I say, not as I do.  I sat again in the sun-room.  I’m not getting far, folks.  I didn’t even make a dent.  I’m so beyond overwhelmed.  As I sat giggling at the fact that we will be homeless in 7 weeks, I realized that I packed things we’ll probably want and need as we approach moving day.  Things such as wine glasses and paper goods (plates, cups, utensils).

Laugh with me.

Then watch this and cry with me.  It was one of the things I did while procrastinating.

Yes.  I’m stalling.  For sure.  We just have SO. MUCH. STUFF.  Even though our future is unknown, it feels good to know that we are definitely moving on.  Freeing.  Scary.  Exciting.  We are ready to make our dreams a reality.

Dear hubby came home from work and the first thing he said was, “Why are you packing?”

*blank stare*

I swear, he said it.  All I could do was give the eyes (you know the eyes) and serve him dinner.  This dinner… Pasta with Shrimp & Peppers.  PIN it; it was delicious!

Ingredients: 1 lb. Rotini Pasta, 1 lb. Shrimp, 1 Red Bell Pepper, diced, 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced, 1 Yellow Onion, diced, 3 cloves Garlic, minced, 1 can Diced Tomatoes, Splash 2% milk, S&P, Parsley, Italian Seasoning, Parmesan or Romano Cheese Directions:  Saute Onion, Garlic, then Veggies in EVOO.  Add Tomatoes, splash of milk and seasonings.  Cook Shrimp in mixture last.  Add cooked pasta noodles.  Toss, and garnish with cheese!

That’s the scoop!  Back to Packing… I need to pick up more Klondikes.

xo

“3 boys!  WOW.  You gotta try for the girl now!”

“All these sons.  You need a daughter!”

“When will you ‘try’ again?”

“You have your hands full; are you done or will you keep going until you get a girl?”

Maybe I’ve talked about this before, but you see, these comments were said sooooo often when it was just Rocco and Roman and now it seems to happen even more with 3 little boys.  However, the only difference now is that my big boys are noticing.  And listening.  And you see, when you ask me those questions right in front of my little boys while they are sitting at the table watching you, it puts the idea in their heads that they aren’t good enough for me.  That a ‘girl’ is what we need.  A daughter.  How do I know that?  Well…

I didn’t think my big boys thought anything of those comments and concerns about us ‘trying again for a girl’ until I was putting them to bed.  Brian was downstairs working and I had them both in the same room to bath, get dressed, etc. when the conversation started.

My 3 year old son, Roman started it.

“Mommy?  Why do you need a daughter?”  Roman asked.

I gave him a strange look.  I was confused because the word ‘daughter’ didn’t sound like daughter.  He’s 3.  And doesn’t say that word too often.  I couldn’t make out what he was trying to ask me.

“What Roman?” I asked.

“When are you going to get a daughter?” he asked.

I understood this time.  He was saying ‘daughter’.

There was something about him asking me those 2 questions in his 3 year old raspy little voice that choked me up.  He said it almost as if he wasn’t good enough.  There wasn’t a smile behind his question or excitement there either.  I didn’t know what to say.  I didn’t know why he was even asking me this at 8:30pm before bed.  Rocco (age 5) wasn’t talking.  He was listening to Roman’s questions and waiting for my answer too. “Well…” I said.  “We’re not going to get a daughter.  And we don’t need a daughter.”

That’s when it hit me.

Roman heard the woman in the restaurant.  He heard her tell me that I needed a daughter.  That we need to ‘try for a girl’ now.  That happened around 11:45am and it was 8:30pm.  He’s been sitting on those comments all day.  Oh, if only I could hear or see what he’s really thinking and feeling.

“Well when are we going to have a girl in our family?“  Rocco asked.  Last night, I had to re-explain to my little boys about how we don’t choose if we have boy babies or girl babies.  That God has a plan for each and every family and right now, he sees fit that we have 3 little boys in our family.  That they need each other as brothers.  How they were given to each other to take care of one another and to love one another too.  How God saw fit that mommy and daddy raised sons.  And how we don’t know what our future holds but we aren’t in control of that either.

But here’s what I NEEDED my boys to know.

