Mateo Francisco is 3 months old!

I'm not sure I like how fast time is flying...but Mateo is already 3 months old and there's nothing I can do about it.  I do have to say though that he steals a bit more of my heart every day (if that's even possible). He's such a sweet boy and now that he's smiling and almost giggling and cooing and talking, well, he's pretty irresistible. So thankful for this little guy! 

(picture I captured right before we took a snooze together this afternoon)

Happy 3 months Mateo! Can't wait to get to know you better and better! 

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The Charming Mega Giveaway! 5 Winners!

Hello, friends!  I'm excited to announce The Charming Mega Giveaway.  Twelve lovely and oh so charming ladies are all here to give five of you wonderful friends something fun for the summer!  Scroll down, meet the ladies, send them some love, and enter to win one of five prizes! 

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Giveaway rules: This giveaway will run from Monday, May 13 at midnight EST to Sunday, May 19 at midnight EST.  This giveaway has no affiliation with Adobe, Target, PayPal, Starbucks, or the authors and publishers of Cupcakes and Cashmere and Blog, Inc.  This giveaway was put together with love from these twelve bloggers to give followers the opportunity to win one of these five prizes.  Winners will be announced via the Rafflecopter widget as well as via email once the winning entries have been confirmed.  Thank you and good luck!

You are Enough - Encouragement for Mothers

We are in a bit of a difficult season as parents. As our oldest continues to express her independence, new personality traits have started to come through that make day-to-day parenting sometimes extremely challenging. There are days when I feel I have reached the end of my rope and have no idea how I'm going to keep going. There are days when I find myself closed up in the bathroom, tears leaking down my face, crying out to God for wisdom as I just don't know what else to do. Thankfully, we are learning and getting creative in dealing with situations and it seems to be helping.  But, I'm going to be honest...in those times when things are extremely difficult, I question whether or not I'm enough. I don't feel worthy of the task in front of me. Motherhood is the hardest job I've ever had and sometimes, I want to pass the cup, not because I don't love my bunch, but because I don't feel adequate. I don't feel like I can handle the situation the best. I look at my sweet daughter that is desperately trying to figure out how to live life with all those childhood emotions and feelings of unfairness and wonder if there might not be someone better equipped for the job. And then I wonder, how do I have 4 children, when I clearly have no idea what I'm doing. Those types of moments can feel so helpless and lonely. They can feel overwhelming and desperate. But its in those moments, when I am not sure how much longer I can keep going, that my Heavenly Father reminds me that he picked me. He could have chosen someone else way more qualified to handle the intense emotions of my 7 year old. But he chose me. He could have chosen someone who is quicker on their feet at problem solving when the 7 and 4 year old are battling it out in the living room. But he chose me. He could have chosen someone who doesn't get stressed with all the chaotic noises produced by 4 very loud kids. But he chose me.
He knows my weaknesses. He knows that I have a tendency to yell when I'm frustrated. He also knows that my children don't respond well to that. He knows that I feel so unqualified for this job and scared out of my mind some days that I'm going to mess them up terribly. He knows everything about me and He knows better than anyone else, the kind of mother I am. And there are definitely days when I'm not proud of myself as a mother... But He knows...and he blessed me with these amazing kiddos anyway. He knows that I'm enough. He picked me. Not because I'm deserving. Not because there isn't someone else out there that could have done a better job, but because I'm enough for these kids.  With His grace and goodness and not at all in my strength, I'm enough. And He wants to mold me and break me and refine me in the process. So he chose me. The days when I want to run and hide from my kids, He gently reminds me that he picked me for this job and therefore I'm qualified. And peace and joy fill my heart and I rest in that. So today, as perhaps you struggle in your role as mommy, know that you are enough. He knows who you are, inside and out, and has deemed you qualified for this job. Be encouraged that He will teach and guide you along the way and He will give you that wisdom, that uplifting word, that friend or person to support you and that through all that and His grace, you are the right person for the job. Know that you are precious in His sight and He delights in you. Be encouraged, Mama! You are doing a great job!

