Secret Project Reveal : House of Boys

After months of planning around work and family schedules I finally got everything situated and it's finally here! A goal of mine in May was to go all in on a project I had been working on. So here we go folks!

{Yes, those are knee pads, Tracen REFUSES to take them off}

I've mentioned recently that I love a great tee paired with jeans. Sometimes I can look more put together wearing this type of outfit than I can in a dress. As a mom I have to make a conscious effort to make time for myself because life can get hectic and I know I feel much better when I do. I also need to realize that I usually end up with boogers, milk and food all over me by the end of the day due to the boys so I try to find a mix of comfort and cute. That's why jeans and a tee are a go to for me, but I'm not looking for just any tee, fruit of the loom will just not do.

A while back I was telling Jer how I had all these ideas for T-Shirts, that I wished the cute graphic tee's you see in stores weren't so expensive, so we started talking. He's always been my biggest cheerleader, so when I started talking designs, types of shirts, style and printing he was there right with me telling me I should do it. After months of getting quotes for screen printing myself or with another company,  I went with working with a company but designed everything myself. I'm also the shipping, receiving, marketing, packaging and admin person, you get the drift.

{SIDE NOTE: look at the photographer in my glasses, he's SUCH a babe!}

For months you've probably seen me hashtag #houseofboys and this was why! I'm sorry in advance that but I'm not trying to dismiss the families that have boys and girls, I just haven't come up with a creative shirt for them yet! To me there's something unique about having a house full of boys or girls and it takes a strong man/women to raise twins so I started with these, I hope you mama's with both understand. Don't worry though, I have a plan to incorporate you too, I have a notebook full of different ideas, sayings, and styles that will be making it into the store in the future so stay tuned!

To see the other shirts you can shop here at East + Willow and take a look around! If you have any questions, comments or if there is a shirt but you want a different size feel free to email me and we will get a custom order going. Lastly, like I've done in the past, if you live in the Detroit area and would like to save on shipping use coupon code 'METRODETROIT' and we can arrange pick up. Or fly me out to where ever you live I'll personally hand deliver your shirt and we can have a glass of wine together!

I'm excited for these shirts and the other items that will be popping up in the shop!

XO

May Goals

April showers bring May flowers...or in Michigan sometimes they bring snow and construction.

Recapping April's goals today:

1. Finish Secret Project- minor set back, hopefully it's all up and running by the end of May!

2. Finalize Wedding Plans- check! Announced here for your viewing pleasure.

3. Run Outside- nope. Not even one time. I have been running every time I'm at the gym though, so it semi counts?

4. Figure out a skin care routine- check! I JUST talked about this on Wednesday in my first wedding talk Wednesday post. So glad I finally found something that actually works for me. My skin has honestly never looked nor felt this good in YEARS!

Now onto May, which BTW, MAY!? That means we're almost half way through 2015...I swore I was just throwing back cocktails downtown for NYE?!

1. Spray the inside & outside of house for spiders- I can't even begin to tell you how stressed I was last summer with some of the spiders we saw and might I add MURDERED inside our house! And you can bet your pretty penny this goal is really meant for Jerek because I don't do this kinda thing, I just delegate these types of task. Spraying for spiders inevitably means FINDING spiders and I do NOT want to find any WHILE spraying for them! Case and point.

2. Post before and after results of the 24 Day Challenge- This may seem like a silly goal but posting my before pictures is what stress me out. It's no surprise that I'm an open book if you couldn't tell already and I'm currently rocking it out eating and working out wise but posting a before photo for everyone to see is on a whole other level for me! BUT it will be done so keep your eyes peeled for that in a few weeks {SIGH|} If you're interested in what I'm talking about or joining me you can email me for more information [eastwillowgrove@gmail.com] or check it out here! I have a group starting the day after Mothers day with that will include a private Facebook group, workouts, meal suggestions and daily checkins for anyone participating! 

