2014 Reflections

January 1, 2015

Some of my favorite moments were celebrating many of Hampton’s first. His first New Year, his first snow (in Alabama), his first hike, picnics, swimming, our trip to the beach, his first birthday party, and then his second Halloween, the day we found out we were expecting a little girl and his second Christmas.

I loved our Chicago and Orlando trips as well. We have had a year full of blessings, a little heartache, and a lot of love. I am so excited for the new year to begin and to welcome our baby girl into our lives and begin celebrating all of her firsts. It is going to be an incredible year.

Here are my top 5 posts of 2014:

Guest Post: Leslyn’s Creamy Garlic Pasta

Facts of Life After Baby

How To Double Your Pageviews in 2 Months

The Only Picture I Regretted Taking

Mezzetta Holiday Recipes

I hope you have a Happy New Year! See you in 2015!

What was your top blog post this year? Leave me a link in the comments!

15 in 2015

December 31, 2014

We just got back from a wonderful long weekend trip to Jacksonville to visit my grandparents. We don’t get to see them very often, so it is always fun to get away for a few days and visit them. They spoiled Hampton with a trip to the beach and a lot of time outside. The weather was so warm and perfect, but I must admit, I am glad to be back to the cooler weather. I mean, it is December, but not for long, which reminds me…

We are welcoming a new year tomorrow. I love this time of fresh starts and new beginnings, opportunities and for us, we are going to welcome a sweet baby girl into our lives. It is an exciting time. Here are 15 goals I look forward to completing this year:

– Complete the Love Your Body Series and #100byVDay (it starts tomorrow!).

– Read 15 books

– Save $1,500.00

– Improve my photography with my NEW CAMERA!!

– Travel as much as possible.

– Read through the bible.

– Sell our house

-…and buy a new one.

– Try 15 new recipes.

– Organize and set up Hampton’s big boy room. and organize and re-decorate our little girl’s room.

– Brush up on my French. I just bought a couple of books to help me get started!

– Take more pictures. I already take so many, but there have still been times I regretted not taking any.

– Clean out our closet.

– Blog productively.

– Make new friends and spend more time with my old friends. Friends are everything (along with family and good food. :))

Well, there you have it! Some of my goals are super easy if I will just get organized. haha This year is sure to be a wonderful exciting time as we welcome our baby girl, travel, and hopefully sell our home. Yes, it is still for sale. Sigh.

Today, tonight and tomorrow, we will be spending time with family and friends while eating more food (Yikes). That LYB challenge is coming at the PERFECT time! I look forward to continuing my exercise journey throughout my pregnancy and the future. My TIU girls have been wonderful in helping me and encouraging me to stick to it. I am so thankful because it has made this pregnancy so much easier than the last.

What are some of your goals for the new year? Do you have big plans tonight?

Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning 2014

December 30, 2014

Christmas Eve, we baked TON of peanut butter and snicker doodle cookies. We had dinner at Ryan’s grandparent’s house and then we did one of my favorite traditions and went to look at Christmas lights in our pajamas with my sister.

Christmas morning, we woke up and opened our presents from Santa! Thomas was Hampton’s favorite toy. He hasn’t played with anything else since laying eyes on him. It was love at first sight. No, but really.

After opening gifts, we laid Hampton down for a nap that he ended up not taking, and then we made a big breakfast before heading over to my parent’s house.

The boys loved their giant gift from my parent’s. Hampton immediately climbed in the back and they were ready to go!

My brother got a kayak and I couldn’t tell who was more excited! The boys thought it was another big toy for them and climbed all over it. It was so cute. Of course, Uncle Slim didn’t mind at all.

By the end of Christmas with my parent’s, Hampton was ready to crash. This is the importance of naps, my friend. They are everything, and when babies don’t take them, well, it’s not fun.

Christmas afternoon, we went to Ryan’s parent’s house and celebrated Christmas with them. Hampton got a slide (that we haven’t put together yet, but pictures soon, I promise) that he is so excited about. We had a wonderful Christmas. We ate way too much food and loved spending time with our families, but my favorite thing in the world is seeing Hampton’s face light up when he opens his gifts or eats that delicious food. He is a sweetheart and I love seeing him light up over the smallest things -like wrapping paper. I hope you had a Merry Christmas as well!

Book Review: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams

December 30, 2014

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

July 2014

Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages:433

Synopsis from Goodreads: Rose is about to get a taste of the sweet life

Rosie Hopkins’s life is…comfortable. She has a steady nursing job, a nice apartment, and Gerard, her loyal (if a bit boring) boyfriend. And even though she might like to pursue a more rewarding career, and Gerard doesn’t seem to have any plans to propose, Rosie’s not complaining. Things could be worse. Right?

Life gets a bit more interesting when Rosie’s mother sends her out to the country to care for her ailing great aunt Lilian, who owns an old-fashioned sweetshop. But as Rosie gets Lilian back on her feet, breathes a new life into the candy shop, and gets to know the mysterious and solitary Stephen whose family seems to own the entire town she starts to think that settling for what’s comfortable might not be so great after all.

My Thoughts: I loved this book! It was a quick and fun and perfect for light holiday reading. I fell in love with all of the quirky characters and I am so happy that there is a second book: Christmas at Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop. This book is full of sweet recipes just like Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe! I have officially fallen in love with Jenny Colgan! I gave this novel 4 stars.

