10 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I have a tattoo on my hip that says "believe". I got it on my 18th birthday and I always forget it's there.

2. I am a terrible cook and don't enjoy cooking at all. My husband loves it and cooks 90% of our meals.

3. My dad is an orthodontist and I had to have braces three times because I never wore my retainers. Worst patient ever!

4. I am super paranoid that I am going to run out of toiletries and household products so at any given time you will find about 4 extra tubes of toothpaste, 2 bottles of contact solution, 3 sticks of deodorant, and 5 bottles of hand soap and dish soap in my house.

5. I can't stand talking on the phone. My husband is the exact opposite. He calls me about 5x a day just to say hey and I'm all like "why can't you just text me?"

6. I have two sisters and I am the middle child. I want three children one day and I'd be totally happy if they were all girls because I know how special sisters are.

7. I love checking the mail. I don't know why, I just do. Even though it's usually just bills (and an occasional package for Vivi), it just excites me. It's the little things you guys!

8. My love language is an amazing charcuterie board. Give me alllll the cheese!

9. I love being outside. Going on walks, bike rides, sitting on the porch, you name it. I am a total country girl and would live on a farm in a heartbeat if it didn't take 30 minutes to get to the closest grocery store.

10. I am 100% a morning person. When my alarm goes off I hop right out of bed full of energy and ready to tackle the day. But I can barely keep my eyes open past 9pm.

What do we have in common?!

Pineapple martini

Today I'm back at work after a great weekend at the beach! Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate but we were able to sneak in an hour or two of sun during the afternoon on Saturday. A rainy weekend spent inside with the entire family and three kids under the age of 4 isn't exactly relaxing but hey, a rainy day at the beach beats a pretty day anywhere else if you ask me.

We cooked dinner at the house both nights and many cocktails were had. I thought I'd share my very favorite cocktail with you guys today. Super easy and delicious!

Pineapple martini

Ingredients:

-Malibu rum

-Vodka

-Pineapple juice

-Lime juice

Directions:

Mix equal parts malibu rum and vodka, 2 parts pineapple juice, and a squeeze of fresh or bottled lime juice. Shake with ice in shaker. Add a pretty garnish and enjoy!

FoF

Happy Friday friends! I am en route to the beach for the weekend. I can't believe there are only a few beach weekends left, time is flying by. Here are five random things from the week!

[O N E]

I am still loving this look from a recent date night at the beach. Sadly, these heels are sold out at Target and my dress is a few seasons old but I've linked a few similar dresses here, here and here.

[T W O]

I am all about easy summer meals and this salad with grilled shrimp was a winner. We threw the shrimp and corn on the cob on the grill then added whatever toppings we had in the fridge and it turned out to be delicious! Super easy and healthy.

[T H R E E]

I've had questions about what sunscreen we use on Vivi at the beach. I've been using this sunscreen and so far I've been really happy with it. Hasn't cause any breakouts, rashes, dry skin, etc.

[F O U R]

Earlier this week Viv and I went to Petsmart and somehow in the midst of loading her and the dog food in the car I managed to leave my wallet in the shopping cart. I didn't remember until 5 hours later when I was on the way to a doctor's appointment and realized I didn't have my insurance card or ID. I freaked out, just knowing 100% that it was gone. I called Petsmart and thanks to a kind stranger, my wallet was turned in and safe! There are still good people in this world!

[F I V E]

My sister introduced me to these alcoholic spritzers and oh my gosh, so good! So refreshing and the perfect summer drink. Good straight from the can or over ice with some fresh lime.

Linking up with Amanda and April

Stroller review

I've had lots of questions about our stroller and my thoughts on it so I thought I'd do a quick review for all the new moms, soon-to-be moms, and future moms out there! Choosing a stroller was one of the hardest decisions in the entire baby prep phase. There are so many options that it was very overwhelming. We ended up going with the Uppababy Vista stroller and Mesa infant carseat and here's why:

The first thing I did when deciding on a stroller was ask my new mom friends which stroller they had and if they were happy with it. A positive review from people you know is more reliable than any online review if you ask me! I got an overwhelming response about the Uppababy Vista stroller. The next step was going to Buy Buy Baby and getting my hands on the strollers. There is no other way to determine what you will love... you absolutely must try them out!

One thing that was a non-negotiable for me was having the same brand stroller and infant carseat so that you don't have to deal with adapters and all that extra "stuff". My sister had a different brand carseat and stroller with her babies and watching her have to put the adapters on and struggle with that hassle every time she left the house stressed me out! Uppababy has sleek, light-weight infant carseats that clip directly into the stroller, making it SO easy.

We are on the go a lot and spend a lot of time outside so another non-negotiable was that the stroller must be lightweight and super easy to push. When I pushed this stroller around in the store I fell in love! It turns corners so smoothly and the wheels don't get twisted up and stuck. So next I weighed my pros and cons.

Pros of the Uppababy Vista stroller:

-Can convert to hold two children. If you think you want more than one, might as well get a stroller that can hold two so you aren't buying another stroller in a few years!
-Comes with bassinet and toddler seat
-No adapters needed with the carseat
-Super easy to fold and unfold
-Pushes and turns corners so smoothly

Cons of Uppababy Vista stroller:
-It's pretty expensive but I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for
-The back wheels are kind of wide so it can be a tight squeeze through doorways

I have been SO happy with my stroller decision and would 100% buy this stroller again. This post is not sponsored, just wanted to share a product I truly love. We used the heck out of the bassinet when Vivi was a newborn and switched her to the toddler seat, which can face forward or backward, about a month ago. Any other Uppababy moms out there?!

