Short Stack Reading .01

June 30, 2014

{Three ways to style Printed Shorts this week for eHow}

I have been making a point to take time to read more. It is something I have always loved, but feel the need to do more of it now to keep my mind sharp (which seems to drastically shrink after having kids…). I want to be aware of the different current events in the world, open my eyes to different cultures, and learn about different topics….

A short stack reading list:
Worth pondering: In Search of Meaning

A must read for bloggers: this article by Grace Bonney on Racked.

A book I read in one flight, that I couldn’t put down. (We are reading this for sister book club:))

Watched and learned about the You Are Beautiful project and promptly booked Matthew Hoffman to be a speaker at our Chicago Brand Market workshop.

A magazine I am hooked on and newly subscribed to.

6 secrets to being a happy mother – I couldn’t agree more.

And in good humor, if you are familiar with Ann Coultor’s opinion on soccer and the World Cup, you will appreciate this brilliant article.

I won’t overwhelm you, so we will keep it at that for now! Have a great start to your week!
*Anna

Maximilian Francis: 1 Year + Giveaway

June 29, 2014

{Max’s little shortalls from Ladida Kids}

One year ago, Max arrived in the early hours of the morning, right after our anniversary dinner. It has been by far the fastest year of my life to date, and it is kind of hard for me to accept that his baby days are slipping through my fingers. He has been my dream baby. Chubby rolls, smiles often, and a sweet laid back nature.

He is into everything right now, and prefers to explore every place he is not supposed to be….the toilet, the fireplace, the stairs…he takes a sneaky silent approach. As most babies of the family can do, Max generates so much joy in our family. He has been the greatest surprise in my life thus far, and I am so glad God decided to send him our way.

To celebrate his little life, we wanted to give some of his favorite things to one of you! Earth’s Best was so kind to offer a whole slew of goodies to send your way including: SPF 30 Mineral Suncscreen, Cold Vapor Rub, Bubble bath, Baby toothbrush + toothpase, Gluten free baby cereal, Organic snack packs, Organic granola bars, Organic baby food puree squeezables, and more. Enter easily below:)

Max also wants to share some of his favorite shoes! We teamed up with Freshly Picked and giving aways some moccs on our facebook page. Thank you all for being such a wonderful crew and support of our family. We love you!

P.S. Max’s Birth Story, and First week of Life

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Small Space Solutions: Backyard Dinner Party

June 26, 2014

{Dress and Earrings via Deloom}

After all the party planning and treasure hunting, we finally got to enjoy the finished result of our backyard dinner party over the weekend! It was the evening before my birthday so it was so nice to spend time with friends. I may have done the scheming, but once again, it was Gabe who did all the labor….:D:D

Furniture: We have been wanting a custom table for our dining room so we decided to bite the bullet and make one. Gabe worked on this for days, and I owe him my right arm at this point, but he reassures me he loves to woodwork….hmmm. After the table was finished we set it outside on our patio and brought in the weatherproof outdoor chairs as well as the San Martin chairs for a little color.

Table Top: As you got a sneak preview already, I bought mix of floral and melamine plates to bring in an array of color and pattern. I even used retro patterned forks. Fresh florals (last minute snip from the side of our house) made for a great centerpiece and the citronella candles kept the mosquitos away:)

Ambiance: Lighting can do so much for a space so we strung up these lights across 8 foot 2×2 steaks and staple gunned to the tops. We added the lattice board on one side of the patio behind our planter boxes to really make the space feel like a comfortable outdoor dining room. When the sun set we had dessert and a little music.

Food and Drink: We threw everything on the grill. Steak and Chicken Skewers with cilantro sauce, carrot medley, and grilled corn (for grilled corn salad). Goat cheese and crackers, guacamole, etc. for apps. Coconut Mojitos and Sangria filled the glasses.

