A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Forever 21 Twisted Band Wool Fedora Hat
Forever 21 Relaxed Chambray Blouse
H&M Giraffe Print Tank Top
Zara White Denim
Forever 21 Round Sunglasses
Forever 21 Black Ankle Booties
31 Bits Gold Bracelet c/o

1. Being a mom means jumping for joy when you find the perfect everyday button up to wear. And it means you probably shouldn't wear white pants if you like them to stay white. Just sayin'.

2. Fact: Bubble wrap was originally designed to be used as wallpaper (source). That is hilarious to me. It would actually make great wallpaper at our house since we have a certain one-year-old who crashes head first into the walls at least three times per day.

3. I guess the emoji powers that be WERE listening to me when I requested new ones last week (see #3)! (Insert winky face and smug face emoji.) How are we feeling about the update? Love seeing that they have all races in there for the people. Still no unicorn or bacon, but I guess Rome wasn't built in a day.

4. Speaking of bacon, we went to Sidecar Doughnuts in Costa Mesa today with our favorite lady crew and it was everything it was cracked up to be. Bacon maple! Strawberry buttermilk! Girl Scout cookie Samoas! And peanut butter chocolate banana! Oh, there were more, but I will save those for another time. All things in moderation, yes?

5. Would you rather watch a movie with a picture but no sound, or a movie with sound but no picture?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Sheinside Embroidered Dress
Target Sandals

1. I love a good embroidered dress, especially one from Free People. Buuuutttt, those are a little pricey, and I heard a tip from a fellow friend and blogger about how Sheinside basically makes the knock-off versions. Naturally, I thought I'd try it out to see if it was worth it because I am always down for a deal! Here are my two cents: The dress photographs beautifully and is great for a few wears, but the quality is not that great. The material is cheap and I had to trim loose threads on almost all of the embroidered flowers. (Yeah, that's like, 150 flowers.) I have a Free People embroidered dress to which I am comparing it (and I got mine for a steal at TJ Maxx) and I would definitely say save up your pennies for the real deal if you are wanting one for spring and summer, and you plan on wearing it more than four or five times. But, the cheaper version might work for you if you want it for family photos or for a specific occasion. Either way, you will have to twirl in it, because what's a dress good for if it doesn't have twirling capabilities?

2. Fact: The odds of having twins are 1 in 33. The odds of delivering triplets or other multiples shoot up to 1 in 539 (source). Call me crazy, but I would LOVE twins.

3. I've been thinking about emojis a lot lately. (I know, such a deep and complex thing to ponder!) Mostly I have just been thinking how it is time they released a whole new arsenal of emojis. Emoji makers, if you are reading this, please include my wishlist for consideration: unicorn, fingers crossed, middle finger, cupcake, pregnant lady, more clothing and shoe options in general, running girl, bacon, hot dog, CHEESE, a legitimate high five, and a Netflix one for good measure.

4. Yesterday I saw a lady wreck a brand new Lexus. A brand new Lexus that she was TEST DRIVING. She literally was about to make a left-hand turn back into the dealership and then basically totalled the whole front left side of the car. Thankfully nobody was hurt (besides that poor car). But could you imagine? That is always the one thing I have always freaked over in my mind when test driving a car. What if I crash it?! Will I have to pay for it? Will they make me answer phones until it is paid off?! Honestly, though. Would you have to pay for it, or does your insurance cover it? Or does the dealership have insurance? I don't know these things, but I suppose I should educate myself on the matter. Be safe while driving, folks!

5. Would you rather have cotton candy for hair or have licorice-dispensing fingertips?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Old Navy Striped Shift Dress
Forever 21 Paint Splatter Cap
Converse Chuck Taylor Low Sneakers

1. This is my soccer mom outfit. Meaning, this is the outfit Luke, Wes and I played soccer in with a 2 inch ball. Luke is fantastically talented at kicking the ball in a straight line. He was more accurate than I was! Not sure that is saying much, but I think the boy has a future in the sport. Also, this outfit is comfy and good for mom duties in the heat. (Yes, it has been in the 80s here! Phoooey!)

