What I'm Loving

Wow what an exciting week!!

I am loving loving loving that the cat is out of the bag! I'm so happy that we got to tell everyone about Baby M!

I am loving all of the congratulations and texts and messages from all of our friends and family. It is so nice and we feel so loved and blessed.

I am loving the fun display that a friend helped me put together to announce our pregnancy at school. Courtney is super crafty and creative and made these cute signs for me! Thank you Courtney!!

I am loving peanut butter. I know I just posted yesterday about how I have not been having many cravings but man today I am loving me some peanut butter. On apples, on celery, on pancakes, straight out of the jar. Yes please.

I am loving Doodle. I taught him how to play dead last week and he is really getting it now. He is such a little cutie. I love him so much.

I am loving that my spring break is only 2 days away. And this is the last day of the week with kids! Thursday is all day conferences (can you sense the excitement). And then Friday I'm off! My dad also has another surgery on Friday so keep him in your thoughts and prayers please!!

I am loving dog shaming. I read through this yesterday and had tears streaming down my face from how hard I was laughing!!

Hope you all have a great rest of the week! And thank you all again for all of the love!!!

Link Up!

Can We Have Your Attention Please!! We Have An Announcement!

You all do not even know how excited we are to tell you….

We are expecting!

We're due October 6th and are absolutely thrilled. 

Here are the stats so far!

How far along: 12 weeks! Almost done with the first trimester!
Gender: Don't know yet but I have a feeling it's a girl. I have no idea why.
Weight Gain: about 5 lbs
Maternity Clothes: No official clothes yet, but I bought a belly band so that I could unbutton my pants every now and then! Sweet relief.
Stretch Marks: Not yet!
Belly button in or out: In still
Sleep: I only have to get up one time to go to the bathroom. But I just cannot get enough sleep. I can get 8 hours of sleep and still feel like I could use another few hours.
Best Moment This Week: Finally letting out the big news!!
Miss Anything: Beer and raw sushi. We've gone to sushi and I get my little california rolls, but it's just not the same.
Movement: I don't think I can feel anything yet. I've felt little flutters but I never know if that was Baby M or just gas. Haha
Cravings/Aversions: No cravings recently. And no aversions that make me too nauseous. One thing that has been weird… I am a huge sweets person. Huge. But for some reason I can only eat a little tiny bit of something sweet and then I'm done. Baby M must not have a big sweet tooth! Other than that, I just like to eat!
Queasy or sick: Nope!! Last month I was a little bit nauseous in the mornings, but that's it! I have been very lucky!
Looking forward to: Our next doctor's appointment! And more movement!

Doodle has been studying up!

We have been feeling so blessed and thankful for all of the love and well wishes pouring our way, thank you all so much! 

High Five for 5 Things Friday

It's Friday. Can I get an amen?!

It's been a long week for me. A week filled with report cards, naughty children, a fridge that didn't get replenished with a grocery trip like it should have, not enough hours in the day, and for sure for sure for sure not enough hours to sleep at night.

With all of that being said… Here's 5 things you should know. (Or maybe just 5 things I feel like telling you all).

1. I just realized that I never reviewed Fire for you all! I mean my book reviews are not my most popular posts, so I'm sure no one is particularly saddened by this news. But I like keeping track of what I've read, and adding to my 30 Before 30 list. So here you go… wanted or not.

Amazon's Description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

This is the last book of the Graceling realm for me to read. I read them out of order as this one was actually published second, but it didn't ruin anything. I think you could read them any which way and still enjoy them all. Well… read Graceling first. But if you are into young adult fantasy books… (how dorky does that make me sound?) you should definitely read them and tell me what you think!

2. I've received my second Birchbox! I like this one a lot better than my first. This one has a delicious smelling shampoo, lotion, a lip balm, a bb cream, and an awesome exfoliator. All things that I will use!

3. A little while ago I won a $25 gift card to danaleighapparel.com from an instagram giveaway! My second giveaway win! I used it to buy some super cute items!

If you haven't checked them out before you definitely should!

4. Big news! We MIGHT be moving. I don't want to jinx anything… but we got an offer, we approved it and now we are waiting on the banks! Our temporary plan is to pay off our debt and move in with my in-laws to save some major moolah. With that being said my weekend is going to consist of packing. Again, I don't want to jinx anything, but we know we are going to be moving eventually, even if this particular offer doesn't work out. So we might as well start packing up our guest room and office. Justin already got a storage unit too. Things are really progressing quickly. Here's to this (or Justin getting the storage unit) not jinxing it!

