August Favorites

The absolute BEST thing to cross my screen this month is that Emily and Christian now have their very own sweet baby boy. I am so completely happy for them and elated that their prayers (and mine for them) have finally been answered.

+ I completed three baby blankets for friends and family, and I even designed my own pattern for one of them.

+ I perfected the messy bun for my type and length of hair. Let me tell you that it was no easy feat. I have very silky hair (even when it's dirty) and it doesn't tease well either. Plus it's in an in-between medium to long length that's hard to style.

+ I made my very first DIY chalkboard sign for my fall decor set. I have to say that it turned out better than I expected. My handwriting sucks when I try to make it pretty haha! Make sure you're signed up for my newsletter to get a sneak peak of my fall decor DIYs. It goes out tomorrow (Wednesday, 8/31) around 5pm CST.

+ We made the first big step to preparing for our future child (don't get excited, still not preggo) and traded our Mustang in for a Nissan Rogue. Now we will have enough room for a car seat, baby essentials, AND Bear when we go places.

+ I finally got to see my Llama, who I haven't seen in two years. Plus I got to meet Hope in person! I really enjoyed our Blate while I was in Georgia, and I'm looking forward to doing it again.

+ We're All Waiting. (And sometimes the waiting just sucks) - Ember Grey
I am in the waiting boat, and sometimes it really sucks.

+ 10 Funny Signs for Race Spectators - The New Wifestyle
These are great! If I ever go to support someone in a race, I'm using some of these ideas.

+ The Healing Power of the Needle - Amanda Moments
Some people don't understand tattoos. Amanda tells her story about why she needed to get her new tattoo. Which reminds me, I need to post about my newest tattoo.

+ The Best of Maybelline - Jasmine Maria
This is one of my go-to brands of makeup, and this list is the holy grail.

+ 7 Thoughtful Ways to Include Dads in the Newborn Phase - The Nested Nomad
I thought this post was lovely. Dads do often get shafted during those first few months, and these are wonderful ways to make them feel like they are really apart of this special time.

Cassie has been going though some stuff. Some really, really hard stuff. And some of her thoughts and feelings I can so relate to as I am going though my own stuff right now.
+ Finding Hope in Our Miscarriage - Sage
+ Why Don't We Talk About Trying to Conceive? - Sage
+ Grief Sucks - Sage

+ Marriage is Teaching Me to Wash Feet (and Floors) - Cattails, Rabbit Trails, and Thistlefish

+ Answering the Call to Marriage: Jon's Perspective - Cattails, Rabbit Trails, and Thistlefish
A sweet and thoughtful response to Casey's post about Marriage from her husband Job. His humble honesty is inspiring.

+ Take Your Seat at the Table - Bourbon, Stilettos, and Lipstick

+ An Open Letter to My Friends Who Support Donald Trump
I totally agree with the author of this article. 100%

+ Looking for a baby shower or toddler birthday gift? Check out this sweet penguin. For each one purchased to company that makes them donates 10 meals to children in need.

+ 10 Things a Woman with PCOS Wants You to Know
All. The. Yes. And it's especially great to share this with you because September is PCOS Awareness Month. So wear teal with pride all throughout the month!

+ 29 '90s Movies You Forgot Were a Thing
Oh. My. Gosh. My whole cinematic childhood in one place.

+ Mayim Bialik: Why I Refuse to Give My Kids Smartphones
Wow. Really opens your eyes to the negative impact being connected on the internet can have on children and teenagers.

+ How to Finally Take Professional Photos with Your Phone - Helene In Between

+ How to Make a Snapchat Geofilter - Dream Big, and Buy the Shoes

+ Free Travel Stock Photos - Helene In Between

+ Currently August
+ Italian Style Baked Spaghetti
+ This is What MY Infertility Looks Like
+ Another Decade Down
+ 14 Things You're Supposed to Stop Doing After 30, But I'm Doing Them Anyway
+ Tiny Diamonds Baby Blanket Pattern
+ My Top 5 Guilty Pleasure Shows

Previous Favorites Posts
July  ++  June  ++   May  ++  April  ++  March


Were any of these on your favorites list this month?

My Top 5 Guilty Pleasure Shows

We all watch Television, right? We love to love The Bachelor/Bachelorette, The Walking Dead, How to Get Away With Murder, Big Bang Theory, and Game of Thrones. We're proud to discuss the ins and outs of each episode and are so excited and on the edge of our seats for the new season's premiere. But I'm not going to talk about those main-stream shows today. Let's get down and dirty and talk about our guilty pleasure shows that we don't tell anyone we watch. Ladies, let's bond over trashy reality TV!

