Category: friday i’m in love

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us. leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} white collar.

{via TBS}

during the summer when primetime shows are on hiatus, we usually binge on a few TV shows that we have been wanting to watch, but don’t have time to when other shows are running. we just finished white collar (on Netflix) & it was SO good! I was hesitant at first, but by about half-way thru the first episode, I was hooked. I didn’t love the way the show ended, but I never do! I like watching a few episodes each evening after eloise goes to bed & the kitchen is cleaned up; I prefer this to waiting for a new show to air each week.

{two} painted basket (IKEA hack).

{via Tell Love and Chocolate}

I have been on the hunt for toy storage for eloise’s toys (since I have so many that aren’t out because I am trying to rotate) but haven’t had a lot of luck. I am finding that everything I like is way too expensive, especially for toy storage. I came across this really cool IKEA hack though & think I might try it (too bad I just was at IKEA last week!). even though the basket is bigger than i would like, I love the fact you can see thru. I don’t want to get huge baskets that toys just get lost in. I am also thinking about these cool wire ones from West Elm.

{three} green smoothie.

I like the idea of green smoothies (yay for adding veggies!) but in reality I don’t like the really healthy ones… wah wah. they taste too much like vegetables or are too bitter. so I know that I can’t be SUPER healthy & need to have a higher fruit ratio. I recently tried this one from Merrick’s Art & really liked it! the ratio is perfect for me & it is super easy to make. the trick (that aaron taught me) is to run the VitaMix (or blender) on high for a bit right at the end to really make sure all of the spinach leaves are blended.

Green Smoothie (makes roughly 3 cups)

1/2 an apple (I use pink lady)
1/2 an orange
1 banana (slightly ripe is better)
2 large handfuls of spinach
7 or 8 ice cubes
unsweetened original almond milk (about 1/2 cup — more if you want it thinner)
4-5 pieces of frozen fruit (I usually do strawberries, and mangos)

Directions: Put all the ingredients in the blender (in this order), and blend until very smooth. Add water or almond milk until your desired consistency is reached (I sometimes add just a splash more milk). Serve immediately.

what are you loving this week?

M

this post contains affiliate links.

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us. leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} kerry washington’s self feature.

{via Self}

in catching up with some celebrity gossip (my complete guilty pleasure!) I came across an article about kerry washington’s feature in Self magazine. having just had a baby herself (her daughter is 15 months) I was curious what would be shared about her child or her life as a mother. and I was pleasantly surprised to her response about being “post-baby”: “I’ve been really focused on not being ‘back’ to anything, but being the best version of myself right now… My body is the site of a miracle now. I don’t want to be pre-miracle.” I think as mamas we are constantly being asked about how we are feeling & whether we are back to pre-baby (& I am totally guilty of this in asking my newly mama friends!). while I was really motivated to have my pre-baby body “back” I will never feel the same as I did before I had eloise, regardless of the way that I look. it is nice to have a reminder of that especially when it feels like all I hear from the media is: get rid of your pregnancy weight as fast as possible!

{two} the commission project.

{via The Commission Project}

I have always loved the idea of having painted portraits of our family. I know, I should have lived in the middle ages I guess, right? but there is something so special about a painting that doesn’t exist in a photograph. I first heard about The Commission Project a few years ago & have been dreaming about it ever since. paul ferney (who is jordan’s – of Oh Happy Day! – husband) paints portraits of pictures. so you send your favorite photo in & he turns it into a painting. swoon! some day…

{three} a travel bug.

{via The Autoimmune Traveler}

this pretty much sums up the way I feel about traveling. take me anywhere! I have definitely been getting the travel bug recently & have been daydreaming about a taking a trip. maybe next year? le sigh.

what are you loving this week?

M

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us. leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} clear scans!

{via Charlotte’s Story}

this week was a big week for our niece charlotte as she went in for post-chemo & post-op scans. on tuesday we found out that the scans were clean! no signs of cancer! we are beyond thankful & grateful for the news, & very proud of charlotte as she braved so much over the past months. we love you charlotte reece!

