Old Navy Maternity Haul + Fun Giveaway!

I have been squeezing myself into a wardrobe that doesn't fit for quite a few weeks now, so you'll understand the excitement I experienced when my Old Navy order arrived yesterday! Squeeee! Clothes that fit! 

Maternity Chiffon-Tiered Top - $8.97 (I did not get it for that awesome price!)

Maternity Cowl-Neck Drawstring Dress - $20.00

Maternity Dolman-Sleeve Tunic - $15.00

Maternity Embellished Floral-Graphic Tee - $16.99

Maternity Full-Panel Flared-Leg Jeans - $32.00

Maternity Jersey-Stretch Tank - $12.94

Maternity Scoop Rib-Knit Tank (Both) - $12.94

Maternity Tiered-Ruffle Drawstring Dress - $30.00

Maternity Ruched-Shoulder Jersey Dress - $22.00

I'm so excited, but I feel like I still have a very limited maternity wardrobe. Unfortunately, my current "state" is not cause for buying a brand new wardrobe to clothe me for a month at a time. Husband is completely confident that I'll survive with a week's worth of clothes. He's probably right, but... I mean, come on. You know me. I really do have enough. It's already 74 degrees, so I truly only need the one pair of jeans (and okay, I might already have another pair or two). And I have dresses that will fit over this belly 'til eternity, so I didn't need all maternity dresses. And let's be honest. If I only had the few things above, my leggings, the Bella Band, and some comfy yoga pants, I'd be perfectly fine. Which is good, because that's all she wrote! 

Now, if you've stuck around this long, you know there's a giveaway involved!

Because my wardrobe is so limited, I'd LOVE some styling ideas for the pieces I did grab. We did a styling contest like this when I took my nanny position last year and it went so well! You can be as creative as you want and include any shoes, accessories, or other pieces that you see fit. Please make them maternity-friendly, though! ie: NO 4-inch heels. Megan can do it, but I cannot.

So, how's it work? You create a polyvore set with one or more of the items above and leave the link in a comment below. Next Wednesday, March 7, I will choose a winner! 

The winner will get a $25 gift card to Old Navy!

Some other things to consider including in your polyvore set:

- cardigans

- leggings

- flats/sandals

- layering pieces

- blazers

Good luck! I will wear my closest rendition of the winner's outfit to church  on Sunday, March 11 (and in Monday's outfit post). NO pressure to be fancy! We are a very casual church!

Little Blonde, Jumping, Chevron Girl

dress: Old Navy

sweater and shoes: Consignment

Baby Bean Update: 21 Weeks

I'm convinced that after 20 weeks, I will grow 5 inches per week. Luckily, I'm probably overreacting. I've still only gained a total of four pounds and my clothes are fitting the same (mostly maternity, barring two pairs of Charlotte Russe jeans that are low enough to handle the growing belly) and I don't feel much different as far as size goes. Nights are getting MUCH more difficult. Finding a comfortable way to sleep and falling back to sleep after the hourly potty breaks are posing exhaustion problems come morning. From what I remember, I was thinking the second trimester would be a breeze. More energy, less moodiness, infrequent aches and pains. Hah. Silly me! I did enjoy a prenatal massage yesterday evening and it was amaaaaaaazing. I only wish that I still felt the benefits after sleeping. I think I slept all the knots right back into my shoulders!

top: Oh Baby Maternity

cardigan: New York & Company

jeans: Motherhood

flats: Target

necklace: Charlotte Russe

shades: New York & Company

I'm really not digging outfit photos today, friends. I feel so... mediocre. We just went to breakfast and ran some quick errands around town, so it wasn't cause for anything fancy. I just miss dressing in the clothes that I love and am not looking forward to having to "make do" for the next handful of months. But I will, and everything's going to be just fine. In the meantime, I'll focus on any photos of myself to be Bean updates and scrapbook-necessary. And we'll have fun starting to decorate her room in the coming weeks!

Side note?

