Thorns and Roses (and the zoo!)

Last Thursday morning I got a call from Michael - which actually kind of freaked me out. He NEVER calls during the day. Well turns out he just wanted to take a break, ha! So we ditched our to-do list and roamed the zoo for an hour!

And Lydia was stoked. Let's be real, Daddy's her favorite. He comes home from school and they immediately jump on the bed and wrestle and tickle and I'm just like, "Sheesh sorry I'm so boring all day Lydia!" ;)

ALSO THE SEA LION WAS TOTALLY SHOWING OFF FOR US!

Moms kind of get the stinky end of the deal when it comes to discipline! Because when I'm home all day I have to be the one to say No we can't step on baby brother's head and Stop we don't smear banana into the window and If you keep whining you're going to Time Out! 

Speaking of Time Out, I remember reading (long before I had kids) about its alternative - where instead of making the child stay by themselves, the parent took the child to a special corner for Time In, and the two of them cuddled and bonded and talked about what went wrong and what behavior to change. And I totally vowed to my pre-parent self to never use lame Time Out and always cuddle and bond with Time In. HA! Joke's on me! Time In is clearly for those with a higher tolerance for whining and/or less than two kids. Sooo we're re-instating regular Time Out and hoping it starts working pretty soon ;).

My last Thorns and Roses was back when Cannon was just a couple weeks old, see it  here! Can't believe I already have a two-month-old. Pretty soon he'll be crawling and I'll be baby hungry again. 

(Kidding!)

Thorns: 

- You know your yard looks terrible when 3 people (including the mailman) stop and make comments, and ward friends start offering to come mow your lawn. SORRY EVERYONE! So embarrassing. 

- K this is medium creepy but at the zoo we went to the ape exhibit for the first time, which in and of itself is pretty surreal since we look so similar - hello 98% same DNA! The ginormous ape is staring right at us, we're both checking each other out, then he gets up and starts heading towards us, and then BLAH just throws up and starts picking through it and eating it!!! Grossest/weirdest moment of my life. 

- OH and Lydia's started taking off her diapers. So that's fun.

Roses: 

- Cannon is such a champ!! (Not to be confused with chimp, ew.) Literally he is a whole new baby. I think God at first was like, "Annika you can handle a hard baby!" and then after watching me struggle for a few weeks he thought, "Just kidding, you can't!" and totally took it all back. Cannon is pretty much a dream. He smiles all day and puts up with Lydia's constant desire to take out and re-insert his binky.

- Working out in the basement with two kids is hilarious, so I'm tacking it under Roses because I'm sure I'll look back and laugh. Lydia thinks my heavy breathing equates to hurt, so she keeps running over to give me kisses - HA! And then she tries to feed me plastic food in between lunges and demands to only listen to Frozen music, which clearly makes for a very hard core workout.

- And although the med students are crazy busy (and all us wives are dying at their insane schedules), the countdown is on baby!! Less than a month until we get an ENTIRE 10 DAYS with no school! We cannot wait. 

Tee: Nordstrom, similar  here

Denim: Madewell  here (favorite jeans I've ever owned!)

Sweater: Free People, similar  here

Hat: Piper & Scoot, similar  here

Shoes: boutique, similar  here

Stroller cover: Covered Goods  here

9 Minute Makeup!

Ever since I was little I've been in love with makeup! I begged my mom to buy me makeup tutorial books and I spent hours studying them (pre-Pinterest days were rough ;) ). On Saturday mornings I'd get home from tennis practice and spend a good 45 minutes experimenting with different makeup looks before hopping in the shower and washing it all off. And I loved doing friends' makeup for high school dances too!

These days I keep my makeup fairly simple because A) that's more the style and B) NO. TIME. EVER. Like if it takes me longer than 15 minutes to get ready it ain't happening.

So I present... my 9 Minute Makeup Routine!

(I just typed 9 Minute Makeout Routine - that sounds interesting too! Maybe a later post? ;) )

Also I'll link all the makeup I use at the bottom.

So here I am bein all vulnerable for you, bare faced and all. My main goals with makeup are to tone down my red skin and bring out my eyes. 

Also pregnancy left me with these awesome dark spots around my face - chloasma! Hopefully they just fade on their own?

So I start with a fresh face and put on a thin layer of moisturizer with SPF (I like Trader Joe's!).

Foundation. 

There are a few areas I really believe are worth the extra money, and foundation is #1. A good foundation makes all the difference! I'm obsessed with Estee Lauder's Double Wear - I wear Ecru in the winter and Desert Beige in the summer.

A brush makes foundation go on much smoother than fingers! And I've used everything from Bobbi Brown to Mac to e.l.f. brushes, and honestly they kind of are the same. Save your dollaas!

