Friday, February 27, 2015

5 Loves on Friday

ONE | I LOVE...ESSENTIAL OILS
I received the doTERRA Physican's Kit I was hoping for on Christmas. (Thanks, Mom!) Since then I've been slowly trying to expand my essential oil education. A great way to start? Instagram, believe it or not! It's as easy as that. Sweet Holly from @hollystic_oils sent me some sample oils, supplies for making my own blends, and a special sheet about oils for mommy and baby!

Be sure to follow @hollystic_oils and learn alongside me!
Thanks so much, Holly, for these goodies!!! Nancy and I can't wait to use them!

TWO | I LOVE...DESIGNLOVEFEST BACKGROUNDS

I love freshening up my computer background every month or so. DesignLoveFest makes that so easy, festive, free, and fun. Their latest release is full of bright colors that have me giddy for spring! And y'all know I love a good hot pink lip...


THREE | I LOVE...CHILLY CHILI NIGHTS
I'm obsessed with chili in winter. Always have been. Always will be. Our ice day on Tuesday was the perfect opportunity to throw it all into a pot and let it simmer. No recipe necessary.

 Only thing I always add? This one secret ingredient...

FOUR | I LOVE...GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
Girl Scout Cookies. Yes. We love us some GS cookies in my family. Especially Samoas (I still can't call them "caramel delites.")


FIVE | I LOVE...$20 BABY MOCCS (+ GIVEAWAYS)
If you didn't catch my Sweet N Swag Baby Moccs Giveaway, you still have a couple of days to enter! Who can say no to $20 precious, precious baby moccs?!



  Happiest Friday, y'all!

   
  
FRIDAY means I'm linking up with...5 on Friday: Darci, April, Christina, + Natasha | Friday Favorites: A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, + Grace and Love | Oh Hey, Friday: September Farm + The Farmer's Wife
 

Pop on over to Cayte's blog...this month's champagne sponsor!
 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sweet N Swag Baby Moccs + Giveaway


Y'all know I love a good steal of a deal. And I have one for you today: $20 baby moccs from Sweet N Swag. Trendy cuteness with a reasonable price tag. (And a little more cuteness because...baby moccs.) Bless 'em! But seriously, every pair of moccasins on the site costs $20. Boom.


How precious and tiny! I can't wait to put them on Nancy's little feetsies! They are fabulous quality. The leather is smooth and lovely. I couldn't be more pleased! I chose the golden rule moccs. They're shiny--but not too shiny--and neutral all in one.

 

I had to. They can sit here and wait till baby girl's arrival (in 8 short weeks!)!!! Also noteworthy of mentioning: last week Sweet N Swag released several new styles of moccs! I'm totally crushing on some of their latest additions.


The best part?! You can win a pair of your choice! Enter below. Not pregnant or don't have kids? I bet you can think of a mama and babe who would adore some of these!!! Gift them! :)


Full Disclosure: Per the Cheers Y'all sponsorship policy, I was given one item to review and one to give away. All opinions are my own.

Cheers to Sweet N Swag!
 

Pop on over to Cayte's blog...this month's champagne sponsor!
 
 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Pregnancy | 32 Weeks

How Far Along: 32 weeks (8 to go! Each time I see the "weeks left" on my What to Expect app it blows my mind more and more!!!)

Size of Baby: 4lbs (!!!) and between 16-19" tall -- little babe is getting crowded in there! I can tell. :)

Gender: Our little girl, Nancy Hope Houston

Movement: She has definitely hit a point in her growth where the movements can make me uncomfortable. Some are still cute and sharp little jolts. Some are rolls where it's like my bump does the wave. But when homegirl pushes up against my ribs...ooof. She has really only done that against the right side of my ribs. There was a point while watching little brother's play last weekend when I arched my back really quickly in response to the way shoved herself up under my right ribs. Yow!

Sleep: Awesome except for Monday night/Tuesday morning. I was up from 4:30-7:30am. Weird. But at least I got to see the teensy bit of snowfall that we got here in Wilmington! Watching the snow fall on the palm trees outside of our bedroom window made me smile.

Workouts: Not as on my game this week but still decent. 3 Pure Barres + 1 HSM with mama

Maternity Clothes: Same old mix + match winter wear. Mom and I found an amazing non-maternity dress on clearance for my cousin's deb ball. It was maternity-esque with the side ruching, but I just sized up to make it work!

31 weeks 4 days

Symptoms: Lots of pregnancy brain. Lots of right arm falling asleep in the middle of the night. And I've hit a point where I undoubtedly have to tinkle 3-5 times throughout the night. Oh, and it's getting less and less comfortable to lean down/bend over. I have been carrying my leggings/pants to the chairs in our room so I can sit down and put them on. And so it begins...

Cravings/Aversions: No

Missing Most: Still feeling good, so I'm just trying to appreciate and soak in this goodness. I don't feel like it's going to be as comfortable as Nancy keeps growing! :)

Nursery:Nada. And not much to do since Mom came and helped a few weeks back. Really want to order pictures for the empty frames this week.

Hubby: Oh gosh, he said some of the sweetest stuff this weekend. Hope, Spyros (my bro-in-law), Mark, and I were all getting ready for the deb ball (makeup for us sistas, putting on all of the tux accessories for the boys) in Hope and Spyros' bathroom. One big happy family. Anyway, Mark randomly announced to the Skouri (as we affectionately call them),  "I know I give Elise a hard time, but she really hasn't complained about one thing through this pregnancy." :) That little sentence just meant the world to me.

