Friday I'm in Love

TGIF! I’m extra excited about this weekend because our bathroom update is going full throttle. I cannot wait to show y’all pictures of it when it’s finished. Some of you asked about our new fixtures I posted about and they are all from Home Depot. It is amazing what a new light fixture can do for a space. The new fixtures for our bathroom are replacing the old school dressing room bulb look that I can’t stand. I am so sorry if this is your style, it’s just not mine! I have some other new favorites to go along with the post name update this week so let’s get to it.

 Yesterday was my girl Kristina’s birthday so I whipped up some lemon squares for her because she loves all the lemon things. I used this recipe and added my own twist with a bit of vanilla and lemon JELLO mix. It was so easy and although I didn’t try them myself (wasn’t feeling the lemon) she did and gave it the seal of approval.

I have never been a foundation wearing girl. It’s not that I think I don’t need it but rather that I tried several different kinds years ago and never found one I liked so I gave up. Pregnancy has been kind to my skin this trimester and I mentioned loving the new Philosophy products I received as gifts for Christmas, but some days I feel like I look a bit washed out. I have been wanting to try BB Cream as an alternative to foundation just to even things out and give my face a boost. I researched and read reviews and finally purchased this one via Amazon. I cannot even believe how much of a difference it makes without looking or feeling like I’ve buried my skin under layers of makeup. I absolutely love this and now I’m not afraid to test out some other brands since I know this one is a keeper!

In our house we love blankets. Lots and lots of blankets. You might even say we are blanket hoarders. Okay, it’s not really that bad. We have 2 sets, one for the humans and one for the furbabies. When the old ones get ratty they go to the furbabies and when theirs get ruined, well, they go to blanket heaven. Since it’s pretty easy for blankets to get beat up when dogs use them with their claws and slobber and the occasional accident, we buy them cheap. Typically we get fleece blankets from Old Navy for $5-$10 depending on the sales they have going on but I came upon some for $2.88 yesterday and had to stock up.

The new Lucy & Co. hoodies I ordered for the boys came in this week and I can’t get over how cute they look in them. These fit my little monsters so well and look so adorable I want to buy them in every style! I might even have to get the Hello Apparel matching tee for mama.

Did you know that dogs can have sensitive tummies just like humans? Well, a lot of people don’t! We’ve known since he was a baby that Chaos is one of those dogs. Our Pittie is just sensitive all the way through.  It’s not the most fun thing to do, but checking out your dog’s doo doo is a surefire way to tell if there’s a problem. First of all, they shouldn’t have to go #2 all the time and it shouldn’t consistently be soft or diarrhea like. Your vet will tell you that dog poop can tell you a whole lot about the health of your pup so even though it’s icky, if you pay attention you could learn something! Back to my point, the trainer Chris is working with gave a recommendation for Show Stopper. It’s an antioxidant blend for dogs that has really seemed to make a difference for not just Chaos but Ares as well. They have shinier coats, shed less and digestion seems like a much smoother process if you know what I mean.

16 Weeks

16 weeks and I think I have started to “pop” a bit. I’m pretty surprised that all my pants keep zipping and buttoning but they are definitely feeling tight. I have a desk job and spend most of my work day sitting down. It’s not quite uncomfortable until the end of the day but I think I’m ready to switch over to the belly band I recently bought. And probably be wearing a lot of leggings + tunic outfits. I’m coming into the in between stage where my regular clothes still fit, just snuggly, and maternity clothes are too big. My next doctor appointment is next Friday so I’ll know how much weight I’ve gained. I figure if nothing else I’ve gained at least a few pounds of Pop-Tarts. I can’t stop eating them. I limit myself to one a day but it’s a struggle. I was hooked strictly on brown sugar cinnamon for a few weeks but finally switched it up with strawberry this morning. It’s still hit or miss in the veggies department but I made soup last week with tons of veggies and spices and it was delicious. I’m also digging these popsicles since they fulfill my constant cravings for sweets but are a bit of a healthier option. I’m feeling more movement these days, what I would describe as wave like or little taps, usually mid-morning during my snack (baby must really like the Pop-tarts) or as I’m getting ready for bed. I’ve tried feeling it myself from the outside but to no avail. I know baby is still small and it’s early to even feel movement myself but I just can’t wait for Chris to be able to feel it too. The other night I was laying on my side next to Chaos on his bed for a little snuggle sesh and he had his head pressed up against my belly. I felt a few taps, which I now recognize as the babe, and just then Chaos lifted his head and looked up at me with a what was that? expression. Coincidence? Probably.

Symptoms: Round ligament and hip pain have joined the party. The round ligament pain comes and goes quickly, thank goodness, and typically happens as I’m getting up from sitting or standing for a while. My hips are more sore than anything, like I worked out hard for a few days and didn’t stretch. It’s mostly uncomfortable at night. Also, my gums bleed a little when I brush my teeth. I’m a freak about brushing my teeth for 2 whole minutes (timed) every morning and before bed so sometimes it seems like a lot of pink in the sink. But apparently this is totally normal and no cause for concern. On Friday I stopped at the grocery on my way home and couldn’t bring myself to leave behind boxes of bakery cinnamon rolls and cherry coffee cake. The sweets cravings remain strong. But don’t worry, I only ate one piece of coffee cake when I got home and one cinnamon roll the next 2 mornings. I shared the rest with hubby and there are still cinnamon rolls left.

If you haven’t noticed I tend to get behind on these weekly updates. There is just so much going on and it’s also easier to say how the week went the more days I have to include. I’m actually at the end of 16 weeks and will be 17 weeks tomorrow. So really the biggest thing about 16 weeks is that our sweet little niece was born. Paisley Marie is a few weeks early and a tiny little thing, but doing well and is incredibly cute. She arrived the day I turned over the 16 week leaf and Chris and I got to meet her over the weekend. It was an exciting feeling knowing that in less than 6 months we will be holding on our newborn. It’s nice that the little cousins will be so close in age.

Around the House

Before Chris and I even moved into our house we knew we had big plans for really making it feel like home. The house is about 13 years old and aside from some very odd built in shelving units and paint, everything was left mostly original. We hit the jackpot when it comes to home updating and decorating projects because my parents happen to own a little place called B&E Decorating Center (if you’re local). My dad can also walk the walk with a paint brush and do a lot of other handy work. My mom was or maybe will be in another life, an interior decorator, so she helps out in that department. Then we have Chris’s dad who also knows a thing or 2 about DIY home projects. Chris is of course involved in the labor aspect of all this business while I’m in charge of budgeting, list making and idea gathering/shopping.

We moved into the house in mid-November so between just getting settled and the holidays, there wasn’t time to start any big projects. Now that we’re into the new year, things are really starting to happen. I’ve always been a fan of color but I also love neutrals. I went with color schemes in my apartment and my condo and this time around we are going the neutral route with lots of texture and pattern to keep things interesting. Having the TV mounted over the fireplace, the giant built in corner shelving removed and the holes patched, the new grey paint in the living room made it look brand new. We had no idea how yellowed the ceilings really were until the new white paint went up and it was clear that was desperately needed. My mom picked up a sofa table and console that we will paint/stain to go with the design scheme (thanks mom!). This past weekend the kitchen up for a little facelift. The snow on Friday was pretty but didn't stop us from moving forward with plans to paint and shop. A light warm grey to cover up the old out of place green instantly brightened the whole room. The cabinets will eventually need to be stained and the floor tiled but just a new paint job and a new light fixture look like a huge upgrade right now.

We bought new dark wood bedroom furniture right before we moved and a new grey and white striped bedspread for the master bedroom. Our TV is mounted on the wall and our new wood bedframe arrived (in a million pieces) so I picked a medium grey paint to bring it all together. The bedframe is unfinished wood so that my dad can do a custom white/grey stain. There is also a custom wood headboard and a sliding barn door to close off the bathroom in the works. And speaking of the master bathroom, it’s probably getting the biggest upgrade of all. The setup is an open doorway from the bedroom with his and hers sinks on either side. The bathtub/shower is in the corner and the toilet is walled off in its own separate room. The remaining space makes up a walk in closet. The vanities are oddly short (especially if you’re over 6 ft. tall like Chris) and the tops, faucets and light fixtures are dated. We actually already have the faux wood tile that will go in this weekend and bought new regular height white vanities from Home Depot. White tops and new brushed nickel faucets, light fixtures, towel racks and a shower head will welcome the room into 2016. We plan to also reuse the existing mirrors and just frame them out with wood for a modern style upgrade. The walls will be painted a dark grey to stand out against all the white and the shower curtain with silver trees on a white backdrop we received as a wedding gift is already hanging up.

