// Things I Love Thursday v.205


♥ this silly mug ♥
this is where i want to be ♥
♥ in LOVE with this bag! ♥
this outfit is ace ♥
these fun nails! ♥
this dress is so so fun ♥
this fun print ♥
♥ this awesome sign from colleen! you can order your own via her shop
I love this photo-to-wood transfer method. My Altered Book professor taught us how to do it in college and it's so fun to see what you can get out of it! I love this one because it's one of my favorite wedding photos. Can't wait to hang it up in our bedroom! Thank you Colleen!
I have never been a pumpkin spice fan (sorry!) *but* those moravian cookies were SO good! And the little tea scoop is engraved with "1 perfect cup of tea" on the end. The bamboo steeping basket is a pretty fun addition, too. Mike is a big chai tea lover so he's loving the loose leaf tea. -- The deadline to get this box in the mail is November 1st, so hop to it if you like it! (You can also give TBE as a gift! Hey, hey, Christmas is coming up!)

// The best way to respond to a fat joke made publicly about you.

// We've been using our Latchy Catchy lately to keep things quiet while Linden naps. Something about a sleeping baby makes you hyperaware of just how noisy everyday things can be. This has been awesome... Now if only they could invent something to keep our wood floor from creaking as I sneak out of the room...

// Foodie Finds: loaded baked potato rounds // prosciutto wrapped asparagus // chicken fajita stuffed peppers // healthy applesauce oatmeal muffins // 37 delicious vegetarian recipes for thanksgiving // garlic parmesan chicken lasagna bake

// "An open letter to our readers" - I love when bloggers feel comfortable enough to admit they've fallen in the trap of popularity and stats. Being hope and honest about stuff like that feels so good. I have a post or two brewing in my head, so maybe I'll get around to those soon.

// What's your favorite comfort binge watch? Yes! Currently Gilmore Girls.

// Chili Verde Breakfast Lasagna + Apple Dump Cake. I want to make both of these!

// If Ariel and Prince Eric really got married... Oh man! This is SO gorgeous.

// Making parenting decisions you can live with... no matter what. I love all of the articles Caitlin sends me.

// Lisa creates some truly stunning designs, and now she's launching a silk scarf collection! Here's your chance to back her project and get in on the ground floor. That Wonderland print is awesome!

// 21 terrible 90s songs that everyone secretly loves. I seriously haven't listened to anything else since finding this. SO GOOD! (And totally not terrible at all)






What are you loving this week?

// Instagram Favorites: October

Here is my fifth installation of my monthly Instagram favorites. Each month I choose 5 accounts to highlight and I share a few of their most recent snaps that I've enjoyed. Some are highly curated, some include more "real" moments, and some are just really nice to look at. Hopefully you find a few new favorites to follow! As always, you're welcome to share your favorite accounts, or even links to your own, in the comments below! xo


Anne's feed is always so fun to peruse because she makes some of the most fun things ever. Her little creations are so cute and quirky! I am obsessed with her little cat head planters. I seriously want like seven shelves full of them. Don't even get me started on her little cat cacti haha!


Lara's (or La's!) feed is so pastel and pretty! She bakes, she crafts, and she gardens away in a country town in Scotland. You can always count on seeing something worth smiling about when visiting her account. And she just had a birthday yesterday, too! Happy birthday, lady!


Lydia's feed is often full of her baking creations. More often than not I'm left thinking "Uh, please bring that to my house so I can eat it!" when I scroll through her IG haha! She also seems like she'd be a super sweet gal to hang out with. That's always a plus!


Charlotte's feed is super bright and silly. She's a London based stylist and set designer, and that totally shines through in her photos. I love how she personifies so many inanimate objects. That Boo toast might just be my very favorite. I also want to make some of those painted pinecones for around the house this Autumn!


