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)?

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.

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! :)

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.

Dare I DIY?: Striped Ombre Heart Pillow

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I've been in a crazy pillow-making frenzy. Truly though, new pillows can do wonders for giving a lift to your home design. Add some ombre and a heart to the pillow lineup and you've hit the jackpot. Obviously I made this one in celebration of Valentine's Day, but this beauty will perch happily on our couch for the remainder of the year. 

Materials:

-heart stencil

-red fabric paint

-white fabric paint

-foam stencil brush

-paint tray

-white envelope pillow cover

-pillow form

-cardboard insert

-scissors

-painters tape

1) Insert your cardboard piece into the pillow cover (I used this tutorial to make the envelope pillow cover... it seriously the easiest sewing project, ever). Center your heart stencil in the middle. Using 1 inch pieces of tape, tape around the stencil in the heart shape. Next, tape off your stripes inside the tape heart to your desired width.

2) Squeeze a generous amount of red fabric paint onto your tray (in my case my heart stencil double as my paint tray). Starting from the bottom, paint your first stripe red. Next, add about two generous drops of white paint into the red paint and mix well. Paint your next stripe. Add another two drops of paint, mix well, and paint the next stripe. Continue this process until finished.

3) Allow the paint to try for at least 2 hours. Once dry, remove the tape and cardboard insert. Place your heart cover on your pillow form and show off that sassy new pillow. After all, it's the cutest pillow you now own.