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Valentine Round-up

2012-02-13T07:45:00.000-05:00

A collection some of my favorite homemade Valentines' past and present.

Photobooth Valentine (By me, from a few years back)

Heart Man from Inchmark

A scribbled Valentine by Lovely Design

Matchbox Valentines' from Inchmark

A work of art Valentine by Mer Mag

You make my heart race by Paper and Pip

You blow me away Valentine by Design Mom

Friendship bracelet Valentine by Dandee

Birthday Surprise

2012-02-13T07:00:00.002-05:00

I don't consider myself much of a surprise person but I recently did a birthday surprise via the mail for my dear friend Nicole who was turning 30. It was so much fun to organize that my head is spinning with ideas for who I want to do it to next! I originally found the idea right here at Inchmark. To make it happen, I did a few hours of research on Facebook to contact what appeared to be Nicole's 30 or so closest friends and family. (I made my decisions based on who commented on her posts most frequently, who had given her heart felt Facebook birthday

wishes in past years and also who was tagged in her oldest photos. Also, can I just say it is awesome you can send a message to someone on Facebook without actually being their friend? This would have been so much harder had that not been possible!) Anyway, after I gathered the names and addresses (it took about three weeks to hunt everyone down) I designed postcards in Publisher with the numbers 1-30 in different colors and fonts. I printed them on 8.5 x 11 110 lb. cardstock, four postcards to a page. Since I ended up having more than 30 people get back to me, I also made some extra postcards with various greetings like "Happy Birthday" and "The World is Way Cooler With You In It!" I think it would also be make a big impact to make all the postcards the same number (in Nicole's case the number 30) or postcards with funny quotes about getting older. Just a thought.)

The backs of the postcards were left blank for friends and family to write their heartfelt wishes but I did pre-address and stamp each one to make it easier. I then sent Nicole's favorite peeps a blank postcard along with a little note with instructions:

I hope Nicole enjoyed reading all her birthday wishes as much as I enjoyed connecting with all her friends and family to put the surprise together! Once again, all the original design and content ideas were found here. I was also inspired by these other great postcard birthday surprise ideas here and here.

18 months

2012-01-16T15:58:00.003-05:00

(Caroline at 6 months and 18 months)

Hard to believe that last year around this time, Caroline was a toothless, bald little babe just starting to sit up all by herself. Now she is a busy, piggy-tailed toddler who runs around the house unraveling toilet paper, biting the erasers off all the pencils, climbing on the table, splashing in the potty and trying her hardest to keep up with her two older brothers. What a difference a year makes. Love this little one to pieces.

2011 Highlights and Pictures

2012-01-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

January

Highlights: a visit to Amish country, snow days and chubby legs in polka dot leggings

February

Highlights: color on gray winter days, bundling up for a walk in the sun, a Valentines' party and cut out cookies (let's be honest. the real highlight was when the month came to and end!)

March

Highlights: Signs of spring, Jared's birthday, a day that required sunglasses and Caroline sitting up

April

Highlights: Marietta in bloom, warm days spent at the park and Uncle Austin's farm, Easter Sunday and egg hunts

May

Highlights: Mother's Day, a pet turtle named Sparky and a lost tooth

June

Hightlights: Pool days, Jared and I's whirlwind trip to North Carolina, a canoe trip to Hocking Hills, a SafetyTown graduate and Caroline's first birthday

July

Highlights: fireworks, Jared's graduation, family visiting from out of town and celebrating 8 years of marital bliss

August

Highlights: A trip to Columbus including a stop at COSI, a day at Idlewild amusement park and Mitchell starting kindergarten at home.
Low lights: A babe with a broken arm

September

Highlights: A Labor Day trip to Lakeside, Mitchell's birthday, my birthday, homemade applesauce and a trip to visit Grandpa B. at the T-county fair

October

Highlights: Spencer's birthday, fall foilage, family portriats, tricks and treats

Lowlights: A weekend spent at Children's hospital with Caroline

November
Highlights: moving to North Carolina, visiting the beach

December
Highlights: warm weather, gingerbread houses, a ride on a firetruck and Christmas in striped jammies

Christmas Eve Firetrucks

2012-01-03T20:55:00.000-05:00

On Christmas Eve we partook in a fun tradition in a little town just up the road. Every year they get out the city fire trucks and let all the kids (and adults) ride. The trucks go up and down main street with the lights flashing and sirens blaring. Santa rides on a vintage fire truck at the end of the line. This first photo was taken toward the end of the ride, just as we were about to get off but I'd say a good time was had by all.

The Beach

2012-01-03T20:50:00.000-05:00

After we left Ohio, we had about a week to get settled before Jared started work and the weather was sunny and pleasant so naturally, one of our first stops was the beach! On our

way, we made a quick stop at the home of "Grave Digger" for a photo-op and then we went on to Jockey's Ridge State Park. Jared and I both agree, it is the best place to let kids run free. It is a huge sand dune so they can't get lost, they can't drown (or get hurt really) and there is nothing

for them to break. After Jockey's Ridge we went to Nags head to see the ocean and our last stop was an Aquarium on Roanoke Island. It has since cooled off but I'm excited to make some more day trips to the beach when the weather warms up again!

We Have a New Backyard

2012-01-03T20:17:00.004-05:00

We moved...to North Carolina! The day after Thanksgiving Jared and I said good-bye to the good old Buckeye State and drove south. We landed in North Carolina, sort of in the middle of nowhere but just for reference, about an hour south of Norfolk, Virginia and an hour and half inland from the Outer Banks. The past month has been hectic with our move, the holidays and Jared's new job happening all at once but we are slowly getting settled and feeling more at home every day. Here's to a fresh start and a sunny, mild winter (insert hallelujah chorus here) in 2012!

Long Time, No See

2011-10-12T11:19:00.004-04:00

I have been MIA since the end of July! Yikes. As it turns out, three kiddos are keeping me pretty busy and I am having a hard time making time for blogging. Although I hate catch up posts, they are, unfortunately, a necessary evil. Here are a few things I've been up to since my last missive:

- Caroline broke her arm at the beginning of August. (not badly, but still sort of traumatic none-the-less.)
- We tried to savor every last bit of summer we could, even though Caroline's arm splint put a damper on our outdoor water activities. :(

- Mitchell turned six!

- I turned 31! As a naive child/teenager, there were a few things I thought would be different about my thirties. First, I thought i would be heavier. I really am pleasantly surprised I've been able to stay fit. Second, I thought I would have a lot more money. I am realizing now that becoming a millionaire is a lot harder than I originally thought. :) Also, I thought for sure I would be done getting zits. (What's up with that?)

- I am home schooling Mitchell. So far so good. It was a little rough at the beginning but we've gotten into a routine and things are going well. I started thinking about it because I'm sort of anti all-day kindergarten. I don't think it's horrible, just a waste of time. Also, I read, Well Trained Mind: A guide to classical education at home and watched Waiting for Superman, a documentary on public education in America in the same week. (Bad combo if you feel like you want to home school and are trying to talk yourself out of it!) However, if you are thinking about it, I'm definitely no expert but, I would recommend the Well Trained Mind. I put together a simple curriculum based on their recommendations.

- We made a bunch of homemade applesauce-delicious!

- I am playing tennis again! I played tennis growing up, including on my high school tennis team. It is something I love but for one reason or another, (being pregnant, having no money, having no one to play with, being pregnant again...) I haven't done in a long time. Lucky for me, Marietta has a really well organized community tennis association so I've been playing on their women's league and have met some fun new people to play with. My game is still sort of rusty but it's slowly coming back and it feels great to whack some yellow felt around even if it is just for a few hours each week.

- We spent a relaxing weekend watching our church's semi-annual general conference. A weekend full of spiritual enlightenment and encouragement. What? You missed it? No worries. It's all archived, here. Seriously, even if you are not LDS, you should watch some of it. It is so good! Try this talk and this talk.

-Spencer turned four! (In case you are wondering, his cake is supposed to be a rocket ship. Unfortunately, it had a few mechanical/structural malfunctions and toppled over several times before we sang happy birthday. It was pretty sad looking by the time the picture was snapped!)

- A few of my old thrift store revival projects have been buzzing around Pinterest. If you are here from Pinterest and have read this far, welcome! Unfortunately, I didn't do tutorials for most of those projects so you won't find them on the site. Sorry! :)

That's all the major happenings around our house. It seems like it suddenly turned into fall this week; the leaves are beautiful and Halloween is just a few short weeks away. Hopefully I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis soon! :)

P.S. I changed the template on my blog and I don't like it. However, I don't know how to change it back. Boooo!

Shrimp Tomato and Basil Pasta

2011-07-27T09:04:00.008-04:00

A delicious Every Day Food recipe I found via my culinary genius friend Vanessa. I made this last week when it was a million degrees outside and it made a nice, light ending to a very hot and hazy day. All the better if you grow tomatoes and/or basil in your backyard! Recipe here.

My notes: The recipe says to add two cups of water along with the diced tomatoes to make the sauce. I made it that way in the past but found the sauce was too watery. This time I made it using one cup of water and that was plenty. (I actually added a couple tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken it up a bit. So really, you could probably omit the water altogether and just use the juice from the tomatoes. You live and you learn.) I also used 1 pound of bow tie pasta instead of angel hair.

