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Sweater (similar) // Tee // Leggings // Boots // Necklace

It’s crazy I never had the urge to visit Seattle until I was flown out out for a job interview. I wasn’t too serious at the time about accepting a job and was more excited about exploring a new city. We stayed the weekend after I interviewed and immediately fell in love with Seattle. Something told us we needed to leave North Carolina. We listened to our hearts and moved cross country almost three years ago.

Seattle gets a bad reputation for the weather. The winters are grey and wet but as I have said before, the summer and scenery make up for it all! You don’t even have to leave the city to hike or be by the water. I love the active outdoor lifestyle that is the really the culture here. The icing on the cake is all the day trips and beautiful places that are only a short car ride away.

Rattlesnake Lake is one of the nearby gems. When my parents were in town last month, we ventured and made a half day trip. We drove about 45 minutes east in the cold and rainy weather. The weather was not the best so we opted for a quick venture to Rattlesnake Lake. Afterwards, we went into nearby North Bend for lunch at the North Bend Bar and Grill for a delicious brunch. All these photos are from Rattlesnake Lake and there is no hiking needed to access this gorgeous scenery. If you drive a little past the Rattlesnake Ridge trailhead, you can park and walk a short distance down to the lake. If you are feeling active and the weather is nicer, I would recommend the hike. It was the first hike we completed in Seattle. If you don’t like crowds, I would advise going really early. This trail has become so popular being so close to the city.

The sun is shining today getting me excited for the warmer weather ahead!

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blogging, fashion

PinkBlush & Finally a Name for Baby #2

theblondegiraffe

February 21, 2017

14 Comments

PinkBlush Dress // Heels (similar here and here) // Earrings (similar) // Necklace

It’s crazy to think we are approaching the two month countdown for baby #2. My due date is April 25th but I’m betting I will deliver a few days late again. This means I’ll be in labor on my birthday making for one special birthday. With two months left, the bump is really starting to grow. Fitting into my clothes is getting harder, and finding cute maternity clothing is never easy. Wish I would have known about PinkBlush when I was pregnant with Logan. They seriously have the cutest maternity dresses!! I will be getting lots of wear out of this floral dress till baby boy decides to make his arrival.

When we found out we were pregnant with baby #2, I had a girl name picked out. Soon after, we found out it was a boy.. It took us a few weeks to decide on a first name and way longer to agree to the middle name. We have started to tell some of our friends and family so I am going to announce here. It’s going to be Mason Hawke Johnson! There isn’t much back story on the first name except we really like it. We wanted to use a family name but after exhausting our choices, we circled back to Mason. I’m sure you are wondering about the middle name. Ryan is part Native American and I really wanted to incorporate that into the middle name. We researched Laguna Pueblo names and neither of us liked anything. Ryan’s clan name was Roadrunner but I was definitely not feeling this name. Ryan texted me one day and suggested Hawk. I quickly replied back “stopppp…are you crazy?” Somehow the name grew on me and by the next day I knew it was going to be the name. We can’t wait to welcome our little Mason Hawke into this world!!

If you haven’t entered yet, you have until Wednesday night for a chance to win a $75 Gift Card from PinkBlush. Enter on my Instagram account here. Good luck!!

Hopefully, some more exciting news to share with the blog world soon!!! I am trying to remain patient!!

Disclaimer: PinkBlush offered complimentary product for review but all opinions are my own.

fashion, life, seattle

Rainy Weekends & Floral Feels

theblondegiraffe

February 21, 2017

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Floral Top (comes in multiple prints and solids!) // Denim (non-maternity here) // handbag // ring // booties

Happy Monday! I got the week off to a fit start by taking a Barre3 class and a trip to the grocery store. It always feels great after that first workout to get motivated for the week. Our weekend was pretty uneventful. Ryan spent most of it working. Arizona was in town playing Washington in basketball so I invited the girls over while the boys went to the game. Logan was one of the girls for this night and he didn’t mind a bit.

I feel like I have been a little all over the place lately. That is life though. I think we all go through life feeling like this some days and maybe even a lot of days. Life is all about giving something up to gain something else. As I try to focus on what I want, I keep reminding myself of this. We will have some changes coming soon and I am so excited to share! What’s meant to be will always find a way is a quote that seems to be hitting home right now. Hopefully, only a few more days and I can share.

Hope you all have a great start to the week! It’s another rainy Monday and floral tops get me excited about the amazing Seattle weather that is only a few months away. Seattle summers make you quickly forgot about the miserable winters. Well — at least until next year. I am obsessed with this top and its Spring vibes. It’s not maternity but I can wear it now and will be a great loose fitting top to wear post baby.

