Pulled the trigger

That title scared you, didn't it?

I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a stroller! Thank you, Jamberry for making it possible!!!

My awesome sister pointed out that on Amazon, there was a baby jogger stroller that came with a $50 amazon gift card. Amazon and I have a love thing going, so sign me up!! The reviews for this stroller were pretty much the same as the others, and it was less expensive and a little more light weight. Here she is:

She is the the baby jogger city lite and I am so glad that I bought her yesterday, because I am noticing that the $50 card is no longer available in the special offers. Phew!!!!!

Thank you, Amanda!!!

Stroller plans

I have hit a snag in the stroller plans.

Found one that looks exactly like the initial choice. Reviews are the same.

HELP!

......

Ok, it's not that big of a deal. But, I do plan to use it for the next several YEARS, so I want to make the right choice on getting one that will last.

This is nonsense.. I am just excited that I have the time to save up for one that I really REALLY like, and not just must buy the first one we can afford!!!!!!!!!!! I wish that our old single wasn't broken because that would obviously be the easiest choice. Oh, well.

I actually like this Britax one's look better. It just looks so clean.

I used to be this person who was super into bright colors and patterns. My tastes have changed SO much. I like having a place for my eye to rest. Minimalism is what it's called, I guess. I am leaning towards that now. Harper's bedroom is my happy place. It is so softly colored and it all matches and is clean. It's perfection... In fact, I have this brown breathable bumper that I used for both older girls. I got brown because it was neutral and I figured that if we had a boy, I could reuse it and not worry about it clashing with "boy colors". ha! Harper's legs were getting stuck through the slats of her crib and I refused to put it on because it was going to ruin how calm her room felt. I think that Target loves me (or hates me..) because they had a soft pink one on clearance for $8 this weekend. I left it behind because I didn't want to spend the money on it, even though those things are usually around $30. Scott sent me back INTO the store to buy it... after I had already checked out and climbed into the van to head home. I am really happy that he did because I can blame him for that purchase. :p


Rabbit trail..

Anyway.. the Britax is currently significantly cheaper that the city mini. I think that it will just come down to whichever one is cheaper at purchase time. They look almost identical. I have heard more about the Britax brand, and it has all been good.


The end of the most pointless blog post in the world. Save me from myself.

These are a few of my favorite things..

That song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You're welcome.

I can't drive. Did you know that? Just in case you haven't heard, I can't drive. When I get bored, I pretend I am at the mall and browse the internet while drinking coffee with dairy free creamer. I obnoxiously send links to Scott with "HEY, I'd love this for my birthday." or something else silly. I thought I would share because I am once again bored and Scott is going to block his own wife on facebook if I keep it up. (Not really, he loves me.)

I love this tote, which can be found here. It is big and reversible, so it's like two in one. I love big purses.. I love the color aqua. I have been searching for the perfect brown purse. I have tamed my shopping addiction. I have a beautiful black leather purse that Scott bought for me years ago, and I have a small cross-body bag that fits my wallet and a couple of other necessities. I have been looking for years for an affordable brown purse that will LAST. I don't want to waste money on purses that just fall apart, especially since I just trade out with what I already own. But, it's pricey, so I will continue to drool on my keyboard. They used to have a metallic one that was gold on one side and cognac on the other. *swoon*

You know that I am searching for a single stroller. I sell Jamberry and I am trying to save up what I make for this stroller. I have looked at others, but the features of this one are just awesome. Plus, it's actually cute to look at as well. I am so bummed, because it was priced over $30 cheaper, but the price went up. I am over half-way to having enough for this bad boy.. or girl. We don't have boys in this house. *wink* I am just going to get the black one. It will hide stains better and when I go to re-sell it years from now, it MAY be easier to sell. We'll see. I also plan to get the parent console.. The whole exciting thing about having a stroller is having a place to put your drink. Seriously! When I go places without the stroller and have a drink I feel so lost.

I also have my eye on these for storing homemade baby food. I love making baby food. Does that make me weird? I used ice cube trays when Chloe was a baby, but was dumb and didn't think about freezer burn on exposed foodsicles. With Addi, I was just fighting to stay alive, so I didn't make much for her. I think now that I have two older girls and one baby it will be easier. I have already made avocado and she loves it. We don't have a lot of extra freezer space, but I think that these will work well to freeze and store the food in. I also want to invest in some reusable pouches. Chloe and Addi love the squeezey applesauce pouches and yogurt pouches, so they will be used for a very long time. Any recommendations on those? The jury is still out on them for me.

Valentine's Day is coming up. I love looking at all of the festive little outfits for the kiddos. And, I not-so-secretly wish that they came in my size!! These are some of my favorites as I have e-window shopped.
Heart beanie
heart sunglasses
heart sneakers
heart tutu
arrow heart tee
heart skinnies

Happy weekend, friends!!

6 months old

My sweet baby turned 6 months old on Sunday!! Where has the time gone?!?!?!

