On my last trip to Westside Provisions, I finally got to experience Seed Factory for the first time. I was already a geeky fan on instagram, so I should have expected nothing less from the store.
There is charm and whimsy oozing out of every corner. A modern twist to the imaginative play of childhood. I immediately wished Veronica was with me to experience it all. I was completely smitten with the design, decor, and of course, every single item they carry.
Such a kind and warm team that works there as well. They really know how to make you feel at home. If you are in the Atlanta area, this store is a must visit. I picked up so many fun easter basket goodies for my little ones. Their products accommodate every age from birth to tween. And the good news is, if you aren’t in the area you can shop online and even create a registry.
I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking. A must visit while you are in Atlanta!
And with that, I am off to pack for a road trip:) TGIF!
EVERY January I start to itch for a hair makeover. I put it off all the way till the end of winter this year because its hard to find a hair stylist who can work a good ombre. Lucky for me, my sweet friend from college is a pro. Ashley Jarrel worked her magic over at J. Thomas salon. She gave me a tour of the salon as well which feels more like a spa escape. Let me show you around…..
Isn’t it fun?! Also, the before and after pics….
I have only tried highlights a few times in my life and it is usually pretty stubborn. I rarely like the outcome. I have to say though, this is the first time I have LOVED the result. Highly recommend Ashley Jarrel and J. Thomas salon. I will be looking for excuses to head up for a spa day. Its beautiful there.
Sneak peek at an upcoming shoot:)
Photography: Sawyer Baird
Hair: Ashley Jarrel
Makeup: Becca Brandt
If you try it out, let me know what you think! Other fun Atlanta spots here.
Growing up, when people would comment to my dad about having his hands full (there were 11 of us), he liked to refer to the verse “Blessed is a man with a quiver full of them..” Psalm 127:5 , so that each of us would always know that to him we were a gift.
I feel this each day with three little ones close in age. I have a full quiver, but instead of “having my hands full” or “you must be so busy,” that psalm runs through my mind. I see each quiver as cherished one. Some days Gabe and I feel like we aren’t worthy or don’t feel like we have what it takes to raise these little ones into fine men and women. That is a fear I believe that passes the hearts of many parents.
However, we have both have a strong will and share a passionate love for our children. Hopefully that will suffice. One day at a time, one moment at a time, we will raise them in a house where love will always be expressed, felt, and freely given. The building blocks that make strong and sturdy characters, right?
Speaking of strong and sturdy;)….Minnetonka Moccasin Co. sent us the most comfortable sets of their classic and newer styles, and we all feel pretty special when we wear them. Veronica perpetually puts them on backwards and requests to wear them to sleep, and Gabriel saves them for just the right occasions. Max attempts to eat his. A true demonstration of their personalities….
My husband Gabe’s first pair of moccasins were Minnetonka so this new pair are now like loyal pups at his feet. They are nostalgic for him. And as you know, Gabe only goes for quality. I have given up heels during the week as of late, so the fringe booties were the perfect addition to my every day life. A little sassy but incredibley comfortable. I wore them out to the concert last weekend and for the first time on a weekend night, did not have sore feet at the end of it 🙂
Minnetonka Moccasin company was such a pleasure to collaborate with. They are giving away a pair of moccs to TWO winners! Enter easily through rafflecopter below. (U.S. Residents only this time friends!) Best of luck!
I casually asked for movie recs the other day on instagram, and received several votes for About Time. Have you seen it? Since we hadn’t seen it yet, Gabe and I decided we would trust the general vote:)
For some reason, this movie had me up for hours in deep thought afterwards. I even dreamt about it. I guess its not uncommon that a movie leaves an impact on me, but this one actually affected my whole week…
Directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), starring Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, and Bill Nighy. The characters were perfectly cast. You know how sometimes you think a movie would have been so much better had they had a better main actor or actress? Well I think they nailed it with this one. Tim’s pursuit of love and the small moments he lived to maintain love in his life was captivating. As in true British form, you never know quite what is going to fly out of their mouths (sometimes you need earmuffs), so we were thoroughly entertained the entire movie and laughed out loud on more than few occasions.
For those of you who have not seen it, the main premise throughout the was learning to be content with the present, and not only be content with it, but to LIVE in it. This seems to be the recurring theme of my own life in the last few years so that is probably why this movie impacted me so much. Tim is an average guy with who has the option to repeat moments in time, and re-live them if he wants a do over, but in the end he doesn’t feel the need to ever repeat a moment. The last few scenes are every day life moments that I have seen play out in my own every day life. They are moments he chooses to soak in and really take notice of his life.
(Image source one, type by IHOD // image source two)
The day after I watched this movie, it was a particularly mundane weekday. Holding a teething baby, cleaning up toys, attempting to answer emails and manage a business, de-boning a chicken for dinner, catching up with several loads of laundry, carpool, baths, diapers, bedtime routine, hanging out with Gabe before bed, etc. However, it was a particularly good day. One where I could tangibly touch deep happiness and contentment. One where peace was deeply settled in the atmosphere. The difference was I went into the day with no expectations, but just one thought. Today is a gift from God. The only important thing out of this day is that I love my kids and my husband well. It’s quite simple, but so easy to let our lives become one day bumping into another and a whirlwind of months ensue. Life can get complicated, but if we have a clear perception of our priorities in this world, peace always follows.
P.S. I am calling my bangs “fringe” from here on out…
What did you think of the movie? I would love to hear your toughts? And if you haven’t seen it, grab your guy or best girlfriends and get a movie night on your calendar!
(Just a little warning: As with most British films, there are moments of crude humor, nudity, and scenes. We were able to skip over them pretty easily. Not a movie for kids.)
If you all want some really fun weekend reading, head on over to CupcakeMag Spring Issue and get swept away in the fun pages.
You may spot me in there sharing some tips for building a smart wardrobe and a peek into my own closet;)
Here are some outtakes for the looks I shared. So thankful to be included among some favorite bloggers and cool mama Tori Spelling!
Have a wonderful weekend! Catch me over on instagram for some fun behind the scenes footage of tomorrow nights concert:)
Winter giving way to spring happens to me one of my favorite culinary seasons. There are a handful of fruits and vegetables at their peak – just teasing us of all the good to come in summer. Luckily citrus season is beginning to wane as sweet spring strawberries are coming to market just about the time we start bringing out sandals!
Strawberry lemonade is my ideal spring-time drink – refreshing and bright perfect for warm breeze afternoon picnics. Unfortunately – most strawberry lemonade doesn’t taste like strawberries to me.
My solution? Roasted strawberry puree! Roasting the berries concentrates their flavor making them sweeter and, well, more strawberrier. Bonus – roasted strawberries will make your whole house smell amazing. I also like to make the most of my lemons by zesting and juicing them for this lemonade.
Cheers to spring!
Roasted Strawberry Lemonade
Yield: 2 quarts of lemonade
Ingredients: 4-6 lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pint of strawberries, stem removed and halved
1 cup lemon juice (from the lemons above)
4 cups water, divided
4 cups ice
Lemon slices for garnish
How–to:
Heat the oven to 375 degree F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside.
Zest the lemons on a micro-grater. Mix the lemon zest with the sugar – massaging the zest into the sugar until the sugar is a pale yellow and fragrant. Halve the lemons and juice them – you’ll need a cup of juice for the lemonade.
Toss the strawberries with ½ cup of the lemon sugar and spread them into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Roast the strawberries for 30 minutes or until the berries are shrunken, fragrant and juicy. Remove for the oven to cool for 10 minutes.
Combine the remaining lemon sugar with the lemon juice and 2 cups of water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the ice and stir again. Taste and top with additional water as desired. I find 4 cups of water is the perfect balance of sweet to tart!
Puree the roasted strawberries in a blender or food processor. Pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer into the lemonade pitcher. Stir well to combine and serve with additional lemon slices to garnish.
Cook’s Notes: The lemon sugar and roasted strawberry puree can be made up to a week in advance. I served the roasted strawberry puree on the side so guests could make their own glasses strawberry to their own tastes.
Both the strawberry puree (on its own) and the finished strawberry lemonade make killer popsicles – just pour into molds and freeze!
Meghan Splawn is a professional recipe developer, wife, and mama. Meghan’s blog, Stir and Scribble, is full of clever cooking and useful kitchen tips. She’s a fan of candy, classic cocktails, and fuss-free family dinners.
No matter how many health documentaries I watch or articles I read, I can’t every quit french fries and a good burger. I almost always order it over numerous other menu choices. Chelsey told me about Salt Pub Factory and that I might like the look and feel of this place. Well, it won on all fronts. Really cool vibe and the food has you dreaming about it for days.
Apparently Salt Pub Factory is right across from another favorite spot and I never even noticed till the last visit. It’s hard to spot unless you are looking for that red sign. We grabbed the corner booth in the back where you get the view of the whole pub:) Beautiful wood tables, modern light fixtures, wine walls make for an urban touch with a good ole’ pub type of experience. It’s a place that makes you want to stay a while.
I ordered The Steakhouse and it actually went beyond my already high expectations. Gabe looked at me with shock over the fact that I actually consumed the entire plate in one sitting since I usually leave at least some for him. Gabe’s meal was equally delicious (because I had to try that too of course), and he savored every sip of the beer on tap. A good brew on tap is a must to get Gabe’s stamp of approval. He agrees we are going back for our next date.
I think we will become loyal visitors to this friendly joint. Such good people and a very fun atmosphere.
There are actually two locations (and I here one has outdoor Bocce Ball!) in Roswell and Alpharetta:
952 Canton Street
Roswell, GA
102 S. Main St.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
If you check out any of the IHOD Local Notes spots, let me know how you like them!
*Outfit details here. A huge thank you to Chelsey Heidorn who is always up for an adventure and snapping the photos for us!