My daughter just brought me tons of change and said she found "her" money for her piggy bank. I said, "Oh, really? Where did you find all of that money?" She said, "In your drawer." 

Hmm...

Do I have a bandit on my hands?

Boden Maternity, How I Love Thee

I was introduced to Boden by a catalogue that arrived in my boss' mail. Now, let's get one thing very straight. My boss dresses like a champion. She is chic, put-together, professional, classic and classy, and she just looks like one of those moms that you totally want to be. If I could choose ANY brand to be the bulk of my "mom wardrobe," it would be Boden. Hands down. I've been researching and trying to find patterns so I can make my own Boden-esque pieces, because who am I kidding? I can't afford $128 for a tunic/dress. When I decided to visit the website, all bets were off. 

Boden Maternity

Drooooool.

Henley Strip Tunic

Maternity Skinny Jeans

Pretty Petal Top

Elegant Summer Maxi

Notch Neck Tunic

Maternity Retro Swimsuit

If you're not pregnant, Boden has a zillion casual and professional outfits for the classic style that I dream to achieve. And if you've got your style completely under control, then your kiddo could don Mini Boden! I'm so in love with this brand and wish for a few seconds that I wasn't undergoing a financial makeover. I might go blow a thousand bucks if I had it...

And that swimsuit... Oh man. I just need it. I'll be at the pool for a whole MONTH before Bean makes her debut!!!

*This post is not sponsored in any way, shape, or form. I'm just sharing my love for a brand that I discovered with you!

Baby Bean Update: 20 Weeks

Halfway! Halfway! Halfway!

But really more than halfway since Bean is coming a week early!

YAY!

dress: Old Navy Maternity

cardi: Old Navy

shoes: Sbicca from Ross

This week:

- Heartburn started

- I drank some caffeine (oopsie)

- Got tons of maternity clothes because NOTHING fits

- Highlights made me feel more like myself

- Bean is moving 24/7

- Dogs got groomed so my house smells normal (not like dogs!)

- I'm getting HUGE

- Finished buying Bean's cloth diapers

- I AM HUNGRY

- Still have eczema on my scalp

- Under eye circles are insane because I cannot SLEEP

New Hair

Dull...

Bright!

I plan to go back in 6-8 weeks and get a partial just to lift the front a bit more, but I'm so excited about brightening up my dishwater blonde. I've been really good and haven't colored my hair in a year, but I just missed my sassy highlights and I'm already feeling more like myself! Hope you're having a great Friday and have fun plans for the weekend!

Bible Study Girl

If I haven't reveled enough in my excitement, yet, let me do it again. I'm done with my job on March 2! I'm terrified and happy at the same time, but right now, I'm kind of basking in the glory of wearing something other than yoga/sweatpants and oversized t-shirts. Bible study and church are two times a week I get to dress myself in something other than the daily uniform. Even if I don't go over the top (which you know me... I usually don't unless there are neon tights involved), I feel like a woman every once in a while and that's a nice feeling.

top: Oh Baby Maternity

cami: WalMart

cardi: New York & Company

pants: Motherhood

flats: Target

belt: New York & Company

necklace: The Word Jewelry

I tweeted the other day and if you don't follow me on twitter, you should! I think the next few weeks while I'm wrapping up things at work and budgeting, learning to coupon, etc, I'm going to be very sporadic on the blog. I'm not going anywhere and I absolutely will be posting at least a few times a week, but I just wanted to give you all a heads up. The next few weeks are PREPARATION for the life I've been waiting for (stay at home mom-dom!). I'm also doing some work for my uncle's company involving social media, so I've been putting some time into that that's taken me away from blogging. I hope you all understand! I'll definitely see you tomorrow for Bean's 20 week update!

