LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Here's what made me feel all twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

• Papaya Ribbon // The day after Thanksgiving means I can officially deck the halls. Time to bust out the colorful ribbons!
• Blah Blah Blah Ornament // I think I'm going to need to add this little guy to our collection. It's perfect.
• Felt Christmas Tree Ornament // Proof you can never have enough whimsy and cuteness. One of each, please.
• Pink Geo Ornament // Because every tree could use a splash of hot pink...
• Nutella Hot Chocolate Recipe // A delectable beverage to sweeten a day filled with shopping and trimming the tree.
• Jersey Knit Stripe Stocking // I spy Max's Christmas stocking. Eek! Stripes and pom-poms. What more could you ask for?
• Kate Spade Glitter Sneakers // I think I'd like to wear glitter on my feet every day. It's the tween girl in me. Don't judge.
• 2015 Colors Calendar // Keep track of the days with a pop of color. 2015 already looks bright and cheerful!
• Quilted Down Vest // I wanted to buy one of these a few years ago. I'm glad I held out because Chartreuse is m' jam.
• Color Block Fingerless Gloves // Persimmon and hot pink—the most heavenly of color combinations.
• How To Make A Jenna by Donald Robertson // Squee! I just adore this post on J.Crew's blog. You've gotta check it out!
• Eames Linoleum Print // So glad I snagged this print from Sara Kate Studios. Now to find a home on the ol' gallery wall.
• Hello Card // I love Max, but he's cramping my snail mail style. I hope to catch up on correspondence this weekend.

Cheers to a snazzy weekend, m' dears! Here's hoping you snagged a few great deals today and you're enjoying leftovers.

P.S. Starting next Tuesday I'll share a series of Holiday Gift Guides. Stay tuned. Woo Hoo!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet readers! 

Thank you for making this little space so dear to me. It's been a great reminder to start each day with a grateful heart.

P.S. I'll be back tomorrow with a Love List that will surely knock your socks off!

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

"THE DETAILS ARE NOT THE DETAILS. THEY MAKE THE DESIGN." — CHARLES EAMES

In Swell Rio you make the mundane (i.e. doctor's appointments, trips to Wal-Mart, etc.) feel fancy by busting out your trusty accessories.

I caught Flyboy and Max passed out on the couch one night. Moments like these make my heart swell.

On Friday nights, Flyboy takes the night shift. Of course that means I whip up something fizzy and spike it with a splash o' gin.

If you need an awesome cookie recipe, look no further than these Mint Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Trust me on this one!

Huzzah for cute and colorful wooden toys. I started looking at play mats for Max and the options made me cringe. Why so hideous?

We celebrated my mom's birthday last week. Thank goodness I was able to get one good shot of Max sporting his party hat before a meltdown.

When I need a little help coming up with Christmas gift ideas, I turn to the J.Crew style guide. Can I just live inside the catalog?!

Snazzy accessories are a requirement around here. Max, say hello to your new moccasins.

Afternoon strolls around the neighborhood are pretty great, especially when a quick jaunt puts the bebe to sleep.

This bookshelf is a new addition to Max's nursery. I've had the best time styling it! Although, I still find it precious on its own.

I'll be honest, today's post almost didn't happen. Oh, the horror! This weekend was an absolute whirlwind, but I was bound and determined to publish something. I initially had a nifty moodboard planned (sigh), but Sunday got away from me with crafts, cookie baking, Christmas cards, and a crying baby. Yep, that's life these days! It's equal parts nutty and exciting and exhausting, but I wouldn't want it any other way. And since there was no time to toy around with Photoshop (Creative Cloud, please forgive me), I figured I'd share some of my favorite details from the past week—little moments that make this life oh-so sweet.

Now spill the beans, how the heck was your weekend? What made you bust out in a happy dance? I'm just dying to know.

