to stay at home

 

i came across the most beautiful quote that made me smile.
it spoke to me perfectly as I’m at a point in my life where the crossroads are splitting into many paths.
next fall all three of my girls will be in school, all day.  and I contemplate a journey of my own for the first time since having children.

do I continue to work from home, care for children, create my fun party favor buckets and pursue my dream of writing a children’s book, or do I venture off on in a new direction and become a teacher like I feel I was meant to be? Being on the same schedule as my girls and husband, who is also a teacher, and having summers off would be my dream life for the next 30 years. 

it’s a big decision as I’ll have to take several years of graduate classes to obtain my master’s in education.  Is it worth all the time and money and student loans?  So much to think about. 

i’m not getting any younger and want to do what’s best for my family.
all I know regarding happiness is being a mommy to these three.

“When one's business is the home, measure success in smiles, pay dividends in laughter, chart revenues with wonder. When others' ventures fail and fumble, yours will flourish. And when you are old and the home is quiet, your butterfly chasers and your dress up dreamers will have a vault of memories that will make them rich.”

any advice or insight is welcomed.

Happy Friday!

Up Close & Personal with Taylor Swift

 

 

Two weekends ago Mia and I saw Taylor Swift in concert.
Mia’s first convert EVER. 
She’s going to have very high expectations for her next concert with the VIP treatment we had, all thanks to my sister Haley’s husband Jimmy.

 

Remember this card from Mia’s birthday?
Two tickets to a sold out Taylor Swift concert!!!

 

So off we went in our cute Taylor Swift tees my friend Mark from Taylortelli (also a big Taylor Swift fan) made for us.

Mia held my phone the entire drive into the city so she could snap some shots of the arch.
Here is her favorite one.

 

Mia ready to rock and roll, posing in front of the arch, with her fabulous Taylor Swift earrings and necklace that we made last year for her Taylor Swift themed birthday party!

She loved all of the huge trucks!

 

We were so excited to meet up with her friend Mia when we got to the concert arena!
Their family ended up buying tickets THAT DAY just a few rows in front of us.  CRAZINESS!!!

Adorable.

Mia and her mom, my friend Kelly,  posed with my Mia and I in front of the signature Taylor Swift “heart.”

Taylor time!
We were so super close!!!

Just a stone’s throw to the front stage.

  

Two very excited girls!

“Why you gotta be so mean?”

Self photo time to catch Mia’s huge happy grin.

“Back to December” snow.

 

One of my favorite pictures from the night. 
Love the lighting on her and how she’s rocking her guitar.
I want to be her when I grown up.

“Dear John.”
One of our faves.

 

Note Mia’s blonde head above Kelly’s video filming arm. 
She was staring in amazement as Taylor came down the aisle next to us!

Also note Kelly’s stellar Taylor Swift wrist band.  Her sweet husband bought Mia and I one as well, and we were fist pumping in those all night!

There she goes!

Loving every minute!

“Love Story” was the finale!

 

After she flew all around above the crowd, she came back to the stage and confetti fell.

Taking a bow.

Thank you Uncle Jimmy for helping to create so many amazing memories for Mia!
Pretty much the best night ever as it it will always make me want to sing to Mia “I had the best day, with you, today.” 

from six to seven

 

I said goodnight to a six year old…

   

and good morning to a seven year old.
It hasn’t registered in my brain yet.

 

Her birthday morning surprise!
A retired American girl doll appropriately named, Mia.

Seven is the perfect age to introduce all things American Girl.  
It was love at first sight.   

 

Mia was so exhausted for playing all day that she needed a nap before heading out that night for some birthday fun!

Her first road trip.  Too cute for words.  

Mia’s request was a night at a huge local indoor sports facility.
There was this  trampoline basketball game…

 

a giant bounce house obstacle course…

 

rock wall climbing (go Daddy!) …

 

a giant jungle gym…

and even laser tag. 
But as you can tell by this picture, one particular seven year old got a little too scuuuured to try it out.
The rest of us old kids did not.  We had a blast and guess who won in our guys verses girls competition?

Don’t even get me started on the dodge ball game of guys verses girls.  No pictures of that, thank goodness.

To end our night of fun, Aunt Maggie had the girls pose for a special little etched key chain.
Adorable to the max. 

I love summer. 
I love birthdays. 
I love my family.

two new ‘dos

A big milestone at Haus of Girls last night…
Sophie’s FIRST haircut…. ever.
She’s five.  So this is a crazy big deal.

After the stress induced hair loss of 2008, we let it grow for almost three years.

January 2008.  I was pregnant with Gracie.  Sophie had all her hair.
I went into the hospital in April and didn’t return home until May causing this reaction in Sophie…

Major hair loss. So sad!!!
Thank God she loved her sister so much, otherwise who knows if her hair would have ever grown back from all the stress. Ha!

 

The before shot.  Five years old and three  years of growing her blonde locks out.

  

Her favorite part of the Elle Salon and Spa experience!
(Don’t mind her bleeding knee! She wiped out big time hustling down to their lemonade stand right before we headed to the Salon.  And of course we were out of Band-Aids!)

My sweet friend Elli cutting away.

After = Adorable!

Guess who else jumped up in the chair?  

Just call her mini Posh.

After weeks of contemplating, I am so happy she decided to go for it.

Her first ever “above the shoulder neck showing” haircut.  Love!

Thank you Elli for such a fun night filled with memories and cute new hair!

*PS If you are local and looking for a new salon to call home, visit Ellie at Elle Salon and Spa!
Tell her Marta sent you!
Elli is amazing and the customer service is incredible! 
Can you say hand massage?

Also, check out these photos to see how adorable it is inside!
The girls and I love how it’s an old house transformed into the coolest salon in town. 
They have spray tanning, a massage therapist, stylists and even a nail technician!
Next up for Haus of Girls?  Pedicures!