Hi, I'm Pregnant.

Jumpsuit: c/o Nest Boutique

Top: c/o Nest Boutique

Booties: c/o Luca + Grae

Necklace: Made by Mary

Well, hello there.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

What's new you ask?

Not much really...

jk.

I'm growing a baby.

:)

surprise!

Actually, A LOT has changed since I posted last (in October, my goodness Ariel jeeeeez)!

Besides me being pregnant,

I got a (new) job,

and we bought a house.

So yeahhhhh. Pretty much all the big life changes that can happen to someone happened to us within the last 5 months and it's been such a whirlwind--but a good one! I seriously haven't been this excited about life and things to come in a long time and it's such an amazing feeling. We have been feeling so blessed lately with all these positive life changes, especially the arrival of our little one! I'll plan on doing an actual life update where I go into more detail about all our changes, but for now I'll just leave you with some fun facts about my current state of preggo-ness:

-- I'm due July 11th, which makes me 24 weeks this week. This pregnancy is flyyyying.

-- We are having a GIRL! Bows and dresses galore!!!

-- I lucked out and didn't experience any morning sickness in my first trimester. I am very very very very appreciative of that.

-- I have TWO sister-in-laws that are due within a couple months of me! I'm so excited for our kid to have cousins so close in age!

-- I crave anything and everything. Basically, I crave food.

-- I've been loving High Fitness as my form of exercise every week! If you haven't tried it out, you need to. I'm obsessed!

-- My favorite thing to dress my bump up in are jumpsuits! I love how it shows off little baby hami. One of my favorites is the one I'm wearing in today's post from Nest Boutique! Make sure you check them out!

-- We already have a name picked out! Only our closest friends and family know so if you're not in that category you'll just have to be patient and wait till July! :)

I'll try my best to be better about posting bumpdates! I miss having an outlet to save all my memories and thoughts so I'll be sure to post more often in the weeks and months coming. Let's cross our fingers I won't flake out for another 5 months again.... haha.

Alrighty fam.

Cheeeeers.

What's In My Bag + VIDEO!

Hey there friendship.

Today I’m sharing the contents of my everyday bag: things I need to survive the day and what I can’t leave the house without… most of the time. Thumbs up if you prefer backpacks over handbags! :)

What is something you can't leave the house without (besides your phone, wallet, and keys)? Let me know in the comments below! Subscribe to stay updated with my weekly Wednesday videos! xx LAAAHHHHV YOUUS.



I post videos every Wednesday so make sure you SUBSCRIBE to stay updated!

Check out my other videos:

SNAPCHAT ETIQUETTE 101
DIY SUMMER DECOR
WHAT'S ON MY IPHONE 6
10 WAYS TO OVERCOME CREATIVE BLOCK
MEXICO HAUL
MEXICO LOOKBOOK
HOW GIRLS PACK A SUITCASE

Cheers.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME!

Hey guys!

I need a HUUUUUGE favor from you folks...

I recently entered the Next Big YouTuber contest for CVX Live and I need your votes to move on to the next round! This first round is solely based on fan voting so I need all the help and votes I can get. If I do well in this contest, my channel will get great exposure and I would be able to create better and more content for you folks!

I love what I do and hope to keep doing it in the future! So please, please vote away.

TO VOTE: CLICK HERE.

You will be taken to the CVX Live Facebook page and my video (Life Hacks for Dog Owners) will pop up automatically. Click on the VOTE button in the top left corner and voila, you're done. *I do believe you need to be logged into your Facebook account in order to vote so please do that first!

You can vote ONCE A DAY until March 11th so please take advantage of that and cast your vote daily (if you can). Honestly, even just one vote right now, only for today would be amazing because every vote counts when it comes to things like this!

I appreciate all the support I've gotten from you folks so far on this journey! I've loved blogging these past couple years and now that I'm starting this new venture on YouTube, I'm able to be more creative and make different kinds of content for you folks to enjoy.

Please spread the word and tell your friends, family, co-workers, mailman, and dog to vote!

I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!!!

Cheers.

My New Hair + ALBION FIT GIVEAWAY!

Leggings: c/o Albion Fit

Top: Madison & Sixth [similar]

Chambray Shirt: Madison & Sixth [similar]

Hat: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Converse

Hello party people.

I have new hair.

It's purpleish reddish awesome-times-twentyish.

And I lalalalahhhhv it.

If you live in the Utah County area and you're in need of an amazing hair wizard, check out Miss Tara Brooke! She will make all your hair dreams come true.

