Coffee Talk: The Answers Part 2

Good morning, I'm back for another round of coffee talk: answering your questions and
letting you in on a few of my secrets...

3.   What are your fave hair products?  What beauty products do you 
use / what is your skin routine? ~ Maegan from Chesterrific

Seriously, how is your skin so glowy and dewy and amazing?? 
~ Lucy the Valliant

First of all, THANK YOU!!!!  What sweet words to tell a 32 year old woman who has
really started to see changes in her skin!  Now, in the spirit of honesty and true
feminine sisterhood, there's no way I can share my skin care and product secrets with
you without first letting you see my blank canvas.  I had Shawn snap these photos of
me in the early morning, au natural light: no editing, no make-up, just me:

Up All Night Mama under eye circles, fine lines around the eyes, a mild case of melasma,
sun spots (that I like to pretend are freckles) on my nose: the same "problems" most
women face.  But, with a good, consistent skin care routine and the right make-up:
easily camouflaged and treated!  

I owe my skin to A) my French/Native American genes, the women in my family all
have lovely skin and B) my grandmother.  On my 13th birthday, my grandmother bought
me my very own tub of Noxzema skin cleanser and Oil of Olay moisturizer.  She gave
me strict instructions to wash my face every morning and every night without fail, to stay
out of the sun as much as possible, to avoid cigarettes like the plague, and to never
leave home without a smile:)  Though I have not always been faithful to this wise,
Cajun mama's advice, her words have been ingrained in my beauty regimen for the
greater part of my adult life.  

I am a product junkie and have tried just about every line imaginable: until I found
Murad.  This is, in my humble opinion, the BEST line of skin care products on the
market.  They are gentle on your skin, reasonably priced, and super effective in
controlling and preventing fine lines and break outs.  I use Murad's Time Release 
Acne Cleanser, followed by the Clarifying Toner.  I then use an under eye cream
by Dermalogica called Total Eye Care that is amazing because it is tinted and helps
cover my dark circles.  Next comes Murad's Oil Control Matifying Moisturizer, with SPF
15 in it of course.  The last step is a foundation primer made by Merle Norman that I
simply can NOT live without.  It keeps my makeup fresh all day long and gives my skin
that dewy glow I love so much.  At night, I repeat using only the cleanser,
toner, and moisturizer.  

I have been using Merle Norman's Luxiva mineral make-up for several years and
am obsessed.  It's a two for one product: you are treating your skin with an amazing
anti-aging formula while also wearing quality, skin improving make-up.  Growing up, I
always thought Merle Norman was for my grandmother's age group, a line for older
ladies and not up to par with the modern woman.  I couldn't have been more wrong:
Merle Norman's makeup is gorgeous, provides as much or as little coverage as you need,
and absorbs oil while giving your skin a shimmery glow.  I wear the Luxiva mineral
powder foundation, mineral blush, mineral eye shadow, and eyeliner.  Have you ever
watched "What Not to Wear" on TLC?  My make-up routine is from Carmindy's 5 
minute face, all about a natural look and highlights.  Easy easy.

For hair, I use a shampoo and conditioner by Matrix called Sleek Look.  I never blow dry
or flat iron my hair and use a deep conditioner by Wen once a week.  I only comb my
hair when it is wet and fresh out of the shower using a wide tooth comb, I never brush
it.  While it is wet, I comb a small amount of Matrix sculpting gel from roots to tips, let it
air dry over night, and then use a texturizing cream to form my unruly waves and
prevent any frizz.  The No Heat Curl Method has become my best friend and helps
me to define my curls without causing my hair any stress or damage.

The most important thing any of us can do for our skin and hair is drink lots of water,
wear an SPF cream daily, get as much rest as our children and busy lives will allow, and
stay away from harsh chemicals whenever possible.  My grandmother was right:
consistency is key, morning and night.  And of course, SMILE!
It's the best accessory!

4.  I'm curious if you got the envelope and goodie I sent you! 
~ Erin from My Beautiful Disaster

Erin, YES!!!  I'm guessing you didn't get my email but yes, I got the beautiful postcard
you sent as well as the key chain and I LOVED them!  There's seriously nothing more
exciting than getting REAL mail.  While emails and Skyping and texting and blogging
have made communicating with friends and family so convenient, I miss good old
fashioned letters and postcards.  Isabelle actually confiscated the key chain you sent me
and has been sporting it on her back pack ever since.  She thinks it's pretty cool that
her Mama has a friend all the way from Canada!  Thank you so much and I promise
to send you a Louisiana care package soon!

