At almost 34 weeks pregnant, I would be big time lying to you if I told you that working out felt easy right now. In the past few weeks, my body has really started to change, and not all of it is comfortable. As a fitness instructor, this is extra infuriating to me, a self-admitted perfectionist.

A little back story here. I became a certified Jazzercise instructor in 2006, after one year of taking classes as a student. I started going to Jazzercise with my mom after I graduated from college and felt like I need to get some physical activity in my life. I'd never been very consistent about working out, and this was the first program I stuck to (and absolutely fell in love with!)!

Currently, I teach four Jazzercise classes a week, and this seems to be my sweet spot. I've taught far more than that before (teaching seven consistently for about a month before I realized I was burning out!) and far less too, but four is my happy place. :) That leaves a few days free for rest or other workouts, and I like having those options. 

But now... it's gotten HARD to workout! I find myself getting out of breath faster than ever, and while I could normally jump around with lots of energy, I just can't do that anymore. I've had to modify and do a lot more low impact than I'm used to, and that makes it hard (especially as the person who's supposed to be motivating others to push themselves!). 

And so, come early January, I've decided to hang up my aerobics shoes and start maternity leave from Jazzercise a bit early. I really want to continue to be active up until Baby P joins our family, but I feel like I'm doing a disservice to myself and my students by trying to push extra hard to keep teaching. 

At the very beginning of my pregnancy, I had lofty fitness goals. I was going to run through the end of my pregnancy! I was going to teach Jazzercise up until Baby Putt was born! I was going to be in absolutely amazing shape when I delivered! 

But I've come to realize that sometimes goals (and, well, priorities) change. My priority now is to keep moving until the baby gets here while still getting some R&R before Baby P comes. I'm looking forward to having a little more down time and a little more freedom in my schedule to attend other classes if I choose. Embracing the slow down isn't always easy, but sometimes, it's well worth it! 

Onto happier things, though... I picked up the CD of our maternity photos we had taken last weekend. The fabulous Cari Hughes of Cari Hughes Photography took us to Notre Dame for some amazing pictures. We also did a few at our house by the Christmas tree so that we could show Baby P what time of year it was. I'm THRILLED with how they turned out, and I'm giving you a sneak peek below! (And no, I couldn't just pick one!)

Photos by: Cari Hughes, Cari Hughes Photography

Outfit credits: 
Green Cardigan Sweater: Stitch Fix (<-- referral link!)
Scarves (multicolor and burgundy wrap): Flourish Boutique (End of the Year 40% off sale is still going!)
Necklace: Sparkle Box (I wear this necklace, like, daily!)
Jeans: Old Navy Maternity (LOVE these skinny jeans!)
Boots: UrbanOG (purchased spring 2013)

Want to stick to your New Year's Resolution? A checklist for success!

'Tis the season for making New Year's Resolutions! We all start off with such lofty goals, yet, by mid-January, many of us have dropped those resolutions by the wayside. Mentally, it's important to head into resolutions with eyes wide open. And there are some simple things we can all do to make sure our 2015 resolutions have a fighting chance! 

1. Set yourself up for success. 
Trying to get into a new fitness routine? Hoping to be kinder to others? Looking to quit smoking? Set yourself for success! Make sure you have the right equipment to get you started. Do you have a plan for working out? Have you looked into fitness classes or joining a gym? Have you decided how you'll spread kindness? Are you going to use a nicotine supplement to quit smoking, or are you fully prepared to go cold turkey? The best thing you can do is to surround yourself with the tools you need to succeed. Get those tools now so that come January 1, you're ready to begin. 

2. Try to avoid an all or nothing mentality. 
If you haven't eaten a vegetable in months, don't promise yourself that you're suddenly going to eat 5-9 servings a day. And if you've been overspending for a while, don't assume you're going to find yourself out of debt in the next month or two. It takes time to make these adjustments, and there's nothing wrong with starting small. You can always increase your resolution later once you see how well it's going. 

3. Tell everyone you know (it keeps you accountable). 
Share your resolutions with people close to you. Tell them what you're up to, and ask them to help you stay on track. And, bonus, you never know who might jump on board with you. If you tell others that your resolution is to work out three times a week, you might get a new workout buddy out of the deal! If for some reason you don't want to tell people in your life, start a blog and post it on a community page. Knowing your readers will be checking in with your progress is a great motivator! 

