LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Mid-Century Modern Sputnik Chandelier // Sometimes I like to dream about our future digs. I can already picture this whimsical beauty above a kitchen table or in a bedroom. The iconic shape is simply divine. I'll get you, my pretty...
• Herbert Green Illustrations // Stumbling upon Green's artwork was a definite bright spot to my week. The cutouts and sketches are fabulous! I think I'll share more of my favorites on the blog next week. Stay tuned.
• Paper Cutout // While I'd love to own a custom silhouette of Max by Carter Kustera, this is a practical option. 
• Bell Top // It's fun to imagine wearing a playful silk top until you realize there's spit up on your freshly washed jeans.
• Pia Heels // A fraction of the cost, these heels from Sole Society remind me of Loeffler Randall's Amelia Sandals. 
• Matisse Gift Wrap // I've seen a lot of pretty paper in my day, but this wrapping might just take the cake. Bravo!
• Collins Ice Mold // What a genius idea! I had no clue this existed until I spent some quality time with my BFF, West Elm.
• Embroidered Diamonds Infinity Scarf // Go ahead and add scarves to the list of things I need like a hole in my head (among notebooks, throw pillows, ballet flats, etc.), but that doesn't mean I can't ramble on about how cute this one is. I saw it in person and it took everything inside me to not leave the store with this brightly colored beauty.
• Mexico: The Cookbook // Who knew a cookbook could be so stunning? This is a necessary addition to our library.
• Big Inflatable Duck // These days Max is all about his rubber ducky. This ginormous inflatable would be a huge hit.
• Lip Paper Clips // Since when did H&M start selling office supplies?! I'm not complaining. These are adorbs.
• Merci Stitched Notecard Set // This snazzy neon stationery makes it easy to send a greeting with gratitude.

As always, thank you kindly for stopping by. Cheers to a snazzy weekend, m' dears! Make it count.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THINKING ABOUT: In a recent blog post Glennon shared one of the ways she adds magic to life—going off-script. "One of my favorite strategies to add magic to my life is remembering to go off-script with people. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking around in The Truman Show—like somewhere along the line, we’ve all agreed to stick to the script, to choose one of  six approved lines to throw at each other (Great weather we’re having! Love the scarf! I’m fine, and you?) and never, ever say what we’re really thinking. It’s like we have two voices: a juicy one in the back of our heads saying interesting, true, dangerous, delightful things and the other voice that shushes the juicy voice and sticks to the script. That voice is safe, but she’s also kind of a yawn-fest. And she doesn’t unlock people. She doesn’t wake anybody up. When we stay on-script, so does everybody else. When we jump off-script, others do, too—and things get interesting." Living off-script gives us an opportunity to connect. We have so much to learn from each other.

FEELING: A few weekends ago my mom and I were texting back and forth as we do. I confided in her and told her how I felt stuck in a lot of ways. While I aim to make the best of our current situation, I can't help but pine for new experiences. I feel like I'm caught up in the same shenanigans week in and and week out. I do the same two loads of laundry each day and spend the bulk of my time jumping from one Max-centric activity to the next waiting for Flyboy to get home so I can watch him eat dinner and then head to bed. When I wake up the next day, the cycle begins once again. I cling to activities like blogging and spinning to push myself creatively and physically, but even those outlets exhibit little improvement or change—or at least it feels that way to me. Time is passing by, but in most instances I don't feel like I'm moving forward. I feel guilty for harboring such emotions when I should be expressing feelings of gratitude, so I push these feelings to the side, but unfortunately that's getting me nowhere. I know the circumstances in Swell Rio won't change anytime soon, so I need to shake things up to get different results. I can't help but think I need a new challenge or goal. I'm not entirely sure what that entails just yet, but I'd like to find the confidence to try something new or work toward an end goal and not let failure be the reason I didn't give it a shot. All of this makes me think of Einstein who's credited with saying "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." 

