High Five for Friday

sweater: loft   jeans: kohls   boots: kohls

1.  I bought this sweater a week or so ago and feel as though baggy sweaters are a good choice for this beginning pregnancy, slightly awkward phase.

2.  After not cooking for quite a long time (like 6 weeks a long time) I finally made a real meal this week.

3.  I also made dessert: M &M Cookie bars.  These were SO good and really easy.  You don't even need a mixer!

4.  I'd like to blame this on some extreme pregnancy craving, but don't think I can.  I managed to eat an entire bag of cheetos in three days.  At first I would only eat a few if I finished writing a thank you note, but I can assure you I didn't have that many thank you notes to write.

5.  This one definitely takes the cake as the best blogging perk I've received so far, as I was sent a new HTC one x+ phone and I love it! It's the first time ever that Chris has been jealous of any technology I've had.

I'm sure you're so excited because that means clearer outfit pictures and I finally have a phone with a reverse camera so maybe that means I'll start taking hundreds of pictures of my face.

I'm SO happy it is Friday! Happy weekend to you!

To my husband

Let's just start out by saying that it's time I give my husband some major credit.  

December was a rougher month in the Vale household and he definitely stepped it up.  I was pretty much on bed rest for four weeks and was incapable of cleaning, cooking, getting food, all of it.  And then I'm going to add the next two weeks in there too, which weren't doctor ordered but still happened due to nauseousness and tiredness.

He even told me that he had no idea how much work I did around the house, which let's just hope he doesn't forget that now that I can do things.  Let's be honest, if he does - I will remind him.

I thought I would save this gift until Valentine's Day but decided it needed to be a "thank you for everything you've done the last month and a half" gift instead.

Enter Datevitation.

This company allows you to create custom made coupon books with over 200 date ideas to choose from.  While it would be a perfect Valentine's Day gift, you could give it for any occasion.  I loved this company even more after I watched the video of the owner proposing to his girlfriend.

Being very indecisive it took me forever to choose what 5 coupons I'd make for Chris.  I may have looked through all 200 of them.  I'll tell you ones that I didn't choose, although Chris probably wishes I did:

A coupon for skydiving together. 

Flight lessons.  

Being the cheaper and less adventurous type, I went with some of the safer versions like, 

I even offered to play chess.  See? I really really love him.

I'm glad I could add the "within reason" to that one. 

But if you are the adventurous type, there are quite a few exciting options, as well as some more "adult" ones too.  Just don't tell me you picked them because Chris would probably be jealous I didn't. 

Today you have the chance to win one of your own coupon books to customize and give to someone you love!  Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND I get to share with you a code to take $5 off any order, which means your coupon book would be only $15!  Just use code: lauren

Six Things

There are six things you need to know about this outfit:

1. This dress was purchased in the little girls' section at Target and was under $4.

2. I've written about these shoes before and how they were $3 and that Chris thinks they are ugly.

3. My sister in law made me this scarf for Christmas and I LOVE it.  She is definitely talented.

4. I bought this flower ring at Old Navy last week and it makes me happy.

5. I wanted to wear my favorite grey tights with this outfit but ripped a whole in them with my nails when I was putting them on.

6. Speaking of nails, if you look closely my nails are nicely painted which is a very rare occasion.


Hope you are having a good week!  After not working for almost 7 weeks I am very ready for the weekend already!




Linking up to Marionberry Style trend of the month: stripes & Random Wednesday & Look what I got

If I only went to a fancy party . . .

 dress: c/o eshakti   tights: kohls   shoes: discovery

If I went to a fancy party on New Year's I would've worn this dress.

I would have been hanging out with friends, having exciting conversations, dancing, blowing some noise makers and definitely staying up past twelve.

Maybe I should just let you think that it what I did on New Year's Eve.

But let's be honest.  I had dinner at my parents with my sister and her family, then headed to Chris' parents house.  I watched him play a few games with his niece and nephews while I laid on their couch for a little while and came home.  Only to be in bed by 11:30.

And I can't even pretend that I wasn't in my pajamas the entire time.

I'll give myself a little bit of grace to say that I was feeling extremely nauseous those days and "morning" sickness hit me the worst in the evening.  Regardless, I wasn't disappointed to spend a New Year's Eve in comfortable clothes, and quiet houses with early bedtimes.   Perhaps we're just preparing early for our New Year's Eves to come.

I'll also pretend that it wasn't terribly windy the day I took these and my hair wasn't in my face.  And that these shoes are comfortable.

But back to this dress.  I love it.  Eshakti sent it to me and I couldn't be happier.  I love the color and the details on the shoulder.  It's definitely appropriate for a fancy party or a wedding, but I think if I wore it with some boots and a sweater I could even wear it to school.

I was also really lucky because when my dress came in first, it was far too tight and they were so good about  letting me exchange it for a bigger size.  Which I am starting to wish was an option for all my other clothing, as everything is starting to feel a little tighter these days!!

One Word

First I have to say that I don't think it is possible to put into words how much I loved and appreciated your excitement for our big news.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that you took the time to tell me how excited you are, how you've been praying and will continue to pray, and all your sweet words.  There is no doubt that I am a lucky.  Thank you.

I've been thinking a lot of this last year and all the things that God has taught me.  I've learned so much and have grown more this year than any other year in my life.  I want to make an effort to use what God has taught me to be a different person.  A person who loves and trusts God deeper.

I love the idea of focusing on a word for the year.  I spent a lot of time thinking about a word the represents an area that I know God has been testing me in and something I can apply to this coming year.

I choose SURRENDER.

source

I mentioned it on Thursday night, but we had a really rough start to our pregnancy.

The day before Thanksgiving we got to see our 5 1/2 week old baby's heart beat.  It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.  I truly don't know if I've been happier before.

Friday afternoon, I went shopping with my sisters and started bleeding really heavily.  It was honestly the scariest moment, as I thought that I was losing our baby that we had prayed for, for so long.

We rushed to the doctor's office and through complete panic and lots of tears on our end, the ultrasound technician found our baby's heartbeat.  But also found a really large hemorrhage, which was causing the bleeding.

They put me on bed rest and I spent the next four weeks waiting, on bedrest, hoping and praying that our baby would be okay and that my body would heal.  Each doctor appointment was a tiny bit of progress but every day felt so uncertain.

We waited for two years to get pregnant and I had thought once we heard our baby's heartbeat the waiting would be over.  As if I surrendered my control of getting pregnant but was still holding on to how I thought the rest of the process should go.

When I think about all the things that I love the most they are Chris, my family, and now my little baby.  The things that make me feel secure are my house, my savings account and my job.  There is this big part of me that wants to hold on to these things as tight as I can and not let them far from me.

When I felt like I was going to lose our baby I honestly pictured myself wanting to hold him in my hands, as close as I can to keep him safe for the next eight months.  I picture myself putting all these things I love in a room, shutting the door and holding them, as if that could keep them safe.  As if my protection is bigger than a God who is bigger than this world.

I want this year to be a year where I stop holding on tight to the things I love and the things that make me feel safe.  I want to open my hands and surrender to a God that is bigger than my fears and my feelings of uncertainties.

Because He will always be bigger than those things and I want them all to be held in His hands and not mine.

I want to give up my control, my fears, plans and worries and SURRENDER.

We're having a baby!

 It's been a rough start, but I am SO excited to be able to share with you . . .

I feel more excited to share this news with you than some I've been able to tell in person, as the friendships, support, and encouragement I've made through this blog during our infertility struggle has honestly been a bigger blessing then I could have ever imagined.  

Thank you for your encouragement and prayers as I've shared my heart through disappointments, struggles and hope for this baby that we've prayed for daily these last two years.  

There are still many times that I feel nervous about the future and feel like this isn't real, but I am believing that I will get to hold our sweet baby in July.  

I've been doing a lot of praying, thinking, and continually working on giving things over to God as we had some scary complications during the first two months.  God is teaching me over and over that He is the only one that is in control.  We're daily praying for God's continued protection of our little baby that I feel like I've loved for WAY longer than the last 12 weeks.

Thank you again for your prayers.  They have been so comforting and are appreciated more than you know.

Loving Lately

Loving polka dots, colored jeans and boots. 

 

jacket: c/o wendybox   pants: jcpenny  boots: dsw  top: old navy 

Loving that next week the Bachelor and the Biggest Loser start.

Loving the little breaks I've taken from blogging this month.  It's been nice to spend less time on my computer and lots of time with my family.  BUT I am excited to get back to a regular schedule with posts, emails and reading other blogs.

Loving delicious looking meals, like this four cheese mac & cheese.  The recipe calls for white truffle oil, which I've never used before but I would like Chris to make it so I can eat it!

recipe

Loving my influenster box.  

Quaker Oatmeal : I ate this for breakfast last week and it was really good.  I loved the dried cranberries in it.  And I felt healthy eating it!

Quikstyle brush:  This brush has microfiber bristles to help remove water and it definitely worked!

NYC Color Lipshine:  I am not a lipstick girl, so this was a perfect find.  Colored lipgloss.  

Kiss Nail Dress: I haven't used this yet, but I am excited to. It says you can just peel on the nails and they should last a week.

Face Mask: I don't know that last time I used a face mask but will definitely use this at some point/

Loving that I while I am behind with the more New Years-ish post, I will have one next week.

Happy Wednesday friends!