In Retrospect

Caroline at 2 weeks old. Photo by Bethany McGhehey.

Approximately one time per year, I get a little reflective and, well, cheeseball-ish. (Though, with Caroline's arrival, I've become one of those women who bawls happy tears at the drop of a hat. But normally, I save the sentimental nonsense for New Year's.)

And folks, it's that time of the year.

I was going to do a month-by-month recap of what we did this year, but honestly, it would have all been pregnancy-related, ha! And since most of y'all were here for that ride from the get-go, I won't make you suffer through it again.

In all seriousness though, this year was unbelievably, amazingly wonderful.

I mean, WE HAD A BABY.

And gaw, y'all. She is simply magnificent.

I cannot wait to see how she changes and develops throughout the coming year. I know that the best is still yet to come and this makes me exponentially happy.

I hope your 2014 is full of treasures. Not the kind that money will buy, but the little gems that can only be felt by the heart and experienced by the soul.

Thank you all for sticking around here for another year of memories. Let's do it again, shall we?

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*All photos are property of A Blonde Ambition Blog and Bethany Blair Photography. Please do not re-post or "pin" without express written consent. Thanks for being kind, y'all!

Gravy and Gabbing

It's Friday, y'all. Let's give a collective golf clap, (or a big 'ol hoop and holler, if you're like me.) Another day, another post filled with random goodness - delicious and ready to be served. So let's do it!

Gravy

On Christmas day, I posted a photo of my Memaw's chocolate gravy, which I made for us. I got a couple of emails asking if the recipe was a family secret and I'm happy to report that I have cleared it with the source herself and I can post it : )

Here goes:

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar (white, granulated)
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder (I like Hershey's, but hey - it's your world.)
3 Tbsp. self-rising flour
2 cups milk (skim actually works best.)
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp. real, salted butter
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:

Mix the sugar, cocoa powder and flour together in a bowl until there are no lumps. In a sauce pan, combine the milk and egg yolk. Add the flour mixture and cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. It should take on the consistency of pudding. Once it thickens, reduce to low heat and continue to stir constantly until it's silky smooth. Add butter and stir again.

Serve piping hot on top of fresh biscuits for a crowd-pleasing breakfast!

Gabbing

I was BLOWN AWAY by the amount of responses from those of you interested in the mom Gmail chat forum and also the local mom playgroup. I'm currently organizing the emails and will continue to do so over the weekend! I'll email everyone next week with details of both the chat forum and the playgroup/meet-up for Northwest Arkansas moms.

Right click and save the image above, and post on your own blogs to spread the word! The more moms we get, the better the chats will be!

Thanks again for your interest in all this mom stuff! I'm so excited to talk to you girls and meet those of you who are local. Yay for new friends!!

....................

Okay gals, I'm out. Stephen and I are packing up the baby and our 150 pounds of baby stuff and heading to my parents in Heber Springs, AR to celebrate Christmas with them. I'll talk to you bunnies on Monday!

My Wish For You

Hey, ladies! Yep, I'm still alive and kicking, though my lack of recent blog posting would seem to say otherwise. You see, I made it my mission to really savor each moment of the holiday season with our new baby girl, and for once, put blogging on the back burner.

Taken Sunday afternoon at Stephen's parents' house with my sweet girl.

Caroline got all dolled up to visit Santa yesterday  : )

I hope to be back writing on here full force come January, but until then, new posts may be a little scarce.

It's no surprise that we feel incredibly blessed this year to be enjoying this season with our little nugget. It certainly has the makings to be our best Christmas yet!

There were definitely times in my life where I wondered if I'd ever have my own little family with which to hang stockings, open presents and take silly Christmas morning home videos. Flash forward a few years later, and it seems crazy now to imagine life without Stephen and Caroline.

My wish for you this holiday season is this: enjoy and relish the moments with the ones you're with. Whether it be your spouse or partner, your children, your best friends or family, really make the most of the moments you're given.

As an aside, I always have a soft spot in my heart for single gals, but more so during the holidays. My advice? Enjoy this time. Now, being solo during all the festivities can be a lot of fun and I realize that many folks choose to fly solo - and that's fantastic! but if you're at the place in life where you're ready to find that soul mate or start that family, please hold on to hope. God is so good and I believe that he uses that time as a single person to really mold and shape us in a way only he could.

So whoever you find yourself with on December 25, I hope that you have the merriest of Christmases.

Love y'all.