THANKFUL FOR: When our anniversary rolled around on Monday, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the past seven years with Flyboy by my side. I honestly don't know what I did to get this lucky but I feel so blessed to experience life with him. While it's my instinct to say I adore his sense of humor the most, I think I treasure how patient he is with me above all. I honestly don't know how he does it. 

EATING: Angie's Caramel and Cheddar Boom Chicka Pop is one of the many goodies we brought home with us after visiting San Antonio last weekend. I've been on the hunt for this bag of deliciousness since early February, so you can only imagine how ecstatic I was to see it on the shelves at Whole Foods in all its glory. Flyboy suggested I grab a couple of bags, but I knew I could only trust myself with one and I'm glad I listened to my gut. This stuff is dangerously delectable.

LISTENING TO: Aw, the sweet sounds of Max. These days we hear lots of fake coughing and growling noises. If you stopped by our house you might wonder if our sweet child was being raised by wolves or sorely constipated with a mild cold. In fact, I felt like mother of the year at a recent appointment when his doctor asked if Max had been coughing and I responded earnestly. Of course my darling babe decided to show off and demonstrate his fake cough shortly after I answered no. The doc looked at me confused, so I nervously explained Max's Ferris Bueller stunt. Upon further investigation, the pediatrician confirmed the kid is definitely a faker.

WATCHING: Have you heard of The Try Guys? According to Vanity Fair, they're "Buzzfeed Motion Pictures' in-house quartet of dopes who try things that, typically, men don't do." Well, one evening after I put Max to bed, I read about their most recent endeavor in which they simulate aspects of pregnancy. As a seasoned pregnant lady who now joins the ranks of other moms who love to discuss those tormenting ten months, I poured myself a cocktail and didn't expect to laugh as much as I did. It wasn't just the gin talking because the next morning I showed part one of the series (pregnancy bellies) to Flyboy and found it equally hysterical.   

READING: I recently picked up a copy of the latest Darling Magazine. Not even three pages in, I knew I was hooked by the issue's overall theme of clinging to the bright and joyful things in life. Who doesn't love that?! The soul-filled articles and stunning layout filled my creative tank with joy. As I pored over the photography and sifted through the pages, this quote crossed my mind: "Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world."—George Bernard Shaw

LOVING: I've been a longtime fan of the painter tee (a 3/4 sleeve boatneck is m' jam) so I was ecstatic to see a short-sleeve version join the mix. While I love the vintage cotton tees at J.Crew, I'm always looking for something that's a bit more structured with a slim fit to be paired with some of my favorite summer a-line skirts. As to be predicted, I opted for the striped option first, but I wouldn't mind adding these vintage purple and neon persimmon tees to my colorful repertoire.

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

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Wednesday, sweet readers! The start of this blog week is fashionably late but it's with good reason. Flyboy and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary on Monday, and I just couldn't bring myself to be cooped up at a computer when I could be spending quality time with m' boys and sweet Bee. Despite the crazy Texas weather we've experienced lately (tornadoes, flash floods, thunderstorms, etc.), our Memorial Day Weekend was quite delightful. I think I'll let the details do the the talking...

THE FEATURED DETAILS:

