Bullet Points of Things You Should Know

*I'm trying to figure out if I still blog. I have increasingly picked up my pen and paper journal over the last few weeks, something I haven't done regularly for about a year! I just noticed that some of you were leaving/unsubscribing and I thought you might be tired of me talking about the struggles we've been having lately. Not that it matters, really- I know this is my blog and I can write freely, but at the same time I wonder myself if this is something I should continue to share.
*This busy season of our lives has me away from the computer a lot, too. Yesterday was one of the worst days I've had this entire pregnancy. I woke up feeling sick, but I just tried to ignore and drink lots of water. I went about my day, dropping off the kids at school and decided to go shopping to look for baby items. As I walked through the stores, I stayed near the restrooms thinking that any minute I was going to need them. It was the first trimester all over again. I finally capitulated and came home to rest before I had to pick the boys up at two. When I woke up from my nap, I felt really really awful. When I got home from getting them, I put them to sleep despite one of them already having a nap that day and crawled in bed myself. I spent the evening violently ill and having pretty regular contractions. I was alarmed, but around 11pm last night, I started to feel slightly better.
*I have no less than 80 billion mosquito bites on my pasty white legs. I feel so hot. ;)
*My pal from college has written another book. Book 2 in the Ethereal Underground Trilogy is available today on Amazon! Here's more about it:

Mark of Deceit

By Brooke Kennedy and Briana Gaitan

Book two in the Ethereal Underground Trilogy

Release Date 6/3/2014

Available TODAY at Amazon  $2.99 (Other formats coming soon)

Good Read Summary

Goodreads Link

Website

She thought that her Elders would welcome her back home with open arms…
He thought that she would stay by his side forever…
Now a friend is missing….
They thought the seer’s words were just that…words
But not all is as it seems….

Months later, Ash and Annalise have both returned to their separate lives after their adventure in the forbidden layer of Cabalin, Both of them are struggling to move on with their lives. Fighting has kept Ash busy for the most part, but it allows him to release his frustrations and earn some gems to survive. He thought renouncing the keepers would free him, but he ended up losing his way. Annalise is plagued by nightmares and emotions that are even more out of control than before. She is desperate for an answer, desperate for a way out, until the Elders offer her exactly what she needs: a way to break the bond with Ash in return for her compliance with their own mission

Author Links

Briana Gaitan

www.facebooks.com/booksbybree

www.bookswithbree.com

Brooke Kennedy

www.facebook.com/beneaththesilvermoon

www.brookekennedy.org

Launch Party/ Book Signing

https://www.facebook.com/events/236615703206203/

I hope you'll check it out. I haven't read it yet, but I look forward to it when life slows down a bit here.

*I'm still taking classes. I worked ahead when my latest class became available and was able to do next to nothing for about three weeks. It has been strange. Such a big difference from last semester. I need to get to work and finish up the other four weeks of assignments now. That would be so helpful to not have that to worry about as baby's arrival gets closer and closer.

*In case you didn't know, I'm 29 weeks along. Whoa Nelly.

*Exciting things are coming up for my business. This summer, I'll be attending at least two local 5Ks where I'll be setting up shop. This is your chance to come and shop in person. Follow along on facebook for more information. Additionally, I have several new designs up and coming! We're expanding to provide men's and children's gear, too. Here's the latest shirt. It's my new fav:

Like it? Shop here.

*Ok, I've got to start my day now. Wish me luck that it's not a repeat of tomorrow. Pretty, please?

Love,

Currently

Excited About: Being cleared to workout again postpartum. I'm tired of my achy back, soft body, and getting kicked all day long. I can't wait to hold little baby M in my arms and be able to put him down every so often so I can work out! I want to run again. I want to be fast. I want those endorphins.

Reading:

(Just Finished) 

(It was good)

Feeling: Oh, pretty good. The stress level is down a bit, I'd say. I am working ahead in the class I'm taking right now so that I won't have a ton of stuff to do as baby's due date gets closer.

