LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! I didn't know what I'd write about today until I started sorting through photos and then it hit me. Max is getting SO old! I mean, I know he is growing and changing by the minute, but when you spend so much time with someone, you don't always get hit in the face with the realization that it's happening. Right here. Right now. I talk a lot about my struggles with our wily toddler, but there have been some pinch-me moments too. For instance, we're doing all the fun stuff—the moments I dreamt about when my colicky newborn couldn't be soothed and I'd go hide in my bedroom closet for solace—like ride bikes, throw balls, read books, and wear head gear just because (bike helmet, hard hat, Batman mask, etc.). Yes, his BIG personality has its downsides, but he makes up for it in other ways. He always grabs his sunglasses and fake set of keys before he can leave the house (so responsible), and he likes to pretend there are snakes in the kitchen cabinets (imaginative to say the least). When we're playing in his room, he likes to take short breaks and tell me "I be back. Check on Bees. Okay?" Sometimes he'll rattle off about something, Flyboy will look at me for a translation, and I know EXACTLY what Max is talking about. He's my built-in bestie, my work in progress, my job. So when I look at pictures like the ones featured today, I'm reminded that he won't always need me to push him on his bike or act as interpreter, and I feel some relief but also great sadness. We haven't decided if we will have another child just yet—most days we lean toward a solid NO—so I feel this overwhelming need to slow down and soak up the good stuff as it's happening. Sometimes that feels a lot harder than it might seem, but when you sift through the routine morning walks, a mug filled with chocolate milk that MUST be referred to as coffee, and a bedroom littered with Legos, you'll find it and one day sooner than you think you'll even miss it.

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Tassel Chain Necklace // I'm so glad they brought back this customer favorite! I always kicked myself for not buying it.
• Majorette Nail Polish // This color is fantastic, so why can't I convince myself to paint my nails anything but red or pink?
• Contrast Crossbody Bag // I'm seriously impressed with the price point and selection of accessories at Mango. Wowzers!
• ColourPop Cosmetics // Has anyone tried this affordable line? Their pencil is supposed to rival Anastasia's Brow Wiz.
• Diablo Modernist Floor Lamp // You guys, I could spend HOURS and HOURS poring over France and Son's website. Hubba!
• Elizabeth Bird Party Clutch // It's no secret I love me some Elizabeth Graeber. This Alice + Olivia piece is a work of art.
• Coral Lipstick // When it comes to lipstick, I've found a great red and pink, but I'm still looking for the best coral shade.
• Sequin Petal Earrings // It doesn't matter what product it is, J.Crew sucks me in EVERY time with the Bright Papaya hue.
• OTS Strapless Dress // Confession: I think I want to attend a wedding this summer JUST so I can buy this emerald gem.
• Ankle-Strap Sandals in Calf Hair // I desperately want a pair of calf hair sandals or sneakers. These are fabulous!!
• Pink Tassel With Orange Pom-Pom // I kind of feel like the people at Parker Thatch really GET me, don't you agree?
• Hand Lettering by Jenessa Wait // There are oodles of hand-lettering accounts on Instagram, but this is my fave.
• Don't Call It That // I have NO clue what this book is about or why it ranges from $20 to $1,000 on Amazon (WTF?), but the cover alone is giving me so much life. I think I need it on my night stand—the Andrew Jackson version, obvi.
• Capri Blue Signature Candle // Did you know my favorite scent (made famous by Anthro) comes in a hot pink canister?

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

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

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THINKING ABOUT: Do any of you remember a few years ago when I was pregnant and fed up with the frenzy of loose felines on base? Yeah, well, it turns out I wasn't just agitated due to my crazy hormones. The strays are back with a vengeance, and I'm just as fed up now as I was then. Sigh. It was frustrating enough when they'd get in our trash can, leave dead squirrels in the carport, spray in the backyard, and damage our plants, but now it appears they've scratched the hood of our NEW wagon. Internet, I'm beyond LIVID!! On Tuesday afternoon I discovered the damage and immediately made a few phone calls. Just as expected, I received a bunch of lip service along with the same excuses I received from the higher-ups two years ago, and I'm frustrated that no one seems to care. WTF?! We work too hard to maintain our base housing unit and keep our "stuff" in good condition to not have our concerns addressed with a solution. For over 30 years I've lived on various military bases and this is the ONLY one where stray cats have ever been an issue. I understand that the base is outside the city limits and the town's animal shelter can't take them, but cayenne pepper sprinkled along the perimeter of our house just didn't seem to cut it. I'm at a loss and want some answers.

