Kay's 18 Month old Update

Hello lovelies! I know I haven't been blogging very much and it's because well, my lupus has been kicking my read like no other. I don't know if it's due to the weather change or is it because baby Kay has been more active then ever but let's just say boy do I need a nice spa day or a day to myself to rest. I'm glad I got a day last weekend when hubby was off that he took the kids to visit family and I was able to stay home due to still recovering from a cold and flare up I just didn't feel right visiting any one especially when there is babies around. Me as a mom wouldn't want anyone coming to visit my home sick to spread their germs so I just thought it wasn't appropriate. Who else thinks this? I really hope I'm not the only mom who thinks oh my goodness germs!!!

I'm hoping that as Kay almost enters her second year in less then 6 months that she calms down a tiny bit. She really is a handful but such a delight too! I feel like she hit the terrible twos early! Is that even possible? My other 3 never really had terrible twos so this is new to me. It's true what they say that no child is alike and Kay has brought on a totally different parent experience into our lives. She's lovable but stubborn. She's expressive and demanding. Hubby says it's because she's me and I laugh because she has all my little traits meshed with his and I can't help but to stare at her and think wow this lil girl really is a blessing and to think she almost passed during her birth.

Everyday we sit and try to practice some letters and words on her lil writing tab that she likes to draw on. Then I pick two books and read to her and leave them for her to flip threw once we are done. So I really try to incorporate some time with her everyday no matter how much pain I am in. She loves to sit and watch me cook and if I'm in the kitchen or daddy in the kitchen she's right there in the mix! She doesn't like to sit a lone during dinner even if it is in her own table and chair so Lily or Ethan tend to take turns to sit with her which is really sweet! The older kids are super helpful with her and love to play and spend time with her. I didn't doubt them and knew they wouldn't be jealous even though they are older and there was another person taking a bit of time away from them and I am glad. They all stick together and are very loving despite their lil petty arguments over the Xbox which is typical at their age.

 So I hope you enjoy this little 18 months update of Kay! I am now in the works of trying to see wether to do a blues clues theme or a Mickey club house theme since those are the two shows she's currently obsessing over. Im going to keep it small again and let it just be us and close friends. I guess when October comes around we can really know what theme I went with, stay tuned for that in my future blog! Take care and stay blessed!

 Xo, Vanessa

Let's get organized! Inside my planner

I discovered Bullet journaling via Instagram just one day upon many of my followers. It caught my attention! (Look on Pinterest to see which type of journaling/organization works best for you) I did some research and boom the next morning I set out and got the beginning of my new hobby/obsession!

Then I got my first planner which is a simple mead planner that I got at target. It has a zipper and once the planner is used up you can still use it for the next planners etc. 

I inserted two more journal notebooks into it. One for my brain dump which is ideas and stuff for my etsy shop Reyes boutique and blog before it totally escapes me due to my busy household of 6 (adding everyone lol). Then I have another where I just write my random daily stuff and check it off. 

I only write in the mead planner major tasks in the weekly parts. In the monthly part I am now using it for the memorable moments that I want to remember like my oldest Branden who has autism gave me a hug... Etc. 

Now as I continue to grow as a planner nerd, I have become comfortable enough to do the binder planning. I'm excited to say that there's only two that I would consider which 1 I have already ordered which is the kikki k live bright medium/personal planner which was on 50% sale so I scored it for $24.95 whoa!. The second one we will call it my unicorn which is the webster color crush planner in ocean or dark pink. 

Im hoping once my kikki k comes I can do a video and start doing walk throws and even planner layouts videos & hauls of goodies etc. Stay tuned for my YouTube channel. So yup one more gorgeous thing you can learn from me and even do with me! 

Look forward to a pocket letter pal post & pen pal posts soon!  

So much more is in store this year other than recipes like I mostly did last year. 

Enjoy the photos of the inside of my planner! 

Week 12 layout in the mead weekly planner

To bullet journal you must have a key. 

Index is to know where you can find which month begins & other info. I number my pages on the top right. For the index leave the page behind it blank just in case you need more space

I have a chronic pain disease so I keep track of the times during the day where my pains are intolerable to the point that I have to take meds. This is essential for me in my bullet journal for my doctor and for myself. 

Next few photos are of layouts I played with with the bullet journal. 

First layout with the top 3 to do 

2nd layout I broke it into 3 sections I plan to go back to this but adding more sections 

Current layout. 

Layouts can be fun and can be changed at anytime. I don't pre-write the dates, I just continue on using the space. 

I just discovered stamps so you will later see how I incorporate stamps into my layouts. 

I plan to have a section in my kikki k for bullet journaling! 😀 that's how much I enjoy it if I cant make the layout in the kikki k function but hopefully I can create my own daily page printable so I can have it in my planner and it will be more me! 

Hope that as i endeavor in this new journey you will join me. Watch it more on my Instagram Fourxblessed 

Xo, Vanessa 🌺

Clean mama!

I know I haven't been on to post due to life getting hectic and I'm beginning to focus more on my new baby who's now 1 years old! Yay! She's a very happy and intelligent baby and has me with my hands super full. 

But the reason why I decided to blog is because I found a wonderful Facebook and Instagram called clean mama. 