2. Fact: By the age of two, a baby has had their diaper changed an average of 7,300 times. With the average speed of each diaper change at around two minutes, that would add up to three 40 hour work weeks (source)!

3. I went ahead and looked to see who won The Bachelor before watching it. I feel like it got a little boring toward the middle anyway, and I am WAY more excited about the next Bachelorettes! Yes! Plural! I am #teamkaitlyn for sure.

4. Today we are headed to Ojai for an overnight trip with some friends! It's going to be three gals and four babies out exploring! I've been wanting to go to Ojai for years now, and we are finally making it happen. You can follow along our quick adventure on Instagram!

5. Would you rather have silly string fly out of your nose whenever you sneeze or squirt orange juice out of your mouth whenever you yawn?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Ronen Chen Tunic
LOFT Duster Vest
LOFT Distressed Boyfriend Jeans
Antelope Ankle Clog Booties c/o
Anthropologie Hat
Make Pie Not War Necklace via Mommy Mailbox
Gorjana Twist Cuff via Rocksbox (use code ABBEYBFF3 for a free month!)

1. The 70's called, and told me they love my outfit, but that they want it back. And then I told them no, because this is probably one of my newest favorite outfit creations. Do you ever get in those funks where you just have no idea how to piece together new looks with the same clothes that have been sitting in your closet for years? I've been going through a major one (hence the absence of these posts for the last two weeks) but inspiration decided to strike at 2 am on Sunday night, er, Monday morning technically. I think I need to get a big Polaroid camera like Cher Horowitz and start photographing all of the looks I put together in those moments. Anyway, these Antelope clog booties are absolutely fantastic. You've probably seen a selection of their boots in Anthropologie. Everything they make is beautiful, so I am happy to announce we will be giving away a pair of any Antelope shoes or boots of your choice next week! Stay tuned!

2. Fact: The "ma" sound is one of the first things babies are able to vocalize, and it is found in almost every language. It's mom in English, maman in French, mamī in Punjabi, me in Vietnamese (source). They all have the same sound, so that is where the word mom or mother got its name. I love that motherhood is truly a universal thing, united in its love and purpose.

3. So, what did we think about the Oscars? Here are my thoughts ... a) Neil Patrick Harris tried his best, but I didn't really think he was all that great. I was mostly bored during his bits. But hey, that would be an incredibly stressful event to host, so kudos for attempting it, Neil! b) Lady Gaga CRUSHED. IT. I was not much of a Gaga fan before, but after her mind-blowing tribute performance of The Sound of Music my heart changed. c) Ole' Goop a.k.a. Gwyneth Paltrow's dress was absolutely my favorite of the night. It reminded me of her 1999 dress—pale pink is totally her color. d) Eddie Redmayne, I love you and want to kiss those darling freckled cheeks of yours. I love it when actors are genuinely surprised and thrilled and gracious.

4. Upon waking up from my weekly nap on Sunday, I thought to myself, Are Sunday naps a Mormon thing? You know, like weird obsessions with Diet Coke and dirty Dr. Peppers, or Cafe Rio sweet pork and Pinterest? Just peruse your Instagram or Twitter on Sunday and 50% of the posts from your Mormon friends are about naps. Am I right? I'm just gonna give myself some credit here and say I am. But the question is why? Have we performed a mild hypnosis on our brains and circadian rhythms to fall asleep right after church? Do all of the emotions associated with church take a physical toll on our bodies? Is it sheer boredom? WHAT IS IT?

5. Would you rather have to walk down the red carpet naked or vomit all over the place during your acceptance speech?

P.S. Heel clicks, because it's a rite of passage when you get your first pair of clogs.


