FEELING: We've been lucky to remain so healthy this Winter, but cold season caught up with me on Monday night and I had major regrets I didn't chug a daily Emergen-C while visiting my parents. Woof! Here's hoping I don't pass this mess on to Max and the cruddy feeling passes soon. I'm so over it already!! Sniffles and sore throat BE GONE.
THANKFUL FOR: We have this amazing place called Produce Junction and they have some of the cheapest flowers and plants. Max and I usually make a pit-stop once a week to load up on fresh blooms. This past Tuesday, I managed to leave the store with five bundles of Ranunculus, three bouquets of Hydrangeas, a potted Primrose plant, and a bag of Clementines—all for $28. Gone are the days of Swell Rio's glittery-dyed grocery store Carnations, but I do miss HEB.
THINKING ABOUT: Apparently they have a lot of rules about what you can and can't mail to the Middle East. Because I'm proactive, I didn't look into this until AFTER I sent Flyboy a package. Upon hearing some of the stipulations and the fact that they search everything, I'm fairly certain I just paid to have his box of goodies confiscated. Le sigh. I won't go into what I sent to him; however, I'll be surprised if it ever makes its way to him. Lesson learned. On to the next parcel.
READING: Since I started blogging, I haven't written in an actual journal in eight years. I know this because I came across my old notebook on Monday and some of the entries had me rolling. Around this time, Flyboy was in Oklahoma for four months of training and I was living in Swell Rio with the pups. I was working full-time, living in our base housing unit with nothing but an air mattress and TV. In my final journal entries, I contemplated topics like blogging (Imagine that?!), Justin Bieber as a guest editor at Vanity Fair (I was pretty ticked!), shipping two large dogs to Hawaii, ingesting A LOT of Subway, the night Tripp killed a dove, and a little boy named "Maxwell" who I saw each morning when I walked the pups. What the?! I totally forgot about this character. He was OBSESSED with Beesly and each morning while he waited for the bus, he insisted on petting her, which also led to him telling me "she has a lot of WOOF to her." This kid's mom was ALWAYS looking for him around dinner time and he was usually across the street from our house collecting rocks. Oh em gee. How did I forget about him? Clearly he must have been my Max muse.
LISTENING TO: Max got the Alpha Training Blue Dinosaur for Christmas and it's pretty hilarious to see him interact with the lifelike toy Velociraptor. I'm fairly certain he thinks he's Owen at this point, except for the fact that he doesn't own a vest (...yet). With this particular robotic toy, the more she's trained, the more she begins to respond to the commands of her owner. Because Maxwell has a sweet spot for his animatronic dino, it's one of the first items I take away when he's not making great choices. Since he's been on the struggle bus lately, he's spent a decent amount of time away from Blue and I know firsthand that she's NOT happy about it. I kind of forgot where I'd placed her last week, went to put away some linens in a closet I rarely open, and almost fell over when her eyes rolled back and she hissed at me. Apparently I didn't turn her off and this was the first interaction she'd had with a human in weeks and I paid for it big time. Holy crap, that caught me off guard!! I am NEVER making that mistake again.
WATCHING: Bravo fans, how do you feel about RHOBH? I'm thinking there's a snowball's chance in hell that LVP shows up for the reunion. Who's with me? Also, do you think Vanderpump set all of this up as Rinna suggested in this week's episode? They don't call her the side sniper for nothing. I'm interested to see what all of the text messages have to say. Oh, and the way Ken yells at Kyle. Yikes! Something tells me this will be LVP's final season. Thoughts??
EATING: More often than not, I'm eating soup or salad in the evenings right now because it's quick and easy. So imagine the joy I felt a few weeks ago on Sunday when I had steak leftovers to heat up for dinner. Jackpot! I looked forward to that meal from the moment I woke up; it was going to be the best part of my day. Max notified me that he wasn't hungry, but that he would like to learn more about the digestive system from a funny British duo on YouTube. This should have been a red flag, but I agreed to let him watch it in an effort to buy myself a little "me" time. I quickly regretted this decision upon sitting down at the table, looking up at the TV, and being totally grossed out by the subject matter. Yeah, the carne asada just wasn't very appetizing after Max's little science lesson. Dang it, kid!
