LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Anna Wintour Brooch // Did somebody say VOGUE?! How amazing is this intricately-beaded brooch? Wowzers!
• Age Prevention Cleanser // These beauty products are starting to buzz around blogs and Instagram. Worth the hype?
• Orange Giant Confetti // Cue the waterworks! I mean confetti gun. Max's birthday is EIGHT DAYS AWAY. Hold me.
• Bright Clover Signet Bag // I've wanted this bag for awhile, but the color I liked sold out FAST. This hue upped the ante!
• Hello Sweatshirt // I'm certain Max is ready to say good-bye to summer and welcome fall with this comfy number.
• Puffy Lip Stickers // Let's pretend we've got fillers and blow some serious smooches with this adorable set of stickers.
• Crystal Clamp Bracelet // Stack 'em up, ladies! This bangle is even MORE beautimous (and easy to wear) in person.
• Art by Jordan Sondler // These beauty products and this award ribbon are some of my favorites from Jordan's portfolio.
• Andra Bow Pumps // Kudos to Banana Republic for an epic assortment of shoes and accessories this fall. I'm impressed!
• Lucite and Pavé Necklace // Hubba, hubba! I kind of want to collect ALL the colors, but I'll start with this one first.
• Emerald Pom-Pom Tassel // I'm smitten with the short and robust shape of this tassel. The color isn't bad either!
• The Big Bag // It's simple and useful and I LOVE it! What an amazing (and personalized) Christmas gift idea?!?
• Canon EF 50 MM F/1.8 STM Lens // After last week's SOS, I got help from a friend's father-in-law and I'm pumped!!

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

A MOM'S GUIDE TO STORAGE

With Max's birthday quickly approaching AND Christmas two months later, I'm getting a mean case of the storage sweats. Gah, that term sounds awful! There's probably a reason no one has trademarked that one. Yikes! I'm sorry I went there, but I'm sure my fellow organization queens feel me. Anyone?! Alright, I'm talking about the panic that sets in when you feel the urge to keep ALL THE STUFF tidy. I've learned quickly that the bigger the child gets, the larger the toys are, and the easier it is to acquire way too much. As a product of the military lifestyle, purging comes second nature to me. From a young age I saw my mom do it regularly. I know it's necessary and needs to be done often to minimize chaos and clutter—especially if there's a kid in the mix! And while I really don't want my obsessive-compulsive tendencies to rub off on my child, I do want Max to know that everything has a place and purpose. It's been especially fun to watch him mature and make a concerted effort to put things away when he's done. In fact, he may even clap for himself once he's returned an item and I like to think that's because he also appreciates organization like his mama. We'll see if he still applauds his efforts when he's a teen. Ha Ha! I have a feeling our days are numbered.

Because the Monica in me could discuss a topic like this for days (but I'll spare you...), I thought I'd share a few tips I've found handy over the past two years in addition to a few of my favorite storage bins and baskets. And away we go...

• I typically decorate with a lot of color throughout the house. Since Max is a man on the move, it's very rare that he plays in just one spot. As a result, I've staged two main baskets in our living room and kitchen to distribute toys and books throughout our house. For this reason, I've opted to pick containers that are neutral or have some sort of textured/shiny detail. Between his toys and my knick-knacks, we run the risk of our house looking like a crayon box vomited all over the place, so I like to keep these organizational pieces simple and mature looking.

• Max's room has an eight-cube organizer unit (similar to this) that we got from IKEA. When he was little it also doubled as his changing station. We began using these striped bins to store toys in lieu of his diapers, wipes, etc, because his needs have changed and there was no longer a reason to store those items in that spot any longer. I like canvas bins like this because you can put stuff in them, you don't have to see any of it, and they're easy to clean. We currently fill half of the shelves with canvas bins and the other half is used to display/store books, toys, and tchotchkes. Because I like organizing a bit too much, I've designated each bin to a category of toys (i.e. dress-up items, animals, cars, and balls). I've found it's best to go through his toys every few months by dumping all the bins out and grouping them into various categories. I try to keep this part fairly general and not get too specific. This is clearly more for my sanity than Max's. However, I would like to maintain the four-bin rule because it forces me to go through his stuff more often.

