Last night we stepped out to the restaurant where we went on our first REAL FANCY date: Oceanaire. We’ve been talking about this place since the night we went there over 5 years ago & were a bit nervous that it may not live up to everything we remembered… but it did.

Oh man did it ever.

We ate spicy red chili fried calamari (AH-MAZING), I had the most delicious oysters. We each got “you could cut with a butter knife” filet mignon that was covered in truffle butter and I had the most tender, juiciest lobster tail. There was sour cream mashed potatoes & cheesecake to be shared. The wine was flowing, we laughed a LOT and basically had the most romantic night ever.

Truthfully we had so much fun just reconnecting & lauging that we probably could have been sitting at Chili’s and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.

Oh, who am I kidding… Filet dripping in truffle butter y’all……. it was for real.

::What we wore::

Joanna: Top – Belk, Skinny Jeans – Target, Shoes – JCPenney

Clint: Top – JCPenney, Jeans – Levis, Shoes: Tony Lama Boots

Not included: creeping toddler & crazy dog.

Perhaps if I wrote about all of the things I want to blog about perhaps I’ll actually you know… blog about them.

In no particular order:

• Madison ditched the paci back in early December. It was super easy & painless and I’ve been meaning to tell y’all what we did & how I knew it was the right time.

• Clint and I have made the decision that we are done having biological children. I say biological because we haven’t ruled out that there could be a possible adoption somewhere down the road if we have the funds.

• Hannah turned 6 months, and then 7 months and tomorrow turns 8 & I haven’t blogged about any of it. She’s crawling & trying to pull up and clapping hands and generally being adorable.

• Madison has hit the terrible twos and is a force to be reckoned with. She can go from being an absolute doll one minute to shoving her sister or hitting her in the head with a toy the next. It’s maddening, please send wine.

• I’ve lost a little bit of weight and hope to continue to lose steadily until I turn 30 on August 24th. I’m already dreaming of the dress I can buy for my birthday dinner in Las Vegas.

• Did you see those last two words?? Las Vegas!!! We’re going for my 30th birthday. Everyone’s invited… let’s party.

• I’ve been on a major job search & things are looking really positive. I’m hoping to be gainfully employed doing something I love in the very near future.

I’m in a weird state of limbo these days. I feel like I’m on the brink of amazing things happening in my life & Lord knows I’m due.

I feel like this could be my year. I’m turning 30, my second and last baby is turning 1 and I’m really loving the age two (aside from the manic tyrant that Madison turns into several times per day).

My relationship with Clint is stronger than ever and we are really committed to being there for each other and realizing more than ever that we are on the same team.

But still sometimes I reach the end of the day and I wonder what I’m doing. I try to find myself in the day’s actions and all I can think of is the meals I made, the laundry I folded and the towers I built. I fully realize that being a mom to two young children means sacrificing a large portion of yourself for them. I’m happy to do that but I just wonder when I managed to lose ALL of me?

I’ve decided to make the next 8 months leading to my 30th birthday a journey to find myself. Perhaps it will be re-discovering a long last passion or maybe finding something new that makes me feel whole. I’m hoping it’s filled with a new job that I can focus my energy into and a new me that doesn’t wince every time I look at the mirror at saggy boobs and a pooch-y tummy.

I honestly have no idea where the next 8 months will take me but I can say with certainty that I will make it to a point where I go to sleep happy with my ability to be a mom and still be Joanna.

I hope you guys are up for the ride.

Thank you to everyone for entering the Tea Collection giveaway. Make sure to check out the Spring Preview of their Bali collection… I can’t wait to get some things for my girls.

The winner is….. Comment #36

Beth Anne!

I’m so excited for you girl. You will LOVE Harrison in some adorable Tea Collection clothes!!! Email me at josborne824@gmail.com to claim your prize!!!!

Every January and July Scentsy brings back 20 retired scents for you to stock up on. I’m super excited because some of my favorite scents are on this list (Toasted Apple Butter, Spiced Grapefruit & Cranberry Spice for the win!)

All scents are available until January 31st. As always you can place orders through my website or contact me at josborne824@gmail.com with any questions.

This month’s Scents are…

Amaretto - An almond-scented fragrance sweetened with honey and spice.

Berries & Bubbly - Sweet strawberry aroma with champagne.

Bubblegum - The true scent of baseball-card bubblegum—sugar and cotton candy with a hint of mint.

Buttermints –  Melt-in-your-mouth peppermint candies with subtle hints of creamy butter.

Cherry Almond Pie - Graham crackers, sweet almond, cream, and cherries.

Cinnamon Cider - Tart apples balanced with oak and spicy cinnamon.

Coffee Tree - Bold and sophisticated. Wake up to the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans.

Cranberry Spice - A generous blend of cloves and ginger help define the sophistication of tart cranberry.

Eucalyptus - Soothing, medicinal, and fresh.

Flower Shop - Just like walking into a flower shop.

Mad About Mint - A blast of mint: spicy peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen.

Mysterious - Spicy, fresh, and woody, this masculine fragrance evokes strength and vitality.

Pretty in Pink - Feminine white florals with a touch of grapefruit over rich amber and wood.

Spiced Grapefruit - Mandarin and bergamot citrus perfectly balanced with spicy coriander, nutmeg, and allspice.

Spring Clean - Refreshing spring air and morning dew blended with orange blossom and crisp white florals.

Taj Mahal - A soft oriental fragrance built on a base of musk and amber with subtle florals.

Toasted Apple Butter - Creamy butter blended with ripe apples accented with rich spices.

Toasted Caramel Sugar - Warm milk with caramelized sugar and toffee, all swirled together with the scent of silky, sweet vanilla musk.

Twilight - A lovely, sophisticated scent, infused with soft romantic florals and ocean air.

Vanilla Walnut - A warm fragrance with roasted walnut and sweet vanilla bean.