Welcome to my life.....

"Hello! Is there anybody out there?"

That seems to be the common phrase around this ole blog of mine. There really isn't really an excuse as to WHY I have been gone for so long. But what's new? I just post whenever I get a little nudge in my head that says, "Hey!! Remember that blog of yours?" or whenever there is a wee bit of downtime from the every day life. Around these parts, a ton has been happening and yet nothing has been happening at the same time. It's like little waves of "happenings" happen and then its just--nothing. But isn't life like that anyways? Let's go back a few weeks....

The Friday before Easter, my husband had a rematch. For those of you who don't know or are new, my husband is an amateur boxer (a license to fight during shows, but not get paid.) as a hobby. A few weeks prior to that, he had a match with the same guy who he lost to. The Easter fight was the rematch to that guy. However he "technically" lost that one. During round 2 of the match (3 rounds total) he stepped back to avoid a punch and slipped. The slip caused a dislocation of his right knee which landed him on a ride via the ambulance to the ER. During his little stint at the hospital we learned that he tore 3 out of 4 ligaments on that knee. Bad. All bad. He had an operation to fix one of the 3 ligaments but still needs 2 more surgeries to fix the other two and tons of physical therapy. So for the past 3 weeks, I've been running around like a chicken with its' head cut off. Everywhere. Which also meant that my son has a new schedule for the mornings. But wanna know what the silver lining is---I'm not working anymore. I haven't since New Years. That's another story for another post. But that was our silver lining this year--my being a stay at home mom/chauffeur t o my husband.

As for our little boy who no longer is a little boy if you ask him, he's doing great. He just turned 5 a week ago and it's such an amazing yet bittersweet feeling. I love that he's getting so big yet miss his being so small. He's still in pre-k and will be "graduating" to Kindergarten next year. Michael isn't quite ready to transition to General Ed Class yet and we are so hoping ABT (Applied Behavior Therapy for his Autism) will help with his Social and Sensory issues. He's so smart and I know with a little more help he will get there. This kid will be making changes in this world, just watch.

Fiesta Vox Box via Influenster

Earlier this month. Or was it last month? I forget. I received a wonderful box from Influenster (Fiesta Vox Box.) I was selected to try products and give them my real honest opinion. Not hard since a lot of the items were items I was already familiar with.

The first item was a make-up item. This brightened up my day to see it in the box. I already owned this product and I can tell you that I love it! It's really affordable and just a holy grail for many make-up enthused people. It's the New York Color Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny 720. It's the perfect shade to contour and to add a little color. A small tip, after you contour, add this in your eyelid crease to add instant shadow. It looks amazing on everyone. It's well under $5.00 and aside from being great to your wallet, it's also quite comparable dupe (Dupe = duplication) for Benefit's Hula which around $28.00. See what i mean?

Body lotion was my second item in the Fiesta VoxBox. Who doesn't love lotion? Who doesn't want soft skin? I know I don't and was glad that I was able to try out Suave's Smoothing with Cocoa Butter & Shea Body Lotion. The scent was light, which I loved, and it did help with the dryness that this "It's cold in the morning and hot by the afternoon" kind of weather we have been experiencing. So it fit great in our little family.

A couple of food items were in the Fiesta Box too. Which I didn't get to enjoy. Let me tell you why. The first one was a protein bar that my kid decided it was for him and said he loved it. I'll take his word for it. It was the Premier Protein Bar in Chocolate Chunk. Yep, that was gone before I even realized it. The other two were coupons to redeem at my local grocery store for Orowheat Whole Grain (my husband's favorite, so he was excited to try a type of bread through their line) and Daisy the Sour Cream (I'm lactose intolerant, so I couldn't really do a feedback on this one.)