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Here's what made me feel all twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

• Whimsy Hearts Wool-Silk Scarf: After reorganizing my closet a few months ago, it's probably safe to say I don't NEED another scarf. That being said, I could totally make an exception for this gem. It's adorable!
• Abstract 019 by Kindah Khalidy: A little over a year ago, I bought a clutch designed by Kindah and I'm obsessed. Naturally, I was ecstatic to see Furbish Studio is selling some of her amazing abstract beauties in their pop-up shop going on now.
• LetmeSee Reading Glasses: I was secretly hoping that pregnancy would take some weird toll on my eyesight requiring me to finally wear glasses. Yeah, that didn't happen quite as I'd wished. 
• Double-Cloth Patch-Pocket Cocoon Coat: Do you remember the TV show Ed? Carol Vessey (played by Julie Bowen) always had the most dreamy selection of coats. I'm certain this number would be a MUST in her colorful collection.
• Place Your Bets Wristlet: This might just be a Christmas wish-list MUST. Now say that ten times fast...
• Smile Matchbox: There's nothing like a glittery and sunny set of matches to remind you to smile. Am I right?!
• Get Shit Done Notebook: I'm certain this notebook was made for me. The lack of sleep is starting to get to me, so I feel like I have to write everything down. It would come in handy whenever Max is napping or hanging out in his swing. The peace and quiet is almost so freaky, I find myself forgetting all the things I need to accomplish. 
• Pink Staple Remover: Have you seen Poppin's new arrivals? Um, hello stocking stuffers! Check it out, m' dears!
• BB Pointy Toe Pump: The dreamiest pair of heels I've ever laid eyes on. I believe this is the closest we'll ever come to polka-dot perfection. Okay, these shoes AND Julia Roberts' dress at the polo tournament in Pretty Woman.
• Cashmere Gloves: Color lovers will agree that J.Crew kills it each Winter when they unveil classics in the brightest of hues.
• Essie Polish in Double-Breasted Jacket: Much like scarves, I need another red or pink polish like I need a hole in my head. That being said, I could totally make an exception for this gem. Notice a trend here?? Hey, the first step is admitting you have a problem. I can't help that Essie continues to come up with the cheekiest names and cheerful shades.
• Gold Merry Card: Sugar Paper's holiday collection is just fantastic! I think it's time I place an order and stat.
• Misha and Puff Tall Day Hike Booties: I adore fuzzy things on Max's feet. These precious booties are calling his name.

Cheers to another snazzy week, m' dears! As always, thanks for stopping by.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THANKFUL FOR: In Disney's Peter Pan, Nana the Newfoundland doubles as a nursemaid that tends to the Darling children. Since we brought Max home, Beesly has assumed a similar role. She used to sleep exclusively in our bedroom, but these days you'll find her in the nursery. She never lets the little guy out of her sight. Whenever he cries, she likes to bring it to my attention. I had a feeling she'd be a sweetheart, but this takes adorable to a whole new level. Part of me wants to get her a fancy bonnet to complete the look. For now, my shower cap will have to do. I can't wait to see these two grow up together. As for Tripp, I'm not sure he knows Max exists.

EATING: When my parents visited, they brought along a few bags of Brookside's Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters. Have you ever tried this granola goodness? It's been weeks since we finished the last bag, and I can't stop thinking about the deliciousness. It's best that we no longer have it in the house because I'm trying to be really disciplined when it comes to sweets and snacking. On the bright side, it's nice to know that with Amazon Prime I'm just a click away. You know, just in case of an emergency...

LISTENING TO: Whenever Max and I are home alone, I tend to treat our house as though it's The Ellen Degeneres Show. I usually have iTunes radio streaming on the desktop. The love nugget is in his carrier or I'm holding him in my arms and we end up dancing. In my mind, I've got the moves like Jagger. In all actuality, I probably resemble one of the old broads in the audience. Yep, I've got the mom dance mastered at age 29. Truthfully, I had it nailed down way before I became a mom. In fact, I actually look more like a granny. Thankfully Max is too young to be embarrassed, so I've got that going for me.

FEELING: I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I'm exhausted and defeated most days. I know this will pass, so I try to focus on the little victories—like changing a diaper and not getting peed on. Winning! Some days Flyboy and I just look at each other and shake our heads. One of us usually says something like "This will get better, right? It has to." Ha! To be completely honest, the Type-A(shley) in me has spent most of my life striving to be proactive. With babies, everything is reactive. As much as I try to plan or get ahead, I'm still behind. What works one moment might not the next. I'm learning to accept this new norm. I'm certainly up to the challenge.

