Christmas Fun 2015

What a wonderful Christmas we had!  It was very relaxing to not have to go anywhere this Christmas, but sad too because we love all the family time!  This year since I'm decently far along with #3 we decided to take it easy and stay at home.  We started a few Christmas traditions of our own in the past few years so it was nice to be able to continue them and add to them potentially too!

For the past few weeks, I have been making a pinata for the kids.  It was a tradition when I was growing up, and I really thought it would be fun to continue it as well.  Grandma has been the one to make the pinata for the past 3 years, but since she wasn't going to be here over Christmas I decided to do one myself.  I remember helping my mom put the newspaper on our pinata when we were little, so that part of it wasn't new to me.  The actual decorating of the pinata and stuffing it with goodies was new though.  I decided to start easy by making a Christmas tree.

Here it is from start to finish.  Now that I've had time to think about it, I think I would have done some things differently artistically.  But now I know so that next year maybe I will be more creative and stuff.  I felt a little bit rushed this year too.  The kids didn't seem to mind though...

Alyssa was so into it this year, it was a lot of fun to watch.  Once Luke saw what Alyssa was up to he wanted to get involved too.  Although once Alyssa smacked a hole in it, he wanted no part in hurting the poor Christmas tree.  He wouldn't go near it and he was very sad.  So Alyssa had to take charge and get the candy and toys out.  Luke liked it once all the stuff was out though.

We also got an ice cream machine as a gift from Brett's parents.  Since when it came to our house it said Ice Cream Maker all over the box, we just didn't bother wrapping it and decided we would use it on Christmas Eve.  We got everything out and ready to go.  The kids were VERY excited to eat ice cream.

They watched it go around and around for a long time actually.  Then we got to enjoy the fruits of our labor, and boy was it good.  We decided for our first try we would go with the standard vanilla.

While the ice cream was being made, we did one of the new traditions that I started for the kids last year, a Christmas Scavenger Hunt.  My kids LOVE scavenger hunts.  I have to make them up for them all the time.  So, last year I decided to incorporate one into Christmas.  This year, I focused on the main characters in the Disney movie Prep and Landing.  If you've never seen them, they're pretty cute.  Anyway, at the end of the hunt they get new Christmas pajamas.

I figured they could kind of match while they still don't know any different :)

Those are some of the fun things we did over our four day weekend.  It was an action packed weekend of fun with my family.  I loved getting all the snuggles, and enjoying the happiness of the season.  We definitely are blessed.

Baby Bump - 33 weeks

Here we are again.  Another couple of weeks have passed us by already.  I'm am no happily at 33 weeks pregnant with #3.  It's going pretty well most of the time, so I honestly have nothing at all to complain about...except that my shirts aren't covering my bump exactly how I would like them to :) I also got my hair chopped off in all the commotion.  I think I'm liking it so far, but It's only been a couple of weeks now so I'm still figuring it all out.

32 weeks with #3; 33 weeks with #3

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and things are still going really well.  Everything is measuring right on track, and #3's heart rate was at 144.  At the time it had the hiccups, so lots of moving around. I go back again in another couple of weeks to get checked once again.  Then I think we're moving to every week appointments.  We are getting so close!



How I'm Feeling: So I went to the physical trainer and over the past couple of weeks my hip pain as almost gone away entirely!  It makes me so excited because it was pretty unbearable at times.  With the hip pains under control, I feel like a whole new person.  Now it's just a matter of getting out of certain chairs that I can get stuck in if I get in them too far.  Things are getting real!

Sleep:  I've been having a little bit more problems with sleep.  I'm still generally comfortable, but I've been having really weird and scary dreams lately.  They don't help much when you're trying to sleep and you keep waking up because you need to get out of the dream that you're in.  Then the uncomfortable flipping over when sleeping has definitely happened.  I am trying really hard to roll around me because if hurts so bad when I stretch a ligament in the middle of the night.  It just ends everything and you have to lay there for a few minutes in pain.  Needless to say, I'm mastering the skill of rolling slowly now.  Most of the time I just want to move and go back to sleep though.

Movement:  SO MUCH MOVEMENT!  This baby is always kicking/punching/head butting something.  I am pretty sure its still been moving all over the place, so I've been really anxious about it getting into position.  I believe we are starting to spend more time there, but sometimes I still don't know what it is I'm feeling.  That's probably half my problem.  So when I go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks, he's going to check the position.

Food Cravings:  Still all of the holiday goodies.  I just can't help myself.  Not that this is really abnormal though.  I love Christmas because of all the baking and goodies.  Who doesn't?  So I'm saying this is just normal, not really a craving.

