When the Dog Bites, When the Bee Stings, When I'm Feeling Sad...

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!

1. Magazine Articles: Sometimes these goofy readings shed light on things I would have otherwise been naive about! While I've not blogged about my dating adventures lately, they still exist and it's been a mixed bag. Such is life!

So after the "dog bite" and the "bee sting" I actually *heart* goofy article reminders of what to avoid in dating and relationships, tell-tale signs of bad dudes, and what types you shouldn't waste your time with.

2. Adventures: Our family used to take an annual whitewater rafting trip. I think the first year we skipped I was preggers, but I've got the "itch" to go thrill seeking again. My brothers and I are even talking about going sky diving. There are plans next month to go tubing...not quite the same, but perhaps it'll satiate my whitewater longing.

{Google Image}

3. Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino...LIGHT: I've found yet another Starbucks crack cocaine, and it's a "take home" from ther grocer too. Danger Danger!

4. Banana Republic Jewelry: They really have a beautiful line of jewels. I don't know how much you can see the above necklace, but my brother Batman gave me this Eclipse necklace for my birthday this year and I love it!

{Banana Republic}

5. Blushed Cheeks: I especially like the flush look after a good workout. I've been a good bit more diligent about getting my running and workouts in lately. And it's nice to have the blushing cheeks...without the help of makeup!

\ {Google Image}

6. Summer Fun List: I got this idea from Whatever...ohhh check out her lovely blog. She's a creatively busy mommy of 5 {like mine!} and she lives a very real life filled with lots of colorful joy. You'll just have to check her out to understand {HERE}

Here's a close-up of our list...



7. Playing in the Rain: While I love my sunshiney days, a warm summer rain also is a welcome invite to go splash in some puddles. We've had lightning the past couple of showers but this is on our Summer List.

{Google Image}

So I'm not sure if you noticed, but I've officially run out of "Favorite Things" lyrics for my titles...there's only 10 lines and I've maxed them all out. But don't you fret- this just means it's time for me to get a little more creative...how about a unique title like "My Favorite Things". Original, no? =)

Patience Reminder

{via Design Crush}

Summertime Where the Livin' Is Easy

I'm totally diggin' Summertime!

Bright, sunshiney days = Fun sunny fashions

I feel like I can branch out a little more during the warm seasons...and not just wear my routine jeans or yoga pants of Fall/Winter.

____________________

For the Beach Bonfire...

BCBG hoodie sweater; Adrienne Vittadini shorts {yes...way old school, but I still LOVE AV};Michael Kors wedges. {I cut Baby M's hair on Sunday...think it's time for me to get mine cut already?}

Yes, I definitely need a cut but this is just to prove the hoodie coolness =)

For the French Bistro...

Ralph Lauren top; Black House White Market skirt; JCrew sandals

For Lounging...

Private Gallery romper; Boutique cinch belt; Target gladiator sandals

For Shopping of course...
Banana Republic silk tank; Banana Republic necklace; Adriano Goldschmied jeans; Michael Kors wedges; Forever21 bag
WalMart fedora...on clearance! Charming Charlie sunglasses

Ham, Tomatoes, Onions

Confession Time: I used to frequent the Farmer's Market almost every weekend, well if not every weekend. I'd be so proud to pick up local, fresh produce...and then at least 50% would inevitably go bad because I'd forget about it or would be unable to cook during the week. What a waste!

Sad story. True, but sad.

Last night I threw together a couple of homemade pizzas using tomatoes that were about to go bad, the last of my mozzarella, onions, and then sliced up some ham that expires in August. It was a sort of clean-the-pantry meal...but not too shabby!

We enjoyed a tasty pizza meal...
And then I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch- a lovely dessert ending!
The meal was relatively healthy...minus the cookies. But now that I'm on my health-kick and determined to lose 15, I'll be very vigilant about healthy homemade meals.


In similar news, today I'm proud to report that I saved $30 at Publix!

Healthier, cheaper, and less wasteful- Cheers to that!

