Little Bean is Famous!

... okay, not really.

But who needs to write a blog post when someone's already done a perfect one for me?

Most of you know that Jackie is my best friend and is also a professional photographer. She's been gracious enough to do my maternity pictures and newborn pictures for both girls and Bean's newborn(ish) shoot is up on her blog, today!

Check out the favorites!

photos c/o Jackie Ranson Photography

Thanks, best friend! I love them!

Don't forget to enter my Ava Anderson $20 credit giveaway!

Semi-Hiatus on the Account of Baby Preparation + Maternity Photos!

Hey, friends! I just wanted to let you know that I know I've been MIA a lot, lately. I don't plan to completely disappear, but Bean is coming in 2 weeks and 1 day and I do need to concentrate on... well, getting everything ready. My mind is constantly wandering and sitting in the computer chair is pretty much the most brutal thing I can do to my sciatica. Basically, what I'm saying is that between now and Bean's birth, you should probably only expect to see 2 or so posts a week from me.

I wear the same dress every time I leave the house (so I try not to frequent the same places within a week's period), so outfit posts are pretty much nonexistent.

Because I'm going AWOL on you guys for a bit, I thought I'd leave you with some of the maternity photos that my best friend took last weekend! I love what I've seen so far and can't wait to share more as we get them! All photos are c/o of Jackie Ranson Photography.

 

 

Thank you so much to Jackie for this session and our beautiful pictures! And extra special thanks for dealing with me when I broke the dress!
Stay tuned for my 37 week update on Saturday and a sneak peek of Bean's nursery!

My Daughter, the Supermodel

All photos c/o Jackie Ranson.

Thank you, best friend.

 top & skirt: Old Navy

How did I get so lucky?

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win these gorgeous pearl earrings from Scarlet Samples!

Scarlet Samples Giveaway!

I was contacted by Scarlet Samples just a few short weeks ago and introduced to a wonderful online jewelry boutique with insane prices. With choices ranging from gold and silver to pearls and gemstones, there are plenty of choices for everyone's taste. When asked if I wanted to review a piece of jewelry and give the same one away to one of you, I tried to keep my readers in mind. I wanted to choose something classic and understated, but something that also made a bold statement. 

Once again, I was lucky enough to have Jackie photograph me for this post. And she lives on the river, so I couldn't stay out of the water! Can you just imagine going on an early evening picnic with your man and playing in the river? I chose to pair my big ol' pearl earrings with this simple and comfortable cotton maxi dress. I think that if you have the right pair of pair earrings, you can quite literally wear anything. These would have looked beautiful with jeans and a cute top or a slinky cocktail dress.

dress: Gift from Jackie, earrings: c/o Scarlet Samples

Scarlet Samples has generously agreed to give away the same pair of earrings I'm wearing in this post to one of my sweet readers! They are the Sterling Silver Post Earrings with White Pearl, are extremely lightweight, but large, so they pack a punch!

All you have to do to enter is be a reader of a little bit of this and like Scarlet Samples on facebook!

Leave one comment and let me know you've done those two things!

If you'd like an EXTRA entry, tell me how you'd style these beautiful earrings!
Giveaway closes on Monday, March 26, at 11:59 pm ET. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, March 27!

Baby Bean Update: 24 Weeks

I'm back! I just spent the entire week in Virginia with my best friend, Jackie, her 3 girls (6, 2, and 3 weeks), and Little S! We were busy to say the least. And with Jackie nursing and me pregnant, neither of us could indulge in the hard drinks we craved at the end of a day with four children. Moms who do it all the time, I commend you! Both of us were having back pain, neither of us were sleeping... and kids? Well, they go to bed late and wake up early no matter what ails mommas. Lucky me, though! Jackie is a professional photographer and I was blessed enough to have her snap some belly shots for my 24 week update! These aren't edited and she was standing in her driveway about 7 minutes after crawling out of bed and she still managed to make me look better than in any photo I can take! Can't wait to share the ones she took of Little S at the river with you this week!

 tee: Old Navy, tank: Old Navy, jeans: Motherhood, flats: Target, necklace: The Word Jewelry

Bean and I are doing well. I read in my Babycenter update this morning that she weighs a little over a pound, is as long as a cob of corn, and my uterus is the size of a soccer ball. Seriously? Soccer ball?! I was looking at these photos and thinking, "Why in the world do I look like I'm carrying around a soccer ball at six months pregnant?" Well, Babycenter gave me my answer. I met a very snide lady at WalMart over the course of the week and I've decided I'll no longer be sharing my due date with the general public. She asked when I was due, and when I told her she said, "Oh... wow." Yes, I'm huge. But I'm also 4'10 1/2"-ish. I don't have the space to grow up and down like most women, so I grow straight out. It's physics. Not rocket science. Or maybe it's geometry or something... I'm not good at science. But these are cold, hard facts! When one's torso is only 8 inches long (I'm probably exaggerating), the baby is going to take up a lot more front to back space. ie: Brutal low back pain. Yes, that's still happening. Oh, and I finally have an appetite. I don't know why I say "finally," though, because I'm not super excited about it.

