Before having our son ten weeks ago, I was told a lot of different things! 

"You'll get so many naps because you get to sleep when the baby sleeps!"

"Your child will just adjust to living in your world!"

"You can eat whatever you want because you're breastfeeding and the weight just melts right off you!"

I hate to be a cynic, but I call BS on all three of these (and probably many more). For example, I'm so tired, I just tried to spell cynic cinic. And then I tried synic. Before finally coming up with cynic and thus ending this paragraph. 

I have said it before, and I'll say it again, I LOVE being a mom. But being a parent is the most demanding thing I have ever done, physically and emotionally. And I'm lucky enough to have a SUPER supportive and involved daddy at my side! 

Lie #1: You get to sleep when the baby sleeps. Sure, I suppose this is true as long as you never need to do anything else. Like laundry. Or eat a meal. Or go to the bathroom by yourself. With the exception of nighttime, I think I can count on one hand how many times I've napped when the baby's been napping. It's not because I don't like naps, because I seriously LOVE a good nap. But I do find it's the only uninterrupted time I have to get much of anything accomplished, so alas, I don't sleep when the baby sleeps. This one is my own fault, and I know it. 

Lie #2: The baby will adjust to living in our world. Prior to Henry's birth, I really thought he would have to fit in to our lives. We were here first, darnit! That went out the window, umm, like immediately. It's Henry's world, and we're just living in it. I arrange outings and get togethers around his schedule. I turn down plans if he's overtired or having a particularly grumpy time. I feel like eventually this might change, and we might take back some of the control, but for now, I'm perfectly content with adjusting to him. 

Lie #3: The baby weight will fall right off if you breastfeed. This is the biggest lie of them all. Having now exclusively breastfed for 10 weeks, I can assure you that these last ten pounds are going nowhere fast. I've stagnated the last four or so weeks, and the scale has all but stopped moving downward. It's frustrating. I think there's a giant misconception that you're expending extra calories, so you're bound to lose weight, but I don't think it's true for everyone. So for now, I'm embracing the extra weight, because what else can you do?! 

Those are the three biggest parenting lies I've encountered thus far. What's the biggest lie about parenting that you were told? 

Stitch Fix #11: Patterns and colors!

My Stitch Fix obsession is absolutely back... and so is my incredible stylist, Tan! I'm thrilled with what I was sent this month, and I'm anxious to hear what you think too! 

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, and you can decide how frequently (or infrequently!) you'd like a shipment. Then you'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget. At that point, you can choose to get a shipment on whatever day you'd like! Once you've scheduled, Stitch Fix will send you five clothing or accessory pieces 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 with your current wardrobe. 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 sent 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! I love this service because it allows me to try things I would never normally pick up in stores.

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

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

After last month's sorta mistake (pants that were WAY too small and tops that were WAY too loose), I requested to have my former stylist, Tan, back. Tan was available, and I'm a happy camper! This month I asked for springy pieces and told her that I'd pinned a lot of clothing I liked on my Pinterest Fashion board. She heard me loud and clear! 

Side note: These photos were taken by my husband while he attempted to "fly" our incredibly cranky 9-week-old son around our home... while I sang Single Ladies to him. I wish I were kidding, but I couldn't make this up if I tried. So, ignore the person in the photo (there was a lot of moving and dancing happening) and focus on the clothing instead! 

1. Wells Grace Dovello Split Back Knit Top ($48) and 

2. Mavi Aiden Skinny Jean ($98) 

Upon first sight, I really liked the look of both of these items. The split back on the top was intriguing (I'd pinned something similar on my Pinterest board), but I wasn't crazy about the high neck and the ruffle right around the hip line. The pants were absolutely lovely, and Tan was sweet enough to send a size bigger than my normal size (yay!), but alas, they were still a little tight, and spending $98 on pants I hope to not fit in to in a few months just wasn't in the cards for this momma! 

3. 41 Hawthorn Dita Sleeveless Pointe Dress ($68)

I loved the rich, blue color of this dress, and the fit was pretty, but I felt like the length was a bit off so I'd have to alter it. Additionally, since I'm not really going to many formal events right now, it wasn't in the cards for me. 

