Friday Favorites 10.30.15 edition!!!

Happpppy Hallllooooweeeeen weekend everyone!! Don't forget daylight savings is tomorrow night so we gain an hour!! To most people this means an extra hour of sleep....ahh, the memories..... but toddlers and infants usually fail to get the memo on this. Sigh. Well, either way, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with lots of trick or treaters and candy! We mayyyyy be going back to the store this afternoon to buy another bag....  The one year I decide NOT to procrastinate and buy it well in advance ended up biting us in the rear. The hubs and I may or may not have finished off half a bag of candy already. #nextyearIwillremembertoprocrastinateormywaistlinewillremindme On to better things, here are this week's Friday Faves!!!!

Stride Rite Navy Moc Slipper

So now that the weather is cooling off, (well....to the 70's here in Texas), it's time to start bundling up your kiddo's footsies. My parents bought Tripp these adorable mocs from Stride Rite along with another pair that light up but are no longer available online. I love these because not only are they super warm and soft on the inside, but they have good rubber soles to keep them from slipping all over the house. Stock up now because you know once the weather really gets cold your shoes sizes will be hard to find! 

RH Baby & Child Heathered Plush Bath Robe

Speaking of cooler temps, I HAD to order this robe for Tripp! They are even on sale right now so now is the time to buy!! These are super soft and available to add a monogram as well. They have some others on the website but they didn't look near as soft & cuddly as these do so I went with this style. Lately I have found it really hard to keep Tripp wrapped up in a towel as he sprints through the house in his birthday suit after bathtime, so I thought this would be the perfect solution to keep his little booty warm!! 

Frederic Fekkai PRX Reparitives Masque

Ok, so this mask truly is a saving grace for hair revival. I started using this mask years ago when getting my hair "wedding ready" and it truly saved my hair. I can't say enough great things about it. With that being said, I used to be able to buy it at Nordstrom & Sephora and for some reason right now its not available at either store. They do sell it at Ulta and on Amazon as well as the Frederic Fekkai website, so I know it's not being discontinued, (especially since it was the Allure Beauty winner for 2014). It's definitely a reasonable price for what it does and isn't near as expensive as many of those high end hair masks out there. So if your hair is in need of a little protein boost and repair, I highly recommend!!!!

Teavana Blueberry Bliss Tea

Ahhhh, my favorite little nightcap- blueberry tea with a splash of milk!!! I posted this pic on Instagram about a year ago and have had many friends ask me about it so I thought it was worth mentioning. Although it is caffeine free, (perfect for a nighttime wind down), it contains alot of herbs that they haven't been proven safe for pregnancy yet so I haven't been able to drink this in quite a while but rest assure I cannot wait for Miss B's arrival so I can go back to enjoying this every night! I also have the Teavana tea infuser that is super easy to use when making this, since all Teavana tea's come loose and are not in tea bags. Here is the link to the infuser I have, you just boil a cup of water and pour it in the infuser along with a tsp of the tea and after a few minutes set it on top of your mug and enjoy!!! So yummy, especially in the Fall and Winter months!!!! Here is the infuser link: http://www.teavana.com/us/en/teaware/tea-makers/teavana-16-oz-perfectea-maker-dw00103.html?navid=tea-infusers&start=1

Williams Sonoma Spiced Chestnut Soap & Lotion Set

Oh Williams Sonoma, how I love you so..... will you PUH-LEASE open your doors in Lubbock?!? It's probably a good thing for our bank account, but then again shipping is getting a little costly too. Ugh, can't win. Anywho, I started buying this a few years ago and it just smells like Christmas in a bottle. I only keep it on our kitchen counter from September through December since it does have that holiday spice aroma to it but I can tell you I look forward to it every year and it is currently taking up our counter space at the moment!

Well there ya have it, those are this week's Friday Favorites!!!! Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and gets their Guns Up for some Red Raider football tomorrow!!! 

Friday Favorites!!

Once again, I missed last week's 5 on Friday... I wish I could be more consistent but our lives around here have been a tad bit chaotic and busy to say the least! More on my pregnancy on the next post, but for now, here are this week's Friday Faves!!!!