LOVING: I recently got this Mid-Century Bench from The Inside for our living room and I'm beyond smitten with how it turned out. The emerald cabana stripes make me so happy every time I come downstairs and see them!! For those of you unfamiliar with The Inside, I learned about the company after reading about it in Domino Magazine. The furniture retailer sells a variety of headboards, pillows, chairs, benches, etc. that are all made from scratch in the USA in under three weeks (that NEVER happens!). The pieces come in a variety of fun patterns (a new one drops each week!) that have the ability to transform any space with the hope of encouraging people to go beyond the beige (You know I LOVE that!!). Nothing about this is sponsored as I paid for the piece myself, but I would recommend The Inside in a heartbeat to someone looking for a quality piece of furniture that's both reasonably priced AND unique at the same time. I was incredibly impressed with the process and how the company keeps you informed from the minute the fabric is cut to when the item will ship. Now to spray it with ALLLLL the Scotchgard because kids and pets. Ha!
How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!
Happy Wednesday, m' dears! Where to begin? As you probably noticed, I took last week off from blogging to get life in order after visiting my parents for a few days. It was nice to purge closets, catch up on season two of Friends From College, and read my new art book. The downtime was great, but I was reminded that sitting at my desk in the afternoons to create here and there is still very therapeutic for me. With the time difference and shoddy Internet connection, most of our communicating with Flyboy is done by the time lunch rolls around. As a result, the remainder of the day can feel really long and quiet here. The peacefulness is nice, but this space fills my tank in a way that keeps things light and bright as possible. It helps me shift my focus from "HOW IN THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS FOR FIVE MORE MONTHS?" to the goodness that surrounds me instead. Lately, happiness has come in the form of punchy spots of cerise paint, snow kisses from Beesly, listening to my dad practice his guitar (he's getting SOOOO good!), signs of Spring on the horizon (even if the weather app disagrees), a lip mask that I'm fairly certain I used incorrectly—but fun nonetheless, and an army of dinosaurs lined up on Maxwell's bedroom floor.
Enough from me. What details have you found delightful lately?
Blue Mug // That dreamy shade of Yves Klein Blue gets me every single time. Now that's a pop of color!
Enamel Organic Shaped Tray // Are trays the new throw pillow? I can't seem to get enough these days.
Blossom Drop Earrings // So ecstatic to see they're offering my go-to earrings again in really fun colors.
Ellsworth Kelly Stamps // The cheapest work of Kelly's that I'll probably ever get my hands on. Eek!
Double Sconce // I'd like to make a few small updates to the master bathroom. These are on my list!
The Crossing by Kathleen Markowitz // All of the rich colors in her work make me want to start painting.
Maison Deux Eyes Rug // You guys!! This is a rug. Yes, you read that correctly. How flipping adorable???
Paul's Dog Jumper // The price is a bit ridiculous, but sometimes you need a statement piece. Right??
Single Row Beaded Brooch // Would you believe me if I told you Ganch made this from a pill bottle cap?
Hair Scarves // You can always rely on H&M for one swell of a deal, wouldn't you agree?? Perfection.
Striped Washi Tape // I'm getting low on my favorite roll of washi tape and I'm kind of freaking out.
If Not Now... // These inspirational graphics are a dime a dozen on Pinterest, but pink and red forever.
Raspberry Wall Decor // Awww, this piece by Fiona Walker reminds me of a toy Tripp used to play with.
Ankle Rain Boots // Take a hint from Maxwell and get yourself a set of sunny wellies for the Spring.
I Love You! Classic Striped Shirt // This classic and timeless piece gets a hint of whimsy with a heart.
Fluxus Sunglasses // Hot tip. These stellar Le Specs shades are half-price on Amazon. You're welcome.
Paintings by Scott Csoke // While browsing Scott's work, my eyes immediately went to the cerise splash.