The last two items I wasn't quite a fan of. One item was a set of Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Shampoo and Conditioner samples. It wasn't a good fit for my hair. I tried it and during the lathering portion of my shower routine, I had to rewash it with my own shampoo. The second item was the Boots No.7 Dry skin night time cream. I couldn't try this since my skin is quite sensitive. I had to leave that one alone. #sorrynotsorry.

Well, those are my honest reviews on the Fiesta Vox Box.

Disclaimer: These opinions are my own. Influenster has not paid me for my opinions.

I woke up with long hair, I swear!

I'm stuck. Not so much in a rut, just stuck. I have a ton of stuff going on these past months that is what is keeping me from actually putting a post together. I really want to keep this blog alive, and I'm trying so hard to do so, but lately it's just been kind of crazy around here. I don't want to put this little blog aside, I want to keep it. It's just hard trying to find WHAT to put on here. Well, why don't I just write what has been going on? A lot of it is just sad family stuff (grandparents passing, family health issues, etc.) that I don't want a sad blog. I want a good happy blog and although I am well aware that life isn't all rainbows and unicorns, putting content that is sad time after time can just get heavy. Know what I mean?

I'm not gone. I'm still around. Mainly on FB and on Instagram. Although FB is my personal account, you are more than welcomed to see me via Instagram @ Lily_in_the_sky if you like. I also just recently downloaded Periscope. I've only had one session on there and I may do more. We will see how that goes.

I'm thinking of switching things up around here. I figure switching things up from being a mommy type of blog and just making it be more of a ME blog. More of "A day in the life...." type. I need a space where I can just post about me, include my family if and when I want to, and vent a little. Sort of like a journal. Free therapy, right? Along with a new blog venture, maybe a design more fitting of ME. But I'm pretty sure a new design won't happen until later on.

Speaking of new. Something dreadful happened. I needed a change I was in charge of. I needed something. A hair cut. I'd been itching for a shorter do' for some while and it was driving me nuts. My husband insisted that I would regret it and that I would complain after a few weeks. Mind you, I'm side eyeing that sentence here. So I finally go and take the plunge. I walk into this new salon that someone I know had been raging about. I tell the stylist what I wanted. She snips off some hair. Then some more hair. I woke up this morning with hair to just below the middle of my back. I'd been getting compliments for months on how healthy I had kept it. How I had a ton of hair and how envious people must have been. Back to the stylist, she gave me that new "Lob"/"Blogger Bob" that is instyle right now, but then she started to add layers. This is where everything changed. I kid you, this is what nightmares are made of. After she "added layers" she finished off with the blow dry and curled my hair. After checking the length, I thought the curls she gave me perhaps made my hair look shorter. I paid the girl and went on my way home. I showered and tried to do my hair like she did it. After blow drying straight, I saw it. My hair was not layered, it was hacked!! I'm serious!!I had one front layer at my chin and the other at my ear. They were lopsided, and that's trying to be modest. I cried. I cried so hard. I knew I should have gone back but by that time, my kid was napping and it was late (6pm.)

My husband came home and he just gave me the most "WTF?!" look I had ever seen. He stille says he didn't say it, but he didn't have to with that look. We looked around everywhere for a salon that was still open. We went into Great Clips and although they are a chain store, they saved me. They seriously saved me. They let me cry and they treated me as if they were my BFF's and we both vented about the hack job. The only thing missing was a mimosa or wine. So just like my title, "I woke up with long hair, I swear!" It's been in a pony tail since and some days I feel brave enough to actually wear it "flowing."

A million and one excuses....

I have a million and one excuses for my absence. They are all legit and real reasons for my not being around, I won’t bombard you with them since I don’t feel it necessary. Plus who wants a pity party anyways.

 
Image Credit

Summer is here (it’s currently 102*degrees here) and that means swimming, bbq’s, carnivals, concerts in the park, and Orange is the New Black Season 3 premier (am I right?) I’ve been waiting for OITNB since news broke out of the premier date. I started watching OITNB earlier this year when I finally gave in and binged watched the first two seasons. Then BAM! Season three. I took my time with this one and so glad I did. Everyone I knew watched the entire third season in one day—I took my time.  I have my opinions about this season, but I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t watched it or are still watching. However, here’s a list of the Do’s and Don’ts from your favorite celebs on binge watching your favorite show: Link.

