5 and 6 month roundup

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back here. My blank post has been staring at me for quite sometime now and I couldn't muster up the words. I've had a heavy case of mom brain lately and my short-term memory loss is at an all time high. I'd be lying if I said January hasn't been kinda crazy for us. We still are not in our new house and probably won't be for at least another month. I know it will be amazing when it is finished, but the waiting game is tough. As much as we enjoy temporarily living with my dad, we, as a family, need our own space. Who was I kidding when I said February 1st?! I should have known better--home renovations never work within estimated time criteria. All in all, I am just so grateful we will have a home we can call our own.

In the baby scheme of things, Luca had a scary outbreak due to an allergy from his oatmeal and so now we are back to rice cereal. He doesn't mind. I don't think our little butterball even noticed we swapped. Luca is now six months old and growing bigger and stronger everyday. Crawling will be coming soon enough and we recently got the ok to begin feeding him solid foods which I am ecstatic about (although from what I've heard,  I won't be so ecstatic about the new smells that are associated with the diapers as they bring with them a whole new meaning to "dirty"). I will be homemaking all of his food myself, so I need to gather up my supplies and get to it already, especially before the beloved squash goes out of season.

As much as I love watching him thrive and grow, I can't help but get sentimental. My baby boy is becoming more and more independent everyday and sometimes I feel like the past six months flew by in the blink of an eye. Though I thought I was relishing in it all as the time passed, I'm working harder now to walk a little slower, breathe a little deeper, and really take in the short time I have left of him needing me to carry him to get around, reaching him a toy, or supporting him as he sits up. One thing is for sure, I'm so in love with him and each and every stage has been a joy. Six months just might be my favorite, but then again I've said that each month for the past six, so don't take my word for it.

Speaking of eating real food, I myself have been trying my best to make healthy choices. I've been going with the 80/20 rule (80% of the time you stay strict to good choices and 20% of the time you splurge) and I'd say I'm doing pretty good. Even in areas where it's a splurge, I still try and make healthier picks such as dark chocolate over milk or wheat bread over sourdough. My eating habits are constantly evolving for the better--now if I could only motivate myself to get to the gym...although I am constituting carrying around my solid 18 pound six-month-old as some sort of work out. Sometimes I'll even do a few squats or lunges while he's in my arms. Hey, whatever you gotta do right?!

Well I hope the new year has been nothing but wonderful for the rest of you! Cheers to new beginnings and cheers to all of you for giving me this beautiful place of comfort to write, to share & to celebrate. Let's wrap it up with our five and six month favorites, hope you enjoy!

1 BreathableBaby Crib Bumper | 2 Ulubulu Silicone Bib | 3 Honest Healing Balm  

4 Britax B-Agile Stroller | 5 Gumdrop Ortho Pacifier | 6 BeginAgain Bathtub Ball & Play Set 

7 H&M Organic Baby Clothes

New Year, New faves.

We're one week into the new year and I want to talk about a few things I'm really into right now.

1. First up on the list, Salad in a Jar. Omg, how did I just now learn about this??? I was at the bank the other day and the teller told me about this phenomenon. As soon as I got home I looked it up on pinterest and found tons and tons of recipes. This is a great "take your lunch to work" idea because you can make a week's worth ahead of time and take them with you, granted you have a refrigerator or cooler. Then when it's time to eat, shake it up and pour it onto a plate. And since the number one new year's resolution is to lose weight/eat healthier, this should be a hit.  Here's the gist of it:

photo via pinterest

2. Keeping with the "healthy" theme, number two on my list is Tone it Up's "Love Your Body Series." If you watch bravo, you may have caught the brand new series "Toned Up" which is a spin off of a healthy lifestyle website/blog called Tone It Up. My friend Stefanie told me about this site about 6 months ago. She was obsessed with it and knew I'd be into it too (Especially after just having a baby, um yes please). It's ran by two gorgeous and very in-shape girls, Katrina and Karena, who always have great work out tips and healthy recipes to share. Right now they are running the "Love Your Body" series which is a great way to learn a few new quick and effective work outs that you can incorporate into your daily life to help you to lose weight and tone up along the way. Just in time for v-day <3! Yay!

3. Crock Pot Bean Posole. I made this a little while ago and have been itching to make it again. It was so delicious and ridiculously easy. It's perfect for the chillier weather were having, and extremely appropriate for my east coast friends and family! (Personal tip: shred tons of cheese on top and add lots of lime to it, this takes the flavor up tremendously and completes the dish in my opinion).

