So, I bought this dress approximately four seconds before I got pregnant.  I ordered it from an Australian website which takes a while to ship things to the United States, and by the time it arrived, I was four weeks pregnant, had already gained a few pounds (yup, seriously — I gained two pounds before I’d even taken a pregnancy test) and it. did. not. fit. 

I was bummed.  I couldn’t return the dress because shipping something back to Australia is mind-numbingly expensive — like, two or three times the cost of the dress in the first place.  So, I kept it.  I stuck it in the back of my closet, tried not to feel bitter, and figured I’d pull it in a year or so when I could fit into it again.

And, eleven or so months later… I did! 

Despite my long, long wait to finally wear this dress, I was super excited to finally pull it out.  Even a year later, it’s obviously what I fell in love with when I bought it — the bold splashes of color, the flattering cut (very flattering, LOL!), and the simple, sexy shape.  Just what this new mama needed!

And Rambo liked it too.  I couldn’t resist including this shot!

One of my favorite things to do, party-throwing-wise, is to have a night in with my girlfriends.  I love going out, and I love spending nights with my husband, but sometimes you just need an evening with just the girls — whether it’s to catch up on everyone’s life, to vent about problems or challenges, or just to relax and enjoy a fun night together. 

I like to keep things simple when I throw a girls’ night — a light recipe, a bottle of wine and some non-alcoholic options to drink, and a fun distraction or two.  We have a projector that can be set up outside, so I always put on a total classic — Clueless or Girls Just Want To Have Fun — in the background!  Or, I love to break out the XBox for the night, and get everyone in to almost-Karaoke by playing Rock Band! 

And it’s almost too easy to set a pretty table — mix and match your favorite china and crystal, stock up on a few bouquets of fresh flowers, and whip up a healthy recipe that’s full of fresh, local ingredients, like Panzanella!  Your friends will love it, and it’s incredibly easy to make!

Panzanella

INGREDIENTS

2 pints cherry tomatoes, mixed red and yellow, cut in half
4 cups crusty bread (sourdough or french), cut into chunks the same size as the tomatoes
25 stems of fresh basil, torn into little pieces
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Fleur de sel
Fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

Toast the bread for about 3 minutes, until just crispy on the outside.  Mix everything together and let marinate, covered, at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.  Serve.

So those are some of my favorites!  What’s on your Girls Night agenda?

{things i’m loving this week: the sweetest seersucker monogrammed diaper cover for baby Bear…}

{… and comfy striped socks for lazy weekend mornings.}