Yours, Mine And Ours

1. Our favorite shoes we wear practically everyday. 2. What we are currently reading. 3. We like to color coordinate in blue plaid. 4. Our favorite fruits we can't live without.

Life with a baby moves all too quickly. What am I saying? Life in general moves all too quickly. The older we get, the faster the days shoot through the door and exit through the window. It's this rumble of moments, memories, and emotions all swirled together and the next thing you know you are 10 years older and wrinkles are setting up a permanent residence on your face. 

Sometimes I just want to scream, "sttttttooooooooopppp!" and press pause. Recline and put my feet up without the impending thought looming in the back of my brain that time is of the essence so hurry, hurry, hurry!

This life is a funny thing sometimes. In an effort to savor those moments that inevitably slip through the cracks by the seconds, I will be recording every other week the little things that make us, well, us. What books we are currently discovering. Our favorite foods. The clothes we wear. Anything that represents our family, our interests and how it all binds us together.

Would love for you to join in on capturing the little details that add up to create your wonderful life!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Top: Sprightly So (on sale!). Pants: LOFT. Hair Bow: Sprightly So (on sale!). Clutch: Target. Nails: OPI.

1) You know those times things happen in a 1 to 500 million chance? Like, the kind that make you burst into a fit of frenzy and excitement because you can't believe that just happened? Matt and I encountered such an episode this weekend as we were watching a movie and eating popcorn. He was throwing it at me like a little school boy so I was all, "Alright, that's it, this means war." I hopped up from the couch, kernel in hand and launched that sucker like there was no tomorrow. Truly. Let it be known that my aim is terrible. Just downright pathetic, really. Well, as physics would have it, that single piece of popcorn torpedoed its way perfectly into Matt's gaping mouth. It was just short of miraculous, I tell you. C'mon, it's a piece of popcorn. That stuff's sense of aerodynamics is worse than a poorly made paper airplane.

2) Fact: Daddy longlegs are not spiders. They are in fact Opiliones, which are an order of the class Arachnida (source).

3) What is your most favorite book in the whole wide world? I have a big list going, and I am always looking to add more!

4) Listening to certain songs makes me want to live completely separate lives. For example, when I am cranking up B. Spears, the urge to move to LA and be all hip and clubby takes over. When I listen to Jack Johnson I am certain we need to move to Hawaii. Carrie Underwood convinces me almost every time that we absolutely need to move to the country and get a pickup truck to park in the driveway next to our wrap-around porch. This may prove that I just might be predisposed to having multiple personalities. Wherefore art thou, Sybil (and I'm not referring to our beloved Downton Abbey favorite)?

5) Would you rather have a never-ending, yet slow stream of urine or live with the feeling of hair in your mouth that cannot be removed for the rest of your life (these are things Matt and I discuss, so welcome to our world)?

Monday Giveaway

Happy Monday, folks! Hope you enjoyed your weekend and weren't too terribly letdown with the Oscars (I blame Seth McFarlane).

Today we have a top notch giveaway from a top notch gal. Tori, from the blog, Eye Candy, is giving away a custom blog header and button! If you are a blogger, this giveaway is right up your alley. One of my tips on making your blog one to remember is making sure you have a clean, cohesive look (I am still working on it too).  Tori can help make that happen!

Enter the giveaway in the widget below to make all your blogging dreams come true! Good luck! 

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Color Inspiration

Top: LOFT. Skirt: Sprightly So. Shoes: Gap. Hair Clips: ban.do

I happily stumbled upon this beautiful painting on Pinterest by Ashley Goldberg and fell in love with the colors. So in love, I thought why not draw together my outfit based on its color scheme? I think I just found a new way to get dressed everyday.

P.S. The skirt I am wearing is 15% off at Sprightly So! Use code promo code BEMINE14 at checkout for 15% off you entire purchase through Feb 28!

Good Grief, I Adore This Kid

Crinkle. Snap. Sqwerrrk.

I looked over my shoulder and there Luke sat on his knees, chubby feet curled up under his bum, fishing through my purse with gum in his hands and mouth. Receipts and lip gloss scattered around him and he simply sat there giggling. Giggling and smiling because he loves anything of mama's and was content to be in my company.

Then he broke into my hat collection. The brown one lost appeal, but the purple one fit just right. A polka dot scarf seemed the perfect addition to the pile of newly found play things, and he just kept right on giggling as he stomped and bonked with that noisy crawl of his from one end of the room to the other.

This circus of a game continued on for about 20 minutes, and then Luke tenderly rubbed his eyes, in that vulnerable, uncoordinated way babies do. I scooped him up in my arms to put him down for his morning nap, when he gently placed his small head on my shoulder, right in the nape of the neck especially made for mothers.

There we rocked back and forth, just our two heartbeats thumping together. It's those sublime moments that remind me that my baby, however big he may grow, will always be my baby.

I Love Gold

Edible Glitter | Sunglasses | Chair | Pencils | Necklace | Lamp | Pillow | Teapot

In the iconic words of the one and only Goldmember, "I luhve gooooold!"

The look of it is spectacular. The taste of it I am sure would be a party in yo' mouth. The smell of it can be a little brassy at times, but the look of it cancels that problem out. The texture? Unbeatable.

Gold is not just for the holiday months, either. Nuh-uh, no sir-ee bob. Gold is a great neutral, and I personally love it paired with bright pinks, oranges and mint tones. Isn't that picture just a cheery one in your mind?

Next step: paint our kitchen chairs gold and start spray painting all of our food gold!

