love

P.S. I Love JORD (and my husband) // GIVEAWAY

January 28, 2017 by Rachel 27 Comments

In keeping with my commitment to be as open and honest as possible here on my blog, I have to say that I had no idea how having children would change my relationship with my husband.

See, Chad and I had dated for four years before we decided to get hitched! So we certainly didn’t jump into anything. Naively I assumed that our relationship weathered enough in those four years to survive babies.

Guys. I am here to tell you. Having children. changes. EVERYTHING. Sure, they are wonderful little mini humans with unique and awesome personalities; but there is no storm like children. Not even close.

We haven’t had an easy road with either child. Honestly, as soon as we got the hang of Ari, we decided to have another. Remy Bea has been extra difficult from the very start. Especially over the last year — with two children, both difficult in their own ways, we’ve lost sight of what truly matters most — being present with each other.

Shortly after this Valentine’s Day, Chad and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. It honestly baffles me that the last 5 years have flown by this quickly; but somehow we’ve weathered this storm together. And our time together, especially our time spent together without kids, is so incredibly precious.

As corny as it sounds, the most precious gift I can give my husband is the gift of time. And to celebrate our upcoming anniversary a tad bit early, I gave him the gift of a beautiful and unique wood watch from JORD! There’s no time like the present, am I right?!

This man. This men’s watch. This struggle. They don’t even begin to show my love, affection, and appreciation for our journey.

And, believe it or not, this cool watch isn’t just a way for him to monitor how many minutes are left in a timeout! Ha! This watch symbolizes the days, the months, and the years that we have put into each other and into our relationship.

This beautiful and unique wood watch comes in a variety of styles and designs. I chose a classic round-faced men’s watch — the Frankie — with Koa wood! It’s sized accurately for the most perfect fit on my husband’s wrist!

This Valentine’s Day, reconnect with your partner by giving them a beautiful wood timepiece! Thanks to the wonderful people at JORD, one lucky reader will win a $100 gift code to use over on the JORD site!

To enter, head HERE.

Bonus? Everyone who enters will receive a $25 gift code to use at JORD at the close of the contest! It’s a win-win!

Contest is open through 11:59 on 2/5/17. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted by JORD directly with gift code. I received product for my honest thoughts and review of JORD. As always, all opinions are my own!

Luxury Wooden Watch

Weekend Wrap Up //

June 15, 2016 by Rachel 1 Comment

It was another one of those weekends. The kind of weekend that makes my heart pitter-patter. I went to bed SO full of happy on Sunday night. Seriously. I was just… happy!

My mom and dad arrived around noon on Friday. We got them settled in and then headed to lunch over at Retro Dog. Retro Dog has long-been one of my favorite fast-casual spots. Well, because, it’s hot dogs. Obvy. But it’s not just any hot dogs. It’s Sahlen’s Hot Dogs… a freakin’ Buffalo tradition!

Seriously, friends. These natural-casing hot dogs are amazing. And my dad feels like he needs to go to Retro Dog every time he’s in town! Which is totally fine by me.

It turns out Fox 8 was on-site filming a segment for New Day Cleveland. The owner knows us (because we share a strong love of hot dogs, root beer, and Buffalo).

The owner came right up to me and said “Oh my gosh this couldn’t be more perfect timing! They don’t believe that our best customers happened to *just* walk in!” and threw us a Retro Dog shirt to put on Ari!

The camera crew came over to film us and Ari started cheesing in the worst way. Seriously, THE worst. They said they are going to use the footage, but seriously it’s of Ari shoving hot dogs in his mouth and making funny faces at the camera. Ha!

Post-Retro Dog we headed out to get Ari a new pair of shoes. I know that sounds lame, but it seriously made him SO happy! And we were even able to squeeze in a quick swim at the wading pool with Mimi and Poppy!

Friday evening we all headed out to dinner and then to bed early. Thank goodness!

Saturday morning was rough. Remy had a really rough night and I was desperate for a break from her. I ended up powering through the morning, some way, some how.

My mom and I took Remy to the Freedom Trail and went for a run. Meanwhile, Chad, Ari, and Poppy went to Lowe’s for their Build & Grow workshop. Afterward we all met up in Kent for lunch at Fresco Mexican Grill. Think Chipotle, but locally owned and wayyyyy better. That’s Fresco!

