'Twas the night before Kindergarten

  And mommy was a hot ass mess. No, but really. If ever there were a definition of an overly emotional mother, it's me tonight. Tomorrow Lily starts her education career. This is the start of what will be the biggest chapter in Lily's life, for over a decade. I know it seems dramatic when you put it like that, but it's crazy to see your kids moving through the motions, the same way you did. Sometimes, you want those motions to slow down. Lily came to me today and said, "Mom, we need to pick something F A N C Y for school tomorrow." that hurt my wallet and warmed my heart at the same time. I know school will be nothing but a thing for Lily, she's the smartest 4 year old that I have EVER met (I know... I'm biased), but for me, it's scary. This is when you send your precious little soul out into the world and hope to god that nothing taints it too much. That her feels will be spared for the most part and that when the time comes to help somebody else out, she knows to do the same. A lot of people think that sending your kid to private school protects them from the outside world, but let's be real, kids are kids no matter what school they attend. I was often bullied in elementary school and middle school, to the extreme that, I failed 5th grade simply because facing the girls that called me names and consistently picked on me and would leave me in tears (this sometimes included teachers) just because we didn't have very much money, was more than I could bare. I would hang out in my neighborhood all day long until I saw the buses come and then I would come home and erase the school messages saying that I was absent.

I can't wait to capture this outfit with my actual camera tomorrow!

  I know Lily has a lot more as a child than I ever did and I know that no matter what, I refuse to let her fall victim to the same things I did, but her actually starting school tomorrow really puts it in perspective that I can't always protect her from the world. I think sometimes my head can't wrap itself around the fact that she's almost 5.... okay really I just refuse to accept that fact. Tomorrow, it's going to be real though. I let her help pick out the colors for our 2nd annual first day of school chalk board and she was more than thrilled. We also made a special trip to target to pick her out some really awesome clothes for school. Thankfully, we don't have to buy a single school supply! Seriously... none. By thankfully I obviously mean that I'm super bummed. I L O V E school supply shopping as much as I love football and fall. I kind of wanted to force Lisa Frank folders and pencils on her, because...Is there a school supply better than Lisa Frank!? No. That unicorn and yellow puppy take the school supply cake.  So there's that... tomorrow is the start of a new chapter for her, as sad as I am, I know she's ready.

  Aside from school starting, a whole lotta nothing has been happening. I had my highest selling Premier show on sunday and that made me feel really good and confidant in what I'm doing. I will say that I need to find a way to branch out my business. It's hard having a direct sales business when you're living in a pretty tight knit military community. There are only so many of us that can have the same kind of party, before we all know the entire routine of the show forwards, backwards and side ways. I think starting school in a career primarily dominated by women, is really going to help, but I still have two months before that happens. Patience is a virtue that I am lacking currently, but I guess i'm gonna have to work on that one.
  Alright y'all, it's time for me to head to bed and get ready to cry my eyes out tomorrow, BUT before I go, I wanted to link you fine people to my friends new blog and youtube channel. She just got it up and running and I know a lot of you are curious as to what in the hell you do with make up/hair and let me tell you, she's a guru. I do a lot of my techniques the same way she does and while I don't have time to document them, this bad ass momma does. So take the time to check her out and soak up the beauty knowledge bombs that she's gonna drop on you often. Trust me, you're not gonna be disappointed.  ALSO! I know a few of us have been discussing the differences between Ipsy and Birchbox, she does an unboxing every month, so that is going to be helpful as well for those of you without either.

This is her brand new blog!

And this is her amazeballs YouTube channel!

  Have a spectacular night, morning and day... until next time. 

<3.

Amanda

p.s.

It's never too early to get ready for fall right? Like... back to school FOR SURE means fall, so decorating is legit. 

This southern piece of perfection makes my heart happy.

Wordless Wednesday (Picture OVERLOAD!)

Our 4th of July babies <3 (could they be any more photogenic?! lol)

I guess it's safe to say she loves her brother and he might have grown an inch or 12.

Who doesn't turn their boring pens into washi tape pens!?! You're doing it wrong if you don't.

Ohio has the most perfect summers ever and really makes having a bitchin' backyard, that much more enjoyable <3

Sometimes being a jewelry lady can be fun... I get to play dress up every time I do a show!! 

