have you tried this...

i remember a few months back when something called BB cream came out in stores. i never really looked into it, just because i was happy with my makeup routine and products and didn't want to look into having to add another product into the mix of the 20 other products i use (if you missed the post about my makeup regime and want to read it, you can read it here).
then a couple weeks ago i was shopping at Target for a new powder that i could wear on a daily basis that didn't feel too heavy or that was too expensive (still am the biggest fan of the Laura Mercier powder i posted about in my makeup post, it's just so expensive that i will only be wearing it on special occasions) and that really blended in with my face and didn't look powdery or chalky. natural i guess is what you could say is what i was going for. i came across this little beauty:

it's a translucent powder. i have always wanted to try a translucent powder but never have because i always imagined it making my face looking ghostly white. but i felt like i had tried everything else that had color in it, so i threw it in my cart.
then, as i was walking out of the makeup section i saw this other beauty:

i don't know why it caught my eye or why i even bothered to pick it  up, because like i said before, i didn't need to add another product to my morning. but i started looking at it, saw that it was on sale for a couple dollars off, and decided that if i hated it, i could return it.

now fast-forward to now. i honestly don't know how i have lived without these two products!! my morning has become so easy that it's crazy! the BB cream is like a cream finisher in a bottle, it makes my skin look radiant! seriously, i notice such a difference just with this stuff! then i just put a little bit of the Photoready powder over it and it looks like i spent 50 dollars on makeup for my face. and both of these products cost under $15 dollars. then i just put on a little blush and do my eyes then i'm done! i love it. i don't feel like i need to blend my face in with the rest of my body to match the colors up. my face has the same color as always, just with a sheer finish of fabulousness. seriously love.

if you have been weary about trying BB cream, i highly reccommend it! i have heard from some, just like every product, that for one reason or another they didn't like it, and even i was skeptical about it the first time i was using it, but even after the first couple of uses, i noticed a difference in my face. my face looks firmer, healthier and brighter. with the translucent powder you can't go wrong. just wanted to share the love for those of you who are looking to change up your makeup or for those who are thinking about trying new products :)

road trippin' baby...

the last two weekends we have been on road trips. yes, we are crazy, especially doing it with a baby. the first was Flaming Gorge. what a blast!! but, Dylan had a hard time on the 4 hour drive there. coming home though, he was such a trooper. not a peep from this little guy. he was so good i just had to video him in his half-asleep state. such a sweetie :)

video of our sleepy but happy road-trippin' baby:

the second one was to Island Park to our friend's cabin he just bought. that trip was...interesting. actually, no, it was H. the only good part was being with friends and being in the beautiful mountains. but the 6 hour drive both ways in less than 48 hours was waaaaaaaayyyyyy less than worth it (Dylan was no so cooperative on this time around, i don't know why i thought he would be), not to mention having to drive home in the middle of the night because the cabin was so dusty i literally couldn't breathe. it was definitely one of those experiences that suck at the time, but now that it's over we have a crazy experience that we can look back and laugh at for years to come.

yeah, i don't think we will be road trippin' again anytime soon. twice in two weeks was enough to last me a while.

if i could write a letter to me...

i would say to be kinder to those around you. you never know when someone will leave this life. people come and people go, and once they are gone, you find yourself reflecting on how you treated them, each moment you had with them, and what you would've done differently if you knew they were going to go to heaven as soon as they did. death is a hard thing, make sure you treat everyone you meet, close to your heart or not, with respect, love and kindness. go out of your way to make people feel welcome and let them know you care.
i would say to let the little things go. don't make a big deal out of things that won't matter tomorrow. make sure you forgive quickly, be slow to anger, and to put yourself in the other person's shoes once in a while. you aren't always right, so don't pretend you are. always be the first to say sorry, and know it's okay to give in. you aren't losing the fight, you are just letting the other person know that you can compromise and that you can control your temper and your feelings. you will be glad you did.
i would say to take a date night with your husband once a week. leave the baby home, he will be just fine, and get out with your husband, just you two. it helps you see why you fell in love with each other without any distractions, and you get to see each other in the light you used to see all the time...without the kiddos. it's a good thing. your baby will be fine, and so will you, even if the tears come each time you drop him off. your relationship has strengthened so much because of your son, and it will get even stronger as you go out every week.
i would say to never, ever take even a moment for granted with your son. he is the most precious soul in your life, and he has made you better and happier than you ever imagined possible. he grows way too fast, so fast you don't even realize it. take time to cuddle him, play with him, read to him, rock him, sing to him, love him, kiss him, tickle him, hug him, and enjoy the tantrums, crying and endless crawling. know that each babble he makes will melt your heart, and you will love him more and more each second. and i would say that it's normal for you to get emotional every time you think about how much you love him. it's been like that since he's born, and i don't think that's going to change.
i would say take the time to get ready everyday. you were so good at this before you had a baby. everyday you got up, did your hair, makeup and felt sexy each time you went out the door. you are getting better at this, it's only taken a full year, but try to do it every day, even if you aren't leaving the house today. you deserve it, and so does your husband.
i would say keep the house clean. i know it feels like a tornado came through each time your baby touches any room, but that's okay. the messes can be cleaned up with effort. it's good exercise, and you will feel the spirit more with a clean house. it's been tried and tested :)
i would say to go visit your mom more. even though she is super woman, and always so busy, she really does need you and your company. she needs your support, your love, and someone to talk to in those hours she is home by herself. she is only human, and all of us need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to once in a while. make an effort to let her know you love her more than she knows, and that you are always there no matter what. go have sleepovers once in a while. she would love it, and so would you.
i would say to take the time to do the little things for your husband you used to do in the beginning of your marriage. make him scavenger hunts, play games, write him little notes, make alarms in his phone telling him how sexy and amazing he is, and buy him little gifts that won't break the bank, but will let him know that you were thinking of him. he is your everything, and you are so blessed beyond measure to have found someone who was perfectly made for you in every way, and someone who loves you and will do anything for you no matter what. he is amazing, and makes you better. let him know you appreciate all he does. because he does a lot.
i would say to pray often. i know your life is crazy, babies who are crawling leave hardly any time for yourself, but it's important. study the scriptures in the early morning before he wakes up. you can make the time, you just don't want to because sleep sounds more important. it's not. doing those things will only inspire you and better you as a mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister and person.