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Delicious Coffee without the Price Tag

I love coffee! I love the idea of coffee, the taste of coffee and the comfort it brings me.  There's just something special about a good cup of java! 

I don't, however, like the price tag that comes from coffee shop coffee (although I am guilty of indulging from time to time) and these days I find myself needing the coffee as much as wanting it! Must be the circus I'm in charge of! :) 

I've discovered a quick fix to my coffee craving with a much richer taste than plain half and half.

I've started using heavy cream with my coffee. If you've read this post about the horrors of skim or reduced fat milk, you'll learn to just embrace the fat in the milk and drink this coffee, guilt-free! :) 

But just using heavy cream isn't enough...and thankfully I have handy dandy milk frother from Ikea that does the trick.

I put my heavy cream in my cup and froth it up, add a little bit of sweetener, pour in my coffee and I feel like I just took a trip to the coffee shop! It's delicious, much cheaper and I don't have to go out and get it! 

It's a win-win for me and the most wonderful afternoon pick-me-up!

What's your favorite way to drink coffee?

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Why I've been MIA

Hey all!  I'm sorry I've been quiet on here recently.  We've been pretty busy.  We had a huge family reunion over the weekend and my sister and nephew are in town so we're trying to soak up as much time as possible with them!
I have some posts I really want to share including a delicious ice cream recipe, but for now, I leave you with a super sweet picture taken this weekend of my parents with Lucas, Sophia and my nephew, Ransom.
Happy Wednesday!

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Why sometimes its really good to get out of your comfort zone

I'm a text-book introvert. I recharge and get most out of life when I'm not super busy and "out there" meeting and mingling with people. It's just the way I am. I do much better in smaller social settings or just 1 on 1 or maybe max 3 people. I get more out of the conversation and also contribute more.  I think most of my life I'd fooled myself into thinking I was more of an extrovert, because, yes, it's true that I am very outgoing in smaller settings and when I'm comfortable, I'm loud and right in the midst of the conversation so I could easily be mistaken for an extrovert. However..put me in that situation 3-4 times in one week and by the weekend, I want to hide in my room and do nothing...and I struggle to keep momentum on that same social level the next week. I can crash and burn quite quickly if I have too much going on. This is where I really struggle as a mom. I know and want my kids to be involved and active with friends as much as they want to, but my introvert-self struggles so much to get out there and make it happen. I'm good for a week and then I just want to stay home all day for the next week which of course doesn't go over very well with my kids. :) I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was putting myself out there and meeting people who also homeschool in the area. I had several families respond, and while I was so excited at first, I'll admit that the 2nd week of meeting people had me already tired and spent.  But what a reward it's been when I think about it. The kids are loving their new friends and I'm really enjoying meeting other moms that are going through the same experiences as I am. Homeschooling is such a challenge and dare I say, even more so in a city setting like NYC. It has such rewards as everything is literally at your fingertips, but it can also be very isolating. And, most of all, community and doing life in community, is so important! I think I was really missing that aspect of our lives since we've moved back into NYC. We started a church that has very little family presence and meeting moms now that are going through the same things with their kids as we are and are at the same age levels as my older two has been such a relief, even to my introvert-self!  I've definitely been out of my comfort zone this last month, but I'm really thankful that I've done it! It's been so rewarding for the kids and me as well and I look forward to continuing to building friendship and lasting relationships with these new friends! Are you an introvert or do you feel most alive in social settings? What recently has taken you out of your comfort zone?
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$250 Cash Blogoversary Giveaway

This is your lucky week! Two blogoversary giveaways!! :) If you haven't entered the other one yet, please make sure you do! You enter that one here. And now...for this fun giveaway!! 

{via}

Today is Nicole's very first...
 BLOGIVERSARY, [blog-uh-vur-suh-ree], you know, the yearly anniversary of her blog!!!

So enough with the lessons, let's celebrate! I've teamed up with her and the fabulous ladies below to giveaway $250 cash via Paypal!

Be sure to read the Official Giveaway Rules.
Note: This giveaway is open internationally.  You must have a Paypal account to enter.
Now get to it and stop by to wish Nicole a Happy Blogiversary!!!
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