1. I am in NYC at BlogHer. My sweet mom came to our house to take care of Hudson while Todd is at work every day that I’m away. Then my mom, Hudson, and I are going to visit some family the following week. August turned out to be a really busy month!

I can’t wait to share with you all of the fun things about BlogHer- as soon as I find out what they are. I already know the best part is hanging out with all the fun girls.

2. So I have a few thoughts about The Bachelorette. I’ve been a big Reality Steve fan for a while because I think he tells it like it is. But he obviously got it wrong for a long time on this season. Here are my thoughts on possible reasons:

1. ABC fed him false information and went along with that information in their previews to bring viewers in. And then they shocked us all when Ali ended up with Roberto. I guess their motive in doing this would be to bring him down and hurt his credibility.

2. ABC paid Reality Steve to write false spoilers and then gave him the final information 8 hours before the finale aired so he could still be the king of reality TV spoilers.

I read the spoilers when he first wrote them and they turned out to be wrong. And then last night, about 3 hours before the finale, I read Reality Steve and saw that he had changed his story because his “source got it wrong.”

And, really? I know none of you care about any of this! I did love Chris, but I think he’s too good to be the next bachelor. ABC always casts the worst women for The Bachelor and I’d hate to see Chris, who seems like a good guy, go on that show.

Did you watch the finale? What’d you think of the outcome? Did you read Reality Steve’s spoilers beforehand? Not sure if I’ll read him next season or not.

3. Tomorrow I’m going to post a blog sale for my IRL friend who is trying to sell some size 2 clothes. She’s adorable and her clothes are gorgeous. Get excited!

4. I’ve gotten a head start on the book club book since I’m going to be so busy over the next couple of weeks. Go here for more information if you don’t know already. It’s already a really great book and I can’t wait to discuss it with the book clubbers. So far, it looks like there are over 150 of you participating.

5. Anthropologie is having a sale. Not to be an enabler or anything, but I’m just sayin.

 

I spent this past weekend in the lovely St. Louis attending my dear friend, Nina’s wedding. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for the blogging friendships I’ve made. I wouldn’t even call these girls my blogging friends. They’re just my good friends and we met through blogging. I call them, I email them, I text them and BBM them. And I’d be there for any of them through any life event.

This life event just happened to be a gorgeous, family-centered, wedding. And the lovely Nina was the bride. In order to not steal Nina’s thunder, I won’t be posting any pictures of her in her dress. But I will tell you that she was stunning. And the smile on her face was the perfect accessory.

Nina, her mom, and sister picked up Mojito Maven and me from the airport on Friday morning. It was raining pretty hard, but it was the “good luck rain” just coming in the day before the wedding. We went with Nina to Sephora while she had her trial make up run and Mojito Maven and I may or may not have played around with the makeup.

When we got to the hotel, we rested and showered while Nina welcomed all of her friends and family to St. Louis. We met back up with everyone for the rehearsal dinner and we got to meet Mandy from House of Rose and Kelly from The Webb Family (a private blog). Both of these girls were bridesmaids in Nina’s wedding and were so much fun! I’m telling you, bloggers are even better in person!

It was so kind of Nina and JH to invite us to the rehearsal dinner. Their friends and family were incredibly welcoming and there were lots of laughs and tears. I love weddings!

at the rehearsal dinner with Nina, Kelly, Mojito Maven, and Mandy

Kelly, Mojito Maven, and me at the rehearsal dinner

On Saturday morning, we got up and went downstairs to one of the hotel restaurants for a yummy breakfast. We went to see the beautiful bride while she was getting ready and then headed upstairs to get dressed.

Because this was a Catholic wedding with a fairly long gap in between the ceremony and reception, I was able to wear two outfits. So I had my ceremony dress and my reception dress. Nina had a trolley available to take guests from the hotel to the ceremony and back, so we rode that. It was a beautiful day!

Mojito Maven standing outside the Basilica

I boo-hooed through a good bit of the ceremony. Nina’s parents were so sweet to each other during the ceremony and when Nina came down the aisle I kind of lost it. The look on JH’s face was so sweet and touching.

The bridesmaids were all absolutely beautiful and their dresses were about the cutest bridesmaid dresses I’ve ever seen. After the ceremony, we all got to give the bride and groom a hug before Nina tossed the bouquet and before they took their formal photos.

Mandy in the super cute LulaKate dress

After the ceremony, we went back to the hotel to get changed so we could relax during “the gap.” The gap refers to the gap of time in between the ceremony and reception. We had about three hours in between, so Mojito Maven and I went to find some yummy food and wine.

After that, we needed a rest, so we went to the room to read and lie down for a bit. We woke up and got changed again for the cocktail hour and reception. We got to hang out with Mandy and Kelly (and their husbands) some more.

We also met a couple of Nina’s cousins who read our blogs and were so much fun! I’m so happy they came and introduced themselves. So funny how small the blog world is.

Dinner was so good and Nina and JH honored their family and friends so gracefully during the reception. After dinner, we danced the night away. I can’t wait for y’all to hear about all the adorable details from Nina. She planned an amazing wedding for herself. But it was also just so great because every time I looked at her, she was hugging JH or giving him a kiss. Or leaning her head on his shoulder.

The love was there and I know these two will have a beautiful life together.

All items are sold!

In the past 26 months, my size has fluctuated from a size 4 up to huge maternity sizes back to an 8 (right after Hudson was born) and now back to a 6. Sometimes. On a skinny day. And for me, a 6 is skinny.

I’m selling a few things in my closet that I know I won’t wear again. Some of them I’d love to wear again!

SOLD Moulinette Soeurs for Anthropologie dress – Size 6

Paid $150

Asking $50

Worn once– I bought it to wear to a friend’s wedding and then found out I was pregnant about a week later.

SOLD J.Crew Silk Faille Dress- Size 4 (100% Silk and Lining is 100% Acetate)

Paid $250

Asking $30

Worn about 10 times. Perfect for weddings and parties. Buttons down the back and built in support.

SOLD Nanette Lepore dress- Size 8

Paid $300

Asking $80

Purchased for a wedding right after Hudson was born. Worn once. It’s too big now and would cost me the value of the dress to have it altered. I love this dress.

SOLD Nicole Miller Collection multi-colored graphic print dress- Size 8

Paid $200 (clearance price)

Asking $40

I bought this dress on clearance at Neiman Marcus right before our wedding. I had the waist altered a bit. Even though it’s a size 8, I was a size 4 when I wore it. And it wasn’t altered much. I had bra cups built into the chest for a more secure fit as a bra cannot be worn with this dress.

It hits me just above the knee.

Worn twice– once on our honeymoon and once to a wedding shower.

the back of the top

SOLD Nanette Lepore Sweetheart Pumps- Size 10

Paid $350

Asking $200

These shoes have been worn once. They’re perfect for fall! I purchased them for our family photos last fall and I think they’re absolutely stunning. But my life as a SAHM isn’t great for wearing these pumps around the house and to Target on errands! I also can’t justify selling them for any less than that.

the soles took a beating when we walked on a brick sidewalk all afternoon

Email me eeakin11{at}gmail{dot}com if you’re interested or have any questions. I will bill you through Pay Pal and everything will be dry cleaned before it is shipped to you.

First come, first served. And I pay for shipping!

Congratulations! The following 10 readers have won Blurb book making codes!

To receive your code, please email me by tomorrow evening at eeakin11{at}gmail{dot}com.