• Because kids are often spoiled by family and friends, they typically end up with A LOT of treasures. For this reason, I try to split up Max's toys and store some of them in his closet. I've noticed that by swapping out his stuff on a regular basis, the toys remain a novelty and keep his attention for longer periods of time. Too much clutter can make anyone feel overwhelmed and overstimulated, so this technique benefits everyone—mostly yours truly!

• Some people might find this pointless, but because aesthetics and organization mean a lot to me, I opt to spend more money on bins and baskets that double as decor. Having one or two pieces like this keeps me from feeling like our house was taken over by a toddler. That being said, anything that ends up as storage in his closet doesn't have to be special. I load up on plastic tubs from IKEA, Walmart, Dollar General, etc. If we had a Target, I'd be ALL over it.

• No matter what stage your kid is at, these suitcase storage bins are invaluable. They originally held Max's teethers and tiny toys when he was an infant, but now they're used for Legos, wooden blocks, and art supplies. Since we have two sets, I like to keep one of the suitcases empty for Max to use on his own. Whenever I'm cooking dinner, working on a project outside, or we head into town to run errands, I inevitably need to keep Max entertained. These are all perfect opportunities for him to fill his suitcase with various books and trinkets from his room. I suppose it only makes sense that my kid gets a kick out of toting around boxes and bags. Monkey see, monkey do. Right?!

• Max and I share a bathroom, so I've devoted a drawer to his body lotion, shampoo, diapers, wipes, etc. When it comes to bath toys, we store them in this Boon Frog Pod. When I originally bought it, I had NO clue how handy it would be.

• As for books, we use this Babyletto Tree Bookshelf in addition to the primary shelving unit (mentioned above) and two of these metal locker bins. I anticipate Max's library will continue to grow, so I have my eye on this Linear Book Cart as one of our next big storage purchases. It might end up being a certain toddler's practical Christmas present this year.

• While I don't exactly have the extra cash to buy everything I'd like from Land of Nod, I do love poring over their catalogs for inspiration and ideas. The company has an impeccable way of incorporating colors and pieces that manage to appease both adults and children. When I look through their catalog, I try to pay attention to the little things like their whimsical details along with big-picture ideas such as the setup of bedrooms and play areas.

FEATURED BASKETS AND BINS:

STEELE CANVAS LAUNDRY CART $189 VIA REJUVENATION

SAVED BY THE CUBE LOCKER BINS $25 VIA LAND OF NOD

VARIERA BOX $5 VIA IKEA

I COULD'VE BIN A THINGS BIN $10 VIA LAND OF NOD

CAMBRIA POM STORAGE $58 VIA SERENA AND LILY

AW SNAP CUBE BIN $13 VIA LAND OF NOD

LEGO STORAGE BRICK $16 VIA AMAZON

BOON FROG BATH TOY SCOOP $19 VIA AMAZON

HIGH CONTRAST CUBE BIN $39 VIA LAND OF NOD

BON VOYAGE SUITCASE SET $20 VIA LAND OF NOD

WIGGLES BASKET $88 VIA LEIF 

CLIP STORAGE BOX $6 VIA TARGET

FJALLA BOX WITH LID $11 VIA IKEA

COPPER WIRE ROUND BASKET $20 VIA TARGET

CRISSCROSS CUBE BIN $20 VIA LAND OF NOD

LINEAR BOOK CART $299 VIA LAND OF NOD

Alright, I think I've rambled enough for now. If you have any questions or suggestions, throw them my way!

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! I'm currently on the phone with customer service. I placed an online order earlier this month and the purchase never arrived. So while I attempt to make the most of nap time and check ALLLLLL the to-dos off m' list (including today's blog post), I can't help but feel a bit down and I promise it's not the awful music that Macy's opts to play when you're placed on hold for over 20 minutes. Instead, I can't help but think of something a fellow mom said to me recently. I'm sure she never meant any harm by her comment, but for some reason or another a smidgen of guilt has set in as I let her words marinate. 

