June 2012 Archives - Momma Go Round

Pinterest For The Win

June 23, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 14 Comments

How many of you are as guilty as I am?

We pin, and pin, and pin, with the greatest of intentions, yet never seem to get around to it.

The amazing mantle display.

The delicious looking recipe.

The killer outfit that you totally have the stuff to recreate.

For once, I decided to actually stop thinking about a great idea and DO IT!

By the afternoon/evening lately I’m so tired that it takes all my energy to simply stay awake. Not so great for keeping the kid entertained.

Source: sweethappylife.com via Nina on Pinterest

Dollar Tree pipe cleaners, strainer, and 45 minutes later….we had a masterpiece.

Thank you Pinterest for saving me from another evening of Pixar/Dreamworks/PBS hell!

Filed Under: Life, Random

Fit, Or No Fit?

June 21, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 17 Comments

Far quicker than last time, I’m hitting the point of being totally in between. Old clothes are quickly becoming too small, while maternity stuff is still mostly too big.

Every morning I play the “Fit, or no fit” game with my closet. If it’s not made of stretchy jersey, it basically doesn’t fit anymore.

So I’m going to enjoy these last few days of my closet. Savor every moment in my regular clothes. Not spend too long mourning the ones that don’t fit, and may never fit right again.

Dress: LOFT Outlet, Shirt: Gap Outlet, Tank: Old Navy, Belt/Sandals: Target, Necklace: c/o Lisa Leonard Designs

Let’s go Peanut! It’s you and me vs. the closet.

We shall win!

***Don’t forget to enter the June Sponsor Spotlight giveaways! Ad space, gift certificates, jewelry and more!***

Filed Under: Outfits, Style

A Little Life

June 19, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 12 Comments

Slowly but surely, I’m returning to the land of the living. Laundry that hasn’t been done since before we moved (shhh!) is finally being tackled. I’m getting dressed in more than just my pjs or sweats. And the child is finally getting potty trained….hooray!!!

It may not be the most exciting life ever, but for me it’s a huge relief to feel like I’m getting some of my life back.

Here’s a little glimpse at what we’ve been up to!

LJ trying out one of Daddy’s Warheads. Makes my mouth water and pucker just thinking about it!

Catching up on stencil orders. Did you know I have a stencil shop? Yeah, most people don’t…

Cereal for dinner, cause that’s all that sounded good. (PS anyone know how to remove that stupid grout putty that the old owners put on, off?)

The fam at Uncle Blair’s graduation from UCSB. Go Gauchos!

So proud of this guy

LJ L.O.V.E.S. his Papa. These two are peas in a pod when they are together.

Doesn’t everyone have a bag of DumDums in the bathroom? I’m not above bribery to get this potty thing down!

It’s simple, some exciting, some mundane, but it’s life. And right now, any life that doesn’t exist on my couch or in my bed is an accomplishment! What have you been up to?

Filed Under: Life, Random

June Sponsor Spotlight

June 15, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 3 Comments

I am truly honored to share these amazing women, bloggers, and shop owners with all of you today! I can’t express how grateful I am that my amazing sponsors have been nothing but loving and supportive as I’ve semi-fallen off the face of the blogging planet these last few weeks. Not only have they continued to show me their support, but they are offering awesome giveaways for all of you!!!

Please stop by and show all my amazing sponsors some love!

Gardenhouse Boutique by Simone has got to be one of my favorite shops for great fashion ideas! Filled with bags, belts, and jewelry, Simone has amazing pieces that are sure to be a statement with any outfit.

Coral, Citron and Pink Chevron and Ikat Oversized Foldover Clutch – The Nicole Clutch

My fav are her amazing clutches! Pattern mixing at its finest, and they pull double duty! Each clutch is designed to perfectly fit diapers and wipes as well as all your favorite goodies. Sweet!

Gardenhouse Boutique is giving one lucky reader a $25 credt!

Saressa Designs features wire wrapped gemstone jewelry designed and hand crafted by Rachel Hughes. Her jewelry is primarily composed of precious/semi-precious metals & gemstones and also incorporates brass, copper, Swarovski crystal and glass. She strives to create quality jewelry that is both classic and contemporary; that you will wear time and time again. Whether you are looking for something unique, a way to update your wardrobe, or just casually browsing, we hope you find something you love.

London Blue Topaz Necklace In Rose Gold. Could this be any more perfect for summer?

Saressa Designs is giving away a $40 Credit good either on the website or in the Etsy shop!

My dear friend Trisha is not only the author of 3 Four and Under, but the owner of the adorable Trisha B Designs, all while being a busy momma to 3 kidlets! It makes me tired just watching her!

Hi, I’m Trisha, and I blog at 3 Four and Under. I enjoy sharing about my 3 kids, sewing, crafting, home decor, and more! My shop is called Trisha B Designs. I like to create beautiful and functional things! I make and sell fabric Happy Birthday banners and ruffly zippered pouches. I also have new light and bright filigree earrings that I recently added to the shop! Look for more colors and styles coming soon, as well as ruffly purses that coordinate with my zipper pouches!

Trisha is generously giving one winner these beautiful filigree earrings and ruffle zipper pouch from her shop Trisha B Designs!

Real, motivating, awesome style, and simply a girl I could sit with for hours! C.Lee is one of my favorite blogs, and here’s why…

My blog is my love letter to my family. Sharing the immense love I feel for my three children and husband.

It is about enjoying the journey of motherhood. Improving and strenthing our marriage and family.

Embracing the chaotic days and learning to laugh.

Documenting life’s precious little moments.

It is my thoughts and things I enjoy.

Sharing personal fashion and style. My journey to making my life a better overall life.

Having faith and sharing experiences.

Showing that being a mom is the best job in the world

C.Lee is giving away 1 month large ad space!

Next up is my dear friend, the crazy talented Nicole! She’s got a brand new look for her blog Our Crazy Beautiful, and an amazing blog design biz! Faith, honesty, and the sweetest heart you will ever meet. I had the pleasure of getting to spen a few days with Nicole back in March and let me tell you, who you see on her blog is who you get, and I love her all the more for it!

Nicole is giving away 1 month large ad space on Our Crazy Beautiful!

Hey I’m Ashley and I blog at 5ohWifey. I am a southern girl now living in California (against my will). I am the wife of a police officer I call 5ohHubby and a stay at home mother to a beautiful little girl I call 5ohBaby. I received a BA from Florida State (Go Noles!) that started out as an English Degree, ended up a social science degree, and is now being used as a MRS degree (see how I did that?) Basically I paid FSU lots & lots o’ cash to meet the man of her dreams and be the back up plan in case 5ohHubby decides his days of runnin’ and gunnin’ are over and he’d rather be a stay at home dad (and all the police wives laughed). My candid musings touch on the issues that speak to the hearts of wives, mothers, and women everywhere.

Nina here. I LOVE this girl. Her stories are legendary, her style is killer, and basically she’s on hot momma! Ashley is giving away 1 month small ad space on 5oh Wifey!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. You must do the option for each sponsor to be entered for that sponsor’s giveaway. (i.e. you cannot win the prize from the sponsor if you didn’t like their page!). Comment entries are not valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaways close on 6/30. 1 winner per giveaway will be chosen. All entries will be verified.

Filed Under: Fun, Giveaways

The Day I Sucked At Life… And It Didn’t Matter

June 13, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 19 Comments

7:15 am: 1st alarm goes off. I roll over, hit snooze, and pray that the next 8 minutes feel like hours.

7:23 am : 2nd alarm goes off. Drag my zombie like body to the shower and attempt to get clean. Washing my hair makes me weak and winded.

7:50 am: Get out of the shower (finally), feel like hell, lay down on the bed for a minute…

8:10 am: Look at my soaking wet comforter and realize I should have changed out of my towel before laying down “for a minute”.

8:30 am: Overnight, I’ve gone from fat to pregnant, and my top for the day no longer fits. Panic, and start trying on everything I own.

8:50 am: Finally settle on a “well, it’s not that bad” outfit.

9:00 am: 12 kisses and 5 hugs later, LJ lets me out the door.

9:15 am: Note to self, a sausage and egg McGriddle is not a good idea.

With how the morning was going, I knew this day was going to be a rough one. I felt like garbage, looked decent at best, had 2 hours on the road by myself to go, and oh yeah… I was about to speak to a room full of bloggers. No biggie.

I’d been looking forward to this past Saturday for months. I’ve been to a few blog conferences before, but never one where I was asked to speak. The few days prior I’d been feeling pretty awful, so I made sure to rest up, enjoy lots of couch time, and watch endless hours of Pixar movies and HGTV. There was no way I was going to let a little thing like growing a child get in my way.

So when Saturday arrived and I felt like I’d been hit by a bus, it took all my strength to simply get out of the door. This was not the image I wanted to project.

I’m a style blogger, should I arrive in something, oh, stylish? I was set to speak to a room full of bloggers I’ve “known” for awhile, bloggers who’ve “known” me for awhile, and bloggers and I was dying to meet. All I really wanted to do was crawl back into bed and pretend this was happening another day.

