Weekend Review

I kind of consider my weekend to have started on Thursday.  Pete and I took half a day off work to take Jacob to get his passport photo taken.  He was so cute! While he was a bit shy at first, he mustered a little smile for the second photo.  I think it's so exciting to know that we could pick up and move to Europe if we really wanted to (thought we won't...AHEM. Mommom!).  I think it's really important for kids to have an appreciation for culture, history and the adventure of traveling.  Hearing stories of my grandfather's travels in the mission field always made me eager to see the world.  I think it's a bug that may just be in the blood.  And, though some may argue that kids are too young to really appreciate the experience, I think that engraining a mindset of cultural appreciation from a young age helps them become inquisitive adolescents and intelligent adults.  So, we are now free to take Jacob to see the world!  I can't wait to share those experiences with him.

Friday was crazy busy with meetings.  And after rushing out the door of work to go pick up Jacob, I had to take the long way because the roads were so bad.  But, after we all got home we all cuddled up on the couch and watched Finding Nemo.  We promised Jacob a "sleepover" so he got to stay up late,  watch TV and cuddle in our bed with us.  This VERY rarely happens since Pete's a pretty light sleeper and we don't want Jacob to get used to co-sleeping, but "sleepovers" are perfect for cold, snowy nights!  It was perfect.  Those are the nights I try to soak in, taking mental pictures and willing him not to grow up.

Saturday was pretty lazy.  Coffee, pjs well into the afternoon, a trip to the grocery store for some slow cooked goodness, and then a trip to Target for some St. John bathing suit shopping.  I was pretty happy with my selections, no matter how disappointed I was at how much my size ballooned when I wandered into the Juniors section of bikinis!!! how embarrassing. UGH.

AND, here's the yummy dinner we had... (about that ballooning size.....)

You can find the slow cooked goulash recipe we tried here.  It was pretty good!  I'd suggest playing around a little bit with some extra tomato sauce (not too watery) and a pinch more salt.  We'll try it again at some point and play with the recipe.  I'll probably try adding splenda as well- Pete says I'm crazy because I add splenda to everything, but seriously- just try it.  It makes everything taste better.  Nonetheless, it was perfect for a lazy night in.  

Sunday, of course we had church and then had Mom, Jack, Jenna and Presley over for some left over goulash!  yes...we had it two meals in a row...  The kids had a blast and then it was nap time!

Which brings me to a VERY EXCITING point.  As incentive to keep going with school, Pete promised me my first pair of non-secondhand Louboutins when I graduated with my B.S.  I've had them picked out for a while- black pigalle 100 leather pumps- classic and sensible, but with a Louboutin heel that is just the right amount of sexy .  Of course, when I FINALLY graduated they were no where to be found.  Seriously, we've been on the look out for months.  BUT, after daily perusing of Bergdorfs, Saks and Neiman's, Saks finally had a 37.5 on pre-order!!!! It was like heaven opened and my Loubi dreams came true.  They won't be here until April, but these babies are totally worth it!!!

Also, it should be noted that I just went to go find the link from Saks and POOF- they're gone already (the pic above is of the patent leather version)!!! This whole process reminded me of Samantha from SATC in that episode where she used Lucy Liu's name to get on the list for the new Birkin bag.  But, that was BIRKIN.  I didn't think classic Loubies would be so difficult to get ahold of.  Anyway, they will be on their way shortly and I can't wait to be walking on red shadows.  Who needs sunshine anyway?  I have loubies.

Birds of a Feather

Perusing the J.Crew site this evening led me to a GORGEOUS mix of two of my favorite things: sequins and feathers. What's not to love? They're the perfect embodiment of glitz and glam. Feeling inspired, I went on a hunt for other feather fashions that I'll go to sleep craving.  I'm trying to narrow it down to my top feather choice and I honestly can't choose.  Can I just have them all?!

Cocktail Dress Clutch Jacket Peplum Top Heels Earrings Blush Cocktail Dress Skirt Stationery

Have any of you tried this daring trend?  While I love it for cocktails, I'm kind of dying to try it for everyday wear!  What should I pair it with for some cazsh glitz?

Are We There Yet?! The St. John Countdown

In just over a month, we'll be leaving for St. John with Pete's side of the family.  We'll be staying in a house with gorgeous views, such as this...

Actually, that IS our view!!! From EVERY room!!! I'm still kind of pinching myself to be sure that that's actually where we'll be for a week.  The house has a ton of indoor/outdoor space, an amazing pool and even a little bridge (for some reason that's one of the most exciting things to me?).