ONE

Ok, so I promise I will be done talking of ALL things pumpkin after this post, but these were both seriously just too good not to share! I came across these pumpkin Fiber One bars in Costco, (can I get an AMEN for free samples?!) and ended up buying a ginormous Costco size box of them. And total bonus, my son LOVES them so it was worth stocking up! Our pantry may look like we are getting ready for an apocalypse but at least we will be full of fiber and happy campers over here should we experience any event of that nature anytime soon! And speaking of, these pumpkin spice Eggos are also TOOOO good not to share. I shared them on my instagram a few weeks back but thought I would share again because they are THAT good! 

Aaaaand speaking of all things pumpkin, we took a trip to the local arboretum last Friday with our good friends and how adorb are these boys?!?? Cutest pumpkins in the patch if I must say so myself!

TWO

I have been wanting to mention this face wash for a while now but mommy brain got the best of me and I keep forgetting! Anywho, I know I talked about my absolute favorite lip butter by Korres a few weeks ago but their face wash is just as good! It smells amazing, leaves my skin SO soft, removes makeup, and is free of sulfates and parabans! 5 stars in my book! I have been using this for a long time now and don't see myself switching anytime soon!!

Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cleanser

THREE

So, I still have a LONG way to go on the nursery but thought I would share this "knockoff" we got for our little princess's room a while back. I love love love the Restoration Hardware version of the crown for above the crib but when I saw this for a fraction of the cost I thought why not? I'm going to do a full nursery post when we are all done but here is just a sneak peek of something we have worked on so far! We got the crown at Kirklands and it's not available online anymore but they still have them in majority of the stores. Here is Miss Blakely's crib so far with the crown above it. The only things we had to do was buy the tulle and make the canopy for it since the Kirkland's version doesn't include the canopy. 

Nursery Bed Crown

*Sidenote: I am well aware that once she gets older and starts pulling herself up there is a dangerous chance of her pulling the canopy down so once that happens we plan on pinning the sides up farther from the crib or removing the canopy altogether until she is older!!

Oh, and I got her carseat cover in the other day as well and was so excited to start seeing her name on some more things!!! Watch out because this mama will be going on a monogram binge the next few months!!!!

FOUR 

On top of the numerous other things to keep us busy lately, this has been one of them! We decided to move Tripp's dresser and changing table into Blakely's room and make a fun little DIY project out of it. Well, this turned into a long project and not near as easy and simple as planned! I am a HUGE fan of Annie Sloan chalk paint and have used it many times before, including the built-ins in our living room! Well, apparently chalk paint does NOT work on everything without priming it first as it says. So, I had to make a few trips to Lowe's (this was fun seeing that I am on pelvic rest....more on that the next post), and ended up buying primer, paint, and poly-acrylic coating to get the job done. Add in a trip to World Market for some new knobs and we finally have her dresser done! All the paint we used was low VOC but thankfully I had Trey and my mom here to help with the job! Here is the dresser before when it was in Tripp's room and here it is after....

Primer

Sherwin Williams Timeless White

Sealer

Mercury glass knobs

FIVE

Well, I saved the BEST for last. Once again, more on my pregnancy update on the next post but for now I am SO happy to share that we finally have a date set for Blakely's arrival. I was REALLLLY hoping this pregnancy would be a little less complicated than Tripp's but apparently that won't be the case. I went in for my 32 week appointment last week and they found that our baby girl is measuring in at a whopping 6 pounds already. Given the fact that Tripp was born prematurely at 35 weeks and weighed 6 lbs 7 oz they have already told me to prepare for a large baby. Throw in the fact that the fracture on my tailbone from 2 years ago (birth of Tripp) has reopened, they have decided to go ahead and have me induced at 37 weeks. I always wanted to have a birthing experience like you see in the movies where you wake up at night after realizing your water breaks, have your husband get your hospital bag, load up the car, and head to the hospital. I know this labor won't be at all what I had always imagined, but at this point I am just happy to finally have a date set and know that our princess will be here sooner than we expected, just in time for Thanksgiving! My original due date was 12/10 but they have bumped me up to 11/19 which works out in our favor because it so happens to be the bye week for Tech football! I truly believe in God's timing and that everything happens for a reason so I am going to sit back and just enjoy my last few weeks and pray that we have a smooth delivery with a healthy baby girl. My doctor did reassure me she wants me to aim for a regular delivery before scheduling a c-section since apparently it helps the baby's lungs get stronger as they work their way down and descend through the birth canal. However, she told me to keep the c-section possibility on the table because depending on her size, that may be the only way to go. Regardless, I am happy we will have our little girl here in less than a MONTH!!!!

