Surprise! We are having a baby in less than 7 weeks!!

Clearly, Ive been a little sidetracked since April, my last blog post! Its been a long journey and I could make this a million pages long telling you our story on trying to conceive but I will skip those tears and get to the good stuff! I found out we were pregnant in April after a good year of actively trying. I was 100% positive I would not be pregnant when I took the test. I was pregnant in this pic two days before I found out and didnt know. Guess The monster Snickers should have given me a clue!!!

What a shock. I could not stop smiling!! I surprised my husband with a Christmas bag and a Baseball that read, "Baby Brew coming December 2013". It took him a few minutes to figure out what was going on! So excited! Our little pea is coming December 27th, 2013!

We kept it a secret for awhile from the main public other than family and very close friends. A few weeks after I found out we had to go the emergency room for bleeding. The unkind and unsympathetic doctor told me he saw nothing and I was probably having a miscarriage. My HCG levels were very high so he said to check back with my doctor in 48 hours to see if they double. They gave me all kinds of info that just devastated me and really had no answers. We went home and cried for a good few days. Our baby is a fighter tho and a few days later my HCG more than doubled and continued to and now we are weeks from our due date! We told everyone with this quick home pic we threw together of our girls. 

I was very sick the first trimester. Miserable working and trying to manage it all. I felt so sick day and night I prayed for it to be over every single day. Finally at around 15 weeks It all went away. I started to show very very quick. I was the same with both girls. I dont know why my body just pops out every time im pregnant but it does every time. Nothing I can do. At this point ive pretty much run out of alphabet in bra sizes (scary) and ive gained 63 lbs.Yes a Whopping 63 so far and im gaining about a 1 lb a week now going forward these last 7 weeks. Fabulous!!! 

About 8 weeks here. I Popped out fast!!

10 weeks here!

12 weeks 

18 weeks

21 weeks 

25 weeks 

3rd Trimester

30 weeks 

Most recent 33 weeks

- XOXO -

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Mascara Review

Too Faced Better than False Lashes Nylon Extension System

What is it? Its not just any mascara that promises to plump, thicken and enhance your eyelashes. It is a lash extension system that will give you dramatic, amazing lashes that look like you either were born with amazing long, thick lashes or invested your time in applying false lashes, which lets face it, we do not all have the time to do every day and personally I worry to much about them falling off when I'm out.

It comes with two tubes, a gold, which is Step 1 & 3, the lash primer/mascara; and a smaller white tube which holds the Flexistretch nylon lash fibers and is Step 2.

Here's how Too Faced instructs you to apply it.

 Step 1: Prime the lashes with the activating base(gold tube) in slow, even strokes from lash base to tip. Since this is not a traditional mascara but a lash extension system, traditional quick motions aren't as effective in application.

Step 2: Build the lashes with Flexistretch Nylon Fibers (white tube) in the same slow, even strokes from lash base to tip. As you apply, sweep the brush out in one motion. You should be able to see the white fibers.

Step 3: Seal the lashes and meld the layers together with the base formula (gold tube). In slow, even strokes, pull activating mascara through in one motion, from lash base to tip. Pull the base application through in one even stroke at a time, until all the fibers are covered. Your lashes should look long, full and red carpet ready. For even fuller lashes repeat step 2 and 3.

When I first purchased this I followed those directions exactly. After several days of using this and testing it out, I have learned a few things and have changed the way I applied this daily until I found a way that worked for me.

I want to say first that I start out and complete only one eye at a time. I first curl my eyelashes. Then I  apply the enclosed Gold Tube or primer/mascara only to my top lashes. I do this because this mascara/primer is very sticky and the first few times I used it on bottom and top, my lashes wanted to stick together which was uncomfortable and challenging.

