1st Trimester Bumpdate

I am actually 18 weeks pregnant today, but I want to use my blog to scrapbook this journey, so I am going back to document the first trimester today! I will be back next week with a 19 week bumpdate covering everything from 14 weeks to 19 weeks, and then this type of post will become less frequent! I'm thinking every 4 or 5 weeks. I'm just kind of playing catch up now since we didn't announce we were expecting until 16 weeks!

If you missed my pregnancy announcement blog post, you can click here to check that one out. And click here to check out the post where I shared we're having a baby boy! If you're all caught up on those, let's get started! By the way- this is a long read. Feel free to skim! :) Bumpdates have become my favorite type of blog post to read from other bloggers because I learn so much helpful info, so I got a little excited/wordy with my own! 

First Trimester

• Due date: December 25, 2018
• Baby is the size of a: sweet pea (6 weeks), blueberry (7 weeks), raspberry (8 weeks), cherry (9 weeks), strawberry (10 weeks), lime (11 weeks), plum (12 weeks), lemon (13 weeks)- all of this info came from The Bump app
• Total weight gain: 2 lbs (What to Expect When You're Expecting told me 2-5 lbs is the suggested weight gain range for the first trimester. I think my nausea kept this number in the lower end, but I have gained more than that since I am now out of the first trimester and will share that in my next bumpdate!)
• The bump: towards the end of the first trimester, my stomach looked like I had just eaten a big meal, and my ability to suck in was no longer a possibility
• Symptoms: no symptoms at all until the end of week 7, then the nausea and exhaustion kicked in. I never had morning sickness or actually got sick, but I had nausea just about every single day starting at week 8 around 4 or 5 pm and lasting until bedtime. My doctor suggested eating something between lunch and dinner because nausea would be inevitable if I didn't always have something in my stomach during the first trimester. Plain Cape Cod potato chips became a real life saver. And I used my free samples of Diclegis until I ran out (that stuff is $$$$$) and switched to a doctor recommended substitute of Vitamin B and Unisom (the one that says Doxylamine Succinate on the front). Also, my sense of smell has become insanely stronger than ever before. 
• Food cravings: FRUIT, Sour Patch Kids, diet lemonade, french fries, sandwiches (no deli meat at home, just sandwiches from restaurants that have been cooked), cereal (Honey Nut Cheerios and Life) for breakfast, TCBY
• Food aversions: seafood, grilled chicken, vegetables with a slimy texture (like zucchini), eggs, avocado
• Sleep: Great! The Diclegis or Unisom and Vitamin B combo makes me sleep very well.
• What I miss: coffee and Advil. I waited way too long to purchase Tylenol for headaches, but it has been greatly appreciated.
• Movement: not feeling any yet!
• Maternity clothes: haven't purchased any yet, but my white jeans definitely became uncomfortable towards the end of the first trimester
• What we are most looking forward to: finding out the gender and sharing our exciting news with everyone!
• Apps I've used: Ovia Pregnancy, The Bump, and Glow Nurture
• Products I've been loving: leggings (specifically these) and sweatshirts (specifically this one), pills for nausea, What to Expect When You're Expecting, I have heard lots of bloggers say they use oils and things to prevent stretch marks, so I need to look into that
• Purchases for baby: nothing yet (surprisingly)! Looking forward to buying things when we find out the gender!

Weekly Fun

Week 5- We found out we're pregnant! I took 2 tests (one that had a plus and minus sign and one that said the actual word Pregnant). More about that here.

Week 6- I went to my doctor in Mobile who confirmed our pregnancy! She talked to me about a few basics, and I got my first ultrasound, which showed baby was doing well and had a very strong heartbeat! And the due date was Christmas day! Then I went to a friend's wedding and had to convince all of my very best friends that I had an "ear infection" and wasn't drinking because I was on antibiotics. Basically every single one of them knew I was lying and asked if I was pregnant. They know me too well.  :)

However, I did learn from this, but what I’m sharing doesn’t apply to your best friends because it’s what best friends are supposed to do. And for the record, I have done the exact same thing to them. What I learned is that there’s really just never a good time to ask someone if they are pregnant. You never know what someone is going through- they could be having a hard time getting pregnant and not want to talk about it, they could be newly pregnant and not ready to share, they could have just had a baby and they're working on losing baby weight, etc. If you're unsure, stay safe and let them bring it up to you! If they are pregnant, it will come out eventually!

Week 7- I went to a blogger event in Memphis that was from 5-8 and started feeling realllllly sick for the first time on the way home. Fortunately, Parker was with me because he convinced me we needed to stop and get some food (not what I was really wanting at the time). We stopped at McDonald's and got some french fries, which actually helped. This was when the nausea every evening thing started.