Mr & Mrs

2011-07-26T10:20:00.010-04:00

Celebrating eight years as Mr & Mrs today.

Happy Anniversary Jared!

(photo taken in Michigan City, Indiana shortly after our first anniversary.)

Time Out Book

2011-07-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

Mitchell and Spencer play together really well the majority of the time. Really. They are like two peas in a pod. However, certain days they have a little more trouble getting along. Just recently, I remembered an idea I got from my sister-in-law way back before I had any kids. She said when her girls would argue, she would have them sit in time out where she had pictures them being nice to one another displayed on the wall. I thought that was a great idea so I decided to do something similar for Mitchell and Spencer. I just used a cheap-o photo album from the dollar store and filled it with lots of pictures of them sharing, playing and laughing. Now when they are arguing, they go to time out and look through the book together. When they are ready to say sorry and act like the pictures in the book, they get to come out. This is really the first day I've tried the book and so far so good. They love looking at pictures of themselves so they forget whatever dumb toy they were fighting over to begin with. Don't worry. I'm sure the bloom will where off by tomorrow and I'll have to think of something new but if it works for one day, I'll consider it a success!

Sweet Peach

2011-07-08T12:49:00.006-04:00

Photo by Elizabeth Messina

Caroline is as soft and sweet as a little peach so it only makes sense that I make this cake for her belated birthday celebration this weekend. (It also helps that her birthday falls smack dab in the middle of peach season.) My mouth is watering thinking about it. I just hope I can make it taste as good as it looks in this picture! (Recipe here.)

Update: This turned out to be a very yummy cake with a mild peach flavor. Spooning the cooked fresh peaches over the cake is a definite must. (I did this over each individual slice after the cake was cut.) It was maybe not as delicious as it looks in the picture but also, the peaches I used were just so-so. If you make this, half the frosting recipe. It makes a TON!

Stripes!

2011-07-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

I just couldn't pass up this striped t-shirt dress (with pockets!) on a recent trip to Goodwill. It is originally from Land's End so the knit was substantial and high quality. I had originally planned to transform it into a little boat neck shift dress but my sewing skills weren't quite up to par so I settled on a skirt. Working with stripes was a minor hassle as well as reattaching the pockets but all in all, it wasn't too bad and I'm pleased with the results. Hooray for stripes and hooray for $4 skirts!

Birthday Girl

2011-06-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe my sweet, little Caroline is one year old today! Jared is out of town so we will be celebrating when he returns next week. However, I always intended to blog about her birth story and never got around to it so I figured now would be a good time to reminisce. First off, what made Caroline's birth different from the boys, is that I decided to have her naturally. (Aka: no epidural.) The initial reason behind my decision was financial. Jared and I have no maternity coverage and epidurals are expensive- like $3,000 expensive. Since I had a very quick labor with Spencer, I figured the $3,000 could be better spent (or saved) on something else. I will say, that although my initial decision was financial, the more I read about natural child birth and the more women I talked to who had had a natural child birth, the more convinced I was that it was the way to go. Better for me and better for baby. And, now having done it myself, I can confidently say they were right! It was a great experience. Painful but really cool and in a weird sort of way. I don't regret having an epidural with the boys (especially for my first) but from here on out, I think natural is the way to go! The birth story itself is a little anti climatic. I was two days past my due date and woke around 2:00 A.M. in labor. I laid in bed trying to relax, while my contractions progressed until about 4:00 A.M. My contractions were getting more painful and were about five minutes apart by this time so I got out of bed and got a few things together for the hospital. In the meantime, Jared called our sister-in-law to come over and stay with the boys.

With hospital bag, ready to go!

We were at the hospital and checked in by 6:00 A.M. I was dialated to an 8 which made me very happy-I knew everything was going to go quickly! The doctor took his time arriving and broke my water around 6:45-7:00ish. That last 30 minutes were sort of intense but most especially the last few moments when I pushed. Of course it was all very worth it because at 7:30, Jared delivered Caroline (under the supervision of my doctor) and she was perfect.

A few minutes after she was born.

A couple of hours later, feeling good after her first bath.

I can't believe how quickly this year has passed! Caroline has been such a happy, predictable and delightful baby. She truly lights up the room wherever she goes and lights up our home every day. Happy Birthday Caroline!

Married

2011-06-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing a lovely bride and groom at the Columbus Ohio Temple on Saturday and fell in love all over again with this sign template from Martha Stewart. It is so easy to make and it always turns out so cute! Find an excuse to make one and then click here for the template.

(Busting my tail editing pictures from the day so hopefully I'll have them all up early next week!)

Indoor Citrus

2011-06-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

Image

After reading this post and this post (on the same day, coincidentally) I have decided I must procure an indoor citrus tree at the earliest possible convenience. I have also decided a tree (of any variety) would make a fabulous gift. I'm sure you can send one for about the same cost as a bouquet of flowers but it would last quite a bit longer. Sorry. I'm sure most of you already had that figured out but I just had an epiphany and thought I'd share!

I Love Your Style: RaeAnna

2011-06-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hip Hip, hooray! I get to introduce you to RaeAnna, the Jackie O. of Marietta, Ohio. RaeAnna is a busy mom of six children and she also happens to be the epitome of classic, timeless style. Her understanding of body shape, lines and color palettes allows her to dress successfully for her own body-type but she is notorious for sharing this knowledge with others by helping them find figure flattering styles that reflect their personality. (In other words, she is an unpaid image consultant!) RaeAnna is graceful, strong and poised. Everything a woman of true style should be! I feel lucky to call her a friend and lucky to share her words of wisdom regarding style with you. Grab a pencil and some paper; you'll want to take notes.

How would you describe or define your current style?
My current style, or what I'm aiming for my current style to be, is kind of late fifties/early sixties--the era of simplicity as far as line and color of clothes accessorized with one bold piece of interest. I've been trying to find that spot-on balance of classic, but relevant, sophistication.

What inspires you and the way you dress?
Whenever I see a mom my age wearing the drooping pony tail, the 5K T-shirt under the drop-waist denim jumper, and her husbands flip-flops, it inspires me in some bizarre-o way to have fashion in my life. To see a girl not try to have a glimmer of style in her life makes my insides wither. I'm motivated to dress up because of how it makes me feel--alive.

Do you have any fashion icons or people whose style you love?
Women from both my home and from Hollywood have definitely inspired my style. My Grammy was a fashion editor for Lord and Taylor on Fifth Avenue in NYC in the forties. All growing up, she not only would tell us fabulous stories of what it was like working there, but she always dressed as though she were still in the fashion industry. My mom would also tell us her little fashion rules that I have found to be un-failingly true: If you show skin, people will look there instead of looking at your face. If you wear the right color, you'll look younger and thinner. If you're past 30 and still have long hair, fix it every day or "you'll look like an old hag". Rarely are knees pretty, so cover them.

As for Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn IS fashion, to me. My mother once had a part in a production of "My Fair Lady". We watched the film, and I connected with it. Audrey had so much grace in her style, but also had a certain level of modesty. As far as I know, she didn't use fashion provocatively like others of her time. Jacklyn Kennedy Onassis was also so demure but bold in her style. And even though Marilyn Monroe is on the trampy side of fashion, I do like to modestly incorporate just the tiniest smidgen of the "pin-up" look every now and then. Can a good girl admit that?

What are some of your favorite places to shop?
Nordstrom's, Ann Taylor, and Talbot's are where I enjoy shopping. Because they are so expensive, I try to make it count when I do buy something. However, the best suit I have was from a catalog called "MetroStyle", which is a cheaper version of "Chadwick's". I love looking at those catalogs because even though they have cheaply made clothing, they do have interesting styles and silhouettes. But at the end of the day, GoodWill is always the best and the funnest.

Do you have any tips for the novice shopper?
In fact, it was at GoodWill that I began to learn about how to dress my body. A long story short, I'm the youngest girl out of four in a row. Hand-me-downs were my lot in life. Since I didn't ever have money or the opportunity to learn how to shop or fit my body, I had to teach myself at 30 years old. Luckily we lived in Connecticut near wealthy neighborhoods. The GoodWill was stacked with high-end clothing. I would go there and try on all sorts of clothes and memorize the colors, the styles, and the brand names that were successes or failures. The next time I would go shopping, I would then know to stay away from tops that were salmon pink--even though I love that color desperately--because it just never worked for me the millions of times I've tried to make it work. Knowing to avoid certain items makes shopping more successful in less time. Through this experience I also learned that you never know what will happen until you try it on. By being open and brave, you will probably stumble onto a style or color that you had no idea you could rock.

Do you feel there are any splurge worthy items---things you are willing to spend more money on? Splurge-worthy items? Well, in my opinion, every girl needs a little "black" dress. (I use quotations because some girls do brown, grey, or navy better than black.) When the magic happens and you find your dress, be responsible and snatch it up! The same goes for that perfect bathing suit. Those are almost always expensive but so worth it.

