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Book Review: The Night Garden

February 4, 2015

The Night Garden by Lisa Van Allen
Ballantine Books October, 2014

Pages: 352

Synopsis from Goodreads: Nestled in the bucolic town of Green Valley in upstate New York, the Pennywort farm appears ordinary, yet at its center lies something remarkable: a wild maze of colorful gardens that reaches beyond the imagination. Local legend says that a visitor can gain answers to life’s most difficult problems simply by walking through its lush corridors.

Yet the labyrinth has never helped Olivia Pennywort, the garden’s beautiful and enigmatic caretaker. She has spent her entire life on her family’s land, harboring a secret that forces her to keep everyone at arm’s length. But when her childhood best friend, Sam Van Winkle, returns to the valley, Olivia begins to question her safe, isolated world and wonders if she at last has the courage to let someone in. As she and Sam reconnect, Olivia faces a difficult question: Is the garden maze that she has nurtured all of her life a safe haven or a prison?

My Thoughts: I was super excited to read this book. It caught my attention on the bookshelf at BAM and it was one of those books I had not heard anything about, but was intrigued by the title, so I bought it. Big mistake. I found the story to be extremely predictable, cheesy, and kind of boring. I am really surprised I finished it to be honest. To me, the story felt really silly. I gave it 2 stars.

Fitness During Pregnancy

February 3, 2015

Jacket: Nike (old)

Pants: Ellie

Shoes: Nike

Fitness during this pregnancy has been a huge priority for me. Why? With Hampton, I gained 45 pounds. It was really tough to lose all of that weight. I was unrecognizable and I didn’t feel like myself. It made me feel bad physically and mentally. My pregnancy was very different with him. I was sick the first half and the second half, pregnancy cravings kicked in and I ate Chocolate chip cookies every single night. It didn’t matter if I was hungry or not, I ate them anyway. Hello 48 pounds.

This time around, I wanted things to be different. I don’t want to gain any where close to 45. I want to stay between 25 and 30lbs. That is a healthy amount of weight gain for me. I have been participating in the Love Your Body series through Tone it Up and that has really helped me stay focused. A couple of weeks ago, I had a really bad week. I ate lots of sweets and didn’t work out every day like I normally do. I could tell a huge difference in the way I felt. It wasn’t fun.

Exercising every day has helped me feel like me for a lot longer. It has helped me keep my weight gain down and has kept my muscles alive. Last time, I felt like mush. It was not flattering. While watching Biggest Loser a couple of weeks ago, Jenna Wolfe showed up as a guest trainer. She was 25 weeks pregnant which is what I was at the time and she was doing everything with them. She is a hoss. It was so encouraging to see someone who knows how uncomfortable you are but works through that to stay healthy and fit. It really lifted my spirits and gave me the push I needed to get back on track and #werk.

So far, I’ve gained 16 pounds, but I feel so good. I feel like myself rather than a beached elephant seal. For that I am so thankful. I can’t stress to you how big a difference this one little lifestyle change has made in this pregnancy. Best news? I won’t have as much weight to lose this time, as long as I continue to do well. As I’ve entered my third trimester, it hasn’t always been easy and I do give myself rest days if I really need them, but it is so worth it to feel healthy and more like myself.

Do you have any exercise tips for the third trimester? What kept you motivated during your pregnancy?

Mexican Layered Dip Recipe Featuring Old El Paso

January 31, 2015

Thank you to Old El Paso for sponsoring today’s post!

Tomorrow night we are hosting a super bowl party for our life group friends at church. We are so excited to watch the game, but I’m most looking forward to the commercials. For the party I made my mom’s Mexican Layered Dip using avocados from Mexico. I’m a big fan of guacamole. It contains healthy fat and is a great meal or snack. Because I’ve been craving Mexican food for the last couple of weeks now, I knew I wanted to make this dip for my friends…and myself. 😉

Ingredients:

1 can Refried Beans

1 can of light sour cream

1 taco seasoning

1 can of rotel (drained)

Avocado from Mexico (mashed)

Shredded Cheese (I used light cheddar)

Directions:

In a 9×11 baker, spread the beans, then mix the sour cream and taco seasoning together until blended and spread it on top of the beans. Next, mash your avocado and spread it over the sour cream, drain the rotel and spread it over the avocado layer. Sprinkle on as much cheese as your heart desires and then bake until it is warm and the cheese is melted.