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blogging, fashion

The Perfect Fit Denim

theblondegiraffe

February 17, 2017

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Top // Nora Skinny Denim // Brooks Heritage shoes (in all black here, available in mens here)

Happy Friday loves! I am starting my Friday off teaching a Pilates mat class. On the way home, I’ll be making a quick stop by Wholefoods for ingredients to try out a new recipe for tonight. I’ll be sure to share if it’s a good one! Hopefully, Logan will take a good afternoon nap so this mama can be productive.

Let’s talk denim really quick. We all know finding that perfect pair of denim can be quite the struggle and extremely frustrating. Fitcode is a local start-up company founded to help make denim shopping easier. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Denim Fit Lab preview by Jag Jeans x Fitcode. Here is how it works. You take a short quiz to get a personalized fitcode that helps you pick the perfect fitting jeans for your body type. You can then browse personalized denim recommendations through their website with your fitcode. The end product is a perfect fitting pair of denim! My options were a little limited with a growing bump. Jag Jeans carries a fab pair of pull on denim that still fits over my bump! I am showing the Nora Skinny I came home with above. Be sure to use promo code “FITLABBlondeGiraffe” if you find that perfect pair of JAG denim. It’s valid through 3/31/17.

If you’re a Seattle local looking for that perfect fit denim, you need to check out the Denim Fit Lab! It is this Saturday, February 18 in the My Style Suite at Westfield Southcenter. All the details you need are here.

All Photography above except last two photos: Tawnie Eakman Photography

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I thought a lot today about how tired I am trying to keep up with Logan. He keeps me busy and on my toes. Sharing some iPhone photos I shot of him over the last week during our adventures. He seriously changes so much each day. Time please slow down.

blogging, food, life

Destroyed Sweatshirts & Crockpot BBQ Chicken

theblondegiraffe

February 16, 2017

2 Comments

Sweatshirt // Earrings // Booties (similar) // Denim (non-maternity here) // handbag

It was a nasty weather day in Seattle. I’m talking non-stop raining that takes all the motivation out of me. The sound of rain coming down when my alarm went off this morning at 5:45am certainly did not help either. I ended up snoozing until I heard Logan at 6:45am. There is always tomorrow! After breakfast and a little Today’s show, we were out the door for a barre3 class. Childcare at a gym or fitness studio is seriously the greatest! After barre, we did a quick grocery store run for what I still needed to make crockpot BBQ chicken.

Athleisure has always been my go-to look and this destroyed sweater fits perfectly in my closet. I paired it with denim and some booties. As the bump keeps getting bigger, you will see me wearing it more with leggings.

Hope you enjoy this easy Crockpot BBQ chicken with Homemade BBQ sauce! I served it with baked potatoes and sautéed kale tonight.

Crockpot Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce

by Sarah Johnson

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 4 hours

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 lb chicken
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (use less if you want less spicy)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
pepper to taste

Instructions

Add chicken to crockpot.

Mix and whisk all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Set aside about 1/2 cup to use for chicken once cooked. Pour remaining mixture over chicken in crockpot making sure to coat all sides of the chicken.

Cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken shreds easily.

Shred chicken and let cook on low for another 20-30 mins.

Pour remaining sauce over chicken to taste and ENJOY!

blogging, fashion, life, seattle

Valentine’s Day

theblondegiraffe

February 13, 2017

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Dress // Earrings // Ring // Booties

I don’t think I could tell you the last time Ryan and I exchanged gifts or went out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. When Ryan was in law school and we were living in Arizona, we decided not to buy each other gifts for Christmas, birthdays or any other hallmark holiday. We were broke and didn’t want to feel pushed further with the stress of buying the other a gift. Fast forward to today, we still don’t exchange gifts. I really like it this way and it takes the stress out of finding a gift. We are able to focus on enjoying time together. Even though we aren’t headed out for dinner, I still wanted to share a Valentine’s inspired dress. How cute is this one under $50?! It isn’t maternity and I’m excited I can wear this beyond the bump. Hope everyone enjoys their Valentine’s Day with their loved ones no matter how they choose to celebrate or not celebrate!

Tonight, I am off to take another Soul Cycle class with Molly for a Galentine’s Day class. I normally start my week at a morning barre class but it’s been nice to have a slow start to our week. The sciatica pain from pregnancy is still there for me but I have found some good stretches that are helping. Look for a post coming soon sharing what I have been doing.

I’m so excited about spilling the beans on some news soon. Life has a funny way of really working it’s way out sometimes.

