Pregnancy + Summer Tips to fully enjoy the season ft. Figure8 Maternity

I've traversed through summer with all my pregnancies but with little man I will be my MOST pregnant. Now I will say I'm not a "summer lover" (give me crisp and cool Autumn every time!) but since I have no choice I want to make the best of this fleeting season (Summer and my last, third trimester of pregnancy). Here are my favorite tips to embracing the hottest time of the year while pregnant. Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links. Thank you for supporting my blog! Thank you to Figure8 Maternity for sponsoring this post.

Stay hydrated- I'm a water-aholic but I know not many prefer drinking water to anything else. Make sipping that H2O more enjoyable by adding lemon and/or cucumber slices for that spa-like experience. Having a fun tumbler or water bottle helps too!

Dress Comfortably- Maxis are my go to when the sun is out; you get a nice breeze when you walk around and the bump is free to be. This Ingrid + Isabel kimono maxi maternity dress is pure heaven! The material is so light and soft and the sleeves give it that extra oomph, I seriously felt like a beach goddess. But any of the dresses at Figure8 Maternity would be great additions to your wardrobe. 

Lotion up- Slather on that sun block! I had two very bad sunburns in my teens and am making sure never to endure that torture again. Apply 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure or as instructed. I like the high SPF count myself (and for my girls). This also applies to your lips, use a lip balm that has SPF included. Adding a hat is also another stylish layer of sun protection!

Snack seasonably- summer fruits and vegetables are the best at this time of year! Berries, stone fruit, watermelon, carrots, tomatoes and cucumber are great for snacking on the go. Extra points if you get yours from a Farmer's Market.

Kick your heels up- after a day out and about I tend to notice some ankle and feet swelling (oh the joys of pregnancy ;) so reclining and making sure my feet are elevated slightly above my heart brings the swelling down.

Relax- and joy the season! Summer is so fleeting and that may have to do with all the fun activities we all pack into it so don't forget to take some time just to be lazy. Preferably at the beach.

Linking up here.

   

   

Who Do You Love // Collaboreads {A book you can finish in one day}

Joining Kristin and Rachel in their book lovers link up and this month's Collaboreads prompt is a book you can finish in one day now for full disclosure I didn't finish it in one day but since I'm running on Mom Time my two day run equals that of a regular reader's one ;) (that may also be Mom Math haha.) 

Goodreads Synopsis

Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are eight years old when they meet late one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she's intrigued by the boy who shows up all alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy's taken back to the emergency room and Rachel's sent back to her bed, they think they'll never see each other again.

Rachel, the beloved, popular, and protected daughter of two doting parents, grows up wanting for nothing in a fancy Florida suburb. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent that will let him become one of the best runners of his generation.

Over the course of three decades, through high school and college, marriages and divorces, from the pinnacles of victory and the heartbreak of defeat, Andy and Rachel will find each other again and again, until they are finally given a chance to decide whether love can surmount difference and distance and if they've been running toward each other all along.

With honesty, wit, and clear-eyed observations about men and women, love and fate, and the truth about happy endings, Jennifer Weiner delivers two of her most memorable characters, and a love story you'll never forget.

Riveting

I'm a sucker for sweeping timelines and happy endings, just call me a Romantic. This book delivered on everything; it was thoughtful and funny but emotionally deep and satisfying. If I ever wrote a book it would be very much like this one. I usually put read books into the Free Little Library box but I just gotta hold on to this one.

Elements

I just adored the main characters! Rachel for her spunk and tenacity and Andy for his gentleness and self drive; both are broken (one physically and one emotionally) but therein lies their greatest strength. And once they are together, pure magic.

Associate

I've been racking my brain for something similar but can't... so anti-climatic. But it kinda reminds me of my own love story with my husband so maybe that's why it's so dear to my heart?

I already had one friend read this book after my praises so the other day, Jess and I were brainstorming who would play Rachel and Andy in the movie adaptation. I said Selena Gomez as young adult Rachel and Jess said Lauren Graham as an older Rachel. We're both stumped on Andy... Any suggestions?

Design

Give me a clean cover and a red heart and I'm sold.

