So, how are you guys!? I hope you all had a great week!
There’s no question that the best part of my week happened yesterday morning. I had another prenatal appointment and, after a mid-morning doughnut date at Duck Donuts, we made our way to my OB/GYN’s office for my exam. The doctor I’ve been exclusively seeing (the one I fell in love with after she performed my two D&Cs and took a very thorough and proactive approach to my prenatal care) actually had her third baby earlier this week, so I was back in the practice’s old office – the one I haven’t stepped foot in since our second loss last summer – and my anxiety kicked into high gear. Thankfully my appointment was with the very same midwife who delivered Chase and she could not have been more kind and reassuring. Hearing our baby’s heartbeat will never get old and Chase broke out into the biggest smile when he heard the “boom booms” which could not have made my heart swell any more.
Now the weekend is here and I’m READY for it! We don’t have any real concrete plans but I’m sure we’ll fill the next couple of days with some family fun! Until we chat again on Monday, I wanted to share my usual Things I’m Loving Friday blog post with you guys! As always, I’d love to hear a little bit about something that is making you smile right now in the comments section.
I hope you all have the best weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
Thank you so much to Stitch Fix for sponsoring this shout out!
Bless you, Stitch Fix, for outfitting me with some new clothes when I cannot for the life of me figure out how to dress myself lately! I’ve gained more weight during this pregnancy (my belly also popped much earlier than it did during my pregnancy with Chase) and for some reason the clothes I loved during my first pregnancy (low-rise leggings, in particular) are SO uncomfortable to me this time around. I’m struggling big time with figuring out what to wear but thankfully informing my Stitch Fix stylist that I’m currently expecting helped add a few new bump-friendly styles to my wardrobe, including the comfy gray pullover you see above, the long burgundy duster cardigan (not maternity-specific) and my new favorite frayed-ankle jeans.
I’m assuming most of you who have been following this blog for a while know how Stitch Fix works, but it’s a styling service for women and men. After answering some questions online and building a style profile, you’ll receive a Fix filled with five items from your stylist. (It’s not a subscription service and you can order a Fix anytime you want – either on-demand or on a regular schedule, such as once a month or quarterly, etc.)
Along with the recent “keepers” from my latest Stitch Fix delivery featured above, my Fix also included something brand new! Stitch Fix is now offering Extras, an easy new way to add everyday wardrobe staples to your Fix. You can now add bralettes, socks, shapewear, camisoles, tights, socks and bras (all in women’s sizes XS – 3X) to your Fix and they’re shipped directly to you along with the five items your stylists selects for you each month.
Like the other items you receive in your Stitch Fix deliveries, you only have to keep the Extras you want and your $20 styling fee may also be applied to these items. The process of selecting and adding Extras to my Fix was so easy and I ended up selecting a Free People bralette (I love wearing these under tank tops and dresses where I don’t mind a peek of my bra showing – anything to avoid strapless!), a Hanky Panky thong (I’ve loved this brand for years) and two more basic pairs of underwear in a larger size to fit me more comfortably during my pregnancy. I love the simplicity and ease of the new Extras feature and figured it might interest my fellow Stitch Fix fans out there as well!
- Dino-Chase
On Monday morning, my friend Nicole was kind enough to give me a giant bag of clothes that her youngest son recently grew out of (LOVE hand-me-downs!!!) and Chase quickly eyed the big, green dinosaur costume on top of the pile. He had to put it on immediately and the dino costume is now his latest obsession. He wears it all over the house so we’ve found ourselves cooking with a dinosaur, playing trains with a dinosaur and racing a surprisingly agile dinosaur around the house while he drives his Plasma Car at top speed. Dino-Chase!!! The funniest part of the costume is that Chase has ZERO peripheral vision in this costume, so he’s constantly bumping into things but he shakes it off like the tough T-Rex that he is and moves right along.
- Onesies That Made Me Cry
Two of my sweet friends from Burn Boot Camp surprised me with these incredibly thoughtful onesies for our baby-on-the-way earlier this week. I ended up in tears before my workout when I saw them and was deeply touched by their thoughtful gifts. I feel like I could write a whole blog post on what it feels like to be more than halfway through a pregnancy after two miscarriages, but I am just very emotional and think about the babies we lost all the time. I am so beyond grateful to be pregnant again but our two angel babies haven’t slipped from my mind for a second. I cry when I think about them. I cry when I hear from any of you who are currently walking through this pain and those who long for a baby. I cry when I let anxiety creep in. I guess I share this to say that even though there is so much joy in my heart for our future, being pregnant right now doesn’t eliminate the grief and sadness I continue to feel after our losses. I am so appreciative when friends and family remember our babies in Heaven, too.
