November 2, 2015 by Stephanie

We Deserve This

This has been a long time coming.

image via

WE ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!

Insert crazy spastic dancing here!

It has been stressful and tense watching these guys play.

But boy has it been exciting!!!!

It was heartbreaking last year to get so close, but not get that crown. We were determined this year to prove it.

Several times people didn’t give us the a second glance. Many people thought it was over before games were won in the final innings. (I am looking at you Governor of Texas.) But this has to be my favorite pre-mature move…

image via

Even last night, the announcers many times (until the 9th inning…sort of) were favoring the Mets and what Matt Harvey had accomplished with his pitching. And there are still people today saying that the Mets “should” have won.

But never count us out. We WILL win.

How many games have we been down in the final innings just to make amazing comebacks? The last two games being the most recent evidence of how we can rally. In seven of the eleven games we won during the post-season, we trailed by at least two runs during the game before earning our title of the “Comeback Kings.” In six of these games, we were losing going into the sixth inning. THE SIXTH INNING? Who does that?

The Royals, that’s who!

We do things like this play from Hosmer. We mean business. Never turn your back on us.

And watching this is making me cry all over again.

image via

All the feels for this team. While I was alive the last time they won, I was only five months old. So I have practically been waiting my entire life to remember these moments. It is so beautiful to witness this story.
It is truly the essence of what we hope for for great sports teams.

image via

This team is why I love this sport. They never gave up, and they never lost heart. I am getting goosebumps all over again.

It is a team that backs each other up. Every post-game interview I saw in this season the players talked about each other more than they talked about themselves. They really value what they have as a group and how each piece fits together. They are aggressive and scrappy. It’s like watching a Major League Sandlot.

And they will give credit where credit is due.

image via

They have become a family, which is evident in time of need. Not only as a team, but the city has adopted them as family as well. (I am as invested in the Zobrist pregnancy as if I was going to be the aunt to that baby. Just saying they could adopt me in to that family. I am creepily obsessed with this family. #resignBen #keeptheZobrists)

Let’s talk about how a rookie made his first major league appearance in a WORLDS SERIES GAME a few nights ago for the Royals. Or how Colon’s last at bat was 45 days ago, but yet he definitely made one of the best plays for the team last night.

This team just gels well together with every player. Everyone does their part when needed the most.

This team is special. They have the stuff that you can’t teach.

Our city is special. It has been so wonderful to see our town come together and be there for our guys in Blue.

It is about time that others see the magic as well.

KC Pride forever and always.

What a remarkable ending to the season!

It was exhilarating watching everything unfold last night. Well worth the little sleep and screaming with the chance of waking up a sleeping baby.

I just feel giddy! It still is a little surreal that it has finally happened! It was awesome to see my newsfeed light up with blue like the weather radar after the fireworks! I love seeing things like this and this again, again, and again!

image via

We love you Royals.

Way to take the Crown!

Well deserved.

image via

Did you watch the game last night? (Here is something for you if you didn’t.)

Have you cried from a sporting event?

October 12, 2015 by Stephanie

35 Before 35 September

Life is seriously moving way too fast. I didn’t really get a lot accomplished off the list this time around.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (~~2013~~, ~~2014~~, ~~2015~~, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

2. ~~Do a photography challenge~~

3. ~~Visit 5 cities I have never been to before~~ (7/5)

4. ~~Tour at least one a winery, brewery, or distillery~~

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. ~~Become a “professional” photographer~~

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (5/10)

I ran the Plaza 10K earlier this month.

8. Go camping with Tom

9. ~~Pay for the car behind me in a drive through~~

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. ~~Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville~~

12. ~~Water ski with my dad~~

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

Crockpot Cheesy Enchilada Quinoa-seriously this is like a drug. It is addicting. You need to make this.
Meatball Parmesan Casserole-We just made some spaghetti noodles to go along with it. Tom loved this because it was a lot of meatballs. He would be a carnivore if that were the healthy thing to do.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole-Basically the same recipe as the one above just with chicken.
My grandma made all us grandkids a Betty Crocker cook book where she added her own recipes along with it. It is one of my treasures now that she is gone. I made a couple things from this book this past month. Her corn casserole and glazed carrots. Both great! I would make that corn casserole every day if I had time.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. ~~Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis~~

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. ~~Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants.~~ (29/20)

A friend and I tried El Rancho downtown, which is within walking distance of our office. It was pretty good going down and really cheap, however both of us did not have happy bellies by the middle of the afternoon. Very greasy!