What items in your closet do you keep coming back to year after year?
Wardrobe staples, for me, include jeans, khaki's, a black dress, *white shirts*, a cute dressy jacket, pearls, and a pair or two of slingbacks. White shirts have a special place in my closet. And I think every girl whether she knows it or not needs a pair of fishnets.

What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations?
One of my favorite outfits involves my husbands cranberry and gold striped neck-tie, my tailored jean jacket, a white oxford shirt, my lime green long-sleeved T-shirt, a long khaki pencil skirt, and dark brown high-heeled boots with my Grandmother's ring with the big pink stone. It combines color, layers, and also has a masculine edge. I like the androgynous look here and there.
A style combination that I'm trying to figure out is how to dress like Audrey Hepburn with a body shaped more like Ms. Monroe. So far I've learned that you have half a chance if you keep it black.
When my Grammy passed away, my mom gave me one of my Grammy's sets of jewelry. I absolutely loved them, but back then it looked so gaudy. Now I enjoy wearing her pieces because I'm learning how to wear baubles and glitz without it looking dumpy, cheap, or dated.

Are there any trends you are looking forward to?
A trend that I have enjoyed is the solid-color trend. I'm a solid-color girl. It seems that maybe we are still in this trend judging from what I've seen on the runways this month, but definitely on the last of it. I read somewhere that Jackie Kennedy wore a printed fabric once and that was because it was a woven cloth given to her from a president of an Asian country. Even then, it was the skirt part of her dress and not up by her face. It seems that with a solid color, the trend is more in the cut of the garment--drapes, gathering, tailoring, necklines, sleeves, monochromatic embellishments, etc.
Ruffles have been a huge trend which, when worn wisely, can be amazing in correcting or concealing imbalances in body-proportions.
I cringe a little when I see the 80's fashions gaining popularity. It's not kind, but I'll say it anyway: To me, the 80's were Disney's version of the Victorian Era.
The silhouette that is popular is very willowy with lots of garments that just hang, like a sweater or scarf, very unstructured. This is very bad for me. It's completely opposite of what I need style-wise. And usually if there is something flowy on top, the skinny jeans are worn on the bottom. This is even worse for me. I guess I'll just have to stick this one out.
A look that I'm currently on the hunt for is the black wool coat with 3/4-length sleeves worn with long black leather gloves.

Can you share with us any recent favorite purchases?
Yikes! I just bought two more white shirts! And I think it was in a weak, lonely moment last February when I bought two cute skirts with some red patent leather peep-toe heels. I still haven't had the chance to wear them because I happened to be pregnant when I bought them! (Does my husband know about this?) I'm dying to wear them!

Anything you are planning/would like to purchase in the near future?
Ann Taylor just had the most perfect bag that I've looked everywhere for. I'm not a purse-carrier, but this one caught my eye. It was black leather with a black grosgrain ribbon bow tied on one of the handles. And I've finally found my perfect tall boot, the Kirby boot--black leather, sleek seeming, the most elegant heel and toe, zipper up the back. Jimmy Choo and Nordstrom's were asking only $965! I found this pair in my size the other night on e-bay with seriously two more minutes of bidding; the price was $399.99. My husband is so happy that I forgot my password! Another little new wish I have I stumbled upon in the shoe sale at JCrew's website--the Paulina ballet flat. Imagining me wearing it makes me think of picnics and tree swings.

What advice would you give someone who is trying to find their own personal style or spruce up their current look?
My advice for anyone who is new to or intimidated by fashion is start with color. If you are wearing the right color near your face, you're well on your way. You will know what colors are right for you if you look good in them even before you put on make-up. Stand in front of the mirror. If you eyes can't take themselves off of the shirt you're wearing, it' the wrong color. After color, move onto necklines. An easy indicator of which neckline is right for you is to think of opposites: If you have a pointed chin, usually a rounded or square neckline will look good on you. If you have a rounded jaw and chin, usually a square or V neckline will flatter you. If you have a little patience, you can have the makings of a great look by mastering these two simple elements of style.
My random fashion commentary: So few women--the ones that you see at church or the grocery store--really know how to get dressed up! American woman are too sloppy! I have chosen to get really dressed up once a week. Church is an opportunity to pull out the make-up and heels. With all of the children running around all week, it's healing to see myself showered and fixed up. At this phase of my life, I can only commit to once a week.

Dear Summer, I Love You

2011-06-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Two weeks into summer and we have already sipped homemade lemonade from stripey straws, developed tan lines, run in the sprinkler, eaten Popsicles for brunch, run around in our bare feet, been caught with Watermelon juice dripping off our chins, stayed up past our bedtimes, lounged by the pool and have even caught a few lightning bugs. What have you all been up to? I hope you are loving summer too!

I Love Your Style: Pam

2011-05-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Remember my little style series? I can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted a feature! Well, I'm happy to announce that I have two new ladies to introduce you to this week. The first is my friend Pam. She and I share a love for cardigans, opaque tights and flowery corsages and headbands. She has a knack for putting together outfits that are fun and flattering and she always seems to have a necklace and the perfect pair of shoes for every outfit. Welcome Pam!

How would you describe or define your current style?
Kind of a hybrid of geek chic and 1950's housewife.

What inspires you and the way you dress?
TV and movies. All the way. I am a total pop culture junkie.

Do you have any fashion icons or people whose style you love?
Yes! I love Emma Pillsbury (Glee) and Annie Edison (Community).

What are some of your favorite places to shop?
I love to bargain hunt, but I have a tendency to lean toward pricier designers so TJ Maxx is usually my best bet. I always find great tops and shoes there. I have a more difficult time with jeans. For those, I usually stick to Kohl's or JCPenney. I am pretty partial to Levis.

You are quite the bargain shopper. Can you give any tips or tricks for finding a great deal?
I never pay retail for ANYTHING! I always hit end of season sales, clearance racks, and bargain retailers. If you have something specific in mind, don't look for it on a clearance rack though. It always ends in heartache.

Do you feel there are any splurge worthy items---things you are willing to spend more money on?
Good bras and a good-fitting pair of jeans. I'll spend more on something if I know that I'll use it often enough to get my money's worth.

What items in your closet do you keep coming back to year after year?
Cardigans. I love them. They're so flexible. You can make a cardigan work with just about anything.
What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations?
I like sweaters paired with big chunky belts. Plaid bermuda shorts. Anything polka dots. The whole "boyfriend" cardigan look has been one of my more recent favorites, especially when paired with some Chuck Taylor's and a cute pair of jeans.

Are there any trends you are looking forward to?
I've seen a lot of wide-leg pants recently and I think it's a good look. I am really curvy, so pants with wider bottoms tend to balance out my curves.

Can you share with us any recent favorite purchases?
Recently I bought the CUTEST jacket from JCPenney. And it was on clearance for $4!

Anything you are planning/would like to purchase in the near future?
I saw the most beautiful red maxi dress by BCBG Max Azria. It had perfect little ruffle details. And then I saw a pair of strappy red espadrilles. I've been thinking about how great it would look paired with a simple white tee and some long, dangly necklaces. Or maybe a flower headband. I can't get it out of my head. It's been tempting me.

What advice would you give someone who is trying to find their own personal style or spruce up their current look?
I think the best thing you can do is find what looks flattering on you. Just because something looks great on one person doesn't mean that it will on someone else.

Thanks for sharing your style Pam and congrats on your engagement!
(Love those polka dot shoes!)

For more words of style wisdom see past my past features of katie, ruth & lauren hutton.

Toothless

2011-05-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

Mitchell lost his first tooth! It has been loose for a couple of months but he had to have it extracted due to an infection that formed on his gum just above it. (Probably had something to do with his past tooth drama I blogged about here.) He handled it like a champ and now he has nice green dollar from the tooth fairy in his piggy bank.

Sparky

2011-05-25T12:09:00.005-04:00

Meet the newest addition to our family. The boy's first pet; a box turtle they named Sparky. Not sure he'll be around for too long, but the boys are enjoying his company in the meantime.

Motherhood

2011-05-20T09:39:00.000-04:00

"I long to accomplish great and noble tasks but my duty is to
accomplish humble tasks as if they were noble and great." - Helen Keller

Curls

2011-05-17T09:26:00.005-04:00

It looks like Caroline takes after me, with hair that gets curly when it's hot and humid. (She wears it a lot better than I do though!)

Caroline, 10 months (LOVE this age)

Simple Pleasures

2011-05-13T11:10:00.000-04:00

I recently realized that I have done very little to document the small town I have called home for the past two years. Marietta in general, is a small, quiet community nestled right along the Ohio river. And although it's not perfect, it has a historic quaintness that especially shines this time of year. Think old brick streets lined with blooming trees and big southern-style homes, a spectacular farmer's market, a small but beautiful college campus and a downtown bursting with antique shops. There are also several museums, tours and historical attractions worth checking out but you have to know where to look. In an attempt to document Marietta, I thought I'd try to share a few of my favorite gems. The first being the downtown shop, Simple Pleasures. Simple Pleasures is a home decor and accessories shop styled much like Anthropologie and offering many of the same items. It's always a happy day when I can pop in for a few minutes and absorb a little interior inspiration. Recently the shop owner was kind enough to let me capture some images to share:

Definitely worth a look, whether you are a local or just visiting for the day:
Simple Pleasures
176 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750
740.374.8600

Pictures

2011-05-12T13:09:00.000-04:00

Spring has arrived and so has portrait session! I have a new camera (well, new to me. I bought an original 5D used on ebay), I've cracked out the old Polaroid and I've added a few new family sessions to the photography blog. If you're interested, check them out here.

