Sassy Southern Blonde - A Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kelsie Bynum

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 + My Wishlist

July 9, 2021

WHAT IS THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE?

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is back starting next week! This is one of the best sales of the year and a favorite of mine to promote. I’m apologizing in advance for all the #NSALE talk, but I promise to only share my top picks in each category! It’s definitely worth working into your budget because most of the merchandise is new for Fall!

PS: This is the perfect time to stock up, but I also encourage you NOT to spend beyond your means. Although it’s my job to share the best deals and finds in the sale, I never want y’all to feel like I’m pressuring you to buy anything! 🙂

WHEN DOES THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE START?

HOW DO I RECEIVE EARLY ACCESS TO THE SALE?

Receiving Early Access is the key to shopping the #NSALE, but I hate that having a Nordstrom card is required! If you don’t want to add another credit card to the mix, I totally understand. You can apply to become a cardholder HERE and it is 100% free to have with no annual fee, though! I’m pretty positive you don’t have to use it at checkout either.

DO YOU MAKE MONEY PROMOTING THIS SALE?

I know it sounds crazy, but covering the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale can be stressful and overwhelming! Lol. I just want to make sure I am doing my absolute best to help y’all find great deals! With that being said, the ONLY way I profit from this is IF you use my links. It takes a lot of time and effort to create blog posts, try on hauls, collages, etc. and I’m so appreciative when you shop through my links! I only make a small amount (usually a few dollars) per sale, but it adds up!

HOW CAN I GIVE YOU CREDIT?

I’ll be posting everything here on my blog and on my profile in the LIKEtoKNOW.it app! Follow me there because I will be sharing a lot of exclusive content. Search my username “kelsiebynum” or go directly to the app through THIS link. If you don’t want to download it, you can shop my #NSALE posts under the “Shop My Instagram” tab on my blog!

MY BIGGEST TIPS:

I want to be your one stop shop for all things #NSALE, so please keep checking back for updates and more blog posts! I will ALWAYS share new posts on Instagram. Just watch my Stories and LIKEtoKNOW.it profile
You can preview the entire sale HERE, and I suggest making a wishlist of your favorites!
Also, go through your closet and decide which items you want to update! Need a new pair of tan boots? Or some basic tees? Add them to your Nordstrom wishlist and go from there! Have a strategy when you SHOP girl!
Let me help YOU! I am going to be rounding up my favorite items and categorizing them on my LIKEtoKNOW.it profile so you can shop from there too. I’m finding the best of the best, and you don’t want to miss out! 🙂

XOXO

Kels

BAKER’S BIRTH STORY

June 29, 2021

I have been so excited to sit down and write Baker’s birth story, especially while it’s still fresh on my mind! Looking back at previous blog posts, I think I really downplayed just how terrified I was to give birth to a baby. I would give myself major anxiety imagining everything that could possibly go wrong! The truth is that every single person has a different birth experience, so you absolutely cannot compare yourself to others. Anytime my mind went to this place, I prayed so hard for peace and strength! Regardless of what happened, I knew it would be worth it to finally meet my precious boy and I was right! 🙂

I went to my last appointment on Tuesday the 15th! My doctor decided she wanted me to check in at the hospital around midnight the following day to start the induction. It felt so surreal to know that I’d be meeting this little human after 9 long months (even though time really flew by)! At this point, I was only 1cm dilated, but my doctor felt really good about inducing me since my body had already started the process naturally. So I called Bo when I left and told him we’d be having a baby within 48 hours!

We finished packing our bags, and we headed to the hospital at 10pm Wednesday night! I’d be lying if I said the moment wasn’t a little bittersweet because life as we knew it was changing forever. It was no longer going to be just Bo and I, and that did make me a little sad! But on the other hand, our lives were about to change for the better!

After check in, they put us in the delivery room to get settled and start my IV! After a bad experience with an IV in my hand years ago, they put it in my arm. At first, I thought it wasn’t too bad until my vein rolled, and they had to stick me in my other arm! Needless to say, tears were shed. Keep in mind that I do have a pain tolerance of ZERO if you haven’t heard me mention this on Stories multiple times! Hahaha. I just knew things would only go downhill from here, but I was actually wrong! Thank goodness.

