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Photos: everythingfab.com, rosinahuber.blogspot.com, ballarddesigns.com, unknown, lemonademakingmama.com

My new ride

"I may have to check her license" quote from my dad when I sent him this picture :)

5 Faves

1.Best Lip Balm Ever. I started using this 2 years ago and I absolutely LOVE it. I use it religiously every night before bed. http://www.sephora.com/

2.Clear Glass Bottle from Ikea.com-$3.99 I like to use these for soaps at the kitchen counter, olive oil, anything really. So much prettier than soap bottles!

3. Loving this white slip cover from Ikea for only 49.00!! I can see it with some really fun colorful pillows. I am considering this for my living room re-do. Which is a work in progress.

4. Football Season is just around the corner and I am hoping to get to a couple games this year.I found this little number on Pinterest. Perfect with maroon accents for the Hokies! http://www.judithmarch.com/

5. A quote from Billy Baldwin, Billy Baldwin Decorates in the August issue of Real Simple

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style". You should always remember this, especially when decorating! It doesn't matter if one item is shabby chic and another item is modern, it all works together if you love it.

Crazy Stupid Love

If you have read previous posts you know of my on going crush with Ryan Gosling. (Note: the other movie with him, All Good Things, was good but not the usual Ryan Gosling. Definitely not like The Notebook.) His new movie Crazy Stupid Love looks very promising and I love this amazing black and white picture from the premiere. I will be planning a date night very soon :)

Image: http://www.vogue.com/ photographer Pablo Frisk

Statement Pieces

Images: Pinterest, Emily A. Clark

Smiles all around

Today has been a long day and it is only 3:00. Last weekend my father found out he had a malignant tumor and would be having surgery. After being up at the hospital at 5:00 AM and waiting through a 5 hour surgery, the doctor said the tumor was contained and showed no signs of spreading and has been completely removed. The doctor said this is the best news we could hope for and everything would be OK. I thought this sweet picture my mother in law sent me best sums up how my whole family and I are feeling now.

Peace.

I saw this last night on Georgie Girl's blog. I think this was meant for me at this exact moment.

Mommyland

By now you all know one of my favorite blogs Rants from Mommyland. The post today included a link to another post that I think every mom or mom to be should read. I will definitely try to remember this when M turns into the diva that I sadly know she will be. No thanks to me of course :)

Tea Party at Target

Delish

Two of my favorite things...pizza and breakfast. Found this on a daily read Young Married Chic. I will be testing this one out very soon!

Five Faves

Five Faves

What a unique idea! I found this on a new blog I have been reading called Young House Love. If you love Before and Afters you will love this one.

I started watching this show after Molly was born (I got into A LOT of TV then, obviously). It ha since come out with a second season, that I just started recording. As a business owner I love to see how other businesses are run and how I can do things better. Plus, the show is really funny sometimes. It comes on WE, although I don't know its regular time mine has been recording at 3:00 AM.




This is kind of two faves in one. One is the website Pinterest, which I am pretty sure I am coming to the party a bit late on this one. It's this amazing site to catalog all the things you love, genius idea. Second is this super baby friendly outfit for fall above from net-a-porter, which I pinned on pinterest. It is so casual, but so stylish. A good statement piece of jewelry and a great handbag can make any outfit look put together.




Hydrangeas!!! My lovely mother-in-law planted these for me because I have been dying for one. Note: She has an amazing green thumb, which I do not, and did the landscaping for the whole front yard. I will have to do before and afters one day, it's unbelievable.

If this is not be best idea for inexpensive art work I don't know what is. It is framed fabric swatches! I have been seeing this a lot lately and I am really digging this. My plan is to get basic white frames and instead of fabric swatches use Molly's Aden and Anais swaddle blankets to hang up in her room. Aden and Anais blankets are the best, best, best, thing! I recommend them for all moms to be . I think this could be a cute way to keep something "new" that she used as baby, because most things just end up packed away.

