Currently, at this point in my pregnancy, I am about six months along, which is always an interesting place to be style-wise. It just happens to coincide with the most challenging time of year as far as clothing choices go. Up here in Northern New England, we are transitioning to spring. If you know anything about New England weather, you know that it is notoriously unpredictable, especially in springtime. One day it will be raining with a high of 45 degrees, the next day it will be sunny and 65. All of which makes for style related challenges. Add to that the fact that I am pregnant and that most of my maternity clothes are designed for warm weather (my last three babies were all born in August or September) and I end up standing in my closet, scratching my head every morning, wondering what I am going to put on for the day.
Ugh.
At any rate, leggings and dresses or long tunics have been a staple of this particular pregnancy, as have maxi dresses. Today’s outfit is an example of this. I’m not sure how stylish I’m looking these days, but at least I am still trying.
I love chambray and I feel like it is a wardrobe stable. You can’t go wrong when choosing a good chambray dress or button down shirt. My navy flats are my favorite shoes and the ones I wear the most, especially now that wearing heels is too uncomfortable for my lower back. Tieks are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned, and if I had my way, I would own dozens of them!
Do you have any advice for this weary mama who can’t seem to find anything to wear that plays well with this crazy New England spring weather? Feel free to leave a comment below!
(Note: this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission when you click on them. Rest assured, I only share links to products I use and love.)
Well, hello there! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m a little embarrassed by how long it has been since I shared a post here. *Blushing*
I thought it was high time to give you a little life update and explain my lengthy absence from this blog. Although I absolutely love blogging, I found it necessary to take a break from it for a time because other things in my life had to take priority. While this made me sad, it was unavoidable.
I am glad to be back here once again and sharing some of the exciting things happening in my life right now. To bring you up to speed, I published my second book last fall. You can check it out right here, if you would like to see what it’s about. I have had so much fun fulfilling my dream of becoming an author. I have two more novels in the works right now, and both are scheduled to be released this year! I am super excited to launch these books—I had so much fun writing them, and I am sure you will have fun reading them! They are Book 3 and Book 4 in my Cottage City Chronicles Series. They continue the story of the Holbrook and Hanson families begun in Books 1 and 2. I’ll keep you posted as the launch dates draw nearer.
Okay, so while news of my upcoming books is HUGE, I have something that I think is even BIGGER to share with you. This news will give me plenty of things to talk about on the blog for next several months (maybe even longer!)
Drum roll please…
I am expecting a new baby!
This baby will bring the grand total of offspring in our house to 9! Yes, you read that right. I will very soon be the mother of 9 children!
I feel so overwhelmed with blessings right now. God has been so good to me. My heart is filled with thanksgiving to Him for all He has done in my life.
So….
The blog will take a slightly different turn over the next few months. I will continue to share outfit posts (pregnancy addition!), though maybe not with the same frequency. We’ll see how enormous and unattractive I feel and go from there. M’kay?
I also feel compelled to get a little more personal here than I have in the past. When I first started this blog, I did it as a creative outlet and a way to ease myself into writing on a more regular basis. I chose topics that were surface topics—nothing too deep or challenging. Honestly, I was afraid to go any deeper. The last two years have taught me a lot about myself and writing and publishing books has challenged me to face some deep seated fears that ran down to the core of who I was. In facing those fears and overcoming them, I learned that I am stronger than I thought I was. I have also learned that the reality of something you fear is never quite as scary as you imagine it to be.
Oddly enough, starting this blog and writing my books has shown me things about myself I never knew. I have seen myself in a new light and am learning and being challenged to grow into a better version of myself. It has been life-changing, to say the least. It hasn’t been all roses, that’s for sure, but it has been GOOD. I am so, so glad I took that first step and faced those fears.
In closing, here’s what you can expect from me in the future:
More info about my upcoming novels
Information on the nonfiction book I am working on as well—if you are a mom with boys, this one’s for you!
Pregnancy and postpartum outfit posts—I can’t promise these will be regular, but I will do what I can
Monthly favorites
Book reviews and recommendations
Thoughts on motherhood, writing, large family life, and other stuff
If there are any topics you would like to see me cover, please leave a comment below!
If that sounds good to you, feel free to sign up for my email list. I won’t flood your inbox—I promise. I will only email you to let you know when I share a new blog post or when I have some really crazy exciting news to tell you (like when I have the baby!).
You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to keep up with what’s going on in my life. My absolute favorite place online to be right now is Instagram, so that’s where you will find me at my most interesting. 🙂
Thanks for making it to the end of this long and rambling blog post. Talk to you again very soon!
I know it’s been a while since I updated the blog here, but I promise, it’s for a really good reason. I’ll tell you all about it in just a minute. . .
But before I do, I want to tell you about a fun opportunity I know you’ll be glad to hear about. My recently released book, Adelaide’s Song, is a part of an amazing giveaway!!
It’s called the Beach Reads Mega Event and the prizes are amazing! The giveaway features over 70 ebooks in a bunch of different genres. Two winners will receive all 70+ books (including Adelaide’s Song)!! Plus, 100 readers will win the Summer Snoops Boxed Set!
There are some fun summer reads among the books in this giveaway. Go check it out!
Now, on to my other news:
I haven’t been blogging lately because I have been working feverishly on a new book.
Just this week, I finished writing the first draft of my second novel, Hannah’s Journey! This book is the sequel to Adelaide’s Song, and it should be ready for release in late summer or early fall!!
I can’t even tell you how excited I am today! This day marks the fulfillment of a lifelong dream! I am officially a published author!
