The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I am completely surrounded by pregnant people, and new babies. I have two friends that are pregnant, two of my sister in laws are newly pregnant, and one friend who just had her baby yesterday!

I also have two friends who recently had babies, that are about 4-5 months old.

Ava will be 2 years old in two weeks. All these pregnancies, and babies, and birthdays really get me thinking about my pregnancy.

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

I wish someone would have told me that your nose can get fat. Yes your nose. I saw a picture of myself at my baby shower, and was like " Holy nose!" I didn't really notice at the time, and I'm sure no one else did either. Its just me beating myself up.

I found out really quick that not all pregnant women "glow."

What might have been a glowy look, was probably me sweating, creating the illusion of a dewy, glowy-ness...

I worked through out my whole pregnancy doing hair. There came a time where things started to get real awkward.  My belly would rub on my client's shoulders. Or it would be all up in their face. I was always hoping no one wanted bangs, so I wouldn't have to get in the baby to face position.

Being that I was around people all day long. I got some of the dumbest comments.

Seriously people, can you just stop and think about what you are saying! Maybe telling me how awful your labor was isn't the best thing to say to someone who is about to give birth!

Also, unless your positive that I am having twins PLEASE do not joke around about it.

Its not funny.

 In your head "are you sure there is only one baby in there?" Might sound like a great ice breaker, but listen guy at home depot, If you want to walk out of this store with all your limbs attached, please don't talk to me!

Man, apparently I was an angry pregnant women, that's just a touchy subject. I got comments about how I looked like I was having twins more than once, and that poor guy at home depot was the last straw!

One of my friend's clients told her "you look great, your face is really filling out."  What does that mean? " your face is filling out"  

So My face is fat, that's what your saying, that I have a fat face...

Never tell the person about to do your hair, that her face is filling out!

(I'm just kidding she would have never done anything to purposely mess up her client's hair)

One time, the girl making my sandwich at subway told me I looked like I was about to pop.

" I still have 3 months left.."

I really wasn't offended that she said that, its just a common thing people say, but apparently she felt very uncomfortable, and started rambling on about her pregnancy. Personal things.

I can deal with all the fluffy stuff ( how much he weighed etc..)

But I don't want to hear all the gooey stuff.

Please lady just make my sandwich so I can get outta here!!

And you know what! I don't care if you didn't start to show until you were 6 months.. Good for you!

" wow your already showing, I didn't show until I was 6 months."

When you say it like that, you are just bragging.

In all honesty, my pregnancy was not to bad, yes I was uncomfortable, and sick at times. But I have seen people have it so much worse than I did.

 I am blessed that I had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

me 1 month before Ava arrived!

Take your style from day to night in 2 steps

  Have somewhere to go, but don't have tons of time to do your hair?

Take your side braid that you have been rockin all day, and transform it into a cute side bun up do.

All you need to know how to know is roll, and pin.

SO SIMPLE! This takes all of 5 minutes.

 I did a fishtail braid.. to see a tutorial on how to fishtail click here

Click the link to see my latest article on Parent Society

Parent Society

  When I started writing this blog I didn't really know where I was going with it. I started it just for something to do. As I started reading other blogs, and doing a little more research I became so excited about having a blog.

I still have a LONG way to go before I have a great blog like Little miss momma, and I have so much to learn. I think I learn one new blogging tip everyday.

I'm also so thankful to the people who read my blog. THANKS!! You guys are awesome!

So with all that said...

 I'm very excited to announce that I am now writing for Parent Society

This is the link to my first post. Head on over and check it out!

 Are you guys following me on Pinterest? How about Facebook?

The most random post you will ever read

 Its American Idol season again, Which means me sitting and watching while thinking

 " I can do that." ( No I can't.)

 It also involves me possibly belting out a tune during commercial break as a joke, but really in my head I'm like " DANG, that was good." ( No it wasn't)

 "I bet Tyler thought it was good to, hes probably really impressed that we have been together for so long and hes never heard my amazing vocal skills."

 I have been in two situations in my life that have allowed me to consider myself a hero. One of which my friend and I actually saved a little boys life. the second one, well...

