We were so excited to host Thanksgiving, and it went off without a hitch! Our first family holiday as a married couple in our home was a major success and only mildly exhausting. Everything tasted amazing, and the wonderful company was even better! I have no pictures of our family, but clearly I took a food picture, so that's what you're getting today! 

I've been suffering from a little bit of insomnia at night, but what I've found is that's the perfect time to do some online shopping. The Black Friday deals online this year were wonderful, and they all started early, which I was even more excited about! I'm loving the holidays this year, and can't wait to continue our traditions as an (almost) family of three! 

About the only thing I'm struggling this year is what to put on my Christmas list. Almost everything I come up with is something for the baby or the baby's room. Our house is firmly stocked in every household product I could ever have asked for because of our wedding this year. So now I'm left trying to figure out what to say when people ask "What do you want for Christmas?"

The following is a short list of items I've come up with to share with you so that when you have a clueless momma-to-be in your life, and she doesn't know what to ask for at Christmas, you'll know what might be a good option! 

Any gift certificate that offers pampering: 

Massages. Manicures. Pedicures. The answer is a resounding YES. Moms-to-be are tired and hurting and swollen and could probably use some pampering. Today, my mom caught a Black Friday special and bought me a massage gift certificate for two massages. Bless her heart, it was a happy Christmas moment for me (even if I don't get them for a month!). I don't know a single mom-to-be that would turn down a little pampering. 

A commemorative ornament: 

I actually saw a fellow mom-to-be get this ornament from her mom, and I immediately sent the link to my mom! I LOVE having ornaments on the tree with stories behind them, and I can't wait to tell our little one that this ornament is from the Christmas I was pregnant with him/her! 

Snacks:

I mean, it's a giant stereotype that all pregnant love to eat. And it's a giant stereotype because it's mostly true. A small collection of mom's favorite snacks would be an amazing, thoughtful gift to give. You could even include a gift card to mom's favorite restaurant or coffee shop so she can stop by when she doesn't feel like making her own food. 

Awesome accessories: 

Clothing can be difficult to buy for others, mostly because who knows what fits during this time of life. But accessories are a totally different story! Scarves, amazing jewelry (enter Sparkle Box!), or a beautiful bag will go far in momma's eyes. My favorite place to shop for scarves is Flourish Boutique because they have something for every style! 

A Netflix subscription:

Our baby isn't even here yet, but I have a strong feeling that I'm going to need some entertainment during sleepless nights or mid-day naps. And thankfully, Netflix just released all the seasons of Gilmore Girls plus a whole host of new, awesome movies. We already have Netflix, and I know my love for the service will only grow! 

Books, books, and more books:

Topping my list this year is this memoir by Anne Lamott. I've always loved her writing, and I can't wait to read her stories from her son's first year. Completely unrelated to becoming a mom, I also want to read The Paris Wife and anything by Jojo Moyes (because I loved Me Before You so much!). 

Something personalized:

Since we know that life will be all about baby once baby arrives, spoiling her with a little something personalized now can't hurt! Enter the perfect monogrammed present from Courtney Bock Designs! I did a blog post a few weeks ago on all of her amazing products, and if you haven't had a chance to check her out yet, do it now! I'm loving the monogrammed scarf (or scarves in general, apparently), the awesome mason jar tumblers, and the unique stationary gift sets. 

Alcohol-free alcohol: 

Yes, you read that right. I've sorely missed my favorite wine during pregnancy (a small price to pay for our beautiful baby), and I recently discovered Fre Wines. They're definitely not the same as the real thing, BUT, it tastes sort of similar to my beloved Moscato, and I'll take that! 

Time: 

Not sure what to give a new mom? Offer up some time! Maybe she'll want to spend an afternoon prepping freezer meals and could use some help. Or maybe she really needs someone to help her paint a bedroom or scrub bathtubs. Sometimes an hour or two means more than anything else! 

What else have you given mommas-to-be? I would love to hear some of your ideas to add to my own list! 