I pour a tiny amount of foundation onto my brush (you can always add more later!), and then make 5 big spots on my face - see above. Then I make circles with my brush to evenly spread out the rest. Make sure to carry the foundation down to your neck a bit and to your ears!

Ta da! The longest step is done.

Concealer. 

Here's the second place I splurge. I'm currently loving MAC's ProLongWear concealer, but I've also had success with Dior's concealer and Bobbi Brown's tinted eye brightener. 

Again I squirt a tiiiiny bit onto my brush, lightly dab it under my eyes, onto zits/especially red zones, and on my eyelids. Then I make tiny light circles with the brush.

Concealer makes a BIG difference for this tired mama!

Bronzer.

Bronzer gets a bad rap - if used lightly I think it's awesome! Hello fake cheekbones! I just use a cheap NYC bronzer, and haven't had any problems with it being too orange.

I lightly swipe bronzer into the hollows of my cheeks up toward my ears, then across my hairline and around the bottom/underside of my jaw and neck. Ooh and down the sides of my nose! Hashtag big nose. 

Speaking of noses, don't mind my gross crusty nostrils. I was deathly sick two weeks ago when I shot this.

Eyebrows. 

So I've finally found my ideal eyebrow pencil! It's taken me years to find something I love. MAC's Brow Sculpt wax pencil is bomb. I'm using Taupe.

Lightly (lightly!!) make small strokes to fill in brows.

Eyeshadow.

My eyelids are already primed with the concealer, so I swipe a light shade under my eyebrows, and a darker shade across my lid. Nothing fancy. I used to use like 3 or 4 different eyeshadows for my crease, inner eyelid, etc etc. But these days I'm all about simple. 

I like to save a bit of money here and just use Sephora's eyeshadow. They're half the price of MAC's and work great. These are both shimmery, but I'm also a huge fan of using matte shadows on my lid. And with blue eyes I wear lots of copper/brown/taupe shades.

Lashes. 

So normally I don't have lash extensions - like I do here. These were a one time Groupon baby gift to myself! So typically I use a drugstore liquid liner, Wet n Wild actually makes a great $3 one! And then any drugstore mascara, currently I'm liking L'Oreal.

Lips!

I've recently rediscovered the importance of lip color! For a while there I just swiped on chapstick. But a 10 second lip color really can make your whole face look alive, and bonus it makes your teeth look whiter!

Here's another area I save - no one knows if you're wearing $20 MAC lipstick or $2 Wet n Wild lipgloss, as long as you pick non-tacky colors. 

And there we go!

Granted this post probably took twice as long to read as it does to actually apply my makeup. I promise it's quick! Just face, eyes, lips and done!

And an honorable mention goes to...

BB creams, blushes and highlighters. 

On days when I don't even have 9 minutes to do makeup, I brush a bit of this BB cream on my face and feel a teensy less red. Also there are a ton of beautiful blushes out there, but typically I'm just trying to stay away from adding more pigment to my face and I forgo it. Though I do occasionally dot a bit of this e.l.f. highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and down my nose to add some glow. 

Now go snuggle your babies or head to work or run to Target feeling super hot!

SPF Face Moisturizer: Trader Joe's (here, but don't buy it from Amazon! Way cheaper in store.)

Foundation: Estee Lauder (here) 

Concealer: MAC (here)

Bronzer: NYC (here)

Brow Sculpt: MAC (here)

Eyeshadows: Sephora (here)

*Also love Bobbi Brown's Toast (here) and 

MAC's All That Glitters or Woodwinked (here)

Eyeliner: Wet n Wild (here) or Bobbi Brown (here)

Mascara: L'Oreal (here)

Lipgloss: Wet n Wild (here)

BB Cream: Covergirl (here)

Highlighter: e.l.f. (here)

Dress from Dwell & Slumber (here)

On-the-Go Snacks

These days I feel like I do most of my eating in the car. Ha! By the time I get Lydia breakfast, feed Cannon, work out, shower, and get all three of us dressed it's like 10am and we're rushing out the door for some activity. And by then I'm starving! So I've curated quite the list of on-the-go snacks. Anyone who hangs out with me knows I always have at least 2 adult snacks in my bag at all times - plus 3 kid ones - so basically I'm a walking vending machine. Because if I'm starving and don't have food I'm way more tempted to drive through Chik-fil-A, but we are poor! So snacks it is :). Here are my current grab and go favorites, typically paired with an apple/clementine/etc : 

Individual Beef Jerky Packets (here)

HEART EYES. This is my all-time favorite road trip item (along with a huge diet coke and leggings and The Format CD). But I never have time to measure out single servings from a bag, so these packets are perfect. High in protein while low in fat, carbs and sugars. Bam!

