Monday, January 28, 2013
Bad blogger..
Its been SO long since I have gotten on here to be able to blog! I am working on updating more often!
My new Business! Stella & Dot!
So I am sooooo excited about my new business as a Stylist for Stella & Dot! Read a little about the business and what I do :) Its so so simple and fun!
Jessica's vision called for an entirely new concept- an opportunity that combined the best of direct sales with the ease of e-commerce and social networking to create an oh so doable business more flexible and lucrative, fun and stylish, than ever before. All built on a foundation of irresistible product and exceedingly personal service.
Stella & Dot is a company inspired by and created for strong women- just like you. :)
About
Go to my website, www.stelladot.com/sites/blairmack and see the stylish, affordable jewelry Stella and Dot creates!
Mission
A few years ago, our founder and mother of two, Jessica Herrin, had a vision to create a new kind of company that would help today's busy woman thrive. As a successful entrepreneur, who co-founded WeddingChannel.com (yes, you saw her on Oprah!), Jessica wanted to use her talents to help solve the modern woman's dilemma. How to find a successful career you love that you can balance with a bustling life and family? Never satisfied with the status quo, Jessica felt too many of the existing home based business opportunities offered ho hum products, high pressure sales tactics, and limited marketing opportunities with a dated approach. Worse yet, far too many of these 'opportunities' just put inventory and supplies in people's closets, and no profits in their pockets.Jessica's vision called for an entirely new concept- an opportunity that combined the best of direct sales with the ease of e-commerce and social networking to create an oh so doable business more flexible and lucrative, fun and stylish, than ever before. All built on a foundation of irresistible product and exceedingly personal service.
Stella & Dot is a company inspired by and created for strong women- just like you. :)
Description
Why I love Stella & Dot:
I love the fashion, the flexibility, the fun and being a part of this amazing community of women. Stella & Dot is a social selling company that creates flexible opportunities for women to be work from home entrepreneurs. We believe everyone deserves great style, fun and opportunity in their everyday lives, and we're dedicated to providing it in a personal way. That's why we sell our line exclusively through friendly Stella & Dot Stylists online and at in home trunk shows. Customers and hostesses adore the style, and each Stylist is able to build their own flexible, modern business on a foundation of irresistible product and exceedingly personal service. Go ahead and indulge your friends in a little girl time and shopping by hosting a private party. You wont regret it!
Joining Stella & Dot!
Love the product? Starting your own Stella & Dot business is easier than you think! This is a ground floor company and it's growing exponentially everyday. Want to get in on the fun? I'd absolutely love to hear from you! Send me a message or email me at LizzybMack@aol.com
I love the fashion, the flexibility, the fun and being a part of this amazing community of women. Stella & Dot is a social selling company that creates flexible opportunities for women to be work from home entrepreneurs. We believe everyone deserves great style, fun and opportunity in their everyday lives, and we're dedicated to providing it in a personal way. That's why we sell our line exclusively through friendly Stella & Dot Stylists online and at in home trunk shows. Customers and hostesses adore the style, and each Stylist is able to build their own flexible, modern business on a foundation of irresistible product and exceedingly personal service. Go ahead and indulge your friends in a little girl time and shopping by hosting a private party. You wont regret it!
Joining Stella & Dot!
Love the product? Starting your own Stella & Dot business is easier than you think! This is a ground floor company and it's growing exponentially everyday. Want to get in on the fun? I'd absolutely love to hear from you! Send me a message or email me at LizzybMack@aol.com
Monday, May 21, 2012
Caroline's Birth Story!
9 months later.. I'm am finally writing down our story so we can always have it written down to remember each special detail!
At my 35 week appointment I had gone in that early morning to have my weekly check up and make sure everything was going smooth. As I got to the Doctors office I was feeling very faint and uneasy. My wonderful nurse came in and did the normal blood pressure reading and listen to Caroline with the monitor! To my (and everyone else's surprise) my blood pressure was very high. They made me lay down and hooked me up to the contraction monitor. No contractions.... but again, still high blood pressure. They said we would check it again next week and sent me on my way.