P.S. Go Slicers! I believe! #PlayForJake

Things people may have told me before pregnancy that I probably didn't listen to

Now that we're officially in to our third trimester of pregnancy (how'd we get here, by the way?!), it's becoming much more real that in a few short months, we'll be bringing our baby home from the hospital with us. I literally cannot wait to see what this baby looks like, feels like, and acts like. But in the mean time, there's plenty to do to keep us busy (like hosting Thanksgiving tomorrow!)! 

I've been spending some time reflecting the past few weeks about what people told me about pregnancy before it personally applied to me. I've gotten all sorts of advice, but not all of it has come true (for example, no stranger has tried to touched my stomach in public, nor has anyone who doesn't know me asked about the baby or when we're due). The following list are things people probably told me before I got pregnant, but I didn't really take them to heart. So, I'm passing them along to you just in case you want to listen now! 

1. Your back will hurt. All day. Every day. From about 24 weeks on. I had no idea how much carrying an extra 20ish pounds right on the front of my stomach would impact my back. Holy cow, does it ever. My back throbs most of the time whether I'm standing up or sitting down. Laying is good, but laying down to teach high school English just isn't really conducive. So, alas, I attempt to hold my body up and let it throb! 

2. Feeling your baby kick will be the most amazing, incredible, life-affirming thing you've ever felt. And although you want to meet your baby so badly, you will never want to NOT feel that feeling. I love feeling the little flips and kicks that I have zero control over. Our baby has super active periods during the day, and it's so fun to feel him/her in there! I can't imagine not feeling this once s/he is here! 

3. People will have all sorts of opinions and advice for you, and not all of it will be positive. God love people, I know they're just trying to helpful, but sometimes I don't want to hear the horror stories or see the gawking at the amount of weight I may have gained that week! I'm choosing to wear the rose colored glasses just a wee bit longer!

4. Everything will shift. All the time. One morning, you will have a belly button. Then, the baby will shift a little, and suddenly, my belly button is flush with my stomach. Twenty minutes later, the belly button is back! And it's not just the stomach! Weight shifts up and down on the hips and back and bum! There's just a lot of shifting that happens! 

5. Every moment, even the uncomfortable ones, will be a major blessing. I can't tell you how thankful I am to be pregnant. I know I am so incredibly lucky to be carrying this baby and that there are so many women out there who want so badly to be in this situation. So even on the tough days when my back aches and I'm exhausted and I wonder if I can really do this for another 11 weeks, the answer is a resounding YES, because I am so blessed to be this child's momma. 

Stuff I'm Loving Saturday #7

What a week it's been! I love this time of year leading up to the holidays so much, and it feels like there's even more to cherish in the next few months! We're hosting our first ever family Thanksgiving, and I'm very excited to see how everything turns out (okay, excited, and mildly scared!). But first, here's another edition of Stuff I'm Loving Saturday! 

Sparkle Box:
I blogged about Shannon's new business earlier this week, but I can't get enough of it! Sparkle Box is a totally unique way to get a fun piece of surprise jewelry sent to you (or someone else!). Choose a style, put in your info, and for only $19, you get an awesome piece of jewelry hand picked and sent directly to you! This is SO fun for the holidays! I placed my first order last week, and I can't wait to see what Shannon chooses for me! AND, there's still time to enter the Grand Opening giveaway! Head over to Sparkle Box's Facebook page, like the company, and enter to win free jewelry for you AND a friend! 

Elfster: 
I'm in a group for moms due in February on Facebook, and one of the ladies asked if anyone would be interested in doing a Secret Mommy exchange. One of the other moms-to-be asked how we would possibly organize something like this. Enter Elfster. Elfster is an online Secret Santa organizer. You can set up groups, make a wish list (with items you find on the internet), and message your match up in secret if you have questions. This is such an awesome way to do a Secret Santa, I almost wish I had to organize one this year! Oh, and did I mention that it's free? Even better! 

Courtney Bock Designs (all of it!):
Earlier this week, I attended an open house for Courtney Bock Designs, and I have to tell you, seeing all of her merchandise right in front of me makes me want to buy it even more! I snagged a few Christmas gifts for others, and also got some really awesome placemats to set out for my Thanksgiving tablescape. I'm still sort of kicking myself for not getting a sparkly red chevron water cup for myself! I recently ordered an adorable monogrammed infinity scarf for my friend Tabitha's daughter, and it came out so stinking cute! That's a definite item I'll by buying again! 