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blogging, life, seattle

Feather Sweatshirt and a Snow Day

theblondegiraffe

February 7, 2017

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feather sweatshirt // AG denim (non-maternity here) // clutch // booties (similar) // earrings

Our weekend was pretty uneventful. I was at home with Logan most of the weekend attempting to keep him entertained. Seriously, the best purchase we have made recently for burning off his energy is this slide. The joy on his face climbing up and sliding down is my favorite. The weather was rainy and cold so he probably spent 80% of his weekend entertained with the slide. Sunday, we had some people over for Super Bowl. I made chicken wings and we had a taco bar.

I am all about being comfortable in my clothes and athleisure is always my go to. When I saw this feather detail sweatshirt, I had to buy it. I love that it is sweatshirt material but has the open one shoulder and feather detailing to dress it up. You will be seeing me in this top a lot this Spring before and after baby!

We woke up to a winter wonderland yesterday and it was such a nice surprise. Ryan was actually able to stay home and participate in our snow day adventures. Logan had so much fun outside and didn’t want to come in. We decided that since he only wanted to wear one glove and the exposed hand was bright red, it was probably a good time to come in. Logan really enjoyed eating all the snow balls. By late afternoon, all the snow was completely gone.

puffer coat (similar) // sweater (similar) // polartec leggings // boots

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All feather sweatshirt photos by: Jenna Lynn Photog

baby, blogging, life, pregnancy, seattle

Hello Third Trimester

theblondegiraffe

January 31, 2017

2 Comments

sweater // denim (non-maternity)// crossbody bag // booties // necklace // ring // earrings

Hello third trimester! I still can’t believe we are less than three months away from meeting the new addition to our family. I picked up this sweater the other day at Nordstrom. It’s non-maternity so I’ll be able to wear it post baby too on the cool Seattle summer evenings. I would rather have worn nothing underneath the sweater but the belly band on my jeans is navy. It wasn’t a good look with navy poking through the distressed holes so I styled with a white cami. Let’s just say I am all about buying non-maternity to get me through this pregnancy. I am thankful I splurged on these maternity jeans this time around.

My mom is still in town so I haven’t exactly been meal prepping and cooking. She leaves on Thursday, so it will be back to reality for me. My workouts are slowing down a little thanks to some sciatica nerve pain. I have spent some time this afternoon researching some stretches and exercises to help with the pain. Hoping some extra stretching will work and will share with you all. Now off to play outside with Logan for a little before heading off to the Brooks Running run and Spring 2017 preview.

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Photography: Jenna Lynn Photog

blogging, life, seattle

Fishermen’s Terminal

theblondegiraffe

January 29, 2017

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Seattle has no shortage of amazing seafood restaurants and scenery. Last week, my parents and I took Logan to explore at the Fishermen’s Terminal. The Fishermen’s Terminal is only about ten minutes from our house located in Interbay. It’s a dock of over 600 fishing vessels and boats, and has such a Pacific Northwest vibe. The terminal is even home to vessels seen on the television show Deadliest Catch! We dined at Chinooks and then let Logan run around a little. When I did manage to get him to stay still for a minute or two, he enjoyed looking at the boats. If you are a local or just visiting, I would recommend a quick visit and lunch.

Leggings (high waisted option) // Top (similar) // Tank // Vest // Handbag

It’s crazy to think I am already at 27 weeks this pregnancy. We are less than three months away from meeting our new son! Clothes are getting harder to fit into but the good news is, I am able to spend a lot of time in leggings and athleisure wear. These leggings I am wearing are my new favorites and are available in a high waisted option too.

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fitness, fitness fashion, seattle

Prenatal Arm Workout

theblondegiraffe

January 26, 2017

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Working out when you are pregnant is sometimes the last thing on your mind. When that baby arrives, you will need all the arm strength you can get carrying around a baby and moving a car seat from place to place. I’m sharing one of my go-to home arm workouts. Repeat each of the 10 exercises for 25 reps using light weights. The workout should take you less than 15 minutes to complete but don’t rush through your reps. I use 3lb weights. Use less if you need, to but I wouldn’t use more than 5lbs. You can find my set of weights here. I use the exercise ball in the first 3 exercises but if you don’t have one, you can complete these standing. This is also a great quick arm workout for those not pregnant too!

PRENATAL ARM WORKOUT

Thanks to Brooks Running for the workout gear! The tank is longer and stretchy making it a great bump friendly option. The leggings are lightweight, low rise and fit right right under the bump. Excited I will be able to wear this outfit post baby too!

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