15 Weeks Bumpdate - The First One

I thought I would end the 2014 year with a bang and do my first bumpdate. I honestly have always loved reading other’s weekly updates and it’s a little surreal doing my own. I think this will be a great way to keep family and friends in the loop, as well as a way to document these special memories for later. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes, Andy and I could not be happier about our newest addition.

How Far Along? 15 weeks

Size of Baby: A navel orange (4.0 inches)

Gender: I have no idea, but we find out next week!!!!! I’m a little nervous to find out so early mostly because I’m scared they will tell me one thing and it’ll be wrong. Does anyone else think like this, or am I crazy?

Maternity Clothes: I just firmed up a shopping date with my mom to go pick up some maternity clothes. My pants situation is getting a little dire; I’m down to two pairs of pants that still fit.

Nursery: Still a guest room, but I’m starting to get antsy to at least get a new paint color on the wall.

Movement: Nothing yet. I read that I could feel something anywhere between 14 to 22 weeks. I’m really hoping it won’t take that long.

Symptoms: I had a couple headaches this week. Not sure what is causing them, could be the dramatic weather changes, fatigue, or just pregnancy in general.

Sleep: I can officially no longer sleep on my stomach, which is a hard adjustment. I think a body pillow purchase will be in order by the end of the week. Snoogle here I come.

Cravings:  My salty tooth is still around however not as strong as last week. While I like the taste of melted cheese the thought of it grosses me out. The Velveeta commercials send me into fits.  

What I Miss: We had some friends over to watch South Carolina play in the Bowl game on Saturday and then watched a movie after. I had to head to bed halfway through because I was exhausted. I’m waiting patiently for the second trimester energy boost.

Best Moment This Week: Christmas at home with the family and receiving our first couple  of baby gifts of books and onesies.

Looking Forward To: I’m so excited about our 16 week appointment next week. I’m always thrilled to see how Baby S is developing and hopefully the baby’s gender will be very obvious.

Merry Christmas 2014

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas time. We had a great season this year.

We flew to Maryland the weekend before Christmas to visit Andy’s whole family and to share our good news. If you missed it check it out here. After telling Andy’s parents and grandparents in person we could relax and we actually had some time to play tourist on this trip. We walked down 34^th Street in downtown Baltimore. The whole block decks their houses out in lights and people are selling hot chocolate and the street is packed with families. It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

On our last day in Maryland we had lunch at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, which I recently saw on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and had an amazing meal of crab cakes and a Maryland specialty of Smith Island cake.

P.S. They have the coolest wall with a design created out of oyster shells.

Then, finally we knocked something off my Maryland bucket list and visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it.

We then flew back to South Carolina and spent Christmas at home and with my family.

Andy shocked me with wonderful gifts. I got a pair of duck boots, a monogrammed bathrobe, and the big surprise a Nikon DLSR camera!!!!!! Especially with a little one on the way a new camera was at the top of my list. I’ve had a blast playing with it and will hopefully be able to step my blog photos up a little bit.

I wish you all of fabulous end to 2014 and all the best for the upcoming year.

A Christmas Eve Surprise

While everyone sits by the Christmas tree and wonders what Santa will bring them during the night, I'm excited to say that I've already received the best gift of all....

*

 

*

 

*

 

*

 

*

My husband and I are thrilled to announce that we are excepting our first child in June 2015!!!!

Photo and announcement by Celia G Photographie

It's been nearly impossible not to talk about the pregnancy on the blog and I'm so excited that our secret is finally out. I'm officially open for tips, tricks, and advice about pregnancy, labor, and motherhood. Let this new adventure being!

Photo and announcement by Celia G Photographie

Tacky Holiday Sweater

I'm so excited because I'm going to a tacky holiday sweater party! I've never been to one and don't have a sweater just sitting around for the occasion. So the question is, do I buy a sweater from Goodwill or Ebay or do I make an outfit?