4. 41 Hawthorn Jace Chevron Print Dress ($68)

This was a piece I'd pinned to my Pinterest board after seeing it elsewhere. I really liked it when I put it on and thought it would be perfect for a few weddings we have this upcoming fall and winter... and then I looked at this picture. It just sort of looked blah! The pleats in the front didn't help, and the skirt needed to be more structured for those pleats to look okay. I LOVED the fabric through -- textured chevron wins every day in my book! 

5. Market & Spruce Lana Lace Detail V-Neck Blouse ($58) 

I loved this top on first sight, and I really loved it once I got it on! The lace detail down the front makes it unique, and I think once I iron out the mailing wrinkles, it will be absolute perfection! I'm picturing it with skinny jeans and a black cardigan for a night out with the girls or paired with a black pencil skirt for a more formal look. Definite yes! 

All in all, a successful Fix, especially since I'm inching (ever so slowly) closer to my pre-baby size. I LOVE the convenience of trying things on at home since it means poor Henry doesn't have to get lugged through the mall with me. Ready to try Stitch Fix for yourself? Hit the referral link here, and start filling out your profile! The more specific you are, the better (feel free to tell them colors and fabrics you don't like, or let them know that you have a specific budget in mind!)! Then, choose a date that works for you, and a package will arrive on that date with gorgeous threads and accessories for you to choose from! 

And, don't forget, the Sparkle Box jewelry giveaway AND the Courtney Bock Designs gift certificate giveaway are on through Friday morning! Enter NOW and score some great loot for you or the favorite mom in your life! 

It's my birthday, but you get the gifts! Giveaways from Sparkle Box and CBD!

This week has been so wonderful. Henry, Dan, and I have been spending lots of time with our families and friends, and that makes me incredibly happy. We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. And it's been such a needed reminder that if you're surrounded by the people you love, and if you have your health and needs met, you really, truly, have it all.

I bring all of this up because this week marks my 32nd birthday. I honestly can't believe it's time for another birthday, as part of my brain is still back in February (sleep deprivation, maybe?). This year, I can't help but feel extra blessed that I get to celebrate 32 with my loving husband and our adorable son. It makes it that much sweeter. 

So when I started thinking about what I wanted for my birthday, the answer was: nothing. I know that seems ridiculous, but I truly have everything I want right now. I have the best family and friends in the world. We have a comfortable roof over our heads. We have our health. And we already have FAR too much stuff. Therefore, this year called for something different. 

This year, I'm taking my birthday as a chance to give gifts to others! 

Yep, you read that right! I'm giving away a few gifts just because it makes me happy! I donated to a really worthy local charity, and now, I'm passing some more gifts on to YOU! 

Gift #1: A Sparkle Box for you (or for mom!) (value $19)
I've blogged a bit about Sparkle Box before, but let me tell you about it, just in case you missed it! Sparkle Box is a fantastic, brand spanking new jewelry subscription box service. For only $19 a month, you get 2-3 pieces of jewelry hand-picked and mailed directly to you! You get to choose your own signature style, so it doesn't matter if you love trendy, simple, quirky, or edgy jewelry, there's a style for you! There's even an AWESOME Mother's Day box you can pick up for a limited time (Hint hint, that's coming up here, people!). 

You can also read more about Sparkle Box here and see my most recent Sparkle Box review here!

If you win the Sparkle Box present, you'll choose your style (or a style for mom if you want to gift the gift!), and you'll receive some jewelry you're sure to love! 

Gift #2: A gift certificate from Courtney Bock Designs (value $20)

My love affair with Courtney Bock Designs is ongoing and never ending. Is there anything better than monogrammed, personalized gifts? I love the lines CBD carries (hellllo, Kate Spade!), and I love how wonderful they are to work with (I'm a brand rep for them, and it's been a dream!). 

If you win the CBD gift, you'll take home a $20 gift certificate to spend on whatever you'd like! My current favorites are the Monogram Acrylic Necklace ($19.95), the Belles do it better coffee mug ($28) -- (SMC chicks, check it out!), the Barre and Brunch tank ($22), and the Gold Monogram Tote ($18) -- (SO Gatsby!). So many great choices on the site! 

To enter both drawings, see the Rafflecopter entry below! Entering will give you a chance to win each prize, (two winners total, one for each present!)! The contest will end on April 24, and winners will be emailed and announced on the blog! Good luck!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 totally random things I love

Being awake in the middle of the night gives me a lot of time to think. And sometimes I end up thinking about all the random things I love (because, even in the middle of the night, life is incredibly good!). Today, I'm sharing those things with you! 

