High Five

(1) I made this brownie batter fudge for small group this week and it was delicious.  And I have about half of it in my fridge now that I can't stop thinking about eating and it is only 9:00 am.  Which has never really stopped me before. 

(2) Addilyn is in love with this bunny and it is so cute.  There have been a handful of times she fights taking a nap and I've put her in her bouncy seat, gave her the bunny and she falls asleep. 

(3) We are getting a new mattress and I am so excited because we are getting a King size bed.  Hopefully I can fall asleep on it like Addilyn did. 

(4) We have been on lots of walks lately and I am loving the cooler weather, especially because that means I can put cute hats on Addilyn. 

(5) I recently confessed that I wanted overalls to come back in style and it looks like my dream has come true according to People magazine.  Now if only it would catch on.

I'm really excited for the weekend as we have a family wedding and then get to see our good friends and their new baby who are visiting from out of town.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Five

pants: loft   shoes: kohls  necklace: c/o curated by kelly

1. I've wanted a pair of boyfriend jeans forever and recently got these and another pair.  My problem is that I think they make my legs look even shorter.  I may need some style help with them.  Hopefully the answer isn't that they just don't work with short legs. 

2. On Sunday we went to the forest preserve after church and brought lunch.  It was so fun to do things as a family and I think it may become a new weekend routine as long as the weather is nice. 

3. I've slowly started working out again.  Although it's only happened a few times, it feels good to break a sweat (not from hormones or when I'm nursing and get overly hot).  I still hate Jillian Micheal's voice and mute the tv.  

4.  I forgot to share this sweet bracelet that Chris got me after we had Addilyn.  It came in the mail the day we had to come home while she was in the nursery, which was such perfect timing.  I LOVE it. 

source

5. I am ready to start decorating for Fall, even though the weather isn't quite there.  I bought a chalkboard pen yesterday and want to do something like this on the chalkboard by our front door.   When do you start decorating for fall? 

I hope you have a great weekend!

headbands, cookie dip and the same shorts

 top:  burlington coat factory   shorts: loft    sandals: target

1. Most summers I don't wear shorts too often but so many of my dresses do not work well for nursing so I think shorts and skirts will become much more frequent!

groopdealz

2.  I bought Addilyn two of these headbands on groopdealz this week and can't wait to get them.  

M&M monster dip

3. I have yet to make a real meal since Addilyn was born but desserts I can handle.  This dip was delicious!

4. Chris and I took Addilyn on a walk at the forest preserve the other day.  We walked there quite often when I was pregnant and it was so fun to be there pushing a stroller instead!

5. I love this picture of my parents just staring at Addilyn.  I'm so glad they live so close and we get to see them often.  

I hope you have a great weekend!  Happy Friday!

a meal, makeup, and another maxi

top: shade maternity   skirt: giveaway win from so kate   necklace:  curated by kelly

1.  I won this skirt from a giveaway a few weeks ago and of course was happy to have another maxi skirt option these days.  I'm pretty sure that even if I wasn't pregnant I'd still be wearing maxi skirts all summer.   2. I bought this book last week and cried in the store reading it.  I'm going to bring it with us to the hospital and have people who come visit us sign it.   3. It was my week to host girls' night, which is always good motivation to make a "real" full meal.  I made this chicken casserole recipe, tomato, avocado and mozzarella salad and of course the best part, these s'more bar desserts.   All three pretty easy and delicious.  4.  I am not a huge makeup person and could use some serious lessons in applying makeup as I do the same thing if I'm running errands or going to a wedding.  I was really excited when I got the MaryKay Influenster box to try out their products.  MaryKay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara: I normally buy the $1 elf brand mascara but did really like this one and it stayed on longer for sure.  Mary Kay Cream Eye Color & Concealer Brush:  It's hard to see in the picture but it is this pretty violet color and I loved it.  Mary Kay Lash Primer: I've never used a lash primer and do have short eyelashes so anything that makes them a little longer is good in my book.  MaryKay True Dimension Lip Stick: I never wear lipstick and am so glad this color was lighter because it was even a stretch for me but I did really like it and will definitely wear it.  This was my favorite product of the group as I keep telling myself that someday I'd wear lipstick.  5. While I'm getting a little anxious waiting for our baby girl to make her appearance I am trying hard to enjoy this time of relaxing until she comes.  Last Sunday Chris, Molly and I spent a good amount of time just laying around and it was wonderful.  
Want to see more instragram pictures and make sure to see whenever our baby girl does arrive? Follow me @katiejvale.
I hope you have a great weekend!

(I received the MaryKay products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.)

High Five for Friday

jeggings: Walmart    tee: old navy    wedges: shoe carnival     necklace: caroline g

1.  I am starting to feel limited in what I can wear and what is comfortable and am starting to wear the same pieces over and over like this jeggings from Walmart.  $10 was definitely money well spent!

2.  My class threw me a surprise baby shower this week.  It was wonderful!  One of the mom's made a little scrapbook/photo album and had the kids write advice for me.  I'll have to share some of them in another post next week!  

3.  As a thank you to my parent volunteers this year I made this popcorn.  I've seen many recipes like this on pinterest but managed to make it even easier than those. 

Pop two bags of popcorn and take out any kernels.  Melt one package of white almond bark and pour over popcorn.  Mix it all up.  Add a bag of M&M's.  Spread out on wax paper, pour sprinkles over it and let it hardened before breaking it up.  

It made plenty for these three bags and left me with lots to eat myself! 

4.  I am so excited because Chris and I recently found and booked our newborn photographer.  I get beyond excited when I think of all the adorable pictures she is going to take of our baby girl!  And I can't wait to use those pictures to send out baby announcements.  I love finding websites that have really simple and easy to edit cards like Signazon.  This is one of my favorite birth announcements.  

5.  Speaking of cards, I have been writing a few thank you notes already but have yet to have my main baby shower and know I will be writing a lot more! I found this cute baby shower card that I was able edit to say thank you.   I think it will be perfect for sending thank you notes after my shower!

Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend!

High Five for Friday

tank top: old navy maternity    jeans: ross maternity   shoes: target   cardigan: rue 21 (diy elbow patches)
1. I've started considering my leopard flats as a neutral and assume it is okay to wear them with anything.  Please don't tell me if that isn't true. 
2.  This week was teacher appreciation week and one of the days the students could bring in a special treat for you.  One of the girls made me a diaper cake.  I loved it!  

3.  I made this BLT pasta salad this week.  I am definitely ready for more summery meals and this one was perfect.  

4.  I am slowly getting better at curly my own hair.  The first time I tried it I walked out of the bathroom and asked Chris what he thought.  He told me the back looked like an 80's rockstar.  Definitely not a compliment.  

5.  Last month I won these beautiful earrings from Sandra at Litva's Jewelry.  I have loved getting to know and working with Sandra.  She has her own jewelry shop filled with gorgeous pieces, like these feathered earrings or this wrap bracelet.  And today she is giving one lucky reader a $40 credit to her shop!  If I won I'd have a hard time choosing, but am pretty sure I'd pick this.  

Enter below!  The winner will be contacted after the 13th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Five on Friday

sweater: kohls    jeans: H&M maternity  shoes: target

1.  The back of this sweater is way more exciting than the front.  So while I am not a fan of the backside pictures, I feel like I had no choice.  2.  I usually stick to pretty easy recipes, especially when it comes to desserts.  Which is why I loved this one because it starts with a brownie mix and ends with cookie dough that I can eat.  Which beat out the recipe I wanted to make last week.   Cookie Dough Brownie Bites 3.  While this recipe is probably still easy to most, to me it is more work then the majority of recipes I make, but I'm sure it's worth it!  I am participating in Jess' Easter recipe swap and this is the recipe I received from Jasmine.  I failed at making it this week but plan on trying it this weekend!  Chocolate Guinness Cake

4.  The other day my sister texted me a picture of my cute niece with a high pony tail and said that my three year old nephew said "She looks like a pine cone or a bad guy.  Either way it's not good." 
I don't think he could be any cuter or funnier.  I am missing him a lot!
5. I want to make one of these lamps for our baby room.  I know there are many other things I should be organizing and cleaning at my house, but all I want to do it make things for her room!  

(floral lamp    polka dot lamp)

Happy Friday! Hope you have a great weekend!

high five for friday

shirt: rue 21  pants: jcpenny  boots: dsw 

1. I got this polka dot shirt last weekend and love it. Someday I'll remember to take off my hair tie on my wrist before I take a picture.  
2.  This weekend I thought it would be a good idea to check out Goodwill to see if they had any maternity clothes.  But no such luck.  This was the kind of clothing I found. 

Maternity short overalls.  Just to make sure there isn't any confusion I didn't buy them. 

One of you thrifting masters needs to take me with you. 

3. I made my first craft for my baby last weekend.  A chevron stuffed animal elephant. And I love it. 

(I followed this tutorial.)

4. I made these chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars last night and they were SO good.  I told myself I wouldn't eat any sweets today but I don't know what I was thinking with these sitting in my fridge. 

5.  I have some sponsor spots open for February and would love to help grow your blog or shop! You can take 20% of any ad size for the next week!  Check out more details here and email me at katiejvale@yahoo.com
Hope you have a great weekend!

High Five for Friday

sweater: loft   jeans: kohls   boots: kohls

1.  I bought this sweater a week or so ago and feel as though baggy sweaters are a good choice for this beginning pregnancy, slightly awkward phase.

2.  After not cooking for quite a long time (like 6 weeks a long time) I finally made a real meal this week.

3.  I also made dessert: M &M Cookie bars.  These were SO good and really easy.  You don't even need a mixer!

4.  I'd like to blame this on some extreme pregnancy craving, but don't think I can.  I managed to eat an entire bag of cheetos in three days.  At first I would only eat a few if I finished writing a thank you note, but I can assure you I didn't have that many thank you notes to write.

5.  This one definitely takes the cake as the best blogging perk I've received so far, as I was sent a new HTC one x+ phone and I love it! It's the first time ever that Chris has been jealous of any technology I've had.

I'm sure you're so excited because that means clearer outfit pictures and I finally have a phone with a reverse camera so maybe that means I'll start taking hundreds of pictures of my face.

I'm SO happy it is Friday! Happy weekend to you!