THANKFUL FOR: After that last rant, I'm going to sound like a real basket case when I confess this next part to you. Oops! Last Thursday evening, I found myself laying next to Beesly on her dog bed while I bawled my eyes out. It was the second night in a row that I made Flyboy put Max to bed without me being present. I typically cherish this part of our routine, but I was running on empty. Days spent with my child literally took it out of me and I had NOTHING more to give. Yes, motherhood is rough, but parenting a willful toddler is even more challenging. I try to cope most days with humor, a smidgen of grace, and the occasional stiff gin cocktail, but it got to the point where I couldn't muster a chuckle if I tried. There was no joy and instead total defeat. Now, I know this chapter we've embarked upon is a difficult one, but I've found that when I confide in others I'm often met with feedback that feels somewhat belittling. It's as though my feelings are being diminished, like I'm overdramatizing the situation. "Well, that's a toddler for you!" Um, no. Would you like to spend a whole day with him when he's this persistent?! Sigh. But then there are those individuals who have also parented a tenacious child and when they speak up to validate what it is that you're experiencing, you almost feel the urge to tackle them with the biggest bear hug your 5'2" frame can manage. Thank goodness for those people!! The ones who truly understand what you might be struggling with and for those who are able to empathize (rather than judge) what it's like to walk a different journey.

WATCHING: Last week my sister said she wanted to FaceTime Max and show him the Chewbacca mask she recently acquired. Ha! Y'all, he's absolutely petrified, and in a really twisted way it's sort of hysterical. Whenever she puts it on, he runs away and refuses to look at her. Then he proceeds to mimic Chewie's "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr" sound. Naturally, Flyboy and I have decided this may be the key to getting Max to listen to us, so we should probably purchase a mask of our own. Kidding, I'm just kidding (kind of).

EATING: Earlier this month, Kelly of Kiki and Co. fame shared the recipe for her mother's Blueberry French Toast Soufflé, and I could hardly wait to try it. A decadent breakfast dish at Elizabeth St. Cafe in Austin reminded me of it (one of my favorites!), and I thought Sunday morning would be the perfect opportunity to try the recipe. While mine didn't turn out nearly as pretty as Kelly's (I kind of mangled the blueberries), it's safe to say our little family was obsessed. It was outstanding and simple to boot. The only downside? Well, I'm afraid the boys might request it regularly and it could become a really delicious problem. Eh, there are worse things...

LISTENING TO: Awhile back, I realized that whenever we'd come on base and I'd present my ID card at the gate, Max would parrot me by saying "Hi sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" in a really loud and excited tone. You guys, I didn't know that I said it the SAME way every time until he began saying it back. In fact, Max gets such a kick out of the whole process, he even insisted on having an ID card of his own so I made him one out of an old gift card, taped his photo on the front, and laminated it. As a seasoned Air Force brat, I know this magic doesn't happen until you reach age ten. What a rookie, that Maxwell! Ha! Initially I found the entire charade cute, but now he likes to get bossy and tell me it's his turn to greet the airman. "No mom, no. My turn. My hi sir."Um, like hell I'm going to let a two year old tell me what to do, so I carry on as normal and he gets pretty steamed. Now imagine what happened yesterday when the kind gentleman at the front gate caught Max off guard and asked for his faux ID card. Did somebody say Threatcon Delta? Shyness alert.

READING: I'm a slug of a blogger. I'm SO behind in terms of replying to comments. It's embarrassing. If you're a kind soul who comments and has received NOTHING in return lately, please forgive me! I do this thing where I read them (it makes my day) and reply immediately in my head. I know that probably sounds weird, but it's true. I just need to find more time and respond with an actual keyboard so I don't let it get away from me. I want to carve out some time in the morning, but it's obviously not working. Sorry!!!

