Finally Friday!

{1} Rachel Zoe for A Pea in the Pod

In the words of the great fashion stylist and designer, I. Die. I'm SO bummed out that I won't get to partake in any of this amazing pregnancy line, all I can hope is that she is still designing for APTP when I'm pregnant again!  For those of you who are pregnant - get on over to A Pea in the Pod and check out this line! Here are my favorites:

Printed Caftan Maternity Dress

Secret Fit Belly Ponte Zipper Pants

Exposed Zipper Maternity Dress

{2} Lilly Pulitzer Look Book is up on Target.com

I know this is going to be on EVERYONE'S Friday posts, but oh well. Read it here too :)

I already have my eye on a pile of things, and will be ready to purchase as soon as its available. And, since my child is going to be up at all hours of the night, I will most likely be awake when it all goes live online :)

{3} Honest Company Belly Balm 

I bought this as an impulse buy at Destination Maternity when I was about six months pregnant. So far I have not noticed any stretch marks, but I have noticed that my stretching skin is drier and itchier than normal. This balm is the consistency of Vaseline and so it only takes a thin layer to cover your entire stomach.  I usually use baby oil right after I take my showers on my stomach etc (basically anything that is growing larger than normal) and then use belly balm before I go to bed  or days when I just feel like my skin is drier. Since I didn't have to endure winter during my pregnancy, I didn't have to fight the dry skin nearly as much as many do - so this might be great for those of you who are up north!  It's a tad pricey, but I absolutely love it. It absorbs rather easily, and best of all it's from the Honest Company - so you know its all natural, no chemicals.  For those of you are scared off by the price tag of $15.95 for 3.5 oz, then I would definitely recommend using baby oil after you shower, and then Eucerin lotion (I use the Calming Cream, which is super thick). My dermatologist recommended that my mother use this lotion on us as babies, and throughout my life I've used it.

{4} Postpartum bathing suits, y'all.

So, throughout this pregnancy I've rocked bikinis and it just hit me that post baby, that probably wouldn't be the best idea. My husband's entire family is visiting us in May (a month postpartum) and rented a house in Palm Beach about a block from the beach. It hit me that I wouldn't have anything to wear on the beach that was not completely inappropriate for a person who JUST gave birth 3-4 weeks before.  Pre-pregnancy I got on a HUGE Brazilian bikini kick - maybe its a Florida thing? I've literally spent the last year running around South Florida with half my rear hanging out. I'm all about owning your body, but this rear is not in quite the same shape it was 10 months ago. (sadly.) So, for hte last week, I've been searching for a bathing suit - either one piece of tank set. Moms out there - any suggestions?? 

             Five Weeks Pregnant in Islamorada                          35 Weeks Pregnant in Palm Beach

{5} Magnolia Homes - Chip and Joanna Gaines

My latest favorite show is Fixer Upper on HGTV. I absolutely love Chip and Joanna Gaines, and the work that they do on all of the houses. Joanna has great style and has given me great ideas about our future home (hypothetically, of course, we're still renting for now). I recently came across their online store Magnolia Homes and just love the accessories and home goods on it. I highly recommend you check it out!

http://magnoliahomes.net/

That's it for me this week...

Bumpdate: 38 Weeks

This week marks the big 3-8 and this baby is officially 'to term'. I can't believe its already here, and we're officially on Baby Watch 2015! 

Skirt: Pea in the Pod Secret Fit Belly Pencil Skirt / Shirt: French Connection/ Pea in the Pod  (sold out, similar here )/ Necklace: Kenneth J Lane (sold out)

How Far Along? 38 weeks

Size of Baby: 6.2-9.2 lbs; 18.9-20.9 inches

Gender:  all boy!

Maternity Clothes: Yep...although the dress in this weeks progress shot down below is actually non maternity! I was so excited it fit, I had to wear it. But really, the ultra-stretchy side ruched maternity clothing is made for those bellies...this dress was NOT.

Nursery: We aren't really doing a 'nursery' yet, but for now we've got our study all set up for diaper changes and rocking, and the  bassinet by our bed.  Clothes are all washed and folded and bags are packed!