• Flyboy and I were jazzed about a four-day weekend together but the weather put a big damper on some of our original plans. While we sought out to do some yard work and enjoy the outdoors, hunkering down with Max might have been just what we needed instead—or that's how we tried to sell it to ourselves. Ha Ha! We spent lots of time watching the babe attempt to crawl (still lots of rolling and kicking, but no crawling) and chew on every toy in sight. Somehow we even managed to coax our tot into taking a nap with us in bed—this is a rarity these days as he's always on-the-go.
• We polished off the box of sweet treats my sister sent me from Sucré for Mother's Day. I honestly had no clue I could become SO obsessed with marshmallows. Dare I say I loved them even MORE than the macarons?! How is that possible?
• One can only make so many trips into Swell Rio before going stir crazy, especially when it's a holiday weekend and the weather is gross. On Sunday way ventured into San Antonio for a change of scenery. We indulged at The Yard House, made a pit stop and J.Crew, and loaded the cooler with our favorite goodies from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Max traveled like a trooper, which made the tedious trip so much easier. Since the weather was wonky, we kept going back and forth as to whether or not we should go, but I'm really glad we decided to get out of Dodge after all.
• Somewhere along the way Max learned it's fun to squirt liquids from the nipple of his bottle. At first I thought it was a fluke, but then I witnessed him deliberately shoot formula at me while waiting for FB to check out at Trader Joe's. It hit my eyelid and the biggest ornery smile was painted on his face. Okay kid, how about we find another party trick?!
• My primary mission while visiting San Antone was to come home with Peonies. Because we were celebrating our anniversary and those beautimous blooms remind me of that special day, it just seemed necessary. Sweet success!
• Remember the post where I bragged about having gardening skills like Oprah? Well, it looks like my green thumb is thriving because I picked a dozen jalapenos from our garden box. Naturally our menu this week doesn't require any peppers, so I'm going to have to come up with creative ways to use them and stat. Suggestions??

Alright, enough of my babbling. How are YOU? How's your week? Did you do anything fun last weekend??

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Girls' Fringe Flower Necklace // One thing I miss most about working at J.Crew is seeing the children's clothing in person. From time to time I'll take a gander at the website, but it's just not the same. This week I found myself gazing at the latest selection of Crewcuts. So many pieces made me smile, especially some of the girls' accessories. Alright and maybe I got giddy about striped boys' bow-ties, too! You can only have so much fun with little onesies.
• Bright Stripe Table Runner // Something about this screams summer and I LOVE it! I'm suddenly thirsty for a cocktail.
• J.Crew New Arrivals // Flyboy has a four-day weekend so we're going to head to San Antonio for a quick day trip. You know that means I plan to pop into the J.Crew and take a peek at the latest pretties. I've got my eye on the Short-Sleeve Painter Tee in Stripe and this Zigzag Eyelet Shell. Okay, and this Seamed Shell in Crosshatch Linen is beckoning as well.
• Hello, My Name Is... // Have you heard about the website that tells you what your name would be if you were born today? Curious about my results, I checked it out. Well, it turns out my name would be Olivia, which is kind of perfect and crazy. I'm fairly certain my mom paid them off to ensure she'd get another grandchild one day because we all know how I've always dreamt about having an Olivia. Seriously, what kind of sick joke is this??
• Bright Coral Plateau Basket // This color combination has got me thinking, "Hmm, now where could I hang you?"
• Do Not Disturb // Because it's m' blog and I do what I want, I'll showcase an adorable beach hat with a $440 price tag.
• Indigo Vase // One of the primary reasons we're heading to SA is for Trader Joe's and Peonies. Don't judge.
• Color Instinct // After learning about abstract artist Lesley Grainger, it didn't take long for me to quickly become obsessed with her work. Can you say color explosion? I was instantly twitterpated.
• Byrd Pocket Comb // Who knew a pocket comb could be so stinking cute? This would make any head of hair happy.
• Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads // I never found a face tanner that I really liked, but I recently gave these a shot and the result is pretty fabulous! I ordered a box of twenty on Amazon for a great deal. It gives just the right sun-kissed look.
• Pop Of Passion Lip Oil Balm // Liz Adams of Sequins and Stripes always has the prettiest makeup. I can't help but adore her simple and feminine look, so whenever she shares her latest beauty favorites I take note. In a recent post about her Spring/Summer Beauty Routine, I noticed she's a big fan of bareMinerals lip oil balm. Since we're SA bound, I'm excited to hit up Ulta or Sephora to see what this is all about. Has anyone tried it? Thoughts?
• Passive Juice Motel // Max's wardrobe got a few updates after I purchased this Seinfeld tee and this Fresh Prince tee. Since Flyboy is a Seinfeld superfan, "The Shirt About Nothing" was an absolute MUST.
• Wee Gallery Art Cards // My sister got Max a set of these for Christmas and within the last week he's become crazy about them. If he's fussy and I can't figure out what in the world he wants (which is most of the time), I whip out one of these and he'll sit and play with it for hours. They've become so "loved", I may need to consider buying more and soon.
• Chat In A Chair: Miranda Skoczek // In yesterday's post I confessed my new found love for Miranda. While reading more about the artist, I knew I was hooked when she shared her thoughts on Charles and Ray Eames—specifically her all-time favorite chair, the Eames LCW, which is illustrated above. "Charles and Ray had my heart many moons ago when my little brother introduced me to their iconic designs. I adore the way the wash of the color permeates through the surface allowing the wood grain to shine through. I love its solidity, its deep contours (that almost hug you), contrasting leg heights and the low seat. It's almost awkward and so utterly unique." How wonderful is that?!       

