Along Abbey Road

DIY Feather Lampshade

2012-02-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, all ya'll. Today I am giving you something to do this weekend. Get your Michael's coupon ready, because you're going to need to go grab supplies for this awesome DIY project that Brandy is sharing! I love a good project for a good deal, and this one's where it's at!

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I have a very simple DIY project I'd like to share with you.

My daughter's room is done in black and white damask print and zebra print with hot pink accents.

Her walls are painted a pale turquoise. The lighting in her room isn't the best, so we were looking for a

trendy and chic lamp. All of the ones we could find were pretty pricey; we're talking around $30.00 for just the shade. I searched all over the internet for a less expensive one with no luck.

So, one day I was at the dollar store and found this zebra lampshade. I had a lamp that I had bought at a yardsale for $2.00 that would go great with it. The shade was $5.00. I went to our Michaels store and bought this strand of black maribour feathers for $2.00.

All I had to do was hot glue the feathers around the top and bottom edge of the shade

and cut the excess feathers off. Super easy. It only took about 10 minutes. And voilà -- just what we had in mind.

The total project was $9.00 for the lamp and the shade.

So cute and it went perfectly with her room.

If you like this little sneak peak of her room, come check out my blog next week. I'll be posting more pictures of her bedroom transformation. We took it from toddler princess themed to fabulous and sassy!

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Awesome, right? I'm definitely adding this to my Pinterest so I can be sure to make one for our future daughter (here's hoping we don't have all boys).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

IT Listed

2012-02-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!

Take some time to enjoy these amazing links!

good clean fun has the key to getting your favorite Girl Scout cookies all year long - a recipe to the oft sought after Samosas! They look amazing! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
here and now finds the perfect mint colored jeans. She will clue you in on how she found them and compare other options out there for you. These are so cute! (find here and now on twitter!)
gs lillian scored these darling cat-eye sunglasses for a steal! Check out where! (find gs lillian on twitter!)
sweetie pie style is obsessed with color blocked sandals for spring. I am loving these styles too and can't wait to add a pair to my wardrobe. Check out her picks! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
rachael really is looking just adorbs in double stripes! I love this look for spring.... (find rachael really on twitter!)
along abbey road pairs a pink blazer with a leopard print top! I'm absolutely in love with this combo! (find along abbey road on twitter!)
the capital barbie rounds up the best kitten heels. I love this shoe silhouette, it's perfect for a busy lady! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
one hundred inspirations recreates a classic and bold Olivia Palermo look for less!
the tiemann girls have another round up of Austin eats - for all you gals heading to the Texas Style Council. Check out their picks and make note! (found the tiemann girls on twitter!)
live a lot sports some super cute patterned tights! A great way to add some fun to your outfit as the winter comes to a close. (find live a lot on twitter!)
suze wears clothes has three great outfits featuring your favorite boots - but I love that these outfits have a hint of spring in them. The best of both seasons! (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Ruby Dooby Doo

2012-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Anchor sweater: Old Navy.

Ruby's is the best little burger joint California has to offer. It's the bomb. The retro diner set up makes me want to wear poodle skirts, the milk shakes are heaven sent, and the Coca Cola tastes better than anywhere else. Our waiter even had a mustache... 5,000,000 points for Ruby's. You should make it a priority to go if you are ever in California. If you live in California, you should probably have it for dinner tonight. Grab a 900-calorie Oreo shake for me, k? Thanks.

Spending time at Ruby's with my broskie, Brady, and his wifey, Brittany, was the cherry on top to a great night (I am not going to confirm or deny that Brady and I are twins). Matt and I enjoyed good chats and good eats with them. Luke reminded them that they may or may not want to have children. He was all snuggly one moment and screaming his head off the next. Either way, we can't wait for Luke to get a cousin to bum around with!

It was fun seeing you, Brady & Britdawg! Love you guys!

P.S. Brittany has an awesome food blog that is solely compiled of contributor's favorite recipes! If you are indecisive, can't think of what to cook for dinner, loathe cooking 96% of the time like me, or just want to get in on the action, you should nomnom your way over to Basic Bites. It's the bees nees.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Yes, We Color Coordinate

2012-02-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Abbey// Cardi: LOFT (similar). Blouse: LOFT (similar). Skinnies: F21. Boots: MIA (similar). Necklace: LOFT (similar).
Luke// Hoodie: The Children's Place (similar). Onesie: The Children's Place (similar). Pants: Carter's. Shoe socks: Cutie Pie Baby.

Luke called me up and asked what I was wearing today. He said he wanted to coordinate. I graciously obliged. Twinsies!

In other news...

This last Sunday, my friend invited me to speak to her Sunday school class about preparation for having a baby. Let's note that the class consisted of 7 year-olds. I told them how it takes physical, material, and spiritual preparation to be a parent. Then we had a Q&A session. Here's the first question the little people were bursting to know...

7 year-old: "Is that really your baby?"

Me: "Yes. Yes, it is. Why? Do I not look old enough to have a baby?"

7 year-old: "Oh. I don't know. I guess."

Strangely, it was the most awkward, yet nicest thing anyone has said to me. And the fact that it came from a 7 year-old with no filter... well, it is hands down the best compliment I've ever received.

Thank you, Miss Sassy Pants for reinforcing the fact that I am mistaken for a teen mom every day. I don't mind that I look like your big sister. At this rate, I'll look 21 when I'm 30. No qualms here.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I like to boss Matt around in my Sofia Vergara voice

And then he makes me laugh in his "gay photographer" voice

Blazer: H&M. Blouse: LOFT (similar). Belt: LOFT (similar). Denim trousers: LOFT. Bangles: LOFT (similar). Shoes: Jessica Simpson (similar). Lips: NARS Funny Face.

1) I can't stand Toms. Which is weird, because I live in flats. It's not that I think they're ugly or anything, it is because this random guy I used to work with only wore them to tell everyone how cool he was. Weird, right? I pretty much wanted to punch him in the face every time he opened his mouth. Too much violence right there? When I say I want to punch someone in the face, it's more for the funny mental picture that runs across my mind resembling a Tom & Jerry cartoon scene.

2) @UberFacts "Smiling helps boost the immune system.The body relaxes and is better able to fight off the flu and colds." Note to self: smile constantly during flu season.

3) If you found this post entertaining, then you will definitely get a kick out of this .

4) I am obsessed with Luke. Obsessed. To the point where I can't even handle putting him down for a nap. I just love him so much! Instead, I stick him in the Moby wrap so he can be by me at all times of the day. I'll be kicking myself for that one when he refuses to be put down. Perhaps I will justify this situation by noting that "fruits spoils, babies don't". Yep, that rationalization works for this mama.

5) Do you like funny cat videos? I found this gem the other day and was literally crying with charlie horses in my stomach from laughing so hard. The most glorious 28 seconds I have ever beheld.

6) I have this theory that Vanna White and Pat Sajak are frenemies. We're talking about Wheel of Fortune here if you didn't pick up on that one yet. He always teases her and she always has that "I am looking happy because it's my job, but I really want to scream" smile on her face. That, or they are secret lovers.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Ze Weekendz

2012-02-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

We spoke with French accents all weekend, practiced our archery skills, entered Max as a contestant on Fashion Star after we realized he knows how to make and dress himself in a cape (we found him like this, I promise), nom-nomed on Suite Cupcakery 106 cupcakes (which happen to be the winner of The Food Network's Cupcake Wars a.k.a. party in my mouth), shared secrets, remedied baby tummy aches from too many cupcakes (jokes), and got buff while doing our daily tummy time.

We're living la vida loca here. Ricky Martin would be proud.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

ModCloth Monday Giveaway!

2012-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kristen from The Mrs. and The Momma is hosting a super-duper awesome giveaway today. I wish I could enter, that's how great it is!

Turban headband//Swimsuit//Dress

You, my fabulous friends, can enter to get a $30 ModCloth gift card! Saaaa-weet, right?

ModCloth is one of Kristen's favorite online stores..."from eclectic jewelry, to on trend staples, to quirky and unique pieces....I've loved everything I've seen from them!"

Here are the deets to enter the giveaway:
(please leave a separate comment for each entry)

Mandatory Entry:
-Follow Along Abbey Road

-Follow The Mrs. and The Momma

Additional optional entries:

Like The Mrs. and The Momma on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Pinterest
Follow Along Abbey Road on Twitter
Like Along Abbey Road on Facebook
Tweet and/or Facebook about this giveaway!

Alrighty, that gives you 8 different opportunities to win this gift card. Believe you me, you want this gift card so you can get yourself some retro-inspired clothes for the vintage trend that is all over Spring/Summer 2012! You lucky people!

Giveaway ends next Monday, Feb 27th! Good luck!

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Giveaway Winner And The IT List

2012-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

The lucky lady to win the Sprightly So giveaway is...

Yippee! Yahoo! Congrats, Jenni!

Email me at {rodriguez.abbey@gmail.com} to claim your Hootie Cutie necklace and shop credit so you can get your shop on.

Now enjoy all of these fab posts in the second IT List feature this month! I'm spreading the word about first world blogger problems, lol. You should too! We can all "commiserate" together...

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Happy Friday ladies!

Take some time to enjoy these links!

gs lillian is inspired by coral and aqua for spring... stop by to check out this gorgeous color combination and you will be inspired too! (check out gs lillian on twitter!)
the capital barbie shares this chocolate cream cheese cupcake recipe - as if we haven't had enough chocolate this week! But this looks too good to pass up! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
rachael really found the perfect sweater - don't you love it when that happens? Check out where she found it and how she styles it! (find rachael really on twitter!)
suze wears clothes lays out three fun outfits featuring a simple red top... I especially like this dressed-up/dressed-down look featuring classic All-Stars! (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)
stay in the lines styles up a perfect winter outfit featuring a great pair of red skinny jeans - see how she styles them and what her perfect winter day is! (find stay in the lines on twitter!)
good clean fun makes champagne cake pops and they look amazing and delicious! Check out her handy work and the recipe! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
here and now snags the uber-popular leopard print skinnies that are all the rage these days for a great price! See her secret source! (find here and now on twitter!)
live a lot somehow finds a way to look amazing when she isn't feeling great - I think the cozy scarf and sunglasses have something to do with it!
sweetie pie style has gorgeous garden inspiration... I know it's just what I need on these gloomy winter days. Check out her finds and get inspired to start working in your own garden very soon! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
along abbey road is looking stylish yet casual in simple gingham - stop by her blog to commiserate with her "first world blogger problems." We've all been there! (find along abbey road on twitter!)
the tiemann girls round up their favorite eats in Austin - just in time for Texas Style Council. I am for sure taking notes here! (find the tiemann girls on twitter!)
100 inspirations features an Ali Larter look for less (and lesser!) - check out how you can get the bold red look for yourself!

the IT list is produced weekly by jill of good life, for information on how you can be involved, click here!

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Up Dog

2012-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sweater: The Children's Place (similar). Pants: Carter's. Sock shoes: Jazzy Toes.

Someone is growing up and starting to dress like a little hipster. After all, you know you are moving on up in the world when you have moved into size 1 diapers and you're newborn clothes have been packed away, much to your mama's sadness... tear.

On another note, I have the lamest, yet best joke in the world. You can thank Matt and his sister, Steph, for this gem.

The rule is you have to try it on the next person you talk to. Ready? Here it goes.

You: "It smells like up dog in here."

Person you're talking to: "What is up dog?"

You: "Not much, dawg. What's up with you?"

Hahaha. Ha!

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

First World Blogger Problems

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Button-up: H&M (similar). Skinnies: Paige Denim. Oxfords: Steve Madden (similar). Readers: Vintage (similar). Bangles: LOFT (similar).

-This html code is way too confusing.
- Not taking sponsors till December 2014?! Rats.
- I don't have an iPhone, therefore I can''t showcase all of my would-be cool Instagram collages.
-How do I get my husband to wear bowties?
-I lost a follower. Lame.
- Blogger is temporarily unavailable? Oh my gosh, this is so dumb. I need to check my Dashboard!
-Blogger is still not up and running!? It's been 3 hours. Are the technicians at Google on some company vacation? Probably.
-Why can't I work for Google?
-It's been 2 days since I posted {insert elevated heart rate and panic} Must. Get. To. Computer. Now.
-Why won't this stupid thing let me leave a comment?
- This word verification box is giving me a headache.
-I should probably do something productive, like pay my bills, but I am too preoccupied with blog stalking.
- Oh my gosh, I need those shoes. And that blazer, but I already spent my shopping money this month.
-My husband is going to kill me when he finds out I bought another pair of shoes.
- I want that Michael Kors watch, but I don't have an extra $350 because I already spent it on shoes.
- How do these people afford this crap?!
- Photoshop isn't working.
- I need more memory on my Mac. I have too many photos uploaded.
- The lighting in this room is ruining my pictures.
- How dare you suggest I use a flash!
- I wore such a cute outfit today and didn't get any pictures! Ugh. Wasted outfit.
- My husband forgot to mention one of my buttons was undone while taking my outfit pictures (anyone catch that?)
-My husband is gone on business. Who is going to take my outfit pictures?
- Why can't I follow this new blog I found with GFC?
- My photobucket bandwidth has exceeded its monthly allowance. Crap.
- Picnik is closing!?! Nooooo. My ~~blogging~~ life is over.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

1) Happy Valentine's Day and Happy 1 month Birthday to my little Lukey!