Think Thin Bars (here)

These guys are fantastic! I'm so glad there's a new wave of low sugar high protein bars out there - so many of the old "protein bars" had as much sugar as candy bars! Think Thin makes snack size bars, like this Cupcake Batter one (soooo yummy), and also bigger bars that can count as a breakfast or lunch. Other flavors I like are Lemon Delight and Chocolate Fudge.

Pure Protein Bars (here)

Another brand of great low sugar bars. These ones are more filling than Think Thin bars in my opinion! Good flavors include Chocolate Deluxe and S'Mores - and my mom always buys the Chocolate Coconut ones but those are weird so stay away ;).

I also love Oatmega bars! I think I ate one of these every single night the first few weeks I had Cannon and I was starving all the time, haha.

Trader Joe's Individual Nut Packets (here)

I wouldn't deem these as a health food but they're great to throw in your bag! TJ's as tons of different trail mix combinations, some with just nuts and fruits, some with chocolate, some with yogurt bites, etc. And again I'm all about the individual serving sizes! 

Yogurt Covered Raisins (here)

I'm a sucker for anything mini - these tiny boxes clock in at 60 calories, so even though they are straight sugar I don't feel too bad about it. And bonus it can be either Lydia's snack or mine, depending on who's hungrier! ;)

Energy Balls (recipe here) 

Michael requests these every couple weeks! They really are the perfect in between snack. Definitely dense in nutrients and calories, so go easy on 'em!

String Cheese

When I don't want something sweet, like most of these listed, I grab a string cheese or Babybel. Trying to please my inner 6-year-old.

Or of course you can always just grab a dark chocolate peanut butter cup and bottle of Coke Zero at 9am and call it a win! No judgement here :).

So there are some of my go to snacks as of late! And then I really try and pack in veggies at lunch and dinner to make up for the lack of produce in the morning. What do you guys like?? I always love new snack ideas since I feel like half my life I'm snacking, so lay it on me! 

I Got Dressed {Sale Finds!}

The last few months several people have messaged me asking for advice about managing finances with a spouse in medical school and kids! Which always makes Michael laugh because I am definitely the spender and he is for sure the saver ;). But I really have improved my spending habits! We now look back on when we were first married and both had jobs and refer to those as our "rich days," haha. With our current budget I've had to make a lot of adjustments, so I'm working on a post all about helpful money saving tips if you're in a similar situation.

One thing I for sure do (that most people do anyways!) is always shop sales. Nowadays it seems like there are promotions going on all the time! 40% off everything, 30% off clearance, Buy One Get One Free, etc. So it is just plain silly to buy anything full priced. (But of course don't just buy something because it's on sale. I've been known to do this...)

At the end of every season I raid the clearance sections of Target, Old Navy, Gap, H&M and Zara to hunt down kids clothes for the following year! 

For example, I found Lydia's dress last August for $5 in the Target Clearance section! And her shoes were part of a sale they were running a few weeks ago.

I spotted this dress on sale at H&M.com way back when I was pregnant with Lydia. And the second I saw it I knew it'd be perfect for a new nursing mama - adjustable tie waist and buttons down the front! So I hurried and snagged it for $7. Score! 

(My shoes on the other hand were given to my by my little sister who still lives at home aka still has lots of parental funding ;). )

But if you're patient enough you really can find discounts - or knock off versions - of everything!

My dress: H&M old, similar here

My shoes: ASOS here

Lydia's dress: Target old, similar here and here

Lydis' shoes: Target here

Cannon's sweater outfit: Gifted

The Best.

I am going to somehow open an online med school so everyday can be like yesterday.

Three awesome hours of church followed by an ENTIRE DAY of Michael to ourselves. Daddy-daughter tickle fights. Smiles and coos from Cannon. Slobbery cookie kisses. Adorable toddler renditions of nursery songs. We caught Lydia kneeling and whispering a prayer all to herself! My heart.

 And after we put the kids down Michael and I even got to sit in the backyard and watch the sunset as we talked about nothing and everything.

Yesterday was perfect.

Monday you're not quite as nice but I forgive you!

Chicken & Veggie Honey Kabobs

Whenever my mom asked what I wanted for dinner I'd always tell her shish kabobs. I don't know why but I love grilled chicken and veggies. And bonus - it's healthy! As long as you don't totally drown your chicken in bbq sauce - like me ;). I'm a sauce girl. Not to be confused with a saucy girl, but I'm probably a little of that too.

First up, chop all your veggies and chicken.

Then mix together the marinade. This one is so simple and delicious! We made it for friends last summer and they loved it too!

Marinade your veggies and chicken anywhere from 2-24 hours.

Meanwhile soak your skewer sticks.

Then thread your skewers and grill away! 

Mmmmmmmm my fave. Serve with grilled pineapple and bread.

