Friday, May 31, 2013

High Five For Friday

I have a special edition of High Five For Friday this week; these are some of my favorite moments from our babymoon. Last weekend Tolar and I went to Glen Allen, Va and stayed at an awesome Wyndham Resort for a little retreat. The weekend was full of sleeping in, relaxing, taking it easy, doing what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it and eating yummy food.

1.) We started the weekend out on the right foot, by having a yummy breakfast delivered to us in bed from room service. I could get used to having my food delivered to my door each morning.

2.) Tolar and I decided to play a little mini golf since obviously strenuous activities aren’t really on my list of things I can do at the moment. Of course Tolar selected the pink golf ball for me. If you are wondering, I lost. I always lose. :( But later Tolar was awesome and let me do a little shopping which more than helped pick me up.

3.) This made me laugh, poor Tolar had to give up all but one of the pillows so I could sleep comfortably. What a sweetie, because I sure slept great over the weekend!

4.) The downside to only traveling with one other person, you very rarely get pictures that involve both of you. These are the only two pictures of the two of us. However, I’m glad they turned out so well!

5.) On our last full day we went to tour a beautiful park/estate called Maymont. Seriously, if you are ever in the Richmond area, you must check it out. It is breathtaking! This waterfall is on the estate. Be warned, to get to the waterfall it is downhill and if you are 7 and half months pregnant, walking back uphill will be a challenge. But it was worth it to see it. Thanks to Tolar for being so sweet and going slow with me!

I hope everyone had a great week and that you are looking forward to another great weekend! You know I am! I’m linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for this High Five For Friday post.

Cheers!

Read post

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Coming From A Place Of Complete And Total Honesty

I can’t keep up my brave face any longer, pregnancy is hard! Before anyone reads any extra into this, please don’t get me wrong – I am extremely grateful to be pregnant. I have wanted to be a mother my ENTIRE life and I am thrilled that God has blessed me with the most amazing gift ever. I know without a doubt that I will love this baby for all of eternity and not a day goes by that I don’t realize that this is a gift. But with this gift comes an awful lot of responsibility, fears, emotions and downright pain.

I’m writing this after spending the majority of the night tossing and turning and finally throwing in the towel at 4:30 a.m. (thank you DVR for recording the series finale of SMASH so I had something to keep me entertained while I watched the clock click forward). Sleep escapes me more nights than I can actually catch it. Up until now, it hasn’t bothered me because I haven’t felt sleepy during the day because of my lack of z’s. But after this very sleepless night, I felt I needed to put my feelings down in writing. Maybe this will help me feel better; maybe this will help any of you to feel better knowing that you are not alone.

I have officially reached the point in my pregnancy where I am just uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter what I do, how I lay, how I turn, if I do the correct stretches; there just doesn’t seem to be enough room in my womb for my little one. I feel constant pressure and I just can’t get comfortable. And it’s tough. I only have 6 and a half more weeks left, I can do anything for that long right? That’s what I keep telling myself, but when I’m extremely uncomfortable other thoughts start to creep in. And the majority of those thoughts are around labor and delivery. If I am this uncomfortable now, how am I going to handle the actual birthing process?

I have some other thoughts too…will I be a good mother? I have the best role model ever in my very own mother, so I sure hope some of what she taught me makes its way into raising my little girl. I like to think that my parents raised a pretty great lady in me, hopefully I can take everything they taught me/showed me/instilled in me and use that to shape a daughter with great character.

…will I still be close to my single friends? Two of my very best girl friends are living extremely different lives from me right now and I am terrified that our relationships will change. Yes, of course they will change, but I am hoping that change doesn’t mean never seeing them. We can lead different lives and still be good friends, that way we can learn from each other.

…will I lose the baby weight? It is EXTREMELY tough to see my weight climbing each week. Yes, I’m growing a human inside of me and yes I’m supposed to gain weight, but that doesn’t make it any less tough. Especially when I wanted to lose weight before I even got pregnant.

…when my little one is here, will I be brave enough to seek advice? There are so many stories out there of moms being competitive and judging others. And since I am learning each and every day that I have so much more to learn about parenthood, I am nervous about how I will handle the task.

…will there be enough money?

…will I be able to constantly be present in my daughter’s life?

…can I give my daughter the life I dreamed of for her?

…will I love myself at the end of the day or be totally ashamed when I see my bad habits being repeated right in front of me?

…is there still a place for me in the workplace?

These are my questions, my fears. No matter how trivial they seem to you, they are real. The only thing that gets me through is constant prayer. Prayer brings me closer to God, gives me peace and helps me get a better handle on things. Becoming a parent is extremely scary, but I am so lucky to have an amazing support system in my incredible husband and my family. Ladies, your husband won’t fully understand everything you are going through, how could he? But be sure to use him, turn to him when you feel like you can’t do it anymore. He’s your partner in raising your children and will be there to rub your back, tell you you’re beautiful and to place his hands on your belly and pray for you. At least that’s what Tolar does for me and I am so incredibly thankful.

