Pregnancy: Second Trimester Favorites

Considering that I only have about seven more weeks (!) to go in this pregnancy, this post is a little overdue. I had a hard time coming up with a lot of favorites for the second trimester (I'll have more to include in my Third Trimester Favorites post) but there are a few items I really wanted to share. For the record, I continued using and enjoying the items mentioned in my First Trimester Favorites post as well, so feel free to check that out for more recommendations!

Pregnancy: Week 31

Sorry this post is a little belated, I'm trying to work out a good blog-writing schedule but honestly, it's tough right now. To anyone who's still reading even though my content has been majorly lacking lately--thank you so much for your patience!

Week 31:

Baby: The size of a broccoli stalk, about 16.2 inches long and 3.3 pounds. 

Weight: Gained another pound, total gain of nine pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!

Lovely Links 12.18.2015

An ooey-gooey chocolaty sauce that tastes like Snickers? Yes, please! (bloomdesignsonline.com)

What do your fingernails say about your health? (WebMD.com)

Love these tips about freezing smoothies and acai bowls to use later. (www.yummymummykitchen.com)

Pregnancy: Week 30

Week 30:

Baby: The size of a cabbage, about 15.7 inches long and 2.9 pounds. 

Weight: No gain this week, still a total of eight pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!

Pregnancy: Week 29

Week 29:

Baby: The size of a cauliflower, about 15.2 inches long and 2.5 pounds. 

Weight: No gain this week, still a total of eight pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!

Pregnancy: Week 28

Week 28:

Baby: The size of a large eggplant, about 14.8 inches long and 2.2 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about one pound again, total gain of eight pounds for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: For the most part, still occasionally wearing some regular tops that are really long and stretchy.

Pregnancy: Week 27 - The Third Trimester Begins!

Week 27:

Baby: The size of an acorn squash, about 14.4 inches long and 1.9 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about one pound again, total gain of seven pounds for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: For the most part, still occasionally wearing some regular tops that are really long and stretchy.

Lovely Links 11.20.2015

Check out this cool R2-D2 refrigerator. (theforce.net)

Tips for choosing the perfect white paint for your room. (abeautifulmess.com)

Did you read Golden books as a kid? Grumpy Cat is coming out with his own series of them next year! (www.grumpycats.com)

This interactive look at how a baby grows in the womb is seriously cool. (www.msichicago.org)

I can't wait to get my abs back in shape post-baby and this video has some great exercises. (fitsugar.com)

It seems there's some evidence that eating dates in the final weeks of pregnancy might help with labor--worth a try, right? (wellnessmama.com)

White Chocolate Pretzel Blondies...need I say more? (thepioneerwoman.com)

I don't personally wax my own eyebrows, but here's a helpful how-to video if you're tempted to try it. (thesmallthingsblog.com)

In the mood for a yummy, healthy breakfast? Try this Hot Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie. (runningwithspoons.com)

Less than thirty days to go until the new Star Wars movie. We already have tickets, how about you? (theforce.net)

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

Pregnancy: Week 26

Week 26:

Baby: The size of a coconut, about 14 inches long and 1.7 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about one pound again, total gain of six pounds for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: Yep! Maybe at some point I'll do a post with links to some of my favorites.

October Slow Cooker Challenge -- Results

Soooo, I know November is already halfway over, but I thought I'd still go ahead and do a follow up to my October Slow Cooker Challenge and let you know how it went.

Pregnancy: Week 25 + Baby Registry Tips

Week 25:

Baby: The size of a large cucumber, about 13.6 inches long and 1.5 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about one pound, total gain of five pounds for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: Yep! 

Pregnancy: Week 24

Baby: The size of a large zucchini, about 11.8 inches long and 1.3 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about one pound, total gain of four pounds for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much all the time. 

My Favorite Eyeliner: Maybelline Define-a-Line Eyeliner

I've been really wanting to share this review with you because it's a product I absolutely LOVE and I've never seen anyone recommend it before on any of the beauty blogs I read. It's a fantastic eyeliner that goes on smoothly, doesn't smear, comes in several nice, neutral shades--and costs less than $5.

Pregnancy: Week 23

Baby: The size of an ear of corn or a cantaloupe, about 11.4 inches long and 1.1 pounds. 

