First Trimester Must-Haves

I know what you're thinking - these must-haves are not glamorous or even the least bit "fun" when you think of embarking on one of the most exciting milestones of your life. However, these handful of items truly make the first trimester a bit more bearable when you're experiencing fluctuating hormones and a changing body. With the advice of my doctor, I also was taking a prenatal vitamin with DHA prior to becoming pregnant (I've used these throughout my pregnancy, and they have been wonderful). Other than that, I worked in the above items and all faired well in that lovely first trimester.

ONE | Saltine crackers and peanut butter. Need I say more? When you're dealing with bouts of nausea, a dry saltine with some added pb will fill you up and ease that "I'm on a boat" feeling.

TWO | Flexible ice packs. I suffered through some intense headaches during the first tri that luckily subsided once I hit week 14. For quite a while, I'd come home on my lunch break or after work and wrap one of these ice packs in a paper towel and place it behind my neck while I took a 20 minute nap. It worked wonders and if I had the time, those 20 minute naps would sometimes turn into an hour! I recommend getting at least two ice packs so you can rotate if you forget to pop one back in the freezer.

THREE | Belli Anti-Blemish Face Wash. I wanted a gentle and safe cleanser to use throughout my pregnancy and loved what I read about this particular face wash, so I decided to give it a try. The scent is heavenly and it leaves your face feeling clean and soft (other products I had been trying were way too harsh on my now sensitive skin). I still have a bit left and one bottle should last throughout an entire pregnancy.

FOUR | Small hair bands. Not for your hair, but for your pants! My jeans started feeling real snug pretty early on, so I opted for the hair band trick. Loop the band through the button hole, loop one side of the band through the other and then pull over to secure over the button. I liked the smaller rubber bands so there wasn't such a huge gap.

FIVE | Unscented body wash. I chose Aveeno's Skin Relief Body Wash because when almost every scent can send you running towards the bathroom, the last thing you want is a body wash that makes you feel sick when you're trying to feel clean!

26

26 weeks along with our sweet baby boy. OUR BABY BOY. Sometimes it still seems surreal that in just 14 short weeks we'll be greeting our little one and our lives will forever be joyfully changed by this sweet guy.

Pregnancy surely has been an adventure. The first trimester slowly rolled by, mostly because I was so anxious to share this exiting news with everyone. Beyond that, I am grateful the first trimester only gave me a handful of weeks of feeling tired and nauseous - he took it pretty easy on me! Now nearing the end of my second trimester, my only discomforts are backaches and learning how to bend over from this growing bump (my mister even helped me put a sock on the other day).

The coming weeks are jam-packed with exciting events, which I know are going to make these next couple months fly. Baby showers, hospital tour, visiting family up north, more baby showers, labor/delivery/breastfeeding classes, and of course the holidays! All for you little one, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Make This Space | Kitchen Edition

My friend and co-worker, Jamie from Work Your Closet, suggested I start a round up of home-inspired posts from images that currently grace my Pinterest boards, so here it is in all it's glory! I'll be finding an photo of a home interior (or exterior!) that I fancy and then I'll let you know where you can find specific or similar items for sale so you can create the feel in your own space.

First up is this simple, yet classic, kitchen that I seriously wouldn't mind spending hours in. Enjoy!

ONE | Teak Cutting Board

TWO | Cord Pendant Light

THREE | Arched Faucet 

FOUR | Glass Canisters

FIVE | Utensil Holder

Photo via Houzz for Rejuvenation

Holiday Wish List | Twenty-Thirteen

I'm apparently becoming a bag lady, as said my wish list this year. Not sure how that happened, but I've had quite an affinity to them lately. And of course there's the usual houseware items and beauty products too!

