Amazing summer break

Tonight I sit here typing this post both sad but happy. I always am sad when summer comes to end because my girls go back to school and reality is back, the early alarms, crazy routines, hectic schedules and missing my daughters. I love summer time because I get to have my girls home with me so we can have fun adventures and get to spend every day bonding. Sure they have their cheer practices and other activities they both are involved in or I have to do different protects for work, but we get to basically enjoy endless hours of time together. Once school returns I feel like they spend more time at school then with me, I basically leave them in the early morning hours not to see them again till after 3 then they have their practices so we maybe spend a few hours together before its time for bed then back to the daily grind again. 

Today we spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach, it was amazing. Water was crystal clear and flat. Perfect end to the perfect summer break. 

I am happy because both my girls make me so proud with all the amazing things they have achieved, I'm so blessed to have some super smart kids both being gifted or high achievers taken advanced classes or honor AP courses. It's inane my oldest is going to be a junior this year which means only two years left till I'm writing this end of summer post after dropping her off at college. It is so hard being a mom and having to eventually realize that we have to let them go to become who they are meant to be. I want to sometimes just freeze time and keep them here in the safety of my home cuddled up watching our latest favorite Netflix series lol, but I know I have to let them grow, chase their dreams and achieve their goals. 

Butterfly World photo, one of our families favorite spots to visit. We have a monarch cocoon ready to open any day. We even have started our own butterfly garden over the summer planting seeds that have grown, new plants and old orchids. Can't wait to share some photos. 

I now sit here reflecting on another amazing summer filled with new memories and amazing adventures. We truly had an awesome summer again with another amazing summer road trip, long weekend adventures to the Keys and days floating in the ocean talking, reminiscing and dreaming of the future. I have this feeling that things are about to change for the better. Huge changes are on the horizon and I'm not just talking about my oldest going off to college. We have some big changes with my career coming up, my hubby's job, and moving. We really are about to start an amazing adventure over the next couple of years that in the end will lead to being where my heart has been for over six years. I can't wait to share more in the months and year to come. For now I'm going to leave you with some of my favorite ootd shots from the last week of summer, along with some other fun summer photos of our amazing summer antics and adventures. We always love to explore and are a wanderlust family at heart for sure. I can't wait to share many new adventures in the future along with some really amazing and exciting announcements in the weeks to come. 

Heading to bed since my alarm will begin going off again at 5:30 am, but I will say one last thing, it's officially the start of my birthday week. Going to have some fun stuff to share this week along with some spontaneous giveaways. Didn't get the response on the Rafflecopter hosted contest I started a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my 20k followers but I do have all the entries from those who did enter and decided I was going to share some of the many prizes I had set aside with everyone. If you already entered my contest you will be receiving an email from me once I confirm your entries then sending out prizes to everyone. Anyone who wants to win some fun prizes to celebrate my birthday week from some of my fave shops and designers keep an eye out here and in my social media for more chances to win. Figured since it's my birthday and I know I love opening presents I want to surprise all my amazing followers who took the time to enter with their own present. 

As always peace, love and light to all. Hope all the teachers and kids going back to school tomorrow, or in the weeks to come have a great first day and week of school. Cheers to another amazing school year and to an awesome upcoming holiday season, may it be Dliteful, full of surprises, love and of course peace xoxo 

My arm-stack from the beach today. Wanderer bracelets an amazing brand I joined up with as an ambassador this summer and have been honored to be a part of promoting this amazing brand. Use my code MELISSA20 for 20% off and all sales help secure jobs for local Bali artisans. Excited to bring you more amazing product releases, a bigger discount and more from this amazing brand for fall. 

Chill out mom it's just the end of summer break, we have a long weekend coming for Labor Day and the holidays are right around the corner. My girls think I'm so emotional and they are right lol, love those kids so much they are my everything, I absorb and cherish every moment. I'm so blessed to be able to spend all the time I get with them and couldn't imagine it any other way. I would go back and make all the same career and school sacrifices I made to be able to stay home with both as babies because in the end I was still able to chase my dreams and achieve my goals just took a little longer but being a mom has always been first. 

The tank is by Chaser brand, shorts are Silver Jeans Co boyfriend shorts in light wash and my compass gold Necklace is from Bikiniluxe.com. 