Caroline Rose: {Two Months}

We took this photo last night to send to her grandpa, as his birthday was yesterday!

Weight/Length: We won't know until her two month appointment on Wednesday, but I'll come back and update then. (I'm guessing 8.5 pounds!)

Hair: Getting longer and longer by the day! She hasn't really lost any of baby hair yet, (I'm told this sometimes happens around one to two months old.) It's still a lovely chocolate brown color, just like her handsome daddy!

Diapers: Newborn dipes for the win! We still love our Pampers Swaddlers.

Clothing: All size newborn!

Favorite Things: Her Zubels ballerina doll, her Petit Ami doll named Penelope, Ruby (our mini dachshund) and her little Wubbanub, which we've named "Lambie".

Likes: Right now, our petite princess loves: cuddling with momma and daddy, her "Lambie" Wubbanub, shopping (the bright colors and lights of department stores make her so happy), riding in the car, our doxie Ruby (she smiles so much when Ruby nuzzles her little feet), bath time and sitting up like a big girl on daddy's lap to watch TV.

Dislikes: The Nose Frida -- but really, who would enjoy that? -- big, noisy crowds, wearing socks and her Pack and Play. We are really praying she sleeps in her P & P when we visit Stephen's mom and dad in Oklahoma City next weekend. Otherwise, it may be a looooooong three days : (

Sleeping: Our girl is an awesome sleeper! Most nights, she'll wake only once for a quick feeding then it's back to bed. We got SO lucky with a sound sleeper.

Mama Thoughts: Although she's a dainty little thing, our sweet Caroline is growing every day. She is a JOY to be around, very content and easily soothed. She is starting to smile intentionally, (not from gas or during her sleep), and it makes me SO happy!

Breastfeeding is still going really well. Luckily, she has been able to take my milk easily and I haven't had to make any major changes to my diet. She latches in a snap and feeds a lot more quickly than she did a month ago. We joke that she eats like she's being timed, haha! I feel like I can finally say that we've got breastfeeding down cold : )

I feel amazing! Tons of energy and no issues whatsoever following the C-section. Honestly, the recovery was really easy considering it was a major surgery. Two weeks out of the gate and I was pretty much pain-free. We want at least one more child, but the thought of going through it again doesn't concern me at all.

It's starting to hit me that I only have a month of maternity leave left, which makes me quite sad. I'm super grateful for my job, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to stay at home with this little lady, too. It's the balance so many moms have to find and I pray daily that I'll be able to juggle everything come January 13.

That's all until next month, friends!

Go with the Flowbee

I wish I had some grandiose blog post to send you all off for the weekend, but alas, I do not.

Instead, (and in honor of me FINALLY getting my hair done tomorrow after 8 long weeks away from the salon), I thought we'd watch this compelling infomercial for the Flowbee. Somehow, my dear husband and I got on the topic of bad infomercials last night and this one came to mind.

"It's a vacuum! No, it's a pair of hair clippers! NO! It's the FLOWBEE!"

Children of the 80s and early 90s probably remember this hair-raising (literally) gem. Funny story, my mom was a hairdresser for many, many years and had to correct approximately eleventy million haircuts marred by this handy dandy tool.

Here are my thoughts on styling or cutting hair with a high-powered suction device:

1. The words "vacuum" and "hair" should never occur in a sentence.
2. God gave us professional hairstylists for a reason. Amen.

See yous Monday.

You Can Call Me Queen B(eanie)

Bet y'all thought I'd gone and deserted you, huh? Nope. Just enjoying a snowy, icy week inside the house with the little jewel below.

Alright, bunnies. Let's talk beanies. 

Taken yesterday with the most precious baby I've ever seen.

Beanie from Savoir-Faire last year // Fur vest from Belle Boutique Bentonville

Headband from Harts & Roses via Etsy // outfit by Carter's here

I like a fedora. I adore a baseball cap. I can even get down with a wide brimmed winter hat now and again. But, babes, I LOVE a beanie. 

Here are a few of my favorite beanies, which can be dressed up by adding a blingy brooch or even - gasp (!!) - a sparkly pair of earrings to the bottom edge.

Basket Stitch Beanie in peach // Embellished Ribbed Beanie in navy blue

Scandi Fairisle Beanie in cream and black // Warehouse Fur Trim Pom Pom hat

Olive and Brown Striped Beanie from Savoir-Faire // Slouchy Solid Beanie hat in blue from Maude

And for your beanie babies...