Weight: Gained about two pounds over the course of this week, three pounds total gained for pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: I'll probably take this question off soon since it's pretty redundant. I do still have some regular tops I can still wear, mainly tanks and long-sleeved tees that I wear under maternity sweaters, but everything else is maternity these days.

Pregnancy: Week 22 / Gender Reveal

Well, this was the big week. We had our second ultrasound and found out the gender of our baby. And the big news is...

Pregnancy: Week 21

Week 21:

Baby: The size of a pomegranate, about 10.5 inches long and 12.7 ounces. Baby is starting to swallow amniotic fluid and may be able to sense different tastes based on what I'm eating. The eyes are developing, but the eyelids still stay closed.

Why I Love Lists

I used to be something of a procrastinator--and I can still be--but I've found that lists help me rein in this tendency tremendously. I'm by no means an expert of productivity, but I've learned a lot from experience and from reading what the experts on productivity have to say.

Why I Love Lists:

Lists Free Up Your Mind 
I'm definitely one of those people who can lay awake for hours thinking about all the things I have to do tomorrow/this week/for the rest of my life and not sleeping. Then I wake up in the morning exhausted and can't remember any of the things I need to do.

Lovely Links 10.09.2015

Out of curiosity, do any of you use Kenra Volume 25 hairspray? If so, have you had any problems with it lately? I bought a can about a month ago and after two weeks it stopped spraying. Ulta was nice enough to exchange it for a new can with a different lot number, but after a couple of weeks the same thing happened. Anybody else have this problem? And can anyone recommend an alternative hairspray?

Pregnancy: Week 20

Week 20:

We've reached the halfway point!

Baby: The size of a banana, about 10 inches long and 10.6 ounces. Baby is starting to produce brown fat to keep him/her warm and the genitals are developed, making it possible to tell for sure if it's a boy or girl. (Unless your doctor is making you wait two more weeks, lol)

Baked Apple Bowl

Most of the time I crave a substantial breakfast to get me through the morning. But every once in awhile I want something a little lighter. This delicious Baked Apple Bowl is perfect for those days. While I enjoyed it as a healthy breakfast topped with Greek yogurt, you could easily top it with whipped cream or ice cream and have a delicious and decadent dessert. It has all the flavor of a delicious baked apple straight out of the oven but the convenience of taking only minutes to make in the microwave. With raisins for added sweetness, walnuts for some crunch, and the warmth of cinnamon, this is a perfect dish for fall--or any time of year!

Lovely Links 10.04.2015

I apologize for being a couple of days late with this Lovely Links post. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Pregnancy: Week 19

Week 19:

Baby: The size of a mango, about 6 inches long and 8.5 ounces. Baby is covered in vernix caseosa to protect him/her from getting water-logged in the amniotic fluid. Baby's legs have gotten longer, and his/her nerves are developing, allowing for purposeful movement.

October Weekly Slow Cooker Challenge

When I made my Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes recipe a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of how easy and convenient slow cookers are. And yet I can go months without using mine. Since the cooler weather makes this a perfect time of year to do more slow cooking, I decided to set myself a little challenge and see if I can get in the habit of using my slow cooker more.

So for the month of October, I've challenged myself to make at least one slow cooker meal each week. Now that's only four meals for the whole month, so I think hope this challenge will be an easy one to meet. Here are some of the recipes I'm thinking about making this month (you can find these and more slow cooker recipes on my "Slow Cooking" board on Pinterest):

Lovely Links 09.25.2015

So today my husband and I celebrate 10 wonderful years of marriage--Happy Anniversary, Matt! And Happy Friday to everyone else. :)

This Slow Cooker Beef Sirloin Tips and Gravy recipe sounds delicious and perfect for this time of year! (sixsistersstuff.com)

I really liked this article about one simple rule to follow to have a green(er) pregnancy. (whattoexpect.com)

An Epic Avocado Sandwich that has my mouth watering. (amuseyourbouche.com)

Pregnancy: Week 18

Week 18:

I'm officially four months pregnant! The fifth month begins!

Baby: The size of a sweet potato (sounds so much better than last week's sweet onion or turnip!), about 6 inches long and 7 ounces. Myelin is forming on the baby's nerves, which are developing rapidly now, and his/her ears are in place, although they stick out a bit. Baby is yawning and moving a lot more now too.