Losing It

With all of the changes and transitions going on in life, I think it's high time I finally get that buff P90X body I've always wanted! {insert sarcastic smile}

Well, that would be if I knew I could stick with P90X...however, realistically I'm pretty sure I would probably only last a couple of weeks. Soooooo, as a compromise I just want to have a super hot body that will easily fit into my skinny jeans again and it doesn't have to be buff. Fair enough right?

_________________________________

Right before I was preggers, I was the most fit I'd been in years. And even when I was pregnant, I ran the furthest I had ever run at a little over 9 miles {well....that was until this last December when I ran a little more than 10 mi}. But since Baby M, I feel like it's been a particularly tough weight struggle and it took me an official 9 months to get back to my pre-preggers weight...and I've fluctuated up 6 lbs to date {blehck!}.

Two Years Ago: July 2008

But nonetheless, here's the benchmark photo at 9 weeks pregnant {although not showing yet...thankyouverymuch Baby M}

Today, July 2010

And 17 months post-partum {excuse the crazy hair}...
Zoinks- I feel like even my face looks different! *sigh* Maybe I would have changed with 2-years time anyway, but weight-wise I still have 15 lbs I'd love to lose to overcompensate for the other body changes...so that's the official goal. I'm posting it and it's high time I actually start kicking my own butt to get to that goal.

Watch out Skinny Jeans...here I come!

Light Touches

I've been wanting to make candle sleeves for some time as my light fixtures have been "nekked" for almost 3 years now!

I printed off a matching black and white chevron/zig-zag pattern.
And then measured the candlesticks so I'd know the size for each sleeve.

I cut out 6 rectangles and then used double-sided tape to make 6 paper cylinders.

Then I began to slip them onto each candlestick {notice the writing on the barren candlestick on the left}

It was a an easy transformation.

And just one of those tiny details that helps finish off the look.

Of course, then I realized my dining room lighting was in dire need of help too.

So I ripped another page from my Botanical Print book {Taschen, the same one used for the prints framed on the wall}. What an easy change!

Cheers to a fun & safe Fourth!

My Head, My Shoulders, Knees, and ELBOWS?

So while I've been salivating over the Brooks Brother's boys line offerings {HERE}
I found Madison & Company's version of the elbow-patch shirt:
Gap had a similar version for their Fall line:

And well, after I spent a ridiculous amount of time making my way through the ironing pile:

I found this shirt of Baby M's and gave the elbows a try myself:

Definitely not as cool as the Brooks Brother's version, but one can imagine. Here's the little guy on the run...those elbow patches will be great for utility!

Potato Sack for the Mister

It all started with our trip to Tarj-shay {aka "Target"}. Mr. Potato Head was on clearance and although Mason's only 17 months, I decided to go ahead an snatch it up at ~$5.

And then of course that got my creative juices flowing and I was playing around with my ridiculous piles of colorful felts and some extra washcloths I'd already bought.
I centered Mr. PH on the washcloth and sewed all the pieces in place. At the end, I realized he was missing a part, so I added the moustache last minute.

Then I took a second washcloth and sewed the 2 cloths together wrong-side out {3 sides only & left the top open}

Then I turned the open top under 1" and sewed it down to create a place to thread the closing ribbon.

I took a pencil and taped the ribbon to the eraser and "fed" this through the 1" seam sewn.

I tied the ends of the ribbon together to create a gathered duffle closure and Voila!

My sewing skills definitely need some work {please excuse all the wonky stitching}, but this little guy was fun nonetheless!

And Baby M is totally digging his new veggie friend...and homemade bag!

Brooks Brothers...Boys

Please excuse the alliterative title...but Brooks Brothers has a super preppy, super cool boys line!

*sigh*

Cheers to dreaming!

Oh and I promise to blog more, I'm not gone...just not in the right state of mind for creative thinking. Lately the noggin' has been used mostly for strategic thinking and analytical use...not so interesting for style, design, and blogging.