Rose Garden

I hope y'all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, whether you shared it with a significant other or not! Me, I'll take any reason to get dressed up and eat delicious food. We had a Groupon for a fancy restaurant and made reservations. When we got there, they said they weren't taking them for the night. Would've been nice if the girl on the phone had told us that! I almost passed out when we got our bill. It's only the second time we've ever eaten at a fancy restaurant, and we decided that it's just not for us. It felt like we had to whisper the entire time, and then I dropped my fork on my plate and I think the whole restaurant heard. Lack of manners aside, we did have a great dinner. One of the appetizers was a seared scallop (yep, just one) over something incredible that I can't pronounce or spell, but resembled a warm macaroni and cheese/potato salad combo. Doesn't sound very good, but you'll just have to trust me that it was one of the best things I've ever tasted. Ever.

dress: ModCloth // tights: Target // shoes: Urban Outfitters (similar)

The picture above sums of my outfit picture taking experiences. I set Levi all the way across the room so that he doesn't knock my tripod over, and he gets into ALL. THE. THINGS. while I try to snap pictures as quickly as possible!

And another bonus picture! Here's us feeling really weird at the aforementioned dinner:

Begin Again

Life has been slowing down a little bit. I'm halfway through my classes right now and Little Riot has been pretty dead since the holiday season ended. Honestly, I'm not complaining. Going to school, working, taking care of a baby, and having a clothing business is a lot to handle. Levi has been a very high needs baby, but he's over eight months old now and getting more independent by the day! It's bittersweet.

Top: Target // Skirt: H&M (similar) // Tights: Target // Shoes: B.A.I.T.

I've been taking the A Beautiful Mess blogging class, and it had me aching to start blogging again. I really miss being able to have my own thing going on that isn't something I have to do. It's a creative outlet for me, and I'm at a point where I'd like to start taking more time for myself. So anyway, lots of outfit posts and DIYs coming this way soon! I hope y'all have been doing well. <3

Outfit: Blue Daisy

I pretty much take any opportunity I have to dress up these days. By dress up, I mean put on clothes that don't consist of pajamas or dirty jean shorts. Life is so crazy! I guess it wouldn't be life with a newborn if I didn't get spit up on every time I took a shower or put on regular clothes. Last weekend, Corey's mom came over to watch Levi while we went to eat lunch at one of my favorite taco spots and to try a new sno-cone place that recently opened up. It's so nice to get a break sometimes, even if it's only for an hour or two.

top: TJ Maxx // skirt: H&M // shoes: Vans

Dalmatian Nation

outfit details
sweater: thrifted
jeans: Kohl's maternity
flats: Kohl's

I'm just a few days shy of entering my third trimester, and it's really starting to take its toll on me! I get out of breath so easily. After taking these pictures, we had a short walk back to the house but I was hanging on to Corey the whole way, haha. I'm seriously the most inactive I've ever been, but I just feel so busy all the time... And even when I'm not, it's so much nicer to just relax and take it easy while I still can. Baths and books: I love you.

I thrifted this sweater during the summer and totally forgot about it until I found it stuffed in a box a few weeks ago. It was too big for me when I bought it, but it fits perfectly now. There's no hiding this belly anymore. I'm just trying to embrace my new figure for the time being, and this kitschy sweater helps to do the trick!

Edge of Town

outfit details
top: Forever 21
sweater: Motherhood Maternity
jeans: Target
boots: Forever 21

My mom got me this fuzzy sweater a few months ago, and I love it so much! I wear it at least twice a week. It's awesome because you can wear it casually, like I did for this outfit post, or dress it up! I get compliments on it either way. Honestly, I think it's a great sweater even if you're not pregnant! The lack of variety in these pictures is attributed to the crazy wind outside and the fact that Corey and I both really had to use the bathroom! Haha.

We placed an offer on a house last week and we are waiting back to hopefully hear an answer today! I am SO excited. Every night when I'm falling asleep, I think about all the potential it has and what our plans are with it. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but I'll be crushed if we don't get it. All that wasted Pinterest time...

Outfit: 24 Week Bump!

I haven't really posted any specific bump pictures, so I figured that since I'm now in my sixth month, it's about time for an update! At my last appointment, one of the midwives mentioned that I had gained a little too much weight. I stressed over this because I want a natural birth and gaining too much weight could cause complications. After going back again today, I'm measuring a week ahead of schedule but otherwise, totally normal and healthy. I've really been trying to make better choices, but damn if I don't have ice cream cravings that are very hard to ignore... ;)

In the beginning of my pregnancy, I was hesitant to wear maternity items because I felt like they weren't stylish or that they didn't look like "me". Now that I'm well into my second trimester, comfort beats out cuteness any day, but it's still nice to have trendy maternity clothes I can breathe in when I want to look nice! I received this dress from PinkBlush Maternity, a company that offers tons of cute and comfortable maternity clothing. It is so comfortable, and it's also a nursing dress meaning I can wear it even after Levi is born. I see many days of lounging around the house in this dress.

outfit details
necklace: Francesca's
dress: c/o PinkBlush Maternity
shoes: Urban Outfitters

Outfit: Good Daze

Yesterday, Corey and I went to look for houses and happened to drive by one of our favorites that we saw online! It's big and gorgeous, with lots of natural light and space to customize and make our own. We got some good news today about a home loan, so we get to go inside to check it out later this afternoon and I'm so excited! After we looked around for more houses, we got some awesome lunch (with not so awesome service, but hey) and headed home to watch the Panthers game and take naps. I bet you can guess who did what! :)

outfit details
necklace: Francesca's
dress: TJ Maxx
tights: Forever 21
shoes: Urban Outfitters

I bought this dress when I first found out I was pregnant, and it's been awesome for the amount of growing I've done. Seriously, when I was going over and editing these pictures, I was like, "...I'm huge!" But apparently that's what happens when you get pregnant. I've already put over half of my closet into boxes for later, and I cannot wait to dig into that pile in a few months :)

Outfit: Barn Cats

Yesterday, I got outside to take some outfit pictures before this crazy cold weather comes in. I seriously hate weather talk, though, so I'll spare us both! I got this cardigan on clearance at Target right after Christmas and I wear it all the time. I think the best time to shop is right after Christmas, when everyone makes returns for the things they didn't want and the stores can't charge full price again! Makes me so happy, and I don't go broke buying new things for myself.

outfit details
jean jacket: Forever 21
hoodie: American Apparel
cardigan: Target
dress: Sammy Dress
tights: Forever 21
shoes: Forever 21

This cheap little dress was awesome the first time I wore it last summer for Corey's pre-deployment party. Since then, I've washed it (duh) and it shrank so much! It could probably fit my 10 year old niece. So obviously, I had to get some pictures in it before it goes in the good ole pile of clothes I can't wear for another six months. I cannot wait for that day, it's going to feel like a shopping spree where I don't have to spend any money. ;)

Outfit: Golden Light

When I was only about eight weeks along, I ran into someone I knew in high school and she was like, "I can't wait to see all your maternity outfits on your blog!" First of all, it was awesome to hear that (!) and second, I was excited, too. But man, it has been hard to find the motivation to try and look cute when everything just keeps on getting bigger! Anyhow, I still gotta get dressed every day so here's some outfit pictures. ;)

outfit details
jacket: Kohl's
top: TJ Maxx
jeans: Target
shoes: Urban Outfitters

I love seeing the golden light in pictures, and I've always wanted to get that! When we parked to take these, I was even talking about how if it were 30 minutes later, we'd have gorgeous light. Then the sun got in just the right position for the dreamy light to shine through and we made sure to capture it!

Outfit: Roadside Roses

Growing up on a small private road, I did a lot of exploring as a kid. One of my favorite things to do was wander around the woods and ride my bike all around the dirt roads behind my house. This always led me to the end of the road, where there were these big rose bushes. I've always admired that area and the country feel of it. Now, it's a big garden with crops and different flowers. There were a couple of roses, too!

When I first got this dress, the straps were totally falling off me! Now that my boobs have grown almost a full size (so weird!) and I've gained almost 10 pounds, it fits a lot better. So maybe I won't take it in until all this growing is over with! The tights are one of my new favorite things in my closet, since I've been dying for a pair of over-the-knee socks but have had totally bad luck on that.

outfit details
dress: Urban Outfitters
tights: Forever 21
socks: Target
boots: Forever 21

Outfit: Tomato Tree

Corey and I were driving around, scouting places to take pictures and found this gorgeous tree at the end of a dirt road. It seriously looked like tiny tomatoes were growing on the tree! I love it, haha. I keep thinking of taking pictures of my "bump", but it just seems weird because it's not an actual pregnant belly, it's just the result of eating lots of food for the past few months!

This is just a casual outfit I throw on when I'm going to run errands or hang out with friends. I got these jeans from Target for like $20 and they're seriously perfect. I had to size up a few weeks ago, and these are so comfortable and stretchy! The only downside is that they don't have front pockets, but I can live with that.

outfit details
top: Forever 21
button up: thrifted
jeans: Target
boots: Urban Outfitters