There is a lot going on at our house but it’s so exciting to see it become our home with our style stamp on it. I will post pictures as things really come together. Anyone else starting the new year with projects around the house?

Friday Favorites

Schools closed early or closed all together, grocery stores were raided for milk and bread and the rest of us watched out the windows at work awaiting the snow storm. Well after a full day of nothing, Winter Storm Jonas finally decided to show up. I'm cozy on the couch, pups by the fire, HGTV on as I write this, watching the snow fall. My mind has been on dog training, home decorating and baby registry research lately but a girl has got to make time to find some new favorites right? 

I mentioned Bundle Organics in my 15 week post. These drinks aren't cheap but they are so delicious and I feel so good knowing I'm getting amazing nutrients in my body for me and for baby.

All this planning has me typing up notes on my computer at work, my laptop and my phone. 2 weeks into the year I decided I really needed a planner and I love the cute cover on this one. If I'm going to carry it around with me all the time it has to be pretty to look at!

Lucy & Co. has some of the best hoodies for pups around. The fit is perfect for Ares and Chaos and I can't get over how adorable the new heathered blue and gray designs are.

I've been hearing all about this Boom Chicka Pop popcorn so I finally picked up 2 flavors at the store last week. Beyond the beautiful packing, this stuff is delicious. But I am warning you, it's addicting!

As y'all know I've been on a sweets kick with the pregnancy big time. I love waffles and was practically drooling on the keyboard when I found this recipe to make them with cake batter. The waffle iron we got for our wedding will be put to good use making these babies. I'm thinking we might even need some snow cream on top since fresh snow is now available.

Happy Weekend!

15 Weeks

I am happy to report that at 15 weeks, the coffee ban has finally been lifted. While this might not be big news to some of you, I’m pretty excited about it. It’s not that I missed the daily dose of caffeine. Due to my bladder condition I don’t typically drink coffee on the regular, but do look forward to it over the weekend. So it’s really been the fact that coffee was a treat I looked forward to but could no longer even stand the thought of for about 2 months of this pregnancy. Of course it was replaced by plenty of other treats, but ya know, just not the same. When I realized I had watched a coffee commercial without wanting to vomit Chris and I celebrated by stopping at Starbucks Sunday morning. That grande caramel macchiato was magic.

I’ve continued to feel some movement here and there. One time it actually made me giggle because it felt like I was being tickled from the inside momentarily. I’m still in all my regular clothes although my pants are feeling snug these days. I bought one of those belly bands but haven’t had to use it yet. I’m sincerely not opposed to jumping on the belly band/maternity clothes wagon, I’m just not there yet. I mostly avoid wearing tight fitting tops in public because it just looks like I ate a lot. I’m rather looking forward to “popping” so it’s obvious that it’s a real baby in there and not a food baby. All in good time I guess.

Over the weekend my dad and Chris painted our living room and the first floor ceiling. I am so thrilled that I no longer have to see holes or patches all over the walls. Currently we are trying to pick colors for the master bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Yup, the whole house needs painting and we are beyond grateful my dad not only supplies the paint/supplies, but does the labor. The baby’s room is certainly on the list as it is sporting a neon turquoise paint job at the moment. I did pick a soft gray I like but after we take care of some of the other rooms, my dad will do samples so I get a better idea of what I really want. Since we are leaving the surprise of baby’s Pfeff’s sex for his or her birthday, the nursery will be neutral for the short term. Gray, white and navy is the color scheme I’m working with until we bring home a baby boy or a baby girl. Then we will have fun with some color and décor. I have a Pinterest board with inspiration for going full throttle this summer but for now the focus will be getting the right shade of gray on the walls and buying or sprucing up furniture.

Probably the most exciting news is not about my pregnancy but rather my sister-in-law’s. She will be induced tonight night so we will get to meet our brand new niece by this weekend! Can’t wait to snuggle that baby girl.

Symptoms: Although I’m basically nausea free at this point and can now enjoy coffee again, I’m still having some trouble with veggies. It’s so strange because it’s not that the thought of them makes me ill or even preparing them. But actually eating them, well that’s another story. When you’re a vegetarian it’s especially important to be able to eat vegetables daily to maintain a healthy diet. I know I talk about my sweet tooth cravings but honestly I’ve still kept the majority of what I eat healthy. I just indulge in treats a bit more than I used to. I still find myself choking down cooked vegetables and eating them raw is hit or miss. So I was pretty psyched to find Bundle Organics. They are actually made for expecting or breastfeeding mamas and full of USDA certified organic goodness. And…THEY TASTE GOOD. I do make my own smoothies still but it’s nice to mix it up and take the work out of it every once in a while. Plus, when you find something healthy that tastes good, you’re winning.