Beckett's books by the glider...

Movement: Still going wild - despite the lack of space. Occasionally when I'm lying down at night it feels like his feet get hooked under my rib cage -- sometimes I worry he might break something! (that actually happened to a friend of mine...) He's dropped down to a zero head station but that hasn't stopped him from moving around as much as possible!

Sleep: I spoke too soon last week - this week hasn't been so great in the sleep department. I've woken up once every night the last few nights to go to the bathroom, but luckily go right back to sleep. The good news is I still haven't lost my ability to immediately fall asleep - I pray I never lose that!

Cravings: Cake and Chick-fil-a frosted lemonade. I don't know why I want cake, but man I really want it. I've wanted it the last few days, but I've managed to restrain myself. The Chick-fil-a - well I've manage to resist ONLY because they are all TOTALLY out of my way. Luckily for my thighs, I neither live nor work near any CFA, and feel like getting on 95 and driving 5 miles for a craving is a tad excessive.

Symptoms: Sore hips, but that's about it. I have felt pretty much the same that I always feel, sans moving baby in my abdomen. Rings are still on, which is a good sign! The only major drawback I've had these last few months are burst capillaries up and down my right hand, arm, and chest. Lots of little red marks all over my arm might not sound that bad - but I'm pretty sure they are not going away (I had a few pre-pregnancy) and I'll have to get laser treatments to fix it. :(

What I Miss: Tequila. I am a tequila girl, and I miss my BFF. 

Weight Gain: 26-29 lbs ... not 100% sure where I started.

Workouts: ha! yeah I fell off the wagon. Oh well...at least I didn't get the cake?

Here are some update shots since my last 30 week Bumpdate....

(perhaps I should add 'procrastination' to my symptoms list...I still haven't taken that black and white suit to the dry cleaners! I just started to take it down for my update pictures...)

Joining up with Home of Malones for Thoughts on Thursday!

Friday Five: Pregnancy Edition

I decided to change up my "Friday Five" routine a little bit, and make it 5 things I've learned about pregnancy.  I'm about to enter my 38th week, and things are slowly but surely progressing and I feel confident we that there's a good chance this little guy might make his debut a few days early. (We'll see, if he's anything like his father, he will wait until the last possible minute).

For most of my life, pregnancy and childbirth has ranked right up there with sky diving as my all time worst fears. No, really. I've never been a "baby person" - I'd much rather cuddle with a puppy or any other baby animal. I don't really get enthralled with babies, and the smaller they are, the less I generally want to do with them. I don't mind toddlers and kids - but babies? Babies terrify me. I have a feeling that I can't be the only woman out there with similar aversions - and that is what this post is about. My entire life, I've heard the horrors of pregnancy. Starting with how that baby actually makes it into this world. (Seriously, why can't we just lay eggs like birds?) And, once you're finally over the idea of where that child will be exiting - then everyone you know starts telling you about the horrific things that happen to you and your body while pregnant. (And people wonder why I was scared ??)

The thing is, no pregnancy is 'normal'. Everyone is different. But, I thought I might give my top five misconceptions about pregnancy in the hopes that it might calm your nerves a little. If nothing else, I hope to balance out some of the horror stories :).  Again, this is just MY experience and this is not to discount the challenges that others faced - I know I've had many friends who went through the ringer for 10 months.

1. You're Going to Get HUGE.

You will get bigger. That's a fact. Not all of us are the body builder model that is sporting what appears to be a beer gut at 30 weeks. (ok, pretty much none of us) But, getting bigger doesn't mean you're going to be a beached whale. I can touch my toes. Seriously. I can shave my legs. I get up and down off of the floor without help, and when I lay on the examination table at the doctor, I can sit up without help. I can even wear some pre-maternity dresses and tops (depending on the cut). I measure in the 'normal range' and have gained somewhere between 26-29 lbs. (My pregnancy was kind of a surprise so I'm not 100% what I weighed before...at 7 wks I was 130. I'm usually in the 127-130 range so that's what I"m working from.) Now, as I've said before, some of us will have 10 lb babies. Some of us have husbands that are 6'6" - there's no way around a large bump in some cases. But, just know, it's not always the case. 