My Humidifier:
I realize how odd that sounds, but winter came early to northern Indiana, and my already sensitive skin was NOT happy that it didn't have time to adjust to this weather. Thankfully, my fabulous humidifier has come in handy to keep a little extra moisture in the house. Hooray! 

LaPorte High School's 2014 Football Team: 

I had to save the best for last, of course! I am SO incredibly proud of our school's football team this year! For the first time in school history, our team will head to State next weekend to play at Lucas Oil Stadium! This is such an amazing accomplishment, but it's made more amazing by the fact that our kids are truly "Playing for Jake," their teammate who died completely unexpectedly last year at practice (and who is missed every single day). This is Jake's senior year, and his teammates are making sure he's with them every day on the field. I'm so proud of what our kids are doing to honor his legacy. I just can't get over how incredible all of this is. #ProudTeacherMoment #Play for Jake #StateBound

Fitness myths: A little bit of debunking

I'll never forget the feeling of crossing the finish line of my first half marathon. I was exhausted. Every muscle in my lower body was screaming. My joints were crying out in pain. But I felt so incredibly accomplished. In a little over two hours, I had run 13.1 amazing miles, and I was thrilled. I couldn't wait to see my parents. I couldn't wait to call Dan (who, at the time, I hadn't even met yet!). And I really couldn't wait to EAT. Everything. All the food I could get my hands on. 

And I will never forget the moment I looked down at my Body Bug (something I used religiously at the time) and saw that I had burned less than 1,000 calories. Say WHAT?! I had run for HOURS! I was planning to eat my body weight in a calorific ice cream sundae. All of that pushing myself had burned me 988 calories. This was still an amazing feat, but it felt like I should have burned 10,000 calories for what I'd just put my body through! 

So occasionally when I see a "Burn 1,000 calories workout" pop up on Pinterest. I cringe a little bit. Because my fear is that someone will look at it, think it actually burns 1,000 calories, complete it, and then eat a giant amount of calories since they think they've burned that much. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I assure you, these workouts aren't burning you anywhere NEAR that much. 

It would be INCREDIBLE if this workout actually burned 1,000 calories, but it's just not reality. It might be a good workout, and it certainly would burn calories, but probably not 1,000. This myth gets perpetuated repeatedly. And that got me thinking about all the other fitness myths out there. 

Targeting fat burn is easy.

Negative. While you can certainly attempt to train certain areas, it's not going to work unless you're burning calories overall and eating right. So, while people may wish for thinner thighs or tighter abs, trying to spot treat just those areas isn't going to cut it. 

Lifting heavy weights will bulk you up.

I've had a couple of people tell me in the past that they're hesitant to go up in the size of free weights they use because they don't want to bulk up. I assure you, raising your free weights a pound or three is NOT going to turn you in to a competition body builder! Push yourself to become stronger and lift a little more! 

Eating vegetarian or vegan is healthiest. 

This is only true if you eat a healthy diet. Do you KNOW what kinds of foods are vegan? Oreos. Sour Patch Kids. Red Bull. Fritos. Pringles. Famous Amos cookies. Town House Crackers. They're vegan! That could be a vegan diet! It's not healthy in the slightest. You have to make good choices to have a healthy diet no matter what type of diet you eat. 

What it boils down to is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it seems like a ridiculous reality, it probably is. Do your research. Debunk the myths. And do what's best for you! 

All things Sparkly: Let me tell you about Sparkle Box!

I have been on pins and needles just waiting to tell you all about the new, awesome jewelry service, Sparkle Box! Literally, the fact that I get to blog about this today makes me so happy, because this business is the fabulous brain child of my best friend, Shannon! 

Unlike a subscription box service, this one is totally unique! For only $19, you get a sparkly, shiny, awesome piece of jewelry hand-picked and mailed to you! You can get them as often or as infrequently as you like, and there's no subscription (yet!), so you don't have to worry about forgetting to log in and skip a month or cancel like some subscription services make you do. 

