Shower Hour

Dress: kimi + kai, Belk

My sister and me.

Shoes: Katy Perry Collection

Bunny: Michaels

Bag: Madden Girl, Macy's

Blouse: Bongo, Sears

Big bow barrette (belt): Kohl's

Mommy and me.

Why not kick off Mother's Day weekend with the baby shower that my mom threw me last weekend?  It wasn't a surprise -- which was what I wanted -- and was held at my cousin's restaurant, the Maplewood III.  Everything was beautiful.  My mom outdid herself with the decorations, as did my cousin with the food.  Most importantly, opening all those bottles, onesies, and teethers made me realize that a tiny new person will come to live with the husband and me very soon.     

Even as I write this, I can feel baby girl kick.  All of my doctors say that she's "a very busy baby," and one even asked if I'd had caffeine!  (Just for the record, I hadn't.)  It's amazing to think that she's got her own little life going on in there.  Even if I'm a little worried that I won't be able to keep up with her once she comes out.

That said, I know I went overboard with these pics.  But I couldn't decide.  Because the ones at home are all perfect and posed, whereas the ones at the shower are more natural, right down to my outfit unraveling.  Yet all of them are part of my story.  Because as with most things in life, the truth -- and the true me -- fall somewhere in the middle.     

This is the kind of corny kernel that baby girl can expect to hear regularly.  All I can say is, kid, get used to it. 😏🎀👶

Sunbeam Scream

Top: Elizabeth and James, Kohl's; Skirt: Candie's, Kohl's; Boots: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Bag: Olivia Miller, JCPenney

Anchor necklace: Charming Charlie

Art block: Primitives by Kathy, Zulily

Sweater and bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Skirt: Kohl's

A colorful corner of the craft room

Dress: Lula Roe; Shirt: Bongo, Sears; Boots: Penny Loves Kenny, Amazon

Bag: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Logistically speaking, sunbeams don't scream.  Unless, of course, it's summer, and even then they don't scream so much as scorch the skin of careless beachgoers.  But the phrase sounded good so I used it, despite the winter chill that still stings the air.  

To that end, here are some very yellow -- and very boho -- outfits.  I wore the first one to Valentine's dinner with the husband and the other two to run errands.  (I don't run errands often, so when I do, I make the most of it.)  None of the clothes are maternity except for the leggings.  The yellow sweater is one of my favorites, and when I saw myself in the mirror, I thought, yep, you can tell she's really in there.  Which was kind of crazy but also cool.

Even if it did make me fret about someday soon protecting her from the sun.

Eagles Nest Best

Sweatshirt: Bongo, Sears; Jeans: Candie's, Kohl's; Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Bird necklace: Mudd, Kohl's; Green necklace: Candie's, Kohl's; Barrette: XOXO, Ross

Over the years, I've made it clear that I'm not into sports, and that includes football.  But when the home team's in the Super Bowl, I can't help but jump on the bandwagon.  Especially because my dad's the biggest Philadelphia Eagles fan ever.  He even wore one of his many team sweatshirts during last night's Valentine's dinner.  I wore red, not to support Kansas City, but St. Valentine.  Yet today when I went out to run errands, I felt moved to don green and silver.  I even dug up my silver bird necklace, although it's a phoenix instead of an eagle.  Then again, maybe a phoenix is appropriate after all, considering the Eagles' frequent underdog status and their inspiring 2018 Super Bowl win against the Patriots.

So, fly, Eagles, fly, rise, Eagles, rise -- on the way to a fiery victory!

An Orchard of Awesome: Some Old, Some New, but All for You (and, Okay, Also Me)

Fabulous Felt Cherry Cheesecake Barrette

Fabulous Felt Cherry Mousse Barrette

It's true.  Of the nine handmade, cherry-themed accessories featured throughout this post, I made four in the past couple of weeks and five in the past couple of years.  There's a cherry pie in it for anyone who can guess which is which.  Just kidding; anything baked by me is more punishment than prize.  

Tights: Poof, Boscov's

Top: Gypsies and Moondust, Macy's

Cherry Charm Necklace

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's

Black Cherry Blossom Barrette Brooch

Bag: Royal Monk, Modcloth; Pink bangle: Target; Red bangle: B Fabulous; Black bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Red rhinestone bangle: XOXO, ROSS; Pink bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Rose brooch: JCPenney

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's

Bag: Olivia Miller, Amazon; Sunglasses: Zulily; Barrettes: SHEIN; Black bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Yellow bangle: B Fabulous; Maroon bangle: Iris Apfel for INC, Macy's

Tank: Eyeshadow, Macy's

Wild Cherry Necklace

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Top: Kingston Grey, Macy's

Black Cherry Bow Necklace

Skirt: Alythea, Modcloth

Bag: Xhilaration, Target; Bow barrette: Carole, JCPenney; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City NJ; Love bangle: Boscov's

Shoes: Penny Loves Kenny, DSW

Top: Bongo, Sears

Cherry Rose Necklace

Headband: New York & Company

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Modcloth

Skirt: POPSUGAR, Kohl's

Rainbow Cherry Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Polka dot and striped bangles: Mixit, JCPenney; Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target; Purse charm: Carole, JCPenney

Bag: Skinnydip London, Macy's

Fabulous Felt Cherry Pie Barrette

Speaking of prizes (as we just were), earlier this summer, I finally tracked down that elusive Revlon cherry lip gloss at CVS.  It was my reward for going to the gyno.  Still unopened and pristine, some may say that it's the cherry on top of my ensemble sundaes.  Then again, some may say something else.

Fabric: Hobby Lobby

Moving on to actual cherries! 

I purchased these from a grocery store instead of a stand, and they ended up looking better than they tasted.  But then, you can never depend on produce.  Which is why I prefer to get my fruit fix from flip flops:

Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Inedible cherries never go bad.

Or give you diabetes from collateral Cool Whip.