5 things I Learned From Becoming A First Time Mom In A Pandemic

The good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m sharing 5 things I learned from becoming a first time mom during a pandemic.

  1. Family and friends being involved in your child’s life is one of the most precious gifts.

It began with the hospital. Due to restrictions no one else was allowed to be at the hospital. I had always thought I would have my mom there with me while I was laboring. That truthfully was really hard for me to come to terms with. We were blessed enough despite the circumstances to be able to have both sets of our parents around from the day we brought Turner home from the hospital. Having the help was really nice. My mom came everyday for the first few weeks for a couple of hours since Tyler went directly back to work. He has been able to see his grandparents often since we are in the same town. Other family and friends he wasn’t able to meet until months later. Some just met him for the first time this past weekend and some still haven’t met him. I definitely envisioned all my family and friends meeting him within the first few weeks and definitely by two months old. It didn’t happen that way due to COVID but it made me treasure the time I did get with loved ones. I’m so grateful for every moment now and don’t take it for granted.

2. Having an empty calendar is a blessing in disguise.

Due to many things being closed, postponed or capacities limited our social calendar certainly cleared quite a bit. In some ways I wasn’t thrilled with it because I was so excited to get out and about after having a baby for some normalcy. Having a much more free schedule allowed our little family to spend lots of time together. We were forced to slow down and enjoy the small moments with Turner. They pass too quickly not to hold on to them and treasure each one! We have spent more quality time together than we would have if things had been different and I think we will definitely keep it up even as things return to normal.

3. Less is more.

Oh boy, this may also just be a first time mom in general thing but we definitely overdid it on the baby items. Spending all day everyday inside your home makes you analyze what all you have. Babies do not need 5 different options to sit in. They also do not need more than 2-3 holiday related outfits; especially if you have no where to go in order for them to wear them. (Don’t ask me how many Christmas outfits my son had. Far too many.) Additionally, a few toys are more than substantial. Most of the time they would prefer playing with a box, diaper rash cream tube, or your shoe. Trust me, you can always place an order on Amazon for anything you need!

4. Both parents need an outlet outside of being just mom or dad.

This is probably one of the things I struggled with the most. There weren’t as many things to go and do for me earlier on in Turner’s life due to all of things being closed/limited. I definitely had to get creative at times. I got quite a few pedicures and walked around Target. My husband is a little better about this because he actually has concrete hobbies he does. As a couple I think it’s also important to get a break together. We have had date nights and we then day arrived I truly didn’t feel like putting the energy to get ready to go somewhere. Despite that I always found a way to make myself go and we enjoyed the time together every time! It’s so important to put in that effort for your marriage.

5. Modern technology and pick up services are one of the best things to happen to the 21st century.

Call me lazy but being able to roll up to a business and complete my transaction without even getting out of a car is the best thing ever! I’ve done Walmart grocery pick-up since 2019 so I was no stranger to that. I hate grocery shopping and love just going on the app to do it quickly. Due to the pandemic there were many new curbside services taking place. I think I have had a Target pick up order almost every single week. Chick-Fil-A curbside has seen my face more than I care to admit. Not having to get a baby in and out of the car is truly the most convenient thing ever! And, I’ll say what most of you are thinking: driving through to grab Mexican food plus a margarita to go for the house isn’t too shabby either. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to stroll around stores and see things in person or eat a meal in an actual restaurant but; convenience is definitely king when you have a baby. I’m glad these services are here to stay!

If I knew beforehand that I would have my first baby during a global pandemic would I purposefully choose that time period? Maybe not. Now that I have met my son though I can tell you I would do it over a million times just for him! I’m choosing to take the high road and use these lessons I’ve learned going forward. I’ll treasure the memories but I’m ready to move toward normalcy!