You see, this mom friend and I spoke awhile back about time management and "doing it all," when she quipped that she wished she could be more like me and take some time for herself. It was my instinct to cheer her on and encourage her to make time for herself because I believe it's necessary to keep any person sane — especially moms. But the closer we get to Max's 2nd birthday, the more I find myself comparing him to other kids (which I know I'm not supposed to do) and worrying about whether or not I'm fulfilling the role as his mom to my utmost. I see other kids speaking in full sentences with a flourishing vocabulary and suddenly a boat-load of guilt sets in. My kid knows about 20 words and half of those could be lumped into something that sounds like dog or truck. Sigh. If that's not bad enough, we'll be hanging out with friends and our kid is the human wrecking ball going ham with a balloon, handing out aggressive hugs (in a very Buddy the Elf fashion, mind you), and chucking blueberries in the middle of Grace. 

It all can feel so overwhelming once you begin to stack yourself up against someone else. When they say that comparison is the thief of joy, they're not kidding! Most days I feel really proud of the person I've become since Max came into my life and I go to bed knowing that I gave this child everything I've got, but I have noticed that self-doubt can rear its ugly head the more this introvert socializes with other moms and their kids. I hate that I feel that way, but it's the truth. What starts out as an innocent conversation intended to connect with another mom on a very genuine level or glean tips from the pros often leads to an unhealthy amount of insecurity on my end. I know that no one can make you feel inferior but yourself, but maybe I'm being too honest? After an especially eventful weekend jam-packed with some really fun activities, I found myself coming home each evening consumed with this fear that I'm not doing enough as a mother. Maybe I spend too much time focusing on MY needs (cleaning, blogging, self-maintenance, etc.) and that's why Max doesn't know 60 words yet?? Perhaps those other moms selflessly give their kid(s) more than I do? Or maybe the fact that I don't take Max to a regular playgroup is the reason he's not as well-behaved as the other kids? Is making time for myself selfish? Clearly I need to do more. Clearly I need to give more. Why am I not doing enough?

I know it's our instinct as women to constantly feel as though we're falling short in some capacity, but being a mom takes that to a whole new level. Just when I feel the slightest bit of confidence in my role as Max's mother, those feelings are usually undercut by some wellness questionnaire, snarky comment, parenting blog, etc. There's probably a good reason that I've spent the past two years diving into motherhood with a "you do you" kind of tunnel vision. It might not be the right approach for everyone, but it sure comes in handy the moment you begin to question your efforts. Just like most new parents, I have no clue what I'm doing, but tomorrow is a new day and we're all just trying to give our best. I know I can shake off the mom guilt by the time I wake up in the morning, and you can bet I'll continue to encourage Max's vocabulary with lots of conversation and reading, in addition to constant reminders that he be gentle and kind—because our human exclamation point could REEEEEEEEEEALLY use some help in that arena. 

As always, thanks for showing up and allowing me to share. Now how about you?

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Kate Spade Cuteness // It's been awhile since I've seen something at Kate Spade that I adore. Okay, let me take that back, it's been a few months. Ha! After helplessly wandering over to the website this week to check out the latest loot, I've decided I'm smitten with the following pieces: the All Fine On Paper Notebook Set (because of course...), the Striped Travel Umbrella (no-brainer!), the Deco-Dot 12-Month Agenda (obvi), and these Striped Accent Plates (that green tho).
• Illustrations by Kate Pugsley // Need a colorful escape? I've got you covered. Check out Kate's portfolio. Wowsers!
• Soap-Dispensing Brush // This gets me Danny Tanner excited. You have NO idea! Consider yourself WISH-LISTED.
• Yellow Citrus and Honey Splash Mask // My mom sent me an article about splash masks this week and I'm so intrigued. Are you in?! This one sounds like a refreshing way to start the day. Not to mention, it saves oodles of time! 
• Celosia Peridot Green Sofa // This velvet sofa from Article has got me weak in the knees. The price point is impressive. 
• Airplane Ride-On // I'm still trying to figure out what to get Max for his birthday. Of course this is a front-runner.
• Flamenco Earrings // These would make anyone break into a happy dance. Can we talk about those jazzy threads?
• Chic Flats // I got these for my sister last year for Christmas and they were so stinking cute (comfy to boot)! By the time I was in the market for a replacement myself, Nordstrom sold out of my size and I was afraid they would never bring them back. On a whim I checked the website this week, and lucky for me they're baaaaaaaaaaaaack!
• Rhodes Pant in Italian Wool // As if that Wild Flamingo hue wasn't sweet enough, I'm a total sucker for a polished cuff.
• Edie Top in Shirting Stripe // I got this shirt and I love it, but I'm still afraid that when I don it in Swell Rio I might be mistaken as a member of a mariachi band. Oy! Only time will tell, I guess—but you can bet I'll keep you posted. Ha!