Funnily enough I've dressed up as a Christmas tree for Halloween before and it was a huge hit. I could always recreate this costume.

Or I could go with the bow tree skirt and a tricked out headband.

Or maybe go with the little kid art project route.

Have you ever been to a Tacky Sweater Party? Any suggestions?

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with the lovely Five on Friday ladies again this week. Make sure you check them out at Darci, April, Natasha, and Christina.

 

1) I went on another work trip this week, this time to Atlanta, and it was really fun. I've never had to travel for my job so I'm still getting used to the idea of driving somewhere just for a short time and being back in town by the end of the day. This trip reminded me that it's been ages since I've been in Atlanta and a weekend trip is in order. Any recommendations?

 

2) I grabbed a random snack in the gas station before I hit the road and I'm now obsessed with Nut Harvest Cashews. Good grief these are good. Perfect for my salty tooth. 

 

3) We are finally getting our Christmas tree this weekend and I can't wait to start decorating. After two years of debating I finally pulled the trigger and bought Andy, Camden, and I stockings from Pottery Barn. I love them so much and can't wait to post pictures once they are hung. 

 

4) I got a very special box in the mail yesterday. It contained lefse. Not sure if I've ever talked about lefse on the ole blog, but it's a Scandinavian tortilla-like-bread that is made out of potatoes. We have it every Christmas Eve with meatballs and it's so good. Anyone else ever heard of it?

 

5) To finish up on a holiday note, we had some family pictures taken on Sunday by my dear friend Celia from Celia G Photographie. We have known her for years and she does an amazing job. We are having a hard time picking our favorites for the Christmas card this year. If you are in Columbia and need and photographer give her a call.    

 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Family Gifts Under $100

 

I don't know about you, but I struggle sometimes when it comes to buying gifts for family members. I don't live close to most of my family so I can't make notes about things they mention throughout the year. So I rely on the rule "buy people what you would want". Do you have a go to gift for family?

 

1) Cards Against Humanity - We have the free printable version of this game and it's hilarious. Definitely only play with people you know and don't take it too seriously. I think this is perfect gift for a guy, like my brother, however I would never play this with my mom or certain family members. You just have to play it to understand.

 

2) Sand-Free Beach Mat - I bought this for my mother-in-law who lives at the beach and it was a huge hit. The blanket/mat has tiny holes in it so sand sinks through, but doesn't come up. Perfect for anyone who spends lots of time at the beach. 

 

3) Apple TV - I'm not a technology person, but we have really loved our Apple TV. It connects to you TV and the internet so you can stream in stuff like Netflix, HBO GO, Youtube, and anything from your IPad or IPhone. It's super portable too, so you can take it with you on trips.  

 

4) Amazon Echo - Speaking of not being techy, this is way out of my comfort zone, but it's really cool. If you are an Amazon Prime member you can pre-order this for $99. It's kind of hard to explain so check out this video instead.

 

5) Personalized Platter - I love these platters! You can find them in about a million styles and patterns and the best part, no one can steal them since they have your name on it. That makes it super convenient to take to tailgates, family gatherings, or potlucks.

6) Monogrammed Tailgate Chair - It's no secret that I love anything monogrammed and I've found that the more entertaining we do the more use we have for collapsible chairs. They are easy to use, easy to store, and you can never have too many.

Make sure to link up with the fabulous hosts at [Cheers Y'all | A. Liz Adventures | Miss Dixie | Southern Style

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you, your family, and your friends all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Stocking Stuffers

 

I'm linking up again with the girls for a few of my favorite stocking stuffers. I tried to cover a little bit of everyone in the house. Sometimes stocking stuffers are the easiest part and sometimes it's the hardest.

1) Prairie Dog Antlers - This will be our first Christmas at home with the pup and I'm pretty excited about making him a stocking. These elk antlers are the absolute best! They don't stain the carpet, they are filled with peanut butter, and they last for ages.