5.  Do you guys want to have more children? 
~ Caitlin from To Make Love Stay

Yes yes and yes!!  Shawn and I are both pretty in love with the idea of having a son.
Shawn is an only child and the last hope of carrying on the Vasquez family name.  While
we love our daughters more than life itself, I know that he dreams of having a son to
play football with, Boy Scouts and fishing trips, guitar lessons and playing under the
hood of the truck.  When we were newly married, however, my grandmother performed
an old trick with my wedding ring that is legendary in our family for predicting how
many children you will have.  She predicted I would have 3 girls.  So far, she's 2 for 2.
By the end of next year, when Brees is a little older and Shawn is done with school, we
hope to start trying for another baby and, God willing, we'll find out how accurate
she really was...

Milestones

Exploring

We spent our Saturday at the Lafayette Children's Museum with our sweet cousins.  We
filled our bellies with french fries and milkshakes and then spent the afternoon exploring
one of the coolest learning facilities we've been to in a while.  The entire museum was
devoted to role playing with room after room of hands on learning.  There was a
veterinarian hospital, a grocery store, restaurant, dentist's office, fully stocked
ambulance, and a bank.  Each room came fully equipped with costumes and the most
realistic props I've ever seen in a children's museum.  Have I mentioned how much
I LOVE this kind of stuff?  I spent hours as a little girl constructing the most elaborate
play houses, forts, imaginary cafes.  If someone had let me loose in a museum such as the
one we went to this weekend, I would have probably never left..

There was a fenced in area for the babies fully stocked with wooden toys, textured balls,
and the most awesome train set.  Brees and Freddie happily skipped their naps and
explored every inch of the baby zone: eyes wide and drool galore.  They are at such a fun
age, two little explorers with happy, mellow attitudes.  

One of the best ways I can show my children my love is by having fun with them,
laughing and smiling and eating pretend pie, leaving work and bills behind and just being
free.  And when I am able to have an afternoon of fun and relaxation, I am showing
myself love,too.  Seeing their smiling, happy faces is the best soul medicine around...

It was such a fun day, I can't wait to do it again.  I love my cousins, I love my babies,
I love our weekends of sweet simple fun...

Steppin' Out Saturday

This weekend we stepped out with my favorite cousin, April, and her 3 boys for lunch
and a trip to the Children's Museum.  It was a lovely day with some of my favorite people
at a place where it's perfectly acceptable to let your children run wild and make as much
noise as possible.  I pulled this summer dress out for one more afternoon before the
weather officially turns.  I have grown quite tired of my summer wardrobe and am so
ready for boots and scarves and cardigans and jeans.  But, I shall enjoy these last few
weeks of effortless summer wear, flowy tops and soft, airy dresses, sandals and bare feet.
I will enjoy the warm sun on my shoulders, the green grass between my toes.  See this
lovely weather off with all the bohemian sundress love I can muster...

Here's what we wore:

Coffee Talk: The Answers

Good morning friends!  Are you ready for a little coffee talk?  Thank you all so much for
your very insightful questions!  I have so enjoyed preparing several posts where I can
answer them for you and hopefully allow you to learn a little more about me.  Sit back,
pour yourself a cup of tea or joe, and forgive me for the terrible quality of some of the
photos you are about to see!  Most of these were taken before digital cameras were the
norm.  I am really showing my age here...

1.  What is your favorite coffee? How was your weekend? How does your 
week look good week/busy week? ~Jodi from Sweets and Shutterclicks

Our weekend was great, thank you!  We were completely irresponsible and spent most of
our time outdoors, taking advantage of the unseasonably cool weather.  Shawn and I went
on a lovely date, watched 3 amazing football games (Go Bears!), spent time with my
cousins, and ate some of the best BBQ we've had all year.  As a result of all that relaxed
time, our week has been super busy!  Weekdays are pretty crazy around here: getting
the kids where they need to be, caring for all my patients and giving them the attention
they deserve, after school activities, cooking and cleaning.  It's also worth mentioning
that Brees is on a full blown sleep strike.  I am ready for another weekend for sure!

I actually don't drink coffee, I gave it up when I got pregnant for Isabelle and never picked
it back up.  I don't drink very much caffeine at all because I am breastfeeding.  I do,
however, drink one or two cups of green and/or black tea a day.  My favorites are
Tazo Awake and Tazo Zen.  Delicious!

I have combined the next two questions because I can not answer one without the other,
they are intertwined and defining components in my life...