Mothers Day

2011-05-08T12:49:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I think, do I really have three kids? Indeed I do. Happy Mother's Day to me!

Mitchell - 5.5, Caroline - 9 months, Spencer - 3.5

Mothers Day

2011-05-08T12:49:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I think, do I really have three kids? Indeed I do. Happy Mother's Day to me!

Mitchell - 5.5, Caroline - 9 months, Spencer - 3.5

The Making of an Easter Portrait

2011-04-25T13:24:00.006-04:00

Eggs

2011-04-20T21:54:00.001-04:00

A pretty little row of colorful Easter eggs from me, to you. Enjoy!

Spring

2011-04-14T20:20:00.007-04:00

As it turns out, the fat robin I mentioned in my previous post sat in my tree and mocked me while the forsythia shivered and the daffodils and I cried for the two weeks following that blessed first day of spring. It was cold, gray and rainy. Almost worse than February, if that is even possible. It snowed a little on April 1st! Mother Nature's cruel prank, I suppose, but I wasn't laughing. Spring has finally shown up the past several days (thankfully!) and here are a few pictures to prove it.

Caroline sporting dandelion earrings. (A gift from Mitchell):
Beautiful Magnolia trees in full bloom at the city building:Tree buds in my backyard:
Caroline and I enjoying some fresh air and sunshine at Austin's farm:
Caroline and Grandpa in matching outfits, coincidentally!

Tell Tale Signs

2011-03-18T09:29:00.006-04:00

Specimen #1, Fat robin perched in my yard:
Specimen #2, Forsythia on the brink of bloom:
Sepcimen #3, Rows of happy daffodils about to burst:
Sunday marks the first official day, my friends. And really, I couldn't be happier.

Hibernating

2011-03-10T15:59:00.007-05:00

I have been hibernating this winter and in so doing have been neglecting this poor blog. Know that we are still alive and still anxiously awaiting spring! I am a little bummed because March has been a major let down so far but I am still so happy February is OVER! Anyway, over the past month or so I have been trying to keep my mind off the weather with several projects including a homemade chambray skirt (I'll post pictures when the weather is actually warm enough to wear it), refinishing my kitchen table, celebrating Jared's 33rd birthday, making lots of strawberry jam (I know it's a little early but strawberries were on sale for 79 cents a quart!) and watching Caroline grow like a weed. Speaking of the littlest one, she has finally sprouted some hair on top and her newest trick is sitting up. We're hoping the rain will stop and the mercury will rise so we can get outside and play sooner rather than later. Seriously, spring is welcome anytime now!

(Caroline 8 months)

Baked Tortellini

2011-02-24T21:20:00.005-05:00

I made this baked tortellini recipe for dinner tonight. It was perfect comfort food for the grayest, drizzliest, ugliest day ever. It tasted especially good paired with our canned garden green beans and a thick slice of homemade wheat bread. Check out the recipe here.

PS If you make this, add more bacon than the recipe calls for. You won't regret it.

Image courtesy of Everyday Food.

Triple Layer Chocolate Cake

2011-02-15T15:39:00.005-05:00

Pretty cakes always make me happy. I made this one: a triple layer devil's food cake for Valentines day using a boxed cake mix (I swear, boxed cakes always taste better than cakes from scratch) and this yummy frosting recipe from Martha Stewart. I highly recommend. The frosting turns out thick and shiny so it is easy to work with. It is also really rich so don't forget to serve it with a big glass of milk!

Note: The frosting recipe makes quite a bit so if I were to make it again I might consider altering the recipe to make less. I used 3/4 of it but had a little more than a cup left over when all was said and done.

Color

2011-02-09T15:37:00.005-05:00

Just trying to bring some color to another gray winter day with some finger painting. I'm really working hard to hold it together and get through my least favorite month. I did just hear some good news: the weather man is calling for temps in the 50s next week. Hip hip, hooray!

Flower Belt

2011-01-24T21:31:00.001-05:00

I made this belt a couple of weekends ago after seeing a similar one for sale on-line. I bought a piece of thick, black elastic (they sell it by the yard at JoAnns) and sewed the ends together to make a tube the size of my waist. I made the flower using this template/tutorial from Martha and pinned it to the elastic. Done!

Brooklyn Dress

2011-01-20T11:39:00.000-05:00

I spotted the designer version of this dress on Piperlime in the fall and loved it, but quickly dismissed it when I saw the ridiculous price tag. Imagine my delight to see a very similar knock off available at Target in their new Merona Retro Resort collection. Yahoo!

Living Room Inspiration

2011-01-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

This photo is from a new to me blog called Pure Style, which my sister introduced me to after she saw it featured in a recent Better Homes and Gardens magazine. What I love about this room is the mantle. If you look closely, you will see there is no fireplace. It is just the mantle of a fireplace, which you can easily find at flea markets and antique stores. It does a spectacular job of bringing a focal point into a room that would not have one otherwise. Genius! The rest of her home tour is really good too. Click here for the details and some before and afters of a great home makeover.

Necklace Display

2011-01-17T21:30:00.001-05:00

A really clever idea for necklace storage. Via Say Yes to Hoboken.

Stripey Blankets

2011-01-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

These stripey baby blankets are simple, modern & pretty. I'm thinking a couple twin sized versions of that top quilt may be in order at my house.

via HI + LOW and Purl Soho

Polaroid Display

2011-01-12T20:35:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to figure out what I was going to do with the little stack of polaroids I've acquired since I bought my camera. I have also been hoarding several boxes of film in my fridge (because it's so expensive!) Now, I have a plan.

via you are my fave

Entry Inspiration

2011-01-12T19:14:00.000-05:00

I'm telling ya, being a renter is killing me slowly. Well, I should clarify, being a renter in an old house with textured walls, ugly golden yellow paint and very little natural light is killing me slowly. Really, it is. So, since it might be awhile before I have an entry of my own (sigh) in the meantime I'm loving this inspiration from Green Little Notebook.Painted dresser. Over sized mirror. Framed art with an orange mat. Fresh Flowers. I love it all.

Snowy Day

2011-01-11T15:17:00.006-05:00

The view from my back door today is proof that winter can actually be sort of pretty.

(If you are a long time reader of this blog and are confused by that statement, see resolutions below.)

Happy New Year from my Family to Yours!

2011-01-10T20:25:00.007-05:00

Out with the old and on with the new! We are ten days into the new year which means I am ten days into some new resolutions. One of which is to not complain about winter. As you can see, this has left me somewhat speechless in this little corner of the world but I think it will be for the best. You gotta admit, my whining was beginning to get a little redundant. I have also decided to abstain from sweets during the month of January and so far, so good. A few other things I would love to do this year are...

1. Make a pretty garland
2. Perfect my pie making skills
3. Take lots of little weekend trips in our new, old camper
4. Buy this book and sew some clothes
5. Actually throw a few of the parties I've been scheming up in my head
6. Plant a small garden
7. Order room service
8. Organize our family photos

I think that is a good start. What have you resolved to do in 2011?

6 months

2010-12-30T15:41:00.008-05:00

Congratulations Caroline- you've made it halfway around the calendar!

Merry & Bright

2010-12-24T07:43:00.005-05:00

Santa Claus comes tonight and my kids couldn't be more excited. We'll be spending the day doing some last minute baking and gift wrapping and if I have time, I might also try to make a beautiful snowflake garland like the one pictured above. You can find some how-tos here and here if you want to make one too. Merry Christmas!

Yellow Shoes

2010-12-10T17:00:00.003-05:00

I know it's flipping freezing outside but someone should buy these, tuck them away for a few months and then wear them with a cute summery skirt. Just an idea.

Camping Trailer

2010-12-10T09:08:00.008-05:00

Image

Just before Thanksgiving, Jared and I became the proud owners of a vintage (late 70s) Tag-Along camping trailer. It's in great shape and it even has a cute stripey awning! We're hoping to take it on a maiden voyage before the New Year (hopefully somewhere a little warmer than Ohio.) I've already started planning some epic family road trips for the future in my head: Yellowstone, the Pacific Highway and New England are high on top of my list.

Update: The trailer pictured is not Jared and I's camper. (Ours isn't nearly as cute...yet!) However, the one pictured is available for rent in the UK. :)

I Love Your Style: Lauren Hutton

2010-12-08T10:10:00.006-05:00

In case you don't stalk the J.Crew website, American style icon Lauren Hutton is currently featured with some very valuable words of wisdom regarding fashion:

You never want to look like you've spent too much time getting dressed.

I like mixing expensive with inexpensive. And i like easy things that don't normally go together...

Get to know your proportions. one of the secrets to figuring out your proportions is to really listen when people pay you a compliment, especially if you're getting the same compliments over and over. If someone says something looks good on you, look in the mirror and take note. There's a reason.

It's massively important for me to feel comfortable in what i'm wearing. it just makes me feel better, then my face looks better. When you show the world your best face and your best self, you quite often get that back.