Viktorija's feed is so nice because she's always sharing bits and bobs that she's created. She makes these super fun shrinky dink brooches (if you're a Wes Anderson fan, rush over to her shop!). I really just enjoy the small peeks into her day.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

And those are my October favorites! I'll be back next month to share another round of lovely Instagrammers. Feel like sharing your own or tossing your hat into the ring? Leave your links below! xo 

See other monthly favorites HERE

// Seven Seas


These photos are from a couple of weeks ago, though they might as well have been from this past weekend since there was a mega "heat wave" around here. It was teetering around in the low 80s yesterday and whew, it sure made the orange and yellow trees feel out of place. The past few days were spent going full throttle. Toby hit the Halloween jackpot by spending the entire weekend at Mike's parents' house and getting to bob for apples, carve pumpkins, bake spider cupcakes, etc, with his cousins Kait and Ally. I loved seeing all of the photos Terri sent us and tagged us in. It looked like they totally had a blast. Mike, Linden and I loaded up to go to the flea market on Saturday, but after we ran all of our errands we simply didn't have enough time. We spent hours and hours at Michaels, stocking up on Christmas decorations. Then we spent all of Sunday decorating with those decorations haha! Christmas in October, before Halloween?! I know, we sound crazy! But I promise it makes sense. I'll share more about it later this week! Anyway, we were both totally spent after Saturday so we barely left the house once yesterday. While we worked every waking moment, it was nice to just be at home, ya know?

This dress is one of my favorites. Remember last year when I blogged a million and seven different Nine West dresses that I kept scooping up at Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshalls? Well this is one of those! I love the ombre look of the blue stripes, and I had to pair it with my navy and polka dot cardigan. It felt like the perfect match for my Eucalyptus Ergobaby wrap haha! And Linden matched me, too! I promise that part was totally coincidental. I love this little part of town. It's close to Toby's school and it's one of my favorite places to walk on a pretty day. We were out for a stroll when we snapped these photos. That little white picket fence makes it into a lot of my outfit posts haha! 

The forecast is looking favorable for Halloween later this week and I'm so excited. I can't wait to get out there with the boys and see them all dressed up. Mike doesn't have a costume yet, but I'm trying to convince him to dress up. I'm sure with just a bit more pestering I'll be able to win him over! I'm crossing my fingers that he won't have clinicals tomorrow so he can go on Toby's field trip with me. The kindergarten classes are headed to a pumpkin patch tomorrow and I wanted to bring Linden along if the weather was nice, but to be honest I'm a bit apprehensive about taking him out all day by myself where there's hundreds of five year olds running wild haha! I know I'll just keep him wrapped up and he'll probably nap just fine, but it'd be that much more special if Mike could be there for Linden's first pumpkin patch, too! Here's to hoping the weather holds out and we can make a day of it. If Mike can't go with us then I think my mom might tag along. Either way I know Toby will have an absolute blast. I'll just need to remind myself to snap a few pictures to share with Mike if he can't come!

Anyway, Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was awesome and that this week is even better! xo

Nine West dress
Forever 21 cardigan
SheInside shoes

PS; Don't forget to enter the Ergobaby giveaway from last week!

// Linden Atlas - Three Months

And just like that, this baby is a quarter of a year old! A quarter of a year! A whole season! These are (more than) a few of my favorite photos of him from the past few weeks. His personality is really starting to emerge and I just can't get enough of those smiles every day! And those forced frowns are pretty cute, too. Pinch me. I'm especially looking forward to the holidays with him.

This month Linden:
+ weighs 12 pounds and 2 ounces
+ started the early stages of teething (just this week!)
+ still can't fit in a lot of his 0-3m clothing. (one day!)
+ thinks my messy mom bun is the funnies thing (seriously. it's so cute!)
+ snores almost as loud as dad.
+ loves to swat at his playmat
+ started napping in his crib all by himself.
+ loves to kick, kick, kick!
+ still wakes every 3-4 hours to feed at night.
+ but generally sleeps in until 8am (yay!)
+ LOVES the "itsy bitsy spider" song with hand motions.

They weren't lying when they said each new stage is more fun than the last. I can't wait until he can sit up on his own and hang out. But then again I sort of like how cuddly he is right now. Babies!

* See his other monthly posts here.

// My Babywearing Journey + Ergobaby Giveaway



I could write post after post after post on why babywearing is so important to me, but in order to save you from absolute boredom, I'll try to sum it up nicely in this one entry... When I had so much trouble with breastfeeding (and feeling like an utter failure), babywearing is what "saved" me. I spent the first couple of weeks feeling like I would never bond with Linden because I was so mentally and physically exhausted from stressing over him eating. I was so worried that all of those "breast is best" articles were right and breastfeeding was bonding. Since I couldn't breastfeed successfully, I wouldn't ever bond with my baby, right? Wrong. (Thank goodness!) And I have a handy little wrap to thank for it. 

