Life Lately

Hi hello, how are you? I'm still here, I promise, just ask Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Etsy, Pinterest or YouTube. EFF, that's so much social media, Jerek's probably rolling his eyes...Anywho, you basically can never truly miss me because I'm always posting a picture of the boys or a video that I think is funny online, somewhere. But if here is where you like to find me I apologize, I've been off livin *insert big heart emoji eyes*

Life has been so glorious lately from the weather to the beach trips to our new family long board purchases, I've been taking so many photos and videos but haven't been blogging much of anything! The end of summer is always so bitter sweet for me, hell, most anyone in the midwest I'm sure it is! I know I'm getting sick of wearing next to nothing and still sweating like a man and am ready for this heat to rest for a bit. I've been jonesing for that PSL, over-sized flannel and some apple picking. But just like that, instantly I'm sadden as the sun is not up when I get ready for work anymore and the weather app is telling me that hell is coming.

Life has been hectic lately too. I've been bugging reminding people on Facebook that I need RSVP's for the pre-ception (12 days away people!) which might not be proper protocol but really, when do I follow proper rules anyways? (The answer is never people!) Thankfully it didn't take me long and I got all of the RSVP's in, (thanks to my tactful reminders) and was able to confirm the amount with the catering company. I've been staring at my spreadsheet, reminding myself who needs to be paid, when and getting excited for all the video and photos to come. I still need to gather up hours upon hours of music (leave some suggestions below if you will!)

Life at work has been non stop. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat you'd know I was in Charlotte, North Carolina for work last week. My snaps consisted of food, not being able to sleep and editing video's, exhilarating people! I'll be back there the week after our pre-ception to continue the project I was working on and then back to Mexico and Portland the following month. After that I should be done traveling for awhile because then it's thanksgiving, Tracen's birthday, Christmas and New Years! OUI!

I went to Chicago a few weekends ago and am almost done editing my girlfriends wedding video and I realized how much I love shooting other peoples special moments that I want to do more! Also being there, watching everyone get ready got me so excited for my own wedding. It also reconfirmed that having a destination wedding is really the best plan for us. I loved everything about their wedding day but it didn't make me wish we were doing ours here in Michigan or differently by any means. I'm happy I had those feelings too, because I was scared I would come back to the room, crying to Jerek, saying we made a big mistake. Alas, I didn't and I'm even more excited for Mexico, for the beach and for our family!

I've been vlogging the past few weekends but you might not know since I haven't uploaded in a bit but I've been spending the weekends by some type of water by day and snuggled up on the couch watching Breaking Bad with Jer (we're on season 4!) at night, so the only editing I've been doing is Alexa and Matt's wedding video to be honest! The other night I finally compiled a bunch of lost/random footage into a video. It's not my normal editing work but if you want to see what we've been up to lately, take a peak here or below!

I have so much planned in these new few months it's about to get crazy here in blog and YouTube world! If you ever miss me here on the blog, you can always find me over sharing on one of the million other social media outlets I mentioned above. I'm obsessed with, Instagram or Snapchat lately so daily postings can be found on there. Both names are @eastwillowgrove and leave yours below, I love seeing new faces!

Cheers and here's to Tuesday, which is almost Wednesday, closer to Thursday and even closer to Friday, which is pretty much the weekend. Love ya'll!

Weekend Recap

We're alive!

And, I didn't catch the lets 'barf and crap every 30 minutes' like a few other people living in our house did. Knock on wood, but I'm rarely sick. And even when I am I usually still go to work {remember when I had pink eye..twice!}

If you want to see the cutest kids ever, watch the video. I swear Tracen watches me snuggle him and then tries to act like me and snuggle Skylor! Whatever it is, its pretty damn cute!

This weekend we really tried to tackle the kitchen since all last week Jer was sick and wasn't able to really touch a thing. We finished the tile, grout work and painting the walls. Yet the biggest accomplishment we did was the curtains, in my opinion! We ended up buying curtains from Ikea but I cut and hemmed them for the two windows in our kitchen and kitchen nook (I don't know what to call this spot, its the eat in kitchen part but we aren't using it as that...make sense?) That's right, I finally busted out my sewing machine my mom got me for Christmas THREE years ago and did work on that thing! 

When I was younger I use to go to the Salvation army and find cool shirts, pants, anything I could sew up and make my own, I hated dressing like the others. Once I pulled the machine out, got her all set up, everything came back to me and it felt great! I had to run to Joanne's to get thread which then forced me to walk the isles of fabric and flooded my mind with all these projects I wanted to start. Jerek will need to put a leash on my creative brain soon because I'm all over the place with things I want to do but I have big plans people!

Aside from working on the kitchen we did a huge Sam's club haul and we started watching bingeing on House of Cards on Netflix. We're loving it so far but with this time change we may have stayed up way too late last night because we are paying for it today!