The concept is simple: Log on to Sparkle Box and select your personal style. You can choose from a variety of styles like Boho Beauty, Cute and Quirky, On Trend, Subtle Style, or Holiday Glam! Or, you can choose to make it a surprise and let Shannon decide for you! There's even a Sparkle Girl option you can choose for girls ages 10-16 who might want a little more sparkle in their lives. Once you've chosen your signature style, your box will be mailed within seven business days, and, poof, your awesome new piece of jewelry will arrive! 

Obviously I'm biased, but I think this is so awesome on so many levels. 

1. Your $19 actually purchases something! I tried using RocksBox recently (a similar jewelry styling company), but I didn't love that my monthly payment of $19 only rented me the jewelry. If I actually wanted to buy any jewelry (which ranged from $30 to $150 a piece), I had to pay out of pocket, and the $19 wasn't applied to my purchase (unlike Stitch Fix where the "styling fee" also goes toward the cost to purchase). Here, for $19, this piece of jewelry is all yours! 

2. The jewelry is gorgeous! Being a best friend has its perks, and I got to see some of the jewelry Shannon was contemplating using for Sparkle Box. Let me tell you, the inventory is GORGEOUS! And I can only imagine what awesome pieces Shannon is going to come up with in the future!

3. There's literally something for everyone here! Ask anyone I know, I'm not a big jewelry person. That's not to say I don't like jewelry (I DO!), but I've never been one to wear a lot of large pieces of jewelry. When I saw there was a Subtle Style option, I knew it was for me! Delicate, dainty, and understated... which is exactly what I want in my jewelry! For those who are super trendy, love large pieces, or want something fabulously blingy, there's options for you too! 

Jewelry just right for me!

Because the Grand Opening is today (!!!), Shannon is running a great contest right now! You can win a Sparkle Box for you AND one for a friend! Click here to head on over to the Sparkle Box Facebook page! Like the page, find this image, and comment on it with which Sparkle Box style you love the most, and tag your friend in it too! 

Head on over there now to enter the giveaway and see what's new at Sparkle Box! The site is live, and orders are ready to ship... just in time for the holidays! :)

Weight: Is it just a number?

I've been debating about whether or not I would write this post essentially since I found out I was pregnant. I knew this day was coming, and I knew it would be one I might struggle with a bit. And now it's here. 

Today, I saw a number on the scale that I've never seen on the scale before. 

And that makes me feel so many things. It means our baby is growing bigger every day, and that makes me incredibly happy. It means I haven't deprived myself of treats during my pregnancy (what, you didn't have a McFlurry while driving home from work late last night?!). And it also means that there was a time when I weighed this much when I WASN'T 27 weeks pregnant. 

Roughly five years ago, I went through what I commonly like to think of as the dark days of yuck. After a particularly horrendous breakup, I was just so, so sad. And I fed that sadness with a lot of crud. A lot of crud covered in peanut butter. That crud caused me to gain ten pounds in one month... and then caused me to double that number over the next few months. I had very disordered eating at the time, and I really struggled to get a handle on it. Perhaps this wouldn't have been so depressing if I hadn't been teaching Jazzercise five days a week. But I was, and I was burning mad calories, which meant I was eating mad calories too. 

It took me a solid six or so months to come out of the dark days of yuck, but eventually the crud dissipated and the sunniness returned and things felt good and normal again. The weight came off and I felt like me. My old wardrobe fit too, which was an added bonus! 

So when I found out I was pregnant, I asked myself how I was going to feel when I surpassed the highest weight I'd ever been. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. 

And today when I saw it, it wasn't so bad. It wasn't bad at all, actually. Because I know this means that Baby P is healthy and thriving and hopefully happy with the treats I'm providing. And at least this time around, I've gained weight for a really incredible reason. :) That doesn't mean there aren't days when it's tough to see my body changing or days where I wonder if I'll be able to get this weight off after our baby is here, but it's a pretty awesome feeling to be happy with weight gain. 

I was able to go to breakfast this morning with my best friend Teresa and our husbands. This morning's breakfast was even more special because it's probably the last time I'll see them without children! Their twins are due on Christmas Day, but could potentially arrive any time now, which is extra exciting! We took a quick picture to document the moment, and it might be my favorite pregnancy picture so far! 

