my pregnancy lifesavers!

mama bee belly butter + seamless racerback bras

this oscillating heater + strawberry applesauce

patterned socks + Liz Lange maternity leggings

1. Burt's Bees mama bee belly butter: i know they say that stretch marks are basically genetic, but i'd like to think that me slathering this on after every shower kept me from getting any of those lovely lines. and at the very least, it kept my belly super soft & i love the scent. i haven't quite used up the whole tub, so i will be continuing to finish it up post c-section!

2. Aerie seamless racerback bras: my boobs reached epic proportions within the first month of finding out i was pregnant. normally i don't wear bras to bed, but i quickly felt like these ginormous boobs were creeping south, so i started wearing these light and comfy racerback bras to bed. literally the only time my boobs haven't had support has been in the shower. i'm hoping this will help them bounce back (hehe) within no time!

3. Soleus Air oscillating reflective heater: holy crap this thing is amazing. i am a huge huge lover of fireplaces. we didn't have one in our apartment & then the condo, so pete went and bought me an electric one that is in cali & i miss it so much. here in CT, we make plenty of fires, but i am not the most skilled fire starter, nor did i want to go through the whole stack of wood in a week by burning one all day, everyday. so i invested in this heater. it's lightweight and i turn it on every morning & let my little toes get toasty warm. i love love love this product and it has been a lifesaver during this cold winter!

4. Applesauce: besides fruit, this has been my go to. strawberry is my favorite flavor, but i can put away a serious amount of cinnamon or berry medley. i go straight for the big jars, but these snack size ones have been the real lifesavor in the middle of the night when i'm awake and starving. they coat your stomach to get rid of any nausea & it's the perfect amount to make those hunger pains go away without packing on midnight munchie pounds.

5. patterned socks: these can be from anywhere, not just j.crew... they were a must have from start to finish, especially during a fall to winter pregnancy. they were long enough so they didn't fold under in my boots, warm enough for all aspects of the holidays, & became part of my morning & night routine. i would put some super thick ultra healing lotion all over my feet & heels, throw on a pair of these socks, & either head out for the day, or wind down in bed... always keeping my feet super soft.

6. Liz Lange for Target maternity leggings: these rock. they are thick enough so they're not the dreaded "see through", they are super long, comfy, & the waistband is low enough so that it's not uncomfortable as your bump grows. i'm hoping to be able to wear them at the hospital after my c-section... that could be total wishful thinking. and will def be wearing them still after baby. can't say enough about these awesome leggings. (i'm wearing them here in my 33 week post)

other things that got me through the past nine months: tylenol, pounding bottles of water, game of thrones reruns, making virgin daiquiris and pretending they weren't, pinterest, cough drops, & chocolate.

maurice sendak exhibit!

ever since i was a kid, 'where the wild things are' has been my all time favorite book. max, the wild things, the illustrations, all of it. maurice sendak was an artistic genius and i deeply admire all of his work. so when i saw in the newspaper that there was a special limited time exhibit on his work, i jumped at the opportunity to go. it did not disappoint. they had all of his original drawings, paintings, & even a sculpture. they had all of his books including Little Bear (a fan favorite) & had the movie adaptation playing on a big screen in a separate room with tons of little kids lounging on bean bags. i have such a love for art & illustrations, especially in children's books, & i only hope to instill that passion in my children.

by far, one of my favorite exhibits of all time :)

tea time.

this morning i took a cruise down 95 to meet up with my lovely friend & fellow blogger Devon at the cutest little spot Lorca for some hot drinks & baked goods. obviously i ordered a chai latte since they are my absolute favorite & never fail to warm my heart & soul. it came in an alice in wonderland sized cup & saucer & i only burned my tongue once.

we chatted about life, the cold ass weather outside, & our big plans for the future. she also surprised me with the sweetest gift for the little guy: a moose printed & footed onesie from Vermont... sigh. i can't wait to bundle him up in it & snuggle him :)

love her.

oh & did i mention she is the founder of Wendy Darling Co. where she designs & makes her own whimsical clothing line... launching this month. you can be sure i'll do a post when the website is up & running! love you devon, can't wait to team up with you & make some creative awesomeness!

to do list.

i love autumn. i love the word autumn (ohhh, baby girl name?) favorite season hands down. it's the time of year where everyone goes outside to enjoy the cool crisp air, the changing leaves, + the apples, pumpkins, & gourds. & who can forget the growing excitement for the best upcoming holidays?? this year i am making a list of things i want to accomplish for these fall months:

1. go apple picking: get all different kinds to make apple sauce, pies, & apple butter

2. go to a fair: taste test all the food, especially the fried dough

3. host a party: this sunday!

4. paint: get back in the swing of things & start a painting for bumble b's nursery

5. make a kick ass halloween costume: finish my 'where the wild things are' max costume

6. get my martha crafts on: felt, acorns, flowers... the projects are endless when you have martha by your side (okay, maybe just her magazine)

7. carve pumpkins in a unique way: get inspired by prints, type, & fabrics to create beautiful pumpkins this year instead of scary ones

8. get a new pair of thick cozy socks: and wear them by the nightly fires

9. take a class: knitting, baking, underwater basket weaving...