I guess that I never took a 5 month picture, but look at the progression of cute!! Brand new through 6 months. I exclusively breastfed her until she turned 6 months old. I wanted to be safe because she already has food allergies. I did what was best for her. In true Ashley style, it seems to have blown up in my face because she did not gain enough weight.. I almost cried at her doctor's office. I called my sister and she told me that I DID do what was best for her and almost cried because I needed to hear someone say that. (My doctor didn't criticize me, just said that we need to "fatten her up". If you could hear his accent and sweet voice.. haha!)

She weighs 14 pounds 11 ounces and is 25 3/4 inches long. I think 4 of those 14 pounds are in her cheeks. :D

She is rolling all over the place and loves to find whatever electrical cords she can and try to put them in her mouth. Yikes! She got up on her knees today and I threatened to push her down. I would never actually push her down, so don't freak out. I am just not ready for her to be so big. She does what I call the baby sea turtle crawl. She tries to get up to crawl but just flops forward, so she looks like a baby sea turtle crawling to the ocean for the first time. She has two teeth about to pop through on the bottom.

She loves to laugh at her big sisters and smile at anyone who will speak to her. She sits up with support, but topples over if that support is removed. She wakes up every few hours at night still, so if you see me with pillows under my eyes, that is why. I am thinking that now that she is getting some solid food she will sleep better. In fact, last night she woke up around 11 PM, ate, and went back to sleep until after 8. I won't count on that happening tonight, but it felt good to get some sleep finally.

I love this sweet little girl more than words can even say. I love all of my girls and feel really blessed to be their mama, even on days when they are rotten.

Single stroller

I am seriously considering saving up for a single jogging stroller... We have a broken single stroller and a tank of a double stroller. Chloe and Addi want to get down and walk when we go anywhere. I can't blame them... They are 3 and 4. Addi does a great job of staying with me as long as Chloe is not around. Big sister is a bad influence, and little sister is too easily influenced. Harper will be in a stroller for at least a couple more years. I am tired of lugging the massive double one around and having it take up the entire back of the van. I want a jogger so that when it's warm I can take one of the girls for a run and the other two can get some daddy time.

I am already drooling over one on Amazon... THIS ONE

It has a big basket underneath, which will be necessary for the rest of our lives with three kids.. I am convinced of this. I need to be a kangaroo and have a pouch to store all of our "kid stuff" in it. It also has a MASSIVE sun shade that will actually keep the sun out of whoever's eyes happen to be underneath. The shade is also UVA resistant, so that is a huge bonus. Our kids have never used the dumb snack trays, so I am not really bothered by the fact that it doesn't have one. I love this stroller. I have a problem..

I will be able to drive soon (Lord willing) and Harper will go with me if I go out because I am her main food source. We can walk the mall together..


What a day that will be, when the steering wheel I see.... when I look upon it's..face? The one who saves me from this place... When I take it in my hand.. and go-oo to the promised land.. what a day, glorious day that will beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Own Your Life

If you have not heard of Sally Clarkson's book "Own Your Life", you must go look it up. Then, you must run and purchase it. I am not writing this because I am getting paid to, I am writing this because I am only to the third chapter and LOVE it. If you read my post yesterday, then you know exactly where my emotions are.. where my heart is.

Last night, I was really exhausted. I just wanted to go right to sleep, but something kept nagging me to read a chapter in the book. I gave in, and now I know that it was the Holy Spirit letting me know that there was something that was going to speak directly to me.

Sally was speaking about a time when she felt exactly like I was feeling. Sick of where she lived and what she was doing. She was frustrated by her lack of space and lack of friends. Sally was pregnant and hiding from her children while she silently prayed about her circumstances. I think chapter two was written just for me.

I felt convicted. I forced myself to write down ten things that I was thankful for yesterday. I struggled through it because while I wrote, my children were refusing to nap or just be still. There was screaming, door kicking, and crying happening all around me and I bitterly was thinking that I didn't even want to be thankful for ANYTHING. I struggled. I am imperfect. I am still struggling with some of the thoughts that have been swirling in my head for over a year now. I am praying that God reveals his will to me.

Sally challenged me last night. She will never know what one chapter of her book has done for me. I need to OWN MY LIFE. I am here. I may hate Michigan with every fiber of my being because I hate the bitter cold winters stuck in a house that is so tiny that we trip over each other daily. However, I am here. THIS is where God has placed me. I need to own it. I need to step up and serve Him with my WHOLE heart right where he has planted my feet. I need to stop whining and being unhappy, because I am SO blessed. I tend to want to run away when things get hard. This is exactly what Sally was speaking about. She wanted out of her situation. She said something that penetrated my heart and was such a huge reminder that almost felt cruel, but it was the truth that I needed to hear. "..the very difficulties we want to escape can be overcome only when we face them head-on. Otherwise, they have a way of following us wherever we go. Not only that, but running away from them keeps us from growing stronger and eventually becoming heroes in our own story."