ONE | Crate&Barrel Marin White Pasta Bowl

TWO | J.Crew The Claremont Purse

THREE | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

FOUR | Yotam Ottolenghi Plenty

FIVE | Katie Quinn Davies What Katie Ate

SIX | The Animal Print Shop Rooster No. 2 Print

SEVEN | Everlane The Weekender 

EIGHT | Shopbop Tiny Baguette Ring

NINE | Makr Plate Hook

TEN | Madewell The Biker Boot

ELEVEN | Butter London Matte Finish & British Racing

TWELVE | J.Crew Tartine Mini-satchel

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

While I know this treat is typically saved for the holiday season, I couldn't resist my temptation any more to try it. With some dinners planned for this past weekend and my assigned duty for dessert, I figured why not? Let me tell you...I am so happy I didn't wait any longer, because these are simple to make and even better to eat (I snuck way too many during the process!). And so, I found this recipe on Pinterest and made some minor revisions!

WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup white sugar
3 cups raw pecans
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup water

HOW YOU MAKE IT

Preheat oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit. Combine sugar, cinnamon and water in a large skillet. Add the pecans and stir on medium heat. You will continue stirring until the sugar finally crystalizes on the nuts - this took about 9-10 minutes for me. Transfer pecans to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes to toast. Let cool on a piece of parchment paper and store in mason jars or an airtight container.

Nesting

Blooming tulips | Dinner planning

New art print | Greenery for the office

Coconut ice cream sandwiches | Sunday breakfast

Salsa prep | Summer sandals

There has been all sorts of nesting going on over here, and for the record it's not the baby-kind-of-nesting just yet. I have been yearning for some more structure and simplicity in our home and daily routines. Picture frames have been dusted off and finally hung, closets cleaned out and organized, and the best yet...meal planning. Since moving in together after our wedding last spring, the nightly question, and occasional hangry question, remained "What are we doing for dinner?". And so, meal planning for the week has been a huge success and proved it's worth. Plus, not only has that dreaded question diminished, we've gained about an hour or two more enjoying our evening together. It's a win-win. 

Shop | Terrain

If your green thumb is itching to get ahold on some new garden accessories like mine is, Terrain has some great new finds for the summer season. The marble tray is perfect for being home to a small succulent while doubling for some bathroom necessities, and their preserved ferns are the perfect touch of green (plus you don't have to even worry about watering these guys). 

I'm especially wanting to get my hands on their wildflower seed bombs. I love the idea of dropping some of those in my yard, or perhaps even around the neighborhood, and seeing them bloom later on this year. And with the Florida sun giving me a beat while gardening outside, a woven hat may become an essential accessory.

Chiseled marble tray | Preserved fern bunch

Hand-woven garden hat | Wildflower seed bombs

Georgia On My Mind

Dress | BCBG, Hat | Gap, Purse | J.Crew, Necklace | J.Crew

We're off to Savannah, Georgia for a few days to celebrate our one year anniversary! For once in my life, I actually planned out what I'll wear ahead of time instead of stuffing way too many potential outfits in my suitcase. I'm really looking forward to some cooler Spring weather, exploring a historic city and finding many moments to just relax together and reflect on our first year of marriage, which has absolutely been the best blessing. 

Simple Moments

Fresh blueberries for breakfast | Making my desk at work more homey

Early morning conversation and chai lattes | Birthday cake baking for Chris

New goods from Anthropologie | Dinner with the ladies

Lunch time views | Mid-day espresso

Life has been consistently busy as of late, which makes the weeks go by faster than I can believe. So I've been trying to take time to focus on some of the more simple moments in life. A new favorite is when a good friend and I meet for coffee and tea in the morning; we like to end these mornings with leisurely walks around the town where we work. Even though the time we have is short compared to the day ahead of us, we've been feeling rejuvenated by the calmness of watching the city wake and feeling as if we've already accomplished some quality time. It's times like these that make you realize it is ok to stop and slow down. 

Mini Peach Cobblers

My father's sweet girlfriend, who just happens to be a true Georgia peach, taught me this quick, easy recipe for none-other-than mini peach cobblers one evening. This is a simple recipe her mother has made for years, and with only four ingredients and a handful of minutes to prep, it's needless to say these cobblers have certainly made their way into our kitchen many times.