Maternity Clothes: As discussed earlier, my shirts are starting to not cover my bump.  I think I have a handful of them that do, so it looks like we'll be starting a rotation of shirts.  It kind of pains me to wear the same things every weeks, but at the same time it makes it so that there is less for me to have to think about when putting clothes on.  I'm going to have so many options once this baby is out!

What are you looking forward to:  I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my two kiddos, because once that is over nesting is coming out in full force!  I am so ready for January to get here and to get things ready for baby.  I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to be putting everything...our house just seems to get smaller and smaller...but I'm going to make it work!  I'll share more on that later I'm sure.

Now what you've all been waiting for ;)  my comparison picture of my belly with Luke at 33 weeks and my belly currently at 33 weeks.  I just love seeing these pictures because it makes me question what this baby is! Do you have a guess?  Go put your guesses in on my baby pool!

33 weeks with Luke; 33 weeks with Baby #3

Christmas Cookies

For most of my adult life I have not enjoyed baking or cooking at all, for any reason.  I just do it when I have to to feed myself or my family.  Growing up, my Mom ALWAYS baked.  It's kind of her thing.  We were always helping her...and of course eating a lot of cookie dough.  :)

Well, for some reason this year I am SO all about baking!  Every weekend since Thanksgiving the kids and I have baked something to get ready for Christmas.  It's been so much fun especially now that Alyssa is old enough to really truly help me with things.  She's a little budding baker that's for sure!  

I think so far we have made about 6 different batches of cookies or candy, and we still have a couple of things left to do this coming weekend!  

We've made:

• Philadelphia Cream Cheese cookies
• Brownie Cookies
• Chocolate Chip cookies with Andes mints 
• Pretzel M&M Kisses
• Sugar Cookies
• Russian Tea Cakes

And I feel like I'm missing something...oh well.

Alyssa has helped with every single batch, and the boys have been our official "taste testers"! They're enjoying their holiday titles.  

Here are just a couple of the cookies we have been making. 

 I'm excited to be able to put an assortment on a plate or in a tin and gift them as holiday presents for people just like my Mom has always done.  

Luke has even gotten in on a little bit of the action, although he doesn't have the patience that Alyssa has.  He just keeps saying "taste, taste"!  I don't blame him though I want to taste everything too!

We also got in some time to build and decorate gingerbread houses.  Alyssa has been wanting to do it since way before Thanksgiving.  Once I finally said yes, she could barely stand it!  So I got a great box from Bed Bath and Beyond that actually had 5 little houses in it.  I thought what a great idea since I know the kids aren't going to want to share.  

I think they turned out pretty cute!  Alyssa was really into decorating and Luke....well he was really into just eating things off of his gingerbread house.

So on the agenda for this weekend: 

• Make fudge (this is a definite must because it's a favorite)
• Make Chex mix (this is definitely for the husband, he LOVES this stuff)
• Get my plates/tins put together for distribution.  

I just can't believe how close it is to Christmas already!  I feel like I have so much to do still!  Wish me luck!

Baby Bump - 31 weeks

I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going by!  I'm officially 31 weeks pregnant today.  I definitely waited a while to do an update this time.  With the holidays and everything coming up, there have been so many distracting things on my list of to dos.  We are getting so close!  Only 9 weeks left!!!  Single digits!

28 weeks to 31 weeks progression photos

I don't feel like I have grown a ton in the past 4 weeks though.  I did a comparison pictures last week (at 30 weeks) of my bump with Luke and my bump with #3.  I think my bumps are definitely different in these pictures.  My bump with Luke appears to be a little bit more pointy, and this bump seems to be VERY round.  I'm actually shocked how round it appears!  

Bump with Luke @ 30 weeks; Bump with #3 @ 30 weeks

But then I did a comparison from this week at 31 weeks and I don't see the same differences.  Maybe Luke was sitting really funny in there that day.  Who knows.  It could probably be a lot of things, like the clothes that i'm wearing, the angle of the picture...anything.  Now for how I've been feeling over these past four weeks.

31 weeks with Luke; 31 weeks with #3

How I'm Feeling: Over the past 4 weeks I have really started to feel more pregnant.  I would say that up until now this pregnancy has been pretty easy.  It's been harder to move around, get up from the couch and get out of bed.  The kids have been really helpful though, and are learning a little bit of responsibility :)

I've been having a lot of hip pain, so my OB referred me to a physical therapist.  I have my first appointment on Thursday, so hopefully that helps me feel a bit better and maybe even have better movement myself.

