What You CAN Do + #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

maternity style: mint tee, jean jacket, sequin skirt maternity style: mint tee, jean jacket, sequin skirt maternity style: mint tee, jean jacket, sequin skirt {{Top: Target
{{Jacket: LOFT
{{Purse: Target
{{Skirt: Express (love this one!)
{{Necklace: Stella & Dot
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Has anyone ever told you that you CAN’T do something?

I’m serious. Think about it. How many times in your life have you been told that you can’t do something? Maybe it wasn’t in those exact words, but somewhere along the lines, we’ve been told no. Or we’ve been told that’s not possible. Or we’ve been told that “it” is out of reach. Or we’ve been told “it’s just not in the cards.”

I know I’ve been told too many times that I can’t do something, or what I’m striving to do is out of reach, or that my goals are too big, or my vision is too wide, or my ideas are too lofty and that I’m just setting myself up for failure or to be disappointed.

Now, this isn’t me trying to be some great motivational speaker or anything, but I’m here to tell you that it’s about time we shut those people up. The naysayers, the negative Nancys, Debbie downers, and the ones who are always trying to tell you “NO.”

This also isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be REALISTIC.

I just think it’s about time we started ENCOURAGING each other and supporting each other and building each other up rather than breaking each other down. Help someone figure out what they CAN do, rather than telling them what they CAN’T do.

And personally, I know I need to do a better job of letting the negative stuff roll off my back. I’m a happy, joyful person and I’m pretty good at not sweating the small stuff, but every now and then I really let the little stuff bother me. I let the little stuff ruin my day. I let the negativity or the joy-stealers suck the life out of me… and then they win.

Whether it’s the negative commenter on my blog, the stranger who tells me I look “huge,” the news story telling me what I’m doing is “wrong,” or even the person who asks me if “wearing sequins while pregnant is okay?” And for the record, yes. Wearing a sequin skirt while pregnant is not only okay, it is encouraged.

All of this rambling to say, it’s time we all just got a little more awesome. It’s time we all set big, lofty, crazy, goals for ourselves. It’s time we looked at ourselves in the mirror and said, “Heck to the YES this sequin skirt looks awesome and so do I.

And then I say it’s time we say to our friends, our family, our colleagues, “Hey you. Yeah, you. You’re awesome. You can do it.”

What do you think? Am I nuts? Am I just on some fluffy rampage? How do you deal with the joy-stealers and focus on what you CAN do?

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Happy YOLO Monday! Each week, Carly & I select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature. It’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.


Our favs from last week?

zucchini bread

Zucchini Bread Recipe

neonpinkandpolkadots

Neon Pink and Polka Dots

coffeecake

Coffee Cake Recipe

DIY Glitter Nails

Glitter Nails

yolomondays200x200lightpinkFINAL

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:
      1. Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week Melissa @ The Bee’s Knees
      2. Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
      3. Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
      4. Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
      5. Have fun! Cause #YOLO!
Want to cohost #YOLOMONDAYS? We are accepting co-hosts! Please email us at carlybrydon@gmail.com for more info!



Friday Fives + 28 Weeks!

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  1. I got the most beautiful bouquet of tulips in the mail for Mother’s Day – at first it was a mystery who they were from, but it turns out they were from my sister and brother-in-law. So sweet.
  2. I love Sunday afternoons in a hammock.
  3. So, I joined my husband’s gym. I’m sick and tired of “being sick and tired” and feeling awful about my body and the way I feel. So, instead of relying on walking and throwing myself a pity party, I’m taking matters into my own hands. No, I’m not bench pressing 220lbs or anything, but I’m doing light cardio and small weight training. But mostly, it’s to get me moving so I can stay active during these last three months of my pregnancy.
  4. My sweet little sister from my sorority sent Baby Stillman the sweetest gifts.
  5. We went to a Tar Heel baseball game on Thursday night with my office! It was fun (even though the Heels lost). :(

What was your favorite moment of the week?