Friday Favorites!!

I know, I know I'm a slacker and missed last week but for those that care (anyone? anyone? Bueller? Bueller?) here are THIS week's Friday 5 FAVES!!!! #cuethecricketschirping

ONE:

Heirloom Pumpkin Wallflower

I already mentioned I wasn't too impressed with this year's pumpkin candle selection at B&B. But, I did neglect to mention that I walked out of there with a handful of these babies. I bought a few of these Heirloom Pumpkin wallflowers on a whim because they were on sale and I had a coupon, soooo it was basically like I made money. Right? Right. Anywho, I didn't mention it before because I had not plugged them in yet but now I can say they have been tried and tested and our house smells FABULOUS with these little things in our wall outlets! If I must say so myself. They didn't have the Heirloom Pumpkin scent in our store to smell before you bought it, but I am so glad I made the purchase because this may be my favorite Fall scent yet. Well, still second to Creamy Pumpkin.... If you haven't had a chance to pick up one of these go for it! You will NOT be disappointed! And, if you are, well then let me message you our home address and you can just send them to me! Hee hee ;)

TWO:

King George. Las Vegas. 2016. Need I say more?!? Once this was announced, Trey and I knew we had to find a way to get tickets somehow!! He only has four dates so far set for 2016 but Mr. George Strait himself did say they are releasing more dates for next year! And, this news comes just weeks after Britney announced her 2016 Vegas show schedule so I have a feeling Trey and I will both be seeing lots of bright lights big city Vegas nights next year! Can.Not.WAIT.

THREE:

Living Proof Dry Shampoo

I know I already mentioned LP last post, but I just cannot say enough about their dry shampoo too! I tried my fair share of dry shampoos, (Klorane, Oribe, TIGI Rockstar, Bumble & Bumble, the list goes ON), but this one I have found knocks it out of the park. It smells great, is LIGHT, and doesn't leave that sticky weighed down helmet head feeling many dry shampoos tend to do. The only thing I will say is this may be best or better suited for light or blonde colored hair because it can come off with a white residue, (which I don't mind....roots beGONE), but those with darker manes may want to stick to another dry shampoo with a clearer residue. Just IMO. 

FOUR:

Homeland. Season 5. EEEEEEEK!!!!! I have been counting down for this since the last season ended, what feels like a YEAR ago! Oh Carrie Mathison, what are you up to now?!? This is one of the few shows on our DVR that we are truly addicted to. There have been SO many times it has been hard for me to keep from waiting for my husband to get home from work so we can watch the show together!! If you haven't been watching Homeland, the Havertys give two thumbs up, (or 4), and highly recommend! 

FIVE:

Niven Morgan Green Tea & Peony collection

So I know Niven Morgan has been around for some time and while I LOVE their floral amber scent, my mom and I came across their newest fragrance while perusing a boutique earlier this week. It truly smells so fresh and out of the shower clean! I didn't make the purchase QUITE yet because I like to wear more fall/winter fragrances this time of year and to me this is much more spring/summer.... BUT I am putting this down on my list for next spring because this may be my new "lighter" summer scent!

30 weeks!!!

