The Birth of Lyrik

October 21, 2016October 21, 2016 / Kayla Hutchison / 1 Comment

I had never been over 39 weeks pregnant. I was a little excited to know what it felt like to be a walking blimp, but not really. As most, I was uncomfortable and very anxious to meet Lyrik.

At 39 weeks and 1 day (Tuesday September 20th) I was feeling relaxed, and yet anxious. The previous day my doctors were a little concerned over my elevated blood pressure and I had traces of protein in my urine, which is sometimes a sign of preeclampsia. As many know, I had preeclampsia my first pregnancy and I was induced at 37 weeks. I did not want to be induced this time. Most of all, I didn’t want to be in a hospital.

Of course, I would have done anything for Lyirk’s health, but that Tuesday I was kind of talking to Lyrik more than usual to see if she would make her way out sooner than later.

That Tuesday was a normal day other than that. I took care of my other two daughters and we napped and played for much of the day. Jeremy was working a closing shift so I made myself dinner and tried to wind down for bed.

I went to sleep around 11 pm and woke back up at 1 am on September 21st. I was used to pregnancy insomnia at this point so I just did some dishes and folded laundry to try and pass time.

Before I knew it, it was 5 am. Then, it hit me. I felt something sharp in my lower back and felt my entire body tense up. The familiar and welcome pains of true contractions. I was in denial for a few, so I started timing them and they were 7 mins apart. After about 30 mins of them being consistently 7 mins apart, I decided to hop in the shower and drink some water to see if these were just intense Braxton Hicks. Nope, once I got out they started getting more painful. At around 6 am, I decided to make the much needed call to my mom. I call her before anyone. After that, I called the birthing center and a midwife told me to be there at around 7:30 am.

Okay, sounds simple. However, I now had to wake 2 sleeping kids up at 6:15 am and get them dressed and drive to my mom’s house, all while dealing with contractions. At this point I couldn’t time them very well, but they had moved down to about 6 mins apart or so.

I somehow managed to get everyone out the door and arrive at my mom’s house at around 6:45 am. At this point my contractions had gone to 5 mins apart or so and were pretty intense.

My dad had to work and at the time we did not know if I was truly in labor, so we had to take my daughters with us to the birthing center. My boyfriend, Jeremy, was already high tailing it to the birthing center and actually arrived a few minutes before us. This was a nice change from him almost missing Piper’s birth.

I want to say we arrived at the birthing center at around 7:30 am on the dot. At this point I wasn’t exactly timing contractions, I was more focused on staying calm. A midwife checked me and I was at 3 cm dilated and 100% thinned out. So, I kind of thought that maybe I would get a slower labor this time.

I was wrong. I remained at 4 mins apart and bounced and walked around the best I could for awhile. The contractions were painful, but this time around I was more focused and was better at breathing through the pain. I kept telling myself it would pass and Lyrik was going to make her appearance. I tried to imagine what I thought her little face would look like and that motivated me.

Finally, the pain was getting to me. I asked Jeremy to run a bath for me. I stepped into the hot water and just let myself float for a bit. Honestly, water does help with pain. It didn’t take it away, but it did relax me enough to handle 2 min apart contractions better. I was also getting a little irritable and didn’t want to be touched much, which was a sign I was getting close to the end with Piper.

My mom was in the family room with Harmony and Piper and I was secretly worried she wouldn’t get to see Lyrik arrive. Even though I did fine without her, I missed her, especially when I was in transition. Transition is the worst. That’s when I kind of lost it and started crying and moaning. It was also when I thought I couldn’t take anymore. Suddenly, I felt pressure and my water had broken.

As soon as my water broke I needed to push. Jeremy and one of the two midwives with me helped me get to the bed and I just quickly laid on my side because, holy shit, I needed to push. Pushing is a really weird sensation without medication. You don’t fully push, your body is literally ejecting a human being. It’s also a bit scary for me for whatever reason, and I did panic a little. I don’t know why, but pushing is the one thing I never have full control over, and not having full control over my body is one of my biggest triggers for anxiety attacks. My older daughters were sweet enough to take a nap right before I needed to push. So, my mom was able to see Lyrik arrive Earth side. I am so thankful for naps.

Jeremy tried to calm me down by telling me to just scream and let it out. I did, and that’s when I heard someone say they could see Lyrik’s head. That was when I decided I was done and I was ready to see my baby. I pushed twice more after that, and Lyrik was born at 9:40 am, about 2 hours after I arrived at the birthing center. I want to say I pushed about 6 times in all.

It doesn’t matter how many times you give birth, nothing prepares you for the overwhelming amount of love and relief you feel after feeling your baby on your chest for the first time. Lyrik arrived and cried for a second, and was then silent as soon as she was on my chest. I let her stay there for awhile because I honestly couldn’t believe I was holding her at last. As always, I made sure she had 10 fingers and 10 toes and admired all the hair she had on the top of her head.