Developing your very best personal style...involves a lot of trial and error.

I want to wear whatever looks good on me, no matter where it comes from.

Don't shy away from color, but be sure to learn what works best with your skin tone.

Fashion is what you're offered four times a year. Style is what you pick out of that fashion...it's what you make of it once you've learned what to accept and ignore based on what best suits you.

Click here to check it out!

Well Hello December

2010-12-07T09:17:00.003-05:00

November sort of slipped through the cracks but here we are in December and winter has officially arrived. On the very first day of December we were greeted with light flurries which left a delicate dusting of snow all over. It has been flurry-ing lightly every since so we have had a snow covered yard almost all month which makes for high Christmas spirits. And, speaking of the Christmas spirit, I had the pleasure of attending my very first performance of Handel's Messiah Sunday evening. Wow. Marietta College collaborates with the community to put on the performance each year at St. Mary's Catholic church on 4th street. The venue in and of itself is spectacular since the church is huge and beautiful at every turn but the performance was equally breathtaking and so powerful. For a little history on Handel and to watch a performance of the Hallelujah chorus to get you in the spirit, see here.

Halloween

2010-10-29T11:06:00.007-04:00

There are very few things in this world I enjoy more than seeing little kids in Halloween costumes. This year Spencer dressed as a cowboy and Mitchell was a superhero he called "Stormy." He and Jared created the concept and then Mitchell took the liberty of designing the costume, right down to the rocket boosters on his boots. I took these pictures last night- right before we went trick-or-treating with my sister and her kids in our old neighborhood in Columbus. We are looking forward to more Halloween fun this weekend with cool temperatures, a little more trick-or-treating and hopefully a date night for Jared and I to a local attraction called The Castle which offers eerie ghost tours this time of year. I hope your Halloween weekend is spooky and spectacular!

Hot Diggity Blog's Best Places to Live 2010

2010-10-22T11:56:00.003-04:00

Jared finishes his graduate program next summer and will be gainfully employable as a Physician Assistant. (Hip hip hooray!) The cool thing about his career is that PAs are needed just about everywhere. This puts us in a lucky position of being able to choose where we would like to live. Our families are both from Ohio and aside from his 2 year mission in Brazil and my two years of college in Utah, we have always lived here. We love Ohio (most of the time) and we love living close to our families (most of the time), so chances are we'll end up sticking around. However, we can't help but wonder if there is something we are missing somewhere else (I'm thinking mild, sunny winters) and by choosing to stay in Ohio we are missing what might be our last great opportunity to pack our bags and experience something new before our kids get older and we get settled comfortably right here. Anyway, it is something we have been thinking a lot about lately and we have been all over the map: from Alaska to Virginia, from Texas to North Carolina, from Idaho to Michigan. So, I'm posing the question to you - If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would it be and why? Perhaps it is the city where you are currently living, the state where you grew up or a place you frequently visit for vacation. Don't forget to include the why- I'd like to know the reasoning behind your choice (good schools, close to family, low cost of living, great weather etc.) Okay. Ready, set, go!

(United States pin map from here.)

Speaking of Babies...

2010-10-21T08:32:00.001-04:00

Caroline keeps getting bigger by the second! She's getting more and more animated- babbling, cooing and smiling. She loves to play pat-a-cake, stand up in my lap and kick and play in her bare buns. I'm loving her sweet little lips, her chunky thighs and her oh-so-dainty eyelashes. :)

(3.5 months)

Babies

2010-10-20T08:17:00.006-04:00

I watched a really good documentary last night called Babies. There is no commentary, just film accompanied with music and it follows the first year of four babies from different parts of the world. Seriously, such a great little film! It was interesting to see the circumstances in which the babies came into the world and how different their surroundings are but I also enjoyed seeing the similarities in their development. (Even kids in Mongolia unravel the toilet paper!) All the babies were super cute but I'd have to say the little boy in Mongolia was my favorite. You can watch the trailer here and if you have Netflix, the movie is available on-line.

Texas

2010-10-06T16:41:00.005-04:00

I'm finally getting a chance to sit down and post about my trip to Houston. It was short but fantastic! My younger brother and his wife have the cutest little girl with loads of thick dark hair. I considered trimming a bit off and fashioning a wig for Caroline! :) Aside from lots visiting and feeding babies, we also went to the beach in Galveston, the boardwalk in Kemah and a quick shopping trip to old town Spring (the suburb where they live.) I was pleasantly surprised by Texas and happy to report that many things there are definitely bigger- all except for the babies. Check out chunky Caroline compared to her more petite cousin, Roslynne! (Caroline is six weeks older, but still...)

My mom and three of my four siblings.

Pretty palm tree on the boardwalk in Kemah.

Caroline visits the Gulf of Mexico!
(She's not so sure about the bright sun.)

O-H-I-O! Just bringing a little Ohio pride to the Lonestar state.

Caroline and her cousin Roslynne.

The Lone Star State

2010-09-24T15:00:00.001-04:00

I'm hopping on a jet plane tomorrow headed for Houston. My brother and his wife just had a baby so Caroline and I are going to go visit them and meet her newest cousin. I'm excited because I have never been to Texas and word on the street (well, at least the streets in Texas) is that everything there is bigger and better. I guess I'll find out for myself and bring back a full report next week. Have a good weekend!

Monogram Totes

2010-09-23T09:02:00.005-04:00

I got my craft on last week (for the first time in a long time!) and made some easy monogram totes. You can find the canvas totes at any craft store. (I got mine at JoAnns.) They come in packs of four and if you use a 40% off coupon, they end up being about $1 per bag. I used Microsoft Word for the letters (the font is Elephant, the size is 550), printed them onto cardstock, cut them out and then traced them to fabric which I had backed with Heat'n Bond ultra. Once the letter is traced to the fabric, cut it out and follow the heat'n bond instructions for ironing it to the bag. Finally, embellish as desired!

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken

2010-09-16T15:38:00.001-04:00

This recipe (from Cooking Light) is soooo delicious. It's been a personal favorite for quite some time. It is easy for a quick family dinner but sophisticated enough for a dinner party or other special occasion. Try it for yourself-you won't regret it! Find the recipe here.

Wal-Mart

2010-09-15T14:25:00.004-04:00

When it comes to big box stores, I'm definitely a Target kind of gal. (But really, who isn't?) However, since the closest Target is now two hours away from me (sniff, sniff), I've been doing more shopping at Wal-mart. On a visit last weekend, I found some random things I thought were worth sharing.

Black ballet flats. I tried on a pair in the store and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they are. Although they have no arch support, they are made of cloth and have a bit of cushion which helps. Also, they come in a variety of colors including a dark chambray and black with white polka dots. Really, a great little shoe for under ten dollars.

Classic White dishware by Canopy. I have always preferred plain white dishes (they go with everything and I think food looks better without a pattern inferring.) I haven't purchased dishes since Jared and I were married so we are running a little low on bowls and plates. Not all white dishes are created equal, mind you, and not only do these feel nice and sturdy but the design is simple and classic. Love! (The on-line reviews basically confirm that these are the best dishes in the world so if you are in the market for new dishes, look no further!)

Timex Men's Classic Leather watch, $35. Although it is designed for men, I tried it on and there are enough holes in the band that it sizes down to fit my wrist nicely and it doesn't look too bulky. (I do like my watch to be a little on the large side though.) I also like the white stitching on the band. Wal-mart. Who knew?

Purl Soho

2010-09-14T11:58:00.003-04:00

Lots if beautiful and inspiring images over at Purl Soho have me craving a sewing project (or a pretty wall display.) I'm especially loving all the bright, funky floral prints in the Tana Lawn Classics line by Liberty of London. Speaking of Liberty of London, don't these little coin purse s look delightful?

One Year Older (and wiser too!)

2010-09-13T08:55:00.007-04:00

I turned thirty yesterday and ate me some coconut cream pie to celebrate. And just in case you are wondering, thirty is totally the new twenty. Totally.

Stripes + Flowers = Perfection

2010-09-08T16:43:00.001-04:00

You may have already heard of the on-line shop, EmersonMade. (She makes fun flower accessories and clutches.) I popped into her shop a few weeks ago to delightfully discover that she has expanded her brand into an adorable clothing line. Pieces are pricey but it's worth a look just for the excellent styling. Makes me want to buy some ducks and chickens and chase them around the barnyard wearing cute clothes all day. Check it out here.

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part II

2010-09-07T09:13:00.012-04:00

Sunday, we blessed Caroline at our church and celebrated Mitchell's 5th birthday! Here are some photos of the fun:

The best picture I could get of the entire family.

After 3 hours of church it's an almost impossible feat.

The birthday boy, who requested spaghetti for dinner.

(He is a picky eater and likes his spaghetti straight - no sauce.)

The spectacular rally car cake, made by Jared.

Cake number two, provided by Mitchell's grandpa (my dad)

You know it's going to be a good year when it starts out with two cakes.

Happy Birthday Mitchell! And happy blessing day Caroline!