P.P.S. I was sneaky and captured Matt the Fashion Blogger in the wild! Mwaahaha! Also, I desperately want to reenact Sia's "Elastic Heart" video, but Matt won't agree to it. I am telling you, it would be hilariously AWESOME. I really think we could have an incredible parody YouTube channel, but it is just going to take some stealth and convincing. Send me your good persuasion juju, k?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Vintage Overalls
LOFT Striped Top
Anthropologie Hat
LOFT Round Sunglasses

1. I am up in Heber at my parents' house and my mom and I have been rummaging through old suitcases containing my grandma's clothes. My mom found these overalls and immediately thought of me. And since overalls are oh-so-trendy, I thought I'd give my hand at the farmer-chic thing. These vintage babies are from the 1940's and they were my Grandma Nellie's working overalls. See the shed I am standing in front of? She more than likely wore these while she toiled and labored away in there (and to clean the chimney, according to my mom), so it was a fun blast of nostalgia bringing them back to life.

2. Fact: A group of cats is called a clowder (source).

3. False nostalgia, or having a nostalgia for a time we never lived in, is an incredibly fascinating concept to me. The definition of nostalgia is "a sentimental longing or wistful association for the past, specifically for a period or place with happy associations." So how is it we can intensely long for something that has never personally happened to us? We don't truly know what it was like to be in that time period. I guess it is simply another case of the-grass-is-always-greener, but in reverse. (Am I making any sense? It's more like a Rambly Thing Or Two-sday! Hardy har har.)

4. So I almost literally peed my pants the other day. I had a 30 minute drive before I made it home, and I thought I was going to LOSE. IT. By the last five minutes I was sweating profusely, had the A/C on full blast, and was doing Lamaze-type breathing. The funny thing is that I had just gone to the bathroom right before I left! Having babies has straight up wrecked my bladder control. I often wonder if it worse because of my c-section, or if it is just having kids in general? Please tell me I am not the only one!

5. Would you rather trade bodies with your significant other for a week or trade places with one of your children (or niece or nephew) for a day? Take note that your mental capacities are still the same, so beware!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Vegan Leather Jacket (similar)
LOFT White Cotton Tee
LOFT Modern Skinny Jeans in Black
Vans 'Classic' Slip-On Sneaker
Target Knit Beanie

1. These photos are probably some of my favorite "style" photos I have taken. It is an honest portrayal of motherhood and what it looks like behind the scenes. Kids with no pants on crawling up your legs and a lot of goofiness. I like it. In other news, these slip ons have been in my closet since I was 16. Another way of putting that is they have been in my closet for over a decade. When did I get so OLD?! Either way, I am glad I held onto them, but still slightly weirded out that I officially have items in my closet which are old enough to have gone through the cycle of going out of fashion and then back in again.

2. Fact: A baby is born in the world every three seconds (source).

3. I know I mostly talk about The Bachelor on my Facebook and Twitter, but I just have to spill it on here, too. This season is driving me bonkers. I had high hopes for Prince Farming, but the cheese factor on this season is through the roof. Like, someone set a rocket into space through the roof. Again, this can probably be attributed to the fact that I am getting older and am now older than half of the girls. But, still. It seems so staged! And I haven't watched last night's episode, so no spoilers!

4. As I was driving home today, I pulled up next to a guy at a red light. At first it looked like he was head banging and jamming out to some funky music all by his lonesome. I was thinking, Whoa this guy likes to party! It brought a huge smile to my face. But then I saw some tiny hands flailing in the back seat and rolled my car forward a couple inches to see the cutest little boy intently copying his dad's dance moves. Even though there were lots of people who could see them, it was just the two of them in their own father-son world, and it reminded how precious that bond with a dad is. I love witnessing small, yet powerful, human connections like that.