2)Did you know that Montezuma, the old Mexican chief dude, drank 50 cups of chocolate on a daily basis? It was considered a "love drug" (source). Looks like we have ourselves a fabulous reason to indulge in some serious chocolate eating today. No complaints here. One pound box of See's candies, anyone?

3) Love my camera, so I think it's time I buy a tripod. She needs a friend to lean on.

4) Photoshop frightens me. I stare at the screen with a dumbfounded look on my face, that is slowly followed by fear and anxiety every time I attempt to use it. Are classes offered for this sort of thing? I mean for Photoshop, not the anxiety -- they make pills for that, but now that I'm thinking of it, someone should probably work on a pill for how to be Photoshop savvy.

5) I looked down the other day after eating my PB&J sandwich to a mushy, brown substance on my finger. I'm not quite sure if it was in fact peanut butter or baby poo. And yes, I am a freak about washing my hands a million times a day. Still trying to figure that one out, still kind of grossed out. Oh, the woes of motherhood.

And here is one extra random thing for good measure...

6) The average person will spend an estimated 20,160 min kissing in their lifetime (source). That is 336 hours, which is exactly 14 days. I hope you all exponentially increase this number today. Oh snap.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

So You Want To Know Me? Check Out My Netflix Queue

2012-02-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Trench: LOFT. Dress: LOFT. Scarf: LOFT. Tights: JCrew. Platform wedges: Dollhouse.

Netflix recommendation titles are the best. Here is the current line up in our Netflix...

"Fight the System Movies"

I had no idea Matt and I watched so many controversial movies. Must be all those documentaries.

"Marriage Movies"

I love marriage and I love movies. What a perfect match! Good choice, Netflix.

"Romantic Movies"

Alright, I admit it. Netflix is replete with angsty, teen romance movies, which just so happen to be my favorite. I can't get enough of the sappy, predictable plot lines where you know what will happen by the time the intro credits start rolling. And let's talk about the main guy who is always played by some hot dude in his mid-twenties. Am I really supposed to believe the high school bad boy with a full grown beard and a tattoo sleeve is only 17 years old? Give me a break, casting directors. Well actually, how about you don't, because I like me some good eye candy.

Do me a solid and hop over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

The Mrs. and The Momma

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Everyone, meet Kristen. She is a fellow stylish mommy with great fashion findings to share (I mean, look at that adorable outfit below), and awesome mommy stories. You should definitely be her newest friend.

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Hey there, Along Abbey Road readers! I'm Kristen from The Mrs. and The Momma. So nice to meet you!

So, my husband and I have know each other since we were kids, and we have four little munchkies (and when I say 'little', I mean it....my oldest is in Kindergarden).

I like to consider my blog three parts fashion, one part life, and one part family...although that precise math is subject to change. I'm a lover of cold-weather clothes (I loathe Texas summers), chunky jewelry, Star Wars, sushi, girls' nights, fireworks, the smell of babies, getting dressed up, history, and mostly importantly-Sour Patch Watermelons.

Come on over to visit The Mrs. and The Momma and give me a holler! I promise I'll holla back!

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Show your love and vote for me!

The Bloggernacle

2012-02-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

My mind is racing with a million thoughts today, that cannot seem to be halted.

Let's start from the top.

Today is Sunday. As many of you know, I'm a Mormon. Didn't know that? Now you do. What are your first thoughts and reactions to this? You're a Mormon too? You have tons of Mormon friends? Your neighbors growing up were Mormon and they were just some of the nicest people you knew? Never heard of Mormons? You think Mormons are part of some twisted, "Big Love"-esque cult?

I've heard and seen every response to the revelation of being a Mormon. Sometimes it's scary to tell people you are, for fear of being ostracized or judged. Sometimes people just smile and say, "I know".

Anyway, I was sitting in church today thinking about if people know I'm a Mormon. I have never been one to throw it in people's faces, and I admit that I feel awkward and afraid to bring it up with people at times. However, I have always possessed a desire to share it with people who are open and looking for some good in their life, especially if they feel they haven't already found it.

This stirred a thought in my mind about how there are so many blogs written by fabulous Mormon women and mamas...

"All of us Mormon folks seem to have taken over 80% of the blogosphere. Why is that?"

Think about the celebrity blogs that are a household regular in all of us lifestyle/fashion blog lovers lives. We have The Daybook, The Rockstar Diaries, Nat the Fat Rat... the list is extensive and full of the amazing lives of women, whom we all have wished we could be a time or two (don't be ashamed, we all do it).

In my quest to find an answer, I stumbled upon this article, authored by a "young, feminist atheist" who just so happens to be obsessed with Mormon mom blogs.

Her prose is raw, unbiased, and refreshingly ironic. She sums up the answer to the "what's with all the Mormon bloggers" question perfectly. In case you were wondering.

I guess my point in all of this is I am glad and proud to be a Mormon.

I am not perfect, nor do I feign to be. Yes, I do hate the world at times. No, I cannot french braid and Matt is lucky if he gets dinner once a week. Yes, I have cursed before. No, I will not bake your wedding cake, do your floral arrangements, and sew your wedding dress, because guess what? I don't know how (I do, however, take pleasure in crafts and DIY things, but on a small scale)!

But, I do love being a Mormon for the well-known happiness it brings to its members. That happiness is not the pretend kind. My joy comes in the knowledge that I am a daughter of God, that I have divine worth, and that Jesus Christ indeed lives and is my Savior.

And it's as simple as that, my dears.

Do me a solid and hop on over here to submit your daily vote! xoxo

Poopy Fussy Messy

2012-02-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

Who knew motherhood was so messy? I know babies like to spit up and drool on things, but that's not anything a little rag can't fix. I am talking about the uncanny ability to leak fluids into body parts I didn't realize were physically possible to reach.

Luke somehow managed to get milk all over the side of his head and in his ears yesterday. I had to get a baby Qtip to clean the milk out of his ears. That was weird.

Or how about projectile poop? Pardon the topic, but the kid is like a torpedo. And he is good at peeing at the most opportune time when his diaper is off while he is being changed. Mix the two and you get a full- blown (I love puns) missile attack of the poos with a chance of pee rainstorms. Let's just say we have learned how to arm ourselves.

Do I love mommydom though? You betcha'.

Make sure you hop on over here and submit your daily vote! xoxo

Sprightly So Giveaway

2012-02-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

I want to celebrate this weekend with a bang. I'm just feeling lots of love right now and want to share it! Do you ever feel that way? After all, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. And the fact that it has been 75 degrees and sunny all week might play into it, but I am just a lucky girl. My life has been blessed with an abundance of amazing people and opportunities, and I couldn't be more grateful.

To pay it forward and keep the love rolling, I am hosting a giveaway from my store, Sprightly So! This is my Valentine's Day gift to you!

The winner will receive the Hootie Cutie necklace and a $20 shop credit!
That will go far since practically everything in the store is under $20!

(Please leave a separate comment for each entry, so my head won't fall off when going to select the winner)

Mandatory entry:

-Follow Along Abbey Road via GFC or Bloglovin'
-Visit Sprightly So and tell me what you will buy with your credit

Additional entries:

-Like Sprightly So on FB
-Like Along Abbey Road on FB
-Follow Along Abbey Road on Twitter
-Share this giveaway via any social media network

Giveaway ends Thursday, February 16!

Good luck! xoxo

TGIF and The IT List

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have one thing to say right now...

TGIF!

Man, it's been a long week. Now that we have a little guy, I especially cherish the weekends because it means we get to spend time with Matt. Family time is the best.

You know what else is the best? I am now #4 on the Top 25 Fashion & Beauty Moms blogs! Shazam! That's what I'm talking about! Why not shoot for the stars to #1? Make sure you vote once a day for me by clicking the button on the right side bar! Voting ends February 28! Thanks so much, I sure do love ya.

In other news, I am in the IT List this week! Check it out!

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Happy Friday folks... take some time to read these great links this week!

rachael really is sporting a fun pink jacket just in time for Valentines Day. And check out her fun V-day inspired manicure! (find rachael really on twitter!)
gs lillian has got a Valentine's inspired outfit going on too! I love pairing pink and red together - especially this time of year! (find gs lillian on twitter!)
the tiemann girls went shopping at the Gap recently... check out their fun finds. I'm loving the pops of neon! (find the tiemann girls on twitter!)
suze wears clothes found the perfect casual weekend outfit! Leopard print and leggings - score! (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)
the capital barbie tracks down fun color blocked pieces in green - a color that I am definitely loving for spring! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
stay in the lines pairs bright neon with winter neutrals for a really great look! And I love her little red sequined heart pin - cute! (find stay in the lines on twitter!)
good clean fun brings us the perfect Valentine's Day cocktail - the Whipped Cosmopolitan! Check out how to make it! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
a fashion fixation says there is nothing like putting on brand new clothes! I'm sure there are a lot of gals out there that feel the same! Check out her new pieces. (find a fashion fixation on twitter!)
here and now brings us a fun new spin on maxi skirts for spring... check out how she's inspired to wear them these days! (find here and now on twitter!)
along abbey road seriously rocks this sequined beanie! So cute... check out how she styles it with a simple outfit for a classic look. (find along abbey road on twitter!)
sweetie pie style found these sweet little air plants in sea urchins on Etsy - are they cute or what? Check out what other goodies she has her eye on these days for the home. (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
one hundred inspirations recreates this fun Michelle Williams look. I am absolutely loving her bright blue pants and white blazer!
live a lot is deciding on the perfect dress for her bridal shower. Pop on by and see here selections and put in your two cents!

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life, for more information - click here!

Happy Friday!

My Name Is Luke, And I Like To Party

2012-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

I've got the moo-ooo-ooo-oo-oo-ooves like Jagger.

Peeps, I need a favor. I've been entered for the Top 25 Fashion & Beauty Blog Moms, but I need votes. Right now I'm listed last. Pathetic, I know. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom to find me. Laaame. But, if you just click on the little pink button below and click 'vote' once you find me, I'll be moving on up to the top! Show your love for me and help a sista' out!

Brandy Designs!

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

My dears, meet Brandy. She has the cutest little family ever. You need to see her adorable cheerleading daughter. It puts Bring It On to shame (and we love Bring It On around these parts)!

Brandy's DIY home tutorials are top notch too. I kid you not. You will be pinning all of her projects after this. Mark my words! If you want to be a supermom/superwifey or just want to start taking notes to prepare for your future, you should probably get on to following her blog.

Well, enough of me blabbing on, I'll let Brandy introduce herself! Take it away, Brandy!

Hello Along Abbey Road friends! My name is Brandy, and I blog over at Brandy Designs.

I am married to my high school sweetheart and together we are raising our two tween boys and a princess.

My boys are active in basketball, soccer, baseball and now football.

My daughter is on a competitive cheerleading team and they are 2011 UCA National Champions!

Besides blogging about our crazy life,

I also like to try and share new recipes, shopping adventures, crafts and pinterest finds.

Come visit me and say hi! I'd love to meet you!

Hey Girl...

2012-02-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am a huge Ryan Gosling fan. I'm an even bigger fan of all the "hey girl" photos out there on Pinterest.

My favorite?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Cardi: LOFT. Button-up: LOFT. Skinnies: Paige Denim. Fedora: Nordstrom. Earrings: LOFT. Charm bracelet: Brighton.

1) Spanx really are a girl's best friend, especially post baby. As you can see from the first picture, I am clearly not wearing them. My stomach has lost all muscle tone, so it reverts to looking 5 months prego after I eat a large meal. Just part of the birthing a human territory, ladies. Prepare yourselves.

2) Speaking of crazy pregnancy things, did you hear about that Indian woman who gave birth to 11 babies yesterday? Yes, you read that number correctly. ELEVEN. Shut. The. Front. Door. That cannot be physically possible. I am pretty sure I would die, and if I didn't die I would probably be wishing I was dead by the end of it.

