January 21, 2016

BOOKS

January 21, 2016/ Laura Liira

Another update on my 20 GOALS FOR MY LAST YEAR AS A 20-SOMETHING ! I set a goal of reading 30 books over my 29th year. Well so far I've read 11...which means I need to get some reading done if I'm going to accomplish my goal before I turn 30 and well, let's face it...before baby boy comes!!!

Today is the last day of our church-wide 21 Day Fast. I fasted from scrolling through social media, and I found that because I wasn't spending so much time on instagram, I had a lot more time for reading! It's been great but I do miss me some insta.

So what have I been reading? All sorts of books and I love it! I need a good combo of fiction and non-fiction, serious and funny or I get bored real fast.

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick Matthew Quick has the gift of producing hilarious yet real and wounded characters. Loved The Good Luck of Right Now and haven't read Silver Linings Playbook but I loved the movie. One thing though, I did find that this booked dragged on at the end...but I did enjoy it. Would recommend.
Looking For Alaska by John Green Author of The Fault in Our Stars & Paper Towns. I thought this book was meh....wouldn't really recommend it but it's a quick read.
Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson I read this guy on our cruise and it was the perfect beach read. It wasn't life changing but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend.
Live Love Lead by Brian Houston This was a great practical yet easy to read book on leadership and Christian living! I love Hillsong and so respect Brian Houston. I would recommend this book!
Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo Crazy story about a little boy's journey to Heaven and back. It's not the greatest writing but it was easy to read. I would recommend this book but don't expect amazing writing.
Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella Okay, don't judge me but I went on a bit of a Shopaholic series binge!! These are hilarious novels and I would recommend if you want something easy to read!!
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
Room by Emma Donoghue Oh my goodness I loved this book. It was an extremely intense story but because it's told through the eyes of a five year old, I feel like you can handle it better. This one gripped my heart and was my favourite read of 2015. I highly recommend it.
Lost & Found by Brooke Davis I tried to get into this book but couldn't really. I did find myself laughing out loud in certain places but the whole story was just too crazy for me. I would not recommend it.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd A gripping story that goes between slave owner and slave. It was long and slow in some parts but I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it.

Okay, there you have it. 11/30! I'm already starting my next (Unstoppable by Christine Caine) and need to pick up one that I have on hold at the library.

Have you read any "must reads" lately? Would love your recommendations!!!

XO,
laura

January 19, 2016

IT'S A......

January 19, 2016/ Laura Liira

James and I are thrilled to announce that we are having a baby boy!!!
We can't wait to meet our little wild thing ♥︎.

Oh sweet baby boy, you have such a destiny before you.

We got lucky at the ultrasound by having a student doing it. First of all, it was extra long because she was a student and he was moving around like crazy!!! And secondly, she accidentally said "he" three times...lols...and James and I both saw his little man parts!!! I wanted to be 100% before announcing, so I called my doctor's office and the receptionist said they had the results but my doctor hadn't seen them yet, so she couldn't tell me. She did say, she thought I was right..ha! Twenty minutes later my doctor's assistant called and told me the receptionist cornered her to look it over and not keep me waiting, ha! So yes, she confirmed that WE ARE HAVING A BOY!!!!!

To be honest, I think I knew since the very beginning. I still can't wait to tell you our conception story but part of it (ok the main part), was God told me I was pregnant five days before I tested. And in those five days, I couldn't stop calling my baby, "little guy".

I'm so excited to be having a little man although part of me is extremely scared because I am girly to a t BUT I know God is opening up such a special part of my heart to be a mama to a sweet, baby boy. He has so much to teach me and I'm so thrilled.

Now off to plan a boy's nursery and start registering for all the grey and blue (no green please..lol) !!!!!!!!!!

XO!!!
-laura

January 18, 2016

PREGNANCY POST // 5 MONTH BUMP UPDATE

January 18, 2016/ Laura Liira

How far along are you?

I'm in my 19th week...in a few days I'll be HALFWAY!! Baby's arrival seems ages away, and I'm totally okay with that, ha.

How big is baby?

Right now baby is the size of a mango (15cm) and in a few days it goes up to the size of a banana (about 25cm)....looks like baby is going to have a big growth spurt!