I then immediately grab the nylon lash extension tube and take the wand only on my top lashes as well. I don't know, I haven't tried it on the bottom, but bottom lashes too long just don't look right to me, so stick to the top only. The company says to start from your eyelash base, as you normally would with mascara and go up to your tips. I however, didn't think that made for good, separated lashes. When I did that the first few times, it was too clumpy, and really you don't need to "extend" you base anyway. So I have found it is much cleaner, less clumpy, prettier and more natural to apply the fibers starting at the mid center up to the tips. I really focus more on the tips overall tho. I do about two or three strokes going from the center outward to each side. I don't dip the fiber in the tube until the next eye. It will have plenty on it already.

I finish the top coat with a different mascara. I just don't think the gold tube provided is that great of a mascara and I don't like how sticky it is. I think it was made to be more of a primer and sealer and not neccesarly a builder in itself. I also don't particularly like the wand. So I have used several different kinds as my 3rd step. Urban Decay Lush lash, Urban Decay Super Curl, Benefit They're Real Mascara and Maybelline Colossal Volume Express. They all worked great for me this week so I would recommend any or whatever your normal favorite mascara is. You can do as many coats as you want for your 3rd step starting at the base and working your way up to the tips curling the wand up as you go. I do about 2 or 3 coats, less or more until I feel the fibers are covered and the lashes are separated and feathered out. If you need to you can grab a lash comb and comb any clumps out, but you will still have stickiness so you need to do it quickly. I would only comb if absolutely necessary since one day it actually made some lashes stick together! =( Once its all on, it is very difficult to touch up, almost impossible.

 I absolutely loved how this made my lashes look! It definitely looked like I had false lashes on. Not super dramatic ones, but conservative ones. So for a general mascara it is a GREAT alternative for the time to takes to apply lashes. I will say, that this process is timely in itself in your morning routine, but not as timely as individual lashes.

 

Pros: The White bottle, although small seems to have a lot of product in it, and the brush has so much on it and you only need so little, I can see getting a ton of uses out of it. This will last beyond the mascara.

My husband literally asked me if I had false eyelashes on!

It did not flake on me at all even after a 10 hour day.

Makes for big, popping dramatic eyes!

Easy to use.

 Cons: Mascara is very sticky

I don't feel like the Gold tube, of mascara is worthy of even being in the package. I wish they used one of their better Too Faced mascaras.

It is impossible to take off. I tried makeup remover wipes, coconut oil, face wash, hot washcloth. I don't wear water proof mascara just because its also so hard to take off and is brittle on your lashes and I am very cautious of how sensitive the skin around your eyes is, so for me this is my biggest and one true gripe. Eventually it did come off, but It was a struggle which left me frustrated.

Price- At $35 it is quiet an expensive mascara

Would I recommend this to my personal friends and any one of you? I absolutely would! Too Faced did a great job!

xoxo

Autumn

Bare Minerals pressed Powder vs. Bare minerals loose poweder

Disclaimer: I actually typed this months ago and just saw it in my draft box. So I am posting now since I still think its a review id like to share!

So I have been an avid Bare Minerals Original Foundation loose powder user for years. It really helped my skin stay healthy and is lightweight, but its messy and I don't like bringing the loose container around in my bag with me, so when I saw they came out with a pressed powder version, Ready Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 I ran straight to Ulta. I was super excited. I bought the recommended brush for it as well, the Precision Face Brush.

However, I was quickly disappointed when I started wearing it.

First impression. Packaging was great! A regular mineral compact powder which I couldn't spill or make a mess with and had a mirror. The powder looked smooth and velvety. When you swipe your brush in it and tap it off, alot of product gets on the brush, too much. Also I wear in the Original loose foundation, Fairly Medium, this product in Fairly Medium is not the same color. I had to keep going back and getting different colors. It is not an exact color match to the original. I ended up getting Medium Beige in the Ready Compact. Unlike the Original, you do not want to "Swirl" your brush in the compact then on your face. The proper way to use the compact is the swipe the brush, tap, then swipe it on your face in sweeping motions with the Precision brush. You do not want to "buff" this foundation on. It is a different texture and mix then the Original and will not look the same, hence why you need to apply it differently than you are used to with the loose powder. It has a build able medium coverage which is fine for me.