Sleep:  Sleep surprisingly has still been ok, as long as the kids that are already in the house aren't coming to find me in the middle of my sleep.  I am so thankful that I haven't been having a lot of pain while I sleep or charlie horses.  It's been so very nice!  I hope I can enjoy this sleep before baby comes because who knows how #3 is going to sleep.

Movement:  I can definitely tell that things are getting tighter in there for baby.  Baby moves around a ton, but the movements are more jabby and aggressive.  I'm not exactly sure how baby is situated in there, and I'm pretty sure this little one has been flipping around a lot the whole time.  I know that it's ok and normal for baby to be doing this still, but it gives me anxiety since my other two kids were already engaged at this point.  I really don't want to have to have a c-section for #3.  So I just keep praying that this will not be the case.  

Food Cravings:  Anything and everything that's sweet.  I've also been craving a lot more water then I normally do.  My body knows that it needs it I suppose.  This is one reason why it's so hard to be pregnant (this pregnant) over the holidays.  It was pretty much the same way when I was pregnant with Luke, and it's so hard to resist all the holiday goodies!  We have been doing a lot of baking too...bad me ;)

Maternity Clothes: I've given up on clothes.  I just wear the same things every week I think.  My shirts seem to be getting shorter some how.  I don't remember them being this short at this stage last time.  I have gotten a few new shirts from Target that seem longer so those are now my go to shirts.  There are only about 9 weeks left, so we are going to make it!

Other: At 28 weeks I did my gestational diabetes test and I passed!  That's a huge relief considering my need for sweets.  I've never had it with any of my previous pregnancies so I wasn't anticipating having it this time either.

What are you looking forward to:  I am looking forward to my appointment this Thursday!  We are finally having another ultrasound to see how my placenta and baby are doing.  I have good feelings about this, but I'm definitely excited to see baby again!  I'm going to have to remind my doctor that we don't know what the sex of the baby is.  At this point we are so close!  I really don't want to find out now.

I'm going to try to do these updates every couple of weeks now that things are definitely changing!  I can't believe we are so close to the end already and we'll get to meet baby and find out if it's a boy or a girl!  Not too long now :)

Stitch Fix Review - December

I know I haven't blogged about all 6 of my Fixes, but I'm going to be better about it from here on out.  I really love my stylist - Tina, so I think we're on the up and up!  I received this Fix on Black Friday which was awesome, because it was a long weekend and I was clearly at home to wait for it to come!  I have been anxious about this fix and probably the next few because I am getting bigger now being that i'm 30 weeks pregnant, and I just don't know what to expect!  Tina did a fabulous job though.  She really doesn't ever disappoint :)

Now when you set up a Stitch Fix, it asks you to send a personal note to your stylist before they put together your Fix.  This is what I said in mine for this month:

"More warm sweaters in fun colors are appreciated.  I would love something in purple.  Also, my maternity style is generally form fitting, stretchy clothes that are a little bit on the long side so they continue to fit over my growing bump.  I'd love to get a metallic clutch for holiday parties. I've also been seeing a lot of flannel infinity scarves that I really like.  If you want more info from my last Fix check out my blog.  I wrote about it :)  http://citytoranchandmore.blogspot.com/"

Then, when you get your Fix, they write you back a little note, and this is what was said in mine:

"Hello Amie! Thank you so much for reviewing my Fix on your blog! The pictures really help me get an idea of what will work for your silhouette.  I added the Madigan top this time as a better elbow patch option compared to the one from the previous Fix.  It is maternity specific and should be long enough for your third trimester bump.  Layer it with the 41Hawthorn and Look by M plaid wrap scarf for extra warmth! We didn't have any infinity style in stock so I included the wrap as an alternative.  The Street Level metallic purse has a removable chain so you can use it as a clutch too.  I hope you find this Fix delightful! -XOXO, Tina"

Now if you're curious how Stitch Fix works you can check out my first blog about it here.  And if you'd like to schedule one of your own you can use my referral code to get started!  

Now let's get into the good stuff!

RD Style Ridge Zipper Detail Cowl Neck Sweater - Small - $64

I wasn't immediately awed by this piece when I took it out of the box.  The color is great for fall/winter, and I currently do own a couple of pieces that are maroon which I do tend to gravitate towards.  I liked most of the features about it, such as the zippers on the sleeves and the cowl neck, but I wasn't sure about the hemline.  As I tried it on, I was just hoping that it would fit over my bump for starters.  

