{Dress,Watch (Style: Night Out Collection)}
Life is happening ultra fast these days, and although I may not have the ability to stop time, I do have the ability to focus on living it thoroughly. I am trying to minimize distractions so as to have a more clear mind and ability to take in the present. It seems that life came at us in full force this summer, and thankfully we were able to capture some of it so these moments aren’t lost in my terrible post baby memory;)
(before)
Fireplace season has arrived, and since we plan on using the heck out of ours this year, so this was the next project we couldn’t wait to get started on. I enlisted the help of my whiz of a friend Emily Harris (who did our dining room walls), to help achieve more of the aged european look I was aiming for. This is what we came up with…
I thought I had the experienced mom thing down for a while there as I started to finally feel comfortable with multitasking and juggling little ones. Homework + bath time + dinner all at once? I got it! Packing lunches + doing Veronica’s hair + making coffee for Gabe? I can do all the things! Insert proud second. Well as I have come to realize…..it usually just takes one tough day to dethrone our pride and realize we are human after all and need help more than often to make our everyday lives run somewhat smoothly. I love to talk about help factors that have worked for our family in making motherhood a tad easier. Or maybe the things that give us that 15 extra minutes to take a phone call or get dinner going. So today I am talking about the new Jonathan Adler Crafted by Fisher-Price products. They have been so helpful in this help-a-mama-out department, and also have given my little ones the opportunity for more QT time with their new sister.
I don’t think we talk about postpartum recovery very honestly amongst each other. It’s easier to talk baby names and birth stories than it is to address how difficult the first weeks and months after having a baby can be. I have had a different recovery process for each of my children, but I can tell you after having my 5th child Azelie, I was more tired and in need of help than I have ever been. More due to the fact I still have a 14 month old that is glued to his mother’s ankles, and a three year old trying to adjust in his own stubborn way to a new little one. But you know what? I have never been more humbled by the people that have showed up for me. Our “tribe” as you would call it that have shown up in ways I really needed. I wanted to write a few ways that have helped me tremendously navigate the first blurry weeks of postpartum in hopes to help more women who may also be in need. Here are a few things you can do for any new mother, whether it be their first or fifth, that can be incredibly comforting or helpful in the postpartum weeks.
I admit I was slightly eager to pack away the maternity clothes in the record hot Altanta summer, and more than a tad excited to pull out the fall layers. The good news: we have officially landed in my favorite season. Bad news: it is still 90 degrees. However, this didn’t keep me from an inaugural pie bake with my sister on the first day of autumn, and the annual fall closet transition. Here are a few layer-able and interchangeable staples I either had from last year or added to the lineup this year. I will probably using these 7 fall wardrobe staplesthe most this season!
1. Striped Button Down
2. Jogger Pants
3. Distressed Denim (these are from Madewell, and here is a similar option)
4. Suede Booties (similar)
5. Wine Leather Tote
6. Tunic sweater vest
7. Grey layering tank
*Escape Bag via here.
Also, swooning over the new J. Crew pieces at Nordstrom.
Cheers to the first autumn weekend!
I am hoping this report on finding the right white paint for your walls saves some of you grief and tears. Short story: A few months ago I made an impulse decision to select a white paint at 9pm at night, and proceed to buy 5 gallons for the painter to use the following morning. I did this against my own better judgement, but took my risks because I was too lazy and in a hurry to test colors on our walls. Well as you can imagine it didn’t end well. We left the house to the painters for the day and when I got home, I found my walls to be practically baby blue versus the creamy white I was certain they would be. Lesson learned. Shotgun decisions no more!
Here are a few tips for testing paint colors, and finding the right shades of white…
(source)
With a new baby, I am keeping the expectations real low around here for a fall bucket list, but autumn being my favorite season, you bet your bottom I am still making one! Even if it takes till the end of November to complete;) I asked my little ones to help me come up with some ideas. Here are our top ten:
Do you have anything you are wanting to tackle this fall?
Happy weekend!