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Lyrik was born with so much vernix on her. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the protective type of covering on babies while they’re in the womb. It kind of looks like weird cheese, but it’s neat to me. When I was finally able to look at her and soak in her existence, I noticed all of her dark hair and her dimples. She has two dimples and the darkest hair, and it reminds me so much of my dad’s and granny’s side of the family. September is always a rough month for me. It’s the month when my granny died, and the 24th was her birthday. I know she would’ve loved all my daughters, but I would like to think she’d be tickled that two of mine have hers and my dad’s dimples and her widow’s peak hair line.

Even though this birth was quick like Piper’s, I am still so happy with my birth experience. My midwives were wonderful and spent time talking to me and teaching me about a few things as they were taking care of me. The nurse that stayed with me for 12 hours was amazing. She was quiet and allowed me and Lyrik to sleep for awhile and was so caring. I couldn’t have asked for better women to take care of me that day. I was scared for a few because I lost quite a bit of blood, but no one made a big deal out of it and we just kept moving along. I always appreciate when people can just help me stay calm with silence.

Lyrik was 7 lbs and 2 ozs on her birthday and 19 inches long.

The real MVP was my boyfriend who brought me salted caramel doughnuts and pizza afterwards. Did you know that labor can burn upwards of 55,000 calories? I deserved pizza!

In all seriousness, this pregnancy was the hardest one for me. I felt like I couldn’t catch a break between struggling with depression, asthma problems, and gestational diabetes. Somehow, I got through all of that and now it seems like none of that matters now. I would go through it all over and over again just to see her sweet little face. I can’t get over how much Lyrik looks like her father. Did I even give birth to you, girl?

If you’re wondering how Harmony and Piper like their new sister, they’re in love with her.

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It’s been weird and hectic trying to adjust to having 3 kids that are all under 5 years old. I’m still figuring things out a month later and somedays I barely have time to brush my teeth and put deodorant on. Other days I can manage to get all 3 to nap at the same time for a few hours. It’s been a chaotic journey, but one I wouldn’t change for anything. I love all 3 of my girls so much. I can’t wait to see what sisterhood has in store for them in the future. If its anything as strong as the bonds they’re creating now, I know they will all have an amazing friendship.

The one thing I want for all my daughters now is to create the strongest bond they can. I won’t be around forever and neither will Jeremy, and I want them to remember they have each other no matter what. When all else fails, they can fall on each other if I am unable to catch them.

I hope you all enjoyed reading about how Lyrik arrived into our lives. I am bursting at the seams every single day with love and adoration for all 3 of them. I am truly the luckiest mother in the world to have 3 daughters as gorgeous and clever as Harmony, Piper, and Lyrik are. I don’t always understand how someone as ordinary as myself could give birth to such extraordinary humans like them.

Lyrik was born on the International Day of Peace. She’s been every bit of peace I’ve needed since the beginning of my life. Thanks for sneaking into my life and completing my heart, little one.

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you’re all having wonderful days.

Things I Actually Like About Winter

December 21, 2015December 20, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 2 Comments

I’ve seen quite a few lifestyle posts lately about Wintery things people enjoy, and I felt like I should make one myself. I know I said I’m not very festive, and I’m not, but there’s still a few things I love about darker and colder weather. Other than the fact that I can wear my usual shades of lipstick without everyone staring at me weirdly.

So, here’s a rare lifestyle type post from me. I do hope to do more of these next year, so let me know if you all enjoyed it!

1. I love snuggles.

My family lives in a very small and kind of old house. It doesn’t have a central heating unit, so we rely on one window heater and other heaters we put around the house as we need them. With that being said, electricity companies love the charge out the butthole for heat this time of year, so we try not to use it too much. What does that mean for us? Snuggles. All of the snuggles. I’m completely okay with that. One day my kids will not be okay with sitting on the couch with a giant blanket cuddled with their mom, so for now I am content.

2. I also love sweaters

Alright, so it’s almost officially Winter and Tennessee is still trying to decide if it’s Spring or Winter here (hello, sickness) but I still love pulling out all of my cardigans and chunky sweaters. I can go from goth to tacky mom in 2.5 seconds in the Winter. I give no bothers as long as I’m warm and comfortable.

3. Just give me all the coffee.

It’s dark by 5 pm now? Alright, well that means I need to drink at least 5 cups of hot coffee before then so I can trick my body into thinking it’s wired. I hate how tired I feel when it gets dark that early, but I don’t mind the excuse to indulge in my favorite hot beverage. I also love a nice hot chocolate though! With tons of marshmallows…that’s the only way to drink them, right?

4. Fuzzy Blankets.

Enough said. They’re fuzzy and warm. Electric blankets are nice as well.

5. Watching my Husky be happy.

When it does snow here, my husky is so happy. It’s so adorable and endearing to watch. I’m not the biggest fan of snow because it makes me very anxious, but watching my dog frolic through it and dig her nose into it warms my cold heart up a bit. Okay, a lot. We all know I have a huge soft spot for that mischievous husky. It’s like watching a child play in the snow for the very first time every year. It never gets old.