Nevertheless, applying it properly for me, still didn't make me happy. I don't like this product. It felt dry, cakey, settled too quickly in my lines and never had an even smooth finish on my skin as the loose Original does. I do not like the overall way this feels on my face. I was very disappointed in this. When I happened to be walking by a Bare Minerals store months later, I mentioned it to the makeup artist and she agreed a lot of people felt the same way.

I am surprised to me, this is so different than the Bare Mineral Original Foundation and a little bummed out. I do still have the full compact, since for me I have to try something for awhile usually and at that point it was dumb to return it. Who knows maybe ill re-test it out on a random day and feel differently but the good week or two I gave it when I first purchased it, just didn't leave me with an "I love this" feeling. Latley, I actually havent even been wearing my Bare Minerals Original since I switch my products up so often.

I hope you all enjoyed this review and keep in mind these are my own opinions. Id love to hear yours on the product!

xoxo - Autumn

Real life job...life after baseball

So after months of school to prepare for his EMT Certification, fire department, a job in the government etc since we are in our "life after baseball" stage, Brew started a new job this week with Omega Morgan after we returned from our Spring Break trip in Lake Havasu.

 

A friend of his who works for the company has been trying to bring him on board for awhile. They are originally based in Portland then moved into Seattle and now just moved into Phoenix, but still mainly based in the Pacific Northwest! The market here for them is new but they have a lot of potential and work here which is great. They are a large scale moving and shipping company. They build the crates, shipping modules, etc for the jobs too. They ship bridges, planes, expensive large equipment, literally big jobs! He will travel all over eventually for jobs that require their services. He is excited to be with them and already exhausted! He left our trip early on my birthday Monday since they needed him to go to Tuscon on Tuesday. Since then he has only had a few days in but enjoys the daily change so far.

 

I had to giggle and mention this because I thought it was so funny. So some time this weekend we were talking about 4th of July and how its always on of my favorites and he finally gets to go for the first time ever in our relationship with us to Prescott for the 4th. He's like what day is it, I replied with Thursday. Its a holiday we all have it off, he goes well I dint have Friday off. I said "Babe its months away you can ask for it off, this is real life, a real job, not baseball". He replied with, "Oh wow, well ill do that." I have to explain why this is so funny to me. In baseball, during  the season, there are no days off, you have no PTO time, no vacation or sick time, nothing. You have a random day off maybe 2 or 3 days a month but that's it. If you asked for a day off other than those days, they'd look at you like you were insane and probably send you home! You can get up to 3 days off usually for a big event or family event, childbirth, wedding, etc. Only things like that but that's it for the whole season! So to be in real life, normal life, and actually have a real job, schedule, weekends off, and be able to ask for a vacation or a day off is so new to him. I just have to laugh at how innocent he is and new to this real life he is in. Even tho he has experienced all of those new things with me and my career, its new for him to actually be in it himself.

 

Anyway, Omega Morgan is a great company with all the perks for him and I am so excited for his future! The future is still unknown and this is still very new to him and some days are better than others, but I trust that there are plans bigger than we can understand right now and that keeps me positive! I am still just super excited to have him home for good!

 

On another note, I wish all of our friends safe travels as Spring Training is ending and everyone is parting ways to their new homes for the season!

 

xoxo - Autumn

Glam Glow Mud Mask

GLAM GLOW MUD MASK 

So I stumbled upon this disturbingly disgusting photo on Pinterest of what looks like a frostbitten nose. I was intrigued to research it when I realized it was a facial mask. Then a sweet baseball wife & friend also posted about it and told me about her experience and I knew I had to try it. Ill post her blog link below and the blog she reviewed it on below if youd like to check it out.

Gross right?! After I read it won the 2012 beauty aware I had to try it. I tend to have really large pores especially on my inner cheek area and my nose. I cant stand how big they look sometimes and at the end of the day my makeup really tends to set in those suckers. So I ran to Sephora and ran home to put it on.

