I don't go on a large shopping spree for new clothes each season; it's almost like my "job" doesn't require me to change out of yoga pants. But I do casually and quietly pick up one or two new goodies in the Spring and in the Fall and then hide them away from everyone in my house. Unfortunately for us all, there are SO many cute new pieces out this Spring, and many of them are staple pieces. I don't know about you, but I never feel too bad about investing in staple pieces, because the cost-benefit analysis wins in the end. Here are a few items I am drooling over right now.

dress // hat // earrings // cuff // bag // wedges

I have to get that little chambray dress; the off-shoulder style is on point, and chambray will never go out of style. I could wear this dress to the grocery store or on a date. Ha, dates. I get a new Panama hat every year because mine is always destroyed by the end of the previous Summer, so that's a must-have on my shopping list. And can we please talk about these stunning amethyst Kendra Scott earrings? Praise the Lord, they are out of this world. I would force amethyst to become a neutral if I could get my hands on those beauties. The snakeskin bag is a classic piece that is essentially seasonless, and those wedges...those wedges will be mine one way or the other one day. 

Here's a round up of a few other things I'm obsessed with for the Spring. 

1 // 2

3 // 4

5 // 6

        

7 // 8

9 // 10

11 // 12

13 // 14

I have always collected square silk scarves because I love wearing them as bandanas or turbans in my hair. It's the perfect way to hide dark roots when you are in dire need of a visit to the hair salon. The earrings are all so fun and colorful; numbers 3 and 4 are by Stella&Dot, and they are multipurpose, meaning they can be configured and worn in many different ways. Every girl needs a natural linen blazer, and this one from H&M is adorable and really reasonably priced. And the off-shoulder lace shirt is a must-have piece for Spring. Those shorts from the J.Crew outlet are some of my favorites. I got a navy pair last Summer and wore them every other day; they have an elastic waist and just pull on, so they're so comfortable. I love the emerald color and the fun polka-dots! And then I also love a good neutral shoe, whether it's a flat or a wedge. I just wish I could have it all! But for now, I'll put in all in my online shopping cart and then walk away. ;)

One more day till the weekend! XO

Spring Times and Spring Tunes

This Spring has been a little rough so far, as it appears that my beasties have inherited a monstrous case of allergies. Viv wakes herself up coughing every morning and keeps a perpetually runny nose, while Bob is nearly asthmatic all day long from the pollen. Because of this, (as well as my own allergies that randomly developed last year completely out of nowhere), we have kept ourselves inside for much of March. I hate being cooped up in the house when the weather is nice, but I hate to see my poor kids hack and cough even more, despite preventative allergy medications and rescue inhalers. After a four-day-long monsoon that we thought may never end, the skies finally parted yesterday, and we spent most of the afternoon outside. I felt like it was time to get out there and play, and I figured that the rain may have temporarily washed some of the pollen away. 

So out we went, and those kids had the best time just doing nothing in the front yard. Some of us were sans pants, which is pretty typical, because it's my front yard, and there's no law saying you have to wear pants at home. Is there?

We blew bubbles and ran in circles chasing them. Vivi played in the beautiful blooming Bridal Wreath bushes, while Bobby played imaginary light sabers with sticks. This is the stuff childhood is made of. 

And this is the stuff Spring is made of. So I decided it was time to bring out the ol' Spring Playlist. As a true member of the Millennial generation, I love a good playlist. I have a playlist for every occasion you can think of. 

Shower time? There's a playlist for that.

Cooking dinner? There's a playlist for that. 

Need to go potty? There's a playlist for that. 

Trying to not murder your children? I've even got a playlist for that. 

Music is one of those things that can take you back, almost the way a certain smell does. I have four large general playlists, one for each season, and the Spring is one of my favorites. Some of the songs are old ones from childhood that remind me of riding in the car with my mama in 1992, while other songs remind me of Spring Break in Panama City during in high school; some songs remind me of walking to class on a perfect Spring day in Athens, and others make me think of the cherry blossoms in Japan. And then there are some newer jams that just make me happy. The common theme that runs through all my favorite Spring tunes is a feeling of sunshine and lightness. With that, I thought I'd share a handful of our favorites that are in heavy rotation right now. 

They're perfect for Spring afternoons blowing bubbles in your underpants. 

What are your favorite Spring tunes?

A South Georgia Easter

I hope y'all all had the happiest Easter! Ours was great, if a bit wet outside. It was one of those rare rainy Easters, which is always a bit of a bummer, but the kids didn't seem to care because the Easter Bunny came either way. 