Chicken & Veggie Honey Kabobs

Ingredients: 

- chicken breasts

- bell peppers

- onions

- zuchinni

Marinade: 

- 1/2 cup canola oil

- 2/3 cup honey

- 2/3 cup soy sauce

- 1 tsp minced garlic

- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions: 

- Chop chicken and veggies into bit-size pieces 

- Place chicken in one zip lock and veggies in another

- Whisk together all marinade ingredients in a large bowl

- Pour half the marinade into the chicken zip lock and half into the veggies

- Marinade in fridge for 2-24 hours, flipping occasionally 

- An hour before grilling, soak skewers in water

- Preheat grill

- Thread chicken and veggies onto skewers

- Discard chicken marinade, save veggie marinade

- Grill skewers and brush with remaining veggie marinade

- Enjoy!

Recipe from Allrecipes (here)

Newborn Schedule - 7 Weeks!

Cannon is 7 weeks old! And quite frankly he has not had the easiest time adjusting to earth, ha. Week 1 was a breeze (sleep sleep sleep), and then weeks 2-5 were pretty brutal (see posts here here and here). But guess what? The last week has been so much better!! Not amazing, not perfect, but we are definitely on the upswing! Knock on wood :). So I just wanted to share what we've been doing so I can look back and remember, and maybe it will help one of you guys too!

The most impactful change as of late is my night routine.

At 7:30pm (right after I put Lydia down), I now feed Cannon 4oz of formula. And guess what? I don't even feel mom guilt about it anymore because it's working! And I am a 100% better mom when I can get at least 4 hours of sleep, and if formula is the key to that then so be it! Haha. Also I give him his reflux medicine at this time.

Next I do the basic night routine: change his diaper, pajamas, swaddle, white noise, sing a song - and whisper to him to sleep till 4am! I'm a little superstitious ;). I put him in his pack n play and leave. On dream nights he falls right to sleep. Most nights I have to go in a few times and put in his binky. But either way I get a couple hours to myself! Clean, dishes, blog, laundry, whatever.

Then at 10:30pm I do a dream feed. The goal is to feed him without waking him up! So I pick him up in his swaddle and keep all the lights off and feed him as much of another bottle of formula as he will eat, typically 2-3oz. Then I don't even burp him or unwrap him, I just lay him back in his bed. And then I go right to sleep!!

He wakes up to eat anywhere between 2:30-3:30am, and I nurse him in bed with all the lights off. I try and make sure he at least gets one full side before letting him fall back asleep. If he wakes up earlier than 2:30 I don't feed him - I let him cry a little, put in his binky, etc. I want him to learn that he is not going to get food any earlier than 2:30.

Then on good nights he doesn't wake up again until 6:30am! I nurse him, change his huge diaper, and by then Lydia usually wakes up and we start the day. If he wakes up before 6:30 I do the same thing as before - just give him a binky, let him cry, if he's really screaming I'll rock him. But I try not to let him eat before 6:30.

So I totally realize this sounds like what normal newborns should be doing on their own. But for us it's a huge improvement!!! If that gives you any idea of how bad it was before ;). A few weeks ago he was waking up to eat every 1-2 hours the whole night. Yikes. So my next step from here is to stretch out the middle of the night feedings and let him cry until closer to 4am, then 5am, etc. But at least for a couple weeks I don't wanna mess with this new good thing!

Then throughout the day I try and stick to a typical 3 hour eat-wake-sleep cycle. Usually I nurse him around 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and then again at 6pm before his formula bottle at 7:30pm. At this point he's awake for about 1.5 hours at a time and then takes a 1.5 hour nap.

9am - eat, play
10:30am - nap
12pm - eat, play
1:30pm - nap (which is perfect because Lydia naps right then too!!)
3pm - eat, play
4:30pm - nap
6pm - eat, play, bath
7:30pm - bottle, night routine, sleep
10:30pm - dream feed bottle
3am - nurse
6:30am - eat, play
8am - nap

If we're running errands in the morning he usually stays asleep in his carseat for 2+ hours, but I don't stress about it and just make sure he has lots of awake time in the afternoon (aka no long errands!).

This whole post is kind of common knowledge for new moms, but it took us a while to actually get on this schedule even though I tried so hard! I think most of that had to do with Cannon's inclination to snack, so he never got a full feeding which resulted in him being hungry ALL DAY. Boo. But now that he's bigger and eating better he can go the full 3 hours throughout the day and longer at night. Halle-freaking-lujah!

Any tips from other moms out there?? How did you stretch out the middle of the night feeding?? It's amazing, Lydia's only 20 months old but already I've forgotten so much. I'm not sure how long she was giving me in the nights at this point, but we eventually did cry it out at 4 months. It'd sure be nice to avoid that if possible! Ha.