Application:

1. I washed my face really well with my favorite cleanser and Clarisonic Mia

2. I applied a good amount on my fingertips and spread it evenly around my entire face, staying away from my eye area. It has a very light green tea ish smell to it which I found pleasant.

3. Now you wait. When it first goes on its very dark, just like it says, like mud. Within seconds before I Was even done applying it parts were turning an ashy gray/green. I waited 10 minutes with it on. During this time my face got very tight, tingly and ashy gray. I couldn't move my lips at all after the 10 minutes.

4. I used a warm washcloth to gently rub it in circular motions wet on my face to get it off slowly. Ive read alot of reviews that it took actual scrubbing to get it off, but I did not have that experience. Mine came off very gently and easy. Then I made sure with splashes of water it was all removed and my face was clean.

5. I followed up with a face moisturizer

What they promise: Designed as a 10 minute anti ageing facial in a jar for behind the scenes use in Hollywood’s entertainment, music, fashion and award industries, for immediate camera ready glowing skin. Delivers noticeable 3 day glow from skin collagen synthesis, helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, leaves skin brighter, smooth and soft, multilevel resurfacing exfoliation evens out skin tone, helps tighten skin and minimise pores, absorbs impurities without removing natural oils, helps protect against free radical damage.

My thoughts:

The package is very glamours and glitzy almost like its soley for hollywood starlets. I love packing, im a big sucker for a packaging. It gets me everytime!

WOW! I took better before and after pictures that are hard to tell in photos but my pores looked so much smaller, my skin literally felt tighter and when I woke up the next morning still had a great glow! I did this at night, but the next day when I did my makeup, it went on so smooth and even. It literally looked amazing, even my husband noticed the difference in my cheek area and nose. My foundation looked flawless and my face still had a great glow. I have heard different reviews on how long it lasts but I will say my great, just had a spa facial glow lasted a solid 3 days then faded away. I will tell you the nasty stuff that came out of my pores was much needed and needs to be done once a week. This is an amazing alternative to spa facials or dermatologist facials if you cant go often or cant afford them often. You should get about 12 masks out of the jar says the brand reps, but Ive heard some people get as many as 20

It retails for $69.00 but you can get it as low as $44 from Amazon.

http://www.glamglowmud.com/

I highly, highly recommend this mask! It seriously does as promised and works wonders. Its great for a weekly mask or if your preparing for an event or important party/appearance/photshoot to use beforehand as well. Love love love!!

http://strikeoutinstyle.com/

http://ivoryandolive.com/2013/03/reader-review-i-tried-glamglow/

xoxo - Autumn

Baseball & the choice my husband made to close the Chapter

I have been meaning to write this blog for a few weeks now but things have been crazy and I wasn't sure of what to say, but a lot of wives and friends have been asking us about baseball the past few weeks so Ive finally decided to sit down and share with you my sweet husbands story.

My husband, Ruben Flores a rhp was drafted out of high school in 2002 by the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round draft. He decided at the time, it wasn't right so went on to College. That next year, he was drafted again in 2003 by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round draft. This time, my eager beaver took the challenge and moved to Arizona for rookie ball. The next season he moved to Lake Stevens, Washington for the season and ended up breaking his wrist playing. He stayed there with his broken wrist and a few months later during his rehab he realized he couldn't throw and his shoulder was experiencing severe issues. The Mariners flew him to Seattle and it was determined that he needed his first surgery for a Labrum repair. He spent the next year rehabbing and came back the next spring training in Arizona ready to roll. He played the whole next season and his shoulder started hurting again while he was in California playing. He had a second surgery on his shoulder at this time. He spent another year in rehab. The next season he made the All Star Team and his team was #1 in the League. I loved that team. They were a great group of guys on the team, some of which ended up becoming such good friends they were in our wedding, and the fans were amazing! They were so welcoming and very loyal.