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

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

IRIS ILLUSTRATION VIA JORDAN ANDREW CARTER

THINKING ABOUT: Until this last week I'd only ever printed photos from my phone with Social Print Studio. I had no reason to stray—I've been very pleased with the price point, quality, variety of printing options, and their user-friendly app—but I will admit that my most recent order wasn't up to snuff. Argh! It's almost as though something was wrong with their equipment because the coloring on a handful of photos was inconsistent and the print job was second-rate. Lucky for me, I ended up receiving a random email from Artifact Uprising with an offer for 25 free prints earlier this week. I went ahead and jumped at the opportunity, and I'm eager to see how their prints compare. Tell me, where do you prefer to have your Instagram photos and phone images printed?

THANKFUL FOR: Since Flyboy's birthday fell on a Monday this year (snooooooze), you better believe we signed Max up for this month's "Give Parents A Break" night at the base daycare center. Yahoo! Did somebody say DATE NIGHT?! We still haven't decided where we'll dine in this buzzing metropolis, but we do have plans to see the movie Sully afterward. It's safe to say, we're stoked.

WATCHING: Where are my Parenthood fans? Word on the street is that NBC's latest series, This Is Us, is kind of like the adorable cousin to our beloved Braverman brood. Eek! I'm eager to watch the pilot (hopefully that will happen tonight since Flipping Out is over...). Have any of you watched it yet?! I've been warned that the first episode may result in some ugly crying, but I'm down.

EATING: After indulging this week in more cake than I care to admit (my jeans don't lie), I probably shouldn't be pinning such dangerous delectables, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to share the cutest dessert ever on m' blog. You guys, I'm talking about PureWow's Mini Mason Jar Apple Pies. Squee! Who knew a staple like apple pie could be SO flipping adorable??

LISTENING TO:  Since I'm a glutton for punishment and feeling ALL the feels with Max's impending birthday, I can't stop listening to Rachel Platten's Better Place without sobbing profusely. Yep, I told you I wasn't joking about the ugly cry! I remember when Flyboy and I first heard the tune en route to the San Antonio airport last month. We both listened along quietly only to confess to one another minutes later that it totally made us think of Max. If you're not familiar with the song, I urge you to take a moment and listen. I guarantee there's someone in your life that makes you feel this way. Grab a tissue and bring on the warm and fuzzies!

READING: Because Max has become such a fun (and extremely active) subject for me to photograph, I'm toying around with the idea of buying a new lens for my camera. I've noticed a lot of the photos I take aren't as sharp as I'd like and I think that's because I'm trying to offset the drab lighting in our house with an ISO greater than 1600??? As a shutterbug novice, I clearly have A LOT to learn, but I've been researching what options are available online and all of the photography forums and product reviews have left me incredibly overwhelmed! Sigh. I feel like I'm in over my head. Most of my "picture-taking skills" are the result of trial and error, YouTube tutorials, and one online class. I just wish I knew someone that could give me a simple answer. I'll take any help I can get!

LOVING: I had a few West Elm Design Dollars burning a hole in my pocket and sprung for this Curvillinear Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp. Somehow I let our last reward expire, so I was determined to not let that happen again. Tisk, tisk! If the product image does the lamp justice, I'll be pleased as punch with my decision. Helllllllooooo, you brass babe! Come hither. And for those of you worried about my recent retail recklessness, let me assure you that no future Design Dollars will be wasted. Game on!