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part I

2010-09-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

On Friday we attended a wedding celebration for our nephew Luke and his wife Nyla who were married in the Columbus Ohio Temple the week prior. First, the happy couple:

The weather was perfect for their backyard reception. The boys had fun dancing with their cousins...

and I had fun hanging out by the trifle buffet (yum!) and admiring all the twinkling lights they decorated with. These hanging votives made from baby food jars were my favorite!

Congratulations Luke + Nyla!

I Just Ate Way Too Many Cookies

2010-09-03T12:24:00.007-04:00

I had a some grated zucchini in my freezer that I wanted to use up so I thought I'd give this recipe a try. Oh me, oh my! These cookies are soft and chewy with a cake-like texture and are really yummy. (Just an FYI: I've made similar recipes that are equally as good flavor wise, but for whatever reason always crumble on the bottom when I take them off the cookie sheets? Anyway, I didn't have that problem with this recipe. Also, I'm thinking grated apple would be a good substitute for the zucchini if you are looking to mix things up!)

Soft Zucchini Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
3 cups grated zucchini (I didn't measure and probably only used two cups)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups quick oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening, sugars and eggs until fluffy; stir in zucchini. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to zucchini mixture. Stir in oatmeal until well blended. Add nuts and chocolate chips or raisins. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until barely golden around the edges. Delicious!

The Firm

2010-09-02T13:52:00.003-04:00

Two months post baby and it is time to "firm" things up again. Perhaps you are looking to firm things up as well? If so, the above video is hands down the best workout video ever made. Jared's sisters recommended it to me several years ago and although it is really one of the only work out videos I've ever done, it is still really good! Note: it is a bit dated. The people in it are wearing leotards, leg warmers and way too much blush and the music is super lame but it is still the best workout! You can find it on VHS pretty easily on Amazon but I also stumbled across the DVD too. I have another sister-in-law who is an aerobics instructor and she recommends the Get Ripped series by Jari Love. I own a few of her DVDs and it is also good, especially if you like working out with weights like I do. I just wanted to share a few of my favorites but I'm always up for trying something new. Leave me a comment if you have another great recommendation!

Cloth Diapers

2010-09-01T09:00:00.005-04:00

I am considering taking the plunge into the world of cloth diapers. I realize it is better for the Earth, which is nice and all, but I'm mostly thinking about it because it is better for our wallet- (diapers are expensive)! Although the initial investment seems hefty, over the long haul, we could end up saving a substantial amount of money, especially since we are not done having kids. However, I still haven't decided if the hassle of cloth diapers would be worth the amount saved. I've only done a little research on-line but it looks like many brands, including g diapers and bum genius, are pretty easy to use with a fit that resembles a disposable diaper (no folding or pins required). Cloth diapers have really come a long way because seriously, are those pink ruffley buns not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Black Flats

2010-08-31T09:10:00.004-04:00

As my 30th birthday approaches, I have come to the realization life is way too short to wear uncomfortable shoes. Especially flats. Really. I am still trying to figure out the mystery as to why most flats are extremely uncomfortable. Maybe I'm too finicky but the flats I've tried on are always WAY too wide and either too big (so my heel slips out when I walk) or too small (so my big toe is smooshed to the front.) Also, how hard is it to put a little cushion and some arch support in a shoe? With that said, I am in need of a new pair of basic black flats. I feel they are a chic alternative to tennis shoes for running errands and the like. Since I spent a lot of time searching, I figured I'd share a few comfy options I found on-line in case you are in the same predicament:1. Ruby&Bloom, found here.
2. Cole Haan, found here.
3. Puma, found here and here.
4. Calvin Klein, found here.
5. Born, found here.
6. J.Crew, found here.

Apparently a little comfort comes with a hefty price tag. Aside from a pair of Doc Martins I bought in high school, I don't think I've ever spent more than $50 for shoes. What are your thoughts? Do you think a comfortable shoe is worth the higher price tag? I'm curious to know your thoughts on the subject.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

2010-08-30T10:03:00.001-04:00

Sometimes something looks and tastes so yummy I feel like I should take a picture of it before I eat it to make it last longer. This strawberry spinach salad falls into that category. I ate it for lunch every day last week and enjoyed every bite! The ingredients? Spinach, strawberries, blue cheese, pecans, crumbled bacon (I just use pre-packaged real bacon bits) and some homemade sweet and sour dressing (see recipe below). I also like to add a few slivers of red onion if I happen to have it on hand. Note: this salad is just as tastey in the winter when strawberries are out of season. Instead, add a handful of dried cranberries and some chunks of granny smith apple. Delicious!

Easy Sweet and Sour Dressing

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp dijon style mustard
2 tsp onion, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup oil (I use canola)
1 tsp poppy seeds

Put all ingredients in a blender and mix. Happy eating! :)

Capturing the Last Bit of Summer

2010-08-23T08:50:00.006-04:00

Long time, no see! Since I spent the month of June nine months preggo and the month of July with a brand new baby, we've spent August trying to capture the last little bit of summer. I've been canning all sorts of goodies from the gigantic garden we share with Jared's brother and parents and although I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with canning, we have put away lots of green beans, salsa, vegetable soup, diced tomatoes and today's project is spaghetti sauce! In addition to canning we even managed a few fun days at the pool and a trip to my home county for some fun at Tuscora Park. It has been a lazy summer for us but I've enjoyed the laziness. Lots of relaxing at home, watching the boys play and run in the sprinkler while I nurse Caroline, who is growing like a weed. (Hard to believe she is almost two months old.) Hope you are all enjoying the last few days of summer as well!

(The kiddos.)

(The canning.)

(The pool. Spencer with cousin Sam.)

(Sleepy baby.)

(Happy baby.)

Seven

2010-07-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Time flies when your having fun. Happy anniversary sweetie!

Two Weeks

2010-07-16T15:29:00.004-04:00

The past two weeks have gone by quickly. Caroline has spent her days eating and sleeping contently while various visitors have stopped by to meet and admire her. Her eyes are opening up a bit more and she's even smiled at us several times! Hooray for sweet newborn babies.

Sweet Caroline

2010-07-01T23:50:00.007-04:00

Our little lady has arrived!
Caroline Elise made her world debut Wednesday morning, June 30th at 7:34 am.
She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
She is really soft and she smells really good and we just love her to pieces.

I Love Your Style: Ruth B.

2010-06-25T08:00:00.005-04:00

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Ruth. Ruth is a stay-at-home mom of four kids currently living in Farmington, New Mexico. I met her almost 4 years ago when we were both living in Columbus because Ruth is not only a mom but she also happens to be a really awesome hairstylist too. We met when I solicited her hair services and my hair (and I) still miss her desperately! What I love about Ruth's style is that she hasn't let becoming a mother destroy it. She does her hair, wears make-up, pretty earrings, cute shoes and looks really put together all of the time. She maintains a really stylish look by choosing figure flattering clothing that is also age and occupation appropriate. Also, aside from her spectacular style, Ruth is one of the most genuine, friendly and down to earth people I know. So, to sum this up, she is basically my hero and I will shamelessly admit that I want to be just like her when I grow up. With all that out of the way, here is what Ruth has to say about style:

How would you describe or define your current style? Defining my current style is tricky since I am now entering my 30's and am a mom of four children! I am in the process of finding out what my style is, taking classic pieces from my past and working them into what I term "mom style." It has to do with finding opportunities to break out the heels that I love and curling my hair section by section, then discovering that flats and a side pony tail can be pretty sassy for the park!

As a hair stylist, what trends do you see for hair in the near future? Oh, don't cringe, but the modern mullet is out there. Braids are big and lots of flowers and head bands for all of this long hair that we grew out and now need something to do with!

What inspires you and the way you dress? So many things. The seasons, magazines, American Idol, movies, people around me.

Do you have any fashion icons or people whose style you love? The first person to influence me as a fashion icon would have to be my Grandma Morris. That women has aged beautifully and gracefully and still knows what to wear in her 80's. She has always painted her nails, put on make-up, and cared about what shoes go with what outfit. She knows what colors look good on her and has jewelry to go with everything. She defines stylish.

What are some of your favorite places to shop? Let's see. Where I shop and my favorite places to shop are two different things right now! (Farmington is limited which is probably better for our budget anyway!) I like to pretend that I shop at Anthropologie and H&M and Macy's and Marshall's. (On-line shopping just doesn't work for me because I like to touch the fabrics and see the colors and try on stuff.) I do love TJ Maxx at the moment. Oh, and Shoes on A Shoestring!

Do you have any tips for the novice shopper? I AM a novice shopper, so I really can't give any tips. Knowing your body type and color scheme are good places to start because then you don't have to look at everything when shopping, you can go straight to what you know will look good on you. I have tried to weed the pieces out of my closet that don't seem quite right when I put them on. I don't even know what it is sometimes since I am such a novice at fashion, but you know those outfits that bug you the whole day when you wear them? Try just getting rid of the pants or the top so that you don't keep coming back to it like I do if it is in my closet!

Is there any one thing in your closet that you keep coming back to year after year? This question made me laugh because like I said, I will keep coming back to anything that is in my closet. Probably the most staple item for me is a white t-shirt. One with buttons down the front and one plain with cap sleeves or a v-neck.