*Note: I don't know how I got lucky enough to be as mobile as I am, but I can say that from day one, I have not allowed pregnancy to stop me from doing ANYTHING. I was crawling under the christmas tree to water it, decorate it, take it down etc etc - I've been on my hands and knees scrubbing floor boards - I didn't let anything stop me from doing what I needed to do. It's not proven, but I think you can do what ever you tell yourself you can do. Pregnancy isn't a disability...don't treat it like one.

2. You're Going to Feel Like Crap 24/7.

So the first trimester can be a doozey. Some of us get sicker than others - and even when you have a 'mild' case of morning sickness you'll still think it's the worst thing ever. I was convinced I'd be a really angry pregnant person - but looking back (I hope others would say this too...) I feel like I've been relatively laid back about it. And I'm not a laid back person - AT ALL. In the beginning when your hormones go crazy, you will be a little off. You may get your feelings hurt SUPER easy. You may cry when you hear "Danny's Song" on the radio. You might end up having a blow out fight with your husband over who should have let the dogs out. (Not drawing on personal experience at all here...) But, once your body adjusts, to flood of estrogen, things will even out. And, while you're still a tad more sensitive (those Hallmark commercials...man) you really will start to feel normal again. 

3. Your entire body will swell.

I might regret writing this. But, I haven't had a bit of swelling. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Rings? Still on. Ankles? Totally fine. Face? Just the same. I've got no idea if its dumb luck, or if its because I don't eat too much sodium or if its because I drink enough water - no idea. But good news, it hasn't happened. Yet. #TwoWeeksToProveMeWrong

4. Your Feet Will Grow (or other body parts).

I have big feet. I'm a solid 9 or 9.5 and sometimes I've bought size 10 shoes. I could NOT afford to a) replace my shoes b) have my feet look any bigger. This might have been one of my top fears of pregnancy. Then,  there was someone I knew whose nose literally doubled or tripled in size. There is probably only 1 organ that we all wouldn't mind getting a little bigger - and we all know what I'm talking about about. (And, if you're a Kim K fan - maybe you might like for your rear to be bigger as well!) But good news, nothing out of the ordinary grew this pregnancy. 

5. You'll Lose The Ability to Sleep Through the Night.

Maybe I'm just genetically a good sleeper. There are nights I sleep better than others, but for the most part, I've slept like a baby (pardon the pun) for the entire time. Sometimes I have get up and pee, but some nights I don't wake up at all. The snoogle is a big help for me because I LOATHE SIDE SLEEPING. I'm a back sleeper all the way. (Recently I discovered that despite my best efforts, I apparently sleep on my back a lot still. Oh well, I try.) The bladder thing can be crazy depending on where your baby sits in your body, but sometimes I just make him move by tickling my left side and magically the urge goes away.  Or I roll over. Problem solved.

I would never describe pregnancy as a 'breeze' - it definitely does require some adjustments. Some of them are harder than others (the whole out of breath things was tough on me). I clearly have not yet endured the hardest part of the entire process but from what I hear that part is rather short lived and pales in comparison to the result. I hope that this in some ways has calmed your nerves, or maybe makes you feel more ready to take on the challenge of growing a person. Just know, that you can do it. You never know how strong and resilient you are until you have to be. Becoming a mom is crazy surreal experience (so far anyway) and even though baby Beckett isn't here yet, I feel like I know him already.  Oddly enough, I think I'm actually going to miss his relentless kicking and movement once he's out. I will definitely miss how silent he is :)

Have a great weekend!

Weekending Palm Beach Style

This past weekend, the hubby and I ventured out into the warm South Florida sun and enjoyed some much needed fun before this baby gets here!

