TWO Marvelous Mother's Day Giveaways!

I'm partnering up again with my awesome friend Stephanie from 30 Shades of Stephanie to bring you not one but TWO awesome Mother's Day Giveaways!!!

Sit back, relax, kick your feet up because we've done your Mother's Day shopping for you! Feel free to wrap this up for your mom, grandmother, favorite lady in your life or TREAT YO' SELF!

Whoever ends up with it...will be happy. Let's put it that way!

The first Prize Pack is worth $80 and the second Prize Pack (we're suggesting only locals apply for this prize pack) is worth $50! 

Prize Pack Number One includes:

An Amazon Gift Card for $50

A Home Depot Gift Card for $10

A set of gardening gloves to plant those beautiful flowers you just bought from Home Depot :)

A gorgeous necklace from Versona (pictured above)

Prize Pack Number Two includes:

A Manicure and a Pedicure from CiCi Nails here in Asheville, NC

A brand new beautiful Essie nail polish 

TO enter for MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY #1 go here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TO enter for MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY #2 (Warning - you will need to be close to Asheville, NC to enjoy this prize!) go here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To enter to win the prizes you must complete the submit forms, if you do not submit the proper information you will be disqualified. To enter you must be 18 years or older or have a parent’s permission. The value of prize package one is $80.00 and the value of prize package two is $50.00. For prize package two you will need to live close to Asheville, NC as the prize is for a local company. The giveaway will run until 11:59pm on April th and two winners will be chosen at random the following day where the winner will have 24 hours to claim prize. 

Mother's Day Girl

Dress: Roses (similar), Wedges: Modcloth (similar Modcloth), Strawberry Earrings: Vintage

I thought about taking my arm splint off to make the photos a little nicer but then I thought - nope! This is me now! Arm splint an all! Plus, just in case anyone else is out there that wonders what to wear with an arm cast...here ya go!

Being Mom

Becoming a mom was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Also the most liberating. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into when I brought this little guy home. I had a serious case of postpartum but I didn't know it. I just thought my life was over. 

I traveled through my twenties knowing that one day I would try to have a baby. It wasn't top priority for me, or my husband at the time, but I knew that I did want to have children. I thought I would have two or three maybe. 

At 29 I gave birth to my son. I had him at the hospital with an epidural. I never really wanted to do a natural birth so I was ok with the epidural. I really don't think I would've done it any differently either. My ob-gyn that I had been seeing for years was the one that delivered Riley so I was very comfortable. I actually slept a lot during my labor. I remember them waking me up when it was time to push and for 30 minutes...it was the worst. 

Then reality slowly started to creep in.

I was nervous at the hospital when they left him in my room that night. Don't get me wrong, I was overjoyed to see my son, hold him and I nursed him too. He was beautiful. I doubted MYSELF. Not him. 

The panic and the anxiety got worse when I got home from the hospital a few days later. I had never even changed a diaper before. I didn't know what to do with myself. My husband at the time was helpful but he was just as a new at all of it as I was. My mom started to come over after a few weeks of me feeling overwhelmed, scared and fretful. She would come over in the morning and I would get some sleep while she had baby duty. A true blessing from God was what she was.

Slowly, I became better but in some ways became worse. I masked my postpartum with alcohol. In all honesty I didn't deal with my alcoholism until just 2 years ago. My son is 7. It was my crutch and it was my way that I made it through the week sometimes just the day.

When I hear talk about mom's, mother's day, this and that I sometimes beat myself up a bit because I didn't jump into motherhood with both feet. I didn't run out of the gate all smiles and ready to rock. It's taken me time to get to where I am. Thank God for blessing me with a son that is healthy and very well adjusted. I hope I'm a good mom. I try to be a good mom. I am better now and I know more about myself.

I became bolder and more sure of myself after I became a mother. I didn't cower in the corner anymore by what anyone said or did to me. I kind of found my spinal cord so to speak. I spoke up for myself and I took more control over me, myself and I.

Becoming a mom was a life changer for me. For the good. Definitely. This little guy has taught me so much and I know he will continue to do so. 

This lady (my mom) has been with me through it all. I couldn't have done it without her. Here she is holding my son.

Thanks mom for just basically being there for me 24/7. I now know what it means to love someone more than yourself.

My 5th Mother's Day

I had an excellent Mother's Day. My hubby did everything he could to make it a relaxing and happy day. He even stepped in when my 5 year old had a meltdown when I wanted to take a nap. Thank you sweets. My little boy sang Happy Mother's Day to me (to the tune of Happy Birthday) and that was all I needed. I did get some great little gifts too! And some nice roses at church. I almost won the rose plant for being the youngest mother but my dreams were dashed as one of my friends ended up beating me by one day. One day! Ha haa, I would've killed it anyway I'm sure.

Anyway, Here's the LOOT!

A mint green pocket book with some matching earrings, cobalt bangles, yellow studs, pink bib necklace, cobalt spiky necklace and then two sweet, sweet crafts from my little man.

My cup definitely runneth over.

My Mom

 

As I Look Back...
As I look back on my life
I find myself wondering...
Did I remember to thank you
for all that you have done for me?
For all of the times you were by my side
to help me celebrate my successes
and accept my defeats?
Or for teaching me the value of hard work,
good judgement, courage, and honesty?
I wonder if I've ever thanked you
for the simple things...
The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?
If I have forgotten to express my gratitude
For any of these things,
I am thanking you now...
and I am hoping that you've known all along,
how very much you are loved and appreciated.
Author Unknown