10. & go hiking: hit up as many trails as possible.

we're having a party over here!

photo courtesy of HBO.com

alllll day long. because we have waited a full year & it is finally here: Game of Thrones season 3. the best book, & now the best season is airing tonight. season 1 and 2 were fantastic, but 3 is going to be epic. i don't normally get so excited about tv shows, but this is more than a show. it is on the level of Lord of the Rings. both have entire new languages created, both have an entire world to get lost in, both have struggles over good & evil.

and this season will not disappoint: dragons, & weddings, & don't get too attached to your favorite characters because odds are they will be dead soon ;) 

we are so excited, can you tell?! it is the best day ever. good food, Easter celebrations, & episode one starting tonight. if you haven't seen this show, buy HBO & quickly watch 20 episodes all day long ;) because you look outside, & spring is most definitely here... but, Winter is coming! (see what i did there?)

HAPPY EASTER everyone! have a wonderful day full of family, great food, & love!

a charm bracelet...

i think just about everyone has a little trinket or two that means something to them. i have my grandmother's college ring, a pair of earrings from a trip to Spain when i was eleven that i only wear on special occasions, my wedding ring: a very thin band of sparkly diamonds engraved with "all the way," the Frank Sinatra song we first danced to at our wedding & a phrase that embodies the two of us together. but the most meaningful piece of jewelry i own is a charm bracelet. it was my moms, given to her as a child & just recently, it was given to me. i can not tell you how much this piece of jewelry means to me. each little charm tells its own story and i am so honored to wear it. there is space to add hundreds of more charms & i hope to one day give it to my daughter when she becomes my age. 

my mom means the world to me. i think that it is very important in parenting to not let your children think that you are their "friend"... and my mom has raised me in a tough, but loving way that allows us to be so close, while still keeping me in line. she is comforting when needed & yet, can effortlessly snap me out of it when i am feeling sorry for myself. she is the strongest woman i know, busy all the time, raised four great kids, & always has time to look effortlessly chic. she doesn't even realize how beautiful she is. you'll tell her "mom, you look so pretty today" and she'll punch you in the arm. she was one of my gymnastics coaches when i was younger & i still hear today from my old teammates "i just love your mother" because it is true, we all love her. and with this big move coming up to San Francisco, as much as i am excited, & as much as i am ready to start a new chapter with my husband, i will miss the woman who has the biggest impact on my life. the woman who made me into the person i am today. 

but now, i have this bracelet. and every time i look at it i will think of her. and i can not tell you how excited i am to add my own charms to it. to intertwine her memories with my own. i hope one day it becomes an heirloom for our family. one where my daughter will be just as honored as i am to wear it... one day.

spring catalogues!

it is that time again... all the spring catalogues are filling up the mailbox. most people find them annoying & throw them right out. oh but not me, they are my favorite! i like to play the game where i think in my head "if i had a million dollars and could buy whatever i wanted, what things would i choose..." and here they are: 

 this embellished white dress from here + these pale pink wedges from here

 this polka dot & eyelet top from here + these pin striped beach pants via here

 this modern striped one piece from here + these stunning sandals from here

& this bumble bee golden tie necklace from here + this breezy white top from here

the magazines i went through included Sundance, Eddie Bauer, Boden, Garnet Hill, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, & more... you can see the pattern developing just at a glance: a light, airy, & whimsical vibe ready for spring & warmer weather. each of the pieces above are the very definition of a splurge, but my birthday is in a few weeks & i am thinking of choosing just one of these for my husband to get me! 

shirts for a cause:

sevenly.org (one week. one cause.)

today's post is about a website i found on Pinterest (of course!) last night that raises awareness for charities. every week they showcase new amazing shirts and a percentage of those shirts goes to the charity of the week. this week, if you purchase just one shirt, it feeds a starving child in Haiti with nutritious meals for a month. that is enough to make me feel good inside for 30 days :) & the shirts are like, too cool. below are the ones i just purchased. one for me, & one for pete. i love the loose styles & the graphics! but make sure to check out the website here because there are many more styles & designs, and more importantly, children who need your help.

kids these days...

