Accountability

I have a lifestyle blog. I love fashion. I love (gasp!) shopping. 

I'm not really crazy obsessed with the whole idea of shopping, I just like having new things and being inspired (read: jealous) by other bloggers, doesn't help. My hubby has been rolling his eyes at my habit but mostly very tolerant.

Side note: sometimes I think if I were the main breadwinner in the household (say I was the husband) and the wife was spending money left and right, we would have some major problems. Thank God, for a patient hubby of mine. He is really good. The best kind of good. 

Moving on to my inability to pass a good sale.

As I said, I've been bad about shopping. 

I think, I have a hard time identifying what I really need (mostly nothing) and what I want (mostly everything). If you really think about it, clothes are there to keep us warm in the winter and somewhat decent during summer. It's not there to define who we are.

I decided that I needed a little more accountability in this area, being that we have a baby on the way and a new house (read: added expenses which do not include my closet). So I think telling the whole world (you guys are the entire world of Internet users right?) how much I spend each month and what I buy, will help me and also hopefully inspire some of you (other shopaholics) to curb my cravings. 

Main things to keep in mind. (Don't listen to the lady in the poster above, that's for sure)

Realize the difference between a want and a need. Do I want that pair of BCBG leopard pumps? Yes, I sure do! Do  I need them? nope... 

Have a set-in-stone budget. Make sure there is no way of getting around it, be that $1000 or $10, stick to it no matter what. 

Be accountable for your spending. Find a person, start a blog or do something to make sure that you are sticking to it. And don't reward yourself for sticking to it one month by doubling your spending the next.

Ditch the credit cards. Only spend money (even if you are putting it on your credit card because you get 30% off) when you have the the same amount in your account.

Have a goal in mind. Identify the things you actually need (new winter coat for next season?) and shop the sales. 

Subscribe to couple email alerts letting you know when the things you are looking for are on sale. DO NOT subscribe to all the stores, high end designer boutiques and any other shops that will lead you down the path of temptation. 

Therefore, starting this months, I'm going to be doing a feature describing my purchases and having a grand total at the end of every month. I mean, it's probably going to help having a newborn and not being able to get out of the house much, but I can manage to spend as much (if not more) money online.
I don't want to be overly optimistic, so let's start with a budget of $100 for the month of February.
Here I go!
Wish me luck!

Egg-in-a-Whole {recipe}

When I say I don't like eggs, I mean, I really don't like them. If I have to eat scrambled eggs, I nearly drown them in ketchup. But being that it has lean protein and an essential to a good breakfast, and blah blah blah (especially for preggos), I've been forced to eat them. Hence, I've been looking for recipes to creatively disguise the eggs and load up on veggies. First of all, I'm the queen of easy when it comes to breakfast. Sometimes I get all crazy and make super fancy Eggs Benedict, otherwise, I like to stick to pancakes. Well, here is the first way I've tried eating my egg(s). And I must say, I liked it.

Ingredients:

1 slice of your favorite bread

1/2 tbsp butter 

1 egg

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 avocado

3 grape tomatoes 

With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread.


Next, heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt the butter in it. When the butter is all spread out, place 
the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of hole.



Cook for at least 30 seconds or so before attempting to move the bread or things could get messy. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper to taste. After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side.



Now move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the glorious butter. Let it cook until the yolk feels, to the touch, still soft without feeling over-jiggly. Here’s the key: golden brown toast, white (not brown/burned) whites, soft unbroken yolk. Load it with your favorite veggies and and enjoy! 

Baby Boy Nursery

Ever since I found out that I'm pregnant, I've been working on ideas for the nursery. Sometimes, I would lay sleepless during the night and think what I would like to do. I've been gathering materials ever since we got married - those sheep that I bought almost 5 years ago, Russian cartoon characters my mom brought from motherland and books that I read when I was a little girl. 

My first thought was to make it navy blue and green. I wanted an accent wall and was looking for wall paper. So when I found this striped teal number, I absolutely loved it and changed my mind about the colors. 

Teal walls and bedding with brown furniture seemed a little boring. So I added a pop of color with subtle orange accents. 

I LOVE the end product and very often go sit in my favorite chair (it reclines, rocks and swivels! I received it as a Christmas present from hubby) while reading. 

He really is so amazing, kind and the best kind of good. 

Did I mention it's the warmest room in the house? Yep, nice and cozy!