1. RuPaul's Drag Race

Currently airing - Season premiere 8/25/16 - Thursdays at 8/7 central on Logo

Oh. My. Gosh. This one takes the cake. The ladies on this show are amazing. They can contour like whoa and they have some serious sewing talent. This show does not disappoint in the drama category, and you'll find your favs and be rooting for them after the very first episode.

2. Teen Mom OG

Currently airing - Season Premiere 8/22/16 - Mondays at 10/9 central on MTV (but the next episode is Sun, 8-28-16 at 7pm before the VMA's)

I honestly do not know why I started watching this show really, but now I just can't look away. I HAVE to find out if Amber wises up to whatever Matt is lying about, if Maci and Taylor really do get married, if Farrah can look any more fake, and if Catelynn makes it through her depression. 

3. Married at First Sight

Currently airing - Season Premiere 7/26/16 - Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30 central on FYI

LOVE this show. It's so interesting to see two people matched by "experts" meet for the first time at the alter. The past two seasons have been a bust, no one stayed married. But I have high hopes for the current season.

4. Arranged

Not currently airing - Season Premiere 5/10/16 - Tuesdays at 10/9 central on FYI

Kinda like Married at First sight, BUT these couples get to meet before they tie the knot. Sometimes they are arranged by family and sometimes by friends. They generally know who each other are and are generally allowed to hang out and "date" before they get married. 

5. Catfish the TV Show

Currently airing - Season Premiere 2/24/16 - Wednesdays at 10/9 central on MTV

You guys, people are STILL falling for catfish on the internet, and it's hilarious. I watched an episode the other day where a guy thought he had been talking to Katy Perry for the past 6 years. Whaaaaat? 

Bonus! Finding Prince Charming

A new series is starting Tuesday September 8th at 9/8 central on Logo after RuPaul's Drag Race. It's like the Bachelor for Gays, and the best part? It's hosted by Lance Bass. I'm excited to see how this plays out.

What are you guilty pleasure shows?

Tiny Diamonds Baby Blanket Pattern

Pregnancy is going around, in my blogging circles and my family. When contemplating what to get my preggo eggo buddies, it occurred to me that if it were me, I would want something handmade that I could potentially pass down to my children and grandchildren. The start of a family heirloom. Most everyone knows that I knit and crochet, and it only seemed fitting for me to make baby blankets rather than purchase them. So that's exactly what I did.

I started with a blanket for my sister-in-law, and i picked out this lacy diamond pattern. Once that was done, I had at least two other people I wanted to make one for. I didn't want them to all be the same, so I modified the pattern from my sister-in-law's blanket to make this sweet blanket for my dear blogging friend, Hope.

I don't know how many of you, dear readers, do any kind of yarn crafting, but I just had to share it.


U.S. Hook size- G /6 4.00mm

I used Bernat Baby Sport Yarn in white.

Loosely, chain 129.

Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch across to end, ch 2(or 3), turn

Row 2: dc in next 2 st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in next 9 st* 12 times, ch 1 skip next st, dc in last 3 st, ch 2(or 3) and turn

Row 3: dc in next st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, ch 1 skip next st, dc in next 7 st* 12 times, ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, ch 1 skip next st, dc in last 2 st, ch 2(or 3) turn

Row 4: dc in next st, dc in ch 1 st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, dc in next 8 st, dc in ch 1 st* 12 times, ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, dc in last 2 st, ch 2(or3), turn

Row 5-7: dc in each st across (including ch 1 st from row 4 in row 5) ch 2(or 3), turn

Row 8: dc in first 7 st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in next 9 st* repeat 11 times, ch 1, skip next st, dc in last 8 st, ch 2(or 3), turn

Row 9: dc in first 6 st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next 7 st* 10 times, ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch  1 space, ch 1, skip next st, dc in last 7 st, ch 2(or 3), turn

Row 10: dc in first 6 st, *dc in ch 1 st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, dc in next 7 st* 10 times, dc in ch 1 st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in ch 1 st, dc in last 7 st, ch 2(or 3), turn

Row 11-13: dc in each st across to end (including ch 1 st from row 10 in row 11)

Repeat the row pattern to desired length ending with Row 5. 

Add on the edging pattern of your choice, I chose a simple scalloped edging for this blanket. But I'm currently working on another blanket that I'm putting a Ruffled Edging on, and I really want to try out this pom-pom edging soon. So make it your own!

What do you guys think of my first pattern?