Like the stereotypical first-time mom, I brought a full sheet of questions to my preliminary obstetrics appointment. My healthcare provider gave me her full attention and took the time to respond to each of my inquiries, and by the end of the appointment, I could tell she was both competent and confident. One of the topics we discussed was the ultrasound. She explained that her office’s policy is to do one during the first trimester, one at 20 weeks to confirm the gender, and additional scans only as complications arise….
Archives for 2018
The Massive Banyan Tree
Two years ago, Mr. Handsome and I visited the majestic redwoods along the West Coast and were blown away by their impressive height. Many were so tall that standing underneath them and looking up only provided a view of the bottom half of the tree. Earlier this spring, we came face-to-face with yet another unique tree: the banyan tree.
While redwoods are famous for their height, banyan trees are known for their massive canopies and their unique root systems. The largest ones can take up a space of a few acres! During our vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii, we walked along iconic Banyan Drive in Hilo (the east side of the island), which is lined with a handful of banyan trees….
Quick and Easy Fajitas
Growing up, fajitas were one of my least favorite meals, so it wasn’t until recently that I finally decided to try making them for myself. One of my sisters-in-law passed on her recipe, but I ended up omitting quite a few ingredients and making other changes. The results were great! I don’t like tortillas, so I eat mine with extra rice, but Mr. Handsome puts everything in a tortilla. This fajita recipe truly is “quick and easy.” Marinade it overnight, or cook it up right away….
Face Mask Giveaway
It’s hard to believe that October is already upon us! While the temperatures here in Nashville are still in the 80s (26-31 Celsius), the air definitely smells and feels like fall.
What better way to kick off the new season than a giveaway? Does anyone but me enjoy using face masks? I am raffling off a GlamGlow BubbleSheet Oxygenating Deep Cleansing Mask to TWO lucky readers. Follow the prompts on the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win. …
My Pregnancy Announcement for Mr. H
Several readers have asked when I broke the news to Mr. Handsome when I found out that we were pregnant and how I came up with a pregnancy announcement. Just to be sure that it wasn’t a false positive, I took a few different pregnancy tests over a span of a few days before telling him. After all those came back positive, I searched online for cute pregnancy announcement ideas, and let me tell you, there are a lot!
I considered doing something with fishing–“Future angler to arrive soon,” “We’re expecting a new fishing buddy,” or “Our greatest catch is on the way.” Those were all pretty clever but a little too flashy for me. I ended up going with something slightly more sentimental….
Choo-Choo I’m Two!
My sister-in-law Anne has been at it again. Her son is about to turn two years old, and she planned another extremely creative, themed children’s birthday party for family and close friends. We weren’t able to attend, but she sent photos, and I thought they were just too clever not to share. The theme was trucks and trains–“Choo-Choo I’m Two.”…
Modern ‘Little Women’ Review
Nearly 140 years after the release of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and 70 years after the premiere of the original film comes a modern version of the timeless classic. Four sisters, each with separate dreams and aspirations, navigate adolescence and early adulthood. Through trials, triumphs, and tragedy, they strive to remain true to themselves and loyal to each other.
Little Women opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow, and I had the privilege of pre-screening it. The story is a heartwarming one and is sure to have you laughing and crying along with the sisters. Jo (Sarah Davenport) is the independent first-born who dreams of writing a best-seller. Meg (Melanie Stone) is the slightly misunderstood second-born who desperately wants to be a wife and mother. Beth (Allie Jennings) is a gentle soul whose love and support for her sisters never wavers. Amy (Elise Jones and Taylor Murphy), the youngest of the four and an artist from an early age, wants nothing more than to be seen as an equal by her three older sisters….
Fort Phantom Hill
While in Abilene, Texas, visiting friends, we stopped by a historical site called Fort Phantom Hill. The sun was just about to set on the Texas plains, and the lighting was perfect for photos.
The fort was built in 1851 out of necessity, to manage increasing hostility between settlers and Native Americans. (The area was called Phantom Hill because it seemed to disappear when approached from the nearby river.)
The Fort was only occupied for a few years before it was abandoned and burned in April 1854. Although the wood structures were destroyed, the stone structures provided shelter to various individuals over the next thirty years. …
Gender Reveal Cake
Have you heard the news? We’re having a boy! As promised in Tuesday’s post, this is the story of our secret gender reveal party, during which we cut into an “ordinary” chocolate cake that turned out to be a gender reveal cake.
When we first found out we were expecting, we enjoyed keeping the news to ourselves for three months before announcing to family and friends. From the start, I knew that I wanted to find out the gender of our baby at the 20-week ultrasound, and while Mr. Handsome liked the idea of waiting until the birth, he allowed me to choose….
Our Baby is a…
Ever since we announced our pregnancy, our blog readers (and our family and friends) have been eager to find out the gender of our baby. We didn’t do a gender reveal party, but we did have a small gathering with a few family members. It’s a bit of a funny story that I’ll share later this week. Until then, the secret is inside this decadent chocolate cake! Will our new addition be a he or a she? Watch the video below to find out….