Thankful on Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for:

+ A fantastic group of Charlotte bloggers that turn a normal Wednesday night into a wonderful girly dinner

+ A husband who rubs my belly after consuming far too many chips, soft tacos and refried beans

+ Tequila-free blood orange margaritas

+ 3D ultrasounds (funny story to share later)

What are you thankful for?

Week 16 Pregnancy Journal

How Far Along? 16 weeks

Size of Baby: An avocado (4.6 inches)

Gender: We find out oh so soon! By the time next week's update is written, I will be using either "he" or "she" ... which is just plain crazy.

Weight Gain: Gained two pounds in the last week! Back up to my starting weight ... so as of now, a total loss/gain of 0 even though I have added a few pounds from where I was a few weeks ago.

Maternity Clothes: I purchased two maternity tops this past week, one fuschia and one black and white striped. Both quite cute and both were 40% off. Next up on my wishlist? 1 - maternity leggings, 2 - maternity yoga pants, 3 - maternity tights.

Nursery: No changes in our house just yet.

Movement: Still a big fat no on this one!

Symptoms: Round belly. Some slight lower back pain at times. It's amazing what just a few pounds does to the way you feel. Even getting out of the car or getting up from the couch involves a little more sighing and grunting than ever before.

Sleep: Sleeping great (middle-of-the-night potty breaks have taken a backburner for now) but sometimes panicking when I wake up on my back. I'm trying hard to break that habit, but it's hard. Sleeping on your back can reduce blood circulation due to the increased size of the baby (who knew?!).

Cravings: This week I didn't have any strong cravings one way or another but I will most always gravitate towards a vegetarian dish on a menu. Drinking and loving lots of water!

What I Miss: Oh yes. This is a big one. SELF TANNER. We have a wedding this weekend. I would love more than anything to get a spray tan but I am going to hold off until after le bebe.

Best Moment This Week: As cheesy as it sounds, just embracing the belly. I have had a lot of fun planning out outfits and just seeing how much my body has already changed. And for someone who has always had a bit of a tummy and spent a lifetime "sucking in" ... being pregnant is pretty sweet. ;-)

Looking Forward To: A fun 16.5-week doctors appointment this week -- not only will they be writing down the gender for us and sealing it in an envelope, but we get to see lots more of baby's development!

My Favorite Things

When I saw the theme of this link-up, I couldn't wait to join along! What a fun idea, and I always love sharing the things I just adore.

So happy to be linking up with Cheers Y'all and Down With The Dearmores for this exciting link-up. Here are some of my very favorite things.

1 /// Swarovski Annual Snowflake Ornament
I collect the large ones ($75 here) but they also make a smaller version ($40 here) and the design changes each year. I have every snowflake since 2002 and these sparklers are such a beautiful addition to a gold wire ornament tree that I display in my dining room. These are a standard addition to my Christmas list and it's fun to have something to collect.

2 /// Pashminas
My favorite accessory. I have nice pashminas and I have $5 pashminas from the streets of NYC. I love them all and can't get enough. I could use an ivory one and I'd really love one in a pretty, light aqua color. Like a Tiffany blue.

3 /// Unique Stationery
Confession: I have a stationery obsession. These Bazaar Notecards from C. Wonder are $12 and come in a pack of eight. They will monogram them for you for an additional $10. I love the gold foil envelope lining.

4 /// Aquolina Pink Sugar Perfume
I wear a few different fragrances, but this is a girly, sweet favorite. I've been wearing it for years. Bluefly has the best price - available here.

5 /// Nest Holiday Candle
There is nothing like a great smelling home for the holidays, and this Nest holiday candle has such a gorgeous scent. It burns really cleanly, as well. The regular size is $34 (here) but last year I just purchased the votive size, which is $14 (here). Yes, a bit of an investment, but they are long-lasting and put out such concentrated fragrance.

6 /// Apple 32gb iPad
Last year I received this as a Christmas/birthday gift from my parents and I use it every single day. I didn't think I necessarily needed one because I had a work laptop, a home computer, and a Kindle ... but let me tell you, I adore my iPad.

