Just when I SWEAR I am cutting back on my shoe budget, spring comes. After a winter full of bulky boots and (dare I admit to it) Uggs, I am SO ready for a spring style surge! And Stuart, darn you, you are KILLING ME HERE!

Well first off, I really need a classic nude pump. I had a cheaper pair, but they are just wearing out. I love them and wear them constantly! The Daisy is perfect – and its on sale for $194!

And you cannot go through summer without a wedge. Its like a law. Or it should be…

These are AMAZING! The French Cuff is to die for!

But I think if I had to pick just one pair… Hello, Gorgeous!!

Now that you’re drooling over shoes… Head over to Shopcade, the personal shopping app, has partnered with the iconic fashion brand to offer a chance to win a $200 gift card to get your feet moving in some of the hottest looks of the season! Shopcade has launched a ‘Deals Revolution’ that brings relevant deals directly to users based on what they want – think Pinterest with direct shopping capability. Invite friends, earn credits for shopping just by liking your favorite pieces, and unlock special discount codes and more! All you need to do is join Shopcade and enter to win.!

I drive out to Ohio on Saturday to see this little darling… My newest nephew, Baby Jake!

He was just the sweetest, tiniest, most adorable little thing!! I held him all night — I got to be all auntie and feed him a bottle and change his diaper and bounce him around to get him to stop crying…

Baby heaven. Truly.

Look at his face. He’s all “Who is this lady and why does she keep taking my picture?”

Its finally here – I‘m finally reading my beloved Harry Potter with the kids.

Do not underestimate how much I am enjoying this!

Sharing something you adore with someone you love for the first time is so sweet. I love hearing their gasps of surprise at things that no one is shocked about anymore.

Like when Hagrid says, “You’re a wizard, Harry.” And Colin says “NO WAY!”

Or watching their eyes fill with tears hearing about how Harry’s parents died.  Watching their outrage at how Harry is treated by the Dursleys.  Seeing their excitement about Diagon Alley. Talking about what they would name their owls.

It’s like reliving it all again. For the first time.

About this time last year, I discovered I was lactose intolerant. I’ve always had trouble with dairy, but suddenly any and all dairy was no longer my lukewarm friend. Now it was my mortal enemy. Like many, many others I realized that those stomach aches weren’t a coincidence – they were directly related to my body’s inability to digest the lactose enzyme.

Lactose Intolerance is surprisingly common.  Most people produce that natural enzyme, lactase, which breaks down lactose (sugar in milk). The amount of lactase your body produces will determine how much lactose your body can break down. So as you lose that lactase, you lose the ability to digest the lactose in milk. And it is common for lactose intolerance to be progressive; many people develop a lactose intolerance later in life. Guess I’m getting old?

It was quite sad when I had to say goodbye to some of my favorite foods. Like lattes. (tear) Like ice cream. (SOB! Goodbye, Old Friend!) But my sister recommended Lactaid tablets and I gave it a try. It helped – a lot! I still had trouble eating really good ice cream, but with Lactaid I could comfortably eat frozen yogurt again. Now I always carry Lactaid in my purse, for those dairy emergencies. Like crème brulee on the dessert menu. (Because you should never EVER pass up crème brulee.)

I just recently was on a call with Food Network chef Melissa d’Arabian and registered dietitian Michelle Harrington and learned so much about what lactose intolerance is and how to live with it. And one of those ways to help is Lactaid milk products!  I went out and grabbed some Lactaid milk. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed milk!  I put it in my coffee, in my cereal and my tummy is so much happier! Even those little glugs of dairy in my coffee were hurting, so this is a fantastic development for me!

Lactaid milk is real milk – it just has had the lactose enzyme removed. For some reason I never knew this. I thought it was like soy milk or something. Clearly, I am a super informed consumer, as usual. But it is just regular milk without the lactose. Same thing, just made so that people like me can drink it. And did you know  that Lactaid also makes ICE CREAM? No joke. Things just got real, people.

WIN IT!

One lucky Girlymama reader will win a coupon for a FREE Lactaid product!! (As if you are going to get anything but ice cream, right?)  To enter, tell us someone in your life who is lactose intolerant.

Additional entries:

2. Like Girlymama on Facebook to keep up with what’s happening on our site (then comment here to tell us!)

3. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter & follow me on Twitter @MelissaAngert

I entered to win free Lactaid from @MelissaAngert #giveaway! Enter here: http://girlymama.com/?p=5969

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Winner must have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

Parenting has been so… hard lately.

I can’t even think of one thing in particular. (Well, I can think of SEVERAL THINGS IN PARTICULAR, but they are not fit for the blog. TRUST ME. They are that good. Or that bad. You know what I mean!) So its not just one particular child or one particular issue. Its just… everything.