As always, thank you kindly for stopping by. Cheers to a snazzy weekend, m' dears! Make this Memorial Day Weekend count.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

ILLUSTRATION BY INMA LORENTE

THINKING ABOUT: On Tuesday Max tried chicken for the first time and hated it. What started out to be a 30-minute event turned out to last 1.5 hours from start to finish. The whole thing was a comical disaster. I was eager to introduce him to meat, but I wasn't keen on the jarred stuff and not entirely certain how I'd puree it on my own, so I opted to try Ella's Kitchen's Chick-Chick Chicken Casserole. Up until this point he hasn't been too terribly picky, so I figured it was worth a shot. BIG mistake. HUGE. The outcome of every bite got worse with each attempt. He turned his nose and spit it out. I couldn't help but laugh. After seeing me chuckle, he decided to spit/blow bubbles and baby food splattered all over the walls, kitchen table, and Beesly. Before I could wipe him down, he moved on to rub his head and his arms. How did it get in his ears?? I looked down and realized my favorite white tee was covered in Chick-Chick Chicken Casserole. Grrrrrrrreat! Somewhat overwhelmed by the scenario, I attempted to come up with a plan of attack. How was I going to clean up this mess? Where do I even begin? I opted to grab Max and bathe him first, which seemed like the best option at the time. But somehow since his previous bath, he learned to kick and splash in the water. When did this happen? The lively fellow was awfully proud of his newfound talent and before I could even digest what I was witnessing, my bangs and face were drenched with water and my outfit was sopping wet. It's cool, kid. I didn't have enough messes to clean up anyway... Needless to say, I was pretty ready for a gin-spiked beverage later that evening and very grateful for OxiClean and Magic Erasers.

FEELING: Loop giveaways on Instagram. What's the point? I understand people want to gain followers, but is it REALLY necessary? As a blogger I'm often approached by companies to promote products. This is not something I take lightly because I work hard to maintain a certain level of authenticity. If it's from a company that I adore and I've purchased from in the past, then it's worth considering but that doesn't mean I jump at every opportunity. In fact, out of hundreds of offers, I can count on one hand how many times I've agreed to work with various shops or venders and I've done so with transparency. I want avenues like my blog and Instagram to be places where I can express my creativity and share snippets from my day-to-day. I really hate that social media has become saturated with hawking products and gaining followers. That's just boring and tacky. When I open up Instagram, I want to double tap moments NOT giveaways or product placement. I understand that opportunities can come from both, but is it worth it? I think social media is a fabulous way to promote yourself or your brand while connecting with others, but there's something to be said for being mindful about how those tools are utilized. Next month I'll celebrate four years of blogging, and while I'll admit that One Fine Day's growth has been slow and steady compared to a lot of other blogs, I'll always choose quality over quantity. Who knows what the future might bring, but if I said good bye to this little space tomorrow, I can be proud of what I put out there.

THANKFUL FOR: Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down by the ol' routine. To keep things from feeling like the movie Groundhog's Day, we hammered out dates for upcoming trips this summer. Woo Hoo! At this point in time, we have something planned each month through August. While most of the trips will be spent visiting family in the Midwest, we're pretty excited to kick-off the summer by taking Max to Austin in early June. It will be a nice little getaway for the three of us. I couldn't be more excited.