And, while I am SUPER excited for the sunshine and relaxation, I also welcome another excuse to shop!!  So, in my planning, I've come up with a few things I absolutely have to pack (things I already have)...

-Cuffed Denim Shorts
-Striped Terry Shorts (probably my favorite)
-White Linen Button Down
-Beach Bag (I have a go-to pink Lacoste bag that's pretty much become our official sand bucket bag)
-Easy Maxi Dresses (need a couple more of these)
-My Oversized Kate Spade Straw Hat
-Basic Tees (I have a few JCrew tees that I live in)

and of course I have a lot of other pieces I COULD bring....but I'd rather buy the following...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11(already own) 12(J.Crew- old; was a Christmas gift from the hub!) 13

First of all, um HOW CUTE IS THAT BEACH TOWEL??!!  

In other news...

I've been trying to replace a yellow polka dot bikini I left at a hotel in Spain when I was 17 for about, well, since then.  I finally found one I liked from J.Crew.  I'll definitely be adding a floral print bikini to my list as well.  Those clear acrylic sandals are TA DIE for- I'm a total sucker for bows and studs.  And, I've been wanting to add some patterned silk and lace options into my shorts collection- denim and chinos can only get a gal so far.  I plan on pairing the lace ones with an easy graphic tee for travel and the patterned ones with a more fitted, tucked in tank and a fedora.  Add some bold colors into the lipstick, sarong and sunhat (bold lip + perfectly sunkissed skin = perfection) for beach going and I think I'll have a tropical win.

SO, now I have to go convince my husband I need to order all this stuff....HA.  Maybe the beach towel isn't a necessity?  

What are you bringing on your winter getaways?  Any good book suggestions?  Did I miss any island essentials?

Cheers {clink!} to the New Year!

I'm normally not for New Year's Resolutions.  The way I see it is that the new year will bring a new set of challenges that resolutions really won't do anything about.  And, if I'm honest with myself, the fact that working out more is on my Resolutions list won't make me any more likely to get up at 5am.  Pretty cynical, huh?  But, with that in mind, I've made resolutions that I think will help me to approach upcoming challenges with a positive manageability.  And, rather than focusing so much on self improvement for the sake of self improvement, I'm going to work on self improvement that will make me a better person for the people around me- my husband, my son, my colleagues.  So, here it goes...

1) Limit technology time.  I want to get off social media more and spend less time building my fake online shopping carts to spend better quality time with my family.

2) Be more productive.  This is a tough one because sometimes I feel like I can't breathe because I have so much to do!  But, I think #1 will help me with better time management.  I just feel better when I'm keeping up with housework and correspondence.  But,  I don't want my productivity to just reach chores- I want to do productive things with my family, like cooking together and doing fun projects.  For myself, I want to do more productive things that help me explore my interests- especially singing!!  It makes me feel alive.  And, to me- that's productive..therapeutic even!

3) Be more creative.  I really want to push my work to the next level this year.  I feel like my work has changed so much over the past year and I'm really coming into my own.  This year,  I want to really solidify who I am as a wedding stylist and what makes me "me" and not anyone else.  I want to draw inspiration from the world around me for fresh designs, rather than pinterest or blogs.  Why be a second rate version of someone else when you can be a first rate version of yourself?  This year, I'm going to focus on personal excellence so my clients get the best work I have to offer.

4) I want to be the most positive, friendliest person I can be!!  Sometimes I can easily fall into a pattern of meanness.  It's true.  I have some anger tendencies.  I've been making a conscious effort to be friendly to EVERYONE, no matter how much I feel like they may not like me.  This year- I'm just going to be a friendly person.  If people around me don't receive that or reciprocate- that's on them.  But, I'm going to be positive, encouraging and friendly.  I'm going to let me guard down and and just be me.

5) I want to be content.  I have a tendency to obsess over what I should be doing or how I should be doing.  I think I should be dressing better.  I think my house should be better decorated.  I think I should be coming up with more innovative designs.  I should be booking more business.  I should be making more money.  I should be spending less money.  I think my house should be cleaner, more organized.  I should be more fit, a better wife, a better mother.  And, sometimes these things are true.  But, sometimes I literally get myself so upset thinking about what I can't do or who I'm not that I don't live in the present and appreciate the things I have and the work that I've done.  This year, I'm done with perfectionism.


I hope you all have a FABULOUS year and achieve PROGRESS, not perfection.

(Photo Credit: Inspired by This)