WHAT YOU NEED

1 can of crescent rolls
2 fresh peaches 
1/4 cup of white sugar
3 tbsp salted butter

HOW YOU MAKE IT

Peel the peaches and cut into small pieces. Open the can of crescent rolls and carefully press one triangle of the pastry down on a cutting board or counter until spread out thinner; the point of the triangle should be pointing towards you. Include a few pieces of the peaches near the top of the pastry. Fold the two larger ends over the peaches, and then fold the top over to encase the peaches as you roll the entire pastry down to the bottom of the point. Repeat with the remaining pastries and arrange in a square baking dish. Place the sugar and butter in a stove top sauce pan or in a microwave safe dish. Heat until the butter has completely melted; the sugar should still be thick and not disolved. If using a microwave, try heating in small 15-20 second bursts and stir after. Using a pastry brush, coat each roll with the mixture. Bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until lightly brown on the top. Set aside to cool for a few minutes as the centers will be very hot. Enjoy with a scoop of ice cream on the side. 

SPRING TO IT

Now that the weather has started to ease into the warmer temperatures us Floridans are use to, I can't wait to start enjoying all that spring has to offer. I've been subconsciously 'spring cleaning', bringing more greenery into our home and enjoying the outdoors, all while finding some more spring-infused inspirations for the days ahead. These are just a handful of my favorites.

Small boating trips | High-waisted print bikinis 

Rosemary & truffle oil popcorn

Potted plants & lanterns | Wavy ponytails

Winter Skin

I don't know about you, but as soon as that first winter chill comes rolling in, my skin likes to dry up and become more of nuisance then it has all year. Luckily Florida doesn't harbor many cold days, but my husband's family lives in brisk Philadelphia, so it was crucial to stock up on some products that would save my skin while visiting. 

I've tried many products over the years, but these handful are the best I've come across so far. Hopefully these suggestions will help keep your skin feeling hydrated and soft this season too! 

One | The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter - The best body cream ever. Goes on thick and stays all day.

Two | Philosophy Great Skin Is In Normal/Combo - The face cream works great for both winter and summer months - it's hydrating, but not heavy. In combination with the face wash, my skin was more vibrant then ever after using this set for only a week.

Three | Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - This is the only hand cream I've found so far that has been able to keep my hands smooth throughout the winter. It's a miracle worker.

Four | Say Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - These are great to remove eye make up and, well...all of your make up when you're feeling lazy after a busy day. Quick, easy and they leave you feeling refreshed. 

Five | Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in Coconut Lime - Great to exfoliate with in the shower and the shea nut oil ingredient helps to preserve natural moisture in your skin.

Six | Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose - Hydrates your lips and gives some subtle color.

Seven | Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash - It's so hard to find a body wash that doesn't have overbaring scents and this one does the job right. Lightly fragrant and locks in moisture. 

Eight | Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment - Soothes and heals dry, chapped lips. I like to use this first and then layer with the Burt's Bees after. 

Nine | L'Occitane Shea Butter - Use this shea butter for really dry areas like knees and elbows. 

Making Some Alterations

Of course with new years, come new resolutions. However this year, I decided not to suddenly jump on board the riot for change on the first of the month. I do want change - just not the kind of change that sticks for a glimmering second and then you're left every January 1st with a reminder that you couldn't (or just simply didn't) follow through the last time. So instead, I've been gradually working in some changes over the past month, and I have to say I've accomplished way more this January than other new years. Here are the couple areas I've been focusing on:

Caring for my home. I've been taking this one day by day by putting in 10-15 mins every day to improve or tidy up some area of the house. Even something as simple as picking up fresh flowers every Sunday during my weekly grocery shopping trip has helped to make our home more inviting, comfortable and complete (even if our bedroom is strewn with clothes that need washed/hanging up). I've also been trying not to get too intensive about the cleaning process and remembering that no one is glaring at the dust bunnies under our bed because in reality I'm the only one who even cares or knows about them.

Caring for my health. It is so easy to overwhelm yourself or even set yourself up for failure when you put unrealistic expectations on yourself when it comes to your health and fitness routines. I aimed to hit the gym four to five days a week for a few months last year, but ended up quitting a couple months in because I wasn't seeing the results I wanted. I knew I needed to incorporate healthier eating habits to get the results, but thinking about throwing so much change into my routine discouraged me even more. Instead of doubling on both at the start of the year, I simply chose to focus on getting a better diet in place since this aspect would affect my every day. And now after a few weeks of eating better, I'm going to start incorporating workouts back into my routine. 

bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

let's try this again

It's been quite some time since the last post, and much has changed over here since the beginning of this year. Not only did my name change (I'm now a Stephens!), I also have a new blog name!

As an update...after getting engaged last October, I shifted my career and started a new job, we got married this past April, and have now been settling in to our new home.

As you can see, this year has brought lots of change, but change I am so thankful and grateful for. I figured this would be the perfect time to start getting a bit more settled into my blog as well. I've got lots of exciting things happening as my life enters into this new season of life, and I couldn't be more thrilled than to document it all right here. So cheers to new beginnings, and I hope you'll stop by again!

24 days in

We're only 24 days in to 2012, and this year has already proved to be full of greatness. My schedule has been non-stop (although, I prefer it this way). 

The first weekend of January, we attended a wedding for our friends, Jesse and Robb, and it was by far one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to. Jesse's parents have a house on a lake and they held the reception in their backyard, with the ceremony a few houses down on community lakefront lot. They're such a wonderful couple to begin with that it was great to see them so happy during that moment and to share it with them.

We've been on a roll with wedding planning festivities and have been able to check a lot of things off our list. Our meeting with the wedding designer, Emilee, at our venue was so helpful and really understood the type of detailed wedding we are wanting. And, this week I'm meeting with the florist, which I can't wait for since the flowers are one of the most exciting elements of decor to me.

Spending time with good friends has ensued as well. We had the pleasure of hanging out with our friends, the Hembrees, one night to try out Yellow Dog Eats, a cute BBQ/sandwich restaurant in Gotha, Florida.

And, we celebrated our two year anniversary on Saturday. I surprised Chris with a day date at Discovery Cove. We got to ride, kiss and hug the dolphins. It was pretty amazing and I definitely recommend making the investment to go sometime. Then later on in the day, Chris surprised me with a mission letter to go on a shopping spree for a new wardrobe! I'm a lucky lady indeed. He's the best at surprises and giving gifts.

So, there you have it. 2012, you've been good thus far!

Trek Womens Triathlon

Thought I'd share some photos from my triathlon back in September. I know, September. It took me way too long to get these up. But here they are! 

And as for the actual experience, it was amazing! I definitely recommend doing an all women triathlon for your first (of course, if you're a woman). Everyone was beyond supportive and made the day that much enjoyable. Plus, I had a wonderful support team cheering me on from the sidelines. 

And, I beat my goal of 1 hour 45 minutes by 7 minutes 11 seconds!

The Swim Start 

The Nourish girls ran along side me for the first stretch of the run

So happy to finish

My wonderful Dad came to support

Fiance!

Engaged Lady

That's right! I'm now an engaged lady, and the luckiest and most blessed lady at that! So happy I get to marry my best friend!

This update is long overdue, but here it goes...

On October 18th, Chris and I, after exactly 21 months of dating, had the exciting opportunity for our families to meet for the first time. Chris' family lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia and had not been able to make the trip down to Florida until now. So, as soon as we knew they were planning a Disney trip (and of course trip to visit us!), we jumped at the opportunity to have the two fams unite. 

Chris rented out the dock at our favorite restaurant, Hillstone (formerly Houston's), in Winter Park, Florida. I'd always dreamt of having a dinner on this dock, which is private from the rest of the restaurant and delicately adorned with white lights and linens against wooden chairs and tables. This evening and meeting only seemed appropriate for a dinner at this location. 

As I was anxious all day about the meeting of our families, Chris seemed oddly composed and calm, reassuring me that everything was going to be fine. I also freaked a little at the fact that the weather forecast called for 100% chance of rain and torrential down pours much like those in a tropical storm. But still, he remained calm and even called to see if we could be switched to the covered outdoor seating just in case.

