Life Lately....

Not much going on around here.. just a bunch of organizing, baby prepping, and finishing up for the end of the school year!!! Here are some fun pics from life lately!!!

It has been nothing but RAIN..so on the off chance of sun I do this 

At my parents for my DG's Birthday!

The fam.

Seriously I have been such a slacker when it has come to cooking.. Im hoping my creativity will pick back up once the baby is here.. eventually.. but for now my dad spoils me with his cooking. Steak and Lobster night!

A random Monday Morning... 

Bumpie!!! I have had so much fun dressing the bump this pregnancy!!! My favorite stores have been

A Pea in the Pod

PINK BLUSH

Seriously ...such cute stuff!!! Also very transitional for after you have the baby and your tummy is still super pouchy..I loved all of their clothes!

Got a little crafty and painted the outdoor furniture. 

Ordered my new monogram hat from my favorite Etsy store!! #itzybitzytripzy

Had brunch with Brandon at our new favorite hole in the wall. Behind our neighborhood is a cute rustic ( think fredricksburg or canton) street with TONS of shops and little restaurants on it. I literally have no idea how I haven't discovered it but they have a TO DIE for restaurant called grumpys...and this my friends was what I ate. 

We got our maternity pictures back!!! I love this one!!!!

Enjoyed my favorite craving. FROYO.

Another Bumpie!!! Cute outfit from Pink Blush!!!

:) Cant wait to post pics from my Baby Showers!!!!

Hello Third Trimester!!!!!!-Pregnancy Update!!!

Pregnancy Update!!!!

How far along:  27 weeks!!!

Total weight gain:  16 lbs

Maternity clothes:  Oh yes most definitely. 

Stretch marks: nope!

Sleep: Still getting up every night to go pee and I have been getting a bunch of ligament stretching so sleep is starting to become uncomfortable

Best moment of this week:  Honestly this particular WEEK has sucked...I have had a horrible stomach virus and am currently blogging from my bed :( Best moment this MONTH would be getting our maternity pictures taken, having my makeup professionally done and being completely pampered by a fun spa day given by my husband :) 

Miss anything: Starting to miss shopping wherever I want...I am pretty much limited to the maternity stores and I am ready to hit Nordstroms and some of my old favorite boutiques. Oh and maybe wine :)

Movement: yes!! This is probably my FAVORITE part of pregnancy!! His little foot gets jammed up in my ribs and when I press it gently he kicks back as to say " no mom I want it there!!" :) I Love feeling baby boy kick soooo much!

Food cravings: Lately it has been iced coffee...or something sweet. I am supposed to limit my sweets so I usually choose one or the other. Brandon got me a GIGI cupcake the other day and I was probably a little more than excited.

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!

Have you started to show yet: Definitley rocking the bump...

Gender: Boy!!

Labor signs: nope to early-have felt a few Braxton hicks here and there

Belly button in or out:  its in but it looks flat like a pancake

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: People and certain things def. annoy me a lot more...but I'm not sure if it is because I'm pregnant or because of my lack of cafffiene/ alcohol :) 

Looking forward to:  Seeing all of my family and friends at my fun Baby showers!!! Also just finishing the final touches on his nursery...and of course meeting our precious boy!!!! I feel so grateful every single day that God chose ME to be Jax's mom. 

Some fun pictures!!! 

My makeup before our session

Nesting has full on kicked in.. I ordered that mirror from PB and Brandon installed it for me! I love it!

A sample from our session!! I LOVE being pregnant :)!!!

Mommy and Daddy!

I try and dress the bump cute for Doctors appointments ;)

My big seven month Baby bump! Mommy Cannot wait to meet you Jax Holden!

Easter Sunday...and a few extras :)

We had such a beautiful Easter Sunday with our family... I think this year was so special because we all know I have a little bunny in my tummy :) I can't wait to spend next year's Easter with my baby boy. The church service was beautiful and so was the company afterwards. I worked SO hard on my tables cape ( something I LOVE doing) and I think it turned out great! Easter is my given holiday so I try and always make it really special for everyone!!! Here are some pictures...

Here I am about to walk into my SEVENTH month of pregnancy...time is flying and to be honest I LOVE being pregnant :) I think I might have to do it again!

My Easter centerpieces were so easy to make. I went to hobby lobby and got the vases for 50 cents, tied a yellow ribbon around them, and hot glued the little butterflies. Then got my Tulips from Trader Joes' for 5 bucks! 

My nesting situation is in full force..if I am not organizing it, I am either online ordering something or rearranging furniture! My house has never been more organized or clean!! This is my newest online endeavor :) My rug really brightens up the space!

a few too many pictures of my table scape :)

My little pottery barn name place bunnies I got on sale last year!

Loving on our baby boy <3

I really did try hard to get a decent pic of my husband...he spilled water on his shirt so this is what I get.. 

The food!!!

The family!!!

The parents!

A little project I worked on!! I love #anniesloanchalkpaint

That was our Happy Easter!!! I am looking forward to my THIRD trimester and baby showers:) New springtime recipes will be posted soon!

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with a Mango Salsa

These tacos scream summertime!! This is actually one of my favorite recipes to make during the hot summer months because of all the yummy fresh ingredients that I usually grow in my garden. Just kidding I don't grow anything.. I kill everything. 

Anyways, I am ready for SUMMER!! Not just because my sweet baby boy will be here but because that is when all of my favorite veggies and fruits are in season and that my friends, is what makes all the difference when cooking!!!! 

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with a Mango Salsa

Shopping List:

One lb of shrimp- tails cut off, peels off, and deveined ( or you could just buy them that way...I choose to go the harder route :)) 

One cup of cilantro- rough chopped

Two Roma Tomatoes chopped and diced

One red bell pepper seeded chopped and diced

one large clove of garlic-minced

one Jalepeno- seeded chopped and diced ( to cut the heat put the pepper in an ice bath for about an hour before cooking with it)

1 purple onion chopped and diced

One mango- diced

One Avocado -diced

juice of two limes and some zest

Seasonings: cumin, cayenne, S & P, a little chilli powder, olive oil

Fresh corn tortillas

Procedure:

Start by preparing your mango salsa. In a bowl combine the diced mango, 1/2 or even 1/4 of your chopped purple onion, chopped Romas, bell pepper, 1/2 cup of the cilantro, Jalepeno-  seeded & chopped, Avocado, and the juice of one lime.  Mix together with your hands until nice and combined, throw in some salt and pepper and then pop in the fridge to let those flavors marinate for a while. 

Meanwhile start deveining your shrimp if you haven't already. In a medium bowl place the shrimp, the rest of the cilantro, a glug or two of olive oil, salt/pepper, - the rest of the seasonings ( to your taste), the juice of the second lime plus the zest, and the rest of the purple onion. 

Over medium high heat place two pats of butter and let it melt. Then throw your minced garlic on ( watch your garlic so it doesn't burn!!!!) when it starts giving off that yummy garlic smell, throw the shrimp with all the goodie with it into the pan and turn the heat down just a little. Usually my shrimp take about 2 1/2 -3 minutes per side to cook. Make sure they are PINK!!! We don't want to cook them to long or else they become rubbery.. and nobody likes that so babysit those shrimps!!! Once you are sure your shrimp is cooked then its time to build that taco!

Start with your corn tortilla, place some shrimp on them and top with some mango salsa that has been marinating in the fridge! Need some extra tang? Squeeze some lime juice on that sucker and then squeeze the rest in your Dos Equis!! ENJOY!