Trendy Tot Tuesday {CMU Pride}

This past weekend was "Welcome Weekend!" While I USED to enjoy the hustle and bustle of this time of year, now I find it SO annoying when all of the students come back. Makes me glad we moved to the quieter side of town and we don't have to deal with the traffic and all that fun stuff! ;) 

(...Weird what happens when you get married and have a baby! haha)

With School starting comes events at the university, FREE events, and this mama can NOT say no to free! haha On Sunday was an event called "Mainstage" where local businesses come out and hand out coupons, samples, free food, etc and the university has a food tent with free bbq, bounce houses, etc. Jeremy always has a tent at this event every year so we went to visit him in our CMU finest! haha

Before we left I asked Olivia to look at me and say "cheese" for a picture, well she did say "cheese" but turned the other way...

Hair Clips: F21 |  T-Shirt: Meijer  |  Shorts: Target (Clearance now!)  | Chucks: Babies R Us

For me it was too hot out, but Liv LOVED it! She loved waving at everyone and loved the free food and of course the balloons, he FAVORITE thing in the world! haha

This weeks guest host is Nicole! 

I first found Nicole on instagram and have been following her blog ever since! Not only is she a gorgeous fashionable mama, but her son is BEYOND adorable!! If I had a little boy I would dress him JUST like Lucas!!

This weeks TOTW is:

Don't you just DIIIE?! Every week I look forward to her linking up with us! :)

• Trendy Tot Tuesday is a chance to talk about kid's style, and pretty much anything goes.  Pictures of your cutie, talking about their style (that you buy and dress them in, ahem!), a Polyvore board, linking to the new kid's line at the Gap - anything!  All ages welcome, from you sweet pregnant mamas stocking up a closet to the teenagers that probably pick all their own stuff out now  

• This is a hop-style link up - please follow your hosts (Myself, Kelly & Lindsay!)- we are in spots 1-3.  Also, jump around to meet other bloggers!  We hope everyone gains some new followers from this link up and finds some fabulous new blogs!

• Please link back to (at least!) one of us, and feel free to steal our Trendy Tot Tuesday badge if you'd like.  If you're a tweeter or instagram-er, use #trendytot

• Interested in co-hosting?  Please let me know if you think you'd like to be a  co-host!! You can leave me a comment or email me!! :)
• Interested in sponsoring or hosting a giveaway? You can leave me a comment or email me! 

Trendy Tot Tuesday {Converse Sneakers}

I am SO a shoe obsessed woman, and my child is turning into a shoe obsessed girl! ANY store we go into, she requests to go look at shoes (probably because she knows "look" will turn into "buy!" haha)

This past weekend we were at Babies R Us and they had Converse Sneakers on CLEARANCE and I had a coupon and store credit so Liv got her first pair of chucks!

I have been WANTING to buy her these shoes for SO long but didn't want to shell out $30 for shoes she would grow out of in a month or 2! (Have I mentioned my TWO YEAR OLD wears a size 7?!)

She is OBSESSED with these shoes, and I don't blame her! haha They had black, charcoal, pink, red and navy. She chose the charcoal, probably because I told her to choose a color more versatile! haha

I couldn't find them on the website, so maybe it is a clearance sale in store only? $16.99!

She may have also gotten a few other pairs of shoes for her to "grow" into, a shoe obsessed mama I am, I am!

Any sales you mama's caught this past weekend that you would like to share?

This weeks guest host is Joanna!

Joanna is the mama to Sienna! If you aren't following her blog and instagram you are missing out! She posts the CUTEST pictures and videos of her adorable daughter!! 

The TOTW is:

• Trendy Tot Tuesday is a chance to talk about kid's style, and pretty much anything goes.  Pictures of your cutie, talking about their style (that you buy and dress them in, ahem!), a Polyvore board, linking to the new kid's line at the Gap - anything!  All ages welcome, from you sweet pregnant mamas stocking up a closet to the teenagers that probably pick all their own stuff out now  

• This is a hop-style link up - please follow your hosts (Myself, Kelly & Lindsay!)- we are in spots 1-3.  Also, jump around to meet other bloggers!  We hope everyone gains some new followers from this link up and finds some fabulous new blogs!