23. ~~Stay at a bed and breakfast~~

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

26. ~~Explore Nashville while we live here~~

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. ~~Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own~~

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. ~~Become a mom~~

October 8, 2015 by Stephanie

Post Season in Missouri

For the second year in a row, both Missouri teams are in the post season play.

Our family is divided. My in-laws root for the Cards, but in our house we obviously are rooting for the Royals. We have made that no secret.

I am excited to see my team make it again, and maybe we will see them take it all the way this time.

Maybe we will relive the 1985 series between the two Missouri teams.

It is hard to believe that this was just a year ago when we went to the post season for the first time in 29 years. We took advantage of those sleepless new baby nights to watch them play. It was a remarkable time in our lives.

Those baby wrinkles were magic.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephanie Glinn Whitener (@scglinn)

And now my bouncing one year old will hopefully bring some more magic.

George has got this guys.

We are excited for October baseball. We haven’t had many of these to celebrate in our life time. So we eat it up when we can.

I am excited to see the heart.

I am excited to the stolen bases.

I am excited to see team spirit.

I am excited to see the city spirit. Seriously what major league team does pep rallies in the middle of a work day and turns their whole city blue? Kansas City that’s who.

I am excited for others to finally see what we in KC have always seen about the Royals.

Let’s play ball!

This video gives me goosebumps.

If you didn’t see this video, our team spirit spreads far and wide!

Take the Crown! We are forever Royal!

But first George takes his cousin…Royals all the way!

Who are you rooting for in the hunt for the World Series? Any other True Blues out there?

September 21, 2015 by Stephanie

It’s Not “Mom” Hair

I don’t really understand the phenomenon of “mom” hair. I have had long hair for a couple years now, with the last time I really cut it being in 2013.

I know a lot of mom’s who cut it immediately after the kid is born, which I guess started the phrase “mom” hair. I had so many people ask me if I was going to cut it to be mom length.

Wait what? Just because I am a mom it has to either be in a bun or short? Will they take my kid away if my hair isn’t short?

No. No. No.

I seriously don’t think that the hair is what qualifies me as a mom or is the “uniform” we all have to have. Just saying…

I am still me with my same tastes in hairstyles. Just because I am a mom doesn’t mean that I have to fall into some box. I also shake my fist at the notion that all I am these days is a mom. While I love my role as a mom, I have so many other identities that I am proud of as well. I am just happy being me, and being a mom is part of that. It just doesn’t define all of me, and neither should my hair.

I may be in the minority but I think short hair is more work than long which is partially why this first year I wanted to keep it long. Yes George pulled on it all the time, but it also made it easier to just tie it back. It was more practical for me to have longer hair. With short hair, I feel like I always have to have it styled instead of a braid which is my go to hair do in a pinch. I was never able to perfect the top knot, which has also been lovingly coined as the mom bun. Again, not really sure why.

Can’t it just be a hairdo?

I am all on board with moms who cut their hair to feel good about themselves or to have a big change in their appearance after their little one arrives. I think self-care and feeling good about how you look is really important, especially when your hormones are all out of whack. And if cutting your hair does that for you, get out those shears. But you don’t have to label it as “mom” hair. Be yourself. Your mom label isn’t all that you are.

Enough of my randomness about the dislike of the name “mom” hair.

This weekend I did make a drastic change and cut off 9 inches. I do it every couple years to donate it. I have been doing it since I was sixteen, and I have lost count how many times I have donated now. This was really the biggest reason why I didn’t cut it right after George was born. It’s just my thing.

After two years of growing it, it can be pretty intense to cut it all off at once.

I already had some moments of mourning not having the length. Trying to wash my face at night when it all won’t stay up in a ponytail brings a little regret of the cut. And I already wasted shampoo and conditioner.

However, there is a lot of fun that goes with it.

Seeing the reactions to the drastic change just leave me tickled. Yes I cut my hairs. Yes I meant to cut off that much.

I have a new stylist (who is a friend of ours) who did an amazing job! AND she showed me how to actually style short hair. Every time before, I only knew how to straighten it as a pretty basic bob. So I may actually keep it longer than I normally do because I am in LOVE with it.