One of my favorite of many amazing birthday presents that have arrived and have many more to share this week. I have been a long time fan of Spell Designs also known as Spell and the Gypsies Collective and Spell of Byron Bay. Since my first kimono a couple years back I have been scooping up whatever I can find, over the summer they launched a US site and I celebrated by ordering some amazing graphic tops for my collection along with making many purchases for my birthday with gift cards and cash I was given for that reason. This skirt is amazing. I also got a few other skirts, couple of dresses, some tops both graphic and floral print, intimate apparel, a kimono, purse, jewelry and more. I have a lot of amazing gypsy bohemian posts and outfits coming soon. The top is older and from Free People. Alex and Ani Bracelets which I can bet the new fall bracelets may be part of my presents this week, I added a few new styles and designs to my wish list earlier in the week. My mom always gets me one or two along with other family and friends. They make amazing gifts and this girl can never have enough. Love to stack, mix n match my arm candy. 

Speaking of Alex and Ani this was my butterfly world influence arm stack Monday. Love their wings of change charm, UNICEF butterfly, feather charm and quill bracelet, peridot in honor of my birth month, and other fun pieces I adore. 

Another Spell Designs skirt and top, paired with Alex and Ani bracelets and an amazing turquoise and silver squash style necklace with amazing feather details I came across on eBay of course. This skirt is one of my faves and can't wait to share the blue mid dress this week. Yeeeee:). 

If you saw my Pam & Gela post the week before last I also stocked up on some pieces I had been wishing for from their awesome huge warehouse clearance sale. It's still going on now and just ordered a few more pieces along with some new fall styles, one more birthday splurge my hubby insisted on. The choker is by another fave Ettika and watch out this week for my new purple locks, my current color is going to be touched up and revamped for fall I can't wait to share it with you all Friday. 

Finally ending my photos with one last beach shot from this amazing ocean and beach today. Feeling so blessed and ready for whatever is coming for fall. I have some amazing new brands and brands/designers I have been honored to work with for some time now, their newest fall styles and looks all coming in the weeks ahead. I promise you will love all the new trends and my faves if you like my style or taste. Have an awesome night, sweet dreams xoxo 

Found my new car

Been looking for a car for awhile now. I posted a few times different cars I liked and been searching for over six months on and off. I had a Lexus GX but the interior was a light tan and brown, loved it when we bought it but having two kids the light interior was rough. I was thinking I was ready for something smaller. I have owned cars and years ago when my youngest was little we got a Ford Expedition, since then I have become a truck and suv girl.

Back five years ago almost we decided to get a bigger car, I had purchased a mini van when I had my second daughter and that lasted six months almost but wasn't for me. I just didn't like the feel and drive of it. It was nice to have power doors when you carry a babyseat and stroller plus diaper bag but it just wasnt for me and was soon a huge regret. We decided to eat the money we put down and get the Lexus SUV. I loved it but as my girls have gotten older I started thinking maybe I wanted a smaller or sportier suv.

I love luxury vehicles and have always loved Audis so thought maybe a Audi or even a Mercedes. I test drove two models of the Audi the smaller and larger version suv, then two of the Mercedes the smaller and middle size ones. I have to say the Mercedes were a bit of a let down. The interior felt kind of cheap and reminded me of a Ford or Chevy, then they drive rough. Nothing really nice about them, but I had to try them out. The Audis are amazing, but the larger one still felt small. I was really almost about to buy the smaller Q5 sport edition which had all the bells and whistles but I felt like it was going to be to cramped.

When looking for a car my color wish list was a silver, black or preferably white exterior, I think white cars looks so classy, but I had to have dark interior. Today the last car I test drove was a Lexus GX in white with black interior. I fell in love. I was still going back and forth between the Audi and the Lexus cause I really did want something smaller and better on gas but hubby wouldn't give me his input he kept saying it is your car, your choice. I finally decided that the Lexus rides so much smoother it's like floating on a cloud plus we had the Lexus before for five years and it held its value plus never gave us any problems. Also it has the third row seats and now they automatically fold down at the touch of a button into the floor which my older model didn't do, you had to fold then up which took up half the back storage space or remove completely which isn't easy for a small girl like me alone to do. I feel it was meant to be, we got an amazing trade in on our old Lexus and can't believe how much value it held over the years, didn't have to put anything extra down, and it's white with black interior.

Already have my smoky mountain sticker on the back window and my owl on the visor:). Ordering a new FSU license plate frame for the back because I allow hubby to put his Dallas cowboys plate on the front. I am so happy and feel so blessed. I have such an amazing hubby who takes great care of me and our girls. I am beyond thankful for everything God has blessed us with and feel this really was meant to be. Bellow are a couple shots of my new ride, it isn't brand new we refuse to buy new cause the depreciation and then I can't handle having a perfect new car and worrying about dents or damage. We always buy one or two years old and broken in. That way it holds it's value and we always have a great trade in for the future. I hope this car lasts us many years and keeps us safe thru all our daily travels.