• Please link back to (at least!) one of us, and feel free to steal our Trendy Tot Tuesday badge if you'd like.  If you're a tweeter or instagram-er, use #trendytot

• Interested in co-hosting?  Please let me know if you think you'd like to be a  co-host!! You can leave me a comment or email me!! :)
• Interested in sponsoring or hosting a giveaway? You can leave me a comment or email me! 

August 30X30 Challenge

I am linking up with Kelly for her August 30X30 Challenge

What is a 30X30 Challenge? Here is Kelly's discription from her blog:

"For me personally, its been an exercise in better determining my personal style. I focus more on pieces that fit well and look good. I’ve noticed a huge change in my wardrobe attitude since my first challenge last year – a larger wardrobe can intimidate me. I feel more confident and attractive in clothes that I know what I can pair them with and what will look good on me.

The 30×30 challenge has been done by other bloggers, and there are many variations on the rules, but the general gist is that you choose 30 pieces of clothing and remix them for 30 days, attempting to not repeat outfits. The goal is to learn more ways to expand your wardrobe." 

When Kelly originally introduced this challenge a couple months back, I'll admit I was QUITE intimidated. I LOVE the way Kelly dresses and I love how creative and ahead of trend she always is. I remember finding her on instagram and stalking her blog for outfit ideas for special occasion's and even ways to pump up my wardrobe for work and even nights out with my hubby. 

When she invited everyone to join her in the challenge I was so excited to participate. All of the other linkers are SO supportive of each other and this is such a great group of ladies to be apart of! :)

On to the good stuff...my 30 items...

BLOUSES:

Banana Republic | F21 | F21 | Loft | H&M

Shirts (I included Cami's)

 F21 | F21 | F21 | Target | F21 | F21

 DRESSES:

F21 | Target

 PANTS/SHORTS:

NY&CO | NY&CO | NY&CO | Old Navy | 

American Eagle | GAP

SKIRT:

Target

JACKETS/BLAZERS/SWEATER

&

SHOES:

F21 | Target | Loft | Wilsons Leather

Tahari | Target | Nine West

Victoria's Secret | Target | Payless

I now realize I shop ENTIRELY too much at F21 (Forever21 & Target)...Ooops!

Come back tomorrow and I will post the first 6 outfits!

Also, check out my guest post for Pam! :)

Trendy Tot Tuesday {Baby Boy}

I am usually ALL OVER the baby girl clothes and talk for #trendytot tuesday but today I am talking baby boy...well baby boy clothes!

With a good friend and Jers sister both expecting baby boys I couldn't help but browse baby Gap's styles! Oh My Gosh! Cuteness overload!!

Baby Boy by meganlawless on Polyvore

Boy mamas, where are your favorite places to stock up for the little man in your life?

This weeks Guest host is Carly! 

Carly is the Mommy to Chase and Emmy! Her son reminds me SO much of my nephews! (They are obsessed with all things spiderman and super heros!) Seeing her daughter makes me wish I could take Olivia back to that age!!

Our Trendy Tot of the Week is:

I DIE over a bright, big tutu!!

AND THE WINNER OF THE $20 Target Giftcard is...

Cari from Adventures of The Roberts!!

Cari email me so I can get that gift card to you right away!!

Thank you to everyone who participated and got the word out! :)

• Trendy Tot Tuesday is a chance to talk about kid's style, and pretty much anything goes.  Pictures of your cutie, talking about their style (that you buy and dress them in, ahem!), a Polyvore board, linking to the new kid's line at the Gap - anything!  All ages welcome, from you sweet pregnant mamas stocking up a closet to the teenagers that probably pick all their own stuff out now  

• This is a hop-style link up - please follow your hosts (Myself, Kelly & Lindsay!)- we are in spots 1-3.  Also, jump around to meet other bloggers!  We hope everyone gains some new followers from this link up and finds some fabulous new blogs!

• Please link back to (at least!) one of us, and feel free to steal our Trendy Tot Tuesday badge if you'd like.  If you're a tweeter or instagram-er, use #trendytot

• Interested in co-hosting?  Please let me know if you think you'd like to be a  co-host!! You can leave me a comment or email me!! :)
• Interested in sponsoring or hosting a giveaway? You can leave me a comment or email me! 

