My Fall/Winter Vow

Yes, I know it's still summer, but our entire house has been dealing with a horrendous bug (strep, bronchiolitis, ear infections, pink eye, and cold symptoms) the entire month of July. No one has escaped it.  With Hayden going to school in just a few short weeks, I've already been thinking about how I can become more proactive and keep these germs out of my house!

Here's my game plan:

1.  Instead of wiping my counter and table off with a wash cloth, I'm going to use disinfecting wipes EVERY day!  I'm hoping Sams has a big value pack!

2.  Wipe down couch and door handles every day or two with disinfecting wipes.

3.  Give the kids vitamins every day!  I'd like to find one for me and Kevin to take too!

4.  Wash couch pillows weekly.  

5.  Have everyone get the flu shot.

6.  Baths every night for every kiddo, no exceptions.  (In the past, since the kids aren't outside sweating every day in the cooler months, I would do baths every other night.)

7.  Wash bedding more frequently.

8.  This makes sense, but I didn't ever realized that eating sugar weakens your immune system, so I'm really going to try and monitor our families sugar intake!

Anything else I should include?!  How do you all stay healthy year-round?  I'd love more tips!

MAC Cosmetics

While we were on vacation, I looked to see if there were any MAC Cosmetic counters in Destin.  Just so happens there was one in a department store called Belk.  The few girls I follow on YouTube that are makeup gurus rave over their MAC products, but are very upfront about it being pricy and high end.  Maybe that's why there are no places around here that sell it?  Kevin and I enjoyed a date night last Wednesday evening and I asked him if I could go buy some make up when we were done eating.  He didn't mind going with me, and luckily the men's department was next to the makeup counter so he was able to browse while I talked makeup!

The girl at the counter quickly greeted me and said to let her know if I had any questions.  I just said 'ok' because I had so many questions I didn't know where to start.  After a couple minutes of aimlessly browsing, I just started asking her gobs of questions.  We started with concealer.  I knew I needed something better than what I've tried (my go-to is Mary Kay, but I don't love its yellow-ness, or thickness for under my eyes... it is great for blemishes though!)  She recommended one and offered to put it on me to see how I liked it.  I loved it.  It doesn't crease, highlights the right areas, and is light but covers perfectly.  It sells for around $20 a bottle.

The sweet girl then went through my makeup routine with me and we looked for areas I needed help/improvement.  I told her about my mixed feelings on foundation, and she suggested a mineral powder foundation.  Once I put it on, I loved it.  I didn't know powder could give such a covered/smooth/light/finished look.  She recommended a bronzer that I've really liked too.

The next area we talked about was eyes.  I needed a few neutral, everyday colors to wear on my eyes.  Anyone who knows anything about makeup uses several shadows, not just one.  So I had her point me in the right direction of shadows that are good for everyday wear.  I loved the matte finishes... everything from the drug store is so darn glittery!  The eye shadows sell for $15 a pod.

(This was not the set I bought but I really liked it!)

She sent me home with mascara samples that I fell in love with and it will be my go to.  So after dropping about $200 on a pile of makeup and brushes, I went back to the condo to show my mom to see what she thought of it all.  She really liked it too, especially my concealer, so we went back a day later.  A new group of ladies were working.  A very pretty lady with her makeup done beautifully started helping my mom.  She ended up getting a new face of makeup too, and loved it all as well.  These ladies that work at the makeup counters are packed full of knowledge.  I went home that day with a primer, and my mom left with a pile of make up and brushes too!  

Here's a picture of me Saturday at 9am.   I had just finished my makeup.  I spent the day running around, in and out of the heat, and even blowing my nose (and changing clothes!).  I took the second one right before I went to bed at 11pm.  My makeup looks as fresh at 9am as it did at 11pm!  Everything I was wearing was MAC except for my eyeliner (which is Revlon liquid Color stay).

