When Life Gives You Lemons...

...make Lemonade!

Because I have been {at least trying} to eliminate diet cokes and coffee and everything fun, I get tired of drinking water all the time. Lemonade to the rescue! It may have sugar, but at least it's natural and not artificially sweetened. I have really been enjoying lemonade all summer long.

I just love the idea of serving lemonade in these fun mason jards.

You can purchase these daisy cut metal lids and mason jars from Candle Soylutions. They are cheap, cheap, cheap, starting at just $0.39 each for the lids and $6.95 for a case of 12 mason jars.

I purchased them last year for my husband's 30th birthday party, and used them to serve sangria with orange slices.

I know I will have so many more uses for them once we start entertaining for the kids. Labor Day is this weekend, so what drinks will you serve up as the summer comes to a close? (yay!)

Nautical Couples Shower in Dallas

This past weekend was our nautical-themed couples shower in Dallas. We had the BEST time and could not be more thankful! Six of my closest friends threw the shower and every detail was perfect! They used Red, White and Blue in all the decor and it just turned out so cute. It was the perfect theme for Brett and I, who both spent many summers growing up at the lake! We feel so touched by all of the wonderful friends that came out to celebrate with us. It was a great time and a memory that we will have forever!

Here are some pictures.

All of the hostesses, minus Shea.

L to R: Natalie, Elizabeth, me, Lindsay, Rebecca, and Amy.

Beautiful Table Decor

Delicious Menu-All of the food was perfect for the summertime.

They used Two Sisters for Catering.

Precious outdoor table

Little nautical outfits for Preston to wear at the lake next summer. I can't wait!

White cupcakes topped with blueberries and strawberries

Candy station

The entrance to my sister's house

Nautical Diaper cake, made by Natalie.

Our family of three.

At the end of the night, I gave the hostesses their gifts, and I gave them Charlotte's cupcake apron from Sex and the City 2.

Brett and I are so lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing friends. I know it sounds cliche, but we really just feel so grateful. Thank you EVERYONE!!

We also turned the weekend into a semi-babymoon since we never got the chance to go away this summer before Preston arrives. We stayed at the Mansion on Turtle Creek and really enjoyed our little vacation, even if it was just for one night. We spent Saturday lounging by the pool, which felt SO nice.

Whenever I get in a pool these days, you have to drag me out. I could literally stay in for hours. Only the chips and guacamole we ordered could entice me out.

The rooms at The Mansion are so lovely. I love the decor.

Our balcony overlooked the pool. Terrible picture of me, and yes I do believe this dress is too small for me now. That's what 34 weeks will do to you.

One of my favorite treats. They had vanilla iced lattes and cookies in the lobby, so of course we stocked up.

The whole weekend was such a treat and we had so much fun together. Now we just have six more weeks until my due date! AHH It is going by so fast!

The Beauty of a Skirted Table

Dark wood dining room tables and chairs are lovely but so, well, predictable. Right now, I'm lusting over skirted dining room tables.

The funny thing is, this would be so much cheaper than buying an expensive dining room table set. If you find yourself dining room furniture-less, and are conteplating what to buy, I would so do this look. Just pick out pretty fabric and have a seamstress make a skirt, and you can virtually put it over any old table you may have. Then, you can really invest in some gorgeous chairs!

It would be awesome to try and find a fabric that coordinated really well with your china. Then you could paint the room around the colors in the fabric and china. I think this may have to be my next project! (But not any time soon).

What do you think?

Eat, Pray, Love

At last! A summer movie that I can't wait to see! I haven't seen a movie in the theater since Sex and the City 2 back in May. Where have all the cute romantic comedies been this summer?

I read 'Eat, Pray, Love' about 3 years ago and absolutely loved it! I think we can all relate to the book-- There are times in all of our lives when we are trying to find ourselves and trying to find out what truly makes us happy. There's nothing better than getting to spend an extended amount of time in a new place--a new environment--to explore and experience new things! I have dreams of one day {in the far, far future-after we have raised all of our children and they are grown and we are retired} Brett and I moving to a new place every 6 months.

For now though, I can eat, pray, and love in Houston.

eat.

pray.

love.

