Spring Favorites

The daffodils are poking up through the mulch in my flower bed!  I don't think I've ever been this excited for spring.  It hasn't been a terrible winter here; there isn't any snow to speak of and we haven't even had the luxury of a snow day, but I am longing to be outside again, digging in the dirt and growing things.  And I can't wait to wear skirts again without needing layers and layers underneath.

Here are some of my favorite things for spring.

1.  Measuring Hedgies from Anthropologie.  $36. Because they are just so stinking cute.

2.  Placed Floral Silk Dress from Loft. $79.50  This one is on-trend with the floral design, but in more of a sophisticated way than some of the prints I've seen.

3.  I'm obsessed with shoe clips lately!  Such a pretty way to dress up a pair of flats or heels.  These are from here.  $12.

4.  I'm loving dipped wood. These are from Urban Outfitters and are $16.

5.  Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.  I love this stuff!  I use it as a primer and it immediately brightens my skin and makes me look awake.  I couldn't live without it. It's pricy, but a little goes a long way.  $45.

What are your must-haves for spring?

Last Minute Valentine's Day Ideas

I recognize this post is coming to you about a month too late.  Can we maybe look at it this way? You are SUPER prepared for Valentine's Day next year. :)

Here's a little roundup of some cute things that caught my eye.

I love these Aquanotes.  Just stick them in your shower and you and your sweetie can leave each other steamy love notes every day.  Or, you could remind each other to pick up milk or take out the trash.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think every gentleman should own a proper shave set.  Pair it with a traditional razor like this one and you've got yourself a great little gift.

Boys, you can't go wrong with this sweet little bangle.  It's dainty and lovely and goes with everything.

I've seen this idea floating around Pinterest.  Just buy some plain ceramic dollar store mugs, decorate with a Sharpie, and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Voila.

And just look at these pencils.  I mean, seriously.  Maybe it's just the pencil-lover in me, but I can't imagine a more perfect gift.

These days, though, the best Valentine's day gift I can think of is to be left alone soaking in the tub for an hour with a good book. Fingers crossed.

Here's a cheap, easy, and quick Valentine's Day gift I made two years ago.

Happy Monday! 

A Voice

Hello there.

It's been a while.  I hope 2013 has been treating you kindly.

Our winter has been a tangle of birthday parties and family outings and new nieces.  All good things, my friends. We're busy.

I had a conversation with a colleague lately that left me inspired.  He's always been a positive and encouraging person(the best kind of person to work with, in my opinion).  He encouraged me to do things that make me happy.  He reminded me to pursue what I'm passionate about.  And he gave me the best bit of cheerleading: he reminded me that I have a unique perspective and a strong voice that resonates with people. In short, I have a story to tell and something to say.  Don't you love him already?

I'm also lucky enough to have some terrific girlfriends who say things to me like, "I miss your blog."  So thanks goes to you too, ladies.

My brain is full of a million things I can tell you about.  First things first, however.

You must make this rice pudding.  You just must. It's the best basic recipe I've found.  Reminds me of my Nana, and what could be better than that?

source

Glad to be back to blogging, one of my first loves.  I hope you visit often.

{Free Printable} Mother's Day Card

I've been saving this Mother's Day Card printable since June of last year!  It's adorable (and rated PG-13), and from the amazing Ambrosia Creative.  Go download it to tell your guy exactly what you want!

Mother's Day Wishes

Friends, I'll be brutally honest.  If I left my Mother's Day gift up to my husband, it's likely that I would never see a Mother's Day gift.  Or I'd see something like the $15 drug store steam cleaner that he bought me one year.  So I'm not at all subtle when it comes to what I want for Mother's Day, unless you think subtle is saying, "Honey, here's the link, here's a coupon, and here's my credit card."

This year, I'm gunning for this necklace.  My beautiful, stylish friend Heather was wearing it when I saw her a few weeks ago, and I shamelessly coveted it and wanted to call it my own.  I hope Michael picked up on the few (hundred) hints I dropped.

Are you looking for a Mother's Day gift?  Here are a few gifts that this Mom would love to receive.

