Ailee Petrovic

Fashion December 15, 2016

$500 Nordstrom Giveaway

I have been on a present buying frenzy this week (hello, ten days until Christmas countdown!), and I am feeling relieved to have checked off most names from my list. If you’re in the same boat as me and wait until the last minute, this $500 Nordstrom gift card giveaway is right up your alley. Who wouldn’t want all of that money to use to buy presents (ahem, who says you can’t buy them for yourself?). I’ve partnered up with 11 other Houston bloggers to bring you this easy giveaway. There are a lot of different ways to enter, just use the widget below!

Good luck! You have until midnight on the 19th to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Personal December 12, 2016

Week in Review

We’re officially less than two weeks from Christmas, and I’m so excited. Albeit, I haven’t wrapped a single gift yet, but I did get my holiday cards out last week, so I’ll consider that a win. I ordered cards from Artifact Uprising and envelopes from Minted, then added a little surprise ‘from Isla’ in each envelope – praying they arrived in a decently good condition, but you never know what to expect with the postal service!

Last week was my busiest photo week of the year, with ten different sets of photos in seven days. I am going to be spending this whole week catching up on edits, as I only have three sets this week (family session, newborn photos and blogger pics).

Despite running around like a crazy person, there were many, many highlights last week that included:

Getting the house painted, including Emi’s nursery! We did one accent wall a blush pink color with white stripes (which Sasha thinks are too wide – when did he start having such strong opinions all of a sudden?). I cannot wait for the room to be done!
Photographing Destiny, Elly, and Meredith (twice!) – lots of fun holiday looks that I’m excited for each to share!
Being treated to lunch by Destiny’s sweet Mama! I just love her!!
Taking newborn photos for the cutest little baby girl, Connolly. Her nursery is to die for!
Photographing two sets of family photos at the Arboretum and Memorial Park – the weather was super overcast for both, but loving how they turned out regardless!
Photographing two birthday parties – one for Meg’s son, Berdon, who was turning 4, and another for a little babe named Audrey, who was celebrating her first birthday!
Taking pregnancy announcement photos – I cannot share details or photos yet, but I will as soon as the couple does! I’m so excited for them!!!!
Going to Bayou City Fellowship and sitting next to our sweet friends, Philip and Sydney. I love worship music around this time of the year too!
Having my older sister and cousin over late on Friday evening and getting to catch up with both of them!
House hunting with my sister-in-law on Friday! Trying to convince them to move to our new neighborhood (although we won’t be there for a year!!).
Going to my 32 week appointment and having a growth ultrasound – baby girl is measuring 4 pounds, 3 ounces, which is in the 45 percentile for weight! So excited that she’s growing and healthy!

Hope you had a great week too! Happy, happy Monday! xo

Fashion December 11, 2016

PinkBlush Gift Card Giveaway

I recently read Rosie Pope’s Golden Guide to Looking Chic While Pregnant on Brit + Co, and her number one rule is: Buy Maternity Clothing. Her rationale? “A commonly held misconception about maternity clothing is that you can buy a size up for regular clothing and it’ll be fine — but the problem is when you’re pregnant, your belly extends, but the rest of you likely doesn’t change as much… Wearing a size too large for you can result in you just looking frumpy.” Well, I typically have broken that rule and have been ordering a size up in way too many sweaters, shirts, dresses, etc. over the past two pregnancies. I struggled to find maternity clothes that I loved, but when I’ve found good pieces, I have noticed that they are way more figure flattering than oversized sweaters (my go-to, yikes!).

When I first discovered PinkBlush’s website, I was overwhelmed because I liked too many of the items – total analysis paralysis (but that’s a good problem to have when it comes to clothing!). Given that the items are very reasonably priced (most maternity dresses are in the $40-$60 range), your desire to buy four dresses won’t be quite as harmful to your wallet.

I wanted to order a few go-to maternity dresses for church and baby showers/parties, and I decided on this floral chiffon dress (ordered in a Medium, but it was really spacious around the belly, so I had it altered – I’ve heard from others to size to what you wore pre-pregnancy, which is what I should have done!). Given that I have some seriously unattractive pregnancy veins in my right leg, I’ve been wearing these Preggers maternity tights on repeat, so I paired the dress with a white pair and these gray booties (on sale for only $87!).

A few of my favorite maternity dresses are this Burgundy Lace Dress, this Black Glam Mini Dress, this Cream Basic Chiffon Dress, and this Bell Sleeve Chiffon Dress. Their non-maternity pieces are gorgeous too! I’m ordering this Floral Dressing Robe for post-delivery at the hospital.

GIVEAWAY

I’m partnering with PinkBlush to give one lucky reader a $75 gift card.* All you have to do is follow me (@snapshotsandmythoughts) and PinkBlush (@shoppinkblush) on Instagram and leave a comment on this photo here!

*Participant cannot have won a PinkBlush giveaway within the last three months.

Gift Guide December 9, 2016

2016 Gift Guide for the Outdoorsman

I absolutely loved Amanda’s gift guide for the ‘fashion forward male,’ and asked her to do two others – suggestions for the ‘Outdoorsman’ and for all pet lovers. Her present recommendations are spot on, and I’m going to be buying my outdoorsy dad one or two of these for Christmas (so thanks, Amanda!). Keep on reading for her guide!

Gift Guide December 7, 2016

2016 Gift Guide for Stocking Stuffers (Under $25!)

My sweet ~~mom~~ Santa still fills everyone’s stockings, but as of two years ago, my older sister started doing hers and I am going to contribute this year too! I love the idea of cute, but inexpensive stocking stuffers that are actually things people would use, not just toss away. Here are nine of my favorite finds under $25!

Fun matches, like these from Anthropologie ($8), this amazing disco ball ornament from CB2 ($1.95), this Swedish sea salt soap from West Elm ($5.50), or this Voluspa mini candle from Anthropologie ($8) would make anyone’s Christmas morning. I also adore this pink unicorn ornament, this glass tree and this candle holder– all $9.95 from CB2 (great deals!).