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?

Christmas is all about traditions in my family, and I am so excited to establish new traditions in our growing family. This year I decided to have a night (that will normally be on Christmas Eve, but wasn’t this year) where we will bake cookies together while listening to Christmas music (turned way up, because there is no other way) and watch a Christmas movie. This year, I perused Pinterest for easy Christmas cookies to make with Hampton. I found this original recipe here, but gave it my own spin!

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!

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?

Thank you to ThirdLove for providing me with beautiful new lingerie. All opinions are 100% my own.

It is so important for a woman to feel confident. Whether it is make-up, yoga, or that perfect liquid line that helps you achieve that feeling, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you feel confident from the inside out. It makes life so much easier. Some of my essentials to achieving this confident feeling are:

Running. I just began running a year ago and I have become addicted. I don’t feel like myself if I don’t run at least every other day. I’ve had to cut back a bit in the last couple of weeks, but I have been able to keep it up throughout my pregnancy and look forward to continuing after baby girl is born. It makes me feel healthy, toned and confident in myself.

Coffee. I have a one-year old. Need I say more? Without that morning jolt, I am a complete zombie. I definitely need my coffee.

The FRESH Sugar Ruby Red Shade and Lip Treatment. I put this on and I’m like BAM. That reminds me, this kind of goes along with my next essential…

Every woman needs that one in her life that is dependable, reliable, comforting, loving and supportive. I’m talking about the perfect bra. The mesh plunge bra from ThirdLove is all of these things to me and more. Of course, I had to get a matching pair of panties to go with it. I mean, every woman needs a beautiful set (no pun intended). Am I right? ThirdLove makes it so easy to figure out your size by using their fit guide and purchase your new beautiful lingerie quickly and efficiently. This pregnant mama definitely needs her support, and I couldn’t be more pleased with this product.

What are some of the essentials that help you feel confident? Do you have that perfect supportive bra?

We were sitting in the exam room having our anatomy ultra sound and checking all of our sweet little baby’s organs. Everything looked perfect and healthy. We are so blessed to have two healthy babies. As she moved down to finally see the goods, I fully expected to see another boy. I am not sure why, but I did. She showed us and before she even said the words, I could see there was nothing there. We are having a little GIRL!! Ryan called it right this time! We are beyond excited. My mother ran out and bought her the cutest Christmas outfit for next year that I cannot wait to see on her!

Hampton still doesn’t quite understand, but he acted really happy and excited when we told him. He chewed on her little pink ornament all day. haha

In other news, baby girl is back on track to a May 2nd due date which means I will be 20 weeks tomorrow. What? Halfway there, y’all. This pregnancy is FLYING and I have so much to do. I’m not going to focus on all of the details of moving Hampton into a new room until after the holidays, but I am excited to do a “big boy” room for him! He definitely deserves something special since he will be the best big brother in just a few short months.

It looks like those Old Wives Tales were right for me this time! 🙂

The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
January 2014
Doubleday

Pages: 304


Synopsis from Goodreads: A tantalizing reimagining of a scandalous mystery that rocked the nation in 1930-Justice Joseph Crater’s infamous disappearance-as seen through the eyes of the three women who knew him best.

They say behind every great man, there’s a woman. In this case, there are three. Stella Crater, the judge’s wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge’s bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has the judge to thank for her husband’s recent promotion to detective in the NYPD. Meanwhile, Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city’s most notorious gangster, Owney “The Killer” Madden.

On a sultry summer night, as rumors circulate about the judge’s involvement in wide-scale political corruption, the Honorable Joseph Crater steps into a cab and disappears without a trace. Or does he?

After 39 years of necessary duplicity, Stella Crater is finally ready to reveal what she knows. Sliding into a plush leather banquette at Club Abbey, the site of many absinthe-soaked affairs and the judge’s favorite watering hole back in the day, Stella orders two whiskeys on the rocks-one for her and one in honor of her missing husband. Stirring the ice cubes in the lowball glass, Stella begins to tell a tale-of greed, lust, and deceit. As the novel unfolds and the women slyly break out of their prescribed roles, it becomes clear that each knows more than she has initially let on.

With a layered intensity and prose as effervescent as the bubbly that flows every night, The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress is a wickedly entertaining historical mystery that will transport readers to a bygone era with tipsy spins through subterranean jazz clubs and backstage dressing rooms. But beneath the Art Deco skyline and amid the intoxicating smell of smoke and whiskey, the question of why Judge Crater disappeared lingers seductively until a twist in the very last pages.


My Thoughts: This book was chosen by my book club for our September pick. I never would have read it otherwise, but I am so glad I did. This book has it all. From showgirls and mobsters to politicians and maids who know too much, this book was one that I couldn’t put down – literally. I listened to it on audio – my first audio book, and I loved it! I will definitely be doing this more often. It makes car rides more enjoyable and helps me “read” multiple books a little quicker. Enough on that. We also had the opportunity to chat with the author, Ariel Lawhorn on Twitter and it was amazing! I learned so much more about the book. Search our hashtag #Literaryjunkies to read the chat! This novel is based on real life events. Books based on real life stories are always so much more interesting to me! You definitely must read this one. I gave it 4 stars.

I don’t know about your man, but mine tends to be a little picky when it comes to fashion…and food. These gifts have been pre-approved by Ryan and will make any man a happy camper on Christmas morning.

Buffalo Plaid Shirt
PJ Pants
Timex Weekender Watch
Chukka Boots
Wool Socks
Belt
Grill Set
The Man’s Book
Leather Laptop Bag
Gloves
Slippers
Tool Kit
Horseshoes Set
Swiss Army Knife

If these gift ideas don’t suit your man, you can always give him bacon. Every man loves bacon.

I am pretty much the same as last week. No maternity clothes. A little movement here and there. I still haven’t had any cravings and I still have zero intuition as to the baby’s gender. HOWEVER, we are 6 days away from finding out! I’m so excited to know who is growing in there.

This week, I wanted to have a little fun. I’m going to share some Old Wives Tales and see how I’m matching up to them. When I was pregnant with Hampton, most signs pointed to a girl, so I really don’t put a whole lot of stock into them, but just for fun…

Salty or Sweet? Neither Either
Headaches? No. Girl
High or Low Baby Bump? High Girl
Acne? Yes Girl
Heart rate below or above 140? Above Girl
Chinese Birth Chart? Girl
Morning Sickness? Yes Girl
Sleep on the left or right side? Right Girl


Well, all signs point to girl again, but I learned with my last pregnancy that these aren’t exactly good indications. I will say that I did sleep on my left side with Hamp, and I craved sweets all the time. I was also more sick with him. Hmm…

What do you think? Girl or Boy?


Announcement // 14 Weeks // 15 Weeks // 16 Weeks  // 17 Weeks

If you are having trouble finding the perfect gift for your wife/mother/girlfriend/sister etc., you have come to the right place! I’ve picked out a few things from my own wish list that are also popular this year. I hope this is a helpful Holiday Gift Guide.

Blanket Scarf  // Tweed Vest // Gold Bar Necklace // Flannel Buffalo Plaid Shirt // Felt Floppy Hat // Gold Monogrammed Mug // Zebra Dish // Knot Earrings // Pajamas // Slippers // Pom Pom Hat // Throw Pillows // Gold Cuff // Plaid Throw Blanket // Naked 2 Palette // FRESH Sugar Ruby Romance

What is on your Christmas wish list?

See more of my wish list on Pinterest!