Crafting: I'm going to give this a whirl. I bought all the stuff earlier this week-

(not my photo)

Also, I'm working on a display board for my sweet middle child. It is a work in progress, but it will hopefully help him to communicate by pointing to it when he needs something and is frustrated. It has basic tasks and items we use on a regular basis.

Working On: Counseling 603, Catching up on laundry so I can wash and organize tiny baby clothes, and creating new designs for my shop

Grateful For: I got a call early this week that they found some loaner hearing aids for Baby A! I was thrilled and so thankful. They won't cost us anything and he can use them as long as he needs them. He has to wear them at least three months in preparation for the cochlear implant process.

Clothed With Strength {a new shop}

Hey, y'all. You know I haven't been around much and part of that is because I've been busy with my new business! I planned on having this big hoopla GRAND OPENING but as I suck with coding and all things technical I just couldn't get the website the way I wanted it. I caved and set up an Etsy and took orders via PayPal on the facebook page and bam. It has done really well. I still eventually hope to have a legit online store one day, but until then these two avenues are working just fine. I've recently began talk with stores around the area to expand to sell there as well. So, what is it I'm selling exactly?

Clothed With Strength is an active apparel line for women. It combines two of my passions: faith and fitness! If you've followed along my blog for any length of time you know I felt lead to do something that I am passionate about, something that would help me contribute financially to my family. Last year as I began trying to get healthy and fit after having baby #2, an idea started to form in my mind. It eventually grew into what it is now and hopefully it will continue to grow. I'm having so much fun doing this! I hope you'll browse the Etsy. I've sold out of so much lately it has been hard to keep inventory in. I do have some sizes/shirts left, though so go shop if you wanna!

Here are some happy customers in their gear! 

And this week, I'm offering up this sweet deal:

30% off this New Balance Sleeveless Tank-

As I said, I've been having a lot of fun wearing and distributing this gear. I've been trying to keep up with running while preggo, but it is HARD. Last weekend, Clothed With Strength was at a local 5K in my hometown. Sales did really well and so did this 6+ month pregnant gal. I finished in 31:33, which is good for me considering the extra weight I'm packin'. I had to walk a few times because my heart rate was getting higher than Doc tells me is okay and plus, ouch, my back and belly were aching. Anyway, I was proud to have finished it but I think I'll take it easy on cardio from here on out. 

Here are some photos from the 5K:

That's my bro and my sister helping me. He ran with me and she manned the table while I was gone.

I'm just so thankful to my friends, family, and customers for making this worth my while. God has been so good to bless me with supportive people in my life and I'm very, very grateful.

I don't know where this business is headed, but I am enjoying where it is right now. Thanks so much for supporting me.

Website: Clothed With Strength
IG: @ClothedWithStrengthApparel
Like Clothed With Strength on Facebook
Etsy: ClothedWStrength

Ask Mrs. K

Top of the mornin' to ya! I noticed I've got some new faces around here--welcome! I thought I'd let you all get to know me a little more by answering some questions I've been asked in the blogging world recently. Also, I love to follow back so let me know if you've followed and I haven't returned the favor, ok? I appreciate each of you! Thanks for providing the following questions, Lisa (and thanks for the blog award, too!).

1. First three movies in your Netflix queue?
Um, err...what's Netflix? Kidding. But honestly, I haven't watched a movie in I don't know how long. Every time I think I might want to, I think of five billion other things I should be doing instead. I need a chill pill.

2. Where is your dream vacation?
I've always wanted to go to Italy. I'd love to rent a villa in the countryside, throw open the windows and feel the breeze on my face. I'd sip on wine, nibble on bread and cheese, and fantasize about moving there.

3. How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging in some capacity for years. As far as this blog (on blogger) goes, it has almost been a year.

4. Sweat pants, yoga pants or something else?
I'm for the pants that are going to make my butt look a little bit bigger and not so flat. Those pants are my friend.

5. Do you prefer road trips or all-inclusive vacations?
My younger, carefree self would say "road trips, for sure!" Now that I'm a parent, I think the latter might be a heck of a lot easier.