(and speaking of the word ‘need‘…)

There was a time in my life when I thought I needed a boy and I needed a girl.  I needed to have that perfect family of 4.  The girl for the mommy and the boy for the daddy.  And then I had Roman (our 2nd boy).  I thought I needed a girl but when I met my Roman, I needed him.  Oh I neeeeeeeeded him.  I looked him in his eyes in our blue bathroom and told him,

“You’re a boy Roman and mommy NEEDS you.  I don’t need a girl.  I need YOU.”

and then I looked at Rocco and said,

“And you are a boy too Rocco and I NEED you.”

and then I said,

“And Mario is a boy too and I NEED him.”

“See?  I don’t need a girl.  I need my sons, my boys!”

I told them that there are people in this world that think we need something, but they don’t know.  Only God knows.  And there are times when we think we need something but don’t really know what we need either.  Only God knows what we need.  I said, “God knew I needed you and he knew you needed me and I think our family is perfect, don’t you?”

To anyone who makes comments similar to the ones I typed above,

Please be cautious as to what you say in front of young children.  They hear.  They listen.  They become sponges and soak in everything you say.  I’m guilty of saying such things too but never again.  I don’t ever want my kids to feel that they aren’t good enough or that they aren’t what we need or we need something else to make us happy.  They are perfect in my eyes and just what we need.  And I see that more and more each day.  Each experience.  Each play-date.  Each time I ‘people watch’… These little boys.  Right here, under my roof are just what I need.

Goodness, think about how if everyone who has thrown those comments around would just say something in front of our kids, like, “What a great ‘clan’ you have!” or “3 brothers; that’s awesome!”… THEY WOULD HEAR YOU SAY THAT.  And just think of the thoughts that you would put in their heads and hearts.  How special they would feel!  I’m glad Roman said something to me as her comments were clearly on his mind all day.  And now he knows that he is perfect for us, he is just what we need and he is loved beyond measure.

Tell your kids you need them.  Not I love you…

I NEED YOU.

xo

I made this Banana Chocolate Chip Bread the other day and it was gone so fast that by the time I remembered to take a picture of it, there was one bite left!  This bite…

And now it’s officially gone.

The twist to this bread is one of the best baking short-cuts there is.  3 words…

YELLOW

CAKE

MIX

Let’s get right to it!

Ingredients

1- 18oz. package Yellow Cake Mix

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 c. Ripe Bananas, mashed

1/2 c Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Directions

Preheat Oven 350 degrees

Combine first 3 ingredients.

Add bananas and beat for 2 minutes.

Stir in Chocolate Chips.

Pour into 2 loaf Pans.

Bake 40-45 minutes.

This bread is sooo easy to make and sooo delicious; Enjoy!

xo

More and more, as I get older, I’m becoming a huge fan of jewelry too!  It’s something I was never really into, but now, I wish I had been collecting different pieces over the years so my collection would be bigger.  It’s growing slowly and this is one of my favorites…

I like the little knot and the ‘cracked’ strand on this solid sandal.  It adds something ‘extra’ to my PiggyToes!

I’m all about a simple, cotton outfit.

It’s perfect on a hot day, cute to run around in and jazzed up with some cool jewelry too!

So, let’s chat…

Body after Baby

I’m 14 weeks post-partum and have been working hard to get my body back after having our 3rd baby boy.

So many people have asked, “How do you do it?” – “What are you doing?” – “What do you eat?” etc. etc… Here are some of those questions answered.

It’s horrible to admit, but I don’t eat much in the morning.  I have gotten myself in a bad habit of eating late at night so when I wake, I’m not really hungry.  Therefore, I don’t eat breakfast a lot of days but I do drink coffee.  And may eat a few bites of the boys left over eggs.  Before the boys and I leave the house, I’ll grab a package of PB Crackers for my on the go snack.  I guess you could consider that breakfast.

For Lunch, I usually make a salad with chick peas, beets, lettuce, tomato, avocado, etc. -OR-  I’ll eat an assortment of things like hummus & cucumbers, salsa & chips, a handful of raisins, fresh fruit… and that’s lunch.

I drink a lot of Green Tea (both regular and decaf) too!

For Dinner, I have been making things like ground turkey taco salads, grilled chicken & veggies, hamburgers, fish and I love to roast & steam fresh veggies too.  I haven’t been cooking many starches recently and find that we’re fine without them!  I save the starch for pasta night which is usually a once a week thing!

Late Night Snack, I’ve been buying big bags of oranges and a few watermelons too so when I want something sweet; I’ll eat that.  Last Night, I ate half of a watermelon.  True Story.