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

We celebrated Flyboy's birthday on Monday, and while I spent the better part of the afternoon gluing pom-poms to party hats and zhuzhing bows on wrapped gifts, I didn't realize that all of the festive busy-ness served as a perfect distraction. You see, the season of birthdays is upon our family, but it's evident from some of our recent commentary that Flyboy and I are on the same page—yet again. Over the past few weeks, we've each made note of the fact that Max is no longer a baby, but instead a little boy. Why this is such a tough pill to swallow, I'm still not sure, but the closer we get to his second birthday on October 8th, the more I can see the two of us clinging to small moments with our son. While I find myself getting down on the ground with a box of Legos or whipping out the crayons and paints with Max, Flyboy looks forward to evening cruises around base with his pint-size passenger. Deep down, we are both aware that so much goodness lies ahead, but the notion of slowing down and cherishing the mundane moments has been such a gift lately. In fact, I think I've stared at that last photo off and on for the past 24 hours and my heart swells with every glance. I still don't know how I got so lucky to be his wife and his mom, but I know I'll spend the rest of my days celebrating such an honor and feeling so very grateful I get to call them my very own.

OMGoooooodness, you guys! All sappiness aside, here are a few lighter details from today's post...

• WHY is it still hotter than Hades in Swell Rio? I'm starting to think 80-degree temps would feel chilly right about now.
• You know you're desperate for fall when you dust off your Tippi sweaters and style them with ALL the necklaces.
• Additionally, could I trade in all of the desert landscape (I'm looking at you, cacti!) for Mums and pumpkins instead?
• Yellow cake and chocolate frosting FOREVER! I might not fit in my pants by the end of the week, but it will be #worthit.
• Sometimes you go to Walmart and insist your stuffed sloth is the most stylin' one in the bunch. Isn't that right, Max?!
• Remember that one time I went looking for the mysterious juicery? Well, they have a brick-and-mortar business now!
• Oh, and sorry about the delayed start to the blog week my friends! Sometimes party hats, colorful ribbon, and festoons of balloons are a priority—I can't say I mind one bit. I know there are a handful of you that feel me on this one.

Enough about me. How the heck are you? I'm 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.

• Heirloom Blanket // Good grief! I can't wait to have a legitimate reason to cuddle under a colorful throw. Buh-bye heat!
• Yellow Airplane Overhead // I simply ADORE Leslee Mitchell's work, so is it any coincidence she released this print recently? Squee! It was meant to be. A photograph from her Matchbox Series is going to have to come live with me.
• Tacolicious Graphic Tee // I can't stop dreaming about all of the cute clothes for Max's Autumn wardrobe! Two years ago I never would have admitted this, but boys are actually gobs of fun to dress. Now if the weather would cooperate...
• Illustrations by Neryl Walker // I kind of want to jump into Walker's drawings. Did you say you can see me seated on this Mid-Century Sofa and mixing drinks with a bottle of Hendrick's Gin? So weird. I was thinking the SAME thing...
• NARS Lipstick in Schiap // Think pink! The cult favorite has offered this pout of mine a nonstop pick-me-up.
• Polka-Dot Tulle-Trimmed Striped Top // You guys. I'm dead. This shirt is everything I love and MORE. I can't even.
• Short Water Repellant Trench Coat // I tried this on and I'm thinking it would be a great coat for Texas winters.
• Leopard-Printed Calf-Hair Belt // I have a skinny leopard belt, but I'm thinking I need something fatter. This will do!
• Velvet Loafers // Listen up, ladies! These bad boys are under $30 and they're even more precious in person. Trust me!
• Beaded Tassel Earrings // Confession: I have really wimpy ear lobes that go limp whenever I wear dangling earrings. Ugh, it's the worst! Is there something I can do to remedy this?? I reeeeeeeeeeealllly want to wear these.
• MDS Mini Scarf // I knew I was going to love this scarf when I bought it, but I underestimated how often I'd use it. I typically have it tied around the handle of my mom bag, but opted to wrap it around my wrist this week as a bracelet.
• Apple Green Notebooks // I've got nothing but heart eyes for the Japanese shop. Gimme ALL the notebooks.
• Throw Pillows // Unison does it again with a beautiful assortment of punchy pillows. This persimmon is perfection.