You can eat this with chips, on a taco with meat, however you want! I am serving it as a dip with Tortilla Chips and it is delicious!

Giveaway time! Go visit Old El Paso and tell me what recipe you would make or what your secret ingredient is to making the perfect taco! I will announce the winner of $15 paypal cash on February 13th!

I bought all of my ingredients at Publix where they have the best savings. Check out this week’s savings at Publix here.

Are you attending or throwing a Super Bowl Party? Do you enjoy the game, commercials or halftime show more?

27 Week Baby Update

January 30, 2015

How far along: 27 weeks tomorrow! Hello 3rd Trimester!

Size of baby: Almost 2 lbs. and 14 1/2 inches!

Gender: Our sweet baby Girl!

Movement: She is moving all the time! I love being able to physically see her movements now.

Workouts: I’m still doing to Love Your Body Series and loving it! It has become a little more challenging the last couple of weeks and I have definitely had to modify some of the moves. Planks are getting VERY tough. I have also started just walking. It is driving me kind of crazy because it takes me forever to get my miles in, and I am getting farther and farther behind. I’m trying to walk every day, even if it’s just 1 or 2 miles.

Sleep: I haven’t slept very well this week thanks to leg cramps. They have been waking me up every night and Ryan laughs at me for downward dogging it in the middle of the night. It does help, though.

Cravings: This week, all I have wanted is Mexican food. My “cravings” seem to change week to week.

Looking Forward To: The weekend. We are throwing a Super bowl party at our house this Sunday and can’t wait to get together with friends. I’m making a pretty delicious recipe for the party that will be on my blog Monday! Be sure to come check it out and enter to win $15 cash as well!

Announcement // 14 Weeks // 15 Weeks // 16 Weeks // 17 Weeks // 18 Weeks // Gender Reveal // 21 Weeks // 22 Weeks // 23 Weeks // 24 Weeks // 25 Weeks

Have you voted on our baby girl’s name on my right sidebar?

Dressing the Bump + Teething Pains

January 28, 2015

Cardigan: The Loft

Top: Target

Leggings: Boutique

Boots: Shoe Station

This pregnancy I have been determined not to buy maternity clothes. I have actually bought a couple pairs of pants for work/church, but for the most part, I have done really well just working with what I’ve got. Thank goodness leggings and tunics are in style. They have really been my go-to.

I found this open cardigan at The Loft, a.k.a. my obsession over the holidays and bought it with some of my Christmas money. I have worn it every other day since. Not kidding. It feels like a sweatshirt and is so comfortable. It’s also long enough to wear with leggings and actually cover my badonk! Win/win.

So, Hampton has his 8th tooth (and maybe more?) coming in right now. For the last week he has not been himself at all. He has had a fever off and on, runny nose, not sleeping etc. but he has also started pitching fits. I know it’s because he is in pain, but wow, I wasn’t expecting that for a few more months. He will literally throw himself in the floor and start screaming and hitting at me. It has been so tough and very tiring. I have given him Tylenol as he needs it, but that seems to make him even more grumpy. Teething has definitely gotten worse as he has gotten older.

Have any of you experienced this with your young toddlers? Do you have any advice on how to manage his pain and tantrums?

Linking up here and here!

P.S. Don’t forget to vote on our baby girl’s name on my sidebar!

Hampton at 15 Months

January 26, 2015

My baby boy is growing up so fast. He turned 15 months this past Saturday. He has turned into such a stud. Hampton is saying so many new words this month like “no, yeah, milk, fish, and duck.” He is still totally obsessed with Thomas except now, he prefers to watch it on my phone or iPad. He loves being outside and would literally sleep out there if we let him. He loves to slide and swing at the park and ride his Gator (that he got for Christmas). He has 8 teeth and his hair is getting so much longer and a little lighter. His favorite time of day is when we read books together. He loves story time. His favorite book, I am proud to say, is his bible stories board book.

This month, I am looking forward to celebrating your second Valentine’s Day, reading you some new books, watching you discover new things and hearing the new words you will say. I love watching you grow and change every day. You are the sweetest little boy and I am so blessed to be your mommy. I love you, bubbie!

P.S. Vote on our baby girl’s name on my right sidebar! >>

5 on Friday

January 23, 2015

I haven’t written a good round up post in a while, so I figured I’d join in for 5 on Friday today! TGIF, y’all!

ONE

I can’t believe I will be 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow! This one is going by so quickly. We are getting so excited to meet our sweet girl, but we still have a lot to do to prepare for her arrival. I don’t really have any updates on my pregnancy this week other than I’ve gained another pound. Yay, me! I am so happy to be excelling at something. Ha! 😉

TWO
Today is my sister’s 20th birthday! Happy Birthday, Allymac! I am pretty pumped to celebrate with her tonight!

THREE

I am so looking forward to Valentine’s Day this year. Why? Because we don’t get to go out on a date very often, so when we are able to, it is pretty special. Here are some of my favorite Valentine’s Date ideas!

FOUR
I just bought First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen and I can NOT wait to start reading it! What are you reading right now?

FIVE

Hampton will be 15 months tomorrow. Where has the time gone? He is growing up so fast. I can’t wait to share all of the new things he is doing and SAYING because he is starting to say more and more words. I can’t get over it.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Valentine’s Day Ideas

January 22, 2015

I’m always trying to think of romantic date ideas that don’t cost a lot of money. We like to do our date nights on the cheap…or free. Because dates are so rare for us these days (once a month if we’re lucky), we try to make the most of our time together. I like to plan ahead so here are a few ideas for this Valentine’s Day:

-Cook your favorite meal together. Get real fancy and make it a themed night.
-Netflix your favorite show or movie and snuggle on the couch with popcorn.
-Go for a long walk.
-Relax at your favorite coffee shop.
-Go ice skating.
-Go out to eat at your favorite restaurant.
-Go to a local show or event.
-Visit a bookstore.
-Plan a weekend getaway at the lake or in the mountains.
-Get some other couples together and play games/have a photo booth set up
-Go on a hike (if the weather permits)
-Go on a picnic
-Write each other a love note and read them to one another.
-Go on a bicycle ride
-Explore your hometown

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? What is your favorite date night?

Book Review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

January 21, 2015

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Pages: 460

Synopsis from Goodreads: Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .

A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?

What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

My Thoughts: I loved every page of this book. Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors because she never disappoints. You never see it coming. The whole time you are thinking, this is so easy, I know who gets murdered and I know who did it, but you don’t. Not even close. This novel kept me on my toes and (much to Ryan and Hampton’s dismay) I literally couldn’t put it down. It was exciting and fast paced. I loved that it kept going back and forth between the past and present so that you felt like you were trying to put the puzzle pieces together along with the detective. The characters are really likable, but I really loved Celeste. She was so spunky and definitely a go-getter type of woman that you would definitely want on your side. I gave this book 5 stars and highly recommend it!

What are you reading?

Friends and Frozen

January 20, 2015

Over the weekend, we spent lots of time with friends that we haven’t seen in a while. We have all been good friends since my Freshman year of college and try to get together as often as possible. One of our friend’s daughter was turning 6 and had a big Frozen party. Elsa and Anna were there and we sang Frozen songs and ate Frozen snacks. Of course, Hampton spent most of the time outside throwing his ball around. We really enjoyed our time with them.

Can you tell Hamp was a little excited?

What did you do over the weekend?