Weight: Finally gained a pound, putting me at -1 pound overall for the pregnancy.

Maternity Clothes: Yes and no. Sometimes I just want to be comfortable, so I'm reaching for maternity items, other times I'm grateful I can still squeeze into my pre-pregnancy clothes and determined to wear them as long as I can! I ordered more clothes from Kohl's thanks to a great coupon, and I can't wait to see how they turn out. Interestingly, when I first got pregnant my mom told me she didn't start wearing maternity until her fifth month and I couldn't picture that being possible for me...but it turned out to be right on!

Boy or Girl: A few more weeks of wondering!

Cravings: Chocolate and peanut butter (I've been feeling pretty stressed out at work) and sweets in general. I ate Skittles for the first time in years, lol. Other than that I'm still on the meat and veggies train. Also, I'm not sure this counts as a craving or aversion or what, but after years of preferring to drink my water at room temperature thanks to having sensitive teeth, I suddenly cannot drink it unless it's icy cold. My husband is thrilled because I'm finally keeping our water carafe in the fridge, where he's claimed it's belonged all this time, lol.

Aversions: Definitely avoiding Mexican spices and foods still. I can eat raw tomatoes but have a terrible time with any kind of tomato sauce. And now I'm avoiding room temperature beverages too.

Exercise: I finally managed to keep better track of this so I could be more specific about it. As you can see, I didn't do much over the weekend because I was just sooooo tired. I definitely felt like I needed sleep and rest more than exercise, but by Monday I was ready for a full-on workout again!

• Tuesday: Lindsey Brin's Second Trimester Workout DVD
• Wednesday: A twenty-minute evening walk (would have been longer, but it's getting dark so early now!)
• Thursday: Forty-minute walk.
• Friday: Nada.
• Saturday: Nada.
• Sunday: Nada.
• Monday: Three of the What to Expect When You're Expecting DVD workouts.

Symptoms: Lots of fatigue, lots of heartburn. Nausea and gagginess made a major comeback here and there. Also, I keep forgetting to mention that I've been experiencing shortness of breath quite a bit. This has been coming and going since very early in my pregnancy and I have a tendency to forget about it when I'm not experiencing it.

Anything Noteworthy: The fluttery feelings are getting stronger and sometimes feel more like swirls, like the baby's doing somersaults. I think I'm starting to have some round ligament pain too, although I'm getting more of an achy sensation rather than sharp pains.

What to Look Forward to Next Week: I have a doctor's appointment and I'm looking forward to hearing baby's heartbeat again! Also, my husband and I are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary. Even though we'll be having a much more low-key anniversary than we originally planned I'm still excited about that!

Did you experience any weird changes during pregnancy like my sudden switch from room temperature to cold water? 

Pregnancy: First Trimester Favorites

I had kind of a hard time coming up with this list. I felt so miserable much of the first trimester that I really didn't have any favorite snacks or remedies, I didn't need to start wearing any maternity clothes, and several of the books I read freaked me out more than anything else. But there were a few things that did help me make my way through those early weeks, so I thought I'd share them here.

Books & Pregnancy Planner

As I mentioned, some of the books I brought home from the library just stressed me out with their dire predictions. The ones I actually appreciated during those first weeks were the more matter-of-fact books with helpful updates about baby's development and the changes I could expect with my own body. 

• Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy - I feel like this is chock full of useful information and helpful charts.
• Babycenter Pregnancy: From Preconception to Birth - This has really nice weekly updates about the baby's development as well as how your body is changing along the way.
• The New Pregnancy Bible - The weekly updates are shorter but I like the foldout chart of how a pregnancy progresses.
• The Natural Pregnancy Book - This is a nice resource if you prefer a more natural approach.
• Great Expectations: Pregnancy Journal and Planner - A friend of mine recently had a baby and I remembered seeing this planner in the pregnancy section way back when I was shopping for a gift for her. It was one of the first things I bought when I found out I was pregnant and I love it. I find myself using it a lot more than I even anticipated. It has room to jot down weekly notes about nutrition, exercise, symptoms, and dreams, as well as pages for writing down questions for each doctor's appointment and the doctor's answer, a section for keeping track of gifts, and lots more. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a pregnancy planner!