LOVING: When it comes to washing my hair and blow drying it, I typically drag my feet, but then a sweet reader (Hey, Alyssa!) turned me on to the Kristin Ess hair care line available at Target and now I can't wait to whip out my hair mask and styling serum as often as I can find the time. I've tried a variety of products and I've been more than impressed with the results (the leave-in conditioner is AMAZING), but it's her signature scent that I adore the most. I still don't look or feel like Kristin's famous clients Lauren Conrad or Jenna Dewan Tatum, but I probably smell like them at this point, so there's that. Have you tried the line? Thoughts?

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

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LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Wednesday, m' dears! I apologize for kicking off the blog week a day late, but the three-day weekend was refreshing for oodles of reasons, and I honestly couldn't convince myself to stay inside on Monday afternoon to prep a post when it was gorgeous outdoors and my whip of a wagon needed scrubbing. All chores aside, there were breezy walks all over base (gotta get 10,000 steps, am I right?!), cycling for Flyboy, Blueberry French Toast for breakfast, a viewing of The First Monday in May (so so good!), gin-spiked cocktails for the parents, MORE fresh Tulips (HEB is just showing off), a gel manicure for me, and Lego Batman for m' boys. Yasssss!

None of this seems different than weekends of our past, but Sunday's tribute to Tripp at Lake Amistad  allowed us the opportunity to move forward. Don't get me wrong, it was sad, and I sobbed. A lot. I even considered backing out and postponing it because it felt too heavy to have to re-live all over again. Did we really want to do this? Maybe it would be easier to stow the wooden box of ashes in my closet and forget about the lake altogether?? But we forged ahead as planned, loaded up in both cars, dressed in shades of black and gold (in honor of his Missouri roots, breed name, and us adopting him after we graduated from Mizzou), and we brought along a pail (the one we bought Tripp for Christmas the first year we had him) and filled it with thirteen tennis balls to symbolize each year he was alive. The weather was gloomy and we feared it would start sprinkling, but we took turns throwing tennis balls into the lake and spread his remains anyway. In a lot of ways the weather matched the somber mood of Sunday morning, as very little was said by any of us, but just as the last of the ashes were dumped into the water, the sun came out to warm our hearts and bring peace of mind. Amid tears falling from my cheeks, I couldn't help but smile when Flyboy hugged me and quietly said "I think that's a sign, don't you?" We stuck around a little longer and watched the neon balls float around in the water until we lost track of them. About that time, Max began to grow restless and the boys had to get to the theater to see their movie, so Beesly and I went home to snuggle while I processed the morning's events by looking at old photos and videos of our beloved pup once more. It was a morning I'll never forget, and I'm glad we made it a point to say good-bye one last time in a manner that brought great comfort and the sweetest of memories. When you love big, you hurt big—the older I get, the more I'm learning to understand that notion. If you're ever blessed to call a dog like Tripp your own—one that gave so much of himself to the people he learned to trust and loved so fiercely—you know one last lake hurrah is necessary. Here's to you Trippy Doo! You're so very loved and missed.

P.S. That's definitely Max hiding some of my grandma's sugar cookies in his pocket. He knows they're not safe with his mom around.

P.P.S. Here's where you can find some of the odds and ends in today's post: Hat // Earrings // Cardigan // Bag // Sunnies

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LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Seavees // Oh my gingham! These puppies are on their way to Swell Rio. Just call me the tracking number stalker!
• Pom-Pom Clutch // They say it's the perfect SPRING accessory, but I say it's appropriate year round. Wont you agree?!
• Herbert Green // I'm constantly inspired by the artist's color palette and cutouts. I wish he'd open the Etsy shop SOON.
• Bananas For You Card // Because I can't thank you enough for sticking around this part of the web, I'd send you this.
• Sugar Cookies // My grandma's cookies have yet to arrive. Don't be surprised if I jump on the mailman when they do.
• Polka Dot Pillow Sham // It's not fair that the kids get all of the fun bedding. Have you seen Nod's great options?
• Harper Wedges // You guys, V-Day has come and gone, but I will forever adore this punchy color combo. Eek!
• Edit Bag // The warm jade hue and the price point have sucked me in. Now how about a snazzy promo?!
• Poppy Drop Necklace // I don't wear as many chunky necklaces as I used to, but I could make an exception for this.
• Striped Tee // I fell for the green stripes on this Crewcuts tee, so I ordered a size 16 and it fits like a women's XS. Boom!
• Central Park Two // Isn't this print darling? Bekka Palmer's use of thread and film is quite literally a stroke of genius.
• Sunshine Crystal Earrings // "Sunshine on my earlobes makes me happy..." I think I might have something here. Ha!
• Blush and Gold Pyramid Bowl // This pottery collection will stop you dead in your tracks. The gold details. Swoooon!
• Scout Design Studio // You guys, you've got to check out the selection of mod goodies. They're absolutely incredible.
• Where Bartender's Drink // Take a tip from the experts and dog ear ALLLLLLL the pages in this book. I know I will.