Enjoy,

Grateful, thankful and happy

I wanted to take a moment to express that I am beyond the happiest I have been in a long time. I have always been blessed, thankful and happy but had a brief struggle with anxiety, postpartum depression, losing myself as a stay at home mom and losing my dad hit me hard, even years after he was gone I hadn't dealt with it all. I struggled for a couple years and always around the same time spring which is when I lost my dad.

For years I have struggled to decide what to do with myself and I have found myself so much this passed few years going thru all my struggles. I love interior design, baking, party event planning, went to nursing school, took some journalism courses, photography classes, and started a party/event planning business making cakes, decorating, every detail. I love to take photos and would love to explore that more now with my camera as I learn, but I really love design. I have done a lot of interior design and decor work for clients, I have planned some amazing parties, weddings and events, I am talented at making cakes and desserts, also I love every aspect of the party planning. I at one point worked as a teachers aid and sub, wanted to get my teaching degree but decided my children are enough for me they complete me and need my undivided attention. With my youngest heading to kindergarten I am going to pursue beauty school. I love coloring hair, doing makeup and making others feel beautiful. I have a natural talent for that and will continue photography courses. I have an eye but my camera has been an adventure, I started with a Nikon 3100 and have decided to get something different that I can do more with. It is a great starter but I have already surpassed that one since Christmas time and am ready to get a step up, I have lots of print shop and editing programs and a Mac book, amazing printer. Everything I need. I want to really explore that and use that for capturing life's amazing moments and photos of events, cakes, interior design jobs, my hair work and more.

I learned a lot about people too this passed couple years. I allowed some really awful people into my life due to my feelings of compassion and sympathy for others. I was always a strong girl who stood my ground and was cautious who I allowed into my life but being down and feeling low I allowed some very shady, fake and really almost sick people into my life. I had one bad experience that had to involve my lawyer and another just hurtful, both hurt because I honestly didn't do anything to these people they were just deeply angry, jealous and envious people who feed off others hurt and it's like that misery loves company thing.

In the end I am unbreakable and this person thinks she hurt me or affected my life, wrong, if anything it is better. I am the stronger, happier, more grateful, spiritual, found myself and learned a lot. Never trust a person who had a break down and is on Prozac lol. Just kidding not nice I have had to take meds myself for anxiety and depression but briefly.

I am blessed I have the most amazing husband, he supports me, loves me, gives me the world, treats me amazing and provides for us, we have a truly amazing life. I have the best daughters a girl could want and thinking of another child maybe. I wanted another right away but postpartum scared me off. But we would love a boy:). Maybe we will see what God has planned for us. I just want to say I am so thankful to the amazing friends I have, the ones who stood by me, loved me, defended me, dragged me out, and just were there. My amazing family, and God for helping me no matter how hard things got he never gave me more then I could handle and really brought me back to my roots. I am one of the nicest, most caring, genuine, people you will meet as long as you don't hurt me. I am blessed more then I ever hoped and so content with my life. I can't wait to see what the future holds. 15 years of marriage and 20 years of being with the most amazing man, our two amazing, smart, loving and creative children never stop surprising me. Thank you Lord for everything and to my amazing man who stands by me no matter what and supports all my business and creative ideas. He has a lot to handle lol:). Hope everyone is feeling as good as me and if not hold on cause the light will come and like I said God never gives you more then you can handle, it will all make you stronger and grow:).

I wish peace, happiness, health and hope if you haven't, you all hold on and find yourself, it will come in time:). Remember karma if you put out good it will come back. No matter how bad someone tries to drag you down, and they will try, don't let outsiders ever effect you or your family. In my case this girl didn't win, I won. I know I didn't do any of the crazy insane stuff she said or made up, I pray for her often even though she hurt me she is also a mom and I never want riser bad happen to anyone. Amen.

God bless and best of luck in life.

Spoiled for Mother's day

All I need on Mother's day is time with my family and some home made goodies from my girls.   I am very lucky and spoiled to have an amazing, hard working man who always goes above and beyond.  This year I had a few items I have been eyeing and wishing for.  I have so many amazing things, that are not needed but I love to have and this year I got so many great things.  I got some amazing Tory Burch items, I have a couple photos posted below of my new cardigan and brown purse, I also got some sandals, sunglasses and a leather bracelet from Tory Burch, an amazing bright green Michael Kors wallet, because I am so loving color right now, it make me happy.  I also got some black and pink MK glasses, some Juicy Couture new track suits, one pink and one blue, again loving color.  Got a gift card to Victoria Secret which I used a little on my teen daughter who said she dreamed of a VS swim suit and then got some much needed new bras, tops, capri sweats and tanks.  Also another jacket, who can have enough jackets, especially because I live in matching sets for after the gym or on mornings where getting all dolled up isn't in my time schedule and pj's aren't acceptable to run out in, I hear lol.  My pj's are usually velour or terry VS or Juicy track suits anyways lol.  I also got some items for the house, and we spent the weekend down on the beach at the Marriott sunning, swimming, dining and bonding as a family since my husband is always working so hard.