I’ve also started Snapchatting. Oh yes, that devious app has gotten the best of me. So if have it and want to add me (I’ll add you too if you let me know that you’ve done so,) my username is: Lily-inthesky.

So, I’m rambling. I have no where really to go with this post, but that’s okay. And since I am rambling with randomness, here are some random pictures to add because who doesn’t love visuals. Am I right?

Today at our local park. It has wading pools for free!


Hanging out in his Buzz Light Year Ship tent.


My husband getting ready to fight his first boxing match.


My husband and I on Father’s Day just hanging out.

Calvin Klein is yum.

Image: NSTPerfume

A little bit ago I received a package in the mail. It was from Influenster. Inside of the box was a teeny weeny little package that just had a wonderful aroma. Yum. I knew I was going to like this package. It was a little vile with a sample from Calvin Klein. Oh my goodness, it smelled so wonderful and I couldn't wait to spritz it all over my husband.

The scent is great. It's not over powering and yet the scent last all day. I love how I can walk by and the scent is just one of those "Uhhh" type of sighs. It's really great. It's one of those smells that just gets you in a good mood and not just you, but everyone around you. I highly recommend it.

Product Page: REVEAL Men Calvin Klein
Hashtag: #REVEALMORE
Facebook: Calvin Klein
Twitter: @CalvinKlein

Just and FYI: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Top Chef Sacramento

I work for a local grooming shop here in our town. The past year, my job has collaborated with a local rescue by grooming rescued animals for adoption. We love helping any way. This past weekend, we were invited to join Recycled Pets of NorCal (our affiliate) at their benefit--an annual event called Sacramento's Top Chef. The event has participants from local restaurants competing to be the year's Top Chef.... just like the tv show.

Let me just say...the food was delicious! The secret ingredient? Hot Cheetos!!

Thats hot cheeto crust!

Buffet!!

The hubster and I

Our view....
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And because I love my job....

Different, not less.

Hi. My name is Lily and my child has Autism.

I never thought it would be hard to write a sentence that was so simple, yet complex at the same time. That up there is what has been going on for the past several months. That up there is why I haven't been back on this little ole blogger of mine. That up there is what has changed many things for us. So let me start from the beginning, shall I?

Back in October, right before Halloween, I ran into Michael's speech therapist. She had just finished one of the sessions with him in his class. She asked me, "Has anyone ever mention the possibility of Michael being on the spectrum?" My world paused. You know, sort of like when Zack Morris on Saved By The Bell did it time and time again. Yep, just like that. Only this time it wasn't a pause for some funny commentary but this time everything was silent only for the sound of my heart falling into pieces and echoing as they hit the floor. My child on the spectrum? No. I know he was delayed with speech, but to place him there too? I snapped back and I asked her many questions. She answered them the best way she could and said that I would be getting a phone call for another assessment but this time not for speech. I nodded and said "Thank you" without looking too shakey from just receiving the news. How do I mention to my husband about the conversation I just had? How do I even process this? How do I....? (We did have the conservation btw.)

After many IEP meetings, assessments, and evaluations with the school district, it was determined that my little boy, my perfect little boy, does indeed fall in the spectrum. He seems to fall under the "high functioning" category which seems to describe him extremely well. We are in the process of getting him diagnosed medically (in fact, he has an appointment today) to see what our options are and what we can do to help him.

We are still learning what it means to have Autism and what we can do as parents to help him develop a normal functioning life. Our families know and have been the most supportive they have ever been. They too want to help in any way possible. They love him oh so very much, and that is all we ask from them--acceptance.

So, again...

My name is Lily and my child is Autistic. He is different, not less.