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This book was recommended to me by a handful of you guys in the past and when I initially read the description I admittedly thought the book sounded kind of boring. Fast forward a few months and I found myself wanting a break from some of the suspenseful books I’ve been reading lately and I turned to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Now I’m just kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! I haven’t finished the book yet so I cannot give it a full and complete review, but I love the author’s writing style and despite the lack of suspense I’m used to in my most recent book selections, this book is proving to be a page-turner for me. Eleanor is an intriguing main character. She’s extremely quirky, completely unaware of her lack of social skills and somehow incredibly engaging to read about. I quickly found myself rooting for Eleanor as I learned more about her past and the person she is and who she is becoming. I’m looking forward to finishing this one this weekend!
When I shared Tuesday’s Create Your Own Outdoor Workout, I highlighted Nike’s newest Epic React sneakers which I absolutely adore thanks to the lightweight yet snug fit. I’ve been wearing them for nearly all of my workouts since I received them two weeks ago and think they’re great for anyone on the lookout for a sneaker that’s supportive enough to wear during workouts that may involve jumping but still want a cushioned sole that’s ideal for walking or running as well. While I shared my review of the sneakers on Tuesday, they didn’t launch to the public until yesterday, so if you want to check them out, they’re officially available NOW! Woop!
- Cauliflower Fried Rice from Pinch of Yum
Pinch of Yum comes through for me yet again! I followed this recipe almost exactly with two exceptions: I substituted coconut aminos for the soy sauce and added leftover chopped chicken to the pan when I added the edamame. I think the chicken helped with this dish’s staying powder since it’s pretty light on its own. Ryan and I both really enjoyed it (Chase snacked on edamame and carrots while I cooked which is a WIN in our house on the veggie front) and I’ll absolutely make this dish again soon. I love the way it incorporates sesame oil and think that is key for the deep nutty flavor of the cauliflower fried rice.
- Friday Flashbacks
Coconut Hemp Seed Granola (I made a batch of this granola again this week and am loving it on Greek yogurt and cottage cheese for an afternoon snack!)
A Healthy Weekend in Charlotte (Some recommendations for anyone considering a visit to Charlotte in the coming weeks or months!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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That Dino outfit is the cutest! Hope you have a great weekend.
My daughter is only a few months older than Chase and we got a bunch of clothes from her favorite older cousins. She has been obsessed with a skirt that is a size 5 and causes her to trip all the time, but refuses to take it off. We are hunkered down this weekend as we’re supposed to get 10-12 inches of snow between now and Saturday. Trying to think up fun indoor activities for the toddler!
Loving that Stichfix top on you and omg the dino outfit on Chase is adorable! I’m currently reading Final Girls, which I think you recommended somewhere here and am loving it, just hoping it doesn’t give me nightmares before bed, lol.
Yes! That book was SO good but so stressful for me to read! Hence why I was in the market for a suspense-free book right now… 🙂 Ha! Hope you enjoy it!!
Hi Julie – our son will be 2 1/2 on March 27th. We recently transitioned him to a big boy bed this past fall after baby #2 arrived and then needed the crib so thought I’d share our experience. We avoided it like the plague bc we thought the transition would be terrible. But it ended up being a way easier transition than we expected. I got him this teepee bed off of Etsy that he loves so we don’t have to worry about falls (Play Tent Canopy Bed). He has now slept in queen and king size beds just fine also (without railings) so we don’t worry about falls anymore – he kind of just sleeps right in the middle of the bed. And while yes, he is able to get out of bed and play around some, he will usually settle himself back into bed or we go in once or twice. Once he’s out, he doesn’t get up until his normal time. But it was not the dramatic transition that we thought it would be at all! And for safety measures, we put the door handle on backwards with the lock facing out so we don’t have to worry about him getting out of his room and roaming the house when we are sleeping.
I am so excited for the launch of stitch fix extras – I am in a serious need of a new bra.. TMI??
And how thoughtful are those onesies!? I got my sister-in-law one that said “Answered Prayers”, which they loved.
Have a great weekend 🙂
My coworkers sister is Gail Honeyman! I am so glad you love the book. My mama and I both agree it is one of the more powerful books we have read. One to put on your list is The Hate You Give.
Those onesies touched my heart for you this morning! And I got a good laugh about the Dino costume 🙂 Happy Friday!
