Hey y’all!
I know “y’all” is going through a phase right now, but I’ve been doing “y’all” since I could talk! I grew up in Arlington, Texas and moved to Austin 10 years ago when I married my Longhorn husband. It took me a little while to warm up to everyone here after receiving my college education at Texas A&M University. I am fully indoctrinated in my Aggie ways and I’m grateful my husband, Brian, and I enjoy the playful banter of a house divided. College football season is not a thing we take lightly around here! Luckily, I’ve found many fellow Aggies have settled here as well, especially out in the ‘burbs where we currently live. We moved north of Austin to where Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander all collide. Its a homey area but we’re still able to shoot downtown without much hassle.
In my pre-mom life, I taught 8th-grade language arts and coached middle school volleyball and soccer in Leander before I had my son, Cooper, in 2011. My stay-at-home-mom journey started earlier than anticipated. My doctor recommended I quit my job and become a professional coach potato at 21 weeks due to my potentially “incompetent cervix” (lovely terminology). I was fortunate enough to carry my son to 39 weeks, proving my cervix was VERY competent-thank you very much. Our family of 3 became a family of 4 in 2015 with the addition of my daughter, Quinn. She’s the opposite of my son in so many ways; defiant, aggressive, LOUD. She loves dolls, lipstick, Mommy’s coffee, and ballerinas. She’s basically me in a two-year-old’s body, at least she comes by it honestly! Cooper, on the other hand, is sweet, sensitive, SCARY SMART, witty, and outgoing. He likes science, reading, asking questions that I have to Google the answer for and Star Wars. The kids really enjoy each other and play well together as long its less than 5 minutes at a time.
I feel beyond blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom and when I say SAHM, that’s exactly what I mean; I don’t work part-time, I don’t work from home, and I don’t have a side business. Its ok if you’re “just” a stay at home mom, we’re still pretty busy! Being at home allows me to volunteer and donate my time. I’ve held various leadership positions at my local Mom’s group and in my Sunday School class. I volunteer at the kiddos’ schools and help out with vacation bible school. But my favorite volunteer opportunity is easily the week I spend as a camp counselor for kids with cancer and their siblings. Nothing recharges me like a week at camp!
Aside from volunteering, I started a beauty blog for 30-somethings last year. Skin care, quick make-up tips, and fashion advice are difficult to find online if you aren’t 25 or filthy rich, so I started my own blog to dedicate to all us mommas out there. My goal is to not look like a bedraggled mom, regardless of how much I may feel like one. I’d love for you to come check me out at youlookprettymom.com! In my free time, I love to bake, shop for anything, eat appetizers for dinner, drink coffee, and read stuff on the internet. I am beyond excited to start contributing for AMB, stay tuned for some good stuff, y’all!