Images: 1-Young House Love, 3- www.pinterest.com 5- www.apartmenttherapy.com

Kitchen Clean Out Part 2 and Movie Night

The Kitchen Clean Out wasn't timed well on my part. Unfortunately I was the one who suffered from the no grocery store plan. B left Wednesday afternoon for a golf trip through tonight. So let's see...I had mac and cheese, leftover pasta, and then I went to the grocery store. Remember how I said I can't eat pasta without bread...torture. Also I consisted on goldfish and tortilla chips during the day. The thing is..we had food! I just didn't feel the need to cook for myself and didn't really have the time during the day with a little one. My advice for your next kitchen clean out..plan it when you aren't alone or invite friends over to help eat:)


Last night one of my best friends who happens to be my cousin, came over for dinner and a movie. I followed my own advice by inviting friends over to help eat, but I didn't want her to have to suffer so I had already gone to the grocery store. Plus, I was out of wine..definite need to break the kitchen clean out plan. K and I have a terrible record with movies lately so I am going to save some of you and go through the last couple...

1. Eat Pray Love- Ok I know some of you are probably screaming now because the book was amazing and no I did not read the book. We went to see this in the theatre when I was pregnant, very pregnant if I remember correctly. I wasn't into the book, just not my kind of reading, so I went into the movie with an open mind. Still really disliked it, I am trying not to use the word hate for molly's sake, but it was definitely bordering on that. I distinctly remember Julia Roberts being in the first country and realizing we had 2 more to go. After the movie we decided we wished we had left after the first country.

2. Blue Valentine- I love love love Ryan Gosling. How can you not after seeing The Notebook?
Both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams were nominated for awards for their roles in this movie and I can see why, but it wasn't for me. Again, K and I both just kept watching, hoping for the best. It was a bit of a downer, and I felt bad for the little girl in the movie. However, I did find a song I love in it, it's by Penny and the Quarters called You and Me. Reminds me of old Motown songs and I do love how its used in the movie

3. The Kids are Alright- This was last night's movie and it wasn't terrible, but it was different. I liked the idea of it and how everyone has different lives and in the end everyone is just trying to get by (if you rent this and actually make it to the end Julianne Moore has a good little speech regarding this). It just seemed a little slow and boring for me. I had rented another move, All Good Things (another Ryan Gosling), which is a true story about a missing person and I am not sure which would be better. We will see because I am going to get B to watch the other one with me tonight!

So, that's a pretty long post, but it may be the last one for the weekend..happy weekend!

Friday Funny

So, my original post that I attempted to start before Molly's nap (bad move) was to repost the new Huggies commercial. Yes, the one with the adorable little boy and bewildered dad which you can see here. However. I got sidetracked and started looking at one of my favorite blogs but, I will still comment on this commercial. If you think this only happens with boys, you are wrong. No it's not quite as traumatizing with girls, but it happens. Flashback to Molly's first doctor's appointment, as soon as the diaper comes off it happens...everywhere. My immediate response was "I thought only boys did that?". Once you see the video if you haven't already it may make a little more sense.

Note: I do realize I just broke my cardinal rule of talking about my child's bathroom business like anyone cares. It won't happen again, I promise...maybe.


So now you get two funnies in one Friday. This is from my favorite Mom blog and all of their posts are awesome and you can really relate. As I read this I find myself thinking of an episode of Sex and the City where Charlotte and Trey are talking about having children after being with little hellians. "Besides...our children will be different" I am aware that my little girl will probably not be any differen than number 3, but a girl can dream right?

Rants from Mommyland

Can't Wait

As soon as I saw this on Pinterest I immediately pinned it. I try very hard not to get the "can't waits" with Molly, because I know I will look back and wish she was the sweet little baby she is, BUT I can't wait until she does this :)

Good Morning Sleepyhead

Book Club

My reading list

• The Sookie Stackhouse novels, if you have been reading you know I am obsessed with True Blood. My dad gave me these books 2 Christmas' ago and I have never read them! I just started the first one this week and the show so far has stayed pretty true to the book. It's also really interesting to go back and be remind of how things went down in the beginning. Im loving it, plus reading the storyline of Bill and Sookie is reminiscent of the Edward and Bella relationship, but I must say sooo much better :)


• The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery I picked this one up at Too Many Books the other day because the owner suggested it. It was on the New York Times Bestseller List for over a year so I am assuming it's a good read. However, I am not always in line with the New Yotk Times Bestseller List.


• Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani I also picked this one up at Too Many Books and I am excited to start it. Several of my girlfriends have read Sarah's Key and loved it. I read one of her other books and wasn't crazy about it, but I thought I would give this one a shot.


• You will also notice my latest InStyle Magazine and Parents magazine. I am a magazine fanatic. At one point I think I had over 5 that I subscribed to, now we are down to 2 :( I am looking to change that soon.


• I also just have to say that while I am writing this I saw a preview for The Help the movie and I cannot wait!! I loved loved loved the book, a definite must read!

Office Space

With the age of laptops, ipads, and smartphones you may think "who needs an office space?" but, I definitely do. I love the spaces below and heres why...

I have loved this idea from Real Simple since the issue came out last year. I have debated on doing it at my house a couple times and now that Molly has taken over I am seriously considering it again. This space looks so cheery and is such an easy solution to a lack of space. That wallpaper is adorable!

If you could see my at work office compared to the below pictures you would laugh. I always put off re-decorating my office at work because I feel I should put the time and money into more important things (ahem, marketing, inventory, packaging...you get the picture). I have come to the conclusion though this is why I re-arrange it AT LEAST once a month. When I was there more it was probably twice a month. So along with my living room, I am going to start gradually updating my office. Here are two spaces that are really inspiring me to get a move on.

This one from House Beautiful anyone would be proud to show off to clients or anyone, really.

From one of my favorite blogs, Deliciously Organized, this space has got it going on. Talk about organization! I have a back shelf in my office and I will definitely be utilizing the height of the space, and clearing the clutter by adding bins and boxes to create a MUCH cleaner and uniform work space.

Hopefully, I will be showing you my re-decorated office on a budget here soon.

Kitchen Clean Out

On Sunday I looked into our pantry and realized we have way too much food. It may not seem like a lot to some people, but to me it looked like we were ready for the world to end, or whatever it is that is supposed to be happening soon. So, I am conducting a little experiment by not going to the grocery store for the week and possibly next. Anyone ever done this?
Last night wasn't too much of a challenge because we are still getting by with some of last week's groceries. Anothe reason why I am on grocery strike, I felt like I was there everyday!

On the menu:
Veggie burgers with mozzarella, basil and ketchup, potato chips and steamed carrots.

The steamed carrots were in place of the macaroni and cheese I was going to make, but I thought I should save that up. I think this will be a good cooking experiment because I probably never would have made the carrots if not for the lack of other options. We will see how the rest of this little test goes. B is going out of town for a golf trip Wednesday night so I may be eating out!

Aren't you supposed to be asleep?

It's 9:00 and one little person is supposed to be napping, however as we speak she is now standing in her crib. Just before that she was waddling around in there. I say waddling because she hasn't really gotten the knack of crawling but she definitely moves...somehow. Each time I think she is safely asleep long enough for me to jump in the shower, she's up.

Naps have become a bit of a battle for us lately. Although I am not sure who I am kidding with the use of the word lately, naps have always been a battle for us. I have (at least I feel like it) done everything I am "supposed" to do to make a good napper. Every 2-3 hrs (M usually makes it about 2 and 1/2), same routine (everytime!), and last, the saddest, let her cry. Which is probably a whole other post, but in short we did it and I don't regret it for a minute. If you try this, I recommend a video monitor and a husband who will let you go get as far aways to another room as possible so you don't have to hear your little babe cry.

Success at the nap...now time for me to get ready to get to my other job where I require a shower. Have a good monday!!

Weekly Faves

• Loving the black wedges above from zulily.com, only problem they are 4 in heels. Would make me a little too much taller than B.


• Mod about you from OPI nail polish. I had an amazing pedicure at Pure Spa last weekend and chose this delightful summery color. Makes my feet look super tan :)


• "I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends...than occupy the most splendid post." This was from the new Cottage Style, I always say I would rather have a small warm house than a large house with lots of rooms to clean!


• The Talk is my latest guilty pleasure. It is similar to The View, but I am not a fan of The View. All of the women are hilarous and they talk about real things. Every episode I laugh hysterically or know excatly what they are talking about. One of the latest subjects was about people being topless at the beach, a do or don't? Funniest conversation on the show yet.


• I found this blueberry tart recipe in Real Simple and have been making it for 2 years now. With fresh summer blueberries it is one of the easiest and most delicious summer treats.


