LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Painted Lady Catchall Tray // Your beloved bits and baubles will be safe under the watchful eye of this sassy lady.
• Bobbi Brown Art Stick // At the beginning of the year, I bought one of these sticks in Dusty Pink and it's probably one of my favorites. Now I feel the need to branch out with Sunset Orange, but I think I'll use my mom as a second opinion. I have a sneaking suspicion this bold hue is something Gayle Spannaus over at J.Crew would approve of.
• It's All Talk by Ellen Surrey // Because every gallery wall or inspiration board deserves some quirky and original artwork.
• J.Crew New Arrivals // Speaking of my happy place, I couldn't be more giddy to see some of the new pieces in person. Let's just say that my wishlist is long. I find myself swooning over ALL the punchy pink pieces (WILD FLAMINGO!), specifically this Tipped Rhodes Blazer in Burnished Orange. Holy swoon! It wouldn't make any sense to "store" in Swell Rio, but I have a feeling I might kick myself if I didn't add this darling staple to the wardrobe mix. It's timeless! Additionally, I want to see the jewels and sunnies. The website NEVER truly does the pieces justice, so I'm interested in seeing what the bedazzled accessories are like FOR REAL—especially this Circular Stone Necklace in Paris Sky. Oui!
• Ursula Drops // Wowa wowa wee wah! This shade of cobalt blue is striking. The price point isn't too shabby either.
• One Trick Pony Rosette // This prize ribbon is the story of my life. Hey, I should be awarded for my consistency, right?!
• Brass Shaded Wall Sconce // You guys, this online shop has the coolest selection of lamps and sconces. I want em all!
• Babou 1 Neon Pink Shelf // J.Crew's latest style guide has me hypnotized with all pink hues. Say YES to the shelf!
• Recipe Box // Suddenly I have the urge to organize every tasty kitchen creation with some help from this adorable box.
• Celine Women's Sunglasses // I'm obsessed with all specs. This pair is my latest obsession! Maybe it's the Iris in me?
• Grid Round Tray // I received another random catalog from Unison, and I couldn't help but fall hard for this simple tray.

Oh, and before I forget... CONGRATULATIONS Anna Kudlacz and Jessica Almanza! 

You are the lucky winners of the Beautycounter Giveaway.

Happy Friday, m' dears! Make this weekend count.

P.S. I'll be out of town visiting my family in DC, so regularly scheduled blog posts will begin after Labor Day. 

Thanks for being so patient and understanding!

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

ILLUSTRATION VIA BAN.DO

THINKING ABOUT: Last week, while parked at a stop sign, I went searching through my bag to make sure I didn't forget the grocery list when I stumbled upon a random Milkbone and a large toy plane (definitely NOT of the Matchbox variety). I can only imagine that when I put the dogs up before we boarded The Rig, the treat Max was supposed to give to the dogs ended up in my mom bag along with his beloved toy. Because, you know, I don't haul enough of this kid's necessities around with me anyway...

THANKFUL FOR: On Saturday Max and I are headed to DC to spend some time with my parents. Hooray! Since Max turns two in less than two months (what the what?!), we figured it wouldn't hurt to arrange one more trip in which we don't have to pay for our tot's airfare. And since we had some extra points to use toward a plane ticket (thanks hail damage!), we figured this would be a great opportunity for us to get away and see family out east. Because, um, this mama needs a break... To say I'm overjoyed would be a giant understatement! However, I do feel a little guilty leaving Flyboy behind on the border, but he's assured me that he'll keep busy with the help of work, our sweet pups, weekend cycling, and copious amounts of frozen pizza. Phew! And so begins the next 72 hours of pep talks, which will convince me I'll own this whole traveling solo with a toddler thing. Gulp. 

EATING: I can't even remember the last time I penned a Thursday's Thoughts post, but I do know that I tried the world's easiest recipe and it resulted in the tastiest marinara sauce. Ever. With only FOUR INGREDIENTS, I didn't expect much from this tomato sauce recipe by The Faux Martha, but it was a big hit at our house. In fact, I've made it four different times since I originally tried it and the feedback from my family (well, Flyboy and Max...) is the same as the first time I made it because it's just that DELICIOUS! 