This particular year he was eligible for rule 5 draft. After being moved up after winning the All Star Game, he called me when I was dropping the girls off at school one day and told me he was just traded. After 6 years with the Seattle Mariners he was traded for Bill Hall, a big league guy with the Brewers. It was all over ESPN and the news that night. I was shocked. So the next day he flew from California to Florida for  the last month of the season with the Brewers. It was a weird mix of emotions for us both and a little shocking but at least it was the last month of the season.

 

That off season, he was now eligible for free agency. The Brewers called and wanted him back, The  Red Sox called and low and behold, Seattle called, after they traded him. We spent two weeks going over major pros and cons of each team. It was a huge decision but for us but we decided to give the Brewers another try for no reason other than we thought at the time it was best for his future and his career in baseball. So back to Florida we went that next Spring. I loved visiting there, solely for the beach but the team never felt right for him. It seemed to turn into more of a job and his passion started to fade that year. We were definitely ready for the year to be over. It was a rough year and he was going thru some personal things that made it hard to cope with playing that year. He wanted to be anywhere but there.

That off season when he came home, he felt he needed to move on. He started a whole new career path and tried to purse the Phoenix Fire Department. He always has wanted to work for the government in some sort. As soon as he got the call to interview with them, literally the same week his agent called with some teams who were interested. We went back and forth and what was best for him, and us and if he felt his heart was still in it. We decided to give it one more year. I told him you cant just stop because you have crappy year. I knew if he said no, he would regret it and always ask himself what if. So that spring, once again he left. We had a two bedroom apartment in Avon, Ohio near the lake. This was my ultimate favorite, favorite year, team, fans, town you name it!!! It was Indy ball, and Brew had nothing to worry about but playing for the only reason to play again, his passion and love of the game! And it worked!! The best fans, a great team of guys, a charming and beautiful town. I wish I could have stayed there the whole time with him. I visited much more that year with the girls. He did Amazing that season. The fans and news nubbed him the "ice man", which just makes me giggle thinking about it, because if you know my husband he is the sweetest, quietest, patient man, definitely not made of ice! He held the league record of 21 saves and a 2.24 ERA. The team made the playoffs and naturally I flew out right away. The last game of the playoffs his parents and I both were there. It was an awesome night and end to the season. Brew came running out 2 minutes later and said the Red Sox just purchased his contract. I knew his hard work paid off that season and he was noticed again. You cant say no to the Red Sox twice, so I wouldn't let him say no.

Our first year in Florida for ST was a challenge especially with him leaving so much sooner but It was a great place to visit when I went out. He had a great season but he began over pitching and pitching too many consecutive innings too many days in a row. A lot of guys were on the DL that season so the team was hurting to use every pitcher with little rest. In July, something happened to his elbow. He couldn't throw and was in major pain. They sent him to the doctor and eventually was called down to Florida to the Red Sox Spring training facility to rehab his arm. He was there for about a month and didn't throw the whole time until the last day. When he came home we rested his arm for months, which is what he was instructed to do.

 

During these past few months, I think he began to lose his faith in the sport and himself. I encouraged him to pick up the ball and try but I know he was afraid. His elbow and shoulder hurt just doing every day things still. He reverted back to his back up plan which I guess for me was somehow a sigh of relief but also heartbreak at the same time. We didn't talk about baseball for a long time. He got too upset and I couldn't bear the random emotions when we did or the tears I always had. I finally encouraged him to try to start his throwing program a few weeks ago which didn't go well. His elbow was in pain and he just couldn't throw. He has decided now his heart is ready to move on and he just cant take anymore of the unstable life baseball brings. He is tired of getting injured. It has taken a huge toll on him the past 9 years and you give up alot in playing and being away from your family for 7 months a year. We all do, but I was okay with that sacrifice because it has allowed us new experiences, new friends and great memories. We got to visit amazing places we would have never visited otherwise and I was watching my husband live his dream and do what he loved. That's all that mattered to me.