What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations? Depends on the season, but right now it is certainly a skirt and t-shirt or a maxi-dress. It keeps me nice and cool in the heat and also makes me feel feminine. Nice because you can put on flats for day or wear a wedge for going out.

Are there any trends you are looking forward to? I am out of it when it comes to trends since I usually watch Go Diego Go and only go grocery shopping! I love the flowers with the feathers for hair and all types of cardigans though.

Can you share with us any recent favorite purchases? I did buy a lovely new white t-shirt (smile) and a grey flowing tank top with fabric flowers on it.

Anything you are planning/would like to purchase in the near future? More dresses and I am in desperate need of a pair of jean capris or shorts. Dark wash. Dreaming of this for a Sunday outfit. (I could wrangle the little ones in those shoes!)
I also want a summery pair of slacks. Something like this: (and notice the white shirt-Oh comfort!)

What advice would you give someone who is trying to find their own personal style or spruce up their current look? My friend Sarah Lunt has inspired me to believe that style comes from within and that anyone can be beautiful with just a few basic know-hows. The most basic is to be constantly improving yourself and looking for ways to help others. That brings happiness and peace which shows in ones face and is true beauty which leads to personal style. If you want to spruce up your current look, don't get overwhelmed thinking that you have nothing to wear, but start with a good pair of jeans and maybe one shirt that is your color and flattering for your body type. This may involve pulling out a tape measure to see what your body type is. But don't be scared or sad once you see those numbers! Be glad that now you can shop for things that will enhance your body type.

Oh, and make sure you shape your eyebrows and use an eyebrow pencil to lightly fill in because I am telling you, that will make ANY outfit look better!

I love your style Ruth! Thanks for sharing it with us!

The Waiting Game

2010-06-23T16:23:00.003-04:00

Onesies - check.

Receiving blankets - check.

Newborn diapers - check.
Hospital bag - check.
Two boys acting more ornery than usual - check.
Yep. It seems we've got everything in order.
Just waiting on the baby who could arrive any day now!

(I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that by next week there will be a another little person living in our house. So weird.)

Toy Story

2010-06-22T08:21:00.003-04:00

Jared and I took the boys to see the new Toy Story movie Friday night. If you haven't seen it yet, go! Now! Kids or no kids. Truthfully, I think Jared and I liked it even more than the boys. Although, as I'm typing this, Spencer is jumping off the coach with his arms outstretched yelling "Buzz Wightyear...infinity and beyond!"

Happy Father's Day Jared!

2010-06-20T16:22:00.003-04:00

From:
Two little boys who absolutely adore you and a wife who thinks you're pretty great too. :)

Paper Straws

2010-06-14T20:17:00.003-04:00

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone so that means summertime is officially here (hip, hip hooray!) If I wasn't a million months pregnant, I would love to plan a refreshing beverage party completely around these striped paper straws. (Maybe post-baby?) I have had them in my on-line shopping cart several times but haven't been able to pull the trigger!

(Image from here, more affordable paper straws for purchase here.)

In Good Company

2010-06-11T16:01:00.007-04:00

Two more weeks until my due date-so I'm almost there! I seem to have forgotten how exhausting the last month of pregnancy can be! Seriously. I sort of want to sit down and put my feet up and/or take a nap all of the time. However, I am in good company because my good friend Nicole is due exactly three weeks after me and and is also having a girl!

(Nicole looks cute and stylish, as always, but you'll have to excuse my tired/sweaty/disheveled look. I had come straight from photographing an outdoor wedding on a very hot and muggy evening.)

Clean Kids

2010-06-01T14:56:00.008-04:00

I love my kids but I think I really do love them a little more just after they've had a bath. :) I snapped these photos a few weeks ago right after they got out of the tub while they were sitting in our room enjoying a warm breeze coming through the window. Everything (including the evening light streaming in) seemed so clean and refreshing so I grabbed my camera in hopes to get a few good pictures of my clean kiddos.

(This is what I get when I tell Mitch to "look normal" or "act regular". He's not so cooperative when it comes to pictures. At least he didn't run and hide, which is what he normally does when he sees my camera!)

Pride in My Ride

2010-05-26T11:43:00.003-04:00

Jared and I watched this video last week and it keeps cracking me up. I had a short stint with a mini van which, you may remember, ended abruptly when I ran into a parked car- (ouch!) However, now that we have number three on the way, I might be rocking the mini van scene once more. What about you? Are you a mini van hater or a mini van lover?

I Love Your Style: Katie C (Update)

2010-05-19T07:36:00.008-04:00

There were a couple of questions I forgot to include in my original feature on Katie so I'm updating here:

What have been a few of your most recent favorite purchases?

just two pairs of shoes and a killer pair of marble earrings. i picked up a pair of keds and green espadrilles. so happy. truth be told, i'll probably pick up another pair of keds very soon. in a colour, i think. red, maybe.

Anything you plan on purchasing in the near future?

quite honestly, not too much right now. just [over-priced yet exquisite] swimwear.

Since i saw this swimsuit, i pictured how i'd wear it and what beach i'd walk around in it and what flavour of ice cream would best suit it. the gold fish belt is what captured my attention. and then the classic early-american style and navy--one of my favourite colours. so flattering.

i'm also pretty crazy about this swimsuit. the shape, the colours. gorgeous. i love maillots, the name of the style of swimwear; they're so flattering to a woman's body.

there's something so perfectly delicate and delightful about a one-piece swimsuit.

Summer

2010-05-14T12:31:00.003-04:00

I've got summer on the brain today. (Probably because it's hot and sticky here so it feels more like August than May!) Anyway, this straw cloche and a lazy beach vacation to go with it are calling my name. A piña colada doesn't sound too bad either.

Sandals

2010-05-14T09:55:00.006-04:00

Summer is rapidly approaching which means it's almost time for my tootsies to make their annual debut. I painted my toe nails last night (and almost squished my baby in the process!) but I'm still on the hunt for a new pair of sandals. I've heard really great things in regards to comfort about Chacos and I like that they come in all black but they are pretty pricey and maybe more athletic looking than I want. I did stumble across these last night and I think they might just fit the bill. What about you? Anyone out there have any great sandal recommendations?

Bouquet

2010-05-13T17:17:00.006-04:00

Mitchell picked this little arrangement from our flower bed and gave it to me for Mother's Day. It's still making my day, every time I walk into my kitchen. I've decided one of the first things I want to do when we have a permanent residence is to plant a cut flower garden full of all my perennial favorites. Love, love, LOVE fresh flowers in my house!

I Love Your Style: Katie C

2010-05-10T13:46:00.005-04:00

Meet Katie. The first suspect in my I Love Your Style series. Katie works as a recruiter/writer in the San Francisco Bay Area but also happens to be a long-time friend and style guru. We grew up in the same rural area of Ohio playing M.A.S.H. (mansion, apartment shack...) and slobbering over J.Crew catalogs together on Sunday afternoons. When I first thought of doing a series on style, Katie was the first person to pop into my head. The girl oozes style and what I love most about her style is that it is all her own. She's not afraid to break the mold or take risks when it comes to well, anything really, but her style is no exception- whether it be with her hairstyle, an accessory, a particular outfit or deciding to paint her finger nails neon orange. She's confident and gutsy and I think that is what true style is all about. So, enough of my babbling. Here is what she has to say on the subject of style:

How would you describe your current style? (Classic, vintage, etc?)
Both. There are parts of me that are very classic--I love my faux pearl stud earrings--and some that are very vintage--my grass green button-down-the-front knee length skirt rocks with a graphic tee tucked in. I love mixing the two-current pieces with vintage--and coming out somewhere in the middle. Seems I walk out of my apartment feeling like I'm walking into the 1970s at least 3 days a week.

How has your style evolved over time?
My style has done a complete 180 over the last 10 years. Ten years ago I was all about name brands and pointy shoes and blazers and heels and fitted tees and jeans. Now I'm into looser blouses, retro sweaters, textured materials, odd collars, funky dresses, flats and loads of colour, and fits I wouldn't have considered before, like the dolman sleeve. Ten years ago I rarely wore dresses. Now I'm in them regularly--even Saturday afternoons. I've also learned the art of not matching and making it work.

What inspires you and the way you dress?
Everything: the weather, people of no name, people of significant fame, movies, time periods, pictures in magazines, my maternal grandparents, my mother, my sister. I could continue...

Do you have any specific fashion icons or people whose style you love?
Yes! Even when I was young, I noticed the grand style of my maternal grandmother. She was always dressed and her hair was always perfectly coiffed. From her patent leather black heels to the cuff of her boiled wool bolero jacket, the woman was the meaning of the word, style. I saw it in photographs of her in her younger days too. Audrey Hepburn is a no-brainer (I love her in Funny Face in her ankle length black pants, black turtleneck, and black flats) and the entire cast of Charlie's Angels Season One.

What are some of your favorite places to shop?
I'm all over the board on this one! There are some local shops that I adore: Therapy, The Pretty Penny, Thriftown. And there are the mainstream retailers that I love: J.Crew, Gap, Anthropologie, ZARA, etc.

Do you have any tips for the novice shopper?
Be brave, shop around, and buy what's on sale. Avoid trendy items. Shop for you and what you like.