We also had a chance to walk through Haymaker Farmers Market! It was our first market of the season and it was a beautiful day for it! Ari and Chad shared a popsicle from PopSmith (rhubarb or something?)… and we walked and enjoyed ourselves.

Oh, and we stopped by the newly-opened Peace, Love, and Little Donuts!

They had a super impressive spread of little donuts! And the most impressive part? Was the fact that they made these beauties right in front of us!

When we asked Ari which flavor he wanted, he replied that he wanted just plain ol’ chocolate. Kiddo! For real?? But we made sure to get a bunch of different flavors to try out. And they were all delicious! My dad (half-) joked that he was going to go get a dozen just for himself. He didn’t (this time), but he likely will next time he’s in town.

And Saturday evening we headed to Mimi & Poppy’s hotel for a quick swim in the pool. I mean, Ari wouldn’t stop asking to go for a swim in the pool at the pool. Of course, when we got to the pool, he was terrified to go in (I knew he would be). I somehow convinced him to come in with me and he did great!

Post-swim we headed back to the house for a cookout. Chad made amazing burgers and cucumber salad while Ari played in the backyard with Poppy. Mimi snuggled Miss Remy Bea and finally got her to settle down (thank goodness for Mimi!).

Everyone passed the heck out after that kind of day! And I was lucky enough to have had a chance to sleep next to a very lovey toddler instead of the very-clingy baby! No, she didn’t take a bottle; but Chad just brought her in once or twice to feed, and then took her right back out! I was so grateful to have had that time with Ari (and a bit more sleep!).

I definitely needed every second of that.

On Sunday my mom and I cleaned the whole house. Well, almost the whole house (Ari’s room is a disaster area. For reals.). Because I was hosting a little in-home shopping party for some girlfriends!

We had so much fun sipping sangria (even if I did forget one fairly important ingredient!), snacking on finger-food, and shopping LuLaRoe!

Mimi left in the middle of the party (but not before purchasing seven — yes SEVEN — items!) to go home to Kentucky [insert sad face]. But after the party the kids and I picked up right where our busy weekend left off!

I decided to drag the kids on a solo trip to the Keyser Barn for their first of the summer concert series! While it was a short trip (thanks, Remy, for that meltdown), we did have some fun!

And with that, our weekend is totally, completely, wrapped up! So much fun!

Celebrating Real Love.

February 14, 2016 by Rachel 1 Comment

I’ve never been one to care much for Valentine’s Day. It’s not out of spite; it’s just that I feel like it’s a totally silly holiday. Personally, I’d rather show my love for my partner throughout the year, in forms of small gestures, than spend one day on one grand gesture.

In fact, the only reason we even semi-celebrated Valentine’s Day this year was by accident. Since my mom has been in town, Chad and I decided to go on a dinner date. We spent most of our dinner in a semi-zombie-like state, in awe of real food without a toddler climbing on us, sitting in silence. Ha. But still, it was lovely. ♥

Still, I much prefer the small gestures. And luckily, they are aplenty in our home!

Real love is when your husband records The Bachelor for you when you forget.

Real love is letting your spouse sleep in late while you wake up with the fussy toddler.

Real love is having dinner ready when your husband gets home from work.

Real love is agreeing to see a movie that you don’t particularly want to see, but one that your partner really wants to see.

Real love is re-watching a Netflix show you’ve already seen so your wife can catch up to where you are.

Real love is doing the dishes after the other has made breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Basically, real love happens in the simple moments; not in the moments that are well-thought and planned. Nope. It’s those small moments that truly make my heart melt. ♥ ♥

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends. Remember to show love every.single.day. Not just today. xo

And here’s a little throwback to celebrate my love! 🙂

happy 3rd birthday, baby boy!

October 16, 2015 by Rachel 2 Comments

As I sit here and write this on the eve of Ari’s third (!!!) birthday, and the third anniversary of the most horrific + agonizing night of my life, I’m in complete shock. When this post goes live Friday morning, my sweet little baby boy is going to be a three-year old KID.

I’m struggling with this. A LOT. In fact, I just want to run into his room (where he’s actually sleeping soundly, for once) and scoop him up and bring him in bed to sleep with me tonight… and I still may do that.