We spent the weekend at my parents' house in South Georgia, doing South Georgia things like making three different coconut cakes and a chicken salad containing everything but the kitchen sink. Since becoming a married woman and moving away from my childhood home, I have really missed bustling around in my mama's kitchen with her and my Nana, so it was nice to do that again. We had to stay inside the entire weekend due to non-stop rain, but it was still a nice visit full of food and Easter Bunny bribery for the beasties. 

The Easter Bunny doesn't visit naughty children. 

I'm going to miss using that line. I guess I'm going to go ahead and have to bring out Santa as a bargaining chip, and it's not even April yet. 

The Easter Bunny did come, and he did not disappoint. I'm always interested to see what other Easter Bunnies bring in other families. Our Easter baskets are usually the equivalent of a Christmas stocking. Fun small trinkets and a shit-ton of candy, but nothing extravagant or too expensive. I've seen some families only give a few eggs, and I've seen other families give iPads, but we try to stick to the equivalent of Christmas stocking goodies. Bob's haul included a Star Wars fighter pilot, a toy truck, and a Stormtrooper chocolate figure, while Viv received a kitty toy, a kitty book, and a new pair of jelly shoes. Both kiddos got a big tube of bubbles and an ungodly amount of candy...most of which I ate while they were napping. Oops. 

We decided to do some throwbacks to our Easter menu this year, including a Watergate Salad and a retro bunny cake. My mama said that her grandmother used to make these bunny cakes for her every Easter, and she wanted my kids to have those memories. So we made a bunny cake for the beasties (literally one of three coconut cakes. We have problems), and they LOVED it. It was so funny watching them look at it and try to sneak tastes, although Vivi was still convinced that it was a kitty because she meowed at it incessantly. Not sure how long this cat obsession phase is going to last, but it's pretty adorable. 

 My Nana is the world's worst at treat dispensing, and the children have begun to catch on. But I guess that's what Nanas are for, right? :)

After eating a huge Easter spread with family, we went and took long naps. There's nothing better than an Easter Sunday nap with a full belly. 

We are now back home and back to the daily grind. Dishes are washing, laundry is laundering, and I am wishing that the floor would clean itself. 

We are looking forward to a busy week of play dates, hair appointments (bye, roots!), and Daddy returning home to us. Hope y'all had a beautiful Easter and have a great week! XO

Friday Favorites

 We went to see the Easter Bunny this week. Or, as Vivi calls him, the Easter Kitty. It's all relative. The kids loved him; I'm beginning to question their affinity for oversized woodland creatures who lure them with candy. The session with him was not completely quick and painless, because we caught him on his break, so the bunny had to entertain them silently (because, as you know, the Easter Bunny cannot talk) for a while until the photographer returned. They tickled him (right at crotch level, sigh), played airplanes, and meowed at him, all while asking for the most important thing in a child's mind--candy. And Star Wars stuff. And kitties. 

 Once the photographer returned, we got the show on the road, and my crazy beasties turned on the charm for a split second. This resulted in the one picture I have of both of my children looking at the camera at the same time and smiling. #framer

And this was the scene after that. Vivi screaming for the Easter Kitty.

Ever since, Bobby has been asking to see the Easter Bunny multiple times a day, and I've been using him as a bribing tool pretty shamelessly. Alex just left to go overseas for a week, so the kids and I packed up the plantation and headed up for a weekend at my parents' house in Georgia. So far, we have been baking bunny cakes and eating lots of Easter candy. It's my favorite candy season in the whole world!

Some Friday favorites this week include these linen-blend boyfriend t-shirts from Old Navy. I ordered two of them, one in black/white and one in lilac, and now I am so obsessed that I am determined to get every single color. I never want to wear any other shirt ever again. It doesn't look particularly special on the model, but it's a great shirt once you get it on. They're the perfect fit, but also kind of loose and swingy, in that "let's-hide-my-muffin-top" kind of way. And I also love the way the arms fit; they're short sleeved, but the sleeves are a nice length so they they don't expose arm fat. They're great for tossing on over a pair of skinny jeans with a necklace and a diaper bag and running around after your children at the park. Or, in an alternate universe, brunching with mimosas with your girlfriends. After a couple of washes, they're SO soft. And they're on sale! 

This recipe for pineapple casserole. Pineapple casserole is a dish that has graced my family's Easter table since God was a boy. It sounds weird when you read the ingredients--pineapple, sugar, butter cheddar cheese, ritz crackers. What the? But I promise, it's SO good. Is it a side dish? Is it a dessert? Who knows..and who cares? Make this recipe for your Easter brunch and thank me later! 

I love this throw pillow from Target's Threshold line. I don't know if my personal style has a definition (or if I even have a "style," for that matter), but I do love simple black and white...and I also love pops of color. This throw pillow marries the two, and I may have to grab it and put it in the kids' playroom in our new house. I plan to do lots of bright pops of color in there.