4. Make your resolution a priority, and give it plenty of time. 
Schedule time in to your day to complete your resolution. Set it up like you would an appointment or a date. Whether it's working out, getting finances in order, making healthy meals, or volunteering, you have to make the time for you to be successful. Carve out time and write it down in your planner, set reminders in your phone, and make sure nothing gets in the way of that. 

5. Eliminate the distractions.
You know all that time you spend on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, random websites, etc.? Those are all distractions. Don't let distractions get in the way! We all have time in the day if we can just eliminate some of those distractions. Get rid of them, and focus on what's really important!

6. Get inspired by others. 
This seems contradictory to number 5, but if you're feeling low on willpower or need some inspiration, find success stories. Cruise the internet or find blogs that discuss whatever it is you're trying to achieve. Sometimes reading about other people's journeys help us on our own. Let yourself be inspired! 

7. Don't throw in the towel if you fall of the wagon once or twice (or eight times).
Many of us are far too quick to give up on our resolutions, especially if we've fallen off the wagon. WAY WRONG THING TO DO! Resolutions shouldn't be all or nothing. So you skip a week of your scheduled eating plan. So what! Pick up where you left off, and keep moving forward. Resolutions don't have to be about perfection. They need to be about improvement. 

8. Have an end goal in mind. 
Is this a permanent change for you? Is this something you want to increase or decrease throughout the year? Know what your end goal is going to be, and keep your focus there. If your initial resolution is to workout three times a week for 30 minutes, is that still what you want to be doing in December, or will your goals have changed? If your goal is to spend zero dollars on going out to eat and shopping, is this something you can maintain until 2016? Think long term. This helps, too, when you might occasionally fall off the wagon. 

9. Reward your successes!
Doing an awesome job sticking to your workouts? Get yourself a few outfit! Doing an excellent job quitting smoking? Take yourself out for an afternoon smoke-free latte or espresso. Eating all those fruits and veggies? Reward yourself with a healthy meal that you don't have to make yourself. 

When all else fails, remember why you made this resolution in the first place. Chances are, you're trying to make a positive change in your life. Keep that focus, and you just can't go wrong! 

The year in review (and getting so excited about what's to come!)

I truly can't believe 2014 is coming to a close. When the year started, I knew it was going to a hectic, amazing, frantic, incredible year. And it didn't disappoint (not in the slightest!). 

I love taking time at the end of each year to reflect and look ahead. For me, it's so important to spend time thinking about where I've been and where I'm going. It's cathartic, almost. And it also reminds me that what I tend to focus on are all of the great things that happened throughout the year as I forget all the negative things. That's just a good life lesson, I think, to remind ourselves that what matters are the great moments. 

So what did I love about 2014? 

Family life: We got married!

I love replaying that day over and over in my head. There's not one thing I would change about our wedding day. We had perfect weather, we were surrounded by our family and friends, and I got to promise to spend my life with the best man I've ever known. By leaps and bounds, the happiest day of my life, and I'm thrilled that we got to have that day this year! 

Professionally: The school newspaper staff is stronger than ever!
I'll be honest when I say I was worried about not finishing this school year with my newspaper staff, but they are doing a FABULOUS job! I know they're going to be in great shape when their new teacher comes in. I've half convinced they won't even notice I'm gone!

Fitness: I had my 5K PR!
My husband pushed me in Sunburst to have my best 5K time ever of 25:47! I was thrilled to break the 26 minute mark. But the BEST part about this is I was very newly pregnant and didn't know it yet! I'd like to think the baby gave my super speed in the race (even though s/he is slowing me down now!)!

Travel: We went to Greece! 

We love traveling! We put in a healthy mix of sight seeing and relaxation, and our honeymoon was no exception. We loved everything about Greece (especially Santorini!), and I really hope we get the chance to go there again someday! 

Favorite Book: Me Before You, JoJo Moyes
This novel absolutely blew me away this year. I still think about it often, and to me, that's the sign of a great novel! I think I'm even planning to re-read it in 2015, which I rarely do!

Added (MAJOR) bonus (!!!): We found out about Baby Putt!!!!!
The greatest gift of all this year was finding out about Baby Putt's impending arrival! We are so incredibly excited to be parents, and we can't wait to find out if Baby P is a he or she! I still can't believe that we are only roughly seven weeks away from meeting our baby! It's all gone so fast! 

There are so many wonderful things coming our way in 2015, and I almost can't wait for it to happen! I'm not one to wish time away... but 2015 might be the best. year. YET!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5002239/?claim=ywsbmhu2w62">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

New year, new look!

