J.Crew Final Sale - Make it Snappy!

I'm writing this as quickly as I can. I guess with Snowmageddon, people are cooped up at home and doing what I've been doing--online shopping. And apparently we are all trying to take advantage of the final hours of the J.Crew 'Extra 40% off Sale' Sale. I had a couple things in my cart earlier, stepped away to start H's bath, and when I came back they were sold out. I hate it when that happens! First world problems, right?

Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my picks that are (as of right this second) still in stock. But you better hustle!

Stay safe and warm, y'all! XOXO

Gold Stripe Dress - Extra 50% off!; Dean Midshaft Boots - Extra 50% off!; Double Cloth Sabrina Coat - Extra 50% off!; Embroidered Peasant Top in Green Plaid - Extra 50% off!; Keeper Chambray Shirt

Sweet Dreams

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a good weekend. Ours was very quiet... I really appreciate the luxury of being able to sort of shut out the rest of the world and hibernate with my little family for a few days. As long as we have snacks and wine. I'm not a total cave woman.

I spent most of yesterday deep cleaning my house. Lots of scrubbing, scouring, rinsing and repeating. I love starting the week with a clean house, but I admit I also had other motives in mind. I'm clearing the way for a revamp of our master bedroom. Right now we have hand-me-down furniture with old bedding, a rug that no longer worked in the living room, pictures that don't seem to work anywhere else in our house, and laundry baskets (yes, plural) with clothes waiting for me to fold and put away. Très chic, no? 

My goal for the room is a space that is cozy--a little cocoon where we can snuggle up with H for movie night (a Friday tradition in our house, complete with popcorn)--with equal doses of sophistication and humor. I guess it's the Gemini in me, but I love design with duality. Spaces that strike a balance between two extremes (masculine and feminine, traditional and modern, boho and classic) are always what I'm drawn to. And I think in a space like a bedroom, balancing the tastes of the people sharing it is especially important.

The jumping off point for the room was the bedding. I became enamored with shibori after seeing countless Pinterest and Instagram pics, and when I found the Vera Wang duvet cover on eBay for a steal, I knew it was meant to be. After I saw the deep navy pattern in person, I felt the perfect complement would be pink, but I was hesitant. I didn't know how to pull it off without it looking too Preppy Handbook, knowwhatimean? 

Enter one of my favorite bloggers (and total girl crush), Chassity. If y'all don't already follow her, hop on over there right now get yourself a little dose of fabulous. She shared a post yesterday about adding pink to your decor. If someone as stylish as Chassity recommends it, it's reassurance enough for me! 

This board is part inspiration, part reality. There are pieces I've already collected (bedding, table, top throw pillow), pieces that are on my shopping list (rugs, prints, hurricanes), and pieces that I will most definitely be searching for in a lower price range (that gold feather pillow? I mean, come ON. If someone has $500 to throw down on something like that, I have a big honkin' list of worthy charities that could put that money to much better use). Anyway, I think it strikes that balance I'm seeking. Just enough sophistication to look like a "grown up" room, just enough humor to keep it from being too grown up, just enough pink that my husband will allow without protest.
 

Benjamin Moore Pink Opal paint; Bottled Liquors print; Peony prints; Lalita rug; Sheepskin; Navy tufted chair; Faceted hurricanes; Gold feather pillow

How do y'all navigate decorating a shared space? I'm curious how others do it. XOXO

On Mommy Guilt

Happy Friday, friends! I had no less than 10 post ideas for what I'm sure was my long-awaited return to blogging (hahaha), but this has been one of those days, so I thought I'd just spill my guts instead. Stick with me, though, because there will be some pretty pictures at the end. Because blogs are supposed to be pretty, duh!

We had a parent-teacher conference at H's preschool today. There was just enough good in her evaluation that the hubs and I all but fist-bumped over our rock star parenting. We are effin' AWESOME at this sh*t, is the exact thought that went through my mind (which is probably not what you should be thinking at a church preschool). But my inner victory dance was short lived, because there were areas of concern. It's kind of like the parent equivalent of an elephant tranquilizer. You sit stunned, yet your mind is still racing, thinking through every possible second of your child's life since conception where you potentially (maybe, likely, most assuredly) screwed it up. I effin' suck at this sh*t.

