A few weeks ago, my friend Mary Beth of Rosemary Wild gave me the best baby gift…photos of just a normal day at home with my children. These days are filled with hours of cleaning messes Max made, making meals, feeding Rocco, cleaning more messes, making up a creative project for Veronica to do, helping Gabriel with homework, taking them for walks, etc. (When they nap is when I work/blog.) I am usually just in a t-shirt and jeans, and tired from the night before, but deeply deeply happy. I think this is why I am so grateful for these photos. I can see in my postpartum tired self that I am right where I am supposed to be. Every small action as a mother to my children are building blocks in the foundation of who they will become.
Mary Beth has an incredible ability to capture reality and make it something beautiful. Thankful for her and being able to snap these photos of Rocco’s first sink bath (I highly recommend this bathtub!). All three of his siblings can’t get enough of him. They are eager to hold the baby and Max is confused why he can’t feed him from his stomach. As you may have seen on instagram, my son Gabriel is so proud of him and always wants to hold him. If I could make time stretch a little longer, it would be now. These are the days.
As soon as these cooler temps hit, I want to buy all of the boots and jackets! But I am trying so hard this season to buy only what I really need, items that fit well, are made to last, and that I will love having in my closet for months to come. I am sharing this process through this series (which I will start to refer to as the #buildablewardrobe). I would love to have you join me in this effort to eliminate excess, and encourage slow fashion. I am also trying to support more small businesses and artisans like Moorea Seal and Noonday Collection.
These looks include pieces I have added to the closet or have had for a while that work well for taking your dresses from day to evening. I use navy as a neutral in my wardrobe and it is a color that never goes out of style. (A bunch of other navy dress options here.) I am looking forward to sharing more ideas with you all. I really believe in the art of getting dressed, since as women, it can drastically affect our demeanor for the day and the way we reach others. I need this reminder myself on a morning where sport shorts looked more appealing than anything;)
Cheers!
P.S. I have added a shop section to the blog above in the nav bar, where I will be adding all of the pieces I am working with in my own closet this season!
When it comes to finding the final details to a room, I tend to tackle textiles and wall art last to pull the room together. Trying to find items that have a unique spin and a little character is always my goal, and the hunt is half the fun. Most of the finishing touches I found at Lulu & Georgia, so I had a lot of fun teaming up with them to finish this space.
A coffee table isn’t really a safe option with active little ones who love to flip, spin, and jump, so I decided to go with a few moroccan poufs from Lulu & Georgia. They make for perfect foot rests, and I fell in love with the stitched design on top. They are probably my favorite pieces in the room!
And how about that octagonal end table?! I must have looked at hundreds online, and due the space constriction between the divider and the couch, this ended up being just the right fit, with just the right amount of sass. Can furniture have sass? Absolutely.
I have had the Audrey Lamp on hand, and luckily it complimented the other floor lamps in the room. Threw in a faux aloe plant because I feel the amount of live plants overtaking my home is more responsibility than my four children combined. (Just a little stressful keeping the real plants alive….) The plush sheepskin rug was just a fun way to layer the rugs, and add a cozier look and feel. The circular mirrors are a super easy DIY.
Pillows can be really difficult to envision without bringing them home and seeing how they work in the room. I made one too many return trips finding the right pillows, so I have learned my lesson…..wait till the very end and pick your pillows last. They can pull things together beautifully. I will probably slowly add more pillows in. I love when they are large and soft like this Biru Pillow.
We’ll talk wall art next and how we chose and hung the gallery wall. Stay tuned!
*In case you missed, Part 1, and Part 2 of the living room.
Here is a quick tip for a cozy room as we head into the cooler months:
Updating a room’s quilt, comforter, or bedding can be pricey. If you go with neutral tones for bedding, you can always work colors in with your blankets and throws. I rotate mine from room to room, and always feel it gives the room a much cozier feel no matter the season. Doubling up your throws also gives a corner or bed space a welcome feel. I stacked a few for our guest room. What do you like to try to give a space a warmer look? Candles? A bunch of books? Maybe just a basket of chocolate?
Also, we are giving away a beautiful hand woven blush Chiapas throw as pictured above. Have you heard of Ara Collective? Sarah travels the globe, and curates items for the shop that employ artisans in these countries and offers them a chance to thrive in their talents. To win a Chiapas throw, head on over.
