Kate requires full princess regalia 24/7.  Even to bed.  Complete with Bonne Bell lipgloss.  Dan’s been out of town all this week (his last trip before Baby Boy Bagley arrives), and it hasn’t been the easiest week.  Lots of tantrums over nothing (i.e. “Belle looked at me” and “I don’t like these jammies!”).  So when wearing a complete princess outfit appeases this child, I’m all lean in!

Aaaannnyyway, when I wasn’t looking for plastic “glass” slippers or a certain princess crown, I read some inspiring stuff this week:

+I’ve been reading A Beautiful Mess for years, and when sister team Elsie and Emma announced the release of their app, I knew I had to grab it.  For $0.99, this app is packed with features (backgrounds, words, images) to add to your photos.  I also snagged an additional text and border package for $0.99.  Something about this app has really made me feel more energized about taking pictures.  (I processed that top photo using the app.)

+I love this DIY sandbox from Kayla Aimee.

+One thing your daughter doesn’t need you to say.

+I wish I got married in Hawaii!

+Megan from Country Cleaver offers a copycat recipe for Starbuck’s raspberry swirl pound cake.  I saw this cake at Starbucks and drooled over the glass case.  I didn’t get a piece, but maybe I’ll make my own.

+I’m a sucker for a good statement necklace, so when Bridier Baubles posted a special on their Reagan necklaces, I snagged one in mint.

It’s been a long week, and I’m ready for Dan to come home and the weekend to begin.  Maybe I can talk him into a dinner at Matchbox Pizza that just opened nearby.  And we’ve got some baby gear to put back together.  Oh, and we need to install a new toilet ring.  What can I say, it’s non-stop fun around these parts

Happy weekend!

Little Bee

My pal, Becky, recommended this book to me.  When I read a synopsis, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it.  It seemed a little dark.  Potentially more than just a little sad.  I read through some reviews on Amazon, getting mixed feedback, so I decided to give it a try.  And then I read it in two days.  Little Bee is a complex tale of a 16-year-old Nigerian orphan who gets mixed up in the lives of an affluent British couple on their vacation.  After an incident on the beach in Nigeria, time passes until Little Bee meets up with the couple again.  The arrival of Little Bee drastically changes the family dynamics and forces realizations and transformations.  But the real richness of this story comes from Little Bee’s perspective and thoughts on human behavior.  It is a little dark and you might find yourself cringing in parts.  But it’s a great, deep read.

Grade: A

A Cry in the Night

Between 6th and 8th grade, I was crazy for Mary Higgins Clark.  I loved those books.  I’d read one after another after another.  Since I hadn’t picked up a good mystery in many years, I decided to try Mary Higgins Clark again.  A Cry in the Night is true mystery-creepy that Higgins does so well.  In this story, single mom Jenny meets famous artist Erich who sweeps her off her feet in a whirl wind romance, resulting in a quickie engagement, marriage, and move to Erich’s Minnesota farm house.  I found myself thinking No Jenny, no! right away.  Clearly, this whole situation stinks of something bad.  But then they get to the farm and a whole other case of characters give me additional ebbie jeebies.  Then a bunch of weird stuff starts to happen.  And then the creepiness gets out of control.  In a totally fun and engrossing way.  This was another book I read in about two days.  If you want a quick, captivating mystery read, pick this up.

Grade: A

I’ve been in a reading funk lately.  Nothing sounds good to me.  Do you have a recommendation for a good book?  Please leave me your recommendation in the comments!

For more of my book picks, check out my Goodread’s page.

First off, the winner of the Duluth Trading Post giveaway is Melissa H!  Congrats, Melissa!  Please send your address to sarah@bagley.org and I’ll get your gift card out to you.

In other news, I had a sonogram this week.  I snapped this picture to text to Dan while I waited for the doctor.  The face this baby is making is exactly what Dan looks like when he wakes up in the morning.

That is the best 4D picture I’ve had of him (None of Kate’s 4D shots ever turned out that great.).  Check out that face.  I can’t wait to kiss those fat cheeks.

In other news, here are some good reads from this week:

+I’ve felt kind of funky lately, so I ate up this post from Jen Hatmaker on breaking out of the doldrums.

+How to roast and carve a chicken from Country Cleaver.

+I may have peed my pants laughing at this article.

+What a trapped bird teaches us about getting where we want to go.

We’ve got a fun weekend planned.  A group of close friends are throwing me a mini get together to celebrate Baby Boy Bagley (a.k.a. Mr. Cheeks), and Dan and I are hosting a Mother’s Day gathering at our house Sunday.  In between, we need to run to Home Depot to finish a few lingering projects, and maybe I’ll get around to tossing some stuff into a hospital bag.

Happy weekend!

While the deer ate the heads off of all my tulips, my rhododendron bushes are looking good. To add to the flora and fauna, we’re putting in my garden Sunday. I had good luck last year, so I’m looking forward to slicing up home-grown tomatoes and snipping my own herbs.

Anyway, here are some good reads from this week:

+I’m intrigued with Tsh’s natural beauty routine. I’ve been experimenting with the Oil Cleansing Method, and so far, so good. I’ll report in on how it’s going after a couple more weeks of experimentation. I’ve also been using a homemade body scrub with good results, so more on that later, too.

+This parody on Taylor Swift’s song “22″ is a riot.

+Three ingredient breakfast cookies. Yes, please!