Striped Beanie from Baby Gap in icy pink // and in navy

Lots'a Leopard

Good evening, bunnies. You wild hares, you ; ) Tonight was the official rehearsal for NWA Fashion Week, which got me even more pumped for Friday night! Whether you're going to Fashion Week in our little city or not, I hope you'll join me in celebrating local merchants and boutiques this week!

I wanted to shine a little spotlight on a new(ish) store in Fort Smith called Hazel's Haven. I know some of you Arkansans may have even shopped Hazel's before! In case you haven't, take a look at the look I put together with this adorable leopard top!

Other fun facts about Hazel's Haven:

-They carry an array of amazing brands, like Karlie, Greylin and Mauvi Jeans!

-HH carrries a range of different sizes, fitting a size 2 or a size 14. It's a shop for the everygirl.

-Hazel's will be launching their online boutique VERY soon, so be sure to follow them on Instagram for all the latest! Instagram: hazelshaven // Facebook: facebook.com/HazelsHaven

Here are a few other recent looks from Hazel's Haven that have me yearning for sun dresses and hats!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a fun little post from one of my pals and fellow NWA Fashion Week models, Gina! She's going to show you how to create two looks using the same pieces, to take you from day to night. It's gonna be a good one!

Lights. Camera. Fashion.

Greetings, bunnies. How did the weekend treat you all? Ours was fairly uneventful, and involved lots of sweat pant wearing and fast food. And in my book, that's a weekend well spent.

First order of business: Sweet Kirsten from Riffraff (one of the newest blog sponsors) is offering you girls 10% off on your online purchases! How awesome is that, right? I'm sure you saw the banner on the side bar, but in case you didn't, the code is blonde. Now go forth and do some spring shopping!

Next, remember that NWA Fashion Week starts tonight! Here's a little rundown on what's happening tonight:

Finally, I'd love to see what you girls are wearing to NWA Fashion Week throughout the next seven days, so if you plan on heading to the shows...

1. Snap a quick pic of yourself in your outfit, any night this week.
2. Upload to Instagram
3. Use the hashtag #NWABlonde

I'll be streaming photos of all you girls right here on the blog all week long. Be sure to type out a link to your blog in the caption space of your post, and I'll be sure to link to it when I post your pic on here.

Confessional Friday: {Belated Version}

Sorry it's practically next Monday and I'm just now getting around to doing this. I always try to have this thing up by 9:00 a.m., but 10:30 a.m. will just have to do. Whew.

Let's get this party started.

1) I confess that I can hardly wait for NWA Fashion Week next week. I'm so proud to be walking in the Savoir-Faire show on Friday and can't wait to see all the other boutiques parade their looks down the catwalks, too. Bring on the Lycra and sequins, y'all.

2) I confess that I've had an amazing two days with my momma. She came to spend a couple days at our house while Stephen traveled for work, and I'm so glad.

3) I confess that we are obsessed with Banshee on Cinemax. Have any of you girls checked out that show yet? If you don't get Cinemax, I'm sure it will be streaming on Netflix this summer. Anywho, it's a fantastic show by the creators of True Blood. And the lead guy ain't too shabby looking either ; )

4) I confess that it does my heart good to see all the baby cows popping up on my parents' farm. That's the best part of the beginning of spring - cute little baby animals!

5) I confess that I'm NOT ready for warmer weather though. Because in AR, we don't get "warmer" weather. It just goes straight to blazing hot. And trust me, unless you've spent a summer in the deep South, it's hard to fathom.

6) I confess that I'm honestly not sure when my blogging schedule will return to normal, but I promise I'm trying really hard to get a a few posts lined up for the next couple of weeks. After 4 years of blogging non-stop though, I really don't feel too terribly about the break. Is that bad? Probably. I love writing and I love connecting with other people SO much, but right now, so many other things need attention. And you know what? I'm okay with that : )

Queen B, The Bachelor and Big Hair

Hopefully lots of fun things coming this week, but first, let's chat:

1) Remember that cool announcement I was going to tell you about? The powers that be have delayed it a bit, but I can tell you that it involves swapping brand new clothing with other stylish females. Saving you money, honey. And keeping your style in check.

2) Have any of y'all witnessed the beauty that is Beyonce's Life is But a Dream documentary. I cried at the end because it was so sweet and genuine and endearing. There's nothing I don't love about that woman.

