Blooming Like a Flower.

I have finally felt up to posing for some photos. So far being pregnant hasn't been too bad. I haven't gotten any morning sickness - So thank goodness for that. But I have been plagued with headaches. Practically everyday. I drink water like it's my job, I've been eating healthy and basically every two hours, getting a ton of sleep and exercising, but nothing seems to make a difference to these headaches. I know it's just the hormones and the hundreds of changes going on in my body. Yesterday I felt great. Basically like my old, usual self.

Somedays I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that there's a little life growing inside of me. I keep thinking of watching a hyacinth bloom. It's starts as just as a cluster of buds and little by little each bud opens revealing perfect little petals forming a flower. I used to watch them bloom and think about how each flower is such a miracle. I can't help feeling like a flower blooming. Soon I will open up, literally and metaphorically, and a new little life will emerge. Nature just blows my mind. I will say I have never felt so proud being a woman. It's an incredible honor and gift to be the oven for this little bun.

I'm in the second trimester now and my normal clothes are quite fitting like they used to. I've had to start rocking some of my maternity stuff. I adore this dress that I ordered from ASOS. They have some of the best maternity stuff around. I find most maternity stuff is all sort of preppy. Which is obviously not my style at all. So I have been snatching up whatever boho finds I can. I also don't want to shell out a ton of cash for clothes that I'll only be wearing for a few months. So I love the sale prices on ASOS. It's possible to be a stylish and savvy mama to be. 

I have been also feeling a bit crafty lately. I made this boot chain out of an old necklace and an ankh from when I had my earring store on etsy. Eventually I hope to get back at making and selling earrings.

Oh and I got haircut! Hadn't had one in longer than I'd like to admit. I chopped four inches off! I feel great. So light, fresh and free!!!! It was much needed. It actually has shape and body now, instead of being like a massive wild weed. I miss it being a bit longer but I know it will grow really fast.

// Dress - ASOS Maternity // Hat- Panama Jack 'Toya Safari w/Ribbon' //

// Boots - Steve Madden (from ages ago - similar here) // 

// Bag - Vintage (similar here) // Sunnies - Warby Parker 'Jasper' // Lipstick - MAC Diva //

Baby Love.

OMG! We have the most exciting, special news to share! I am pregnant with a sweet, little bun in the oven!!! It has been killing Daniel and I to have to keep it a secret, but we wanted to make sure everything was good before we yelled it from the mountain tops. Our sweet baby is due to arrive in September! I am 13 weeks right now, and about to enter the second trimester. Time has just been flying by. Only 6 more months to go! So crazy! Well we are just over the moon with this wonderful news! 

I am finally starting to feel like my usual self. Luckily I never really had any morning sickness, just some headaches and feeling extremely tired. I don't exactly have a real bump yet. It just looks like I went to town on some pizza or something. But I can't button my jeans anymore and even my usual leggings are starting to get a little uncomfortable. Most bumps pop out between 12-18 weeks, so I am sure you'll be able to tell soon. 

This is why I haven't been posting many photos of myself on here lately. Being pregnant is pretty strange. I don't know how to describe it, it's just something you have to experience. You're whole body changes. I feel like I am in someone else's body. I've been feeling so tired, bloated and my skin was broken out for a while there, among other stuff. But everything is feeling much better, and I am finally getting used to it all. And now that the cat's out of the bag I can finally start sharing some of maternity stuff and my LITTLES pinterest board that I have keeping secret. 

WE ARE JUST SO ECASTIC & DELIGHTED!!!!!

All photos by the amazing Kenzie Wood.

Gluten-Free Mini Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes.

I made these delicious cupcakes for a small Oscar Party last weekend. They were so tasty I thought I would share the recipe. I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips, and the chocolate taste is heavenly. I swear they are better than cupcakes made with flour. This is definitely going to be my new go to cupcake recipe.

I found the recipe here. However, I had major problems with the frosting recipe. I ended up using A LOT more powdered sugar than it called for. I also had to make a second batch of the frosting. Here is the way I made them.

Ingredients:

• 24 maraschino cherries
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup) I recommend using Ghirardelli 
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder plus more for garnish
• 1 ½ tablespoons maraschino cherry liquid
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar  - I may have even used a little more. 

STEP 1: 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

 STEP 2: 

Cut the cherries in half and dab them dry. 

STEP 3:

Melt chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler if you have one. I used one bigger pot filled with boiling water and had the smaller pan with chocolate and butter resting inside. Stir until it's well mixed and glossy. 

STEP 4: 

While you let the chocolate/butter mixture cool a little, line the pan with 24 mini cupcake cups. 

STEP 5: 

Whisk together chocolate/butter mixture, eggs, sugar, salt, cocoa powder and cherry liquid. 

STEP 6:

Spoon the batter half way into each cup, place a cherry half in each cup and spoon more batter on top of it. Almost fill the cups.

STEP 7:

Bake for 20 minutes. Stick a toothpick in - when the toothpick comes out clean, they are done.

STEP 8:

Beat heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. If frosting is still watery add more powered sugar until it is your desired thickness. I also ended up whipping out my hand held beater to get it as thick as I could.

STEP 9: 

After cupcakes have cooled, top with whipped cream frosting using a frosting bag. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and top with a cherry. Since I made mine for an Oscar Party, I added some edible gold stars to make them a little more festive.

STEP 10:

Enjoy!