Well, this has been a looooooooooong time coming. I've been contemplating a blog redo for almost as long as I've had this blog, but I just never knew which direction I wanted to take it or how I wanted it to look. 

As luck would have it (I'm looking on the sunny side of things), I seem to find myself sick right now with a cold. It's annoying, and the coughing keeps me up at night. I've been really hesitant to take too much with Baby P, so last night, I ended up on the couch from 2:30-4:30 a.m. I was wide awake, and I naturally decided this would be the perfect time to go blog searching! 

I just figured since we're headed toward a new year, a little makeover never hurt anyone! 

And, this is what I ended up with! What do you think?! I would really love feedback, as I'm still trying to work out some of the kinks and decide what to do with certain components. So, take a look around, leave a little comment, or connect with me on social media! 

Stuff I'm loving Saturday #8: Seattle Chocolates, Word Swag, and post-holiday sales!

I've been falling in love with all sorts of things lately (holiday related and otherwise!), and I truly can't wait to share them with you! 

Seattle Chocolates

This is something Dan's sister turned me on to when we were visiting her for her wedding. In each of our welcome bags, Jackie had dropped a Seattle Chocolates truffle bar. Holy awesome chocolate, Batman! The flavors are ahh-ma-zing, and it's truly some of the best chocolate I've ever had! We brought back three bars, and one lone bar remains (but after those Christmas cookies are gone, look out, little chocolate bar!)! My favorite so far has been the seasonal Hot Buttered Rum (yummmm), but there's a Sea Salt Chocolate over there with my name on it! 

The Word Swag App

This app might literally be my most favorite app ever! Word Swag is a fabulous little app that my friend Erin told me about. You can literally take any background (including your own photos!) and add text to it. I'm sure this is something similar to Instagram, but as a non-Instagrammer, I adore this! Plus, look at the fun little pieces I've been adding to the blog lately! For this one, I simply searched out a heart, added some text, chose the font, and presto chango, we have word art! Thanks, Word Swag! 

Time off with family and friends
I love my job, and I love my students. But I also really love having some down time away from grading and test scores and lesson planning with family and friends. It has been so wonderful to spend time lately with everyone I care about, and I've loved that I could just take a few hours out of the day to sit down and watch a movie without worrying about what I need to be accomplishing next. I wouldn't trade that time for the world, and that's one of the reasons the holidays are so special! 

After Christmas winter sales
They're coming, people! And you just know they're going to be good! There was a lot of chatter earlier this week on NPR about all of the items that were going to be left in stores after the holidays, and now, we get to reap the benefits! These are some of my current favorite sales! 
Ann Taylor LOFT: 50% off the entire store 
DSW: Up to 50% off boots and an extra 30% off on kids' shoes
Flourish Boutique: 40-50% off almost EVERYTHING in the store
Kohl's: $10 off of your purchase of $30, plus, all Christmas merchandise is 60-70% off
Target: Tons of items up to 60% off -- (we scored an Elf on the Shelf last night in store for only $14.97!)
The Limited: 50-60% off everything in store

How to undo what you overdid with holiday eating

If you are anything like me, there's a solid possibility you overdid it with eating yesterday. And really, how could you avoid it? With all those delicious meats and carbs and sweets set out all day long, it's really hard to eat healthy during the holidays. 

But if you woke up in a bit of a holidaze this morning, it might be time to get back on track! Some simple solutions will have you feeling back to yourself in no time at all! 

Move your body
Do something physical today! It's supposed to be 50 degrees (!!!) later today in our area, so run around outside or take a walk with a visiting family member. Pull out a workout DVD and pop it in before you have breakfast this morning. Check out some Pinterest work out ideas (some of them take only five or ten minutes!). But do something today that forces your body to sweat a little. You'll feel a lot better afterward (just try not to follow it up with a bunch of Christmas cookies!)!

Start pumping water
There's a strong chance that you're feeling a little dehydrated after all the salt, sugar, and (perhaps) alcohol from yesterday. Get going on that water! If you can't drink large quantities of plain water, add some fruit or turn it in to decaf tea. Whatever gets the fluids in you! If you're really feeling dehydrated, grab a bottle of Gatorade to start with. 

