Dandelion Seed

Swingset Chain by Loquat on Grooveshark

I already have an outfit post with this name, but this is a nice opposite in terms of what I'm wearing. (The title is also inspired by the first song I ever heard of my favorite band, Loquat! Song featured above!) Anyway, this is the dress I decided to keep from my Stitch Fix haul. I opted to pair it with some awesome thrifted shoes that I've never worn, and a faded black/blue denim jacket. It's finally warming up in Nashville (again!) and I am looking forward to fewer layers. (And then magically 2 weeks later it's going to be scorching and I'll be cursing Mother Nature yet again. Oh Tennessee!)

It's been a hard past two days, I won't lie. Yesterday was just the lowest of lows. It felt like nothing was going right and it was never going to get better. I try not to dwell too much on those kinds of days but man, from the minute I woke up until the minute I fell asleep, I felt like it was me against the world. Toby was cranky all day, then when Mike was away registering his truck Toby took an entire tube of A&D ointment (!!!) and smeared it all over Pip. The entire thing. Poor Pip. Then Georgia was licking it off of her. All of this in under 2 minutes while I tried answering a client email. On one hand it was kind of hilarious that he thought he was giving Pip a "bath" of sorts, but on the other hand I was like "OMG how am I going to get this out of her hair?!" I gave Pip two baths before Mike came home, but she slipped out of my grasp long enough to bolt for the bathroom door and I smacked my forehead on the porcelain sink. I still have a huge knot. Then I noticed the A&D all over our huge couch and all over 2 walls. I was already feeling way down in the dumps and it was all I could do to call Mike bawling in exhaustion begging him to come home. It was too much when you add in the non-stop 2 day migraine I had and feeling kind of beat up about a design project I'm working on. Toddlers can't be that hard right?! But paired with an equally craptastic day, I was spent. I laid in bed at 1pm and napped away 2 hours while Toby did the same. That gave Mike some solo time to just hang out. I'm hoping for a better Thursday! 

Of course we spent Tuesday evening going to the movies to see Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and Toby was a total gem the entire time! So incredibly perfect. I'm fairly certain that kid ate half a bucket of popcorn on his own. That kid is undoubtedly the light of our lives. He loved the movie (and so did we!). Mike doesn't like me to say it but he cried just as much as I did! It was a sweet movie with a sweet (and sort of loaded!) subject. We all squished into a photobooth and then treated Toby to some ice cream (which he ended up wearing haha) afterward and then plenty of books before bedtime. Can we just teleport back to Tuesday? I think it's important not to let those really cruddy moments get the best of you as I feel like our psychology has a lot to do with how events unfold. Sometimes that's easier said than done. Anyway, it's going to get better. That's the important part. Enough complaining anyway. There are way bigger problems that people have and mine was just a speedbump.

We're putting some finishing touches on some of the rooms in our new home. Curtains are finally being bought and we're planning out what prints to buy and where they'll go. That's always the hardest for me. We just need one piece of furniture in the bathroom (a little shelf of sorts) and we should be good to go. Hopefully I can share bits and bobs soon! Alright, this girl has some floors to go scrub!

Greylin dress c/o Stitch Fix
Thrifted denim jacket
Belt from another dress 
Assets by Spanx tights
Thrifted shoes
Flower in hair from random mall store in Chicago

42 comments:

  1. Adore the print of your dress! The denim adds the perfect touch!

    :)
    xx

    http://daydreamfrenzy.blogspot.com/
    http://daydreamfrenzy.blogspot.com/
    http://daydreamfrenzy.blogspot.com/

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  2. awww <3 you got it right though, things WILL get better! :) you are so strong girl! I know all of this came on suddenly, but you and Mike are going to make such amazing parents once the newness wears off! You got this!

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  3. I hope tomorrow treats you to a better day, Kaelah! I have absolutely no experience with toddlers, but from what I know, they're a handful. Sweet, and lovable, but a handful none the less! You and Mike make a great team, though, and hard days always pass. Stay strong, beautiful!