{two} hard-sole moccasins by Freshly Picked.

{via Freshly Picked Instagram}

pretty much everyone knows how much I LOVE Freshly Picked. I picked up a pair of gold moccasins for Baby Lower when I was half-way thru my pregnancy, & never looked back! eloise is on her third pair of gold moccs & I am still sold. I know she will wear them until her feet are too big! the next big launch (next week) is hard-sold moccasins. I am pretty excited since we will eventually need actual shoes for eloise at some point (I put on her moccs when we go out, but at home, she is always barefoot!).

{three} eloise is clapping.

shortly after her first birthday (on wednesday) eloise started clapping. it is the cutest thing! she had done it before, but it was this sort of accidental, my hands happened to be at the same place at the same time sort of thing. we are now onto deliberate clapping. it is pretty fun since eloise is thrilled anytime someone else claps. she doesn’t quite do it on-demand (yet!) but is pretty happy about it. she’s illusive though & I have yet to get it on camera!

what are you loving this week?

M

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us. leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} summer jammies.

{French Ring Pajamas via Serena & Lily}

I am a jammies girl. I don’t love loungewear generally (like you won’t see me sporting workout clothes unless I am working out!) but I do love pajamas. boxers & a tee won’t cut it around here, so I am always on the hunt for a classic set. my mom always gets me a pair of jammies at christmas time (don’t you love that tradition?) but then they are always for cold weather. with the heatwave we have had in seattle this summer, I have been longing for a nice set for warm weather. enter these beautiful serena & lily ones. just last week they were having a huge sale & I snagged these for over 50% off! they just arrived in the mail & luxurious. it is worth it to splurge on sleepwear. & sheets.

{two} PEPS date night challenge.

{selfie from our anniversary date night}

PEPS is the most amazing group we have been a part of since becoming parents & I could wax eloquence about the program all day. if you are in the seattle area & are going to be a new parent, sign up! any-hoo, this october PEPS will be running a social media campaign in support of self-care in the form of a date night similar to the very popular ice bucket challenge, but instead of having to dump a bucket of ice water on your head, you go on a date with our spouse. sounds awesome, right? I was asked to help with some of the copy for the campaign, & we are featured on the PEPS site – go see here! & be sure to check back in in october so you can be a part of the Date Night Challenge?

{three} gap friends & family sale.

the gap friends & family sale officially kicks off today with 40% off your entire purchase (no exclusions!). gap has been so hit & miss for me recently, but I think the quality is really good for its baby clothes. I am always sure to stop in when there is a big sale to peruse for eloise. plus, with no exclusions, I always check the gap fit section since it is excluded from regular sales. I may have to swing by & see this moto jacket, these girlfriend jeans, & these overalls for me; this bomber jacket, this cotton cashmere sweater, & these shorts for aaron; & this vest, this bodysuit, & this cape for eloise.

what are you loving this week?

M

this post contains affiliate links.

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} gap relaxed henley.

{via Gap}

in my attempt to re-haul my wardrobe a bit this summer, I picked up this henley from the Gap. right now I still need things that are nursing-friendly & this one definitely fits the bill. plus, it is nice to feel a little more dressed up when I pair this with shorts or jeans (than just a tee).

{two} kismet rug.

{via Caitlin Wilson}

I am dying for a new rug for our living room. so much so that I apologize to people who visit because they have to see our current rug. it’s too small, it’s not good quality, & it’s pretty ugly. I have been eyeing a few neutral-ish rugs at West Elm (big surprise!) but haven’t pulled the trigger on any (I am horrible at making decisions & an 8 by 10 rug is not cheap). but them I was perusing Caitlin Wilson’s shop page & found this Kismet rug. It is completely different than anything I have been looking at, & while it is a little bit feminine (read: hot pink), I think it would work really well! so now I am dreaming about it… anyone have $1600 they want to share?

