I can't believe this Fix was the 12th box I've been sent from Stitch Fix! And I really can't believe that I still get just as excited every time I get the email about a new box being shipped, but I do! 

If you haven't heard of Stitch Fix (<-- Referral link!), let me give you a quick run down. Stitch Fix is a subscription clothing service, and you can decide how frequently (or infrequently!) you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget, and then you'll choose whichever day you'd like to receive your shipment. Stitch Fix will send you five clothing and/or accessory items to try on in the comfort of your own home, and this is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with pieces you already have! Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. 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 check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! Woot! And I REALLY love that I can work with my current wardrobe at the same time (ever been in a dressing room and wondered if the blue top you're trying on would be the same blue as that patterned skirt at home? Now you'll know!). 

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 items I would never normally pick for myself. 

You can see my previous Fixes 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

Stitch Fix #11

This was my 12th Fix, and it's easily one of my favorite Fixes so far! For me, the key to getting great Fixes is keeping an updated Pinterest fashion board and working with a fantastic stylist who gets me (Tan has been an amazing stylist if you're looking for a recommendation!)!

I love this Fix so much, I need your help deciding what to keep! Help, readers, help! 

1. Liverpool Shania Stitched Detail Jean, $58 and 
2. Lenor Button-Down Pintuck Detail Tank, $48

I was super excited to get a pair of jeans in my pre-baby size that fit! Granted, they're the stretchiest jeans I've ever tried on, but they fit! The jeans have this fun stitched detail along the waistband and down each leg, almost like a tuxedo stripe. I think I like it, but I'm not 100%. The top is super cute, and although the picture of me wearing it doesn't show it, the stop is more of an orange than a peach. I like that it has buttons (nursing friendly!), and it's super comfortable and lightweight for the warmer weather on the way. 

3. Market & Spruce Lace Overlay Raglan Top, $58

This shirt is me to a t. I love the mixed fabrics and the lace overlay on the front of the shirt is gorrrrgeous! I love the way it fits, and I love that it's casual for my more casual lifestyle now! It might be a little warm for summer, but it would be great for fall and spring! 

4. THML Deanna Dot Print Embroidered Top, $54

This top is cute, and I was excited to have something a little more boho, but I hate the longer side panels and shorter front and back! I feel like it draws way too much attention to my hip area, and that's the area I'm most wanting to mask right now! 

5. Gilli Vail Striped Maxi Skirt, $58

Who doesn't love a good maxi skirt! The material of this is super comfortable, and it would pair well with anything black, white, or mint, but I'm not sure I'm crazy about the stripes. 

I need your help, readers! What would you definitely get if you were me? Definitely toss? I have until Monday to decide, so my closet's destiny is in your hands! Help a girl out! 

Capturing our family growth: OMG shows off 3-month-old Henry!

I can't believe our son is three months old. Cliche as it might sound, time is absolutely flying, and Henry is changing every day. 

Everything has changed about Henry since he was born. He can hold his neck up now. He rolls over from belly to back (really gracefully, actually). He smiles and blows bubbles. He looks for me and his daddy when we enter or leave the room. His legs have taken on that baby chunk. He loves to stand up (holding our hands) and fly around like an airplane on daddy's arm. He gives me open mouthed kisses and then smiles afterward. He is growing in to the person he's going to be. 

And some days, I'm so sleep deprived, I forget to see all of it. And that's exactly why I want to document as much of this as I can. I keep reminding myself that Henry is only going to be this age for such a short time, and as much as I might want to keep him little, he's changing every day. But I can freeze his growth in these photos, and that makes my heart happy. 

As we continue growing in to our family of three, I love watching our relationships grow and change. My husband and I are closer than before (but, naturally, our patience are also thinner due to lack of sleep), and I'm loving the marriage we're growing in to. Watching Henry and Dan together makes me so incredibly happy. Seeing how Henry looks at him is utterly adorable, and it makes me feel overwhelming contentment. I love that I have two boys in my life now. And of course, I have loved growing in to the role of Henry's mommy. All the cuddles (even the middle of the night ones!), all the sweet moments where he looks up at me, all the moments where he's making a new face, or noticing something for the first time -- I have an overwhelming need to capture it all. That way, when I'm not sleep deprived later on in life, I can look back on this time and remember all these little things. 