4. The Bachelor. Juan Pablo. Yes, the new season has begun! I'm sure you remember all my wild rants about "The Bachelorette" last season. If you don't, you're probably better off, but if you do you know I was way too into it. No joke, I was in heavy labor watching "the men tell all" special. I am a devoted fan to this ongoing ridiculous, yet totally entertaining series and I am not ashamed to say so. Expect many more of those blusters this season. In fact, I'll throw one in now. First episode, all the women are being introduced (Name, age, location, occupation) and I kid you not this one chick is 24 and her occupation is "Free Spirit." WTH?!! In what world does that constitute a career? It's like claiming you are a "Stay at home Wife" when you have no kids. Another girl claimed her career "Dog Lover." All of these so called "careers" translate into one thing, UNEMPLOYED, own it. Glad I got that out. Anyway, I picked up these adorable onesies for Luca specifically for the occasion! Love them!

Onesies can be found here and here.

5. Lush Bath Melts. My husband brought me home a few of these the other day, and last night I actually found time to fit in a bubble bath, so I dropped in this dream time melt and it made my dry skin so so soft by the time I got out! It had these pretty gold flecks in it and looked so pretty, I almost didn't want to use it! The best part about Lush, is all of their cosmetics are natural, vegan, and handmade. I can't wait to try a few of the bath bombs next time!

6. And last, but certainly not least, I've enjoyed waking up to this face lately. Miles has been out of town since Sunday and I've been on full-time mommy duty, which I can in no way complain about. This little one makes my heart flutter and burst into a million pieces and his whole being beams like the sun. There is simply nothing like having a baby boy and I feel honored to be this one's mother. 

Thank God for Ryan Gosling and Thank God for Pinterest.

Today I want to talk about Pinterest or "pinning," which has to be one of my favorite words in today's American Lexicon,  and also one of my favorite indulgences of all time. What I love most about Pinterest is my ability to have endless 'vision boards' all saved under one roof. Simulated cork boards galore. Image bookmarking. A virtual hobby (have I taken it too far?). I'm the imaginary type, hence my degree in creative writing and hence my love for pinterest. 

Now that I am on the verge of having a new home, a clean slate for me to decorate like crazy, I am a drudge to this site. Can we afford all of the ideas I've compiled onto my home decorating board? Absolutely not. Will I somehow find a way to make it happen? Yes. I'm not opposed to selling a few things on craigslist either. VCR anyone? Remember Miles' Robofan? That 90's gem must go for a fortune (I'm totally kidding, just throwing in a robofan threat to see if my husband ever reads my blog. Lord knows he'll go apeshit even at the jest).

  My home is my temple. I've fallen in love with each and every place I've lived since I've first moved away to college and I believe it's because I've decorated each place so personally. I spend a lot of time at home, especially now with a baby, and I want this place to be my best work yet.

Right now I'm collecting images and inspiration for my new home file so I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites, Ryan Gosling included.

 Photos via pinterest

Happy 2014!

Happy New Year! 2014! I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday! We watched the ball drop live from NY on TV & Luca was asleep by ten. We had lasagna and sparkling pomegranate juice. While my drink stayed virgin, Miles spiked his with a little vodka...Guess who made it to midnight? ;) Well, in all fairness I woke him up with 50 seconds on the clock so I could get my midnight kiss. I just love ringing in the new year with Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" blaring in the background. Oh how the times have changed, but I don't mind one bit. I can't wait to see what this year brings and I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2014!

The countdown to 2014 begins.

This picture describes motherhood to a "t," Drool headed for my face, but somehow we're both smiling. I used to be a control freak. I liked to have every detail of my life scheduled out and I lived for deadlines. Deadlines for papers to be written, for appointments to be attended, for things to be done in a day. I'd have it all written down in a pretty little planner. I'd check things off my list as I'd go & at night when I'd lay down to sleep I'd think of all that was accomplished & I'd sleep sound. Well motherhood was a life change I hadn't anticipated and I was sent for a spin like I'd never experienced. I've had to learn to let go, accept that I cannot control everything, to embrace unpredictability (that has been a tough one), and I've had to accept that schedules are no longer concrete but tentative (although my pretty little planner got to stick around--I can't let it all go to pot!). I've learned to pack for all scenarios and to laugh when drool lands directly in my eye--natural eye drops anyone? I'll have to have this picture framed and use it as a reminder to keep on smiling. There's an old Nat King Cole song my mom used to sing to me when I was a little girl. She'd sing "When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by... If you smile through your pain and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow, you'll see the sun come shining through for you, if you just smile..." I find myself humming it to Luca as I rock him to sleep at night, but more so it's for me. It's a piece of my mom & that brings me comfort. 

