Bloglovin

 I finally decided to partake in some Bloglovin. I don't know what my problem is, but it is going to change my life and organizational skills..... I can already tell. If you aren't on there, sign up!! It is such an easy way to keep track of all of the blogs that I follow. Even better, it helps you manage YOUR blog ( if applicable).

  Just click on my Bloglovin button ( scroll down a little, and it is on the right column), and follow me! I am so excited to be making some major changes (new blog template, new post content...fashion posts?? ;), Amara's new room reveal, and so much more) to this blog in the next few weeks, and I wouldn't want any of you to miss out!

 I really love to hear from you all that follow me or check in! The page views I get daily definitely don't match the comments right now, and this is my fun outlet.....my way to "meet" you and possibly find other blogs that interest ME! Please feel free to drop a line!

Enjoy your weekend! xoxo

Denim: Splurge and Save

I have been in search for the PERFECT chambray shirt since last summer!! Today, I was browsing in Anthropologie with a friend, and there she ( the chambray perfection) was! I have had the hardest time finding one that was the perfect price point for me, felt comfortable to me while in "mommy mode", and had the perfect wash. I tried it on, and the rest is history! She is resting in my closet preparing to be worn every day for the rest of my life. At nearly $100 after tax, this shirt IS a major splurge for me, but I so don't regret it. I know that I have exhausted my options, so there was no hesitation. It is the kind of shirt I will have years from now.

I also found this denim vest  in the clothing section at Target ( my second home). Whaaa!? I loved it and immediately put it in the cart. I am envisioning wearing this over a sleeveless, black high-low maxi with the perfect wedge sandal. I am thinking of even distressing it a little. What do you think?

Both of these pretties will be traveling to the beach with me in about 2 weeks! 

Hotel Patillo

 We have some dear friends coming to stay with us the first week of April, and we have never really put together a guest room. We have two extra rooms upstairs that have always stored things ( in a non-chic kind of way), and I have invested a good 10 hours in going through things, putting them in their appropriate places, and moving things to our UNUSED attic! Whhhhhyyyyy have we not used that space?? Well, it is because I am really lazy when it comes to that stuff, and it just always seems like quite the task to haul things up a ladder. The even more real reason is because attics scare me a little. Even though our house is new, I just feel like any moment a raccoon or something is going to come charging at me. I know....strange fear based on nothing at all, but I can't help it.

 All of that to say, we finally painted a room and claimed it as a guest room. I am in LOVE with the shade. We used Behr's Chocolate Froth in eggshell, and I love the way it looks up against our off-white trim. It is a perfect mix of grey, white and a HINT of brown. Did I mention that I loved it?

  I will reveal pictures later...when it is actually more put together, but I couldn't wait to share a picture of some artwork I hung today. I found these two water colorish prints of San Fran at a thrift store ( ok, goodwill, but it sounds so much better to say thrift store), and I fell in love with them. My husband grew up there, so it is definitely a second home to him, but he thinks they " look a little hotellish, and I don't mean the Westin" to quote him exactly. I can see his point, although, I just love the vintage feel they have, and the colors are really beautiful up close.

  I bought some clearanced frames from Target, spray painted them white, and voila! I also added a wooden print that my husband bought me off of Etsy for our 5 year anniversary. We got married in San Diego, so it holds a special place in our hearts. My goal is to try and use only things that we have right now to spruce the room up since our budget it extremely tight. I have a lot of beach themed/ Cali items, so for now, it is our Cali room.

Check back for more pics next week! I am really wanting to attempt a DIY headboard, but I just don't know if that will happen! 

It's the what!?! WEEEEEEKEND!!!

  Really late blog post today, but if you check in with me on Saturdays, then these little lovelies will be waiting for you! I can't stop thinking about our beach trip!! You would think we are leaving tomorrow! I am so excited to get into my sandals, and I am LOVING these styles. One of these pairs will end up in my closet soon. I am just waiting for Spring to officially kick in. We had a weekend last weekend, but today is coooold! Good ole Tennessee! ;)

Happy Friday friends! Enjoy your weekend!

Sweet spot!

Does anyone else have those spaces in their home that are just easy on the eyes....even if they are among chaos? I wouldn't dare take pictures of every room in my home right now, but I definitely have those "sweet spots" in my home that make me happy when I glance at them ( while carrying a load of laundry upstairs or chasing a toddler around)

Right now....these are those happy moments for me....

My droopy tulips.... I am the worst at keeping things alive, so I will take what I can get.

I don't know what it is....I just love this space in my house right now. It stays the cleanest and I love all of the light that comes in. I sit in here a lot!

Love my chairs and DIY rug!

This corner catches my eye every time I walk past it. It is my little bit of pink in the house, and I just love to sit here sometimes and read or catch up on my blog reading! ;) It is right beside the fireplace, so it is my go to spot when I have my hot tea everyday! ( Oooold lady, huh?)

I have so many photos I want to add to this wall, but I haven't gotten around to it. The photos of Amara ( 8 months) make me miss that chub everyday!!! 

aaaaaand finally.... a portion of my closet. It is out of Amara's reach, and not on my hubby's side, so it stays relatively clean. It is just my space in my bathroom with "pretty things"

Hope you all have had a great Thursday! I have had a really difficult time with Amara sleeping today and just with her being awake actually ;). A teething baby = not a fun one. I have literally been walking on eggshells around my house so she won't wake up. She is sleeping so light today...hmmm. I still have a toilet that needs to be flushed, a paintbrush that needs to be washed and a vacuum that needs running, For now....shhhhh!

Insert blog post title HERE....

I am sitting at my dining room table while Amara sleeps ( the best she can with the sound of a house being built within major hearing distance). I honestly don't know what to blog about. Nothing out of the ordinary has been going on here at home, and I have felt really overwhelmed these last two weeks. Therefore, the blog has taken a back seat. It is a gorgeous day today, and I am feeling inspired, so I just thought I would share some of my favorite photos that I have taken recently.

 I have taken the initiative to "empty my plate" a little with projects, social outings and my own personal need to feel busy. Gabe surprised us with some news about a little beach trip happening in April, and let me just tell you.....I am already there on the beach mentally. We get to have the month of April together as a family. The only time my husband is going out of town will be with two of his favorite ladies to Florida. I can't tell you how excited and anxious I am to see Amara really take in the beach for the first time, but that is something I will rant about on a blog post in April! ;)

 I am really just wanting to finish off these last two weeks of the tour strong, enjoy Easter with the family, and get back to taking care of myself a little bit better. I actually have work out clothes on, but didn't work out today. Baby steps, right? At least I put them on! A girl can't eat a burger and fries for every meal I suppose. At least, that is what my bikini is telling me. Thanks so much for checking in on my blog, even when there are weeks I go absent! It means the world.

We are doing lots of things with sunglasses on these days! I kind of love it.

Helping mommy make lemon ricotta pancakes....

These little (bed head) pigtails.....they make me so happy! 

Saturday mornings ... kind of perfect!

   I love my Saturday mornings with my little. I know they will be enhanced when we get to spend it with daddy, but until then, we have really learned to enjoy our time with just us girls. We spend a lot of Saturday mornings with my mom and sister or with "aunt" Lori. We were lucky enough to score a GORGEOUS, Spring-like day, and we chose to spend it indulging in an amazing breakfast at Meridee's in Downtown Franklin. No one can deny their french toast, breakfast burrito or vanilla latte. All of these things made it into my tummy this morning...shhh!

  The fact that we got to bring my bestie along made it a kind of perfect morning. I have really been missing my friends lately, and it just seems like we all have so much going on that it has been super hard to hang out this past month. It made my whole week worth it just to sit and talk to someone who knows you so well, and loves you so well!! Thanks Lori.. xoxo

A little fresh (warm) air was so needed for this little gal.

Crewcut love....

We spent the morning at the mall, and Amara was actually extremely pleasant! It gave me time to actually go into the stores that I wanted and look in peace. We strolled into J. Crew, which I am not a HUGE fan of. I don't know if it is because I think they are outrageously over-priced or if it is a little too prepster for me. However, I do like certain pieces and I looooove crewcuts. I have been waiting for the day that Amara could actually fit into their clothes. That day is fast approaching, and I had to put together a few of the things that I just couldn't resist picking up and touching today! We had so much fun!!

A little dress up....

"hat"

DIY Jewelry cleaner

Ok, this recipe is nothing spectacular as far as ingredients go, but it is SUPER spectacular when it comes to cleaning my wedding rings. My set has a lot of little bitty holes and crevices where soap, lotion, dirt and everything else under the sun gets caught. Even a little soap and toothbrush scrubbing only clean the surface! I needed something that would literally PULL all of that gunk out from under my diamonds. I found this recipe on Pinterest ( of course!), and it worked so well!

2 parts white vinegar and 1 part hydrogen peroxide....THAT'S IT!! Let your rings soak over night, then boil them for about 5 mins. WHOA!! My new favorite thing. It is like a fun science experiment. As soon as I dropped my rings in my little mixture, they started bubbling. I pretty much ended up doing equal party Hydrogen Peroxide and white vinegar. A little extra peroxide could only help, right?

They are soooo sparkly and so clean. I think I may even let them soak again tonight! I don't think last night's soak undid about a year or two of unthorough cleaning. Just take a little toothbrush to wipe away any loose residue and you will feel like you just put your rings on for the first time!! Mine literally felt lighter!

Please try to not be distracted by all of the hand sexiness you are about to endure....this post is about ring cleaning people!

Checking out!

 I am checking out today! I am technically writing this post on Sunday night, and have no intent of checking in on my blog today, but wanted to cheat a little so I can at least write a post. I am going to do my best to not be on my phone unless I need to be today. I just want to mentally check out and spend some good ole fashioned time with the chocolate love of my life and the baby love of my life. ;)

 I am reflecting on my week, and feeling so incredibly blessed and watched over by the Lord. We have one month left of this tour that Gabe is on, and I am anxiously awaiting that last bus trip home. That said, I am definitely able to sit here and thank God that he has brought us through this far, and that my strength is unmatched when I truly rely on Him. I am not very good at that always ;).

 Looking forward to a date night with my husband tonight. I MIGHT even do my nails. Dinner and a movie ( with two of the coolest friends we know). Kind of a cliche date night, but I don't care. I actually have been dying to see a movie outside of my house and dress up for my husband and have a dinner that I didn't make :)

I am sure most of you have seen this picture, but I am reposting it because it is the most recent picture of us as a family, and the idea of the 3 of us coming back together today makes me feel ......hmmmm......pretty incredible!

It's Monday.....grab the biggest latte you can, and start the week off right!!
xoxo

Life lately....according to my (Cracked) Iphone

Happy Friday Everyone! I really hope you enjoy your weekend!!

xoxo