2.  I'm actually curious to know more about your time in the military and 
what led you to serve in the Navy. ~  Vanessa from Little Gray Pixel 

How did you and Shawn meet? ~ Caitlin from To Make Love Stay

I was born and raised in a very small town in Louisiana by very loving, super
conservative parents.  My upbringing was very strict and old-fashioned and I was
taught from a very young age about the importance of hard work and self-sufficiency.  I
was an over achiever from the start: I belonged to every single club in school, was an
All-American dancer with UDA, honors classes and student council.  My high
school experience was filled with friends, activities, and a million accolades.  By all
accounts, I was a college bound kid.

But something in my heart felt the need to fly free.  All those years of studying and
achieving were amazing, but I was ready to see what the big bright world had to
offer.  Attending LSU seemed like the most logical next step for me, but I had other plans:
I was accepted into NYU as an Art History major.  I planned to backpack across Europe for
at least a year, and then head off to the Big Apple for an experience like no other.  I wanted
to travel, experience life, learn about the world through actually living in it.

My parents sat and listened to my plan and then immediately told me that they would
die before allowing this ludacrisy to take place.  There was absolutely no way they were
going to allow their precious Cajun "mon cher" to fly solo into the unknown.  I cried, they
scolded, we didn't speak for several days.

And then my mom came home with a pamphlet from the United States Navy.  Her
proposal: you can join the Navy, do all the traveling you've ever imagined, and earn
money for college at the same time!  I was intrigued.  She was smart.  My parents knew
that serving in the military would give me direction, work ethic, and set me up with a
rock solid foundation that would carry me through the rest of my life.  I thought about it
for several days, it was a romantic notion to me: sailing the seven seas, putting my stamp
on a small piece of history.  Most of the men in my family have served in the military but
I would be the first woman to don the uniform.  The thought of that accomplishment
appealed to me.  Before long, I was standing in front of a United States flag, pledging
my allegiance and preparing for a new journey in my life.  I left for boot camp one month
after my high school graduation and spent the next 4 years of my life making memories
that have shaped and molded me in ways I don't think even my parents could
have even imagined.

{18 years old, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean onboard the
USS Chancellorsville CG-62}

{This definitely counts as one of the most embarrassing photos ever (and my brother
will most likely kill me for posting it) but it must be shown.  August 1997, my boot
camp graduation in Great Lakes, IL.  My Dad is all business all day but, trust me, he
is REALLY happy in this photo.}

I was stationed in San Diego, CA for a year and then Yokosuka, Japan for 3 years.  I
traveled to over 15 different countries and made friends whom I still consider to be a
second family to me.  My fellow sailors were kids just like me: newly graduated, young
and inspired, searching for travel, adventure, and, of course, college money.  

I was a Boatswain's Mate Third Class Petty Officer.  I was qualified to drive the ship
and control it's speed:

I was a helicopter signalman and ran under the helo to strap it to the
deck when it landed:

I went on special missions and adventures, all with some of the most amazing friends
a girl could ever ask for:

I held monkeys in Thailand, visited mosques in Dubia, petted a kangaroo in Australia,
ate a squid in China, hiked through a forest in Singapore, jumped off cliffs in Hawaii,
went surfing in Saipan...

It was everything my parents and I could have ever dreamed of, even during the hard
times.  It is worth noting that I served in the military during a pre-911 world.  Being in
the Navy was basically a 7-3 day job with monthly cruises from one country to another.
We were, at times, in dangerous situations but nothing like what our soldiers are facing
today.  There were long, hard trips where we didn't see land for weeks, nights when
I missed home so bad I could taste it, moments when I felt the pressure and stress
to be overwhelming.  But it made me who I am today.

And now, I shall tell you how Shawn and Liv came to be...

I was one of the first women ever assigned to the ship we served on, the USS
Chancellorsville. On one very special day in the fall of 1997, our history making group
of women marched down a long pier in San Diego, CA and joined the ranks of men. I
met Shawn while touring the ship and we were introduced by our shared supervisor.
The men were less than excited to have us on board as the presence of women
seriously cramped their masculine style. They all avoided us like the plague. We
eventually grew on them, however, and became one big, dysfunctional sea faring family.
One month after meeting each other, Shawn approached me with a folded up piece of
paper with his phone number on it and an invitation to join him for dinner at his
apartment. He was so sweet and vulnerable, visibly nervous. His tough guy image was
left behind and I saw a different side of him that day, a softer side that appealed to
me. However, I was only 18 years old and not ready to date someone I knew that I had
the potential to have deep feelings for. So, I politely declined and told him that I thought
we should just focus on building our friendship. He still jokes that I broke his heart that
day. We spent the next two years building a very strong bond, connecting over our
similar values, our love for music, and our shared hopes for the future.