Teresa (left) pregnant with twins at 34 weeks, Me (right) pregnant with a singleton at 27 weeks!

Thanksgiving to New Year's Day: Looking for a challenge!

Let's just be honest, this week has been a butt kicker. It's the end of first trimester at school, so I'm scrambling to get all of my grades done and papers and projects returned to my students. Additionally, I'm trying to complete all of the other things I need to do in the next few months like curriculum maps and maternity leave sub plans. And I'm attempting to do it all with a smile on my face. 

But really, it's freakin' overwhelming. I've been in a negative funk the past two days, and I know it's partially due to stress. But, my friend Erica informed me yesterday that Mercury is in retrograde, so apparently everything is opposite. I'm going with that since it gives me something to blame the negativity on (P.S. Don't tell me if that's not true.). 

So, I guess you could say I'm looking for a pick-me-up. And that got me thinking to around this time last year when I decided to take on the Runner's World Thanksgiving to New Year's Day challenge. 

The premise was simple enough: Every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, I had to run at least one mile. It didn't matter if I ran inside or outside, morning or night, I just had to do it. And I figured if I had ten minutes a day to blog, search Pinterest, and buy Christmas presents online, I definitely had ten minutes to lace up my shoes and go for a run. I really loved the challenge because it kept me accountable through the holidays, and it jump started my running throughout the winter. 

Fast forward to this year, and I'm not running much at all. If I get in one 5K a week right now, it's been a pretty good week. I'm teaching four Jazzercise classes a week, and any "off" days I want to exercise, I usually end up walking, using the elliptical, or strength training. But at almost 27 weeks pregnant, I've started to slow down a wee bit, so taking on a running challenge makes me nervous. 

Still, I would really like to do some sort of fitness/health challenge during the holidays. I've played around with a few ideas, and here's what I've come up with so far: 

-A rotating arms, abs, legs workout schedule

-An increasing number of squats challenge

-A wall sit challenge that increases in time daily

-Ten to fifteen minutes of physical activity daily

-Five servings of veggies daily

-Nine total servings of fruits and veggies daily

I can't quite decide yet what I really want to focus on during the holidays yet... other than buying presents. And Christmas cookies. 

Are you planning to do any sort of challenges in the near future? I'd love to hear what you're focusing on! 

Stitch Fix #8: Jewel tones and a help request!

When I got home on Friday, there was a beautiful box just waiting for me on my porch! It's Stitch Fix Day! 

If you haven't heard about my Stitch Fix obsession yet, let me tell you a little about it! Basically, Stitch Fix is a subscription service. You fill it out a detailed style profile about  your sizes, style preferences, and budget. After that, they'll send you five clothing or accessory pieces for you to try on in the comfort of your own home. This is awesome, because you can pair it with your own clothing and accessories to see what might work well in your closet! Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of what to wear! Each Fix costs $20, but that fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you drop it in the prepaid mailing envelope, stick it in any mailbox, and send it back to the company. You only get charged for what you keep, and you can get Fixes as often or as infrequently as you'd like. Shipping is free both ways. 

AND, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! Not a bad deal, huh?

I love using this service because it gets me outside my comfort zone and allows me to try things I normally wouldn't! You can check out my other Stitch Fix reviews here: 
Stitch Fix #1
Stitch Fix #2
Stitch Fix #3
Stitch Fix #4
Stitch Fix #5
Stitch Fix #6
Stitch Fix #7

And that brings us to today's Fix! I really like a lot of the pieces I got, but I'm struggling with my ever expanding body to know what looks good. Can you weigh in? 

1.LA Made Sherman Scoop Neck Side-Ruched Maternity Knit Top, $48

I really like the color of this top, and I thought I was really going to love the length, but when I put it on, it just sort of... sits there. I think it's a large small, and it makes me look boxy, so I don't think I love it. Plus, I keep hearing that line from Macklemore's Thrift Shop -- "That's $50 for a t-shirt!" So, I think this is definitely going back.