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

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

ILLUSTRATION VIA MARC JOHNS

THINKING ABOUT: It never fails. Moments after I bust out the vacuum or steam mop in the afternoon, Tripp will head to the kitchen to hydrate leaving a puddle of drool and water all over my newly cleaned floors. I realize my dear pup needs his H2O, but WHY does he insist on doing it at this exact moment when he hasn't left his spot in the living room for almost six straight hours??

THANKFUL FOR: Last Saturday I had a hair appointment and Flyboy arranged a play date at the park with some of his coworkers and their kids. Internet, my boys were gone for FIVE straight hours. What the what?! Their hunt for a bike carrier led to a pit stop at Starbucks, an adventure at the park, and then a late lunch at Chick-fil-A. Gasp! This meant I had enough time to leisurely get ready, have my roots covered by m' girl Janie, AND I got the opportunity to clean the house. Alone. Is this heaven??

EATING: When I visited my parents, my mom and I popped into Whole Foods one evening to pick up a few pints of ice cream for dessert. Two weeks have passed and I still can't stop thinking about both flavors. Sigh. Please, promise me, if you have access to Jeni's you've GOT to try Brambleberry Crisp and STAT! I was seriously about ready to deem this delicious mix as my favorite flavor EVER, but then we tried Talenti's Peanut Butter Pretzel Gelato the next evening and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Even now, I still can't decide which is my preferred pint, which I find ridiculous because I ALWAYS choose chocolate and peanut butter. Hmm... I realize this tasty predicament isn't much of a problem at all, but I think Flyboy is ready to put the issue to rest because I seriously can't stop talking about the ice cream. Have any of you tried either? Back me up on this one.

WATCHING: One afternoon before we left for DC, there was a tornado warning on base. Conveniently it occurred DURING nap time. Because of course... After the base got the all clear, it wasn't long before I realized the remainder of our peaceful afternoon would be a total bust. I opted to throw in the towel and see if Max would join me in bed for a little snuggle sesh and quiet time. In a desperate attempt to woo him with snacks and cartoons, I began choosing random animated movies on Netflix to see if he'd bite. Up until this point, Max never showed interest in anything but Sesame Street and Seinfeld reruns, so you can imagine my relief when he became entranced with the Minions. That was, of course, until I realized these gibberish-speaking creatures' sole purpose is to serve the most terrible of villains. Oops! Leave it to my wily tot to gravitate toward the most mischievous movie. Lucky for me his obsession with the yellow henchmen is still going strong. Grrrrrrrrrreat! In fact, when Max watched the movie with my dad a few weeks ago, my sweet father couldn't help but notice that whenever Scarlet (the female supervillain) would come on the screen, Max liked to point and say "Mama." Well, if that is any indication how our mother-son relationship is going...

LISTENING TO: Last Friday morning was particularly rough after Max had another toddleriffic performance at the store. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, right?! Anyway, I wanted NOTHING to do with my child, so I turned up the volume on our ride home and let my playlist work its magic. I tried my best to ignore Max as we made our way back to the base, but I lost that battle when Get Me Bodied started blaring in The Rig and this kid's dance moves sucked me right in. You guys, he kind of killed it. Hashtag PROUD MOMMY. Hehe! Maybe this was his way of communicating that he'd done the "uh-oh" at Wally World?? Yep, that was DEFINITELY it.

READING: I read Carry On Warrior several years ago and I've been a Glennon convert ever since. If you read m' blog often, I've shared countless posts and quotes from G's blog, Momastery—I can't recommend it highly enough! And if you're my poor mom or sister, I've probably forced you to read excerpts of her work because I believe in the honest, humorous, and raw nature of her writing. For this very reason, you can only imagine how ecstatic I was when my mom sent me a copy of Melton's latest memoir, Love Warrior, which chronicles Glennon's journey of self-discovery and resilience after struggling in some of her darkest times. Because last Saturday and Sunday were a bit hectic with appointments and errands, I didn't get a chance to dive into my copy yet, but it's my primary goal this weekend. If Love Warrior is anything like Glennon's first book, I know I'm going to need to be able to devote an entire day or two to the book because her writing is impossible to put down once you begin reading it.