3) My awesome mother-in-law, Dianne, gave me a Brighton charm bracelet for my birthday. I love it. It's my new favorite way to add some sentimental zing to an outfit.

4) Toy companies really should include the batteries with the item. Putting together a new toy or gadget just to find out you can't use it because you don't have the batteries is the worst. Especially on Sunday.

5) Did you know that along with being lucky, a four-leaf clover is also part of an Irish love ritual? "In some parts of Ireland, if a woman eats a four-leaf clover while thinking about a man, supposedly he will fall in love with her" (source). Peeps, I search high and low every time I see a patch of greenery with clovers in them. Been doing it since I was 4, no joke. Have yet to find one, but you best believe I will be eating that bad boy and thinking of Matt when I do! I'll let you know how it goes.

xoxo

Back In Black

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Asymmetrical tee: LOFT. Leggings: LOFT: Booties: Charlotte Russe. Jewelry: LOFT. Beanie: F21.

I'm turning into one of those people that resorts to black for all fashion choices. You'd think I had moved to Manhattan or something.

Black is amazing because...

a) It screams, "I'm chic!" Just look at Rachel Zoe. The fashion queen herself lives in black.

b) It is an easy way to look like you've shed 5 lbs. Yes, please.

c) It is classic. You can always count on a black ensemble when every other outfit is letting you down.

Funny Irony

2012-02-03T07:00:00.001-08:00

These gems are just your typical family photos in the Rodriguez household. We're so attractive, aren't we? I am known for my uncanny abilities to take really ugly and awkward photos. You could say it's a talent of mine. Apparently, Matt has one too. Inevitably, Luke inherited this so-called "talent" and is wasting no time in putting it to practice! You could say we're just three peas in a pod.

Anwyay, let's get to the good stuff.

I love Jeopardy. I watch it almost every night. This week it is the college tournament, and surprisingly I have found the questions to be much easier than the normal Jeopardy trivia. You'd think they'd make the questions harder. Or maybe I'm getting smarter! Ha. Sike.

I'm getting off track here, and that's all beside the point. The point is that the girl from Harvard came in last place. Like, she left with $1 last place. I proceeded to tweet, "I find it funny that the girl from Harvard on Jeopardy's college tournament came in last place. #ohtheirony". This led me on an "ohtheirony" hash-tag search, which was followed by an hour of straight laughter at all the things people tweeted. Here are some of the best...

@elizabethhaley "I love that Robert Pattinson's name in Water for Elephants is Jacob. #ohtheirony #wtforks"

(What the forks... that's hilarious! Totally using that from now on)

@ShesExceptional "Home birth advocate dies after giving birth at home ... #ohtheirony"

@siennaswanson "Watching Biggest Looser while stuffing my face with popcorn and M&Ms..... #ohtheirony"

@dave__giles "Just found out that Bill Gates' house was designed using a Mac #ohtheirony"

Glad Twitter can bring me so much happiness on nights I am feeling lazy and have nothing better to do but waste time on the internet. It's making a close second to my colossal time-wasting sessions on Pinterest.

#mightneedanintervention

Sucks To Be That Person... Or Does It?

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

**Note: I have no idea why I am writing this, but let's just say I am feeling inspired and hope it reaches someone in need. That's all I can chalk this up to.**

Lately I've been noticing some of the, for lack of a better word, crappy situations people find themselves in. Sometimes life just deals us meek individuals a losing hand.

Like the guy behind the ad of an engagement ring. You know there is never a happy story to accompany the reason for the ad placement. Or how about even the little things, like being disconnected from a call after you've been waiting on hold for 40 minutes and you're number 2 in the queue? That's always a terrible feeling. The list goes on and on.

Here are some lyrics from one of my favorite songs, Fix You, by Coldplay.

"When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?"

Often times it feels like it truly can't get any worse. We all encounter these obstacles. Some more than others, unfortunately. Call it Karma, Murphy's Law, or whatever you please. Bottom line, it happens to us all.

But, guess what?

There is always hope. There is always a new day to which we can look forward. It all boils down to perspective. We own the ability to reach into ourselves and pull out the good. Sure, it's much easier to let the negativity ooze from us like a poison when we are feeling down and out, but that never makes it better. Usually the toxic effects of our poor attitude take hold on those around us. And who wants that? Answer: nobody.

Here are the ending lyrics to the song, showing that each problem contains its own solution.

"Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you"

Who are the lights? For me, it's Matt, precious little Luke, my parents, my siblings, my close friends, and my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior. I know I can turn to them and they will light a fire of hope and courage within me --igniting my bones, if you will, and turning those "crappy" situations into the sweetest moments of a lifetime. And do you know what?

It fixes me every time.

Smooth Hair, Don't Care

2012-02-01T07:00:00.001-08:00

So, I despise drying my hair. With a passion. I would rather empty the dishwasher and fold 5 loads of laundry before drying my hair. Nine times out of ten this is the case, which is why my hair is rarely down and styled. The good news is our place is nice and tidy. The bad news is my hair looks lame. For reals.

Then one day I got a Misikko hair dryer. The Hana Air to be exact. Problem solved.

My disdain for blow drying my hair laid in the fact that it took 30+ minutes to dry it. Not anymore, people! This little gem packs a lot of kick and cut my dry time to 10 minutes. That, and it leaves my hair nice and smooth, not dry and frizzy. First world problem, I know, but frizzy hair is no bueno. Glad I don't have to deal with it any more, thanks to my awesome hair dryer!

Now I wonder how the flat iron is...

Sponsor AAR!

2012-01-31T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hello, my fellow fabulous bloggers.

I have new sponsor packages up! And yes, some of the packages are free! Skip on over here if you want to come hang out Along Abbey Road with me!

It's a party you won't want to miss out on :)

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-01-31T11:30:00.000-08:00

1) Luke already knows how to hold hands! Such a cuddle bug. We can't get enough, can't you tell?

2) I have mastered the art of typing one-handed at a rather remarkable pace. It's quite impressive, the new skills one acquires as a mother.

3) Fun fact of the day:

"Research shows that men know they’re falling in love after just three dates, but women don’t fall in love until date 14" (source). That can't be true. Really? I feel like girls are always the ones being all romantic and lovey-dovey and won't stop talking about their feelings. Apparently not!

4) Sometimes it just feels good to let it all out and write run-on sentences that would make your 8th grade English teacher cringe with frustration since she made an earnest attempt with every fiber of her being to ensure she turned out grammatically correct individuals to society and not wanting to run the risk of sounding like a babbling moron or a valley girl that relays stories like this... thank you, Simone.

5) Did I already mention my sugar addiction has increased? I ate 6 of the 8 pieces of my birthday cheesecake. In 3 days. And I thought my problem was bad before... yikes! First step is admitting you have a problem, right? At least you don't have to feel as bad if you ever substitute meals with candy and sweets, because I do it too!

Spring Dreaming

2012-01-30T14:24:00.000-08:00

Can we talk about how great it is to fit into normal clothes again? I can finally go shopping! Yippee!

Here are the transitional spring pieces I will be adding to my closet in the very near future.

1) Blue plaid shirt: H&M. I'll mix prints for days in this number.

2) Pink cigarette jeans: UO. I die.

3) Smarty-pants readers: Anthropologie. Pretty sure my IQ will be through the roof every time I wear these.

4) Inwood dress: Anthropologie. Let's have a tea party, shall we?

5) Creme accordion maxi skirt: American Apparel. I will be pairing this little diddy with #8.

6) MAC Fluidline. Cat eyeliner for dayyyys. Meow.

7) Fitted skinny jeans: F21. Can't have enough colored skinny jeans.

8) Cropped anchor top: F21. I will be pairing this with my pleated skirt, a rose-colored long sleeve tee underneath, and wedges. Perfection.

People, I think I've caught a case of shopping spring fever. Heaven help me.

Slouchy Sweater Issues

2012-01-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

Button-up: F21. Sweater: LOFT. Skinnies: F21. Oxfords: Steve Madden. Necklace: LOFT. Sunnies: Anthropologie.

So, I am at that point where I have that little bit of left over tummy. You know, the tummy that looks like I'm 4 months prego or slightly chubby? Yeah, that one. I figured my slouchy sweater would cover it up, but I'm not exactly sure if it helped or just enhanced this awkward body phase. Can I just say I am excited to get the clearance from the doc to work out? My yoga pants are calling out for a friend!

In other news, Dianne, my mother-in-law, is here to hang out with the Lukester and I. We are having a ball! We love our mamas!

Birthday Smirthday

2012-01-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Jane on Pinterest

I am officially 24 years old. I feel so old. Sure, it's not that old, but I've been alive for almost a quarter of a century! When put that way, it sounds kind of ancient.

This next year is going to be awesome. Age 24 is going to treat this girl right. I can feel it.

As for today, it will be filled with shopping (I have the aforementioned 15% Anthro coupon to use), watching hilarious Youtube videos (this one literally had me in tears), and stuffing my face with cake.

I also found that I share my birthday with Ellen DeGeneres, Eddie Van Halen, Paul Newman and the Suleman octuplets, aka Octomom. Pretty awesome people if you ask me.

Eat some cake for me, will ya?

Happiness Is...

2012-01-25T10:04:00.001-08:00

Wearing a messy top knot practically everyday. It's chic and baby friendly.

Blouse: LOFT. Necklace: Sprightly So.

Sporting a leopard print blouse. No better way to add some va-va-voom to your wardrobe than with animal print.

Skinnies: Paige Denim.

Fitting into my skinny jeans again (insert Hallelujah chorus)! It may require the assistance of Spanx and some rather tight buttoning, but hey, they're on! And let's not forget the pink pedicure.

Fuzzy baby mohawks. So presh.

Onesie: Babies R' Us.

Cute baby onesies with even cuter owl appliques.

Tiny baby footsies, all wrapped up and toasty warmy.

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-01-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

1) Yesterday I saw a truck driver do a U-turn in a very cramped intersection. In a huge semi. To say he has mad driving skills is an understatement. Sometimes I hardly make those turns in my Honda Accord! Bravo, truck driver man. Bravo.

2) "About 80% of neonatal and newborn sleep time is REM sleep, suggesting a tremendous amount of time dreaming" (source). Luke laughs in his sleep all the time. Yes, it's the cutest thing in the world. I wonder what he is dreaming about?

3) The ability to produce milk makes me feel like a cow. Mooooo.

4) I am ready for Chuck and Blair to be back together. The whole "I can't be with you in order to save you, but I'll always love you" thing is getting old. I really hope Chuck's wedding crashing next week makes me scream out of excitement. And how are we feeling about Serena's love for Dan? I often wonder if any of those feelings are real, considering they are ex-lovers in real life. Oh the drama. I live for Monday nights.

5) My mom is a saint. She stayed with us this last week to help out with Luke. I love her so much. I'm very grateful to have such a wonderful mother and blessed to have her around whenever I need her.

The Birth Story

2012-01-23T13:46:00.006-08:00

Crawling out of bed the morning of Friday, January 13th was a bit different than my usual wake up routine. Instead of moseying around in bed, I quickly ran to the bathroom as there was a substantial gush of liquid all over my PJ's. Had I peed my pants? Nope, that couldn't be it. There was only one other conclusion to draw from this...

My water had broken.

The nurses at the hospital didn't seem alarmed, so Matt and I waited for my 9:30 am NST appointment before going in. As I greeted the attending nurse, I exclaimed with enthusiasm, "I think my water broke!" and proceeded to give her a hug. Matt made fun of me because he said the nurse had reached out to show me the way to the triage room, not for a hug. Whatever. I was about to have my baby in the next 24 hours and I deserved all the hugs in the world!

I changed into a hospital gown and they wired me up to the monitor. Nurse Sharyl watched for about an hour to see if my water had truly broken. She came in 45 minutes later and found no fluid on my seat pad, so we proceeded to an amniotic fluid test. It came back negative, meaning it didn't detect enough fluid to determine that my water had actually broken.

I was confused. I know my body and that fluid definitely was not coming from my bladder. Back to the NST room they sent me to have the fluid levels checked by ultrasound. Sure enough, there was only 5 cm of fluid, meaning my water had broken within the last 48 hours. Turns out the amniotic fluid test could only detect broken water if it was within the last 12 to 18 hours.

You know what that meant?

Induction!

Now, I had wanted to try to go through labor naturally and unmedicated, but the risk of infection was too high to not be induced. Beside, I had been over the whole pregnancy thing for the past 4 weeks and being induced sounded like a dream.

So I thought...