Don't let the next five days be a free-for-all
It is SO tempting to say "I'm just going to eat what I want until 2015, and then I'll get back on track." But that's five more days of eating crud. And while that is very, very tempting, you'll be kicking yourself when January rolls around and you're feeling less than energetic. Give yourself some treats during the rest of the holiday season, but don't go hog wild! Fruits and veggies are your friends too! 

If you still have time off, use it to try something new
Got a few (or more than a few) days off left? Use it to experiment a little! Try a new workout class (come join us at Jazzercise for some awesome cardio and strength training!) or play around with a new recipe (bonus points if it includes fruits or vegetables). You never know what you might fall in love with. 

What else do you do to get back on track after a day of overeating? Looking for any and all suggestions. :) 

What I've learned through pregnancy from A to Z!

We had our 32-week appointment today to check on Baby P. All is well, and baby is growing right on track! I can't believe we're less than 8 weeks to our due date, but I'm getting more and more excited to see this little one (and find out the sex!)!

I got to reflecting this morning on all the things I've learned during pregnancy. Here's an A to Z list of all the things I'm learning about being a mom-to-be! 

Accept that things might not go perfectly
When I first found out I was pregnant, my plan was to run through the end of my pregnancy, always eat my fruits and vegetables, and avoid a lot of sugar. Well, sometimes things don't go as planned! Embrace the ride!

Be flexible
This ties directly to letter A. I was so nauseous my first trimester that I literally survived on dry carbs. And running went out the window around week 29 for me. It happens. You can always amend your daily routine!

Carve out time for yourself
There will be so many things that come up in the 40ish weeks that you're pregnant, and it's hard to always find time to do nice things for yourself. Make the time to do your nails, read a book, or get a coffee. You're forming a life! You deserve some you time! 

Don't listen to everything others tell you
You're going to hear a lot of stories from others when you're pregnant. Some of them are incredibly useful and helpful. Others are not so much. Take those ones with a grain of salt. There's a solid chance your experience will be totally different from every other one you hear about. 

Enjoy some treats
Do I want to eat healthy for my baby? Absolutely. That being said, I'm not going to deprive myself of sweets and treats. I've given up wine for this baby, darnit, I'm not giving up my Christmas cookies too! 

Find new outlets
Just because you can't blast through a workout like you used to, or, heck, even blast up the stairs like you used to doesn't mean you can't do other things! I've really enjoyed doing more more low impact things, and I've rediscovered my love of the elliptical. There's always a new outlet when the old ones need to be set aside for a bit. 

Get happy
Hormones go bananas during pregnancy, and I will be the first to admit I've had one or five breakdowns over nothing at all. Those are okay. But be happy! There are so many great things happening here! 

Hop to it when it comes to organizing and decorating
You're going to feel like you have a ton of time to get ready for the baby. And while you technically have 40 weeks, they're going to fly! If at all possible, get the room set up early, because it's one less thing to worry about at the end. Our goal this week is to start washing baby clothes (awww!). 

Invest in some quality pieces
I haven't purchased a lot of maternity clothes, because I've been lucky enough to be able to borrow some from friends. But I did spend a little more money than I normally would have on things like quality jeans and some tops that make me feel good about myself. Some maternity clothes are hideous! And some are really cute! Get yourself some cute ones! 

Join a group
Early on in my pregnancy, I downloaded the What to Expect app. Through that app, I hooked up with a group of mommies on Facebook in a private group of fit-minded February mommies-to-be, and I LOVE it! It's been so nice to have someone at the exact same point in pregnancy to ask questions to and commiserate with. Find a group that you love, and stick to it! 

Keep your eyes on the prize
You get a baby at the end of it! Best prize of all! 

Love the journey
There are going to be days that are really freaking hard. Body parts will probably hurt. It will probably be hard to see weight gain on the scale. Things will swell. You'll feel crummy. But this journey is an incredible one and one I wouldn't want to change! 

Make your support person number one
Yes, it's been an incredible journey to go through for me, but it's also been an amazing journey for Dan. He's been such an incredible support to me and has stepped up every single time I've needed him to, and I've been trying hard to say thank you as often as possible. You're in this together! Support goes both ways. 

Never ignore labor symptoms
Luckily, I haven't experienced anything like this yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're feeling labor symptoms long before labor should be here, call your doctor, or head to the hospital. I'd rather be the lady who cried wolf than to miss something with our baby. 

Open up to others if you need help
Your support person is a great resource, but don't hesitate to ask others for help! I've mostly seen this lately with physical things like putting on my shoes or lifting certain items. But there might be emotional things you want to talk about too. Don't be afraid to ask!