Life Update

Despite all the craziness and uncertainty currently in the world I have an exciting life update! If you don’t know my husband and I are from the same hometown in Texas. Two years ago the company that he works for transferred him to a different role which meant we had to relocate to Southeastern Arkansas. It was a big change from us going from a medium sized city with Target, Chick-fil-a, Starbucks etc to only Walmart. Luckily Little Rock is only 45 minutes away! Besides that we also had to leave our families and I had to quit my dream teaching job as an Elementary Fine Arts instructor. Fortunately, we had friends here who took great care of us and an amazing house we loved. Then I found a job teaching 6th grade English which I really love and have enjoyed.

About a month ago my husband was asked to take on a different role within his company which means we are moving home at the end of my school year! We sold our current house and are in the process of purchasing one back in Texas in our hometown. We are so excited to be back with our families very soon just in time for Turner’s birth! It has certainly been a very exciting and at times stressful month but we are thanking God for this unexpected blessing. In addition, I will also be staying at home with baby next school year and not teaching. Our plan is for me to go back to teaching when he is one. I will be continuing to blog and teach on VIPKid while I stay home with Turner. We started packing this past weekend and all this extra time at home has certainly given me plenty more time to tackle each room. I can’t wait to bring you along for how we style our new house very soon! Keep your eyes peeled for videos and blog posts. Have a great weekend!

Love,

Megan

My Experience With Foligain

Ever had a bad hair day? Or even bad hair month or year? That’s what it feels like when you have thinning hair. 
I’ve always had extremely long and fine hair, but over the years certain areas have thinned so much that you can see my scalp, especially if my hair is worn up and away from my face. 
I know it’s mostly genetics but also partly many years of having pulled my hair back tightly in a ballet bun. I’m also sure having long hair for my entire life has put more stress on my scalp when my hair is pulled up. Taking into account all these factors together and you have a perfect storm for thinning hair.
I feel like thinning hair is something most women deal with at some point in their lives, but I don’t feel like anyone really talks about it. I’ve never really found a solution for the areas of my hair that are thinning except for putting a little bronzer there to hopefully cover it up a bit. When I heard about Foligain’s Triple Action System for Women I knew I had to give it a try!
These are the main areas of thinning that I have. It makes it very difficult to wear my hair up because it always ends up looking patchy. 
This is honestly one of the reasons why you’ll see me with a headband on most of the time when my hair is pulled up. I began using the Foligain system exclusively at the end of May. 

It’s been six weeks total now and I feel like I can honestly tell a difference in the fullness and body of my hair!

The steps are very easy! 3-5 times a week you wash your hair with the system. It begins with the Triple Action Shampoo which you massage into your scalp and then let sit for a few minutes to soak in. 
It is followed with the Triple Action Conditioner. Lather it into your hair. Both of the products smell amazing and don’t leave any residue. They contain ingredients that are great for hair like biotin, Jojoba Oil, and Trioxidil Complex. 
The final step is four sprays to the scalp of the Foligain Triple Action Targeted Formula; massage it into the scalp. It can be rinsed out after four hours or left on indefinitely!
After the serum, I like to use the Foligain Hair & Scalp Roller to help with the massage process. It helps circulate blood to the scalp and also helps with removal of dead skin and increases the effectiveness + absorption of the solution. 
I truly cannot believe how much stronger and more full my hair feels after just six weeks of using this system! I’m so impressed and can’t wait to see where my hair is in another six weeks. 
These products are extremely affordable and are available at www.foligain.com, www.amazon.com, www.shoplet.com, and H-E-B Stores. Questions about Foligain? Leave me a comment and I’ll be glad to answer!

Love,

Megan

Aspen Travel Guide

Today, I’m highlighting what to see and do in Aspen, Colorado. We went in the off-season which means it wasn’t ski season or summer peak season. It’s called off-season because the weather can often be unpredictable. More about that in a moment.

Just a few days before this photo was taken it was in the 70s in Aspen. It started snowing the first evening we were there. It ended up snowing so much that they opened the skiing back up through June. We definitely were not prepared clothing wise.