Enjoy the couple photos I have from my lap top of the cardigan and purse, tomorrow I will post the photos of the items from when they were given, I have them in my phone.  I also got my most important and special gifts which were hand made cards, a flower pot painted by my five year old and she made me a hair tie, gave my a BFF bracelet and a Little Pet shop kitten.  Adorable and those mean more then any expensive designer item I could ever get.  Hope everyone had an amazing Mother's day, all us mom's deserve the best, but for me the reward is my amazing children they make life worth living and are my everything.  My best friends, and most of all the loves of my life, I feel they are the best accomplishment I have ever made and every day I thank God for them.  They really are perfect.  God bless xoxo

Tory Burch Simone Navy Cardigan

Bombe dark brown leather tote

Other items posted below from IPhone.

Thank you to my amazing husband who works so hard to provide this amazing life we live, I love him more than anything and thanks to him we have have two of the most amazing daughters who are the best of both of us.  Thank you I have more then I could ever imagine.

Black friday or angry early friday/thanksgiving lol

I decided since me and my husband have always gone in the passed years for black friday to go just for the heck of it.  Usually in the past we were looking for tv's, electronics or expensive gadgets that were worth the fight, and we enjoyed it.  Always had good experiences between lucky parking, beating the crazy lines and always getting what we wanted in and out quick.  I wasn't really looking for anything special but was missing the adrenaline rush of it lol.

My oldest daughter wants a pair of the Dr. Dre Beats headphones so Walmart claimed that at 10 p.m. they would have them for $179.95 instead of the usual $199.95 or whatever 90 it is lol.  I also wanted some stupid miscellaneous stuff like new tupperware cause I throw mine out every few months and they are super cheap on black friday.  I also wanted some Monster High Dolls and other little items from the flyer.  I got lucky cause I went with my mom who has a temporary disabled parking permit so we had front row parking, went after 8 when they opened closer to 9 since the headphones said 10.  When we got there I asked and of course they never got any headphones in but other then that I got lucky with everything else I wanted.  I even got lucky cause I grabbed a couple of the other Monster High Dolls that were not suppose to be on sale cause I ran into a lady who told me cause they didn't have enough of the sale ones the store marked down the $24.98 ones to $10 so people were not so mad, plus I found two of the sale ones in the back of box with blankets my mom wanted.  Someone must have put them down.

I left with 10 items for $78 and my total savings was 64!  That is pretty good almost half off the retail price.  No headphones, but then there is cyber Monday lol.  If not $20 won't break the bank.   My mom wanted to go to Toys R Us and it didn't look bad from out front, we found front row parking again but as soon as we walked in and glanced over the flyer then saw the 90 plus people standing in line to pay I told her never mind, all I was there for was cheap little toys for my 5 year old.  Forget the hour line for a few dollars off.   I am happy to say I am pretty much done shopping for my kids.  Got to get the headphones, then buying my little one a tablet, either Samsung or the new Kindle Fire HD.  She is always playing with my Ipad and between her, then my oldest on my MacBook I hardly ever get to use either of my own gadgets.  Decided I would take care of that, got my oldest a laptop for her birthday this weekend, we have a hook up in Miami where we got security cameras for our house so got her an awesome HP laptop cause for school she uses the windows system a lot.  My Macbook has the virtual PC so she can use it but now she has her own.  She got one in fourth grade but ended up breaking the screen so we ended up getting a wire for her tv so she could use it then she started using my MacBook. Then my little one is always with the Ipad and it scares me cause I hate to even think of her dropping that a breaking it.  I have been looking for some time, we have a nook color for my oldest and saw the Kindle Fire HD for the price it is as nice as an Ipad especially for a five year old lol.

Well, that is my experience with the pre Black Friday.  I got my fix and am home decorating my two Christmas trees and house for the holidays, about to lay down.  Had a full week of decorating for clients and baking, then a full day of baking, cooking and decorating my own house.  My oldest daughter turns 13 this weekend, she was a thanksgiving baby I had her on Thanksgiving day 13 years ago, greatest blessing I have ever had and of course my baby, the youngest also.  It was an amazing holiday.  Had a great day with the family.  Looking forward to Christmas and our vacation for the New Year to North Carolina for some cabin, snow and mountain time.  Off to finish up here and head to bed.  It is actually cold I am outside typing and it is windy feels like 50's out.  Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and has a safe day shopping for Black Friday.  Would love to hear about your experiences. Goodnight all xoxo

Melissa