Her Instagram daily posts of what needs to be done daily to keep your house in order and not overwhelm you. I had done my own schedule and I will be truthfully honest hers is way better! I really like how easy she breaks down cleaning to make it easier and she even has a printable on her facebook that she posts in the beginning of the month so you won't lose track which is amazing! 

So if you're a hectic mama and those goes nuts cleaning the whole house in one day STOP! Go to clean mama on your facebook or Instagram and so what she posts and you will see how easier life will be. 

Stay tuned because I will post more on here about sites, makeup. Baby things and life in general with a now toddler. 

I have my stay sight up and running and will continue to pray that God makes it flourish into a popular store and can help me financially especially during the holidays. 

God blessed, Vanessa 

Coping with so much..

Lately Kay, our new addition has been oh so fussy. She's been with a lil cold so we got her a vaporizer to help her sleep soundly at night. Slather her up in baby Vicks rub and have the Baltic amber beads around her lil ankles. So far I've had it on her for less than a week and she's been ok. When she had a fever it got so hot and that's when I took her temp and was amazed! I will be purchasing her the necklace soon. 

I even got Ethan the same amber bracelet cuz he has a lot of growing pains. So far since he has put it on he hasn't woke up from his sleep screaming in agony. Usually when he plays outdoors like he did during our snow days he's out of commission and in pain but nope not anymore! I just hope it continues to work for him. And that when he gets his x rays and blood work we can get some answers to what's going on with him but as of right now I wish not to divulge the details.

On feb 20th my mom will be undergoing her surgery to remove her cancer. That has me on edge but I haven't displayed it nor spoken about it. I guess the less I talk about it the more I won't have to hear peoples fake sympathy.

I've become very introverted and just been very quiet about a lot of things. I used to be such a huge social butterfly and now I'm perfectly content not seeing or being around anyone. I mean I love going to church and doing stuff for my church but other than that I'm pretty much really closed off. 

Since the winter started I've been sick with the flu twice. I so hope I don't get sick again because man it knocks me off my axis and I can barely function correctly. 

So upon me dealing with so much I've discovered that experimenting with recipes and building new ideas for my girls has helped me cope with all the ongoing stress. I really can't wait for me to get my sewing machine to make up a lot of pretty lil skirts and sun dresses for the girls. Be on the look out for that. I will also be making lil girls matching button earrings with the skirts and matching fabric bows. Really don't want to deal with ribbon anymore.

Sparkles my other dog left three weeks ago and is still missing. I know someone has her but I'm still distraught about missing her sweet self that was so playful and lovable. 

Told ya there's been a lot going on! 

Well that's it, a slight update. Xo, Vanessa 

Free app must have!

I came across this free app for apple users and want to share it with my readers. It's called 12 days of gifts feel free to download and see what apple gives you! It can give you music, books and even other free apps! Take care and have a happy New Years! 

Free app must have!

I came across this free app for apple users and want to share it with my readers. It's called 12 days of gifts feel free to download and see what apple gives you! It can give you music, books and even other free apps! Take care and have a happy New Years! 

My first week with cloth diapers

I had my beautiful little miracle on october 27th. She finally got to come home with us on November the 1st. I am excited to share with you all my first week of my experience with cloth diapers with her. The first day I was like oh man what did I get into but then after that I got the hang of it after about 15 diaper changes in a day. I couldn't believe it myself that I was really adament to continue and to not get discouraged no matter how many times she had the poo storms (thats what we call em now). First off if you want to consider it please please please do your research on what would work best for you. My research went from PINTEREST and to a number of blogs that gave tons of tips. Then i went to YOUTUBE and really viewed as many videos on how to cloth diaper (prefolds) and the tips that the mommy's on there gave which were really useful. My husband likes the pockets AIO (all in ones) because its easier for him to handle (of course!). I prefer the prefolds with the thirstees covers because I like the folding techniques. I use the charlie banana bamboo disposable flushable liners to place em in the cloth for easy clean up of the poo (trust i highly recommend for you to get these flushable liners!) Everyone is different so buy both if you're interested and see which works best for you. I have 30 prefolds with 8 covers. I have 3 snappies and have ordered some cloth diaper pins that still havent arrived. I have 6 charlie banana's size xs which wont fit her soon and I have 8 regular all in one pockets which i will be needing more very soon and hope to have a massive stash of em because the colors are simply cute. I have a bucket for the dirty cloths filled with water and I let them soak till the next day when thats when I wash em. You can wash em every other day depending on how big the stash you have on hand. Since my baby breast feeds I use half my stash and wash the other half thats dirty. DO NOT DRY IN DRYER! Hang dry em always if not you will ruin em. I use the arm and hammer sensitive or the ALL detergent clear and free. Below are the photos I've taken of the whole experience. I'm by far no expert and I am still learning but I am happy with my decision and I am here sharing my experience with you all. xo.

i prefer this method above

this type of method didnt work for me because it leaked its better to wrap em around the baby

these are what all in ones pockets look like

 i loved this picture so had to add it

this is what a normal laundry of cloth diaper looks like from a day of use

after soaking in the bucket for a night i dump it in the washer sink rinse em again and throw it in the wash

these are the two detergents that i use (i also coupon so they are practically free)

thats all for now hope i helped xo.