OMG Photography captures all of this. Kaity photographs those little details - the little way Henry's eyes light up and the way Dan and Henry connect to one another... even those precious little bubbles Henry blows. All of this is photographed so that in case my memory fails, I have these visual reminders. I'll remember how big he was, the face he made the first time he sat in the grass, and the 

And this is how we know Kaity is a phenomenal photographer. Henry didn't smile once during his 3-month session. Not. One. Smile. And yet, Kaity captured his happiness. She even knelt down in goose poop to do it and get those shots. THAT is going to extra lengths!

As our family grows, the importance of these family photos grows too. I want to remember every moment of this, especially when I'm not sleep deprived and can look back and really enjoy these images. 

Interested in having photos of your own? For a limited time, OMG Photography is offering 10% off sitting fees AND 10% off digital files for a family session. Now is the perfect time to freeze time and capture your family before everyone grows! 

What really matters after having a baby

It's the last day of Memorial Day weekend. Our family room floor is covered in baby toys. We're tripping over Rock n Plays and diaper bags in the kitchen. I have four more loads of laundry to get through. The bathrooms all need a thorough scrub down. I haven't run in two weeks. And I've been meaning to bake for our new neighbors since they moved in... a month ago. 

But none of that really matters as long as I get time with my family. 

I've always been a big family person. I'm annoyingly close with my parents (so much so that I think in high school I would have been perceived as a total loser to my peers if they knew how much I loved spending time with my mom and dad), and I now love doing EVERYTHING with my husband and son ("You're taking the trash out? We'll go with you!" (Okay, maybe not everything...!)). So when there's an opportunity to spend time with our families, we're absolutely going to take it. 

This weekend was a perfect family weekend. As a family of three, we spent the last two mornings on walks together. Henry slept, and Dan and I got a chance, a REAL chance to talk to one another without handing a baby back in forth or losing our trains of thought from sleep deprivation. We had a barbecue at Dan's parents and spent time with Dan's sister's family (soon-to-be family of four!). 

And, super coolest of all, Henry got to meet his other great grandfather (he met great grandpa G about a month ago). Henry is blessed with two great grandfathers and a great grandmother (she'll be here in September, and I can't wait to introduce her to the next generation of Putts!). Neither Dan or I had any great grandparents alive when we were born, so we're thrilled that Henry has so many who love him! Great Grandpa was accompanied by my aunt, uncle, cousin Chris, and his wife Mary. And they also brought with them the most amazing painting from my aunt Doris... a gift for Henry's nursery! 

 Great Grandpa Saoud (94), Grandpa Saoud (61), Mommy (32), and Henry (3 months)

Getting to know one another

Chris, Mary, and Henry

Henry's amazing animals!

There's nothing in the world better than family, and if you're blessed with a good one, please take a minute to let them know. Too often we forget to tell them how much we love them, and we all need to take advantage of that opportunity! 

So let the laundry pile up. Forget cleaning the showers. Use paper plates if you run out of clean china. But never take for granted that time with the family. It's the most special thing in the whole world. 

My name is Angela, and I'm a hugger

One of my favorite movies always will be Elf. Will Ferrell's character of Buddy the Elf is so happy and innocent, and I love how loving he is. I've been known to repeat a line or 20 from the film. Among my favorite scenes is the one where Buddy is in an elevator with a total stranger and, after having pushed every single button, he makes his way off the elevator only to exclaim, "Oh! I forgot to give you a hug!"

For as long as I can remember, I've been a hugger. I come from a very huggy extended family. I've always been one to hug my friends and family. I hug my students. And I've even been known to hug someone I've just met, because, why not. 

It's safe to say that hugging rocks. 

Do you KNOW all the cool things hugging does? 

It lowers cortisol and other stress hormones. 
It lowers the risk of heart disease. 
It eases depression. 
It boosts the immune system. 
It fights fatigue. (And as I may have mentioned about a billion times before, I'm fatigued, man.)

There's even a National Hug Day (it's January 21 next year, FYI). 

Children who are hugged are less likely to have delays in walking, talking, and reading. In my totally biased opinion, hugs are the very best way to show love especially to kiddos you can squish. 

Statistically, the average hug lasts less than ten seconds, but most people spend an hour a month hugging! And 75% of people asked say they'd like more hugs. Who am I to deny them that pleasure? 

The next time you're wondering if you should go in for the hug or not, do it. Buddy the Elf would!

Stuff I'm loving Saturday #13: Wonder Weeks, Interval Jazzercise, and so much more!