I can't believe how far along I am in this pregnancy ALREADY! I seriously feel like just yesterday we were finding out about our little bun baking in the oven. And considering baby girl's arrival is RIGHT around the corner, the "nesting" has set in FULL effect and I am so ready to have her nursery finished! I still can't post any pics because we have quite a bit left to do, but I'm hoping to be able to share very soon! The last month has been crazy with it being football season and now Tripp and I are in Houston for 8 days getting in some last family visits since it will be a while before our next return. I'm SOOOOO grateful my mom will be coming up in two weeks to help out with little man especially due to the fact that I cannot lift anything at all anymore due to my already fractured tailbone. Sigh :/ Yes, for those that are unaware I did break my tailbone when delivering Tripp two years ago and yes they told me there was a chance of it happening again.... but after experiencing horrible pains shooting down my back into my pelvis over the last few weeks I finally got it checked out and yep, baby girl is sitting and putting pressure RIGHT where the fracture is. So it appears the break will indeed be happening again this time around. Yippy!!!! Now, this is NOT by any means a sympathy/ pity party post, but I have been asking people a lot of questions about it so if anyone has any advice, please shoot it this way!!!! My doctor prescribed me Tramadol to take as needed for now, but apparently this thing is more common than I was aware of so once again, any advice is much needed!

As mentioned above, Tripp and I are in Houston this week and it was so nice to be able to have my parents help on the flight from Lubbock to Houston last weekend. They flew up to see us for Tech vs TCU (my stomach still hurts just thinking about that game.... i can't even.... like I seriously almost went into labor...anyways moving on.....) and I was fortunate enough to have BOTH of them for our flight to Houston on Sunday. I can honestly say it has been QUITE some time since this mama has sat on an airplane and read an In Style magazine without any interruption or disturbances. I happily took a seat BEHIND my parents and Tripp on the plane so I could enjoy my short flight across texas in peace, #whoISthatchildthatcantsitstill #seriouslywherearehisparents #someoneneedstocontrolhimIamtryingtorelax ;)

Hi. Please turn around little boy ;) 

If you want your child to relax and sleep on the plane, just fill him up with snacks. ANY snacks. A full belly leads to the following picture:

Dreaming of his Teddy Grahams.....

So my parents have been super busy lately too, they painted Tripp's "big boy room" blue in Houston along with hanging all these adorable canvas prints on his wall. Tripp sure enjoys going to Nana and Grandaddy's house!!!

30 weeks.... I would say it's hard to believe it but truthfully, it's not that hard to believe once I see my belly in front a mirror.....

According to my pregnancy app, baby girl should be the size of a head of cabbage and weigh about 3 pounds. Welp, I was thinking more like the size of a head of romaine lettuce and she is weighing 4 lbs according to my doc....but whatever. More on the 30 week update below:

How far along? 30 weeks 

Energy: None, like zip zero ZILCH. Trying to keep up with tripp, have a decently clean house, all while managing to feed the three of us on a daily basis has me drained. BUT, I know this is all temporary and still trying to savor these last weeks of pregnancy as a family of 3 as much as I can!!! Best moment this week: Getting to see sweet girl's face on the ulstrasound and having Trey getting to join was wonderful! Also, we have the bassinet set up in our room with the little pink sheets and Tripp keeps pointing to my stomach, then running over to the bassinet and patting it, and then making the "shhh" sound while tapping his finger on his lips like he is telling me that is where the baby will sleep. I can honestly say we did not teach him that, little man is catching on to more than we give him credit for!!

Movement:  More and more by the day! She still isn't moving nearly as much as Tripp was at this stage but she definitely knows how to count my ribs.... especially around 2 or 3 am.... :/ 

Food cravings: Breakfast foods, (eggs, tacos, pancakes, etc) and grilled cheese with tomato soup ;) Surprisingly, the tomato soup has not given me any heartburn! Yet. Fingers crossed.         
Anything making you queasy or sick: Some smells still make me nauseous, but for the most part I'm fine in that department.      
Miss anything? Bending over. And being able to stand and do an entire sink of dishes before having Braxton Hicks contractions and having to take breaks! Ugh. I have been trying to accept the fact that sometimes the dishes just will not be done before bedtime, as much as it drives me insane.
Stretch Marks?  Nope.    
Wedding rings on or off? My band is a half size smaller than my engagement ring, so I haven't been able to wear the band anymore :/ Hopefully IF we get any cooler temps I will be able to slide it back on!
Happy or Moody? I think happy.... but although some days my husband may beg to differ ;) Love you honey!    
From the doctor:  I had a visit with Dr. Owen, my OB, on Tuesday and she prescribed me tramadol for my tailbone as well as confirmed that I would be receiving steroid shots starting at my next appointment until delivery since I had Tripp at 34 weeks. This should help her lungs develop and be stronger should she decide to follow her brother and make an earlier appearance. I also had a visit with my MFM doctor on Thursday to confirm my tailbone fracture and the pressure and while they are usually NOT pro c-section, did offer it to me as an option should I choose. I am going to try and go the other route for now, but obviously would be open to it if it's in the best interest of my or baby Haverty's health! I got to see her precious face on the 3D and cannot get over how much her and her brother look exactly alike at this age!!!! I will post a side by side pic next week. She is weighing in at 4 lbs even and amniotic fluid still looks good! 