Baby Bean Update: 19 Weeks

19 weeks is such a strange number. 18 weeks is when you generally find out the sex of your baby. 20 weeks is halfway there. 19 is just... lack luster, I suppose. But we won't let it be that way, will we Bean?

dress: Self Made

cardigan: Old Navy

belt: New York & Company

tights: c/o We Love Colors

boots: Silhouettes

I spent this morning at Pursue the Passion, a women's conference at our church. I wasn't going to be able to attend at all because of the expense, but as blessed as I am, a friend from bible study sat next to someone who couldn't make it today and offered her ticket. My friend thought of me and got in touch with me immediately. I'm so thankful and very glad I got to go. Spreading God's word through strong, passionate women is such a wonderful way to spend a weekend. And I got to spend time with my dear friends, too. Win-win? I think so.

This week with the Bean: Little girl has been MOVING and shaking for about two weeks straight. I'm not kidding. The second I'm still, she's dancing like Party Rock is in the house. I don't know if I can feel her much earlier or if she really does move a lot more than S, but I have a feeling that Bean is going to be an active character when she graces us with her tiny presence. This week, I've felt pretty wonderful. All except I've been so exhausted that I want to fall over by 4:00 in the afternoon. Nights have been fairly sleepless because Miss Smarty over here (that'd be me) drinks 1-2 bottles of water in the hour before bed. I'm sorry. I cannot help it. I am THIRSTY. Also, Bean is the size of a large heirloom tomato this week. So please explain why I look like I have a large honeydew inside of my belly instead. I guess a large heirloom tomato can get pretty sizable, so... I don't know. I just think I grew exponentially over the last week. And I'm HUNGRY. I haven't been hungry almost this whole time and now I'm so scared that my on-track 2.5 lb. weight gain is about to go out the window.

Let's talk nursery. Husband and I had this awesome plan for a baby boy room. NOT because we were hoping for a boy, but because designing the room naturally fell around the idea of Husband's 1971 Chevelle. Now that we used a sweet nursery design on Little S AND just redid her room to big girl style, frankly, our brains are mush from decorating for a girl and I need some ideas! I was thinking of doing something really striking and different like hot pink with white polka dots on one wall and chocolate brown accents. I don't know, though... Weigh in!

I made this dress from an old stained t-shirt and a cheap curtain we used to cover our laundry room in our old apartment! My mom called me Scarlett O'Hara since I was "tearing down the drapes" to make a dress! I'll be featuring the other two maternity dresses I created over the course of the week!

Confessional Friday with A Blonde Ambition

1. I have eaten an entire jar of baby dill pickles over the course of two days.

2. I have never been as frustrated with my wardrobe as I am right now. Seriously, NOTHING fits. All I can manage to breathe in are ugly sweatpants and maternity leggings.

3. THIS face is just about the only thing that's getting me through my long days lately.

4. My birthday is on Monday and I'm trying to get more excited. 28 isn't really that grand, I guess.

5. All I want for my birthday is a collection of well-fitting maternity clothes. Is that lame?

6. I stashed up on some cloth diapers before we found out the gender of Baby Bean and this is what I've ended up with so far:

(I think I need to add some pink and purple to the mix so it doesn't look like I was hoping for something...)

For the record, I was NOT hoping for something. It just seems that gender neutral choices look more "boyish." I am THRILLED to be having another little angel girl!

7. I'm counting down the days until mid-March!!!

Link up with Leslie at A Blonde Ambition for Confessional Friday!

Late Bean Update (18 Weeks) & the Meal Plan

Wow, everything's a little belated around here lately. I can't apologize, though. I'm off enjoying things like my kid's birthday and my growing belly! I also just enjoyed two unexpected days off of work, in which Little S and I made the house spic and span, spent time organizing, cooking, doing laundry, donating to Goodwill, spending gift cards, and going to the park. Really... I can't complain.

