[haute mama] w34d5 ~ back in black

I'm getting to the final stretch, and although baby & I still need some time, I'm so ready to be done!  I've had a wonderful pregnancy, don't get me wrong, but I'm also looking forward to being able to take my own shoes off again.  On that note, there haven't been a whole lot of outfits that have inspired me to take pictures lately either.  I'm sort of in 'whatever still fits' mode, which is so boring & mildly depressing!  However, I really want to document up until the end, and today's ensemble was a little more worthy of the camera than usual. 

Note the short sleeves & bare legs.  It is so warm this week!  I can't believe Christmas is in a few days.

*sings* I don't think you're ready for this belly...

top: Urban Outfitters, skirt: Motherhood, boots: Frye, necklace: Haute Hardware (similar here), cuff: flea market, geode ring: gift shop in San Juan

In case this is all she wrote before Saturday, wishing everyone an excellent & safe holiday!

xoxo

ready for my close-up

Thanksgiving weekend my friend & favoritest photographer, Ange Fitzgerald, was in town, and was able to steal away from her family for a bit to do some maternity photos for us.  I love every last one of them & wanted to share a few of my favorites here.

We couldn't forget about our current babies, so Ange did a series of shots with the buns!  It was hard to keep them from tearing around the yard, but we managed to do it.

Transporting them from the photo shoot.  They all look so thrilled right here!

Ange is so talented, and I'm so happy she was able to squeeze us in (and on short notice).  Thanks again, lady! 

haute hardware etsy sale

Yep folks, it's all on sale from now until Santa comes!  Just get your shop on at hautehardware.etsy.com, enter code HOLIDAY10, and reap the benefits.

Better than going to the mall, in so many ways.

Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

**Free shipping is automatic, but limited to U.S. only.

[haute mama] w32d1 ~ over the knee & through the woods

I truly didn't think that over-the-knee boots were something I'd be trying whilst pregnant, but in the end I was lured in.  In general I prefer a flat OTK boot to avoid any potential Pretty Woman implications, and that just happens to work out a lot better for me these days in the comfort department.  I think I've been wearing heels about once every two weeks, at best...and my feets and calves aren't very happy with me when I do.  I wore a mere 2.5" heel to work last week because some sweet co-workers threw me a shower & I wanted to look fancy, and then I got a debilitating leg cramp on the way home (yes, while driving...fun).    But anyway, these Steven boots are actually easy to get on (also important) as well as comfortable, so they work.  And keep me from feeling like a total schlump these final months.

 Layered up with a vintage swing coat that I've had for a few years.  It happens to be a pretty fab maternity winter coat (for Texas winter...it only has 3/4 sleeves but is otherwise relatively warm), and I'm glad to not have to buy one:

boots: Steven, jeans: Loved, sweater: Max Studio, tank: Liz Lange, coat: vintage, bag: Rachel Nasvik, necklace: Haute Hardware

Necklace close-up - I'm still all smitten with this piece from the Jingle Bash!

Last but not least, I'm also wearing a new Chanel Rouge Coco that I splurged on during a mini-post-Bash-spree.  The shade is Rivoli which is a dark berry red that can be applied relatively sheer for daytime and vamped up for night.  I love it.

[adventures in domesticity] if we took a holiday...

Rod & I bought our first home this year, and I'm not a good candidate for travel right now...which means we get to do all of the holidays at our house this year.  While my energy levels are waning a bit, I'm still up for the challenge (especially since I have an Extremely Helpful Husband and family members to do some of the legwork).

Thanksgiving was the kickoff to holiday season at Casa Cruz, and although we were a small group (Rod & I + mom- & sis-in-law) we still did it up right, food-wise.  I'll just say we're still working on leftovers a week later.  Here's me posing, er, at work in the kitchen:

(Week 31 day 1 for those keeping track!)

In keeping with the Thanksgiving Fiesta™ theme of my sugar skull apron, I decided to go with a bright, cheery theme for the table.  Not very fall-like at all, but hey, these fresh flowers were still going strong & I had placemats to match.



My in-laws were awesome enough to bring all of the sides and veggies, while I tackled my first turkey, sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing...

...and my mom's famous raspberry pie

The table again, loaded up and ready to go, along with 3 of the 4 chefs, ready to dig in!

Is anyone else getting hungry right now?!

After we plowed through insane amounts of food, we plowed through the Black Friday ads since Rod was determined to get in on that action this year.  I've never been one for the BF hoopla, but the Michael's ad caught my eye this year, AND they were starting their deals Thanksgiving night.  No getting up at 3 a.m.  So we ventured out to get some things for the tree, and also came away with some festive flair for our mantle:

I spotted this mirror on a previous trip to Michael's, but the $120 pricetag gave me minor sticker shock.  All the combined Black Friday deals brought it down to $50, so into our cart it went!  The mirror isn't so much a holiday-only decoration, but I do love how it looks with the pinecone vase, gold glittery sticks/birds/candleholders, and the tin impression of El Convento that my mom got us in Puerto Rico.  There's sort of a Silver & Gold thing going on [cue Burl Ives]. 

