Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 8/9/14

First of all, I have to stop and say Happy Blog Birthday to me!  Apparently I published my first post FOUR years ago today (I’d link to it but after a couple of site moves it’s disappeared…).  I started the blog when I was a little lost with direction and needed something outside of work for myself.  I still remember the conversations I had with my husband that summer about really not knowing what I wanted to do in life and I very distinctly remember my sister convincing me that I just had to start a blog.  Four years later and so much has happened.  While I certainly don’t have it all figured out, especially since I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing post-baby, I’m a lot more content with myself and who I am now.  Having this place on the internet to share something I love has been such a wonderful opportunity.  I may not be running a bakery anymore, but that doesn’t mean that my dreams and aspirations have come to a close.  Thank you so much for following along through all of it and supporting me every step of the way!

Holy cow, I realized earlier this week that we are busy almost every weekend up until my due date.  Weddings, birthdays, High Holidays… Honestly, I almost started to panic when I figured that out, but considering I don’t exactly have a “real” job right now, I really have no right to freak out or complain.  I’m lucky that if there are miscellaneous things I want to get done pre-baby, I can do it during the week.  I’ve been working so hard in the kitchen to get my blog ready for a little maternity leave of sorts, but in a couple of weeks I should be done with most of that.  And in reality, I’m actually happy that I’m so busy.  Some of these third trimester days are very long and the structure and to-do lists help to keep me sane and pass the time.  Plus, most of the calendar is booked with fun things.  I did just block out one day to make sure we get some apple picking in before I pop, though.  Priorities:-)

Speaking of the third trimester, I’ll give you an official update in a few weeks, but I feel like things changed quickly since this second trimester recap.  First of all, I already feel SO much bigger than I was when I wrote that post (and according to my doctor’s appointment on Thursday, the baby is in fact measuring a bit big!).  I met a lovely lady who thought it was appropriate to tell me that I am bigger than she was right before she had her baby.  How sweet of her.  Second, along with feeling big, I’m just feeling pregnant in a very different way.  Workouts are getting more difficult (I actually had to skip one the other day because I got dizzy and nauseous), my bladder is practically non-existent, and I’m finding my belly gets in the way (reaching for something in a high cabinet is hilarious).  Oh and can I tell you how much fall fashion makes me miss regular people clothes?  I’m sure it will be some time before my body is in a place where it makes sense to go on a shopping spree, but I hope that I’ll at least feel good going through my closet of clothes that do fancy things like button at the waist.  I don’t mean to sound like a huge complainer because generally I really do still feel good.  I just feel pregnant whereas before, I could have forgotten from time to time.  To those of you who have been there before, can you relate?  Did your third trimester fly or did it feel forever?

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

S’mores Baked Alaska for Two from Chocolate Moosey

Strawberry Pop-Tart Pie from Willow Bird Baking

Chocolate Meringue Cake with Fresh Berries from  Artful Desperado

Blueberry Power Pancakes from The Pomegranate Bandit

Chocolate Chia Ice Cream from Top With Cinnamon

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!