1. Over medium eggs. Ever since Runaway Bride, I've given a lot of thought to what my favorite eggs are. These are my preferred kind of egg because there's still enough runny yolk making them dippable for toast, but they don't run all over the plate! 

2. Picking out outfits the night before. This definitely happened more when I was working (right now, the big question is which yoga pants to wear), but I loved waking up already knowing what I was wearing the next day. It made it a lot easier to accessorize too!

3. Bargains. I mean, who doesn't love a bargain? But I get a small thrill knowing I've saved a boatload of money on something. Groceries, clothing, baby gear, it really doesn't matter if I've saved money! (Hip2Save. Follow them on Facebook. Like it. Save money. Feel good.) Yesterday, I wanted Dan to pick up milk at the grocery store. We don't need milk. But it was FREE!

4. Starbucks gift cards. I adore a good latte, but shelling out $5 for a cup of deliciousness is still hard to stomach. Gift cards make picking up a beverage feel more like a treat and less like a drain on the wallet. 

5. Beat up slippers. I've had the same pair of beat up slippers for, I don't know, seven years now. They're the super dorky kind with a hard soled plasticky bottom and faux fur lining on the inside. They look terrible. But, they fit my feet perfectly. And I love them!

6. Running clockwise. Whenever I run my neighborhood (which, essentially, goes in a big loop), I always run it clockwise. I have no idea why. But it's habit now, so I keep doing it. Ironically, when I run other loops, I tend to go counter-clockwise. Again, why? I have no idea!

7. Drive-thrus. Since having a baby, I adore drive thrus. Not having to lug Henry in everywhere we go is amazing. I wish everything had a drive thru... grocery stores, post offices, nail salons, etc.

8. Middle of the night online shopping. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but my favorite time to do shopping is in the middle of the night... Online, of course! This started prior to Henry being born, but now that I'm up pretty consistently twice a night with him, I have a chance to do it on a regular basis! I'm definitely not a shopping addict, but I LOVE cruising the sales listed on Hip2Save (Seriously, this is the second time I've mentioned it this post. Follow them!) or placing an order on Amazon for things we need for home! I've scored a ton of awesome deals on clothes for Henry, organizational tools for our home, and even some Father's Day gifts I have stowed away! 

9. Baby-wearing. I suppose this isn't TOTALLY random, but I wasn't sure if I was going to like wearing Henry before he was born. But now, I absolutely LOVE it! I can wear him, he goes almost immediately to sleep, and we can move around the house together getting things accomplished. Like this blog post. Because I'm wearing him right now! We love the Boba so far, and I can't wait to use our Ergo carrier too! 

10. Cranberry wine from Round Barn. Because yes. 

Putting together a nursery you love... Regardless of what Pinterest showcases

When we first started thinking about our gender neutral nursery, I went a little Pinterest crazy. I pinned no less than 20 gorgeous nurseries before reality set in. 

In fact, our nursery would not be 1,000 square feet. It would not have gorgeous vaulted ceilings with fabric drapings. And hardwood floors with fabulous throw rugs weren't happening either. 

Once I got over my nursery fantasies, I got down to really thinking what we'd want hanging when the baby came. I knew I wanted the baby's name on display (a Pinterest idea I can actually use!), and I knew I wanted to have a fun reading area. And while the room is by no means done, here's what we've cooked up so far. 

Henry's name:

I absolutely LOVE how the letters look on the wall! These large, white letters were on sale at Michaels. Originally, I planned to paint them white and blue chevron, but once we hung them on the wall, I really just loved them the way they were! I think they turned out really sweet, and I can't wait to adorn that wall with some other items! 

Book area

I love this KidKraft bookshelf because it's slim enough to fit near the door without being obtrusive. Above it, I hung an awesome print I found on clearance at Target. It's a sweet bookshelf with all Dr. Seuss books on it! So cute, and perfect for a reading area. 

On the door is an amazing baby wreath made by my coworker, Ashley. She's also the genius behind the amazing baby binder I blogged about earlier. So sweet! 