So this post doesn’t have any pictures yet, so I’m sharing this one. This is a picture that will keep me going during these last several weeks of pregnancy. It’s of my nephew, who I love so much and who makes me want to bring several children into this world, if they can all be just like him.

Read post

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wore: Striped Dress

Ok, I kind of take back what I said last week about horizontal stripes and pregnant women. Yes, for the most part we shouldn’t wear them if we don’t want to call extra attention to our ever expanding bellies. However, when I found this dress in my closet while packing for our babymoon weekend, I had to break my rule. And if you like horizontal stripes yourself, then by all means – rock ‘em! By putting a solid color cardigan over the dress, I feel that I have helped to minimize the effects of the horizontal stripes just a bit (if you don’t think so, please be nice and keep those comments to yourself!).

And the one thing I absolutely love about this dress, I bought it last summer before I was pregnant! I love when some of my clothes expand to fit my growing belly. With only a month and a half left to go, I refuse to buy any other maternity wear. I’m working with everything that I have. Yes, I have purchased maternity pants, a few dresses and tops, but that’s it. I have found ways to mix and match everything and work with several pre-pregnancy tops already in my closet. (Side note, I cannot wait to go back to shopping for non-maternity wear, the LOFT is calling my name!)

Do you rock horizontal stripes whether you are pregnant or not? I love them and I am ready to embrace them fully in a few months time. For now though, I’ll stick to just a few pieces and try to mask as many widening effects as I can.

Dress: Gap. Cardigan: Ann Taylor Factory Store. Shoes: DSW. Bracelets: Frock Candy/gift. Necklace: New York & Company.

I’m linking up with Style Elixir for Style Sessions, The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesdays and Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesdays.

********************

Are you looking for a very fun shopping experience? Tired of showing up to a party and dressing like everyone else? Then you must check out Boutique Sui Numeris.

With five simple categories of dresses, Boutique Sui Numeris definitely has something for the “plain Jane” all the way up to the most sophisticated “it girl.” One of my favorite black dresses from their BLACK collection is this one here, called Kaila (also pictured above). Boutique Sui Numeris has such fun descriptions of each of their dresses. In fact, here is what they say about the Kaila dress: “Bustier. Sheer. Tiers. How many ways can you flaunt a little black dress? We’ve just named 3!” Love that!

Have a fun party that you are attending and looking to add a little color to your evening? Then check out the SOIREE category. Of course I adore this pink number called Juliet. You must click the link to see the beautiful ruffles that line the chest, it’s so pretty. Really, all of their categories offer great selections on dresses that are sure to wow at your next event. And since they only sell one of every dress, then you can be certain that no one will have the same dress as you. The only thing people will be asking at your event is where did you get your dress? So check out Boutique Sui Numeris right now, especially if you have a ball or gala coming up (ahem, to all of my coworkers looking for gala dresses for the fall!!!). You are sure to find something that will be a crowd favorite.

Facebook / Instagram

Read post

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Hump Day Hop!

Welcome to the 4th Hump Day Hop!

Brought to you by ...

We are excited to have Lindsay from Pursuit of Pink as our co-host this week...

If you are looking to gain more followers and make new blogger friends then this is the hop for you! This is a recurring hop every Wednesday where you can link up your Bloglovin' (since GFC will be going away soon), Facebook and Twitter. We only ask that you follow all the hosts and co-host, then visit a few others!

If you are a new follower leave a comment and let us know how you follow so we can return the favor!

Life Revolves Around Them

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.liferevolvesaroundthem.com" title="Life Revolves Around Them"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc517/mkwuethrich/humpdayhop1_zpsae1c3947.png" alt="Life Revolves Around Them" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Grab our button for your sidebar while you're here!

If you are interested in co-hosting with us for FREE, email Krystle at mkwuethrich@verizon.net!

Help spread the word!

Now hop on and link up!

*Button design by now a queen*

Read post

May Birchbox

The month is almost over and I haven’t even shared my May Birchbox yet. What a crazy month this has been!!!

For those of you who don’t know what Birchbox is, let me tell you. It’s a monthly beauty subscription shipped straight to your mailbox. Each month, the Birchbox staffers will send you a box with 4-5 beauty products to try out; sometimes there are sample sizes included and quite often there are full size products. It’s a terrific way to try new brands, learn about new beauty products and give yourself a little bit of pampering each month. If you are interested in learning more or starting your own subscription, then click here.

Now for the reveal of this month’s box:

1.) Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – I love dry shampoo; next to hairspray, it’s my favorite hair product. And of course, Birchbox gets me just by putting the words “beloved by celebs” in the description.