HOW TO GET THERE:

We flew into Denver and got on a short 20 minute flight to Aspen. The runway is extremely short and only a few pilots are certified to fly into here. We got to Aspen above the airport and had a mechanical issue and had to go back. Apparently this happens a lot because of weather or winds that the plane can’t land and gets rerouted. Just keep this in mind if you fly in. We were supposed to arrive Thursday at 7 pm and did’t arrive until Friday at 9 am which was fine for us because we didn’t have a hotel to cancel or plans set in stone. The drive from Denver is 4 hours if that is something you’d like to opt for but the roads can be difficult at times.

WHERE TO STAY:

We stayed at a family member’s place but if we hadn’t done that I would recommend using http://www.airbnb.com or http://www.vrbo.com to find a condo rental. The St. Regis Hotel is another great option although can be pricey depending on the season you choose.

HOW TO GET AROUND:

We took a taxi from the airport and scheduled a car to pick us up for our departure. We walked everywhere we went. Ubers are almost nonexistent in the office season. Bike rentals are also available. If you stay in downtown you won’t need a vehicle.

WHAT TO DO:

Visit Maroon Bells. Unfortunately, there was an avalanche the week we traveled to Aspen on the road going out to Maroon Bells so it was only accessible by bicycle and you’d have to carry your bike hundreds of yards over the snow mass. We decided against that since we’re not in that great of shape. I highly advising calling the local park rangers before you visit to see current conditions. If I had done this before the day we actually wanted to visit I’d have known we couldn’t. That was a huge bummer but honestly all on me since I didn’t check before we got into town. During the summer you can actually take a bus out t

Visit shops and museums in downtown Aspen. There are so many places to explore and are an easy walk. The plus about off-season? You have virtually the entire town to yourself.

See a show at Belly Up. We saw Boombox perform one night. The reserved tickets allow you to sit in assigned seats and a waitress will come and serve you food and drinks. This is such a cool venue because literally every famous person has performed here. Their pictures are all over the walls and the date they performed.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

*Matsuhisa Sushi was good! We made reservations via the Open Table app before and shared everything we ordered.

*HOPS Culture was a lunch stop one day. They have tons of local beers on tap and great bar food. The wait staff here was very nice and enjoyable to visit with!

*Jimmy’s Bar & Restaurant was a stop one evening for crab cakes and drinks before dinner. We sat in the front part in the bar area. Great view of the mountain! (Pictured a few photos above with the drink)

*Mi Chola was dinner one night. Great Mexican food and Prickly Pear Margarita’s!

*Ryno’s Pub & Pizzeria was recommended by a local. We had lunch here one day and played games in the arcade. A fun place to hang out and eat. They do pizza by the slice here and it’s huge!

*Silver City is probably our favorite bar in the town. We accidentally happened upon it too! We were leaving the concert and heard country music playing from underground and discovered it. There’s pool tables in the back and country vibes all around. We actually came here two nights because we liked it so much!

*St. Regis Hotel Bar for appetizers and drinks. It has the coziest ski lodge vibes with couches and fireplaces everywhere! The boys enjoyed an old fashioned while the gals sipped on St. Germain Spritzers. Such a nice place to relax and keep warm while it continued to snow outside!

Hope you got some great ideas for your upcoming Aspen trip! Questions about anything we did? Feel free to leave a comment so I can answer! Safe travels!

Love,

Megan

Wedding Wednesday: Where to splurge vs. save

The wedding process can be overwhelming. Especially the monetary part of it! There are so many choices to make over the course of the planning phase and unfortunately most of them cost money. Once you’ve set your budget you can begin to make these choices both large and small. I’m sharing my opinion as a past bride on what to splurge on vs. what to save on!