Photo collage

One of the many free Shutterfly offers I got after having baby included a 16x20 print. I put together a collage of Henry's newborn pictures, and after paying shipping and handling, it arrived! I couldn't love it any more, and I love looking at it when I change my growing boy. It's hard to remember he was ever that small! Bonus: The frame was on super sale at Michaels, and I picked it up for under $8! 

We still have a ways to go to get the room fully decorated, but I've learned some really valuable lessons along the way. 

Do choose things you like. 
Clearly there's really not one cohesive theme here. I love a good themed nursery, but I feel like this one is more us. I like having variety and displaying the things that we love. This room makes me super happy, and it feels homey. 

Do think long term. 
I was hesitant to do a lot of decorating with things that wouldn't transfer in to future bedrooms. I love the look of some baby nurseries, but that will only last so long. If we keep Henry in this room long-term, we can easily use or transition the decorations.

Do add personal touches. 
The photos make me so happy. And I don't want them to just live on our computer! Now I get to see them daily (blog post to come about decorating with our fantastic baby photos!)! 

Don't go overboard. 
I like that we still have open space to add other touches later. I still have a few more wall hangings to put up, and I'm thinking some floating shelves too. But I'm glad we're pacing the room decoration so that we can really decide what we want and not overwhelm the space. 

What are some of your favorite things to see in a nursery?

Glammin' it up: An April Bock Box review!

I often forget how quickly time is flying... until my monthly Bock Box subscription shows up, and then I get REALLY excited! 

If you don't know about Bock Boxes, allow me to fill you in a bit! Bock Box is a subscription service of all sorts of personalized, often monogrammed, goodies just for you! Courtney Bock Designs offers a variety of items for home, lady, baby, and more! I've been in love with CBD for almost a year now since I serve as a brand rep for them (I don't get free items or compensation for sharing my opinion, but I do get a small discount!). I love everything I get from them, and the Bock Box is no different. When you sign up, you'll fill out a questionnaire that asks for your sizes, interests, hobbies, and favorite colors. From there, surprises start showing up monthly (3, 6, or 12 month subscriptions are available!)! I currently have a 6 month subscription which means I'll be getting around $150 in products! 

You can read about my first three Bock Boxes here: 
January
February
March

This month was all about springy accessories for me! 

I got two awesome items this month! First up was the Scout Crown Jewels cosmetics bag  in Montauk Mint. I love the mint and white striped design and the way the yellow monogram pops off the bag! This is the perfect replacement for my slightly worn cosmetics bag, and I love that it just showed up at my doorstep! Perfect, springy accessory. If you'd like to pick one up, it retails for $16.50. Additionally, I also got an awesome Spicy Sweet lip tint that I've been super tempted to order! It retails for $4, and it's the perfect first item for the cosmetics bag. 

I have two more months left on my subscription, and I'm so excited to see what other fun items I get in my boxes! 

Check out some of my current CBD favorites: the super cute scalloped seersucker pajama set, the adorable gold ampersand necklace, and the perfect gift for wedding season, the Mr. and Mrs. tea towel set. 

One foot in front of the other: My first solo post-baby run!

I know what you're thinking. Wait, she's actually writing about running on the running blog?! I know! Insane, isn't it? But it's true! 

Yesterday morning, my husband was heading in to work a little late, and I thought there would be no day like April Fools to make a fool out of myself running around the block! 

Prior to this outing, I've been doing a little working out at home. I got cleared for workouts last Friday, and since then, I've been using our elliptical and going through some Jazzercise routines. But with the sun shining, it seemed like the perfect day to head outside. 

I told myself to go in with zero expectations. I wanted to run somewhere between one and three miles, and I wasn't worried about the pace. And what I ended up with was this! 

It's definitely not my fastest, but I ran it! I took a few walk breaks, and it was definitely a struggle at moments, but I'm really glad to be back at it. I think it was smart not to set expectations for the run... there can't be disappointment that way. 

Today, my hips are killing me (I guess my post-run stretches we're NOT enough), so the goal is to get those worked out. I'm realizing I can't just jump back up to my normal amount of workouts right away, so today will mostly be a rest day. I'm hoping to get another little run/walk in tomorrow, and I'm scheduled to take a Barre class on Saturday, so that will be a major butt kicking! And I'm back to Jazzercise as of Monday! I can't wait to visit with all our students -- I've missed them!