• This adorable charm necklace from etsy.com is on my must have list. It would make a plain white Tee and jeans look put together and stylish.

"Maybe everyday is Saturday morning..."

Saturday mornings used to be about sleeping in, having breakfast and coffee in bed, and catching up on Tivo or my magazines. Another lovely thing that might happen is called a "re-rack", which I got from Julie Bowen on Modern Family. A re-rack is when you get up and do all those things above, and then go back to sleep for a bit, wake up and start the day again. These days a re-rack is rare, however Saturday mornings are still one of my favorite things. The title of this post is from a Drive by Truckers song I love called "Two daughters and a wife". The song is a little sad, but for some reason I really like it.
Here is what Saturday morning looks like now...

• Molly is up at 7:15 so, I am up at 7:15. Feed and entertain her until B gets up.


• Then it's time for that French Toast I told you guys I was going to try. Usually Brandon is the french toast maker, but this time I gave it a try. I found a baked french toast recipe on allrecipes.com and I must say it turned out pretty tasty.
  

• Molly goes down for her nap about 9:15 so I attempt to catch up on my magazines. Attempt failed, because by the time I clean up breakfast and lay back down in bed someone is awake again.





• Breakfast for the little one, she ate real bits of peaches today! It's so funny to see her eating food with no teeth.


• Then we head outside for a little swim in the pool.
  Did I mention all of this was done before 11:00 AM? Eight months ago you would be hard pressed to find me functioning before 11:00 AM. Oh, how times have changed ..in an amazingly good way though :)

Black and White

This entry way is the cutest thing! I don't think I am brave enough to go with black and white stripes, but I think it makes a very classic and stunning entrance to this home.


The other day I was over at my Aunt's house to watch So you think you can dance (best dance show ever!) and she had popcorn in these beautiful white bowls from Pier 1. Which ofcourse has me wanting a nice set of clean white dishes as seen in this picture from House Beautiful. The kitchen is my next project after the living room.

In the near future I will be purchasing this little gem from kspeddler's shop on etsy.com. If you have never been on etsy.com I suggest you go...now.

THE CUT

Before I was pregnant I always told my husband to never let me chop my hair off when I got pregnant. I know many a woman who's hormones got the best of them and ran to get all their hair cut off. I made it safely through the pregnancy without the urge to drastically change my hair, however after Molly came things didn't go so well. I just saw this picture of the ever stylish Jennifer Aniston, with a very chic haircut. It's almost annoying how amazing she looks ALL the time, but I do love her.



OK, so I know that I don't have the same hair type as her and she has a stylist and blah, blah, blah. However, does no one else remember the early Friends episodes when she had hair like the rest of us???? Anyway, what I am getting at is that I made THE CUT. THE CUT I told myself I would never get. About a month ago I went to my hair dresser and wanted something like the look above for a couple of reasons:

1. No one bothers to tell you that after that beautiful baby is here all that thick, soft hair you had FALLS OUT! It was so bad that one day when my husband was at work he called to tell me he felt something on his back and realized it was my hair! Maybe TMI for you folks, but it was that bad.

2. My hair was ALWAYS in a ponytail. I dreaded turning into the new mom who never does anything with herself, has on sweats, no makeup, and a ponytail everyday when my sweet husband comes home from work.

Unfortunately, like I suspected, I am and always will be a long hair girl (i.e. I do not have Jennifer Aniston's hair). In the grand scheme, it's just hair and it will grow right? At least that's what I tell myself...as I pull it into a ponytail.

Hanging with my buddy

Clearly, that sweet Cameron is going to be tortured by our daughter for years to come, but he loves her anyway.

Who doesn't love bread?

Today at my shop I met up with Betsty of Betsy Bread located here in Salem. She makes the most delicious artisan style bread! I had her chocolate chip bread yesterday, which was like heaven, and today I tried the cinammon raisin. She is going to start adding my shop to her weekly stops to deliver bread. I am HOPING this will turn into her using our kitchen for a bakery! Walking into my store everyday and smelling that divine smell of bread baking would just make me so happy.

Which brings me to the title of my post. Let's be honest I don't know many people who aren't a fan of bread. It just makes everything you eat better, don't even serve me pasta without some nice garlic bread. Bread before my meal at restaurants, yes please! Then I don't know about you but I over do it and can't eat my meal, which honestly, I am ok with because I have that much of a love for good bread.