6. All the family time.

Whether I’m spending time with my daughters or we’re visiting family, I love spending time with family. Winter can be a tough season for those that struggle with anxiety and depression, but surrounding yourself with people that love and support you is essential, in my opinion. I have to make myself do it at times, but I know it’s vital to my well being.

7. Not shaving

Alright, I’m totally about not shaving all year round if that’s your thing, but I love the extra warmth. That and no one really notices if you didn’t shave. Are my pits bushy under this giant sweater? I don’t care, I’m warm, dammit.

Well, those are seven things I actually enjoy about winter. I don’t enjoy it as much as Fall, but there are things I love about the cold weather. I do love rosy cheeks and cuddling with my kids. I will say that it doesn’t feel like winter yet in Tennessee. It’s supposed to be almost 80 degrees on Christmas, and I thought that was solely a Florida thing.

What are some of your favorite things about Winter? Let me know in the comments!

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you’re all having wonderful days!

Here’s a few more pictures of my husky…because puppy. Awwww.

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Dear Harmony

June 28, 2015June 27, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 6 Comments

Dear Harmony,

Today is your third birthday, and so much has changed in those three years. We’ve moved and made hard decisions as a family, we even welcomed your baby sister to the family just a little over a year ago. Through all of that, my love for you has remained so strong and constant. Even when I feel like the ground beneath me is crumbling, I have a bit of consistency in the bond we’ve created over the past three years.

I know the past year has been tough on you at times. I know that you don’t always understand that I have to give your sister lots of attention, and I’m sure that at times you feel left out. However, you’re the first person that I fell head over heels in love with at first sight. You’re the first person to make me forget to breathe, because all I could do was stare at how absolutely perfect you were from the moment I laid eyes on you. You’re the first absolute and truest love of my life. I’m not saying that I love you or Piper any more than the other, but there is something incredibly special about our bond…because it was just us for almost two years.

When I first looked at you, I saw your father. I could see that you had his eyes. Then, I saw my granny. I know I wasn’t the only one that saw that because I could tell by the look on my dad’s face when he met you that he saw it as well. I could see her hair line, but over time I see so much of her personality in you. Your love for animals and art. The unique and infectious laugh that you have. The one little dimple on your cheek that my dad also has. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her and wish she could meet you, because I know she would love you so so much. You’re named after my two of my favorite women, my mom and my granny. I think my granny would be so tickled to learn that you’re a left handed animal lover that can already color in the lines.

You had a rough start in this world. You were forced to come Earth side before you wanted because our lives were at risk. You struggled with jaundice, weight gain, and a tongue tie. My first time with a newborn wasn’t exactly sunshine and daisies at all times, but we somehow got through it together. Looking back, those rough times don’t even matter. That season was rough for me, but it was so so short. I would give anything to go back and hold in my arms and rock you for hours straight. I would give anything to just kiss your newborn head once more. I had so many people tell me that I held you too much. That I was spoiling you. I never listened to them, and I’m so glad that I didn’t. Even though I constantly held you, I still feel like I could’ve held you more. I still feel like I should’ve kissed your face a thousand times while you slept in my arms. There is no season in life as painfully short as that of a dependent baby. Now you’re rising into the season of growing independence, and it breaks my heart to watch your baby tendencies fade away.

Now when I look at you I see a gorgeous preschooler. I see little curls bounce on top of your shoulders as you chase the husky around. I hear the adorable giggle you make when you’re playing with your sister. From the day we brought Piper home, you’ve been the best big sister. I’ve loved watching you help out when you can. I know that Piper adores you as well, and I hope that you all have the strongest bond that sisters can have growing up. I love to watch you try to help me change Piper’s diaper, or watch you hand her fruit or a toy. One day I’ll show you all the pictures I have of you nursing your own baby doll while I nursed Piper.

You have such a loving personality.

You’re not the most vocal of kids, but your comprehensive skills have blown me away for a few years now. At this point, we kind of have a system, and I can decipher what you’re saying, even if you can’t come right out and say what you’re thinking. While sitting at the dinner table, you colored inside the lines like it was something you always knew how to do. You’re always surprising me with how much you already know.

You weren’t planned to come at the moment you did in my life. Many people do things in a certain order, and you came in a time in my life when things felt totally out of order. I wouldn’t change the timing for anything. You’ve given me a reason to wake up everyday. A reason to better myself. A reason to laugh, even when laughing is the furthest thing on my mind. I would be a liar if I said that there were a few days where you were the only thing keeping me on this Earth. Days where my mind was blurry, but my love for you was crystal clear.