It's been a busy few weeks here in South Bend, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. We celebrated our first anniversary, my first Mother's Day, and Henry turning three-months-old. And today is an awesome day of volunteering with Girls on the Run, celebrating our soon-to-be niece, and seeing my awesome students at the prom! 

So many wonderful things I'm loving right now, and I want to share them with you before the weekend gets away from me! 

Journaling
I used to be an avid journal keeper. From middle school through even much of my adult life, I have kept a journal. I stopped, to my great misfortune, just before meeting Dan (I wish so much I could go back to see what my thoughts were in those first few months... but I'm pretty sure even then I knew he would be my lifelong guy). I started journaling again when I found out I was pregnant with Henry, and I've kept it up since. I love keeping track of his milestones and moments in words, and I hope someday I can share this journal with him! 

The Wonder Weeks App

Have a new baby or having a baby soon? This is a must download app. Wonder Weeks is the idea that not only do babies have physical growth spurts but mental ones too (the app calls these Leaps). It runs $1.99 for iPhone, and it's a fabulous reference for days when Henry seems off. He's currently in Leap 3 and is learning how to navigate patterns and smooth transitions. The schedule has been right on for him, and it's been nice to know there's a reason for cranky behavior! 

Interval Dance Mixx

One of Jazzercise's two new formats is this awesomely challenging HIIT workout. We toggle between the top if the aerobic curve and the bottom, and I'm loving it! I feel like my heart rate doesn't come down until the end if class, and that means I'm maximizing calorie burn! I'm excited at the new direction Jazzercise is on (oh, and you can get excited too by trying any class at any location nationwide for FREE during May! Pick a class and go!)!

New Pinterest recipes

Mmmm, gnocchi. Thanks, Chew Out Loud for the awesome recipe!

I pin a lot of different recipes on my Pinterest boards, and I've been trying to make some new ones lately! My new favorites are this ridiculously easy Brown sugar bourbon glazed crock pot chicken, Ravioli with asparagus and walnuts, and this one pot Chicken gnocchi with spinach. I've made all of these recipes since Henry was born, which means they're super easy and super quick to throw together (and, bonus, we mostly have the ingredients on hand at all times!)!

Girls on the Run
I've had this on my list before, but it needs to be on there again! I LOVE GOTR! The organization empowers girls and shows them what they're capable of, and there's nothing better than seeing those smiles as the little ladies cross the finish line and get their medals!

So tell me, what are YOU loving this week?

A tank-tastic month: May's Bock Box Review

It has come to my attention that I might be obsessed with subscription boxes. But I love them so much, and this month's Bock Box is no exception! 

If you haven't heard of the Bock Box, let me fill you in! 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! When you sign up, you'll fill out a questionnaire that asks you 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 one more month coming my way, and then I have to decide to renew or not! 

This month was tank-tastic! I received the Be You, Bravely tank top (retail value $24). The cotton is SO soft, and it will be perfect for workouts, casual days at home with Henry, or layering under something heavier. 

The best part about the Bock Box is everything is chosen specifically for you! This month, my friend Andrea got the gorgeous Charlotte bracelet and earrings in pink (a $36 value!)! Each month brings different and awesome gifts!

Interested in getting your own Bock Box? Head over here and choose the option that's best for you! Then make sure to come back here and tell me what you were sent -- I just love knowing what others get! 

The hardest decision I've ever made: Becoming a stay-at-home-mom

From as early as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. And I've also wanted to be a mom. These have perhaps been two of the biggest accomplishments in my life. 

My entire formal education prepared me for teaching. I was blessed to know early on what I wanted to do, so while others were struggling in high school and early college to figure it out, I was already on my path. I focused on English, knowing that this is what I wanted to teach. I declared my major before I ever started at Saint Mary's. And I obtained my master's so that I could continue to teach the journalism classes I loved so much. 

I know people think being a high school teacher is hard, but I am absolutely unequivocally in love with teaching. There is nothing better than seeing students grow and change. I love watching students get a new concept or make improvements in their writing. I love having scholarly discussions with students about Gatsby and Huck Finn and the motivations behind a character's actions. I love getting to know my students and seeing them as more than just bodies in desks but as real people with hopes and dreams and fears and ambitions. I love keeping in touch with students who have graduated, who have gone on to wonderful things, who have followed paths they never imagined they would be on. 

So when I found out I was pregnant, I started asking myself what I would do after Henry's arrival. Dan and I are lucky to be in a position where I don't have to work, but that almost made the decision harder, because I really had to listen to my heart. Did I want to work? Did I want to stay home? 