In the summer of 1999, our ship went to the Persian Gulf for 6 months. We were able to
see some of the most beautiful and exotic places and experience amazing adventures.
Shawn and I began spending more time together, meeting on the upper decks of the ship
at night, gazing at the stars and sharing our deepest thoughts. He understood me,
accepted me, listened to me. He made me feel special and appreciated. Every one around
us knew the truth: that we were meant for each other. My friends would comment on how
he looked at me, how he was always watching after me with love in his eyes. One night,
while walking through the city of Dubai, he reached down and took my hand. I remember
how perfect it felt: my hand nestled next to his. We started writing each other little love
notes and passing them through our friends. He made me mixed tapes of songs he thought
I would like. And it became more and more obvious, that I loved him deeply. That he was
the man who was made for me. The perfect blend of masculinity and sensitivity. And so
I allowed myself to open up to the possibility of giving him my heart.

On the Fourth of July 1999, we were celebrating on the beaches of Dubai. I had
recently ended a relationship with someone whom I had loved very much but knew that
I could not continue to be with due to my developing feelings for Shawn. As the night
ended, Shawn walked me home and we sat outside my room on the ship. He said, "Liv, I
have waited for you for two years. Are you ready to be my girl now? I want to walk this
earth with you." We have been walking this earth together ever since. I could see his
heart through his eyes that night, I could see the intensity of his love and devotion for me
and there was no more denying how much my love was reciprocated. We spent two
years getting to know each other, building a solid foundation for our love to stand on.
And now, it was time for us to walk side by side, hand in hand, and take the world
on. Together.

God has a plan for each and every one of us.  His plan for me was to make an
unexpected decision to join the military after high school rather than go directly to
college.  His plan led me to the absolute love of my life, my very best friend, the man I
was meant to grow old with.  My dad always says that the love Shawn and I share is so
real, we would have found each other regardless.  I love the fact that we will one day tell
our grandchildren how we met on a ship, fell in love on the ocean, made a small piece
of history together.

We shared our first date in Freemantle, Australia.  We made plans to have lunch
together, which then turned into a walk in the park, which then became a trip to an
art museum.  14 hours later, I danced my way home with love on my heart.  Shawn asked
me to marry him on our very first date, and I of course accepted.  We talked about
babies, dream houses, and all the adventures our life together would bring.  And now,
eleven years later, we are living the dreams we manifested on that very special day
in Australia.  We have gone through so much together, grown and changed and made
it through trials and tribulations.  As I look back at these photos, these two 19 year
old dreamers, my heart is filled with the truth of our love and its strength.  Many of
our dreams didn't pan out exactly as we would have hoped, but we stuck by each
other regardless, reimagined those dreams, made them happen through thick and thin
no matter the obstacle.  The love that started on the decks of a ship has carried us
through the roughest seas.  And we are so blessed because of it.

{Our first date: two baby kids in love}

If you made it through this very long post, thank you for reading.  I'll be back next week
with more coffee talk and answers to your questions.
Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends!

Adventures in Breastfeeding: Pumping

When I was pregnant with Brees and fully determined to breastfeed for at least her first
year, I knew that pumping was going to become a major part of my life.  I am a
working mama and love my job as a registered nurse, it's such a big part of who I am.  And
so I knew that returning to work when my little bambino was only 8 weeks old was going
to require planning, preparation, and a whole lotta milk storing.

Step 1: Invest in a nice pump.  Yes, they are expensive.  But, as a nurse who has to slip
in pump times between caring for patients, I need a breast pump that's going to do the
job and do it quickly.  I was very blessed to receive a Medella In Style Advanced pump
for free from one of my coworkers who had never used hers after deciding not to
breastfeed.  This super efficient pump is a double electric and allows me to pump 6 ounces
in less than 10 minutes: super important when you have a busy work schedule.  It came
with a car battery adapter, also important because, now that I am working as a home
health nurse, I have to pump in my car.  Talk about multi-tasking...