Nurse Sharyl started the Pitocin drip at 12:30 pm, January 13. I was already dilated at 3 cm and 50% effaced. My suspicions were that Baby Rod would make his debut no later than 12 am that night/morning. At 4 pm, the contractions were becoming fairly intense so I opted for an epidural. They moved me to my birthing room and in waltzed the anesthesiologist. Must be nice having a job where everyone adores you the moment they lay eyes on you. The man seemed like an angel, sent to relieve the ever-growing pain of labor. I'm not going to lie. I was pretty nervous about having a 5 inch needle rammed into my spinal cord. It didn't help that he kept saying how "tight" my dura mater space was as he was jamming it in. I should have known then that something could very well go wrong.

Within 10 minutes, I felt on top of the world! All pain vanished and my painful grimace was replaced with a big smile. Nurse Sharyl checked to see my progression. Four hours had passed since the Pitocin was started and I was only dilated to 4 cm and about 75% effaced. Since the epidural had kicked in, she maxed out the Pitocin to its highest amount to get the process moving along faster.

Suddenly the monitor started flashing purple and baby's heart rate completely dropped off the screen. I felt in my gut something wasn't right, and Nurse Sharyl was scrambling in the room not 10 seconds later. She rearranged the heart monitor and was able to find his heart beat again, but I was pretty shaken at this point. Tears filled my eyes and I couldn't help but start bawling. The Pitocin level was decreased to ensure a healthy heart rate.

Fear had consumed me and anxiety was beginning to take over my consciousness. My own heart rate was now at an alarming 150 and the constant awareness of it made it worse. At this point it was 7 pm. Nurse Natasha replaced Nurse Sharyl. She took one look at me and gave me the best pep talk in the world. Her reassuring words and amazing care are what got me through the night.

At 7 pm, I was about 5 cm dilated, and 80% effaced. Slow progression, but we were getting somewhere. Matt stayed right by my side and held my hand as we watched a movie to get my mind off my anxiety.

A few more hours passed, and I was finally at 7 cm and almost 100% effaced around 10 pm. Baby Rod was coming soon!

Matt and I sat there together, reveling in the thought that we would meet our beautiful son soon. Moments later, I felt a horrifically intense pain on the left side of my abdomen that shot all the way through my back. It literally felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. Not 4 minutes later, the terrifying pain returned.

My epidural has stopped working. Let me repeat that. MY EPIDURAL HAD STOPPED WORKING. At the height of my active labor! Where the contractions were the most unbearable, especially since the Pitocin augmented them to 10 times the intensity!

Was this really happening to me? The anesthesiolgists's complaints of my insertion area being "really tight" rang in my ears. I wanted to slap the guy at this point, not hug him. Nurse Natasha helped as much as she could and requested what they call a bullet of pain medicine into the epidural line. Guess what? It didn't work. The pain was increasing at an alarming rate. It felt like a UFC fighter was grabbing my insides and wrenching them as hard as possible, while kicking me in the back. This was not how I had imagined labor.

I consider myself to have a fairly high pain tolerance. I felt like the biggest wussy in the world. I hurt and ached and just wanted it to be removed from me. I began to throw up.

The anesthesiologist gave me a second round of the bullet shot, but to no avail. It was about 12:30 am and I threw up a second time. The good news was I had finally dilated to 9, almost 10 cm and pushing was imminent.

I had been in labor for 12 grueling hours and felt hopeless. The life was slowly being sucked out of me, and all I could manage to do was whimper in pain to Matt. Bless his dear heart. Matt was amazing. He stroked my hair, cooled me off with a wet washcloth, and whispered sweet words of encouragement as tears welled up in his eyes from witnessing the suffering I was enduring.

At 2 am, the pushing began. As much as I thought it would hurt, pushing with the contractions felt liberating. It was a time for me to push out the agony and visualize the moment when I got to meet my stubborn boy that didn't want to come out. An hour later, I was still pushing. Nurse Natasha coached me through each and every push, and assured me I was going to get our little guy around that corner. She called my doctor and asked what she wanted to do at around the hour mark. Keep pushing, she told Natasha. How could I go on? I had zero strength left and wanted them to cut him out of me. It's funny how your perspective on things tends to change when you are faced with extreme difficulty. I was ardently opposed to a cesarean section the entire pregnancy, but at this point I no longer cared and wanted him out of me as I laid there helpless and weak.

Around 3:25 am, January 14, I pushed the hardest I ever have in my life. Baby Rod had finally crowned. Waiting for Dr. Vu to rush to the hospital was a challenge. Fighting the urge to push with each contraction seemed almost impossible. Finally, the doctor arrived and I pushed with all the might and strength I could find within myself. At 3:55 am and five solid pushes later, I was met with the most glorious feeling of lightening imaginable. The pain immediately melted away and all I could hear was the cry of a helpless little baby.

I did it.

The doctor laid my sweet, precious baby on my chest. I was overcome with fear, exhaustion, and excitement all at once. He was covered in a waxy coat of vernix with a very cone-shaped head. He looked more like an alien than a baby, but he was still amazing.

Matt cut the cord, to both our surprise, and they whisked him off to be cleaned, measured, and weighed.

Being placed in my arms once again, Matt and I both stared at the true miracle of life we had created.

Childbirth is the hardest thing I have ever gone through, but by far the best.

Lucas Timothy Rodriguez is ours forever, and we've been falling more madly in love with him with each passing day.

An Embarrassing Moment: Jess

2012-01-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Jess is one of the best people you'll ever meet. She is beautiful, kind, elegant, and lives a wonderfully charming life. Kind of like Mary Poppins. I wouldn't be surprised if she had magical powers at the snap of her fingers. She is that awesome. See for yourself! Take it away, Jess.

Hello all! I'm Jess and I'm here to tell you about the most embarrassing moment with my significant other (aka my hot hubby Steve). Steve and I met on a study abroad in Jerusalem, and let's just say I fell for those blonde curls and baby blues pretty fast. We were walking around the city, deep in conversation- now let me interject and say that this was (at this point) a one-sided crush in its infancy- that said, we were walking together and I was getting lost in those cute creases at his eyes when the unthinkable and highly embarrassing occurred. Ladies and gentlemen, I ran into a pole. Yep. straight into it. How cute. Needless to say, I was mortified. I tried to laugh it off, but to tell you the truth...it really hurt (physically and emotionally). Luckily he eventually saw through my clumsiness and eventually did think I was pretty cute. We rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after, but I don't think I'll ever blush that deep again.

A Romantic First Experience: Rebecca

2012-01-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

Meet Rebecca, my loves. She is the stylish lady behind See Me Rwar and a proud owner of Hunter boots that I am currently coveting (I know coveting is bad, but I'm working on it). Here's a little love story about how she and her hubs met. Take it away, Rebecca!

My husband and I met under very unusual circumstances. We lived in the same apartment complex. It was summertime, and I was down at the pool. There was a sweet little family there, and my friends and I were playing with the kids. A cute boy walked by while I was laying out and said hi briefly as he passed. My friends started to head home, but I went into the club house. A few minutes later I looked out at the pool and saw the family gathered on the far end of the pool. Something wasn’t right. I walked back out to the pool and a friend of the family was on the phone. She ran to me and handed me the phone. English was her second language and she was having a hard time telling the 911 Dispatcher where we were located. The youngest girl had hit her head and passed out in the pool. She wasn’t breathing. She was blue. And as they did CPR we all stood in panic scared for this little girl’s life. The boy who had said hi earlier stood behind me as I stayed on the phone with the dispatcher. The ambulances arrived and whisked the little girl off to the hospital. The next day I went down to the clubhouse to see if they knew what had happened to her. They said she was revived and doing fine and had gone home that same night.

Later that month when I was at a party and ran into that cute boy from the pool, we had an obvious conversation starter. He jumped at the opportunity to pull me away from my friends so we could talk about that day and share our relief that the little girl was okay. The conversation spun and we found out that some friends I had met a few weeks ago were actually his roommates and best friends from high school. We flirted and laughed and at the end of the night, he asked for my number. 8 months later, we were married.

Thanks for letting me stop by! I hope you'll come visit me here.

Smile Steady Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

And the winner is memory for the Smile Steady giveaway!

Email me at rodriguez.abbey@gmail.com to claim your new, fancy-shmancy stationary! You're going to have the cutest cards in town!

A Romantic First Experience: Melina

2012-01-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

Melina is the sweetest bloggy friend you will ever have. For reals. See for yourself! Take it away, Melina!

I am beyond excited to be guest posting for Abbey. The

baby is almost here and she's going to be super BUSY.

I am glad she asked us all to help her out so we can

keep her blog updated until she gets back. So love

don't you worry, we'll take care of your blog while

you change diapers and spend time with the little one.

My name is Melina and I blog over here:

I am an Argentinian native living in Los Angeles, CA.

I been in a long distance relationship for over 2 years.

I am a loving, caring, sweet, honest and creative girl

that will try to do anything to put a smile on your face.

I am addicted to Oreos and chocolate. You will find me

baking, cooking, doing DIY projects, drinking margaritas,

or taking pictures of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

I blog about my person life, my relationship with

Sebastian, my friends, my family, and everything

that revolves around me. In other words, my

blog is MY ONLINE JOURNAL.

Abbey asked me to pick between an embarrassing funny

moment I've had or a first experience with my other half.

I picked the first experience one.

Back in June 2010, I went to Argentina to visit

my boyfriend. I was craving sushi really bad and

to my surprise he had never tried it before. Well,

it was understandable because Sushi was not a

big thing in Argenitna until the end of 2010.

We went to a restaurant called Itamae Sushi.

I seriously had a blast with him. Do you have an

idea how long it took to show him how to use the

sticks? LOL Just thinking about it makes me want

to laugh all over again. At the end of the night I was

so proud of him for learning and for trusting my taste

and knowledge. He tried everything and loved it.

I can't wait to go back to Argentina and have this

experience again. Better yet, I can't wait for THIS

to happen so we can all the Sushi we want here.

An Embarrassing Moment: Kristen

2012-01-17T12:18:00.001-08:00

Kristen is an awesome momma and did I mention her style is amazing too? I'm learning to take notes on how to keep the balance! Take it away, Kristen!

Hey there! I'm Kristen from The Mrs. and The Momma. While Abbey is busy with her new little bundle, I'm here today to guest blog! My topic today is something I have not told that many people about due to it's embarrassing nature....my first kiss with my husband....well, my first kiss ever for that matter.

My husband and I have dated since we were young. You could say we grew up together. Just to set the stage a bit, I'll provide a nice little mental picture for ya....

Circa 1994. Braces. Mild acne. Body-waved hair. Slightly awkward but thought I was pretty hot stuff. I had never kissed a boy. I was head over heels for this boy. I desperately wanted to kiss him. Like totally.

Got it? Okay. So there we were, at a playoff football game and sat way up high in the stadium pretty much by ourselves. Well, I think my cousin and little brother were somewhere around us, but I pretended that they weren't. At the end of the game, we were huddling together in no less than 5 layers of clothing due to the perfectly cold, crisp football weather. I knew it was coming. He had that look in his eyes and I was determined. (A little forward much? Yes, maybe...but look where we are now!)

{I don't remember how exactly it happened because I'm pretty sure I could only hear my heart beating in my ears and the after-effects of that kiss scarred me for life, therefore erasing any minor details from memory.}

We leaned our heads together...eyes closed...

I thought "this is it!"

and.......wait for it....

WHAM!

My braces hit his teeth with an audible metal clank! It somehow didn't deter the actual kiss, but I was MORTIFIED. Absolutely 100% embarrassed to the core. I kept thinking to myself, "How did I mess that up?!? People kiss with braces all the time!!!"

My sweet husband was gracious enough to pretend not to remember that incident when I finally got the nerve to mention it to him years later. And I mean years later....having a first kiss that could have been a scene from Sixteen Candles (and not by the cool kids, mind you), takes some healing time before you can even acknowledge it actually happened that way, much less vocalize it to another human being.

Thankfully now I'm over it. What a great story it makes though. When we tell our girls about our first kiss, the lesson to be learned from our experience is that they should never, ever kiss a boy with their eyes closed. You never know when an over-eager guy might be coming in too fast, resulting in a tooth-collision with your brace face. Therefore you have to keep those peepers alert...gauging distance, speed of approach, etc. It's quite scientific.

If only I had been warned of these minor details of a first kiss...it might have turned out differently. But then again, it might not have been as memorable either.

Introducing...

2012-01-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

The moment we've all been waiting for...

