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! 

What's in the (diaper) bag?

Before having Henry, I had a lot of big questions. They essentially all revolved around being a good parent and doing the best we could by Henry. These questions still exist, but I've noticed SO many smaller questions popping up since he arrived. 

One of the biggest questions I had post-birth was what items needed to be in the diaper bag. I mean, I understand that diapers are a good idea, but I didn't know what else to add! Now that we've had some time to adjust and some outings to practice with, I've come up with a list of essentials that absolutely must be in the bag! 

So organized (for the moment)!

To begin, let's talk about the gorgeous monogrammed diaper bag from Courtney Bock Designs! I ordered this prior to Henry's birth and wanted to keep it gender neutral so that I could use it again with future babies (if we're blessed with more). Therefore, I chose just a monogrammed P in a gorgeous mint green (mint, gray, and lavender have been my colors of choice since our wedding!). I absolutely LOVE that this bag is roomy enough to hold everything we need, but stylish enough to add some spunk to my outfits! And, I think I could use it later as just more than a diaper bag!

From left to right, here are the other items that are must haves in my diaper bag.

Lanolin: A must have for breast feeding mommas, this tiny tube came in a package of three. A gift from my godmother Diane, I love that I don't have to remember to take my large tube with me! 

Pacifier wipes: These are perfect for those moments when your little one chucks his pacifier on a mucky store floor and then screams when it's not immediately back in his mouth! I'd rather wash it, but these work wonderfully in a pinch! 

Reusable changing pad: My diaper bag came with this adorable polkadot pad! 

Diaper rash cream: Knock on wood, we've been diaper rash free so far, hence why ours is still in the box. But, I don't want to be without it if we need it later! 

Toy: Distraction tool. 'Nuff said. 

Blankie: We've been carrying a thick, warm blanket with us on the car seat, but I like having a back-up blankie with us too. This gray and white lightweight fleece one can be used as a playmat, burp cloth, breastfeeding cover, changing pad... The possibilities are endless! 

Back-up pacifiers: Again, necessary. 

Wipes and diapers: Since this is the primary function of the bag, I'm glad we have them! Note: Always pack more than you think you need, and always keep the bag stocked! 

Extra outfits: Our extra outfits consist of a short-sleeved onesie, a long-sleeved sleeper, and a little teeny hat, just in case. Bonus: I would also consider adding a pair of scratch mittens if, like us, you have a little one who likes to have his hands by his face! 
Not pictured

Disposable changing mats: We've yet to need to use these, but I LOVE this concept! These disposable changing pads will be perfect for times when the changing table looks less than savory. I love these for things like trips to the mall, the zoo, or a day at the park. Use it and toss it without dirtying your reusable changing pad!

Burp cloth: Ours was, ahem, in used condition at the time of the photos. But, also a must have for the bag! 

Hand sanitizer: Mine is currently in my purse, but I love those tiny Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers for the diaper bag! Again, if you're ever without water, it's nice to get clean-ish hands after a diaper change!

What other necessities do you keep in your diaper bag? I would love to know if you find anything else to be a must have!

Jewelry review: Why Sparkle Box rocks!

Spring is in the air (maybe just wishful thinking on my part?!), and it makes me all sorts of happy! I love everything about spring: the warmer weather, the springtime activities, and the gorgeous spring colors. 

And I had all of this in mind when I made a request for my most recent Sparkle Box. In the event that you don't know what Sparkle Box is, allow me to introduce you to this fabulous company! Sparkle Box is a jewelry by mail company that allows you to order as often or as infrequently as you like! Head over to  Sparkle Box (sign up for emails, and save 10% on your first order!), and select your personal style. You can choose from a variety of styles like the brand new Avant Garde style, Subtle Style, On-Trend, Boho Beauty, or Quirky/Handmade. Once you've chosen your signature style, you can decide if you want this to be a one-time gig or if you want to keep receiving Sparkles more frequently. Check out, and within seven business days, you get a lovely box of hand-picked jewelry just for you! (Bonus: Shannon often throws in an extra bonus gift!)

Just a few of the many things I love about this company... first of all, the jewelry is gorgeous (see below!)! The quality is excellent, and I've loved both boxes I've gotten so far so much! I also love that your $19 actually purchases something (unlike online jewelry rentals -- this one's yours to keep!). And, there's literally a style for everyone at Sparkle Box. There's even an option for the young ladies in your life who might want a little sparkle!

You can read all about my first Sparkle Box (I selected Subtle Style) here!

While I'm normally a Subtle Style through and through, for this box, I was in the mood for a surprise. I ordered a Surprise Me box and requested something springy. It arrived yesterday, and I couldn't wait to see what I got! 

Naturally, Shannon knocked it out of the park! What waited inside for me was a gorgeous minty statement necklace and a bonus set of earrings that match it perfectly! I couldn't wait to try it on! I love the gold tone and the way it offsets the mint and crystal elements of the piece. I think this will look perfect dressed up for a night out, or it can be paired with a t-shirt and jeans for a gorgeous casual look! I have an event tomorrow night to honor a student of mine, and my outfit us totally going to be planned around this jewelry now! 

I'm so glad I got out of my comfort zone and let Shannon pick for me! This is something I would have looked at in a store and thought I couldn't pull off. But once I actually tried it on, I love the way it looks! Cheers to stepping outside the comfort zone and trying something new (and springy!)!

Want to get your own Sparkle Box? Head over to the website, and check out all the options! You can read the blog, read up about each style, and even see Sparkles that have been delivered to others!