What are some of your very favorite things?

The Oyster Roast Where I Ate No Oysters

We were invited Saturday night to a friend's 40th birthday party and he really did it up right. He rented out a gorgeous clubhouse, had live music, an oyster roast, and a pig pickin'. Now that's how to ring in the big 4-0 with a bang.

Oysters are currently a no-no for me (supreme tragedy) but you can imagine my excitement as I turned around from chatting with a friend to see Ian standing behind me with a plate chock full of pulled pork barbeque, vinegar-based slaw, and baked beans made up just for me. Um, YES. Point for the husband.

  

I have to give Ian props just one more time. Guess what we did Friday after work? Happy hour yoga! 

Our gym has a yoga class that they call "happy hour" (no booze included, though that would be pretty epic) that starts at 5:45 on Friday evening. It was Ian's first class ever and he was such a trooper. He also said his lower back, which gives him trouble, felt so much better after the class than it had in a very long time. I think we are going to start integrating happy hour yoga into our weekends whenever we can -- it certainly helps to justify the pizza that we consume afterwards!

Five On Friday

Friday once again, and plans this weekend include relaxing, an oyster roast birthday party, and a movie date! Lots of fun things that I'm loving today so we'll get started with Five on Friday. Hope you'll join along. :)

O N E

My tortoise shell and pave earrings came in Tuesday! (Yes - ordered them late Thursday night ... love fast shipping.) They are going to be my holiday go-to. They are still on crazy sale -- clearance for $15.12 and right now 20% off of that price with code VETS. I'm just so in love with them! 

earrings found here

sale $15.12, plus 20% off with code VETS 

T W O

We bought fresh flowers at the grocery store on Sunday and they smell divine. Our store sells each bunch for $4, and these Stargazers are going to have to be a standard addition to our house.

T H R E E

Thank you to sweet Christina for introducing me to Ariel wines ... they are dealcoholized and they allowed me to partake in my favorite way to relax last night -- fire on, scrolling Pinterest, glass in hand! Her friendship has been such a blessing -- we are due just one day apart and we text each other all the time comparing notes and telling funny stories. So thankful.

F O U R

If you haven't had a chance to make Ashley's pecan pie mason jars yet, grab your grocery list and prepare your tastebuds. The recipe is here on Everyday Cheer and having these in the fridge this week was a true treat!

F I V E

I am just loving the baby gender poll on my homepage! If you are reading in a reader like Bloglovin' (my favorite) or Feedly, or if you are on a mobile site, click through to the actual webpage and you'll see the poll in the upper right corner. Looks like it's nearly neck-and-neck with pink taking a slight 60/40 lead ... if you haven't voted yet I'd love to get your two cents, and if you are one of those that just has a strong feeling one way or another, tell me why you are thinking the way you are!

///// your turn! /////

I hope you will join this link-up along with me and my wonderful co-hostesses -- Darci, Natasha, and Christina. Playing along is simple!  Just write a post about five things on your mind today, anything goes really, post the logo below on your blog, and then enter your post address below in the link-up section. It's a great way of meeting new friends and getting more eyes on your cute blog :)

On Hair.

I love learning new tips and tricks with hair.

Yesterday morning I had a bit of an "ah-ha" moment. It seems so simple but it honestly did take me nearly 32 years to discover this trick.

I used cool air only when drying the top layer of my hair.

And oh my goodness -- the frizz and flyaways that I typically see on the top of my head daily ... gone! It was so silky and smooth all day long.

So here's the rundown of what I am now doing when I wear my hair straight:

+ Out of shower, spritz hair with Unite 7seconds Leave In Detangler
+ Comb hair out, twist up in thin towel, put on makeup
+ Flip hair over and dry on high heat until 75% dry
+ Clip up top section, dry underside with large round brush with heat
+ Let down top section, dry with large round brush only using cool air only

Not only was my hair so shiny with zero flyaways, but I know it will be better for the health of my hair in the long run as well. Why, oh why, did it take me this long for the proverbial lightbulb to go off?!