i would probably say a lot more. but that's all for now.

yes, i am dedicating one full post to this...

who: Jef Holm
where: Thanksgiving Point golf course club house
when: this evening
why: my mom's grief center (The Bradley Center) was hosting a golf tournament there today to benefit her foundation. i was there with a bunch of other people volunteering (i was taking pictures for my mom, the other volunteers were selling drinks, setting up, hosting games etc) and we had been outside doing all this for 4 hours. when it was time to go back into the clubhouse i was pretty exhausted, and when i walked in i saw a guy and his friend standing where i needed to walk. i only looked at the friend and didn't bother looking at the other guy. i got to where the other volunteers were and my friend/sister Whitney told me to turn around and look who was there. that was when i realized the friend of the guy i saw when i walked in was Jef Holm. i went nuts. seriously, i never thought i would act so dumb when i saw a "celebrity" (if he's even classified as that?) i didn't care how dumb i looked, i WAS going to get a picture with him. so i dragged Whitney with me (she had already gotten a pic with him a few weeks ago at a concert so this was her second go-around) and i went up to him and just started talking and he was seriously the nicest guy ever. we talked to him about Emily (yes they are still together) and how Whitney looks like her. then i asked for a photo, then another, then another. he totally obliged to each one. i am sure he was super annoyed but he didn't act like it at all. then as he was leaving the clubhouse he came up to me and Whit and told us it was nice to meet us. how sweet is that? seriously, love.
i am just so happy about it. it seriously made my week. i know how lame i sound, but i don't care. i loved him since like the second week of Emily's season and now i love him even more.

and if you don't believe me, here's the proof...

long time no see...

why hello there blogging world. remember me? i can't believe it's been like 3 weeks since i last blogged. and honestly, it's not because i have not had time or been too busy. it's because there's been absolutely nothing to blog about. things around here have been pretty chill, except for last week when i was deathly ill and Dylan had his first ear infection and was more sick than i was. it was not a good week here. luckily, the bugs left our house and all are happy and healthy again (knock on wood) but that has been the only thing that has been out of the ordinary, or even really interesting to blog about. so, in order to write a post, i saw an idea on my sister in law and her sister's blog called It's a Twinderful Life (go there and check it out if you have a minute. Their blog is all about how to make your life happier, DIY's and lots of fun posts) and since i have had absolutely no ideas on what to blog about, i thought this was a good one to get you all updated on what's going on. Thanks Britt :)

reading: just finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. umm, don't worry, i started and finished it in one day, and i sort of had a crying spree at the end of it. that book was amazing to me on a level i haven't felt before, and made me realize not to take Brett for granted and that i would probably die if anything happened to him. seriously, really good book. i highly recommend it.

waiting for: it to be tomorrow afternoon at 2pm because that means our talks will be over with. we are speaking in sacrament meeting tomorrow, and i always forget how much i hate speaking  how nervous i get to speak until i have to. it sucks. i am dreading it and cannot wait for it to be over.

excited about: our trip to San Diego to visit my sister, brother in law and sweet little nephew. we leave a month from tomorrow and we couldn't be more excited. we need a getaway :)

missing: being able to drink any soda i want. i had to get off caffeine about a month ago because my heart started to flutter, and that's not a good sign. so i've been off it a month, and after having a 3-day withdrawl that consisted of a migraine from H, it's been good. but, it's no fun having to pick and choose what i can and can't drink. i'm still getting used to that. 