I knew I wanted to wear Linden since I first found out I was pregnant. I loved the thought of having him close, all the while having my hands free. It would be the best of both worlds. Endless snuggling that allowed me to be a productive work at home mom. Since I wasn't sure what wrap to start out with or if they were worth the cash, I began by using a DIY wrap I had made. It served us well while Linden was still hovering around his newborn weight. Of course thanks to his reflux and incessant spitting up, the crazy amount of washing it endured caused it to check out early on. While it didn't last for long, it opened me up to the wide world of babywearing and everything it entailed. I learned very quickly how beneficial it was for both me and Linden. I began wearing him the moment I was physically able to (post-caesarian) because it seemed so natural. From womb to wrap.


Babywearing is so beneficial for both the carrier and the baby. It has helped me create a bond with Linden that is stronger than almost anything. It's also helped me become incredibly tuned in to his personal "schedule." I'm always aware of when he's hungry, tired, or in need of a new diaper. Linden isn't a huge fan of tummy time, so wearing him helps him strengthen his neck muscles. (That kid has a big head in relation to his body, so strong muscles to keep it up are key haha!) One of my very favorite things about wearing him is I always know when he's ready for a nap because he'll burrow his sweet little face into one of the straps of the wrap where it's dark and cozy. (Anxious mom alert: If your kid does this, you'll freak out thinking he's going to suffocate. Luckily a little adjusting of the strap makes for the perfect little airway! I was worried sick after he developed this habit.)

It's not all about the baby and mama bonding either. Mike was having a hard time feeling super connected to Linden in the earlier weeks because L refused to be held by anyone other than me, and because Mike is gone all day to school, then spends most nights studying like crazy. Linden wanted me to feed him, hold him, soothe him, etc. It took a little bit of practice, but once Mike got the hang of the wrap, Linden was totally game to be worn by Dad. Seriously, it was such an exciting moment for us. Not only did it allow Mike a chance to really bond with L, but it also allowed me to take a shower, get some work done, and be alone when needed. Things that become absolute luxuries once the little ones show up.


Me preaching about babywearing may seriously be bordering on kicking a dead horse for some of you, but it's so hard to keep quiet when it's hands down the one thing that I feel really saved me (and Linden) these first few months. It hasn't been a walk in the park, but wearing him has been exactly what we both needed. And with that being said, I'm super excited about sharing the babywearing love with y'all! I'm certainly no expert on the subject, and in fact I'm still pretty clueless about wearing outside of wraps (soft structured carriers, wovens, etc, etc!). But I'm eager to learn more as Linden grows!

As an Ergobaby Brand Ambassador I am over the moon to share this giveaway today. In celebration of October being World Babywearing Awareness Month, one lucky reader is going to win an Ergobaby 4th Trimester pack which includes a wrap in your color choice and a set of Swaddlers! (Remember when I shared the Swaddlers in my Newborn Essentials post?! They are the bomb dot com!) 

I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to use the Ergobaby wraps these past couple of months. I promise I'm not just saying this, but they're amazing! At first I was worried there'd be too much fabric and they'd be cumbersome (my DIY wrap was much thinner), but they provide the perfect amount of support and stretch, and they still breathe, too. That way Linden is cozy when it's cool, but not too warm when it's hot out. They have a handy little pocket on the front even. (I may or may not use this for my phone and a spare pacifier or three haha!) After a handful of washes each, they're still holding up like new. (When you have a reflux baby, you get used to doing a lot of laundry! SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY!) I alternate between the Clay and Eucalyptus wraps, and I never leave the house without one! One of my favorite things about babywearing is spreading the love when out and about in public. Without fail, every time I wear him in a store, someone comments or asks about the wrap. We may live in a small town, but it's so fun to see babywearing become more and more normal around here.

As far as the giveaway goes, you don't have to be pregnant or a mom to win. Enter for a friend, give as a gift, or donate to a local women's shelter if you'd like! If you're curious about babywearing and you want to try it out without shelling out a lot of cash, enter and test your luck! I promise you'll be so stoked to have these in your arsenal. My hope with this giveaway is that another mama out there experiences just how powerful babywearing can be. It has had such a positive impact on my experience as a new mom, and I really want one of y'all to have that, too!

ENTER TO WIN AN ERGOBABY 4TH TRIMESTER SET


Good luck, friends! I can't wait to see who wins!