So, with that loaf of cinammon raisin bread I bought today I am going to make some french toast for the hubs this weekend. I'll get back to you with a recipe and how this goes.

My 9 o'clock

Recently one of my best friends introduced me to this amazing website called Zulily.com, ever heard of it? Every morning they send you one email at 9:00 with all the latest deals. Baby items, womens clothes, shoes, handbags, and home decor. I was hooked. My best friend and I attempt to have a gmail meetup every morning to chat over the latest ADORABLE things for our little girls (hers coming in just over a month!!) and ofcouse for ourselves.

Some of my favorites...

This necklace from Alyssa Lee Jewelry...only $21.99!!

Espadrilles from Bumper, which are sold out and I can see why at $15.99.

I would love to buy this little number from Mustard Pie for Molly, but unfortunately her little thighs are too chunky for elastic legs!

We're growing up

In the last several days Molly has...

• Started babbling, A LOT. We are pretty sure she is saying Mama, however I am also pretty sure she does not know what she is saying. Although I wish she did :)


• Attempted to pull up in her crib during naptime by using her bumper (Ah I know, I know!Nothing in the crib, but without it she bangs her head into the rails) and failed by face planting into the rails. This usually prolongs the actual nap about 15 mins.


• Barely moved while on her hands and knees. We are defintely on the verge of movement here people, which means the babyproofing we have been putting off must commence soon.


• finally smiled, like really smiled for a photo. I am almost certain this is the first full on smiling photo of Little miss and I love it. My mother in law sent it to me while she was at the beach with them (I stayed home to work and clean our house, which was turned back upside down about an hr after Molly's return) and it is now my phone picture. It makes my heart sing everytime I turn on my phone.

What Im loving for the home...

I HAVE to find this blue chair from the latest cover of Traditional Home. I love the clean lines and crisp blue color. With a little one on the cusp of being mobile, I am now in the market for some kid friendly furniture. I am really into this white ottoman here, however I am pretty sure an upholestered white ottoman isn't the best option, but for now I can love it.
Flea Market style is a magazine I buy for decorating ideas at the shop. This picture is on their blog header now and I love the GROCERIES sign. I would love to have one to put above my kitchen cabinets. Especially since we are going to try and re-do the cabinets soon!

8 months and the 4th of July

Just a little snippet of our 4th of July and Molly's 8 month birthday weekend.

Swimming, lots of swimming. Molly (and as you can tell from the picture, Cameron) love the pool. I am so happy she will be a water baby!

Eating. B made delicious salmon burgers Sunday night on our new charcoal grill and we sat out on our deck to enjoy them. Yesterday during Molly' s nap I made the Tri-Bean salad above. So simple and easy to add whatever ingredients you love to change it up. Wrapped the day up with a good old fashion Popsicle, you know the one with the ice cream in the chocolate cone and the nuts on top. Reminds me of the middle school snack bar, Amazing.

A little walk before it got to hot for Molly, Cameron and me. In the midst of the walk a little dog got loose and came over to meet us, Cameron was not pleased with this. This was our second encounter with a loose dog on one of our walks. Molly seems to be unfazed by this, Cameron is definitely fazed.

Hope everyone else had a happy long weekend!

So it begins...

Here we are just before the 4th of July (which is also when little bit will be 8 months old!) and I found I have been reading blogs consistently for about a year now. You can see some of my faves to the right, which you should definitely check out. So of course I thought maybe it's time to start one of my own. So it begins with a few of my favorite things about summer...

1. This..definitely, this :)

Her first bikini from grandma janet

2. Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad: This is made so much better by the fresh basil growing on our deck (again courtesy of grandma janet). Just add a little light evoo and salt and pepper. Easiest and most delicious thing ever.

3. True Blood is backkkkk!!! So Brandon and I started this a while ago after one of my favorite employees ( miss you adrienne!) kept suggesting it to me. It is a little bit on the racy side, OK it's a lot racy, but it's so addictive. And the other thing I love about true blood, it's on HBO which means no commercials, because I don't know about you but I will wait 30 minutes before starting a show just so I don't have to watch commercials.