Brass Bangle Set by Carli Holcomb // When my mom and I visited Quirk Gallery in Richmond last year, they had the most amazing selection of goodies for sale in their shop. Jewelry pieces like this too! Swoon.
Lime Crime Cherry Gloss // This beauty brand is new to me, but I'm loving the design. Have you tried it?
Oro Gold Dining Chair // Remember earlier this week when I dreamt about a vacay? Add these to my list.
Pom-Pom Natural Hamper // When it comes to pom-pom ANYTHING, you can count me in. Love this!!
Kid-O Glow In The Dark Magnatab // Have you ever played with one of these? They're so addicting.
Have a fabulous weekend, m' dears! Make it count.
FEELING: You guys, I'm pretty bummed. I came this close to hobnobbing with Bravo-lebrities two weeks ago and I didn't even know it. Gah! This is so typical of me. I had ONE chance and I blew it. Let me explain. Those of you who are familiar with the Real Housewives of Dallas know a thing or two about BFFs Brandi and Stephanie. Apparently they have a podcast and at the end of each episode they prank call viewers/fans. I was unaware of this until my sister informed me last week. You see, Aubrey listens to their podcast and when they asked followers on Instagram to submit names for potential prank calls, Aub shot them a DM with my information. Apparently they went back and forth coming up with ideas about fake products they might try to pitch me. So when my sister and I were chatting on the phone last Friday, she asked me: "Hey, have you gotten any phone calls from Texas lately?" Clueless, I responded with a "yes" and droned on about all the scam phone calls I get on a daily basis. She went on to ask, "Any from Dallas?" I pulled up my call log and there were FOUR missed calls on January 29th from the DFW area. I shared this with her and she went on to explain the rest. Yep, I was pretty bummed. I can't say for sure it was them, but I'm going to let myself believe they have my cell number and that they gave it a shot. Wouldn't you?! Now, if it was Kam trying to call and tell me I won a lifetime supply of pink dog food for Beesly, I'd decline. In this case, I really DO give a rip!
THANKFUL FOR: I don't know whether to be appreciative or weirded out by the following, but in the spirit of gratitude I'm just going to roll with it. In an age of Siri, Alexa, and a creepy number of targeted ads, I found it oddly convenient that Xfinity opted to give us a few weeks of Showtime for free. I was just talking to my mom and Flyboy about how difficult it would be to wait for the final season of Shameless to be released on Netflix. Not even 24 hours later, I was flipping through the guide on our TV and realized we had a trial subscription through February 24th. I'm all caught up on season 9 now, but have this fear the trial will end before the finale. Yoo hoo! Big Brother, if you're reading this, please don't cancel my Showtime until I complete the series. Ya year??
THINKING ABOUT: I guess I figured that since there wasn't any catchy term for age four (i.e. terrible twos, threenager, etc.), we would be in the clear. Kinda? WRONG! Try again. Life with a four year old is like living with an impulsive and emotionally unstable attorney. The need for power and constant negotiation is downright exhausting. I worried I might have trouble sleeping while Flyboy was away, so I bought a bottle of melatonin gummies a few weeks ago. Guess what?! Don't need 'em. By the time I get Max to bed and my head touches the pillow, I'm down for the count.
READING: It's been awhile since I shared a round-up of articles I found entertaining, thought-provoking, witty, etc.
12 Women on Their First Crushes via The Cut — Mine was definitely JTT!
LISTENING TO: Last week I shared that Max and I have a front row seat on the struggle bus these days. All aboard! Yes, this past Sunday ranks up there as one of the worst days of motherhood ever—right next to the infamous airport meltdown of 2017 in which he escaped from his stroller and several strangers came to check on us and offer me water. Anywho, it's been a wild ride for this mother-son duo. I won't bore you with too many details from this dreadful day, but it did include my son screaming at the top of his lungs: "I don't like you! You are the WORST-EST mommy I ever had!! Worst-est mommy EVER!!!!" Upon sharing this with an online friend who has four-year-old twins, she reminded me that a really bad mom would have corrected his grammar. Hehe! Trust me, I was tempted.