Stars

5 out of 5. I'm not kidding when I say I loved this book. Just read it and thank me later.

Linking up here.

   

   

Monday Musings {because I forgot to publish this on Friday}

I totally meant to post this as a 5 on Friday post, but guess who forgot? Yup. Pregnancy Brain at it's finest. So I'm throwing this at you as a "Monday Musings" and we'll just go with it because there is alliteration involved ;)

1) Star Spangled Kids link up is baaaack! And I am so excited to cohost again. Link up with us July 1st- 7th and show off all that glorious Americana goodness! And use #starspangledkids on Instagram!

hosted by:

Liz from Ellie And Addie // Jen from And Hattie Makes Three  // Kristy from Seven Graces Blog // Sarah from Seeing All Sides // Brettni from Honeysuckle Avenue // Whitney from Work It Mommy // Stephanie from Wife Mommy Me // Jessica from Secrets of a Stay at Home Mom

2) Visit me over on The Vintage Honey Shop blog! I'll be gust posting there for the next couple of months! Seriously, thee cutest handmade teething necklaces ever and the sweetest Sister-in-Law girl bosses to boot. My first post is all about my minimalist hospital packing list!

3) Summer clothes have me like whoa. I'm loving Gymborees shorts and knee highs!

Figure8 Maternity has some amazing maxis right now (just what this pregnant mama needs) and have you seen the new Freshly Picked x Care Bears collab?! Throwing it back and I am loving it!

source

4) Rae Dunn. Do I need to say more? With the opening of a HomeGoods right down the street from our Marshall's my hunting grounds just doubled.

5) Potty Training. SUCCESS. We've been at it all week with nary an accident in sight! To say I'm proud/elated/thankful is an understatement. Waiting til Brielana was older (versus when we trained Kinsey at 2.5) really made that big of a difference; she is more body aware and can even go without a diaper during naps/night time. We did the trial walks around the neighborhood and then ventured out to the beach and did some shopping (with travel potty in tow just in case) and she rocked it all! The only spill was the one she took in the ocean. This picture makes me laugh wayyyy too much (is that mean?)

I hope you have a great week!

Linking up here.

   

   

Month 7 Bumpdate {Baby Boy}

How far along: THIRD Trimester :: Weeks 26-30

Size of baby: Kabocha Squash {whatever that is}

Weight gain: 164 pounds // 25 pounds gained. I naively thought I'd like to try gaining only 25 pounds this pregnancy since I had shaved off 5-7 pounds when pregnant with Brielana (for a gain of 30 pounds) but I'm on track for 30 and am at peace with that number.

Maternity clothes: I'm done. I can't even look at maternity clothes anymore with any passion. I'm already thinking about my 4th trimester transition wardrobe and know I may want to leave some "fun money" for some flowy, forgiving tops.

Gender: boy!

Movement: So. Much. Activity. And little guy has impeccable aim because I get such strong shots right to my lady bits I feel like I could pee myself. Its cray.

Sleep: I've had bouts of weird middle of the night insomnia. I guess it doesn't help that I'm trying to keep Brielana in her bed all night and play musical beds a couple times every night.

What I miss: Nothing at the moment I'm at a really peaceful place right now and it feels marvelous.

Cravings: Muffins. I've made three different kinds of muffins in two weeks. Easy to grab as a snack or have for breakfast and the girls eat them too.

Symptoms: Same old, same old. Though now I have some feet swelling to look forward to at the end of the day. 

Highlight of the Month: Everyone has now had their turn feeling brother kick and it never gets old seeing the surprised/awed look on the recipients face! 
I survived (and passed!) the Glucose test after my faux paux of chewing sugarless gum (I seriously didn't even think it would be a big deal (TMI) but I had just forgotten to brush my teeth lol.) 
Stephanie sent me the sweetest monthly milestone stickers that I just can not wait to use! Thank you, friend!
A receptionist at my Doctor's office gave me the sweetest compliment of, "you don't even look pregnant. I mean everyone gains weight differently but you just look fabulous." I will take it!

Week 26

Week 27

Week 28

Linking up here.