this past weekend...

We headed up to Phoenix, yet again to celebrate some birthdays!!! August is a busy month for birthdays around here: our friends Travis, Joe, and Kevin all have birthdays, as well our next door neighbor Katie. Plus, Rick's sister and Grandfather, as well as my sister in law Carissa, and her son Bladen also have birthdays. Phew!

Friday night we headed up to Phoenix and loaded up at Ikea. I hate going to that place, but we got so many things for the nursery, it was pretty awesome. Then we met Ann and Marcel for dinner (Annie ordered three things, yes three, off the menu and neraly finished it all. She is nothing short of amazing), and went to my parents' house to relive their recent Italian vacation. It was nice to see everyone.

Saturday morning we went to Rick's parents' house where I met up with his Mom and sister for a girls' day of fun to celebrate Samantha's birthday!

First we headed to Drybar. I love love love this place. What an indulgence. They had champagne and mimosas, and I had cucumber water. The deep conditioning treatment and scalp massage were to die for! Here are our before and after pics:

They did an amazing job! Worth every penny! And I am still rockin' my blowout 4 days later.... gotta love thick hair.

After that we went to True Foods for lunch. We all shared the vegetable crudite, artichoke pizza, chicken salad sandwich, and kale salad. It was sooooo good. We finished up the day with some shopping at Giggle, Lululemon, and H & M.

That night we all headed out to Copperblues for dinner, and Lucky Strike for some bowling. They did not have any lanes, so we went to a bar close to home. They drank, we all laughed. It was such a fun day!

The next morning I woke up early to meet a friend from college for breakfast.... it was so nice catching up with Shylah, and she gave me crib bedding and all the baby hangers I could ever need, as well as a learning toy for my little babe. It's amazing how people you haven't see in five years still can be so generous and thoughtful!

After breakfast my brothers and their families came over for a pool party at my parent's to celebrate Carissa and Bladen's birthday. It was fun, albeit short, party but it was nice to get everyone together. I do love those kids. My little niece is so so delicious.

We quickly headed back to Tucson so Rick could do a fantasy football draft. I should hang a sign that says "We interrupt this marriage, to bring you football season". No truer words have ever been spoken.

That night I had a little meltdown trying to pick out my outfit for work the next day. Even the "go to" shirts that I thought would last me my whole pregnancy were not fitting, and I got upset. Rick is always so good at consoling me when I get sad, and he convinced me to go get some new things the next day. I have really only bought a small amount of maternity items, and was determined not to by anything. I think it is such a waste of money, and I really do not like shopping. I am an online girl all the way, but he was right, it was time. And he left me this the next morning: 

My blessings are not lost on me, I assure you. Oh, and I got loads of maternity clothes yesterday, and I am so happy I did...

awesomeness.

- all of the fruits and veggies from our 'bountiful basket': mangoes, peppers, zucchini, cantaloupe, herbs, oh my! Everything is so fresh and yummy.... and enough for more than 4 people.

-being stuck in the restaurant where we were eating lunch yesterday due to a crazy downpour. Electing to drink a cup a coffee {decaf for me}, eat warm chocolate chip cookies brought to us by the waitress, and snuggle up in the booth watching the rain fall through the window. 

-thinking we were missing the fireworks, but perfectly happy snuggling up in yet again another booth sharing a delectable chicken pot pie and Nutella ice cream last night, only to catch the whole show on our way home.

-checking everything off of our very long 'to do' around the house list.... sweet relief. 

-an impromptu shopping spree because we wanted to just 'walk around' the mall.... yeah, that never works.

-two weeks off of work to cook, clean, and actually become presentable for my husband when he comes home from work. 

-Tucson monsoons giving us 70* temperatures in the morning and evening, making car shopping almost pleasant. Almost.

-Our little baby developing and moving all around all the time. This is the good stuff.

23 weeks.

How far along? 23 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 9 lbs. gained
Maternity clothes? Wearing a maternity top and maternity jeans in this pic.... so much more comfortable! I do not know what I was waiting for! Oh, yeah, too cheap to buy any :)
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great... my Boppy body pillow is a Godsend!
Best moment this week:  After my sweet husband did loads of research on the best cars for our family, we both got new cars this week. I got a 2012 VW Passat (36 mpg, hollllaaaa!!!) and Rick got a 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 Hemi (no more getting boosts into his lifted TITAN, yipppeeee!!). The best part is that after all the hard work and research, many test drives, and different financing options we explored, we really feel like we got the best deal for our money and for our family. No buyers' remorse here, now we can just relax, we are ready to drive our little baby around. We also got to see some good pics of our babe at the big sonogram last week, and Rick and I stare constantly at the pics on the fridge. We may be impartial, but that baby sure is cute. The best part: he/she is perfectly healthy; we are so, so grateful and happy. Oh! I got a free maternity photo session AND I found out the Pied Piper has also agreed to fit me in for a maternity session when she is in town in October. I mean, could it GET any better????
Miss Anything? Shopping for adorable little shorts and tops for summer! Booooo.... but I did get a bunch of stuff at GAP yesterday that helped ease my sorrows. 
Movement: All the time. I love laying in bed in the morning & feeling her/him move all over when I wake up...it is so surreal. 
Food cravings: Hmmmm.... nothing new. My diet is pretty much the same as before I got pregnant (which is not always the best thing), but I make a conscious effort to add fruit and veggies!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope
Gender: SURPRISE!!
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Round ligament pain: it is no joke, man.
Belly Button in or out? In, flatter every day.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY
Looking forward to: More work on the nursery, and my fellow prego bestie Ann is coming down tomorrow to hang with me alllll weekend. I am going to rub her belly so much....

i left my heart in San Francisco...

Two words to describe this trip: Magical and Unforgettable. We saw, we ate, we laughed, we danced, they drank, and we made awesome memories. This is one of my favorite trips to date, and without a doubt, we will be back. Gio and Matt were the most loving and gracious hosts, we couldn't have felt more welcomed or entertained. Thank you dear friends, we feel so lucky.

Things we saw/did: Chinatown, rode a Cable car, Pier 39, Ghiradelli, Tree Man, Buena Vista Irish Coffees, AT&T Park, 21st Amendment, Tommy's Joynt, Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Gardens, Bison, Fine Arts Building, Union Street Fair, Fresca, SF Symphony Black and White Ball, Cyndi Lauper, The Drifters, Mama's Cafe, the church where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married, Golden Gate Bridge, the Marina, Little Italy. So much more left to see for such a small city...

Santa Baby.

Here is my dream wish list for this Christmas season.... I know of a few things that my Mom may have hinted she is getting me, but a few others just need to be put out there into the universe.

Both of these watches are so gorgeous...must haves!

Makeup (my Mom always gets me this set at Xmas, lasts me the whole year), my very own treadmill, and Moroccan hair oil. It's supposed to be da bomb.

My sister in law has this bag in brown and the wallet. Cannot stop thinking about them.

Anything and everything Lululemon. That's what I told my brother I wanted this year: just Lululemon.

What list of coveted items would be complete without Anthropologie? Not one of mine.

Shoes, shoes, shoes. Tory Burch, Steve Madden, Ugg boots, oh my!

**Of course, the most important part of the holidays is spending it with family and friends, which I get to do aplenty this season. I cannot wait for my two week vacation to begin!

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Covet.

Here is my list of coveted items for fall, or life in general.

Anthropologie: let's be honest, I could include every item in the store.

I think this darling coat is a MUST for Europe...no?

Lulu's always has the sweetest dresses and lovely vintage items:

Fantasy footwear:

 My fashionable fall wrist will be naked without:

I need to get that wintery glow with:

bronzer

blush

And anything and everything by the preeminent designer, Oscar de la Renta. In the words of the Zoe, I die for him. He is my favorite designer by far. Just look at these heavenly pieces fit for a princess:



Films I am most excited for are based on two of the best books I have read as of late: The Hunger Games and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Cannot. Wait.