By the time I got down to Huntington Beach, I felt slightly better, but far from my usual self. I stopped at Target for the mandatory box of Kleenex with lotion, and therefore cover-up to fix my nose. Though I brought two pairs of adorable wedges, I opted for my hot pink TOMS, cause frankly I didn’t have the energy to give a crap if I was having a short day.

The day consisted of pants that wouldn’t stay up, despite a rubber band and belly band, failed crafts, girl talk of boobs that no longer fit into my already giant bra, ding dongs stacked on my forehead, and simply me in all my glory.

I was too worn out to care what impression I was making. Too tired to care if I was living up to the image everyone had of me. Sweating too badly to look graceful while sharing my talk. I was there, I was me, and that was about all I could muster up.

Alissa (I should have listened to you and stayed at your house) from Rags to Stitches

The funny thing is, no one seemed to bat an eye. Everyone was so nice, so caring, and so willing to grab me a snack or a drink. I didn’t have to explain, everyone just accepted me. When so often I feel like I don’t fit in, it was amazing to be in a room full of women who just accepted me for how I was.

I didn’t need my wedges, or the great top I planned to wear. My upset stomach or gratuitous butt shots during speed dating didn’t matter. I was me, and that was good enough.

I have so much more to say on the wonderful day that was the Elevate Conference, but I just had to share this. So often we women race to put each other down, judge, snicker, gossip, look down at each other. That day, a day where by the looks of it a lot could have been said, nothing but hugs and congratulations were given.

Nichole, Ashley, Summer, Jen, Me, Natalie

I wish everyday could be like this.

Filed Under: Blogging, Blogging Thoughts

What Makes You Legit?

June 6, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 14 Comments

Ever since I got the first email, I’ve been somewhere between a state of shock and disbelief. Me, really? You want me? Are you sure you got the right girl?

This weekend I’m speaking at Elevate Blog Conference. It’s the first conference that I’ll ever speak at. I’m excited, a little nervous, hoping I don’t feel like crap, and mostly wondering, “does anyone want to hear what I have to say?”

I mean, who am I to be sharing advice on blogging? Am I legit enough to have my thoughts matter?

I will never forget arriving at CE in March, meeting some of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met, crashing their room with my GIANT aerobed, and then learning that one of the girls was totally looking forward to meeting me. ME? Really? I’m just a dorky momma fumbling through this.

Top: Old Navy, Pants: Gap, Tee: Shade Clothing, Shoes: Old Navy, Belt: Old Navy, Watch: Michael Kors

I guess the bigger question is what makes someone legit enough to talk at one of these things? Are there quantifiable meausures that must be met, or buzz that must be gained?

No matter how “big” I get, I don’t think I’ll ever feel legit enough to be sharing at a conference. But that’s just the thing, I’m sharing my story, my perspective, and my thoughts. I don’t have to be legit to have a story….it’s just if anyone gives a hoot!

Filed Under: Outfits, Style

The Ugly Truths

June 4, 2012 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 15 Comments

Don’t get me wrong here, I’m beyond excited for our new little peanut to get here. The smushy little face, the new baby smell, tiny little clothes, and a whole room to redecorate.

What I’m not excited about are those ugly little truths of pregnancy that I seemed to magically forget since LJ. It’s amazing how that happens.

Ugly #1: I have seriously bad roots. I was way overdue for a cut and color when we found out about Peanut. Now, it’s just embarassing. Can I claim I’m doing the ombre thing? Only 4 more days until 12 weeks (yeah, my due date was pushed back), then to the salon I go!

Ugly #2: Even when we get all dressed and human looking for church, my nose/head decides it doesn’t care and makes the first hour the most miserable hour of my life. Oh how I miss you Claritin D, DayQuil, NyQuil, and all other drugs that actually do something.

Ugly #3: Intentionally wearing a belt up high to “highlight” the bump, only to realize in pictures that I’m still in that “fat or pregnant” stage.

Ugly #4: Pregnancy brain is real…and I really forgot about it until now. I swear my IQ has dropped by 100 points cause I’m straight dumb right now.

Dress: Gap Maternity, Sweater: JCrew, Belt: F21, Necklace: c/o Lisa Leonard Designs, Shoes: Old Navy

Ugly #5: Maternity swimsuits. Need I say more?

Stretchmarks, saggy skin, giant ta-tas don’t even bug me anymore. Some of these uglies are here the whole way, some of them will soon fade away. The fact of the matter is that I will take them all, each and every one, for my new little Peanut.

The winner of the eShakti giveaway is Stephanie B!!!! Congrats Stephanie!!!! Check your email for more information.

Filed Under: Outfits, Style