22 Week Baby Update

December 26, 2014

How far along: 22 weeks tomorrow!

Size of baby: 11″ and almost 1 pound!

Gender: Our sweet baby Girl! Still no name, although we have it narrowed down to two, and we are using a name that we have both loved forever, so I am really excited about that. I’ll announce when we have decided 100%. 🙂

Movement: I have felt a lot of movement this week. She even woke me up one night.

Workouts: This week has been interrupted by Christmas. Who can blame me, right? I did get in great workouts 4 days this week.

Sleep: I’m still sleeping pretty well.

Maternity Clothes: I’m still wearing mostly leggings, but I have worn my maternity jeans a couple of times. A girl needs her jeans.

Cravings: Still no cravings.

Favorite Moment This Week: Christmas with Hampton was so special. We tried to really enjoy it, knowing that it will be our last one with just him.

Looking Forward To: Starting on Hampton’s big boy room in the next couple of weeks and doing a little redecorating in the nursery to transition it into our baby girl’s room!

Announcement // 14 Weeks // 15 Weeks // 16 Weeks // 17 Weeks // 18 Weeks // Gender Reveal // 21 Weeks

Last Minute Christmas-ing

December 24, 2014

Well I officially mailed out our last two Christmas cards yesterday morning. Raise your hand if you’re a super procrastinator! Today, I am wrapping a few last gifts and we are heading to a Christmas dinner at Ryan’s grandparent’s house. I can’t wait to see everyone!

Yesterday, my sweet blog friend, Sarah sent Hamp and little sister these adorable “Mommy’s Coffee Date” shirts! She has the cutest Etsy shop – Wake Me Up Designs, and you should definitely check it out! I can’t say enough good things about her and her adorable little girl. Thank you, Sarah!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy time with your family and loved ones. Drink lots of hot cocoa and cozy up by a fire. Open lots of presents, but don’t forget the reason for the season! My family has so much to be grateful for this year and we are looking so forward to welcoming our precious little girl in 2015. I am thankful for all of you who read and support my little blog. I am so grateful to you for taking the time to comment and share my posts, but also to those of you who read along and keep up with my little family. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Parties

December 23, 2014

We have attended 2 Christmas parties so far this week with a few more coming up! With both of our families living so close to us, there is always something fun going on. The holidays are very busy, but we love seeing everyone and spending time with loved ones that we don’t see as often as we’d like to.

Seeing all of my cousins this past weekend was awesome. I love getting together with them. Our theme this year was “favorite Christmas character,” So Ryan and I went as candy canes (real original, I know) and Hamp was a little Olaf. The cutest Olaf I’ve ever seen. We played games and ate yummy treats (including my Christmas cookies).

My brother definitely won best costume this year dressing up as cousin Eddie. He doesn’t hold back, and I love it! My sister won best hair by far, because look at it! It’s amazing.

Other than our other Christmas party stops, we are planning to relax as much as possible and watch as many Christmas movies as we can over the next couple of days.

How are you spending Christmas week? Have you attended any Christmas parties?

21 Week Baby Update

December 19, 2014

20 weeks pregnant // date night // cocoa and Hallmark Movies // The day we found out we were having a girl!

How far along: 21 weeks tomorrow!

Size of baby: 10 1/2″ long]about the size of a carrot

Gender: Our sweet baby Girl! We are beyond excited! I can’t wait to buy dresses and bows and take her to ballet class! Eek!

Movement: I’m feeling movement more often and she is definitely getting stronger in there!

Workouts: I’ve had a great workout week! I have had to slow up a bit more with running, but I have added a few extra walking miles to make it up.

Sleep: Sleep has still been pleasant. I’m not huge yet, so I have been pretty comfortable.

Maternity Clothes: I’m still sticking to leggings mostly, but I did wear a new pair of maternity black skinnies this past weekend. They were so comfortable. Sometimes, you just need to wear some jeans, you know?

Cravings: Still no cravings.

Favorite Moment This Week: Telling our families that we are expecting a girl! My mom and sister cried they were so excited! We are all so giddy to have a little dancer. Of course, my dad’s reaction was “Does this mean 20 more years of recitals?” haha

Looking Forward To: Shopping for our princess and working on Hampton’s big boy room. I am not going to start until after the holidays, but I am excited to get everything ready and organized.

Announcement // 14 Weeks // 15 Weeks // 16 Weeks // 17 Weeks // 18 Weeks // Gender Reveal

Winter Trends

December 17, 2014

Jacket: c/o Oasap here

Black Skinnies: H&M similar here

Booties: DSW here

Beanie: H&M similar here

Top: Target

Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite fashion trends for this winter! First off, I love that lipstick is so in. I love the added color to a woman’s face and the way it makes those pretty lips pop. It makes every woman look so glamorous. I also love that it keeps me from looking like a pale white snowman during the winter months by adding color to my face. 🙂

I’m also love love loving plaid. This is definitely not a new thing for me. I’ve been dressing in plaid since…well, birth. Maybe it’s a southern thing? I don’t know, but I do know that I love how popular it has become and that it is so easy to find. I’ve never owned a plaid jacket but was determined to find one this season. I finally found the perfect one! It is partially fleece lined and partially quilted inside. Best of all, it is very pregnancy friendly! I am 20 weeks along and still have some room to grow! This is a jacket I will have for years. I’m kind of obsessed!

What is your favorite trend this winter season?