The Friday Five

1.
George Ezra, I'm feelin' your jam.
I call this perfect laundry-folding, freezer-meal-assembling music.
Dare I say, "mom music"?!

2.
navy + pearls
This classic combo looks fresh and new by pairing an on-trend vest + chunky pearls.  A perfect transition to cooler weather, no?

3.
Cauliflower Stir Fry
...ala the one and only "Pioneer Woman".
Healthy and ready in less than 10 minutes.
{HERE}
You can substitute any hot sauce or sambol oelek for the Sriracha.  I also add a pinch of brown sugar or honey, because I just love that "spicy-sweet" thing that Asian cuisine's got goin' on.  Eat alone for lunch or serve as a side with dinner.  Either way, make this and your taste buds will thank me!

4.
Essie "Beige" nails
In case you're not ready to jump on the dark train just yet, any of these beige colors would be a pretty neutral pick for early fall.

5.
"It's not you, it's them."
Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you're constantly on the brink of insanity?  Well, this has been one of those weeks for me.  With everyone battling allergies/colds (and therefore sleeping like shizz-nits), I am one irrational tantrum away from a trip to the loony bin myself.  But thankfully, it appears I'm not the only one!
{HERE}
Meanwhile, I'll be repeating her mantra...

"You are good and normal and reasonable.  It's them.  The crazy is not in your head.  It's in your house.  We have to wait them out.  We just have to smile and wait them out.  We have fought too hard for our sanity to lose it now."

Oh, you thought I was kidding...



And a few more links, just for fun...

9 home truths we tend to forget.

Need a low-light house plant?  Look no further.

Adorable (and printable!) housewarming invites + moving announcements.

5 books to read this fall.
(And a few more if you need a good laugh!)

14 incredibly interesting (and useful!) psychology tricks.

And a quote to kick off your weekend:

Amen, my friends, amen.

See you next week, m'loves!


~ images via sortra.com, norstrom.com, & engelta.hubpages.com / photos by bits of breezy ~

The Friday Five

Happy Friday, y'all!

Here's what's happenin' this week...

1.

Loving this little oldie but goodie ala Aimee Mann & Michael Penn.

It screams summer roadtrip, with the windows down and hair blowing, no?

2.

Tomatoes.

"You say tom-a-to, I say tom-ah-to..."

Just give me them to me in any way.

From fresh pastas and Caprese salads to BLT's,

or just topped on a crusty piece of bread with a little bit of good mayo and S&P...

YUM.

Now if only the damn deer would stop eating all of mine...

3.

Columbia Crest H3 Sauvignon Blanc

You know what pairs well with tomatoes and other light summer fare?
A crispy white wine, that's what.

And here's another tasty one that won't break the bank!

4.

white sundress + straw tote

Only a couple more weeks to wear white, peeps.

Get it in!  (Before you're a fashion faux paux.)

5.

Stop saying, "It could be worse."

Amen, sister.

This article really touched home this week.

Hang in there on those tough days, mama!  Your struggle is real.

And a few more fun things...

This grieving husband is just about the sweetest ever.

Mini Boden is having a sale!  Perfect timing for "back to school."

How to send an email so people actually respond.

A list of 25 places to take your kids before they graduate from high school.

What's on my reading radar, after reading this earlier this summer.

Top Etsy shops for vintage home decor.  #trouble

Fashionista best purchases.  #moretrouble

Have a fantastic end-of-summer weekend, m'loves!!

~ photos by bits of breezy / images via columbiacrest.com & lolobu.com ~

Summer reads, Volume 2

So, I'm still having post-vacation blues.

I'd much rather be on my lake floatie with a drink in hand under the hot summer sun (a.k.a. my new happy place), but alas, I'm back at dreaded work.

Vacay photos to come, I swear.

Meanwhile, I finished reading this on our trip:

A love story between two "cancer kids" which is so romantic and ever so sad.

If you don't mind having a Kleenex box at the ready for a good wholesome dose of "life's not fair", then I definitely recommend this one.  It's just so very sweet.

{HERE}

Spoiler alert:  Do NOT watch the movie before reading the book.

It just won't be as good, I promise you.

P.S.  Pretty sure Hazel actually said (something like) that, not Gus.  But whatever.  Still one of my favorite lines.

Happy {summer} reading!

~ images via wikipedia & passionateddigitalartist.com ~

The Friday Five

OMG, how is it freaking Friday already?!
This week has just zipped right by.
We've been busy with zoo camp, ice cream socials, preschool field trips and summer library programs, tending to the garden (a.k.a. the current bane of my existence) and planning for a relaxing week up north (followed immediately by my not-so-relaxing return to work)....hence, the lack of blogging.

But in the words of Olaf, "all good things, all good things."

Regardless, I'm looking forward to all the R&R that next week will bring.
Moreover, here's what's making me smile this week...

1.
Heard this little tune at the end of "This is Where I Leave You".
(Fact:  Sometimes novels on your reading list become movies movies on HBO before you actually get around to reading them.)

2.
My new wavy, mid-length hair.

Let's call it a "beachy lob".

I took these pics to my amazing hair stylist,

who embraced my reality of air drying 90% of the time

and created a fun, minimal effort 'do for my naturally wavy hair.

Thus, the unavoidable Midwestern summer humidity just became my bff.

Score!

You just need one of these for touch-ups.

3.
Mortified, the podcast.
If you haven't checked this out, do so immediately.
Adults reading embarrassing things they wrote as kids - from diaries to fan letters to song lyrics.  Freaking hilarious!  And definitely makes my morning commute a wee bit better.
{HERE}

4.
Zoo camp @ the Milwaukee County Zoo
Local parents, worth the ~$20/class!
Well, let me re-phrase that.
If your child is at least 3 (or maybe the later half of 2), it's worth the money!
My 3 year old had a blast learning all about his favorite zoo animal - the hippo.  The classroom was full of different crafting stations (including the making of a full hippo costume) followed by pretending to be hippos.  The hour-and-a-half class also included "circle time" learning, a short movie while munching on a hippo-like snack, along with a variety of books & puzzles (for the tikes who can't sit still that long).  The class ended by walking to see the real hippos and talking to their zookeeper.  So fun!  Even I learned some cool facts.
Still a few open classes left! {HERE}

5.
All things "Father's Day"
My little ones have been busy crafting away at preschool/day care in preparation.  And I've been busy assembling treat bags myself!
I'd tell you more, but of course, it's a surprise.
Since I've been a major slacker on gift guides this year,
I will at least share this adorable piece on fatherly advice...
{HERE}

And a few more links, just because...

Fun earrings - and currently 30% off!

Side note:  J. Crew is about to become even more rad.

I think I also need this cookbook.

Great financial news for my fellow NP's out there!
(Though apparently my employer needs to get on this same page! Hint, hint.)

RIP beards!
(Husband, are you reading?! Peeeeeace!)

How to exercise at your desk.  Haha!

Summer tag sale over at anthropologie! a.k.a. up to 50% off.
You're welcome.

Some amazing summer homes over at Vogue.

And one more lovely little fatherly sentiment to end this post...


Happy {Father's Day} Weekend!

~ images via prettydesigns.com, getmortified.com / photos by bits of breezy ~

Summer reads, Volume 1

Put this book on your summer reading list immediately:

I literally read it within one week!

(If you are a mom of two,

you will know that this means it was good because

who. has. the. time.)

An intertwining story of a letter from a husband that was never meant to be found or read, and has the potential to change the lives of everyone.  Suspense!  A little romance! Definitely a "summer read" you won't want to put down.

Get it {HERE}.

What's a "must" on your summer reading list?

~ photo via tinyoranges.com ~

Mama Mondays : Helicopter Parenting

I am literally typing this in a cafe where I am watching a major helicopter mom micromanage every single second of her poor preschooler's lunch... 

Are you okay?

It's lunch time, honey, can you sit down?

No, not right there, right here.

Do you need help getting up on the chair?

No? (waits a nano second)  Here, let mommy help you.

Wait, let's take a selfie first.

Ready, set, cheese!

Honey, that wasn't a good one.  Can you please smile for the camera?

Do you want mommy to cut up your chicken into smaller pieces?

No? Okay. (Proceeds to chop chicken into micro bits anyway.)

(Child drops fork on the floor.)

Uh-oh! Are you okay, honey?

You have to be careful!  You could hurt yourself with that sharp fork!

(Note: fork is plastic)

Here, honey...hold mommy's hand and we'll go get a new fork.

What's the matter, honey?
Are you not hungry?
Are you not feeling good?
What can mommy do to help?

 Ho-ly sh!t.
I cannot even imagine what potty time entails,
let alone what the hell his future school years hold.
Am I that bad?!?!

For the love of God, I hope not.
If I am this stressed out by < 5 minutes with his mom,
I imagine this poor kid's on the brink of a nervous breakdown!

I usually only notice the helicopter moms on the playgrounds.

Do you know who I'm talking about?
Enter: The 9 Worse Parents at the Playground

The worst are the ones who, in between hovering over their own kids,

shoot you the stink eye as if wondering why the hell you're not doing the same with your own.  I know it's not the 1990's (and earlier eras), when kids were allowed to ride bikes to the pool or go exploring the neighborhood on their own.  Parents nowadays are so worried, bordering on paranoia, about their children.  I also believe these "helicopter parents" have only their children's best interests in mind, which are unfortunately amplified by the crazy, and sometimes cruel, world we live in.