And here is the hemline that I'm unsure about....one side was slightly longer then the other.  I just don't know how I feel about it.  

Overall, I was just kind of underwhelmed by this piece once I had it on.  It was nice and comfortable, but then I asked myself would I love it when I'm not pregnant?  I don't know that I would.  Plus, I just couldn't get over the hemline!  It just didn't seem deliberate enough for me to get into it.  

Verdict - RETURNED

Look by M Alpine Plaid Wrap Scarf - One Size - $44

When I saw that I had a scarf in my Fix I was really excited!  I haven't had one before, and this is definitely the time of year to use an actual scarf!  

I love the color and the feel of this scarf.  It was SO soft and really just a beautiful plaid.  When I opened it up though...it was huge!  I feel like it's about as big as a blanket.  The style card suggested that I do the traditional scarf knot, which I did try.

I don't think it looks so bad from the front.  It just looks like a warm bulky scarf.  But from the side I feel like I've got WAY too much stuff out in front of me.  Maybe it's because I'm pregnant but I just don't like the final look.  I think I need a longer neck and torso for this to look better, or maybe I need to style it differently. More like a blanket scarf.  I just still think it's too much for my little self. 

Verdict: RETURNED

Madigan Copolla Elbow Patch Maternity Knit Top - Small - $54

The scarf pictures bring me to the next item in my Fix.  This was my first actual maternity item in a Stitch Fix.  When I took it out I thought it was pretty thin, but it's not see through.  I have a lot of grey so I thought to myself...more grey, but when I turned over the sleeve to reveal the patch, I was SO excited that they were red flannel!  LOVE it!  I knew right away that I was going to love this shirt once I put it on.  I was actually already doing calculations in my head.  

So guess how it went down...I LOVE the shirt!  I love how it's form fitting and hugs my bump really well, but there is still a lot of room to grow because it is fairly stretchy.  Tina suggested that I pair a cardigan with this, but I just can't cover up the sleeves!  This is a shirt you need a vest with for sure!  The only bad thing I have to say about this shirt is the price.  Since this is our last baby, I just don't know if I can justify spending $50 on a shirt that I can only wear for another couple of months.  As disappointed as I am for having to do it...I had to send this one back :(

Verdict: RETURNED...but very sad about it :(   Maybe there is a shirt like this that is non maternity for after baby comes...

41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan - Small - $48

I immediately loved the color of this cardigan, but thought that it was just ok.  It's a very thin cardigan which upfront I thought wasn't going to be very practical for the winter months.  Again wasn't super impressed, but I've gotta give everything a try, right?!

I actually ended up liking it a lot once I tried it on.  It was a good length and it wasn't overwhelming like some cardigans can be on my body.  A part of me feels like I should have kept this cardigan because I think I could have gotten some good use out of it.  Maybe something like this would be better to get in a spring Fix.  I'll have to keep this in mind for later.

Verdict: RETURNED

Street Level Juno Small Folded Clutch - One Size - $38

I am an accessory person for sure.  I LOVE me a nice purse, and I must confess I've kind of become a purse snob to some extent.  I have been wanting a metallic clutch for some time now to use on date nights or more specifically to use for holiday parties that are coming up!  I figured I'd ask for one and see what I would get.  Well, I got this little number...

When I took it out of the packaging the first reaction I had was boy this is heavy!  I love the color and the gold accents on it.  One of the best things about it is that it can be used as a clutch or a cross body/over the shoulder bag!  It comes with this really awesome braided chain that is VERY heavy duty.  That's probably where most of the weight I was feeling is coming from.  Think about the possibilities though!  Such a great feature.

Then on the inside of the purse, it is nicely lined and has so much space!  It has 2 zipper pockets and an open pocket in the back.  The closure is magnetic which is probably my favorite kind of closure for this kind of a bag.  Basically I think this bag can carry anything that I would want for a night on the town.  It's not going to be my mom bag, but it definitely will serve it's purpose.  I can't wait to use it this weekend!

Verdict: KEPT

So, as you can see I had a lot of great options in my Fix this month.  Even though I only ended up keeping one piece, I waffled on basically the rest of the box.  I think Tina just gets me, and that's what I love about Stitch Fix.  I have heard conflicting reviews from people, but I think once you find the right stylist you are golden...just like my new clutch :)  

Next month is going to be a little harder.  I'm going to be testing Tina since I'm pretty sure i'm going to be huge, and I'm basically refusing to buy anything that I can't wear postpartum.  I've got some more accessories in mind for my next box since I had good luck this time around with my first Fix with any accessories.  I call that a win in my books.  

