{17 weeks; 21 weeks}

My cravings have been simple to satisfy — from strawberries to guacamole to spaghetti and meatballs to ...]]> We have officially crossed the halfway point! At 21 weeks, I must say that I’m really enjoying being pregnant. Aside from 3-hour naps during the first trimester (really, we could all use an occasional 3-hour nap) and minor migraines during the second trimester (which I’ve cured by snacking throughout the day), I have been blessed thus far with an easy pregnancy.

{17 weeks; 21 weeks}

My cravings have been simple to satisfy — from strawberries to guacamole to spaghetti and meatballs to hot fudge sundaes — and I have had no food aversions. I walk regularly and do daily yoga stretches to keep my lower back strong and limber. And my husband has treated me to countless foot rubs and back massages. Yes, I’m a lucky lady.

{20 weeks}

Of course, I sometimes miss my morning cup of hazelnut coffee and my pint of homebrew with dinner, but such small sacrifices are well worth it. I’m willing to do whatever it takes for a healthy little Peanut!

Speaking of Peanut, we had our second trimester ultrasound last week and were thrilled to see our long-limbed acrobat.

{second trimester ultrasound}

And I’m happy to report that he/she kept his/her boy/girl parts sufficiently hidden from our view. That’s right, we’re keeping the gender a surprise! We figure there is no better thrill in life that the jubilant announcement of “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!” in the hospital delivery room. I also figure it will help me to “push harder” when the time comes.

What about you? Did you/will you/would you keep the gender a surprise?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 5 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Children, Health, Newlywed Life

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My favorite color is red.

My favorite food is Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli.

I am good at drawing.

Santa Claus is most definitely real.

I want a pony at ...]]>

You know what I love best about small children?  How well they know themselves. They are completely uncensored… the expectations and the thought of potential judgment from others doesn’t tether them down or give them pause.  When you’re six, you know exactly what you like… what you don’t… what you want… who you are.

My favorite color is red.

My favorite food is Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli.

I am good at drawing.

Santa Claus is most definitely real.

I want a pony at my birthday party.

I miss that – that “uninhibition” {I’m making that a word, bee-tee-dubs} – that sureness.

We’re so mired down as adults – in all of the “Should I put that out there? Should I even think it? Is it popular?  Is it too popular?   Is wanting this wrong?   Does it make me too much of this… or too much of that?  Do I even like that / want that / think that anymore? Or am I just holding on because it’s comfortable?  What does this say about me?”

I am not thin. I am 5’9” and it is unlikely that I will ever wear a size 4 or 6 again.  {We can officially add “skinny” to the list of “things at which I’ve tried to excel but do not come naturally.”}  I’ve given up the numbers both on the scale and on my tags in favor of how I feel, how I move, and how my tried-and-true “fit” clothes look.  Right now?  I’m working on doing better in all those departments.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 9 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Life, Newlywed Life

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We visited La Jolla and Oceanside. We walked along the water ...]]> This was our second married Christmas and our second year splitting the holiday between the east coast and the west coast — my parents live in central Pennsylvania, and Nick’s parents live in southern California. I’m not sure that I’ll ever get used to palm trees and sunshine and sandals in December, but I’ll admit that it was nice to escape the bitter cold winter of the east coast.

We visited La Jolla and Oceanside. We walked along the water at Seaside Village and strolled through beautiful Balboa Park.

We gawked over the Hotel Del Coronado and dipped our toes in the Pacific Ocean.

We saw San Diego by boat, and we drank margaritas and ate guacamole in Old Town.

We also spent a day at the Wild Animal Park where we saw the sweetest giraffes and a baby elephant that was born the day before.

On our final day in San Diego, we soaked up the sun poolside and watched a spectacular sunset from Double Peak Park.

We’re so thankful that we were able to spend Christmas with both our east coast and west coast families.

How do you split your holidays? Did you spend your Christmas in the sun or in the snow?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 5 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Holidays, Newlywed Life, Travel

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I’m Samma (also known by my full name, Samma Faye, after both my grandmothers).   Pictured with me is my new rescue golden retriever, Buddy (also known by his full name, Buddy Bear).  I’m a relatively newlywed.  My husband ...]]> I am so excited to be a contributor to EAD Living.  Now that the holiday rush has passed us by, I combat with winter blues with lots of projects and cooking, all of which I am dying to share with you!  So, to introduce myself-

I’m Samma (also known by my full name, Samma Faye, after both my grandmothers).   Pictured with me is my new rescue golden retriever, Buddy (also known by his full name, Buddy Bear).  I’m a relatively newlywed.  My husband and I got married in May 2009 at my family’s home.