EATING: In an effort to shake things up, I tested two recipes this week that are worth mentioning. First up, Just A Taste's Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles. Clearly I'm still digging the Veggetti because I've used it every week since it arrived and I continue to be impressed by this little gadget. Flyboy and I also really enjoyed this Chopped Chicken Taco Salad from How Sweet It Is. For the sake of our waistlines we opted to pass on the cheese quesadilla strips—although they look terribly delicious.

LISTENING TO: Last Friday I pulled The Rig into the carport after our weekly grocery haul at HEB. A new-to-me song by LunchMoney Lewis began playing on iTunes radio. Since Max was sound asleep, I figured it wouldn't hurt to sit and listen. The tune was catchy and the lyrics were a riot! Have you heard his song Mama? I guess you could say I became a quick fan of the ear worm because I proceeded to play it later that afternoon on repeat about seven times. I'm sorry I'm not sorry. In the event Max was ever invited on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, I'm fairly certain he would choose this ditty in a lip sync battle. I mean, a mother can dream...

WATCHING: Please tell me you've seen Broadway performer and YouTube sensation Todrick Hall perform more than 70 of Beyonce's songs with choreography in FOUR minutes. Somehow he managed to perfectly blend Bey's hits into one flawless mashup. Incredible!

READING: I devoured this feature in The Grace Tales about Melbourne-based artist Miranda Skoczek. Fellow art aficionados and color lovers, you're going to be in awe when you see Skoczek's eclectic apartment filled with an explosion of her vibrant artworks. Can you say gorgeous?! Oh, and Miranda's signature quirky eyeglasses are enough to make our girl Jenna Lyons beam!

LOVING: Are you familiar with the beautiful burlap-wrapped bouquets from Farmgirl Flowers that have been making the rounds on blogs and Instagram lately? Well hold on to your hats because they now ship nationwide!! Get. Out. While I've yet to purchase one of their drop dead gorgeous arrangements, I'm eager to give it a whirl. From what I've read, Farmgirl continues to get rave reviews for their quality and affordable bouquets (starting at $35). This could be a fabulous way to brighten someone's day or the perfect pick-me-up for yourself. Now I realize it's a little silly to get so excited about something I've yet to try, but it's nice to know there are options. So many times I've settled on sending friends and family pricey bouquets with gross fillers. This is SO much better!

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

Q&A: DITCHING THE DIAPER BAG

Note: Over the past few months I've received a few emails from readers asking for input regarding diaper bags. Here's my two cents:

I lucked out and had a pretty easy going pregnancy. In fact, the most complicated part of those 39 weeks was making a decision about what diaper bag I'd use when Max arrived. Once October rolled around and the love nugget made his grand entrance, I was still without a technical diaper bag. For months, I looked all over the web at various options. While there were plenty of cute bags available, I couldn't find anything to fit my personality or aesthetic. When I did come across a tote I sort of liked, I had a hard time justifying the price tag. Diaper bags can be awfully spendy and even the best options still look rather dowdy. For me personally, the whole dilemma felt forced. Now I realize this all sounds slightly haughty, but I'm a bag lady who takes her tote game seriously. 

In the months leading up to your baby's birth, everyone LOVES to tell you how your life is going to change and they're right in a lot of ways. They love to remind you of all that you will have to give up and the little luxuries you'll have to learn to forgo. Perhaps I'm just a tiny bit (A LOT) stubborn, but I refused to bid my favorite bags adieu. I don't know about you, but depending on my mood or outfit I like to switch out my accessories. And if my wardrobe is already limited because of the babe, you better believe I'm going to turn to my trusty bags and shoes for a little pizzazz. Over the past seven months I've learned any tote can be transformed to be tot ready.

