Winter Carnival 2013

Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech 2013.

Dad is in front of a Green Bay helmet, Daniel is in front of a Lions helmet. No more explanation needed. haha

Star Wars!  These are things from mostly Empire Strikes Back.

So Daniel really likes to sabotage any picture that has him in it. What he doesn't realize is that I therefore force him to take another picture, a nice one. His plan backfires. 

Just making sure he was making a nice picture. 

Welcome!  Come join us for a couple hours out in the cold! Fun fun!

The brave pair that drove 9 hours to come to the UP. So glad they did!

Dad's only child still shorter than he is. =) 

Free hot cocoa! And with MARSHMALLOWS! 

Daniel's glove ripped, so he used duck tape. Thumbs up the yooper way!

Glad to be in the warm car on the way home.

Day Twenty One

This really was day 21. 

 I was so happy to be done with this series that I kind of forgot to post the last day. I took my picture and everything, and then wrote it off in my head.

And I think I can legitimately claim baby brain on this one too. 

And to prove it to you, I'll show you the picture. 

Over all, I think my plan worked. I have come back to a place of consciously choosing my clothes to look nice, or try to. 

My options are getting very limited, however. Baby C is getting bigger and bigger every day! 

As of today, there are about 57 days left until the estimated date of arrival for her.

I am so exited!  

Thanks for being part of this little activity of mine.

Happy Birthday Brother!

thanks, google

This is a special shout out to my big brother, Jeremy!

Happy Birthday! 

I hope it was an awesome day! 

Love you,

Staci

P.S. I ate some chocolate frosting in honor of your birthday. It was delicious.

Day Twenty

Tuesday, February 12th.

One More Day of these outfit posts. 

Thanks to all those who were willing to follow along. It's been fun. 

So, today is a sad story.

I burnt popcorn.

The worst part of the story is that it was at work. And now, unfortunately, I will have to smell it tomorrow morning when I get back there. I tried to clean out the microwave and everything, but that smell! It won't go away! So if any of you know how to rid an office of the burnt popcorn smell, please let me know. It's not pleasant. At all. And I feel really bad about smelling up the office.

But another part of the story is that this isn't the first time. 

In fact, it seems that I have only once successfully made a bag of popcorn at work. I don't know what it is, but it's like a ridiculous scheme to always ruin the popcorn that I look very much forward to as I hear it popping. I should simply ban myself from making popcorn at work so that I don't make the office stink. Every time I go through this process, and resolve that I won't make it anymore. And then, next time that I want popcorn, I think, "I won't burn it this time. No, this time will be different. I'll even put it in for a shorter time than I think is already too short".

Obviously it does not work. Hasn't so far. 

And I'm pretty sure my hair still smells like burnt popcorn.

The end.

Wardrobe Tip:

Well, today my tip has nothing to do with maternity wear.

But it's still a good one

*Pearls*

Always classy, always polished, always the finishing touch. 

You have to try really hard to make pearls look bad. 

Always steps it up a notch.

Day Nineteen

Monday, February 11th.

Today's schedule was complicated enough on its own, so my outfit didn't need to be difficult. 

So my outfit took a turn towards simple. 

I had a Dr.'s appointment today and it went really well.

Everybody's heart rate is in a happy place.

Size and position seem to be ideal.

My weight gain is a little scary, but so far we have a healthy mom and healthy baby.

No big concerns, and no scares. 

Thank you, Jesus, for a normal first pregnancy.

By the way, this is the "Please excuse my recent obsession with this polka-dot scarf " face.

Wardrobe Tips:

*Moderation*

During pregnancy,  there are only a few months requiring intense maternity clothes.

You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe of maternity clothes for three months.

Make as many of your clothes as possible go as far as they can.

And then when it comes to pants, make the investment.

I have made it to this point with one pair of maternity pants. 

All the other pants I have worn are regular pre-pregnancy pants.

Well, I do believe that I have crossed the line, and I now need some real maternity pants.

So I went to Goodwill (one of my favorite stores!).

You see these pants I am wearing? It's hard to tell, thanks to the picture, 

but they are a dark brown dress pant.

They are super comfy and not too tight anywhere. 

They are also real maternity pants.

And I paid $.99 for them at Goodwill. 

Yes.

It's the little things that make you smile.

Day Eighteen

Sunday, February 10th.

Only 3 more days to go. 

Today I didn't have time to take a picture of my outfit. 

I was shopping all day after church with my mom! 

How fun!

We did really good.  As in we brought lots home and spent very little.

So today, I want to do things a little different 

and I want to show you a few pictures of some maternity fashion inspiration.

Enjoy!

Day Seventeen

Saturday, February 9th.

Today my parents, hubby, and I spent the day enjoying the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival.

(Pictures to come later)

The weather was very cooperative and pleasant. 

It was really nice with sunshine and warmth.

 And plenty of snow.

A very wonderful day.

Wardrobe Tip:

*Proper Fitting Undergarments*

This seems kinda silly, but you need to make sure that you buy proper fitting undergarments for your growing self during pregnancy. 

Because if you have an ill fitting foundation, your whole outfit will be a little off. 

I recently made sure I had this necessity, and things have been

just a little bit better since. So remember that you need a good foundation for any outfit.

Day Sixteen

Friday, February 8th.

Confession:

I never got dressed today.   

Today I was working in the house cleaning and getting things ready for my parents to come, 

and I honestly did not have time to get dressed. 

I gotta say though, I really enjoyed my sweatshirt and pj pants today.

But you do get a special treat:

Behold, my beautiful snowman. 

=)

Day Fifteen

Thursday, February 7th

I decided that I haven't worn a belt for a little while, so I wanted to wear one.

Thursdays are fun, because they are half days at work and then I get to run errands,

 go grocery shopping, and then go home.

Wardrobe Tip:

*Belts*

I am just going to mention the power of a belt again.

I really helps remind yourself that you do have a small waist, it's just hiding right now. 

It also helps avoid the marshmallow with chicken legs look. 

Day Fourteen

Wednesday, February 6th.

So, today's story goes like this:

These pants are officially getting put away until I don't have a giant basketball belly. 

I was so uncomfortable today! 

I also think today was a growth spurt day for little Baby C.

That might have had something to do with it.

The end. 

Wardrobe Tip:

*Comfort over Looks*

I did not take my own advice today, and I was not happy about it.

So, from now on, I will make comfort a higher priority than looks.