LOVING: For years I've sung Doublewear's praises. But despite my ongoing love for Estee Lauder's fan-favorite matte formula, I kept on searching—just in case I found something better! I'll be honest, my skin is far from perfect. Acne scars and discoloration often make me feel self-conscious. I don't want to look like I'm wearing a mask, but I also can't stand my skin's uneven texture and dark spots. Doublewear seemed to do the trick, but many times felt too heavy for everyday wear. I want to love lightweight formulas like tinted moisturizers and BB creams, but more often than not they leave me unimpressed and end up in my basket of product flops. I thought I'd found a great option in Beautycounter's Tint Skin, especially for the summer months, until my mom let me try her It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream. You guys, I think I've finally discovered my HG foundation and I'm elated! For the first time in a decade (not even kidding!) it feels as though I'm not just settling, which is really nice. Hooray! From my experience, setting the CC Cream with this powder is key for the longevity of the product's daily wear. This will be the first time since I began wearing Doublewear that I plan on repurchasing the product. I think that's a good sign!

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

ART I HEART

While I'm sitting in a classroom taking copious notes about the "1-2-3 Magic" disciplinary method (snoooooore...), I thought I'd leave you with Marleigh Culver's Matisse-inspired work. Swooooon! I first learned about the up-and-coming graphic designer when I read about the artist last month on Sight Unseen. Here's THE excerpt from Vivien Lee's article that had me at HELLLLLLOOOO:

Much in the way our love for a book is evident in loose binds and worn-out pages, there’s a certain value in the way we let beloved things blemish or roughen overtime. The Japanese call this permission of imperfection wabi-sabi — wabi denoting a singular, often uncontrolled uniqueness akin to a flowing streak of paint, and sabi literally meaning “chill” or “withered,” which references the beauty of corrosion. Marleigh Culver, a graphic designer at Need Supply by day and visual artist by night, feels a certain kinship with this design approach. “I like sloppy shapes and rough edges, and for my pieces to look like they’ve been moved between houses for generations,” Culver says. Marked by bold, saturated tones and influenced by Herb Lubalin’s logotypes, her prints reveal color as their focus, expressing their nature as objects themselves without the need for much else. “Color is really emotional to me. It’s tricky to find a voice in a genre of fauvism and modernism — when the most amazing things are the simplest colors and shapes — but I like having the challenge.” 

Smitten with Culver's wondrous wabi-sabi works? Be sure to check out her SHOP and TUMBLR.

(Also, how fun is the term wabi-sabi?! Say it aloud with me. WABI-SABI. I told you it's smile-inducing.)

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! This past week happiness came in the most colorful and comical details, which was outstanding because things around here have been rather noisy and messy with all of the construction going on. When Max isn't begging me to get the crayons out of his closet, you will find him staring at sky trucks buzzing up and down our street, outfitting Tripp in superhero garb, or waving at every airplane and construction worker he lays eyes on. This child continues to test my limits countless times a day and often leaves me in tears. But even with the imperfect moments—such as me chasing him down the street and busting a flip-flop, or the poop he accidentally smeared on my sunny striped shower curtain—the love for my half-pint only intensifies with every "Thank you!" he passes out to strangers and air kiss he blows to the dogs. Yes, despite the constant meltdowns, the "king of all wild things" will always manage to turn his mother into a big puddle of mush. In fact, that last statement is proof Wednesday's 1-2-3 Magic disciplinary course is more essential than ever. I've clearly become too soft with Maxwell's charming ways. Oops!

For those interested in some of the non-toddleriffic deetz, 

here are sources for some of my favorite pieces featured in today's post...

Brass Handled Vase via Target

Apothecary Matchstick Bottle via Jen Pearson Design

Club-Collared Boy Shirt in Textured Jacquard Stripe via J.Crew

Monogram Pendant Necklace via Anthropologie

Andy Warhol Soup Can Crayons via Mudpuppy

Emerald Ruffle Top in Cotton Poplin via J.Crew

Enough about me. How are YOU? I'm dying to know.