Apps

A friend recommended the Glow Nuture app for tracking symptoms and getting updates about the baby's development and I really like it. It's hard to remember exactly when some symptoms start and end, so I like having a handy way to keep track on my iPad. I also check out the articles on the WebMd Pregnancy App and the What to Expect App, but I only track my symptoms on Glow Nurture.

Blogs

In many ways I found blogs to be better resources than books. They're written by regular women so they tend to be more down-to-earth and realistic, plus you get a wide range of experiences depending on how many you read. I bookmarked the pregnancy pages of my favorites and each week I read their post from when they were at the same point in their pregnancy. Here are my favorites:

• Peanut Butter Fingers
• My Food & Fitness Diaries
• Sweet Tooth Sweet Life
• Meals and Miles
• Daily Garnish

Beauty Products

I've been in the process of switching over a lot of my health and beauty products to cleaner versions anyway, but there were a few things that I immediately wanted to replace when I found out I was pregnant. I mostly went with Burt's Bees products since they're available at the grocery store and I trust the brand:

• Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
• Burt's Bees Milk and Honey Body Lotion and Burt's Bees Cocoa and Cupaucu Butters Body Lotion
• Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer (My favorite shade is Apricot! Also, just fyi, even though the shades have flavor-type names, they all taste minty.)

Belly Armor

image via Belly Armor

One of the things I researched when I first found out I was pregnant was whether wifi was safe for pregnant women. There are a lot of mixed views on this out there. I decided it was going to be pretty impossible to avoid wifi altogether, but did find a company that produces products you can wear or use to help block wifi and emf from the womb. This may be overkill, but since I spend a lot of time sitting with an ipad in my lap, I like the idea of being able to drape this Belly Blanket over my belly for some protection. (And this does block the wifi signal to my iPad--I tested it.)

---

So there you have it, my First Trimester Favorites! If you're just starting out on your own pregnancy journey, I hope you find something that might help you out. You can read about my first trimester in my Recap post and more about my pregnancy by clicking here or on Pregnancy at the top of the page.

What were your first trimester must-haves? Did you use any of the same products that I did? Any suggestions for things I should check out in my second trimester?

5 Tips for Coping With Dust Mite Allergies Naturally

I'm allergic to a lot of things: grass, weeds, trees, mold, cats...but I think my allergy to dust mites affects me the most. Everything else is either seasonable or mostly avoidable, but there's always always always dust floating around everywhere. Here are the strategies that have helped me cope with my dust mite allergy--naturally and without medication!

Lovely Links 09.18.2015

This Chicken Sausage and Spinach Fritatta sounds delicious and it's just the kind of breakfast I've been craving while I'm pregnant. (peanutbutterfingers.com)

This Third Trimester Bingo cracks me up--I printed it off to start filling out in a couple of months. (pregnantchicken.com)

These Flourless Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins are great if you're gluten-free or avoid refined sugars. (Plus they're perfect for fall!) (runningwithspoons.com)

How to Remove the Plastic Discs from Your Earring Backs

This is totally random, but it's one of those ridiculously simple discoveries that you make that you just can't help sharing. I thought about saving this post for next week, but I just couldn't wait. This trick is too good to keep to myself!

So I bought a pair of these earrings yesterday and was annoyed that they came with those bullet backs with the pesky plastic discs around them. Annoyed enough that for the first time in eight years (I didn't get my ears pierced until I was in my mid-twenties) I decided to do something about it. Namely, cut off the plastic backs. I always assumed the plastic was glued onto the back, but was shocked when it popped right off after a couple of snips from my scissors. Then I realized I didn't even need to cut the plastic - if you press your thumb firmly against the end of the bullet it will pop right out of the disc, no cutting required.

Pregnancy: Week 17

Week 17:

Baby: The size of a white onion or turnip, about 5.1 inches and 5 ounces.

Weight: No change.

Maternity Clothes: I finally caved toward the end of this week and wore a few maternity items. I didn't technically need to, but they're soooo much more comfortable. Plus, I bought a couple of tops at Kohl's last week and I wanted to give them a try.

Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes

I can't imagine any dinner being much easier to make than this Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes. Whenever I break out my slow cooker, I'm reminded of how awesome it is to throw ingredients into it in the morning and come home in the evening to a warm, delicious, home-cooked meal! This particular recipe is perfect for this time of year, when the air starts to get crisper and you crave something warm and filling to eat. The pork gets so tender it practically shreds itself. The potatoes add hearty texture. And the sauerkraut provides tons of flavor and keeps everything juicy and moist.