The nurses gave me a pill for my cervix before we went to sleep, and they monitored me throughout the night! Since they were in and out of my room all night checking our heart rates, Bo and I didn’t sleep too great. My doctor came in at 7:30am to break my water! I wanted to get my epidural before they did it, but they thought it was best for me to feel a few contractions to make sure my body was progressing properly. Breaking my water hurt SO bad! I mean I could do it again, but it wasn’t fun. Lol! And within 15 minutes, the contractions started!

If I thought breaking my water was painful, the contractions were another level! I requested my epidural immediately, but there was a wait since several others were delivering that day too. The hour I waited for my epidural was truly THE worst part of the day! I cried the entire time because breathing through it and relaxing wasn’t happening. The anesthesiologist showed up around 9am, and I would have taken anything to help the pain at this point! First, he gave me a smaller shot to numb the area which felt like a serious bee sting. Both that and the actual epidural needle did hurt, but IT WAS 1000% WORTH IT.

Once the epidural kicked in, it was literally smooth sailing! I couldn’t believe how pleasant labor was. Bo and I seriously napped the entire day while I was dilating! Hahah. I went from 2cm at 10am to 5cm at 12:30pm! By 2pm, I hit 7cm. When the nurse came to check me at 4:20, I was fully dilated! She told me she could see his hair. SO crazy! Lol. This made sense because I began feeling pressure down there, and I was worried the epidural started wearing off! Luckily, they bumped up my IV medicine, and I was ready to push at 4:25!

Even while I was pushing, I never felt any pain! There was pressure, but it didn’t compare to that hour of contractions I experienced earlier in the day. Lol! I only pushed for 25 or so minutes, and Baker popped out at 4:49. It still feels like a haze because it happened so fast! It was such a beautiful moment, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience overall. I was also SO worried about tearing, but since I didn’t push long, it was pretty minimal!

Once they weighed and measured Baker (he was 6 pounds 15 ounces and 20.5 inches long), we did skin to skin for an hour post birth. I couldn’t get over how big and pretty his eyes were! He was super observant, checking out everything around him. This is pretty funny, but after Baker’s initial grand entrance and hearing that everything with him checked out, we immediately asked if his cone shaped head would correct itself! Hahaha. I forgot this happens to babies when they squeeze through the birth canal! I’m happy to report that his head has rounded out quiet nicely!

In all seriousness, nothing could have adequately prepared me for meeting my angel boy and seeing Bo hold him for the first time! It’s an indescribable moment that I will cherish forever. I already loved Bo so dang much, but somehow my love for him still doubled! My two boys. My entire heart! 🙂

XOXO

Kels

THIRD TRIMESTER BUMPDATE

June 10, 2021

Y’all. The end is near, and I can’t believe (even after 9 months) that this baby will probably be here next Thursday! It’s so surreal, and I don’t think I’ll fully process it until I’m holding him in my arms. I really can’t wait to see who he looks like! We waited too late for the 4D sonogram photos, so we have zero clue. Lol! Baby B has been receiving great reports at my weekly doctor appointments, and he’s moving around like crazy! I’m sure he’s running low on room and ready to make his grand entrance! 🙂

What has been the hardest part of the third trimester?

The end of this pregnancy has definitely been the hardest and most exhausting! If I overextend myself, my lower back hurts SO bad. It feels like it could give out at any moment! Luckily, that has only happened 2 or 3 times. I know my limits at this point, and I’m enjoying doing the bare minimum! Haha.

Have you dilated at all or had any contractions yet?

The doctor checked me on Tuesday, and I was 1cm dilated! I don’t think I’ve had any contractions yet. I told my doctor I wasn’t sure, and she said then I probably hadn’t since they tend to be very uncomfortable! Lol. The bottom of my stomach has felt tight, though. Especially after I’ve been sitting down!

What are you doing to prepare for labor?

I have actually been trying a few things to prepare my body, and I will let y’all know if I think it helped post birth! I have been taking Pink Stork Labor Prep Supplements and drinking their Labor Prep Tea. They sent me some products to try at the beginning of my pregnancy, and then I ordered these from Amazon! The reviews convinced me to try, especially the Labor Prep Tea! I usually drink a cup each night before bed.

Without going into too much detail, I’ve also been doing perineal massages with coconut oil. I’m kind of cringing that I’m admitting this but anything to help prevent tearing! If you don’t know what that is, Google at your own risk! Hahah.

What are you doing to prevent swelling and stretch marks?