 

I have experienced such sadness throughout this whole ordeal and his choice to not get his arm taken care of and move on. Nothing is more devastating than a whole life you've had and the only thing you've known disappearing. This is all he has ever done. Its like graduating high school all over again and starting fresh. Of course, I am the only one who sees that and he expects his new "career" to happen overnight instead of evolve over time as the past 9 year career has. Way too hard on himself. Now a few weeks after deciding that he is ready to "retire" from baseball, although I'm sure there will always be sadness involved, I think we have both become much more excited for our future. I think when he understood (and I drilled into him) he has been blessed to play baseball for so many years and organizations continued year after year to see something in him, that he came a long way. A lot of guys don't make it so long. That alone is an accomplishment to be proud of. I am much more at peace with his decision which he has asked me to me a million times. I have better understanding of why he is moving on and I am proud of his strength and trusting in god for his future. Our life isn't going to be all figured out at once and I'm okay with that. We have a great life without baseball and have been very blessed. He is testing and trying out new career options while he makes this change and Ill support whatever he chooses, but baseball will always be a big part of our life. I know he is still hurt and that hurts me the most but we are open to whatever comes next and whatever plan god has in store for him. I know something bigger and better is in our future.

 

 I am thrilled to not have countdown of 18 more days with him before he would normally leave for Spring Training. So many of my friends are already posting their husbands countdowns before they leave and I for once, don't have to. I actually for the first time in our whole relationship get to spend our first Summer together! Our first 4th of July together and so many more awesome things he always misses! We can take a real Summer vacation and not just me and the girls visiting some random town for our summer vacation. This is definitely a huge adjustment period for us andfeels a little weird as Spring training is around the corner, but we are taking it a day at a time. I can tell you not having to rush home to Skype with my own husband or to have to take Red eyes just to see him on a 3 day weekend, just makes me smile! For me being away from him is normal, long phone calls, two living expenses, dealing with the girls and dogs as a single mom for half the year, all normal, but I am more excited than ever to have a real normal life. I cant imagine what that even means just yet but we ready it. I married him for a reason, I love being in his presence and I am so blessed to call him my husband. We are so excited to move on, expand our family and enjoy our time together for the first time when weve normally had so little of it.

 

Welcome to my normal life...life after baseball. where I suppose I need to shave my legs daily now and wont get a baseball season break....<3
xoxo - Autumn

Where have I been?

Life has been so crazy since the season ended and Brew came home. As soon as he came home, we had the usual MAJOR adjustment of him being here again day in and day out after I was home alone, head of the house for almost 7 months with two kids and two dogs. So that's always fun. After we got settled again he signed up for school for some Fire Science classes. He has a free college education from the Mariners since he was drafted out of early college so why waste it when he has so much free time. As I discussed in a previous blogs, his general passion is just helping others so starting the fire department process again that we started a few years ago was just the natural thing to do when he came home. As of now in January he has completed his EMT Classes and EMT certification which is great. Its just a small step in a positive direction and it was FREE!

 

The girls and I love having him home again. We finally feel normal again and I look forward to coming home every night to him!

 

As far as me, our company ARC Southwest, a company my mom and a partner started closed its doors. It was very sad and difficult to see all of their hard work just end after almost 3 years but it was a necessary step due to some outside issues which were nothing about our performance or how well the company was doing. So that made it even harder. I knew ahead of time so started looking for new companies to move to. I ended up taking November off, which was a nice break and finishing my real estate license finally. It gave me the time to spend with the girls and Brew and finish an important part of my career. I ended up getting a great job offer in October but didn't start until Early December. Its been a month now and things are going okay, just a major change in my duties, responsibility and work I am not used to. I transitioned from Multi Family to Single Family which has major differences in itself. I'm used to being a workaholic and this is a big break in workload. Everyone keeps telling me its good for me to take a breather for awhile and I should be happy but I guess I thrive on work. Wander where I got that from?!

 

So for now we are back to normal, figuring things out along the way and thinking about our future. I will catch up on a few other blogs this weekend and week! I have a few FABULOUS products to review! =)

 

xoxo