Ugh, those onesies made me cry! I’m due 6/20 so I think I’m almost exactly matched with you, pregnancy-wise – LOL! I’ve been relying on many of your pregnancy favorites from Chase.
Wanted to give you a suggestion for leggings if you’ve been disliking the under-belly stuff. I got a pair of Blanqi leggings off Poshmark around week 12 when I was feeling super bloated (but not bumping yet) and have basically lived in them ever since…I actually just got 2 more pairs this weekend because they are the greatest leggings ever. Yes, they’re like $65 but 100% worth it (IMO) as they hold their shape day and after day (because I’m not about to wash them every damn day and are amazing for working out and lounging (perfect balance of compression, support, and stretch in all the right places).
Hope you have an awesome weekend! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try Stitch Fix Maternity! I actually have a few friends here in Dallas that work as Stitch Fix Stylists!
Chase is so cute in the dinosaur costume!
Ok, that dinosaur costume is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!! Chase is such a cutie.
I hope you post your reaction to the end of the book once you finish! I’d love to hear what you think. I read it too and really liked it. Was just thinking about it the other day – love when she goes to the mall for her manicure!
i’m reading I’m Not Sorry per your recommendation and I can’t put it down!
OMG Chase in his dino suit is Amazing and totally reminds me of this Hyperbole and a Half post..
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/10/menace.html?m=1
I enjoyed the advice from your post yesterday, as well 🙂 I ordered Oh Crap! from Amazon already and can’t wait to start reading it when it arrives tomorrow!! My toddler also loves her crib and hasn’t tried to crawl out yet, so I ordered a second crib already. I figured why add one more stressful thing? They are both the same convertible crib, so at least I can reuse the toddler rail for baby #2. Hah! Have a great weekend!
Dino-Chase is hilarious and reminds me of this blog post from Hyperbole and a Half–I thought you’d appreciate it: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/10/menace.html
Eleanor Oliphant has more suspense to come! The plot gets darker and darker. I really liked it too. Her writing style is unique and engaging.
Snag some align pants from lululemon! I work for the company and pregnant women SWEAR by them!
Those Nikes are super cute, but sadly the two cutest colors (yours included) are already sold out. AND they’re $150, which is awfully steep… I was thinking of treating myself but not sure I can justify that cost.
oohhhhh those nikes are CUTE! i’ve been wanting a new pair of workout sneaks for spring so those might be the move. and i’m definitely trying to make reading an actual book part of my night routine, so i’ll have to check out Gail Honeyman. i always struggle to find books i want to get through unless they’re amazing mysteries like Girl on the Train!
Cauliflower fried rice is definitely a favorite of mine! This week I’m loving yoga, not that that’s actually new! haha
Julie – the dino outfit. Its so cute. The only thing I could think of though was the hyperbole and a half post on her dino costume. Please tell me you’ve read it, and if not, please drop everything right now to read it – it. is. hysterical. And even so much better now that your little man is wearing a dino costume around!! =D
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/10/menace.html
LOVE cauliflower fried rice!! So good. I use PaleoRunning Mama’s recipe as my base – I add more veggies every time I make it: peppers, broccoli, asparagus, etc. Can’t go wrong! I make it at least once a week. 🙂
I felt the exact same about that book after reading the description but since I take most of your book recs (and they’re spot on!) I am going to put this on hold at the library. Thanks!
I’m loving the Tuxedo whitening powder you told us about! I’ve been using it for almost a week now and can see and feel a difference in my poor coffee-stained teeth! But ughhh the MESS!!! hahaha I have to find a better system… also the palm of my hand is like permanently stained from dumping a small bit there to put my toothbrush in. What is your system?! haha
Have a good weekend 🙂
Hi Julie! Question for you: What are some of your favorite gluten free recipes you’ve tried (baked goods like muffins, or meals)? I’m just curious! My mom is switching to more GF recipes for health and I’d like to try some for her! (Maybe you could do a post about your favs?) Love your blogs! You look wonderful and I”m so glad baby #2 is doing well, how exciting! You are an inspiration with your positive outlook and dedication to fitness! Many blessings to you! I always look forward to your Friday updates. 🙂
I definitely need to try those Nikes!!! I am probably due for a new pair of shoes….or at least this is what I tell myself. LOL
Random question: Have you ever done a post on how you curl your hair? I have been trying to teach myself how to curl my hair, but still haven’t perfected the loose waves that you so perfectly rock. I’d love to know how you achieve this look!