These pictures were taken only a couple days apart. Nine inches gone. I would seriously curl my hair every day if I wasn’t lazy. I just love my hair curly. Anyone want to come be my stylist every morning? The pay is lousy (meaning non-existent), but I would feed you any cereal you would like.

I did ok today trying to curl my short hair yesterday. It went much better than I thought. Well enough that we did our family photos in our back yard yesterday.

I am just loving this stage right now. I love my family so much, and this is the happiest I have even been in life. I don’t know how I could do life without these two men.

Just for funseys, here is a progression of our family photos over this year. I have a variety of “mom” styles because any hair that I wear is mom hair because I am a mom. Go figure. You can also just call it Stephanie’s hair style.

(Top Left) George was 2 weeks. (Top Right) George was 2 months. (Bottom Left) George was almost 8 months old. (Bottom Right) George is almost 13 months old. The first photo and last photo were taken almost a year apart. I mean seriously…he is just the best. And it looks like he grew into those ears.

Have you ever made a big hair change? Do you donate your hair?

September 17, 2015 by Stephanie

Wellness VoxBox

I did receive these products complimentary for the review from Influenster, and these thoughts are my own.

I am one of those people who will buy the same thing over and over again. I don’t do well with trying new products. My thought is, I don’t want to waste my money if I am not sure I will like it. I also don’t use a lot of products, and think of myself as pretty low maintenance. So if I find something that I like and it works, I will continue using it for a long time.

I was really excited about this box because it will allow me to try some new things and maybe fall in love with some new products that I can use daily.

So what did I think?

ATTITUDE Shampoo & Body Wash: Tom and I both used this. I was impressed. Generally with more natural shampoos you get less suds. This one still had sufficient suds! I am very particular about my shampoos and the ingredients in them, and this one was great. I will definitely be looking to purchase this product again. ATTITUDE has a great deal going on! Right now you can get 40% off of your first order on ATTITUDEliving.com using the code FIRSTFREE40.

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer: This was ok. I am pretty vigilant about putting on lotion when I get out of the shower, so this wasn’t anything extra special to me. I felt like I had to use a lot to get the coverage though. The bottle is almost empty after a couple weeks of use. I was also worried about it leaving my hands greasy, but it never did. My legs were greasier than just using normal lotion, but the rest of my body was fine though and not greasy. I don’t think this saved me any time like the commercials say, but again, I am on it about my lotion after the shower anyway. I do not think I will buy this again solely because I can buy a bottle of lotion cheaper and it lasts much longer than a month.

Olay Active Botanicals: I really like this face wash. I have shared that I have some weird acne prone skin, so this is the one product that I do experiment on to try to find one that works. This is a gel cleanser, so it is thick when you are scrubbing your face. It left my skin feeling squeaky clean, but a little more on the drier side. I probably wouldn’t use this in the winter, but it would be a great summer wash. It is in my travel suitcase because I like to be minimal on my trips and this I feel gets all the dirt off that I need on those short trips. I will be looking more into this line for a possible purchase again.

Colgate Enamel Health mouthwash: We loved this mouthwash. It does not have a harsh taste, and my teeth feel clean afterwards. I also like that it focuses on protecting your enamel because I eat a LOT of fruits and veggies which can be harmful to your teeth in large quantities because of the acidity. We will add this to our mouthwash list to buy in the future.

ATTITUDE dish-washing liquid: This is another ATTITUDE product. I did some research, and they have a wide range of day to day products including pet products. I have been using this specifically for George’s sippy cups. I think it works great! It doesn’t leave a residue and gets them clean, which is obviously important. Again, I will be looking into these products because they seem to be more intentional about what is going in the bottles.

There were two products that I did not use. There was a free download of Yaye which is a social fitness app. I didn’t think it was something I would use nor would I know anyone to socialize with my workouts. And the second is the Urgent RX fast powders. We generally don’t take a lot of medicine in our household, and I haven’t had any pains that warranted taking medication. I am not just going to take the powder to take it. I think that defeats the purpose of trying it out for it’s intended use.

This was a great box that introduced me to some new products I would not have picked up otherwise.

If you are interested in getting an Influenster box (you don’t have to be a blogger), just let me know, and I can send you an invite. They are a fun surprise! The community is also really easy to navigate. The more you interact, the more they will be able to find boxes that fit your style and needs. It is really versatile, and you can use it a lot or hardly at all. I have really enjoyed it so far!

Have you tried these products? Are you particular about your hair products?