Home decor inspiration

Here are some pictures that are really inspiring me right now as I gear up to decorate our new soon to be home. It's funny, as I compile things like this I really see how bohemian and eclectic my style is. Enjoy the feast of color and pattern play! 

Exciting News!!

On January 26th we found out that we will be having a baby! It was actually the same day we closed on our house! Heavenly Father sure does know how to surprise us.

My hubby and I had decided that we wanted to try and conceive, so I went to see my Dr. to make sure all was well with my baby making abilities. While there the Dr. talked with me about my history and weight and did an exam, and concluded that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I mentioned my diagnoses with PCOS a year ago in this blog post: "This is the hardest time of my life". The Dr. put me on birth control for 6 months to help regulate my periods. PCOS commonly has cysts that develop on one or both ovaries and that is the main cause for the irregular periods and hormone levels being out of wack. The birth control helps to get rid of or make the cysts smaller, which helps your body become more regular. Well the 6 months passed and due to personal reasons we decided to hold off on the gung ho baby making. The Dr. had told me to contact him when either I was pregnant or my periods became irregular.

So I thought that my period had become irregular pretty quickly since getting off the birth control in November, but I took a pregnancy test to rule that option out. I sat there staring at the stick because the first line showed up quickly, but there was this growing wave of faint pink happening towards where the other (positive) line is. I ripped through the packaging trying to find the part that talks about a faint line. I called out to Gabriel to have him look and confirm whether I was seeing things. He came and looked and confirmed that it indeed was becoming a clearer line. We had TWO LINES! Ahhhhh! We just looked at each other like crazy weird happy people still in disbelief and hugged and kissed.

We shared the news with my immediate family that night at dinner. We asked for it to be kept quiet. I had decided to share the news so quickly with my family because I wanted a support system if we lost the baby. I couldn't bear that alone. I'm glad they knew because when we went to the Dr. and had the pee test and blood tests they came back negative (pee test) and very low HCG levels (blood test), so for a couple weeks there was tension on if I was pregnant and then if the baby was even gonna stick. (In that time I took 7 pregnancy tests! Digital and standard line) Turned out I was earlier than they expected based off my last period. Also I had some difficulty with the way I was treated at the Dr's office and lab and so it was an ordeal to find a Dr. I like. I couldn't have gone through that alone, I'm no good at hiding my feelings and needed to confide in my family and have them hold me when I was scared.

We found a Dr. that I love and her nurses have been wonderful thus far. We went in for our first ultrasound on March 12th (I was just over 10 weeks) and were able to see "Baby Rad" for the first time! It was such a relieving moment to see that a baby is indeed in there, and to see baby's heart beat pumping away strong and steady. Gabriel was so cute as he was in awe of seeing the baby move it's arms like crazy, I cried happy relieved tears. The Dr. said that baby looked good and as far as she could tell the baby was developing normally. She also mentioned that we had passed that critical stage and that miscarriage probability had dropped dramatically. So later that day we shared the news on Facebook! lol

I am now 16 weeks and so far things are going well. Morning sickness has passed (thankfully! It was mild but 24/7!) and overall I feel good. I do have some crazy back pain and my carpal tunnel is acting up, but it's manageable. Last week I got to hear baby's heart beat for the first time. It took over 10 mins (forever!) for the nurse to locate the heartbeat, I did my best to stay calm and not jump to the worst conclusion. She even commented on how relaxed I was, and that most patients would've been freaking out. Lol It was sweet to hear the heartbeat and know that baby is doing well. The nurse said the baby was bouncing around, hence the difficulty finding the sound. Both my hubby and I are like, oh crap! we are in for one rambunctious baby! haha

So, apparently this week was/is National Infertility Week. I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately.

While I wouldn't classify myself as infertile, I do know that pregnancy is not something that comes as quickly as I may desire it. I have been married over 4 yrs now and only a yr of that was on birth control (I was on it when we first got married but stopped after 6 months because I didn't like how it made me feel, and then of course the 6 months last year to help me regulate.) and many times we didn't bother with condoms. There were times I thought I might be pregnant only to get that immediate NO on the pregnancy tests. Honestly there were times it felt almost like a joke at how quickly that one line would pop up! So we were honestly surprised when we found out.

Recently I was at a meeting with my mom for her DoTerra business group, and I was sharing that I was pregnant, and talked about my PCOS, and two of the women there started talking to me about their difficulties with PCOS. One was my age and didn't want kids, and the other was younger and very much wants children and her hubby and her have been trying for awhile. It was sad because she was talking with me and I could tell she was trying to figure out what the cure was, and what did I do to get pregnant. I told her I felt that for me birth control and just not stressing about it seemed to have been the trick (and honestly Heavenly Father decided now is the time for me). Sadly she has violent reactions to birth control, so that isn't an option. I felt so aware of her pain.