FIVE on Fridayyy!!!

Welp, it's been a week since my last post and I feel the need to give myself a little pat on the back for not slacking and waiting another month before any more updates! ;) So needless to say, I thought I would share this week's current faves!!! 

One

Heartburn Remedies!!

Simply Balanced Peach Mango Coconut Water

In case you haven't heard, I have had the WORST pregnancy heartburn. I think I may have mentioned it in every single blog post so I would imagine if you are reading this you are rolling your eyes and thinking, "we get it!" However, I would like to share a tip that has worked for me that I wish I would have come across months ago! Heck, even years ago back when I was going through the same thing when pregnant with Tripp. Yes I may have just gotten on Nexium BUT that doesn't mean you are 100% in the clear!!! Anyways, when you are in the situation you are desperate to try anything so feel free to try these out, I hope they work as well for anyone else that may stumble across this as they have worked for me! So, the first remedy I have found is coconut water. Yep, that's it. Now- I was not one of those that jumped on the coconut water bandwagon when it first made it's debut onto grocery stores shelves years ago. I was never really impressed with the flavor of it so it never dawned on me to try it again. Well, fast forward years later and recently while at a Tech tailgate I had a friend ask if I had tried coconut water as a heartburn remedy. As she is holding her glass of champagne and I am counting down the days until I can join her for a delicious pre-game mimosa, (83 days from today to be exact), she hands me a bottle of what I have learned to be one of the best remedies ever! I shook my head in disgust and told her I didn't care for the flavor. Well, it turns out they have amazing flavored coconut water options now and this one just turned out to be amazing! I am sure there are others out there but this one is so good and REFRESHING! This particular one I love is the Simply Balanced Peach & Mango flavored coconut water from Target. And the best part is, if you sip on it throughout the day it really does help prevent heartburn. I have been sipping on it all day everyday and have not had a problem since, and I have even been bad and had spicy queso which ALWAYS sets it off for me. The second remedy I have found are almonds! Just plain whole raw, (salted is fine), almonds. I have been eating a handful of these 20-30 minutes before meals and while I haven't done the exact research, it somehow prevents heartburn as well! I found this remedy on Pinterest and thought it was worth a shot and turns out, it has definitely worked for me as well! Anyways, just thought I would share for anyone suffering the same thing and hopefully it works as well for everyone else that it has for me!

Two

Nars Tinted Moisturizer 

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz

This tinted moisturizer is definitely by far my favorite. I have tried so many out there and this here is Ol' Faithful. I have been using it for years and can't complain! It blends in evenly and lasts all day. I usually just throw this on along with a little bronzer and mascara if I'm just going to be running around for the day. It really is the perfect EVERYDAY lightweight makeup. The shade is I use is St. Moritz and it really does blend in perfectly! 

Three

 The 10 Commandments of Marriage by Ed Young 

The 10 Commandments of Marriage by Ed Young

I received this book as a gift from my parents when we got married 4 years ago and am reading it for the second time. NOW- before anyone comes quick to judge, you don't have to be in a unhappy relationship to read books like this. Marriage truly is a gift to be treasured and while it comes with its great rewards, you also learn a lot about yourself and I know I always want to be the best partner and wife I could ever be for my husband. This book does a beautiful job of demonstrating ways you can reflect on your own marriage all while growing in a stronger covenant closer to God. It also talks about different "stages" of marriage, overcoming obstacles, and being more of a team than living in a "I" state of mind. I could go on and on about this book but if you want to learn more check out the reviews on Amazon or feel free to shoot me a message! It's an easy read and not super long, so it's totally worth checking it out. 