Step 2: Develop a plan of attack before baby arrives.  In order to avoid stress and
confusion upon returning to work after maternity leave, discuss your plan to pump at
work with your supervisor and coworkers.  A few weeks before I left work, I sat down
with my Director of Nursing and told her that I would need to pump every 3 hours.  We
also discussed what location would be best and she even ensured that a mini-fridge would
be available in the office where I would be pumping.  This made returning to work so
much easier because I didn't feel so self-conscious walking in with my pump.  Everyone
was fully aware of what I needed and they were behind me 100%.  Lots of inside jokes
were developed including the nickname "Elsie" and the entire staff singing
Madonna's "Express Yourself" when they saw me coming down the hall with my
trusty black bag.

Step 3: Bring your pump with you to the hospital when you deliver your baby.  The
lactation consultant on our maternity floor went through the workings of our pump with
us step by step.  She gave us a box full of supplies and tons of advice on when and how
to most effectively use the pump.  This proved to be a life saver when I first had to use it:
late one night, fully engorged, blind with sleep deprivation.  That was NOT the time to
pull out a how-to manual and I was so glad to have had a crash course at the hospital.

 Step 4: Start pumping early.  If you are a working mom or even a mom with an active
social life, you will need a reserve.  Don't wait until your baby is 2 months old and
you're ready to leave the nest for a few hours to decide to start storing milk.  I
started pumping when Brees was only 3 days old.  At first, it was a way to relieve myself
of the overwhelming engorgement caused by my milk supply.  I gradually got into a
routine, as advised by my lactation consultant, of pumping once a day, about 30 minutes
after Brees's first morning feeding.  This was the time of day when my milk supply was
the most plentiful, therefore I had milk to spare.  Pumping once a day so early also got
me comfortable with the process, allowed me to develop a good, efficient routine for
cleaning my pump parts and storing my milk.  By the time I was ready to go back to work,
we had a freezer full of milk and I felt well acquainted with my new friend, Medella.

{Brees inspecting her goods...}

Step 5: Develop a routine that works for you.  We all have our own ways of doing
things, obviously, and my pumping routine is a blend of things I've read, advice from
other breastfeeding moms, and trial and error.  I am still pumping every three hours when
I am away from Brees.  This ensures my milk supply stays up and keeps our routine in
check.  It's hard work and inconvenient at times but as I said earlier: I knew going into this
it would be a big part of my life and I'm okay with that.  I pump into the bottles that
came with my pump, transfer the milk into Lansinoh milk storage bags, and then use
Medella Quick Clean Wipes to clean all of my parts and bottles.  When I get home from
work each afternoon, I wash my bottles and shields in hot soapy water and then
sterilize them in the microwave using Medella Quick Steam bags.  I then put my milk in
the freezer using this method.  Quick, easy, and efficient.

Step 6: Don't forget about the baby's role in all this.  My lactation consultant advised us
to introduce Brees to her first bottle of pumped milk at 6 weeks old.  Any earlier and you
risk nipple confusion and a compromised milk supply, any older and she would be
totally uninterested in taking the bottle.   So, on her 6 week birthday, Shawn sent me on
my very first outing away from my little girl to get a pedicure and he gave our precious
baby her first bottle.  I cried for an hour.  She, of course, did fine and we resumed
nursing without ever missing a beat.   We use Dr. Brown's bottles and love them, they
helped her reflux immensely and are not as hard to clean as people might think.  Our
routine, from the beginning, has been that Brees only gets a bottle if I am not home: when
she is with the sitter while I'm at work or on the rare occasion we go out and leave her
with someone.  Keeping bottle using to a minimum is also key to the success of nursing.

{Shawn and Isabelle were so excited to get involved in the feeding process!  At 9 months
old, Brees still will NOT hold her own bottle.  I suppose that's a direct result of having
the boob delivered straight to her.}

Pumping is a huge part of my life: it's not necessarily something I love doing but it has
allowed me to work and still be able to give my child what she needs.  It requires thought
and planning and can sometimes be a hassle, like the time my patient was coding on the
table and I had to pack everything up at lightening speed and run down the hall for a
little CPR session.  But I take great pride every time I look inside my freezer and see all
of those baggies labeled "Mommy's Milk".  And if either of my daughters ever tries to
complain to me about the difficulties of breastfeeding, I will swiftly tell them about the time
I pumped in the parking lot at the water park.  Or the time a man walked up to my car at
a gas station and asked if I needed help, only to realize there was a strange machine
attached to my boobs.  Or the time I accidentally dropped a bottle full of freshly
expressed milk all over my uniform and had to borrow a set of scrubs from surgery.
You get the picture...

Wordless Wednesday