As most of you know I'm all about style and I'm all about athleisure. Albion Fit is all about both as well! The thing I love most about Albion Fit is that their fitness wear is made for both working out and going out. Sometimes I just want to throw on a pair of leggings that don't scream "Look at me I just got back from the gym!" These Antigua Extend Leggings are perfect for achieving that sporty chic look and it gives an outfit such a fun pop of color and design!

Sooooooo... do you wanna win a pair of Albion Fit Leggings?

You do??

Well today is your LUCKY DAY!

Right now I'm hosting a giveaway on my Instagram where TWO PEOPLE can win their own pair of Albion Fit Leggings!

All you need to do is CLICK HERE and follow the instructions on how to enter! The giveaway ends on Tuesday March 8 at 11:59PM MST and the winner will be announced on Wednesday March 9. Enter now before it's too late! This is definitely a giveaway you don't want to miss out on.

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Cheers.

Expectations vs. Reality: Having a Dog

Hey there friendship.

In today’s video I share some expectations and realities of having a dog! Furry friends are awesome, but let’s be real. A lot of the time they don’t quite live up to our fantasies… That doesn’t mean we love them any less though, right??? I seriously adore my little Samson (if I haven’t made that obvious enough in all of my videos, haha).

HUGE props to Samson for actually cooperating in most of this video—anyone looking for a dog actor? ;) — and thanks to my friend Bri for dropping by during her lunch break to get harassed by Samson.

If you liked this video, make sure you check out my Life Hacks for Dog Owners video as well!



I post videos every Wednesday so make sure you SUBSCRIBE to stay updated!

Check out my other videos:

QUICK + EASY LAZY GIRL HAIRSTYLES
SURPRISE PROPOSAL!
AMERICANS TRY JAPANESE CANDY
JAPAN HAUL
WINTER/HOLIDAY LOOKBOOK
LOOSE WAVES HAIR TUTORIAL
LIFE HACKS FOR DOG OWNERS

Cheers.

Bright + Bold

Top: Uniqlo

Skirt: c/o Tobi

Hat: Forever 21

Shoes: Forever 21 [similar]

Belt: Thrifted [similar]

I'm pretty sure I've already rambled about this subject several times on my blog, but the struggle is real when it comes to adding color to my wardrobe. Especially bright, bold colors and especially during the winter (when it's so easy to hideaway in neutral everything). But whenever I do wear something very colorful and vibrant, I'm always surprised by how much I actually like it! Like this skirt from Tobi for instance--I got it because I really needed more midi skirts but I was a little skeptical about the color because it's not something I would usually wear. But lo and behold, when I tried it on I instantly fell in love with how lively it made my outfit look! It just made me feel bold and fun which is something I've desperately been needing during this drab, drab winter. I'm not gonna lie, this is probably one of my favorite outfits I've worn on my blog so far!

Check out more skirts and bottoms from Tobi for this winter (and upcoming spring)! They've got a great collection of sophisticated, yet fun pieces that will liven up any wardrobe despite what season it is! I need more clothes from them, ASAP.

This is a super random piece of information but today I'm getting some shots for a trip I'm going on really soon and I'm sorta kinna freaking out because I hate hate HAAAAATE shots. It's weird because I don't have a fear of needles (I've gotten my ears pierced voluntarily a good amount of times) just a fear of SHOTS. Always have, always will. And it's super dumb because EVERY TIME I go through the same thing where I freak out and get crazy anxiety right before I get a shot and then as soon as it's over I'm like, wow that wasn't bad at all... I'm such a mess haha.

Anyway, just thought I would share my weird phobia of shots with you all.

This will be me before the shot:

And me after the shot:

Love you all.

Cheers.

What's in my Purse?

I've been meaning to do a post like this for a while now so I'm excited I'm finally getting around to actually doing it! I'm always curious about what each person carries around in their purse or bag because I feel like everyone is so different (yet similar) when it comes to our essentials! Today I'm sharing with you my purse/bag essentials that I always carry around with me no matter where I go because you can never be too prepared, right?

1) A cute pair of sunnies. You never know when that sun is gonna peak out from behind the clouds!

2) My phone, duh. No explanation needed.

3) Mints or gum. So important to have on hand especially when you go out to eat! I'm always stocked because I like food with lots of garlic in it. hahahaha.

4) Floss. An underrated lifesaver. I am prone to getting food stuck in my teeth.