2.) Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste – Is toothpaste considered a beauty product? I guess it is, because bad breath does not make someone more appealing! I love the vintage look to the tube and I can’t wait to throw this in my travel bag and use it very soon.

3.) COOLA Cucumber Moisturizer for Face – This smells so good!!! And I love that the moisturizer also has SPF, saving me an extra step in the morning.

4.) Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner – I usually prefer a liquid eyeliner, but I’m intrigued by Birchbox’s claim that it glides on easily. We shall see.

5.) Birchbox Extra: Pilot Pen’s Acroball Purewhite ink pen – Ok, definitely not a beauty product, but a pen is a necessity when you are a blogger or a list maker. And I just happen to be both. So thanks for the little extra Birchbox!

If you subscribe to Birchbox, what did you get in your box? I love hearing about everyone else’s products because it gives me something to look forward to in future boxes. And again, if you are interested in starting your own subscription, just click here.

Read post

Sunday, May 26, 2013

It's Time For A Little Monday Mingling

Hey lovely readers! You guys know that I am obsessed with reading other blogs, that's the main reason I started my own, so I love to introduce you to other blogs any chance I get. Which is why I'm so thrilled to be co-hosting Monday Mingling this week. Check out everything below, click on some links and find some new blogs. And most importantly - ENJOY!!!

Welcome to the sixteenth week of Monday Mingling! Please take the time to introduce yourselves to our co-hosts! If you are new to this blog hop, please leave us a comment letting us know you are following and we would be happy to follow you back. Thank you for joining us this week, and don't forget to link back to us by grabbing our button. Happy Mingling!

Lindsay @ Pursuit of Pink

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Pursuit of Pink is my little place of happiness on the internet. I blog about all things that make me happy: beauty, personal style, home décor, recipes, organization and more. And yes, my favorite color is pink, so there is plenty of that great color all over my blog. I am a person who tries hard to stay positive and I certainly hope my blog is uplifting to each of my readers.

Christine @ Musings of a Single Mama

Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook

I'm a single mom, writing about the story of my life raising my not-so-little "baby" girl. Musings of a Single Mama is a place where I can talk openly about the dramas with her father, my relationships with family and friends and my life experiences. I also write about my thoughts and opinions on various hot button topics, but don't push my beliefs on my readers. My blog is a place where I can be free to be myself and not worry about what others think of me.

Rules:

1. Follow both of your hosts via GFC or Bloglovin'.

(first 2 links below)

2. Follow your co-hosts via GFC or Bloglovin'
(next two links)

3. Link up your main blog URL, not a specific post.

4. Link back to us by grabbing our button.

5. Tweet, Facebook and Pin this blog hop. The more you spread the word the more people will link up, and the more success you will have!

6. Be sure to visit other blogs! Don't just link up and wait for others to find you.

Let's get this party started!!...

Read post

Friday, May 24, 2013

High Five For Friday

Happy Weekend All! Even better, Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

It’s been quite the week (man, I always sound like a broken record) and I am thrilled that Friday is finally here!!!

Here are the top 5 moments from this week:

1.) A much needed pedicure – enough said! I have officially reached the point in my pregnancy where it is an extreme workout for me to try and paint my own toes. Huge bummer that I have to get regular pedicures now. J

2.) The book Pinkalicious, it must have been written about my life.

3.) You see that little bump in the blanket? That would be our little pup JoJo hiding from our house guest, Riley. We’ve been watching our friends’ sweet dog (seriously Riley is the sweetest dog ever) and JoJo just isn’t interested in hanging out with her. It might have something to do with the fact that she is about 10 times his size.

4.) And speaking of said house guest, here is Riley in JoJo’s smallest bed. To Riley, if it’s a bed, it doesn’t matter the size she can still fit in it.

5.) We had an awesome leadership meeting at church last night where we talked about growth and really expanding to reach more people. I love being a part of a church that doesn’t just want to stay where they are, but is excited to get larger!

I hope you all had a great week and that you have an even better weekend. I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for this High Five For Friday post.

********************

Today I have an awesome little lady to introduce you to who not only has her own blog, but also has her own Etsy shop! (side note, I’m currently in LOVE with Etsy for decorating the nursery) This fab lady is none other than Eva from Snappee Turtle. Is that not the cutest name for a blog and Etsy shop ever? There is a meaning behind it. In Eva’s Etsy shop you will find hair accessories which are magnetically interchangeable and they snap together. In coming up with a name, she thought of many things that snap and landed on a snapping turtle – and the name was born!

Eva’s blog is filled with so many great stories about her life with her incredible family (and super cute daughter). She offers up some humor, because we all need to relax and not take ourselves too seriously. Check out this post on how to take a selfie. I promise you will laugh and smile. And I’m sure we have all been through exactly what Eva talks about. I love it when blogs get real and write about things we all go through! In addition to her humor, Eva also blogs about serious issues and her faith. This blog post about getting too comfortable with someone and taking a bad day out on them really got me thinking about how I react to the closest people in my life. Wise words there Eva – keep on convicting me, I definitely needed to read it.