EXERCISE

I would LOVE to get back into doing Jillian Michaels ‘Trouble Zones’ DVD but I’m still in physical therapy for nerve damage and I’m working through some of those issues and aches and pains.  Pilates is really the best thing for me right now, but aside from that, these are the things I’ve been doing during nap-time:

Yoga

30 minutes on my elliptical machine

Taking walks at night with the boys

~~~

Tell me, how did you lose your baby weight?

xo

“Sounds like your big brothers want cereal for breakfast!” I whispered to Mario in his ear.

Beau raced passed us down the steps forcing me to pause to make sure the staircase was open for just Mario and I.  This dog is known for getting tangled under your feet.  He was waiting by the door for me when I noticed a bird standing in the front lawn.  I opened the door to let him out.  “Go get it Beau!” I shouted.  He loves birds.  Or hates birds.  I’m not sure.  Either way, he chases them until their out of site.  I stood there for all but 35 seconds and Beau came gagging and shaking his way back to our walkway.  “Seriously, Beau?”  I said, opening the door.  “What’d you get?”

Then I realized this was serious.

Beau was groaning and screeching, shaking and twitching, moving his head and neck in odd ways.  Jumping backwards, panting, opening and closing his mouth.  Good Lord; this dog.  If he doesn’t kill me, he’s gonna kill himself.  I brought him inside and tried to open his mouth, he freaked.  I got a towel (don’t ask why) and held it under his mouth, rubbing his neck… he twitched and jumped and barked.  Then, he vomited something that had LIVE ANTS on it.  I’m serious.  And that’s when I was just ticked.

“Really Beau!?!  This is how we’re starting our day.  You ate something with ants on it and now you have ANTS in your mouth!  Dumb dog.”

Dogs are so smart yet so dumb at the same time.  When he couldn’t even run, but instead scurried under the couch on his belly, tail down, ears back, choking, barking, screeching, shaking, I became nervous.

I called the vet and they squeezed him in for an ER apt after lunch.

All morning, he just wasn’t right.  Every time he choked, his mouth would open wide and stay wide for some time.  I swore up and down that a dead bird or mouse or something was going to come out.  Nothing ever did but I charged the iPhones in case we were in for the afternoon.  “I mean, really Beau… you better give me a good story.” I said as I loaded the car.

All it took was Rocco pounding his hand on the metal table 4 times and Roman picking up a foreign object from the tile floor for me to sit them down and turn a movie on.

The Doctor took Beau back for an X-Ray.  “15 minutes.” he said.

This one couldn’t sit still.

Just like we were told, the Doctor came walking back in our room 15 minutes later.  I glanced up and said, “Please have something good for me.”

He laughed.

I was serious.

“NOTHING.” he said.  “X-Ray is clear. No foreign objects, animals, bones, etc.”

I glared at Beau.

“He probably ate something sharp that irritated his throat causing him to have a sore throat.”

No, really?

Rocco chimed in, “Roman gave him a cracker!”

Roman- “No I didn’t!”

“THANK YOU DOCTOR.” I said.

They swiped my card at the front desk… $200.00

TWO.  HUNDRED.  DOLLARS.

I almost wanted to spit on the receipt.  Or the dog… I couldn’t decide.

Both would have been inappropriate behavior for a mother of 3 boys though.

To the car, we went.

And just so you know, when we arrived home, I meandered over to an outside toy that I wanted to bring inside and I found chicken wing bones… amongst spit up.  (I’ll spare you a photo.)

And that is what was lodged in his throat.  BONES.  Stupid dog must have hacked it up while we were playing outside,

And of course had I known, I could’ve canceled our $200 trip to the doggy hospital.

$200.

~~~

xo

Pool Time = Happy Boys & Longer Naps – I’ll take it!

It took every ounce of energy to pack up towels, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water shoes, diapers, wipes, extra baby clothes, dry clothes, goggles, swimmies, BUT… we did it.  Brian and I.  While I have no clue how I’ll do this alone… You know, carry everything that we need from the parking lot to the lounge chair with 2 boys, bags, a stroller, I’ll figure it out eventually.  The struggle is worth the reward, right?  Once we got there, I put my PiggyToes on a lounge chair, lathered sunscreen on the big boys and off the went!

In different directions.

*insert screeeeech*

Ummm… wait, wait, wait!  We need a pool routine?  Rules?  Of course.  Because one can’t be in a stroller, one in a kiddy pool and one in the big pool all at the same time.  There’s no way.  *Insert meltdown because we have to take turns in each of the pools.*  Sometimes I just think that nothing can ever be easy.  Sometimes I just want to whine too.  Throw my hands down to my sides.  Cross them in front of my chest and whine/scream back in their faces, “Reeeeeeeeaaaaaallllyyy!?!“  I mean, I get it.  Rocco is completely ‘over’ the baby pool because he’s 5 and he’s super cool now and Roman… he’s cool too but he rocks the kiddy pool.  Loves it.  He even asked for a picture in front of it.

For real.

As anything, it’s going to take time to establish our pool routine, our rules for when we arrive and our plan for these pool days.  Mama is 1 and monkeys are 3.  Well, 2 + this one in the making…

In and out, up and down the steps, splash, splash, splash, time for lunch, ice-cream too.  We exhausted the pool.  They exhausted the pool.  I exhausted the lounge chair with my littlest love.

It was an awesome ‘first’ pool day.  1 small meltdown… we did good.

~~~

Going to the pool couldn’t be our only ‘first’ this weekend though… Fishing was on the agenda.  JOY.  Now you see, before mama became a princess, she used to cut worms between her finger nails so that she could fish with the boys.  True story.  Now-a-days?  You would never find mama doing such a thing.  Maybe if it were do or die.  Even then…

I’m sticking to the role of ‘photographer’.

Its by God’s grace that I don’t have some great story to tell.  I don’t want to have any crazy fishing stories…  By the lake.  With water.  And Rocks.  And Fish.  And flying Bats.  Stinging Bugs.  Sharp Hooks.  Our excursion was typical.  Load the supplies, drive to the lake, teach little boys how to fish, have some fun hoping and praying (I prayed), go home.  No one caught a fish.

Fishing with my iPhone…

Rocco only hooked himself once, Roman had a biter on his line but nothing held on tight, Mario was pleasant and happy as can be, Daddy was frustrated and losing patience with 2 excited boys and Mama was eaten alive… by bugs.  Of course.  Because I was the only one wearing perfume and didn’t know we had fishing on the agenda.

All in all, here are some tips for you that I learned from my weekend of ‘firsts’:

Get a LynnieBBags Pool Bag for the Summer.  They’re huge, they fit 4 beach towels and all of your pool necessities too.

Anthropologie and Pottery Barn latest issues are great.

Fishing is for boys.  Unless you like mud, worms, hooks, bats and falling objects from trees.

You can do more than you think with one hand.

To avoid 2am diaper changes, put your baby to bed in diapers that are one size up.

Watermelon is really good for you!  Low in Calories, Loaded with Vitamin C, Vitamin A and well, I won’t bore you with the details.  Trust me.  And this article.  It made me happy… especially after eating an entire bowl of it.

xo

I am so so so so so (did I say ‘so’?) EXCITED to introduce you to this hot new line… rubyray

When I first got my hands on these awesome bangles with fabulous stones, I had to have some of my own!  And of course, what kind of mama friend would I be if I didn’t share with you too?  First, let me tell you about my friend Julie; the lady behind rubyray.

She’s a mama of 2 precious kiddos, she’s down to earth, fun to be around and has such a cool style too!  Do you remember when I visited her and LynnieBBags at a local Mother’s Day event a few weeks ago?  This is Julie and I at her beautiful ‘show’ table at Tutto Bella!

Julie makes all of these bangles by hand with such fun beads and beautiful stones and they were selling like hotcakes.  She had to open an Etsy Shop!  There, you can find bangles for every occasion: formal, casual, springtime, summertime and she even makes bridesmaid jewelry and takes custom orders too!

Not only is Julie bringing us one of a kind pieces, but they are totally affordable at

$11 each or 3 for $30

I mean really, how could you not get 3 for $30… I love how unique this line is!

RubyRay Jewelry posts new pieces on Instagram too (@rubyrayjewelry); I can’t contain myself when she finds new beads that are to. die. for. and then makes sets like this with her finds… SO BEAUTIFUL!

*And, this… my sweet friends… is just for your PiggyToes *

Place a rubyray order on Etsy (<– right there!) and

USE CODE: PIGGYTOES10

for 10% OFF your entire order

(For example, get this set for 10% off today!)

~~~

BUT WAIT!

Before you go, you have to ENTER TO WIN this coral set (below) from rubyray!

I love an easy & awesome Giveaway!

To Enter, all you have to do is ‘Like’ rubyray on Facebook (And all other options are not mandatory)

Easy Peasy – ENTER NOW via Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo