Dressing the Bump!

Now that I have finally given in to the fact that I am growing, whether I like it or not, I have actually purchased some *gasp* maternity clothes!  D and I decided that for my self-esteem and the fact that I am still in a working environment, I would be purchasing outfits that could transcend different environments (aka cost a bit more than I wanted to spend).  Seriously, when did I become the frugal one?

Today's the first shot at really dressing FOR the bump!  What do you think?

Please excuse the photo, this was on a whim and my photographer was absent :)

Top, Scarf, Leggings

I really think people may be on to something with these "maternity" clothes, if you find the right ones!  I feel like I'm wearing pajamas and they actually hug all the right areas!  If that's wrong, I don't want to be right!  

Look out for more posts on how to dress the bump!  

Until next time...

Frank Fridays | Giggles & Galas

You made it!  It's officially TGI-FRIDAY!  Make that #bluefriday for all of my fellow Hawks fans!  Holla!  My Instagram feed has been blowing up with all sorts of Hawk love and it just makes my heart happy!

This weekend should be one for the books!  Today is the *almost* last day at my current temp assignment and if you read the last Frank Friday you'll understand how excited and giggly I am!  Also, the reason I'm ending early is that I have procured myself an amazing temp-to-hire, full time position with much better hours and pay at a seriously rad company!  I mean, when they tell me there's beer in the fridge and it's ok to drink it, there's a ping pong table in the building and I can bring my dog to work- I pretty much fell in love.  I was going to work there, whether they knew it or not.  Luckily, I didn't have to go all stalker status on me because they checked the "yes" box on yours truly!  Score!

So, Sunday is actually my truly last day for my current assignment.  Sunday!?!  Yes, Sunday.  There is a super fancy Gala that I've been helping with for that will finally come to fruition this weekend!  Don't worry, D has a fancy suit and I broke down and got the cutest maternity dress I could find for this shin-dig!  Who says bumps aren't stylish?  I'm starting to beg to differ!  Either way, as official DD for the next couple of months, I'm going to dawn my best people watching skills while the boat parties the night away!  It should be a stellar event.... and then I'm DONE!  Yeay!

Cheers to a Hawks "W", a great Gala and new opportunities on Monday!  Have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to be frank!

Until next time...

<div align="center">
<a href="http://lifelaughsandladds.blogspot.com/" title="Life, Laughs and Ladds: Frank Fridays"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f105/Arnie21/image-115241520.jpg" alt="Life, Laughs and Ladds: Frank Fridays" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Pumpkin Filled Weekends| Part One

My amazing Husband, and favorite pumpkin enabler, took me to my first Bay Area pumpkin patch two weekends ago!  After scouring the internet we decided on one that looked pretty authentic.  We were in for a surprise.

Clayton Farms is about an hour from where we live in Northern California.  The drive was great but we were getting a little suspicious when kept driving through residential areas.  We popped out of our last neighborhood following Siri's awesome directions and made the last 3 miles of what could *almost* be described as farmland.  I think the drought may have had something to do with it but while we thought we were driving up to pick our own pumpkin from a patch... we were actually just picking out our pumpkin from groups.  Kind of a let-down, but we still made it fun!

Silly faces are mandatory!

Of course we took this opportunity to take a pic of our little pumpkin!

Train rides and hay tunnels for the littles!

This is one of the main reasons I wanted to come here, the pumpkin treats!  The treats mentioned on the website made my mouth water!  Unfortunately... the pumpkin whoopie pie, and pumpkin cookie looked more amazing than they tasted.  Tiny violins are playing everywhere for me!

Of course D needed a gigantic pumpkin.

All in all, this Cali pumpkin patch was ok.  It was nothing compared to the seriously high expectations we had from our Washington pumpkin patches, but it was still fun.  I think if we had kids in tow and it wasn't 100 degrees it may have been a bit more exciting.  We did, however, come home with 4 cute pumpkins which I can't wait to place outside!

Until next time...

Hawaiin BBQ Chicken Pizza

I've started making menus for each week to cut grocery costs and so we're not left in a lurch with me not wanting to cook all the time.  I bought a super cute vinyl chalkboard sticker and some plywood and voila- cute menu board!  No, you can't see it yet because it's still lacking a frame so it's kind of naked.  As soon as we rectify that sitch, you can have a gander!

I found this recipe from one of my favorite blogs, 3 Ladies and Their Gent!  Seriously Amber knows her way around a kitchen!  Being a wife, mother to twins, blogger and dietician it's amazing how she always looks so amazing and feeds her family.  I am in serious awe.  You can find her original recipe, here.

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:
1 tube Pillsbury Wheat Pizza Crust
1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (we used Sweet Baby Ray's, Sweet n' Spicy!)
1 (15oz) can pineapple, drained or fresh pineapple
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 grilled chicken breasts, or 1/2lb left over chicken- chopped
1-2 cup(s) monterey jack cheese, shredded

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Grill chicken and let rest until ready to add to pizza.

Roll out the pizza crust dough onto a greased, medium sized rimmed baking sheet, flattening it to fit to the corners.