Week 8- I asked a friend for a doctor recommendation in Memphis because I had only ever been to my same doctor in Mobile my whole life and didn't even know how to begin the search for a new doctor. We went to this new doctor at week 8, day 1 and had the BEST experience. We felt a sense of peace and knew this was the best place for us. They did an ultrasound and Parker got to see our baby for the first time (because he was not with me when I went to my doctor in Mobile)! And we both absolutely loved our doctor!

Week 9- My TCBY cravings started and still haven't totally gone away...

Week 10- Went to another friend's wedding and learned it's much easier to just fake drinking than fake sick. Having Parker there made this much easier too. He ordered club sodas with lime for me all night. I was worried about staying out so late because nighttime is when I typically felt so nauseous, tired, and awful. However, I was completely fine until the very end of the night. All my friends went to a bar after the reception, and I physically could not. Felt major FOMO, but I basically had to get back to the hotel, take my Diclegis, and hit the hay.

Week 11- We had another doctor's appointment where they did another ultrasound... we told the lady that we were about to tell our families about our baby and she made sure to include some cute words on the sonogram pictures for us to give our parents! Later this week, my family came to Southaven, and we got to tell them we're having a baby! I did the worst job of documenting this because I truly had the best time living in the moment without my phone. But basically as soon as they got in town and brought all of their stuff in, Parker and I handed each of them a beer. We put our wedding huggers around each of their beers, and I tied sonogram pictures around each of their huggers that said Baby Goodman due Christmas Day! We had the best weekend celebrating our exciting news, as well as an early Father's/ Grandfather's Day! :)

Week 12- Parker and I went to Dothan to tell his family we're having a baby! We went to dinner Friday night after our nephew's baseball game with Parker's parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. We told Parker's dad we wanted to give him his Father's Day gift a couple of days early, and he opened his actual gift, along with a baby onesie that said you're going to be grandparents again! Parker picked it out and purchased it! It was such a fun night with them, and then we got to share the news with Parker's sister, brother-in-law, and 2 nieces at lunch the next day with the whole Goodman fam! Parker's dad actually did it for us by pulling out his father's day gift AKA the onesie to show them! Our niece Anna Clay had already made the prediction we were coming in town to tell them we were having a baby... she was right!

Week 13- We got our pregnancy announcement photos taken! You can click here to check out the dress I wore.

More Pregnancy Related Blog Posts:

Baby Goodman Coming Christmas 2018!

We're Having a Baby BOY!!!

Thanks so much for reading! Have a wonderful day!

The Nordstrom Sale is Open to Everyone + What to Buy

The day has finally come!!! The N Sale is open to everyone! There are so many amazing deals that it can be overwhelming. I totally got overwhelmed last year and purchased a couple of things that I didn't wear much. So this year, I made sure to only purchase items that I KNOW I will get a ton of use out of.

In today's post, I'm sharing closet essentials that you can get for a steal and totally get your money's worth out of! I've broken it down into categories- leggings, jeans, pullovers, shoes, basic tees, sweaters, and gift ideas. Also, items sell out SO fast. If you see something you absolutely love, put it in your cart and check out to make sure you get it and then continue shopping... this is not wasteful thanks to free shipping and free returns at Nordstrom! Happy shopping!!!

Leggings

Live In High Waist Leggings (now- $35.90, regular- $54)- The NUMER 1 thing I suggest ordering! The best leggings you will ever own! I bought them during the sale last year and have loved them more than any other pair of leggings I have ever owned! They are the best material, high waisted, and so flattering (they suck you in!)! They can be worn for exercise or everyday life. (Pullover // Running Shoes)

Live In Lite Crop Leggings (now- $33.90, regular- $52) After loving the Zella leggings I purchased last year so much, I ordered these this year! And I also got Zella maternity leggings, but they are currently sold out. These cropped leggings actually came in the mail last night, and I am OBSESSED. They are so soft and all I want to wear! Zella leggings never go on sale, so grab them now to get the BEST leggings ever for a serious deal!

Spanx Faux Leather Leggings (now- $64.90, regular- $98)- I also purchased these during the sale last year. These leggings are SO flattering! I love pairing them with a tunic or sweater and boots for a cute and fun fall/winter look! If you are in between sizes, size up one size. Mine are a size large. Also, they are almost sold out at Nordstrom. However, they are the same price at Bloomingdale's, so click here to check them out there! (Tunic)

BP Moto Leggings (now- $25.90, regular- $39)- I cannot believe how affordable these leggings are! I purchased mine last year, and they have one extra seam compared to this year's version. But they are so cute and fun! Perfect way to add a little something extra to an outfit while still remaining super comfortable. (Tunic)

Jeans

AG jeans are my favorite designer jeans and NEVER go on sale. I'm not getting a pair this year because I would need to order maternity, but if you are looking for a very nice pair of designer denim at a steal, you cannot go wrong with either AG pair I linked below. They are both so flattering and comfortable. I have also linked a pair of J Brand, as well as a more affordable brand!

