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Loving Lately: Flares

I have never been one to spot fashion trends early. In fact (like all of us) I have many outfits that come to mind that should have been a fashion don't! So when I saw that flares were making a slow return I didn't allow myself to get too excited. Just in case they didn't. Happily I can say they are BACK! And my former college girl self is joyously embracing their return. I used to live in flares, did anyone else have them so long that they always shredded in the back? While I won't be doing that anymore (ya know you really do get older and wiser!) I am excited to find and pair and reconnect with them - even if it means wearing a higher heel. Here are some that I am loving!

What are your thoughts? Fashion do or fashion don't?
10
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Gone Too Soon

On Sunday evening a little 8 year old girl went missing from a town about an hour away from me. Her name was Madyson Middleton and a mere 27 hours later she would be found deceased and a 15 year old boy would be arrested. Her picture had spewed across multiple media outlets and I myself had shared her image in hopes that she would be found safe. When I learned that she was found deceased I gasped out loud, muttering "No, No, No!" to which my husband replied "Why do you read stuff like that?"
Instinctively I said to him, "Because I am a mom!" I need to know that these things happen, how they happen, when they happen. I want to be aware as much as I can to prevent something from ever happening to my daughter. As I explained this I also realized as much as I want to know - it doesn't mean I can protect her from everything. As a parent - that is heartbreaking.

Then this morning I read about a fellow blogger named Leslie who recently passed due to a congenital heart defect. She leaves behind a husband & two young daughters among many more who loved her. Although her children didn't get much time on earth with their mama, her blog is a beautiful reflection of how loved they were. I hope they find comfort in her writings when they are able to read it. I think to myself if anything ever happened to me I hope Presley would be able to look back at this little space and feel my digital love.

Nothing is promised, not even tomorrow. So please hug your littles, squeeze your partners, call your mama, give extra belly rubs to your pet. Life isn't about the perfectly curated photo on Instagram or how many likes you received on your latest Facebook post. Life is what happens while we are busy making memories.




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Teepee Lovin'

When it comes to planning special occasions I like to get a head start. So when I knew that P would be receiving a teepee for her birthday I was off on a hunt. The perfect fabric + the perfect teepee maker. Originally I was going to attempt to make it myself - which in reality would have probably worked out. However I don't own a sewing machine - let alone know how to use one! And the thought of not being able to collapse it without taking it all apart wasn't how I envisioned it.

So when I discovered Tnee's Tpee's on Instagram I knew I had found my girl. I love to shop small - especially when I discover mama's who have turned passions into businesses. I had already picked out a fabric c/o Minted that I was really excited about. If you think Minted cards are perfection, their fabric is most certainly held to the same standard. I selected the Springtime Floral Fabric in the linen-cotton blend and fell even more in love with it when it arrived at my doorstep.

After a couple of emails back and forth with Courtney (who's excitement over my fabric choice equally matched my own) she helped me select an interior flap and accent panel fabric. I mailed off my fabric to her and was excited to see the final product.

This was back in May mind you so when I received it I thought, "How on earth am I going to hide this from P?" However I was able to until just this past weekend. With three weeks until the big ONE and a minor room renovation (we had new flooring put in) it was time to break it out. I am so happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to see P crawl in and out of this tent for years to come.

Can we talk about this adorable flower stitch she used? I love me some details!
Of course a teepee meant a coordinating tassel banner (I keep cursing these things and then making them again)
I had made some of these letters for her birthday party and I loved how it turned out so much I decided to make some for her room. Rifle Paper Co. wrapping paper in Wildflower.
P loves the back window addition!
Another little DIY.
Had to rearrange her gallery wall - giving me some peace of mind that in the event of an earthquake these are no longer hanging over her crib.
 Her room is FULL - but easily my favorite spot in the whole house.
With the flaps closed.
 Just a little twinkle for the nighttime. Battery LED lights.
Fabric was provided courtesy of Minted but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.


7
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Weekending

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We logged a lot of water time and I am pretty sure this babe was loving the new addition David brought home - a kiddie pool. Monday, we meet again!
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Say It & See It with XFINITY


As a working mom sometimes it seems there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I need to. Laundry piles high, household chores get neglected and goodness don't even mention the word dinner. Don't even get me started on how that is an everyday dilemma.

After I come home and unwind P and I go through her nightly routine. Eat dinner, take a bath, read a book, nurse and if all goes according to plan bed. On those nights when she complies I find myself quietly shutting her door, plopping on the couch, turning on her monitor and reaching for the remote.

Not just any remote.

The new
X1 voice remote from
XFINITY
Ladies (and gents) this remote is pretty awesome. My indentation on our couch just got a whole lot deeper. It's so simple to use and makes searching through the guide a breeze. I love to use it to find things I know will be on TV that I want to record in advance. And yes at 32, I still queued up Teen Mom 2. #noshame

With the X1 voice remote you can find what you want fast. You can use your voice to change channels, find shows, get recommendations and more.