 

WHERE TO SPLURGE:

  • The dress, duh! I know this contradicts my past post but I do think if spending a little more (as long as it’s in your budget) for your dream dress is well worth it.
  • The robe you get ready in the day of the wedding! I still wear mine and think it was worth every penny. It came from Nordstrom where they have a ton of great ones!
  • A special piece of jewelry, shoes etc. to wear the day of your wedding. But in my opinion, I’d only choose one of these things since you’re already going to be wearing a stunning dress! I only chose a pair of earrings as my splurge piece since I wanted my dress to shine.
  • The music for the wedding and reception. I had a violinist for our ceremony and it was worth every penny! She let me choose all the songs which was great since I didn’t use traditional wedding songs. I thought our violinist was the perfect musical backdrop to our beach wedding! For the reception had a band that played lots of 70s music which is what we both really like as a couple. The music can make or break a wedding so definitely splurge here!
  • Save the dates and invitations were worth using premium printing and paper. My best friend is a graphic designer and customized all of our stuff but if I hadn’t known one I would’ve hired one for sure! She also hand lettered all our envelopes which also worth the money to me as well.
  • Drink ware which probably just depends on the couple but we did neoprene koozies and frost flex cups with our logo on them both of which are more expensive but that was something we felt like was worth it!
  • Food is a huge one to me! Wedding dinners per head are more expensive than you could ever imagine even just for a buffet. This has been one thing I’ve known forever but still didn’t want to skimp on. We did a couple different types of fish, chicken, and sides from a local caterer. It was all delicious! I just feel like if people take the time to come celebrate you they should at least be able to enjoy a nice meal.
  • If you are having alcohol at your wedding I think it’s worth it to do the open bar. That’s what we did and we were happy with our choice. I will mention that because of county beach curfew our reception could only be until 10 pm so you probably would have to take into account how long your reception will last.
  • Photography and videography. The first one I feel like most people know but the second one I really didn’t. I was not going to have a videographer until like a month before my wedding. I just didn’t understand the need in the age of cellphones! I’m so glad I had one. I love watching our wedding video. Photos are wonderful but they still can’t capture everything! If you take one thing away from this post it should be: book the videographer!!
  • Your sendoff and whatever that entails. I knew I wanted a sparkler exit so we found the nicest sparklers that burned the longest for that. We also rented a vintage bentley and driver for our getaway car which I loved! This all made for awesome photos.
  • Transportation for your wedding party to and from the wedding location(s). This will ensure everyone is safe and on time to everything!

WHAT TO SAVE ON:

  • Flowers because you can do it yourself with a little help! I’m going to do a whole post on this but basically you can order them wholesale from Sam’s Club and arrange them. We did all of our flowers except my bouquet which was professionally arranged.
  • Cake and sweets since neither my husband or I care about either much. We had a smaller cake and added a topper from ETSY. I noticed that a lot of times at weddings I’ve been to they have way too many sweets period and no one is eating them.
  • Decor in general because I can promise people barely notice this stuff. I had a few hand lettered signs done by my best friend which I loved but other than that we had table runners, small flower arrangements, and a few pictures. Since we got married on the beach we wanted to let that shine through!
  • Programs because I can promise no one cares about them. We had double sided ones printed at Office Depot for less than $30. They doubled as a fan for people if needed and I’m sure most were thrown away which is totally fine because we saved here!
  • Favors which we didn’t do at all. Personally, I can’t recall one favor I got from a wedding ever. I’m sure I did but they’re just not memorable. I love a nice koozie so we had those and the cups.
  • Wedding planner because you can definitely do it on your own if you do some research! It definitely takes some organization but it can be done and is worth the money you save.
  • The venue itself which is what we did in deciding to do both the wedding and reception on the beach at a public access area that had parking and restrooms. Having everything at one location will help you save on everything in general and be easier for you and your guests.

 

 

Overall, when it comes to what to splurge on and what to save on when planning a wedding it truly depends on your personal budget and preferences. If you put your mind to it you can save on anything! Make sure to keep open communication with your partner, parents, in-laws and whoever is involved in the wedding planning process. Have questions? Leave them in the comments below!

Love,

Megan

Rome Travel Guide

We spent 3 days in Rome but I truly think you could spend a lifetime and never see everything. It’s such a beautiful city full of history.