WATCHING: Seth Meyers and Ina Garten day-drinking!! Please tell me you watched this already. If not, stop what you're doing and prepare for ten minutes of giggly bliss. It is THE best!! I've never seen the Barefoot Contessa quite like this and by the end of the segment the two are blitzed. "Can we NOT talk about Jeffrey!"
EATING: I don't know what it is about pot pie, but I swear it's my kryptonite. I can't remember the last time I ate it because I literally become a ravenous animal when it's placed in front of me. I suppose this comfort food takes me back to my childhood (my sister and I were obsessed) and because life is short, I should probably just eat the damn pot pie. Since cooking for one is kind of boring and a low priority right now, I might take a hint from A Cup of Jo and try these Shortcut Pot Pies, made with Trader Joe's ingredients. They look amazing!
LOVING: Per Lara's recommendation (she's been my go-to beauty blogger for the past few years—her picks never disappoint!), I'm giving the Ole Henriksen Goodnight Glow a shot. I've been alternating it on the nights I don't use the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel and Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream. So far I'm pretty impressed with how glowy it makes my skin look in the morning. While I understand that anti-aging products like this typically take six weeks or more to really see results, I have a feeling this will be a regular in my skincare regimen.
How are you feeling today? Any plans for Valentine's Day? Thanks for stopping by!!
Anyone else wish they could slip away for a few days and pack nothing but a swimsuit and sun hat? In the event I hit it BIG time, I promise to take you all with me. Ya hear? For now, I will stay cozy in Delaware and live vicariously through all the fancy bloggers on Instagram who have friends with homes in the Bahamas (Say what?!), stare at the wintry mix of weather forecasted on my phone, and dream about which one of these one-piece suits I'd take with me on my fake sunny escape. All snark aside, J.Crew is kind of killing it with their swimsuit selection right now. I have no business browsing, but if I did it would come down to one of these three happy options. Which one is your favorite?
The Belted Colorblock, Tipped Seersucker, or the Polka-Dot?
Cuesta Pillow // What happens when yummy texture teams up with a classic stripe? That's right, THIS!
Melanie Johnsson // Color me obsessed with this illustrator. How adorable are these freebies and sunny patterns?? Let's not forget about the beautiful hand lettering. I love her sentiment toward the new year.
Mint Majesty 3 // Visiting Serena & Lily's website is one of my favorite ways to learn about new artists.
Kayu Isabel Bag // Seagrass totes adorned with pom-poms? Sounds like a fabulous combination to me.
Batched & Bottled // Wouldn't this be a lovely gift? I'll be banking this beauty in the future to give away.
Pebbles Basket // On the hunt for more organization, I was immediately drawn to this for obvious reasons.
I Love Life Clutch // I'm just going to go ahead and cue the music to Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."
KT Smail // If you're ever feeling down, I encourage you to browse KT's portfolio. Oh, the colors!
Cashmere Cardigan // I sure hope it means we see more of this lemon zest hue come Spring. It's dreamy!
Heart Dot Silk Everything Tie // Eek! This accessory tied onto your purse for the whole month of February!
I Love Your Heart Travel Jewel Box // The navy trim and a whimsical heart front and center. Gimme.
I Blame the Algorithm // I'm digging the clever selection of note cards by And Here We Are Letterpress.
Velvet Pencil Doorstop // This is giving me some serious Claes Oldenburg vibes and I flipping adore it.
Blobs of Paint // Would you believe me if I told you Hendry actually created these with colored pencils?
The Remi Slingback // Flats referred to as "the exclamation point to any good look." You can count me in.
Palm Cut-Out Earrings // Based on today's list, you think I want to head somewhere warmer? You're right!
Red Heart Note Pad // Are you sick of Valentine's Day hearts on everything yet? Good, me neither.
Cabana Journal // One glance and I was all like "I can't wait to jot down notes, ideas and thoughts in you!"
Heart Keychain $25 via Clare V.
Moxie Floral Fabric Journal $24 via Rifle Paper Co.
Marigold Coin Clutch $65 via Clare V.