2) Car Air Freshener - I get these for everyone, but especially the boys in my life. It's something everyone forgets about, but always appreciates.

3) Gift Cards - Okay, I know a ton of people HATE the idea of gift cards, but I really love them. As stocking stuffers, I think the best gift cards are for places to eat, the movies, Starbucks, or my favorite TARGET.

4) Knotted Hair Ties - Now we have moved on to my stocking hopefuls. Pretty much as soon as I get home my hair goes up in a ponytail. These ties are the best because even if you have your hair up for a while they don't crease your hair.

5) Seche Vite - I took April from A. Liz Adventure's advice and tried this top coat and it changed my life. Well, at least my at home manicure life. I was the queen of doing my nails and then smudging them. Well you add this top coat two minutes after you finish your nails and it magically gets rid of any bubbles, dries your nails completely, and adds a great shine to them. Plus your nail polish stays chip free for so much longer. This is great for all females.

6) Personalized Stationary - I have an unhealthy obsession with stationary. It's useful, it's cute, it encourages you to write thank you notes or just touch base with friends. What more could you want?

7) Fresh Sugar Lip Products - My sweet husband has braved Sephora for the last couple of years to make sure I have new Sugar lip stuff in my stocking. It's the perfect combination: feels like chapstick, but looks like a gloss.

What are some of your favorite stocking stuffers?

Make sure to link up with the fabulous hosts at [Cheers Y'all | A. Liz Adventures | Miss Dixie | Southern Style

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with the fabulous Five on Friday ladies. Make sure you check them out at  Darci, April, Natasha, and Christina.

ONE
I can't seem to find my gloves from last year and with the temperatures dropping I was one unhappy camper, especially during Camden's evening walks. Well my wonderful husband picked these cool Tech-Compatible gloves up for me at REI yesterday and I'm loving them. They are super warm and the special finger tips allow you to still play with your phone.

TWO
Andy came home with the new Cranberry Sprite and I'm sad to say I'm a little addicted to it.

THREE
I got to travel to Charleston, SC for work yesterday. There is just something about that city. I was really sad that I was only there for a few hours and didn't get to explore much, but I got to stroll down King Street a bit and did a little window shopping.

FOUR
Whenever I go to Charleston I try my best to get over to Mosaic in Mt. Pleasant for one of their fabulous cookies. This is no ordinary cookie y'all. It's closer to the size of a biscuit and so incredibly good. Take them up on their offer when they ask it you want it warmed up. Life changing, I promise you.

FIVE
You may have notices I have updated the ole blog a bit. I got the template from Designer Blogs and it was so easy to install. They have a ton of fun designs to choose from too. I wish I had known earlier that it was so easy. I highly recommend them if you are looking to spiff up your blog.

I hope you all have a fantastic week and we'll see you next week!

I love Thanksgiving

A lot of people like to skip right from Halloween to Christmas, but honestly Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. You get to see all your loved ones without having to worry about getting everyone presents. Plus you get to eat and man do I love to eat. ;)

We always go to my mother-in-law's beach house for Thanksgiving and Andy and I have slowly started to take over most of the meal prep. To save a little time  this year we are going to pre-make a couple dishes and bring them with us Wednesday night. Here are some of my favorite dishes I'm planning to bring.

Pioneer Woman's Mashed Potatoes
Andy's favorite food is mashed potatoes, I like them but I'm not going to get too excited about it. Well, that was until I tried Ree's Mashed Potatoes. These are to die for! Picture me in the kitchen licking the spoon, the pot, and the potato masher itself. I think it's the season salt that set these apart, although the butter, cream cheese, and half and half don't hurt. ;)

Sweet Potato Souffle
Oh, you only serve one kind of potatoes at Thanksgiving, I'm sorry. These potatoes fall somewhere between a side dish and dessert and I just love them. I'm a fan of the pecan topping, but you could totally sub in marshmallows if that is your thing.

