I recently did a review on Piggy Paint via my vlog. Long story short - super awesome eco friendly nontoxic nail polish. If you go right now and watch, you still have time to enter the giveaway included with the review. (Now being early Friday morning, November 3, 2011.... this afternoon, I am announcing a winner.)

Ever since I had a little girl, I have day dreamed about all the girly fun stuff we can and will do together. While playing with this product, I got to live out one of those day dreams. We had SO much fun painting our nails and goofing off together. I loved it. I loved it so much. I made a video of our nail painting session to include with the review but it ended up being much more than that. I think it beautifully captured a fun moment between a daughter and a mother - Sophia and I.

So, I am sharing it with you. Since this was part of a review, it does showcase Piggy Paint, but that is okay since it was their wonderful product that led to this mother/daughter evening. =)

So we pretty much celebrated Halloween from Friday to Monday, Monday being the actual day of Halloween. I love love love that Sophie was so into it. She never got scared but recognized that things WERE "scary". She would tell us something was scary and then giggle in delight. She totally got the fun of it.

Friday: Trick of Treat at Daddy's Office

Saturday: Zoo Boo

Monday: Halloween

BTW, I love Halloween. =)

lv,
C

Blast from the Past: Kyle and I at a Halloween Party in 2008, dressed as June Carter and Johnny Cash. We were mimicking a pose from "Walk the Line", hehe. =)

10 Weeks. It has been 10 solid weeks since I had Grayson and things still feel out of sorts. There still isn't a solid routine or schedule. Our bedroom is still a temporary (I hope) baby squatting zone. My house is still in a state of "I had a baby and can almost -but not quite- keep up with the clutter" mess. And my belly still looks 12+ weeks pregnant.

Okay, more like 18 weeks pregnant.

But anyway. Here is the kicker.

It is okay.

Yes, I am coming to the realization that this seemingly off balance lifestyle may actually be -gasp- perfectly level.

And completely foreign to me.

Only it isn't, because if I really look back far into my memory, I can distinctly remember the same feelings after I had Sophie. Yup, I felt the same way after having my ONE baby. Oh, poor naive past Courtney. Future Courtney wishes she could tell you how much simpler things are with just one.

But to get back on the subject, I am finally reaching that point where enough is enough and just like I did after Sophia, I am slowly stepping it up and getting my life back onto a track that I feel comfortable and more in control of. And who cares if the new track is a lot bumpier than my past tracks?

The scenery is so much sweeter. 

lv,
CH

I owe this blog a real post but in the meantime... =)

 

Love,
Go Team Hale

Here is the Original Hospital Packing List as well as My Personal/Adjusted Hospital Packing List. The actual hard digital copies are also available in OneNote and Word formats for you to download. Hope they help! =)

Also, Click on the links below to watch the What's in Our Hospital Bag Series of videos! 
Hospital Bag for 1st Baby
What I Actually Used from the Hospital Bag: The Mom Stuff
What I Actually Used from the Hospital Bag: The Baby and Partner Stuff
Hospital Bag for 2nd Baby: The Mom Stuff
Hospital Bag for 2nd Baby: The Baby and Partner Stuff

The Original Hospital List -
Click to Download Original File:
OneNote Format
Word Format

Click to Download Original File:
OneNote Format
Word Format

• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Makeup Remover Wipes
• Lotion
• Straight Iron
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Body Wash
• Body Puff
• Body Spray
• Chap stick
• Gentle Laxative

At this moment, my ankles/feet most closely resemble this guy's:


But don't worry... my puffy no-ankle feet haven't driven me to demolish any cities like he is doing.

Yet.

;)
lv, Court

So over the past few months (and by few I mean, like the last 8), I have noticed that Sophia is becoming much more of a little girl. A lot of us parents recognize these seemingly overnight transitions from baby to kid. I can't help but focus a lot on something specific.


 





Her Legs.

Her legs are turning from baby to girl and have been for awhile.












I think her tall frame meant she lost some of that adorable baby leg chub pretty early on. This doesn't bother me, so to speak, but... I notice it. All the time. Those little girl NOT baby legs.






