There is still time to make it a Martha Stewart Summer!
Read moreEaster Inspiration
April showers bring May flowers...but wait, it's still. only. February. We still have months to go before those flowers are ready to bloom, but in effort to fight seasonal depression I headed to the rabbit hole that is Pinterest for some springy inspiration. If you ever needed a push to purchase those use-only-once-a-year-china, this is it. (Here's looking at you irresistible bunny plates!) In the meantime, it's time to stock up on some fresh flowers, and if I turn up the heat, I can at least go down to wearing just two layers.
-MC-
Image credit - BlesserHouse, OurSouthernHome and PotteryBarn via Pinterest
Friday Finds 1.5.17
New Year, New Me
Sort of.
Happy New Year! This is a bit of a novel, so you may want to grab a drink and a snack...here goes.
I'm notoriously bad at the whole resolution game. Instead of specific goals, I vow to simply " Be Better" all around - be healthier, more present, work harder, the whole bit. While that's nice in theory, as Mr. C not so bluntly put it recently, "That doesn't mean anything." And, he's right. It really doesn't...it got me thinking. What can I do, in attainable terms, to be my best self. I'm still ironing out the details, but so far, here are a few:
1. Originally it was to eat cleaner, but with the left over Christmas cookies and ever-present cheese in my fridge, I wasn't off to a squeaky start. Instead, I've opted to let myself indulge in the delish treats as long as I drink half my body weight in water each day which to me, is harder. Hopefully my soon-to-be crystal clear complexion will overcome the fact that I'm peeing constantly.
2. Let go of some of that mom-guilt. Everyone has heard about this, and let me tell you, it. is. real. Backstory: I've scaled back to working part time from home, which is amazing, but it also means juggling, a lot. And even though I'm home most of the time, when I'm not, or when I'm home, but not as present, I feel horrible. This doesn't seem productive for anyone. Instead, I'm making a real effort to acknowledge those feelings, recognize that stepping away to get my nails done or enjoying a happy hour with colleagues does not in fact cancel out all the good-mom stuff I do day in and out.
3. Read. Before becoming a mom, I was a voracious reader. Afterward, not so much. Lately I've gotten back into it, and it literally makes me SO happy. The running list on my phone of books I want to read somehow disappeared, welp!, so please let me know if there are any good ones you'd recommend. The Last Mrs.Parrish is at the top of my list!
If you've made it this far, thank you! Here are a few extra tidbits that have been happening this week:
- For some reason I'm having a leggings moment. I know, I know, but honestly when it's snowy and cold outside, and I'm crawling around on the floor with the babe inside, jeans can feel a bit restrictive. These velvet ones seem like a nice hybrid between polished and practical. Add for under $20, also a no-brainer.
- A case for hibernating a bit more? Yes, please.
- As our 100 year old fixer upper transforms into the house of our dreams, I'm fantasizing about completely impractical, horse-before-cart details. Maybe we need to finish painting before we go all in on the gallery wall? Can't hurt to get some inspo!
-Summer is a while off, but this tote has me dreaming of sunny destinations.
- We recently got a new car (yay!) and I'm determined to keep it looking pristine. I love the idea of this organizer.
-MC-
December Inspirations
Simple greenery for a festive touch. Image Source: Pinterest
Cozy blankets and roaring fires. Image Source: Pinterest
White and Green. Image Source
Fair Isle. Image Source: Pinterest
Put a bow on it. Image Source: Pinterest
All plaid everything. Image Source: Pinterest
A holiday-ready kitchen. Image Source: Pinterest
This holiday season, I'm leaning towards simple, natural decor with lots of greenery for a cozy and rustic feel. I love the idea of taking a few holiday elements and incorporating them in the kitchen!
-MC-
Scent of Style
A while back the New York Times featured an incredible story about the next wave in scent. Similar to how hotels have been piping in scent through their air systems to delivery a specific atmosphere, companies are now offering a chic at-home option. Consider this scent 2.0. Designed to go way beyond a simple candle or room diffuser, companies are creating fully customized scents - taking into account one's lifestyle (do they want a cozy relaxing environment or something clean and energized? How much do they entertain?) plus other distinguishing factors such as the typical temperature and preferred shaped (yes, seriously).
This got me thinking - what scent would I want? I looked to existing home fragrances (clean, light, fresh) and perfumes (light, some floral). I was certainly seeing a pattern and decided to do some digging to see what exactly elements I was drawn to. Turns out I'm all about white florals with greenery, yuzu, peonies, bergamot, geranium, bamboo and jasmine. Be it perfume or for the home, which really is an extension of yourself, I like fragrances to be subtle and fresh. I like scent to add another layer of intrigue, not steal the show. I'm still trying to determine what shape I am.
Here are a few fragrances I have scattered about:
