Love Archives Beauty and the Biker

Love

My guys.

May 23

With Benjamin’s father largely uninvolved (he sees him once a month for a few hours, at most), Seth is it. The man who will raise him, teach him right from wrong and the man who will love him unconditionally, no matter how hard he pushes back.

And he will push back. He does push back. Every day.

Benjamin is a defiant little guy. It’s hard for me to watch because I was the same way, and still am. I am as passionate as I am stubborn and while these can be strengths in adulthood, children with these traits are often a handful. So, while Seth issues his stern warnings and Benjamin stands his ground, I am torn. Read More…

The next thing.

May 05

Seth hasn’t been blogging, as you may have noticed, because he’s been in garage – his workshop – 8-10 hours a day working on leather bags and other goodies for our Beauty and the Biker pop up shop.

He loves it out there (and so does, Archer).

We’ll be popping up (for the very first time) at the Moonlight Market on Gay Street in Columbus on Saturday, May 11th.

Seth has been busy using this

to turn leather like this

into bags like this

Because it takes him 20+ hours to make bags like the one shown, I decided to fill our shop up with some goodies from the Beauty side of our brand – clothes, hats, purses and jewelry.

Oh boy, or girl?

Apr 18

We find out on Monday!!!

I think it’s a girl, but am fine either way. I’m more curious as to what type of little person he or she will be. Having three already, it is clear the personality and spirit trumps the sex.

So, yes, on Monday – we will know.

Guess what you think we’re having in the comments and enter to win a new leaf necklace! And if you guess correctly and then, IF you are randomly drawn – you win.

Here’s another baby bump picture. Some of you have had theories on Facebook as to what the sex is by the shape and height of my bump. I know nothing of these things and leave it all to you, Ladies.

Also, I am nearly 20 weeks and due in late August or early September.

We have been busy bees, as usual. Seth has been quiet on the blog because he’s been either in the garage making bags (he has sold four now) or running about the yard doing mad yard work for our party next weekend to celebrate our birthdays and our one year wedding anniversary.

Last weekend we had a little party at the Cement Marketing office to open the first Moonlight Market on Gay Street. Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman stopped by to kick things off and took a moment to say “Hello” to the kids. Read More…

Mr. Stork

Apr 02

We have been keeping this a secret for the past four months. But now my little 17 week old is too big to hide.

We are ecstatic… And yes, it was planned (that seems to be the first question everyone has). Yes, planned. Although Lily’s wish for a little sister on Christmas Eve could have done the trick.

Here is my bump and the handsome culprit.

Expect a flurry of posts now that the cat is out of the bag. I find it very hard to blog when I am keeping something from you.

xoxo,

Alaina

A surprise

Mar 16

He may have anticipated that one day he could love again. But I don’t think he ever expected to fall in love with her dog, too.

They’re made for each other, these two. Just another piece of our serendipity falling into place.

Xoxo,

Alaina

I love…

Mar 09

How he leaves the fluffy towel for me and takes the stiff one for himself.

How he never, ever complains about all of the cleaning and housework and general maintenance and upkeep of a family of five.

How he listens to every detail of my day and then offers constructive, positive advice.

How he looks at me in the morning.

How he holds me in the morning (and at night).

How he tells me he loves me every single day, over and over again. Just because.

How it still feels like we just met.

How he loves my son as much as his own.

How I would still marry him in a heartbeat if the opportunity came again.

How I have zero regrets when I am with him, there is no doubt that we are meant to be.

How I dreamt of him before I even knew him.

How I knew, in my heart, I would be happy single unless I found him.

How I refused to settle for anything less.

xoxo,

Alaina

On telling the kids

Jan 13

My single mama friend called me last night.

“Hey lady, I really need your advice on something,” she sounded fearful and scared. I thought the worst. Maybe she and her new man were breaking up.

“Charles and I are definitely going to get engaged,” they just know – as Seth and I did- that they are meant to be. And it’s lovely.

“That’s so exciting! I’m so happy for you. So, what’s the problem?”

“He will be moving in with us in December. So, it’s a long ways away, but I’m scared about how to tell Sarah. It’s always just been the two of us. What will it be like? Will she be upset? How did you tell Benjamin?”

She sounded so worried and concerned. Just this fact alone, told me her heart and head were in the right place. If a mother cares that much about her child’s transition into a new relationship, all will definitely be fine. I have met too many mothers over the years who put their relationships over their children. Welcoming, with open arms, ex-boyfriends who abused them or men who cheated on them back into their lives and their child’s lives. It’s upsetting, to say the least.