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

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THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

ACRYLIC BY ASHLEY MARY

THINKING ABOUT: Yesterday I spent a good hour of my morning fretting over whether or not Max put a toothpick in his ear. Gulp! We had just gotten back from a long walk and he asked if he could play with Play-Doh. I happily obliged, as it would afford me the opportunity to hang out with him in the kitchen while I folded some laundry, sent a few text messages, and did some meal prep. After ten minutes of him playing independently, he came over to me frustrated with his snowman creation. The Play-Doh arms kept flopping and he insisted the snowman have stick arms. Desperate to complete the last few tasks on my to-do list, I grabbed two toothpicks, cut off the pointy ends, and handed them to Max. He was ecstatic. Toddler crisis averted, right?! WRONG! Approximately five minutes after my "mommy win," he came over to me with a blob of Play-Doh and one toothpick complaining his ear hurt. Confused and panicked, I asked him where the other toothpick was. He kept pointing to his ear and saying "Ow, ear hurts bad." I looked around the kitchen and dining room and found nothing. I dialed Flyboy's office but couldn't reach him, so I called my dad next. I just needed to talk to someone who could help me come up with a game plan. Should I rush him to Urgent Care? Also, what kind of mom lets their kid play with toothpicks anyway? Sigh. As my dad and I talked through the scenario, we decided that Max clearly wasn't in any pain, so I should continue to search for the rogue toothpick and keep an eye on my kid. Shortly after I hung up, my hunt continued until Max told me the "stick" was in his smoothie. Ah ha! Now we're getting somewhere, kid. I rinsed his cup, looked through the straw, and sifted through mushed up blueberries and bananas. I found nothing. What the what?! Ready for a break from the search, I moved on to the dirty dishes and let Max play with his tractor and farm animals. It was only when I went to grab the dish soap that I spotted the missing toothpick next to the poop bags. Ah ha! At one point Max came over and wanted to hand the Play-Doh to me referring to it as poop, but I was too busy stirring the soup that I just kind of brushed him off. He must have grabbed a Walmart sack from under the sink to pick up his imaginary poop. Because of course...

THANKFUL FOR: On Tuesday my grandma sent me a text saying she sent us some of her famous sugar cookies (paper thin, y'all) and I broke out in a happy dance. They're seriously the most amazing cookies. Ever. I went ahead and told Flyboy the good news that evening, but I'm starting to have some regrets. I should have been stingy and kept them all to myself. Hehe! They're THAT incredible.

FEELING: We finally made a decision as to when we'd go to the lake with Tripp's ashes and we decided this upcoming three-day weekend would be appropriate. Flyboy and I are both planners, so I think it was important that we set a date in our heads and then we could each mentally prepare for it—because let's face it, it's never going to get any easier. The weather is supposed to be nice, so we figured we would go as a family and honor our sweet pup as he would have wanted. We'll bring some of his remains along with thirteen tennis balls—one for each year he was alive—and toss them into our favorite spot. Just thinking about it makes me a little anxious and teary-eyed, but I really think it's time. This will give us some more closure. 

WATCHING: Let me preface by saying that I'm SO not a sci-fi fan, but I totally got sucked into the Stranger Things series. Have you seen it yet?! Flyboy and I watched all eight episodes in two days (that's pretty good for us) and now we feel such a loss that it's over. How are we going to wait until October for the next season? I have so many questions. I should also note that it took me approximately four episodes to really grasp what was going on and get into the show, but I'm hooked.

EATING: Remember earlier in today's post when I talked about meal prep and stirring soup in the midst of the whole MIA toothpick debacle? Yeah, well, I was whipping up a batch of Lasagna Soup via Skinnytaste, and it was a HUGE hit. Just as Gina promises, it's everything you love about lasagna—all in one bowl of soup! Since our temperature dropped to the low 60s, which feels pretty frigid for Texas, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to test the recipe. My goodness, that dollop of ricotta on top is errrything!