{three} taco tuesdays.

{Corn & Chile Tomato-Less Salsa from Trader Joe’s}

in an effort to help simplify the meal-planning process each week (I plan & grocery shop once a week!) we have started a regular taco tuesday which is great because aaron & I both LOVE mexican food, it is easy to make vegetarian if we don’t want meat, & it is eloise-friendly so I don’t have to make a separate meal. even if you have a few tacos, it is nice to have a side to help make sure you aren’t hungry in an hour (or is that just me?). our new favorite side dish is roasted yams, black beans, & corn salsa. I just dice up two yams, roast in the toaster oven until soft, & then mix the yams with a rinsed can of black beans, & a few spoonfuls of corn salsa. it is awesome & super easy! on the topic, I found these hand-made style tortillas from La Tortilla Factory a few weeks ago & am obsessed. seriously, I buy them two packs at a time! they are small, but a little bit chewy, thick, warm up well, & don’t fall apart once you start rolling.

what are you loving this week? also, how is it possible that today is the LAST day of july?!

M

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} julep bare face cleansing oil.

{via Julep}

I may or may not have already mentioned this cleansing oil by julep, but I have to rave about it. I am always looking for a good way to remove my make-up and clean my face, but don’t want to have to use a bunch of different products. I was skeptical at first about putting oil on my face (I tend to go oily), but this was on a super summer sale last week at julep when I went to get my nails & brows done. I have been using it every night since & I am hooked! it smells amazing & really gets all of my make-up off. highly recommended!

{two} loft printed shorts.

{via Loft}

I was on a mission to find some new summer clothes – something that wasn’t super casual (like denim shorts) but that I could still be comfortable in when I run around after eloise. i found these abstract print shorts at loft a few weeks ago. & lo & behold, they had my size (there were only a handful left) which never happens. & I have been loving them (though mine seem to have a shorter inseam eve though they aren’t petite). these are on sale right now for a steal! I found that they run true to size (though vanity sizing stinks these days. extended sizing, but never smaller, always bigger!) but definitely try them on if possible first. I bought these shorts in my size, but tried on another pair of shorts (these scalloped ones) in the exact same size & style, & they were too small… wah wah.

{three} booties.

{via Anthro}

even though we are still very much in summer (& we’ve had a long one since we got so hot so early this year in seattle) I am looking forward to transitioning into fall. at least for footwear. I am loving all of the light colored booties that are making an appearance this year & think I need to pick up a pair, don’t you? I also like these ones on sale at Nordy’s (until august 3rd).

what are you loving this week?

M

this post contains affiliate links.

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} cactus pin cushion.

{via A Beautiful Mess}

oh my word. cactus pin cushions? I think I need to make these stat! I have been doing a lot of sewing recently & still have a few projects lined up, so corralling pins has been on my mind. I get so much use out of this sewing machine pin cushion I made a few years ago, but these are wonderful. plus, they are cute décor, so they could sit on your desk or sewing table without screaming “pin cushion!”

{two}

{via Lo & Sons}

for years I have loved (& needed) huge handbags. partly because I have this fear of not having something that I need (so I carry around everything!), partly because I was commuting & away from home, & party because I am petite & the bigger the bag the better, right? but, after feeling like I schlep around everything but the kitchen sink in my “diaper” bag these days (though I have downsized considerably & it is lovely!) I am ready to minimize. enter this beaut from Lo & Sons: The Pearl. it is a small bag with lots of inner pockets, & converts to a cross-body bag, a wrist-bag, or a clutch. plus it is leather & plus it is on sale!

{three} children’s art table.

{via Oh Joy blog}

we have a little while before eloise will be able to sit in a chair & do art, but I am loving this mini art table! the table top has a magnetic strip in the middle to hold magnets & pictures & things, & the rest of the table is chalkboard. I don’t anticipate having a lot of eloise-sized furniture (since she will grow so quickly!) but I do really love this little table set.

what are you loving this week?