This does not mean that I won't struggle. It's not like an overnight change will happen, and that's ok. I am still growing and learning and being formed by the potter's hands. This is all a beautiful part of my story. Sally said that God used that time in her life, and it has been a huge part of her ministry. I just want to quote her whole entire book in this blog post. But, I really think that every single woman needs Sally's words. Whether you are a mother, a single woman, a widow, whatever. She will challenge and encourage you!

I know that Christ is the ultimate hero in my story, but I want to stop playing the victim.

Contentment

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. " Philippians 4:11-13

Why is this so hard to live out. I am trying so hard to be content right where God has planted me... I wake up with that intent. Then, I come upstairs and look out the window and see several inches of snow and massive mounds piled in our yard from the parking lot. I stay inside of this house that feels like it is literally shrinking by the second, and I feel like my head is going to explode. When I do actually go outside, my face freezes off and I get angry. I am so frustrated in my circumstances.

I have three weeks until I maybe get cleared to drive. Three weeks feels like an eternity. But, then I think, I am not going to drive in ice and snow after NINE months of not driving, so it really doesn't matter. Having answers will be nice, but I am afraid of what the answers will be.

I am getting an ultrasound done of my freak thyroid.

I need to go see a lactation specialist because a month and a half of these problems is not ok.

There are so many things swirling around in my mind that I can't say, but I just don't even know how much more I can take.

I want a vacation. I want to get away from this place for a REAL vacation. Not one where we are torn between family and spending more time in the car driving back and forth. A break for us. One where we can just be a family. The five of us. Doesn't that sound amazing? I know it is stressful to travel with children, especially three so young. But, to have no schedule.. just go walk on the beach and feel the warm sunshine.

Why is contentment so hard to find? Why can't I stop this feeling? I am trying to not be angry at my circumstances, because I know how much worse they could be. It's hard.

Here are some things that I AM grateful for.

1. I have a roof over my head. It may be small, but it keeps the snow and most of the cold away.

2. I have three beautiful daughters who are silly and entertaining.

3. I have an amazing husband who works hard to serve the Lord and others.

4. I have a coffee maker. Seriously.

5. I am loving my Jamberry business and team.

6. I have a loving and supportive family.

7. Technology allows me to keep in touch with my best friends even though they live far away and even on different continents.

8. I have clothing to help keep me warm.

9. My baby is cooing and making it difficult to concentrate, but she sounds oh, so cute!

10. I have God's word available at my fingertips. I am able to READ it and UNDERSTAND it. I am so thankful for the gospel.

Happy New Year!!!

I am so relieved to be starting a new year. Last year was rotten. It was tough and trying and exhausting.. but I have a beautiful baby born in the midst of all of the trials. I would never wish that it never happened. I know that God has strengthened me a lot through it all. I am still being rebuilt from being broken down. I know that I will come out of it all stronger than before.

It's time for New Year's Resolutions. I didn't really make any resolutions, but I did set attainable goals for myself. I set goals that I want to have reached by the end of the year and then broke them down into smaller monthly and weekly goals.

1. Health- I want and need to lose 25 pounds. People tell me all of the time that I don't need to.. blah blah blah.. I need to. I hide it well. I am ABOVE the healthy weight for my height. Losing 25 pounds puts me right in the middle of the healthy weight for my height. That is just two pounds a month. Completely do-able. I plan to run at least twice a week, and do a strength training workout at home 3 days a week. I also plan to drink at least 36 ounces of water per day. Right now I drink about.. oh, zero. I hate water. But, I am constantly dehydrated and feeling terrible because of it.

2. Spritual health- I need to spend QUIET time ALONE with God. I try to squeeze it in when no one is bugging me and still end up feeling distracted during it. I need to set aside a certain time where I can truly focus on it and grow. I need alone time with God. My heart aches for it.

4. Business- I want to hit premier consultant by the end of the year. If I can do this, I will be able to pay off our debt this year, and begin working towards purchasing a new vehicle for our family. I would LOVE to be able to do this, but getting out of debt comes first. I have this broken down as well, but unless you are a Jamberry consultant as well, none of that will matter to you. ;) ashleypullen.jamberrynails.net if you are interested in shopping or becoming one!!

5. Personal- I need to spend more time with Scott. We have three little ones and no family nearby. I don't like leaving my kids with people who aren't family. I have trust issues. Deal with it. I need to work on spending more time with him. We need it. I need to say yes more. Yes to my kids instead of "wait" or "no". Life should be fun!!! I need to extend grace to MYSELF. I am my worst and toughest critic. What I say to myself matters. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by our creator. When I wound my own heart, I wound the heart of God.

What are your goals for 2015??? Just to survive? To live more? To go on a vacation??


**EDIT TO #4: I actually set my goal to hit TEAM MANAGER by the end of the year! That is one rank higher than premier. Also, if I hit that, I could end up going to MAUI with my husband in 2016!!!!!!!!!! *swoon*