Lucas Timothy Rodriguez

AKA
Luke, Cool Hand, Bruiser, Lil' Lukey

Born Jan 14, 2012 at 3:55 am

7 lbs, 13 oz

20 in

Birth story to come. It's a good one, albeit dramatic.

Since I am now genuinely sleep-deprived and baby-obsessed, I have a line up of bloggy friends that will be sharing some fun and happy stories this week during my absence. Enjoy it and catch a couple of extra winks for me, will ya? ;)

xoxo

Who Comes Up With This Stuff?

2012-01-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

A little birdy told me laughter is a good way to induce labor.

Oh really?

Well in that case, bring on the funnies!

Here are just a few of many hysterical pins that I've been collecting over the past 6 months. I can always count on this pin board to get me rolling.

Source: m.9gag.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: icanhascheezburger.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: facebook.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Abbey on Pinterest

You can imagine my particular enjoyment of the last one. Still gets me, every time.

New Arrivals!

2012-01-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry, the new arrival isn't Baby Rod. He'll be here soon though! I am happy to announce that as of yesterday I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Woot-woot! For those of you who don't understand that mumbo-jumbo I just said, it basically means the cervix is almost half-way ready to birth a baby!

Actually, let me just simply explain the process. Once the cervix completely softens to 100% and dilation is at 10 cm (the max the cervix can open), the bebe comes out! A year ago I always had that confused puppy dog look on my face when women would get all technical with their birthing talk, and I always wished someone would explain to me what the crap they were talking about. So there you go. Hope you feel educated enough now so you don't feel out of the loop :)

The arrivals I am speaking of are the new necklaces I just added to the shop!

Hootie Cutie: $12.50.

Initialized: $12.50

Quite The Duo: $19.50.

Hope you stop by and take a peek! Enjoy!

Smile Steady Giveaway!

2012-01-11T07:17:00.001-08:00

Ashley makes the most charming handmade paper goodies! Seriously, they are adorable. The stationary is whimsical and simple, and she customizes any order. I myself have her Bright Bunting thank you cards (the cute banner one at the top) and I am obsessed!

When people get the cards, they probably say, "this card is so cute, I just can't bear to throw it away". She is that good.

Ashley is giving away any item from her shop AND a $5 shop credit!

Rules for entry:
*must follow this blog for entry*

Visit her shop and tell me which item you like most (mandatory)

Additional entries:

Follow her blog

Like her Facebook page

Follow her on Twitter

Giveaway ends next Tuesday, 11:59 pm, and winner will be announced next Wednesday!

Good luck!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-01-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Jacket: LOFT. Striped tee: LOFT. Maxi dress: F21. Necklace: LOFT. Belt: LOFT.

1) According to the specialist, Baby Rod weighs 8.6 lbs as of today. His new nickname is Ibby -- Itty Bitty Beastling. I just add the 'y' on the end to make it sound more cute.

2) Engagement/wedding rings are often worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because the ancient Greeks maintained that that finger contains the vena amoris, or the “vein of love,” that runs straight to the heart (source). That is so romantic! Unless you get your finger chopped off.

3) You should probably plan a trip to Disneyland right now. We were there yesterday and the wait for Space Mountain was 15 minutes. That's incredible! It's usually at least 60. Get packing.

4) The newest episode of Gossip Girl is on next Monday. I am dying to know if Chuck is dying. And I still think Chuck is the baby daddy to Blair's little bambino. I have all along. If it's not, the accident probably caused her to miscarry. Tear. Those are my predictions. Thoughts? Do you hate GG? That's okay, I hate The Bachelor. Sorry, I just can't stand it. To each their own, right?

5) How do you feel about taking small infants to the movies/seeing small infants at the movies? Is it annoying, okay to do if the baby is well-behaved, or just not recommended? I am curious and would like to hear your opinions, please and thank you.

Beaches, Presidents, And Awkward People

2012-01-09T09:38:00.001-08:00

Jacket: LOFT. Tee: LOFT. Flower belt: Sprightly So. Bracelets: LOFT. Unflattering, but oh-so-comfy maternity pants: Target.

How many of you are hating the snow and the frigid winter weather in your area? You should totally come out to California. It has been in the 70's and perfect for long walks on the beach. Obviously.

I just realized I forgot to share my awesome resolutions for 2012 with all ya'll. I used my bucket list for inspiration. That list needs some lines scratched through it!

Resolution #1: Memorize all the U.S. presidents.

My proposed strategy is to memorize 4 per month. I would like to get their term dates in there too, but I don't know if that's going to happen. I'll be happy with just knowing each one. This is what I've been chanting to myself every morning in the shower...

"George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison"

Resolution #2: Stop getting overwhelmingly embarrassed for awkward people.

This may sound like a weird goal, but it is something that has always bugged me. You see, I have a serious problem with getting super humiliated for people, to the point where I lower my head with my hands in my face and cringe. I do it all the time, whether it's watching TV, observing someone make an idiot of themselves, or even watching a fictional movie scene that's not even real!

I've had enough of it. I resolve to stare these situations straight in the face and be the bold person that is completely involved with the terrible reality of the situation. I think it will build character.

And after all, isn't that what resolutions are for?

Anthropologie Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Shelley! You are the lucky winner of the $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway! Please email me at rodriguez.abbey@gmail.com to to claim your gift card so you can get to shopping right away :)

Thanks to all of you dears that entered and read my blog! Love you all! For realsies.

Here is to an amazing 2012 Along Abbey Road!

Lazy Day

2012-01-06T16:51:00.001-08:00

Today marks the 38th week of Baby Rod's life in the womb. I can no longer see my toes unless I strain my neck, and multiple naps are a necessity.

As we await our little bambino's arrival, I will be sitting on the couch eating Turtles by the boxful. I've already helped myself to half a box today. I have no shame. Nope. None, whatsoever. I like to think of it as consuming 16% of my daily iron and calcium needs, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Who knew they were so full of nutritional value?

Have a wonderful weekend, and keep your fingers crossed that you'll be the lucky winner of my $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway! The winner will be announced Monday! Make sure you enter if you haven't already! You'll be sad if you miss it!

xoxo.

To Do And Not To Do

2012-01-05T09:33:00.002-08:00

Mustard headband: Sprightly So. Blouse: LOFT. Cardi: LOFT. Baby bump: 38 weeks.

My new favorite way to wear my hair: the retro side bun.


This is my awkward transition face. Can you see the aging that's happening as a result of growing a human? I guess my sister was right... pregnancy causes wrinkles! AAAHHH!

Child birth is getting closer everyday, peeps. Belly has dropped, making it even more huge, and I'm at the point where people in public just stare at me with no shame.

After some thought, I've decided it would be best for all parties if I compiled a go-to list of the do's and don'ts of dealing with pregnant women. You may find this resourceful if you yourself have never had a bun in the oven or if you are a man. If you are a sleep-deprived, crazy mom, you can just nod your head and agree.

-Do hold the door open for pregnant ladies. Sometimes the inertia of pulling open a door while your center of gravity has shifted to an awkward middle region can result in running into things or falling over.

-Do not stare. Seriously. I know we all like to look and think, "Aww, look at the cute baby bump!", but that's not how the prego monster on the other end of it feels. She probably feels something more like this... "Is my fly down? Do I have pen marks on my face or something? Why the crap is this person maddoggin' me?"

-Do give short and succinct compliments if you can't resist the urge. Something along the lines of, "I just want to tell you I think you are the most beautiful pregnant woman" is nice. More than that can get annoying and seem more sympathetic than complimentary.

-Do not try to guess how far along someone is and use it as a conversation starter. Everyone's body is different. Everyone carries their babies differently. Don't tell me I'm having a boy or a girl based on this observation. I know what I'm having, I don't need your "expert" advice.

-Do be patient and remain calm if a pregnant person is curt with you. Or has a sudden breakdown. Remember, it's not you, it's the hormones. Reacting in a hostile manner will only increase the irrational behavior from the mama bear.

These are just the most important things I have encountered, but the list could go on for days. I think it's a very handy list. Feel free to print it out and carry it in your wallet. After all, half the people these days are with child. Feel free to add on your do's and don'ts as well.

By the way, I have a guest post up today at Across The Pond, detailing the story of how I got into this pregnant state in the first place. It's quite a funny story. You should probably go read it.

And one more thing. Go here to enter my $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway if you haven't already!

That is all. This is Abbey signing out. Goodbye.

Flower Power

2012-01-04T08:35:00.001-08:00

Calling all headband enthusiasts...

New items up in the shop!

These bad boys are the latest and greatest...

Guess what? They are only $5.50, plus 15% off when you use promo code "GRANDOPEN1"!

These little beauties are already selling like hotcakes, and hotcakes are delish... trust me, I would know. Nom, nom, nom (why am I always talking about food? Oh well, that's a conversation for another day).

Hop on over here if you feel like indulging in a little online shopping that won't break the bank or have husband wanting to hijack your wallet.

Lovely Little Rants Guest Post!

2012-01-04T07:14:00.001-08:00

Good morning my dears. Well, at least good morning from the West Coast, where it has been 75 degrees all week. Sighhhh.

I have a special treat for you today! Candace is a bloggy friend of mine and we are guest-post swapping today! This little lady has a very entertaining blog, and did I mention she has an adorable shop too? You'll be happy you met her, if you don't already know her! Take it away, Candace...

Hey there cute readers of "Along Abbey Road"! My name is Candace and I blog on over at lovely little rants. I LOVE the bloggy world and making new blog friends so pretty please, let's be friends. That is clearly a desperate cry for friendship so please, humor me ;)

Anyways, there are some things you should probably know about me.

A. I'm a belieber. and proud.... and 20. haha

B. I'm slightly addicted to shopping. and when I say slightly, I mean very. and it's a bittersweet habit.

C. I love to blog about the great, the awesome, and the embarrassing, so whenever you're in for a good laugh at someone else's embarrassing stories, I promise to never let you down.

So there you have it! Just 2 more tid bits of information for you to soak in, I run a little shop on etsy called Peace Republic Clothing, and since I'm all about deals when I shop, I totes wanna offer you people a smokin' deal! Enter the code abbey for 15% off everything in the shop! Also, I do some blog design on the side for very reasonable anddd I'd love to give all you readers 15% off of that, too! Anyways, happy shopping and have a pretty day!

-C

.personal blog.design blog. etsy shop. twitter.

Isn't Candace the cutest? Thanks again, Candace!

P.S. If you haven't already entered, be sure to enter the $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2012-01-03T12:54:00.001-08:00

Scenes from our lovely hike at the State Park.

1) Mister Matt and I just discovered a national state park, which is literally 5 minutes from our house. It's a beautiful, peaceful place tucked in the middle of all this big city, metropolis nonsense. This is how I feel when I am there, flailing arms and all, making it my new favorite place to spend the weekends (not to mention that hiking will hopefully kick-start me into labor soon).

2) Speaking of being with child, I have concluded that being 37 weeks pregnant and having a cold is a conflict of interest. Perpetual sneezing and loss of bladder control is never a good mix...I know from experience.

2) How many of you think the world is going to end December 21st, 2012? I think it's a bunch of malarkey. Btw, malarkey is a real read according to Merriam-Webster. It's first known usage was in 1929.

3) Some old guy at the crosswalk this morning obviously thought that as soon as he pressed that magic crosswalk button it meant he could start walking. No sir, that is you asking to be hit by a car. I can't and won't stop in the intersection as it is turning yellow. He clearly didn't pass his written test, or else he wouldn't be jaywalking.

4) Random fact:
Passionate kissing burns 6.4 calories a minute. A Hershey’s kiss contains 26 calories, which takes five minutes of walking–or about four minutes of kissing–to burn off (source). The moral of this story means we should all eat more chocolate and kiss more. Yet another thing I would implement if I were President -- tax breaks for those who consume mass amounts of chocolate and kiss often, all while doing it on their 3 day weekends.

A few matters of business to attend to that I want to make you all aware of...

a) The $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway runs until Monday, January 9th! Skip on over here to enter

b) I am running 15% off your entire purchase at my shop Sprightly So! Use the code "GRANDOPEN1" during checkout. I will be posting some must-have accessories in the next couple of days, so be on the look-out!

c) With 2012 finally here, I have implemented some new things into my blog career. I am now offering sponsorships! Don't fret, there are multiple FREE options, and a feature package for a smokin' deal. Click here if you want to sponsor Along Abbey Road!

I Love Weddings!

2012-01-02T09:27:00.001-08:00

The lovely Jess and I! Have you read her blog? It's amazing. You will instantly fall in love. I promise.

BFF's since the 3rd grade, Molly and I.

The Bride & Groom! Gregg, Ellen, and Jess.