Happy Wednesday, m' dears! Let's dive straight into the Dover deetz, shall we?
We got two inches of snow last Friday and yesterday it was 65 degrees. What gives, Mother Nature?! Whether that means we need to bundle up or grab a light jacket and sunnies, I'm learning just how important it is for Max and I to go outside and get some fresh air while Flyboy is away. Winters in Texas were mild, so we had no excuse but to get outdoors daily and we did. Unfortunately, we've gotten in a bad habit since it got colder here in Delaware and we haven't made it part of our routine. Time for a re-think!
Max has been struggling quite a bit in his dad's absence. He's exhibited some aggression and over the past few days has talked A LOT about how long FB's been away. This is difficult for me because I know we've barely made a dent in this deployment. I'm trying my best to figure out how to deal with his frustration, but some days are easier than others. Thanks to FaceTime, Max gets to talk to FB a lot. We get out our world atlas and globe on a daily basis and point to where he's at on the map. Scrolling through old photos and videos on my phone is one of his favorite things to do before he goes to bed and his Daddy Doll has been a godsend. It's uncharted territory for us and I pray we find our groove soon. One day at a time.
Support from family near and far has been incredible. My in-laws have been sending snail mail regularly and they even gifted me with a surprise subscription to The Magnolia Journal. It was such a treat to find a copy of the Spring issue in my mailbox! And as mentioned last week, my parents made their way to our place over the weekend. It was really nice to see their smiling faces and enjoy some company. Mom and I visited Terrain and Trader Joe's to help break up the mundane, and it was just what I needed! Dad came in clutch as babysitter, but also helped give Max the boost he needed to participate in soccer on Sunday.
I've been trying to make more time to read lately and I forgot how much I missed sitting down with a book regularly. It's so easy for me to fall into a Bravo black hole when FB is gone, so I'm trying to set aside at least 30 minutes a night. The book, Joyful, is currently on my night stand and I'm fairly certain the author has given me the green light to surround myself with ALL the color and flowers FOREVER. Right??
Enough from me. How the heck are you? I'm dying to know.
Rifle Paper Co. Pillows // Tell me you're equally obsessed with Rifle's latest line of home goods. Eek!
Statement Fan Earrings // My mom has these in light pink and they're oodles of fun. I want a set too.
Confetti Hearts Wall // I adore the idea behind artist Evelyn Henson's latest work. Talk about Insta worthy!
Candle Holder // I laid eyes on these and it was love at first sight. Then I learned they're discontinued.
Driving Moccasins // Remember when we lived in Hawaii and I was on the hunt for driving mocs? I think I may have even devoted an entire post to the topic. Ha! Some good things take six or seven years to find.
Snake Toy // We read My Snake Blake and now Max thinks he needs a snake of his own. Will this do?
Dylan Wicker Shoulder Bag // You guys!! Wicker and stripes. Now if we could just work on that price tag.
Carnival Round Sunglasses // Round, oversized, and the epitome of cool. Maybe they're Iris inspired?!
Rain Jacket // I didn't believe this coat could be any more perfect until it came in Sundrenched Peony!!
Esme Heart Pins // It's officially FEBRUARY so we get to smear hearts on all the things. Don't mind if I do.
Crossbody Strap // Flyboy got me a new CV bag for Christmas and I think this is a necessary companion.
Delaunay Playing Cards // How gorgeous is this set of playing cards designed by Sonia before she died?
Kaleido Tray // This royal blue beauty by HAY is dreamy! Let's mix and match the atypical shapes.
Thank You For Being A Friend // Keep things organized and honor the Golden Girls while you're at it.
Pink Sedan // Gimme, gimme, gimme. I need, I need. This is what bubblegum dreams are made of.
Yes You Can Mug // Nothing like a vote of confidence each morning from your cofveve cup. He He!
Caliana Slide Sandal // As if I didn't want to escape somewhere warm already, these up the ante BIG time.
Tess Smith-Roberts // I love how the artist incorporates great typography with her whimsical illustrations.
Dresser // No, I'm not crazy ($$$). I just can't help but wonder what the linen looks like in person??