5) Travel-size perfume. For a mid-day refresher.

6) My wallet, another duh.

7) Flash drive. This one is a little random and odd, I know. But as a blogger/videographer/YouTuber it's never a bad idea to have something you can carry files and data on!

8) Hair elastics and bobby pins. I cannot eat (enjoyably) with my hair down--random fact about me--so I always have an elastic on me as well as some pins for flyaways! Also, does anyone know anything about the black hole that these babies disappear to?

9) Pen and Sharpie. Always, always, always carry a pen with you. Having a sharpie in my purse has saved my butt so many times at the post office.

10) Blotting Paper. A less messier and faster option than carrying powder around.

11) Lip balm, specifically my Vaseline Lip Therapy Tin. Because CHAPPED LIPS.

Now let's chat a little bit more about these adorable Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins because they are a lifesaver and a half.

Vaseline just launched their Lip Therapy Tins that are clinically proven to help heal dry lips and provide long-lasting moisture. I've already been using straight Vaseline as my lip balm whenever I'm at home because it works the best for me, so you can imagine my excitement when they came out with these on-the-go tins! The new packaging is actually inspired by the brand's original packaging from the 1880s so it has an iconic and covetable vibe to it. I just love how chic it is and how perfectly it fits in the palm of your hand!

The new Lip Therapy Tins come in four different variants: The Original Tin--made with 100% pure Vaseline jelly, The Aloe Tin--made with aloe, The Rosy Lips Tin--contains a rose/vanilla/red berry scent and provides a light tint, and The Cocoa Butter Tin--made with cocoa butter and cocoa/vanilla scent. The Lip Therapy formula is non-sticky, non-greasy and spreads on smoothly to soothe those cracked lips. It gives you lips a nice, natural, glossy shine that is non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic, and non-irritating! You can't get a better formula than that!

How cute is my personalized little tin??? They don't sell these personalized ones in the stores unfortunately but the packaging for all the tins are already so so sooo adorable.

To celebrate the launch of the Lip Therapy Tins, Vaseline sent me this little cake version of the Original Tin! How creative is that? The cake was made by Made in Heaven Cakes and let me tell you, it tasted pretty dang heavenly. :)

Keep your lips moisturized and refreshed this cold and dry winter with Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins! You can pick up your own tins (maybe one of each?) from your local Target, Target.com, and Vaseline.us! I promise you will not be disappointed and your lips will most definitely thank you.

And ps. what are some of YOUR purse essentials?
I love hearing what different people can't leave the house without!

Have an amazing Thursday!

Cheers.

Thanks to Vaseline for sponsoring today's post!

All opinions and my love for this lip product are my own. #VaselineLipTin @VaselineBrand

A SURPRISE PROPOSAL!

Hey there Wednesday!

Hey friends! Today's video is a little different than the usual... This past weekend my brother-in-law proposed to his beautiful girlfriend and I got to capture the whole thing on film! She had NO idea it was going to happen (she thought I was filming something for my blog/channel, teehee) and her reaction was priceless! I'm really excited to share this video and their special moment with you all. Congrats Phil and Sheradyn!

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay updated on my weekly Wednesday videos!

PPS. If you haven't watched my Hawaii and Japan VLOGS, check them out HERE and HERE!



I post videos every Wednesday so make sure you SUBSCRIBE to stay updated!


Check out my other videos:

AMERICANS TRY JAPANESE CANDY
JAPAN HAUL
WINTER/HOLIDAY LOOKBOOK
LOOSE WAVES HAIR TUTORIAL
LIFE HACKS FOR DOG OWNERS

Cheers.

Overcoming my fear of TAXES...

TAXES. bleahhhhkasljfkjewkorew. That's seriously the sound that comes out of my mouth whenever I hear that word. My eyes glaze over and my mind goes elsewhere whenever my husband brings up the subject. I've even become a pro at avoiding personally doing my taxes until the healthy age of 24. Connor has taken care of that joyful duty the past three years of our marriage and yes, I was one of those people who had their mom do their taxes in college. And I'm not ashamed of it.

