Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - My First Picks!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is HERE you guys, and although I may be 19 weeks pregnant and easing my way into maternity clothes- you can bet I’ll still be stocking up on some comfy basics (and shoes!)

My main excitement is to share some top picks with YOU ALL, because this sale is seriously the best!

For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a huge sale on all things BRAND NEW for fall.  No end of season clear-out stuff here, but all of the new items that are just hitting shelves for fall & winter!  You can get in on them now at a discount before they come back for fall- at full price!

You can shop through the links below, the scrolling images at the end, or this huge roundup page (my favorite):  HERE!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks 

(I'll be updating the linked shop page as I find more great steals!)

Instant Pot Beef Chili | PALEO, Whole30

One of our favorite easy, go-to meals when we just have the basics in the fridge & pantry?  Chili.  It's seriously been a favorite of ours for years!

When I lived on my own in grad school, I loved huge-batch meals that I could prep once and eat all week long.  Now that I live with a hungry husband who eats a lot more than I do, "huge" meals don't stretch quite as far as they used to.

But with a dish like this, I can easily make it last for days by switching up how it's served!  Think chili dog bowls, or scooping your chili over a baked potato.  

Collagen FAQ + Bulletproof Coconut Iced Coffee

Supplements are pretty straight forward, but when it comes to collagen- I get TONS of questions!  Maybe because it's a newer product to the market, and it's gotten so popular so fast.  

Collagen seems to be popping up everywhere!  From protein powders to coffee creamers to water flavor packets- collagen is officially "a thing"!

I love it for many reasons, and thought I would break down those reasons today while answering the top questions I get about collagen.  I'll also be sharing a favorite way to get my collagen in during the summertime, with a bulletproof iced coffee recipe!

Italian Zucchini Pasta Salad with Chicken | PALEO, Whole30

Side dishes, lunches, and easy meals to prep ahead:  these are three of the biggest requests I've gotten lately, and they are three things I am always searching for new ideas for myself!

Oh, and one other thing:  recipes that won't heat up the house with a stovetop or oven cranked on when it's summertime.  Another big request.

So what if you could find all of that in one dish!?  That's THIS:  my new Whole30, Paleo twist on a classic pasta salad with the easiest Italian dressing.

First Trimester Pregnancy Recap & Must Haves

I am so happy & relieved to be past the first trimester of my first pregnancy!  It was a physical, mental, and emotional rollercoaster- but I made it to the other side, and our baby is healthy.  That's all I can ask for!  We have our anatomy scan in July & will find out the gender- I cannot wait!

Now seemed like the best time to take a pause and reflect on the first trimester.  I'm 16 weeks as of today (and as of these pictures!), but this post will be all about weeks 1-12.  I used your questions to format this post- so I hope you find it helpful or at least interesting!  I'm so happy to have you all along for this journey with us.

You all know I'm far from an expert on this topic, but I'm learning as I go and happy to share what I've done & what I've experienced so far!  Pregnancy is so personal to every individual woman, and no two pregnancies are the same.  Keep that in mind, and take my two cents for just that- my opinion.