Weekend List

What are you up to this weekend? 


We are having friends over for brunch both Saturday and Sunday, so I am going to make this strata adding my own twists. Love that I can make it in advance. 


We are also going to a party and it is going to be hot, so I am going to wear this dress (on sale) to keep cool.


I have still made no progress on the house, but I will at least try and hang my favorite nursery prints up in the little man's room. 


And maybe, just maybe, I will make a rug decision for the family room. Leaning towards this one, since it seems durable, soft, versatile, and the price is right in case I change my mind and have to move it to another room (probably happening).


I found the perfect room for inspiration for the master. A great mix of masculine and feminine. 


I am also shopping around for moving announcements and love these postcards. 


Already have the Opening Ceremonies set to DVR tonight. Fast forward is crucial for the hours long parade of athletes. 


Looking forward to slightly cooler temps so I can pop open a bottle of one of my favorite wines and actually sit outside.


Wish I had this table, it's genius. 

I hope you get to enjoy yourself and relax. 


xo
Erin 

Olympic Fever

I LOVE the Olympics. Something about Bob Costa's voice delivering the touching life stories of America's athletes as they compete against the world's best just makes me happy. I mean how many times can Bob get one girl to cry over a two week span? Guess we will find out this year as the Olympics begin in London.


Gap is selling these fun vintage Olympic tees. Kind of obsessed and they look comfy enough to enjoy on a hot summer day or curled up watching gymnastics and chanting USA!USA!USA!

They have other styles, as well as options for your man or your kid. Time to get into the spirit. 

xo

Erin 

Virtual Room Planning

Growing up I loved to move my furniture around. It did not matter how heavy it was and how many times I moved it, I loved switching things up in my bedroom. If I still had my way, I would be moving things around just as often around my house. Unfortunately, the furniture is heavier and my better half has a strict one-time move policy. Can't blame the guy as he can see that I that one move turns into two, three... he obviously knows me. So floor plans have been the best way for me to plan furniture out so I can see what will actually work. I have tried drawing my own, but can never quite get the scale right.

Luckily I found this amazing site that requires only you to measure the room and its contents. Then you can move everything around as many times as you want to find the perfect combination. Urban Barn is a furniture company that supplies this free service. Once you play around with it a bit, it is very easy to use. 


My great room has been the place that I want to continually move things around in. This tool has helped me see the combination that will work best for the room. This is my handy work and no heavy lifting! 

I like that you can add in the windows, doors, and wall sections you might have. 

This is a fantastic tool if you are ordering new furniture as well. See how that piece will fit into the room based on the dimensions online. No more guessing. Or am I the only one that does that? 

xo

Erin 

Too Many Decisions

Moving into the new house has been so great. New ideas spring into mind daily on what I can do with a room, how I can make it more like home, and where I can put something I love. Although, I have never been so indecisive in my life. I just do not want to make mistakes that I will regret in the coming months. So instead I spend way too much time shopping around, looking at decorating blogs, and scrolling through Pinterest. 


The basement is the only place that I have made big decisions in no time because I had no choice. My husband and I picked things out and designed the space in a matter of hours. It should be done in a few weeks and I cannot wait to share. 


I have started to narrow down a few things for the rest of the house. Starting with light fixtures. The house we bought was only seen during the day, so I never realized that the previous owners had taken most of the fixtures. Since it stays light out until 9pm in the summer, it has not been an issue. But come the Fall we will be eating and hanging out in a dimly lit space. 


I came across this amazing fixture at one of my favorite antique dealers in Denver on a recent trip. It's clover shape is so unique and I just need to figure out where it is going to go. 

Possibly the entry? Stairway? 

I also need fixtures in the hallways, kitchen (hanging between high beams) and a living room rug that can withstand traffic and babies for years to come. 

In the hallway, I like these four options....