If you ever get the chance to visit a MAC counter, I'd highly recommend their products!  I am in love with every product of theirs that I own (from brushes, to shadows, to powder)!  

Food In Destin

We didn't eat out a ton while we were on vacation.  When you have to pack up 4 kids, (usually) wait for a table and then food, it can take the fun out of dining out!  Not to mention, it's expensive!  So, when we did eat out it was quite a treat!  (We did carry out options any chance we got!)

Our big dining out adventure took us to The Back Porch, located on scenic HWY 98.  The restaurant is located ON the beach.  We arrived right around 5pm and got seated right before there was a wait.  Our table was positioned with a perfect beach view.  We all enjoyed all the food we had ordered.  We'd definitely go back!  The restaurant houses several cats (we only saw one that crossed the road) and has a gift shop too.  I kind of wanted to go on a cat hunt but we didn't get a chance, and we had our sights set on the Candy Factory next to the restaurant, so we passed on the gift shop!

We also frequented The Donut Hole 3 times during our week stay.  You can dine in or carry out, and we did both.  The wait for dine in is pretty crazy and chaotic, with no where to wait but outside on the sidewalks.  We definitely preferred the carry out option, but I'd suggests dining in if it's your first time eating there.  The donuts are nothing like our beloved Donut Bank, but are equally as delicious in their own way!  My favorite was the Dutch Crumb Cake.  Kevin loved the chocolate glazed yeast donut.  We also tried their pancakes/bacon/sausage/hasbrowns/etc which were good too, but we are just partial to donuts!

Kevin and I had a date night at The Melting Pot.  He says it was delicious, but I couldn't taste it.  My parents had a lunch date at P.F. Changs.  Mom liked it, dad didn't.  We got Jordanos Pizza twice, and everyone really enjoyed it.  I also had a muffin from Dunkin' Donuts, soup from Panera, and several hot chocolates from Starbucks (when you are sick, nothing is better than warm soup and warm hot chocolate!).  We went to Kilwins a couple times for ice cream, but the majority of our meals were enjoyed in our condo.  Kevin & Mom did most of the cooking because I was feeling so icky. 

I'm already looking forward to our next trip there and crossing my fingers that I'll be able to taste the food then! :)

More Beach Picture

 Here are some random pictures from our time at the beach!

Our view on the beach

Sleepy baby napping on the beach

 Krissy wasn't feeling great, but the sun gave her a little energy!

I thought Allie needed a floppy hat

Krissy liked her floaties!

Hayden kept finding little crabs.  I love his little freckles!

She loved the water later in the week!

Anytime the waves came up, she'd hold her breath

Pretty sunset and Kevin showing off his beach body! ;)

Our last night on the beach.  I had no plans of getting in the water, but I still ended up getting wet!  Photo by my mom.

I think these pictures are sweet.

Fishing at the Pier

Our family enjoys fishing!  We knew a deep sea fishing trip was out of the question this year, so we decided we'd fish off the pier!  It's $2 just to walk the pier and $7.50 to walk/fish/rent a pole at the pier.  Kids under 6 are free.

The boys went Tuesday to scope things out, while the girls stayed back and rested!  We all went Wednesday and Kevin & I went Friday.  We were catching a few things and had a lot of fun watching what other people were catching.

Hayden caught two fish at one time!  He was so proud!

On Wednesday the girls left to shop and the boys kept fishing.  I got back to the condo, realizing I didn't have a key and called Kevin.  The conversation went something like this: 

Me: "Hey, I just wanted to know the combination to get the key out of the lock box."

Kevin: "it's ****.  I'll stay on the phone to make sure you get in ok"

Me: "Ok I'll run to the condo"

(Huff and puff up a flight of stairs)

"Ok I got it, than.. *Loud intertuption*

Kevin: "OH, AHhhh, I GOT one...." 

*click*

I sat thinking, 'I wonder if he really hooked a big fish?  I wonder if he got it in.'  I didn't want to call back and bother him.  Ten minutes pass and my phone and my moms phone alert us we have a text message and I hear my mom shout,a "OH My Gosh!"  This was the pic we were sent.