trying to: get the motivation to get back in my workout routine. i was on such a roll when we lived at my mom's. it was the first thing i did in the morning and i just loved it. ever since we moved and i hurt my back in the process, i haven't done it. i am going to hopefully have the self-control to start my routine up again this week.

working on: reading everyday with Dylan. i love reading with him, it's just amazing how easy it is to forget to do it. but we went from not reading hardly at all to pretty much everyday. go us :)

enjoying: lazy days by the pool. i have not been taking advantage of using my mom's pool to it's full potential, but i fully plan on doing that the next couple of months while it's still open. Dylan and i have a goal to go over there at least 3 times a week so we can cool off and so mommy can get some much-needed sun.

using: my oven and stove. a lot lately. i am sure they missed getting used. we have been cooking at home a lot lately and it's been great! 

planning: to do a lot of fun things in San Diego. we wanted to go to Disneyland, but we aren't so sure our budget will let us do that. but Seaworld and the San Diego zoo are definitely going to get hit up, and hopefully Knotts Berry Farm or Universal will get a visit from us as well.

singing: primary songs to Dylan. he LOVES when we sing to him, i swear he thinks we are praising him and he just basks in all his glory. it's adorable.

needing: deeper sleep. this is, and always has been, a massive problem for me. but lately, it's been worse. i am waking up every hour for no reason, and i wear ear plugs to drown out Brett's snoring. i think it's the paranoid side of me making sure there are no robbers in our bedroom, because Brett wouldn't hear them if they came in on a 747

learning: to not get angry at little things (aka Dylan not napping when he's supposed to) because i am realizing that regardless if i get angry or not, it won't change the situation. having a good attitude is much better and makes the situation seem like it's not a big deal, and it's not unless i make it one.

listening: to Spotify is the best thing ever. my sweet husband introduced me to the Spotify world today and i must say it's amazing.

wishing: that my migraines would get the H out of here and never return. 

doing: getting geared up to go to Flaming Gorge next week with our friends. it will be a lot of fun, but we are crossing our fingers that Dylan cooperates through the drive and during the nights.

praying for: a sweet family we saw on the news last week that are trying to raise money to give their one-year old chemotherapy because he has cancer. hearing that story literally broke my heart. 

dreaming of: the day that my house is perfect in my eyes. i don't see that time coming anytime soon since i would have to win the lottery to do everything in my dreams to fix it or tweak little things, but for now, it's perfect for us :)

there's my update. sorry my blog has been dead lately. i will have stuff to blog about in the coming weeks with Flaming Gorge and San Diego though. Wahoo!!

finally...

so as most of you know, if you have ever read a post about Dylan on here (which is pretty much every other post) that you know he is a fish in a baby's body. seriously! this kid has loved the water since the day he was born, and his love only grows with each bath.

we have been wanting to put him in the pool for sometime, but Brett has insisted on being there for Dylie's first swim. i'm not sure why, i think it's one of Dylan's "firsts" that Brett feels like he can control whether he's there for or not, because since he's at work all day there's a good chance he might miss hearing Dylan's first word or miss him walking for the first time (hopefully not, but there is a chance) so i think he wanted to make sure he was there for this "first."

well, you'd think, especially since Brett has Friday's off, that getting Dylan in the pool would be a cinch. not so. Dylan has either been sick, we've been sick, or we just haven't had time in our schedule. well, this past Friday, we made sure to make time and we headed on over to grandma Carrie's pool and after lathering on the sunscreen and getting used to the temperature of the water, this kid was in h2O heaven! it was so much fun seeing the looks on his face as Brett and i pulled him around in his little floatie or just carried him around the pool. he loved kicking his legs and splashing the water with his hands. if you want to see what i'm talking about, have a look for yourself :)


lathering up...

 not so sure...

 yep, he's sure...

 lovin' the water...

 playin' with Grandma in the pool...

this kid was born to be a merman. i truly believe it. he just loves the water. i have a feeling we will be taking him swimming as much as we can the rest of the Summer.

booming...

fear is a funny thing. it can keep us from reaching for our dreams and goals if we let it. But, it can also push us into doing things that we are most afraid of, because the fear of not knowing whether or not we will succeed outweighs our fear of the unknown.

fear drives me to do a lot of things. good or bad. it always has. for a long time, i let fear keep me from pursuing my dream of starting my own business. i let it overtake my want to take a leap of faith. for a long time, fear drove me away from reaching my ultimate goal.

