Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Rock It or Knock It

Happy Tuesday! There are so many trends (and a few 'out there' looks) that I love, and there are definitely others I loathe. I thought it would be fun to put together a list of debate-worthy looks, and ask you, "Would you rock it or knock it?"










So, which looks would you rock? Which ones would you knock? 

Monday, July 30, 2012

36 Weeks

My weekend recap: errands, running to the house to check on renovations, errands, errands, a few more errands, running to the house to check on things, errands, errands, running to the house, church, errands, bed. As you can see, I had a thrilling weekend...sigh. It really wasn't too bad, because seeing the house come together IS exciting, it just felt like a lot of running around - which is exactly what it was. I was able to watch some of the Olympics, which was a nice break - my favorite being the gymnastics and swimming!

Today, I am officially '36 weeks,' and I can't believe it - where has the time gone?! I think it's time for another update...
this is not the best display of the bump - but it's the only photo i have from the weekend 
(please excuse the messy guest room) 


there it is! 

How far along? 36 Weeks

Total weight gain: up 22 lbs
Maternity clothes? not really....just dresses and yoga pants. The dress in the photo above was SO uncomfortable (no stretch, not maternity) that I ended up changing after a few hours 
Stretch marks? still none 
Sleep: still sleeping well, but waking up more frequently to use the ladies' room

Best moment this week: heading to the doctor on Thursday - will get my last ultrasound, and an estimate of how much this little babe will weigh! 
Miss Anything? Getting dressed...sigh. It is really difficult to choose outfits these days - I feel like I've worn all of my dresses SO many times, and am in no mood to buy new things when I only have 4 weeks left. Yesterday, I wore (non maternity) leggings and a tank with a jean jacket - even that felt uncomfortable. 
Movement: many swift kicks to the ribs! 
Food cravings: popsicles and water
Anything making you queasy or sick: still meat...will I ever eat it again? 
Gender: GIRL! I had a slight panic yesterday and thought 'What if they tell me it's a boy at my appointment this week?!' I haven't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks, and started getting nervous - ha!  
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Extreme fatigue...back to napping once a day (totally not my style). Also having these crazy tinsel-like flashes in my vision every once in a while. This started happening again last night, so I googled, and found a forum with my EXACT symptoms - turns out it's a 'painless migraine,' which makes sense, as I usually get painFUL migraines...weird huh? I am going to ask my doctor more about this on Thursday. Also having some nerve pain in my back and upper thigh (anyone else experience this?). It's a very weird sensation - like an electric shock. 
Belly Button in or out? still in - barely! 
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy, excited, and tired! 
Looking forward to: Sending my hubby to 'DADDY BOOT CAMP' this weekend...LOL. I am excited to see what he learns! For the record - he is excited about this, too. Putting the nursery together (finally)! Everyone seems to be so worried about the fact that I haven't done this yet...but since we just closed on the house, I have a reason...and this is just the way I work ;) 


Happy Birthday to my angel, best friend, and rock - my MAMA! I so wish my mom and I lived closer, so I could see her every day...I could never spend "too much time" with her - EVER! I love you, Mom, wish we could celebrate together today! 



Happy Monday, ladies! 

Saturday, July 28, 2012

My Kitchen Facelift & Inspiration

I have been dreaming of an all white kitchen for as long as I can remember, and the day has finally come (hooray!). Here is our kitchen before...By no means would I consider this a bad kitchen, in fact, it is very nice, and only a few years old. BUT, it just seems dark, dark, dark- which is definitely not my style. I am so excited to brighten it up, and turn it into my dream kitchen!

(sorry for the not-so-great iPhone photo) 

It's not even close to being done, but I am happy with the progress thus far. As I mentioned yesterday, the new counters and sink have been installed, and the backsplash demo is complete. Next up: white cabinets, new hardware, roman shade re-do, and a subway tile backsplash to the ceiling (I can barely contain my excitement). 

Here are a few of my inspiration photos for this kitchen overhaul. 






all images above via


Hope your weekend is going well!

Friday, July 27, 2012

New Countertops & Sink!

Happy Friday, ladies! What are your plans for the weekend? I will be busy overseeing home renovations, watching the Olympics (who isn't?), and enjoying time with my husband before we soon become a family of 3.


We only closed on the house yesterday, and already so much has been done - kitchen demo, new counters and sink installed, and a built-in for the master bedroom started. Here's a sneak peek at the new counters...I'm in love.


After hours (literally) of contemplation, we finally decided on this stainless sink. We were set on a white, cast iron model, but changed our minds last minute...and I love it. Who knew it was so hard to choose a sink?!

Today is my dad's birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDIO! I love you SO much, thank you for your love and support throughout the years! I am very proud to be your (favorite) daughter! 



Have a great weekend! xo

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Lust List

A few things I am currently lusting after...








(already bought these - GREAT deal at Nordy's



Hope you are having a great week...it's almost FRIDAY!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Big News!


Well...technically, I am a FIRST TIME homeowner, and my hubs is a homeowner again. You may remember the Chicago condo, and how we sold it in 30 days before moving to CA! As I mentioned, that was really HIS condo, so you can imagine my current state of excitement. There are so many reasons I am excited to own a home, but the BEST part is: being able to design/decorate however, and whatever I  we want! 

I am so excited to be able to share this new chapter through my blog, and will be sure to document the entire process with many, many photos! More to come soon...


Happy Hump Day! 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tray Fab!

I have a slight major crush on decorative trays, how about you? I love them on a nightstand, on a coffee table or ottoman, in the kitchen, in the bathroom...you get the idea. I love how it makes everything look a bit more organized, and often times adds a pop of color. Here are a few looks I'm loving...













all images above via 



Shop The Look:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Do you have any decorative trays in your home? 

Monday, July 23, 2012

My Weekend

Hello, Monday...we meet again. What a busy weekend I had, how was yours? We had a friend in town, and were on the go ALL weekend long (I managed to sneak in one power nap), and I'm feeling pretty exhausted today.

The highlight of my weekend was paddle boarding...yes, PADDLE BOARDING 8 MONTHS PREGNANT! Ha! I got some claps, a few (sweet) comments, and a lot of looks. I made sure to do my research, and called the company beforehand to ensure it was safe to do, and all signs pointed to: yes (bonus - I didn't fall). It reminded me of this beautiful Amelia Lyon shot...except I was doing my own paddling.


I am so bummed because I forgot to take a photo...but it looked a little something like this:


Other weekend highlights can be summed up with a few photos from my camera roll...






 Hope you had a great weekend!