Ugly dip

Today I'm sharing one of my very favorite, super easy appetizer dips. I have made it multiple times this summer for get togethers and it is always a huge hit.

Ugly Dip

Ingredients:

-1 can white corn, drained

-1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

-3-5 green onions, thinly sliced

-4 oz feta cheese crumbles

-1/4 cup sugar (I use a little less)

-1/4 cup cider vinegar

-1/4 cup olive oil (I use a little less)

Directions:

Whisk together sugar, vinegar and olive oil until sugar dissolves. Combine corn, black beans, feta and onions. Pour marinade over mixture and stir well. Refrigerate and serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

My #Nsale purchases and review

Happy Friday friends! Today I am showing you guys what I got during the Nordstrom anniversary sale and my thoughts on all the pieces I ordered. There are only 2 days left so if you have your eye on something, don't wait! Free shipping and free returns, you can't beat that!

{O N E}

First up, my favorite piece that I ordered. The off the shoulder plaid blouse in desert pink. I am loving the off-the-shoulder trend and I love that it can be transitioned into fall. The material is SO soft and it would look super cute both with white jeans while it's still semi-warm and with dark jeans and booties into winter. Originally $89, this top is on sale for $59. Verdict: definitely keeping!

{T W O}

Next up, the tie back poplin tunic in blue white stripe. I was so disappointed in this. I definitely thought I would love it but the fit was really weird. It was made to be a shirt but it was super long on me and I'm 5'8". It was boxy and frumpy looking. I am wearing a medium and I could have possibly sized down and liked it more but I was not crazy about it. It could have been cute with riding boots as a dress, but I just didn't need it. Originally $75, this tunic is on sale for $50. Verdict: returning.

{T H R E E}

Next up, the bell sleeve cozy fleece pullover in orchid. I absolutely love this top to throw on for errands, lunch dates, etc in the fall. It is so soft and the bell sleeve gives it a fun twist. I would describe it as a mix between a top and a sweater. I will probably wear mine with my beloved "Melissa button" Frye boots and a fun necklace. I want it in more colors! Originally $59, this top is on sale for $39. Verdict: keeping!

{F O U R}

Last but not least, the ruffle cold shoulder top in black. You can never have too many black tops. I am loving cold shoulder and think this trend will last for a while. Also, cold shoulder is so much more realistic for taking care of/holding a baby than off the shoulder is. I will wear it with my turquoise or pink Kendra Scott drop earrings.  Originally $79, this top is on sale for $53. Verdict: keeping!

That's all! I am still dying to try the Zella leggings that everyone raves about and I may pull the trigger on those this weekend. Any other must haves before the sale ends??

Thoughts on the postpartum body

left- 9 months pregnant, right- 5 months post-partum

My entire life I have been very active and into sports. I was a gymnast, I won a volleyball state championship in high school and continued to play for fun in college. Then I hit grad school and I didn't have time to exercise or go to the gym. I gained a little bit of weight and started to lack self-confidence. I am not the type that weighs myself daily, heck I don't even own a scale. I can just tell by looking in the mirror and the way my clothes fit.

Fast forward a few years to infertility and starting the IVF process. I was on tons of medications, both oral and injectable, for months. I was stressed so I was eating awful. This was the perfect storm for weight gain. I didn't put on a ton of weight but things were just different. I lost muscle, gained cellulite, and just didn't feel good in my own skin. Then I got pregnant and for those 9 months I fell in love with my body again.

I loved everything about pregnancy. The nausea, stretching skin, baby bump, shortness of breath, you name it. I had dreamed of being pregnant my entire life and I didn't want to take one day of my pregnancy for granted. I felt beautiful with my big belly and I was no longer worried about the way I looked in the mirror. I no longer felt the need to suck in my belly and I didn't cringe at the size of my legs. I was in love with this growing baby inside of me and how she was changing my physical appearance.

My total weight gain was around 32 pounds. After I gave birth most of the weight fell off pretty quickly. At my 2 week postpartum visit I was back to pre-pregnancy weight but things were not the same. My belly was loose and saggy, my stomach was numb with a huge scar from my C-section, and I felt so weak. I could hardly even sit up from a laying position due to my abdominal muscles being cut and split apart during surgery. And can we just talk about what happens to your boobs after you quit breastfeeding? Bless. I slowly started to dislike my body again.

Recently I've had a change in perspective. I have truly realized how amazing a woman's body is and the fact that we can grow a human being is freaking amazing. I have slowly started to get back into the gym, not for weight loss but for my mental health. I feel so much better after working out, both mentally and physically. I want to gain my strength back because strong is the new skinny! As women we are so hard on ourselves and I am constantly reminding myself that "comparison if the thief of joy".

I am listing the things that I would like to continue to work on and the things I am proud of myself for and I challenge you to do the same. Give yourself grace today and believe that whether you are a mommy or not, your body is beautiful!

Things I want to continue to work on:
-Continue to exercise at least 3x a week
-Eat more vegetables
-Drink more water
-Eat less chips (my weakness)
-Cut out negative self talk
-Believe someone when they give me a compliment

Reasons to be proud of myself:
-I grew and gave birth to a perfect baby girl
-I had a major surgery
-I am a good mom
-I do a good job of juggling work and home life
-I love my job and truly care about my patients
-I kicked infertility's butt

Moral of the story, I am still a work in progress. I will continue to struggle with being hard on myself but I am truly striving to give myself grace. My body has been through so much over the past 2 years and I am proud of how far I have come. I still have some belly hanging on and the cellulite loves me, but today I am choosing to embrace the postpartum body and be thankful for the blessing that made it this way!