All About that Place

Woops, meant to post this on Friday. I'm blaming it on pregnancy brain.

Can you tell that I heard Megan Trainor this morning and it’s been stuck in my head all day? I know it’s Friday and typically I like to keep Friday posts on the lighter side but I’m throwing a curve ball this week. After my post on Tuesday I knew I had to get this out ASAP because the questions were going to start rolling in. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I answered some questions and inadvertently sparked a separate topic. I mentioned that Ares stays in his place nearly the entire time I am home in the evenings. So this post is to answer your questions and explain the hows and whys of it all.

 A LONG time ago I did a mini-series of blog posts called The Training Diaries where I discussed a different dog training method each post. We have come a long way since then. Chris is now a certified dog trainer after completing nearly a year of online schooling. He went back to doing road construction, which allows him to work hard and make a full year’s income in 6 months, so that he could go through more extensive and in depth hands on training in the off season. Currently Chris has been training with the head trainer at a very well respected facility in our area every day during the week. He has already learned so much and this knowledge has sparked us to revisit training on our dogs.

 I did a post on the Place command, which is not completely dissimilar to the way we use it now, just much less advanced. If you are completely unfamiliar with this command and would like to learn it, see this post for the beginning basics. “Place” put simply is a down stay command. However the difference is that “Place” should be used if you need/want your dog to stay for an extended period of time and not just momentarily. Examples are always helpful I think so here are the differences by situation. If you are out walking your dog and see a neighbor you want to stop and briefly chat with you would just give your dog the down command and then the stay command so he lays at your feet while you have a quick conversation. If you don’t have a fenced in yard but would like your dog to be able to come hang outside with you on a nice evening, you would give the place command as he would be expected to stay laying down for more than a few minutes.

 Teaching your dog the place command can be incredibly invaluable for both inside and outside the home. I don’t know about you but mine would love to just follow me around the house when I’m home alone and dogs underfoot + stairs + carrying a laundry basket can be very dangerous. Especially now that I’m carrying extra precious cargo. But you might be thinking that it sounds cruel to make your dog lay in one spot for hours on end. I did at first too. But there’s a really good reason why, on the contrary, it’s great for your dog. When you give a dog a command he uses mental and physical energy to obey. Even though for “Place” it’s just one command, it requires continuous energy for the dog to maintain the command. That means your dog’s mind and body are essentially getting a workout as long as he’s obeying the place command. The brain is learning focus and control and the body is actually burning calories as if exercising. Sounds crazy, right? Take it from a total skeptic right here that it’s the real deal. We actually had to increase the amount of food we were giving Ares and Chaos at mealtime because they had lost a few pounds the first couple weeks into doing this regularly. It has also seemed to make them much more relaxed and happy dogs in general. There’s an old saying that a tired dog is a happy dog. If you find your dog has fallen asleep while in “Place” you can smile because he’s happy.

 So, is this a forever situation or a boot-camp kind of thing? Well, both. First let me reassure you that OF COURSE they get water breaks and time to go out to do their business and play/run in the yard. We will remain consistent with “Place” at all other times while inside the house until such time as they have learned they cannot break the command no matter what until another command is given (come, heel, ect.). We are still working on keeping the boys from getting up when someone comes over , the cats roll toys their way and getting up if we turn our backs or walk into another room. Once they have proven the place command will be followed strictly after it’s given, then we will scale back. Every dog is different so they will learn at different paces and it may take longer for one dog than the other. Even once we are secure with the command, it will not be a free for all. We plan to allow the dogs to roam the house somewhat but definitely give the place command  if we are going to be up and down stairs, doing a project we need them to stay away from, putting the baby sleep, ect. The command will not lose it’s positive effect on the mind and body as time goes on but eventually it won’t be necessary all of the time. Why? Because Ares and Chaos will understand how to behave inside the house versus outside the house and control their energy levels relative to the situation. This in itself will continue the learned mind/body stimulation. Now I’m not saying to stop walking your dog or playing in the yard with him because he’s burning all those calories in “Place”. Walking and playing together are excellent bonding experiences and FUN. Plus, low impact exercise will always help to ensure an overall healthy dog. But you don’t have to feel guilty (like I used to) if you just can’t get a walk/play session in today because having your dog stay in place is definitely giving him amazing mind and body benefits.