Crib: Pottery Barn Kendal Fixed Gate Crib
Dresser: Ikea MALM 4 Drawer Chest
Bedding: Pottery Barn Harper Bedding
Standing Lamp: Walmart DIY (Spray painted colored that I wanted)
Mommy's Chair: Natuzzi Liri Leather Recliner
Clock: Target (sold out)
Table Lamp: Target
Bassinet: Gift (Target)
Changing Table: passed down from my sister
Mobile: DIY
"I Love You" Prints: La Posh Design (custom made)
Frames: Hobby Lobby
Rocking Horse: Vintage (handmade present from our neighbor)

Awards and Other Unmentionables

I'm so excited to tell you that I've been featured on another blog. Anna over at Fash Boulvard featured me and few other bloggers in her post with mustard/golden colored pieces. Check it out!

I was also nominated for the Liebster Blog Award. For any of you who don't know what that is, the Liebster Blog Award was created to discover new blogs with less than 1000 followers. I was nominated by Haley Valerie. Thank you so much!

The rules for this award vary, but these are the ones that I am following:

• List 11 random facts about yourself
• Answer the 11 questions which are given to you by your nominator
• Ask 11 new questions for all the Bloggers that you nominate to win the award
• Nominate 9 bloggers with less than 1000 followers for the award
• Go to each of the blogger's pages to let them now about their nominations
• Thank the blogger who nominated you by mentioning them and link it back to their blog on your post
• 
  

11 Random Facts:
- I play piano and a lead pianist at my church
- I speak two languages - Russian and English
- I love shopping with my husband 
- I'm a clean freak 
- I wanted to be a judge when I was little
- I have very low pain tolerance (and I'm due in <2 weeks. Good luck girlfriend!)
- I've never been in the hospital- no surgeries, no broken bones, no ER visits and no serious illnesses.
- I'm an Evangelical Christian
- I always wanted a large family with 4-5 children but this pregnancy is making me reconsider it. 
- I did not like my husband when I met him. We were hanging out in the same youth group for a while but I did not ever think that I  fall this guy. I fell  hard and never regretted it since! 
- My two favorite women in the world are my mom and my sister. I also have the most adorable niece.


My  Questions:

• Why did you start a blog?
• Cats or dogs?
• If you could meet one famous person, who would it be? 
• Do you have siblings?
• Who's your favorite blogger? (link up)
• Are you an early bird or a night owl?
• If the world would end tomorrow, what would you be doing today?
• What is your favorite food?
• If you could travel the world, what is one place you would definitely visit? 
• What is your biggest pet peeve?
• What is your favorite TV show?

Questions from Haley Valerie:

1. What is your middle name?
Alexandria

2. What is your favorite movie?
The Notebook - I know it's cheesy and such a chick-flick but I cannot help myself and cry every time

3. How long have you been blogging?
Almost a year - I'm a newbie

4. What is your favorite beauty product?
Bare Minerals foundation. I love how light it is

5. Coffee or Tea?
Always tea with honey and lemon.

6. If you could have one wish granted what would it be?
Being able to see the future. I'm a perfectionist and want to avoid mistakes

7. Who is your favorite celebrity?
I don't think I have one. Not really into Hollywood

8. What is your favorite book?
Gone with the Wind. I must have read it about 10 times and it never gets old

9. What is your dream job?
Teaching College Mathematics 

10. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Clean bathroom

11. What inspired you to create a blog? 
I started following fashion blogs and one really stood out. The very first blog I started following was by Jessica Quirck at What I Wore. She started very small and was persistent enough to make it a success. It inspired me to start my own blog and follow through with it.

I nominate 

The Double Take Girls
God Bless Our Nest

Butler Party of 2

Mama Style

Creamy
Here and Now
Lam in Louboutins
Brandon and Shelby
Racing Towards Joy
Something Devine

No Rush

This black maxi is the only thing that fits my big belly at this point.
Miss my regular clohes

It's been all about birth, baby and other pregnancy related things here but that's my life. And since this blog is about my life - there is no way of getting around it all.
After reading this post by an awesome fellow blogger, I have been thinking.
I've decided to consciously enjoy every single moment of every day until our baby boy arrives.

 People keep asking me how long I have left and that unintentionally reminds me that it's
getting VERY close but he's still not here.

 It seems like we rush through a lot of things in life but this time is not going to ever come back. 

I'm not going to be just wife, sister, daughter and friend. I'm going to be a mother. 

You can't rush through motherhood.
You can't rush through life. 
God is giving me this time to reflect and learn to trust Him to give us our boy at a perfect time.

So while I wait... 

Spending lots of quality time with hubby, sleeping in when possible, shopping, watching movies and  just enjoying time together. Ohhhh yes, still debating on the name.
Spending time with friends and family, hanging out with my mom and sister.
Reading a few baby books and one just for pure pleasure of reading.
Trying different recipes - cooking and baking deliciousness.
So take your time baby boy (reasonable amount), get strong and big (not too big) to face this currently-below-zero-temperatures world.