It was a wonderful ceremony, under the oak tree where my husband, Hubs, proposed.  It was also a rocking party-

Hee.

Anyway, after the wedding was over, I began a blog to release any and all creative urges which were not without an outlet.  I’m a business lawyer by day, which does not exactly fulfill my artistic needs.

Hollow-legged when it comes to bacon and wine, I am happiest puttering around my kitchen.  An East Tennessean (go Vols!), and Georgia grad (go Dawgs!), I cook a lot of Southern food.

And go to a lot of SEC football games.

Hubs and I just purchased a new house this summer, so I’m having a lot of fun transforming our “move-in ready” rancher.  Also, learning how to garden.  Which is quite the learning process for this black thumb.

We throw a lot of parties, some of which are planned. . . and some not so much.  However, with at least five friends engaged or pregnant at any given moment, there are a lot of celebrations to be thrown!

So next post, pour yourself a glass wine, get out your wooden spoon and possibly dancing shoes, and we will have a party.  Well, a virtual party.  Over the internet.

Hmmm. That sounds a bit inappropriate.  Let’s rephrase.

I am so excited to post all about parties, recipes and entertaining!    Better?   Nice to meet you and thanks for reading!

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 10 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Just for Fun, Newlywed Life

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Earlier this month, my husband surprised me with a Kindle for Chanukah. When I opened the box I was at a loss of words for two reasons:

You might be asking yourself, “Well, why wouldn’t they exchange gifts for Chanukah?” First, Chanukah is not really as a big a deal as Christmas. That’s just the honest truth. Yes, as children we were slightly spoiled with presents, but, as I’m ...]]>

Earlier this month, my husband surprised me with a Kindle for Chanukah. When I opened the box I was at a loss of words for two reasons:

1. I didn’t realize we were exchanging Chanukah gifts.
2. I didn’t really want a Kindle.

You might be asking yourself, “Well, why wouldn’t they exchange gifts for Chanukah?” First, Chanukah is not really as a big a deal as Christmas. That’s just the honest truth. Yes, as children we were slightly spoiled with presents, but, as I’m no longer a kid and have no kids of my own to spoil, Chanukah, for me, is now about lighting the candles and eating latkes — not gift-giving. And since my husband and I didn’t discuss buying each other presents, I didn’t think we were doing it this year.

Still, my husband wanted to surprise me with something he thought I really wanted this holiday season. I don’t know if, during the year, I had casually commented on the Kindle while seeing a commercial for it. I can’t remember. However, knowing that I am a lover of books and chronically late returning them to the library, he thought a Kindle would be the perfect present. Or at least a runner-up to the iPad, which I really want but recognize is way out of our price range.

Boy, did I feel like jerk explaining to my husband that I didn’t think I would actually get much use out of the Kindle. He tried to so hard to please me, and here I was bursting his bubble. But I just couldn’t justify keeping something that cost that much money when there were other things I wanted and, dare I say, needed. If I were still living in the city and commuting on public transportation or if I took frequent business trips, the Kindle would definitely come in handy. Who wants to schlep a heavy book in their bag? But as I don’t do either, I’m perfectly content flipping through the pages of a library book while on the couch or in bed.

Although he was disappointed that I didn’t love his gift, he ultimately understood my rationale. Ironically, when he took the Kindle out of the box to give it a try, he decided that he actually didn’t even like it and would also prefer to read books the old-fashioned way!

I suppose I never told him that my wish list actually included a fancy-pants wallet and a pair of waterproof winter boots to replace my six-year-old UGGS. When I told him that if he really wanted to buy me something, he could get me that wallet, he argued that a gift should come from the heart of the giver, not from a list of items that the recipient already knows that they want.  But I disagree! The purpose of wish list is to catalog those items that you wished you had but ordinarily would not buy yourself. I tried to convince him that it would still be special and a surprise to receive something from such a list. I even proposed that we both keep running wish lists that we can each reference when it comes time to buy birthday, anniversary or holiday gifts… but I don’t think he’s completely convinced.

Have you ever been disappointed by a gift given to you buy your significant other? Do you think having a wish list would making gift-giving easier, or does it take the “specialness” out of the experience?

{image source: Mary Kate McDevitt on Etsy}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 7 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Holidays, Newlywed Life, Relationships

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Last time Nick left for the night, I picked up a basket of heirloom tomatoes — likely some of the last of the season. ...]]> Occasionally my husband has work obligations that take him out of town overnight. Sure I miss him when he’s gone, but I also savor the quiet time. Sometimes I take a leisurely stroll through the farmers market. Other times I run along my favorite trail. And often times I curl up on the couch with a book.