How Can You Say No To A Bow?

Buy these hair bow clips at Sprightly So!

Today is Tuesday and I feel a little bit guilty for not keeping to the ole' 'Random Thing Or Two-sday' schedule, but it just so happens that it's 12 pm and I am still in my pajamas. With mascara smudged under my eyes and food on a raggedy old thermal from peanut butter-laden toddler hands. You know, the life of a mama.

I have, however, been working on a new line of hair bow clips for Sprightly So that I've been dying to share! Bows are my favorite trend that will be all over the place for this upcoming spring season, and what better place to put them than on a clip and in your hair? 

Go check out the few that are up in the shop and stay tuned for more fun prints and florals coming soon (and pillows too)!

P.S. The month of love promo is going on through February 28. Take 15% off your entire purchase (yes, that means buying that favorite skirt you've been dreaming of) using code BEMINE14 at checkout! Thanks for supporting my shop! :)

Thriftary Giveaway

Happy Monday! In case you are suffering a case of the mean reds because it's Monday (or if you are of that happy breed that enjoys Mondays), Maddie of Thriftary is giving away an e.l.f. Cosmetics makeup set! This pack is everything you need to solve any beauty problems you might have, or if you are always at a loss of what basics and colors to buy. I've spent many a shopping trips standing helplessly in front of the cosmetics counter or wall, scratching my head because I didn't have a clue where to begin. Luckily for you, this set fills in the gaps and just might prevent you from ripping a few handfuls of hair out of that pretty little head of yours.

The lovely lady that is oh so generously hosting this giveaway is even better! I am ecstatic to introduce you to Maddie, who writes the blog, Thriftary. Maddie has a shnazzy knack for blog design and her little space on the web is one that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy because she is sweet as pie, hilarious (which makes me love her all the more for her sarcasm), and her blog is a dream to look at. There's a big, ginormous chance you will end up loving her as well!

Now let's get you winning this magnificent prize! Enter the Rafflecopter widget below! Good luck!

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Black And Brown

 Dress: c/o Ronen Chen (on sale!). Hat. UO. Boots: JCPenney. Necklaces: Sprightly So. Backpack: Sprightly So.

Just an outfit post today. I have nothing remarkable or particularly sarcastic to say. Shocking, I know.  However, I would like to tell you that this is the most comfortable dress I've ever worn. And it's black and grey and goes with everything. Win, win! I will never have to get dressed again.

Happy Valentine's Day

 Dress: On sale at Sprightly So!

Hope you are giving and receiving gobs and loads of smooches. We are indulging in the love over here that makes this holiday a grand one!

Here is a song to add to your baby makin' playlist, a sweet treat to whip up, and a kiss to make your heart skip a beat (again, and again, and again).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Valentine's Day just isn't Valentine's Day without some form of chocolate cake. We prefer cupcakes around here, since Luke is a professional at eating them these days. I want to share with you my favorite gluten-free chocolate cupcake recipe I've found thus far in my gluten-free journey. It's the nomnom type of yummy. Happy baking!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup potato starch
2 Tablespoons tapioca flour
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup warm water or coffee

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12-well muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl combine the sugar, rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and xanthan gum. Mix well. Add the egg, milk, oil, vanilla extract and water (or coffee). Mix until smooth. Divide evenly among the prepared muffin wells. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely and top with your favorite frosting. Note: recipe can be doubled. Click to see the original recipe (which uses rice flour, cornstarch and sweet rice flour) and baking times for two 8-inch round cakes or one large 9x13 pan.

*Recipe from Girl Cooks World

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

 Dress: LOFT (on sale!). Necklace: Francesca's (similar). Bracelets: Target (similar). Shoes: Target (on sale!).

1) This dress was a whopping $5.27. Tax included. Meow that's a deal (gotta say it while I have this punny [did I just make that up? Am I even allowed to use parentheses {or brackets} within parentheses? It's like inception of the sentences] window of opportunity)!

2) Fact: In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets (source). I don't know about you, but our dog is blind, so I don't think giving him a card will be of much use (because pets that aren't blind can obviously read their cards).

3) Instead of walking on his feet, Luke has resorted to walking on his knees (and showing off his impressive flexibility in downward facing dog). I guess it's a step in the right direction?

4) Have you been perusing around Sprightly So lately, seeing some things you love? Well, treat yourself to an early Valentine's Day present and take 15% off your entire purchase! Use code BEMINE14 at checkout!

5) Would you rather eat conversation hearts or cinnamon hearts to the point of purging? Does anyone even legitimately eat those conversation hearts anyway? Truly, I am interested to know if any of you out there like and enjoy chowing down on that chalky goodness. You don't count, Dad.

Home Sweet Home

Welcome, welcome to our home! That itchy scratchy need to spruce things up I was talking about the other day took effect. 

We purchased these bookshelves to create some balance and storage by our media console, and I can finally put my favorite trinkets and books on display (and the minimal look and price of the things cannot be beat!). 

It's clearly apparent I've been making pillows like a mad woman, and they added the right amount of pop, color and print to the white walls and neutral furniture. 

I finally perfected my little corner atelier, if you will. The bright pink peony graphic gives a girly pack of punch (much to Matt's dismay). 

And that beautimus throw on the couch? I scored that at a local vintage store called Seaweed & Gravel. You guys, that place is the stuff vintage loving dreams are made of. If you live in the San Diego area or are ever in Encinitas, you must go there.

The best thing adorning this living room? That little fur ball, Benny, also known as king of the couch.