Baby #3 Sex Predictions

A lot of people are starting to take a guess as to what sex Baby #3 is going to be.  This is one reason why I LOVE to not find out before baby comes.  This isn't our first rodeo of not finding out the sex either.  It's been fun in the past, plus it's so much fun to hear all the predictions.

I decided, since I love guessing myself so much, that I'm writing this post to tell all about the wife's tales that are out there and give you the low down based on how my pregnancy has been going.

Here we go!

As some of you might already know, there are a TON of website and things on the internet that want to help you predict what the sex of your baby is going to be whether you know already or not.  I decided to take a few of these surveys to see what they would say about #3.

The first survey I took was from Parents.  These are the questions that they asked me, and what my responses were.

1. Stand in front of the mirror and turn to the side.  When you look at your profile, is your baby bump high and directly under your chest?  Or does your pregnant belly sit low on your abdomen?

LOW (have you seen my bump?)

2. Next time you go to the ob-gyn, ask what the heart rate of you soon-to-be newborn is.  Is the number less than 140 beats-per-minute?

No - #3 has been somewhere between 140-150 pretty much the whole time

3. Grab a mirror and check your complexion.  Did pregnancy evaporate your acne, leaving you with a smooth, healthy glow?

Yes - I'm saying yes because usually when I'm pregnant I get ALL the acne

4. Time to check your partner out.  Is he gaining weight along with you -- or packing on even more pounds than you have?

No - Brett is pretty much exactly the same.  He's never gained with me though

5. If it were up to you, would you skip dinner altogether and head straight for dessert?

No - This is a funny question though, because I LOVE sweets even when I'm not pregnant

6. Do you find that since you've been pregnant you can't seem to stand up without tripping over your own feet?

No - I am just fine with my balance.  Nothing has changed there.

7. Do you feel an overwhelming desire to chow down on anything salty, like a big bag of chips or a salt-crusted pretzel?

No - this was a hard one for me to answer.  At this stage in the game no, but at the beginning of my pregnancy all I wanted was salty foods, which is definitely not my style

8. If a friend catches a glimpse of you from behind, can she tell you're pregnant?

No - but that's been the case with both of my previous pregnancies as well

9. During your first trimester, did you wonder what all the fuss about morning sickness was?

No - I didn't wonder.  Although, I never was actually physically sick, but I sure felt bad

10.  Have your legs become so hairy that you're worried you're morphing into Bigfoot?

No - fortunately

I went through the whole 10 questions and they predict that we're having a BOY.  Then, I felt like i was on a roll so I did a few more surveys.  The next one I took was at BabyCenter.  It had similar questions and it told me that we are having a GIRL.  

So now we're 1:1 boy to girl.

Next, I completed a quiz on TinyPrints, which I thought was interesting since it's a website that sells photo cards, calendars and all that good stuff.  I decided that this made me interested, so I took it.  Similar questions as before, but this time my results said that "they can't determine the sex of my baby...it's a surprise!".  We already knew it was a surprise though...so definitely interesting, but no real results from that quiz.

Then, i ran across another survey at Sanatogen Pregnancy, which is a company that sells vitamins basically.  This one I found particularly interesting.  I took the quiz but it told me the percentage for the chance of a girl or a boy.  Ultimately, it told me that we were having a GIRL, but the percentage told me that it was pretty close to the same results as the TinyPrints quiz.  It was 42% boy and 58% girl.  

So, overall I think the internet quizes are telling me that we are having a girl.  I guess we'll find out in February for sure!  

If you are interested in making your own prediction for me I have started an online baby pool!  I absolutely LOVE doing these things, and we did one just like this for Luke.  I am using the same website called Until it Happens.  I thought it was so much fun last time and the site is so easy to use!  I have added some helpful information to try to make an educated guess, but you just never do know with babies!  They do what they want :)  

If you're interested check out my site and put in your predictions today!  

Baby Bump - 27 weeks

We are getting sooo close to the 3rd and final trimester!  I'm actually pretty excited about it, although I can also feel things starting to get more complicated as we progress.  So I decided that since I don't do these every week, I'm going to at least post some of the pictures so that you can see the progression.  I do try to take on every Tuesday when I switch to a new week.

How I'm Feeling:  I've still been feeling pretty good.  I had some kind of sinus thing that lasted for about 3 weeks, but now I'm feeling a bit back to normal.  I'm still feeling a bit tired, but that could either be cold or just because I'm pregnant and running around after two kids already.