Sometimes hitting the gym (check that planet fitness t-shirt!) after an amazing time with friends
is the only way to end the night... until you drink your prework out at 9 pm and you're still awake at 1 am.

And so it begins...

  Oh hey y'all! You know how when things slow down in life and you're finally like, "Oh yeah, relax time!" something A L W A Y S comes along to go, "I got you sucker!", well I basically just did that to myself. Last week I made the informed and very excited decision to make not one, but TWO big life changes regarding a very exciting career path. First! I finally requested information from the local cosmetology schools in the area and I have my first walkthrough/interview on Friday at Creative Images! AAAAHHHH!! I'm very nervous about it. Before Bryce and I were married I was in line to attend the Paul Mitchel school in Charlotte, but alas, marriage and love came first... then a house... then a major surgery for Bryce and then our sweet princess Emory and mommy's school got put on the back burner. I wish I could say I'm sad about that, but I'm not. Not every one is fortunate enough to be able to spend these precious moments with their little ones the way that I am and I know how lucky I am for that. That being said, I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT!!! I'm 99% sure this isn't going to help my recent make up obsession, but hey, you win some... Bryce loses some.

Can we take a second to appreciate how cute Emory's
kissy face is... and that sweet bow necklace!?

  My second life endeavor is that I joined the fabulous and fierce Premier Designs jewelry team! That's right y'all, I'm officially a jewelry lady and I couldn't be more excited/happy/ready to make some money if I tried. If you know me at all, this is hilarious to you. You're probably even laughing at the idea of ME, the yoga pants and tank top queen, being a jewelry kind of person. I too laughed that the idea at first and then I purchased my first Premier piece. It's a bracelet that they make called, "It's a wrap!" It's a super simple wrap bracelet, but my goodness I could NOT get enough. Once I had that bracelet, I wanted more to match it and then Bryce's ALS graduation rolled around and something in me said, "Uhhh... ACCESSORIZE!" and it was down hill from there. I bought my kit and have lots of training in my near future, but with the prospect of me going into a business that deals primarily with women, I think I'll do just fine.
  It's so weird to think that I'm going to get to do something that is 100% for me for once. I'm so used to being MOMMY and WIFE all the time, that I'm almost uncomfortable stepping out of that zone for more than a minute or two during the day. I really needed this though, I needed something to challenge myself and to really push me. At first I had my reservations, I was very nervous and almost talked myself out of it (like I do with everything), but this A M A Z I N G man that I married came along and said, "Amanda, you're going to be amazing at whatever you do. If this is what is going to make you happy, then just do it." It's moments like that one that make me so thankful that I was smart enough to marry my man meat. He's been so encouraging and so supportive through all of this, it really makes life a lot easier knowing that he's Team Amanda no matter what happens in life. I truly am one blessed lady.
  So that's ME right now. Lily is FINALLY home from her daddy's house and back in full swing. She came home her usual outgoing and sassy self, but I swear to you in those two weeks, she aged 2 years. When she got home she did something (lord help me, but I can't remember what it was) that just made me automatically tear up and want to cry. I looked at bryce and he just busted out laughing. I'm such a sap when I comes to these little princesses and sometimes it's borderline embarrassing. She started summer camp at Goddard the Monday after she got home and to our surprise they had a field trip planned for that day to the Dayton Dragons field. She was so excited to tell us all about it when she got home. Naturally, she made Bryce promise to take her to a baseball game and the requested to watch baseball (it wasnt' on) so she said, "Football?".... not on. Okay, cheerleading? nope. Hockey!? no ma'am. She finally settled on soccer, which she watched for a total of about 5 minutes and ran away to do Lily things with her hoodrat sister. Gotta love em.

  Alright y'all, I have more premier studying to do so I can be ready for my debut show on the 31st!! (which also happens to be Harry Potter's birthday... NO BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING!) and about 5 seasons of Doctor Who to catch up on. I'm mildly obsessed, it's becoming a problem. I hope your Independence day is amazing (i know mine will be) and that you take time to really appreciate every one that has sacrificed something in their lives to make sure that we can continue to celebrate the land of the free and every amazing opportunity that comes with it. Now in closing, LET'S GET STAR SPANGLED HAMMERED Y'ALL! OW OW! .... no but really, 'MERIKA!

G'night, Y'all.

-Amanda