Beautiful Caroline and her awesome hubby, Aaron.

Ellen looked gorgeous, as always!

And last but not least, The Mister Matt doing the Carlton...priceless.

What better way to start off a new year, than by getting married? Nothing beats it!

My beautiful friend, Ellen, got married this last weekend and we were able to go enjoy quality time with friends, while celebrating their happy union!

It was beautiful. Love was in the air. Lots of laughs were had. And yes, Mister Matt was showing his amazing dance skills on the floor. After all, those dance skills were the thing that kept me coming back for more when we first started dating. Boy can move and groove. I myself tried to dance, but being 9 months prego and all, it didn't exactly work in my favor.

Well, it's Monday. And it's a holiday! Another 3 day weekend! And aren't we all just so much happier?

I am about to make your day even brighter. To celebrate the grand opening of my store, Sprightly So, I am running a 15% off your entire purchase promo! Just enter the code GRANDOPEN1, and bam, you just saved yourself some moolah and landed some sweet handcrafted gems or an amazing vintage find. Tell your friends! Buy yourself a New Year's gift!

And oh yeah, don't forget to enter your cute, little self into the $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway! This new year is starting off with some awesome perks, huh!?

xoxo

Best of Twenty Eleven & A Giveaway!

2011-12-31T10:28:00.001-08:00

Twenty eleven has been a good year to us.

This blog was created and I have loved learning and growing with it
I started my shop, Sprightly So, which has experienced much success and enriched the lives of others by raising funds for 2 NPO's
The Mister Matt graduated with a master's degree and landed an amazing job
We moved to sunny Southern California
Best of all we made a little baby, however he won't be arriving until 2012

In review of Along Abbey Road's year in the blogosphere, there were lots of friends made, great outfits, not-so-great outfits, and awesome giveaways. You might be interested to know that the most popular post/giveaway was for the Anthropologie gift card. I mean, who doesn't love Anthro? You're straight up crazay-zay if you don't.

As a thanks to all of you and in celebration of my blog's first successful year, I am wishing you a very Happy New Year with another $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway.

Yes, I will repeat that again.

Ring in the new year by entering my $25 Anthropologie gift card giveaway!

To enter:

Follow Along Abbey Road via Google Friend Connect

Additional entries:

Follow Along Abbey Road on bloglovin'
Follow me on Twitter
Like Along Abbey Road on Facebook
Visit my online store, Sprightly So, and tell me your favorite item
Post about this giveaway on a social network of your choice

(Please leave a separate comment for each entry to my head doesn't explode when the winner is selected)

Giveaway ends Sunday, January 8th at 11:59 pm and the winner will be announced on Monday, January 9th.

You all are awesome. I sure do love ya'. For realsies.

Happy New Year!

Twitter Resolutions

2011-12-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

Blouse: F21. Vest: Ross. Belt: LOFT. Skirt: Thrifted. Tights: F21. Boots: Thrifted. Bracelets: LOFT. Earrings: H&M.

You guys, I have a confession.

I've had a Twitter account for some time now, but I have been stubborn about not wanting to use it. Remember this post? My obsession for Sergio Ramos is so big that I created a Twitter just so I could follow him. And Lauren Conrad. And Justin Timberlake, but that's pretty much it -- I swear. And don't worry, The Mister Matt is totally cool with my stalking Mister Ramos... he does it too.

Don't ask me why I'm such a silly-nilly sometimes. Well actually, I suppose it's because I thought Twitter would be one more complicated thing I didn't need in my life. Then I realized the cyber world was moving on without me, and if I didn't get myself all up in that Twittersphere I would not be able to connect with more peeps. And I like peeps. So why not?

Here is to the New Year. Hello, 2012. Hello, Twitter. Hello, new Twitter friends.

Let's follow one another, shall we?

Dazed And Somewhat Confused

2011-12-29T11:56:00.001-08:00


Scarf: Sprightly So.

1960's Vintage Ray-Ban Case: Sprightly So.


Vintage World Globe: Sprightly So.

*Just a sneak peek of my favorites from the new vintage items up in the shop!

For the last 9 months I have been reading pregnancy forums up the wazoo, or in my case, up the utero (ha! I am totally that person who laughs at their own lame jokes).

One thing I have wondered about the entire time and only bothered to look up now that I'm almost done is all the label business.

I have sat many nights, scratching my head and wondering,

"What the crap is a DH? Designated hitter? What's this DD nonsense? Daisy dukes? I'm missing something huge here"

You see, I have some extremely odd pet peeves. I kind of hate it when people abbreviate words. Like, I hate it a lot. I literally get goosebumps, just as a normal person would when hearing nails on a chalkboard, whenever the people at Little Ceaser's say,

"Ooooonne pep, coming right up!"

Yuuuuuggggg.

(that's my version of getting the heeby-jeebies)

It's not 'pep'. It's PEPPERONI!!!

Okay, I'm getting off track here, but my point is that I kind of hate stupid, acronym-type abbreviations too. Depending on what it is though. See, I told you it's a weird pet peeve. It's like a selective pet peeve. And even then I find myself saying and doing things I thought I hated. Don't worry, I'm the first to admit that I am a hypocrite sometimes, but c'mon... aren't we all? Just a little?

Anyway, DH (dear husband) and DD (dearest daughter) and all that other stuff kind of fall into that pet peeve list. Unless it is just a bunch of fed-up, pregnant ladies that are referring to their family members with sarcasm. Then I can understand the need to say "dear husband... that I want to punch in the face for doing this to me". If you haven't noticed by now, I have definitely become that pregnant lady who is highly irritable and a little bit mean. Sorry, but I'm just being honest with you all! Let's just blame it on the hormones.

Overall, language these days is getting confusing. I'm having a hard time keeping up, and I consider myself to be a pretty tech-savvy youngster. Poor old folks. Mom and Dad, if you are reading this, I feel your pain. Let's just stick to talking on the phone the old fashioned way, shall we?

Well my DR's (dear readers), it's been fun but I G2G. TTYL! LYL!

;)

Sprightly So

2011-12-28T16:35:00.001-08:00

Sweater: LOFT. Shirt: LOFT. Dress: LOFT. Tights: Target, H&M. Booties: Charlotte Russe. Necklaces: Sprightly So, vintage, LOFT. Bracelets: Sprightly So, F21.

I think tight layering is my new favorite thing.

a) it keeps me warmy when it is chilly outside.

b) it gives me double the tight options for my outfits. hooray.

In other news, I finally opened a real online shop for my jewelry line, Sprightly So! Hooray, hooray.

Have you heard of Storenvy? If you are looking to start a shop, I highly recommend it. Etsy is cool and all, but it is just so overwhelmingly huge now that it's hard to get your product noticed. And they charge you a small percentage for each item listed. Thumbs down. This girl likes free stuff, and Storenvy is free.

Anyway, I really hope you will all go and check it out. I have new items up in the shop, and I have expanded the brand to other accessories and vintage things! There is some wicked-cool stuff.

You can click on the "shop" tab above to read more about my Sprightly So or just click here to go straight to the store.

Let me know what you think! I'm thuper-duper exthited :)

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

2011-12-27T08:54:00.001-08:00

This is what we call the "progression face"...you should totally try it

I am officially deeming Tuesdays on the blog a "A Random Thing Or Two-sday".

Together we are going to learn awesome factoids, secrets, reveal the inner workings of my complicated brain, increase our vocabulary, and possibly discover the cure to something. Anything could happen.

1) Every time I drive and read the road signs on the actual road, I still read them top to bottom. IE: the carpool lane. It reads like this:

ONLY

POOL

CAR

(remember, we are driving ⇧)

The intended approach to reading it would be "car pool only", but I can't for the life of me train my brain to do that, so instead I read it as " only pool car"...

CAR

POOL

H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS

THE

WHAT

2) Today's dictionary word of the day is...

adventive: not native and usually not yet well established, as exotic plants or animals.

Hmm. Interesting.

3) I think Pinterest needs an app where it formulates all your pins into a book or something. Or at least for the "home" pinboards. I would like it to compile all of the things I would like my house to look like into an actual model home. Wouldn't that be amazing?

4) Guess what? Your turkey will still thoroughly cook if you put it in upside-down. You're probably thinking, "that's nice, but why would I ever do a silly thing like that?" Because, you probably don't have a piece missing like I do. Yes, I admit it. I put our Christmas turkey in upside down, however it turned out nice and moist. Perhaps I discovered the secret to a guaranteed moist turkey!

5) Did you know the architect (Gustave Eiffel) who built the Eiffel tower was afraid of heights? Ha! Oh, the irony!

Rest and Relaxation

2011-12-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

Jacket: LOFT. Dress: LOFT. Leggings: H&M. Earrings: H&M. Bracelets: LOFT. Flats: Nine West.

Thank goodness for 4 day weekends.

Especially ones that include Christmas.

Everyone is out spending time with their family. The youngsters all have smiles on their faces, assuming Santa paid them a visit, and the parents carry an air of successfully achieved R&R for not having to go back to work immediately and surviving the Christmas mayhem.

Did I mention it also means I get to spend a pure, uninterrupted 96 hours with my hunk of a husband? That's my favorite part.

I think the world would be a happier place if the work week was converted to 4 days, instead of 5.

Maybe I should run for President with all these good ideas I am coming up with. Then again, I think I might just stick to being a mom.

Yeah, I like the sound of that much better.

Looky, Looky!

2011-12-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

Today was my most amazing Christmas yet. The Mister got me a DSLR camera. It's a Nikon D40. I have a friend who was selling the whole set -- 2 lenses, bag, and software -- for a ridiculous deal. Let's just say I scored big.

The Mister didn't lose out either. Santa brought him an Xbox 360 after 5 years of begging and pleading. Looks like he was on the nice list this year :)

Here's a few family photos we snapped with the new gadget...

Benny

Max

The Mister

Yours truly

Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

Dress: LOFT. Belt: LOFT. Necklace: LOFT. Heels: Steve Madden.

Merry Christmas Eve, loves!

Today we are on our way to see the LA Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker, followed by an evening of sipping hot cocoa while visiting the LA temple lights.

Hope you have a magical evening and all your Christmas wishes come true!

From Me To You

2011-12-23T08:49:00.001-08:00

Cardi: LOFT. Shirt: Fred Meyer. Scarf: LOFT. Belt: LOFT. Leggings: LOFT. Boots: thrifted via Buffalo Exchange. Glasses: vintage. Earrings: F21. Guard Dog Max: adopted.

I'm a big snoop. I openly admit it. Good thing I live in a time where Facebook, Twitter, and blogging dominate the world.

It's a snooper's paradise.

I get to see into the personal space of others. Most times I live vicariously through the charming lives of my peers, via blogs and such, and occasionally I feel sorry for some people (generally via Facebook... living the high school dream is only cool when in high school, not 1, 2, or even 6 years later).

All this being said, there are times I am still left wanting more, wanting to know random facts about my favorite bloggers. If you haven't noticed, I love random things. I think they make life a little more interesting and spicy.

To satiate my own desires to know more about people I admire and follow, I have compiled and completed my own questionnaire. It's chuck-full of randomness and the personal tid-bits you don't generally hear about, yet it's the stuff everyday is made of. Like an episode of Seinfeld. Nothing particularly poignant or stirring, just typical and looking at things in a straightforward way (and hopefully with a sense of humor).

Are you messy, meticulously clean, or neither?

I fall in the middle category. My house is usually tidy, but not sparkling clean 24/7. I hate clutter everywhere, and we live in an apartment, so that happens rather quickly.

How old are you?

I am the ripe age of 23!

Do you always get ready everyday or is it more for the camera?

Yes, I get ready everyday and my outfit posts are things that I actually wear that day. Unless I'm feeling under the weather and then I just lounge around in sweats and over-sized tees.

How tall are you?

I measure at 5'2"... you could say I'm a bit on the shrimpy side!

And your husband? And what is his full name and age?

The Mister is 5'10". His real name is Matthew, but he goes by Matt or Rod. He is 26.

What is your church calling (there are lots of LDS aka Mormon bloggers, myself included)?

Matt and I are nursery leaders, even though I don't go anymore because I don't want to get sick and am about to pop. For those of you who are wondering what the crap I'm talking about, we have positions of service known as "callings" in our church. It's a way to contribute and serve in the church because there are not any paid positions. It's all "lay ministery" work and it's all volunteer based.

How often do you go shopping?

I buy at least one or two new things per month. It's usually a sale shirt or an accessory.

How much money per month do you spend on clothes? No lying or understating.