Pregnancy: Weeks 14-16

Since I didn't get my First Trimester Recap up until this past week, I have a few weeks to catch up on! So far the second trimester is tending to be easier than the first, although not all of my symptoms have gone away. Let's get to the recap of the past three weeks!

Lovely Links 09.08.15

Did you have a nice three-day weekend? My father-in-law and aunt-in-law spent the weekend with us, and in addition to having a really nice time visiting, they also helped us get our crib purchased and put together. We've also purchased and put together a dresser already, so I feel like we've made a pretty good start on the nursery already.

Anyways, here are some interesting links to start of this week. (I didn't realize it at the time, but there are quite a few Star Wars-related links...guess I'm getting excited for the new movie!)

First Trimester Recap

I'm at week 16 of this pregnancy, almost through my fourth month. Just within the last week, I can see a major change in the way I feel. My appetite is returning, my energy is slowly increasing, and my first trimester symptoms are fading. On the other hand, I'm definitely starting to feel pregnant in other ways. My belly seemed to pop overnight and I'm starting to think about wearing maternity pants and jeans.

I really appreciated reading about other women's symptoms and how they coped with them while I was in my first trimester, so I thought I'd share some of what I experienced. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to comment below or contact me using the form in the sidebar!

Lovely Links 09.01.2015

A diy tinted lip balm made from all-natural ingredients. (sarahscoop.com)

A delicious summer recipe: One Bowl Almond Peach Cake. (shaunasever.com)

Some handy tips for dressing with confidence postpartum. (twistmepretty.com)

Fall 2015 Beauty Trends

It may be a little early to start thinking about fall...but I'm already thinking about fall. Fall beauty, that is. While I probably won't be buying lots of new products this year, I do find it fun to check out what the trends are and possibly try to follow one or two. I usually try to dig through my makeup drawer to find products I already own that will fit the trends and only buy a new item if I see something I really like.

Three trends that seem to be popping up for Fall 2015 that I could actually see myself trying are: Berry Lips, Bronze Eyes, and Flushed Cheeks. I think I'll be able to give these a try without spending a lot of money and I pulled together some inspiration below.

Lovely Links 08.25.15

Sooo, I'm bringing back my Lovely Links series. Enjoy!

I will definitely be coming back to this post about what you really need for a baby's first six weeks. (morganmanagesmommyhood.com)

Tips on creating a budget that will help you save money (and get out of debt, if necessary.) (ericadhouse.com)

Why Being in the 'Outer' World Exhausts Introverts. (introvertdear.com)

An Announcement...aka Nursery Ideas

So I have an announcement to make to whomever may be reading this blog:

I'm pregnant!

Surprised? We were too, haha. I'm just starting my second trimester, so we've had some time to get used to the idea by now and to feel more excited and less panicked. I plan on doing some posts on my first trimester favorites and suggestions for coping with various symptoms and so forth. This was never intended to be a pregnancy or mommy blog, but it is a lifestyle blog and this has definitely become a huge part of my lifestyle, so...you'll see of that stuff popping up here. I've found it immensely helpful to read other bloggers' experiences, which is another reason I want to share some of what I've learned.

Anyways, I'm definitely starting to excited about planning our baby's room. Specific choices for decor and colors will have to wait until we know if we're having a boy or girl, but I know I want to go neutral on the basics, which makes a good starting-point. I played around with some choices on Polyvore and came up with this mood board. The center items (wall color, rug, crib, dresser, book ledges, lamp and basket) would work for either gender. I added some decor choices for a boy at the top and for a girl at the bottom.

Some of the items are products we make actually purchase and use (the crib and the dresser) while others are just ideas of what I like, but not maybe the specific ones I'd choose (pretty much everything else).

Drum lamp shade
allmodern.com

Threshold blue rug
target.com

Pottery Barn round basket
potterybarn.com

No 918 grommet curtain
kohls.com

Sun Zero navy curtain
amazon.com

IKEA HENSVIK Crib, white
ikea.com

Slipcover chair
kohls.com

HEMNES
ikea.com

Navy and Coral Theme Pom Set Nautical Theme by ShopSimplyNesting
etsy.com

Cinderella's Castle Disney Watercolor Art Print by VIVIDEDITIONS
etsy.com

So what do you think? Any ideas for items that would fit with these themes? If you're a parent, can you recommend any cribs/gliders/dressers that worked really well in your baby's room? This is all new to me so I welcome all suggestions!