 The way we practice “Place” now is a graduated version of our original use of the command. The dogs follow this command for very long periods of time, often hours, instead of just 30 minutes or an hour here or there. The only way the command is broken is to give another command, such as “Come”, “Heel” or “Outside”. We also use a specific spot in the house as opposed to a blanket/rug/bed. Our dogs love being by the fireplace and it’s a great out of the way spot for them. We put their beds there so that they will be comfortable but the point is that if we gave the command they would go lay in front of the fireplace even if the beds weren’t there. “Place” isn’t on a specific object but rather in a specific location. If you want to get really fancy after the initial concept of the command is well learned, you can name specific spots throughout the home. We have designated spots for “Place” in 3 rooms of our house right now and for us, we felt like it would be simple and easy to name them by color. You can use anything you want that you can remember and don’t feel ridiculous saying every day. In front of the fireplace is where we want the dogs to be in “Place” the majority of the time and that is “Blue”. So instead of saying “Place” when we want them to follow the place command in front of the fireplace we just say “Go Blue”. This is especially fun if you have a favorite team and use their color. We have not made it to this point yet but eventually we should be able to say “Go Blue” if we are upstairs with the dogs and they will go downstairs to the correct spot. We would still use plain old “Place” for any other time we want them to go into an extended down stay. Make sense?

 I know this was incredibly long and involved, especially for a Friday, so I’m going to go ahead and shut up now. Send me your questions when you turn your brains back on after the weekend.

14 Weeks

I am 14 weeks, 5 days and it has been a pretty exciting week. I felt the baby move! Yes, it is really early, especially for a first pregnancy. But it was unmistakable and after talking to my doctor’s office (they called for another reason) and of course, Googling, I am sure of it. I was sitting at my desk at work and dropped a pen so I bent over forward to get it but it had rolled a bit so I was reaching and really just squishing the whole middle of my body. That’s when I felt what I can only describe as little butterfly wings in my belly. I sat up straight and stayed very still, trying to feel it again. Nothing. Okay, you’re totally crazy, it’s too early to feel anything.  So then I bend over in my chair again and reached forward and….FLUTTERS. Now you’re just imagining it because it would be so cool. My doctor’s office has impeccable timing because I got a call right after that and immediately asked if I was in fact crazy. Jury is still out on that in general but I was told that it is certainly possible to feel movement at 14 weeks. Sure, it’s more common in subsequent pregnancies because of relaxed muscle tissue and the mother being able to identify the feeling earlier, but it can happen in any pregnancy. I was advised not to panic if I don’t feel anything for another few weeks since the baby is still small. Most likely I was just in the right position at the right time. I guess I really wouldn’t be too fond of getting squished either though so I can’t blame my little one for telling me so. I haven’t felt anything since but I am so looking forward to the next time!

Knock on all the wood but I have not had any heartburn or nausea this week. I guess the 2^nd trimester relief period is true for me so far this pregnancy. I am feeling like myself again and I didn’t even want to gag after seeing a coffee commercial the other day. I’m crossing fingers I will be able to drink it again now but didn’t want to chance it just yet. The IC flare up from last week was still lingering into the weekend and I didn’t want to do anything (like drink something so acidic/caffeinated) to anger it right back up. Hopefully I will have a successful attempt at trying a good old latte again for a Friday treat. Maybe even a hot one since it finally feels like Winter.

Symptoms: I want to eat cinnamon. Lots and lots of cinnamon. That is all. I’ve, embarrassingly, eaten a pack of brown sugar cinnamon Pop-tarts nearly every day and actually sat on the couch with a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch last night. Cinnamon rolls, cinnamon pancakes, cinnamon coffee cake and muffins all sound amazing. It’s not unusual for me to sprinkle cinnamon on top of my oatmeal for breakfast occasionally but it’s every day now. Someone said there were cinnamon donuts in the break room yesterday and I was so disappointed that they were gone when I made it back there. Also I could eat an entire bag of original Goldfish. I mean I haven’t yet. Really, I haven’t. But I am positive that I could. Maybe even one of those giant boxes if you gave me all day to do it.

Who is ready for the new season of PLL?!