I’ve never met a human being more empathetic as you are so young. It’s as if you have a sensor, and you know exactly when I need an extra snuggle. You know when you to crawl in my lap and grab my face for a huge kiss. We can sit in the floor silently together playing with blocks, and it’s honestly the most soothing thing. I know that I haven’t always been great at hiding my meltdowns from you. I always fear that I’m going to frighten you, but each and every time you’ve just grabbed my face and kissed me. No one has ever done that for me. You have been my saving grace ways that you’ll never know, and you’re more compassionate and empathetic than most adults I know. You’ve seen me at my absolute worst, and I apologize for that, but each time you’ve held my face and told me that you loved me. In that moment, you were all I needed.

People constantly tell me that you’re “too shy.” That I keep you too sheltered, and I need to make you interact with others. What they don’t see is you observing them, you watching them. You waiting to let your guard down because you’re the type of person that will either not like someone or pour your heart and soul into them. Physically, when I look at you I see your father. His soft brown eyes that pulled me in from the very beginning. I see so much of myself in your personality though. The sensitive little girl with a huge heart that not many people were willing to get to know. However, once they do they realize we’re capable of loving completely with our hearts and souls. You just gotta get past our love for creepy things and loud music.

If you’re wondering, I will always yearn for the days when you were an infant. However, I’m looking forward to watching you learn and grow. I love listening to you create sentences now and repeat everything (okay, maybe not so much that…). I feel like everyday you wake up and something about your appearance has changed. Your chubby cheeks are not so chubby anymore, and now you’re a thin little kid. I can’t believe how gorgeous you are now. I can’t believe that someone so incredibly flawless came from someone as flawed as myself.

Happy birthday, Harmony.

I hope we spend the entire day listening to old records and dancing in the living room.

Love,

Mom

Dear Moon Piper

June 20, 2015June 19, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 2 Comments

Dear Moon Piper (Piper Luna),

You’re a year old today. You stormed into my life in every way, and a bit literally in one way. One day I was asking your dad if we could try again for another baby in about 6 months, and the week after that talk I was telling him that I was already pregnant. A year ago today I didn’t even know I was in labor, you snuck out of the womb like a tiny little ninja. You were born a little after 9 pm, just three hours shy of being born on your father’s birthday. You wanted your own birthday, and I get that.

I look back now and I know that I needed you before I even knew I needed you.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to love another child as much as Harmony and would neglect you in some ways, because it felt like my heart was already overflowing. You proved me wrong, and my heart grew to accommodate the pure adoration that I felt the moment I laid eyes on you.

Your birth signifies so much more to me than just the day you came earth side. Your birth was the day I took control of my body, and after years of hearing “You can’t do that” from doctors, I proved them wrong. I was able to take control of my body and mind in ways that I had never thought possible. Instead of feeling trapped, I felt free. You helped me feel free again. I had the most empowering birth experience, and you were the star of the night. You are my little Moon Piper, born swiftly under the dim light of the moon. Five minutes after you were born, it started to storm. I can still remember the sound of rain hitting the ground so hard, because it mimicked the sound of my heart as I took everything in about you. You came into this world so quietly, as if you’ve already been here before.

It’s been a year since I first held you. A year since I looked into the eyes of my second baby girl and felt my vision get fuzzy and the world stop in its tracks. A year since I looked into giant eyes that mirrored my own. A year since your very first latch, and a year since the first time I held your tiny hand in mine and noticed the dimples that reflect the ones on my hands. A year since I noticed how observant you were, even as a newborn. A year since I watched your dad become the proud father of a gorgeous daughter once again.

Now we’ve made it to a year of breastfeeding, and you’re walking more and more everyday. Now I look into blue eyes that are turning green, and the little bits of blonde hair that grace your otherwise bald scalp. You have a way of making others smile, and I don’t think you’ve ever met a stranger. I’ve had so many people approach me just to mention your giant smile and pretty eyes. You seem to have the exact opposite personality as myself and your sister, but that’s honestly something that we both need.

I need your smile. I need your giant eyes to give me a bit of optimism. I need your little arms reaching around me to snuggle. I’ve needed you all of my life, I just didn’t know it until you arrived Earth side. You don’t laugh very often, but when you do it’s enough to lighten up the darkest of places. In that sense, you remind me so much of my dad and my granny. Your laugh is so special, and it resonates deeply in my mind and heart.

You have a love for everyone, and I can tell you’re going to be someone that sees the good in all people. That’s something that I don’t want you to lose. I want you to see the good in the world. I want you to see that good and change others, because I know you can with the kindness you show to so many at such an early age. You’ve helped your sister open up a bit more herself, and I know that she needs you as well, even if a few years down the line it might not seem that way.

Your smile and adventurous personality have inspired me so much over the past year. You’ve inspired me to look around at the wonders around me a bit more, and you’ve inspired me to write and create more. I can’t recall a single morning when you were an infant where you didn’t wake up with a smile on your face.

