Weekend Wrap Up - Cassidy's Trip to LA!

This weekend one of my bestest friends Cassidy came into town!! We have been friends since we were teeny tiny - from church musicals, endless gymnastics practices/meets/camps, high school cheerleading and now figuring out adult life together. She is the sweetest girl in the world and I am so, so lucky to call her mine! 

Friday evening we picked her up from LAX and headed down to Manhattan Beach for dinner. We ate at one of my favorite spots - Fish Bar. Love, love the sleepiness of Manhattan Beach.. crazy that it's just a few miles from LA. 

And like I said.. she is the SWEETEST person ever. How stinkin thoughtful of her to bring me grits!? 

Saturday morning we stopped by the Grove, checked out the Farmer's Market, then headed over to Hollywood Blvd. I have been here a bajillion times and somehow have missed the Harry Potter and Twilight hand/foot prints. So cool! 

For lunch we went to one of my favorite spots.. Joan's on 3rd. Love their yummy salad trio! 

Next stop.. Rodeo drive for some window shopping and people watching.

While we were at the Grove, I got AJ his absolute favorite Sprinkles cupcakes for Father's Day.

And some more colorful dress socks to add to the collection. (LOVE that he wears crazy socks with his boring suits to make things more fun!)

After a quick rest, we headed downtown to the Dodgers game. I was SUPER pumped for my first Dodger game .. actually more so for this Dodger dog.. 

My first ever selfie stick action.. 

Dodgers lost (and of course won on Sunday when we weren't there) but it was SUCH a good time! 

Sunday morning we headed down to Santa Monica.. a little beach time, checked out the pier, and walked 3rd Street Promenade. 

We had lunch, did a little shopping, then took a nice nap before we headed over to the Getty. I had never been here, but knew Cassidy was always up for whatever. Art is not necessarily our thing (we had more fun making fun of stuff that appreciating it, oops) but there were some great views!

We took a scenic drive through Brentwood, the Palisades, and up the PCH to this super cute restaurant Reel Inn. I had seen it on a drive before and have been wanting to try it ever since. 

It so reminds me of Herbs from back home.. love the laid back atmosphere and super fresh seafood. We will absolutely be going back!!

This pup LOVED having Cassidy in town too! We are both pooped after such an eventful weekend!
4 days till vacation!!!! ahhh

xoxo, 

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Hump Day, Bump Day - Week 13

How far along? 13 weeks, 3 days.

Baby's size? A sweet Georgia peach :) 

Milestone? Vocal cords! Teeth! Fingerprints! This kid is growing in leaps and bounds.

Maternity clothes? Always maternity pants.. a mixture of tops. I finally got my closet reorganized with the stuff that I absolutely can not wear in the back and a little maternity section. 

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Pretty good! Other than the 4 potty breaks during the night..

Best moment this week? Finding out the gender!! I absolutely love being able to call this baby by it's name. And oh my goodness.. AJ calling me and saying "How's my ___ doing?" I melt. Be still my heart. 

Miss Anything? My family!! 9 more days!!

Movement? I THINK I felt something last Thursday night.. It was like a little flip or flutter. 

Food cravings? Cesar salad, fruit, pudding, apple sauce, ice 

Anything making you queasy or sick? I'm having really bad headaches that make me super nauseated. I have good days and bad.. just have to appreciate and take advantage of the good ones! 

Have you started to show yet? Indeed. 

Gender? We know :) Gonna wait until it's confirmed at the next appointment to tell everyone. 

Labor Signs? No way.

Belly Button in or out? Big ole' crater. 

Wedding rings on or off? On. I'm sure that Georgia heat everyone is talking about is going to make me swell so badly! 

Happy or Moody most of the time? I have my moody times.. see Monday's post. oops. But good for the most part! 

Looking forward to? Cassidy is coming to LA this weekend! We haven't had this much time together in YEARS. So ready to have some girl time with her!! 

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Weekend + Menu

Both Thursday and Friday night it was IMPERATIVE to my life that I eat Cesar salad. So happy Baby P is wanting at least semi-healthy things these days. We ordered from LaMonica's pizza and holy cow. The best pizza of my life. It's a little hole in the wall place, but that's where all the good stuff normally comes from right? 

I made through 3/4 of one episode of Orange is the New Black before falling asleep. Apparently pregnant ladies are not cut out for Netflix binges.. 