If you missed the announcement last week, we found out Bean's gender and SHE is a GIRL! Yep, lots of prom dresses, two weddings, make-up, expensive skin products... Here we go. We're both over the moon and I was really worried that Husband would be disappointed. I think I was driving him crazy by checking on him to make sure he was okay. Two little girls to wrap Daddy around their fingers? I think he's game.

dress: Motherhood

leggings: be Maternity for Target

boots: Payless

scarf: Christmas gift from Christina

That top one isn't really a fair belly shot because the scarf is quite the minimizer (thanks, Christina!). Rest assured, I'm growing exponentially. I've only gained 2.5 lbs at this 18 week mark, though, and for that I am super thankful! I have a feeling that once I hit 20 weeks, I'll start packing the weight on at a faster rate and I'll have to push my walks a little faster and farther. Bean's ultrasound went great. She has all of her parts, her heart and brain were perfect, and she's a MOVER! I knew that already, since she's constantly having a dance party in my belly. For any of you who know Yo! Gabba Gabba, you know the "There's a Party in my Tummy" song that Brobee sings. That's my new theme song. Minus the food part (and the "so yummy, so yummy"). That's just creepy.

This week we're eating:

Monday - Tacos

Tuesday - Lemon Spaghetti with Broccoli & Chicken and Side Salad

1 box angel hair pasta

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup EVOO + some for cooking chicken

1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese + some for serving

Italian seasoning

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli

Your favorite salad ingredients

- Cook pasta according to package

- Boil broccoli to preferred texture

- Bake chicken breasts with a bit of EVOO & Italian seasoning

- In a mixing bowl, combine EVOO, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese + 1/2 of hot pasta water

- Drain pasta, add broccoli and (cubed) chicken, mix in sauce

- Serve with a dash of Italian seasoning and reserved Parmesan on top

- Make a salad and serve together!

Wednesday - Black Bean & Zucchini Enchiladas

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry with Brown Rice

Saturday - Bowtie Pasta Bake

Sunday - Tomato, Feta, Red Onion & Bacon Paninis with Sauteed Green Beans

Darling Sparrow Giveaway Winner!

First of all, you guys are way too nice. If I'd entered a giveaway and half a week went by after the winner was supposed to be announced, I'd be emailing that blogger like, "Ahem..." Thanks so much for your patience while I do other things!

Congratulations Robin! You are the winner of the Darling Sparrow Giveaway! I will email you and Brittney together and let you two work out the shipping details!

Little S' ROOM!!!

I'm so, so, so sorry I've been MIA all week! Between working, Little S' birthday, finding out the gender of Bean, finishing her room, rearranging our whole house, doing S' third year check-up, about 10 loads of laundry, and preparing for her birthday party this weekend, I just didn't make time to blog! Eek! Alas, her room is (pretty much) done. Other than one stuffed animal swing that I have to make (I ran out of the purple ribbon), the valance I'm going to hang (I just found the rod!), and the canvases that Husband and S are going to paint together for above her bed, it's basically finished. I was so happy her bedding came ON her birthday! She hasn't had any transition as far as sleeping in her new room and big girl bed. It's been absolutely AWESOME. So, here it is!

What do you guys think? I am so pleased with the bedding and the box spring (and look at the little feet!). S picked out the lamp and green pillow and we hadn't picked out bedding, yet. Because we ordered the bedding online, I was really nervous about the colors not working how I'd hoped, but everything just came together like it was meant to be! My favorite part is still definitely the striped wall. I also love the lime lantern we put above her window.

As you know, S turned three on Tuesday! We also had a big ultrasound for Baby Bean that day and S found out that she's going to have a baby SISTER! We are thrilled! We took a few photos on her birthday/the day we found out. Excuse my outfit. I was going for comfort in the almost-70-degree-weather and I wanted to wear a dress, but then I'd have to pull it all up and be awkward during the ultrasound. FYI: for an ultrasound, always wear something with a waist so you can just pull it down ever so slightly.

tank: Target

sweater: Old Navy

skirt: I made it from a dress (from Target)

boots: Soda brand from Shoe Department

Tomorrow's Little S' third birthday party! I can't tell if I'm excited or not.

But I'll be back to tell you all about it on Monday (with a meal plan)! Hope you have a great weekend!