PERSONALIZED ADDRESS STAMP

DESSERT PLATES FROM ANTHROPOLOGIE

URBAN OUTFITTERS STEREOLUXE AM/FM RADIO AND MP3 DOCK

A SCHWINN CRUISER

A DECAL FOR MY MAC

My favorite is this Totoro one.  I love Totoro.

A PRETTY IPHONE CASE

ANOTHER CUTE CAMERA BAG

And if money were no object....

A VINTAGE CAMPER

But honestly, the best gifts are the homemade ones.  Am I right?  This one was drawn by Charlotte.  She told me that it's what she's going to look like when she grows up.  That's some long hair, girl.

Happy {almost} Mother's Day!  

DIY: Freezer Paper Stencil Custom Shirt

Well.  Hey there.

Just popping in to show this cute and easy shirt I made for Gavin last weekend.  (Wish I could stay and chat longer, but my report cards are due.  It's that time of year!)

We had a Sing-a-Long birthday party for the twins on Sunday.  They're going to be five on Thursday.  FIVE!  In my head, I still picture this all of the time, and count my innumerable blessings:

Thankfully, they fattened up pretty fast those first weeks in the NICU, and there's no end in sight.  (For those new to this blog, you can read old posts dating back to the early days to get a glimpse of what life was like with preemie twins.)

Back to the shirt.  Since it was a sing-a-long theme, and since a talented friend of mine was singing her original children's songs to entertain the kids, I wanted Gavin to have a cool shirt to go with the theme of the day.

I started with a cheap navy t-shirt from Old Navy and this free stencil from the Acire Adventures blog.

I photocopied the stencil to scale it down a little and traced it onto the flat (not shiny) side of good ol' freezer paper.  Then I used an exacto knife to cut it out, placed it shiny-side down on the t-shirt, and ironed for about 30 seconds until the paper stuck to the shirt.  Please excuse the iPhone photo.  I was charging my Nikon battery!

Originally, I was just going to use light blue fabric paint to stencil the design, but I went with a bleach pen instead.

I waited about 10 minutes, and then peeled the paper off like a big sticker.  To get the smaller, peskier parts of the stencil off, I had to use the tip of the exacto knife.

I immediately rinsed the bleach off of the shirt, and then washed it in cold water by itself.  I always worry about "stray" bleach getting on other clothes.

I think my birthday boy looked adorable.  And tall.

As always, thanks for reading!

Currently Loving: January 2012 Edition

Hi There.

Today I'm going to tell you about a few things that I currently can't live without.  Or things that make my life a little easier.  Or things on which I'm currently crushing.  Or something like that.

1.  First, Breathe Right Strips. Didn't expect that one, did you?  I know, that was a total geriatric thing to say.  On the inside, I'm an 85-year old woman.  But for realz, I can't believe how much better I sleep when I have one of these suckers on.  My kids laugh at me, and sometimes it leaves a sticker-mark on my nose the next morning, but I get such a sounder sleep with these.  Honest.

2.  Next, Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream. This does have a scent, but it's a terrific one.  It's thick and luxurious, and doesn't affect my sensitive skin at all.  I love the way it makes my skin feel in the morning.  I know what you're thinking: I look too young to use night cream even though I'm 85 on the inside. :)  Gotta start sometime.

Lately, I've been looking for some personalized art for our house.  I came across this cute little Etsy shop, Poppy and Pinecone, that sells great state watercolor prints.  This one is on it's way to my house!  And that heart happens to be RIGHT over the spot where I live.  I feel like it was made just for me.  

And last but not least, I am LOVING the Lightscoop that I got for my camera for Christmas.  My house doesn't get great natural light, and I have to take lots of photos at night since I work during the day.  The Lightscoop attaches to my camera and redirects my flash to the ceiling or the wall to create more flattering light.  I. LOVE. IT. 

 At some point I will devote an entire post to this beauty, but here's an example. 

This is a photo I took in my bedroom with a flash.  Notice the harsh light and the dark background.

And here's the same shot with a flash, but using the Lightscoop.

See?  Better.  Brighter.  I love this thing!

Now what about you?  What are some of your favorite things?