                      << SO CUTE!!!

purple chevron striped onesie from serena & lily

umm, so where were these clothes when i was a kid?! don't get me wrong, i wore pretty stylish clothes because all of them were handed down to me from my gorgeous cousin... but i am in awe of the amazing pieces available for kids these days. it is like some of the best designers were just like "screw it, i wanna design for littles" and they did... because that's the only thing i can come with. there are so many darling onesies & little booties & moccasins galore! all the stripes & colors... half of them i wish were made into grown up clothes! it is inspiring me to want to have kids like right now! but let's not get ahead of ourselves. 

stripes & bunnies from here + purple floral jumper via the gap

grey soft moccasins from smallable + striped itty bitty sneakers from here

complimentary colored onesie from seed + the softest striped pj pants from here

a mountain top dress from here + black & white striped hoodie from j.crew

and this,

this is why i love Kohl's!

my mom and i love to shop at Kohl's. it is our favorite thing to do together because we have the best time trying to find those "gems" that lots of women overlook. i know you all are gagging over how much i talk about this store... like "ok LA, we get it, why don't you just marry it?"  ...but case in point:

see these mittens? i love these mittens. i pinned them to my "outerwear" board on Pinterest about 2 months ago. the colors, the little deer, they are so woodsy-fun, & the tassels add a punch of girly. and i had NO clue where they were from. never checked, never looked for them anywhere... and then last night, i was just bored & online shopping. i had already raided Anthropologie's current sale here where i scored this & this for super cheap... Macy's didn't have much, so i found myself on Kohl's.com looking through their sale of winter stuff. and BAM. these mittens popped up. seriously? at kohl's? i died. and obviously i am ordering them as we speak with my Kohl's card because you get like extra 30% off, plus free shipping. & you can't beat that! so here they are if you love them as much as me! they are by a company called MUK LUKS and they have a lot of funky different shoes, outerwear, & tights. so check it out!

a little list...

image by Kris Orlowski

OF THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME:

i don't like the beach. (give me a river to jump into, or a lake to swim in, & i'm good!)

one of my favorite things in life is when i reach into my purse & grab exactly what i was looking for.
i love pie. don't like cake.
i have never found a pair of sunglasses that my eyelashes don't hit, so i rarely wear them.
i've bitten my nails since i have had teeth and nails, & it is the one habit i can't seem to break.
i love traditions: husband and i come up with new ones all the time. i still refuse to look at the tree with presents underneath it until Christmas morning.
i cant go a day with out some sort of chocolate. (sometimes i make brownies just to eat the batter)
i love all things with stripes on them: clothing, blankets, rugs, everything.
and turquoise, my absolute favorite color is turquoise. (the shade that is light in color & slightly on the green side)
i could spend a whole day, more like a week... in Ikea.
i can hold a handstand longer than a minute. and still do double fulls on floor.
pete and i already have our future childrens' names & middle names picked out. 
i am named after my dad's sister Betty Ann.
i used to have a huge vein under my left eye that i had laser removed before college.
a dream of mine is to own a VW convertible bug one day.
i would love to work in a book store out in California, or open up an ice cream store!
i HATE guys in jean shorts. absolute deal breaker.
i never wear my own socks. i steal husband's & he hates it.
i love wrapping paper. i buy it all year round even though i rarely have gifts to wrap.
i studied abroad in Australia my junior year of college & it still is one of the top experiences of my life.
there is a board on my pinterest completely dedicated to macarons. (but i have never tried one!)
i can recite every single line from every Lord of the Rings... extended editions.
Cinnabon is my favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor.
i lay awake at night for hours interior decorating our future condo in my head. it's an obsession and i'm glad i married someone who lets me decorate how i like :)
and you probably already know this, but i love pete. and kairos & leo. and toby my jeep.

the heisman.

so this is what the pose is supposed to look like:

but it has been adapted along the way to look like this...

at a night out in boston with all my girls:

at my bachelorette party:

 and even after a run the morning of my wedding:

change it up, make it your own. the heisman is supposed to give you a superman like feeling. it is best combined with cocktails, your girls, & a camera nearby!

i went to a party this morning...

have you heard of stella & dot? i first learned of this gorgeous line of jewelry around Christmas time when my mom surprised me with the earrings & necklace below... beautiful right? the earrings look like drops of tropical ocean water & i gushed over them Christmas morning. i even wore them in this outfit post. and how darling is that little heart necklace? it is so simple & sweet & great for layering with other necklaces.

and so this morning... my mom, my brother's girlfriend Kelly, and i... we all headed down the road to where one of my mom's co-worker friends was hosting a party of all stella & dot jewelry. we drank mimosas & ate yogurt fruit parfaits & "ooh'd" and "aahh'd' over all the pretty pieces. 

after much debate, i decided on purchasing a few things. first was this light teal stone bracelet: it is called the Foundation Bracelet & is available in other colors here.

the second were these little turquoise stone earrings that are bright enough to add a pop of color to any outfit. they are called Delphie Stone Studs & come in two other gorgeous colors here.

both pieces i purchased were reasonably priced, but there was one necklace i fell in love with that was a bit more expensive. the necklace was called the Tree Of Life necklace and the second i tried it on, i fell in love. it is such a classy looking pendant necklace that can be worn short or longer and it is also available in silver here. my mom saw how much i loved it & ordered it for my birthday coming up next month. such a good present. 

and so there you have it, a new perfect little place to go to for presents for others and/or to just spoil yourself & still not spend a ton of money! i love it when my girlfriends share with me cool new stores, or great new makeup... & that is ultimately the purpose of this blog: to share all the things that i love, or find, or buy with you amazing readers!  so... happy sunday & happy shopping!