It feels like this is the first year that he actually KNOWS it’s his birthday — and that is incredibly exciting. He’s been talking (and telling everyone who will listen) about how it’s his “Hap-Birthday” all week! Yes, that’s how he says it. “Mommy – it’s my hap birthday!”

I cannot wait to spend the day with him (sick or not, I’m making sure he has fun) and then for Chad & I to give him his fabulous toddler gifts!

In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be the pregnant chick, crying in her soup, over a baby that’s no longer a baby. ♥

it was a good day.

October 7, 2015 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Thank you everyone for all of the birthday wishes Monday. I ended up being rather sick and only sleeping for 2 hours the night before, but I made the most of it. Lack of sleep and getting sick all night sure made for an interesting morning… Buuuut I got my butt outta bed and got a couple of things done before being swept away for a morning breakfast sandwich with a dear friend.

Post-breakfast, Chad + I took Moosh to the pumpkin patch to let him explore and get out some of that toddler energy. Maize Valley Farm + Winery in Hartville was just the place!

The place was empty, with the exception of a few other moms & tots. Moosh definitely needed someone who could keep up with him. And I definitely was not that person. So Chad chased the little stinker here, there, and everywhere.

First, he played on the playground, the hay bales, and the tractors.

He was so adventurous. It was amazing to witness this little boy explore, bravely stepping out a few feet further than normal from mommy & daddy. So much different to where we were just a short year ago.

After watching the boys run around (I did zero running. Ha. I just waddled and snapped some pictures), we caught the wagon for the hayride! Moosh loved it!

There were a couple of stops on our hayride tour of Maize Valley, the first being to pick our own pumpkins. Last year Moosh managed to pick a rotting pumpkin and the farm refused to even sell it; they just gave it to us – ha! This year my only rule for Moosh was to pick a pumpkin that wasn’t on it’s way to rotten already.

He wandered and wandered until the found the perfect [tiny] pumpkin! Sigh. There’s something adorable about watching your kid find the ‘perfect’ [for him] pumpkin!

And then it was off to watch the pumpkin chucker! Yep – a compressed-air pumpkin cannon. Chad was in heaven! Moosh was at first… but he grew tired of the chuckin’ pretty quickly! One day, kid, you’ll be super excited to see this.

Ya know what did hold his interest? Racing pigs. Yep. Racing. Pigs.

Sigh. Such a boy! After watching pigs run in a big circle, Moosh insisted on riding in the barrel cars with daddy… Thank goodness he didn’t ask me to go with him, because I wouldn’t have been able to get out! Ha!

By the end of our trip, we were all ready for a nap. Moosh actually said “I need a nap,” when we got home. And everyone napped… except me… the pregnant girl who only got 2 hours of sleep the night before. Ugh.

But I woke everyone up early because I really wanted to eat dinner. I decided I wanted Mexican food, so we checked out a (new to us) restaurant. The food was just okay. And Moosh was totally, totally, cray the whole time we were there. NEVER have I wished for a margarita so badly in my life. Ha! I’m glad Chad was able to enjoy one in my place. 🙂

Our last stop was a quick ice cream cone at Handels. I couldn’t even finish mine because I started to feel sick again. But Moosh had no probably double-fisting my cone with his.

We then put Moosh to bed and watched a movie… which is when I proceeded to get incredibly ill yet again. Regardless, I wouldn’t have changed the day. At all. It certainly wasn’t glamorous. But it was perfect in every way I needed it to be.

I am so grateful for my husband — for his love and his understanding of what exactly makes a perfect birthday when you’re wife is pregnant and sick and (mostly) miserable. ♥

mommy + moosh //

August 5, 2015 by Rachel 1 Comment

A few weeks ago Moosh and I travelled to Cincinnati to meet up with Justine, our photographer, who documented our elopement in Maine. Yeah it’s complicated. She visits family every year in Cincy, but lives in Maine, where we got married 3.5 years ago. It’s close (enough) for us to make the trip for some updated family photos, so we do!

This time, however, Chad couldn’t join us because he had to work the whole weekend — bummer! But I did go with Moosh by myself to get some pictures of him before this new baby comes along. And I managed to sneak into a few pictures with him for some Mommy + Moosh pictures. ♥

I’m in LOVE with the end result! And these are just a snippet of all of them! ♥ I can’t wait to see them all.