Generally I spend about $25 a month on clothes and accessories. I refuse paying full price for anything and shop mostly in the sale section, but I will occasionally splurge on a pair of shoes or something fancy--about every 3 months or so.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Utah, but raised in the Pacific Northwest in University Place, Washington. I moved away when I was 18 and met Matt a couple of years later in Utah.

How many siblings do you have?

I am the youngest of 8! My oldest sibling is 19 years older than me. That makes my parents 65, almost 66 years old. When I was little I used to get mad and cry every time someone assumed my mom was my grandma, which was like 80% of the time.

How long have you been married?

Matt and I have been married for 2 years and 7 months. We dated for one year before getting married. In Mormon culture, that's like a decade.

Do you have a college degree?

I'm one semester short from my Associate's, and I want to be an RN when I grow up. It took me forever to finish my prereqs because I have always had to work full-time since I left home and put myself through school. Those dreams have been put on hold however, since I am trading in my professional work place boots for mommy boots.

What is your job/career?

I worked as a Co-Manager at LOFT (which explains why everything I own is from there), but like I said, I am now prepping to be a mama bear.

What is your husband's job/career?

Matt is a pharmaceutical sales rep. He sells drugs for people with gout. Yeah, don't worry, I didn't know what gout was either until he started his job. It's a pretty sweet gig. He doesn't have to work from an office and the hours are fantastic. That means more time for us to hang out and do cool stuff.

Where do you live?

We live in Chino Hills, CA. It's about 40 minutes away from the beach and 45 minutes from downtown LA. Quite a fab location if you ask me.

Who is the Kramer in your life?

My friends would probably agree that I am the most like Kramer, or used to be anyway (I suppose I've matured a little). I am the one who randomly does crazy things all the time, that are generally unpredictable, yet unsurprising to all who know me when I do them. That, and I'm really good at raiding people's refrigerators. And I may or may not have a reverse peep-hole on my front door.

I encourage you, my fellow bloggy friends, to fill out this questionnaire or your own, so we can all be snoopy together and get to know each other a little better!

What A Cutie

2011-12-22T14:29:00.002-08:00

I just stumbled upon these and couldn't resist sharing. Isn't my husband the cutest, most handsome and charming man ever?

Yes. The answer is a resounding yes.

Geography Issues And Other Disasters

2011-12-22T09:16:00.001-08:00

Striped tee: LOFT. Cardi: LOFT. Belt: LOFT. Beloved maternity pants: Target. Shoes: Target. Earrings: F21.

In my last post I mentioned how much I love maternity pants. Well, here they are in all their maternal glory. Not so bad, right? They are a little baggy through the hips, but that just leaves more comfy wiggle room for moi.

In other news, I suck at United States geography. I realized this when The Mister and I had a contest to see who could draw the best and most accurate map of the United States.

He missed something like 4 states. I missed about 15, maybe even 20. We scanned the pictures onto the computer, but I am too embarrassed to put it out there for the world to see.

Pathetic, I know. I'm hoping I get one of those cool U.S. map puzzles in my stocking. Not even kidding right now. That, and I clearly need to go back to the third grade. Maybe I could even engage in a little game of dodge ball like in Billy Madison, which reminds me of a story you all need to know. Here it goes...

An anonymous acquaintance of mine used to work at the YMCA. They worked for an after-school type program with little elementary kids.

One day a vigorous game of dodge ball commenced. For those of you who have seen Billy Madison, what happens to mouthy kids who talk smack during the game?

They get dominated.

This anonymous person claims they were being "ganged up" on by a group of 8 and 9 year-olds. I suppose the natural response to that was laying bombs on them until they were all tagged out, left crying, and possibly missing some teeth.

A Random Thing Or Two

2011-12-20T09:28:00.000-08:00


Sequin beanie: F21. Belt: LOFT. Sweater: LOFT.

I've learned a couple new things in the past week. Though random things they may be, they have been floating through my mind, so I thought I'd share them.

1) 'Whatever' was the most despised filler word this year amongst intellectual, conversationalist adults, with 'seriously' trailing as a close second...

Seriously? Those are some of my faves, but whatever ;)

2) Winco accepts manufacturer's coupons. For those of you not familiar with Winco, it's a mega-cheap mega grocery store. Even though the one where we live is a little scary, the thrill of only spending $50 for an entire cart full of groceries never gets old.

3) Maternity pants are the most comfortable thing in the world. Is it wrong that I want to wear them even after I give birth, strictly based on the fact that they are as comfortable as sweats?

4) Baby powder get sand off and out of every crevice on the body. It's like a magical elixir.

5) Santa Clause has an iPhone. How did he ever do it before Siri was there to help him? Seriously.

Eat, Drink, And Be Jolly

2011-12-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

This last Friday, The Mister and I spent our afternoon and evening in labor and delivery.

It all started with my usual NST (non-stress test) appointment. I go to them twice a week because I have hypothyroidism. Basically they monitor the baby's heart rate, contractions, and finish with an ultra sound to ensure fluid levels are adequate.

Anyway, I was having contractions about every 10 minutes on the monitor. The nurse was concerned, as I was barely 35 weeks, so she checked to see if I was beginning to dilate and efface. I was only dilated to 1 cm and not effaced, but they still decided to keep me in triage to monitor the contractions. We ended up staying there for 4 hours because at one point the contractions became increasingly strong, about 5 minutes apart for almost an hour. I began freaking out a little, with the increasing reality that we could be going home with a baby when we left. The Mister and I had a moment of fear, excitement, and apprehension all at once. We'd been waiting anxiously for Baby Rod's arrival, but we weren't exactly mentally prepared for what the monitors and contractions were telling us--that he was planning his debut within the next day.

Then, all of a sudden, the contractions stopped. Almost completely. Nurse Sue came in with a dumb-founded look on her face, as she was expecting our little guy to make his debut as much as we were.

I was relieved to find that he wasn't ready to come out just yet. Even though he weighs 6+ lbs and it would be so fun to finally meet him, I want baby to stay in just a couple of more weeks so he can develop his little lungs and brain better.

I am still having contractions, so they put me on bed rest. It is working on keeping the contractions at bay, but that means I can't stay a busy-bee like I am accustomed too.

Do you think that stopped us from having our Christmas party this weekend though? Of course not! I always have a way of working around things. That thing is called having The Mister cook and bake. He did ALL of it. Isn't he amazing?

The menu consisted of:
slow-cooked BBQ roast beef sandwiches (recipe here),
chips,
bottled root beer,
and the most amazing spread of
snickerdoodles,
PB cookies,
chocolate crinkles,
and fudge.

He wasn't very happy about me taking his picture, but I had to brag. After all, he is the world's best husband :)

Even though it was a crazy weekend, we ended it by eating great food and spending quality time with friends. Boy oh boy, do I love the holidays!

Moms Say The Darndest Things

2011-12-18T23:00:00.002-08:00

I have a thing for funny auto-correct conversations. Usually I randomly find them via Pinterest, but today I found this one on the increasingly famous site, Damn You Auto Correct (pardon my French). A lot of them are just plain nasty, but I have become an expert at filtering for the appropriate, super-hilarious ones.

The laughter that ensued after reading this little gem almost literally made me pee my pants and induced a contraction or two. Apparently, uncontrollable laughter needs to be added to the list of "Natural Remedies To Induce Labor". I'll take laughter over castor oil any day.

via

You're welcome.

Present Restraint

2011-12-15T12:31:00.001-08:00

I am presently staring (no pun, hehe-haha) at our beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree.

It is taking all of my energy to not open the gifts. Here is the kicker though...

I already know what 2 of my 3 gifts are. Shame on me.

It's not entirely my fault. The Mister left his account open one day and I saw what it was. It's pretty much amazing. I even played with it a little when it arrived, but it's safely snuggled under the tree for now until Christmas morning. I will leave it a surprise for all of you though, as it will directly benefit the quality of this here bloggy. Any guesses?

Does anyone else have a problem of the sneaky-sneaks during Christmas?

Here is the gift I want to open most. But that would probably be weird and we'd have a serious problem on ours hands if I could open it. My mom always says it would be fun to have a zipper so we could pull him out, take a peek, and then put him back for safe keeping. Maybe that's what I'll ask Santa for.

35 weeks. Not that I'm counting or anything...

Pre-labor Of Love

2011-12-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 34th week and 4th day of Baby Rod's life. Non-stress tests have commenced twice a week until delivery. I have hypothyroidism, which is why I have to be monitored. Fortunately, he is nice and healthy and developing just fine. Actually, I'd say he is developing rather swiftly and enthusiastically, as today's ultra sound revealed he currently measures at about 6 lbs.

Due date wrong, perhaps? That's what I keep thinking.

Especially now that I have been experiencing cramps, Braxton Hicks contractions, lower back pain, and intense pelvic pressure for the past 8 hours. My relentless hours of Google searching have drawn me to this conclusion...

I am going into pre-labor.

The monitor showed I had two contractions this morning, but the nurse didn't seem too alarmed, and I didn't even know I was having them. Now I'm beginning to think otherwise.

This whole labor/growing a baby experience is really confusing for a girl who hasn't the slightest idea what's going on! All I know is I'm huge, uncomfortable, and getting quite fatigued.

Off to a warm bath and massage I go!

Ever-growing belly.

Ever-growing exhaustion.

Judgment

2011-12-11T16:04:00.001-08:00

You ever experience those moments when someone says something that hits straight to the heart, almost as if it was directly intended for you? Today was one of those days.

Passing judgment is something I fall prey to very easily. Many times I find my mind filled with snarky thoughts and assumptions toward people, when I have nothing to base it on but what is happening in the present. The problem with condemning people is that we have no idea what drove those people to their situations and conditions. We only see what is put before our eyes, not the entire story.

I like to use the analogy of puzzle pieces. If I were to see a small section of a puzzle that was brown and murky looking, I would automatically run to the conclusion that the picture would be one of ugliness with no aesthetic appeal. But, if I stayed a little longer, put some time and energy into completing the puzzle, I would find that it was actually part of something beautiful--a lush, colorful garden perhaps, where the brown was the necessary dirt the flowers grew in.

This same situation applies to our visions of people, at least for me it does. If I just took a little time and compassion on people, I would see them for their beauty and realize that we all have a little dirt in our lives. We all do.

In light of the Christmas season, I am going to strive to be more like Christ. The greatest gift I can give to Him is to love with charity and fullness of heart as he did. That means no more judgmental thoughts and words, and more looking into the lives of others with compassion to see how I can help them.

Funny Stuff

2011-12-06T14:56:00.001-08:00

Baby name picking can be a challenge.

It's what your child will be identified by for the rest of their life. I for one prefer solid, classic names. However, they can't be too boring or ordinary, because that is not any fun at all and they will have the same name as millions of other people in the world.

I get the whole "I want my kid to stand out and feel like a unique individual" approach as well, but sometimes I think people try wayyyyy too hard in an effort to be original. For example, I was reading a baby name list a few months ago titled, "Unique Names". The lineup included names such as Wethrleah (no, that's not a typo), Braceletto, Westcot, Satchel, and Fairen to name a few. Let's also note these were listed as popular, unique names in the United States. Maybe you like them, but I just think they are ghastly.

Poor kindergarten teachers. I empathize with you in your attempts to spell your students' names correctly. And for all of those kids with fantasyland names who will one day hope for people to take them seriously when they pass along their business cards.

Anywho, my point in all of this is actually to share the worst name I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. It's so terrible it's funny.

Ready? Drumroll please...

Facebook.

Yes. You read that correctly. Some Egyptian dude named his daughter Facebook, as it was a key instrument used by activists in helping to liberate the people.

True story, people.

And that is all I have to share today. Have a good one!

All I Want For Christmas...

2011-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

...is this outfit from Anthropologie.

Source: anthropologie.com via Abbey on Pinterest

It's magical, just like this holiday season.

You know what else is magical? The daily holiday giveaway Anthropologie is hosting for 20 Days A'Gifting.

Happy Monday, loves!

Christmas Favorites

2011-12-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

A vintage Christmas is calling to me this year.

Silver and gold sparkles.
Burlap.
White on white.
Rustic jars and bottles filled with glitter.
Exquisitely wrapped presents.
Charming hot cocoa stations.

I am obsessed.

Source: camillaathome.blogspot.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: myblackbook.free.fr via Abbey on Pinterest

Source: norococo.blogspot.com via Abbey on Pinterest

Cheetah, Cheetah, Pumpkin-Eatah'

2011-11-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

Blouse: LOFT.
Belt: LOFT.
Bracelets: LOFT.
Skinnies: F21.