Mommy guilt is a powerful thing. I've been wearing it around my shoulders for most of today (and many days prior for a countless number of things both real and imagined, truth be told). And while capes were in this season, I have no desire to continue sporting this one on a regular basis. Because it isn't healthy. Because it hinders my ability to be in the moment with my son and my husband. Because it puts the focus where it shouldn't be.

So I'm going to keep this short (for me, anyway) and say that one of my so-called resolutions for this year is to silence the mommy guilt when it starts to whisper, and focus my energy on doing my best for my son, for my husband, for my family, for me. Less inner critic, more inner cheerleader (right, Alicia?).

And now, a few of my favorite pics of mamas and babies...

Five on Friday

Happy Friday, friends! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and first week of December. Has the year flown by for y'all, too? After I had H, a family friend said to me, "The days are long, but the years are short." So true, especially this week. Seriously, yesterday I was counting down the minutes to bedtime for a certain 3 year old. But today is a new day, and a Christmas cookie makes for brighter spirits... I think...

That is a serious case of side-eye he's giving me.

So I figured I'd jump in on this "Five on Friday" blogging trend with a handful of fun internet finds...

1. Have you all seen any of the Convos with My 2 Year Old clips? Hysterical. I seriously can't get enough of them. I'm sure all mamas and daddies with toddlers can think of multiple conversations with their own that would be suitable for reenactment.

2. I took the Myers-Briggs personality profile when I worked at an ad agency years ago, and I've been fascinated by personality tests since. So of course, this one was perfect for me... and in case you're wondering, I'm champagne (duh).

3. Awards season is going to be awesome again this year. How much do you want to spend an evening hanging out with those two?

4. Are y'all in the know about the Elf on the Shelf? I am a little weirded out by them, as I mentioned here, but I wondered if I was the only one. So I posed the question to my friends on that great font of opinion, Facebook. And let me tell you, I haven't seen an issue cause such a divide since Coca-Cola vs New Coke. Anywayyy, my stepsister sent me the most hilariously inappropriate link, Elf from the Wrong Side of the Shelf. 

5. And for my finale, I leave you with dirds.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! We're headed to my hometown to surprise my grandmother for her 80th birthday. She is such an incredible lady, and I can't wait to celebrate with her! XOXO

The Ultimate Holiday

Forgive me friends, for I have sinned. It's been almost a week since my last post. How did that happen? Pinky swear I'll try harder because there's so much fun stuff I want to talk about! I just need maybe 10 extra hours in the day to get it all done. Or the cancellation of at least one reality TV show. Either would be fine.

So. Anyway. Have y'all heard? Thanksgiving and the start of Hanukkah fall on the same day this year. It's like the perfect storm of holidays. It's huge. It's a once in a lifetime occurrence. It's THANKSGIVUKKAH.

The interwebs have been all aflutter. There are recipe mash-ups (pretty sure I'll be making these, or maybe a cake with this, and I need some kind soul to loan me her bubbe to make me these), t-shirts (H will be sporting this one), even menurkeys. I cannot begin to express my disappointment over the fact that the Mensch on the Bench is sold out until 2014. Elf on the Shelf? Creepy. Mensch on the Bench? Adorable.

My cousin (Hi, Sarah!) and her husband are hosting our family Thanksgiving this year. They have an absolutely gorgeous home large enough to accommodate running children and napping husbands. As I've mentioned before, our home is tiny. Teensy. Itty bitty. Someday I know we'll have a house that is large enough for entertaining, because as a southern gal, I love a good soiree! In the meantime, I whipped up a little inspiration board for a Thanksgivukkah dinner at my pretend pad. Our family get togethers are always low-key, so the vision I had was for a casual meal where everyone brings a family favorite and we all gather together to enjoy good company and good food. Because isn't that what every family meal should be?