The next week, we went back....still high. I found out I was preeclamptic. It was really hard not knowing what that all meant, but my Doctor did tell me, as soon as I hit 37 weeks, they would have to induce me. Caroline would be 3 weeks early! I was excited to get to meet her sooner than we expected, but still very scared of the risk with preeclampsia. Ryan and I had to stay in the hospital for a 24 urine analysis the week before the scheduled induction. It was a nightmare! Half way through the night, one of the night shift nurses came in and dumped all my pee out in the toilet! I was SO mad! My nurse came in, apologizing over and over but informed me that I was have to start all over again! Finally, that was finished and we were sent home to rest for a couple of day. I was bed rest and had to lay on my left side at all times.
6:30pm on Tuesday night we were officially admitted to L&D and taken to our room. At that point we were told that if we were going to eat dinner we better do it quick because it would be my last meal for a while! At 8pm one of the wonderful nurses, Beeba, came in to check me and insert the Cervadil. When she checked me, I was dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced! We attempted to sleep in hopes that the Cervadil would work by morning.
Morning came. Nothing... We were sent home Wednesday afternoon and told to come back in Friday morning at 5 am and that I would not leave without a baby! This is bittersweet. I was ready to have this little girl but was so frustrated with all the induction and preeclampsia chaos. We went home and rested up for Friday! All the family was getting really anxious for the big arrival that coming weekend!
Friday morning, 5 am, right back into the same big L&D sweet. Round two, Cervalil. Friday night, they checked it...nothing. Caroline was clearly not ready to come! We tossed around some options as I was very emotional and crying just saying "Why is this happening? She's just not ready yet y'all!" - They knew my frustration and my lovely Doctor talked to me about a non medicated option of a "balloon". She said that its two balloons they fill up with water. One on the inside of the cervix and one on the outside. That they would keep filling up the two balloons with water to "manually dilated" me. She informed me that when it "falls out" I was at a 4. The inserted the balloon and we waited. I walked the halls..still no contractions or pain. I was doing good. Still happy and laughing; happy that things were starting to get rolling. It didn't take long for the balloon to fall out and that made everyone happy; IT WORKED!
6am Saturday morning, my nurse Dana came in and said "you know you will be a mommy today, right?" I smiled so big! I WAS READY! They started piticon and told me to keep moving and walking. I bounced on a ball, did yoga in the hallways, walked laps upon laps.. I was having contractions at this point from ehat we could see on the monitor, but no pain. Around 12pm, noon time, My Doctor came in the break my water. My labor immediately started! OUCH. I choose to do a natural, non medicated birth so I was bearing each contraction! My wonderful aunt was by my side, talking me through each contraction. Ryan was on the other side on the bed, counting the contractions to me.. "This ones almost over babe!" My mom was sitting on the end of my bed; I was kneading my feet on her leg ( don't ask, but it helped, haha). I progressed very quick. 2 hours into active labor, I yelled.. "GET ME AN EPIDURAL!!!" (I had told everyone before, if I ask for one, let me get through that contraction, then ask me again.) They all told me " No Blair, you got this. You don't really want it remember?" - So I pushed on.... after another 30 mins I looked at my mom and husband and said " I can't do 8 more hours of this!" ( All of my friends that had just had babies weeks before me all had very long labors, so I was sure I was going to too..and therefore, thought " I just need to rest before I start pushing.") My mom said, " If you really want one, Ill go tell a nurse outside." She went out, and came back with two nurses. They looked at me and said " Oh Blair, we are so sorry, but both Doctors and the anesthesiologist are in an emergency c-section; so its going to be at least an hour before you can get an epidural" - My jaw dropped. But, in the end, it was gods way of telling me that I was stronger than that and that I could do this the way I had always planned!
I kept bearing through each contraction and finally, about 2:30 kept saying to everyone around me " I feel like a need to push" My doctor walked in right after that and checked me. I was a 10! She was so surprised I went from a 4 to a 10 in 2 1/2 hours and with no medicine, I think she was proud of me testing my strength. ( I am a lot stronger than I think apparently!) She told me that no wonder I was hurting so bad, the last 3 centimeters are the most painful. Caroline was ready to come into this world! She turned the lights on, draped herself in the all blue scrubs, my sister was by my head, Ryan on my right and mom on my left.. I started pushing. The first push was just plain funny because I had no idea what I was doing! I had no where to put my feet except in my mom and Ryan's hands! I was pulling on their shirts.. And ripped both of them after push one. So, we laughed and had to figure out a better way for me to get leverage. They pulled up some handle bars and those works like a charm. Pushing was so so tiring; I was "growling" as everyone in the hallways waiting describes it! I kept anticipating, "I'm about to push a baby out and feel everything!" but, to my surprise, it was not painful at all. Contractions were the most painful part of my whole L&D by far. Four pushes later, WELCOME TO THE WORLD CAROLINE! She was the most beautiful redheaded, spitting image of the father I could have ever asked for. They laid her right on my chest, I was crying along with everyone else:) I remember the very first thing I said to my daughter.. "Oh my gosh you're Caroline...HI!" lol not the typical but it was so surreal seeing her, the little gymnast that lived in my belly all those months, that's just what came out! Ryan cut the cord, my sister was bawling and put her hand on my forehead while my mom leaned down, also bawling and kissed little "cheesy" Caroline, just a few seconds old. They cleaned her off, weighted her, and started swaddling her. Ryan stood over with her, smiling and crying in pure joy.
6 POUNDS 12 OUNCES
20 INCHES LONG
RED HAIR
BLUE EYES
We were all so happy. I couldn't believe I was a mommy and had the perfect ending to a long few weeks prior. I had had the birth I had planned all along. I did it all natural and was so unbelievably proud of myself. Ryan was so in love and the first to hold his little girl. My dad came in shortly after she arrived and came and gave me a huge hug ( placenta laying there and all, haha) and said " I was wanted to make sure my little girl was okay" - It instantly made me cry tears of joy. I have the best family a girl could ask for. My sister was....in shock...haha, she informed me that I was a hero and she was never having children. "The most amazing and horrifying experience of her life" she said. They played a little jingle throughout the L&D ward for the baby being born. Our room was huge so Aunt Rhonda came in, Mimi & Granny right behind her. I just remember wanting to shower SO BAD! Funny side note: After we were home, my dad told me that when he came up to huge me, I smelt like a little girl off the ASYO soccer fields! He said it was awful but instantly reminded him I was still his little girl. It was cute and pretty funny! :)
Everyone came to see Caroline. It was so nice to have so much love. I got to get up and walk around 20 mins after delivery. I showered that evening with Ryan's help while my cute nurse Kacey held Caroline. Later my parents brought up pizza for everyone and we watched Kim Kardashians wedding live on E! !
Carolines first night in the hospital was good. She cried lots and we were tired and unsure of how to calm her down. Typical new parents. Nurse Kacey took her to the nursery for a few hours so we were able to rest. The next morning I got up, put my makeup on and ate a big breakfast! There was a lot of visitors that day. Tired and overwhelmed with joy, we were discharged 24 hours after delivery and went home happy new parents with our sweet little daughter!
At my 35 week appointment I had gone in that early morning to have my weekly check up and make sure everything was going smooth. As I got to the Doctors office I was feeling very faint and uneasy. My wonderful nurse came in and did the normal blood pressure reading and listen to Caroline with the monitor! To my (and everyone else's surprise) my blood pressure was very high. They made me lay down and hooked me up to the contraction monitor. No contractions.... but again, still high blood pressure. They said we would check it again next week and sent me on my way.
The next week, we went back....still high. I found out I was preeclamptic. It was really hard not knowing what that all meant, but my Doctor did tell me, as soon as I hit 37 weeks, they would have to induce me. Caroline would be 3 weeks early! I was excited to get to meet her sooner than we expected, but still very scared of the risk with preeclampsia. Ryan and I had to stay in the hospital for a 24 urine analysis the week before the scheduled induction. It was a nightmare! Half way through the night, one of the night shift nurses came in and dumped all my pee out in the toilet! I was SO mad! My nurse came in, apologizing over and over but informed me that I was have to start all over again! Finally, that was finished and we were sent home to rest for a couple of day. I was bed rest and had to lay on my left side at all times.
6:30pm on Tuesday night we were officially admitted to L&D and taken to our room. At that point we were told that if we were going to eat dinner we better do it quick because it would be my last meal for a while! At 8pm one of the wonderful nurses, Beeba, came in to check me and insert the Cervadil. When she checked me, I was dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced! We attempted to sleep in hopes that the Cervadil would work by morning.
Morning came. Nothing... We were sent home Wednesday afternoon and told to come back in Friday morning at 5 am and that I would not leave without a baby! This is bittersweet. I was ready to have this little girl but was so frustrated with all the induction and preeclampsia chaos. We went home and rested up for Friday! All the family was getting really anxious for the big arrival that coming weekend!
6am Saturday morning, my nurse Dana came in and said "you know you will be a mommy today, right?" I smiled so big! I WAS READY! They started piticon and told me to keep moving and walking. I bounced on a ball, did yoga in the hallways, walked laps upon laps.. I was having contractions at this point from ehat we could see on the monitor, but no pain. Around 12pm, noon time, My Doctor came in the break my water. My labor immediately started! OUCH. I choose to do a natural, non medicated birth so I was bearing each contraction! My wonderful aunt was by my side, talking me through each contraction. Ryan was on the other side on the bed, counting the contractions to me.. "This ones almost over babe!" My mom was sitting on the end of my bed; I was kneading my feet on her leg ( don't ask, but it helped, haha). I progressed very quick. 2 hours into active labor, I yelled.. "GET ME AN EPIDURAL!!!" (I had told everyone before, if I ask for one, let me get through that contraction, then ask me again.) They all told me " No Blair, you got this. You don't really want it remember?" - So I pushed on.... after another 30 mins I looked at my mom and husband and said " I can't do 8 more hours of this!" ( All of my friends that had just had babies weeks before me all had very long labors, so I was sure I was going to too..and therefore, thought " I just need to rest before I start pushing.") My mom said, " If you really want one, Ill go tell a nurse outside." She went out, and came back with two nurses. They looked at me and said " Oh Blair, we are so sorry, but both Doctors and the anesthesiologist are in an emergency c-section; so its going to be at least an hour before you can get an epidural" - My jaw dropped. But, in the end, it was gods way of telling me that I was stronger than that and that I could do this the way I had always planned!
I kept bearing through each contraction and finally, about 2:30 kept saying to everyone around me " I feel like a need to push" My doctor walked in right after that and checked me. I was a 10! She was so surprised I went from a 4 to a 10 in 2 1/2 hours and with no medicine, I think she was proud of me testing my strength. ( I am a lot stronger than I think apparently!) She told me that no wonder I was hurting so bad, the last 3 centimeters are the most painful. Caroline was ready to come into this world! She turned the lights on, draped herself in the all blue scrubs, my sister was by my head, Ryan on my right and mom on my left.. I started pushing. The first push was just plain funny because I had no idea what I was doing! I had no where to put my feet except in my mom and Ryan's hands! I was pulling on their shirts.. And ripped both of them after push one. So, we laughed and had to figure out a better way for me to get leverage. They pulled up some handle bars and those works like a charm. Pushing was so so tiring; I was "growling" as everyone in the hallways waiting describes it! I kept anticipating, "I'm about to push a baby out and feel everything!" but, to my surprise, it was not painful at all. Contractions were the most painful part of my whole L&D by far. Four pushes later, WELCOME TO THE WORLD CAROLINE! She was the most beautiful redheaded, spitting image of the father I could have ever asked for. They laid her right on my chest, I was crying along with everyone else:) I remember the very first thing I said to my daughter.. "Oh my gosh you're Caroline...HI!" lol not the typical but it was so surreal seeing her, the little gymnast that lived in my belly all those months, that's just what came out! Ryan cut the cord, my sister was bawling and put her hand on my forehead while my mom leaned down, also bawling and kissed little "cheesy" Caroline, just a few seconds old. They cleaned her off, weighted her, and started swaddling her. Ryan stood over with her, smiling and crying in pure joy.
6 POUNDS 12 OUNCES
20 INCHES LONG
RED HAIR
BLUE EYES
We were all so happy. I couldn't believe I was a mommy and had the perfect ending to a long few weeks prior. I had had the birth I had planned all along. I did it all natural and was so unbelievably proud of myself. Ryan was so in love and the first to hold his little girl. My dad came in shortly after she arrived and came and gave me a huge hug ( placenta laying there and all, haha) and said " I was wanted to make sure my little girl was okay" - It instantly made me cry tears of joy. I have the best family a girl could ask for. My sister was....in shock...haha, she informed me that I was a hero and she was never having children. "The most amazing and horrifying experience of her life" she said. They played a little jingle throughout the L&D ward for the baby being born. Our room was huge so Aunt Rhonda came in, Mimi & Granny right behind her. I just remember wanting to shower SO BAD! Funny side note: After we were home, my dad told me that when he came up to huge me, I smelt like a little girl off the ASYO soccer fields! He said it was awful but instantly reminded him I was still his little girl. It was cute and pretty funny! :)
Everyone came to see Caroline. It was so nice to have so much love. I got to get up and walk around 20 mins after delivery. I showered that evening with Ryan's help while my cute nurse Kacey held Caroline. Later my parents brought up pizza for everyone and we watched Kim Kardashians wedding live on E! !
Carolines first night in the hospital was good. She cried lots and we were tired and unsure of how to calm her down. Typical new parents. Nurse Kacey took her to the nursery for a few hours so we were able to rest. The next morning I got up, put my makeup on and ate a big breakfast! There was a lot of visitors that day. Tired and overwhelmed with joy, we were discharged 24 hours after delivery and went home happy new parents with our sweet little daughter!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
9 months old!
Our sweet Caroline is growing up so fast! Today, she turned 9 months old!! She is crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything and attempting to stand on her own! Its such a bittersweet feeling because she gets more and more fun everyday as she learns new things and explores a little more of our beautiful world but at the same time I feel like i'm going to turn around and she's going to be starting school, graduating, getting married and even having a sweet baby of her own!! She is in 24 month clothes now, so I had to recently go through her entire closet and pack up all of the small baby clothes! 26 pounds and going... (We hope she slows down so she can wear her cute outfits more than just once!) Her favorite foods are apples, sweet potatoes, blueberries and of course, baby milk :) Today is also such a special day because it is, my little sisters 22nd Birthday! What a neat day to be able to celebrate two milestone of two precious girls in my life. Happy Birthday Tia Katie, we love and miss you and wish we could be there to celebrate with you all!
Best line up yet!
I LOVE home remedies! These are a few we are trying out as we speak!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/35-lifechanging-ways-to-use-everyday-objects?s=mobile
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/35-lifechanging-ways-to-use-everyday-objects?s=mobile
50 ways to inspire your husband
On Pinterest this morning, I read over this woman's blog and came across this entry. It really hit home with way to be a better, more caring spouse. Sometimes, I feel like we are too worried what everyone else is doing, rather than focusing on the things that are most important in life like my husband and daughter. Hope you all enjoy :) http://www.momlifetoday.com/2011/03/50-ways-to-inspire-your-husband/
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Farmers Market fun!
This morning, the three of us loaded up and drove about an hour away to a small town that was holding their very first farmers market. While it was not like the ones we were used to in Texas and especially Washington, it was surprisingly great! We got fresh garlic cloves right from the ground that morning, several herb plants to add to our garden and 100% pure honey; made on a local bee farm! Caroline had so much fun looking at all the different natural goats milk soaps with mommy. She was touching them all very gently and would look up at me like " this is ok, right mama?" It was precious. I would put them up to my nose to smell them, then up to hers to smell like mommy did, and she'd push them away with a sour look on her face! Haha, I guess she's not much for all the herbal smelling soaps.
Meanwhile, Ryan found a vender that has an asparagus garden. $2 per pound of the BIGGEST asparagus I've ever seen! You can't beat that price anywhere! We got 2 pounds of it to cooked with our steaks tonight and it was the best we've ever had! Anyone local who is interested, I have her info and she delivers! All in all, it was a great Saturday morning. We are keeping our eyes peeled for more farmers markets in the county. If anyone knows of any, please pass on the word :)
Here is a picture of some of the asparagus we cooked tonight for dinner.
Meanwhile, Ryan found a vender that has an asparagus garden. $2 per pound of the BIGGEST asparagus I've ever seen! You can't beat that price anywhere! We got 2 pounds of it to cooked with our steaks tonight and it was the best we've ever had! Anyone local who is interested, I have her info and she delivers! All in all, it was a great Saturday morning. We are keeping our eyes peeled for more farmers markets in the county. If anyone knows of any, please pass on the word :)
Here is a picture of some of the asparagus we cooked tonight for dinner.
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