If there's one lesson I'm taking with me into 2014 it is to never take anything too seriously. Life is fleeting & fragile, and one day when I'm looking back on it all I don't want to think "I wish I'd have had more fun." Nope. I want to be present in the moment. I don't want to spend today tied up in yesterday or tomorrow. You're supposed to say things you want rather than what you don't, so in that case, I want to be here now. I'm still new at this mom gig, but everyday I'm loving it more and more. It's the best title I've ever taken on, and he's the best thing that has ever happened to me. 

The word I've chosen to bring with me into 2014 is "Resilient." I'm bringing with me resilient and all that word encompasses--strong, tough, quick to recover, flexible, pliable, durable, and so on. I've braved a thousand storms, and here I am. I need to remember that I am stronger than I know, my abilities are greater than I give myself credit for, and my choices mold my realities. I have no regrets in life, only lessons. When I look back on situations I can't change, I take in the words of the great Maya Angelou and remember that if I would have known better, I'd have done better. And now that I know better, I do better. This year I'm betting on me, cause if I don't, who else will? If I continue making up excuses for why I can't do this or that, I will never become the person I want to be. So this year and from now on, I'm all in. I'm taking a risk, but I think it's a good one, cause with all bets on me the odds can only be in my favor. So with only two more days left in this year, let's make them count, cause you'd better believe 2014 will be my year.

xx

Perks: Letters from the Universe

A few years ago my mother-in-law let me in on one of the most cool and exciting things that lead me down a path I had never anticipated before. I've shared it with a few people now, but feel obligated to share it with everyone, including you, that's just how life changing it was. It's called TUT, which stands for "Totally Unique Thoughts." Now if you've seen the movie "The Secret" you understand the law of attraction and the theory that thoughts are things, if you haven't seen the movie, drop what you're doing, sign on to netflix and watch "The Secret" ASAP because you're missing out on something huge! I promise you it will be worth your time. 

Anyhow, this association "TUT," has the most awesome feature in which the universe sends you daily notes via email. This is what you will want to sign up for. At first I was skeptical, so I signed up to have the emails sent to me two days a week, and within a month I made sure I was signed up to receive the notes daily. Upon signing up I typed in two personal goals which at the time seemed preposterous, but I kid you not, both of my goals have since come true, and everyday I look forward to what words the Universe has to offer me. These letters help wake me up in a good mood, are always encouraging & give words that can always relate to something going on in my life. 

Here's a couple of the notes I received recently:

So marvelous, right?! I just love them!

If you want to receive them too, all you have to do is go here, I promise you there is no spam or crazy advertisements involved, and if you aren't into it, that's cool too, no hard feelings, no pressure, to each their own. If you do however decide to get in touch with the Universe, please give me your feedback, I really hope you enjoy the daily letters as much as I do :) Life Perks that are serendipitous, my absolute favorite. Bon voyage!

Mission:Demoliton

Here it is! Our home sweet home! So much work is being put into our new home it's absolutely insane, and it is all happening at such a fast pace! I'm so excited! I can't wait to share our first home tour with you. Luca will have his very own nursery and so much space to roll around (His current mode of locomotion is rolling), Miles has space to build a garden and a life-sized tipi, I will finally have enough space to entertain and cook (I've been pinning like crazy over here) & I need to baby proof this place ASAP because by the time we move in we may very well have a crawler on our hands! A word of advice to anyone out there wishing to renovate your home, whatever you do, don't begin a project right before Christmas. As if the Christmas season wasn't hectic enough already, you add in meetings with a contractor and they in turn start talking walls being torn down and the word "gutting" is being tossed about freely, I'm just hoping we'll be in by February 1st... 

I know what you're thinking, "yeah right." Me too. But I'm trying to think positively, throwing it out there that the universe is on my side and we'll be bundled up fireside in our new place before we know it. Cheers to that! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Our Christmas in a Nutshell

Happy day after Christmas! We hope you had a wonderful holiday filled with the best of everything! I am so thankful for all of you who continue to read my blog & I truly mean it, it means the world to me & your comments you share always touch my heart! What started out as an "I'm not sure if I'll make it to next tuesday with this" kinda thing turned out to be an amazing journey that I will always cherish and be able to read over and over, years & years from now. I cannot believe we are already approaching bringing in a new year! So again, Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us!

This year for Christmas we did a bunch of house hopping, and Luca's first Christmas turned out to be just how I had imagined it, magical. Here is our Christmas in a few snapshots:

xx