28-week-bump-photo How far along: 28 weeks
How big is baby: About 2.5 pounds and about 16 inches long
Weight gain: So, I suddenly gained a bunch more weight in the last week. I don’t know why. I haven’t done anything differently. In fact, I’ve been even more careful about what I’ve been eating… but I will wait and see what my midwife says.
Sleeping: Not great due to kicking, having to get up an pee all the time, and now restless leg syndrome.
Food cravings: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cheerios!
Food aversions: None really
Symptoms: The newest one? Restless leg syndrome. Yeah, it’s awful and so annoying.
Miss Anything?: Sleep!
Doctor’s appointment: I have one today! (Friday)
Wedding Rings: Still on!
Clothes: 99.9999% maternity clothes. Oh, and I just got a new maternity dress on sale from Old Navy and it’s AMAZING. I can’t wait to show y’all.
Movement: Baby Stillman = party baby.
Best moment of the week: My amazing husband has worked SO hard on the nursery. He has done such a good job – I love how hard he’s working for our baby already. Warms my heart. :)
What I’m looking forward to: Finishing up the nursery and our baby registry this weekend.
What I did / Got for baby: It was really all my hubby this week working on the nursery. :)
What I learned this week: Baby is developing more “regular” sleep patterns (or so says my app) – it seems like baby is awake all the time! hahaha
Prayer requests: Just continuing to pray for the health and growth of the baby. :)

Linked up with Lauren and Jeannett today!

RECIPE: Oh-So-Easy-and-Delicious Breakfast Pizza


RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

When I lived in Richmond, Virginia, there was this grocery store called “Ukrop’s.” Ukrop’s was famous for a few things: being closed on Sundays, not selling alcohol or cigarettes, their delicious cakes, and their delicious breakfast pizzas.

I used to stop by Ukrop’s 3-4 times a week on my way to work to pick up a slice. It was so ridiculously good. And for YEARS since leaving Richmond, I have tried to duplicate and find a recipe that rivals the Ukrop’s breakfast pizza.

And then, after many times of trial and error in the past, ENTER THIS RECIPE.

Seriously. Oh my goodness. I made this breakfast pizza on Tuesday night (because breakfast for dinner is the BEST!) and it was so ridiculously good my mouth is watering as I type this and look over the pictures of it. And, while it took me a little longer at first to make this (because I was totally making it up as I went along), it was SO easy. I am fairly certain I’m going to make it again… probably tonight. And then twice more this weekend.

Enough dilly-dallying. Here are the recipe and instructions:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 prepared pizza crust (yes, I know you could do homemade crust, but I wasn’t that adventurous, so I didn’t in this case)
  • 6 tablespoons (approximately) of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! buttery spread, divided
  • 1/2 pound of ground sausage (I used turkey sausage)
  • 3-4 pieces of bacon (I used turkey bacon)
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon of milk
  • 2 russet potatoes, shredded (for the hash browns!) :)
  • 1-2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you want it)
  • Salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Gather your ingredients and get them ready.  Preheat your over to 350 degrees.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Properly wash and clean your potatoes. Grab a medium bowl and fill it with COLD water. Shred your potatoes over the bowl.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

This is the key to the hash browns… once you’re done shredding the potatoes, stir them in the cold water until the water is cloudy. Then, drain the potatoes, put them BACK in the bowl and cover them with cold water AGAIN. Stir the potatoes AGAIN until the water is cloudy (this removes a lot of the starch), then drain again and pat dry with a paper towel removing all the excess water.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

In a skillet, add 3 tablespoons of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter (ICBINB) buttery spread and melt. I am being totally honest when I say this buttery spread is SUPER delicious and made cooking all the pizza toppings a BREEEEEEEZE.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Put your shredded potatoes in the skillet on top of ICBINB. Add salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper to taste. Mix the spices in. Then, cook the potatoes over medium heat until brown on both sides. Brown, not burnt.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

In a separate skillet, add ONE tablespoon of ICBINB and cook your bacon.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