3. Get bike ready for the summer- I have an old retro 3 speed white Schwinn that really needs a good tune up. Last year I rode it without doing so and I really think it needs some loving before we put some more miles on it this year.

Sometimes I question if I should stop posting my goals every month but then I realize that these really help keep me in check throughout the month. I also love checking in every month and sharing. Not only does it help with my accountability I hope it helps some of you that ask how I do it all realize that I'm a normal mom and some months can barely get to work on time let alone blog!

Happy Friday and have a fantastic weekend! XX

May Goals

I bet you're wondering where my April goals were, weren't you? They went in the shitter along with January's, February's and March's. I'd love to tell you that I ate healthy, didn't buy coffee at work, worked out, didn't eat sweets, de-cluttered and ran miles upon miles but that would be a blatant lie! Not only did I buy coffee more than I should have, I ate a ton of sweets {Hello, tons of Easter candy in my house!},  still have boxes that are not unpacked and barely ran to my car and back while raining let alone ran around the block. I know, I know, I suck. But want me to tell you what sucks more, moving. With children. Young children. And working, working sucks. And moving while having young children and working 40+ hours a week. Oh and painting, remodeling, unpacking, laundry, lots of laundry, rain, cold weather and pink eye. Pink eye blows major balls. It sucks when your kids get it, it sucks when you get it and it sucks when you have it for WEEKS. Mind you it's been almost 3 weeks and my eyes are still not gleaming white. {awesome.} 

The pictures you are about to see might scare you, they might make you want to stop reading and go wash your hands, they might even slightly make you feel sorry for me. If none of these things happen it's because you have in fact gotten pink eye before. Me on the other hand, I was pretty much a baby because I had never experienced this awful fart in my eyeball pain and annoyance until now. So cue the sad music and start commenting on how you feel so bad for me and hope it gets better. 

Go ahead, scroll down, I'll wait.






Okay, now for your viewing pleasure.

For two solid weeks I managed to keep my hands clean enough and not have it spread till the right eye. Then week three hit and I woke up an eye crusted shut closed mess! But for real #whofartedinmyeye

Back to what you're really hear to read about.

Lets recap March Goals {if we must}:

1.  New Food/Meal Ideas for Tracen-NEGATIVE. I basically just made him try 3 bites (because he's 3) of anything in hopes he would actually like something. FAIL.

2. Run- Like I stated above. I ran to my car to avoid getting rained on. So that's that.

3. Smoothie/Juice-Nope. Nada. None. Unless having a frozen margarita counts. It's blended with fruit right?

4. NO SWEETS!!!- I plead the 5th.

Lets take a look at what I'm going to attempt to accomplish this month shall we!

1. Etsy- I have some really exciting things coming to my store which also I'm rebranding {I think}. I told myself I would re-open May 1st but I'm not sure that's going to happen seeing as thats today. I temporary closed the shop for the past month to month a half while we packed moved and did some renovations. I didn't want to worry about filling orders and trying to find all my things in the chaos. So I'm shooting for May 15th. Fingers crossed

2. Run- I'm attempting this again because I have to. No, I need to! The marathon is in October and I've gotta get my ass in gear! Plus bathing suit season is right around the corner and I don't think I've worn one of those in quite some time.

3. Anxiety- I need to find different ways to deal with everything going on. Working and being a mom is hard. Like breakdown hard. I've been loosing my temper with Tracen a lot lately and it's really bothering me. I know this will basically always be a goal as I'm sure it will never just go away but I'm taking this month to really dive into things and figure what works for me and for us.

So this month is only a 3 goal setting month. Trying to lessen the blow from last month! I'm swamped to my ears forever doing laundry, remodeling, unpacking, and being a mom that I need to take it easy. Plus if I fail I'm only failing 3 goals and not more. Tracen is now going mental and not wanting to go to bed so seeing as it's almost 10pm and he's still wide awake I guess I'll leave you with the pink eye photos to stare at and comment how bad you feel bad for me.