Saying "Bubble Guppies" and seeing it pop right up is a lifesaver mid meltdown. It literally pulls it up in seconds. Sure the theme song gets stuck in your head all day but a non-crying baby is worth it.

It also has some other neat features. Like when I reach for it in the dark and whisper "Paul Walker" not only does it light up with the touch of my hand but it pulls up anything Paul has been in that is available on XFINITY. I could watch Into the Blue on mute...just sayin'

As a busy mom I am all about finding things to help simplify daily activities. I mean isn't that the true intention of why yoga pants were invented? So moms could move faster to accomplish more in a day?

If you need me I'll be in my yoga pants, remote in hand, drooling over Paul Walker.

Well done XFINITY.

You can find XFINITY on social media!

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

This post brought to you by XFINITY
3
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Laying on the Sap

I'll never forget when I uploaded this photo to Instagram when P was only 3 days old. I was in pain, so incredibly exhausted and my milk still had not come in. I remember crying out in agony with each latch, fetching a "padsicle" out of the freezer and in general just being in a daze. So many people wrote to me with support and bless their hearts because I needed to hear it. Now here were are almost 365 days from this one and what a difference.

I struggle to remember the pain I felt post birth - even weirder - I actually miss labor! It's really all so true, time is fleeting. Here we are a year older, all of us. Yet I still can't seem to wrap my head around how it all happened so fast. How my snuggly newborn went to a precocious toddler.

As I approach the one year benchmark I feel pretty proud of the little girl we so luckily get to call ours. I think her heart has been paired with mine from the very beginning and for that I am eternally grateful.



10
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#NSale

It got me, the #NSale it finally lured me into a Nordstrom debit card so I could get early access. Lucky for you I have some awesome picks that if you're not a card holder you get early access right here. I was kind and bought one thing for myself, one thing for P and one thing for David. Trust me I could have bought a lot more. There is a lot of cute stuff (and great deals) but I refrained. Although I did spy some items I thought would be great gifts for Christmas. Then I remembered it was only July and thought...nah, better not. ;)
3
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Shark Week


With the arrival of Shark Week it's always fun to get involved all week long. Sharks 24/7 and no ocean planned vacation anytime soon is right up my ally. I'll never forget on the flight home from our honeymoon (in Kauai) they played the movie about the young surfer who lost her arm to shark bite. So glad that was on the way home and not the way there!

Above are some fun picks for you, your man or your littles! Do you have any fun traditions during shark week? I am thinking as P gets older we should create some! Below I'm sharing my favorite Shark Week clip from years past...don't tell me you're surprised.
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What a bust!

A couple of weeks ago I decided to get fitted at Nordstrom. I have known for some time now that the undergarments I was choosing for my upper half were not the right size. It was high time to realize that these ladies were not going to fit into anything from Victoria's Secret. Those adorable lace halter Free People bras...simply forget about it.

It always drives me a bit batty. Bras were invented to help woman yet you can hardly find any cute ones in larger sizes. Don't even get me started on swimsuits!

After the saleswoman at Nordstrom told me my size (I went to two different Nordstrom's to confirm this ridiculousness). I purchased a new bra and can I tell you what a difference it makes? Not only do I feel supported, but I actually feel thinner because it grabs me in all the right places. If you haven't gotten a proper measurement I highly recommend it!

Since I still want to rock a two piece it is really important to have a great fitting suit. I had purchased a top from Old Navy that I thought would tame the beasts but in reality it was an ill fitting, unflattering, I tossed it as soon as I got home top. Because I have to go up so large in cup size - the rest of the suit is almost always too large.

Then I discovered ASOS Fuller Bust swim line. Bonus points it is sized the same as a bra so you know you are getting a great fit. While it was a bummer my suit didn't arrive in time for Trinity I put it on when I came home and LOVED it. Seriously, it makes me feel way more confident. I promise no one is paying me to say that. Did I mention the selection is huge?! (I snagged that one on the bottom left).

So I rounded up a few of my favorites for all us busty women!



1 // 2 // 3
1 // 2 // 3
1 // 2 // 3


7
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Trinity Recap

After a whole week in the fresh mountain air I have retuned to the land of real life...and work, boo. We had a wonderful time per usual up at our cabin in the Trinity Alps. I look forward to it every year (and after the 30th mosquito bite I equally look forward to my return home!)

This year was especially special as it was P's first time in Trinity and oh did she love it! She experienced so many firsts, eating ice cream (major love), playing in the river, swimming in the lake...her first time in a bar. Ya know all the really important milestones :)

Let's let the photos do the talking...
Now it's back to real life oh vacation you always end too quickly...
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