And while you are over checking out Eva’s little corner of the internet, please stop by her Etsy shop. She has some pretty great things on there. I am particularly loving this and this. Eva is most certainly creative and I so appreciate her use of color in her designs. Enjoy your stay over at Snappee Turtle, I know you won’t be disappointed.

Blog / Facebook

Read post

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Bloglovin' Hop!!!

Hi everyone!
I am so thrilled to be cohosting the Bloglovin' Collective party for you all. Bloglovin' is my new favorite way to follow blogs because it is so easy to use and ANYONE can have an account. This is an awesome way to stay up to date with your favorite blogs and even check out new, similar blogs. So read everything below and go make some new friends!

Welcome to the weekly Bloglovin' Collective party!

There are many out there like it, but this is the Bloglovin' blog hop you do not want to miss.

Host:

Bre from Peacoats & Plaid

and my co-hosts for the week:

Lindsay @ Pursuit of Pink

Amanda @ The Pretty Pinhead

Sarah @ Lady Thrift

Samantha @ A2ndLife Vintage

Lulu @ Simply Lulu Style

Ellie @ Creative Geekery

Interested in co-hosting? Send an email to peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com to get on the waiting list.

Read post

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wore: Polka Dot Dress

I am in LOVE with this Polka Dot Dress. From the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it. You may have noticed I have quite the fondness for polka dots. I am loving that so many fashion options and some of my favorite patterns are available for me to wear even while I’m 7 and a half months pregnant!

Thankfully polka dots still work while pregnant, unlike small horizontal stripes. Seriously they should be outlawed in every maternity section. Nobody needs that kind of help, certainly not me!

And then this purse. Can we please talk about this purse? That’s a whole new level of love. I was super proud of myself for selecting the dark turquoise color instead of a basic black, brown or grey. And I am loving the purse and all of the color options I can pair with it. However, I also love that it matches my new polka dot dress so well. This dress and purse, a matchy match made in heaven.

(Full disclosure, YesWalker.com contacted me to work with them and I was sent this purse to review. All opinions are my own.)

And speaking of the purse, you must check out YesWalker.com. It is a fab site FULL of awesome shoes and purses at virtually every price point you could imagine. It is quite tough for me to just pick one item when shopping their site because I love everything! Click over to the site now to see for yourself.

Dress: Motherhood Maternity. Cardigan: Zara. Purse: c/o YesWalker. Shoes: DSW.
Earrings: Francesca's.

I’m linking up with Style Elixir for Style Sessions, The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesdays and Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesdays.

********************

Remember Ashley from Sweetpea Lifestyle? If not, let me remind you…the girl has a terrific blog filled with plenty of thoughts on entertaining, organizing, photography, recipes and more. In fact, I am in love with her current series, “31 Days to Successful Entertaining.” From party theme ideas, to awesome recipes, utensils to use for a successful evening, décor and more – Ashley has it all detailed out for you. And her first e-book, Successful Entertaining, is launching this month. You will want to get in on that action! Be sure to scroll back through all of her Successful Entertaining posts when you visit her blog, I’m sure you will be inspired and want to throw a ton of fun parties this summer. I want to create a fun table theme from staring at her beautiful photos all over her blog!

And speaking of beautiful photos, Ashley is also a photographer! Ever wondered why pictures from a professional photographer can be more expensive than just printing them out at a photo kiosk? Because so much work goes into planning and executing the photo shoot, not to mention the editing that make the photos have a wow factor. Ashley breaks it all down for you in this fab post. Hopefully her post about the behind the scenes of photography will teach you a lot, knowledge is power!

One other post I really want you to be certain to check out is her desk organization post. I love de-cluttering and organizing and I am especially in that mode as I am getting the nursery ready. Ashley has some great tips on how to organize and really make a space functional. Check it out! Best of luck to you as you put some of Ashley’s awesome tips to good use either around your house or for your next party. But you don’t really need luck, because her tips are awesome!

Facebook / Twitter

Read post

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

May Group Giveaway

I have a special treat for everyone – its group giveaway time!!! I am so lucky to have some pretty awesome blog sponsors and friends who have all teamed up to give ONE FAB PURSUIT OF PINK READER all of the prizes listed below. That’s right, one winner gets everything!

Just scroll through the prizes up for grabs below, then get to entering by using the Rafflecopter at the bottom. The more options you choose to enter, the better your chances. With such a simple way to enter, you really have no excuse not to. Best of luck!

(If you want to participate in a future group giveaway, check out my Sponsor options.)

Here is all of the fabulousness that you can win: