Life is Beautiful

Motherhood, Sewing, Family

National Doughnut Day

~ Etc.

My son and I went on a mother-son date while the sisters were at school. We went to Provo Bakery and got donuts for the two of us and also for grandma and grandpa. 

Then we went to the library.

After the sisters were done with school, we went to Krispy Kreme. I was nervous going by myself with 3 kids because I knew the line would be ridiculous! But it actually moved really fast and it wasn’t a nightmare like I had expected. The secret to surviving with 3 kids is you always expect for the worst of the worst. Like imagine the kids would be screaming and crying hysterically, the dog would poop right on the sidewalk as we wait in line, one of them would throw up, my son would lift up my skirt flashing everyone to see, you get the idea. Then the reality could only be better than your expectation right? Thus making it better than you had thought? Haha. Okay, I didn’t imagine it would be that bad, that was an exaggeration but you get my point. 😉

Wait what? you’ve noticed my son had a donut in the morning and he’s about to eat another donut? I will not confirm or deny whether him and I had two donuts that day or not. Never! And isn’t his t-shirt so appropriate for his cute face?

What you looking at?

Did you go get a donut too for National Doughnut Day? How many did you eat? 😉 And why are there so many National (insert whatever random food) Days? And how come I am just hearing about them in the past two years and never heard of them before? Also, who invents these days? Could I invent one too? Like National Popsicle Day? National no-electronics Day? Or National Pajama Day where EVERYONE goes to work or goes about the day in their pajamas? I’d be all over that one. If you could choose a National Day, which one would you choose?

Father’s Day Gift Guide for a Camp Lover

~ Etc.

This post is sponsored by Braun via Mode Media. All opinions are my own as always, thank you so much for supporting this blog of mine!

Are you good at gift giving? I feel I am pretty good when it comes to knowing what the other person might like but when it comes to my husband, I’m hopeless. My husband on the other hand is such a good gift-er, he always gives me the most thoughtful gifts which makes me feel terrible! Valentine’s Day or Christmas comes around and I usually pick out a gift frantically a few days before or like last year, I shopped for his birthday gift on his birthday. I didn’t even have time to wrap up the gift and just gave it to him. I am so romantic, I know! I had 364 days to plan for his birthday but, of course, I wait until the 365th day to go shopping for his gift. So I am trying to be better and I put a lot of thought and effort into making this list and had my husband in mind, who is very hard to please. Many of these he already owns (that we bought with our own money and not gifted) and love it so we can personally recommend most of these items, except for two items that I think my husband would really like to have.
1. Camp kitchen set. Doesn’t this kitchen set look awesome? Like any event or trips or parties, food is in THE top 3 most important factor for me. Always. And I don’t know why but doesn’t food taste so good when you’re camping? This kitchen set is not a necessity but I think it would make cooking more enjoyable and easier! This Camp Kitchen from Cabela’s.
2. Instant cabin tent. We recently bought this instant tent and this is a life changer! We didn’t even know such thing existed, it literally takes like 30 seconds to set up! We own two tents that are not instant ones and setting up the tent was always what took most of our time and was such a hassle. My husband took this instant tent when he went camping solo with our 3 kids and he said it was a breeze and so fast and easy. We want a 2 men tent, 4 men tent, and a 6 men tent also! View Ozark Trail 8-Person Instant Cabin Tent here.
3. Cast iron skillet. We own a cast iron skillet and it’s one of the best things we bought for camp. We can cook soups, potatoes, meat, fish, whatever we desire in this skillet. Cast iron is like fried foods. It always makes food taste better. Find this Cast Iron Skillet here.
4. Nixon watch. Because my husband only wears Nixon watches. This Nixon Waterproof Watch is sleek and waterproof and I think glass-shatter proof? My husband owns 5 Nixon watches and he just started collecting them 2 years ago, yikes. I keep telling him he doesn’t need anymore watches but there’s always new designs and colors coming out to tempt him!
5. Braun Series 7 Electric Shaver. An electric shaver would be a smart thing to bring to camp because of how easy and convenient it makes it for the men to shave! I hate when Movember comes around and my husband sports his molestache. I am not a fan of facial hair on my husband and love it when he has a clean shaven, smooth face. And saying we’re camping so I don’t need to shave is not a good enough excuse in my book, maybe next time we go camping I’d whip these out and surprise him with it so he has no excuse not to shave!
6. Molle backpack. My husband wears these every day to work and takes it with him when he goes camping or traveling. He loves that there are so many pockets and some are hidden and hard to find which he loves because he feels safe hiding certain items in the “hidden pockets”. I like the look of molle backpacks too, they just look manly and sexy! Click on Molle Backpack to purchase.
7. Disc-O-Bed. Is awesome. We bought ours 3 years ago and it’s one of the best things we ever bought for camping. It is easy to set up, sturdy, and super comfortable! I usually sleep on the bottom with one of my daughters while my other daughter sleeps on top and my husband gets kicked out and sleeps on the floor next to us. We want to get another one so that our whole family will be able to sleep in these comfortable beds. We have the older model but the newer model even changes into a couch! They just launched a Kido Bunk too which is exactly the same but in a smaller version for kids. View the Disc-O-Bed on their site.
Are there any other items that you love to take with you when you go camping? I’d love to know! We want to go camping end of this month and many more times throughout the summer and would love your input. Or do you not like camping? I feel like most women I talk to don’t like to camp. But I personally love it!
Braun Series 7 is the perfect shaver for the dad who has everything! Series 7 is the world’s first shaver with an active head oscillating at over 10,000 micro-vibrations per minute, helping to deliver the closest, most comfortable shave ever. It minimizes skin irritation by cutting hair extraordinarily close in a single stroke – for incredible closeness and comfort. Visit http://www.braun.com/us/male-grooming/series-shavers/series-7.html and you can save $40!

