Today I am 17 weeks pregnant and so far we’ve only bought a Pooh Bear travel system, a Christmas onesie, and a sleeping bag outfit thing for Baby a la mode.  If you know me and my shopping habits then that probably comes to a surprise to you that we haven’t bought more!  But first, we want to wait to find out the gender before going into full on buying mode.  Have you entered your vote in the “Guess Our Baby’s Gender?” poll on the right side of my blog?  And second, I’ve got to plan and dream and scheme about how I want the nursery to look!  I totally want it to be Pinterest worthy like these!

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

Oh and hey, I have a giveaway winner to announce!  If your name is Jenni and you own the blog Jenni Austria Germany… CONGRATS!!  You just won a $25 gift certificate to The Rusted Chain!!  Please email me at sandyalamode(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize, lucky lady!!

Well, my parents-in-law are coming to visit us for a few days so I’m off to go spend some much needed time with them!  Don’t forget to enter the Pretty Things By Meg $40 shop credit giveaway!  Have a happy weekend, friends!!

{favorite places and spaces} | {beauty and makeup} | {fashion}
{food and drink} | {for the home} | {party and decorations}

Like the title of this post says, I still can’t get enough of Pinterest!  This week has been a busy one and I was thankful to be back at my cubicle for it all.  Not to mention, the weather couldn’t have been a more perfect 75-80 degrees this week as well.  And although I wore skirts to work almost every day, I still have to use my space heater, go figure!  This Saturday I am looking forward to a walk in the park, eating cupcakes, taking pictures of some outfits, and just relaxing.  Then next I have another business trip to Ohio, yes, another one.  But probably not bringing my camera to this trip since I’ll be staying in the land of fast food and farms.  I can’t wait for the plane ride so I can read “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” – the third book of the series!  And luckily, I’ll be back home next Friday to enjoy most of the day as it will be Marvin’s birthday!! 

What are your weekend plans?

Don’t forget to enter the Sense N’ Sensibility giveaway!!

i love amy because she is a huge fan of the color pink, just like me!  she is an expert on makeup tips, tutorials, and reviews and is a very pretty lady!  her blog is always so sweet and inspirational!

***

Hello All! I am doing a guest post for Sandy a la Mode. She’s an absolutely beautiful, talented and inspiring person. I found her while browsing around blogspot. Of course, I immediately followed and have been reading her posts since.

I am so honored to be a guest here on her blog and allowed the opportunity to post something for you all!

I was trying really hard to think of a great topic to write about for this guest post. I wanted to write about something that I am passionate about and that is traveling. I started traveling a few years ago and I have been addicted to it. I was so addicted that one year, I took eight different vacations and visited eight different locations in the states and across the pond. The locations all spoke to me in very different ways. However, one location stood out to me the most and that was Paris, France. I think Paris is the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It’s a very magical place that I have not been able to forget.

I’ve always dreamt of going back but that dream hasn’t come true yet. Hopefully it will in a few years time. This time I want to stay for at least a few months to truly capture the magic of the city. Paris is a place that has changed me in so many ways. Everything is so breathtaking that it’s hard not to pause for a few minutes throughout the day and appreciate everything that surround me.

Here I will leave you with pictures that capture the beauty of Paris.

Source: http://angelreich.deviantart.com/
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of our life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

Source: http://tiza.deviantart.com/
“America is my country and Paris is my hometown.”
~ Gertrude Stein

Source: http://lahilly.deviantart.com/
“That was the moment I fell in love with Paris. And I felt Paris fall in love with me.”
~ Carol; Paris, J’Taime

Until we meet again.

On an extremely hot summer day in July, the Mutual of Omaha proud sponsor of life’s aha moments traveling airstream studio made it’s way to the Power and Light District in Kansas City, MO.  They basically go all around the country and interview every day people who have defining moments where you gain real wisdom and that can lead to a change in your life.  All of the videos are posted on the website and some of them make it to the actual commercial you see on TV, how cool is that?

I have never done anything like this before; I’m deathly afraid of public speaking, being in front of a camera, and being stuck inside of a hot car with people I don’t know.  But we all must step out of our comfort zone once in awhile right? So I agreed to do it on a Friday after a business trip I was supposed to arrive home on Thursday from.  That Thursday my flights were delayed and I had to spend the night in Chicago, only get 4 hours of sleep and fly home on Friday morning.  I figured I would nap on Friday morning but i couldn’t.  It was 100+ degrees outside too.  Tired, hot and nervous as can be, I drove myself out to the airstream mobile.  When I got there, everyone on the Mutual of Omaha team was extremely friendly and nice as can be, which made the experience very pleasurable and calmed my nerves!

Ten sweaty minutes later,  I was done.  Did I mention it was 100+ degrees out?  Oh yea, I already did, but just wanted to reiterate it as an explanation for my sweaty glow…

To view the video, click on the above picture or here.

To sum things up, my blog, this blog, has truly been a blessing for me.  It has allowed me to express my creative passions with the world, with you, my dear readers.  I’ve used my right brain more than ever in these last 7 months.  I’ve become a photographer, a seamstress, a crafter, a baker, and a blogger.  You’ve welcomed me into your community with open arms, big smiles, and sweet comments!  But the defining moment, my aha moment, that started it all was when I was in my mother-in-law’s basement, learning how to sew.  I felt relaxed, empowered, and CRAFTY with that sewing machine.  The world (or really just a few pieces of fabric) was in my hands and I was ready to change it.  If I can do it, you can do it.

If there’s something you’ve been dying to try, GO, DO IT, what have you got to lose?  And if you’ve already done it, I’d love for you to share what your “aha moment” was!