All are from Shades of Light. Our house has a country feel, which I like, but would also like to incorporate some modern, more contemporary fixtures. These are all so different, you can see how my mind is all over the place. Probably no closer to a decision. 

The kitchen needs larger, hanging lights that will peak between the beams that cut across the cathedral ceiling. 

I need three, so I am looking for quality without insane price tags. I am not crazy about the crystal hanging from the Orb Chandelier, but I figure I can take it off. The simple Jug light has a great industrial feel. And the Lantern is classic with a fun shape. 

I had bought a rug for the great room that I love, but it is shedding a bit more than I would like. So that will be moved to the Master and I would like one of these instead...

From Top Left: West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel 

I need a 9 x 12 that will stand up to stains and traffic. I am leaning towards these blue-grey options because the house is already painted cream with white trim. I probably will not get around to paint color selections until 2014 since those decisions are the hardest! 

Hopefully I can start sharing before and after pictures in the near future. As soon as I can start making decisions, my basement no longer has men working in it every day, and I can start picking things that I love and can live with forever. Or at least until the next re-do. 

Thanks for reading my venting and I would love to hear which items are your favorite. 

xo

Erin  

Laters Babe

Ok, I admit it. I am obsessed with Fifty Shades of Grey. I have not been reading as much since the babe came (except books on sleep, specifically how to get your baby to sleep, so boring) but found some time on a recent trip. 

Let's just say that Fifty is not a literary masterpiece, but a great escape and fun to read. Racy does not even begin to describe it. Enjoy. 

Since Fifty is all about fantasy, I put together a little something Ana might wear to drinks with Christian. Maybe a helicopter (Charlie Tango) is involved? Who knows, but this is what I would style her in...

McQ by Alexander McQueen Sheath ($355). Ladylike shape with a mysterious print. 

Cheeky bracelet that is just his style by Stella McCartney ($660)

A functional clutch by Essex ($150). Nothing too flashy for Mr. Grey. 

One part classic, one part sexy patent Jimmy Choo heels

Essex LA makes all their bags custom, with plenty of zipper, leather, and even inside pocket color choices. So fun to design one for yourself. I discovered them over on Melissa's blog, which you should bookmark immediately. 

I bought those Jimmy Choo's as an early birthday present. They have been on my radar for awhile and I loved the nude patent's versatility with the unconventional shape. 

So what would you wear to meet Christian? Or do we not want to know? 

Laters.

xo

Erin 

Fresh Summer Pasta

My mom made this delicious pasta when I visited recently. It is one of her go-to recipes since it can be made in advance, uses the best of summer ingredients, and always is loved by her guests. Make it to your taste and enjoy the freshness and sweetness of summer's favorite fruit, the tomato. 

Fresh Tomato Pasta 

serves 4

2-3 large tomatoes, chopped

handful of fresh basil, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, smashed and finely minced

8-10 ounces brie or fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil 

salt and pepper

crushed red pepper (optional)

1 lb. fine linguine

In a large bowl, add all the ingredients except for the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add crushed red pepper to taste if you want some heat. Let sit at room temperature for one hour and up to all day. 

Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain, and pour over the sauce. Toss to combine until cheese is melted and sauce and pasta are well mixed. 

Serve immediately with some cracked black pepper on top and crusty bread to soak up all that lovely sauce. 

xo

Erin 

Stork Stack

While moms always enjoy receiving something from their registries, sometimes it is nice to receive something totally unexpected and original. 

I was lucky to receive a subscription to Stork Stack and have loved the monthly deliveries from this fun company. 

Every month a cutely wrapped box is delivered to my doorstep containing five baby products that work great for the age and gender and my baby. So far I have gotten everything from baby leg warmers, to cookies that help with milk production, to hand made rattles. 

It allows you to try some new products and discover ones you did not even know existed. As a gift you can purchase them in different time increments to fit your budget. You can also give a Shower Stack that you could bring to a shower, then tell her about the fun boxes that will arrive in the months to come. 