In ANOTHER skillet, add another tablespoon of ICBINB and brown your sausage.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

In a medium bowl, prepare your eggs for scrambling! I add approx. one tablespoon of milk to my eggs and blend well. This makes the eggs FLUFFIER! RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

While all those toppings are cooking, melt one tablespoon of ICBINB in a small bowl. Then, with a pastry brush, brush the melted ICBINB all over your prepared pizza crust.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

When your hashbrowns (and other toppings) are done! Put them aside on bowls or plates.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Now’s the time to scramble your eggs (do this last). It is KEY to leave your scrambled eggs running. DO NOT COOK THEM ALL THE WAY.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Remove your runny scrambled eggs from the stove, and then spread on your prepared pizza crust.

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Add your toppings. Hash browns, bacon, and sausage. RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Once those are spread evenly, add your cheese. It totally depends on how cheesy you want it. I love cheese, so I added a lot. :)

Then… toss that puppy in the oven! (NOTE: I did put my crust on a pizza stone, but you could certainly place it directly on the rack). RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Bake your pizza in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (or until cheese is brown and melty).

RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

VOILA! You are ready to eat! RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

SO. GOOD. My mouth is watering. For real. RECIPE: Delicious "Breakfast After Dark" Breakfast Pizza using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Yes, it is as good as it looks. But, I guess you can’t really go wrong with things like cheese, eggs, sausage, bacon, and hash browns all on top of a pizza crust that’s been prepped with delicious buttery spread and then baked in an oven. :)

Now, I made up this recipe totally on my own, but the fabulous people at I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! have a bunch of AWESOME breakfast-for-dinner recipes on their “Breakfast After Dark” site. There’s even another breakfast pizza recipe! You can check out some of their webisodes here.

So yeah, deeeeeeeelish!

Are you a breakfast-for-dinner fan? Are you going to try this recipe? Do you have a favorite breakfast-for-dinner recipe? Share it in the comments below!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are totally my own.

Trend of the Month: YELLOW!

maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories yellow bow shoes maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories {{Blouse + Jeans: Motherhood Maternity
{{Cardigan: Target
{{Necklace + Earrings: Kazuri Beads Kenya (similar)
{{Shoes: Old (similar)
{{Purse: Target
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I always get SO excited when Marion from Marionberry Style announces her monthly “trend of the month” challenge. Why? Well, for a couple reasons:

  • It gives me an excuse to plan ahead for an outfit
  • It gives me an excuse to do a little research (i.e. reading fashion blogs and fashion magazines) to see how others are rocking the latest “trend”
  • It gives me a personal challenge to figure out how I can make the trend my own / fit my personal style (or maybe even step outside of my style comfort zone)

Now, when Marion said this month’s trend was YELLOW I was excited because it’s such a happy color, but also a little nervous because yellow typically is not a great color on me (fair skinned folk like myself have to be careful when trying to rock yellow). I was also a little nervous because the only yellow blouse I have no longer fits me at this stage in my pregnancy.

So, I had to get creative. That’s the fun part about trends – it’s all about incorporating it in a way that works for YOU rather than feeling confined to how others are wearing it / rocking it / whathaveyou.

So, I opted for POPS of YELLOW throughout my outfit via my accessories. So, I stuck to totally neutral tones in my outfit (a la cream blouse, white cardigan, and dark jeans), and went BOLD with bright yellow bow flats, matching yellow earrings and necklace, and a bright purple bag. Sure, not a yellow bag, but I love this purple bag so much I threw it in there anyway.

That’s the key, folks.

If you’re nervous about incorporating a BOLD trend like YELLOW or STRIPES or ANIMAL PRINT, don’t feel like you need to venture into wearing it as an entire outfit (you know, like the yellow suit guy over there–>).

Just incorporate it via your accessories: shoes, a bag, jewelry, a belt!

So, what do you think? How do YOU incorporate “trends” into your daily wardrobe?

Linked up today with Marionberry Style, Because Shanna Said So, and The Pleated Poppy.

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