I’d love for you to comment on my blog!

~ Etc.

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I might have mentioned this before but one of the things I dislike about blogging is that I talk way too much about myself. In real life, I am a very good listener and love to ask questions about other people and listen to their stories. I always say people are the way they are, the way they think because of their experiences and  no matter how crazy one’s choices might seem or different from mine, if I take the time to get to know them and why they behave or think a certain way, there’s always a reason. There’s always a reason why people make certain choices that they do. I know my way or my views in life isn’t always right, and I love finding about other people so that I’d be more understanding and open-minded of other people. 

Awhile ago, someone left a comment on my blog and said something similar to, “I have decided to stop reading your blog. It has not been uplifting for a long time.” I appreciated her honesty and wished she would explain it further. But two things that came to my mind was 1. I write sponsored posts now. And 2. I don’t write about my thoughts and feelings as much. I have started earning money with this blog starting this past December and it’s been fun and exciting for me. I told you before, but my blog is a stepping stone to my clothing line which is a stepping stone to helping children in third world countries. I have been saving up the money to start my clothing line because for some reason, I want to start my business completely independently, I guess it makes me feel powerful and independent and self sufficient to be able to say I started a company using the money I earned for myself and not through debt or a loan or with the help of someone else? I am and always will be picky with what company/product I introduce you to and it’s only after I read and study up on the product  and love it that I agree to write a sponsored post. I turn down many such as just last week I turned down a tampon company, a phone app, a jewelry store, and a clothing company. Will you let me know when I write too many sponsored posts? I write 1-2 sponsored posts a week but I think 3 or more would be way too many. Or will you tell me anything I could improve on or write more/less of? I have a hard head and I can take it. I am very honest with people, sometimes maybe too honest, but as much as I give, I can take it also. And about 2. not writing much about my thoughts and feelings anymore, I realized why. It’s funny because I think about life and values and how I could improve as a person way more than ever before, but with 3 kids, at the end of the day, I am so exhausted the last thing I want to do is to think more and take the time to write down my thoughts. I just want to do something that needs no thoughts or energy from me so I eat and watch T.V. Haha. But like I said in my previous post, I feel like I am finally getting the hang of having 3 kids so I feel like I have more time for myself such as writing down my thoughts!
ANYWAY… so yes I am just talking more about myself. But one thing I would love to see change is I’d love for you to comment here about your stories! I want my blog posts to be a discussion, not just a one-sided story where I talk and that’s that. I read each comment and I love going to your blogs to find out more about yourself! I want my blog to be like a girlfriends hang out where I can listen to you and find out more about you. So please, feel free to comment with whatever that comes to your mind after reading my posts! 
And last but not least, tonight was not a good night. I made my kids cry, one of them cried hysterically as I told them I was going to put them in day care starting tomorrow and went on the computer to search for day cares(I don’t think there’s anything wrong with day cares, but for some reason my girls are scared of day cares). They came and stood next to me crying saying but mommy, I will only get to be with you for 2 hours after day care! I was set on sending them to day care because I was done. I was done asking them to do something over and over but feeling like I was invisible and no one cares what I say or do. Of course that’s not true but I felt like it when I cleaned their mess for over an hour but it still didn’t look clean which is so discouraging and I was stressing about Jay coming home and thinking I didn’t do much or I’m not a good stay at home mom. I told my two girls to clean up 3 times and they still were just walking around the house minding their own business. “Do you not have ears? Do you not see me, am I just invisible to you? Are you stupid?” Yes, I asked that last question. I quickly added, “I know you can hear, I know you see me, I know you are not stupid so why are you not listening?” But the girls burst into tears and went in their rooms. And Jay kept going into the rooms to try to make them feel better. 
We made up after I started crying while searching for day cares and saying, “I don’t want to put you guys in day care!!!” Then the girls came and hugged me and we cuddled as we all cried(good thing Jay and our son was in the backyard) together.  Then I made chocolate chip cookies and read books together and all was better. How grateful I am that kids forgive so easily. And even through all my imperfections and impatience as a mother, they still accept me and love me so much. I believe one of the reasons why God made kids so pure and loving and so quick to forgive is because so they would help the parents to grow. To make us keep trying. To help us to learn to forgive ourselves quickly also and dust it off and try again the next day. To give us hope in trying everyday. If the kids stopped loving us or gave up on us, would we try again the next day? 
So my question for you is, have you ever threatened your kids? Did it work? 😉

Exciting Announcement! Also, should you pre-wash your fabric before sewing?

~ Etc.

Thank you method for sponsoring this post. Try method‘s new laundry products today! Use the code THREEFORME for $3 off your online method purchase.Thank you method for sponsoring this post. Try method‘s new laundry products today! Use the code THREEFORME for $3 off your online method purchase.Thank you method for sponsoring this post. Try method‘s new laundry products today! Use the code THREEFORME for $3 off your online method purchase.

I mentioned this briefly in my post yesterday but I wanted to make an official announcement since I am very excited about it! I’ve decided to bring back a lot more sewing onto the blog! Remember when I used to post a DIY project every Monday? That was almost 2-3 years ago. I want to start posting once a week again, and make the blog’s main focus to be on sewing/creating/ DIY. It’ll mostly be sewing, but I will have home decor DIY, party DIY and things to do with creating. I will be posting about motherhood and family and things I’ve been up to, so it’ll have personal posts also, but the thing that you can count on when you come to my blog is that I’ll have a DIY project every week. I want to add videos as well! I am working on getting a few projects made right now so that in a month or two I can start posting DIY projects once a week on a set day like I used to! I’ve been craving to sew and I just need to make it happen instead of making excuses. And now that my 3rd child is almost two, I feel like I have a little more balance in my life and can do things for myself in the day. And my older two kids will be in school all day starting this Fall! So I guess you can say it took me 2 years to finally adjust to having 3 kids. Most of the time anyway. Okay, like 70% of the time.

These three fabrics above are some of my DIY projects that’s next on my list to tackle. What’s the first thing I do when I purchase fabric? I pre-wash them. I didn’t always pre-wash my fabric, I would get too excited to just get it started but I’ve noticed a lot of the times I’d make something that fits me perfectly to the T and then I’d throw it in the washer & dryer and the fit is different, usually a tad smaller than before, So I started washing it before sewing and I prefer it this way more. I washed these with method, mainly because the fragrance smells really good and I love how it makes my clothes smell. There’s a fragrance for everyone (fruity (ginger mango), floral (spring garden), herbaceous-woody (beach sage and fresh clover), and free + clear (no fragrance). But finding out that method detergent is 4x concentrated so I only need to use a very small amount and it’ll last a long time, and it keeps colors bright and whites white, and biodegradable and hypoallergenic formula makes me feel good about using it too. 

So should you pre-wash your fabric before sewing? I say yes! How about you, do you always pre-wash your fabric? Or do you just start sewing? 

Use code: THREEFORME for $3 off your online purchase at method.
Check out the ASOS X method collaboration & the ASOS Hub.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Sunday Best

~ Etc.

top| skirt | heels: F21(old but similar here)
To show you the beautiful lace details of the skirt, I had to make the picture a little dark but still then, it doesn’t do the skirt justice! This is my favorite skirt right now, maybe because my favorite color is white for the Summer. I went to church in this outfit yesterday and another girl was wearing the same exact outfit with light blue top, white skirt and nude heels. I should have taken a picture with her. 🙂
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