AG The Legging Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jeans (now- $149.90, regular- $225)

AG The Farrah Ankle Skinny Jeans (now- $149.90, regular- $225)

J Brand Maria High Waist Super Skinny Jeans (now- $99.90, regular- $198)

Caslon Sierra Skinny Jeans (now- $49.90, regular- $74)

Pullovers

Wubby Fleece Pullover (now- $51.90, regular- $78)- If they have this in your size, order it NOW! It is the softest and comfiest piece of clothing I have ever owned! This was the first thing I ordered at 2 AM when early access went live! Nordstrom suggests sizing down 1 size, but I actually sized up one size to a large because I like pullovers to be plenty roomy. And the large gave it a little extra length, so that I can wear it with leggings (which will be my uniform for life)! Mine is the color charcoal. One more perk- pockets!

Make + Model Hoodie (now- $31.90, regular- $49)- I ordered this in green lilly yesterday! It looks like something I would wear with leggings and live in. Uniform #2!

The North Face Down Vest (now- $68.90, regular- $99)

Shoes

Adidas Running Shoes (now- $63.90, regular- $85)- These are such a steal for Adidas running shoes, and I LOVE them! They are the prettiest color and make you feel like you're walking on clouds! I got my usual size 9, and they fit great. / Running Shoes)

BP Open Toe Mules (now- $49.90, regular- $79.95)- Such cute mules and a great price too!

Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots (now- $99.90, regular- $150)- Under $100 for Hunter boots= winning!

Basic Tees

Free People January Tee (now- $31.90, regular- $48)- Free People for under $32- yes please! The length is perfect to wear with leggings, and the material is so soft! I got my regular size medium because although there is a lot of fabric, the sleeves are more fitted.

BP V-Neck Short Sleeve Tee (now- $11.90, regular- $17)- Now is the time to stock up on basic tees. This is such a great basic to have in your closet, especially for the price! I got the black one in my mailbox yesterday! I'll attach a mirror selfie here as soon as I can!

BP Scoop Neck Long Sleeve Tee (now- $18.90, regular- $29)- I ordered this tee in white, black, and olive last year. They are the softest tees and such a good closet staple! I sized up to a large for extra length.

Sweaters

Gibson Cozy Fleece Tunic (now- $39.90, regular- $60)

Leith Ribbed Shawl Cocoon Sweater (sale- $45.90, regular- $69)

Free People Rainbow Thermal (sale- $44.90, regular- $68)- I got mine last year and love it! It is the cutest thermal to wear as we transition to fall and into fall with jeans and boots. I usually wear medium in Free People, but I sized up to a large in this one to give it a little extra length.

Gift Ideas

Bliss Plush Throw (now- $25.90, regular- $39.50)- I can never say enough good things about this blanket. I have gotten it monogrammed and given it as baby gifts and Christmas gifts, and basically every person in my family has at least 1. We need more than 1 in our household because Parker, Bailey, Rosie, and I are always fighting over ours. You just can't beat the price for the quality. I highly suggest stocking up your gift closet with this soft throw!

Votivo Candle (sale- $21.90, regular- $28)- Such a good gift to have on hand!

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set (sale- $98, regular- $380)- The value of this set for the price is insane! And it comes with a free gift too!

Other Items I Have Purchased

To check out more of my picks, go to the menu at the top of the screen, and check out the N Sale page. There are so many other amazing deals, but the things I shared in today's post are the best! Let me know if you have any questions about sizing or anything! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

SHOP THE POST:

We're Having a Baby BOY!!!

Parker and I found out yesterday that we are pregnant with a baby BOY! We are overjoyed and SO excited to finally know this precious info! We are 17 weeks pregnant, and baby boy Goodman is due Christmas day! The 150 day countdown is on (so thankful for the invention of apps that tell us fun info like that)! 

We looked at various old wives' tales and about 90% of our answers told us we were having a girl. However, I have had a feeling since the very beginning that it was a boy. At our first doctor's appointment, my doctor looked at me and said what are you having? I said is this a trick question? Do you already know what we're having? He said no, but you do. A mother's intuition is the most reliable gender predictor. All of those old wives' tales are bologna. He was 100% correct in our case. 

Like I mentioned in my pregnancy announcement blog post, we thought we were going to find out the gender at our doctor's appointment last week. However, that didn't happen, so our doctor scheduled us to come back for an ultrasound yesterday. 

As soon as we walked in, I asked the ultrasound lady if she could write down the gender and put it in an envelope, so that we could find out via cupcake filling a little later. She said of course and as soon as she found the baby, she said he was face down with his legs crossed. That made it difficult to find out the gender, so she let us just watch him for a few minutes.