As much as I love a good pair of heels and jeans, flats are where its at for this phase in my life. My $8 pair have taken a good beating, so I have scoured the web for the best options to commit to. They are a staple in the fall, winter, and spring for me! Which is your favorite?
“And she loved a little boy very much – even more than she loved herself.” – Shel Silverstein
Life with four little ones is as busy as you would expect it to be, and probably more so, but thankfully this new little one brings a familiarity with him as well. A deep rooted confidence takes over as I get to know little Rocco. I know I have been here. It all will settle well. This new life has brought with him that very familiar newborn smell, the tiny sounds and grunts, the long 3AM parties, and the way he fits perfectly into my arms. It’s all a welcome familiarity of the most rich moments of my life. I feel selfish with time wishing the newborn days would linger a little longer, and that I could pause the ages of my children. This time around, I know just how fast it goes. Wasn’t Max just this size?
The new experiences I welcome too. The shift in family dynamics has brought some hair pulling moments, and some exhausting days, but as we all adjust to the change, so has each of our demeanors. A mother’s heart can duplicate another for each child, but I am seeing that happen for my children as well. Witnessing their love for Rocco has been perhaps the greatest of it all. After a cranky first few weeks, they each have suddenly turned a new leaf as it always happens just in time it seems. A little older, a little more mature, and a proud adjustment to their new role as guardian, sister, friend, etc. There are still many squabbles and referee times as I try to feed the baby in one hand and keep Max from the draining the dish soap bottle with the other, but thankfully there is so much more love to go around with it all. I mean….it is obvious Rocco is never left alone…
My children have offered me the gift of seeing life beyond material possessions, wanderlust, and the pursuit of success. They have given me the ability to see the eternal and intrinsic value of our relationships. A mother to her children, a child to its mother, a sister to her brother, a father to his sons, etc.
Since I know how quickly time can pass, I have wanted to just hold Rocco Samuel all day long, or wear him in his wrap, or tote around in his moses basket so as not to miss a thing. These photos will help keep these memories. Lord knows I need the help in the memory department as I just found the milk in the microwave, and my coffee in the fridge….
I’ll give you all that update on life with four kids soon. I am still in a postpartum fog. I am trying to be more patient this time around, and am allowing more room and time for the new groove to settle in. So for now, it’s just sleeping, adjusting, eating, feeding, relying on family, friends, and a whole lot of prayer. Figuring out this grand adventure one day at a time. x
Gabe and I are by no means vegetarians, but with the rise in meat prices, we are looking for ways to cut back on dinners with meat. I brought in the help of my talented friend Lauren of Love Lola to share one of her recipes!
This recipe for vegetarian chili is my absolute favorite meal to make as the air outside begins to cool. Because it uses a lot of canned beans, it’s super easy and quick to prepare. Not to mention it could feed an army! Since there are only two of us in my house at the moment, I love to make this dish for dinner parties, or freeze the leftovers and heat them up when we need a quick weeknight dinner.
I love how this recipe proves that a plant-based diet can be full of the nutrients you need, while also leaving you full and satisfied. Between the protein and the fiber found in the beans and quinoa, there’s no chance you’ll leave the dinner table still hungry. Who knew a meal without meat could accomplish that!? 😉
Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Serves 8-10
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 avocado, diced
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 can low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn, frozen
1/2 cup quinoa (dried)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles
4 oz. tomato paste
3 cups low sodium vegetable stock
2 cups water
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne
sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded, to garnish
salt and pepper, to taste
sour cream
To start, heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a dutch oven on medium low heat. Add the garlic and cook until browned. Add in the onions and continue to cook for about ten minutes, until onions are soft and translucent.
Next, add the bell pepper, sweet potato, and the rest of the olive oil and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring constantly so as not to burn. Once the sweet potatoes begin to soften, add in the beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tomatoes and green chiles, tomato paste, and spices. Stir everything together and immediately add the vegetable stock and water.
Bring the soup to a boil and add the dried quinoa. Let the liquid return to a boil before reducing to a simmer and cooking, covered, for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally as the soup cooks.
To serve, top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and diced avocado. And of course, don’t forget the cornbread! Enjoy!
Lauren Foster is a registered dietitian, blogger, and soon-to-be mama living in Greenville, SC. She is the voice behind the food and lifestyle blog, Love Lola, where she shares how healthy food doesn’t have to sacrifice flavor, and health is more that what we eat, but is a state of mind.
Dress: 