THINKING ABOUT: I can't believe Thanksgiving is NEXT week. How did we get here already? I'm elated to welcome the holiday season, but then I remember I haven't worked on our Christmas cards, blog gift guides, or purchased a single present. Maybe with enough tinsel and garland, it will magically come together?? I think I'll just browse Anthro's holiday section—that always does the trick!

WATCHING: The Bravo TV gods decided to throw me a bone with the return of m' favorite stories. Andy Cohen, you're too kind! The Real Housewives of Atlanta AND Beverly Hills are chock-full of drama. Go on and spill the tea, ladies—I'm all ears! To top things off, my besties of The People's Couch are baaaaaaaaack. They keep Max and me company whenever we take residence on the sofa. I can't wait for the day that we can eat snacks and dissect shows together. Will we be more like the Egber family or the Zeno family? I'm shooting for the latter. I mean, have you seen their snacks? The pressure is on for Max to learn to talk. C'mon kid, I'm waiting...

READING: Now that Max and I spend most of the day together, I try to make time to sit down in his room and read a book or two. I'm certain it means nothing to him right now. In fact, it feels more like me dodging spit up as I attempt to turn the pages of various board books. At least I'm getting good practice for the day he does enjoy it. I figure it gives me time to really perfect the characters'  voices. I've got a good feeling it's going to really pay off. This kid is going to be so impressed with my talent. Insert first bump here.

LOVING: Today I have my six-week postpartum appointment. Unfortunately, it's the last time I'll visit my nutty nurse. Sigh! While I'll miss the entertaining visits, I look forward to getting the green light to ride my spin bike again. Woo Hoo! Aside from the occasional Gimlet, blogging and spinning help me decompress. There's nothing like padded shorts, an uncomfortable seat, pedals, and raunchy lyrics to get you feeling like yourself again. Hey, whatever it takes for Stella to get her groove back! Don't judge.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!

P.S. I realize this dose of Thursday's Thoughts is rather Max/mom-centric. It's kind of my life right now. Bear with me.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

"THE DETAILS ARE NOT THE DETAILS. THEY MAKE THE DESIGN." — CHARLES EAMES

A sweet moment captured by my mom. It was taken one week after we brought Max home from the hospital.

The weather in Swell Rio has been divine. I've had the opportunity to bust out my favorite coats and cashmere.

Sleepless nights with Max make me relish quiet moments that consist of a cocktail and a beautiful book.

I decided some garden boxes might be nice. Just days after they were built and flowers/herbs were planted, it froze. But of course...

I'm absolutely smitten with this kid's feet. How could they possibly be so soft?!

I thought I had an impressive sweater collection, but Max's wardrobe is quickly putting mine to shame.

Sometimes Beesly likes to reminisce about the old days when she was the baby of the family.

This past week, I made my first trip to J.Crew since last March. Oh, the horror! I'm almost embarrassed to share that nugget of info with you.

Every day I strive to achieve balance. Type-A(shley) wants to be productive and make lists, but baby snuggles are pretty fantastic.

I hope Max never grows out of these fuzzy bear slippers. They're the epitome of adorable.

Howdy! My name is Ashley Fine, and I used to blog on a regular basis. Then Max, the time bandit, graced us with his presence and any free time I've had has consisted of sanitizing bottles and working pesky stains out of onesies. Yep, I'm talking about the glamorous life. Cue m' girl Fergie Ferg. "Ooh, the flossy flossy, the glamorous, the glamorous glamorous..." 

It's been almost six weeks since Max made his debut. Oddly enough, this is our first full week without visitors. Part of me feels nervous to do it on our own, but also a little relieved to get on with our new normal. We don't have a routine (if that's even possible with a newborn). We're learning what life's like as a family of five—I'm looking at you, Tripp and Beez! As I continue to navigate this new phase, please bear with me. As someone who likes to get it all figured out, I'm learning to set little goals for myself. This week I've decided I'm going to create and publish three blog posts. Having been out of the bloggie groove for almost a month, I felt somewhat overwhelmed by the idea of writing or designing content. Hitting the publish button again made me incredibly anxious. In an effort to get back into the creative swing of things, I figured I'd keep things simple today. You've got to start somewhere, right?!

Thanks for delighting in some of my favorite details from the past few weeks. 

Now, tell me what I've missed. What have you been up to?!