well, a few months ago an amazing opportunity blessing that i am sure wasn't coincidence pretty much fell into my lap, and this opportunity opened doors and made it all possible to start my business. i would go into it, but it would take a while. then more fears sank in. "what if it bombs?" "what if nobody likes my style or what if nobody wants me?" 
well, so far, those fears have been suppressed, or hopefully, have disappeared. thanks to lots of prayers, referrals, blessings and taking chances, my business is not only going better then i ever thought it would at this point, it's going really well. booming, if you will. i have several shoots booked the next few weeks, and i have gotten calls and emails to schedule for later in the season and into the Fall season for a wide variety of sessions. it's AMAZING, and pretty surprising considering i just started this business just a little while ago! i feel so lucky, especially since this business i feel like is super competitive. i know it's not like this for everyone, and it may not always be like this for me (knock on wood) but i am grateful that my leap of faith, at least for now, has taken me places i only hoped i could go. it's so flattering to have people ask me to take their photos, and truly an honor, to be able to do what i do, and absolutely love it. granted, i'm still learning with each shoot, but i feel like i'm really starting to get the hang of this and it's awesome!
i just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported me, pushed me, and encouraged me, to follow my dream. and most of all, thank you to those who refer me and those who ask me to take their photos. it is more rewarding than i can even describe.

weekend festivities...

CAUTION: this post contains probably more pictures than any other post i've written. you have been warned.

holy smokes this last weekend was busy! lots of picture-taking, birthday stuff, family get-togethers, sunsets and fun. it was a crazy weekend, but such a good one!

Thursday afternoon we went to a work picnic Brett's work had and Brett ended up winning a Blu-Ray player. woot woot! and as if winning wasn't enough, they gave all their employees the rest of the day off and they all got paid as if they were working the rest of the day. and since Brett doesn't work Fridays, his weekend started even earlier than usual. so what did we do? went and got some frozen yogurt and came home and relaxed. well, the boys relaxed. i stressed about who was going to wear what for our family pictures we were getting taken later that evening. i finally figured it out, and we got our photos taken and i can't wait to see how they turned out. i figured in honor of Dylan's birthday, it was time for some updated family pictures, since the last ones we had professionally taken were taken a week after Dylan was born, and i look like i haven't even given birth yet. so, it was time for an update.

Friday we just hung out, i went to lunch with a friend, and we had a BBQ over at my mom's with my brother and sister-in-law. this was probably the most chill day of the weekend.

Saturday was crazy! i wanted to do a "1st birthday" shoot for Dylan. this has been the one thing that i have had my mind set on doing for his first birthday since before he was born. and especially since i stressed myself out way too much about throwing him one of those Pinterest first birthday parties, i just decided we were going to have two low-key family parties where we just had a nice normal dinner and then had Dylan have his cake. best decision of my life.
so since i didn't throw him a fancy party, this photoshoot had to suffice. so i ran around to a million different stores all morning gathering balloons, cakes and making signs. and, from what i can see, these pictures are way better then any first birthday party i would've put together. thanks brett for helping me :)

then after our photoshoot, we went to the South Jordan Country Fest! so much fun! i am so glad we went in the daytime, we have been on a Saturday night before and i wasn't going to do that again. way too packed. we had lots of fun eating yummy food, walking around, looking at the booths, playing games (brett won Dylan a prize) funnel cakes, and just being together in the warm sunshine.

later that night, we decided to have a movie night in our backyard. seriously, if you haven't ever done this with your significant other, do so asap! we picked up some In and Out, chose an old movie we hadn't seen for a while (Mr and Mrs Smith) layed out some blankets, made a bed and put our older TV on our deck and watched our show. seriously one of the best dates we have had in a while. after if was over, we just cuddled and talked for a couple of hours and looked at the stars. it was fabulous.

and as you could tell from my last post, i was a little down in the early morning hours of Sunday morning (Dylan's birthday). luckily, i woke up after a good night's sleep and i felt the exact opposite. i ran into Dylan's room shouting "Happy Birthday!" and i don't think Dylan recognized his mom being that perky so early. for some reason writing about how sad i was totally switched my mood from being glum about his first birthday, to being so happy and wanting to celebrate his life and the day he came into the world. it was also father's day, so Dylan and i gave brett the card we made him and his gift (a gift certificate for a kindle). then we cut up some fruit, took it up to bed and all three of us cuddled all morning.
that night was Dylan's birthday dinner at his grandma and grandpa Hancock's house. it was so good to see everyone and just be with family. and of course, Dylan loved his funfetti (dot cake as i've always referred to it) cake...

yeah it was everywhere. he just dove right into that thing and didn't hold back at all. it was hilarious! he got lots of presents from his grandparents and aunts and uncles. then after we scooted from their house, i noticed that the sunset was going to be amazing, so i made brett drive out to Daybreak so i could get some shots of it.

                               (none of these sunsets photos are edited...i'm pretty proud of myself:)

see? i told you it was a crazy weekend! but, i did post a lot of pictures with this post so hopefully this post wasn't a complete bore :)