My Best Friend's Bridal Shower

When it comes to party planning, I'm your girl! I absolutely LOVE throwing parties, themes and all. Can anyone tell me what we did before Pinterest?! So many great ideas to help me and her sisters plan my bestie's bridal shower with a "country chic" vibe. We wanted to stay with her color scheme- red, white, & some gold. Chevron was a must with the décor! The shower was a huge success and we can't wait for the next festivities, the bachelorette party :) 

*Invitations*
Ordered from this Etsy Shop for only $15 and Mallory's sister Nicole printed them on card stock. Easy and so cute! Here is an example picture of the invite...

*Food & Drinks*
The mimosa bar was fabulous with a variety of juices and fruit. Homemade sangria and lemonade. Different fresh salads and macaroni bar with lots of toppings. Yummy cupcakes for dessert.

*Games*
We played a "He said, She said" game, where the guests had to pick if Mallory or Cody said/did it. While Mal opened presents, we played Bridal Bingo- guests fill out blank bingo board with gifts the bride might get and if they get 5 in a row, yell bingo for a prize! Our gifts for those who won the different games were a variety of hair/body care items from Ulta with a cute tag saying, "From Mallory's Shower to Yours". As guests left the shower, we had different types of mini wine bottles, "Eat, Drink, & Be Married".

*Decor*

Bridesmaids

Can't wait to document all the details from Mallory's bachelorette party next weekend! Since I'll be the sober preggo, I said that I'll be the party paparazzi :)

XOXO,
Sara 

14 Weeks Bumpdate

Hello 2nd trimester!! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going and how much I am really enjoying it! I feel so lucky that my first trimester was great with no morning sickness or feeling bad. Let's see how well I am liking it all once I enter my third trimester.

My baby at 14 weeks...
* He or she is probably sucking their thumb and wiggling toes.
* Kidneys are making urine plus liver and spleen are doing their jobs too.
* Baby is growing lagugo, a thin peach fuzz like hair all over the body to help keep warm.

How far along: 14 weeks and 6 days

Baby Size: 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces

Gender: We don't know yet but will find out soon! My guess is BOY & so is Jeff's!

Total Weight Gain: Not sure I haven't weighed myself this week

Maternity Clothes: Little bit of maternity mixed with my regular clothes

Movement: Nothing yet, should be able to in a few more weeks!

Sleep: Doing better and having some crazy vivid dreams

Best Moment of the Week: Having my college girlfriends come visit for the weekend!

Missing Anything: Nope

Food Cravings: Popcorn and lemonade

Symptoms: Some headaches but that's all really

Labor Signs: Not even close

Wedding Rings: On

Happy or Moody most of the week: Happy, happy, happy :)

Looking Forward to: Pool time and getting a tan plus my next doctor appointment in 2 weeks

Pictures of my fun friends weekend..

pool during the day

XOXO, 

Sara

FIVE ON FRIDAY

Fridays make me happy :) Memorial Day weekend ahead and I'm excited! I am going to make this 5 on Friday all about summer. I love everything about summer, it's my favorite season. Nothing like grilling out, swimming, family time, longer days, and of course all the cute summer clothes :) 

*ONE* Swimwear for Mama
I love swimsuits.. I have way too many and now that I'm preggo my little bikinis aren't going to flatter my new "bumpin'" figure. I don't mind rocking my baby bump full out with friends in private but public pools- I'm going to stick with cute, fashionable tankinis or one pieces. I still want to look trendy and fun, so I've already purchased the high waisted black & white polka dots with red top from Love of Labels Boutique. How adoreable! Can't wait to see how it fits :) Now I'm debating between these other 2 from VS. Which one to go with?!

*TWO* Fun Fonts
Who doesn't love a cute font for letters, invitations, or crafty projects?! These fonts are so easy to download and free, found them on Pinterest. I can't wait to use some of these summer fun fonts on things for Jeff and I's gender reveal party in June!

*THREE* Refreshing Mocktails
Ahh! Summer goes great with a nice cold beer or glass of wine but not for me this year. I still want to enjoy fun drinks without the alcohol. How about a virgin sangria mocktail?! Delicious :)

White Grape Sangria
4 Cups Welch's Light Grape Juice
1/2 Cup OJ
1 medium pear sliced
1 medium orange sliced
1 medium apple sliced
Fresh berries
Enjoy!

*FOUR* Pasta Salad
Signature dish for summer in my mind is definitely some kind of pasta salad. Love them for any party or cookout! A new favorite of mine is the BLT Pasta Salad found Here. Simple yet so yummy! A nice change up from the traditional Italian Pasta Salad I usually make. Give it a try for your next event and let me know how you liked it.