Plan a date night
Pick a great restaurant and a movie and head out for a night on the town! Try to talk about things other than the baby, and remember why you wanted to start a family in the first place! 

Quench your thirst
Hydration is mega important when you're pregnant. However much you normally drink, just about go ahead and double that. Drink up! 

Really, don't worry about the number on the scale
Chances are, you're about to weigh more than you've ever weighed before. That's okay! Weight gain means your baby is growing and thriving in there, and that's what we want! As long as the doctor doesn't seem concerned, you shouldn't be either! 

Stay positive
This is just a good life lesson. Be positive, and positive vibes will surround you in spades. 

Thank someone at the office
I felt terrible that our doctor's office was open this morning, and I felt even worse that we had to schedule our appointment for today. So this morning, I took the receptionists, nurse, and doctor some sweet treats. It doesn't have to be a big thank you, but I wanted them to know that we were thankful they were there. 

Utilize all those energy bursts
You're going to be tired a lot of the time during your pregnancy. So when those amazing bursts of energy show up, use them! Get some chores knocked out, hit the grocery store while you're actually in a good mood, or work on the nursery. 

Value all those little movements
Once your baby starts moving, you will fall in love with him/her even more. I LOVE feeling those little kicks, flips, and movements throughout the day, and I think that's one of the things I'll miss the most when I'm not pregnant. Enjoy every one of those kicks... even the ones that hit you square in the ribs. 

Watch out for food aversions
My big one was coffee (and I adore coffee). During the first trimester, just the thought of coffee made me want to throw up (especially iced coffee -- weird, no?). I figured it was the baby's way of telling me to lay off the caffeine! Luckily, my coffee aversion went away around week 15, and then I was back to my delicious morning brew. 

Xpect the unexpected (yes, I cheated on the spelling here)
Everyone will tell you that every pregnancy is different. Keep your expectations open, and you won't be disappointed. 

You're the one in control
You always have a say in your care. While your doctor will certainly make recommendations, you have the right to discuss other options and suggest other avenues. This is something we took away from our birthing class at the hospital, and it is perhaps the piece of advice I'm happiest we got. 

Zzzz's 
Get them. A lot of them. 

What did you learn from your pregnancy that you'd want to share with others? 

Attention, last minute shoppers!

If you're anything like... every person I know, there's a solid chance you're still on the hunt for last minute Christmas gifts. I read an article on Sunday stating that 15 percent of Americans had yet to even START their shopping yet! 

So, if you're still struggling with what to gift those special folks in your life, check out the list below! 

Sparkle Box
Need something, like, now? Order up your friend or family member her very own Sparkle Box! You can print off the website and tell her an awesome box with a piece of jewelry chosen just for her is headed her way after the holidays! Who doesn't love getting a little gift after the deluge of gifts come on Christmas? Seeing a sparkly piece of jewelry hanging out in the mailbox is way prettier than just seeing all of those holiday bills. 

A gift card or certificate
I know there are many firm believers out there that say gift cards aren't heartfelt, but I totally disagree! I think if you take the time to pick out something the person will really love, it's a great gift! For instance, I adore getting Starbucks gift cards because then I feel like it's a treat when I walk in for a $4 latte! Another great option? A Courtney Bock Designs gift certificate is an awesome way to let someone pick out her favorite monogrammed something! 

Consumables
My mother-in-law always asks for consumables for the holidays, and I really think this is a great idea. Things like fancy chocolates, delicious soaps, fancy coffees/teas, and yummy smelling candles are never wasted! I love a good selection of Lindt truffles (the Stracciatella ones are delicious!), Bath and Body Works anti-bacterial line, and Starbucks coffees and teas. You can't miss with those! 

Anything that promotes wellness
Massages? YES. Manicures/pedicures? YES. Books about dream vacations or hobbies the person really loves? YES. We could all use more wellness in our lives, and most people I know would never turn down something that will help them to relax and unwind. For me, I love fitness gear and info, but know your audience. Don't get the person something workout related if he's going to find it offensive! But, if you can promote fitness safely, do it! 

Dates with you
There's nothing more valuable than your time. Give the gift of lunch and a movie or a shopping trip together. Make a gift certificate for a day of baking or making a meal together. Offer to babysit the kiddos so you get to see them and their parents get a break. Time is the most valuable resource of all. 

Favorite holiday traditions: Trees and stockings and lights, oh my!