This decision is one I have wrestled with daily since my maternity leave started. Could I be the teacher I wanted, the one who dedicated evenings and weekends to grading 50 research papers at a time, the one who edited newspaper pages with text so tiny I had to squint until I got a headache, and still be the mom I wanted to be? Could I be the mom I wanted, the one who had energy and enthusiasm to teach and play with her child after spending every work day teaching other children? Could I possibly give 100% to both my career and my baby? 

And ultimately I decided that as much as I would want to, I know I couldn't. I couldn't give Henry all the attention I wanted to in the three hours I would get to spend with him on weekdays. I couldn't give my students the attention I wanted to after sleep deprived nights or staying up too late to try to effectively edit their papers. I want to be superwoman, but I don't know if I can be. 

It legitimately breaks my heart to step away from teaching for another year, as I will take the 2015-2016 school year off as maternity leave. I think about not seeing my students and my coworkers every day, and that makes me sad. I think about not having those conversations and all of the events I'm going to miss, and it makes me want to cry (and I have, often). I love teaching. I have loved every day of teaching, even the hardest and worst days, for the last ten years.  And I don't anticipate missing teaching any less as the next year goes on. 

But as I watch my son sleepily rock in his swing (smile on his face, even), I can't imagine being somewhere else next year. I have to be with him. I just have to. 

I honestly thought I'd feel better once I made a decision. But instead I feel like an insanely large piece of me is no longer a piece of me. Teaching is who I am. It's part of my identity. Who am I if I'm not a teacher? 

I'm a mother. I'm Henry's mommy. And he deserves for me to take advantage of our situation and spend as much time with him that I can. 

And so, I've officially decided to extend my maternity leave another school year. It breaks my heart to think of the students and the discussions I will miss, but I'm thrilled to know I can do so many fun things with Henry. As my sweet department head reminded me, "You have 35 more years to be a teacher. You have right now to be Henry's mom." So, so true. 

I'm Henry's mommy. 

Beauty samples that feel like a splurge: A Birchbox review!

For my birthday last month, I was gifted a Birchbox subscription from one of my fabulous friends. I was super excited about this because Birchbox has been on my radar for awhile, but I wasn't sure I wanted to make the commitment. 

If you haven't heard of Birchbox, let me tell you a little about it! This is a subscription box company, and you can choose the length of time you subscribe. For $10 a month, the company will send you five makeup, skin care, or body product samples for you to try out. The samples are usually larger than a one time use (and sometimes you can get a whole lot of uses out of them!). You try the samples and decide what you love. Reviewing each sample earns you 10 points of credit, and after 100 points, you get $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop. You can choose any of the products that were shipped to you, or you can pick from a whole host of other items!

For the first month, I was sent the Customer Favorites box. Read on to see what you can expect in a typical box!

Beauty Protector Protect and Oil ($25.95 for full size)
This is my FAVORITE product in the box! I've never been a big fan of hair oils because my hair is pretty fine. Whenever I've used oils in the past, my hair just looks greasy and dirty almost immediately. Not so with this one! I worked two drops into damp hair, and upon drying, my hair was super soft and not at all greasy looking. My flyaways were completely tamed too! And extra bonus: you use so little each time that I think this sample will last for months! 

Harvey Prince Hello Body Butter ($20 for full size) 
I would buy this product based on the scent alone! This cream has a light, citrusy scent to it that lingers for hours and hours. The cream itself is super moisturizing and worked well on my very dry skin. I wish there was a larger sample of this one! 

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Poppy ($20 for full size)
Having never used a lip stain before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I love the feel of this lip stain, but the color just didn't wow me. It's a little more orangey than I was hoping, and it's definitely a bit much for daytime wear. I think on a spring or summer night out, it would work, but I don't see myself using this color all that often. 

Whish Shaving Cream ($20 for full size)
The light pomegranate scent didn't really smell like pomegranate to me, and this product didn't really lather like other shaving creams I've used in the past. But, it did protect my skin and help moisturize it, so not a bad one to try!

Not Soap, Radio Body Wash ($16 for full size)
I used this as a body wash (it can also be used as a bubble bath). It was fine, but I think I'll stick with my Dove body wash (which costs way less!)!

My favorite thing about trying Birchbox is that it feels like I'm off at a little spa in the comfort of my own bathroom. As a new mom, it felt super luxurious to try some new products and have a small escape! I'm looking forward to my box this month, and I'm hoping to get some more great samples!