Place the pizza crust into the oven for 6-9 minutes (or as directed on tube), until slightly puffed and beginning to turn golden brown. Remove from oven.

Spread BBQ sauce evenly over crust.  Sprinkle some of your cheese on top and then add chicken breast.  Next, add the pineapple and onion, as much or as little as you like.

  Top evenly with shredded cheese.

Place back into the heated oven for another 6-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown (and delicious!)

What's your favorite quick and healthy meal?

Until next time...

24 Weeks

As D and I were walking in to the Dr's office on Monday I said "Can you believe I'm 6 months pregnant" to which he replied "No you're not, holy crap you are!".  Keepin' it classy folks.  But, it dawned on me that this pregnancy has kind of flown by and I have less than 4 months until we meet our sweet baby girl!  Crazy?  Yes.  Mind blown?  Yes.  Prepared?  No.  Freaking out?  Absolutely!!  While we did jump on the wagon and *almost* finish our registries this past week, we have not done a darn thing about the nursery yet!  Well, I shouldn't say that.  I have picked out colors and bought a couple things, but not much.  The panic is starting to sink in.

How far along? 24 weeks, 7 days
Total weight gain: 3lbs
Baby is the size of ? A Cantalope!
Maternity clothes? I finally gave in and bought some maternity items.  While they are comfortable, they're not flattering and I'm trying to come to terms with them.  Hopefully I'll find some cute stuff and make them my own!
Stretch marks? Why yes, yes I do.
Sleep: Starting to elude me.  It's like after the 6mo turn things start to really change...  not a fan!
Best moment this week: Last week D was able to feel the little lady move, brought tears to my eyes!  This week, she's rockin and rolling!  We just had our "20" weeks ultrasound, don't ask, and it was amazing to see her.  I'm so excited to meet her!
Miss Anything? My energy
Movement: Yeppers, kicks and punches galore!
Food cravings: Anything I can't have.  We have been eating a lot of chicken lately?
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really
Exercise? Not as much as I should be doing... working is pooping me out!
Gender:  ??  Girl, Girl, GIRL!!!
Labor Signs: Nope.
Symptoms: I have good days and bad with random aches and pains.  Hello round ligament pain.  Google it.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On most of the time!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time, but I'm getting a lot more self-conscious of my body and how I look in clothes.  I know there's a baby in there but it sure would be nice to feel pretty while making a human!
Looking forward to: Finishing our registries and buying baby stuff!  

Until next time...

Admittance is the first step...

Hello, my name is Annalee and I'm addicted to all things pumpkin.  I just can't describe what those little spicy morsels of deliciouness do to me.  It makes me crazy, and I love it!  From the first of August until it's obviously Christmas time, you can smell, taste and see pumpkin everything invading every facet of my life.  I should probably be ashamed, but I'm not.  #pumpkins4life My FB friends and Pinterest followers must dread these months because I am allllll about my favorite season Fall PUMPKIN season!!

Source

Since the first clue of the PSL early release (that's a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, for all you non-pumpkin lovers) I have been feigning for the little orange crack.  Anything pumpkin will fit the bill.

One of my fellow addicts and I have even created a little game of sorts.  We search out new and scrumptious pumpkin treats and then share them for the other.  My last share was a little evil since there is no Jamba Juice in AK, but how was I supposed to know?  It was heaven!!

Here are just a few of our pumpkin finds:

Jamba Juice- Pumpkin Blast is like pumpkin pie in a cup!  YUM!!

I should note that I did NOT buy all of these products... and no, I will not admit to just how many I did buy!

Even though admittance is the first step, I have no intention of getting over this addiction.  I'll keep feeding it until the cows come home, or the pumpkins rot, you're choice!

What's your favorite pumpkin food/smell/item??

** Side note, Happy Anniversary to my Husband!  I'll post about this later!**  

Until next time...

Frank Fridays are back!

Whazzzzup?!  You didn't think I'd just let this little gem slip quietly into the night, did you?  Well, sorry to say if you were hoping for yes, that's a big fat nope!  I am way to candid for that :)

Today's b*tch session Frank Friday will focus on two things:

1) Why are all decently priced maternity clothes fugly?

2) How in the name of all is holy do some people get supervisory roles?

Where shall we start?  Ok, clothes!  So I'm 6 months prego at the moment and while I'm mostly in my "old" clothes it's not for a lack of wanting more comfortable and stylish duds!  I, however, am not willing to spend $50 for a shirt that will only fit for the next couple of months- only to be lost to the closet monster until we do or do not decide to have another child.  Further more, if we do decide to have another child who knows if I will be the same size or if the style of said clothing item will be in style.  Yeah, no.  So, alas good friends I head to cheaper places to find clothes.  Enter ill-fitting, burlap sacks that are passed off as "maternity" clothes.  Shoot. me. now.  Can I girl catch a break?  I mean, my stomach is growing to crazy shapes to accomidate this little life and I have to wear ugly garb that makes me look like I belong in the big top.  What part of this is beautiful and magical?  I rest my case.  Please, please, please, please, please if you know if any inexpensive clothing outlets for a someone making a human, let me know!!