Last time Nick left for the night, I picked up a basket of heirloom tomatoes — likely some of the last of the season. I roasted them with olive oil, kosher salt, and basil from our front porch garden and tossed them with fresh garlic pasta from Fasta. I also drank a glass (or a glass and a half) of Cassie’s Blush from Spyglass Ridge Winery and ate a slice (or two) of apple oat bread from Gaffron’s Sunrise Bakery.

And then I retreated to my couch.

How do you spoil yourself when you’re home alone?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food, Newlywed Life

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We rendezvous in the kitchen to make our morning smoothies — which have recently replaced unnecessarily large mugs of coffee. (Is anyone else trying to cut back on caffeine?) Our current favorite smoothie includes berries, bananas, Greek yogurt, soy milk, wheat germ, ...]]> This Tuesday morning in August begins at 6:30am. I’m up and out of bed before my husband and ease into my day with a hot shower. While I dry my hair and apply my make-up, Nick shaves and showers.

We rendezvous in the kitchen to make our morning smoothies — which have recently replaced unnecessarily large mugs of coffee. (Is anyone else trying to cut back on caffeine?) Our current favorite smoothie includes berries, bananas, Greek yogurt, soy milk, wheat germ, honey, and ice.

Nick typically has lunch meetings, and I typically pack mine. Today it’s roasted red pepper hummus and carrots, slices of the bread we baked last night, and a handful of blackberries.

By 7:30 we’re out the door and off in opposite directions. Nick drives at least an hour west to start his workday, and I jump on the highway heading north.

My commute is close to 50 minutes and takes me along beautiful Bald Eagle Ridge (beautiful during all seasons but winter) and into a valley (which some say is the “happiest”). Renee and Steve keep me company, and that smoothie tastes so good.

I arrive at my office by 8:30. The sun is reflecting off the building, and the Pennsylvania morning air feels slightly cool on my bare arms.

I work in public media, and every day is different. It’s why I love my job. Some days I put powder on my face and step into the studio lights.

{June 2010}

Other days I put on a face that’s more recognizable to toddlers and preschoolers. (I’ve only worn the WordGirl costume once, but it’s too funny not to mention.)

{July 2008}

Most days involve writing and editing copy and monitoring our social media presence. There are meetings and conference calls, and there is always Clifford and Cookie Monster.

I often work while eating lunch and check in with Nick to discuss the night’s plans. What’s for dinner? Do we need to stop at the market? Will we have time to run? We need to be efficient with our evenings since they’re so short.

I wrap up my workday around 5:00 and head to the local farmers market for fresh pasta and blueberries. I also stop by our favorite dairy for two bottles of milk and — I can’t resist — a half gallon of coconut chip ice cream.

This summer we’ve made it our mission to purchase food as close to home as possible. Fortunately in Pennsylvania, produce, meats, and dairy products are plentiful. If you’ve never eaten a fresh-picked strawberry or heirloom tomato or ear of sweet corn, I highly recommend it.

I’m anxious to get home, but I appreciate the time in my car to decompress from my workday – especially when it involves clouds that part just perfectly to reveal the setting sun.

Nick and I are home by 6:30 and opt out of an evening run. We try to hit the rail trail at least three times per week, but tonight feels more like homebrews on the patio.

We relax until about 7:00 without distraction from computers and phones. Then Nick waters our plants (tomatoes and peppers and basil — Maggie, we’re putting our herb marker to good use!), and I start dinner.

We try to keep our meals simple during the week and save more time consuming recipes for Saturdays and Sundays. Tonight we roast heirloom tomatoes, add mushrooms, spinach, and garlic, and toss with fresh whole wheat linguine. We slice the rest of our homemade bread and sit down to dinner.

After dinner, we clean the kitchen and take our nightly stroll around the neighborhood. We live in a townhouse community adjacent to a park with little league ball fields and a quaint stream. And I’ve never seen so many bunnies. Seriously, one night Nick counted 28.

We return home, and I change from khakis to sweatpants and trade in my contacts for my glasses. We both often have work to do in the evenings — spreadsheets for Nick and blog posts for me — but we try to turn off our computers by 10pm.

Then it’s roughly 30 minutes of reading before we turn out the lights and prepare to do it all over again the next day.

Is it Friday yet?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 10 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Life, Newlywed Life

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