She referred to the baby as she or her, before and after she found out the gender. Parker didn't notice, but of course I was thinking did she slip up? Is it a girl? Or is she tricking us, and is it a boy? She kept it consistent though, and said she or her the whole time! We got to see all 5 fingers on one hand, his face, his spine, and he gave us a thumbs up at one point (pictured below)! I couldn't believe how much bigger he looked than the last ultrasound when we went in at 11 weeks. He's taking up lots of space in there! He is currently the size of a pomegranate according to 2 of my apps- The Bump and Ovia Pregnancy (this is the first time they have both said the same thing).

After a few minutes, she turned the monitor off, so that we couldn't see anymore and determined whether it was a boy or girl. She put the pictures in an envelope and included "it's a boy" on a couple of them! It was pretty hard to not bust into that envelope early because it was just held together with one piece of tape.

I had called a few bakeries on the way to our appointment. I didn't realize how hard it was to order cupcakes filled with icing. One place said they would need 5 days, and another place said they didn't offer cupcake filling. However, I ended up finding the most precious bakery called Old Towne Bakery in Olive Branch, which is basically right next door to Southaven.

The man I talked to on the phone was SO friendly. He told me the lady who fills the cupcakes was there in the morning, so I needed to let them know what to fill the cupcakes with... obviously I did not know what to fill them with, so I ordered 2 vanilla cupcakes filled with pink icing and 2 vanilla cupcakes filled with blue icing- best idea on my part because they are SO good!

Before we went to the cupcake place, we went and enjoyed lunch at our favorite restaurant- Tazikis. It's in Memphis, so we don't get there as often as we would like. Thanks to Ebie and Patrick for my birthday gift card- lunch was on them! Then, we drove to Old Towne Bakery. We walked inside, and it was the cutest place and the owner was SO nice! We gave him the envelope, and he brought us the cupcakes. He told us the cupcakes in the container with the sticker were the ones that were filled with the color of our baby's gender. The other container didn't have a sticker.

I got him to take our picture, and he told us that we better get out of there before he spilled the beans and ruined the surprise for us. We walked right outside, and there was a precious little table and chairs set. Olive Branch is very small, and we were in the downtown area that is adorable! We sat right down, and I of course had to snap a photo of the unopened cupcakes. 

Then we opened the box, and Parker said he was full from lunch and didn't want one. So I pulled one out, and the white icing on top sort of slipped in my hand... and I was able to see the tiniest bit of blue poking through. Parker could immediately tell from my face that I saw it. I've never been one who could hide facial expressions, so I took a big bite in an effort to get far enough in there to show him the BLUE icing! Such an exciting and special moment!

I shared this exciting news with our family and a few close friends yesterday. Some people asked me if I was excited... I have always been a girly girl and only grew up with a sister, so I think some people might have assumed I wanted a girl. However, I could not possibly be more excited! I have honestly never prayed for a boy or girl specifically. I have only ever prayed for a healthy baby, and we are beyond thankful and excited that God blessed us with this baby boy! His plan is perfect and has been far better than we ever could have imagined!

I am also beyond thankful for your love and kind words! When I shared about our pregnancy last week, I was overwhelmed in the best way! Y'all made it the most fun day, and I cannot thank you enough! The timing of the big Nordstrom Sale couldn't have been better either because this baby boy has already been gifted this DockATot, this Little Giraffe baby blanket, this Little Giraffe towel, this Mustella newborn arrival gift set, this Halo sleepsack swaddle, this Halo sleepsack wearable blanket, as well as some precious baby boy clothing (that was just ordered yesterday)!

You can click here if you missed the blog post where I shared our pregnancy announcement. As always, thank you so much for reading! And I hope you have a great day!

Last thing- because all I want to look at now is precious teensy tinsy baby things, I'm linking some of the most adorable baby things included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! 

Amazon Prime Day Deals and Steals

Ok y'all, I expected the Nordstrom site to crash when the huge anniversary sale started last week. That happens every year. But Amazon?! I did not see that coming! I realize the deals are insane, and it is like the Black Friday of summer, but Amazon is HUGE and like king of all websites. Didn't expect it!

Amazon Prime Day started yesterday at 2 and crashed shortly after. However, after a few hours, it started working again. Although clearly it was working for some people because some items sold out immediately! The sale lasts through today, so hopefully we will still be able to take advantage of some of these deals!

I'm sharing some of the best deals below, and I hope you are able to score something great! In other news, Parker and I go to the doctor today to find out if our baby is a boy or girl!!! I can't even wait to share this exciting info with you soon!

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

My N Sale Purchases

Y'all, yesterday was the most insane day! Did you get to shop? Because of all of Nordstrom's site issues, they are giving us 10 times the points on all of our purchases made yesterday! I was already using my triple points day... kinda wish I would have saved that now, but oh well. I'll take 10 times the points any ole day!