I am thankful for every single one of you (all three of you!) for stopping by to read what I send out into the world wide web. Y'all are fabulous, and I hope you keep coming back. Invite your friends!

Gobble Tov! XOXO

Platter; Table Runner; Napkin Ring; Napkin Pestemal; Serving Stand; Chambray Tablecloth; Etched Wine Glass; Churchill China in Tonquin Brown (no longer available); Mother of Pearl Inlaid Flatware; Juliska Stoneware; Hanukkah Candles

What I'm Wearing: Leather Leggings

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I scored a bargain-of-the-century-type deal last week on a pair of leather-front leggings from J.Crew. I'd been wanting them for a while, especially after seeing so much leather on the runways for fall. But leather can present its challenges. Anyone remember this episode of Friends?

Yes. Well. Let's all just take a moment to thank the good Lord and various and sundry fashion gods and icons for the advancements that have been made since 1998. Simply put, the J.Crew leggings are amazing. The leather is buttery soft, and the fabric on the back has the perfect amount of spandex to keep everything sucked in the way you want. But lest we forget, they are LEGGINGS. And--say it with me--LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS. The key to styling leggings is finding something for the top that also sufficiently covers the bottom, front and back. Nobody wants to see what's going on in your lower 48, ladies.

I've put together two looks to share with you here, but there are so many ways to wear them. I would love, love, love to hear your suggestions!

J.Crew Collection Leather-Front Pixie Pant; Oats Cashmere Poncho; Stella & Dot Mercury Necklace; Stella & Dot Linda Studs; Tory Burch Easton Smoking Slipper; Stella & Dot Assorted Bracelets; Stella & Dot Vintage Studs; Old Navy Sueded Short Zip Bootie; American Eagle Metallic Finish Knit Loop Scarf; Land's End Long Sleeve Flannel Tunic

Let's Hear it for the Boy

Little H turned three in October, which makes him not so little anymore. I was looking through our family pictures from this time last year, and—in my eyes at least—he still looked very much like a baby back then. But watching my wild child running around the living room right now is proof positive that he is a BOY. So before I get all weepy, I’ll get to the point of this post: transitioning H’s nursery to a room fit for a big boy.

One of the advantages of living in a teensy house is that it keeps you laser-focused on things like color scheme and functionality. When you can see practically every room from the other, having colors that work together helps in creating the illusion (and believe me, it’s definitely an illusion) of a larger space. Furnishing rooms with pieces that can be moved from one space to another as necessary (think ottomans, stools, shelves) is also key. 

And let’s not forget the most important element of design: budget. Like our home, it’s small. Fortunately, we already have the larger pieces of furniture on hand (bed, wardrobe), some being really lovely—and sturdy!—family hand-me-downs. As for the other items, I’ve been a consummate sale hunter, stalking my prey until the prices drop and then pouncing. Case in point: the Serena & Lily Cabin Quilt that pulls the room together was a little much for my wallet, but I used the code HOLIDAYPREP (valid through Tuesday) and saved $50. That was all the justification I needed to order the Tangerine Flag Sheet Set as well!

Now, about the actual design. I’m kind of in love with it. I really feel like it’s a room that H can enjoy now through his teenage years with very little updating required. I mean, I’m sure there will be posters of some god-awful band or swimsuit model at some point, but I’ll deal with that when the time comes. The rug is plush and soft, which makes it the perfect place for H to play with his cars and trains. The bedding is classic and masculine without being too lodge-y. The artwork is fun, and the vintage pennant (an eBay find) even gives a nod to our little town. Sources are listed and links are provided if items are still available. 

Anthropologie A Walk in the Woods Knob; Lulu & Georgia Belvedere Hanging Lamp; Serena & Lily Tangerine Flag Sheet Set; Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter; Serena & Lily Cabin Quilt in Army/Aqua; Deer with Gym Socks Print; Serena & Lily Arrow Rug in Persimmon; Seaside Print in Blue; Serena & Lily Rolling Storage Crates (no longer available); Pendleton Chief Joseph Blanket