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  4. This is such a lovely outfit!

    http://tracksforlife.blogspot.com

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  5. You look beautiful. I love the addition of the red belt. xo, rv

    http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/

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  6. Oh man, I feel for you. Those mama days are HARD. Have you all thought of putting him in a preschool or Mother's Day Out program? That's my #1 Mommy advice: TIME APART. It is just too hard to be together all of the time. (I feel qualified to say this as a Mother of 3) Usually MDO's are located in churches and they're really good, CHEAP babysitting. A nice break for all. The kiddos get to be out of the house and playing with their little friends and you have MUCH NEEDED time to yourself. The one all 3 of my kids went to was just up the street from our house, in a church with very kind older ladies as the "teachers." It was only $19/day (from 10A-3P) and they went anywhere from 1x/week to 3x. HEAVEN. And the structure is really, really nice for everyone involved. Unsolicited advice, I know but I hope it's helpful just the same. MDO saved the little sanity I had to begin with. :) Sending you lots of Mama love!

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    1. we're actually looking at day care programs since he was previously enrolled in one. i think the structure of daily activities would really help prepare him for preschool/kindergarten. it seems that a lot of the "decent" programs on our side of town have an incredibly long (up to 2 years or more) waiting list so we're hoping to find a good place before too long. we're also just trying to learn what works day to day in our house. he's actually incredibly well behaved during the day, but we need more structure... for ourselves and for toby. :) i'll be sure to keep this in mind, thank you!

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  7. hope your day gets better! i sure know the feeling. just remind yourself that tomorrow is a brand new day.

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  8. I have shoes just like that! They were also thrifted!

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  9. I tried to reply to a comment on tumblr, but my account is all wonky so I came over to your blog. I am a 30 year old mom with two daughters (who are 5 and 7 years old), and before having kids was a nanny for many years. Having kids is NOT EASY- even though my kids were planned and I thought I had a good idea of what to expect, there were things that still caught me off guard. You would think that after having one kid you would be prepared for the second, but nope- kids are all different so you have new experiences with both. Complaining (venting, whatever you want to call it) does NOT make you a bad parent or mean that you love him any less. You are handling this whole thing with class, which is more than I can say with the people writing you anonymously.

    And for the record, I thought your blog was awesome before AND after Toby started appearing on it. I fail to see how anyone can call this a mommy blog (not that there is anything wrong with them), you've always included posts about your day. How is this any different?

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  10. I love that dress and those shoes look so comfy. I can't imagine what it's like to be thrown into motherhood like that, but things will get better!

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  11. It has to be hard to go from having a certain lifestyle to instantly having a toddler! That is a demanding, crazy (and fun!) age. I am sure after some adjusting and getting used to it, you will do great! Keep up the good work.

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  12. Aw, I'm sorry about your rough day. Sometimes, it really does feel just like that- the entire world is against us and nothing seems to go in our favor. I definitely have had a couple of those lately including mother nature calling, a vile cold, a string of bad midterms, blah blah blah, but it's the good days that really make them worth it, you know!? your tuesday was magical, and your wednesday not so magical, but it made tuesday even sweeter! i love reading your blog and i love that you decided to share the not so delightful part of your week- it's nice to read a blog that isn't always sunshine and perfection because that's not really what the real life is like :) sending love and good vibes your way!

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  13. That is a day in the life of a mother!!! Do not sweat it! I've lost count of the amount of times I've called up my hubby tired and exhausted and fed up! Kids can be absolute sweethearts.......and they can be absolute monsters!!! You can probably except some behaviours like that from your little man as kids are so sensitive to change and tend to act out! I know my little man does! Let yourself have a bad day....then wake up the next day and try again : ) What you are doing is awesome!!!!! Love and Peace xox

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  14. I finally have an account on here so now I can comment instead of just admiring your pretty outfits from afar <3

    As always, your outfit for today is gorgeous, as is your hair!

