crow steals fire

I have to admit, it feels like a million years ago that these photos were taken.  This was the day before I was induced, and I was almost unwilling to even take them (not feeling that great by this point, hence the shorts, black tee, and lack of makeup) but I was excited to show off this necklace from Crow Steals Fire.  St. Louis based jewelry designer Donna Fox creates these beautiful & simple personalized pieces, and when she offered to send me one it was serendipity - I had planned on ordering something to commemorate Claire's birth soon anyways, and her necklaces were perfect.  It arrived the weekend I was scheduled to go in, and I wore it to the hospital.  Considering our good fortune, I now consider it a good luck charm and wear it almost every day.  

You can find this necklace here, and check out her complete selection in the online shop here!  

i just had to share...

Every once in a while you find something that is just so great, you really want to share it.  The monogram necklace above is definitely that find for me this month!  I ordered it (with serious skepticism) from an Etsy seller that was obviously based in China.  I wanted a larger statement monogram, and with most of the options I found starting from $100, I figured it might be worth trying this one for $15.  I was so SO pleasantly surprised when it arrived.  It shipped out the next day, and I had it within two weeks.  That might sound like a long time, but take into consideration the fact that even big US sites like Marley Lilly have week long production times for many of their jewelry pieces, and their shipping costs more.  Anyways, if you've had a monogram necklace on your wish list for a while like I did, I'd definitely suggest trying them out.  They have pretty much every common monogram style and every type of jewelry (a bracelet is next on my list, maybe with baby girl's initials!)  

*This post wasn't sponsored by the shop, I just really liked my necklace and thought it was an insane value.  

friday link love

So I hate to say it, but winter is kind of killing us around here.  Usually a midwestern February involves temps in the 40s and a mix of gray and sunny skies, but this year we seem to have fallen into a permanent polar vortex.  There's another deluge of snow every other day, and it doesn't seem to get much warmer than 20 degrees, ever.  

I know spring will come, and I shouldn't wish this precious time away - especially being pregnant - but it's hard not to think about sunnier & warmer days ahead.  Luckily this weekend we have some celebrating to do for our friends' birthdays, and that should generate some much needed cheer.  Also, it gives me an excuse to wear something besides yoga pants and a t shirt (yay!)  

I hope you have a weekend planned that will put a little spring into your heart, at least until the real thing arrives in 40 days!!

My favorite links from this week: 

The questions that will save a relationship.  

Especially on winter Mondays, it's good to adopt this attitude.  

Target's shoes are buy one get one half off, and these are so cute, especially in the stripe!  

I loved this hilarious take on how today will be viewed from the future, written by Olivia Wilde.  

My latest pregnancy craving is anything strawberry - did you have any family members who made this deliciousness during the holidays?  My aunt always brings it, but I may whip a batch up just because.  

24 reasons to date a girl who does yoga.  

Jewelry is everything to a pregnant woman's wardrobe, and J.Crew Factory has a really exceptional selection right now - the necklaces are a fun way to inject a little spring into your wardrobe.