Bye Bye Binky, Binky Goodbye

No we didn't leave it to the fairy.

 No we didn't dip it in coffee.

No we didn't cut a whole in it.

No we didn't trade it in.

No we didn't bury it.

No we didn't declare it "Big Boy Day!".

No we didn't tie a balloon to it and tell our child it was going on a space exploration.

No we didn't send it to a new baby (even though that is very sweet).

We did it COLD TURKEY!

And guess what?!

The Bink-a-holic did just fine.

The E family is now without binks in their house!

Can I get a big HELL YEAH!

Colby was OBSESSED with his bink.

Needless to say that's why his nicknames were "Binky Baby" "Binks" "Binky Bottom" "Binky" "Baby Binks"

Every time there was a bink in site he would shove that little love muffin right in his mouth and begin sucking like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

We did wean him off of it though.

So I guess it wasn't cold turkey.

It all started at daycare.

Unbenounst to me, he was not getting a bink at daycare for nap time.

However, enter clever Mr. Binks, he did not let Mama in on his precious little secret.

Because Mama would give him one at nap time on the weekends and at night.

Mr. Binks: 1  Mommy: 0

Dumb dumb Mommy.

Then 2 weeks ago I could not find the binks anywhere.

It's like they all disappeared.

But Mama had a backup.

A backup bink you say?!

Ummm yes, for situations like this.

Emergency situations.

Yes Emergency.

So I popped that bink in his mouth and all was well with the world again.

You see this is all about me here.

This kid is so easy and totally rolls with the flow on any level.

He is pure perfection I tell you.

Yes I'm a bit biased but he really is so easy.

So when the thought of no bink entered my mind I freaked.

Yes, Mama freaked.

My little itty bitty Bink Baby is not going to be a Bink Baby anymore?

What?

Enter Mama Mental Meltdown.

Yes there were tears (from me) do you even have to ask.

However, the following weekend I was going to be out of town and Dada was in charge.

So I announced that that weekend was going to be the "Operation Get Bink Off A Bink".

Mama was not in site or even a ear shot to hear the thoughts of my Baby Binks not having his beloved soother.

So this was perfect.

I could totally deal if I wasn't there.

And you know what?!

It worked.

It only took him that weekend and we are BINK FREE!

I happen to run across the cute little Elmo video this weekend.
Use it, it might help get your kid off a bink.
Sometimes you will sucumb to anyting.
And Elmo is so cute. Whats not to love?

Now join me in Mother's Against Toddlers With Binks.

Meet My Newest Sponsor {Photography}

This girl right here loves a good photo shoot. Getting you picture taken by a professional photographer is always so fun to me.

I love to see the art that they capture on their end.

And I get some amazing priceless family memories.

I met with the wonderful Christina Higman of Christina Higman Photography and she did not disappoint.

I of course want to rave about her pictures but also about how sweet she is. She is so down to earth and I felt like I have known her for years. She made me feel so comfortable and C liked her too.

I always find this a must for a photographer we are going to use.

Now on to her photos, her photos are flawless you guys.

She seemed to capture crazy toddler C running around like it was no big deal.

Now, that is genius if you ask me.

C had a snack cup in his hand the whole time (he would not let me take it away...death grip on that puppy) but in the pictures it's like you don't even see it.

Because she seemed to capture the look on his face perfectly that you don't even notice anything else. She is amazing I tell ya.

Christina is the newest sponsor of my little piece of blog heaven over here at Nap Time Is The New Happy Hour and You Are My Sunshine. How great is that?!

Christina not only takes pictures of sweet little boys like C but she also does, newborns, children, families, and seniors.

The girl can do it all!

What is even more amazing is that she is offering a giveaway over on her blog.

Please only enter if you are in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa area (you know, the Bay Area).

But even if you are not in this area please hop on over to check out her amazing work and "like" her anyways.

Check out the details below and hop on over to her blog and Facebook page to "like" her.

Christina rocks!

As you can see from some of her other work.

Christina and I are also working on something else that everyone (even if you are not in this area) can enjoy.

So please keep your eyes peeled out on both of our blogs.

My Friday's Fancies

Outfit  by cheryl-enlow featuring a leather messenger bag

I was a little late to the game and didn't get a chance to do the blog swap...booo.

But instead made my own outfit of what I wish I had in my closet to wear to work or even just out to date night.

I love to get dressed up but also be comfy and I think this outfit would be perfect.

Ok well minus the 9 inch heels. So cute though huh?!

So tell me what do you like to wear on date nights?

Do you like to get glammed up?

I think one of my fav accessories are big eyelashes.

No my hubs doesn't even notice but I do. Love 'em!

The Truth Of The Ped's Office {Every Mama Can Relate}

Whenever I have to take C to the Ped's office I feel like I am the one being tortured.

