I must have at least 8 books on my nightstand that I have yet to finish. I try to carve out ten minutes a night for good paper and ink, but always wish I had more time to pour through some of my favorite reads. I was such a bookworm growing up, and spending hours reading one without a care in the world is probably something I will miss until I am an empty nester. HOWEVER, I finally took the advice of many friends and family members and downloaded the audible app. Why oh why did I wait so long? This has been the coolest thing since sliced bread around here.
Not my typical Friday post, but this is what needed to be written this morning. I usually write about motherhood in sporadic moments. When the thoughts come I have to write them down or they are gone as soon as the next distraction comes along. We have just a month left until we meet our newest baby. It is something I am anticipating with great hope and happiness, but to be honest I am a little terrified! Whenever I face a new shift in our lives it is easy for me to get overwhelmed with fear of the unknown. How will I manage two babies 14 months apart in addition to a 3, 5, and 7 year old?! I think as human beings, we easily project our human limitations onto what we think we are capable of, and it is easy to allow those perceptions to run our lives and make our decisions. Thankfully, life events happen that we didn’t necessarily choose (this baby was a bit of a surprise), because usually they end up being something we all are better for in the end. However, it doesn’t mean all of those emotions and feelings that come with the reality aren’t there.
For those of you who were concerned about where our dining room table and chairs went after our dining room re-design, here is how we have been putting them to use! Backyard dinner parties! The humidity finally broke for a little while during the evenings this week, which dare I say felt a step closer to fall? I took full advantage of the evening hours with the cooler temps since I have to hibernate from the heat during the day. (Salute to all the pregnant mothers just trying to waddle their way through summer. Solidarity.) Fresh flowers and outdoor lights can go a long way when it comes to setting the atmosphere for a conversational hang out. It actually doesn’t take much to host a fun dessert and drinks hour or summer supper! Just grab a stack of your favorite dishes and string up some outdoor lights over your patio.
We have had the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar for a few months now, and while most toys are forgotten and cast aside after a few days of play, this one remains a favorite for my kids. It makes me laugh so hard seeing Max and Rocco’s reaction EVERY time the eyes light up and it starts moving. Rocco starts chasing it like a puppy, and Max and Veronica always leap or dance.I am learning what each of my children gravitate towards, and music is always a win with them. It’s so refreshing to have a toy that is education based that they love to play with!
Fall Denim Guide
Denim is the relatable wardrobe item almost every gal loves having in her fall line up. Maybe you only wear them on weekends or nights out, or maybe like me, you wear them just about every day. Distressed, frayed, skinny, wide leg, high waisted, flare, crop, tall, curvy, petite, boyfriend, skinny frayed, curvy flare, the list goes on and on. Determining a style you love can feel as overwhelming as what to order at a gourmet coffee shop.
It has taken me years to narrow down the brands and styles that I know fit my body type well. For instance, the frayed crop trend going down in the fashion scene right now looks grand on the fit and skinny, but pretty sure they dwarf my legs in half since I am on the shorter end of the spectrum. A pair that may fit to perfection on a sister or friend doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit the same for me! Something to keep in mind is that every brand of denim is made with different quality, dye methods, fabric stretch, etc. I have found it worth paying a little more for a pair you are crazy about, then buying ten pairs of mediocre ones. When you do finally find that magic pair, buy two pairs of them. Finding the right match is as priceless as a glass slipper. Ignore what is trendy and focus on what gives you personally an extra shot of espresso (confidence that is).
We can’t let August pass us by without a good ice cream dish to try to get us through the heat! Thank you to Holly Jordan for being a guest today and letting us in on how easy it is to make this divine Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Recipe!
We moved into our new home at the beginning of the summer, and started our first home project a few weeks later. It would seem we are chaos addicts. This dining room makeover however was something I was so looking forward to because it was a Trading Spaces challenge with my dear friend Lesley Graham. I got to help tackle her living room space, and she helped me dream up our dining area which basically meant I didn’t have to make all the decisions for my own home! (This was wonderfully refreshing.) Not only that, I got to partner with Home Decorators Collection to make it happen. This made the choices we faced a little easier considering all the great pieces we found were in one place.