Full effect with fireplace - I love that it's finally fireplace weather, by the by:

I've been adding more holiday accents this week that I'll photograph, including our tree!  I can hardly believe we have it up already...I think it's safe to say my nesting instinct has kicked in in full force.  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

[haute hardware] great success!

A slightly belated but huge THANK YOU to all those who came out to the Jingle Bash this past Saturday!  It was another home run by Etsy Dallas - they sure know how to put on a great show.  I saw a lot of familiar faces and met a lot of new people shopping my booth, so it was a super fun day.  Everyone who braved the crowds (and man, were there crowds!) in the name of shopping local and handmade, I salute you!  Here are a couple of shots from my booth (the banner is for a Facebook promo Etsy is doing):

And by some amazing feat, I actually found energy to list all of the remaining necklaces this week in my Etsy shop!  I'll tackle earrings this weekend, but my shop is already looking nice and full...for once!

giveaway winner!

Congrats to.....JENNA!  

I'll be getting in touch with you shortly!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered.  <3 

last day of the giveaway - have you entered yet?!

Dear Readers, Friends & Countrymen, don't forget to enter the giveaway before 9 p.m. tonight! 

You know you want something pretty.  As a reminder, the lucky winner will get their choice of one of these necklaces:

The Jingle Bash is TOMORROW *excitement, nerves, giddiness*, so it's time for one BIG final edition of...

Adorbs fabric plant from Jane Joss that I can't kill

Rad Puerto Rico T-shirt bag from Nerdbomber

Stunning Floral Prints from YLK Photography

Bunny Pouch from Cut Out + Collect

Baby Cinnamon Roll Soaps from Soapopotamus (maybe this will keep me from craving the real thing all the time?!  Or not, but I want these soaps anyway.)

Wrap Cardigan from Harrilu

Cheeky Throw Pillow from Laura Davis Design Lab

Amazing Vintage Key Door Chime from Ferrochie

In the spirit of the season, this kick-ass Turkey Plush from Midnight Snack

Hope to see all my Dallas readers there tomorrow!  

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.  :)

[haute mama] w29d5 ~ cinnabun

First things first, have you entered the giveway yet?  If not, jump on it!  It's free jewelry, peeps!

I wanted to sneak in an outfit post this week, amongst the Etsy madness, and today's seemed like a good day for a couple of reasons:  1) My top is by fellow Etsy Dallas member, XY Factory, and 2) it was a present I got for my best friend Gail while she was pregnant, that she's sinced loaned back to me.  Here's a pic of Gail and her son Kenny, to give you a visual of these x-treme cuties:

Kenny is 5 months old, which will make him approximately 8 months older than our bebe...which is coincidentally exactly how far apart Gail & I are.  Poetic, non?  Now I just need to get them to move to Dallas so the boys can grow up together...

So.  Gail gave me a stack of great hand-me-down maternity tops when she was here a week ago, and I've been wearing something of hers almost daily.  Here's the aforementioned XY Factory skull top:

 tunic: XY Factory, jeans: Forever21, cardi: C&C California, glitter flats: Gap

I also attempted to get a close-up of my hair today, as I tried out a new bun style that I spotted on Second Star, which she tried thanks to this tutorial on The Daybook.  Now, thanks to my stick-straight, slippery mane, my bun didn't turn out as full our boufy as either of those lovely ladies', but I do like it anyway.  It also feels really secure (except for the million flyaways!). 

That's what I love about the blogsphere - there are so many good ideas out there on how to do just about anything.  And my hair actually wasn't the first thing I tried out from a blog this morning - upon waking up, I whipped up this Cinnamon Toast to Die For from some leftover French bread, thanks to Hello, Splendor.  It not only tastes to die for, but it makes your house smell to die for.  You should seriously try it out, but I warn you, you may not want to return to regular ol' cinnamon toast after you try this version!

[haute hardware] GIVEAWAY TIME!

Hey folks. It's time for my first ever Haute Hardware giveaway!  I thought what better time than pre-Jingle Bash, as I've been busy creating a ton of new goodies.  We'll get to the goods in a bit, but first let me give you the low down on how to enter:

1. Follow my blog by clicking the "Follow" button along the right-hand side & registering.  If you're already a follower, thank you, and you're already halfway there!


2. Check out my Jingle Bash preview below, then leave a comment telling me your favorite of the new Haute Hardware pieces.

It's that simple!  Then on Friday, November 19th at 9:00 p.m. CST, I'll select a winner at random from the comments posted.  Now the good stuff - the lucky winner will get one of my new Single Gem Necklaces, shown below:

Shown left to right are ametrine & 14kt gold-filled, chalcedony & sterling, and citrine & 14kt gold-filled.  The winner may take their pick of any of these three necklaces!

And here are some quick snaps of some other new things I'm super excited about for the show (& eventually my Etsy shop): 

Thanks for letting me showboat my new stuffs, and bring on the comments!  Don't forget to follow me as well to qualify.

Good luck!

xoxo