And here are my issues...

Problem #1

We all get out of the car, baby in arms and diaper bag thrown across my shoulder and coffee in hand spilling all over the place.

 But its 8:00 a.m. so Mama needs caffeine especially for this experience.

I get up to the door and just stand and stare at it.

I don't even want to touch the handle.

I swear I can see germs jumping off of it and onto my precious little child infecting him with some nasty green snooty coughy crap.

But I finally realize that we need to go inside and the doors aren't going to magically open because I'm starting at them with arms full.

So I open them muttering under my breath how disgusting that just was.

Simple Resolution: Act like you are a nice restaurant and have someone manning the door.

Mama's normally have their hands full of baby and all their stuff and need all the help they can get.

Problem #2

Finally inside and I have to sign in.

Fine.

I can do this, put my dripping coffee down, throw my diaper bag on a chair and swing baby on hip.

Done.

We are officially here and ready to see the Doctor.

Well, we wait and wait and the bright as Florida sunshine fluorescent lights are humming, babe is starting to get restless and walk up to every person in the room and just stare at them.

Ummm baby didn't your Mother tell you it was rude to stare.

Guess not, mom fail and the awkwardness sets in.

Simple Resolution: Let us check in electronically on our phones in the car while Babe is seated and calm.

Problem #3

We are finally called back after sitting in the first waiting room for what seems like an eternity.

Thanks Doc!

I thought that's why I got the first appointment of the day.

So I don't have to deal with any of the above mess.

Guess not.

Now, we see the Nurse.

I think they do this so the Doctor has a buffer in her time.

The Nurse is kinda like the opening act of a show.

We all want the real thing we are here to see but have to wait and hear what she has to say first.

Whatever.

She asks the questions she asks every single time we are there and then she leaves.

Simple Resolution: Stick to the appointment time the Mama schedule. There is a reason for the appointment, that's why we make it.

Problem #4

She leaves us in a small itty bitty room with toys.

Ok, toys are for kids to play with right?

No, no they are not.

Not in this instance.

Remember Problem #1.

I didn't even want to touch the door knob walking into this place why do I want my child touching these germ infested toys?!

For the love, why do these Doctors do this to the Mother's.

It's not fair.

So now, my child sees these fun looking old toys and wants to play with them.

Simple Resolution: Get the dang toys out of the itty bitty rooms!!!

Problem #5

I have to somehow wrangle my child away from the toys and become way more fun and entertaining then those bright colored toys sitting and starting at my child and calling his name.

This is not going to happen at 8 in the morning.

But somehow I must muster up my chipper self and become an airplane.

An airplane that spins, dips, sings, catapults, sways, laughs, etc.
And I have to do this until the Doctor decides she wants to start working for the day.

Um about 20-30 minutes of us being in the SECOND "waiting room"

Simple Resolution: Again with the appointment thing and the toys.

Problem #6

I have now morphed into a flying machine and sings and dances and in walks the Doctor.

This Mama is now sweating profusely.

Like I just completed a triathlon.

And now she wants my child to sit still.

Again, not happening.

He is a toddler did you not look at his chart.

She starts asking me a bunch of questions which I in tern answer.

But I really just want to sit down and take a rest.

Because again I just worked out for 30 mins while she was doing who knows what.

Simple Resolution: Doc hurry your ass up! I don't want to sit here with my squirmy toddler. Yes he is adorable but hurry it up!

Problem #7

Appointment is done and I am supposed to make my next appointment up front with the receptionist.

Great, fine, get me the hell outta here!

But how am I supposed to do that when the Doctor just pissed off my toddler?

She put two shots in his little legs and he is angry and sick of being in this place too.

He wants down and out.

And Mama did not get a chance to take even one sip of her mommy juice because she was too busy trying to keep him healthy and away from those germ infested toys.

Which obviously the Doctor is not too concerned about.

So you have pushed my Babe to his limit and this Mama because she has not had her coffee.

So to solve the appointment problem please let the Mama's schedule the next appointment at the beginning of the appointment when we are just waiting and my child is happy.

Big, big Doctor office fail because we are done with this place and just want to leave.

Simple Resolution: Let us schedule the appointments when we first get in, or let us schedule them electronically.

Oh How Pinterest-ing

It's Wednesday again..how did that happen to quickly.

But a dang good excuse to hop on over to Pinterest and find my fav pins of the week. 

Quotes and fashion are some of my fav pins.

And these quotes fit me perfectly.

Check em out...

Now I totally understand why I am whipped by the end of the day.

And thats on a Saturday when Im not even working 8:00-5:00.

Yes, yes and yes! This saying is totally me.

I think I say this at least 3 times a day at work.

I do work in kinda a fun place...shhh dont tell my boss.

I think I could do a whole post just about this quote.