Oh well. Little girl legs also equate to more of this:


(and they are still MY little girl's legs)

lv,
Court

Red Velvet

So I have never done a review/giveaway. I figure that everyone else does them so why bother? However, I found this product that is simple yet genius that I am LOVING so I befriended the owner and BAM. Giveaway time!

I am a cami girl. You kind of have to be when you are sporting D's (pre-pregnancy) and like people to look at your face. The more weight I lose the worse it gets b/c my ladies stay mighty but I need smaller tops and... well, you are looking at some indecent exposure cleavage. I actually have never thought of myself as that modest but for some reason, I have never been cool with the girls being too out there. Plus, camis can really add some cuteness to certain outfits. My sister is the same way. She is also addicted to camis.

Now that I am (very) pregnant, the issue is even more grand... double DD grand. I pretty much wear a cami with 85% of my wardrobe. That is all well and good, but there are certain situations where the camis are kind of annoying. When I wear them with a dress, I DESPISE the line you can see at my waist or hip line through the fabric. And now that it is very, very hot, sometimes I just can't stand one more layer to deal with (especially when I am already dealing with full panel maternity pants).

But that leaves the ladies, out there for the world to enjoy (or be offended by).

Do you all want to know an embarrassing secret? A few weeks ago, I went on a hunt for those cami secret tops. You know, the ones that are just triangles of fabric that clip to your bra? Yup, the "As Seen on TV" ones that look like something my Grandma may wear. Let's just say, they didn't deliver. They don't stay in place and the fabric doesn't look like a cami.

So that brings me to a product that I was actually excited to find.
I know. They pretty much won me over by their name as well. What are they? They are half camis. See, I told you it was simple but brilliant.


I can tell you from personal experience, that they are comfortable, stay put, and actually look like a cami under my clothes but without the bulk. They come in flavors instead of colors. (Oh, the cuteness!) My favorite is the white chocolate mousse because it goes with all my bright summer things.

So now for the giveaway part. You can enter to win one Cupcake Covertop in any flavor and size through this Friday (May 27) by noon CST. Simply:
1. Visit Cupcake Covertops on YouTube
2. Subscribe to their channel
3. Leave a comment telling them Court from KyleandCourt or Go Team Hale sent you! =)

I will be keeping a list of all those that enter and using random.org to pick the winner. This is open internationally. =)

If you are like me, and feel like you never win anything, than I have another perk for you. I talked to the owner and they agreed to do a "Go Team Hale" special where you can get a three pack for a discounted price. Huzzah! This special is only good for one week from today (May 24), so head over to their site Cupcake Covertops soon to order yours. (Just look for the "Go Team Hale / KyleandCourt Banner/Shopping icon via the main page or the "Shop Online" page.)

Black Forest Cake

Black Forest Cake

Red Velvet

Red Velvet

Red Velvet

Red Velvet

White Chocolate Mousse

White Chocolate Mousse

White Chocolate Mousse

Lv,
Court

PS: I usually wear these over my bra just like you would with a real cami but.... they are just supportive enough, that with certain tops I can totally get away with just wearing them alone under my shirt and going bra free which feels pretty great in this hot weather. Don't judge. I am very, very pregnant.  ;-)

Yup. I gave my child a hunk of frozen chocolate to teeth on. And I regret nothing. Do you see those circles under her eyes? She was tired, in pain, and short tempered.

So was I.

Hooray for chocolate!

(It worked.)

lv,
Court

So I am in total Go Mode! right now, which is actually a pretty happy place for me to be. I am a planner at heart and this is like my pass to go planning/check list crazy.

I kept putting things off until after the shower b/c I didn't want to get much until then so as not to buy duplicates/have too much of something/etc.

It is exciting to push forward and get this stuff done and it is crazy that Grayson will be here before we know it.

lv,
Court

Sounds fun, right? *sarcasm* I had the beloved 1 hour oral glucose test today. Last time I had orange, this time fruit punch. Which one was better? I don't know... it was a toss up. They aren't as bad to me as they are to some people but I don't enjoy them. And come on! It is hard to drink anything quickly the way you are suppose to drink them, blech! Below are some embarrassing screen shots stolen from the video I shot documenting the downing of 50 grams of basically sugar. =)