Hello, lovebugs!! We are back from our family adventure trip, and I absolutely can’t wait to share the details with you guys! After I sort through all 1892 pictures, that is. And the piles of laundry, and empty refrigerator. Not to mention my inbox. It feels good to be back home, but I’m always a little blue after returning from vacation…instead of feeling rejuvenated to tackle life again, I’m slow to integrate back in to the real world. I guess that’s the sign of a really good vacation, right?! I’ll snap out of as soon as I get paint on my hands again.
And it really was an amazing time for our little family, full of memories they’ll hopefully always remember. (Lots of sneak peeks on InstaGram here.)
I knew my kids were pretty flexible and adaptable, but it was incredible to see just how much. They handled delays, late nights, cramped spaces, long days, and no air-conditioning like champs, with barely any complaining. You parents know it’s not a total vacation if your kids come along, because you don’t get to hang up your ‘mommy hat,’ (or drop f-bombs), but these two really stepped up to the plate and took responsibility for themselves. It’s so rewarding to see your kids becoming self-sustaining humans. *gulp*
And because I’m just as shallow as I am deep, let’s swing the conversation to nails. I tried a Shellac manicure for the first time before we went out of town, and I’m hooked! Pay no attention to my claw-hand, but notice after 12 days, my nails look like I just stepped out of a salon! After traveling, packing, digging in the sand, and swimming…not a single chip! I have no idea how it comes off or what I’m supposed to do about the new growth though. Are you a Shellac/Gel convert?
My adorable friend Shay has a fun monthly series, where she invites a blogger over for a slumber party…and this month it was me! We dished about everything from food to fashion, and travel to family. It was really fun, and I was honored to be featured on her rockstar blog. And several readers wanted details about my skirt in the family pics…it’s no longer available, but it’s similar to this one.
And I can’t let St. Patrick’s Day slide without showing you an adorable treat that looks really easy to whip up…Rainbow & Pot of Gold cake. Just bake a regular round cake, cut in half to make two semi-circles, and stand them up with the cut sides down. Use frosting to hold it all together and decorate with rainbow candies. The pot of gold is a chocolate-frosted shortcake shell with chocolate gold coins. So cute, right? Babygirl has her eye on it for yet another Rainbow Arty Party.
What’s new with you guys!? I hope today is on ‘Island Time’ for all of us!
I can't wait to see your VACAY pics!!!!! BRING IT!
Gel manicures are the best! I started getting them a couple years ago and now I'll never go back. You pay a little more, but it lasts sooooo much longer! Totally worth it! 🙂
So glad you guys had a good time. It must be so nice and rewarding seeing your kids grow up into cute little self-sustaining humans. Looking forward to trips with my two when they get older!
Impressive to see your cute kiddos reading instead of on their devices! 🙂 You were doing the same, right? Loved following along on IG!
Can't wait to see y'alls vacation pictures!! Shellac/Gel nails are awesome! I have them and love them! When you go back they'll put a cotton ball soaked in acetone on your nail and wrap it in foil to secure it. After about 15 minutes then they take the wrap off and scrape the polish off, file and get them ready to apply more polish. You can pick a new color or whatever you want! Such a fun way to have a long lasting manicure without going as far as acrylics!
So glad you all had a wonderful time!
Love the photo of the kids reading. So happy it was such a great family vacation. And that cake! Genius. My kids would go bananas.
So glad you had such a great trip! Your kids are adorable! I have switched to gel nails and I am in love. Mine last @ 3 weeks and are worth every Euro – I'm living in Europe! It's my little treat each month. Have a great week!
I followed along on IG and I can't wait to see the rest of your pics! I'm glad your kids behaved, I'm sure it made your vacay even more amazing!
About the grow out, you can take a tiny artists' brush and paint a reverse French manicure, or take glittery nail polish and fill in that way, and create a fading sparkle effect. (the site xovain.com has examples). Thank you for that rainbow cake idea, I can't wait for an occasion to use it.
yah!! so glad you guys had fun!! cant wait to see more pics 🙂 xo jillian – cornflake dreams
No surprise the kids were so easy and such a joy – you were the very same way as a child! Nothing more fun than travel with low maintenance fun kids – they CAN be taught this. You were so flexible, non-complaining, and up for anything…so was Lindy and she only enhanced every trip we took. Oh, except the adults only margaritas-to-excess, f-bomb dropping trips we took with friends when we all forgot we were parents 🙂 Yard-a-ritas
Oh yeah man. The gel manis are the best! Just don't be like me and pick at them when they grow out. I usually peel mine off from the cuticle up, which is terrible for your nails. Honestly I've never gone into the salon for a removal. But I will from now on. I love the tip above about coloring in the growout, I am soooo doing that from now on! It was fun following your trip on IG. Glad you're all back safe n sound!
I did a shellac last fall, and then when they started to grow out, I started chipping at it, and 6 months later my nails are still recovering. Learn from my stupidity, go back to salon and have them remove and re-apply or whatever.
I have had both gel and shellac – I was impressed with both. Each person is different, but my nails do better with shellac than gel. The gel actually took the top layer of my nail bed off (even after soaking in acetone for 20 minutes). The shellac was so much easier on my nails. Glad you had a great vacay and a safe trip home. Kim in Round Rock
Can't wait to see you vacation picks! I need to see some sunshine, even it is on a screen. It's been sleeting/raining for days now!
I am also a gel/shellac convert, but I do them myself! http://warfieldfamily.com/2013/09/cnd-shellac-nail-review/ and how to remove here http://warfieldfamily.com/2013/04/how-to-remove-gelshellac-nails/