I was in a Car Accident

The unexpected always happens when you aren't expecting it.

I was on my way back to work from my lunch break on friday, sitting at a red light and BOOM. I was rear ended by a HUGE Ford pickup truck. 

The male driver said he didn't see me, but I don't know how that was possible. He literally used the car I was driving to stop his vehicle. Luckily I didn't hit the car in front of me. Luckily I didn't get hurt. Luckily Olivia wasn't in the car with me. Luckily I was driving Jeremy's car and not my own.

That morning Jeremy and I decided I would be the "drop off parent" and take Olivia to school (daycare) that morning. I am hardly ever the drop off parent. (We decided to only get one car seat, and we keep it in Jeremy's car.) I ended up being late for work (well late in my opinion) after arguing with my two year old about a sticker she just HAD to bring with her that morning (a cinderella sticker she got at the dr. the day before), this sticker ended up being in the car, stuck to her seat belt. How silly I felt arguing with a two year old over a sticker, but she wanted it and I am a sucker for that little girl.

I say luckily I was driving Jeremy's car. I drive a medium sized sedan, he drives an SUV. The accident I was in, the trucks front was in Jeremy's almost backseat. If this had happened in my car, who knows what would have happened. 

I believe everything happens for a reason. I keeping playing back the accident in my head and I could not have done anything different (even though I wish I could have changed what happened.) Why didn't I leave one minute earlier? Why did I go down the main road? 

I didn't see him "about to hit me" until he was already crashing into me. There was no place to swerve out of the way. No way to go forward to get out of his way. 

I know accidents happen. I don't know how he didn't see me. Was he just not paying attention? He seemed sincerely sorry. He wasn't some dirtbag who refused to take responsibility. He pulled over next to my car after. He made sure I was ok, asked if I was hurt, told me to wait in the car in case I was. He took full responsibility when the police came and apologized to me (and when Jeremy arrived) numerous times.

I am physically ok. I am sore and have a few scratches but that is it. I was pretty shaken up the day of the accident but that has now faded. Picking up Olivia from daycare that day, wow. I cried running to her and holding her in my arms. Life is SO precious! To think I could have been taken from her and my husband is SO surreal. 

I have always had a fear of dying young and dying in a car accident. Sounds morbid I know, but that is my fear. I just can't imagine not being there for the two most important people in my life. 

So now when I look back on friday morning, and think about being upset about Olivia making us late, I feel SO silly. I look at things I got mad at Jer about and think, "Wow, was it worth it?" 

Saying "I love you" and that last kiss seems more important than ever to me. I TRY to make sure I do it, but from now on, no matter what, I ALWAYS will.

Hug and kiss the ones that mean the most to you. It is important. You never know when it may be the last time. 

{July} Blog Love

One of my favorite blogs Stress Case does a blog posting weekly about her favorite posts. I LOVE this!! I wanted to highlight some of my favorite blog postings from the past month because who doesn't love to find new blogs to read?

Speaking of Casey, I was SO excited when she shared some BIG news!! Go over and congratulate her!! :)

I just ADORE Natasha and her precious girls so I was excited to see her newest little babe's newborn pictures! SO precious!!

This girl was one of the FIRST bloggers I ever followed! She has SUCH great everyday tips INCLUDING this one for Gel manis!!

I started following this mama on IG before reading her blog and she is just SO inspiring!! I love her heart felt posts and I think this one hits home with all mamas!

I found this mama through Brandi, I love this post she did about getting back on track!

This mama is my go-to when I need a tutorial or advice on makeup and yummy, healthy recipes! It is no shocker that she looks JUST as gorgeous with out makeup as she does with it on!

This post hit home with me, I think we can ALL relate with Joanna!

This mama-to-be hit the nail on the head!! I found myself agreeing with SO much in this post!

I LOVE this series Erin has been doing!! SO many great tips!!

I don't think a first birthday party gets much cuter! SUCH a fun theme!!

For new mama's and mama's-to-be, I think this is a great post to check out!

We are going through this HARD CORE in our house right now!! It is nice to read how other parents are dealing!

Any must reads I am missing? Leave the link in the comments!! :)