TRANSPORTATION:

Coming to and from the airport we used taxis. There is a train that goes to the city center but unless you’re really good with getting around public transportation I would not suggest that option. Once we were in the city we used metro the entire time. It is fairly easy to navigate. Please note that pick-pocketing is a huge problem in Rome and watch your things closely while on the subway. We were lucky and did have any problems except one man we suspected was checking us out to possibly steal from. We got off at a stop before him and told some Italian military men that guard each subway station. We felt safe the rest of the time but definitely be cautious. There are also buses that run throughout the city but the subway is faster so we always used that instead.

 

The Spanish Steps and church can be easily accessed from the Spagna stop on the metro line. I will forewarn you that this is a very busy area and has tons of tourists at all hours of the day. There are many shops, cafes, and restaurants in this area to choose from. Walking a few blocks away from the main tourist area will help you find more local places with a more authentic Italian feel.

FOOD AND DRINK:

The main thing to look at when choosing a place to eat is the menu. If it has pictures on it of the food DO NOT eat there. It is a tourist trap. Most restaurants in Italy have their menus displayed outside the restaurant which means you can look at what they offer and their prices. Most places have a table setting fee for each person. This is very common! You will also pay for water. Nothing is free like in America. If you take your food to go it is cheaper. Just tell them you want “take away.” We usually did this during breakfast and/or lunch if we were just grabbing sandwiches. Tipping is not really much of a thing either. Sometimes gratuity will be added into the check depending on the restaurant. My favorite pasta dish was cacio e pepe which literally translates to cheese and pepper. We found that the simplicity of many Italian dishes we tried was what made it so good! If you find a place that does the pizza version of this then you must get it. We only found one place: Miscele e Fuoco located near the Colosseum. We also had the best white spritz ever (prosecco, elderflower syrup and soda water). This was probably my favorite place we stumbled upon in Rome. Other favorite drink was limoncello. I do not think we ever had a a bad one! I tried Aperol spritz and sadly it is not my thing. It tastes like a weird orange Fanta to me.

 

The Trevi Fountain can be accessed from the Barberni metro line stop. If you go anytime after 7:00 am there will be tons of people everywhere. The earlier you visit; the better. I really enjoyed seeing it in the daytime and at night. It truly is magical.

 

The Colosseum can be accessed via metro stop Colosseo. Get your tickets before and be in line before 8:30 am when it opens. It gets very crowded as the morning goes on. Guided tours are available but we just walked around on our own.

The Roman Forum is located next to the Colosseum which makes it easy to visit next. We had free entry with our pass for the Colosseum. It is quite large and gets hot because there is hardly any shade throughout.

Located about a half mile from the Roman Forum is the Mamertine museum. This is where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. You can even visit the cell they stayed in. I thought it was really cool to see a place directly from the Bible. It also was not very crowded because it is kind of a hidden gem in Rome.

Admission to the Pantheon is free and can be accessed from the Spagna metro line station. It does get pretty crowded as the day goes on so visit as early as possible.

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Vatican City is a whole day in itself. Get your tickets to the Vatican Museum before so that you can skip the line. We were there when it opened and were able to go straight in. Make sure you are covered because they do have a dress code. Especially shoulders and chest. My dress was knee length and I did not have a problem getting in. This is where you will see the Sistine Chapel. After we visited St. Peter’s Basilica. The line was pretty long and it was very hot outside. Just be prepared if you go during the summer.

WHERE TO STAY:

We found an apartment on http://www.homeaway.com but if you are looking for a hotel we stayed at Hotel Fellini our last night and enjoyed it. It is just steps from the Trevi Fountain. Regardless of where you stay make sure it is walking distance to a metro station and you will be able to get pretty much anywhere in the city.

 

THINGS TO KNOW:

Ignore people on the streets selling things or tours. They just want your money. I acted like I did not understand English and they left me alone.

Have cash and cards. You never know when one or the other will not be accepted! Do not rely on ATMs because sometimes they do not work overseas.