Is there any one thing in your closet you keep coming back to season after season?
My navy blue chucks, opaque black tights, my long tan cardigan, and a black and tan print pashmina from my sister-in-law. Oops, that was four items.

What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations?
Over the past few season I've come into a number of cardigans and I'm wearing them with everything. For example, I have a magenta silk dress that hits at my mid-calf that I wear my long tan cardigan over. I love my Transformers graphic tee tucked into my green button-down-the-front skirt. One of my recent favourite winter outfits is a magenta turtleneck (normal fit, not very tight) tucked into my orange-red wool vintage Givenchy Sport button-down-the-front skirt, navy tights, and open-toed putty coloured low heels with a couple layered necklaces.

Are there any trends you are looking forward to for spring?
Generally speaking, the loveliness of spring fashion is in the light and flowing fabrics. I feel the most feminine in spring clothes-ruffles, extra frills, delicate fabrics, colour, floral patterns. Lovely.

What advice would you give to someone who is trying to find/capture their own personal style?
I have three points of advice: (1) Don't try too hard. If you're wearing something that doesn't feel right because it's trendy, take it off. And, if you're wearing something that's vintage but you feel like a fraud trying to play the vintage game, take it off. If your perfect Saturday outfit is jeans and a t-shirt with your chucks, embrace it. Chances are someone out there is noticing your style. (2) You know the style rule of if you haven't worn it in a year toss it, right? Most of the time, the rule applies. But if there's a nagging in the back of your head fighting you against throwing that sweater out, listen to the nag and keep the sweater. Style--personal and what's trendy--changes every moment and you may find that sweater could be the perfect pieces you need for an outfit later down the road. (3) You determine what's in style for you. Trends in the fashion world shift faster than I can pull on tights and I believe that what's in style is what makes you feel good about yourself. The confidence you have in wearing it will show and capture the attention of others.

Thanks again Katie for letting me peek into your little world of style!
If you would like to see more of what inspires Katie, check out her blog:
Violet & Earnest.

I Love Your Style: A Mini-Series

2010-05-06T13:00:00.001-04:00

You may remember me mentioning the book, I Love Your Style a little while back. I have since had a chance to read it (thanks Nicole!) and I loved it. While I didn't learn anything ground breaking, it is full of inspiring pictures and good tips which left me very excited to do a little wardrobe tweaking post pregnancy. Named after the book, I have decided to do a little mini-series here on the old blog. I'm not sure how long it will last (I don't have that many friends!) but I plan to feature at least a few people whose style I find inspiring (and hopefully you will too!) I'm still working on getting my first feature put together but I should hopefully have it up in the next week or so. Stay tuned!

An Amazing Perspective

2010-05-05T13:04:00.010-04:00

An inspiring story (you are probably already familiar with) with an amazing perspective on motherhood. (Just in time for Mothers' Day this weekend!) Definitely worth 8 minutes:

Gestating

2010-05-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

I have had a few requests for a picture so, here I am at 32 weeks/8 months. That means I'm in the home stretch with only 8 more weeks to go! I've been busy reading all sorts of natural childbirth books (I'm taking the plunge this time - no epidural!) and enjoying the nice weather with the boys. It's kind of crazy to think there is going to be a third munchkin running around this place pretty soon. "Mother of three" sounds like really serious business.

Chevron Wall

2010-04-22T09:02:00.005-04:00

I pretty much love everything about this chevron gallery wall in interior designer Caitlin Wilson's home. I just stumbled across her blog, Style Files, and it makes me wish I had just an ounce of interior design capability OR money to hire an interior designer OR an actual house to decorate OR really any combination of those three things. If you like the chevron wall too, she shares the how-to here. You can also see some gorgeous images which were taken in one of her client's homes here. Can I be Caitlin Wilson when I grow up?

(Style Files via A Little Sussy)

Felt Pom Poms

2010-04-12T20:54:00.003-04:00

I am newly curious about these fuzzy little poms after reading about them here and then coincidentally, here. I'm thinking the possibilities with these little guys could be endless. (Felt pom poms for purchase here.)

Skirt Steak Burritos with Tomato Corn Salsa

2010-04-09T12:00:00.001-04:00

I clipped this recipe from an old Rachel Ray magazine. I love easy recipes that sound fancy but call for just a few ingredients and still manage to taste spectacular. (This is one of those.) It's very fresh and summery- enjoy! (Click here for the recipe.)

Note: In my opinion, the salsa is what makes this recipe. I think you could pretty much ignore everything else- throw whatever kind of meat you have on hand into a tortilla with the salsa and you're good to go. Also, I like to serve it with diced avocado and sour cream. (Yum!)

Tickled Pink

2010-04-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

Jared and I weren't going to find out the sex of our baby until he or she arrived, however, we had an ultrasound this week and we just couldn't resist the opportunity. As it turns out, we are having a little girl! (We didn't find out with either of the boys until they were born and we've always enjoyed the surprise in the delivery room but I must admit, a little surprise mid- pregnancy is also pretty fun too.) I would have been just as pleased with a boy but I am excited to even things out around here. I was beginning to feel a little out numbered. :)

Also, this bird stack print is now reminiscent of our family with one little pink birdie on top! (More cute prints in this Etsy shop, Printspace.)

Holy House Makeover

2010-04-05T20:48:00.005-04:00

I am a total sucker for before and after pics when it comes to home renovation projects. I just discovered this site, young house love, which documents a newlywed couple and the total renovation of their first little home. It's amazing! Go here for before and after shots room by room and a comprehensive list of all their sources. Also, my friend Vanessa has a serious knack for home re-dos. Go here and scroll down a little to see some of the before and after shots of her home.

Piper

2010-04-05T13:15:00.001-04:00

This is a recent photo I took of my little niece, Piper. Isn't she the cutest?

It's April!

2010-04-02T09:15:00.001-04:00

Holy cow, it's April! I'm not sure where March went and I really don't care. I'm just happy it's over!
Also, the weather here has been a-maz-ING! Like 80s, sunny and no humidity amazing. I am happy as a lark and looking forward to a fun weekend filled with sunshine, Easter egg hunts, jello salad (can't seem to get enough of that stuff lately) and lots of jelly beans. This weekend is also the semi-annual general conference for my church. I love, love, LOVE conference weekend. Regardless of your religious affiliation, if you've always been curious to know what us kooky Mormons believe or are looking for some spiritual enlightenment feel free to tune in right here. (Sessions are from 12-2 and 4-6 Eastern time on both Saturday and Sunday.) Happy Easter!

Busy

2010-03-24T13:00:00.003-04:00

I'm alive. I've just been busy. We moved 2.5 weeks ago into a new rental house and it has taken me a full two weeks to recover from it. (Side note: I really hate moving. I actually wrote a poem about it, which I considered sharing here, but it is rated pg-13 for language so I decided against it.) Jared was also on spring break during part of that time, I was sick, then my mom came to visit, and then my kids got sick. I have also been busy doing cartwheels in the nice spring weather and making out with Mr. Sun. (He was away for quite some time and absence always makes the heart grow fonder...) Hopefully I'll be back to blogging more regularly soon. In the meantime, Happy Spring!

It's a Miracle

2010-03-04T16:16:00.010-05:00

And this folks, is a clear blue sky. I'm not sure when I saw one last. No wait, I am. It was February 8th (nearly a month ago) because I took a picture of it that day too. Unbelievable. I guess dreams really do come true. They do come true!

(I'm obviously not all the way there mentally by the time March rolls around but there are only 16 days until spring so there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Bear with me.)

Happy Birthday to Jared

2010-03-03T12:29:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday today to my sweet and hunky husband.
I'm so happy you're mine!

PS This is Jared's cross country pin from the 9th grade or something. (I added the cheesy smooches because seriously, what a hottie!)

ROY G. BIV (In Cake Form)

2010-03-01T13:27:00.004-05:00

The Mister's birthday is this week but due to a very full calendar, we decided to celebrate with family over the weekend. I made a rainbow cake which ended up being a big hit with the adults and the kids. When I said I brought a rainbow cake, everyone assumed in was a "Funfetti" cake and so were pleasantly surprised when we cut into it to reveal 8 layers of food coloring over dose!

I was sort of guessing as I went along and it seemed to turn out okay. Here is how I did it, for those of you who are curious: I used two white cake mixes and made them according to the package directions. Once the cake mix was made, I put one heaping cup full of batter into a bowl and added the appropriate food coloring. (It is important to measure the batter so all the layers end up being the same thickness. Also, I used Wilton's gel food coloring you find in the cake decorating section at Michael's. I think it is more concentrated than the liquid kind.) Since I only have two round cake pans, I baked two colors at a time, 350 degrees for 15 minutes, and then washed out the pans and reused them. I was totally guessing with the amount of batter for each layer and I ended up with one cup left over. Hence the pink layer in my Roy G. Biv cake. I frosted the cake with Swiss Buttercream. It's not as sweet as regular buttercream and I think it is easier to work with. You can find a recipe for it here. (Note: I used the recipe for a 9 inch cake and I had enough frosting for the whole thing. However, I only used a scant amount between each layer. If you like a lot of frosting, you might consider doubling the frosting recipe.)
Have fun!

(Inspiration for the rainbow cake from here.)