With that, I ran around all day at the prompting of gathering fresh flowers to make arrangements for the table in hopes that our night would not be rained out. And once to the dinner I felt calm and at ease since our families were getting along wonderfully. 

Then, after dinner our plates were cleared and I noticed a familiar face out of the corner of my eye. It was one of our friends walking on to the dock. My first thought was, "Well that's random! What's the chance one of our friends would be walking on the dock and the exact time we were having dinner." And just then, I noticed about 30 of our closest friends quietly walking down together and surrounding us. I just sat there in shock and keep making random remarks like, "Hey guys, what are you all doing here?", while blushing profusely until it clicked and I realized what was happening.

I turned to look at Chris who was standing up and gesturing me to do the same. He started talking about how we first met and I accidentally showed up at the wrong door at his house (straight into this bedroom, awkward!) but how thankful he was that I walked through the wrong door and rightfully into his life. He went on to say how I make him a better man and I believe he said something about us being best friends (it was such a whirlwind I had a hard time concentrating on everything he was saying...good things for videos that were taken!). I glanced around and saw some of my best girl friends in full on tears, which made it so special that I had the most wonderful support system witnessing this moment. And then, he went down on one knee, pulled out the gorgeously, perfect ring and asked me if I would marry him. I think I responded with an excited, "Yes, of course!", and prompted him to put the ring on my finger.

Then all of our family and friends cheered and we got to spend the rest of the evening celebrating on a perfect evening, on the perfect dock and with the perfect man. Plus, God worked a miracle and it only drizzled for 5 minutes and was clear for the rest of the night; take that weather man! 

So, that ladies and gents is our engagement story. My man did so well with coordinating everything and making it a moment that I will cherish forever. He. Did. Good. Well actually, he did more than good. It was perfection :)

The Fall List: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now that my favorite season, fall, has begun, I've decided to complete a Fall To-Do List. I haven't been the best at keeping up with regular posts, so here's to turning over a new leaf (no pun intended).

// Bake pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
// Learn how to knit
// Make homemade vanilla candles
// Carve a pumpkin
// Attend a wine tasting at a local vineyard
// Roast s'mores over a fire
// Have coffee with an old, but great friend
// Spend the day at a bookstore
// Watch the live premiere of a favorite fall show
// Decorate my home with Christmas lights
// Run a 5k

So, first things first! Here's my famous pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. These bad boys are addicting and taste almost like a cake crossed with a cookie. They even stay moist for up to a week...although I doubt they'll last that long once you try them!

I used the recipe here, but this time around I substituted crushed pecans for the walnuts. Now, get to it!

Tri Time

So, I finally bit the bullet and signed up for my first triathlon a couple months ago and began training at the beginning of June. I can hardly believe I've been at this for over two months now. Even though a few weeks haven't been exactly what I've planned in the terms of sticking to my ridged plan, I have to say I am quite pleased with myself (and my body is giving me a big thank you as well). 

This morning Mijanne and I went out to Lucky's Lake to tackle our first open water swim, and it turned out to be even better than we expected. The first length of the lake was a bit more challenging as we adapted to not being able to see anything but murky water below us and having to make sure we were staying on course. However, the trip back was smooth and we both got into a good rhythm as we completed the .62 mile swim. Lucky for us we now know we're more than capable of the half mile swim we'll be starting off with on race day.

The next couple weeks are going to be the most intense training as we prepare for the Trek Triathlon in  Clermont, Florida over Labor Day weekend. My schedule for the following two weeks will be looking a little like this:

Monday- Rest

Tuesday- Brick: Bike 50 mins & Run 25-30 mins

Wednesday- Bike 60-70 mins

Thursday- Swim drills 1600m

Friday- Run 40 mins

Saturday- Swim open water 1000m

Sunday- Mini Tri: 15 min Swim, 45 min Bike, 20 min Run

The week before the tri will be a mix of two easy 20 min runs, a 30 min bike and 10 min swim over the course of the week. And then, the big day on Sunday! 

Keep a look out on here because I will make sure to do some updates on how the next couple weeks come along.