Saturday
On Saturday, I spent most of the morning at the salon getting one last highlight/color touch up before I go into labor (which apparently can be anytime from now to April 7th - comforting, huh?) Here's a few selfies of the finished product... (waiting on pics from my stylist for a better view...)

Later we hit the park with the dogs....

And then I crashed. Pregnant lady woes.


Sunday
On Sunday, we had a very "Palm Beach" Sunday, venturing out to Wellington to go to the International Polo Club for brunch and a polo match.  We were at the Pavilion, and opted to get the brunch, and watch the match from there. A polo field is nearly 3 times the size of a football field and we quickly learned the Pavilion is really best for a cocktail party/social scene...not so much on the watching. This was totally fine with me, because it had the biggest best buffet I've ever seen, AC, and cover from the 5 minute rainshower we had.

Here are a few pics:

If you look beyond the lady in the floppy hat- there is a candy bar.  This photo is of the ice cream bar - soft serve AND scooped. (and then of course random yummy desserts were just scattered around this area).

My packed plate...Dessert didn't get a pic...it was melting too fast? (sure, that excuse works...)

View from our table on the patio

dress: Lilly Pulitzer 'Clare' Dress in Hotty Pink First Impression / Sandals: Jack Rogers Mid-wedge / necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane (old) similar here  / bracelet: pave link bracelet Ann Taylor (old) similar here / bag: Kate Spade (sold out) similar here and here

'Stomping the Divots' with a fellow Junior Leaguer!

 Everyone out on the field, 'Stomping the Divots'

It was a "Lilly Sunday" at Polo, meaning Lilly Pulitzer was out in full force, including the Lilly Jeep!

For more information about Sunday Polo, visit http://www.internationalpoloclub.com!

Weekending: Spring Arrivals

No, this is not a post about my big spring arrival...but about all of those glorious items hitting stores for Spring 2015!

While most women 4 weeks out from giving birth are busy nesting and preparing for their impending bundle of joy, I was couch surfing this past weekend -- dreaming of days when I can have fun with fashion again, and not cringe when I pass a mirror. That's right, I spent the weekend window - er,- screen shopping. Plus, I thought I'd do all of you non-mommy readers a favor, and give you a post you can actually read and enjoy in the now - because if I'm starting to get tired of Mommy posts, you've got to be dying.

Side Note: I'd really appreciate it if all of this didn't sell out prior to my April 7th delivery date...so please wait approximately 5-7 weeks before buying all of these items and breaking my heart. #agirlcanhope #countdowntoskinny #itsallgonnabegone


{1}Tassel Slide - I love ANYTHING with a tassel. I can't help but obsess.

Harper Leather Tassel Mules / $128

{2} The Dropped Waist - Perhaps its just a nostalgia thing but I love it. Last summer (see here) I bought several items with a dropped waist, and I'm not stopping now.

J. Crew Collection Flounce Drop Waist Skirt / $150

{3} Lace Appliques (Have you noticed this super feminine kick I'm on?? #relivingmychildhood)

Rebecca Taylor Floral Lace Top / Piperlime / $275

AND While we're at it, why not add a ruffle?

Paper Dolls Cropped Top with Crochet Details / Asos / $67 {on sale! $46}

{4} Shirt and Short Sets - I adore matching sets especially when there is a crop top involved...I passed on a set last year, buying only the top and I've regretted it ever since. I don't plan on letting that happen again...

Mara Hoffman Jacquard Crop Top & Shorts / Piperlime / $143 + $165

{5} Floral Everything - Can't stop, won't stop. I became obsessed with this trend last year, and oddly enough, didn't really buy any of it. This year, I won't let that happen.

Express Floral Print Stretch Shorts  / $59.99 {on sale! $39.90}

So, I never bought the Ted Baker pumps I was dying over last year (I swear sometimes Blogging is just a reminder of all of my dumb decisions) and this year I can't find anything remotely as cute. I know KC is a complete and utter moron with unvaccinated children, and I try hard not to support her...but...I love these floral Copertina style pumps. They are so freaking comfortable. The b*tch wins.