My first historical novel, Adelaide’s Song, is now available for purchase on Amazon. This book was a labor of love and a learning experience. It was also a true joy to write.
I had to face some fears and I learned a lot about myself through the process of writing this book, but as a result of it, I’ve caught the bug. There will be more books after this one!
Adelaide’s Song is a historical novel set in Cottage City on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in 1875. Here is a description:
He is the proud son of a wealthy industrialist. She is the devout daughter of a respected minister. When their paths cross and sparks fly, will they be able to find common ground?
William Hanson is not a happy man. Forced to spend the summer at a religious retreat, he is anything but pleased with the direction his life has taken. He is a man of strong ideals, but expressing his views has gotten him into trouble one time too many.
Adelaide Holbrook is content with her simple life. She is known for her beautiful singing, her generous spirit, and her position as the daughter of a well-respected minister in the community. She has been looking forward to spending the summer at Cottage City on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard. The village of pristine little seaside cottages and sparkling blue waters is the perfect setting for something special to happen. Still, when she meets William, she is not expecting the strong emotions he evokes in her.
He’s a man at a crossroads, forced to make a choice. She’s a woman newly awakened to the possibilities of love. Will the two find a way to bridge the gap between them?
Don’t miss this captivating inspirational historical romance set in the Victorian era!
Here’s what people are saying about Adelaide’s Song:
“This was a fabulous story – the setting draws you in to where you almost feel like you are walking alongside each character. Miller wove the story of the families and the couple together beautifully.”—Amazon reviewer
“If you are a fan of classic books like Anne of Green Gables, or Little Women, I’m sure you will enjoy this book! The story line draws you in, and compels you to keep reading to see what comes next. Very well-written text, full of descriptions that help you to paint the pictures in your mind as you read.”—Amazon reviewer
“‘Adelaide’s Song’ is a beautiful love story within a well-researched historical setting. Kimberly Miller’s first novel displays an ability for rich descriptions that transport the reader back in time as well as realistic dialogue that help make the story come to life. Looking forward to the sequel!”—Sandi Zimmerman Rebert, Author of Seventy Times Seven
If you’re interested in getting a copy of the book, the kindle book is available at the special launch price of only $0.99. This price is for a limited time, though, so don’t wait!
I don’t know about you, but I am extremely happy to see spring finally arrive in earnest. It was a bit touch and go for a while in many places around the U.S. Being up here in the northeast region of the country, we’re accustomed to regular fluctuations in weather conditions. But the weathercraziness was overboard this year!
At any rate, springtime has at last officially arrived, and I am very glad to see it!
Having been on an extended break from blogging, there were a lot of topics I considered covering as I ease back into blogging more regularly.
One of the things I wanted to share was the release date of my upcoming book, Adelaide’s Song. The book will be available for purchase on Amazon on MAY 6TH! Watch for a reminder post when it becomes available.
Though I certainly intend to keep you all informed about the publication of my upcoming book, I don’t want to bore you with all the nitty gritty details of it. (However, if you are interested in learning more about why I wrote the book or what my writing process consists of, feel free to let me know in the comments below or drop me a line at kimberly@mudbootsandpearls.com. If there is enough interest, I may share a little more about the book.) If you have no idea whatsoever what I am talking about, see this post.
My wardrobe has been a bit bland lately due to the disillusionment I was feeling over The Winter That Wouldn’t End, so I don’t have an outfit post to share with you this week, either.
I thought, instead, I would share of few of my favorite items this springtime. These are items that have brought me enjoyment or made my life easier, better, or just more beautiful. So, here we go…
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I have long adored Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrubs. Lately, I’ve been using and loving the Coconut Lime scent. These scrubs have a nice amount of exfoliation without being annoyingly gritty. They are rich in nourishing oils as well, but they don’t leave any greasy residue. And the smell! Showering with this stuff is a lovely way to start a day.
I wanted a pair of Tieks ballet flats for YEARS before I finally splurged and bought myself a pair. They are pricey—but when you actually put a pair on your feet, you completely understand why. These shoes are handmade from Italian leather. And they are by far the most comfortable flats I have ever worn. They’re perfect for traveling, too. I wore these on a trip to France last fall, and they were comfortable all day, even after walking for miles each day, sightseeing. I’m happy the snow and mud have finally left so I can wear them more often again.
I love a good cup of tea. One of my favorites lately is the Peppermint Chocolate from Republic of Tea. I love the teas they offer, and this particular flavor is simply delicious. Especially yummy with a bit of sugar or honey and a splash of cream.
My husband and I took our older children and my mother to see the new movie I Can Only Imagine. The message of forgiveness is very powerful. I highly recommend seeing this movie, even if you are not a fan of CCM. It is a beautiful story of trust and reconciliation and finding strength in the Lord to do what is right. Warning—bring tissues!
Well written and filled with great characters, Sword of Peace is as entertaining a history lesson as you will ever get. The book is rich with historical details. It’s obvious that the author researched meticulously for this book. The characters are interesting and there is action to be found on almost every page. There’s even a little bit of romance sprinkled throughout the story. As someone deeply interested in history, I know a fair amount about the Reformation era, however I knew very little about the Annabaptists’ part in the Reformation until I read this book.
What are you loving lately? I’d love to know—please share in the comments!
Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links. Be assured that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!
I'm Kimberly, and I'm a country girl who loves pretty things, mama to 8 (yes--8!) amazing kiddos, and blessed wife to one amazing guy. Here I share inspiration for beauty and elegance in everyday living.
Follow me on Instagram
Instagram requires authorization to view a user profile. Use autorized account in widget settings