My friend’s daughter, Sarah, is in Kindergarten. A sweet, quiet, little girl who has never seen her mother with any boyfriend, not even her father. Here was my advice to her: Read More…

Learning to skate.

Nov 12

I miss the days when it was just Benjamin and I.

It had just gotten so easy. Just the two of us, with no one to answer to… I could spoil him to the ends of the Earth (without even realizing I was). He could get all of my attention, all of the time. Now, we are a family of five and everything is exposed. My weaknesses as a parent. Benjamin’s behavior issues. All of it is on the table for Seth, Lily and Cohen to see. And somehow, we have to merge our world with theirs.

But we are. Day by day. Week by week. Talk after talk between two concerned parents, madly in love with each other and unable to put a magic Band-Aid on anything. The adjusting continues and I wonder, both of us wonder, how long it will take before everyone just kind of settles in. It has been over one year, but in some ways everything still feels so new.

We are struggling with Benjamin. Read More…

The necklaces are up.

Nov 09

Okay, my lovelies.

The necklaces are all posted in the Etsy store. I apologize that it took me ages.

I am going to wait five days and then order a round of pieces and parts. So, if you want in on the first shipment, please order between now (11/9) and (11/14). As for the rest of you, you’ll have to wait in line.

This batch of necklaces will be made per your order, custom to your preference.

I am estimating shipping will be 1-2 weeks after you place your order and will adjust if I am off on that time frame. Remember, I will be making them and ordering the pieces after you order, hence the bit of a wait. But, believe me, they are absolutely beautiful little necklaces and worth every day.

xoxo,

Alaina

P.S.

You will also see Seth’s beautiful bag in our shop

and keep your eye out for leather bracelets he’ll be adding over the next few days. We are having a blast in our little workshop.

What makes a good man?

Oct 25

To all of you who are still waiting, still refusing to settle and holding out hope that he will show up.

Keep it up.

We spend so much time talking about bad relationships, when they are bad. And when they are great, the talk stops. Because there is nothing to report. You just are. Together. Happy. Fulfilled. Satisfied. Rewarded. Generously on all counts.

And it leaves very little to tell your friends when they ask, “How are you?”

The answer is short, “Perfect.”

So, I thought I would write about my man.

About the things that make a good man, a good husband and an amazing father. They are these:

1. He will never hurt you. Not even in the slightest. Seth has never, ever hurt my feelings or made me feel bad about myself or something I have done. He builds me up, makes me stronger and never breaks me down. He has never called me a name or raised his voice at me. Truly. And to those of you who think this may be abnormal, it’s not – I can assure you. Men should never call you names, berate you or make you feel bad about yourself. If they are, then why bother with them?

2. He loves you for who you are. Seth doesn’t want to change me. For the first time in my life, I am with a man who is 100% satisfied with me, myself and I. And he happens to think I am remarkable. Anyone you spend your life with should believe this about you. They should not be trying to change you or morph you into someone you are not.

3. He puts your relationship first by putting you first. Seth encourages me to be independent, follow my own hobbies, interests and passions. How does this impact our relationship? It has a profound effect on making me feel free and happy to do what I want, when I want without guilt. This is huge for us former single moms. For example, if I spontaneously get a call from a girlfriend to go shopping or want to go out for drinks – no big deal.

4. He is an amazing father. Seth is a stay at home dad, a choice we made together, and one he will write about soon. But he truly is an incredible father. More on his awesome, mad dad skills here.

5. He forgives you. Clearly there are some unforgivable things. My unforgivable things like cheating, lies or abuse. But most of the trials and tribulations between you, as a couple, are forgivable and should be. A good man knows how to forgive, drop it and not harbor resentment toward you for messing up.

I take all of this for granted in assuming you all know what qualities good men have. But, how would you if you have only had bad relationships in the past? I know I didn’t have a fair litmus after my ex-husband. I thought articulating, or attempting to articulate what makes a good man in tangible terms you can apply to your own life may help in some way.

Hang in there. He will come. You owe him to yourself.

For those of you who are happily re-married, what do you love about your men? What is the mark of a great man and a great relationship? I know everyone is different, but I do believe many things are universal, such as, love, trust, adoration and commitment.

Please leave a comment, I want to know what you think!

xoxo,
Alaina