This is the Thanksgiving outfit I was telling all you lovelies about. Minus the Rachel Zoe inspired sequin beanie. I actually have that paired with an all black ensemble. Sometimes wearing black head-to-toe can be refreshingly chic, especially when you wear tons of color like myself. You should try it sometime.

Anywho, Thanksgiving was fabulous, pumpkin pie and all. I didn't even spill on myself! That's a record.

Now I can officially enjoy all things Christmas (even though we've had our Christmas decor up since the beginning of November... don't judge me). Right now I am sitting in my rocking chair, basking in the ambience of twinkling Christmas lights and watching baby kick and wiggle in my tummy.

I love my life.

Chevron Baby

2011-11-28T15:08:00.001-08:00

Peeps, I have 7.5 weeks to go before Baby Rod arrives.

Can you believe it? Crazy, I know.

As I was taking inventory of the baby stash this weekend and double-checking for missing necessities , I realized we don't have a car seat cover. This became apparent to me when I saw our week-old nephew all warm and snuggly in his car seat.

Adorable, I tell you. Makes me even more antsy-pantsy to get our little handsome here!

Anyway, I found a shop on Etsy that makes custom car seat covers. For those of you that are mamas, you know that car seat covers can be boring, typical, and just plain over-priced for something basic.

I pretty much freaked out when I saw I could create my very own custom one for $50 at Chubby Baby. Also, the Chubby Baby Blog is hosting a giveaway for a $100 gift card to her shop (you should totally stop by and enter)!

Do you know what the best part is? It's going to be grey Chevron. Have you ever seen a Chevron car seat cover in the stores? Never in a million years! We are going to have such a hipster baby.

Here is the fabric...

via

The charcoal minky fabric will be for the seat part and the distressed Chevron is for the cover hood! And how amazing does it all look with our diaper bag?

What do you think? Do you love, or do you love?

My Memories Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce the lucky winner of the My Memories digital scrapbook software giveaway!

Yay, Cheri!

You are going to love this program! Email me at rodriguez.abbey@gmail.com to get the information for your free promo code!

Thanks to everyone else for entering!

M.I.A.

2011-11-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A. lately.

We've had visitors galore, which I love, and I have been enjoying some quality time away from technology! Every once in awhile I think it is extremely healthy and important to detox yourself from all the fun gadgets. It gives you some time to yourself to unwind from the never-ending hustle and bustle of the internet and media. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so!

In other news, I have my Thanksgiving outfit all ready to go. Let me give you a preview.

Picture this...

With a little bit of this...

And a tad bit of this...

It's going to be so adorbs. Can't wait to stuff my face while attempting to be a chic prego mama. Better cross my fingers that I don't spill gravy or cranberry sauce on my new blouse!

Are you going comfy or dressing up for Thanksgiving?

P.S. Hurry up on over here and enter my awesome giveaway! It ends Friday!

Whoa

2011-11-18T16:18:00.002-08:00

Two words:

Taylor Lautner.

The only thing that goes through my mind is, how does anyone get that good looking?

(besides The Mister... duh).

video platform video management video solutions video player

Wait a minute...

Two more words...

Kellan Lutz.

Hello.

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Going to see Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 tomorrow morning. Nothing like some hot vampires for breakfast! And I absolutely will be able to relate to Bella, as I feel that my unborn child is trying to kill me from the inside sometimes. As The Mister says, looks like Edward is in the running for names for Baby Rod.

P.S. Enter my super awesome giveaway here!

Puppy Love

2011-11-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

The other day I pinned a quote that said,

"My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am"

Or in my case, dogs. We have two.

I am grateful for my little furballs. They are my mini BFF's. They keep me company when I am all alone and have taught me to be a responsible adult. And I am pretty sure they have prepped us to become better parents.

Seriously though.

Benny, the little black one, is blind and is pretty much like a perpetual puppy (which means lots of attention). Max, the yellow one, has doggy ADHD. For reals. He is out of control. Needless to say, they keep me on my toes and there is a lot that goes into making sure they are well taken care of!

They make me angry sometimes too, since they like to encourage one another to do bad things-- bad things like chew up my favorite pair of flats, but I wouldn't ever give them up.

I love these little pups!

Did your heart just melt? You have no soul if you answered no.

P.S. Be sure to skip over here and enter my giveaway! It's AMAZING! You'll be sad if you don't hop on it!

My Memories Scrapbook Giveaway!

2011-11-14T08:25:00.003-08:00

First of all, I just need to let you all know how excited I am to be hosting this giveaway!

If you don't know about the digital scrapbooking company, My Memories, I am about to change your world. Since many of you are the crafty type like myself, scrapbooking is probably something you love! However, we all know it can be very time-consuming, costly, and possibly leads to carpal tunnel. Or maybe someone just needs to teach me how to hold my scissors correctly and give me a Cricut. Ha.

Well, guess what? Don't worry about spending $200 on a Cricut or developing a wrist problem because My Memories offers digital scrapbooking software that you can get for free! Yes, many of you probably already digitally scrapbook because you are crafty AND techy. That's always a bonus. Good for you. You are ahead of the curve! But for those of you that don't, get pumped.

My Memories and I have partnered to giveaway the My Memories Suite software! It's a $40 scrapbook software program, which downloads quickly to your computer so you can start creating your scrapbook masterpieces immediately! Yayyy.

I just downloaded My Memories Suite about 3 days ago and am beyond obsessed. I have probably spent way too many hours on there, but it is easy to navigate, comes with super cute embellishments and layouts, and there aren't any paper scraps and hot glue strings to clean up when I'm done! Love that.

Here is the first page I completed...

Super cute, right?

Also, my favorite thing about this software is it gives you the option to turn your projects into calendars, postcards, or to print it out and put it into a physical scrapbook. Perfect holiday gift, people. And did I mention this program was rated #1 by Amazon for digital scrapbook software? Just sayin'.

Ok, so now that I have blabbed on about how much I love My Memories Suite, I am going to tell you how you can enter the giveaway for your very own!

Here are the mandatory steps for entry:

1) Visit the My Memories site and tell me which paper pack or layout is your favorite.

2) Follow this blog

Here are additional entries:

1) Follow My Memories Blog

2) Like My Memories on Facebook

3) Follow My Memories on Twitter
4) Share this giveaway on any social network of your choice AKA tell your friends!

Alright lovelies, that gives you 6 different opportunities to win this amazing scrapbook software! This giveaway ends Friday, November 25th at 11:59 pm!

P.S. If you can't wait to win the giveaway and absolutely must have the program now, I have a special gift for all of you readers! Here is a $10 discount coupon off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store. That's a $20 value for free-fiddy. Just click on the picture below and enter coupon code STMMMS93882 when you check out!

Good luck!

Embarrassing Moments

2011-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Would you like to read an embarrassing about ze moi? If you love sagas of romance mixed with humiliation, this is just your cup of tea for this Saturday morning.

Joining in people's embarrassment is kind of like watching videos of people falling. The funny kind they show on AFV; not the sad where the person was seriously injured and possibly went to their deathbed kind.

Skip on over here to Stilletos & A Fishing Pole where you can read about my featured embarrassing debut!

Have a fabulous weekend, dears!

Freedom

2011-11-11T14:53:00.000-08:00

Veteran's Day.

A day for rest from school. A day off from work (depending on where you work). A day for awesome shopping deals. A day to celebrate my oldest brother's birthday.

Veteran's Day has so many different perks! But do you want to know my favorite?

It is a day where we get to celebrate the sacrifice of all people, past and present, who fight to ensure our freedom. For that I am forever grateful. Without our armed forces defending our liberty, we would cease to enjoy the freedom we often take for granted as Americans. That is the fundamental trait of this great country that allows me to have the opportunity to be grateful for everything else I hold dear in my life-- my family, my beliefs, my individuality, my home, and my ability to choose whatever I want that makes me... well, me.

Thank you, veterans.

Tunic dress: Aerie.
Belt: LOFT.
Leggings: Target.
Boots: Thrifted.

Crazy Ladies & Baby Crazy

2011-11-10T13:35:00.001-08:00

Cable knit sweater: LOFT.
Striped infinity scarf: LOFT.
Striped tee: LOFT.
Bump: The Mister.

My tummy is getting HUGE.

Women ask me all the time when I am due, and they are shocked to hear January 20. Just for your information, that puts me at 30 weeks. However, I look more like 35-36 weeks, which would be practically full-term.

Nope, nosey ladies. Not even close. Well, kind of close, but still a couple of months. Now you feel awkward for assuming to know everything about being pregnant, don't you lady?

Alas, all this large-and-in-charge business means I will probably have a big baby. To me, a big baby equals a healthy baby. One who will hopefully sleep well through the night because he has some extra chunky-chunk to keep him warm and cozy.

Needless to say, I am thankful for my healthy, chubby baby in my belly.

Thankful For Animal Control

2011-11-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

This afternoon as I was walking into our house, I head a soft meow behind me. I looked around, didn't see anything, and proceeded to go inside. Again, I heard the faint meow and knew it was a baby kitty. Looking more closely to where the noise was coming from, I saw a little black ball in the corner of the parking stall across the way (looks like my motherly instincts are kicking in). Sure enough, a stray kitten was huddled in the corner.

The little guy was hurt. Apparently, some cruel woman hit him as she was driving by, or so my neighbor said. He was limping really bad and crying... made me want to cry with him.

Being the insane animal lover I am, I rushed to his aide by getting him a tiny bowl of milk and a blanket to snuggle in. The Mister did his duty and called the city's animal control department. We would have kept him, but he was in a bad way and we already have 2 dogs. I don't want to be that crazy lady living in an apartment with a million animals like they do on Hoarders.

Anyway, minutes later Animal Control came to kitty's rescue. They will be taking him to the Humane Society where a vet will fix him up and adopt him out.

Animal cruelty is so wrong. It literally makes me furious and depressed to the point of tears all at the same time. Therefore, today I am so grateful for animal control programs and the measures they take to provide safety and good homes for all of the wrongfully treated animals out there!

Thankful For Family

2011-11-08T15:32:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of bloggers out there who are dedicating many of their posts to things they are thankful for, being that it is the month of Thanksgiving! It's only appropriate, right? Usually I have strange aversions to jumping on the band-wagon about certain things, but I am diving full speed onto the band-wagon for this.

In my life experience thus far, gratitude has been a pivotal characteristic in helping me achieve the happiness I possess.

Happiness doesn't come from the number of shoes and clothes lined up in the closet. Happiness doesn't come from owning the latest technology. Happiness doesn't come from the square-footage of a home and all of the fabulous designer furniture inside of it.

Often I get caught up in the materialistic, consumer-driven world. Honestly, it's hard not to. I'm a girl. I'm a girl who loves fashion and sparkly, shiny things. Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing to have a comfortable life and have needs and wants provided for. But bottom line, happiness doesn't come from the amount of material possessions owned.

Any good thing in life stems from owning an attitude of gratitude (yes, I'm getting cheeky with the rhymes--it's the holiday season, and therefore I have the license to get as feel-goody as I like). When life gets crappy and it feels like everyone is out to get you, the best remedy is to take stock of the good things that are in your life. When life is awesome, counting your blessings leaves you feeling that much more warmy and tingly on the inside, and will usually lead you to help others so they can enjoy that peaceful feeling for themselves.

Now I will share my first thankful thought of the month...

I am thankful for family.

Life would get pretty lonely and pathetic without them. It's nice to know there is always someone out there who will listen to me complain about being a whale of a pregnant woman, or to send me random letters in the mail. It's fun receiving picture texts of what family members are doing and to share in their excitement. It's rewarding to be the shoulder to cry on for a family member who just needs to vent.

My side of the family: The Fish Family.

Me and two of my five brothers, Tyler & Chad.

The Mister and his parents.

My father-in-law, Tim & my sis-in-law, Stephy.

Me, Matt & Tim playing The Beatles Rockband. Goodness, I love that game.

I love you guys. Thank you for being my family.

Sunday Evenings

2011-11-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

This is what last night looked like at our house.

Heater has officially been switched on, the Cocomotion is in full use, and Christmas movie watching has commenced...all while snuggling with The Mister on the couch!

I love my life.

Make it a magical week!

P.S. Check out my featured post today at La Vie Petite!

We Did It!

2011-11-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I was selling Hope necklaces to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.

My goal was to raise $100 from sales to donate to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and...

WE DID IT!

Thank you to all you who supported this cause by spreading the word and by purchasing items from my shop, Sprightly So.

I will continue to donate 10% of proceeds from all purchases to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation throughout the holidays, so be sure to stop by and take a look! The necklaces make awesome gifts for the holidays, and I take custom orders!

Thanks again for all your help!