The packaging is adorable and so far I have loved all of the products I have received. Can't wait to see what is next! 

xo

Erin  

Weekend Wishes

It is easy to come up with my wishes this week, Pinterest is always filled with things you wish you had, wish you could do, wish you could go to, wish you could find the time to do....


These are my top this week...

I wish I could hang this original painting in my house. 

Artist Jennifer Moreman on Etsy. Beautiful and fun work. 

 I wish I could hang out in this (or own) pool with this furniture all summer...

And I wish I could be with these girls at fashion week....

Hope a few of your Pinterest wishes come true this weekend. Mine are a little far fetched. 

xo

Erin 

Mixing it up

No girl mixes prints as well as this girl....

Flawless Olivia Palmero just gets it right every single time. 

Mixing prints is hard to do with separates. You have to be daring and have a fantastic sense of color, scale, and proportion. Something I wish I had a bit more of. Luckily, many designers are doing the hard work for us and putting together pieces with multiple prints. 

I am in LOVE with this one from ASOS. I worship the granny-esque floral and bright prints, with the modern, edgy design of the dress. 

ASOS $215 

I found some other, albeit extreme, choices that could be fun on their own or mixed with basic pieces in your closet. 

1. Tahiti $565

2. Clover Canyon $185

3. Sabine $46

4. Free People $69

5. ModCloth $107

6. Elie Tahari $398

7. BCBG $458

Not exactly a mixed print, but a loud statement none the less, these Brian Atwood shoes would be the perfect print to mix in to your favorite look. WORSHIP them. 

Brian Atwood $1,065

So how daring are you? I bet you have some pieces to mix up in your closet right now....

xo

Erin 

Grilled Artichokes

Artichokes are on top of my favorite food list. Though a little scary to look at and imagine how to prepare, it could not be easier. I showed you how to trim, steam, and simply enjoy in this post, but now I have taken it a step further and grilled them. 


Follow the same steps (rubbing with lemon along the way), but leave the stem. I like to trim off a few of the bottom leaves and run a knife along the stem to get to the more tender parts, but it is not necessary. 


Then cut the artichoke in half. With a spoon or melon baller, scoop out the choke (hairy looking part) and the purple leaves. 


Steam the artichokes until just tender 20-30 minutes depending on how big they are. 


Heat a grill to medium-high heat. Brush the artichokes with olive oil and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. 


Grill indirectly uncut side down for 10 minutes. Then flip and grill another ten minutes directly on the heat. 


You can serve them warm or at room temperature. So making them ahead for a party is perfect. I like to  serve with a mayo based sauce. Here are my two favorite: 


Whisk together light mayo, lemon juice, minced shallot, and some Dijon mustard to taste. Season with salt and pepper. 


or


Whisk together light mayo, lime juice, minced garlic, sriracha, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil to taste. 


Love this recipe and it can wow your guests without much work. 


xo
Erin 

Beauty Balm

As I have posted many time before, I am always on the hunt for the perfect product that will cover red marks, acne, wrinkles, basically anything on my face. I want my face to look as perfect as a Kardashian on HD television (seriously, what do they use?!), but without the inch of heavy make up. Really, that is never going to happen. And truth be told, I love products and the more I try the more I like to buy. It is an endless, crazy (expensive) cycle. 


So next up after tinted moisturizers, foundation, and  mineral powders promising the perfect skin, it is time for BB Cream. 


Beauty Balm is a product that first became popular in Asia as a way to correct skin issues, while covering them. They also have antioxidants and SPF. I have tried two brands with great results. What I like best about BB cream is it gives heavy coverage, while staying light on the skin. Bonus is that it is helping to correct the problems that you are trying to cover up. 

Garnier makes a version with SPF 15. The color blends well ( I used Light/Medium) and the light price tag makes it easy to try out with no regret. 

The Boscia version comes in just one shade, which is a tad dark, but works great for the summer. It has SPF of 27 and packed with more to help with correcting skin. 

They both cover well, but I am such a sucker for higher SPF. I plan on trying the Jemma Kid or Stila versions. 

Have you tried any? Which one is your favorite? 


xo
Erin 

Destination: Austin

I had the pleasure of visiting Austin for the second time last weekend. I am kind of in love with this town. It is laid back, yet modern, rooted in Texas tradition, yet filled with many from all over the country. Both of my visits were under forty-eight hours, but oh so great. This time around was for a bachelorette party. We stayed in a house that was rented for the weekend and made the most of the weekend with a well planned itinerary celebrating my future sister-in-law, whom I adore. 

Friday night we went to La Condesa for dinner. The tequila shots had spicy tomato chasers, the corn was smothered in mayo, butter and cheese (still dreaming about it), and the set of salsas were delicious and complex. We had a cavernous private room that even had room for a mid-dinner dance party.  

There was even a private bar room with a Foosball table. The restaurant also has two bars and an expansive dining room decorated in a modern and fresh way. 

Afterwards, we headed to sixth street to the Hanger. Bubbly Sofia proseccos and more dancing with the bachelorette's very fun friends. The Hanger also had a great rooftop, which I have learned is the best place to be on a Friday (hot) night in Austin. 

Saturday we hoped on the Cherry Bomb and headed for the Guadalupe River to go tubing. This was a first for me, but despite the low water in the river, this was very fun. Floating along and drinking beers, nothing can be wrong with that. Our gift bags for the weekend were so adorable and included a cowgirl boot koozie, which I plan to use all summer. 

My brother, the groom, surprised the Bachelorette with a delivery of sixteen orders of fries from McDonald's (her favorite). It was a sweet gesture that was a cute way to show he was thinking of her. He used TaskRabbit to get the job done, check it out if you are looking to make a few extra dollars or to find someone to help out with random tasks. 

It was such a fun weekend. My favorite part was getting to know all the friends of my soon to be sister-in-law. They told such sweet stories of the amazing girl that she is, how happy they make each other as a couple, and what a gentleman my brother is. 

I cannot wait until they make it official. 

xo

Erin 

Traveling Baby

I am a week away from my first plane trip with the bebe. Solo at that. So I have turned to some of my fellow moms for their mile high experiences and what made it work for them. If I have learned anything in the last four months, it is that other moms are the best resource and that new moms are always looking for advice. 

via Getty Images

The one thing I can share in my preparation is that my parents, who I am visiting, are using the site Traveling Baby Company, to rent baby equipment. Cribs, Pack and Plays, Car Seats, Toys, you can rent any of it by the day. Simply rent, pick up, enjoy, and return. 


Kelly - (Mom of three)
With infants, feed on take off and landing as it helps with their ears. Travel light and only bring the essentials, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, blanket. The last thing you want to do is lug a huge bag and a baby. It is usually easier to get through security if you have the baby in a carrier and leaves your hands free. Babies under 6 months are the easiest to travel with, I think. For toddlers and older, an IPad is amazing. But do not forget a change of clothes for them as well. Accidents can happen to anyone and anytime. 


Jenna - (Mom of 6 month old)
When I first travelled with my two month old, I had my husband to help as well. We opted to gate check the car seat, which he carried. Make sure to get a travel bag for your car seat or stroller, I have heard horror stories of items coming back dirty and broken. I tried to entertain her as much as I could so I could give her the bottle at take off, but ended up giving it to her before. She ate and slept through, then I used a pacifier on the way down. At six months, I travelled with her alone. I used a carrier all the way through until we sat down, no stroller. I brought rattles, teethers, books and blankets to entertain her... and she ended up playing with an empty water bottle the entire time. Hey, whatever works! Make sure to bring extra pacifiers if your baby takes them. Once one of those drop on the floor, you are not going to want to use the five second rule on the nasty plane. Bring cozy blankets as well since the temperature can drop and it gives you a nice buffer with all the dirty surroundings. And lastly, don't torture yourself. On the way home on our solo trip we were stuck on the jetway after landing for over an hour. But I decide after a few minutes that I wasn't going to sweat (OR CRY) every time she started screaming. It happens. Sure, there are going to be some jerks, but people are more understanding than you think. 


Lindsey - (Mom of two, plus one on the way!)
For baby, you are good to go with a pacifier and bottle of milk (lots of milk back up) until about 8 months or when they start crawling.  Also, definitely an umbrella stroller or snap and go as the airline will likely abuse your fancy stroller.  I recommend just checking their car seat at the gate too and not attempting to bring it on the plane.  Most important would be to try to coordinate your flight times with their happiest time of day.  I found that my kids would NOT sleep on the plane so it was not helpful to fly during nap time or bedtime.  If you have a kid that sleeps well on the go then I would do just the opposite and fly during naptime.  I would bring their favorite blanket or stuffed friend they typically sleep with and if they are eating then lots of puffs or cheerios to keep them entertained.  A well rested and well fed baby is the happiest baby of all so just stick to those basic rules and it will ease the pain of travel. The worst age to fly with - 18 months to 3 years.  They are so active at this age that it is really hard to keep them happy in the confines of an airplane.  I tried two different ways at this age.  We traveled with Jake to Hawaii and did not buy him a seat and it was tough having him climb all over us the whole time.  The next time we went to Hawaii he was just under 2 years old and we thought we'd try buying him a seat and bringing his carseat on the plane so he would be strapped in.  Umm....bad idea!  The first 20 minutes of the flight he began kicking the seat in front of him as his feet were perfectly positioned there.  Needless to say the girl sitting there was annoyed and yelled at him after 5 minutes.  I spent the whole 5 hours trying to keep his feet off that seat.  Super fun!  So if you buy them a seat at least leave the carseat at home or check it at the gate.  Bring lots of bribery snacks!  Buy juice or milk after you get through security and your own sippy cup so they have something to drink during takeoff.  It helps their little ears not hurt.  They should drink on landing too but you can use the same sippy cup and get more juice from flight attendant.  Plan to walk the aisles a bunch to help them get out their nervous energy.  I will tell you that I even had a pediatrician tell me to give my kid Baby Benadryl before the flight to try to get them to sleep.  It did NOT work for either of my kids.  Even going out to dinner for 30 minutes is near impossible for this age group though so there isn't much you can do but to keep them happy while you fly so they aren't screaming with tantrums or kicking the seat in front of them. 


Julie - (Mom of one year old)
First off, I learned a few things after the first round. You don’t need a birth certificate. You also don’t have to take them out of a carrier anymore at security. They will test yours and the baby’s hands for explosive (which we tested positive for when we flew ALONE at 10 months, awesome). Check your luggage and bring minimal carry-ons. If you need your entire breast pump then check it in your baggage or you can get a small hand-held pump for back up to save space. For easy nursing on the plane, wear a nursing tank and a loose fitting, open cardigan. It is a lot easier to adjust this way. I did have back up travel formula just in case. I was surprised by the kindness of travelers these days. One lady gave me her entire empty row, and another person moved so the middle seat was open! I used a back pack instead of a diaper bag on one trip and it was so much easier. Any way to be hands free, is perfection. Even though I brought a stroller and gate checked it, I still used a carrier for when we got on and off the plane. Good thing, because we waited twenty minutes for the stroller on the tarmac. Bring extra clothes for the baby and for you. I learned about this the hard way, not fun. Better to dress the baby in comfy clothes than something cute. A sleeper may not be what you want her in, but you will be happy when she is sleeping in it on the plane. 


Thank you, ladies! Your advice is going to be so helpful to me and everyone else who is taking the plunge. 


xo
Erin