// Amelia



Sunday was gorgeous around these parts. There's just something so perfect about the sky in October. Have you ever noticed that? It's the most gorgeous shade of blue this time of year. Toby was having a field day over at our neighbor's house thanks to their gaggle of children, so while he played hide and go seek with all of them, we took Linden on a little stroll. This pretty little area is just down the road from our house, and is the very same plot of land that I played in when I was about 4 years old. It's kind of fun to walk through areas like that and remember some of the adventures I had.


Last week wasn't the best for me in terms of getting up and getting dressed (despite saying I was totally going to do just that...) Like I mentioned in my Currently post, things have been majorly busy around here. Luckily we made some insane headway on our kitchen addition this past weekend and I'm actually typing from the new counter! That probably sounds strange to include since it's pretty irrelevant, but we actually realized that our raised counter that Mike built would be the perfect height for a standing desk. Truth bomb: We were both using an ironing board in the kitchen as a standing desk when we needed to work/study and Linden demanded being held haha! This is much nicer and way more sturdy. Anyway, we're finally finishing up the kitchen makeover and getting the house together. I'm hoping to share some snapshots from around the house soon. I can't believe we've been here for almost 2 years and I've yet to do that. Then again so much of it feels unfinished. That's usually how it goes, right?

Now about this outfit: It's the standard Kaelah uniform, but I love the bright cardigan and the fun print on the dress. They're schematics for airplanes, helicopters, etc! There might even be a blimp on there haha! Fun right? Both the cardigan and necklace are from Stitch Fix, and the dress is a Modcloth grab. It felt really good to curl my hair (for the first time in 2+ weeks!), put on some makeup, and even paint my nails this weekend. I feel like a new person when I'm ever so slightly put together haha


This week I'm hoping to make a little more progress on our Halloween costume and format a few more Rad Gal, Rad Gig and Baggage submissions! (Click the "Submissions" page if you want to get in touch about being featured!) I'm also on the beginning stretch of the holiday sign rush! It's super exciting to be able to paint so many gifts for people. I just got a new shipment of supplies last Tuesday and I'm already sold out of one of the sizes again! Madness! But I'm definitely pinching myself for the opportunity to do what I do and work from home. So thanks to everyone who orders and reads here and all that jazz. You make it happen!

Drop back by tomorrow because there's going to be a super fun giveaway that I'm really excited to share! There might even be a few more fun giveaways brewing, too! xo

Mak cardigan via Stitch Fix
Target flats

// Currently

I've been a bit MIA from the blog lately... only 3 posts in a full week. The past week and a half have been a little overwhelming and I'm just trying to ease up on the workload a bit. We've also been doing some "renovations" in our house for the past week (building new counters and cabinets, installing a dishwasher, etc) so not only am I zonked, but our house is also a wreck! I find it so hard to be productive when things are messy, so I devoted most of yesterday to clean, clean, cleaning! Anyway, here's a Currently post to share what I've been up to lately.

READING: entirely too many baby-centric articles and blog posts. "Are these early teething signs?" "How much should my baby get at each feed?" "Is this normal for this age?" Phew... if you ever want to feel inadequate or unprepared, just go have yourself a baby! I'd like to say I'm elbow deep in a book or three but that would be a lie, soooo...

WONDERING: how so many work-at-home moms do it. goodness I promise this entire post won't be about being a parent, but seriously! I'm in awe of some of the ladies out there who manage to run small businesses or work from home while caring for one or more tiny people. I scramble to get as much done as I can when Mike gets home from school or when Linden is napping, but there are only so many hours in a day!

FEELING THANKFUL: for so much. but I'll keep it short and sweet by saying I'm thankful for all of the friends I've made via this blog and social media. the tweets, the comments, the texts, the package exchanges, etc. I'm working on compiling a list (or post!) on some of my favorite maker friends for y'all to check out if you're interested.

EATING: entirely too much candy corn. send help!

WATCHING: Gilmore Girls! I'm over halfway through season four and I love it! I never watched it while it was on air, but when I finished Gossip Girl I decided to give it a whirl. So glad I did! (If you have any suggestions for what should be next, I'm listening!)

WORKING ON: custom sign orders, our Halloween costume, finishing Linden's nursery, getting our house in order, posts for October + November, a new blog design, and getting out of my pajamas each day (yeah right!).

LOVING: the crisp, Fall mornings, infinity scarves, and mums on all the porches. Not really a fan of the crazy early darkness, but you didn't ask that, did you?