I placed several orders throughout the day, and I'm sharing what all I got with you today! 1 or 2 of these items are already sold out (of course), but some are great basics that are still in stock! You can click on the items in the collage below to be taken directly to the site.

Before I tell you a little bit about each item I purchased, I want to tell you about a new page on my blog. If you go to the top of the page and go to the menu, there is a page called N Sale! If you click on that, you can see all of the best items included in the sale broken down by category! I hope this is helpful for you!

Wubby Fleece Pullover- This was the first item I purchased yesterday morning around 3 AM! My mom also purchased this. She was deciding between sizes, and the one she ended up wanting sold right out of her cart. Hurry fast if you want this! It is in high demand, and it is going to be what I live in with leggings while I'm at home in our freezing cold house! 

Side Tie Tunic Top- If you don't have a Nordstrom card and you like this top, you are in luck! It is not a part of the N Sale, so you can still order it without having a card! And it is currently 40% off! My mom and I both ordered it in white, and we also want the yellow and gray. I think this looks like the perfect comfy but cute top I will wear on repeat all fall! Love the length and ties on the sides!

BP $12 Tees- This is one of those great basic tees I want in every color! I checked out my vneck shirt situation in my closet and realized I have 100 white vneck tees, but no black ones. So I ordered a black one and would like one of each of the other 8 colors. Such an amazing price!

J.Crew Ruffle Sleeve Tee- I somehow missed this tee when I was psychotically linking all of my favorite things for y'all in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. However, my mom sent a picture of her order to me, and I immediately added this to my cart. We both got this cute ruffle sleeve tee! It sold out at J.Crew at one point, so I'm extra excited Nordstrom included it in their big sale!

City Check Shirt- I loved this as soon as I saw it. Unfortunately, it is almost sold out. However, I'll leave the link here in case it gets restocked!

White Button Up Shirt- I didn't think much of this shirt until I saw it on another blogger. It looked like such a cute, classic, and versatile top. I think it will be one of those easy tops to throw on with a pair of leggings and riding boots and feel put together!

Zella Live In Crop Leggings- I purchased the Zella Live In High Waist Leggings last year, and I loved them so much that I got the cropped pair during the sale this year! 

Zella Live In Maternity Leggings- I told y'all... I adore Zella leggings so much that I made my first maternity purchase! I don't know how maternity clothes run, and I don't have a clue what size I'll need in these, so I ordered my regular size medium and a size large. I originally planned on sending one back, but now I'm thinking I could use the medium this fall and the large closer to our due date... I might just keep both! 

Adidas Running Shoes- I needed a solid pair of running shoes, and I think this corally color is SO cute and fun! They also come in grey if this color is a little too bright for you. :)

Halogen Seamless Bra- I have been looking for a comfy bra that feels like a sports bra but has straps that go straight back. This fits that description perfectly, and it's under $12!

Zella Sports Bra- I also wanted another comfy sports bra. All of mine are from Target and Old Navy, and I love them, but I wanted to try a Zella one! 

What have you purchased?! Or what are you looking forward to purchasing when the sale goes live to everyone July 20? Remember to check out the N Sale page for more fabulous deals! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Starts Today!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started at 2 am this morning, and I have been up since around that time getting this blog post ready for you! I learned last year just how big of a deal this sale is, so I hope I can be the best resource for you this year!

Early Access starts today. What that means is Nordstrom cardholders can begin shopping the sale. If you do not have a Nordstrom credit card, then you can still check everything out, but you will not be able to purchase items at the sale prices until the sale goes live to the public on July 20.

I got a Nordstrom credit card last month for the sole purpose of this sale because the deals are outstanding, which means things sell out FAST! Nordstrom has free shipping and returns, so you can place as many orders as you want without having to worry about that. With that said, if you see something you like, purchase immediately! I missed out on quite a few of my favorite things last year, so I made sure to purchase quickly this morning! If you don't have a credit card and want to shop today, you still can get approved today! Click here to apply for your credit card! 

Last thing before I get into my sale picks- the things included in this sale are mostly brand new fall items. I know it's kinda hard to think about sweaters and boots when it is still so hot outside, but it is the best time to buy these items because some of them will never be restocked and some of them will never be put back on sale again. I know I'm excited to stock up my closet with brand new fall staples while they are on sale!

My Favorite Items in the Sale

In this section, I'm sharing the best basic pieces that I purchased last year and LOVED or have purchased today! This sale can be overwhelming, but I try my best to only purchase the best basic pieces that I know I will get a lot of use out of!