Welp. This year I finally decided to suck it up, face my fear, and DO MY OWN TAXES. Yes, Ariel is a big girl now. But with new responsibilities calls the need for extra help, which is where TurboTax steps in! TurboTax has been a HUGE stress reliever this tax season and has helped tax newbies (like me) breeze through the process and even file them early this year--freeing up my time for things that really matter! ;)

I know tax season is the most stressful and least favorite time of the year, but TurboTax is changing all of that with new tools that make it easier than ever to tackle your taxes quickly with confidence. TurboTax is the smarter way to get your #TaxesDone. They combinine technology advancements with sleek, intuitive design to deliver worry-free tax filing, so you can be confident your taxes are done right and you’re getting your maximum tax refund. I feel like doing them right and making sure you get as much as you can back are the two things that stress me out the most when it comes to taxes so I was so relieved with TurboTax assured me those guarantees!

Here are my favorite key features TurboTax has that made the process easier for me:

1) W2 Snap

You know how some banks let you deposit your checks with the snap of a photo? Well TurboTax does a similar thing with your W-2 form! You can snap a picture of your W-2 with your phone or tablet and the information is securely entered into the right forms without hard work and worry. They also securely import W-2s and 1099 forms from more than 1.4 million banks, employers and financial institutions – eliminating the need for data entry.

2. ExplainWhy

ExplainWhy is made for people like me who literally ask "WHY?" about everything. It gives you personalized, bite-sized explanations of the “why” behind your deductions, credits, and tax refund, so you can be confident that you are getting every dollar you deserve. ExplainWhy provides easy-to-understand explanations in certain tax topics where you'd want a clearer understanding of what did or did not impact your tax refund, like changes in filing status, personal info, dependents, EITC, Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care, W-2, and the Affordable Care Act. Taxes can be so confusing so it's nice to have something that makes you easily understand what’s going on with your tax refund.

3. SmartLook

SmartLook is a new feature that connects customers with live TurboTax experts (like a real human being, not a robot) using one-way video technology. Through SmartLook, TurboTax experts answer questions in real time for free so you can complete your return with confidence and ease. You can connect with someone with just a click and don't worry, the video is one-way--as in you can see the agent but they can't see you, aka you don't have to change out of your PJs. It's always helpful to get a second pair of eyes on your return so you never feel alone and lost!

There really is no reason why you shouldn't file your taxes with TurboTax this year! Through mid-March 2016, the 60 million Americans who prepare and file straightforward federal and state tax returns (1040A or 1040EZ) can take advantage of absolutely free federal and state tax filing. $0 fed. $0 state. $0 to file. TurboTax doesn’t charge for things like Earned Income Tax Credit or complying with the healthcare law. They also offer other totally free tax preparation and e-filing options, including: Military One Source and IRS Free File. And with the ever-changing world of technology, TurboTax also offers their services via their mobile app for those of you who are on-the-go all the time! You can start your taxes on your phone, tablet, or computer, take a break and then pick up right where you left off on any other device without skipping a beat!

I used to be terrified of taxes--just thinking about the subject would bring on a headache. Now, I'm not saying I'm totally in love with tax season, but I know I can survive it without sprouting a grey hair. And I'm not gonna lie--it makes me feel pretty empowered (and grown up, ahhhhh). I'm all about life-hacking and making daily tasks easier and shorter so TurboTax is seriously right up my alley. Anything that frees up my time to do better and FUNNER things, I'm all about!

Now that I'm not pacing around stressing out about filing my taxes this year, I'm free to spend my time cuddling up with my fur baby and a nice cup of cocoa to watch all sorts of trashy reality TV. Because that's how my productive time should be spent... ;)

Have a great Thursday, friends!

Cheers.


Thanks to TurboTax for sponsoring today's post!
All opinions and my love for this company are my own. #TaxesDone @TurboTax

brb.

Hey there, friends!

As most of you know, I'm currently exploring Japan with my BFF, Connor.

I want to make the most of my experience here so instead of worrying about managing my blog while I'm abroad, I'll be taking a little break from posting.

I'll be back with new blog posts, including outfits and photos from my Hawaii and Japan trips, on January 19 so be sure to check back then. :)

In the meantime, feel free to watch:

my Hawaii Vlogs HERE
my ongoing Japan Vlogs HERE
and of course, stalk me on Instagram HERE.

Love you all and hope you're enjoying 2016 so far!

See you soon!

Cheers.

Love, The Hamiltons + Santa Paws.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This year we were honored to have Santa Paws join us for our Christmas photos.

He warmed all of our hearts with his Christmas joy and cheer.

:)

Also, big thanks to Cecilia Harvard for doing such a phenomenal job taking our photos this year!

If you live in Utah, you should definitely hit her up to take your pics! She's uber talented and the sweetest girl ever.

Have a lovely Christmas my friends!

Cheers.