5. Cliff hanger. I'm not planning on posting a weekend recap, like I said… I'm planning on packing this weekend I doubt you guys want some of that. BUT I have a major post going up on Tuesday that I am super stoked about so please make sure to check in for that!!

Have a good weekend you all! See you Tuesday!

Weekend Recap

Yes I'm just getting around to posting about my weekend now, and yes, I'm still alive.

Like I mentioned on my Wednesday post, my sisters came up for the weekend.

When I was on a girl's trip in Seattle after New Years we went to this restaurant that served fried Macaroni and Cheese balls. They were to die for. I have been thinking about them a lot lately so my sisters and I decided to try to recreate them. It was quite the process and extremely unhealthy. But still delicious.

We ended the night with a game of Phase 10. You know, big partiers here.

Sunday morning my brother came into town too for the St. Patty's Pub Pedal! A big group of people get together and ride their bikes to about 5 different bars. It is a blast. Justin and I have done it about 4 times but this is the first one all of my siblings have come for. It was so much to play all day with them. We came home that night and had pizza and played Taboo.

Mario Kart style

Monday I had to go to work, my siblings played around town and at home until I got off. Then we watched Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and I made my first corned beef and cabbage. Everyone approved so I would say it was a success! Thanks mom for all of the tips and help!!

Then we made chocolate chip cookies and watched Dancing with the Stars. I stayed up way too late and then had to go to work today. (Dumb) So now I'm finally getting around to the recap.

It was a great long weekend with my favorite people.

Happy Friday

I can't get over how happy I am that this day and this week is finally over. I have been waiting for this all week!

Justin is going to pick up sushi for dinner tonight too. Which pretty much makes it the best Friday ever.

So with that I will leave you with these two videos. Both are adorable and are must sees.



Listen to me Linda! Hahahaha I love it.

I'm glad Justin and I are not the only adults out there that sing Frozen songs. I wish we were this good though! The guys' faces just crack me up.

Happy weekend everyone!

What I'm Loving Wednesday and Happy 21st Veronica!!

Hello friends!

It is Wednesday again!

First off, I am loving my little sister Veronica, and loving that it is her birthday! We have gotten so close over the past 4 years and I am so lucky and happy to have you in my life! I hope you have a super super wonderful 21st birthday, after you rock your midterm! And I can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend!!

Also, loving that two of my sisters are coming to stay with me for a few days. I love any chance I get to spend time with them, and it seems like it's been forever since I've seem them.

I am loving that I have a kind of 4 day week. Friday is a work day. Not a day off, but second best. Hopefully I'll get some work done and get all ready for conferences, my favorite thing ever. #notreally

I am loving the time change! I never thought I would say that when I am losing sleep. But I love that Justin comes home and it is still light outside! I am ready for those dinners outside!

I am loving the chalkboard art I have been working on… it's not quite ready so you don't get to see it yet, but it's going to be great! Stay posted!

I am loving my little family.

What I'm Loving Wednesday Link Up

Happy Ash Wednesday Friends!

Here's what I'm loving this week!

I am loving the the non profit company The Ivy Movement. Some awesome bloggers put together a wonderful giveaway for this great cause. You can enter the giveaway here to win a $100 Amazon gift card, or add space on 10 amazing blogs! I entered the giveaway by donating to the Ivy Movement. I'm already dreaming of the things I could buy with that gift card, and I crossed something off of 30 before 30 list. Two birds, one stone.

I am loving meal planing. I am not as crazy organized as some of you out there, I didn't cook all of my meals out ahead of time, but it's planning none the less! Justin and I sit down on Sunday and decide what we are going to eat each day. I make a grocery list and we go grocery shopping. Now I don't have to decide what to cook when I get home, I know I already have all of the ingredients, and it makes our grocery shopping more productive and we save money. Win win!



I am loving that I am finally feeling like I m getting better! I swear I have been battling a cold for the last 2 months! I finally feel like my energy level is up, my attitude is better (I don't have a good attitude when I'm sick) and foods are tasting good again.