Four

 Korres Lip Butter in Guava

Korres Lip Butter in Guava

This stuff is definitely worth mentioning and I may even throw it back on the list within the next few months because it seriously is THAT good. I have been using this stuff for 10+ years now and love love loooove it. I keep some on my nightstand, in my diaper bag, purse, and my makeup bag. The description on the website says the color is "clear" but when I put it on its more of a milky white color. The color I wear is Guava and it smells amazing too! Living in a super DRY town out in west texas this girl needs all the help she can get! 

Five

 Faux Shearling Vest 

I may be a tad late to the party, since I know these aren't really NEW or anything but I have recently fallen in LOVE with a good shearling vest and can't wait until the weather cools down so I can bust mine out. An easy way to look effortlessly pulled together while running around for a day on the town, this vest will definitely be a Fall staple in my wardrobe this year. I recently purchased the one linked below from one of my favorite little boutiques in Houston, (Pomp & Circumstance Boutique) but you can find them all over from inexpensive to $$$, 

Faux Shearling Midnight Mission Vest in Tan

Have a great weekend folks! I have two doctor appointments next week so I can't wait to share pics and updates of our little princess soon!!! XOXO~

Life Lately/ FriYAY Favorites/ 27 Week Update!!

Warning: LONG post. Well, once again I have failed as a blogger. I can't believe 4 weeks have already passed since my last post! Hopefully with Tripp being in MDO now twice a week I will have more time to sit down and document our latest and greatest. Anyways, the last month has seriously been a whirlwind. While our chaotic and crazy summer came to an end, our school year has kicked in full force with the kickoff of football season, MDO twice a week, more doctors visits now that I'm getting to my third trimester, and other activities like Little Gym to just keep our "only child" toddler entertained while I can! Here are a few pics from the last few weeks and what we have been up to...

Heading out the door to Meet the Teacher at Pookie's school.... even though we were blessed enough to keep the same two teachers he had last year! Best SURPRISE ever. We love you Amy & Taylor!

Morning ride to the front door at school.... and yes he may have gotten a DumDum at 8;30 am. #badmommy What could I say, he obviously was having NO part in this first day of school nonsense.....

We couldn't be MORE thrilled to have Taylor & Amy back for the second time! So blessed.

On another note, I have always enjoyed following other people's blogs and checking out some of their "favorites" so I figured why not join in on the fun?! Soooo every Friday I'm going to TRY and make a point of doing the same. It's always great to see what other people are enjoying at the moment or checking out product reviews, especially for moms like me that don't exactly have a ton of time for trial and error these days. So, I am linking up with my friend Jenny, (who I have known since college and is also a mommy) over at The Mini Jetsetter and listing my Friday Favorites! 

ONE

So, every year I am obsessed with the turning of the leaves, the cooler weather, pumpkins, and the beginning of Fall. Nothing makes me happier than stocking up on some yummy smelling Fall candles to throw in the mix. I tend to stalk, yes STALK, Bath & Body Works until they release all of their pumpkin fragrances so I can stock up on all the pumpkin candles and soaps until December when they release all their Christmas scents, (my FAVORITE time of year). However, I will say this year I was mildly disappointed with B&B. In my opinion, all their fall candles smell VERY similar. And a few even smelled like coffee. Don't get me wrong, I love me some fresh coffee brewing first thing in the morning on a cold winter day, but I don't really want my house smelling like a Starbucks during their morning rush all day every day. I did go ahead and buy their Pumpkin Pie candle for the kitchen as well as a few hand soaps but I just couldn't go crazy with all the fragrances like I usually do every year. Hmmmm....maybe my husband called them ahead of time and had them hide half their new inventory in the back... who knows. So, low and behold I found this little gem and must say it knocks the rest of the B&B candles out of the park! If you have never had a Circle E candle then you are missing out. You can definitely order them online but if you are ever in or near Fredericksberg I HIGHLY recommend you stop by their factory store. I just went this summer and it was SO hard to walk out with a few candles, (Ok, a few candles in each hand. And maaybe a few more in a basket that the sweet lady carried out for me because my hands were full already.) Anyways, I burn Bird of Paradise year round in our house but I will say Country Morning is a yummy Fall scent that will make your house feel like Thanksgiving every day!!!!  Circle E Candles