I wore my favorite oversize sweater this weekend too, and Mark said, "You don't look pregnant. I like it when you look pregnant." Melt. Such a sweetie. Thanks for liking when I look pregnant, Marky.

Best Part of the Week: Dancing with Mark (and his new favorite shoes) at the Deb Ball this weekend [link to post]

Can't Wait For: Nancy's Fancy Tea Party (Baby Shower) in less than 2 weeks! Aaaand perhaps a little baby related giveaway that will be on the blog tomorrow morning!!! Stay tuned! ;)

Our Announcement | Weeks 4-12  | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Weeks 19 and 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 and 25 | Week 26 | Week 27 | Week 28 | Week 29 | Week 30 | Week 31 | Week 32

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

February Sponsor Spotlight

In the spirit of love month and all things love/heart related, let's hear from these darling ladies about all that they're currently lovin'! Be sure to say hello!! 
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, pop on over this way.



Name: Elizabeth Burns
CURRENTLY LOVING...
Song: “O’Lord” by Lauren Daigle. I seriously love this entire EP and cannot wait for her full album but this song is awesome (link to song: http://youtu.be/wp0ADHpZ1Zw )
Read: I always have a stack of books that I need to read but I am still reading the “Rizzoli & Isles” novels by Tess Gerritsen
Food: We had some awesome crab the other night - who knew you could make it at home (in South Dakota)?
Outfit: I dress up every day for work so I am currently loving my yoga pants and a t-shirt!
Recent Purchase: My husband and I ordered a custom chair for our living room that will get here this week and I am very excited about it!
Quote: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” ― Maya Angelou

Connect with Elizabeth


 
Name: Lizzie
Blog: Lizzie Somerset
CURRENTLY LOVING...
Song: I love anything by Taylor Swift at the moment but if I had to choose one song it would be 'It is Well' by Kristene DiMarco from the 'You make me brave' album // (Bethel Music) it's really speaking right to my heart
Read: 'She Reads Truth' lent study
Food: My hubby Jon has been using our bread maker to make our own dough, his homemade pizza's are amazing!
Outfit: We're going to a 40th birthday party in March which requires a 1920's outfit (soooo excited!!!). I love getting dressed up and I'm loving pulling the outfit together. I don't do fancy dress, it has to be something I'll wear again to make it worth the splurge! So I'll likely pop it on the blog so watch out for it!
Recent Purchase: Sequin & Feather skirt from Topshop in the SALE!! £95 down to £20....for the said 1920's themed PARTAY! Squeeeee!!
Quote: It is well with my soul
Connect with Lizzie
Twitter // Instagram // Facebook
 
 

Pop on over to Cayte's blog...this month's champagne sponsor!
 

Monday, February 23, 2015

Family Time

What a wonderful weekend it was! We headed back to Charlotte for two special family events: my cousin's debutante ball and my brother's debut in his high school musical. This quick trip back home reminded my soul so well that family is just everything.

Source


Thanks for all of the love and sweet words on Instagram! Y'all sure know how to make this preggo mama feel good! Funny thing about the dress...I was going to wear what I wore to my other cousin's deb ball in November. It was flowy, so my mom and I thought: perfect. I'll just repeat. Nope. Tried it the afternoon of the ball, and just...no. With the shape of/where it hit my bump, it looked more like I had a beer gut than a baby bump. Not happening.

But I know my hometown, and I knew exactly where we'd easily find a dress and a deal. Belk! Belk never fails me with its clearances. In our one stop shop, we found this Lauren Ralph Lauren number a few hours before the ball marked down from $234 to $56. (I should perhaps be ashamed from the buzz I get off of finding steals like this.) It is nonmaternity, so I just sized up, but the side ruching was everything to showing off little Nancy girl!



I can't find it on Belk.com (where the $56 deal of all deals is located!--extra clearance percentage taken off at checkout), but the South Park Belk in Charlotte has tons. It also comes in a few different colors and necklines. It's a perfect dress for mamas-to-be and non-preggos alike, and the jersey material makes it crazy comfortable.

 Just having a ball with my fambam


A very happy night with this one

Post deb presentation sista bathroom selfie break? Sure.
Also winning in the steal of a deal dress department? Hope. Her dress was <$30 from Forever 21.

 The real fashion statement of the night

Unfortunately we didn't get a better picture of these puppies, but when Mark rented his tux for the weekend, he opted for these shoes instead of your typical all black tux shoes. They certainly got many a compliment and laughs, and now he has asked for some for his birthday (seriously). I might have to make that happen because they certainly made for great dancing shoes. We tore up the dance flo' till 1am.

With my sweet brother on Sunday

Eric made his musical debut this weekend, and I couldn't have been a prouder sister. We caught The Secret Garden's  final performance on Sunday afternoon before heading back to Wilmington. My brother has SUCH a good voice and I was just so dang proud of him! There were tears when he bowed. I already can't wait for his role in next year's musical!

Source

Hope your weekends were fulfilling, relaxing, and filled with lots of family love like ours was! Happy Monday, friends!
 

Pop on over to Cayte's blog...this month's champagne sponsor!