Runs on Coffee and Cream

As a mood reader, the fall season makes me want to deep dive into fantasy books. Something about the dark, fantasy universes fit with the cozy fall season. I also decided to throw in a fall-themed romance book because the title won me over and I can't scroll social media without seeing the book cover. This is my fall book list. 

What's cozy gaming? It's just that - gaming that provides a cozy atmosphere; relaxing, comforting, not stressful. After learning about this newer gaming genre, I realized cozy gaming has always been what I've been interested in and played. Probably one of the most popular cozy games? The Animal Crossing series, and well, I've put in hundreds of hours into Animal Crossing New Horizons and New Leaf. I've explored this genre with Stardew Valley, My Time at Portia, Disney Dreamlight Valley and Story of Seasons as well. I love these cozy farming-type games. 

In September, two new cozy games are being released and they have topped my wish list!

My first vendor show in years is on April 23rd. I'm so excited but also a little nervous. I always found vendor shows inspired me. I'd be overstimulated and exhausted by the end of the day, but I'd have so many ideas and plans in my head for my next projects and shows. 

I've been sewing at a slower pace than I used to but this is because of 1. kids and 2. avoiding burnout. It's working out though. I enjoy disappearing to my sewing room and creating. I'm also loving finding amazing fabric again. 

Anyone else a Gilmore Girls fan?

We went on a 4 night cruise on the Disney Wish. It was my first cruise ever and I'm hooked! I came home and started looking up more Disney cruise things - the other ships, dates, places they visit. I want to do all the Disney cruises!

The Disney Wish ship was gorgeous, all the cast members were incredibly friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, and the kids were obsessed with the kids' pool and splash zone. I was also in love with our stateroom. We had a oceanview with a verandah. I've now been spoiled and I don't know if I'll be able to do a cruise in the future without one!

Now how did the kids do?

At the end of February, we travelled to Orlando with our 2 kids and another couple with their kids. We stayed at the Art of Animation resort in Disney for 2 nights. Then we boarded the Disney Wish cruise ship and went on a 4 night cruise. 

It was absolutely incredible. I read about the "Disney Blues" (when you're depressed after being at Disney) and I believe it because I'm pretty sure I'm going through it. There were a few hiccups during our vacation but, honestly, it went so smooth. I'm no expert but I wanted to share my experience and some things we found worked or helped us have a great 8 day vacation with a 2 and 4 year old. 

I gave up sewing shortly after Emma turned 1. I was burnt out, prepping for another embryo transfer, and overwhelmed. It was bittersweet because I had been creating for YEARS but I was just so tired. 

A friend had suggested that it was just a different season for me - a season of babies and a lot of firsts that babies come with. And that I might return to sewing again one day. 

Well 2022 had me itching to sew again... 2 years after my second baby was born. For the last couple of years I have been searching for something for 'me'. Something to bring back my spark, make me feel normal or human again, something to excite me. A few hobbies helped guide me through this time but looking at fabric, watching sewing tutorials, and feeling jealous as I saw others selling at craft shows led me to the realization that I wanted to sew again. 

Before winter is 'officially' here and we get caught up in Christmas, I thought I'd share a bit about our fall. It was a whirlwind full of colds, adjusting to a school routine, a wedding and all things pumpkin!

We are going to Disney! In February 2023 we are heading to Magic Kingdom for 1 day while staying at a Disney resort, and then heading on a Disney cruise!

I am SO excited, like more than the kids. But they don't know exactly what's waiting for them so that's not surprising. Emma, my 4 year old, can't wait to meet Princesses. She'll be in awe and super excited the entire trip. 

My body has endured a lot... cancer, infertility, fertility treatments, miscarriage, anxiety, panic attacks, stress, and SO much yo-yo dieting, extreme workouts and binging.

July is THIS week... what?! I feel like summer is already 1/3 over! We didn't have great weather (summer weather) for most of June but it's here now!

This is our last summer before Emma starts school in September. It's crazy and very bittersweet. I look forward to her making friends and so that I can spend some one-on-one time with Lily. But it also means my baby is growing up *tears up*. 

So we're making the most of this summer and have already been to many playgrounds, splash pads, and eaten lots of ice cream!

It's been a minute since I did one of these. But as the weather warms up, my anxiety subsides, and we start going out more, I'm feeling inspired again. Inspired to write and share all the amazing and cute things I'm loving lately!

Greenhouses/Plants

I've always loved looking in the Garden Centres come spring and this year is no exception. It probably seems extra special this year because I avoided going to them the last 2 years. And now, Emma asks all the questions and wants to take home all the flowers. 

We've been to 3 greenhouses so far this year and we have a wish list of things we want to go back for once we can actually start planting. 

Emma wasn't sleeping here... just 'relaxing'. Clearly we tired her out shopping for plants.

How do you reason with a toddler who's a mini version of you? I never realized how stubborn, impatient, and dramatic I was until my 3 year old grew up to be just like that and just like me. 

It's been a long couple of years. We haven't had a ton of in-person visits with family and friends because of the state of the world and that means I haven't had a lot of breaks from being "Mom". It's been wearing me down and as Emma grows into an independent child with a feisty personality, I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown some days. 

Having daughters has made me realize I need to change my relationship with my body. I need to start focusing on improving my strength and energy, and not just looking at food and exercise as a way to lose weight and change how I look. 

Spring is here. But not really. We got dumped on with snow again a couple of days ago. Our world looked like a snow globe all day. I think Emma was the only one thrilled about this turn of events in our household. Oh, and I guess the dog too. 

There's only a couple of days left of 2020. What a year. It feels like this past year was multiple years long. Does that make sense? I can't say the entire year was bad or a crap show because we welcomed Lily into the world back in July. She's been the highlight of the year - she's happy and giggly and so freaking snuggly. 

But I'm excited and interested to see what 2021 holds...

Going through pregnancy during this pandemic was rough, weird, and very lonely. And if you went through pregnancy or are currently going through it, know that I see you and feel for you. 

What a year 2020 has been. Because of the pandemic, being glued to the news, and all the stresses of the coronavirus, my pregnancy flew by. Like I blinked, and all of a sudden I was 38 weeks pregnant. Thankfully the pregnancy went pretty smooth. I don't know if I could have handled much pregnancy stress on top of the real world stress. My anxiety was already high between going off my anxiety medication at the beginning of the pregnancy and the coronavirus. 

There's no way you're alive in this world without knowing about COVID-19 and what it's doing to our world and communities. It's a scary situation.

My anxiety has been high since this pregnancy started and this pandemic is definitely not helping. Because of this and because I'm very cautious about this pregnancy, I've decided self-isolation is the best thing for me. It keeps me feeling safe and less anxious not being around people. It's definitely the best decision for my mental health.

Source

Over the last few years we talked about getting a dog. I grew up with two dogs and knew how much work they can be so I was hesitant. But Adam has always wanted a dog and kept pushing the idea on me. We thought we might get one after the embryo transfer so the dog would be trained and comfortable by the time the baby came. Well, after the transfer failed, and we were both sad and depressed, the idea of a dog became even more appealing.

9 weeks old

You know the cliche about how when you stop trying to have a baby, that's when you'll get pregnant? Yep, we're that cliche. Two months after our failed embryo transfer, we got pregnant naturally. Crazy, right? To be honest, we hate that we're that cliche. Don't get me wrong, we're so excited and thrilled and happy. The idea of giving Emma a sibling warms every inch of me.