This week's exciting revelation: I think I officially look pregnant and should no longer have any confusing looks from bystanders wondering, "Is she preggers or just fat?"

Craving: Pineapple, watermelon, salad with oil and vinegar, water, diet root beer

 Special thanks to Jackie for taking my photos and letting me crash her pad for the last week! 

Stay tuned for Monday's post (more photos from Jackie) for an awesome giveaway by Scarlet Samples!

P.S.- Super exciting: I won We Love Colors' Curvy Girl of the Month for March!!!

Yellow Buttercup eShakti Review

I was contacted by eShakti a while ago and was asked if I'd like to try a piece from their online store. eShakti means "power of the internet" and that's exactly what this site gives us. With sizes ranging from 0 to 4X and most items available for customization, every woman can find something! I was so excited to hear from the company because I have such a difficult time finding clothes that fit me properly. While scouring eShakti, it literally took me a week to choose my item. I ended up picking the beautiful Scallop Tiers Shift Dress, which was available in yellow at the beginning of the fall season, but is now only available in black. When I received my parcel in the mail and opened it, I squealed with surprise. This dress is the epitome of a cupcake! Love? I think so.

dress: c/o eShakti

denim jacket: American Eagle

boots: Silhouettes

earrings: gifted from Jen

headband: Goody's via Walgreens

Although my personal measurements fit some standard sizing, I took advantage of customizing this dress and filling out the size chart to have it made perfectly for my body. I think we (Husband, ahem) had an operator error and measured my arms too slimly, but other than that, this dress is absolutely perfect and so comfortable. I wanted the hemline to be longer so I could wear it year-round. And even though the color is summery, accessorized with a pair of boots and a jacket, I think it looked perfectly fall. Now, if any of you have some awesome winter styling ideas for this little number, I'd love to hear them!

Check out eShakti online for thousands of styles that you can order off the rack or have created to fit your body perfectly! For more information and specials, "like" eShakti on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

And I can't leave this post without thanking my best friend, Jackie, of Jackie Ranson Photography, for taking these beautiful photos. You are amazing!

Blooms in the Rain

I've been really slacking off on my 30 Things for you guys! I'm so sorry! To catch up, I'll do three today. I know you love learning all of this randomness about me. Or, I really just like survey-type things, so I'm enjoying sharing the randomness.

Day 15: A person you admire.

Oh, wow. Well, we all know I admire my mom. But since I already wrote a letter to her for changing my life, I will tell you that I admire my best friend, Jackie. She has been through the ringer, in my opinion, over the last two years. Her husband's program got cut at the school where he taught, so he was forced to find a new job. With baby # 2 on the way, he found it necessary to act quickly and auditioned for the Marine Corps Band. With his extreme talent, of course he made it, and started  his journey to becoming a US Marine. After graduating bootcamp, Jackie's husband took a blow to the leg during martial arts training. His femur endured a spiral break and he's not been able to continue his journey to music school. So, you might be thinking, "Well, this is so much more about Jackie's husband..." Yes, I truly admire him for what he has gone through and for the spirit he is in, after a couple of major surgeries. The doctors hope to see him heal and be able to be a full Marine, again. But, Jackie, your strength and endurance amazes me. You are working full time, have your incredible photography business on the side, are raising two beautiful and sweet little girls, trying to sell your house so you and your hubby can be together, and you're doing it mostly by yourself.

You.AMAZE.Me. I love you, best friend.

Day 16: A song that makes you cry.

Oh, really? You should read yesterday's post.

I've been dropping tears for Taylor Swift's new song, "Never Grow Up," for days.

If you're away from your children (Melissa) right now, I'm giving you fair warning- just don't listen to this, today.

Day 17: An art piece.

Both of these pieces of art (acrylic paint on the left, colored pencil on the right) are by my amazingly talented husband. He framed the leftmost for me as a Christmas gift. It's a painting of a photo he took the day after Hurricane Isabel. I was sitting on his 1971 Chevelle, down at Briar Creek.

I officially went from having nothing to blog about to having too much to share in one post! I was going to do a birthday wish list (in case you all wanted to send me stuff, you know... just.in.case), but I'll have to do that tomorrow, in an effort to make this post take you less than your entire lunch break to read!

So, onto my outfit.

sequined thermal top: Charlotte Russe

red blooms skirt: I made it

nude lace tights: Target

belt: Target

peter pan boots: Soda via Shoe Department

headband: Walgreen's

Oh, FYI- second day hair success, today, right? I slept with it in a twisty bun, a la Kimberly's routine, and it came out LIKE THIS! How excited am I? New trick? I'll bite.

This outfit is screaming out for green tights. I just feel it.

Hey, my legs and waist look kind of good in this, too. Eh? Eh?

Okay, now it's time for me to call it quits. I'm getting full of myself.

'Til tomorrow, my friends!

P.S.- Please check out Life Through Preppy Glasses' FIRST GIVEAWAY!