Merry Christmas to You and Yours

You're getting 2 posts in one day because I'm crazy like that (and I forgot I already had the Friday's Fanices post scheduled).   I just wanted to take this time today and say Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all the wonderful people that stop by and read this little blog of mine. 

I hope you all get to enjoy good food, good drinks, and good times with family and friends over the next week.  I am going to be checking out so that I can finish up some last minute shopping and wrapping and enjoying soaking up all the time I can with my husband since he's taking 4 days off work!

I hope Santa brings you everything on your wish list!!

Friday's Fancies: Holiday Best

 Every year our very best family friends throw a Christmas Eve Party.  It' been going on about 20 years and becomes the highlight of everyone's holiday season.  Not only is it a great excuse to dress up but I also get to catch up with old family friends that I may only see once or twice per year.

Here is an outfit I would wear to the Christmas Eve Party:

Holiday Best by ecnat5 featuring post earrings

Do you have any fun Holiday traditions? There is something so fun about dressing up and going out of Christmas Eve.

 You can join the fun below:

New Blog Look, Baby Updates, and Grown Up Christmas Lists

First of all Thank You for all your sweet comments and congratulations on yesterday's post.  You all are the best!! Seriously.  

Now if you're reading this in Google Reader and didn't see yesterday you need to check out my new blog look!  I had Shannon from Shannon Page Design do it for me and she did an amazing job!  I just gave her some ideas and colors I liked and she quickly pulled it all together perfectly.  Not only is she really good but she has totally affordable prices so go check her out now.   She is also a newly wed and blogs about her  newlywed life over at Page Twenty-Two she had a gorgeous wedding also that you need to check out



For those wondering I am 13 weeks pregnant and due around June 23rd.  Weeks 6-12 were rough,  I was not prepared for the 24/7 nausea and extreme exhaustion but I think I have finally turned a corner.  The past 4 days I have felt glorious and fingers crossed it stays that way.   I was getting concerned there around 9 weeks that I would never feel like a human again, that coupled with the hormones made me have some lovely crying breakdowns that I'm pretty sure terrified my husband.  I think he is just as happy as me to be past those days!

If you have a minute please check out my sister's post on her Grown Up Christmas List.  She is a teacher and this has been a very hard week for her, as I can imagine the same for parents and teachers everywhere.   People think teachers have it so easy with summers off and spring break but teachers do so much more than just teach the lesson plan.

I can't believe Christmas is in 5 days!!!  Are you all ready?  I am finishing shopping today and then will hopefully have it all wrapped and ready tomorrow!

Big News!!

I just couldn't keep this secret any longer...

Coming June 2013!

Thank You!

I just want to say a big THANK YOU  to all of my readers and everyone's sweet comments on my Keeping it Real post.  It's good to know that I am not alone in letting my house turn into a disaster area.   Everyone in the blog world is so kind and supportive of each other and what we're dealing with. 
So again thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to stop by my little place on the internet.  

I know most of you spend the weekend fighting back tears listing to stories coming out of Sandy Hook elementary and Newtown, CT.  My heart hurts so much for those families, students, residents, and teachers, ugh I feel like teachers everywhere need not only a big hug but a major pay raise!  Just typing this makes me feel sick again.

So in order to lighten the mood I'm sharing pictures of my favorite little creature Layla:

   Yes that is my husband laying on the floor trying to get the dog to leave her crate and play

Keeping it Real

As a blogger it's hard not to just post the pretty things.  I know I am guilty of giving off the constant "happy" image on my blog and I can do that because that's what this is, my blog.  I think that sometimes we can sit here reading other people's blogs and looking at their seemingly perfect lives and thinking, ugh why can't  I have that outfit? or Wow their house is always perfect looking! or How on earth do they cook those delicious meals and stay that skinny? 

Well my life has been upside down lately and I feel like I just can't keep up.  My job is busy (which is a good thing), our new puppy Layla makes it so difficult to do any chores around the house, and between working, school, and traveling my husband doesn't have any time to help.  I have also barely completed my Christmas shopping- which is not good news considering I'll be at my in-laws in 10 days to celebrate.

So I'm sharing with you the disaster that is currently my house (if you were to visit you would never know I live like this sometimes, I usually like to keep my house looking pristine for guests.)  I'm so embarrassed to post these pics but I'm hoping that someone else can relate and maybe you all can motivate me to get my sh*t together and clean this place up! 

 Work station/Christmas card station

The half decorated Christmas tree

The hallway of never ending laundry and dry cleaning

The "office" has looked like this for a couple of weeks now- I'm not even sure I can tell you what we're storing in there anymore...

So are you all submitting this post to Hoarders to get me help??  Please tell me I'm not alone!!  (I'm glad my mom doesn't read this blog because she would kill me.) 

Monday Morning Inspiration

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Friday's Fancies: Pretty in Plaid

When I saw this week's Friday's Fancies I knew what plaid I would be using: Tartan!  I did use this shirt a few weeks ago but it is such a classic Tartan that I couldn't over look it this time.

I have a Holiday Housewarming Party next weekend that starts at 3pm so I thought this outfit was festive without being too fancy for a day time event.

Pretty in Plaid by ecnat5 featuring givenchy earrings

I would pair the J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Tartan with the J.Crew City Mini and J.Crew Viv Patent Flats.  (This I like J.Crew?!)  Then I would accesorize with my favorites:  the gold oversized watch, Pearls, and my RayBan Aviators.  Since this is my fantasy outfit I would be carrying my Givenchy Antigona bag.  Isn't it TDF?


Do you wear Tartan during the holidays?  Would you wear this to an afternoon Holiday event?

This is Hilarious

I just had to share this- it's hysterical!   I love my instagram and I know I've been totally guilty (especially as a blogger) of documenting way too much.

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

What do you think?  Do you think we all over document our lives?  

PS- if you want to follow me on instagram to see my cool pics of food, clouds, and animals its @nathend5 

They're having a Royal Baby!

 

I don't know about you all but this news makes me so excited!!  Being that I was born in the same year as Prince William I have always been fascinated with the royal family and became even more obsessed after Wills and Kate became engaged.   

This is the day that media and tabloids (and let's be honest, most of us) have been eagering waiting to hear for the past 20 months.   

I only hope that Kate starts to feel better because I have heard that HG is absolutely awful.  

So let's start speculating.... boy, girl, due date, baby names?!?!   Most importantly I can't wait to see her pregnancy wardrobe- because you know it's going to fabulous!

Monday Morning Inspiration

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