gap – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Baby August 19, 2014

Week 5 in Durango

Week five has come and gone, and ohmygosh, I am not ready to go back to the ‘real world’ (i.e. Texas). However, I do miss everyone like crazy, and cannot wait to hug all of my family and friends. This past week flew by in anticipation of one of my best friends, Kirby, arriving on Thursday. I managed to run every day this past week, clock between 13,000-20,000 steps every day, enjoy short hikes to the top of a nearby mountain in the mornings, continue my Illustrator 101 and Floral Arranging 101 classes, work on the blog (some fun giveaways coming up soon!), and spend lots of time with Sasha, Belle (our dog) and sweet Isla. We also hiked the 6 mi. trail of the Animas Mountain together for the first time – Sasha and I did it last Labor Day when we were visiting (see photos here).

As you can tell from the thousands of photos below, I love taking pictures of Isla’s cute face, because I know I won’t have as much time to once we are back in Houston (and because she cannot yet tell me to stop).

In case you want to keep track of our Colorado sabbatical, you can also read about Week 1, Weeks 2 and 3, and Week 4.

Isla being sassy in her Carter’s Romper (similar here) – that last face kills me – her personality is shining through

Pretty in pink (and white!)

Cheesin’ it up

Hot pink is my absolute favorite (similar bodysuit here)

Someone was none-too-pleased with us taking photos before she got to eat ‘lunch’

Bows on bows on bows (buy dress here) – and Sophie the Giraffe making an appearance (and Isla loves her hands if you can’t tell!)

I swear this isn’t a hunger cue, Isla just adores her hands (praying this is ‘self soothing’!)

Kisses from her ‘Tata’ and (the much dreaded) tummy time (similar outfit here)

Saturday mornings are for PJs and superman time with dad

Her hair is seriously out of control, but I love it

Isla’s little Gap peplum top and leggings

This was taken after five minutes in her new heaven – i.e. the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym… she’s enamored (this is a GREAT baby shower gift)

Loving the views from the top of the Animas Mountain – Isla loves the view from over my shoulder (her favorite holding position)

Vegan ice cream at Cream Bean Berry – my one true weakness!

Isla LOVES (eating) this lovie!

A sneak preview of my first homework assignment from Floral Arranging 101 (more to come tomorrow!)

Three weeks left! Have a great day. xo

Personal August 13, 2014

Week 4 in Durango

We have almost been in Durango for a month, and time is literally flying by, which is giving me anxiety. I am not ready to return to Houston, although I would give anything to hug my friends and family. In the past week, we have seen multiple deer lingering in our yard and our neighbors, taken (almost) daily walks to the local handcrafted ice cream shop – Cream Bean Berry, gone on 2-mi. morning walks with the beautiful crisp air, finished Photo 101, started Floral Arranging 101, and learning so much in Illustrator 101. We also visited Sutcliffe Vineyards, ate at Carver’s Brewery (dying over their veggie burger), and Sasha’s mom, her friend, my sister, and her boyfriend all visited. It was a busy week, but we enjoyed every second of it. One of my best friends arrives next week with her baby, Lillian, who was born 26 days after Isla. I cannot wait!

Isla’s Baby Gap romper – love that bow at the waist (similar here)

Daily walks to the Animas River with the whole family are the highlight of my day

Jill is already one strike down on the babysitting tally (re: drinking and holding)! // Dinner at Grassburger happens far too often

This is the face she makes when she is gurgling – totally purses her little lips (more of this outfit here)

Isla loves to fist pump in her Gap Star Bubble Bodysuit (now on sale!)

My hair is now in constant pony tails because she loves to grab things – like her dad’s Serbian Orthodox chain necklace

Pattern play in her Carter’s top, Baby Gap striped pants and Trumpette socks

Hanging out on one of her Mimi’s colorful quilts

Belle is in heaven

Straight CHEESIN’ – in her J. Crew tank in flower patch and Baby Gap shorts

I couldn’t love her any more

Going on a walk in my J. Crew tank (I live in these), Nordstrom fedora (similar) and Chloe sunglasses (similar) – Isla’s Baby Gap hat looks like a mushroom here!