+Feeling jealous is human. Great post on keeping it all in perspective.

+I love anything from Amy, and this post on taking care of the little things spoke to me.

We’ve got a busy weekend on tap, not only with gardening but with our good friend’s wedding. Kate is the flower girl, and she’s excited to wear her dress. Will she actually walk down the aisle? I’m not sure. I’ll report back next week. And I’ll also post more about my garden, and I’ve got a giveaway coming up. Happy weekend!

I’m starting to run out of lungs.  But I’m having fun teaching my classes, and I’m going to keep teaching until the bitter end.  Until my water breaks in the middle of the cardio peak track.

My people are so much fun I forget I’m pregnant until I try to do a burpee and realize I’m struggling to bend over.  I’m hoping all this bouncing around and strength training and cardio endurance will make for a {relatively} easy-ish labor.  Anything will be better than the 26 hours with Kate.

Anyway, onto some links I’m loving this week:

+My fellow Stratejoy Season Six Blogger, Caiti, is my soul sister.  I am all over her new blog design and direction.

+Rachel is my Internet AND real life friend.  She recently eloped in Hawaii.  To say I’m jealous is an understatement.  Why didn’t Dan and I do that?!  Read her posts about her lovely wedding here.

+Want to write a book?  Check out this podcast with Tsh from Simple Mom and Emily Freeman from Chatting at the Sky.

+Katie, the journaling queen, debuted a new site for her journaling company, Gadanke.  I love Katie’s message – your story matters! – and I love her new site.

The weather’s been so lovely the past couple of weeks, and I’m soaking it in given that here in Northern Virginia we go from comfortable spring to hotter-than-hell summer lickedy split.  I think we will wash the pollen off the cars and give a certain stinky coonhound a bath.  And maybe a quick trip to the baby supply store as my days of incubating are numbered.  Happy weekend!

Physicians Formula Canyon Classics Matte Eyeshadow Quad.  Lots of drug store eyeshadow quads are packed with shimmer and glitter.  I don’t mind a little shimmer.  But sometimes a girl just wants something matte.  This eyeshadow quad from Physicians Formula features only matte shadows in great neutral tones.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black.  I go through phases where I’ll only use pencil eyeliner.  Then I’ll only use gel liner.  And recently I decided to try liquid.  This felt tip pen from Revlon makes liquid almost foolproof.  It’s not drippy or super wet and glides on easily.

Covergirl Outlast Three-In-One Foundation.  I’m forever on the hunt for The Most Perfect Foundation.  This new one from CoverGirl is pretty close to perfect.  It claims to be a primer, concealor, and foundation in one.  I do use primer and concealor along with this foundation.  But I do think this foundation offers good, medium coverage.

Women’s Perfect Rib-Knit Tanks.  I own approximately 571 of these tank tops.  I love the long length and soft fabric.  And I love how these stretch over my third-trimester belly.  These are easy to layer, and so far they are holding up nicely.  (Note: I hang dry these babies rather than toss them in the dryer.)

Women’s Slub-Knit Hoodie.  I also own 849 of these hoodies.  They are lightweight and the colors are fun.  I’ve received many compliments on the neon orange one.

What are you loving this month?

Congrats, Nicollette!  You are the winner of the five coupons for free Marie Callender pies!  Send me your address to Sarah AT Bagley DOT org and I will send those coupons your way.

Thursday (March 14) is Pi Day.  We started our celebration a little early here at Casa Bagley with a Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie for dinner.  And a chocolate satin pie for dessert.

We’re Marie Callender pot pie fans around here.  These pot pies are easy, delicious, packed with veggies and chicken and the perfect way to end a busy day (no clean up – my favorite).  With Easter fast approaching, pot pies and dessert pies would make an easy and yummy meal.  I know I’ll be purchasing the chocolate satin pie again since it was a big hit with my family.

Kate loved the chocolate satin pie.

I think her favorite part of the pie was the whipped cream.

Just like her mama.

For a chance to win five (5) coupons for free Marie Callender’s pies, leave a comment telling me whether you prefer fruit or chocolate pies.  The giveaway ends at midnight on Thursday, March 14, 2013.  And I’ll announce the winner Friday, March 15, 2013.

Happy Pi Day!

After I took this picture, Kate said: DON’T TALK TO ME.

Other outburst include:

On our daily walk: I DON’T LIKE BIRDS.  DON’T WANT TO SEE BIRDS.

On our living room rug (which we’ve had for two years):  I DON’T LIKE THIS RUG!  GET ME OFF!

On the drive home from preschool: I DON’T LIKE THIS SONG, I DON’T LIKE THIS LADY SINGING, I DON’T LIKE THIS MUSIC.  NO SINGING, MAMA!

I decided to ignore most of these outrageous and irrational outburts and cruise the Internet while Kate told me all the other things SHE DOESN’T LIKE!

+Kate from The Small Things Blog posted part two in her blogging her series.  Lots of good information there.  (Pst…here’s part one.)

+Tsh from Simple Mom shows us how she keeps her bag organized.  Since my bag tends towards the Endless Pit look, I need to spend some time getting my junk organized.

+Nutella cream cheese turnovers?  Yes, please!

+Toddlers aren’t my thing either.

+Scintilla starts next week!  Join in!

We’ve got nothing on our schedule this weekend, and that sound just about perfect to me.  What are you up to?  See you next week for a Project Life update, some Pi Day stuff, and the beginning of Scintilla.