3) My hair has exploded on my head. It's gotten even longer and seems to be getting thicker? Probably due to the humidity beginning to creep into NWA. I curled it today and walked out of my house looking like a broke down Tina Turner.

4) Did anyone watch The Bachelor's Women Tell All episode last night? A few observations: 1) I was over the moon that Tierra and her eyebrow came out to play. I was also glad to see that her crazy and her sparkle are still in tact despite a bit of a rocky ending to her stint on the show. 2) I believe that, although beautiful, AshLee might be a titch crazy. And, bless her heart, I wanted to gently remind her that everyone doesn't always walk home with a trophy. Or to quote that famous book, "He's just not that into you." 3) I believe Sean still has a crush on Desiree. And who could blame him?

5) My momma is coming to stay the week with me while Stephen travels for work and that excites me to no end. Have I mentioned how much I love her sweet self?

6) It came to my attention that we spring forward this coming weekend. Already?! I'd love to know the moron who thought that would be a swell idea.

What's rocking your world today, bunnies? Speak now or forever hold your random thoughts.

Confessional Friday: {Link-Up}

From Mrs. Lilien - genius!

1. I confess that I'm over the moon to be getting out of dodge with the husband this weekend and visiting my parents in central AR at the farm. Sometimes, you just need to hang out with your people : )

2. I confess that lately, I've had about as much time to blog as I've had to learn floral arranging or sushi-making. Zilch.

3. I confess that I should probably be sad about that, but honestly, I think I'm suffering from the old blogger's disease known as Four-Year Burnout. The only cure? More cow bell! (Sorry. That's probably really strange unless you're a Will Ferrell/Old SNL fan.)

4. I confess that I'm itching to get back up to Eureka Springs for a night in the Crescent, some delish food from Ermilio's and a good ghost tour or two. Hey Stephen, if you're reading...please?

5. I confess that I'm officially sucked in - hook, line and sinker - to Pretty Little Liars. I'm now on Season 3 and trucking through that one pretty steadily, too. Who'd have ever thought a show about a bunch of dramatic, lie-telling teenage girls would be able to wrangle in such a wide audience? Not this girl.

6. I confess that I have a couple of cool things to announce here on Monday, (remember when I told y'all about that?) So be here if you're intrigued. Or don't. Because I wouldn't really blame you ; )

Opportunity Knocks

Remember that time I stopped blogging for, like, a week? 

Me neither. 

To tell you the truth, I’ve been working on some exciting things coming soon on the blog. I’m feeling very blessed and very humbled at the cool opportunities all over the state that this blog has given me. I don’t deserve them, but hey – I’ll take ‘em. 

 I’ve also been working on, well, work. I, like many of you, am the holder of a real, live big girl job. That means a twice daily big girl commute, big girl client deadlines and big girl meetings. I’ve been given a job that I coveted for years and I’m doing everything in my power to contribute to my fullest. These opportunities don’t come around but once in a cobalt blue moon, so I’m seizing the day. 

But I also realize that I get the opportunity daily to come on here and talk nonsense with some of the coolest girls in the blogosphere. And that, bunnies, is a sweet, sweet thing. A thing worth nurturing.

Anywhoodle, I’ll be back tomorrow. And hopefully the next. And…you get the point. Look out for a post featuring a nifty top from Hazel’s Haven, as well as a guest post from one of my dear friends and, honest to Josh, one of the most stylish people I know. 

Honest to Josh. 

See y’all tomorrow.

Confessional Friday: {Link-Up}

Let's get to it! I confess that...

1) I started a countdown on my desktop at work for the return of Game of Thrones on HBO. March 31 can't come soon enough. Winterfeld (!!!!!)

2) I still don't like Chris Brown, and I want to go off on a rant every time I see pics of him and Rihanna in the media. I mean, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If he beat you once girlfriend, he'll do it again in due time. Listen to me sister...don't walk, RUN.

3) I've got some MAJOR blog-related news to share with you guys really soon! And it's getting really hard to keep it to myself.

4) It made me physically ill last night to watch/listen to accounts from people coming off that Carnival Cruise that was dead at sea for five days. The environment they described on the boat was something out of a horror story. Best part of all, the boat was named The Triumph. Oh, irony.

I love how they also gave them a free cruise as a consolation gift. Because I'm sure those 4,000 folks CAN'T WAIT to get back on a boat.