Lastly the most important thing from this weekend is that the weather is slowly starting to turn! A large chunk of the snow has started to melt and the temps reached into the 40's, watch out California friends, we're all kinds of excited over here! I can't tell you how bad I'm longing for Tracen to ask, beg or plead that we go for a bike ride to the park, every.single.night. 

I'm looking forward to Friday as I took the day off to get my hair done. Yes, you read that right. I just had my work anniversary Thursday and my vacation days restarted so I have 5 weeks to use up and I'm starting by taking Friday off to get my hair done! My hairdresser is back from maternity leave and it will be 15 weeks since I've gotten this weave rocked! Jerek isn't always a fan of me spending my Saturday mornings getting my hair done so I figured this would work out great for all parties involved! I don't have to be at work, the boys are in daycare, Jerek doesn't have to miss me and I get to spend my sweet time with Jamie and get my blonde on! Heya! 

If you're curious as to how my roots are looking 14 weeks post dye job, feast your eyes on this! I honestly don't think they look bad but I'm convinced it's a mixture of my fabulous hairdresser and the products I use!

Dear weather, stay put {or get warmer}...or else!

Beach Day with Orbit

Michigan summers are worth writing about. Michigan winters blow. majorly.  The only time they are talked about are when no one wants to go to school/work and wishes for snow days. Sadly I'm no longer in school so all I have to talk about is how glorious summer is. I realize that this summer hasn't been that great to be honest. There's only been a handful of nice, hot days unfortunately. 

Sundays are usually spent doing laundry, cleaning and Jerek complaining he's bored. Well instead of doing boring things, i.e: see above, Jerek suggested the beach. I then started singing the infamous 'lets go to the beach beach lets go get away' song and it was decided. WE WERE OFF! 

Last time we went to Port Huron the beach was small, packed and pretty rocky. This time Jer suggested that we go to Lake St. Clair Metropark, it was about half the distance than Port Huron was and let me tell you, it was 100 times better in terms of, EVERYTHING.  The beach was smooth, the land was clean, there was TONS of parking, places to lay, sit and space to play. There was an Olympic size swimming pool with water slides and a big splash pad which both boys loved. There were tons of bikers, roller bladders and walkers. You can rent paddle boards {which I'm dying to do next time!} and there is also a boat launch. We will totally be going back a few more times before the weather leaves us! 

Going to the beach with two small children is never an easy task as there is so much crap you need to lug with you! With Skylor growing out of his infant carrier and into a big boy carseat, I've been obsessed with my Orbit G3 stroller. We decided to bring both the G3 and our light weight Summer Infant 3Dlite. We've had our 3Dlite for a while now and it's a nice little fold up stroller but it has almost zero storage and did not do well pushing across the sand or grass. We basically brought it so Trace had somewhere to sit his buns down when he needed to. 

The G3 on the other hand was a BREEZE to push through sand and grass. It acted as a high chair for Sky when we were eating with it's 360 degree turn capability it fit right up to the picnic table.  It was a cot for when he was tired and needed some quite time out of the sun. It also fits any size Starbucks cup, just in case that is ever a question {Yes, it ran through my head!}

To see the stroller or us in action you can check out the vlog from Sunday up on my Youtube page. I wish we could spend every weekend at the beach but the summer is short and we are a busy family!

 Side note: I do not promote frying like a tomato as skin cancer runs in my family. I simply freaking forgot and now have lame tan lines and a sunburn, nice one Chelsea.

I'm a brand ambassador for Orbit Baby and all opinions are my own

Detroit Zoo Vlog

Going to work is overrated, so I took three Tuesday's off in a row. #sorrynotsorryboss I did this not because I like coming back to an inbox of 100+ messages after only being out for 24 hours but because it was a much better option than sticking the boys in daycare while our aunt was gone for a few weeks.

These past few weeks of only working four days have been northing short of amazing. I mean who doesn't like sitting around in your pi's, bra-less and sipping on coffee while you know everyone else is at the morning meeting wishing it was 4pm. I can't say that Tracen wasn't a jerk from time to time but over all he was a good little chap.

My girlfriend Sarah or better known as Snydypants, came over and we packed up the boys and headed to the zoo. We have a family pass and the weather showed sunny so I figured lets get movin! Que winds, clouds and coldness and that's what welcomed us as we walked through the gates. I told Tracen we would go unless it was raining so I had to keep my promise, otherwise Jer would call me out for lying to them for being a baby in the wind {wah wah wah}

I ended up vlogging that day so come to watch!

Talk Dirty To Me

This past week I spent too many hours at work, too many minutes explaining to Tracen why he shouldn't throw things at the TV and too many seconds complaining about the weather. No but seriously, this weather is the pits. WHERE ARE YOU SPRING!!!

Going alone with the last post about Youtube, I compiled this past weeks antics together and laughed  while editing. I can't get enough of these boys. Life is memorable and at times I'm 110% a functioning zombie but that's what I signed up for right? right.