Thread & Supply Wubby Fleece Pullover (sale: $51.90, regular: $78)- This was the first thing I put in my cart! I saw so many bloggers with this soft fleece pullover last year, and I wanted it so badly! It sold out so many times, but I was finally able to order my own today! I got it in the color charcoal. Nordstrom suggests sizing down one size because it runs large. I like things like this to fit oversized (and I know I will be growing), so I sized up to a large.

Zella Leggings (sale: $35.90, regular: $54)- I got these last year, and they were my most worn item that I purchased from the sale BY FAR! The most comfortable and only leggings I want to wear! They can be worn for exercise or with regular everyday clothes. If you are just purchasing one thing from the sale this year, I suggest these! You can click here to check out the cropped pair (perfect for exercise) and here to check out the maternity pair that I ordered!

Spanx Faux Leather Leggings (sale: $72.90, regular: $110)- I also got these last year and love them! They are SO flattering! If you are in between sizes, I would size up. 

BP Moto Leggings (sale: $25.90, regular: $39)- I got these last year in olive! They are the most affordable pair of leggings that are also super soft and comfortable! Worn with this tee that is also part of the sale!

BP V-Neck Tee (sale: $11.90, regular: $19)- These sold out so fast last year that I never got my hands on one. I did get the long sleeve version in white, black, and olive though. I wore them on repeat all fall and winter. They are the best basics for such affordable prices and SO soft!

BP Long Sleeve Scoopneck Tee (sale: $18.90, Regular: $29)- This is the tee that I was just talking about! Perfect fall and winter basic that I got in white, black, and olive last year. These will sell out fast! I had to work hard to order my 3 last year during restocks! It is pictured above with the olive moto leggings!

AG Skinny Jeans (sale: $149.90, regular: $225)- AG makes my favorite designer jeans. If you are going to splurge on a pair of jeans, I highly suggest these! The fit is fabulous, and they are so comfortable too! The Farrah is another style that I love.

Plush Throw (sale: $25.90, regular: $39.50)- the softest and highest quality blanket you will ever find for this price! It comes in 17 colors! I have one, and I'm ordering more! My mom, sister, mother-in-law, and I all have it. And I have gotten several of them monogrammed and given them as Christmas gifts and baby gifts! I can't recommend it enough!

The Best Tops

This Free People tee (sale: $31.90, regular: $48) is such a fabulous long sleeve basic tee! The length and soft fabric are my 2 favorite parts. It comes in 7 colors, and it will sell out quickly! I am wearing it here with my favorite Zella leggings and Hunter boots that are both also included in the sale! 

The Best Sweaters

This Free People thermal (sale: $44.90, regular: $68) is adorable, comfy, and comes in 4 colors! 

The Best Cardis

The Best Outerwear

The Best Leggings

The Best Jeans

The Best Dresses

The Best Home Items

This plush throw (sale: $25.90, regular: $39.50) is the softest and highest quality blanket you will ever find for this price! It comes in 17 colors, and I'm ordering more! My mom, sister, mother-in-law, and I all have it. And I have gotten several of them monogrammed and given them as Christmas gifts and baby gifts! I can't recommend it enough!

The Best Shoes

The Best Boots and Booties

The Best Beauty Products

I shared my favorites, and I'd love to hear what your favorites are! Please let me know if you have any questions about anything! I'm always happy to help! I cannot wait for my purchases to come in! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

Baby Goodman Coming Christmas 2018!

We're pregnant!!!!! Our baby is due on Christmas day, and I cannot tell you how excited we are! We are also overjoyed to finally share the news! As of today, I am 16 weeks pregnant! Our most recent doctor's appointment was yesterday. We thought we would find out the gender then, but we did not. However, we will be finding out that exciting info in exactly one week!

Photography by: Mallory Cassady //  Outfit Details- Dress | Sandals + Big Sister Signs

I'll share a little bit of our story today, and I will share bumpdates and baby-related posts from time to time. However, I have not turned into a total mommy blogger. I will most definitely still be sharing all the typical Art Fashion Fun content and of course all about the best sales (be sure to check back here for my HUGE Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post going live on Thursday)!

Onto our story. :) A while ago, Parker and I made a plan and decided we would wait until we moved back home before starting a family. We are both very close with our families and want them to be as involved as possible with our baby. However, Parker is very happy with his job right now, and he would have to leave his company and find a new job if we were to move home.

Although we have known that moving home was not something that would be happening immediately, baby talk (talk of a baby, not actual baby talk) became more and more common in our house. We discussed how we could come up with excuses to put off growing our family for a lifetime and end up with no babies (and that is absolutely not what we want). So on Parker's most recent birthday, we did what all responsible adults do when needing to make an important decision- we decided to flip a coin. 