6. What TV show is your guilty pleasure?
The Bachelor. What's their record on successful relationships now? 2 out of 8,000? I'm so excited to watch the upcoming finale of Sean's season.

7. Home cooked meals or take-out?
Both have their place in my heart.

8. If you could time travel, where and when would you go?
I think I'd go back to Christ's death and resurrection. I'd want to carry that memory with me so as never to forget the sacrifice that was made for me.

9. What is your favorite Disney movie?
I always loved The Little Mermaid the best.

10. Do you write blog posts ahead of time?
Sometimes

11. What do you like most about your significant other?
I love his loyalty to our family. I enjoy watching him with our sons and knowing I can trust him wholeheartedly.

Now, it's your turn! What burning question have you always wanted to ask me? Leave it in the comment section and I'll address it next time around. I hope each of you have a great weekend!

Shabby Apple Swimwear

I'm not a photographer, a model, or a fashion blogger so sorry about the following photo:

If you don't care to ignore the baby glider in the background and the fact that this is what social media likes to call a "myspace photo", then I'll provide you with my latest clothing purchase...

the mom friendly bathing suit!

A couple week ago, I was unpacking all my bikinis from the days of Pre-Kids. Feeling decent about myself for a change, I decided I'd try them on. I shouldn't have. I really shouldn't have. My body is not where I want it to be in order for me to go out in public in skin showing swimwear. I don't know if it ever will be again. But gosh, darn it, I'll try to get it there. 

Meanwhile, I wanted something I would feel comfortable in. This is the sunshine state, after all. I'm going to be outside a lot!

I ordered the above swim suit from Shabby Apple. Their button lingers on my blog ads section, but I had only ever admired their clothing from afar. I had never actually purchased anything. Here's my experience with them:

The top is what I bought from them (I already had the bottoms from Old Navy). I was nervous to buy something a little pricey without trying it on- especially a bathing suit, but I just went for it. I was desperate to have other options than tiny bikinis I wore years ago. After filling out what seemed to be five million questions, the email was sent alerting me that a shiny new bathing suit would soon be on its way to me. I was pumped! The day it came in the mail, I opened it immediately and went to my bedroom to try it on. I bypassed Captain J who was on a phone call for work. I put the suit on and was pleasantly surprised. I mean, I don't quite look like this girl-

but she has photo edit, pretty flowers, lipstick, and a hat to help...

so whatever. ;)

Anyway, I love this suit! The only problem I have with it is that it doesn't support the ladies as much as I hoped it would. As a nursing mom, I need something substantial in the chest area. The elastic doesn't even go all the way around on the inside. Perhaps if I had ordered an XS I would be a little more pleased with the result. I got a S and it seems to fit perfectly everywhere else.

I also like the option of making it a little more revealing (ha) because I can pull it up a little to tan my tummy, too. It looks cute both ways (see my photo versus hers).

I was still checking myself out in the mirror when Captain J walked in. I thought he'd probably not like it very much, but he quickly told me otherwise. Also? He said he was glad I bought it. That almost never happens! So, this bathing suit is a score in my book.

(No one paid me to write this although I wish they would.)

VS

It's no secret, I LOVE Victoria's Secret...so much so that we might go broke when I get back to civilization and there's one within driving distance. The good thing is, I cut up my VS credit card into a million little pieces when I paid it off so we won't have to worry about that ;)

I'm loving their new PINK Collegiate and NFL lines. Do you have a lady football fan on your Christmas list? Check out all the super cute loungewear that I found:





Army PINK wear found here





Tennessee PINK wear found here





Steelers PINK wear found here

I also found these cute jeans in their clothing line (ahem- size 4- ahem)



I could go on forever, but most of their clothes are over 100 bucks and after living in the land of flannel for over a year, I just can't justify spending that much money on a single article of clothing. Maybe I'm cheap.

What's your take on VS? Overpriced? Do you love it? Do you hate it?