Maybe its stress that is impacting all of us, right down to little Colin.  Maybe its the upheaval of moving and of an increased amount of traveling for both me and my husband at work. Maybe its just the end of the school year craziness.  Whatever it is, it seems like things just aren’t quite normal around here. The whining and such is at a high point. The house is a mess, everyone is tired and sniffily and coughing (Thanks, Allergy Season!), and our schedule is so packed it is getting hard to fit anything else in.

Whatever it is, it has been rough over here. I can feel my patience running thin by breakfast and I hate it. I don’t want to be a naggy, frustrated, shouting mom.

I want a lazy Saturday, lounging around in our PJs and watching a movie on impulse while gobbling cereal on the couch. I want to have time where we’re just at home – no one having to rush to a game or rehearsal or practice or work… just hanging around. I want to have a movie night with popcorn and snuggling. I want to go out and do something fun – not because its some kid in preschool’s birthday party, but just because we want to.

Maybe soon.

I LOVE Cinco de Mayo! I love Mexican food for entertaining – its so easy and fun and casual.

Not to mention, I am kind-of well know for making an amazing margarita. Here is my super-dooper secret recipe. You will LOVE it!

Easy Frozen Margarita

1 can frozen limeaid
1/2 can triple sec
1/2 – 1 can tequila

Blend with ice. Serve in glass rimmed with salt. Designate a driver.

Some of my Cinco de Mayo staples?

These are the best black beans. My kids love these. We use them as a side dish or to make tacos! Although, carne asada tacos or carnitas are always a good option. For something a little more gourmet, try Cornmeal Crusted Tilapia with Salsa (amazing!!).
What are you making for Cinco de Mayo? This year I’m thinking I will try fish tacos! Don’t these look yummy?

Seven weeks from today there will be movers here.

Packing up our house and loading everything up to move us into storage.

Seven weeks, you guys. SEVEN WEEKS.

(breathes into a paper bag)

I just want to cry. How are we going to get everything done that we need to do? Go the places we want to go, see the people we need to see?  With the end-of-the-school-year craziness and my husband’s parents arriving from overseas for a visit, I’m just seeing life flash before my eyes.

Half of me wants to stay awake and not miss a moment. The other half wants to wake up in August!

Its been quite a ride these past few weeks.

We listed our house for sale. Within one week, we were under contract.

I didn’t tell you. I KNOW! I’m sorry. It was just so surreal, I was so afraid to say something too soon. But we’ve passed all the inspections and we have a moving van booked, so I guess its official enough!

Step One: Sell House. CHECK!

And on to Step Two: Find New House. CHECK!!!

We had the craziest, most stressful ride finding a house.  We’ve been watching the market where we were moving for months and months and there were several houses we were excited to see.
And, of course, they all sold like the day before we got there.
So we went up at looked at a bunch of houses – most of them were not much to get really excited about – but one really caught our eye. It was a gorgeous house – so much charm and over 200 years old. We were a bit nervous about such an old house that needed a bit of work, but it was just so lovely. We saw it again, started pricing out the repairs, getting excited. We really could see our family living there. We called to make an offer….

and it sold right out from under our noses. Its a long story… but it was frankly heartbreaking. The kids, especially Elizabeth, were really sad.

Then that very day that we were licking our wounds from losing that house… we found about another house. A better house.
We were able to drive around the neighborhood where we quickly fell in love. We couldn’t go inside, but we realized that we were very VERY interested in this house.
The more we found out about this house, the more interested we got.

I couldn’t get away, but the day it went on the market, my husband was the first one in to see it. He called me and said “We’re making an offer. NOW.”

We rode a roller coaster for the next 36 hours. We got the dreaded “multiple offer” call. We thought we had it – then we thought we didn’t. Then… we did. We really did. We signed the papers and headed up to do the inspection over the weekend. And… this is happening.

We found our dream house. We found the one. I walked in the door for the first time and started crying. I was speechless. (And if you know me, you know how RARE that is!) I couldn’t believe this was going to be our home.

We cannot wait to live here, to raise our kids here, to build our lives here.

I can’t wait to share it with you when we move in!!!

Colin: Mom, I really need a cell phone.
Me: Who are you going to call?
Colin: Grandma. Marcus. Uncle Chris. You know. My people.

I mean, he’s FIVE.

“Mom I have a LOT of work to do when I grow up if I’m going to be a builder and a race car driver AND a motorcycle racer. And I want to do everything in the world so I may not be home much!”

“Why can’t I wear this to school, Mom? I AM a pirate, you know.”

This kid….

…because I’ve been BURSTING with things I couldn’t tell you.

First of all… Meet Jacob.

My new nephew. This sweet, sweet, darling new love in my life!

I can’t get to see him fast enough. My husband had to restrain me from jumping in my car and driving 12 hours roundtrip in a 24 hour period. I am dying to kiss that little face. He’s even cute when he does this:

Then this morning, my brother-in-law, came home safely from his tour in Afghanistan.

God hears our prayers. Oh yes, he does!!!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7