WATCHING: Bravo peeps! What's your opinion on the new OC housewife, Kelly? I really wanted to like her, but this latest confrontation with Shannon at Meghan's dinner is making it difficult. Yowzah! Also, what about all of the drama surrounding Luann's beau on RHONY? How's it possible for the Countess to overlook a tiny detail like that? Is she that desperate to be hitched?!

LISTENING TO: We had a tornado warning yesterday afternoon. Conveniently the siren began blaring right after Max went down for a nap, so I grabbed the half-pint, both hounds, and we hunkered down in Flyboy's bathroom until the base area was cleared. For those of you interested, I was not able to coax my sleepy toddler into hitting his crib for an encore snooze as I hoped. Fat chance!

READING: Since I'll soon have the luxury of passing Max off to m' rents (air five, anyone??), I think I might download Shauna Niequist's recent best seller, Present Over Perfect, and devour her latest batch of essays while I'm away. Have any of you read it yet? I've heard nothing but rave reviews, but I think that's because the topic resonates with so many people like myself. Who wouldn't want to leave busyness behind and embrace the person we were made to be? I'm excited to see what she has to say.

LOVING: Let's talk about the return of pink at J.Crew. Excuse me, what I meant to say was that bold hue my favorite store is so lovingly referring to as WILD FLAMINGO! Cue the happy dance, y'all! Yaaaaaaaaaas Jenna and Mickey, yaaaaaaaaas! THIS is what I'm talking about, my friends. And as if all the new goodies aren't fabulous enough, I find myself wishing now, more than ever, that I was part of the official color cataloging crew at 770 because you know a gig like that has got to be the BEST. JOB. EVER.

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

A BEAUTYCOUNTER GIVEAWAY

I've never claimed to be a beauty blogger, but when I do stumble upon something I like, I'm often compelled to share it with my readers. Over the past year I've read a lot of feedback regarding the game-changing beauty and skincare brand Beautycounter whose mission is to "get safer products into the hands of everyone." Who doesn't want that?? At the beginning of the summer I finally took the plunge and tried the line's Tint Skin. It wasn't long before I quickly became obsessed with the foundation's flawless finish and lightweight texture. Yaaaaaaaaas! But since it takes me awhile before I can really commit to a new foundation, I was hesitant to share a review on the blog because changes like this take time and personal opinions regarding products can vary depending on one's climate, complexion, etc. I mean, how many of you have ordered beauty products online that you immediately regretted? In this case, I was more than ready to try more of Beautycounter's products, but I didn't know where to start.

So imagine my surprise when out of the blue I got an email two weeks ago from Beautycounter consultant and blog reader, Erin Tomlinson, who offered to send some samples and graciously host a giveaway?? You guys, opportunities like this NEVER happen to me, so I was beyond giddy to experiment with samples from both the skincare and beauty lines. Here are a few of my favorites...

• Rejuvenating Radiance Serum — I'm a sucker for serums and I LOVED how this felt when it was applied. With hopes of brightening, firming, and hydrating your skin, this has some of the best reviews out of all of the line's products.

• Color Sweep Blush Duo in Tawny/Whisper — The perfect pop of color. It effortlessly emulates flushed cheeks!

• Lip Sheer in Petal — An everyday lipstick that's moisturizing and lightweight with buildable color. It's a great option for a mom on the go who doesn't have time to look in a mirror for application. Oh, and this stuff smells divine too!

• Tint Skin — As I mentioned before, this lightweight formula delivers a flawless finish and covers imperfections.

• Charcoal Cleansing Bar — This bar boasts to detoxify and absorb the skin's impurities without drying the skin. Upon trying it for the first time, it was clear Beautycounter was not messing around with this one. Immediately after using it, my skin looked brighter and felt smoother. I will definitely be purchasing again along with this Purifying Charcoal Mask.

Now, here's where it gets even better. Are you ready?? TWO lucky readers will have the chance to be pampered too as one Facebook follower will win a Travel Set ($50 value) and one Instagram follower will receive a $50 Beautycounter gift card. The winners will be announced in this Friday's Love List on August 19. Woo Hoo! Good luck and GO get em!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interested in Beautycounter's mission and products? Learn more about the movement here or email Erin.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! A fresh week in Swell Rio calls for a another batch of my favorite details...