The first time I ran errands solo with Max, my bag was chock-full of unnecessary items. As a VERY new and inexperienced mom, I wanted to be prepared for anything and everything—even a zombie apocalypse. There was so much stuff crammed into my tote, I almost began to question my decision to ditch the diaper bag altogether. When I finally arrived at the register to checkout, I was one frazzled hot mess. I couldn't find my wallet or the pacifier I placed aside to silence my wailing newborn. It felt like a disaster and my Type-A(shley) personality knew I needed to reassess my bag game BIG time. Later that afternoon when we got home and Max was asleep, I dumped everything out of my tote and started fresh. After many trips into town, I've narrowed it down to these necessities.

THE ANATOMY OF A MOM BAG:

• THE TOTE // You may be devoted to a bag you already own, or you may look at having a baby as an opportunity to treat yourself to something snazzy. Either way, there are plenty of great options available at various price points. For a splurge, I look to my favorites: J.Crew and Kate Spade. I've also had a lot of luck at Target, Zara, and H&M. When I'm not carrying around something colorful or trendy, I rely heavily on my Transport Tote from Madewell—superb quality and a fabulous neutral option. In the event we're traveling long distance and have to bring more of everything, I really love my Market XL Tote from Herschel Supply Co.—so many great patterns and machine washable.  

• ZIPPER POUCHES // Baggu had some amazing zipper pouches in various colors and prints. I have some that I bought awhile back, but after putting today's post together I realized they're not that easy to find anymore. Aw, shucks! Bring them baaaaaack por favor! At any rate, I bought this set from Eagle Creek when we visited my parents and they work just as well. In fact, with the exception of stuff I keep in my clutch, I can successfully fit all of Max's necessities in the medium-sized pouch. When I look at the graphic I created it's hard to believe, but I assure you it can be done. Note: Whenever I go to the store for a few items, I like to keep a foldable/reusable bag (like these from Baggu) in my tote just in case there aren't any shopping baskets available, which always seems to be the case at our Walmart. 

• YOUR CLUTCH // I like to keep my stuff separate from Max's for organizational purposes and convenience. Finding my keys and wallet is so much easier when stored separately. Ain't nobody got time for digging around a "diaper bag" in a state of panic. I've found that it also makes it a lot easier to grab my main essentials if I choose to switch bags, or for special instances when I run errands alone. I typically stow necessities like my wallet, tinted lip balm, and sunnies in my favorite clutch (Blair Ritchey). In case of emergencies, I carry along a Tide Pen and Chewbeads now that Max is teething. 

• DIAPER DUTY // In most cases, we make short trips into town so we don't have to worry about taking A LOT with us because we're always pretty close to home. I like to keep my bag stocked with OXO's travel wipes dispenser, two diapers, a tube of Aquaphor (multipurpose ointment that can be used for a variety of things), one disposable changing pad, and this diaper bag dispenser. After a few blowouts, I quickly learned it's nice to have this dispenser on hand to store dirty clothes, etc. I have a cute travel changing pad that I used initially, but since we rarely use it and it's kind of bulky, I swapped it out for one of the disposable options from Munchkin. Note: The Diaper Bag Buddy featured in the graphic is something I keep in the glove compartment in our car just in case of an emergency.

• ODDS & ENDS // In addition to the items already mentioned, I like to keep an extra onesie handy in case Max makes a mess. I've learned that it's also a good idea to keep a small toy on-hand to keep him entertained, especially if we're waiting to checkout or he's teething. While Max never really took to a pacifier, I keep one in my tote just in case. Sometimes it's nice to shove in his mouth when we're stuck in a long line and he's getting extra fussy. It never seems to work for long, but I figure it's worth a shot. Now that Max likes to feed himself, I typically bring a transition cup along with some formula. I've found it keeps him satisfied when we're working our way through HEB or Walmart. 

• MISC. // When we traveled with Max to visit my parents this spring, I ordered this diaper bag insert and it was incredibly helpful when keeping my oversized tote organized. There were tons of various pockets to hold bottles, diapers, etc. If you don't want to rely solely on zipper pouches, this is an awesome option to transform any tote into a diaper bag.

To all the moms out there, what are some of your necessities? Where have you found cute diaper bag options?