Feeling:

Pretty great! The tiredness of my first trimester is gone but I find that a good night's rest goes a long way for me. On Friday, I was up watching James play at Sugar until 12:30!! Let's just say, Saturday was a rough day. Sleeping is starting to get uncomfortable. Either I'm waking up 4x a night to go pee or I keep adjusting because my growing tummy is getting uncomfortable....I can't imagine what I'll be in month 9!!

Food love:

Well my appetite has definitely come back! I'm hungry all the time. I'm loving chips and anything sweet but honestly, I'll eat most things....trying to keep it healthy though!

Food hate:

My aversions have subsided! There's not really anything that turns me off right now...ptL!

Exercise:

I'm still managing to get out for walks, the gym and a run here and there. My pace is much slower but I feel sooo good after exercising so I'm determined to keep doing it.

Clothing:

I bought two pairs of maternity jeans (these ones from topshop and these ones from h&m) over the holidays and they have been total lifesavers!! Honestly, I have way less aches and pains because of them and actually feel good in my clothing. My bump has started to show (instead of the lovely bloat) so I'm starting to wear more fitted clothing!

What I'm looking forward to:

Our ultrasound TOMORROW! We're finding out the gender and I can't wait to let you know...My guess is a boy! What do you think???

eeeeee!

Talk to you soon!

xo,
laura

January 16, 2016

REMEMBERING WHEN YOUR EMOTIONS KEEP FORGETTING

January 16, 2016/ Laura Liira

Oh pregnancy hormones. They are a real thing. Maybe not for everyone, maybe some people are completely calm and the same as before...but that's not me. Sure, there are some days I feel like myself but then there are other days/moments when I'm not feeling like that at all....and don't get me wrong, BTB (before the bump) Laura wasn't always chill. I definitely had many moments of madness but man, this preggers thing seems to bring a lot more moments of madness than moments of calmness.

Today was one of those days where I was highly emotional...(I think a factor may be staying up way past my bedtime to see James play at Sugar last night lol) I was cranky. I was stressed. I was worried. I didn't want to stay in this mood so I laced up my runners and put on my way too tight running jacket and headed to a place I've gone when I needed to clear my mind and hear from God.

I think there is beauty in going to a place that has remembrance. I frequented this oceanside running trail often when James and I lived in our old apartment. In good times, and in really hard times I would run and God would be so kind and gentle with me. Today was the same.

As I ran (at a much slower pace than BTB lols), I was reminded of God's faithfulness. As I looked out to the sea, I remembered how He has met me too many times to count. He's brought us through so much and He won't stop now and even though I'm finding my emotions all over the place, I know that He is greater than my feelings. I will remember this truth when my emotions keep forgetting it. He is good and He is faithful.

xo,
laura

January 11, 2016

CARIBBEAN TRIP PART ONE

January 11, 2016/ Laura Liira

So remember that time James and I went on a vacation in late October and then it took me months to share because #babyliira sucked all my energy and work was crazy? ha. The day has come and I'm finally showing you more pictures from our vacation!

We started out our fall vaycay by visiting Austin, Texas (read the post here!) where we spent some quality time with Joy & Ryan (and oh my gosh their baby Seby made his grand appearance and he is such a dreamboat!) and then we had the whole ordeal where stupid Texas storms caused our flight to Florida to be delayed causing us to miss our cruise!

But PTL for trip cancellation insurance (I highly recommend only booking trips on credit cards that have this magical life saver!) We ended up staying a night in Miami, then caught a flight the next day to Turks & Caicos followed by a flight in a teeny plane to Grand Turk!

I definitely want to go back to Turks & Caicos. I don't think I'd go to Grand Turk again because it was so teeny but I definitely would go to one of the bigger islands...that water is to die for.

We stayed at this cute little hotel called The Osprey and then caught up with our cruise the next day.

When we finally arrived at the hotel (which felt absolutely marvellous after travelling for so long) James immediately jumped in the ocean. A storm was brewing so I was a little less hesitant but he finally coaxed me in. We then watched the sunset from the beach then moved to our balcony. For dinner, we grabbed some Caribbean BBQ at that cute poolside restaurant and then the next morning we hightailed it to our cruise boat!!!

Now that was the best thing...strolling to the cruise and finally getting our room where we would sleep for the next five nights..ahhhhhhh. We first hit up the breakfast buffet then headed out to swim in that crystal blue ocean!

The beach was crazy busy with the guests from two massive cruise boats but we didn't even care at all. I was not going to let that boat out of my sight.