2. Look by M Sammie Plaid Infinity Scarf, $34

My favorite Fall accessory IS a good scarf, and I don't have anything like this one! While I think the orange might turn some people off, as a Slicer through and through, I like it a lot! While it's more than I might normally spend on a scarf, I also really like that I can get a lot of wear out of it through the cold months ahead! 

3. Tart Maternity Hadlie Maternity Wrap Dress, $68 

If I knew for sure we were having a boy, this might be a great baby shower dress! I really like the look of it, and I think it's really flattering on. But, I worry that it will be seasonally inappropriate. :/ If it were summer time, I think this would be an automatic yes from me, but going in to snow season, I just don't know that it works! What do you think?

4. TCEC Donelle V-Neck Button Up Cardigan, $58

Bestill my heart! I absolutely LOVE this color of green, and I'd seen it in another blogger's Fix, so I was hoping I might get it too. I love how long the cardi is, and I love that I can wear it unbuttoned right now and later button it back up after baby is here! I paired it with my favorite scarf from Flourish, and think the outfit turned out pretty cute together! 

5. Renee C Karah Embellished Button-Up Cardigan, $58

See, here's the one problem with Stitch Fix. Sometimes they get to know you SO well, they send you something you already have! 

Oh, hi. This photo refuses to turn right side up!

On the right is the cardigan Stitch Fix sent me. And on the left is a very similar top I bought last holiday season from The Limited. The only major differences are that the Stitch Fix cardi has a little more bling and The Limited sweater isn't a cardigan. But, I definitely love the style! 

So, I'm stuck here, people. What do you love? What do you not love so much? What would you keep if you were me? 

Finally ready to try Stitch Fix for yourself? I would love if you would use my referral link, especially now that I know I can keep getting Fixes throughout my pregnancy! 

Stuff I'm Loving Saturday #6

Saturday! One of my favorite days of the week! We have one more week left in our first trimester at school. I cannot believe the school year is almost 1/3 of the way over! More than that, though, I can't believe this is my last full trimester of teaching this year. With second trimester ending February 27, and Baby P slated to make an appearance sometime mid-month, I don't think I'll make it all the way until the end of the trimester. It's mind blowing to think about that... that our baby will be here before I submit final grades again! 

I've been thinking about all of the things I'm loving this week, and came up with a pretty awesome list! What sorts of things are you loving this week? 

Team Taught Group Fitness Classes:
Last week, I had the opportunity to teach not one but TWO Jazzercise team taught classes! In South Bend, we had an awesome "sport set" put together, and six instructors participated. It was so much fun to see our 25ish students having a blast. The energy in the room was contagious! Then on Halloween, instructor Heather and I taught a Latin set in LaPorte. She dressed as Pitbull (including a bald head and some pretty rockin' facial hair), and I attempted to be J. Lo (if only I could have moved my belly around to my behind!). We had a blast, and it was a great way to kick off a fun day! 

Girls On The Run:
This morning, I had the chance to volunteer with Girls On The Run of Northwest Indiana. It was a chilly, rain-spitty morning, but the girls running were SO excited, and their buddies were being great sports. My favorite moment of the day is when I saw a little girl who had previously registered with her running buddy dad come back from the hair painting table. She had gone with a hot pink ponytail, and shaved-head dad opted for a green and pink skull. You have to love that kind of support! I love the message of being happy and self-confident that GOTR supports, and think it's such a great activity for girls to be involved in!

Anything Storage Related: 
We've been going on a cleaning/reorganizing/purging session in our house as of late, and I'm loving literally anything storage related. Totes, bins, sacks, boxes, they're all making an appearance in our home right now! 

Scentsy Fuzzy Blanket scent:
I went to a Scentsy party earlier this week at my best friend Shannon's house, and fell in LOVE with a scent called... Fuzzy Blanket! I don't even know how to describe it other than to say it's exactly what you want a warm, fuzzy blanket to smell like. If you get your hands on some Scentsy soon, you have to give it a try! I can't wait to get the bar I ordered! 

Amazing Kids Being Recognized: 
I posted this video earlier this week, but it warrants being posted again! One of my amazing newspaper staffers, Michael Varda, was honored as the WSBT Burger King Outstanding Athlete of the Week. His story brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. He's such an awesome kid, and deserves all the good things coming his way!