emerald city diaries

Welcome back Friday!

{one} Gap No-Show Socks.

{via Gap}

So this is definitely not seasonally correct, but I finally found a good pair of no-show socks for sneakers, and have been wearing them with my booties too, at the Gap. I have always had trouble with socks being too big (since I have really tiny feet) but these ones have worked well! Plus, Gap is always having a sale, so they are pretty inexpensive too.

{two} Covered Goods Multi-Use Nursing Cover.

{via Covered Goods}

I haven’t started nesting (yet) but I have been keeping an eye out (and making a list) of things we will need for this next baby. Mostly we are trying not to buy a lot of stuff (which was true with Eloise too) but especially this time around since we can re-use so much of what we have around. But, one thing that I always hated was my nursing cover. I had the one that just had a strap that went around your neck and it was problematic from the start. I felt like I was attracting more attention to myself in public when I was trying to use it, and a few months in Eloise learned to throw her arms and legs around, and it was done-zo with that nursing cover! I spent most of my time nursing Eloise without one.

Enter: Covered Goods. I had seen these around on car seats a few places in town, but my friend Lauren has one for her new baby, and they are awesome! They are stretchy jersey that act as a car seat cover (like above), a nursing cover, and a shopping cart cover. And, it comes in stripes – swoon! This is definitely on my list of things for Baby Foot!

{three} Mini Boden + Roald Dahl Collection.

{via Mini Boden}

Roald Dahl is probably one of my favorite authors ever. I remember devouring all of his books as a kid. Such a magical storyteller. I can’t wait for Eloise & Baby Foot to start reading!

Anyways, Mini Boden has just launched an impossibly cute collection inspired by Roald Dahl stories and it is awesome! Mini Boden runs on the high end of what would I buy for Eloise, but I am wanting to buy some of these pieces in bigger sizes (so she won’t grow out of them so quickly) and hoard them! I have my eye on this Matilda dress (the inside is so cute!), this T-shirt, this royal dress, this cape (which is sold out!), and this alphabet dress.

Be sure to check out what Kendra’s loving this week! What about you?

M

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome back Friday!

{one} Luke’s Diner.

{via NPR}

This past Wednesday coffee shops all across the country changed into Luke’s Diner from my beloved The Gilmore Girls as an early celebration of it’s Netflix renewal next month. While there were a handful of coffee shops in Seattle which made the conversion for the morning and Eloise happened to be in preschool too, I didn’t want to face the endless crowds (which apparently spanned city blocks) to wait for a Luke’s coffee. Had Lorelai or Rory been in town, I would have been there in a second. And while I am a bit sad to have missed all of the fun, after hearing that a friend waited more than two hours in line with toddler in tow for a coffee, I am glad I stayed home!

{two} The Imitation Game.

{via IMDB}

So we are a little late to the party since it came out in 2014, but we finally watched The Imitation Game and it was so, so good! Like so many others (including Hollywood producers apparently) I don’t easily tire from WWII movies and this one is no different. It tells the amazing story of how Alan Turing and a small group of mathematicians and cryptographers broke the Enigma Code to help defeat the Nazis during the War. It is definitely sad so grab some Kleenex, but worth it!

{three} Pumpkin Season at TJ’s!

October brings fall and all things pumpkin & I can’t get enough. I know a lot if it isn’t even real pumpkin, but I still can’t help but get excited! Eloise and I hit up TJ’s this week and bought all of the pumpkin things. I think it’s Baby Foot’s fault…

Be sure to check out what Kendra’s loving this week! What about you?

M

Welcome back Friday!

{one} Pregnancy Pillow.

So I know I just talked about it in this week’s update but it is life-changing so I thought I would mention it again for any mamas-to-be! I sort of poo-poo’d a huge pregnancy pillow last time around & thought using a bunch of small pillows would be the same, but I was so wrong. I haven’t gotten to the point where I am not sleeping well & am up a few times a night to pee, but I still have been sleeping SO WELL & I know it’s partly because of this pillow. I fondly refer to her as Bertha (or Gertie) & even though Aaron doesn’t share the sentiment, I am definitely in love!

{two} BP Tripp Booties.

I am really excited that booties & skinny jeans are still in style because I never want to not wear them together in the fall. I have been on the hunt since late summer for a good pair of new every day booties for the fall & winter. I have to start looking early for fall & winter shoes since stores carry just a handful of my (small) size. I think I finally found them: these BP Tripp Booties from Nordstrom. I needed something that was low (no heel), that was semi-waterproof, & that I could easily slip on & off. Plus, these were under $100! I don’t think the picture is a good representation of the black, though, because in person they read navy blue in bright light (my favorite of course!).

{three} Q&A A Day for Kids journal.