I got Vivi this dress this week, and damn if it isn't the cutest little thing ever. The eyelet, color, and bell sleeves make it look more expensive than it is. I can't wait for her to wear it all Spring and Summer! While I was at it, I snagged her this little dress for wearing to school and playing. It's cute but still durable, and I'm a sucker for lace. Both are also on sale right now! :)

Speaking of Gap dresses for little girls, I wish Vivi were still in 0-24 month sizing, because this dress is the most adorable. If you have a baby girl still in baby sizes, please do me a favor and get this! It's chic and boho all at the same time!

I am slowly starting to make a list of things I want for our new house, much to the chagrin of my husband. These awesome doorknockers are at the top of my list. I love something about the charm of an old-fashioned door knocker, and I like how these are a bit whimsical. I'm pretty sure I would end up choosing the deer, but the bunny is cute, too.

Y'all, I want these shoes so bad. That is all. 

And holy crap, I would be remiss if I did not share this. I have finally found a product that truly covers up my dark circles. I am a gal who HAS to use concealer if I don't want to look like a Walking Dead extra. As in, I look like an entirely different person when I wear it...which is probably why when I do put on makeup, people stop me on the street and say, "Wow, what are you doing different?" Concealer, people. Well, that and showering. 

I've been using the same brand of concealer for ten years, and while it is fine, it wasn't doing what I needed it to do. I need super concealer. I need Donald Trump concealer (anybody else mesmerized by how white it is underneath his eyes? It's an enigma to me). So I went in Sephora and explained my situation, and they led me to this Tarte concealer. And y'all, it has changed my life. It's a good bit thicker than the concealer I've used in the past, and a little goes a long way, but after using it and blending it, I look like a different person. A person who sleeps more than 4 hours a night and who doesn't spend her days balls-deep in other peoples' poo. 

That's it for now. We are about to enjoy a wild weekend at the farm in GA with my parents. Happy Easter to you and yours! XO

Kitchen Inspiration

 They say that the heart of every home is the kitchen. So when we decided to build our next house, I knew that I wanted to put the most of our efforts and budget into that part of the house. 

When I started thinking about designing our new kitchen, I knew I wanted white. There's something about a white kitchen that feels so clean and crisp and open. I've always loved a white kitchen, so that was the one thing I was certain about. I began to do some research for ideas, and, while all of these inspiration kitchens are different, they all have the clean, white lines that I love so much. Here are a few of my favorite designs that inspired me the most.

When we went to the design appointment to choose our house basics, I immediately chose white, Shaker style cabinetry and slim, silver handles. 

Our next decision was countertops. I adore the look of white marble, but I have heard that it can be difficult to maintain. And with two small kids and a husband, high-maintenance is not currently on my wishlist. So I ended up choosing a carerra marble-inspired quartz for the counter. With this option, I get the look of the marble with the low maintenance of quartz; it's a win-win for me. 

When it came to choosing floor, we had to decide on what we wanted for the entire downstairs. This house has an open floor plan, so the living room, breakfast nook, and kitchen are all one room; and the kitchen flows into a butler's pantry, which leads to the dining room. So the flooring needs to be consistent throughout the entire downstairs. We knew we wanted the look of wood, but we weren't sure if we wanted hardwood, laminate wood, or tile. Because we have destructive children, we ended up choosing wood tiles in a whiskey oak color that is half-rustic brown and half-grey. 

The backsplash was the most difficult decision for me. I knew I wanted something that was light and bright to make the room seem as large and open as possible. Although I do love the look of clean, white subway tile, I ended up choosing a smaller mosaic backsplash in a pearlescent color. I think it'll add a little bit of interest and sparkle to the kitchen. To finish the design process off, we chose a white wood hood vent. 

I think it all "works" when I put it together like this, but I really hope it comes together nicely in real life! That's the scary thing about designing a home...you never know for sure until you actually see it all done! 

When you are building or renovating a home with a partner, things can get hairy. I've heard that a lot of people nearly get divorced when building a home! It wasn't too difficult for us; it really just came down to giving-and-taking and willingness to compromise with each other. My biggest concern was making the kitchen look awesome and functional; Alex's biggest concern was doing it as inexpensively as humanly possible. (LOL). So there were several things that Alex gave in about (like extending the cabinets all the way to the ceiling), and there were a few things that I conceded (like glass cabinets). And then there are times you have to compromise on. For instance, I really wanted the island to be a rustic grey color, but Alex really wanted it to be black. I finally decided that I was choosing so much on my own, and he was letting me get a lot of the things I wanted, so I owed it to him to let him have his black island if it was that important to him. It's all about compromise!

Next will come the really fun part--choosing lighting fixtures, bar stools, and a breakfast table. You know, the things that make a house a home. Stay tuned!