I absolutely adore the holiday season. For so many reasons, this really is the most wonderful time of the year! Spending time with family and friends, having some time off of work to really focus and re-energize, and giving heartfelt gifts to others always makes me incredibly happy. 

It's only the first technical day of break, and I'm already so excited to carry on many of the traditions Dan and I have started over the past several years. These are a few of my favorite things about the holidays! 

Decorating the tree with ornaments from our trips together!

Dan and I made sure to get our tree up in early December this year. I love having it set up for the whole month so that we can really enjoy it. We moved it from the normal window spot upstairs this year to our downstairs this year. Since we've been spending more time down there, it's been really nice to enjoy the glow in the evening! We also started a special spot on our tree for all the trips we've taken. We try to pick up an ornament every time we go somewhere new so that we can look back on our travels over the years. In this photo, we have ornaments from Mission Point Lighthouse (from our first trip together to Traverse City), a beer can from the Yuengling tour we went on in Pennsylvania, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn from our European tour in 2013, and bulbs from Greece and Seattle this year. Ornaments with meaning make them so fun to put up, and we love reminiscing about our trips!

Christmas crafting!

I'm a sucker for a great Christmas craft. Last year, I made this fabulous bulb wreath  to hang on our front door. A few bulbs came loose over the year in storage, but I love doing something fun and holiday-ish that I can display in the house. And bonus: I picked up some really cheap ornaments last year after the holidays so that I can make more wreaths for way cheaper than what I paid for this one! You can't beat that! 

Lights, hot chocolate, action!
Dan and I only started this tradition last year, but it's honestly one of the things I look forward to most during the holiday season. We wait until it gets dark, and then we head over to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe to pick up hot chocolate. After that, we drive to a few local neighborhoods to see the beautiful Christmas lights while we listen to holiday music! I just love spending time together enjoying the lights. It's an inexpensive date night and gets us both in the Christmas spirit! 

Stocking stuffers! 

We added a special little stocking to our mix this year. :) Dan's family is really big on stocking stuffers, and Dan really enjoys thinking about what the best items for each person's stocking would be. In turn, it's caused me to start thinking more about the things I put in stockings too instead of just cramming them full of candy! I had such a blast picking out Dan's stocking stuffers this year, and I hope everyone else likes the ones we chose for them this year too! 

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? I'm always looking to add more! 

Stitch Fix #9: Maternity edition!

This weekend has been wonderfully jam-packed full of fun! Dan and I went on an awesome date Friday night after he returned from Tulsa. We finished up Christmas shopping yesterday, and then we celebrated our nephew's 4th birthday with. And today, we went to cuddle the McDoubles before taking maternity photos with the fabulous Cari Hughes! 

AND, a pretty little Stitch Fix package showed up! 

If you haven't heard of Stitch Fix (referral link!), let me tell you a little about the concept! Stitch Fix is a subscription service. After filling out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget. Then, you decide how frequently (or infrequently!) you'd like a shipment. Once you've scheduled one, Stitch Fix will send you five clothing or accessory pieces for you to try on in the comfort of your own home. I love this because you can pair the items 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 simply mail it back in the prepaid mailing envelope and send it on back. If you decide to keep everything, you get a 25% discount!

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

I love using this service because it gets me outside my comfort zone and allows me to try things I normally wouldn't. It's also been really helpful during pregnancy, because it's so darn hard to find things that will look nice on! 

You can check out some of 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
Stitch Fix #8

I had decided prior to this package that this would be the last one until after the baby comes, as who knows what my sizes will be over the next several months. But I just couldn't resist getting one more Fix in before that time came! 

This Fix focused completely on maternity, which is good since that's what I need these days! I need your help deciding what to keep, though! 

1. and 2. Rune Porter Maternity Leggings, $58 and LA Made Maternity Alva Maternity Cowl Neck Top, $48

Hmph. I'm just not sure how I feel about this top. I like the color, and the cowl neck is cute enough, but it's just so... big. I feel like it kind of hangs awkwardly, and it makes me look larger than I actually am right now. The leggings (pictured in the top photo) are really comfortable, and I love that the band comes up over the belly. But, they're cotton leggings, and I just don't know that I can justify that price for black leggings! 

3. Stitch Fix 3-Pack Maternity Cami, $44

These camis are super comfy (but connected, so hello, awkward photos!). They're really long, which I love, and help hold everything in. I think I'd be more apt to buy them if they were nursing friendly, but for right around $15 a top, they're a decent deal! The camis are white, nude, and black. 