Moon Piper, you are so incredibly special. You will always mean so much more to me than you will ever know. I can’t explain gracefully just what your presence in my life means to me, but I will spend my life trying to express it with words. A year ago my world changed once again, and in the absolute best way possible. I would endure the med-free labor I did with you 1,000 times over again just to experience the overwhelming amount of love I felt the moment I was finally able to place you on my chest. Every bit of pain I felt in that intense labor was worth it for that one moment of relief I felt the moment I looked at you. It was an instant pain reliever.

Happy birthday, Moon Piper. I can’t believe a year has already passed. I can still remember the intoxicating smell of your newborn skin. I can still remember the long nights I spent sitting up nursing you and gazing at your sleepy face. A year later I’m watching you play and walk. I now imagine what kind of toddler you’ll be, because there’s a part of me that thinks I will be chasing after you fairly often. A part of me is sad, because I wish I could slow time down. I wish I could sit in our chair forever and cuddle. I don’t think there’s a human being on this planet that loves to cuddle more than you.

I wish I could experience every moment with you 100 times again before we moved on to the next moment. Unfortunately, I cannot, and here we are a year later. Here you are walking and babbling, and here I am crying because I swear I just brought you home yesterday. I hope first birthday on Earth is so happy. You deserve it and so much more. You’ve helped to pull me out of one of the darkest seasons of my life. Your first year here has made such an impact on me and everyone that has met you, and I know you’re going to help change this world.

Love,

Your Mom

The Mushy Mother’s Day Post

May 10, 2015May 10, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 5 Comments

Hey loves,

Prepare for tons of mush and love in this post. It’s Mother’s Day, so naturally I want to post about my own mom because she is a huge part of my life.

I know everyone is going to be posting that their mom is the best. I could go that route, or I could just talk about her.

I could talk about how she was 16 when she gave birth to me, and how she has literally proved every single statistic regarding teenage moms wrong. I could talk about how she had 3 kids (me and my twin brothers) by the age of 19, and also rocked the absolute shit out of that life. I could talk about how she took my older brother in as her own when he was 14, and it was as if she had known and loved him all of her life.

My mom has been my rock since I was a child. When I was 5, I was diagnosed with asthma. It came with a weak immune system and lots of teasing thanks to my new permanent dark circles and wheezy breathing. When I would say I was feeling down or sick, my mom never questioned it. She always listened to me and made me feel validated. That actually saved my life a few times.

Oh, my teenage years were a bit rough though. I dealt with a lot of loss and weird typical teenage emotions, and my relationship with my mom was rough at times. As it is with many teenagers. However, we were still so close. I still went to her for everything. I still trusted her to validate my feelings and listen to me and even be my crying shoulder. A few times I had to be there for her when she had her hysterectomy. I had to be there for her as we were all at a loss of how to comfort my dad after my granny died, and a dark cloud kind of stayed over our house for a year.

My mom has always been my greatest support. When all of my friends were mad and doubted me when I started dating Jeremy, my mom admitted to having concerns, but always supported me. When I made the decision to move out, she expressed her concerns, but still helped me move out.

When I told her I was pregnant the first time, she cried. First out of shock, then out of joy. She was there for me every step of the way. She never once told me that I couldn’t have a natural birth. She never once tried to discourage me from breastfeeding because she didn’t do it with me. When I told her that I had been diagnosed with preeclampsia, she dropped everything just to be by my side. And I know now after having my own kids, that even though she looked and acted so strong for me, she was just as scared as me on the inside.

My mom has helped me pick up my life and move 3 times. She has listened to me and cry and vent.

She drove me to the birthing center when I went into labor with Piper, and even now I don’t know how she stayed so calm because I was legitimately howling all the way there. She held my hand and listened to me. She tried to soothe me and never once made me feel like I couldn’t have the un-medicated birthing experience I wanted, and I still believe she had so much to do with my own confidence. She knew what I wanted and never told me that I couldn’t achieve what I wanted.

That’s how I feel all parents should be. That’s what I strive to be as a mother myself. My mom is my parenting goal. I’ve never met anyone that can love anyone and everyone unconditionally, and yet still stand firm ground when it comes to her own boundaries. Sometimes I watch her gracefully deal with people and it’s almost unreal. The strongest woman I know.

She’s witnessed both of my girls being brought earth side. She has consistently been my little village and is always willing to give me a short break to grab coffee and collect my thoughts. She has never given me or Jeremy an empty promise.

She’s the voice that tells pessimistic, perfectionist me that “we will work something out.” She is constantly the calming voice in my raging storm of eternal doubt.

She is the one person I go to because she is the most non judgmental person I know. That woman wouldn’t hold a grudge with a fly if the fly displayed a bit of kindness. She is always willing to see the good in people, and is constantly giving to others.

There’s a huge part of me that wishes everyone that encountered my mom would show her the gratitude she deserves, but I also realize that it would take me a few lifetimes to do that myself. Because nothing beats a mom that’s also your best friend. Nothing beats a mom that believes in you, no matter how silly your dreams are to others.