When I first noticed my feet and legs swelling, I did get a little worried, but my doctor said all my vitals looked great! It’s very normal and common at this point in pregnancy. I’m just glad I wasn’t swollen the entire 9 months! There’s really nothing I’m doing to prevent it besides propping my feet up because it’s inevitable until I give birth.

As far as stretch marks go, I have been religiously applying Bio-Oil to my stomach since I was like 18 weeks pregnant! However, I’ve always heard that stretch marks are hereditary, so I think that plays a factor too. My mom never had them with me or my brother!

Are you nervous to give birth?

Oh. I am TERRIFIED to give birth. And that’s still an understatement! Sometimes, I even make myself feel slightly ill thinking about it. As much as I would like to be fully sedated and just wake up to the baby, I’m going to try my hardest to deliver normally! (Unless my doctor advises me differently) Even though I’m so scared, I know at the end of the day that God made women to have children and that he’ll be by my side the entire time! I have been praying real hard for peace! 🙂

Favorite pregnancy self tanner?

My favorite self tanner that I’ve continuously been using is THIS brand! Obviously I’m no medical expert, so check with your doctor!

Why are you being induced?

Since I had thyroid issues at the beginning of my pregnancy, my doctor wants to induce me at 39 weeks! I think it has to do with the baby’s size as well. He has been measuring a week early, and I’m pretty small. The longer I wait, the harder he’ll be to birth because he’ll only continue to grow!

What’s in your hospital bag?

I already have you covered! 🙂 My hospital bag packing list is linked HERE for y’all!

Have you done anything to prepare for baby like birthing classes?

The hospital I’m delivering at offers free child birth classes, so I virtually tuned in to the April sessions! I think they were pretty helpful and made me feel slightly more prepared. I’ve also been reading Moms On Call and plan to follow that once we adjust to having a newborn! People have told me that you can read all the books and do all the things, but it will never prepare you 100%! Motherly instincts will kick in, though. At least I hope so! Lol.

What are you most excited about after you have baby?

This is a great question! I’m probably most excited to have a glass of wine or fruity cocktail, wear jeans and shorts again, and have normal sized ankles at the end of the day with minimal back pain! Hahaha. Oh and I can’t wait to start taking my CBD drops again!

How are you planning to do your maternity leave?

Since I’m a one woman show at the moment, I’m not exactly sure how “maternity leave” will look or if it will even be classified as that! Haha. Don’t get me wrong, I plan on taking it easy the first few days/weeks because I’m aware life as I know it will be drastically changing, but I want to continue posting and sharing. Even though this is my full-time job, I also just freaking love my platform, and I find joy in working every day!

Any symptoms in the third trimester that have been different from the others?

For me, the third trimester has been the hardest! I was even more tired these last few weeks than the first trimester. My lower back has also been aching at night if I don’t sit down and rest during the day! The baby is usually super active around bedtime, and my stomach will feel really tight. I’m pretty sure those are Braxton Hicks contractions because they don’t hurt just uncomfortable!

PS: I’ll link my First Trimester Recap and Second Trimester Bumpdate in case you missed those blog posts! 🙂

XOXO

Kels

Maternity Photos for Baby B :)

June 9, 2021

MATERNITY DRESS | NECKLACE

I wasn’t planning to turn this into a blog post, but I needed a permanent spot for my maternity photos because I’m SO happy with them! We had originally scheduled them for May, but one of my baby showers was moved to the same day. Then, we switched the date to last Friday, and it was storming all weekend! Luckily, the rain stopped long enough to get them taken Monday afternoon. I set my expectations pretty low with the humidity and rain drizzle, but Grace and Gold Photography did an incredible job! I highly recommend them if you’re in the South Mississippi area! 🙂

And I hope if any of you are pregnant, these pictures can give you some inspiration! If you’re on the fence about taking maternity photos, I say do it! You’ll never get this moment back, and you’ll regret not having quality photos for the memories. I can’t wait to get some of these framed for our house! Also, I linked my maternity dress I wore below + more styles from the same brand. Each dress comes in a ton of colors if you didn’t want to do white! I’m wearing the XS.

Since I’m 99% sure I’m having a baby next Thursday, I’ll try to finish my third trimester bumpdate by tomorrow! If you aren’t subscribed to my blog, head over to the sidebar, and it will be sent directly to your inbox as soon as it’s published! Yay!