• Last week Max and I managed to get a cruddy summer cold. Bleh! Aren't those the worst?! Despite the inclination to drown my sorrows in Dayquil and throw a giant pity party (BYOT = Bring Your Own Tissues), I kept thinking about this Henri Matisse quote: "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." So off we went to HEB and Walmart to find those flowers and more Boogie Wipes. Because I'm determined like that, I kept clinging to the beloved artist's words and came home with Carnations. Ahem. You guys, I've never purchased the flower in my life. Growing up, my mom put the kibosh to these blooms. They were verboten. When Flyboy saw them in a vase on the dining room table, he looked at me in utter disbelief. Not even a day after bringing the bouquet home, I had to come clean to my mom and confess. I guess desperate times in Del Rio call for desperate measures. Sigh.
• Since the flower idea was a giant flop, I kept searching for bright spots in the week to keep me motivated. This tenacity resulted in pulling Max's teepee out of the closet and setting up in the backyard, swinging outdoors, devouring unhealthy amounts of vanilla Noosa yogurt (which doubles as a hair mask—conditioner is overrated, folks!), and mixing paints during nap time. Our first full week back from Missouri wasn't quite as productive as I hoped, but considering Max's need to remain active and mobile the snuggle to sniffle ratio was on point. I'd chalk that up as a win.
• Speaking of winners, let's talk about the Olympics. Flyboy thinks my sentiment toward the event is un-American, but let me explain. It's not that I don't enjoy it, because I do love learning the stories behind the amazing athletes. I also don't mind watching an event or two, but the fact that it dominates every stinking station (looking at you, BRAVO!) for almost two weeks is a bit much. Thank goodness I had a lot of TV to catch up on after Missouri or I'd be going NUTS!
• You see that adorable vintage toy truck?! We visited my father-in-law's mother when we were in MO, and we learned that she has the neatest collection of toys that she's saved over the years. It was a blast looking through her toy box of treasures, and she was kind enough to let me take this piece home. I'm obsessed with Leslee Mitchell's artwork, specifically the Matchbox series, and this chartreuse jeep got me thinking about how neat it would be to use a similar concept and photograph a toy that has actual sentimental value for Max's room. I still need to play around with the car some more (lighting, editing, etc.), but the excitement was killing me and I just had to take it out for a test drive.
• Because these photos could easily give the appearance that life here this past week has been all fun and games (trust me, it's not!), I should mention that Friday was a total bust. After being at odds ALL morning, Max and I set out to get groceries. The high was 108 degrees that day (116 heat index), so we needed to get an early start. With a few miscellaneous items left on my lengthy list, the tot managed to bust a Febreze oil diffuser ALL over the groceries in our cart. I quickly hid the evidence behind a random bag of rice and we finished our errand as I intended. It was only when I began unloading the cart amid an epic toddler meltdown that I realized everything was sopping in scented oil. The ink from labels and packaging were bleeding and the liquid from the diffuser was absorbed in anything and everything you could possibly imagine. It was a nightmare! I just wanted to get out of the store as fast as possible. Thankfully, the kind cashier didn't say a word. Hallelujah! Oddly enough, I was so annoyed by my child's antics that I forgot about the dinosaur I threw in the cart when we started. At that beginning of our trip I felt he deserved a special reward—it probably had something to do with his pitiful puffy blue eyes and stuffy nose. Anyway, I just wanted to get to the car without any more tears and screams, so I asked the kind employee to leave the dino out and I'd let Max hold on to it as a last ditch effort to keep him content. Of course he could have cared less about the T-Rex in that moment because he knew there was string cheese somewhere in the cart. He threw a humongous fit and pitched his new dinosaur into the parking lot. I was absolutely enraged and had more uncharitable thoughts about my child on the ride home than I care to admit. Hours later someone shared an article on Facebook about why it's HARD to be a toddler (I'm being honest!), and I wanted to have a few colorful words with the PhD author. I'm not buying it! Not today...
• For the record, our pantry still reeks of Febreze scented oil and I had to repurchase many of the groceries I bought on Friday because the food smelled and tasted like the busted diffuser. Yuck! Toddlers are crafty like that.
• On a funnier note, watching Max devour a whole apple reminds me of the SNL skit with Mr. Peepers. You feel me?