So Saturday was... interesting. I booked a hair appointment at a local cosmetology school because I HATE paying LA prices to get my hair done. AJ questioned me if it was really worth saving the money and having to sit there for four hours while the instructor checks a million times and taking the risk of them messing up.. but I was determined not to spend money. So I get there and I wait for 45 MINUTES before someone finally comes to take me back. (ALSO during this time I feel like poop with this big ole belly and I'm pacing so I won't pass out, but no one will get up and offer me a seat.) So I'm mad times two. I get to the seat and the girl wants to me to pick out a hair swatch.. uhh we are not painting walls here, I need you to match it up to my hair!! And then her instructor comes over and wants me to sign a waiver saying my hair might not match up.. I was DONE. I really wish I had a video of me stomping out of that place in my hormonal rage. #ineedachillpill 

So I left and called a salon my coworker goes to and got an appointment that afternoon because I waited my entire first trimester to color my hair and I have roots 5 inches long and I needed my hair done THAT DAY dangit. 

So the hair stylist Stella at Umberto Salon was lovely. And we had great conversation and my hair looks amazeballs, and I didn't pay THAT much. Lesson learned. (Side note: please look at all that I need to take with me these days, iPad, huge water, multiple snacks.. I need a bigger purse! hint hint Hubby :))

After the hair appointment I head over to David's Bridal where they tell me they do not carry maternity dresses in store. They are only online and they take 5 months to get here and they are nonreturnable and nonrefundable. Alrightyyy I just have a beach ball for a tummy that I'm pretty unfamiliar with and I have no clue how big I'll be in November.. but yeah. Let me just go order that now. Hormonal rage ensue yet again. 

So next stop.. the grocery store. Really, I love grocery shopping. If anyone wants to pay me to do their shopping, I would seriously consider it as a career. So I was looking forward to this.. Until I get to the breakfast aisle. I have been wanting grits all week since we ran out. And I look all over this aisle with a BAJILLION types of oatmeal and not one single box of grits. Finally I find ONE box on the bottom shelf.. a brand I've never heard of complete with a good layer of dust.. And they aren't the instant kind, so I have no clue how to cook them (as a Southern woman, I probably shouldn't say that..). SOS - for the love of sweet baby Jesus, someone send me grits.. ACTUALLY let's just get back to the south ASAP. 

Sunday morning we headed over to Culver City for some brunch. We stumbled across this super cute place that was Southern inspired. AJ got pimento and cheese steak scramble and I got a super yummy BLT. It was like God was sending me a little piece of home after my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Love when stuff like that happens and so thankful for my husband who is a SAINT for dealing with me :) 

The rest of Sunday we ran a couple errands and I napped. That night we had a GREAT meal of cubed steak, rice and gravy (AJ's first time cooking cubed steak, and it turned out so well!!) And all while watching more Orange.. We got through 4 episodes this weekend, when normally we would watch an entire season! Oh well.. more time to hang out together :) 

I ended my weekend getting the BEST call from one of my bestest friends in the world that she is engaged!! Me and Kelley met in a hallway freshman year at UGA. I will forever be thankful that day she struck up a conversation with me and I am SO stinkin happy for her!! She deserves all the happiness in the world! And look at that rock! Wowza.

Menu Monday 

We ended up not eating the sloppy joes from last week because of my salad craving, and we have a bunch of stuff in the cabinet/fridge that I need to get rid of... so kinda boring this week. But here's what we're having! 

Sunday: Cubed Steak, Rice and Gravy

Monday: Cheeseburgers

Tuesday: Chicken Cesar Salad

Wednesday: Chicken Quesadilla

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner

xoxo,

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Friday Favorites!

As always, I am linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea for Friday Favorites! 

1. THIS tinted moisturizer

So I got this stuff in my Birchbox this month and fell in love. During the summer, I hate wearing a ton of makeup and other goupy gunk on my face. This stuff takes the place of moisturizer, concealer and foundation. I have no clue how it matches my skin or covers so amazingly well, but it's the bomb.com. So I was putting it on the other day and it squirted out everywhere, I was devastated that I had lost so much amazing, expensive cream. So.. I'm in Sephora grabbing some mascara and what do you know.. they had this by the registry AND you can get it with just 100 Sephora points! So grabbed up severallll little bottles. 

2. Girl Time, the Bachelorette and my shelf belly! 

Every Tuesday night my sweet friend Devri and I get together to watch the Batchelortte sans commercials. I look forward to a little girl time, some baked goods and trashy reality TV with her every single week! This week while we were devouring her super yummy homemade brownies, we discovered I have a little shelf now! hahaha!