I am loving all of the positive feedback I have gotten over my Shadow post. Seriously one of my most popular posts in a long time. I don't know if that's sad or not... If you missed it, check it out here.

I am loving ice cream. This is nothing new, but just thought I'd let you know, since I'm eating some right now as I write this post!

Weekend Recap and Super Amazing Giveaway

Hello friends! I hope you all had an amazing weekend!

Justin and I went out to dinner on Friday night with the in laws, Mexican on Friday nights… it' their tradition. It was delicious. Then Justin and I came home and had some major couch time catching up on some of our favorite shows.

Saturday morning my husband truly spoiled me. It was 15 degrees outside and so windy. Absolutely horrid outside, so we spent the day playing games. All day long. We played Phase 10, Dominos, Monopoly, Life, and then finished the day off with Mario Party on the Wii. It was wonderful. And for the record… I won every game but Dominos.

Sunday we had a family dinner and I got to spend time with my adorable nephew Ryan. He is just the cutest. He learned to high five so that was the highlight of my night. Either that or the delicious risotto my mother in law made.

And that was my weekend! Nothing fancy, but sometimes those are the best kinds.

Now I have something really amazing to share with you guys!

The Ivy Movement is a grassroots non-profit organization that exists to eradicate sex trafficking in our neighborhoods. It was co-founded in Boise, Idaho by two women who desire to make a difference in their own community.

Ivy’s has two major focuses:

1. Raising Awareness – sex trafficking happens in the United States, and it happens in the safe, beautiful city of Boise. The myth that it only exists overseas and in big cities is just that – a myth. This myth is keeping the community from helping local victims from slavery into freedom.

2. Providing Short and Long-Term Care for Victims – The Ivy Movement is focused on providing crisis care packages for women and children rescued, short-term housing, and long-term housing and rehabilitation for victims. The Ivy Movement plans to build and operate at least one long-term safe house in the Treasure Valley.

Mission Statement: To engage and equip our community in the fight to end sex trafficking in our neighborhood. 

The Ivy Movement believes that each individual person has something valuable to offer and can make a difference with what they have, where they are at. When children are forced into sexual slavery, it should be every single person’s responsibility to do what they can to help rescue them. The Ivy Movement has vision to engage and equip each member of the community so that they are empowered to make a difference in the lives of those who are enslaved.

Our first step is to put together more crisis care packages for victims and to get a short-term safe house in place. We need your help to do this. As a community –near or far – we are asking you to believe in and partner with us to rescue these girls and boys. Together, we can keep sex trafficking off of our streets and out of our backyards. Learn more at www.theivymovement.org.

Today, a team of amazing, successful and generous bloggers have teamed up with us to raise money for this incredible organization. There are TWO separate giveaways for bloggers and non-bloggers alike!We have TEN incredible bloggers giving away ad space on their blogs. If you're a blogger, you will want to win this ad space giveaway! Ten months of ad space on some of the biggest and best blogs in blog land. But wait, even if you're not a blogger, we have something for you too! We also are giving away a $100 Gift Card to Amazon! Kindle anyone? Bloggers and non bloggers can enter to win the amazon gift card as well.

Karissa & Co || Happy Is A Choice

 Helene In Between || Venus Trapped in Mars || Two Martinis || Two Thirds Hazel

Life of Meg || Whit Speaks || A Beautiful Exchange || Afternoon Style

Unpredictable & Chic || Life Style Love || The Modern Tulip

Everyday with S & J || Travel Babbles || Hannah Here

You can enter one, or both of these giveaways! To enter, all we ask that you make a donation to the Ivy Movement. I know, I know, money is tight and you're on a budget. But even a $5.00 donation to the Ivy Movement matters. There are two separate giveaways, the Ad Space Giveaway and the $100 Amazon Giveaway. Please send two separate donations if you wish to enter both giveaways. 


You can donate at the Ivy Movement Website. You can earn extra entries by sharing the image on social media. Please join us in getting the word out there about this amazing organization and this fundraiser to help victims of Sex Trafficking. Pin these images, share them on Instagram, post them to Facebook and help raise awareness and support.

In order to win the giveaway, entries will be verified. The only mandatory entry is that you have made a donation (per giveaway) to The Ivy Movement. Every share, like, and tweet about this organization and fundraiser raises awareness and helps fight to end Sex Trafficking.


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