I love reading random things about the bloggers that I follow so I thought you might enjoy reading some about me. I think it’s a nice way to get to know someone a little better.

1. I’ve never had any surgeries in my life. How I managed that, I have no idea but my dentist has been fussing at me to have my wisdom teeth removed for years and I’m just like, “Nah, I’m good.” That makes me really nervous about the possibility of having to have a c-section at the end of this pregnancy. The plan is to have a medication-free labor and delivery but I understand that you don’t really know what’s going to happen until it’s going down. I’m keeping those fingers crossed, though!
2. My secret favorite dinner is party foods: charcuterie, chips, dips, bite-sized anything really. When I moved into my very first apartment in undergrad, I ate a lot of “party foods” for dinner because I could! Wavy chips and french onion dip, little sausages in thick sauces, bite-sized pizzas, sausage balls, etc. My other/more acceptable favorite dinner is sushi. Who am I kidding, I just love to eat.
3. I love the idea of reading non-fiction but I prefer good fiction. Sometimes reading about real life is just too depressing for me and I often read for an escape. While I think non-fiction is really important and I read it from time to time, I gravitate toward something that is made up and sucks me in. However, I’m currently reading Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Yes, I’m way behind on the times.

4. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. In elementary school, we had career day and I was upset because I didn’t know how to dress up as an author so I dressed up as a doctor instead. I won a story-telling contest in 5th grade for a story I wrote called Rumpelstiltskin Continued, as well as an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood that was told from the wolf’s perspective.
5. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I love being in the field of public health but I feel like I still haven’t found my calling, so I just do all kind of things and have become somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades. I think that works for me, for now.

On to the outfit: sometimes I take too much time getting ready because I overthink things. Do I have the right completer piece? What is the best necklace to wear? Which shoes look best? But I’m learning it’s easy to keep it simple and still look good. Sweater, jeans, cute shoes, and a necklace. Doesn’t get much more simple than that, except maybe sweatpants or pajamas. I suppose you could wear sweatpants to the grocery store but this simple casual outfit is better and it didn’t even take that much to put together. As the weather gets colder, I’ll add a vest or cardigan as my completer piece but for now, this is just fine.

Sweater: Old Navy | Jeans: Liz Lange maternity @ Target | Shoes: Target | Necklace: Claire’s (old)

*this is a long one but hopefully worth the read*

I took a six-month blogging break so I could figure out what blogging meant for me. Am I even a blogger? I like writing but what do I want to write about? And would anyone else care about what I had to say? These were the things I thought about and even consulted with some of my friends. There were plenty of times I thought I was ready to start back up. A post idea would come to me and I’d start writing it in my head but the post never made it to paper/screen. Before I could sit myself down to write it all out, I would have talked myself out of it. I’d tell myself that it was a stupid idea and that no one would care about it. Or I would put together a super cute outfit and get tons of compliments on it and think, ‘this should go on the blog,’ but then I’d hear that voice telling me that sure, it’s a cute outfit for me, but it would never stand up to some of the outfits being displayed by the more popular bloggers — even though I had all the same elements.

I’m writing this post because I recently had an epiphany. Okay, maybe epiphany is too strong of a word. But I realized that I first started my blog because, although I was still learning how to be fashionable myself, I really liked my style and was getting a lot of inspiration from other bloggers, and I wanted to share my new knowledge with others like me, average girls who wanted to feel pretty and stylish. I came to understand that everyone who has a blog does so because they just put their stuff out there and that stuff makes its way to people who like reading it, whether that’s an outfit, a story, travel tips, life hacks, etc. I know that’s very simplistic, but in a nutshell that’s all blogging is.

Now, I’ve hated telling people about my blog because I haven’t felt like a real blogger. I’m just someone who puts words and pictures on a screen and then sends those words and pictures out into the ether of the internet. Even now, I mostly put together my outfits based on inspiration I’ve gotten from other bloggers and what I see on Pinterest. My google searches often start with, “How to wear…” so that makes me feel like I don’t know enough about fashion to be a “fashion blogger.” But one time, at a party, I showed my friend the trick for wearing non-skinny jeans with tall boots and she told me that I just had to put that on my blog. At the time I resisted because it was already on someone else’s blog but now I know that while I may not have come up with that idea, I did help spread it to a new audience. Isn’t that what the internet is even for?!

So, yes, I look to Pinterest, other bloggers, and the styled mannequins at clothing stores for outfit inspiration, but I’m pretty good at putting my own spin on whatever I put together. In high school, I proudly wore purple pleather pants, dammit. I’m going to continue to wear what I like, write about things that interest me, and share it all with you in case you like it, too. Maybe it’ll help you. Maybe it’ll entertain you. Maybe you’ll find it educational. But that’s what blogging is to me and it’s what I’ll continue to do!

 Sweater: J. Crew Outlet | Hat: Old Navy | Necklace: Stitch Fix | Denim: Banana Republic | Shoes: Target

A few years ago I was pinspired to wear this polka dot sweater and patterned vest together, and the resulting outfit turned out really well. When the formula works, you use it. So I did it again with a few switcharoos. Dark denim instead of black jeans and burgundy/maroon (what is this color officially called this year?) flats. I’m not sure which version I like better because they’re both really cute. I suppose that’s the beauty of learning how to work your closet.  Also: holy moly at my hair in the original post; it’s so long!

I wore this outfit on Black Friday when the only shopping we did was to pick out our Christmas tree. We go to the same lot every year because I really like supporting the organization, TROSA, a residential program that enables substance abusers to be productive, recovering individuals in the community by providing treatment, work-based vocational training, education, and care. We’ve been going to one of their lots since we moved into our house, so it’s been about 5 years now. It feels good to support a cause I care about. 

Look at that little 23-week bump peeking out!

Sweater: Old Navy | Vest: Banana Republic | Jeans: Liz Lange Maternity @ Target | Shoes: Old Navy

Linkups: Confident Twosday

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful day full of family and food. Today I’m thankful for everything, as cliche as it sounds. My family, my home, my health, and all of the other good fortunes I’ve had. 2016 has been very rough on us and the world so I’m choosing to focus on all the positive things, no matter how small.

Even though I was laid off from my nonprofit job this month, Nick’s work is still going strong and we still have our warm and happy home to shelter us everyday. We also still have a silly little dog that continues to light up our lives and make us laugh regularly. We still have it all together despite the hardships and for that I am thankful.

My health is in tip-top shape and my pregnancy is progressing along beautifully. I haven’t endured much of the sickness or pains that can often come along with being pregnant. I’m happy and healthy and for that I am thankful.

We have the most wonderful friends and family a person could ask for. Throughout everything we’ve been through, especially in the past year, they’ve been there for us and offered their help in any way they could. My community is the best and for that I am thankful.

Last but not least, I am very thankful to those of you who read my blog! I know the internet is inundated with life and style blogs, but you entertain my little hobby by reading and commenting and participating and for that I am thankful.

The way I see it, things could be so much worse than they are right now. For all the good fortune I’ve had and for having the ability to put in the hard work to make it all possible is something for which I will be eternally thankful.

Today I’m going to gush about my husband, Nick, for no other reason than I want to. But don’t worry, I won’t get too mushy. One of the things that first attracted me to him – aside from his dashing good looks – was that he always made me laugh even though he has this really dry, sarcastic sense of humor. I’m almost the complete opposite (no surprise there since we’re perfect opposites) because I like pun-y, corny jokes that my six-year-old nephew might tell. My favorite joke, for example, is What did the fish say when we ran into the wall? “Dam!”
Hahahahahahhahaha. Cracks me up every time. He doesn’t get it, though 😉

You can probably imagine what it’s like when the two of us are together.  We often have conversations that go a little something like this:

Me: I need to moisturize my hands. They’re so dry.
Nick : Drink more water. Moisturize from the inside.
Me: “moisturize from the inside”… that could be a slogan for something.
Nick: Yeah, water.

He ain’t wrong….

Then, of course, you have these gems:
Nick: those look creepy
me: you look creepy

…….

me: I wish we could get a goat and make cheese with its milk
Nicholas: I’m not a farmer
me: I know, you’re a grouch

And this text that shows real love between husband and wife:
Me: [at the store, getting essentials for the upcoming snow day]: I got soup, sandwiches, and cereal. Anything else?
Nick: Not off the top of my head. I’m getting beer. You need any wine?

One morning I gave the dogs a small bite of my scrambled eggs at breakfast and Nick said I would be the type of mother that would spoil my kids by giving them whatever they wanted. When I got to work, I find a message from him saying he wants to get a new phone:

me: it’s not in the budget
Nick: that’s not fair
me: well, life isn’t fair.

See, I’d make a great mother! 😀

The Kilwin’s lady gave Nick more ice cream than me and his response was, “Sometimes my good looks get me things.”

Other things you’ll overhear in our house:
Me: Can you mute the tv, please? I want to watch this seal dance to the Backstreet Boys.
Nick: Oh, I heard about that….

He gives me this look a lot.

Not only do we make a great team, but we’re really funny — and fun — to be around. I love him so much and wouldn’t want to spend my life with anyone else!