I know what it is like to cry and feel so empty because I wanted a baby so much. To see my friends and family members have babies, and while so happy for them, it hurt so much. Sometimes I would just want to throw my computer across the room as Facebook would announce pregnancy after pregnancy. To feel the, "Why not me?!" feeling. To worry about each passing year that I didn't conceive. I had honestly started to accept that maybe I wouldn't have my own biological children and had come to accept the idea of maybe adopting, or just being the best aunt and teacher to my nieces and nephews and kids I meet in my life.

I am grateful that I have an understanding, so therefore maybe I can be more sensitive to those going through infertility. 

I still worry constantly of losing my baby. I try not to complain too much, because I know soooooo many women would LOVE to go through every hard part of pregnancy just to have a child of their own. I don't want to be that annoying person that posts about nothing but baby, but I will allow myself to enjoy this moment in my life and I will share. I also will understand those that may have to distance themselves for awhile as my joy brings up their pain.

If you are suffering through infertility I feel for you. I pray for you. I know how heavy of a burden it can be. You have my love and my support.

Love, Paige

Minnie Mouse Style

Minnie Mouse by jemgirl817 

Take Heart

This quote helped me so much the past year. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, or how much we pray and wish for things to be better they just stay bad or get worse, but there is a ray of sunshine that will peak through. And sometimes that ray of sunshine is just our perspective changing, us getting stronger and learning how to push through. Our trials make us better if we let them, if we learn from them. Everyone is going through things that are hard, know that you are never alone.

Purple and Gold

Purple and Gold by jemgirl817 

How to be best prepared for wedding dress shopping!

What to Wear to Shop for Your Wedding Dressby jemgirl817 

The holidays have passed, and many couples have gotten engaged! Congrats! Now it's time for the dress hunt! This time of year is known as "Bridal Christmas" in the wedding dress sales world.

I've been thinking about sharing this for a while now. I want to give you tips to make the experience as smooth and joyful as possible. Since it hasn't been too long since I went through the process and I worked at a bridal salon, I figure I have some decent advice.

Make an Appointment: 
First off you want to make an appointment, and choose a time that works best for you and will not have you rushed. Most appointments are about an hour to and hour and a half. Make sure you have eaten and are well hydrated.

Entourage:
Figure out who the most important people are that you want to experience this moment in your life. Usually a parent is present (especially since they tend to be the ones paying for the dress), then a close family member or friend. Be careful not to have too many people. Lots of people can equal too many opinions and end up confusing the bride, and often most salons are small and it can make accommodating a large group difficult.

Budget:
Discuss budget before hand! Make sure you know what you can afford, and remember almost ALL dresses will need alterations, which means added cost, even if it's just for a bustle. So figure that into the budget as well. (Some brides and their families think they can handle doing their own alterations, maybe you can, but think about the stress that is put on that person amid all the other planning and things happening to prepare for a wedding. If that is manageable, and you are a skilled seamstress, then go for it.) 

       *I have seen brides think they don't need a bustle and that they can carry the train all night,
         or that they can dance with it un-bustled. What a hassle! (You'll trip on it, someone else will
         step on it, it will get in the way, and it is just plain heavy.) And BTW that loop underneath is  
         NOT FOR YOU TO CARRY YOUR TRAIN, it is a hanger loop for when the dress is hung up.
         Please oh please get a bustle! Rant over!
      *Also budget for any extras such as a veil, headpiece, jewelry, garter, under garments,
        wedding dress cleaning and preservation, etc.

Under Pinnings:

Wear a good bra (nude colored is best) that will work for the neckline style you envision, also wear a slip or nude underwear. The sales woman will be helping you in and out of dresses, best not to have your bare bits in her face as much as possible. Some salons have slips, bras and other undergarments for you to try on with your dress. Best to be over prepared and ready in your own stuff.

Dress Up!
Make sure you come with your hair and face done. You will be less likely to feel beautiful in a dress if you don't feel put together. A little blush and lipstick go a long way.

        *Also please, oh please, come clean. Don't roll in to the salon in sweats and un-showered, it
          is gross, and makes the process an unpleasant one for your sales person, and fresh breath
          is ALWAYS appreciated.

Think about shoes:
Bring shoes that are the heel height you plan on wearing the day of your wedding. They don't have to be the exact shoes, just the equivalent height.

Wedding Timeline:

Keep in mind your wedding planning timeline. Many dresses take upwards of 4-5 months to be made and shipped to the salon. Then alterations can take up to a month or more to complete. If you have a shorter timeline you may want to consider buying off the rack.

Have Fun:

Don't over stress. You may or may not find your dress on the first shot. Enjoy the experience, it only happens once! Try different styles, bring inspiration photos, communicate what you like and don't like, share any requirements you may have (such as sleeve length, neckline modesty, shade of white etc.) All of this will help your consultant find the best dress for you. Sometimes the first dress is THE ONE, and that's ok, try on others if you like just to make sure. You may or may not cry, don't let it throw you if you don't, not all of us cry. (I didn't, but I KNEW it was my dress, and I loved and still love my dress.)

               Follow Melinda Paige Radvansky's board Wedding Fun on Pinterest.