    Don't let yourself get down, we all have bad days, but if we didn't we wouldn't truly appreciate the good days! xxx

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  15. Awww, I'm so sorry about your crappy day. I suffer from migraines too and they are that ABSOLUTE worst. I actually woke up with one this morning and luckily took meds early enough to mostly kill the pain but I felt gross and nauseous all day at work and just had the most all-around crappy day I've had in a long time. Migraines suck.

    The Toby hijinks sound so, so, so stressful! (although his idea that he was giving Pip a "bath" with the ointment is pretty adorable at the same time!) Blah. I don't have kids, but I taught full-day kindergarten for three years overseas and I KNOW those "can ANYTHING else go wrong?" days. They're horrible and make you want to just break down and cry. But then the kids do something so sweet and endearing and it makes all the annoying, hair-tearing moments somehow kind of fade away as quickly as they came. So happy that you guys were able to have such an awesome movie night as a little family to make up for your rough day :)

    On a completely different note, your dress is adorable!

    xoxo, Natasha
    http://papercrowns.typepad.com

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  16. Do you have friends nearby with a toddler so you can have playdates? I know I rolled my eyes at that term but Lord, does it make you feel like a sane person again when you can let two toddlers run & play & destroy together while you share war stories like the A&D catastrophe. If you don't have anyone close, it would be worth looking into a playgroup - I actually haaated the playgroup I joined (my toddler was a little more "free spirited" than the others) but became close with another mom & she & I now have our own playdates as our kids are so similar. Anyway, you're probably getting sick of advice but remember to take care of yourself - your gorgeous little man can't thrive unless you're thriving too. xx

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    1. i don't think i could ever tire of the awesome advice i've received thus far! seriously, this is all new territory for me. i didn't have 9 months to plan or books to read. i realize parenting is one of those things you learn as you go and i'm having a blast learning. i don't necessarily know anyone with a kid around the same age, but i'm lucky enough to have friends with tots that will be ready to play before too terribly long! i know he'll love that. we have looked at daycares and groups, but nothing concrete yet! :)

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  17. I think the hardest age we had to go through was age three. They say terrible twos but I think that just prepared you for Theatrical Threes. Ha ha. Yes, having a toddler is THAT hard, but you've had to dive right into it rather than a gradual transition. You'll learn to have a pair of eyes in the back of your head, a third arm when one is needed and you'll learn that bedtime and naptime are a gift! LOL

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    1. haha that's what i keep hearing! i'm so thankful that he's typically an impeccably behaved child. he's a toddler though, and toddlers get into things! i'm learning as we go! :) xo

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  18. brown eyes!! you're so darn pretty, black tights/ankle boots are one of my favorite combos right now! such a cool look, and comfy too. sounds like some kind of day..hope the rest of the week is better, the weather is amazing at least!

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  19. As I don't have children myself, I don't have any advice for you, but I'm so happy to see lots of people giving you helpful advice & supporting you! It will take time for all of you too adjust.

    I love that dress, and I loved your post about Stitch Fix too, by the way. I'm actually thinking I might give it a try myself.

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  20. Oh man, what a stressful day that must've been. So sorry :( Hope it all starts looking up soon! I don't have any advice since I'm not a parent except for "keep your stick on the ice." :)

    Also, I have to say that I'm really enjoying this new dimension to your blog. :)

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  21. I'm sorry you had such a rough day! I know the feeling all too well.. it seems like you just wake up some days and the universe is slightly off kilter, causing everything to seemingly go wrong. But, it will get better! You've just experienced a major life change, and I think you're adjusting to it wonderfully. You're providing a loving, safe home environment for a precious baby, and from what I've deduced, his previous situation was less than nurturing. I'm constantly inspired you and your gumption and tenacity. Chin up, pretty lady! :)
    Xo, Rachel