 I am doing a client's hair at the salon, when I see a black mole on her scalp.

I examine it, trying to be discreet. I didn't want to say anything right away so instead, I waited till the very end of the appointment... I was trying to make the appointment less awkward. That didn't really help.

" so don't freak out but...you have a dark colored mole on your head."

  She would have never known about it if it wasn't for me! She also never would of had to have a part of her hair shaved off in order to do a biopsy, only to find out the mole wasn't cancerous.

 Whatever. I totally saved her life.  

 she was very thankful, and sent me an edible arrangement bouquet to my work. When asked who and why I was sent that, I proudly told everyone in the salon how I saved her from a cancerous mole, so she is repaying me in delish flower shaped fruit.

 I have a weird fear that someone is going to break into my house. I don't know why, my house has never been broken into.

 Its so bad that I have even worked several scenarios out in my head about how it would all go down if ever someone did break in. I have planned out escape routes and everything.

Scenario 1: I grab Ava, and sneak out a window, go to the neighbors and call 911. I can't help but thinking about what I am wearing ( because in my head this always happens at night) Wondering if the neighbor is thinking about what I'm wearing, and possibly considering that maybe no one really broke in and that I could just be crazy.

Scenario 2: My favorite of the two. Someone armed and dangerous breaks in. I suddenly become one bad mamma jamma, and whoop some burglar butt!

 The things that go through my head are completely ridiculous sometimes. I have come to the conclusion that I watch to much TV. 

Florida for the weekend

 I have been MIA for a few days. We drove down to Florida on Friday, just for a short weekend trip. We got back last night. I wish we could have stayed longer! There were people I didn't get to see that I really wanted to..

 Being there made me miss my home. We thought about driving by our house that is being rented out, but didn't because we didn't want the chance of everyone just so happening to be outside and see us randomly driving by.... that would have been a little awkward!

 I couldn't have gone back without going into my old salon, and getting a haircut! I haven't had one since we moved... I know I'm not practicing what I preach. So thanks to my friend Amber at Shear Art Salon an Spa I have what feels like new hair.

My salon in Tampa Shear Art

 I have been out of the game, there are some new products that I got pretty excited about. They are both from Redken's line All Soft.

All Soft Supple Touch:

"All Soft Supple Touch delivers the benefits of a cream in a lightweight spray, and drastically improves manageability with lasting condition and shine." (via www.Redken.com)

All Soft Argan-6 oil:

"NEW All Soft Argan-6 Oil with omega-6 enriched argan oil envelops hair in concentrated softness, nourishment, and protection to intensely nourish dry, brittle hair.

                                 "This one luxurious oil has six amazing uses for achieving silky softness: before you shampoo to moisturize, before you blow-dry to protect, after you blow-dry to smooth, on dry hair to enhance shine, added to treatments to soften or overnight to recondition." ( via www.Redken.com)

This is pretty much a MUST HAVE for me!

 I think the second we crossed into Florida it was sunny and warm. I realized when you have lived 30-45 minutes away from the beach your whole life, you can start to take it for granted. I didn't go the beach not one time last year... CRAZY! Ava has never even seen the beach. Georgia has always been a temporary home. I so look forward to moving back to my real home!

Looking back on the past 7 years of my life.

 Cut to me... a young almost 20 year old. Working as a hostess at Macaroni Grill. Eating all the pasta and bread I wanted without gaining a pound. Thinking I was so cool because I had older friends who were co-workers of mine. Not a care in the world, except for stupid things (which didn't seem so stupid at the time) like making sure I had something to cute to wear. Or my trials in trying to get my hair blonder.

  Who would have known that in the middle of all that Americanized Italian deliciousness I would have found my future husband. Yep what a true love story right? Me a lonely hostess, and him and Strong handsome cook. Those were the days, going into work, and after your shift was over, going to where ever something was going on.

  Cut to Tyler and I living in our first place together, Who would have known that place would be the first of many. Apparently we both hate moving, but like new scenery. He is older than me, and has had his own place before. Me... well this is all new and excited to me. FREEDOM!! oh sweet freedom. What a great feeling. Until I realized we had to buy things like toilet paper, and laundry soap... then the real world slightly started to set in. But it was great.

  HMM... what am I going to do with my life? I didn't take the usual road after graduating high school, I took a little break. To do what? I couldn't tell ya. Which probably means I had a lot of fun. After my mini break I started college. It was quickly after that I decided to go to cosmetology school. Which was one of the best decisions I have ever made. "WOW, I'm going to do hair, and be awesome, and look cool, and be a famous hairstylist to the stars!" What I haven't told you is, I am a dreamer... I obviously am not a movie star hairdresser, you will not find me getting paid boo-kuu dollars to flat iron Jennifer Aniston's hair.

  Cut to me about 3 years after graduating cosmetology school. I'm working in a great salon. One of the best in the area! I have great friends. I'm making pretty decent money. It turns out I'm not to shabby at doing hair, and I have a clientele! I actually have random people who I have never met, so there is no need to feel obligated to tell me they like theirhair. Who love me...I mean they really like me, and what I do, and how I make them feel. Life is great.

  Tyler and I are going Strong, we had been through ups and downs... we could handle anything thrown our way. We were in a good place. So good that we got engaged! What an exciting time in a young couples life. Now its time to actually start wedding planning. As everyone knows weddings are expensive. How the heck were we going to afford a wedding. It seemed almost impossible.

  Our "AH HA" moment hit us like a ton of bricks. We already had a trip to Hawaii in the works. We are going to in Hawaii in 3 months, why not get married there... just the two of us! We were so nervous to tell our family this is how we wanted to get married, but this is how WE WANTED IT! No one could have changed my mind. I think everyone accepted it. No one really tried hard to discourage it. So that's the way it would be. A destination wedding/ getting eloped... I wouldn't changed for anything!

  March 11, 2009... We met on the beach in Kauai Hawaii... it was beautiful, more beautiful, than any picture could ever capture. It was quiet, intament, unique, it was perfect. The beach was called "ship wreck beach" There is some other Hawaiian name for it that I am not sure of at this moment, There was waves crashing, a beautiful cliff, black rocks, palm trees, and golden sand. I am from Florida, I am not unfamiliar with beaches...but trust me when I say I don't think ANYTHING compares to Kauai Hawaii. Even the air seems fresher when you breath. Its breathtaking.

  February 10, 2010... We were blessed with a beautiful baby girl! All 8lbs 4oz. of her. She is perfect in every way possible. Everything that your scared of while your pregnant just fades away the moment you hold your baby. I had not a care in the world.... until she spit up for the first time, we crazily buzzed for the nurse to come help us, as we were freaking out. We had NO IDEA what we were doing. Poor Ava, we couldn't even get her in the car seat when it was time to go home. "Surely there is something wrong with this car seat!"  "Oh yes it says right here in the users manual"... NEW PARENT WARNING: FIGURE IT OUT! 

  And we did figure it out, we are still trying to figure things out. Now the minor things I use to get all huffy and puffy about, have been over shadowed by diapers,  goldfish, dimples, and terrible 2 tantrums. And I bet one day I will look back at all this and think.. " those were the days"

Chicken Spinach Pasta Bake

This is a recipe I found on pinterest, and its seriously soooo good, and its easy! Here's the recipe: pinterest chicken spinach pasta bake

I had my husband grill the chicken then we cut it up. Also I sauteed the onions in olive oil, instead of baking them in olive oil like the recipe says, for me it was just easier....

Make this! Its so good!

                                           

Polyvore

 I'm sure you have all seen these style inspirations on pinterest... Well how about I made this one on my own! That's right I went through and looked at shirts, pants, purses,shoes,accessories, found things I thought were cute, and I personalized this look just for me. I did this by using Polyvore.




  I just recently found out about this site... GREAT just what I need, another reason for me to be at my computer! But I love this, you can follow people, post your looks, just like pinterest you can can add things from websites. You can also ask people for fashion advice,and add badges to your blog. You can also connect to your blog account, and post it directly from the site to your blog. What another great social media tool!! I'm still trying to figure it all out, since I just discovered it about 1 hour ago. I couldn't resist I HAD to post about it, and let all of my lovelys' ( you!) in on this super cool site!

                        Find me on Polyvore by searching for Amanda Haulk

cute and casual by amandahaulk featuring wool shirts

Tip for growing out your hair

  So you want your hair long? I have been there. When I started hair school I thought it would be more cool if I cut all my hair off. and for awhile it was... but I slowly started missing my long locks. I think because I slowly started learning how to care for, and style hair.

                        
                     

  I think the biggest misconception is that if you cut your hair it will grow. Wronge.. Those were not magic hair growing shears that just cut your hair! Your hair grows about a 1/2 inch per month whether you like it or not! Trimming only keeps you free of spilt ends, which in turn leaves your healthier, and cleaner looking.

  So more important than growing your hair longer, you need to keep it healthy. I would rather have a shorter length than have long dry, poopy hair.

                      

  Now I'm not saying you need to be getting your ends cut every 4 weeks. I'm saying if you were going 4 weeks in between cuts, extend that out to maybe 8 weeks, and get a TRIM. A little DUSTING of the ends, as I like to call it.

  It wouldn't hurt to get a nice deep conditioning treatment, Ideally with every color service. This will help with keeping your hair proteinized, and moisturized. Especially if you are doing a lot lightening to your hair! I highly recommend this! It only takes about 10 extra minutes, and it cost about $15...that's not bad considering your hair is an investment! Why pay all this money getting your hair beautiful, if your not going to help maintain and prolong the look?



  Avoiding breakage!!!  When using hot tools such as, flat iron,blow dryer, curling iron. You NEED a heat protectant! With out it you are damaging your hair. If your hair is damaged, its going to break off at the ends, and appear that it is never growing, even though your still needing your hair colored every 4-6 weeks.

  Attention all you blondie blondes!! The ones who weren't born blonde, but were born to BE blonde... I'm talking to you!! Make sure you are using appropriate shampoo conditioner,along other products, and again I recommend getting a conditioning treatment after every color service. Lightening your hair can be harsh. Did you know you are taking away your hair's natural protein when you bleach out your hair? And that the treatment I keep talking about, along with other products help to replinish that? I'm not against coloring your hair.. I'm ALL FOR IT!! I have been blonde, brown, brown with highlights, red, back to blonde, back to red... BUT I use good products, and treatments. I'm just saying be prepared for your hair to be dryer than usual if you are continuously getting that color put through to your ends.
Why not try this... how about every other salon visit, get your ends freshened up. You can also try getting a nice clear gloss on your ends. It will help give your some nive shine if you are feeling dull.
                               
  Have you heard of Biotin? Biotin is a B complex vitamin. It is often recommend for strengthing of your hair and nails.Give it a shot, but just keep in mind your not going to wake up the next morning with your hair 3 inches longer! So give it some time.
  Who doesn't love a nice scalp massage? Try giving yourself a scalp massage when your washing your hair. It help will stimulate your scalp, and increase the blood flow!

Toddler bed Triumph

  Its official...We are now sleeping in a toddler bed! Its been a couple weeks, she adjusted just fine. I actually think she likes it better than her crib. So everything seems to be going great...except for one little issue. We seem to have a night crawler on our hands.

  I think it was probably the 3rd or 4th night in, I wake up to my daughter actually climbing into our bed.. which is just crazy to me because our bed is kinda high off the ground, and she had never done that before.( I don't mind her coming in my bed and sleeping there, as long as she initially falls asleep in her room, I don't think its a big deal. Plus I like the snuggles!) So not only is she now in our bed, shes WIDE awake... P.S. it's 3am! OK so just ignore her she will go to sleep eventually....so finally 2 hours of being poked in the face, my hair getting pulled, getting kicked in the arm, all while hearing "mum!... HI mum!" (YES "mum" This is how she says Mom...she's only 2 you think I could get a " mommy, or a ma ma" Nope... its "mum.") She finally fell asleep.

  Morning comes... you think that this kid would have slept in a little.. oh not my child...she's up ready to go at 7:30. I get out of bed... Hmmmm where's my phone, it was on the night stand... I find my phone in the door way of my bedroom. Once I unlock it there has to be about 5 pages pulled up.. including facebook!! OH NO! Please don't tell me she is up at 3 am sending weird messages to people, and liking everyone's status. Good thing as far as I can tell she was just looking around. She has uploaded pictures to facebook before. She's a technology baby.

  Another page pulled was YouTube, that was scary who knows whats on YouTube. Luckily she's smart enough to go to the last searched video, which is usually Barney, Mickey Mouse, or puppies. She LOVES " uppies."  I'm telling you, I seriously need to get her on video working my phone, she knows exactly what she's doing!

   So now not only is Ava sneaking into our room at night, she is checking emails, facebooking, watching a few movies, and who knows what else! Its funny now that I think about, I can just picture her walking around doing her thing...it's not so funny when its 3am and she's up for 2 hrs. Time to put a gate on her door!

    If your getting late night phone calls from me... its Ava, tell her to go to bed!

Crock Pot Ropa Vieja

You will need:

1 (2 pound) beef chuck roast

3 cloves of garlic

2 red bell peppers, cut into wedges

2 green bell peppers, cut into wedges

1 yellow onion, cut into wedges

1 sweet onion cut into wedges

1/2 ( 6 ounce) can tomato paste

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

sprinkle of garlic powder

sprinkle of seasoned salt

sprinkle of ground black pepper

1 beef bouillon cube

Directions:

Pierce the beef roast to tenderize it and let the flavors in, and place into your crock pot with the garlic, red and green peppers, and onions. Stir in tomato paste, and red wine vinegar. Sprinkle with garlic powder,seasoned salt,and pepper. I break up my bouillon cube with my fingers and put the on top.

Cover, and cook on LOW,  for about 6 1/2 to 7 hrs. Take the beef out, and shred using two forks. Return the meat, stir, and cook for another 30 minutes.

I serve mine over rice...YUM! This so good. and Its really simple. I love my crock pot!

P.S....Follow me on Bloglovin!!

Curly hair 101

  So it never fails, if you have curly hair you want straight, if you have straight hair you want curly. That's just the way it is. I can remember back when was school everyone straightened their hair, that was the look, straight flat hair. Not for me! I tried flat ironing my hair... even used an actual IRON on my hair ( that makes me cringe now) but my hair was always frizzy as soon as I went outside. I think that as the day went on my hair would get bigger and bigger.

                   

    Now a days texture is making a come back in the hair world. All you see is people curling, scrunching, teasing, anything to get a little volume, wave, or curl. Now its your time to shine curly headed one! Not only can you go a few days without shampooing, with a little time and effort you can get smooth hair, curled hair,volume, almost anything. Also your hair holds curl, so you never have to worry about all your time spent curling with the curling iron wasted, because the curls fell out! Seriously sometimes I don't even use hair spray, and my curls stay in.

                      

                               How to tame that curly mane!

  MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE!! Curly hair tends to be on the dry side..hints the reason why humidity is not your friend...It sucks up all that moisture in the air, causing the cuticle to expand...which leads to frizz.There are few great IN salon treatments, as well as at home treatments and products to maintain your hair.

  

 First, lets talk about in salon treatments... For as little $15, and an extra 15 min. you can get a deep conditioning treatment at the salon.

  Redken Chemistry System is one of them. Whats great about the "Chem shot" is that it can be customized to your specific hair needs, for example... if you have frizzy, dry hair, then your stylist can do a little mix off Redken's smooth down, and all soft shots.

   L'oreal is another AMAZING product...and their power dose is awesome! Like the chem shot, its another at the shampoo bowl treatment. Your hair instantly feels softer afterwards, and it smells amazing, which is always nice.

  Now lets talk more long term treatments... Coppola Keratin Complex Smoothing treatment. Let me just say, from personal experience.. I love this. Not only I have performed this service on clients, I have had this treatment done 2 times. I absolutely loved the results. Keratin complex.com says "infuses natural keratin deep into hair’s cuticle. This revolutionary therapy reduces frizz and curl and instantly adds amazing shine, silkiness and condition to the hair."  This is for reducing frizz, and curl..this is NOT a relaxer, or permanent straightener. This is an in salon treatment, that last up to 3 months with the proper shampoo and conditioner. In my opinion its well worth the money!

  It also helps to have a good shampoo and conditioner. I use Pureology Hydrate. Pureology also has a smoothing system for those with more "unruly" hair. Another great shampoo is Redken's Smooth Down.

                                                    Styling

  So I admit, I rarely blow dry my hair. Usually I let it air dry over night, then worry about it the next morning. But a good blow dry can really help you out when trying to smooth out your hair. Products I recommend for a blow dry would be Align by Redken, and Moroccan Oil. Hello I love Moroccan Oil!

  The key to blow drying is to never go against the cuticle of your hair...which means stop flipping your head upside down and drying it like that, because when you flip over you will have a huge poof of frizzy hair. Instead let your hair air dry a little, or if you don't have time power dry it. Just enough to get most of the moisture out. That way you can really focus on getting it smooth instead of getting in dry, then by the time its dry your arms hurt and you don't care anymore. Take sections, and use a round brush to help smooth it out. This doesn't come naturally to people, but with a little practice you will be a pro blow dryer in no time!

   Invest in a good flat iron!! A good flat iron will not fry your hair, or snag and pull. I use the Sam Villa Sleekr. Look for ceramic, and one that you can adjust the heat settings. Not everyone needs the same setting. When flat ironing always use a heat protectant. I use Heat Glide by Redken.

  

   Get a good haircut!!! There is one reason why salons charge the prices that they do, and the reason is: EDUCATION!! When you go in there you are getting a well trained stylist who is educated with the latest trends, techniques, and consultation skills. They know their stuff. A lot of higher end salons invest a lot of time and money into their employees, making sure they can give you the best of the best! So find someone you like and stick with them!

                                Go Natural!

  Why not? its quick, and easy, and different from every one's straight hair! Be yourself and love it! Add a headband, or a side braid, and your good to go!

5 Must try pinterest projects!

Making a Roman shade from old mini blinds

TheLittlegreennotebook

Vintage looking painted sign

Diddle Dumpling

Floral Pillows.. I love them

Trey and Lucy

hanging string lamps

Sugarandspiceliving

hanging flower ball tutorial

(perfect for when I redo Ava's room! )

house of smiths

DIY mercury glass candle holder

  I love the shinny antique feel that Mercury glass has...but I don't love the prices. Some of my favorite home decor stores are great at making me fall in love with everything, then smacking me in the face with how much some of the things cost...I could never bring myself to pay $70 for a candle holder!!

(picture via www.PotteryBarn.com)

So here is a little DIY faux mercury glass to get the look for less...WAY less. I paid just about $15 for everything. and I got two really pretty candle holders, that I'm so proud of.

You will need:

glass vase, or candle holder of your choice.

A can of KRYLON looking glass mirror like paint.( they don't have this at Micheal's. I found mine at wal mart, or they have it at Hobby Lobby)

Also you will need a spray bottle filled with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, a paper towel, and painters tape.( something to cover the outside of the glass while painting)

STEPS

After covering the outside of the glass ,spray the INSIDE of your glass... 1 coat at a time, allowing each coat to dry about 1 minute before starting the next. It will take about 5 coats, and will look like this when its done.

Allow to dry for about a minute. Then using your vinegar/water mix spray into the glass. It will bead up like this.

Let that sit for about 30 sec. to 1 min. Then fold a paper towel in to a small square and dampen that with the vinegar water mix. Trying not to bump the sides of the glass with your hand, begin to lightly dab the towel against the glass. You will see the paint starting to rub off.

Keep going until you have your desired look. I would dab a little, then look to see if it was what I wanted.. After I was done I took the spray paint and did one more light coat.

and WAAA LAAA

Don't you just love them? I do..