Heads- baby! Tails- we wait a little while longer. I flipped the coin, it rolled behind a wall, and I went to see what it landed on. Heads. Parker hadn't seen it. I said what do you think it landed on? He said probably tails. I got him to come look around the corner, and his grin lit up his face like I have never seen. The decision was made by the flip of a coin.

Fast forward a few months. I had been feeling a strange crampy feeling in my stomach (still not totally sure if this is normal?), and I decided to purchase a pregnancy test while on a Walmart grocery run. I only had a few things on my list, and the young guy checking me out appeared extremely uncomfortable as he threw the pregnancy test into a bag as quickly as he could.

I truly had ZERO expectation that the pregnancy test would be positive. I just wanted to be sure that drinking a glass or 2 of wine that weekend would be ok. Well, that plus sign showed up just about as soon as possible. I was truly in shock. I remember staring at it, staring at myself in the mirror, and not believing it was true. 

I decided to hop in the shower really fast and come up with a cute way to tell Parker when he got home from work. When I was in the shower, I thought of the perfect pink and blue Lilly Pulitzer dress I could put on, and I was going to video Parker's reaction and do all these cute things. Well, Parker gets home from work early- before I had even finished drying off.

I threw the Lilly dress mentioned above on (to go with my wet hair and 0 makeup AKA not cute), and I sprinted into the kitchen with the positive pregnancy test and shoved it at Parker and said look! I had my iPhone video rolling, and it is the worst video footage known to man. It did however capture the shock and then pure joy on Parker's face. It hit me in that moment. It did not feel real to me at all until then. I started shaking and holding my belly before Parker gave me a huge hug and asked why I was shaking so badly.

I was like well, I wanted to surprise you in a cute way, but mostly- it didn't feel real at all until this moment. It still didn't feel real for quite some time. In fact, there are still moments where I cannot believe it. Parker said it felt like we were in the twilight zone for the first week or 2. So surreal and exciting! We thank God for blessing us with this special gift every day. And for those still waiting, you are in my daily prayers.

I was going home the following week, so I called my OBGYN, and they were so kind to squeeze me in at the one time that would work for me. They said that it might be too early to find a heartbeat, but they would try to search for one because it could be a while before I found a doctor in the Southaven/ Memphis area. Sure enough, they found a heartbeat. All I wanted was for Parker to be there with me, but it started to feel a little more real in that moment. And they gave me some pictures to show him.

 They told me I was 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant, our baby's heartbeat was strong, and the due date was Christmas Day. I sent Parker pictures of the sonogram right away, and he called and wanted every single detail.

I think one of the reasons it did not feel real was because I did not feel any signs of pregnancy until the end of week 7. However, at that point, morning sickness hit and the EXHAUSTION was real. More details to come on all that and more in my first bumpdate!

This last photo is one of my very favorite photos of Parker ever. It is so rare that he shares his real smile/laugh in a picture. I am so thankful to my friend Mallory for capturing these photos that are so special to us! If you're ever looking for a photographer in the Memphis area, I highly suggest contacting her. You can click here to check out her blog where you will find her contact info.

But anyway, sorry for the 8000 paragraph essay! I am beyond excited to finally share all of this with you! Thanks so much for reading, and I can't wait to share more updates soon!

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Orange Beach Travel Guide

While spending the past week in Orange Beach, I thought it might be a fun idea to create a travel guide! My parents have had a place in Orange Beach for about 10 years, so we have become familiar enough with the area for me to share some of the best places (in our opinion) down there. If you have anything to add, please be sure to leave a comment at the end of the post!

Coverup // Sunglasses // Yeti

Our Favorite Restaurants

Florabama Yacht Club-the Greek shrimp nachos and chargrilled oysters are 2 of our favorites!

Ole River Grill- another Florabama restaurant with delicious seafood

Cobalt- this is where Ebie and Patrick's wedding reception was! Delicious food with beautiful views.

Tacky Jacks- you must get the Mexican Garbage (the best nachos!)

Cosmos- good seafood and dog friendly. Parker and I went for lunch one day and split a few delicious appetizers- sautéed crawfish tails, crab claws, and firecracker shrimp. We also like their sushi, but they don't start serving it until after 3 on weekdays.

Master Joe's- best. sushi. ever. The sushi pizza is a winner even if you're not a huge sushi fan. It is so unique and delicious!

Sunset Grill- we ate here for our last dinner at the beach. We got the grouper bites as an appetizer and all highly suggest them.

Anchor Bar & Grill- my mom and dad kept talking about how amazing this place is! I've never been but hope to go next time I'm down there.

Brick & Spoon- Best brunch

Cactus Cantina-Best Mexican at Orange Beach

Lulus- fun atmosphere and delicious Krispey Kreme bread pudding! (actually in Gulf Shores)

Acme Oyster House- most delicious seafood restaurant at the beach! (actually in Gulf Shores)

Shopping

The Wharf- perfect place for the whole family! You can find shops, restaurants, a movie theater, an amphitheater, Dippin Dots, and daiquiris here!