Then this one.  It was a 40lb red fish.  Definitely his best catch to date!

A few others caught some right after Kevin did.  Most were smaller than Kevin's, but this guys was about the same size!

The views at the pier are spectacular, and the wildlife is so fun to see (we saw several huge sea turtles and about a dozen dolphin!).  

The pier is a "must do" if you are ever in the Destin area!!

Photo Shoot on the Beach

The only thing I had planned for our week stay in Florida was a photo shoot on the beach, and no sickly feelings were going to keep me from making it happen!  I wasn't wanting to pay to have pictures taken (because I'm cheap and impatient).  Kevin picked me out a tripod, and I was ready to go!  My goals were to get a good group picture (our family + my parents), and a cute individual shot of each kiddo.

Most of the boys weren't excited to get their pictures taken.  They kept asking if it was really necessary, and I kept insisting IT WAS!  I am pleased with all these pics we got!  Here are my favorites!

Out with the Bad

I'm going to get all the bad from our vacation out of the way!  (I know this is probably no fun to read, so feel free to skip it and wait for the trip highlights.  I wanted to take note of all this stuff for my own memories!)  The low lights were as follows:

• Allie was up the two nights before we left for vacation with a sore throat.
• We went shopping July 2nd for last minute things and I noticed Krissy had pink eye (Nooooo!)
• Krissy threw up the day before we left.  Seemed like a one-time, freakish accident because it didn't happen again.
• Kevin had planned to nap sometime during the day we were scheduled to leave (July 4th), but wasn't ever able to sleep.
• We drove through the night, expecting the kids to sleep the whole way there, and that's a far cry from how the drive actually went! 
• Krissy started getting a bad cough and was miserable on the drive down.  Her crying kept Allie awake, and Allie complained of a sore throat.  At one point, all 4 kids were awake!
• We arrived in Destin around 10:30am with hopes we could check in the condo and all catch a nap, but the condo wasn't ready, and wouldn't be until 3pm.  (I had only caught a total of about an hours nap on the drive down.)
• Kevin drove us around the Destin area for the next 4 1/2 hours.  We were all so exhausted.  Saturday seems like a blur.
• I realized I was getting pink eye too.
• Sunday didn't seem any better for Krissy, and my sore throat was feeling worse.  Allie got pink eye.
• I lost my ability to taste - which is a total bummer when you look forward to certain foods you can only eat on vacation!  (I didn't regain that sense until we got home!)
  
• Monday was proving to be worse than the day before - Krissy and I were not feeling up to doing anything.  We decided after dinner (7:45pm) to head to the Urgent Care to see if we could get meds. 
• We had to wait 3 1/2 hours at the Urgent care to be seen.  Doctor told me I had strep, and said Krissy had the same plus an ear infection.  All pharmacy's were closed so we had to wait till the next day to fill our prescriptions.
  
• Wednesday I noticed Austin & Hayden getting pink eye.
• On Thursday, Kevin woke up with a scratchy throat.
• We left on Saturday morning, bright and early, and hoped to be home around dinner time.  There was a bad accident on I-65 outside of Nashville, and traffic was backed up for several miles.  The road wasn't expected to reopen for several more hours, so we cut through back country roads in Tennessee.  We got home 2-3 hours later than we had planned.  
  

Other than the above mishaps, we had a fantastic vacation.  We packed as much fun and activity as we possibly could into our week in Destin.  The kids were excited to be some place different, and their excitement kept us fueled for the week. 

Back Home

We are back home (and ready to blog) but have spent the last 7 days:

*Vacationing in Destin

*Fighting pink eye

*Fighting strep

*Trying new food places

*Playing in the sand

*Taking lots of pictures

*Laughing

*Driving

And I'll tell you all about it this coming week! Expect lots of pictures!!! :)