Enough rambling on this end. How the heck are YOU?? Also, get excited for a really fun giveaway tomorrow!

P.S. I PROMISE TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER AND REPLY TO YOUR COMMENTS ASAP. I SWEAR THEY MADE MY WEEK.

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Interlocking Wrap Bracelet // This architectural piece is outstanding! The design is delicate, timeless, and oh-so simple.
• Still Life by Mouni Feddag // After reading last month's issue of Real Simple, I fell hard for Feddag's illustrations.
• Archive New York Antigua Pillow // I have a thing for very expensive throw pillows. What else is new, right?! Le sigh.
• Dot Towel // Start your day off right by drying off with this dotted beauty. Gimme the whole sunny set, por favor!
• Fiery Crystal Earrings // In the next few weeks I plan on visiting J.Crew and seeing some of these jewels in person. 
• "Le Diaper" Bag // Who has two thumbs and is anti-diaper bag?? This gal!! If you share my sentiment, THIS is clutch.
• Gemma Suede Flats with Contrast Piping // These skimmers would be a lovely neutral option with a hot pink POP!
• Perfect Shirt with Bee Embellishment // Ahem, future Ashley will wear a bejeweled top like this once Max is older. 
• "The Wish List" Notebook // I'm already thinking this would make a great Christmas gift. Might as well add it to the list.
• Havana Yellow Lounge Chair // Heavens to Betsy! Isn't she beautimous?? Can you imagine lounging here??
• Lucite Link Necklace // This summery strand has been worn on repeat as of late. It's lightweight and packs a punch!
• Rodin Luxury Lipstick // You guys, this must be the holy grail of lipsticks!! I mean, if it's good enough for Linda...
• HELMER Drawer Unit // Organization makes me weak in the knees. IKEA knocked it outta the park with this hue. Hubba!

Happy Friday, m' dears! Make this weekend count.

MISSOURI TRIP RECAP: PART TWO

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

As promised, I'm dishing up another dose of delightful details from our recent trip to Missouri. Enjoy!

• Visits to Flyboy's hometown of Sedalia are cathartic because it's where we met and became great friends in high school. Going back with Max is even more special (and kind of surreal) now because we get the opportunity to make memories with family and introduce our half-pint to old friends. It's especially fun for me to sit back and watch as FB shares the place he was raised with our son. I know he holds his hometown close to his heart and the opportunity to visit people and places that made him who he is today with Max is an incredibly special thing to witness.
• We divvied up our time evenly with family, which inevitably left the three of us overfed and spoiled. Who doesn't love that?! While Max had the undivided attention of his grandparents, we made it a point to slip into town to run a few errands on our own. After chatting with friends who are also parents, we all decided that when you have a kid your folks really don't want to be around you anyway. They just want time alone with the grandkid. Ha Ha!
• When we weren't on a boat exploring the Lake of the Ozarks, you could find us making frequent trips to the local park (because of course...), frolicking in the backyard playing with bubbles or balls, spending time at Crown Center's aquarium, and discovering a hidden gem in the West Bottoms of Kansas City. In fact, if you're ever in the area you MUST check out Easy Tiger. I've purchased a handful of items from their online shop in the past, so you can only imagine what a dorky smile I had painted on my face when we got to visit the actual brick and mortar. It was a total fangirl moment, and I'm so grateful we had the chance to see it in person. It definitely lived up to the hype!
• There were a lot of really great highlights to our trip, but I think my favorite moment was seeing Flyboy and Max pick out a bike at FB's hometown bicycle shop. As soon as we knew we were expecting a child, FB had one simple request and it was that he would buy our child their first bike and that it would be purchased at Pro-Velo. Done and done! Over the past year I could see FB was more eager than ever to make his wish a reality so we knew it HAD to happen THIS summer. Max just seemed ready. It was finally time! While I knew this moment would be special, I wasn't prepared to turn to mush like I did when I watched Max put on his helmet, sit on his bike, and gaze at Flyboy as he pushed him around in the backyard. The grin on my baby's face was unlike anything I'd seen before. I tried explaining it to my dad recently in an email, but I was at a complete loss for words. If I close my eyes I can still see the sweetness in his smile at that moment. I guess it was the kind of genuine expression that showed the purest form of pride and joy.
• On our way back to Texas we made a pit stop in St. Louis to catch up with friends we made while stationed in Hawaii. Since we parted in 2013, there have been several moves, career changes, and children. I had a feeling it was going to be delightful to catch up, but I don't think Flyboy and I were prepared for how much the time together would make us miss the company of really good friends. Aside from the addition of our two little boys (which was precious to see play together), it felt like we picked up where we left off. Hanging out with them was just so easy. You could have fun and be honest. I think we forgot what that was like. Ha Ha! And as if the good company and conversation wasn't enough, they outdid themselves as host and hostess by feeding us nonstop, taking us to the Botanical Gardens, and venturing out into their cute neighborhood for an evening stroll. It was a fabulous way to end our fun journey to MO.