Joy Unspeakable

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”  -- Tom Bodett

Wherever you are, whoever you spend today with, celebrate joy today. Ugly things are in the news, constantly reminding us that our world is a very scary place. Instead of all the cheesy cards, boxes of chocolate and roses, let's focus on making today a joyful one. For joy is at the very heart of love. And joy comes to us in many forms.

Whether it be a pair of ridiculous heart-shaped sunglasses, or a chat with a dear friend. Be joyful.

Happy day, bunnies.

Le Visage: {My Skincare Regime}

What, you thought I’d write about Valentine’s Day Eve or something? Pssssshhhh, not on this blog, chick-a-dees.

Let’s talk about skincare baby! I know I love to hear what other women use to get their glow, so I thought maybe we could all compare notes and share what we like.

Cleanse

I tend to be extraordinarily product/brand loyal, but from time to time, I switch things up. Lately, I’ve been loving Mary Kay’s Timewise Cleanser (Normal/Dry) for dry skin. The little microbeads exfoliate ever-so-slightly and the thick consistency helps take away every stitch of make-up.

Exfoliate

I use both St. Ives Apricot Cleanser about once every three days or so after I use my cream cleanser. It just keeps things polished up. Note: There are two types – one with added salicylic acid for acne and one non-medicated. I use the non-medicated since it is the least drying.

I also love Simone France’s RefiningScrub – in fact, I swear by it.

Mask

I began using Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask two weeks ago and have never been so excited about the dewy look my skin has now.

Moisturize

I was an Estee Lauder girl for a long time, but I read some pretty interesting stuff in the October issue of Vogue about Roc Multi Correxion Lift. Originally crafted in France, women in Europe have apparently sworn by it for years. It’s also a favorite of many a make-up artist due to it’s anti-wrinkling properties. I ordered mine here.

A couple tips:

-A dermatologist friend once told me that toner was unnecessary, and even sometimes did more harm than good, since it not only strips your skin of oil, but also much-needed moisture. I have found this to be true. So don’t waste your money, girls. Invest in a good cleanser instead.

-Unless you have blemish prone skin, ditch the products with salicylic acid. SA is made for drying up blemishes, but it can dry out skin that is not blemish prone.

I'd love to hear what you use daily. What works for y'all? Any good secrets I need to know? 

Grammy Round-up

Yeah, I know it was like soooo two days ago, but I still felt the urge to expel my thoughts on the 2013 Grammy Awards. If I am good for nothing else, I am good for award show commentary. 

Best Dressed

For once, I'm not giving this title to a woman. I'm giving it to a man…named Justin Timberlake. Kudos to J.T. for being the only man in attendance to shower and wash his hair before the awards show.

Even though typically put little RiRi in the worst dressed category, I have to hand it to her stylist – well done.

I also really liked Beyonce’s pant suit. But then again, she could wear a hazmat suit and make it look like Philip Lim couture.

 …and Lena Dunham’s yellow dress. She was radiant. And I have a girl crush on her.

Worst Dressed

I didn’t love Katy Perry’s frock, but I’m glad we all got to know her two friends Left and Right a little better.

Janelle Monae – I’m going to look her up on Wikipedia to find out who she is – looked like a bull fighter. Somewhere in Spain, a matador is looking for his clothes...

Favorite Moments

-FUN. is a dope band, made even more dope by their use of rainfall during Carry On. Does their lead singer remind anyone else of Freddie Mercury? (If you don’t know who Freddie M. is, we can’t be friends anymore.)

-Jack White’s performance. I’ll admit that I’m biased and, in my eyes, he does nothing wrong. To date, his live show is the best I’ve ever seen.

-Not really a moment, but I love that this rock-a-billy, folky music is trending nowadays. I’m sick of the overly auto-tuned crap that, ahem, certain young music stars are putting out these days. Yay for real musicians.

-Seeing Alabama Shakes front woman Brittany Howard belt it out during the Levon Helm tribute. Girl’s got some pipes.

Things I Wish I Could Erase From My Memory

Frank Ocean’s strange performance of Forrest Gump. I’m still scratching my head.

Hunter Hayes? Who is this kid? I can’t put my finger on it, but this little boy rubs me the wrong way. I dunno.

Every time the camera panned over to Taylor Swift singing and dancing. To the Grammy producers: I do not care to see Tay Swift’s reaction to Mumford and Sons. Ever. I’d much rather watch, well, Mumford and Sons.

Which moments did you love and loathe from this year’s Grammy show? Spill it, bunnies.