Blogtember

I've seen people do blog challanges and I've always wanted to do one. I'm hoping that when I complete one it will get me into the habbit of blogging every day, which I obviously have a problem with. I've honestly just thought the ones I've seen are really lame and boring. I finally found one that I like, Blogtember!

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Here are the rules:

1. There really aren't any rules. If you miss a day, you can make it up or skip it. The blog police will not come knocking.

2. I will be including a linkup option at the bottom of my post each day, so you are welcome to leave your links here for others to peruse, as well. 

3. You can still post other things every day, too. I plan to do normal outfit posts, life posts, around-Austin posts, and sponsor posts just like usual.

4. I'd seriously love you if you also include the "Blogtember" button (below) either on your sidebar or at the end of your posts, but again, the blog police will not come knocking. My main goal here is to get us all back to the basics of blogging, not to gain a million new readers (though I wouldn't mind that). 

5. Here are the topics. You can be as creative and awesome or as boring and bland as you like with these. Take 'em and run with it. Use creative post titles. Interpret each "prompt" however you like. There's no wrong way to do it. Have fun.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!)

Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered. 

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Friday, September 13: A self portrait

Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

Thursday, September 19: Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: "To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century."

The story does not necessarily need to have a conclusion - you can leave your readers wishing for more!

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort. 

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.

Wednesday, September 25: Write about a time you screwed up - a mistake you made. 

Thursday, September 26: Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloadingOmmwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

Friday, September 27: An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you'd like. (but don't include people's real names.) 

Monday, September 30: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

I'm A Mommy.

(Before I get started, I would like to point out that I got the idea for this post from Ledoux Sands. I'm so in love with her blog, she writes such interesting things and her little girl is ADORABLE!)

We all know I'm a mommy. I have been since the day I found out I was pregnant but "mom mode" never fully kicked in until Rylee decided to make her grand appearance. So many things in my life has change, some in ways I expected and others not so much. However, they are all for the better.

I know I'm a mom because...

-I would much rather spend time at home with my daughter than anywhere else. It used to be that if I was home on a weekend, I was sick. I was ALWAYS out with friends or TJ. I hated sitting at home all day. My life was all shopping, bonfires and goofing off with my friends. Not anymore.

-I don't drink to get drunk. I don't even like the idea of getting drunk anymore. It used to be that the only time I drank, was to get drunk with my friends. Now, I like drinking a bit here and there, a beer or two or a glass of wine but its not like it used to be.

-Poop doesn't gross me out. Neither does vomit, spit-up, urine, drool or anything else that can come out of the human body. In fact, her pooping is a positive thing that I get happy about. Being a mom has made me focus so much on what comes out of her, how often and what it looks like. Other moms will understand. I'm immune to being grossed out.

-Routine is a big part of my life. Rylee has a set routine to her day and her night. If things don't go along with routine, it throws her off and she winds up staying awake until 2am. No thank you! Not if shes going to be waking up at 6am every day. I cant handle that kind of sleeplessness.

-I'm awake by 7am every. single. day. Rylee is usually an early riser. At one point she slept in until 9 and I thought she was dead. I never used to be awake before 11. I LOVE my sleep. I used to sleep about 10 hours a night, now I'm lucky if I get 6.

-Waking up several times at night is no longer cause for alarm. If I woke up more than once in a night, something was wrong. I was either sick or someone was about to get murdered for keeping me awake. (Seriously, I LOVE my sleep) Now, Rylee wakes up once or twice a night and its totally normal. I'm now starting to naturally wake up around the time she does, she eats and we go back to sleep.

-I dont shop for me anymore. Almost everything I buy is for Rylee. Seriously, the only things I've gotten myself in the last three months is a Redbull here and there. When we have the cash, I'm always buying her outfits and bows and toys. I have a problem.

-Redbull is a must. Seriously, I'm so exhausted 90% of the time. If I don't have caffeine in my system, I'm a wreck all day long. 

-Nothing makes me happier than a fresh can of formula or a new package of diapers. That stuff is like gold in this house. I hate running low so when I'm stocked up, I'm super happy.

-Hot meals don't exist or if they do, its quickly chomped down to the sounds of a baby crying. (Can you say, dinner and a show?) I don't know the last time I got to sit down and actually ENJOY a hot meal.

-I'm always doing laundry. I'm convinced that clean clothes are a myth. Between me, Tj, and Rylee the hampers get full in a day. Especially now that shes teething. (Drool everywhere!) On the other side of that, dirty clothes no longer bother me. I used to have to look clean and fresh every time I go out. Now its like, spit up? who cares? I don't have enough clothes to change into 5 times a day!

Rylee has made my life amazing! Shes only been here three months and I couldn't picture a time without her. She's my entire world and I wouldn't change this life for anything!

Diaper Duals

There are a rediculous amount of diapers out there. Some of them aren't so great. When I was pregnant,  I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which diapers to use. I bought one of each brand so I could try them all. I found out which ones worked which ones don't work.

Huggies: I just bought the basic huggies and I hated them. They were the only diapers that Rylee had a blowout in. Which is ironic because they have a guard on the back to prevent blowouts. I thought it was just a random blowout but after talking to a bunch of people, they've all had the same experiences. For me, Huggies are a no-go.

Pampers Baby Dry: These are great for overnight. They are super absorbant and made to last up to twelve hours. All you need are the smallest package and it will last you over a month. You don't need to change your baby every time you get up to feed them.

Parents Choice: These are the Walmart generic brand. They aren't my top but they're cheep and they work. They have bears along the outside and they disappear when they come on contact with urine. Its nice because you don't need to guess when it comes to changing diapers.

Luvs: Luvs was my second favorite. Theyre cheep, and they work really well but thwy don't have the lining that shows when diapers need changing. But, that's really the only flaw. Other than that they're pretry great.

Pampers Swaddlers: These are my favorite!  Theyre absorbant, Rylee seems more comfortable in them and they have a yellow line that turns dark blue when its time for a change. I collect the points on the boxes so that's also a plus!

What diapers do/did you use and why? I'd love some extra imput. What other brands should I try?

Photo Update 8/3/13

Upcoming posts

A few days ago I was taking photos on my Iphone for a post I was working on. The day before yesterday I wound up getting a new phone and lost all of those pictures.

I've once again fallen into that pit of terrible blogging but I promise I will be back. I have lots of news and things to talk about and I can't wait to share!