SanRoc Cay- an entertainment district with several cute little local shops and restaurants

Tanger Outlets- perfect rainy day activity! The outlets are actually located in Foley, but not too bad of a drive from Orange Beach.

Places to Go for a Fun Atmosphere and Good Drinks

Florabama

Florbama Yacht Club

The Hangout

The Wharf

The Gulf

Fun Places to Go by Boat

Pirate's Cove-for the best cheeseburger & bushwhacker in town; a little dirty, but always a good time! dog friendly

Robinson Island-an island that is constantly populated with people who want to float in the water and drink beer

Florabama Yacht Club-a cleaner Pirate's Cove that allows dogs and always has live music

Sunset Grill-for a delicious meal on the water 

Ono Island- just to drive around and look at beautiful houses

What am I missing? I know there are so many more things I could add to this list, but these are our favorites! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

4th of July Sales

Happy 4th of July Eve! We have been enjoying some beach time with my family in Orange Beach. Ebie, Patrick, and my dad went back to work yesterday, so I had some time to pull together this blog post and do a little online shopping with my mom. :) Poor Parker. 

There are so many amazing sales going on, so I thought I'd share today before everyone is off work and busy tomorrow! Just click the words in Italics to be taken to the retailer's website!

In stock and on sale items- Mom: Shorts | Shoes    Ebie: Wedges     Me: Dress (not on sale, but almost sold out) | Sandals | Bag

Anthropologie- Extra 25% off sale

ASOS- Up to 70% off

BaubleBar- Up to 75% off

DSW- Up to 70% off

Marc Fisher Wedges

GiGi New York- 20% off all full priced items, Up to 40% off select items

Clutch

J.Crew- 30% off your full price purchase with code ALLSTAR + free shipping + Up to 50% off select items

J.Crew Factory- 50% off everything + an extra 15% off your purchase with code SUPERSTAR

Coverup

Jack Rogers- Extra 20% off site wide with code USA

Sandals // Coverup 

Lands' End- 50% off swimwear, water shoes, and more; 30% off all other full price styles

Lilly Pulitzer- Free gifts with purchase 

Lisi Lerch- 30% off all jewelry, 15% off select bags

Loft- 40% off + Extra 10% + Free Shipping with code HBDUSA

Shorts

Lord & Taylor- 20% off with code JULY, Up to 60% off swimwear

Macy's- Up to 70% off select styles

Madewell- 20% off with code SPARKLER

T-shirt Dress

Nordstrom- New markdowns up to 40% off

Nordstrom Rack- Up to 80% off

Old Navy- 20% off your purchase or 30% off your purchase of $75, Activewear 50% off

Pottery Barn- Up to 70% off

Target- Up to 30% off home and patio, 20% off clothing, shoes, and swim with code JULY4

Dress

Tory Burch- Up to 50% off summer sale

Ulta- Up to 50% off select skincare and palettes

Vineyard Vines- Additional 30% off sale styles

Are you taking advantage of any 4th of July sales?! The Loft sale is so amazing that it makes me feel like I NEED to make a purchase! Thanks so much for reading! Have a very happy 4th of July!

Outfit Ideas for the Fourth of July

This post is a little last minute, especially since Parker and I are heading to the beach for the 4th today, but I wanted to share this because the 4th of July is one of my very favorite holidays! Parker and I got engaged on the 4th of July 4 years ago! And I always enjoy the family, fun, food, and sun that comes with this holiday! 

Blue and white are 2 of my favorite colors to wear, and a full on festive outfit is achieved by throwing in a red accessory or two! I have broken this post down into 2 parts. I'm sharing 4 swim looks for the 4th and 4 outfits for the 4th! I have packed quite a few of these things and will be wearing them this week! The best part about these looks is that they are all very versatile- they're not just for the 4th, they can be worn time and time again!

Swim Looks

Swim Look 1- Navy & White Gingham Swimsuit | Sunglasses | Beach Bag

Swim Look 2- Sandals | Sunglasses I'm sorry I can't link this coverup. It's not online, but check your local Walmart if you're looking for this adorable blue and white coverup for under $20!

Swim Look 3- Coverup | Sunglasses

Swim Look 4- My Coverup (comes in 15 colors, including red, white, and blue) | Ebie's Swimsuit | Ebie's Sarong

Outfits

Outfit 1- Dress | Really similar dress in 3 colors!

Outfit 2- Dress | Sandals

Outfit 3- Flutter Sleeve Top | Sandals

Outfit 4- Top | White Jeans | Wedges | Earrings | Bracelets

Thanks so much for reading! Whatever your plans may include, I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July celebration! 

More Outfit Ideas for the 4th of July