Oh yes, Mama loves her wine.

Look at this color combo...

Perfection!

I could wear this all the time.

I need this whole outfit in my closet right now.

Including those kick booty shoes. Gorgeous!

Loe me some Kate Spade.

I need some Revas in my life!

ASAP!

Mommy & Colby's Day of Fun!

Yesterday was Mommy and Colby's Day of Fun!

Yes, I called it that the whole day.

And you know what?! We had a freaking blast!

The day started off with C's 18 month old doctor appointment.

No fun for him or Mama.

One shot and an interesting update but more on that later.

But we got through the appointment and then it was off to the Glazer Children's Museum.

After that he let Mama do some shopping, had lunch and then we both napped.

I love a good nap day!

Little did he know he was about to play his little heart out.

He was in charge and got to do whatever he wanted at the Museum.

He led the way.

First up was Tug Boat Tots.

He got to run around and do whatever without giving this Mama a heart attack by touching everything in site.

Because that's exactly what you are supposed to do at this place.

Touch everything in site.

What itty bitty toddler wouldn't love this right?

They had so many fun toys that were larger than life.

And the best part was that they were all clean.

I am a germophob (or however you spell that word) which is kinda ridiculous when you have a toddler because they touch literally everything and then...put it in their mouths.

Awesome.

But this place was spotless clean.

He could have ate his lunch of the floor and I wouldn't have thought twice about it.

Oh and the water play.

This was C's fav!

They give you little rain jackets to put on so the kids don't get soaked.

It was of course huge on his little self but he looked adorable in it.

Wish I knew about the dang rain coats the first go around because he came back soaked.

I mean pants looked and felt like he peed in them.

Oh well.. he had fun so I didn't really care too much.

It was Mommy & Colby's day of fun and no holds bars.

They had a cute little Publix and Vet Clinic.

The Vet Clinic was his favorite of the two.

They had little kennels with doggies that you got to take care of and look at x-rays and  take care of the sick doggies.

He liked petting the doggie and giving him a bone.

Surprisingly he didn't try and climb in the kennel with the dogs.

But he did try to close several girls in them..haha.

Needless to say we both had a ball.

He took a three hour nap.

Mommy's & Colby's day of fun was a success.

Some pics from Glazer Children's Museum site

c'est si bon

well, hi, friends. 

what a treat it is to swing by and visit.

i'm kristen,

the writer for c'est si bon

with valentine's day just around the corner, 

i can't help but get excited to over-indulge in everything sweet.

sweet kisses. sweet love notes. sweet treats. 

a little extra sugar is a definite. 

and it is a day to shower our sweeties with extra sweetness.

i was trying to think of the perfect valentine's day gift for my hubby,

and i am pretty sure every man is up for a little whoopie.

whoopie pies, ladies. 

the perfect treat for your sweetie. 

but us gals need some love, too.

i am a big believer that we need to treat ourselves 

to a little valentines day treat. 

and in my book, that means shopping.

why not spoil ourselves with a little valentines day outfit?

i am totally digging the pink & red combo. 

color blocking cotton candy pink hues 

and cherry reds is so chic.

and it is the perfect get up for a valentines day date. 

doesn't that pop of pink & red just blow your mind?

it is so fresh. so energized. so juicy.

i am over the moon for this combo.

kate spade always gets it right.

check out this little get-up

how sweet is this?

i am dying over the pink top.

the jeweled bow around the collar is so stinkin cute.

this just screams 

will you be my valentine?

i am coveting this little outfit, too.

this red kate spade top has little bows on the sleeves.

i love how sweet and feminine this is. 

we all know that j.crew never, ever fails

when it comes to comfy, casual tops. 

and i may just have to run out for this one. 

the perfect shade of bubblegum pink. 

be mine. 

paired with this red bauble necklace.

and these red and pink shoes 

a la talbots

pair that top, necklace, and ballet flats with your fave skinny jeans... 

and you've got the makings for a perfect valentine's day outfit. 

so, load on some extra mascara.

bat those lashes.

pucker up a pink pout.

&

have the sweetest day of all. 

hope to see you all over at c'est si bon. 

xoxo

My Friday Fancies {Outfit Inspiration}

It's Friday Fancies day!!

And here is what today is about...

And this is my inspiration...

Charlize Theron looks AH-MMMAZING in this Dior dress.

The photo of her is from the 2012 Golden Globes.

Outfit Inspiration by cheryl-enlow featuring ruffle tops

Of course I could never look as amazing as Ms. Theron but I tried to take her look and make it my own.

This mama is a jeans type of mama and loves her bling.

So I defiantly had to bling-it-up!

Was Charlize's dress a love it or hate it for you?

I tossed around between her and Sophie V.

both are so gorgeous and their dresses were simply stunning.

I love me some Golden Globes dresses.