*FIVE* Vacation
"Vacation, all I ever wanted, vacation, had to get away..." I'm ready to take a little trip and get away sometime this summer. We won't do anything major since, we need to save up for our little bundle of joy :) We are thinking of heading to Atlanta to visit my brother. He just moved there for a new job and it would be great to see him and explore somewhere we haven't been before. He said Atlanta has some great shopping, so I'm in :) I see a road trip in our near future!

 Happy Memorial Day weekend!!

XOXO,

Sara 

13 Weeks

My baby at 13 weeks...

*baby is forming vocal cords & teeth.

*he or she already has fingerprints.

*the intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to their more permanent place, in it's tummy. 

How far along: 13 weeks 

Baby Size: 2.9 inches long and weighs about .81 ounces 

Gender: I really think it's a BOY!! 

Total Weight Gain: still only around 2 pounds. 

Maternity Clothes: lots of maxi skirts and ready to rock my maternity shorts soon as my belly starts to pop more.

Movement: can not wait to feel something! 

Sleep: takes me awhile to get to sleep and moving from side to side a lot. 

Best Moment of the Week: just talking about baby with people :) 

Miss Anything: having some sangria and mimosas at my best friend's bridal shower this weekend. 

Food Cravings: French fries are my weakness! 

Symptoms: felt pretty good this week

Labor Signs: Not for awhile 

Wedding Rings on or off: on! 

Happy or Moody Most of the Week: mainly happy unless I'm crying over a commercial or show that has sad or happy moments. 

Looking Forward to: rocking my new swimsuit at the pool with my little bump :) 

Leaving you all with some pregnancy humor!

Enjoy your week :) 

XOXO, 

Sara 

Mother's Day Recap

Hope all the mamas out there and moms to be had a wonderful Mother's Day! As an expecting mom, I really enjoyed my first Mother's Day with my whole family. Can't wait until next year when I will have my little boy or girl with me to celebrate :)

With my side of the family, we did a brunch at my parent's house. Yummy egg casserole, bacon, cinnamon rolls, and fruit just to name some of the delicious food we had. We opened presents after we ate and I was pleasantly surprised to receive gifts! Two little outfits for baby Neisslie, one was a tie dye shirt from my parents cruise to the Bahamas and the other was a cute yellow onesie with ducks on it. Along with some other gifts, I gave my mom & grandma a stylish frame from Hobby Lobby with our most recent ultrasound picture for them to have at their homes. After gifts, we were off to the next event with Jeff's side of the family. A cookout at his cousin's house! I don't know if it was too much brunch or what but I was dealing with some stomach issues. Felt sick and extra bloated. Tried some Tums once we arrived and those seemed to help a little bit but I felt bad that I wasn't quite my bubbly self and unable to eat any food, which is my favorite kind- cookout food!! We left after about an hour because we still had a drive back to Indiana. Slept pretty much the whole way back home and finally started to feel better. Went to bed early and that was the end of my first Mother's to be Day :)

Got behind of my weekly pregnancy progress, so here it is like a few days late...

*12 Week* Bumpdate

How far along: 12 Weeks

Baby Size: Plum 2.1 inches long

Gender: Still feeling BOY {mother's intuition?}

Total Weight Gain: Only 2 lbs. so far!

Maternity Clothes: Yep! new order from Motherhood Maternity came in the mail :)

Movement: Not yet but so looking forward to it!

Sleep: on and off throughout the night but my long "huggie" pillow helps with comfort.

Best Moment of the Week: Doctor appointment and hearing heartbeat *162 bmp*

Miss Anything: Nope!

Food Cravings: still candy and steak {got my Roadhouse fix in}

Symptoms: headaches started this week but only 2 days in a row & some breakouts

Labor Signs: None!

Wedding Rings on or off: ON :)

Happy or Moody Most of the Week: overall happy this week! might want to check with Jeff to see if he will agree with my answer haha

Looking Forward to: My bestest friend in the whole wide world Mallory's bridal shower this weekend!

Note to baby: Dear baby Neisslie, it is so crazy how much I already love you! I am totally obsessed with anything and everything that has to do with you. I think about you all the time- what are you going to look like, your personality, how your dad and I will raise you. I love seeing my belly begin to grow, knowing you are developing more and more each day. You have made my life so much better and you aren't even here yet :) LOVE ALWAYS, mom & dad.