Enough from me already. How the heck are YOU? Go on and fill me in. I've missed you and this colorful corner of the Internet.

P.S. MAX'S COLD HAS INVADED THE FINE HOUSEHOLD, SO I THOUGHT I'D SPARE YOU A DAYQUIL-FUELED THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS. 

HAVE NO FEAR, M' DEARS! I'LL BE BACK ON FRIDAY WITH A MUCH-ANTICIPATED RETURN OF THE LOVE LIST. STAY TUNED.

MISSOURI TRIP RECAP: PART ONE

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

Hello, LOVELY! It's been awhile, hasn't it?! Sorry 'bout that! Would you believe the day I plan to make my grand blog return Max comes down with a terrible cold and is more needy than ever? Because of course... Thankfully I've decided to break our trip recap into a few parts (I hope you don't mind the massive photo dump!), and it just so happens the pictures in today's post are pretty self-explanatory. That being said, there are a few little details I thought I'd jot down because I really don't want to forget them...

• Do you see the bag up top? That puppy was chock-full of snacks to get Max to MO. It was by far the heaviest bag we took with us, and by the time we arrived in Sedalia most of the contents were gone. Mom skills on fleek.
• Even with a pesky toddler in tow, road trips with my husband are the absolute best! In fact, the second image is one of my favorite photos on the camera roll because it's quintessential Flyboy. I've seen this reaction countless times and it's probably the very reason I married the guy. In this particular moment The Rig's gas light went off and I fllllllllllllipped out. FB knows that this is enough to make my skin crawl, so if I'm not paying attention he will allow it to happen to get a rise out of me. I would NEVER in my life walk on the wild side like that. What's the point? And since I was too busy operating my nifty gopher reaching tool (picking up whatever it was that Max opted to chuck) and passing out snacks, I forgot to check our diesel situation. Good grief! While I frantically pointed to the next gas station, somebody laughed his head off. That right there is the stuff that memorable road trips are made of. Trust me on this one.
• Every time we travel with Max we find that his needs are completely different than the last. Driving sixteen hours with a 21-month-old child isn't the smartest decision we've made, but we survived thanks to a few pit stops, Sesame Street songs, and snacks. We knew the haul to the Show-Me State wasn't going to be easy, so we decided to break it up into two days of driving. I'm not going to lie, there were times I stared at my cup of water and wished so badly there was a fizzy cocktail inside. The constant screaming, crying, and throwing was enough to make us go BONKERS! GET ME OUTTA HERE!!! To curb some of the travel insanity, we made sure to take quick breaks in San Antonio and Waco the first day based on the time we arrived in both cities and Max's activity level (sky high in the morning and late afternoon). Anyone familiar with I-35 knows traveling that stretch is the worst, so we were more than ecstatic to get past Austin and stretch our legs at THE Magnolia Market and dine at In and Out. Oh hey, Chip and JoJo!!
• As longtime fans of Fixer Upper visiting the Gaines family's silos was everything we thought it would be and MORE. The space is cozy and quaint enough to feel at home, but large enough to accommodate the giddy crowd of fans—even on a bustling and steamy market day as we experienced. Because our first visit was more rushed than we wanted it to be, we're already plotting our next trip. The city of Waco is an absolute delight, and I'd love to spend more time exploring the college town. Not to mention, I could have done some SERIOUS damage at Magnolia Market. I spent so much time gawking at the gorgeous displays and overwhelming group of visitors I didn't even leave with any treasures or treats.

Alright, that's enough rambling for now. Duty calls! Somebody needs another Boogie Wipe. More to come tomorrow.