One of the best things that has happened to me is the heartburn has subsided!  It's been a miracle for sure.  I thought I was going to die for real.

Sleep:  I have still been sleeping fairly well and without a body pillow!  That's the best part.  I used my body pillow when I was pregnant with Luke, but I hated every moment of it.  I didn't like having to move it around with me when I wanted to switch positions, and I always felt like I was taking up the whole bed...poor Brett :(  So, needless to say, I'm happy with my sleeping with #3.

I have woken up with one pretty bad charlie horse, and I have had some pretty strange dreams...but I think that's just pregnancy.

Movement:  Still lots and lots of movement.  I've been trying to figure out what position #3 is in based on kicked and punches, and now a new development over the past week or so, hiccups.  Because of these things, I think #3 is head down now.  I guess we'll find out for sure in about a month when I go back for another ultrasound.  Everything is definitely more like a jab now.  No more cute little movements.

Food Cravings:  I want ALL the chocolate.  Every piece of chocolate I see, I eat.  I don't know how much this varies from just normal life for me though.  It was killing me with the heartburn because when I would eat just a bit of chocolate it would flair up.  I CAN'T give up chocolate though!

Maternity Clothes: I'm still bored with my clothes, but getting my new sweater in my latest Stitch Fix has made me feel a bit better.  I'm actually really looking forward to our Christmas parties that we will be attending next month, just to be able to dress up a little bit.  I bought a maternity dress when I was pregnant with Luke and I'm thankful that I will be able to wear it once again with this pregnancy.  I knew it would be worth the money ;)

What are you looking forward to:  I am looking forward to next Tuesday (Nov. 17th) because I have another doctor's appointment.  Hopefully things are still going well.  I would guess that they are since baby is so active.

I'm also really looking forward to my birthday next week!  Not that I have anything planned but It's always fun to celebrate even just a little bit.

Pregnant with Luke at 27 weeks; Pregnant with #3 at 27 weeks

Here is my comparison picture for 27 weeks pregnant.  I should really dredge out my pictures with Alyssa too.  I'm just not 100% sure where they are right now.  I'm thinking I'm carrying a bit lower this time if that's even possible.

Halloween 2015

I know most people have already shared about Halloween, so I'm a bit behind, but it's only November 5th.  I count this as a win :).  We started the day off with great anticipation for when Trick or Treating was going to happen.  It was finally here!  

Alyssa this year wanted to be Elsa which was really easy because she already had an Elsa dress.  So for her costume I literally had to do nothing.  It was excellent.  I'm not banking on that again for next year.  I had a really cute penguin costume for Luke, but when we told him we were leaving the house to go Trick or Treating he was hardly into it.  Instead of making him SUPER mad, I dug this Sully from Monsters Inc. costume out of my Halloween box from a couple of years ago.  So both of my kids have been Sully for a year.  It's a very simple costume and he was ok with it.  

The first activity of the day was Downtown Trick or Treating.  After Luke took a quick nap, we headed downtown to see what was going on down there.  

It was really busy, which it always is, but it was also kind of disappointing this year.  I've gone downtown for the past 3 years, and this time was the worst by far.  Now, don't get me wrong, I totally understand that there are hundreds of kids coming downtown to Trick or Treat so it costs local businesses a lot of money for candy and stuff.  A lot of them were really stingy though.  They gave out like one little tootsie roll or hard candy.  It was just disappointing.  Alyssa kept asking if she was going to get more candy.  We told her that she would definitely get more when we went out after dinner.  

Once we were done with Downtown Trick or Treating we headed back home.  For dinner we have a wonderful pumpkin pizza from Papa Murphy's.  Alyssa loved it b/c it had a smiley face and because it was mostly cheese pizza.

We also got our pumpkins ready on the porch.  This year we actually grew our pumpkins in our garden, so we were pretty impressed with how big they grew.  Brett carved Luke a scary pumpkin and Alyssa a kitty pumpkin.  They both turned out really cute :)

Oh and one of the friendly neighborhood squirrels got a hold of the scary pumpkin and started to eat its mouth...I guess we're helping everyone for Halloween.

Once all that was done, we decided to get our costumes on once again and head out.  This was the best picture I could get of them together...

Luke was really excited to put his costume back on because this time he know what it ment...CANDY!  He really got into it too.  Instead of saying Trick or Treat he just said Treat as he walked up to the doors.  And here is my clan out Trick or Treating.  The weather was actually half way decent.  It wasn't too cold, but it was VERY windy.