32 Weeks & Maternity Pictures

This week I am 32 weeks along, which means I only have 8 weeks left until my due date! Seriously, where has the time gone?! I feel a mix of so many emotions. Obviously, I am so excited the closer it gets! I just can't wait to meet this little son of mine! However, I also think it's kind of sad whenever one chapter of your life comes to a close. Never again will it just be Brett and I as newlyweds.

I had the same feeling when I left high school, and then when I left college, and then when I left my single days behind to get married. Change is always sad to me, but you know what--each stage has just gotten better and better, so I know the best is yet to come! It's exciting!

So at this point I am feeling great! I still have some pretty bad numbness in my right leg due to Preston sitting on a nerve, but I have found a pregnancy support belt really helps it. I am also feeling some pretty severe kicks these days--unlike the sweet little flutters of before. It is so cool though to feel his limbs moving all around in there. I am extremely tired all the time. All you coffee drinkers out there... You know when you wake up in the morning and haven't had your cup of coffee yet so you're kind of a zombie?--that's how I feel all day long. And the shortness of breath makes me feel like a seriously obese person--but I know that's just because my uterus is pushing up on my lungs and making it harder for me to catch my breath. Heck, even talking makes me out of breath!

Some of you know how the crib I ordered from Restoraion Hardware Baby and Child keeps getting backordered. (I ordered it at the beginning of May.) It was supposed to arrive mid-July, then mid-August, and seeing that it was next week and I was so excited, and they just notified me that it has been pushed back again (3rd time) until the first week in September. I had a nervous breakdown yesterday. I know, I know--worst case scenario he can sleep in a bassinet for awhile, but it's just that I wanted the room to be all complete because I am excited to see how it is all going to look! I'm a first time mom, what can I say?!

Well, I called Restoration Hardware furious. I rarely ever complain, but I let them have it! You can't just keep pushing back a date when it clearly states on the website one date. They assured me it would definitely be in early September (I'm first on the list), and they gave me a $150 gift card to Restoration Hardware to make up for the inconvenience. I mean, it's too late now to order another crib. All cribs take about 4-6 weeks to come in anyways, so at this point, I better just keep waiting on the one I want. I had all of the furniture in the room painted to match this exact crib, and the dustruffle is being made for the length of this crib. So I'm going to keep waiting. But I wouldn't advise anyone to ever order anything from RH if it is not in stock. This has been terrible!

Last weekend my sister snapped some maternity pictures of me just for fun. Here are some of them:

The very next day after we took the pictures I think my face and arms got significantly larger, along with some not-so-pretty swelling in my ankles, so I'm glad we took these when we did! ha!

Houston Baby Shower

As the weekend comes to a close, I am feeling so very grateful and sentimental for all the people in my life. Yes, I feel sentimental most all the time these days...Thanks, hormones.

But this weekend I had the most beautiful baby shower thrown for me by 8 amazing women and I feel so fortunate! For the hostesses--and for all the wonderful friends and family who came to celebrate! We are blown away by everyone's generosity. It really makes it seem so much more real now that we have stuff to put away in Preston's room. He already has quite the wardrobe. I go in his room and just sit and admire everything...so does Brett. ha.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful event...

Hostesses and I:

From L to R, Rachel, Kim, Kate, Cheryl, me, Becky, Lindsey, Joan, and Therese

I love these women!

Gorgeous but yummy cookie favors

Ice Cream Sundae Bar--How cute!

Kitchen table filled with yummy hor'doerves and drinks

Clothesline with monogrammed onesies

Place to write advice or a wish

Love this!

My favorite flowers--Hydrangeas and white roses on the buffet table

Can I just take a moment to comment on how beautiful a home Cheryl has--It was the perfect backdrop for the party. I love this shade of blue that her breakfast room is painted!

Mmm...Cheese Platter

Adorable decorations--such precious details

Sign in table

All kinds of refreshing drinks with cute labels

Giraffe at the front door, precious.

 Clothesline to hang the advice on. This is such a cute idea!

The shower was perfect in every way, not just because of how beautiful everything looked, but because I got to celebrate with the people I love most! Love you guys!