My mom never discouraged me from doing what I wanted, no matter what it was or is even now. I feel that is so important, especially when raising girls and is something I will cherish as I raise my daughters. She never questioned me putting on lipgloss before a soccer game. She never questioned me putting on mascara before a science bowl or talking about Latin and makeup at the exact same time. She never told me that my love for surrealism and abstract art would get in the way of me playing sports. She never told me that my asthma would hinder me. She was just…there. Even when I met an obstacle, she helped me overcome it. She allowed me to learn and make mistakes and learn from those. My mom had a seemingly perfect balance of wanting to protect all of the time, but also wanted me to learn from my own mistakes and make mistakes.

No one beats my mom in my book.

The relationship I have with my mom is one that I will cherish for my entire life. It’s one that I crave to have with my own daughters. I know so many talk about how we should always appreciate our mothers and not just one day out of the year, and trust me, I try. I could thank my mom every damn day of the year and it would never be enough. The impact she has made in my life from the very start has been so loving and so incredible, and it would take me several lifetimes to even express a tiny bit of my gratitude. She knows I’m not always great with speaking.

I used to write my mom letters with how I was feeling when I was little. I would write the letter and quietly slip it under her door. I’m trying to view this post as just a big, virtual letter for her and everyone to see.

Because my mom deserves so much. I could go on forever about how she has worked for everything she has and continues to strive for more. She is constantly learning and trying to do better and be better in life, and that is something that inspires me on a daily basis.

My mom means the entire world to me, and I just wanted to take a few minutes today to express that to you all.

And Mother’s Day shouldn’t just be about biological mothers, it should be about anyone that you have felt was your guardian in some way. I just happen to call the best guardian anyone can have my mom.

So, I just want to say thanks to all of the guardians out there that truly know what unconditional love is. To those that are selfless and kind and have been there for others.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all. You are all so beautiful and important.

A Day at the Aquarium

April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 1 Comment

I don’t talk about my personal life on my blog often, but let’s just say the past few weeks have been…hectic. Jeremy has been at work almost every day for weeks straight and sometimes working double shifts. It’s taken a toll on all of us, so when Jeremy said he has two days off (finally) we jumped at the chance to take the girls out and have some fun.

We chose the aquarium. We live really close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee. I love that the mountains are basically in my backyard! It’s been so long since I’ve seen them in all their glory. It was so refreshing to get out and just have some fun and forget about life problems for a day.

Okay, so Harmony and I were completely enchanted with these things. They were called “brainless bulbs” but look at how beautiful they are?!? I have no idea why they were so fascinating.

Harmony adored the penguins. They’re pretty lovable and this little guy was a ham.

So, I really love Noel the penguin. Noel just seems so happy, yet so sleepy.

…but then at the end of the day I realized I am more like Frank the penguin. I need a nap.

I hope you all enjoyed this quick post and look into our day today!

I’m off to drink a glass (probably 3) of the wine we got in Gatlinburg.
I hope you are all having amazing nights, and I will be back tomorrow with another post!

instagram: @lunafayebeauty

Favorites Friday

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 3 Comments

Hello beauties,

It’s Friday again! Anyone have any wild and exciting plans for the weekend? I don’t. I’ll probably spend the weekend cleaning and playing outside with the kids. It has felt so amazing outside the past couple of days here!

So, that means prepare for quite a few makeup pictures taken outside instead of inside 😉

I have more lifestyle photos to share this week than beauty related, because it’s honestly been a pretty laid back week for me. I’ve been playing around with colors and showing some of my older palettes and products some love.

1. I can’t go too long without sharing a photo or 10 of Piper. Look at how precious she is! People tend to assume she’s bald, but she’s actually getting quite a bit of hair…and it’s white! Piper has been so adventurous lately and wants to crawl and climb and cause mischief wherever she plops her baby butt. I can’t believe that in June my little Moon Piper will be 1. I don’t want to believe it.

2. Jewelry- Bella Morta Jewelry was having a buy 2 get 1 free sale, so I bought 3 pairs of earrings. Two are custom Deftones (one of my all time favorite bands) and a pair of Ouija Moon earrings. These earrings make the Moon Child in me sing. I want to order some custom wolf pieces soon. I’ve been on a real jewelry kick lately, can you tell? I love finding cute independently owned shops, because I know how much love so many of them put into their work. It makes me feel empowered to wear it knowing they worked hard on it.

3. Palette of the week- BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chic. I’ve seen this palette pop up into different blogs over the past few weeks, so I decided to take mine out and show it some love. I can’t believe I haven’t played with this palette much in the past. It’s so gorgeous. The colors are beautifully pigmented, but if you own this wet your brush a bit a put “cosmic” on your lids. You’ll thank me later.