TWO 

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So speaking of Fall, as soon as Labor Day weekend hit and we kicked off our first football game, I had my husband in the attic ripping through boxes of baby clothes and Christmas decor and throwing allll my pumpkin and Fall decor down so I could get to work!!!! It may be 90 degrees outside but inside the Haverty house we have football on, Fall candles burning, and you may need to watch where you sit because you just might accidentally sit on a pumpkin. #pumpkinseverywhere #noTrippthatisnotaball #pleasedonotthrowthepumpkinsinthehouse 

THREE

I know this brand has been around for a few years now, but I thought I would share anyway because they first time I used this product was a few years ago at DryBar in Dallas. I'll be honest, I wasn't really that impressed. It left my hair weighed down on the roots and the ends were dry and stiff.... definitely not a good look on blonde hair. Or anyone for that matter. Anyways, I scoffed at this product line ever since and didn't really think twice about trying it out again. Well, fast forward a few years later and Sephora sent me some free samples with a recent purchase. The first line in the Living Proof brand I tried was the gray bottles, (I forget what line it is exactly), but I tried out the Restore line and I must say I am HOOKED. My hair has never felt so soft and not to neglect mentioning it smells amazing. So, for any naysayers regarding LP like I once was, I recommend you give this line a whirl, if you have color treated/highlighted/dry hair like me it may be worth a shot. I know you can buy the smaller bottles at Ulta to try it out first before you go all in and buy the bigger ones. So, just thought I would share!!!!  Living Proof Restore Shampoo

FOUR

And speaking of Sephora, I came across this amazing product many years ago from another purchase where I used my Beauty Insider rewards to get a sample of these self-tanning towelettes from Tarte. Even though summer is over doesn't mean your skin can't keep that glow year round! I love these towelettes because not only are they not "orangey" but they dry pretty quick compared to others I have tried and they don't give you spots when the color starts to fade. One wipe covers my face, neck, chest and some of my arms. They last about 5 or 6 days and like I mentioned, they don't make your skin look like you have horrible sun damage once it starts to fade, its very gradual and natural. Highly recommend!! Tarte Self-Tanning Towelettes

FIVE

I will never forget where I was and what I was doing the day the news broke that the first plane had struck U.S. soil. Just like my parents can still remember the day Kennedy was assassinated, this will always be a part of history that will forever be in the hearts and minds of everyone in this country on that tragic day in 2001. I turned on the TV and couldn't fathom what was going on. Campus was super quiet that day and everyone was just in utter shock and disbelief regarding the tragedy our nation had just endured. Of course later in the day, the rumors started flying about other cities that were being targeted next. I remember being worried after hearing there were even terrorist threats that were headed to NASA and the port of Houston, (both VERY close to my parents and family back home). Of course given the situation the nation was in a panic but the way New York recovered and this nation came back is something I will never forget as well. Nevertheless, I couldn't shake what those innocent victims had suffered during the attacks and the horrible heartbreak their families went through. Just the thought of that happening gave me nightmares. I will always remember 9/11 and am thankful to live in the U.S.A.

27 WEEKS!!!!

How far along? 27 weeks

Wedding rings on or off? On.... BUT soaking my hand in cold water some nights to get them off :( 