Ready to play fetch

Practicing standing with her Tata

One happy little patriotic sailor

I want this Janie and Jack romper for myself! I love the bow on the back

Baby August 6, 2014

Isla Loves: MAM Pacifiers (Giveaway)

In the months leading up to Isla’s arrival, Sasha and I had many parenting discussions – some of the them were tough due to varying opinions, like the use of pacifiers. After reading about the various benefits (watch this informative video), I was completely pro-paci. Sasha, on the other hand, was against them. Without any research whatsoever, he deemed them as enabling a bad habit. However, come week one when Isla is crying inconsolably, Sasha immediately scrambles to Isla’s closet, looking for the pacifier drawer. I had stocked up on three brands, given advice from other first-time moms who said that some babies take to different types of teats. The MAM pacifier was the only one Isla liked, as others seemed more difficult to keep in her mouth. If you watch the video below, you can see it come slightly out of her mouth, yet she is able to keep on sucking due to the textured teat.

Quite contrary to Sasha’s declaration that pacifiers mess up teeth, the MAM Perfect Pacifier‘s innovative design incorporates an extra thin, super-soft and flexible nipple specially engineered to reduce the risk of misaligned teeth. The unique Dento-FlexTM nipple neck is 60% thinner and 3 times softer than those of comparable pacifiers; the thinner, softer nipple provides less pressure on baby’s jaw and teeth to help reduce the risk of jaw deformations and malocclusions. Extra small and lightweight, MAM Perfect is available for babies age 0-6 months and age 6 + months. Click here to watch a Perfect Pacifier YouTube video.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUEQln1ojQ]

I’m excited to be teaming up with MAM to give away two packs of pacifiers to one lucky follower! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

Reply to this post, including your name, email and who you want to win the pacifier for (a friend’s baby, your child, your grandchild, etc.)
Follow MAM on their Instagram
You will get an extra entry by becoming a follower of Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, August 8. I will announce the winner by Friday. I look forward to your responses!

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Baby May 30, 2014

Red, White and Blue at Baby Gap

I absolutely love Baby Gap. Their selection of infant clothing is so irresistibly cute, so imagine my excitement when I got a gift card to Gap as part of a recent baby present – especially given their adorable selection of red, white and blue items. My mind skips right ahead to July Fourth… what shall she wear? I am quite aware that dressing up babies is more fun before she is here and making a mess out of everything, but I’m rather in love with clothing, so hope she will (eventually) be too! I put together a few patriotic get-ups using some of the their new arrivals. I love the hats! I’ve already bought her a few. The little chambray espadrilles melt my heart.

Sasha, you’re in trouble (wink, wink).

Outfit 1: Hat // Onesie // Shorts // Shoes

Outfit 2: Hat // Cardigan // Romper // Sandals

Outfit 3: Hat // Shirt // Pants // Espadrilles

Outfit 4: Hat // Dress // Leggings // Shoes

Baby March 11, 2014

My Maternity Style

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I frantically started searching online for maternity clothes and pregnancy fashion blogs. I had no clue where to start! Shortly after I found out, J. Crew launched their line of maternity pants (still anxiously awaiting more selections!), and then found myself buying tons of blouses from Loft’s maternity line (love these so much). I officially retired my old jeans three weeks ago, and am hanging onto my J. Crew Cafe Capris for dear life (very little time left in those!). This has meant that I’ve been on the market for some fashionable work pants – which I found at J. Crew and Asos. I bought two pairs of J. Crew’s J. Crew’s non-materity draped drawstring pants, which work well for my growing waistline, as well as two pairs of their maternity Minnie Pants. I also really like J. Crew’s white matchstick denim pants, but love my Hudson maternity jeans the most! These Asos floral camo pants could not be more comfortable – match them with a black blouse and they work for going out for dinner or going to the office.

As for dresses, I’ve been looking for empire waistlines or tunics and buying 2 to 3 sizes up to be cautious. Anthropologie has a great selection – I love this tan and coral tunic with my white matchstick denim.

Without a doubt, my favorite maternity line is Hatch Collection. After looking at their stuff non-stop for the last few weeks, I finally caved and bought this dress (in Ponte) and these shorts. I want to buy everything.

J. Crew, Loft, Asos, TopShop, H&M, Old Navy, Gap, Rachel Pally, Hatch Collection – know of any other fashionable maternity lines? Always looking for some new options, although I only have 12 weeks left! Here’s to hoping they fly by.

Some of my favorite recent purchases featured below – links at the bottom!

1) Loft, 2) Anthropologie, 3) Loft, 4) Loft, 5) Loft, 6) Anthropologie, 7) Anthropologie, 8) Anthropologie, 9) J. Crew, 10) J. Crew, 11) Hatch Collection, 12) Asos, 13) J. Crew, 14) Hudson

Top and featured image via Hatch Collection