4. Collective Concepts Melanie Graphic Print Maternity Blouse, $78

This top is an awesome example of why I love Stitch Fix so much! On first glance, I thought, kind of an icky pattern. But I absolutely LOVE the way it looks on! The bow makes it extra flattering, and I love the solid panel at the top. The only thing I don't love is the price tag. :/ But, it might be worth it if it's something I can wear a lot before baby comes. 

5. Tart Maternity Herbie Long Sleeve Maternity Dress, $144

Before I put this dress on, I said to myself, "Self, don't love this dress. Don't love this dress." Well, I love this dress. It's an adorable pattern, and it's totally belly bump flattering. BUT, it's $144! Ack! It's just way, way too much to spend on a dress I can only wear for two more months (and cold months at that!). But I really do love it! 

I'm all sorts of torn on what to buy, and I'd love your feedback! What would you get if you were two months from your due date? 

Ready to try Stitch Fix for yourself (I swear, they do adorable non-maternity clothes too!)? Visit their site via my referral link, and see what you think! I'm pretty sure you'll love it just as much as I do! 

A trip out west: Wedding weekend in Seattle!

During the first week of December, Dan and I made a quick trip to Seattle for his sister Jackie's wedding! We knew it was going to be a fast trip (we left Thursday after work, and we came home late Sunday night), but wanted to pack in as much as we could while celebrating Jackie and Oge's marriage. 

Seattle is such a cool city! There's so much to do there, and cute, quaint shops and restaurants all over. On Friday, we spent the morning sight seeing, and made our way toward the Seattle Space Needle. The price to go up it was a little steep, but when in Seattle... so off we all went to the top! The views from up there were spectacular, and it was so fun to walk around it and see the whole city! 

After our trip up, we went down to Pike's Place Market. I really wanted to see it since I've heard so many wonderful things about it, and it definitely didn't disappoint. The vendors there were all incredible. Whether they were chucking fish, selling their produce, or peddling their artwork, everything was so unique. Seeing all of it was an incredible experience, and one I won't soon forget. 

Naturally, I had to find the original Starbucks too. I love me some Salted Caramel Mocha, and seeing the place where it all began was so awesome! I will be honest... it totally didn't look like what I expected it to! It's across from Pike's Market, and it was in a strip of other businesses. The original logo was still on the business, and it's totally different from the logo we see today! 

That evening, we went to Jackie and Oge's friends' house for a wonderful rehearsal dinner, and Saturday was a great day of prepping and decorating before the 3 p.m. wedding. Jackie looked absolutely beautiful, and she and Oge looked so happy to marry one another! I love everything about love, and I'm glad I get another brother out of the deal too! 

Saturday is Flourishing! A Flourish shopping trip, a Flourish discount, AND a blog giveaway!

The past 24 hours have been so wonderful. I had a student visit me yesterday after school to share some absolutely incredible news (I can't share yet, but will totally brag about him when it's public knowledge!), and last night, I got to visit my best friend in Chicago to celebrate her birthday and meet her brand new baby twins! I'm convinced there is nothing in the world better than snuggling sweet new babies, and Teresa and Dave are already amazing parents! I took about a thousand pictures of Harper and Nolan, but I'm only sharing two today! 

Harper, left, and Nolan, right!

Despite a great evening, this week has been tough. I'm finding myself slowing down thanks to some wicked ankle swelling, and I'm back to not sleeping so great, which has left me with some grumpiness. I know it's showing at school, and I know it's showing in my personal life. Which is why I was so blessed to go to barre class at B Present Studio this morning. The owner and instructor, Tammy, is seriously a God-sent. During class this morning (which was incredibly challenging and made me queen of pregnancy modifications today!), she told stories of learning how to be happy in life, listening to your body while still pushing it ("No one ever drowned in sweat!"), and so many more inspirational things. But the biggest message I took away from class this morning is that we all could be doing a better job of spreading kindness and love. There is never enough kindness and love in the world, and even if you're blessed with having it in your life, we could all always use more. I'm really going to embrace this mentality, especially through the holiday season. My husband could probably use some more of my patience, kindness, love, and I know my students could certainly benefit from more kindness and love in the classroom. I'm telling you, Tammy gives you so much more than a workout. She truly blesses your soul! 