Here’s the easy Sangria recipe:
1 Bottle Sparkling Peach Water
1 Bottle Sparkling White Wine (I used a bottle of peach from Trader Joe’s)
1 Bottle Red Sparkling Wine
2 Oranges
2 Lemons
4 Limes
4 Peaches

Throw in the fruit and pour in the liquids to simmer for at least a few hours!

Hope we get the chance to have many more opportunities to gather around this table with family and friends over the next few months. It is that time I value more than anything else! We poured a ton of hours into this, but now you cannot pry us away from our backyard. Happy summer!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pier 1 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pier 1. Find What Speaks to You.

Bag Snooped with DAAME!

June 25, 2014

I’ve been Bag Snooped!
Spilling the contents of my DAAME bag and a little Q & A about what I don’t leave the house without, my next adventure, what I would tell my young girl self, and more!

Really love this company and the tote is dreamy. It’s fun for me to be able to share companies with you that I really respect and who are working hard to not only generate good product, but also working hard to make their business thrive. This will make traveling a breeze for The Brand Market! Go ahead and see what I mean🙂

Happy hump day friends!
Anna

Wearing: Banana Republic Dress (similar) // Anthropologie sunnies // DAAME tote c/o

Summer Fridays at J. Crew

June 24, 2014

{Dress One, Dress Two}

Have you all heard about the new Summer Fridays events at J. Crew?? You can visit your local J. Crew after 1pm on Friday for sips, snacks, and an exclusive sale! Yesss! Also, they are offering a chance to win a three night stay at The Betsy Hotel in South Beach Miami. Mmmm yes please! I’ll be hitting up the Perimeter Mall location here in Atlanta if you want to come keep me company! 😉

I was just in the store yesterday and couldn’t believe their fun dress selection. Picked up the two above at super clearance price for some upcoming events:)

Hope to see some of you there!

~ Anna

Make: Transparent Clutch

June 24, 2014

Hey friends! Hope you had the best weekend! I have so much fun content to share with you all over the next few weeks but I just have to find the time to do so! Summer is supposed to be low key right? Someone teach me how to relax! 🙂

Head on over to eHow for the step by step instructs to make this easy peasy DIY Transparent Clutch. Make one for your ipad too!

Also, I shared a fun geometric manicure you can do on your own. It’s a favorite of mine and takes only 5 minutes to do.

x, Anna

Make: Essential Oil Laundry Detergent

June 20, 2014

I have been trying to find ways to integrate essential oils into our lifestyle more since there are hundreds of benefits from them. I was already using this detergent recipe (which literally comes out to 1 cent per load!). I added a few essential oils to enhance the smell but also reap the health benefits. Have you all seen Lindsay Coletta’s work yet?

She is an all star when it comes to floral design and she styled this shoot for me! And you might be able to guess by how beautiful these photos turned out that the photography is by Haley Sheffield. My dream team!

Ingredients:
Lavender or Lemon Essential Oil
Balance Essential Oil blend
1/2 c. Borax
1 Bar Soap (I use Fels-Naptha or Ivory)
1 c. Baking Soda
5 Gallon Bucket
To use as gifts, head to Hobby Lobby in the bottle section for those pictured above! You can add some lemons and flowers to complete a gift basket:)

Instructions: There are several versions for the base detergent on the web, but this is what I have found most successful.
1) Grate your entire bar of soap with a cheese grater.
2) Boil a teapot of water and add 5 cups to a pan. Add your grated soap bar. Stir over medium with a wooden spoon until fully melted.
3) Fill your 5 gallon bucket with hot water and stir in the borax, baking soda, and soap mixture till dissolved. Use a giant ladel or spoon to stir.
4) Add in several drops of each essential oil you choose to use. This will enhance the smell and benefit stress and anxiety relief!
5) Fill the rest of the bucket with cold water and stir again. Cover and let sit overnight.
6) In the morning you will have a gel type liquid. You may need to stir it up before you use each time.

Hope this is useful for you all! If you have any questions I will try to answer them in the comment section so everyone can see if they have the same questions:)

Happy weekend!
x, Anna