3. 10,000 Blog Views! 

Holy cow you guys, the blog has received over 10,000 views! I don't know who takes interest in Pryorisms, but I sure do love the love my ramblings are getting. Thanks a ton for checking in on us over here on the left coast! 

4. THESE frames and enjoying my photography

AJ's bathroom is super boring, I had no idea how I wanted to decorate it or if I even wanted to decorate it at all. I have so much photography (mostly from our travels) that I really wanted to get printed, so I have turned his bathroom into my photo gallery haha. AND my mother in law found these awesome (super nice/glass) frames for just $1.99 for TWO! 

5. Our sweet Baby!! 

Saved the best for last :) We got to see sweet Baby P today! He/she was moving all around and is measuring perfectly in all categories! Our doctor guessed the gender, but I think I'm going to keep it to myself until it is confirmed next month :) 

xoxo,

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Hump Day, Bump Day - Week 12

How far along? 12 weeks, 3 days.

Baby's size? A plum - 2 inches! 

Milestone? He/she has developed reflexes - he/she can feel my poke and will probably kick back! 

Maternity clothes? Always maternity pants.. mostly regular tops.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Pretty good! Other than the 4 potty breaks during the night..

Best moment this week? AJ being such a trooper maternity pants shopping. We went so many places and I was getting so frustrated. When I finally found the type I wanted he scoured the (very unorganized) racks until we found my size. You would think they would keep that stuff organized for us hormonal mommas...

Miss Anything? Walking up stairs and not being winded.. not being so HOT all the time..

Movement? Nope.

Food cravings? Nothing new... I am always SO thirsty and really only want water. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? Waiting too long in the morning before I eat breakfast makes me super queasy. I was so good about eating a little something in bed early on. However, when I first wake up is the only time I have energy, so I try to get some stuff done around the house. 

Have you started to show yet? Indeed. 

Gender? So stinkin ready to know!!! 

Labor Signs? No way.

Belly Button in or out? Big ole' crater. 

Wedding rings on or off? On, but I had to use soap and water this morning to get them off.. 

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy! 

Looking forward to? Our doctor's appointment on Friday!! It has been over three weeks since we last saw our little peanut and I am DYING to see how much he/she has grown! MAYBE we will find out gender.. MAYBE. 

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Weekend Wrap Up and Menu Monday

My weekend started out GREAT when I received this super cute package of chocolate covered strawberries from Beverly. I was just talking to her that morning about my strawberry cravings, and what do you know.. I get this at my office! I seriously have the best group of girlfriends. I talk almost daily with them back in Georgia. Lord, PLEASE let AJ get a job back in the south. I need these girls back in my life!! 

When I got home Friday I was going to do laundry.. but I ended up doing this for 3 hours until AJ got home with take out. Oh well.. 

Saturday we went to FIVE maternity places on the hunt for maternity work pants. Let me tell ya.. the options are SLIM. Everywhere has tons of stretchy work out pants and maxi dresses, but nothing professional. What are the working mom's of the world supposed to do!? We finally found a pair of nice dress pants, so I got them in both colors they carried. 

I had been thinking about a Coke Icee and Hershey's pie from Burger King all week. Thankfully at the third mall we went to, I got to fulfill this craving!! My mom and I use to get this little duo all the time - SO GOOD.

After some not so great days this past week, AJ suggested we go on a date night. Of course we have been out to some casual meals, but nothing special since before I was pregnant. We headed to my favorite restaurant in LA, Bazaar, at a ridiculously early hour so this mama could go to bed. It was SO nice to get dressed up and spend some quality time with my favorite guy.

After maternity clothes shopping and grocery shopping and date night, most of Sunday was spent like this.. Molly and I slept a LOT while AJ worked 495894 hours on Physics stuff. He is giving a talk to another department and presenting his orals, so he is in super perfection mode right now. So glad I can always count on this one to nap with me :) 

Meal Plan Monday - 06.08.15

Trying out some new stuff this week mixed in with some tried and true. Links to most of the recipes are above the pictures. As you'll see, I have been wanting a lot of my childhood favorites. Hope you enjoy your week and this inspires you to get in the kitchen! 

Sunday - Steak and Twice Baked Potatoes

AJ cooked me a fillet and himself a bone-in rib eye. (And don't worry, that center is very warm and cooked through!) I made twice baked potatoes to go with - this so reminds me of my childhood. Every time we would have guests over my mom would make twice baked potatoes. They are so yummy and comforting - you can find the recipe HERE.