5. Would you rather age only from the neck up or age only from the neck down?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Cream Fringe Cardigan (similar)
Embroidered Top (similar)
LOFT Skinny Ankle Zip Jeans
Gorjana Twist Cuff via Rocksbox c/o
Sam Edelman 'Petty' Booties (similar)

1. I've been really into delicate jewelry lately. I think that's the buzzword going around for simple accessories, right? It is just practical as a mom to throw on an easy cuff or small necklace. This twisted cuff I am wearing is a Gorjana piece. I've always wanted Gorjana stuff, but felt like it was little pricey to invest in without knowing how I would like it. Then Rocksbox contacted me and my dreams came true! They are a monthly jewelry box subscription where they send you three pieces based on what you like. And they are high-quality brands. You keep the jewelry as long as you want, and then when you are ready for something new you send it back and wait for your next package! I like getting packages in the mail. Snail mail is fun, and right now they are offering a free first month for all of you awesome people if you would like to try it out! Free jewelry? Heck yeah! Just use code "abbeyxoxo1" at checkout. (*Update: that code isn't working properly right now, and I am working on having them send me the correct one ASAP! Sorry for the issue! Hang tight and I will update it once it is fixed!)

2. Fact: The butterflies you feel in your stomach when you see someone you love or lust after is caused by the release of adrenaline, which is a stress response (source). I live for those butterflies. Wait a minute—does this mean I could potentially be an adrenaline junky? Looks like I need to go skydiving.

3. You guuuuyyys, I STILL haven't finished the season premiere of The Bachelor yet! What is wrong with me?! I blame it on the new year making me all productive and using my time to sleep and read books instead of watching television. I really do miss my TV time. That's it, I'm going to watch it, RIGHT NOW. And then I will probably tweet all of my feelings about it.

4. Wes has had a small cold for the past few days, and I seem to obsessively check his temperature whenever he is sick. I know this because I wasn't feeling well after a visit from Aunt Flo and was lying in bed. Luke walked into the room and said, "Mommy, you sick? I check yo tempatcher. Open yo mouf!" It was so sweet to see him check and make sure I was okay, even if he was checking my throat for a temperature. Turns out I was okay because he said, "Nope! No feva!" And then I told him that if I did end up with one, that the only prescription is more cowbell.

5. Would you rather be able to go forward in time on three different occasions in your life, or go back in time once?

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Thrifted Cardigan Sweater (similar)
Liberty Sage High Low "Boyfriend" Tee c/o
LOFT White Cropper Jeans
Sperry Top-Sider Biscayne Leopard Boat Shoes c/o
1000 Shillings Grace Necklace c/o (get 30% off your entire purchase with code '2015'!)
H&M Ivory Knit Beanie (similar)
LOFT Chunky Sunglasses (similar)

1. I used to be an anti-white after Labor Day type of person. I suppose I am just an 80-year old woman inside who sticks to particular habits when it comes to certain fashion decisions. But thanks to Pinterest, I realized winter whites are a thing, and they are actually a really great thing. This outfit made me feel like a million bucks and I wore it two days in a row. It's a flipping miracle I didn't get on anything on it until the second day. At least it was homemade sweet pork I managed to dribble all over my shirt, so I guess it wasn't in vain.

2. Fact: If Wikipedia were a book, it would be more than two billion pages long (source)!

3. If you haven't entered the giveaway for one of these necklaces I am wearing from 1000 Shillings, come over here and do it! There are necklaces, bracelets and scarves to choose from. You will love them!

4. Last weekend while we were out and about, we overheard two elderly ladies talking about their riveting social life. The gray-haired gal with the fanny pack and jazzy red lipstick said, "Oh, you mean the guy with the glass eye who eats roadkill?" to her equally fabulous partner in crime. Matt and I looked to each other as we walked by and busted up laughing. Absolutely one of the most fantastic bits of gossip on which I've ever had the pleasure of eavesdropping.

5. Would you rather eat 10 pounds of cheese or a large bucket of peanut butter (with nothing to drink) all in one sitting?