LISTENING TO: On our way home from getting groceries last Friday, James Arthur's Say You Won't Let Go came on Pandora and I felt ALL the feels. It was my first time listening to the single, but I knew I needed to download the lovey-dovey feel-good song ASAP.

READING: Occasionally it's good to keep some raunchy and witty reading material on your nightstand, am I right? If you agree with this DGAF sentiment, then you MUST add pop-artist Ashley Longshore's book to your collection. You Don't Look Fat, You Look Crazy was released last week and I'm obsessed!! It's no surprise her writing is just as quirky, fearless, and funny as her artwork.

LOVING: I could go on about the latest at J.Crew (I probably will eventually—duh!), but I want to take a moment to discuss these Gingham Seavees. Is this real life?! The print is incredible. They'd be a great "chase your nutty toddler around the park" shoe. Gimme.

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

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LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Wednesday, m' dears! I hope you had a fabulous Valentine's Day. When I sat down to compose today's post, I thought about starting it off by telling you that Max has been on one this past week, but then I realized that's kind of assumed at this point, isn't it?! Ha! We found out we had a baby on the way exactly three years ago yesterday, and it's pretty fun to look back on that life-changing moment and compare it to our new normal. Perhaps the hysterical phone call to my parents was actually foreshadowing? Because we all know this kid has definitely given me a run for my money and there have been plenty more of those hysterical phone calls since Max's debut in October 2014. And despite the grocery cart licking (what germs?!) and frequent truck chucking (the kid has a scary good arm), I remain incredibly grateful. Why? Well, moments like last Saturday night with Flyboy keep me in check. Max went to Give Parents A Break at the base daycare center for a few hours that evening and we opted to Netflix and grill at home. We had a chance to enjoy doing the things we love to do together without having to put a toddler in timeout or grab another bag of fruit snacks. The opportunity reminded me that I've got THE very best person sitting next to me to do this life with and also made me reflect on how much we've changed but grown together over the past three years especially. We sipped cocktails, devoured steaks, and binge watched a few episodes of Stranger Things—it was SO nice! While we both made jokes about "forgetting" to pick Max up at daycare, we were incredibly happy to retrieve our third musketeer, put him to bed, wake up, and do the whole parenthood thing over again the next day. What feels like monotony some days is actually the good stuff—the little details that make this life whole.

FEATURED DETAILS: Converse Slip-Ons // Skirt // Pom-Pom Tote // Tipsy Coctkail Napkins // Max's Shoes //

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Found My Animal // It's time Beesly gets an upgrade in the accessory department so I ordered her a leash and collar.
• Gemstone Tassel Earrings // These cobalt beauties are a steal as they're currently on sale for an impressive $23. Bravo!
• Saskia Single Blanket // Want to know the best part about Valentine's Day? The excuse to pair pink and red together.
• Birds and Hearts Mini Pouch // Matine's latest collab with one of my favorite artists, Elizabeth Graeber, is everything.
• Kate Spade Fitness Tracker // You guys, I'm obsessed with my new fitness tracker. 10,000 steps or BUST!
• Essie Sheers To You // After my last gel manicure, it's clear my nails could use a little TLC. Has anyone tried this magic?
• Embellished Jackie // Where is this on J.Crew's website and why am I only seeing it at Nordstrom?? Mama likes!
• Le Specs Air Heart Sunglasses // I mean, if they're a staple for Olivia Palermo, then they've got to be pretty fabulous...
• Sketch Pad // Morning art sessions with Max make me want to buy all the sketch pads. This one's almost too pretty.
• Cocktail Computer // If this innovative tool doesn't lift your spirits, I don't know what will. Isn't it amazing?? 
• Valentine's Heart Plates // Nothing says I LOVE YOU like a celebration with shimmering heart shaped plates.
• Knotted Striped Sandals // Okay, I can practically feel the eye rolls through the computer screen but in the event one of you out there strikes it rich and can afford these bad boys, then please for the love of all the Love Lists BUY these.
• Generation G Lipstick // Glossier did it again with this insanely wonderful and hydrating lipstick formula. 
• Flat Clutch // I'm not sure what it is about this clutch, but I'm obsessed with the sunny color combination. Come hither!

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