They both filled up their entire bag with candy, which is definitely way too much candy so I had to put it in ziploc bags and hide most of it for a later date.

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween, and enjoyed time with their family.  Next up...Thanksgiving! 

Stitch Fix Review - November

It's been a LONG time since I've done a Stitch Fix review, but I'm really excited that this time it's a maternity Stitch Fix, kind of.  This is my first time receiving a maternity one, and I definitely told them in my note to my stylist that I didn't want too many true maternity pieces, so I really had no idea what to expect.  I have checked out other maternity Stitch Fix posts on the internet, and they all seem very different and unpredictable.  So here we go!

This was my note to my stylist this month:

"I am definitely showing now, but this is my last pregnancy.  I could use some layering pieces though.  I don't want to spend a lot on actual maternity wear, but if there's something really cute I will consider.  I'm very much into plaids right now for the fall.  Cardigans would be great for now and after baby.  I'm a sucker for elbow patches, and I've been doing a lot of pinning on my Pinterest board."

Here is her note back to me: 

"Hi Amie!  I'm sorry I couldn't find any plaid for you in this next Fix.  It's a very hot trend right now and we keep running out of pieces!  I'll try my very best to send you a cute flannel or button down top in your next Fix.  Instead I added a variety of tops that you can wear throughout the rest of your pregnancy and after the baby arrives as well!  They're all on the longer side so they'll look wondreful with leggings.  The Daniel Rainn blouse has a flowier cut.  Add on a belt to accentuate your growing baby bump!  I though the Pixley cardigan looked similar to one of your pins.  It has an earthy boho look that I thought you'd love.  I hope you enjoy this Fix and would love to hear your feedback! -XOXO, Tina

To start off my Fix, I have to say that I was sooo very excited to see that Tina was once again my stylist.  She was my stylist for my last Fix (which I didn't end up sharing), but I kept all 5 pieces!  She did a really awesome job at listening to what it was that I wanted.  She did a really great job this time too, but I'd say there were some fit problems this time.  So overall, I actually LOVE all of the pieces that she picked out for me this month, but I'm just not sure about how they fit or about how they're going to fit once I'm not pregnant anymore.  None of the clothes that she sent me were actually maternity clothes, which is basically what I asked her for.  I was kind of surprised that they didn't try to sneak one in actually.

So, here are the 5 pieces that I received in my Fix this month...

RD Style Calandri Contrast Sleeve Poncho - Small - $68.00

Status - Returned

I have to admit that I took a sneak peak at what was coming in the mail.  I really try not to, but it's been awhile since I've gotten a Fix so I just wanted to know!  Anyway, now that that's off my chest we can get down to business.

When I found out that this piece was in my box, I had mixed feelings.  I've never owned anything like this before, and it definitely had me excited.  I like the fact that it has contrasting sleeves built in...so awesome and convenient, and I really don't think you can go wrong with grey and black for the fall/winter.  It also had fun buttons on the side.  Plus, with my baby bump I figure this would definitely cover it up for the rest of my pregnancy.

Then I tried it on...now, I'm a small person, 5'2", so I have to be worried about too much bulk/fabric.  This poncho DEFINITELY was too much.  It made me sad though.  If there was less of it, I definitely would have kept this piece.  So I'm sad to say that I still do not own a poncho.

Daniel Rainn Camulos Henley Tunic - Small - $68.00

Status - Returned

When I took a peek at my Fix, I was not very excited about this shirt.  I saw it on someone else and I just thought to myself that's way too boho for me.  I'm totally not going to like it at all.  Well Tina, you've got me again!  I actually love the look of it.  The pattern is really nice, and the buttons are these really cute little metal balls (which I later discovered came undone very easily).  It is also a high-low, which I'm really starting to love! The fabric is nice and heavy, which is also great since we're heading into winter.  There is actually a button on the sleeve so if you wanted to roll them up you could wear it that way as well.  I just opted to wear it as a blouse this time.  

Here is a close up of the fabric pattern.  I thought it was really neat.  The green spots are like little leaves.  Probably not for everyone, but I was into it.

I put on some skinny jeans and boots to go with it, and since I have a bump I decided to belt it, and it turned out really cute.  I love this as a maternity outfit, but that's also the problem.  I don't know if it's going to transition well to non-pregnant Amie.  Once again...there is a lot of fabric and that works when you're pregnant, but I'm kind of convinced that it's going to make me look pregnant when I'm not.  Since there was so much thought having to go into my decision, I just decided against it.  It's kind of an expensive shirt to be gambling on.  Maybe if the shirt was less than $50, I would have struggled a bit more.