I have two of these Q&A journals (one of the original & one of the mama ones) & I really like them. They are a super easy way to journal over time without having to make a huge commitment (though if you are really consistent with it, it’s way better!). So I am loving this 3 year Q&A A Day for Kids especially since we are getting to the point with Eloise that she is able to answer questions that we ask her. And, kids say the darndest things, right? I know I will start needing to keep a list somewhere of all the amazing things she says!

Be sure to check out what Kendra is loving this week! What about you?

M

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome back Friday!

{one} This Is Us premiere.

{via NBC}

I am pretty excited that all of the network shows are starting their premieres after a summer of binging on Netflix & Amazon Instant Video series. One show that I hadn’t really heard anything about but we happened to catch the premiere of was This Is Us. It is supposed to be the replacement for Parenthood which I never watched, but after just one show, I am hooked! I cried (a lot) but mostly because one of the characters gives birth (but let’s be honest, everything makes me cry these days!). So if you missed it, catch up on the premiere and watch it this week!

{two} Scandinavian Swimmers.

{via Trader Joe’s}

If you know me, you know I love all things gummy & I had a particular fondness for Swedish Fish. However, I gave them up a few years ago because of the (toxic) food dye. Boo. Since I have been craving sweets this pregnancy, I was ecstatic to find these Scandinavian Swimmers at Trader Joe’s which are essentially Swedish Fish but are naturally dyed! You wouldn’t even know that the red lobsters aren’t Swedish Fish unless you are looking at the shape. And while I know they really aren’t great for me, I am happy to have an alternative for my sweet tooth!

{three} Happy Fall!

{via Just Destiny blog}

I am not sure anyone is more excited that it is fall than me! And Seattle has been giving us some seriously awesome fall days – sunny & a little warm with just the start of leaves starting to turn. Fall has some big things in store, including some big stuff going on with The Petite Flag Shop after having a long summer hiatus. I have a small Fall Collection to release in the coming weeks & a huge event coming up next month. I will be sure to share all of the details soon. Until then, Happy Fall Y’all!

And be sure to check out what Kendra is loving this week!

What are you loving?

M

{We ended a morning of shopping with a pizza lunch & Eloise got to play with some pizza dough while we waited for our food.}

{We spent Friday night at the Sadliers’ house for family dinner night which was so fun! These three had a great time playing with each other & getting ready for bed, and the parents got to enjoy a fun game night post-bedtime. Thanks for hosting us Sadlier family!}

{While Eloise napped on Saturday I finally got some sketching done for the Shop! I have a few big things happening this fall & I am so excited to share them with you.}

{This morning we headed to the Zoo with Grammie & got to see the tigers really close up. Usually they are on the far end of the exhibit & really hard to see, so it was such a treat to have them so near the glass. This tiger had just walked right in front of E & me!}

{E loved having Grammie to help hold her up at the exhibits!}

{Dinner was Snappy Dragon take-out. Yes, please! I mean, why else do I go to Pure Barre on Sunday afternoons?}

We had a fun weekend with Grammie in town! Even though the weather was pretty rainy on Saturday, we didn’t let it stop us from having a good time. And today was the perfect fall day – a little crisp but so, so sunny! I am loving that fall is in just a few days.

How was your weekend?

M

Welcome back Friday!

{one} Halloween Costumes.

{via Chasing Fireflys}

Okay, I know it is only the middle of September & since it isn’t even technically fall yet, we shouldn’t even be thinking about Halloween yet. But, if you have ever wanted to buy something for Halloween, be it a costume or décor, you know you actually have to buy it in late summer or else everything is picked over. And that is absolutely 100% true with kids’ Halloween costumes. Kat over at Thrifty Littles posted a great round-up of online costume shops!

I had every intention of making Eloise a costume this year, but ended up snagging this adorable pumpkin costume from Pottery Barn Kids for just slightly more than it would cost me to make it!

{two} Honest Beauty Lip Crayon.

{via Honest Beauty}

For the past few months I have really been loving lip color, especially this simple & easy to put on lip crayon from Honest Beauty (I have it in Sheer Raspberry). Lipstick can seem a little too high maintenance for this stay-at-home mama to wear every day, but I do like a fun lip if we are out of the house. This lip crayon feels like a mix between a lipstick and a lip balm which is perfect for everyday! Plus, I feel good about the ingredients since you pretty much end up eating most of your lipstick… ugh.

{three} Solly Baby Wrap + Rifle Paper Co.

{via Rifle Paper Co}

You all know how much I LOVE Rifle Paper Co (I definitely have a girl-crush on Anna Bond) & since I am diving right into all things baby again, this Solly Wrap + Rifle Paper Co collaboration is right up my alley. The wrap just launched & is sadly already sold out… But you better believe I am on the email list waiting to scoop one up in the next launch! Seriously that fabric – swoon!

Be sure to check out what Kendra is loving this week!

What are you loving this week?

M

This post contains affiliate links.