Now, if only I can find out how to replicate this hairstyle. This will be my Holiday Hair 2013, mark my words.

via

via

The second photo is from Kate at The Small Things Blog and she posted a video tutorial here. I think it's high time that I pour a glass of Ariel and set up my iPad in front of the mirror to give it a try!

If you've got hair tips and tricks, do share! What's your secret to pretty tresses?

Week 15 Pregnancy Journal

(I've added a poll to the righthand sidebar ... I'd love to hear your gender guess - pink or blue? If you are reading in a reader like Bloglovin' or Feedly, click through to the actual post to see the poll!)

How Far Along? 15 weeks

Size of Baby: A navel orange (4.0 inches)

Gender: Next Wednesday is our anatomy ultrasound (i.e. gender appointment!) but we won't find out until the following Sunday. It may be hard to wait, but it will be worth it to be surrounded by some of our closest family and friends!

Weight Gain: Gained a pound, doc will be happy to know! So, still down 2lbs. from starting weight.

Maternity Clothes: My super sweet blogger friend Dee stopped by with some maternity clothes for me, and all I have to say is this: why did I wait so long to wear a BeBand?! Dee hooked me up with a black one and a white one. They are $17 at Target (here) and it sort of feels like a stretchy tube top that you can wear over your unbuttoned, unzipped pants. So, great for pregnant chicks and any chick during Thanksgiving dinner. Go get ya one.

Nursery: Just pinning away some sweet ideas to my Pinterest board -- mostly sophisticated, neutral looks.

Movement: None so far. I've got my hand on my tummy each night to feel for it!

Symptoms: Belly is getting rounder and bigger. Especially after meals. That's my #1 symptom right now!

Sleep: Loving my Snoogle pregnancy pillow and so happy to report that I'm back to sleeping through the night without children's Benadryl at all.

Cravings: Still really loving a once-a-week tuna sub from Harris Teeter with pickles, provolone cheese, banana peppers, lettuce, vinegar and onions ... had one this past weekend and it was glorious. Go figure that the one thing that always sounds great to me, a tuna sub, has to be limited to once a week (mercury content)! Also, Friday was the great fry craving of 2013 that I mentioned. To date, I haven't been as much into veggies, salads especially, as I normally am.

What I Miss: Nothing I can think of. Baby has been very gentle on me and dare I say that the pregnancy to date has been supremely easy and a true joy?!

Best Moment This Week: Working on our small gender reveal! We are going to keep it tiny and intimate and easy. Sweets, sips, and a simple reveal. I spent the weekend working on a tassel garland that is turning out so cute! All invitations went in the mail on Saturday and they look just how I wanted them to.

Looking Forward To: Another relaxing weekend on the books ahead of us ... really doing our best to enjoy the laid-back days of just being a family of two. :)

Nordstrom Event For The Charlotte Social

November's meet-up for The Charlotte Social was last night, and just like all of the other events I've attended, it was a true blast! Big high fives to Bre from Baubles and Bubbly who hosted the event along with stylist Leigh at Nordstrom. 

We were able to try on some of the most beautiful holiday pieces at Nordstrom, and the best part was just chatting with fellow bloggers from Charlotte and the surrounding areas. We had quite a group to show up!

  

photo from Baubles & Bubbly

I'd met Bre several times before but was finally able to meet Emily from Life With Emily ... a long time in the making to hug this sweet girl!

I also had some great time to chat with Melissa from Simply Sweet Melissa and Elizabeth from A Carolina Mrs. -- both such sweet friends.

It was great seeing all of the fun new pieces out for fall and winter.

I was immediately drawn to this Alice + Olivia dress which was a gorgeous ivory metallic lace with antiqued rhinestone details at the collar and hem. Oh my goodness. What a perfect holiday dress!

photo from Baubles & Bubbly

I posted a few photos on Instagram last night and you all were so sweet about my hair! It's embarrassingly easy to style this way ... but would you be interested in seeing a quick tutorial?

...only if you pinky promise not to laugh at me for doing a tutorial of the simplest hairstyle ever.