B in Real Life

6/04/2012

We're Making Progress Babies!

One more day to enter to win The Swimsuit Lesson. Click here to enter!!
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It's happening. Very, VERY slowly...but it's happening.

My girls are growing up.

I suppose it was bound to happen one of these days, and I suppose I am suppose to say something like..."make it stop!" or "where did time go?!" or "I don't want my babies to grow up!!"

But I won't. Because I like it.

You can follow me on Instagram : Binreallife

I like seeing Q have a little more self control over her temper (I could learn a thing or two from my hot tempered Italian toddler, she's really starting to reign it in!) and CeCe is coming out of her timid shell and trying out some new skills...like talking to pupupupeople and eating something other than french fries (waffle fries count as "different" right?).

The past few days I have seen it. Progress. Growing Up. Hallelujah!

The other day I heard the girls talking to each other in the kitchen (these little conversations are a new thing...it's really adorable to hear some of the things they say to each other). On this particular morning, CeCe told Q that her "tummy hurt" and Q said "oh...I'm sorry CeCe!"

It may seem like a small and inconsequential moment to you, but to me it was BIG. It was evidence that God is working in my tantrum throwing, Cheerio stealing, hair pulling Ankle Biter's hearts. Praise the Lord!

And here is an adorable video of the girls playing together....which is also a new and glorious thing! This past week was the first time I have ever seen them play together. Woo Hoo C and Q!

And if you are feeling a bit nostalgic (or just think Q and CeCe are stinkin' adorable) check out some of these posts from the past two and a half years with the Ankle Biters:

The Evolution of a Tantrum
Happy Adoption Day!
CeCe 13, Q 0...an EPIC Easter Egg Hunt (for CeCe)

6/01/2012

A Whole New World...{or at least a mantle}

Did you know that mantels totally stress me out? I think I have mentioned that before...but just in case you forgot...THEY TOTALLY STRESS ME OUT!

And that is why until this week, it still looked like it was Easter in my house.

After countless hours (I may be exaggerating a bit...) of "a little to right....no, to the left...too much...back to the right now..." I finally got the mantle vibe I was looking for.

Layered, casual, and a bit imperfect....

I typically have an allergic reaction to using fake flowers...but the little lavender stems worked for me...and so did their $1 price tag at Hobby Lobby.

And look what Super Nana gave me as a Mother's Day gift....the chippy corbel I fell in love with in Iowa. She had it shipped to me! She's an AMAZING gift giver. Thanks mom!

And look at those Ankle Biters...aren't they precious little darlings? This picture was my Mother's Day gift from Mr. Baby Daddy. I already had the frame. It as black, so I used some of the homemade chalk paint that I used on the gold mirror, put a little antique gold Rub and Buff (I LOVE that stuff!) over the paint, and abracadabra...it's a new frame!

What do you think about the off-center picture? Does it drive you nuts? Some days it's totally drives me nuts...but some days I like it....I think I like it today. Seriously, what do you think?

5/30/2012

The Swimsuit Lesson Giveaway

Have you heard about The Swimsuit Lesson?

It's a really amazing children's book that addresses sexual abuse issues. Here are a couple reviews that I read on Amazon:

*The Swimsuit Lesson is the best book I've read so far that addresses body safety for young children. The book addresses the issue in the 3rd person, telling the story of a mother who talks with her children about the area under their swimsuit. The lesson is simple enough for a young child to understand and is non threatening (not addressed directly to child reading the story).

*This book made discussing sexual abuse with my 6 year old very easy. The story is great, and the parent's guide answered a lot of questions I had. I highly recommend it!

After reading the book myself, I totally agree! The author does and EXCELLENT job presenting a very serious issue in a way that is light hearted and easy for children to understand. The parents guide that is included in the back of the book is a wealth of information for parents.

I am so thankful to have this resource to use with Q and CeCe and super excited to be able to give one away to one of you!

Here is my first attempt at a video blog (or vlog for you savvy bloggers out there) where I share a little more about The Swimsuit Lesson.

Please share about this giveaway on your own Facebook/Blog. The more mamas that know about this resource the better!

Here is the Amazon link if you want to purchase The Swimsuit Lesson.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5/29/2012

Howdy Y'all

We spent the week in Texas at Poppa and Gramma's house. The internet ain't so fast in small town Texas, so I was forced to take a mini-vacation from blogging. Sniff. Sniff.

Here are a few pics from our time in Texas.

Poppa and Gramma live on several acres and the girls LOVE to go out to "Poppa's Jungle" and see the sights. Like big grasshoppers, lizards, and of course...

Do I look like a country girl? We were getting ready to take a mule ride ("mule" meaning glorified go-cart, not the animal) to check on the cows per Q's request...she was very concerned about the cows and thought that we should go check on them at least twice a day.

It's really beautiful land. And for about three minutes I considered what it would be like to live in the country...and then we saw a BIG four foot long snake...right then and there I vowed to be a city slicker for the rest of my days.

The End.
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The winner of the Cottage Collective Gift Cert. is Robbie Thomas! Email me Robbie! binreallife@yahoo.com

5/22/2012

You're Going to Like This One....

I have a really fun giveaway for you today!

One lucky reader will win a gift certificate to one of my VERY favorite shops in all of the great big Wichita universe...

You totally know don't you...

I told you it was a fun giveaway!!!

Yep, one of y'all will win a $20 gift certificate to The Cottage Collective!!!

I'm trying out a new giveaway format...hope it works well for you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can see some of the goodies I purchased at The Cottage Collective here & here.

5/21/2012

Real Life, Real Homes: Kitchen Heaven.

Last week we got a sneak peak into Jennifer's home when we toured her daughter's ADORABLE bedroom.

A Classic & Unique Girls Room

If you thought the bedroom was stunning just wait until you see her kitchen. Honest to goodness, it's one of my favorite kitchens I have ever laid eyes on...

You know that I have a thing for white cabinets right?

I love the cup pulls on the drawers and those red knobs make me squeal a little bit!

I could learn a few things in the accessories department from Jennifer. How does she make a pig + gumballs + cookbook + toille lamp work so perfectly in the same space?

And then there is the brick.... pure bliss....

And last but not least...one of the best things about old/character houses....

Built-in shelving! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

You may remember the brick floors in our old house that I loved dearly... guess what, Jennifer was responsible for those pretty bricks! Before it was my old house it was Jennifer's old house. Yep, that cute, old house that we use to live in...she was responsible for all of the cuteness. I remember walking into it for the first time and saying to my real estate agent "do you think someone actually lives here? It's so beautiful! I feel like it should be in a magazine."

Something that I appreciate aboutJennifer's style is that she mixes old and new together so seamlessly, which you will see more of when we tour the rest of her home. Check back Wednesday to see more!

**Also, if you have a home or a room that you would like to see featured, send me an e-mail with a few pictures and a brief room description. I would love to feature homes of all different styles!**