(To read my other pregnancy posts, click here or on the pregnancy button at the top of the page.)

Banana Walnut Raisin Chocolate Chip Bars

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you today! These bars are one of my all-time favorite snacks to make and to eat. I always have them on hand, either fresh on the counter or stashed in the freezer. They're naturally sweetened (except for the chocolate chips, if you use them) with mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce, and raisins; rich with healthy fats from the walnuts; and packed with the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. 

What's Your Favorite Jane Austen Novel?

I thought I'd do something a little different this week and talk about books. I've always been an avid reader--books, blogs, cereal boxes--I'm addicted to the written word. And it's always fun to talk books with other people who love them.

Jane Austen image via wikipedia

Vision Therapy Changed My Life

Fair Warning: This post is somewhat long and heavy on the text, but it's something I really want to share, as I'll explain down below. I'm really hoping I can help someone else by sharing my story here!

As I mentioned a few months ago, one of the reasons I took such a long break from writing this blog was because of some "life stuff" that happened last year. Specifically, I began seeing an optometrist that specializes in vision therapy and then began a program of vision therapy that has continued up until now.

And it has changed my life.

Dry Shampoo Tips, Tricks, and Recommendations

Up until the last year or so, I washed my hair every. single. day. Since I have long, thick hair, this was no small investment of time and energy. I had heard of dry shampoo, of course, but the one time I tried to use it, I purchased the cheapest drugstore variety I could find and I was not impressed. (You get what you pay for.)

After reading several recommendations on various beauty blogs, I gave dry shampoo a second try and now I'm a huge fan! I wash my hair usually only every third day now, and I love it! Not only does it save me time in the morning, but I've found that second- and third- day hair hold curls and braids more easily too.

Easy Artichoke Chicken

Someone asked me recently if I prefer cooking or baking. I answered as I always do: baking. Ironically though, I bake very rarely anymore. I just don't have a lot of time and I don't eat a lot of refined sugar, so I pretty much only bake when I'm taking a dessert to a party or get-together. 

Cooking, though, I do a lot more often, because you've gotta' eat and cooking at home is generally cheaper and healthier than eating out. I don't really like to spend tons of time in the kitchen though, so I've developed a collection of quick-and-easy meals, and Easy Artichoke Chicken is at the top of the list.

How To Feed Hummingbirds

I really enjoy having bird feeders in my yard. During the summer I usually stop filling my regular bird feeders, but I try to get my hummingbird feeder up early in May to welcome back the hummers. It might seem intimidating at first, but really feeding hummingbirds could not be easier. You do not need to buy the red nectar sold in stores! You can make your own nectar sooo easily and inexpensively. Here's how:

The Body Shop Aloe Skin Care Review -- Part 2

About a year ago, I wrote a review of my favorite products from The Body Shop's Aloe Skin Care range. I've tried a few more products since then, so I thought I'd write an update.

How to Water Tillandsia (Air Plants)

I love indoor plants. There's something about having living, green things in a room that just makes it feel more cheerful and homey. I'm always looking for new plants to bring home and add to my collection. So when our local greenhouse began selling tillandsia, or air plants, a few years ago, I had to give them a try. And I'm so glad I did!

Guess what?!

I'm going to be back tomorrow with a new post! Here's a little teaser:

As I said, I'm hoping to get back to blogging regularly, probably with a weekly post on Wednesdays, starting tomorrow. If you're out there reading this, thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy tomorrow's post!

First Blogiversary

Since I haven't been keeping up with posting here, I'm not sure it's really appropriate to celebrate a blogiversary, but....I'm going to do so anyway. ;)

One year ago I finally got up the gumption to start my very own blog. I had a lot of fun learning the basics of blogging, getting my first comments, and having a place to share my thoughts.

I got distracted by some life stuff, but I haven't forgotten this blog or given up on it yet. In fact, I think some of that life stuff might make for some good blog content eventually.

And for all you fellow Star Wars fans out there: May the 4th Be With You!