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  22. Oh my... Toddlers can definitely be that hard!! My little guy (turns 4 in a couple of weeks) is taller than most 3 year olds already, but to make matters worse he'll climb onto the kitchen counters and get in the cabinets (think a whole bottle of spice spread around the carpeted floors, on more than one occasion) and he'll stand on his toys to reach things (so we had to hide a bunch of them away!) We've experienced the diaper cream fiascos too, on the walls, on his clothes, wherever. so yes, he has definitely been a struggle at times, but other times? he can be so sweet and the cutest little guy on the planet.

    you might enjoy this site: http://www.shitmykidsruined.com

    i'm like you, i think if you're saying to yourself you are having a bad day, then it's not going to get any better. So Kaelah you are going to have a WONDERFUL day tomorrow!

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    1. aww! haha my mom actually called me tonight after reading this post and told me all of the stories about what I did as a kid... apparently i loved painting our bichon frise with finger paints... guess i had it coming! :P

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  23. Your positive attitude is so inspiring! Way to remember to keep things in perspective. Hang in there!

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  24. oh man, i can picture how frustrating it would be to get all of that off pipkin! gosh, i'm annoying just thinking about it! how did you get it out? just washing a bunch of times? haha, read this post hours ago but had to come back because I can't stop thinking about it!

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    1. 3 baths and BOATLOADS of dawn dish soap! haha poor pip, she took it quite well! i think she enjoyed the "back rub" toby was giving her! didn't love the water though :P Georgia is the water dog in this household!

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  25. i have a weird question, haha umm i wear tights all the time but i always rip mine :( do you have any suggestions for brands that are durable?

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  26. Ah, I've been having insane crazy days too. I send you a hug and good vibes.

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  27. i like the combination of the denim jacket and the dress :)
    very nice!

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  28. Love your outfit!

    Aw that definitely sounds like a crap day, I hate days like that when nothing goes right, you just ask yourself why?!

    Hope it gets better for you love,

    Ginger Pickle ♥
    x

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  29. You look lovely! With the denim jacket, it would fit right in with a Toby and Mike photoshoot!
    Gosh it must be an adjustment but it sounds like you really are being a mama and taking it in your stride. You'll be able to call him and laugh about ti in 20 years too!
    xxx

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  30. POOR PIP!!! I know our animals are STILL getting used to being inside with each other (a 3 year old French bulldog and a 15 (!!!) year old tortoiseshell kitty) and with an 18 month old and 9 year old. The 18 month old is learning what he can (and can't!) do with animals still and I'm not a (biological) mother (yet) so I'm still on the learning curve with a toddler (& a preteen) as well. It's rough. It's definitely got its rough spots. I will never forget the time that I set the 18 month old on a booth seat next to me and everything was fine until suddenly he arched his back and ZZZZIP he was on the floor. Luckily, he was fine but it could have been a real nightmare. Chin up, Kaelah, there will be so many more good "Lorax" days than bad "A&D Ointment" days. You'll laugh about this in the coming months and years. :)

    Also, we took the 9 year old to see The Lorax and it was AMAZING. We are going to own it ASAP.

    http://one-girl-vs-world.blogspot.com

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  31. Oh no!! Poor puppy!! I am so glad that you got him cleaned up!! I know those kinda days where everything seems to happen all at once and you don't know what to do!! I hope you don't have another day like that sweetie for a very very very long time!! ((If ever!!)) :)
    PS I LOVE your outfit!!! You always put together the cutest outfits!!
    xo

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  32. Sorry you had such a tough few days there darlin. Know we all root for you. :) xoxo

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  33. don't let it get you down. Plus even if your 100% prepared and the best parents in the world your going to forget something with toddlers around. Have you made sure all the pens he has are washable? :)

    Barnicles

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  34. This is one of my favorite looks. I really like the pointy black shoes and you should do denim more often - Gives you a lot of edge, and creates great interest with your soft dresses.

    Toddlers are the best thing ever and the biggest pain in the ass ever.

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB