What I Wore :: 20 Weeks

So here we are folks. Halfway through.... already or finally? Not sure which. I think having kept this a secret for so long made those first months just draaaaag along. But I do strongly believe the time that you and your husband have where you are the only two people who share this 'secret', is something special you only get to encounter a number of times (unless you're the Duggar family). Now that it's out in the world (thank you all for the overwhelmingly sweet notes!), I wanted to do some quick housekeeping. I'm sure you're wondering if this will turn into a full-on mommy blog..... frankly, I am too. Right now, that is obviously what is mostly on my mind... I mean, have you seen my Pinterest boards lately?! But, I also want to share things that aren't baby related to keep my sanity before all attention really does go to raising a mini-human (that's the technical term for them, right?). 

Honesty has always been an important thing to me. I haven't used this blog yet as a place to discuss anything super duper personal, but now that I'm feeling extra emotional and all, I've been prone to want to write on a more relatable level about this whole pregnancy thing. Don't start running to the 'exit' button quite yet (this means you too.... all three of you men who read this blog). My hope is to share the things I have found interesting about this whole process, how I'm navigating the weeks and be open about the questions I have in hopes of utilizing this massive thing called the 'internet' to pull as much information out of you already mama's out there so I have even the slightest fighting chance of surviving motherhood. Cause let's face it.... you're never fully prepared, have any clue where to find the right answers and can convince yourself in all of five minutes that finding fashionable maternity jeans may end up being the fight of your life. Scratch that.... the fight of your life will be the first time you have to put on maternity tights..... but more on that later. The normal programming of outfit posts, DIY projects, fun weekend adventures, new food finds and design inspiration will all still be a part of my life, and thus, a part of this little corner of the blogging world. So have no fear, I am not completely going all baby mama drama on you.... just like 60%, maybe 70%. 

It would bring me much joy if you'd love to join me in this adventure, learn with me, tell me all your baby raising secrets and be patient as I navigate my way through this time in life. I think this post officially takes us to the next step in our relationship! So, shall we? 

WHAT I WORE :: 

Sweater: Zara

Leather Pants (with sweet elastic waistband) : Zara 

Shoes : Cole Haan

Necklace : Vintage

Alt Summit :: Salt Lake City 2013

It's that time of year again folks! A large sum of the design and lifestyle blogging community have descended upon Salt Lake City equipped with their best outfits and boat loads of business cards. Last year, E surprised me with a last minute ticket as my Christmas present and we combined a little Alt Summit with a little Sundance... like you do. It was pretty magical getting to live in 'real life' blog world for four days meeting more of 'your kind'. Bloggers are a special breed y'all. 

This year, I'm back….. as a speaker! Yea, you read that right…. someone is giving me a microphone. If nothing else, come for that alone! On Friday I'm presenting with some ridiculously accomplished ladies - Helen of Federated Media, Susan of Freshly Picked and Whitney of oh, ya know… Inc's top 12 list of those to follow on Twitter in 2012…. no biggie... she also wrote a book. I'm pretty ridiculously inspired by these women... they are legit! We'll be discussing everything from building an advisory board to managing passive income to the roles of rep's in the blogging world and how to make an efficient editorial calendar. If you're at Alt, come on by our panel! We've got some major surprises up our sleeves that I think you'll enjoy! 

Excited to finally see some snow! 

 

Whelp, This Is Happening!

I really don't think there's much to say that can follow up the act above!

Keeping it simple and to the point today. We're obviously excited, semi-terrified, pretty naive, totally clueless, full of hope and anticipation and already exhausted. Hope y'all are ready to join me in this adventure!

'Nuff said :)  

My Makeup Savior :: Beauty Blender

Now, I know things I'm good at and things I'm not. I can make just about anything out of burlap and a hot glue gun. But beauty product reviews? Not my normal 'thang'. Bare with me. Frankly, I've been a drugstore makeup junkie, except for my foundation. Always splurge on quality founation. I've been a long time Laura Mercier lover, until I just felt like it wasn't doing the trick lately. I had an itch to mix it up and amp it up. If we're friends on the Instagram, then you've already witnessed my first annoncement of this! 

After discovering a few beauty tutorials on YouTube.... six years after the rest of America..... I stumbled across the Beauty Blender. Skeptical at first, I then found myself two hours deep into YouTube videos. If you made a tutorial video on how to use the Beauty Blender.... I've likely seen it. (Lesson here is - beauty tutorial videos are like a black hole.) After deciding to take the plunge and try some new foundation at the suggestion of a top beauty maven friend, I decided.... what the heck, let's try the Beauty Blender too. It looked idiot proof after all. 

 

H-O-L-Y C-O-W Y'-A-L-L! Life changer. I've drank the Kool-Aid of the Beauty Blender. 

Here's the deal. I have combination skin, great some days and other days it's dry and hates all foundation no matter how you apply it or how much you shower in lotion. I hated using brushes that felt streaky and sponges that always looked gross after a week. This was the perfect answer. If you're a lazy makeup person (like myself) and you want something that keeps your life easy, applies makeup in a breeze, smoothes everything out evenly and lives up to the hype.... this is it. I'll say, I tried to skimp out and ease into the idea of a 'blender' sponge by trying the Sonia Kashuk version. Big mistake and waste of money. There is no cheap replacement for the Beauty Blender, so I suggest getting the two pack on Amazon and maybe split it with a friend who also wants to try it out. Then they are only $12 a piece. Let me know how it goes. For now, it works perfectly with my foundation and skin type and I'm in makeup heaven. 

Are you a Beauty Blender veteran? Do you know other magical beauty products I should've known about months ago? Do share! 

*For the record, watch some YouTube tutorial videos. Highly entertaining! 

DIY :: Updated Vintage Clip-On Earrings

We can't deny it. Our grandma's and the flea markets have some of the best vintage earrings. To me, they are always a great idea in theory, until you clip them on for the first time and two hours into your evening, your ears start to hurt. Oh, that doesn't happen to you? Maybe I have whimpy ear lobes. 

These earring in particular are some awesome statement ear bling. I love them in theory. Then a mixture of the clip and whatever concoction of metal was used to make them ultimately causes my ears to itch and throb. I always have to take them off after about two hours. Which is sad, cause damn..... they make my ears look super glamerous. 

I had to remedy this issue in time to wear these to ring in 2013! 

HOW TO MAKE 'EM WEARABLE :: 

1) I started by using my pliers to literally just snap the clip part off the base of the earring. 

2) Then I used clear nail polish and coated the back of the earring. This will help block whatever the metal is from causing my ears to itch. 

3) Using a small dab-a-doo of super glue and a toothpick, I glued the new stud onto the back. Use the toothpick to clean up and smooth out the glue. 

4) Let dry for a while. No one wants to super glue an earring to their ear. 

5) Wear out and about for hours and hours!