4. On my lips- Stila “Patina.” This shade is talked about almost as much as Kat Von D’s “Lolita” it seems. Stila was having a 25% off Spring sale with free shipping #hellyeah, so I ordered this because I have been wanting it for MONTHS now. It’s such a gorgeous dusty rose shade, and the formula is incredible.

5. Sister moment- moments like this melt my heart. Having two kids under 3 years old can be so tough sometimes, but at the same time so rewarding. Harmony and Piper adore each other most of the time and love playing together. Lately, Harmony seems to be determined to help Piper walk. I’m hoping that she’s unsuccessful because Piper is mischievous enough, ha!

Those were some of my favorite things and moments of the week! What were some of yours? I would love to hear about them!

As always, thanks for reading and if this is your first time on my blog I hope you decide to stick around for a bit!

Favorites Friday

March 20, 2015March 20, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / Leave a comment

YES! THE WEEKEND IS ALMOST HERE!

I’m not going to lie, I’ve had a rough week. I have a teething baby and I’m recovering from an intense stomach bug. Someone dear to me also passed away this week, but I know he would want me to keep doing what I love even though I am sad, so here I am. I love blogging. I really and truly do. Not for money or anything, because it’s probably obvious that I don’t make money from this. I’ve loved makeup and art since I was 2. My very first memories are of me drawing on my mom with eyeliner and singing my little heart out all the time. Creating is my passion. I’ve created music, makeup looks, babies, paintings…this is who I am, and this is what makes me happy.

You all make me so happy. I just wanted to say that this week.

I will never stop creating. I will never stop singing.

Here are some of my favorite moments and things for the week, I hope you all enjoy!

1. Favorite Piper Moment Okay, so every time I look at this picture I bust out laughing. We went to Jeremy’s grandparents house last week because it was his grandma’s birthday, and Grandma Patsy made some us a good southern dinner. I’m talking rolls, potatoes, green beans, cabbage, fried okra…the works. I gave Piper some mashed potatoes and green beans and I have never seen a baby shove food in their mouth the way Piper did. This was her face afterwards. It screams:

“I’ve made a mistake. I misjudged my own stomach. Too full.”

Let’s just say we all had an amazing family nap once we got home.

2. So, I got an email from Kat Von D’s Beauty Page saying that the website had been updated. I was scrolling through it looking at all the new photos…and look at how I found! ME! I’m honestly so excited, and I don’t care if anyone finds that to be odd. Kat Von D is one of my beauty inspirations, and this was such a cool moment for me. My review of the Innerstellar palette can be found here for anyone interested.

3. Makeup Faves I’ve been loving the new Hard Candy Natural Eyes Palette. I have a review here and a video using this palette here.

I’ve also rediscovered my love for Too Faced Melted Lipstick in “Fig.” It’s the perfect neutral plum color. I die over it. I’ve been using elf smudge pots all week to prime my eyes. They are so perfect! If you’re looking for a cruelty free dupe of the maybelline color tattoos, pick up a few elf smudge pots. They’re also half the price!

4. Favorite Jewelry piece The Ghost Milk necklace from Worship 13. It’s so gorgeous, and it actually shifts color in different lighting. I can’t get over how perfect it is. I’ve mentioned Worship 13 several times before, but I really love her shop. Her items are so well put together and beautiful.

5. Favorite Shirt I love Pink Floyd. I picked this shirt up at Kohl’s for $2 a few weeks ago, and it’s so comfy. It’s a Men’s shirt, technically, but I don’t give a damn. It’s a woman’s big baggy badass shirt now. I live in band tees and shorts/skirts in the spring and summer.

On my lips: Lasplash “Lady” topped with Milani’s “Florence” Fierced Foil Gloss

Those are the favorites I wanted to share with you all this week! I will see you all again next Friday with more favorites!

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Favorites Friday

March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 3 Comments

Hello, beauties! Another week, another favorites post! It’s also Friday the 13th! I love these unlucky days filled with superstition, and I know I’m not the only one. My inner wolf queen and moon child loves it!
Let me begin with one favorite that doesn’t have a picture…I bought my own domain! That’s right, instead of the weird self-named blog vibe, I now have my own “brand.” My site is lunafayebeauty.com, and I made some changes to the appearance as well so it would look cleaner.

1. Yes, I understand that a sticker is a weird thing to consider a favorite, but hear me out. This little cutie was attached to a jewelry order, and it instantly made me happy. Fun fact: I used to own a few guinea pigs in high school. I loved those little squeakers. If I had the room for one, I would get another in a heartbeat. There’s something so cute and lovable about guinea pigs. So, seeing this little sticker made me feel happy and brought back nice memories.

2. On my face– I picked up one of the new Wet n Wild palettes from their Silver Lake collection, and I love it! Pinks are not my thing, but I’m really trying to venture out and get out of my comfort zone. Wet n Wild’s palettes can be kind of hit and miss, but every shade in the “thrift store chic” palette works well with minimal fallout. I love the name…”thrift store chic” is literally my style.

On my cheeks has been “Prenup” by Colourpop. It’s such a beautiful everyday pink for me. I have a review with swatches coming soon, so I won’t spoil too much.

My go to lip color has been “Thalia” by Nyx. Very gorgeous mauve color. If you can get your hands on this, please do so. I already love the round case lipstick formula, and this color is to die for. I don’t know what it is about Spring, but I tend to reach for more creamy formulas and even wear gloss some days.

3. Accessory Favorites– Even though I have been playing with colors, I am still a Moon Child. I have been loving this collar by Salem Couture over cute graphic tees. It’s pretty apparent that I’m obsessed with roses, and this collar is just the all around perfect accessory. I also love laying necklaces, and I have been layering these two from Hell Kitten (shophellkitten on Etsy) all week.

4. Random Makeup Favorites– I have been trying to give some of my forgotten makeup some love, so I pulled my Milani Bella shadows out for a bit, and I forgot how much I love them for simple everyday looks. I like to use these when I am in too much of a hurry to think about makeup. I also ordered a glitter liner from BH Cosmetics in “synergy” and it’s magical. I’ve had this thing for glitter lately…I’m stuck on it. Or rather, it’s stuck on me. That could be my worst joke yet.

5. Pet Moment– People seem to like my cat. Sailor is the fluffiest and cutest jerk in the history of cats. Just kidding, she’s actually really sweet, but she’s a bit mischievous. I don’t even consider her a cat most days. When someone comes over she has to get right in their face and demands to be pet. Our husky doesn’t even do that until at least 5 minutes after someone arrives. She also weighs 20 lbs. She’s not fat, she’s fluffy…and well fed.

Those were my favorites for the week! What have you been loving this week?

Favorites Friday

March 6, 2015March 6, 2015 / Kayla Hutchison / 8 Comments

Apparently, this is the week of favorites posts on my blog.
I love talking about my favorite things. Because, well, they’re my favorites, and by default make me feel happy.

So, welcome to this week’s Favorites Friday post! As usual, there will be some beauty and some non beauty related things.
Comment with some of your favorite things for the week as well!

1. Favorite Mom Moment: I can’t help but share two photos of this sweet sister moment. Most mornings I wake up and nurse Piper and we play for a bit before Harmony wakes up, but Sunday morning Harmony woke up early and wanted to come and snuggle with us. I absolutely adore and cherish moments like these. Harmony and Piper have a very healthy and loving relationship. I know that some may be thinking “for now” but if I could explain it, I would, but there’s something different there. There’s a different level of adoration that truly touches my soul when I watch them interact. I only had brothers, so maybe that’s my own envy coming out a bit. I always wanted a sister, and I’m happy that they have each other.

2. Favorite Find: I went thrifting for a bit with the girls and we ended up finding a few goodies! I love thrift stores because I like to use plates and glass things as props for makeup and lifestyle photos. However, I was rummaging through the stuffed animal bin looking for Hello Kitty dolls (as usual) and found a Princess Diana bear…with tags! She was so pretty, I had to have her. I also snagged some really cheap film for my Nikon and a camera lens coffee mug for $1. Did anyone else collect beanie babies growing up?

3. On my Nails: I recently tried this nail polish brand after seeing yougwildandpolished (look her up on youtube. I love her) raving about this over and over, and I adore them! They’re super affordable at $3 each, and there are so many colors! That and I love the packaging. I’m a sucker for polka dots. The grey color (mauvie night) is probably my favorite so far. It’s perfect. The fast drying top coat drops are also incredible and actually work! I put a drop on each finger and it spares me the grief of having to stand and wave my hands around in an attempt to dry my nails faster. #momproblems

4. Other favorite find: If it isn’t apparent by now, I collect coffee mugs. I really really wanted the heart mug from Starbucks, but this one is quite cute as well. I’m still searching for the other cute Starbucks mugs though. *Liam Neeson voice* I will find them, and I will buy them.

5. Makeup Favorites: For blush, I’ve been wearing the City Color Cosmetics baked blush in “rose” literally everyday applied with my Luxie angled brush. It just gives me a very Snow White flushed cheek against my pale skin with a touch of highlight. Because I’m all about that glow. I went on another Kmart clearance trip, and snagged a Physicians Formula Nude Wear highlighter for $3! It’s a super pretty highlight. Physicians Formula highlighters have never let me down. On my lips has been “Rose Femme” by Milani. It’s a super pretty rosey-brown shade. I’ve seen swatches of it compared next to Mac’s “Twig” but I don’t own it so I wouldn’t know. I just know it’s an amazing shade! Can you tell I’ve been all about roses this week? I’m ready for Spring.

6. Favorite Pet Moment: I went to Trader Joe’s and left the big bags in our floor, and I found Sailor in one playing peek-a-cat with herself. I haven’t had the heart to throw the bag away because she loves it so much.

As usual, thank you for reading, and I hope you are all having lovely days!
Happy Friday, beauties.