Next.  This will be short and sweet.  How, on God's green earth, do some people end up in Supervisory roles?  Are they like willed or pitied into them?  I'm pretty sure there are some companies that are just WAY to lazy to look beyond their current employee pool for such roles.  I'm pretty sure I'm stuck in just such a Twilight Zone episode right now.  Really, you print everything?  Really, you don't trust that the computer will store that data for you?  Do you even know what a computer is?  No... it's not an IBM that takes up a room.  Again, shoot. me. now.  Thank god this is a temp position because if I had to endure this mirco-managing, paper-loving, antiquated process following, hater of all things new and efficient... I'm not sure one of us would make it out alive.  I'm pretty sure you know which one it would be.  Woooossawww.  #pregorageisreal

On that note, I'm looking at an utterly amazing weekend ahead and I'm 9min away!  So don't forget to have fun while you're free and always remember to be frank!

Until next time!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://lifelaughsandladds.blogspot.com/" title="Life, Laughs and Ladds: Frank Fridays"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f105/Arnie21/image-115241520.jpg" alt="Life, Laughs and Ladds: Frank Fridays" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

21/22/23 Weeks!

Hidey-Ho Blogland!  I know it's been a bit since my last post but well, I've been making a human.  I win.  I've learned that that one sentence is like the trump card to pretty much anything!  It's pretty interesting!  I will say that this last week was the first time I have blatantly used the belly to get me something.  Hold on to your hats- it was a cup of water!  I know right?  Total scammer right here!

A lot has happened since we last spoke!  I turned the big 3-1 first of all!  I thought that when I turned 31 I would completely feel ancient, would have gray hair ALL over and be completely over the hill.  Well, I'm happy to say aside from the gray hair (which I've had since I was 21) I don't feel any different.  Pregnant, but other than that, no different.  30 seems to be the new 20's, just with more amenities!  My birthday was celebrated in style and I had an amazing day.  D cleaned the entire house, took me to a seriously decadent breakfast at a little french bistro and got me a massage!  I felt like a QUEEN!  Seriously, I'm a lucky lady!  Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you how excited I am to be back in a place where I can collect my weight in birthday rewards!  Score, score, score!

My stellar hubby also scored us some free PBR tickets!  D, myself and another fabulous couple headed out for a night of bulls and cowboy butts that did not disappoint!  I thought I would be the only nerd excited, and a little nostalgic for home, but I was wrong!  Both boys were super stoked at the huge beasts!  I don't think I've seen D that excited since our last time at a Hawks game at Quest field!  Yes, I know it's CenturyLink now but it will always be Quest to me!  Also- random thought but oh so relevant to my pregnant world, the food at the Oracle colosseum was fantastic!  I'm talking great nachos and an AH-mazing pretzel w/cheese.  Have no fear, these were a splurge, not my regular diet!  I am very thankful that I couldn't drink though, the beers were $13 a piece for the cheap stuff!  No thank you!

Now let's get to the real reason you came: to see my ever expanding belly!!

How far along? 23 weeks, 2 days
Total weight gain: 2lbs as of now, which brings me right back to pre-prego weight!  Here's hoping it stays that way :)
Baby is the size of ? A Grapefruit!
Maternity clothes? Not really.  It's almost time though because things are getting dangerously short!  Oh wait- if I weren't dying of heat stroke I could wear super cute leggings!!  Come on cool weather!
Stretch marks? I regret to inform you that I have developed a few new tiger stripes.  I am not happy about it and will not feel appreciative of this momento- other than the fact that I know my little girl is now enjoying an olympic sized swimming pool!  You better be an Olympian little girl!  Make Mamma proud!
Sleep: Pretty good, with the exception of my dreams.  Yikes.  They've gotten better over the past week or so, but they are scary and intense and no bueno.  What cruel luck that when you should be dreaming of lollipops and rainbows you're dreaming of bad, bad, scary shiz.  Touché miracle of life.
Best moment this week: On Monday I felt a seriously unmistakable KICK!  There is seriously a baby in there, no going back now!  Not that she wasn't real before but you know...
Miss Anything? Not really.
Movement: Yep!  We have a bonefied mover and shaker people!
Food cravings: Apples, cheese and last night was Oreo Cake.  Nothing that I will die if I don't have, well the cake was touch and go there for a minute, but still I've got Georgia cake on my mind!
Anything making you queasy or sick: I think I have turned a corner on this one!  I ate ground beef the other night and was ok.  I didn't go back for seconds but I didn't hurl either!  Small victories!
Exercise? Not as much as I should be doing... working is pooping me out!
Gender:  ??  Girl, Girl, GIRL!!!
Labor Signs: Nope.
Symptoms: Typical symptoms aren't there, but still tired.  I have good days and bad with random aches and pains.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On most of the time!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time, but I have had a couple of prego swings.  Those are not fun!
Looking forward to: Starting to register and buying baby stuff!  

Until next time...