Inspired by Ginger

Our spin on our PREGO announcement. Baby Marion coming Fall 2018 and we couldn't be more excited!  It had been 4 cycles (for those in the TTC community ) since Jude was stillborn in August, when we found out that we were expecting! What a happy and welcomed miracle. I had been adhering to the Making Babies book program following my two cycles of healing...and just as it suggests, if you comply for three months (not always easy!) then your odds of conceiving are higher. Yeah! (Note: I plan to write a post about this program and tips/support for those struggling with infertility. It can feel like such a blind and scary path, and if there is anyway I can help alleviate some of that pain and stress for you, I will!) With this being our 4th pregnancy in less than 2 years, I wanted to announce early and with some humor. Why? Well, celebrating life is always important. I waited until after 16 weeks to share our pregnancy with Jude and my wish afterwards was that we had collectiv...

I love easy garden DIY projects that are quick, but useful  So I love shopping at the Home Depot nursery , I usually find just what I am looking for and then some. So while I was there on my monthly (?), weekly (?) visit, I visited the plant clearance section. Did you know they have one of those?! It is my fav! Well, I came across this giant plant at 50% off!  Look how beautiful and healthy it is!! How was this even on clearance I asked myself? Well really, I didn't ask too many questions, because I swooped it right up. When I got to the check stand, it actually ended up being marked down from $17.99 to $4! SCORE! I left the store with an extra pep in my step for sure.  I usually do my gardening on Wednesdays. Nothing beats getting over the hump of each week by taking time to be with my plants and in the fresh air.  On to the project... For Christmas, I received an adorable gift from my MIL in the cutest tin basket. I knew instantly ...

Working on my word for 2018, setting goals, and acknowledging our infertility anniversary... This month marks 5 years of infertility struggle. F I V E. How is that even possible?...A question I have asked myself way too many times. I wonder though, does it really count as five years? Really, I was pregnant last March with our twins (which at that point had been two documented miscarriages and 4 years and 3 months of infertility treatment) which ultimately ended in me delivering Jude at 23 weeks (we lost the twin at 13.5 weeks). So I guess perhaps that time doesn't count as infertility...in my opinion it just counts as a joyous, then not-so-joyous, then joyous again, and then not-so-joyous once more. Maybe that is called a sh*t storm instead? *Heavy sigh* I have been reading Brene Brown's amazing book, Rising Strong ( you can view it on Amazon here ) and it really has just been SO helpful for me! I absolutely love the research she does and I think I have read all of her boo...

2017 was quite the year + as we enter 2018, I am open to the endless possibilities that await... "Don't look back, you aren't going that way." - Unknown 12 weeks pregnant in Hawaii I am not going to lie, last year was ROUGH. Before I jump ahead though, let's begin the story at the beginning so we have some context here... My husband and I had been on a 4 year and 3 month infertility journey when we found out in March we were pregnant. Yes, 2017 was going to be our year! Our first ultra sound was in April and to our pleasant surprise we weren't just pregnant, we were pregnant with TWINS! All of this wait (and wait and wait) and we were now going to be preparing for two newborns by Christmas. Life was grand! Fast forward 13.5 weeks at our ultra sound when we found out one of our twins didn't survive. Heartbreak. Tears and more tears. It was going to be ok though, we still had one healthy baby that was still on the way. At 16 weeks we had a t...

A guide of what to get (and pack) for your upcoming trip... I love to travel. It is one of my favorite things to do. Ever. I recently took a trip to London and Paris ( see here for the trip recap ) and a few items really helped save the day. There are so many things to remember to pack (especially for a long flight) so I have broken down a few of my favorite items here for you... Neck Pillow for the plane . Flights can be long, and without proper neck support while you nap you could get there feeling not rested and sore. Yikes! Here is a neck pillow I recommend. Traveler tip...buy this in advance and not at the airport to save yourself some money.  Click here to see my favorite one. Snacks. These are always important. You could end up falling asleep and missing food delivery. I am a professional at this. Also, you never know what the meal on the plane will be like and if you have a layover timing could be tight and it might be a long while before you are a...

Year after year it happens. The holidays come we eat a little more, we stress a little more, and we neglect our routine. Then New Year's Eve weekend rolls around, and we start to think, "Man, I need to get myself back in gear...work starts on Monday, and I have completely gotten off track." That's when the generic (I say generic because these are the resolutions most people set into play) plans for the New Year sink in... This year I plan to... lose 20 pounds  go to the gym 4 times a week  eat less carbs  get organized  stop drinking during the week  create a budget and stick to it  The list goes on and on. The trend for most of us centers around diet, money, and organization (stress management included). Which don't get me wrong, these are all great goals to focus on, but realistically, the majority of people cannot seem to stick to them. Then, disappointment sinks in and we become mad at ourselves for our failures. So how can we break this t...