Pioneer Woman's Thanksgiving Stuffing
Again, Pioneer Woman knocks it out of the park. I just use cornbread, because it's my favorite. The thyme is what makes the recipe in my opinion. Every time I smell this spice I think of Thanksgiving now. This stuffing is my favorite part of the meal, hands down.

What are some of your must have recipes for Thanksgiving?

On the hunt

Don't you hate it when you know exactly what you are looking for and can't find it anywhere? Well that is right where I am right now. I want a long sleeved, not see through, blouse (preferably in a bright or jewel tone) and I can't find one any where. I've search on Pinterest and everything is sold out, I check all my online stores and nothing. I realize I'm a little out of the season maybe, but can anyone point me in the right direction?

Here are a couple of examples that I love, but aren't available for whatever reason.

 

via

 

 

Via

Via

Someone tell me that they know where to find this kind of shirt. Please and thank you!

A Few of My Favorite Things

 

 

Here are a few of the things that I would love to see under the tree this year with my name on them.

1) Nick and Nora Macaron Pajama Set - I love pajamas and I think they make for a great gift. Everyone can use them and you can pick out themes to match different personalities. It's great that Target carries the Nick and Nora line and I would love to see this set under my tree this year. Wink Wink....

2) KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachments - I have always wanted to make my own pasta, it's on my list of life accomplishments. I like that you can make lots of different kinds of pasta with this set and can see myself spending a whole afternoon making and freezing homemade pasta.

3) Elsa Top in Wild Confetti - Like all southern girls I have a soft spot for Lilly Pulitzer. However, my wallet screams NOOOOO every time I look at these tops. When you are used to paying $25 for a shirt at Target the $150 price tag is a bit of a shock. That's why it would be the perfect gift. Something I really want, but would never buy myself.

4) Michael Kors Watch - I used to be a pretty avid watch wearer, but lately I've been without. This means I either check my phone constantly or I buggy Andy every five minutes by asking "What time is it". Which means it may be time to get myself a new watch. This Michael Kors number is awesome with the gold and tortoise shell combo.

5) Rewinded Spiked Cider Candle - Man I love these candles. They are based in Charleston, SC and I love pretty much every scent they make. The Cider scent is perfect for the holidays though and makes for a great hostess gift too. 

6) Nikon D3100 - I left the best for last, a grown-up camera. We have talked about get a DSLR camera for years, have played with them in the stores, and I think we are finally ready to take the plunge. (You know, about a million years after everyone else.) We will pull out our old point and shoot camera and the quality is just not there, heck our phones take better pictures. It's time....

Hope you have enjoyed seeing what's on my wish list this year. Make sure you remember to link up with April, Elise, Katie, Zelle for the 2nd Annual These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things.

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with Darci, Christina, Natasha, and April this morning for Five on Fridays.

 

ONE
I'm kind of obsess with Dove Purely Pampering Pistachio Cream with Magnolia Body Wash. At first I thought it was a strange combination, but I'm loving it now. It's like something out of Bath and Body Works, but for way cheaper. 

TWO

Is anyone else binge watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix? I actually own all the seasons, but haven't watched them in years, and all of a sudden I can't get enough of it. Andy thinks I'm crazy, but the show brings back so many memories of watching it with my mom and friends through the years. P.S. Scary thought, I am now closer to Lorelei's age than Rory's. Ummm...not sure when that happened and I don't like it. 

THREE

I'm thinking I need to expand my scarf collection. I was in World Market yesterday, which is always dangerous, and I fell in love with a ton of their scarves. What do you think?

FOUR

I saw these magnolia wreaths on Pinterest and I must make them for Christmas this year. The instructions on Southern Living's website look pretty easy. Has anyone ever tried this? Are they as simple to put together as I think?

 

FIVE

I am so excited because a bunch of my college girlfriends and their significant others will be in town this weekend for the game! I haven't seen some of them in ages and I can't wait to catch up. We usually do this once a year and this will be the first time we include all the guys. There is just something about this group of women that warms my heart.