ATTEMPTING: to "crib train" Linden. I put off having him in his crib until now because co-sleeping and babywearing work so well for us, but I really need to get more done during the day and I just can't do all of it with a baby strapped to me. So this past weekend I worked on putting him in his crib for his naps and so far, so good! I'm SO happy to report that it's going much better than expected! He's a belly sleeper (*gasp!*) so I bought the Angelcare monitor for his crib. Belly sleeping seems to be the golden ticket because he doesn't startle himself awake. I'm so proud of that little guy for transitioning so well! It'll probably still be a while before we put him in there at night, but we might put him in his bassinet next weekend to see if that works. Otherwise co-sleeping it is!

WANTING: Thanksgiving and Christmas to hurry up and get here! I'm normally not one to wish away the days but I'm just so excited for the holidays this year. Having kids makes Christmas so much more fun and I'm hoping we can maybe do another version of our Activity Advent Calendar for Toby this year. Also super eager for our new phones to get here. Mike and I both upgraded to the iPhone 6 and his has already shipped, but mine is still waiting around to be fulfilled. I'm so excited to have a 64gb phone because I'm constantly having to try and delete photos off of my 16gb iPhone 5 to make room!


What are you up to today?
If you're looking for something to do, share your own Currently post on your blog and leave a link to it below! I'd love to know how you're spending your day! (Currently post inspired by Danielle's feature!)


PS; Are you following me on Instagram? Leave your username below!


// Things I Love Thursday v.204

these donuts! (it's in french, so use chrome to translate!) ♥
this blog + her work! ♥
this photo of amy poehler ♥
these cookies! ♥
* I was sent one of the boxes to enjoy and seriously, it's fantastic. such a wide variety of things in the box and anything you don't love you can easily give to a friend! it's definitely a fun way to find new indie makers to support. the best part? you get like 15 items PER box. that's insanity!
this precious mom + mini duo ♥
this typographic print ♥
this reminder ♥
these super cute onesies from the wishing elephant! ♥

// Ideel (formerly Ideeli) is having a big apparel sale with loads of goodies under $40!

// The Secret Language of Relationships. I loved this post! Mike and I totally have a secret language. I love our little inside jokes and phrases.



// You just broke your child. Congratulations. This seriously broke my heart to read. It's so easy to lose patience with our kids. I am trying to constantly remind myself that they're just precious little beings.


// I'm totally biased but I'm loving all of the neat things shared on the Tea Box Express Facebook page!




What are you loving this week?
Anything you'd like to add for next week's list?!

// Rub a Dub Dub


    

There's just something so precious and sweet about a freshly bathed baby. Linden loves bath time. He's such a fan of warm water haha Whether it's a shower or a bath, it's one of the best ways to calm him down if he's being fussy. He loves to just hang out and have water wash over him. Mike and I have had so much fun giving him his baths in the kitchen sink. We love to bundle him up in his little shark robe when he's done and I can't help but sniff that little round head of his after we wash his "hair" (ha, yeah, hair...) Those big, wide eyes crack me up. He won't be this little for long, so I'm trying to snap as many memories as I can!

* Infant tub c/o 4moms

// Things I Love Thursday v.203

♥ this quote ♥
this is totally more terrifying than a pumpkin! ♥
this workspace ♥
this made me laugh. you, too, right?  ♥
♥ this ♥
this precious pup! ♥
these pretty pictures ♥
this. ♥
these colorful shelves ♥


// Sophie just got married (!!!) and is roadtripping around the US with her little family. Her outfits are THE DREAMIEST and I'm determined to go to Denmark and hang out with her one day.

// Have you ever watched a chameleon try to climb water? It's adorable.

// This girl is SO CUTE. I can't stand it! I seriously adore her.

// Go Natural: Beauty, Skin, and Hair. What are your favorite natural products? 

// Got my latest Stitch Fix yesterday and it's ON POINT! Can't wait to share the cozy goodies!

// 70 things you can score with your student ID. Some are refuted in the comments, but it's a good start!



// Wishlist Wears: i love the color and collar of this dress // these shoes! // simple and sleek! // this owl dress is so fun // the pattern on this dress is lovely // french fry pouch! // hot air balloon dress! // this yellow dress and the pattern! SWOON! // i just ordered this and i can't wait for it to get here!



What are you loving this week?