M

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} nordy’s anni sale.

{via Nordstrom}

yesterday marked the first day off early access to the nordy’s anni sale. I am on a mission to stock up on high quality basics (tees, sweaters, dresses, skirts) & I am hoping to find some good deals on things I would have otherwise been buying. while I have been quietly praying for a cooler summer (or at least a few cooler days!), I want to delay fall for as long as possible (which may or may not have something to do with a certain child turning one (!) at the end of the summer).

{sidenote: for those of you who don’t know about this sale, it is when nordy’s puts some of their early fall clothing, shoes, accessories (that are brand new) on sale for a few weeks, & then raise the prices to normal. it is basically the opposite of a normal retail sale where stores mark down older things in the store to clear them out. pretty cool, huh?}

{two} cupcakes & cashmere line.

speaking of nordstrom, did you see emily’s new cupcakes & cashmere  line that released earlier in the week? as a new mom (her daughter sloan has the most beautiful eyes!) I think this line is pretty (new) mama-friendly (though not necessarily nursing-friendly) & let’s mamas dress up a bit more than the usual jeans & t-shirt bit. see what I am eyeing here.
{three} kate spade S&P shakers.

so three things: (1) bed, bath & beyond is selling kate spade? (that’s not really a question, but a statement – does anyone else find this to be an odd paring?); (2) I really want this S&P set for eloise’s nursery (well & these elephants); and (3) they were inspired by seattle’s woodland park zoo so it is meant to be, right?

what are you loving this week?

M

this post contains affiliate links.

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica and ashley are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

{one} korean beef bowl.

{via Damn Delicious}

I have raved in the past about Damn Delicious (it is my go-to for dinner recipes) & it has lived up to its reputation again. my usual criteria for a weekday meal is: quick, healthy, & eloise-friendly. this meal was all three (I portioned out eloise’s beef before I added the sauce mixture) & will definitely be added to our meal rotation!

{two} sleep short jammies.

{via babyGap}

eloise is big enough now to have jammies that are two pieces (rather than a one-piece sleeper) & it makes her seem so grown up. with the hot weather we have been having she has mostly been sleeping in a onesie, but even those are starting to be too small (plus trying to button the snaps on those is impossible with this wiggly one!). gap was having a major 4th of july sale today (40% off of everything!) & I picked up these adorable popsicle jammies for eloise.

{three} mom’s one line a day journal.

{via Amazon}

(have I already shared this on a friday?) I have the Q&A journal where you answer the question of the day & put the date (so you could have a record of your answer for five years). it is fun & I should really start doing it again… but I also really love this Mom’s One Line A Day journal since it doesn’t seem too intimidating. just one line to jot down about that particular day. now I wish I would have started the day eloise was born!

what are you loving this week?

M

this post contains affiliate links.

welcome back friday! be sure to pop over to see what kendra, mary beth, amanda, laura, aileen, jessica (and welcome to Ashley!) are loving! we would love for you to join us! leave a comment and we’ll come check out what you’re loving each week!

love. it is the buzzword for this friday. this momentous & historic friday that will go down in history. today the Supreme Court announced its ruling that makes marriages in all states legal, regardless of sexual orientation. though same-sex marriage has been legal in WA for some time (see here), it is a HUGE win! 

{eloise showing her support for the SCOTUS decision!}

since eloise was born I have pretty much checked out from the news cycle. partly due to lack of time (or interest), but mostly because the news these days is always horrible. & terrifying. & when you are caring for a new little baby, the last thing you want to think about is all of the terrible & horrible things that are going on in this world we are living in. BUT, then there is good news, & good people, & good things, & I am reminded of that today. I came out of my bomb shelter today & actually read some news & it was refreshing. I will be proud to teach eloise one day that she is living in a country where her friends with two mamas or two papas are treated no differently than her own mama & papa. & when she grows up, she can choose freely to marry any person she loves. momentous!

& off my soap-box. happy friday!

what are you loving this week?

M