Get an international data and calling plan. We used Google Maps literally everyday throughout our trip. Worth every penny especially when you are lost! You need calling turned on in case of an emergency. My sister left her phone in a taxi and I was able to call and cut her phone off. Fortunately it was returned to her but that often is not the case. If you are on ATT you can do unlimited everything for $10/day.

Do not buy things you can buy in the States if you can help it! Also, buy souvenirs toward the end of your day so you do not have to carry them around forever!

Visit local grocery stores in the neighborhoods around Rome. We found so many neat things that we loved!

If you go in the summer it is very hot. Places have air conditioning but not like we have here. If you have any medical condition that makes it hard for your body to handle heat then please think about going during another season.

Be prepared to walk until your feet fall off. Rome is a huge city. We walked 10 miles or more daily. I wore Birkenstocks the whole time and my feet did not blister. Make sure your shoes are broken in before you go!

Carry a bottle to refill with water. There is water that is safe for drinking all over the city.

The airport in Rome is very confusing to check into because where you drop your bags and go through security are in separate places. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your gate when you depart.

If you buy liquor in the duty free in the airport make sure they put your things in the correct sealed bag. They did not do this for me and I had to throw away $100 worth of liquids including a bottle of Veuve Clicquot rose in the Toronto airport in customs.  Do not make my mistake. I had never purchased from duty free before and thought I was fine because it was in a box.

 

If you have any questions about my trip to Rome feel free to leave a comment! I would love to help you plan your trip to the Eternal City!

 

Love,

Megan

New House DIY Projects

We just recently purchased our second home in April and it is a completely different style than our first one which was a 1970’s Ranch style that had been renovated. Our new home was built in the 1940’s and is a Mid-Century Modern style that has been renovated prior to us purchasing it. We are slowly making it our own and changing a few things along the way. One of the first things we did was change the color of the door. Originally we wanted to change the doors completely. As you will see below they are double doors and pretty funky. We decided to keep them to go along with the style of the house. My mom and I painted them black to make more of a statement. This can be easily done with paint, paintbrushes, and tape all purchased from Lowe’s.Before – tan and not very pleasing to the eye.Before with the tan door. It just blends in with the rest of the house and doesn’t make much of a statement. After with the black door. The whole process took less than two hours to complete and could easily be completed by one person. The hardest part was keeping both of our dogs out of the way when we had to keep the doors open to paint and let the edges dry! The other project my mom and I completed was a pair of side tables for the living room. My mom actually saw the pair for sale on Facebook and we bought them and decided to give them a little makeover. The only things we used for this project was an old soft rag and Craft Smart Premium Wax Metallic Finish which can be purchased at Michael’s.Purchased from Michael’s in gold.One of the tables before.One of the tables during the process. All we did was use the soft cloth to dip in the jar of wax. Then we rubbed it on the parts we wanted to be gold. You can make it as dark or light as you would like depending how much wax you apply. Such an easy transformation! They look great in our new living room. And I love that it was simple and inexpensive.After of one of the side tables. The tray is by artist Ashley Longshore.More DIY projects coming your way very soon. Let me know what you think in the comments!

New Adventures

Hey y’all! Welcome to When Pigs Fly! I’m so excited about this new journey. It’s something I’ve said I was going to do for years and have finally decided to take the plunge. The name for my blog comes for my love and collection of all things Pig related, especially pigs with wings! For those of you who don’t know – I’m Megan, originally from Texas but living in Arkansas now with my husband and our two dogs. I graduated from the University of Arkansas – Go Hogs! I’ve been an elementary school teacher for the past six years. This year I’ve decided to try some new things, this being one of them. Stay tuned for the rest of the things as I’ll be blogging about them as well. My blog will include fashion, travel, fitness, DIY projects and my faith. I can’t wait to connect with everyone! I’m looking forward to this new adventure.  I’d love for you to leave a comment if there is anything you’d like to see a post on.

Love,

Megan

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