Chinese Laundry Kristin Cavallari Copertina Pump in Blue Floral / Zappos / $129

{6} Crop Tops - Are they appropriate post baby? Oh wait, I don't care. #stillrockingthem 

Cropped Crisscross Ponte Knit Top (and Skirt) / Express / $49.90 + (bandage midi skirt - $59.90)

so maybe this one wouldn't translate into real life as well..but this is one of those moments where you should fully embrace the ASOS Free Shipping/Return Policy, and take a chance. #myhusbandwouldhatethis

Glamorous Frill Cami Crop Top (Shown with: Glamorous Linen City Short ) /ASOS /  $37 + $65)

and one more because I can't stop....

c'mon ladies, with a high waisted skirt ANYONE can rock this even if you're scared of the midriff.

#peerpressure #i'mgoingtomakethisathing

ASOS Crop Top in Texture with Ruffle Detail / ASOS / $52

Finally Friday!

{ONE}

The countdown is on. 

It's getting close, y'all. This week I hit the 35 week mark. That means 5 more weeks until we are a family of three - I can't even fathom!

They say dogs know you're pregnant. I'm pretty sure Reagan is completely clueless.

{TWO}

Amazon Prime

This week my sister in law activated our Christmas gift - Amazon Prime. I am SO excited, not just for the instant streaming, kindle ebooks, but also...Amazon Mom. For those of you who aren't aware - if you sign up for an Amazon Prime account, you will also get a subscription for Amazon Mom. What's so great about Amazon Mom, you might ask? Well, lemme tell you. 20% off diapers, 15% completion discount on registry items...and oh yeah - free two day shipping. I mean, who's got time to drive to the store to get diapers when you've got a newborn? Not this chick. #UPSismyBFF 

{THREE}

Gorgeous Spring Weather

It's back to normal warm temperatures down here in South Florida. Last weekend we ventured out to the beach, and most evenings enjoy walks or jaunts at the dog park. #WhoNeedsSnow

 Gorgeous blue waters

Town of Palm Beach beach park

{FOUR}

Dinner at PB Catch with my Father in Law!

This week we had a pleasant surprise when my father in law came into Palm Beach for business! We took him to our new favorite place, PB Catch. Everything was just as fantastic as it was last time and it was so great to get to see family! 

{FIVE}

Last week my office threw me a shower over lunch, and it was so sweet! I have only been working here for a little over a year and a half, so I thought it was incredibly generous and thoughtful that so many people came to celebrate Stephen, me, and Beckett!

Diaper Cake

Real Cake.

A little doctor humor...such a cute gift!

Join up with:

 Darci, Natasha, Christina, and April for Five on Friday!

OR

September Farm for Oh, Hey Friday!

OR

Meet at the Barre for Friday Favorites!

Thoughts for Thursday

This past week I've been a complete slacker in the blogging department...for no reason at all. But, I decided tonight, as I catch up on TV from the weekend (Madame Secretary) I decided to give you some Thoughts for Thursday...

This past week I made a quick and easy meal that's left me wishing I'd made more - so I thought I'd share!

Three Cheese Tortellini with Chicken Sausage and sauteed vegetables

1 package of Bertolli 3 Cheese Tortellini 

2 all natural sausage links (I use the Al Fresco Dinner Sausage - Sun Dried Tomato Flavor)

3/4 of a package of grape tomatoes

Spinach (as much as you like!)

Onion

Garlic

Olive Oil

Muir Glen Organic Portabello Mushroom Tomato Sauce

First I boiled the tortellini as the package directed for 7-9 minutes. In another pot, I heated the sauce (I found it bland, so I added some italian herbs).  IN a frying pan, I sauteed oil, garlic, and onion.  Once translucent, I added in the cut up chicken sausage.  I sauteed it for a few minutes, then added sliced grape tomatoes, and finally added spinach.  Within the time it took to saute the vegetables/sausage the tortellini finished up and the sauce heated. I added tortellini to each plate, a portion of sausage/vegetable saute, and sauce.  I completely forgot to take a picture of the finished product...just the last bites. It was that good.