Monday - Taco Lasagna

I saw this recipe on Pinterst (from the super cute blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything) and had to give it a try. So many of my favorite things wrapped in one - pasta, meet, cheese and sour cream!! This makes quite a lot, so AJ will get some yummy leftovers for lunch the next day or two. You can find the recipe HERE. 

Tuesday - Cheeseburgers and Cole Slaw

 I can remember my mom grilling burgers for dinner when I was a kid ALL the time. Unfortunately, we cannot have grills on our balcony, but I did get AJ a new grill pan for the stove a few weeks ago. I am excited to have this meal this week, paired with yet another craving, coleslaw. I have been wanting KFC coleslaw for weeks now, but the store bought Kroger brand will have to do.. 

(This is from our 09 beach trip.. have I mentioned how ready I am to go back to the beach!?)

Wednesday - Black Bean Cakes & Mango Salsa

This is a tried and true in the Pryor house. The black bean cakes are sorta healthy and definitely a cost saver. And they taste amazing with AJ's mango salsa and a big dollop of sour cream. If we need a little something extra, I will cook some rice to set the cakes on top. Check out AJ's salsa recipe - it's SO much better than the store bought stuff. 

AJ's Mango Salsa Recipe

1 mango diced

Juice of 3 limes

1/2 of raw red onion diced

1 tblsp of sugar

1/4 cup of chopped cilantro

Thursday - Sloppy Joe's and Fruit

Whenever I buy hamburger buns, I try to incorporate another bun meal in the menu so nothing goes to waste. I've never made sloppy joe's from scratch, but this shouldn't be too hard right? I'm using this recipe HERE that calls for ground turkey instead of ground beef. This recipe is going on Thursday (aka Farmer's Market day!!) so we will be pairing the joe's with some fresh fruit. 

xoxo,

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Friday Favorites!

As always, I am linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea for Friday Favorites! 

1. Starbucks App, Peach Green Tea Lemonade and Sweet Coworkers 

Whenever I need a little pick me up, I pop down to the Starbucks in my office building. Since I've been trying to cut way back on the caffeine being pregnant, peach green tea lemonade has been my new go to. Yesterday I went and it made.my.day. when I went to pay with the Starbucks app and I had a free drink! Makes me feel a little less guilty getting it all the time, when I get a free drink every now and then :) 

Then... I was getting to the bottom and my sweet coworker walked in with another one! Love when people know your drink order and bring you one out of the blue! 

2. Farmer's Market

There is a farmer's market by my office every Thursday. I have worked at my company for over a year and had never been up until last week. Now, I don' think a Thursday will go by without me going!! Main reason being these bad boys.. TWO flats (3 baskets in each) for $9! 

And they have so much other stuff! Veggies, cheese, a couple booths where you could get lunch.. my favorite is the flower shop. So cheap and gorgeous! 

 3. Sweet Friends and Coffee Cups

When Amanda and Jessica were here a few weeks back, I mentioned in passing how I couldn't believe I didn't have this coffee mug from Anthropologie. And what do you know.. they sent it to me in the mail this week! How incredibly thoughtful is that!? AND they sent a Baby Gap giftcard for sweet Baby P :) Such sweet, sweet friends I have!! 

4. AJ's Master of Science Degree

AJ finished up the Masters portion of his time at UCLA last quarter. In Physics, you don't HAVE to get your Masters in order to get your PhD, but while you're here... why not? SO proud of him and excited to get another piece of paper on the wall! 

And speaking of.. I have been looking into getting better frames for our degrees. Right now, they are in crappy Ikea frames. I mean.. we worked so hard to get these degrees, why not put them in proper frames? So thinking about these.. I know, I know.. the one I want is obnoxiously large, but I only have one degree, so I need more surface space! And having Sanford Stadium by the degree is pretty imperative.. 

5. Little Reminders.. 

With so much going on in the media (Duggars, Caitlyn Jenner, etc.), I just knew that I needed to write about it. I had all these talking points in my head from getting riled up over things I saw on Facebook. I had jotted down my SUPER valid points and why I was right and then I saw this little message and I was reminded.. I don't have to say anything. I actually DON'T have to express my opinion to have one. I don't have to prove I'm a better person or better Christian or prove anything. I don't have to attend every argument..

So I'll just leave it at this. Be nice. 

xoxo,

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