And now, my most fun part of the day! Earlier this week, I received an email from my favorite boutique in the whole world, Flourish Boutique, about a Friends and Family evening they were having on Thursday. I was bummed that I couldn't attend due to teaching a Jazzercise class, but after emailing the Social Media coordinator, Megan, back, she was more than willing to let me come in today to visit the store and write up a blog post! Thank you, Megan (and you'll be thanking her too, because there's a discount code for you at the bottom of this post!)! I love supporting local businesses, and I especially love supporting local businesses when their customer service is so excellent! 

I went in today with a specific goal: Dress a pregnant body. Truly, I haven't been shopping much these past few months because the thought of spending a lot of money on clothing I can't wear for very long makes me want to cry! I've gotten a few things from maternity clothing departments and stores, but I hadn't been shopping at my old favorite places, mostly because I wasn't sure I could make anything "normal" work. So, I figured this would be a good challenge! 

Naturally, Flourish did NOT disappoint! First of all, the store is gorgeously decked out for the holidays! The displays are so Christmas-y and wonderful, it makes me want to do more decorating at our house! 

I also really loved all the super cute home decor items Flourish added since the last time I was there. These were two of my favorites today:

Flourish has an ahhhhmazing selection of holiday party dresses right now. I, unfortunately, wasn't looking for any of those today, but this one really jumped out to me, because it's so perfect for bridal season (shout out to my friend Christa who is getting married today on 12.13.14!).

So, on to the clothing! My dressing room selfies are terrible, but I wanted to be able to show off all the clothes I looked at (amazingly, everything fit really, really well, even with the baby bump!)! 

First up: What I didn't buy. 

So me. So already have this striped top.

The one that got away... literally! 

The top cardigan is adorable! I love the openness of the cardi and the cuts up the sides. It's flattering with the baby bump too! But, I have a maternity top with almost the exact same fabric, and figured I wouldn't get enough wear out of it for that reason. 

The bottom top is the one I'm affectionately (and sadly) calling the one that got away. I tried this top on in a size small, and it was just a wee bit tight. I went back to try to find a medium, but I couldn't, so I put the small back and grabbed a large. The large was, well, too large, so I went back to get the small, and poof, it was gone! Some other lucky shopper had already snagged it! I'm not kidding you, I followed her for a bit, but she seemed intent on buying it, so I sadly saw this one slip away! They also had it in a gorgeous burgundy, but alas, not in my size! Flourish, if this comes back in, can you tell me ASAP!? I neeeeed it! 

 And now, all the things I DID buy! 

God love the Piko top! This emerald top is gorgeous, flowy, and can be paired with anything! I couldn't resist it! 

And I just had to add a pair of fleece lined holiday leggings! I figure I can wear them with the green Piko top or simple black or white! I love the holiday look and the lining inside is SO soft, cushy, and warm! I have a very strong feeling I'll be living in these things until baby P gets here! They fit perfectly under the belly and are the softest pants I've ever slipped in to! 

I also fell in love with this amazing Instant Fashionista Scarf! It's a wrap around the shoulders and can be tied in so many ways! The price is right on, and is so great for keeping warm during the holiday season! 

Lastly, and maybe most unexpectedly, was this polka-dotted chambray piece. I himmed and hawed over it in the store, wondering if it was worth trying on, but once on, I immediately loved it! It's baby bump flattering for now, but I can definitely wear it after Baby P arrives too! It's also suuuuper elongating, which I wasn't expecting at all! I put together a little mock outfit when I got home. Paired with ivory leggings and my brown boots, I think I have a pretty chic momma-to-be on-the-go outfit! I can't wait to wear it! 

So, that's my Flourish holiday shopping adventure (note: I did get another item, but it's a gift for a friend, so I can't post about it. But she's going to LOVE it (Andrea, I'm looking at you!))! I can't wait to share the Flourish love this holiday season. 

And that's where you come in! Flourish wants to share the love with YOU right now! Help yourself to a little online shopping, and use the code ANGELA when you check out! You'll get 25% off your entire order, AND, if you spend over $50, they'll throw in free shipping right to your doorstep! Total win-win! 

Give the website a looksie, and then come back and comment with your favorite item! You'll be entered to win a giveaway I'm hosting for a fantastic item from Flourish! The contest ends on Friday, December 19 at noon EST, and I'll draw a winner then! 

Happy shopping, ya'll, and don't forget to spread a little kindness and love! 

Update 12/20/14: Congratulations, Erica! You've won a fabulous pair of earrings from Flourish that will be delivered to you soon! :D