Maternity clothes? Full force. But I have been able to get by sizing up in some clothes at target. Speaking of, I am loving their Liz Lange maternity yoga and workout pants. Super comfy & stretchy. 
Best moment this week: After suffering from MONTHS of heartburn, I FINALLY got prescribed Nexium and it has been a Godsend. I can finally go to bed at night without feeling like I'm having a heart attack!
Food cravings: Dips...... We went to Costco and found the BEST spinach dip and I can't get enough! It's by Santa Barbara Bay and may or may not come in a 2lb. tub but trust me.... you will still wish you bought two of them ;) Also I'm loving me some Ginger Ale and my neighbor makes the best zucchini bread so she has been keeping my belly very happy ;) 
Anything making you queasy or sick: If I chug water I still get heartburn but besides that I'm pretty good! I can't eat anything fried or greasy either :/ 
Happy or Moody? HAPPY! The crib has arrived, we got the changing table ready and now I'm just waiting for the bedding to get here!!!
Doctor Appointments: I had my regular check-up with my OB and everything is looking great! Baby girl is weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs already and her measurements are looking great. Amniotic fluid levels are still looking normal as well, which is something I have been praying for this entire pregnancy given my history with my previous pregnancy with Tripp. I will be sharing my L&D story with Tripp one day on this blog I am sure, so stay tuned! 

  

23 weeks/ End of SUMMER!!!!

Well, here we have it. The Summer flew by, as expected, and here we are looking at my favorite time of the year.... the FALL! Have I mentioned it's seriously my FAVORITE?!?? Well, besides Christmas of course ;) My good friend just texted me today and said she just went to Bath & Body and stocked up on all their pumpkin candles and thought of me! #birdsofafeather #sheknowsmetoowell Although they have yet to return with my all -time FAVORITE pumpkin scent, Creamy Pumpkin, I am hoping my countless letters to their corporate headquarters will turn that around. In the meantime, maybe I should check out Ebay? I found it on Amazon for $80. Yep $80. I'm pretty sure my husband would revoke all card privileges for the remainder of my time here on Earth if I made that purchase, so I will keep dreaming they bring it back soon. Sigh.



Anywho, on to my post.

Not that anyone cares, but Tripp's ISR lessons are FINALLY complete and while it may have been the 6 longest weeks of my life a little busy and chaotic around here, I am so happy to have my life back again and more importantly, that our little fish can swim without floaties or wearing a puddlejumper! It was so hard watching him fall into the water wearing full winter clothes for one of his final tests, but he flipped right over to his back and then swam on his own like a champ! I HIGHLY recommend this class for anyone that has a pool or home near water, as it truly is a miracle worker. This is the last you will hear me rant about it, but I did want to document it for the future since one day we will be reminiscing through all these posts.

 

 

Life lately has consisted of lots of pool days, (enjoying it while we can), and just spending time outdoors. The cold weather and flu season will be here before we know it, (sorry not to be a pessimist but just being a realist), and we will definitely have our fair share of museum, chick-fil-a playground, and mall playground playdates....

 

 

 

Speaking of outdoors, we had a little incident over the weekend while hanging out in the backyard. Tripp was getting out of the pool and when he reached up to pull himself out by the stairs he put his hand on a honeybee and got stung! Of course I flew into full mom panic mode and freaked out called the pediatrician but fortunately he was not allergic and it was nothing a little Benedryl and ice couldn't fix. Here is my little patient resting up and getting lots of attention afterwards....

 

 

So, on to my 23 week update:

 



 

How far along? 23 weeks

Wedding rings on or off? On
Maternity clothes? Still able to get by wearing lots of tunic dresses and maternity shorts.... I'm not looking forward to having to wear maternity jeans once the weather cools off.
Best moment this week: Feeling baby girl's kicks! She doesn't kick often but when she does it's enough to throw me on the floor wherever I may be....
Food cravings: Breakfast tacos, (scrambled eggs, salsa, avocado, and cheese), in corn tortillas (even for dinner) and tomato basil pasta salad from La Madeline.... oh and my sweet tooth must be back in full effect because I am loving me an ice cream sandwich these days ....
Anything making you queasy or sick: I still find it unbearable to lay on my back. I can't breathe and seriously get lightheaded and nauseous. Anything remotely spicy gives me major heartburn as well as chocolate. Luckily ice cream sandwiches seem to be ok but any other kind of chocolate and nope, call 911 because my chest will be on FIRE.
Happy or Moody? HAPPY! I finally decided on a crib and bedding and found a few accent pieces around town that are sitting and waiting patiently upstairs for when the furniture arrives. I cannot wait to complete the nursery!!!!
Doctor Appointments: I had my regular check-up with my OB and everything is looking great! I'm still measuring exactly where I should be and all is looking great so far!