RD Style Maureen Twisted Seam Elbow Patch Sweater - Small - $64.00

Status: Returned

In a perfect non-pregnant world, this would be my jam.  I LOVE elbow patches.  Please don't hate on me.  I love the high low cut of this sweater, but since I'm pregnant the high part just barely covers up my bump right now.  I'm only 26 weeks!  This bump is going to become huge.  I keep trying to justify to myself that it will be fine once I don't have a bump anymore, which is probably true.  But there are a few things that I just wasn't in love with.

Once I got over the bump and take a look at the sweater itself, I think the neckline is a little big for me.  Kind of scoop neck-esque even.  I'm not a huge fan of the color either.  It kind of washes me out I think.  If it were maybe in a fun jewel tone I would be all over it.  So sadly...even though it has elbow patches, I'm going to have to return this one too :(

Pixley Kaity Open Cardigan - Small - $78.00

Status - Kept

This was the only piece from my Fix that I couldn't find an image of when I looked online.  I assumed it would just be a open cardigan in a solid color, which I was ok with but not super excited about.  When I opened up my style card and saw a picture of this, I was immediately excited!  This is pretty much exactly what I have been wanting!   An open cardigan that was warmer/heavier than the usual cardigan.  It gets cold here in Wyoming! (sorry for the color variations, it's more like the one on the left)

I put it on and the first thing that came to my mind was how soft it is.  It has an angora/cashmere mix in it and you can definitely tell by the feel of it.  It's so soft!  Just looking at it  you might assume it to be rough, but it is deceiving my friends.  I just want to cuddle up on my couch, drink hot chocolate and watch it snow (maybe not quite yet though).

I wasn't exactly sure about the fit at first because the sleeves seemed just a tad on the long side, but once i rolled the cuff up, I was more than happy with the fit.  I did contact Stitch Fix to see if they happened to have this sweater in an XS and what the difference would be between the two.  They promptly replied to tell me that they didn't have an XS.  So, I'm definitely glad I kept this one!

Besides all of the previously mentioned reasons to keep this sweater, I can definitely wear it now and after #3 gets here.  It's going to be perfect for February while I'm on maternity leave.  Leggings here I come!

And here is a quick pic of my little photo bomber.  He's pretty cute ;)

Market & Spruce Aleah Heathered V-Neck Dolman Top - Small - $48.00

Status - Returned

I know Stitch Fix has a reputation for sending out a lot of dolman tops in a variety of shapes and colors.  I actually kept one with my last Fix because I kept the whole box, so with the 25% off it was cheaper for me just to keep it even though I wasn't in love with it.  Anyway, I'm not into this one either.  It's just not my style.

It's navy blue, which I actually do like the color especially for fall/winter.  I just was not at all in love with the neckline.  In the pictures I actually don't think it looks too bad, but I know it would just constantly bother me all day long.  I would be checking to make sure my bra strap wasn't showing, and that's just so annoying!  The length and fit was great with my baby bump, and I know that I would be able to wear it throughout the rest of my pregnancy and beyond.

My husband took these.  I was trying to get some better light, so it's kind of hard to see the bottom of the shirt and how it fits.  But trust me when I say this could definitely be considered a tunic if you wanted it to be.  It was stretchy enough that you could play with it to make it the length that you wanted it to be, or are most comfortable with.

I don't know maybe I should have kept this one?  What do you think?

Conclusions

After trying on everything in this Fix I'm contemplating changing my sizes to XS.  A lot of the things that I have been getting, I've just been swimming in, but I would hate to jinx myself and get everything too small next time.  So I'll have to think on that for next time.  

Overall, I think this Fix turned out to be a great one.  I didn't keep everything like I did the last time, but I really loved where Tina was going with my box.  I think she has the right idea.  I really wish there was some flannel in this Fix, but it's a popular thing right now, so maybe next time.  

For my next Fix, I'm going to have to tell Tina that I would like some brighter colors.  For some reason I feel like I get a lot of grey and navy.  I would like to see some fun bright colors because I just like them :)  I'm going to start getting a Fix once a month I think and we'll see where that takes us.  I have been getting them just as I please, and that's been fun too.  So we'll see what Tina has in store for us next month!

If you're looking to get a Fix of your own check out my referral link.  It's a lot of fun, and i truly believe that there is something for everyone.  Go check out their website or some other Stitch Fix reviews.  If you try it out, let me know what you think!  I'd love to hear.