 I am certainly guilty of some helicoptering behaviors myself (especially with my wild child / dare devil disguised as an 18 month old).  Being one that hates a mess does not help matters.

However, aren't there times when kids can just be kids and not have a grown-up critiquing every move and literally telling them how to play?  Isn't that one of the best gifts we can give to our children - time to explore and play (and thereby learn) on their own terms? I feel like some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around that luxury of  unstructured "time"...

Time to just lay in the grass and observe the clouds changing shapes in the sky.

Time to ride your bike with the neighborhood kids with no destination in mind.
Time to observe ant hills or chase the dog for hours on end.

Time to make-up games with friends.
Time to hang out in forts and tree houses where no parents are allowed.

One of my most important "mom goals" is to allow my boys to do as they please during "play time" (with age-appropriate and safety limitations, of course).  I ultimately want them to be able to learn from their mistakes as well as learn how to share and navigate through social conflicts on their own.  It has to start somewhere, right? So, why not on the playground?

Needless to say, this book is definitely on my "to read" list:

And here's another great helicopter parenting read, if you're interested!

Deep breaths, mama.
They might get a little wet and a little dirty.
They might skin their knees.
They might tell you so-and-so is mean or didn't wait his turn.
But...

they're going to be just fine out there.

So sit back and soak in their wonderment

as they explore their own little worlds....

~ image via parenting.com & Amazon.com / photo by bits of breezy ~

The Friday Five

Here's what's good this week, m'loves...

1.

Local music

Namely, the band Phox from Baraboo, WI.

We have a set of free tix to Summerfest this year.  Throw in a couple of brews under the summer stars, and I'm thinking a night of Phox and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes sounds like a fun (cheap) date night to me.

Here's one of my favorites from them:

2.

Dutch braids + Low messy bun

A.k.a. my new go-to 'do when my hair is too crazy to wear down.

A.k.a. pretty much everyday.

Here's how you do it.

3.

Guilhem Rose`

Rose` is the new white.

Bone dry, crisp, refreshing, affordable (~$8.99/bottle), spring-in-a-glass.

Need I say more?  Are you listening to me Lisa Vanderplump?

Get some at your local grocer, or here.

4.

Tiny Beautiful Things

Straight from the "Dear Sugar" advice column by Cheryl Strayed, this book is comprised of short snippets of wisdom even a busy mom like me can find time to read.  (Short snippets = I can read one or two today and then not pick it up for 2 weeks.)  I feel like every woman should own this book because each piece of advice is either directly applicable to you or someone you know.

Grab a Kleenex box.  Be inspired.

5.

Birthday cake popcorn

Funfetti meets popcorn.

Salty, sweet, and so addicting.

Make this for your next gathering!

And a few more fun links, just because...

The #1 question to ask before getting married.

Adorable cutting boards.

How to win any argument (watch out, world!)

The back of this dress is super sexy, no?

Crushing on these hoop earrings in gold.

Have you seen this Mother's Day commercial yet? I was crying just seconds in.

Have a great weekend!

:)

~ images via missysue.com, cherylstrayed.com, & bitememore.com /

pics via bitsofbreezy ~

The Friday Five

1.
Sufjan Stevens holiday music.
 Best background music for working/blogging/cleaning
whilst a baby sleeps.

2.
Sperry's
The ultimate preppy look.
Pretty sure I need a pair this spring.
I'm especially digging these:

Now, who wants to take me out on Lake Michigan in their sail boat?
Call me come May.

3.

Every Month is Oktoberfest

by OPI

The perfect navy-dark purple/red for winter.

4.
I need an old black globe.
Pretty badly, said my bookshelf.

5.
10 Compliments Your Kids Need to Hear

{HERE}
Must remember these!
Doing something at a high standard is ALWAYS worth noting.

And a few more links, just for you...

I want to get this book for Christmas next year.

"1st Birthday Party" inspiration begins now.

Who knew you could make so many things out of crescent rolls.

Ha! So true.

Happy Weekend, loves!

~images via sperry's, opi, & pinterest x 2~

The name game

Reese Witherspoon recently named her baby boy Tennessee James.

Is that kinda rad?  Or kinda sad?

I can't decide.

Here were the top names for boys and girls in 2011...

I've heard great things about the book Baby Names Now.

Perhaps I'll have to check it out before we start working on baby numero dos! 

I'm always curious to hear others' favorite baby names as mine are often changing. 

Would you name your child an off-beat name?

Or, one that is on the "popular" list?

Or, after a family member?

I personally wouldn't want my child to go through school with 5 other Isabella's in their class, but that's just me.  I also like names that sound phonetically perfect with their last names.  (Must be the perfectionist in me!)

What do you think?

~image via social security & king royal design~

The Friday Five

Soooooooooo,
my automatic blog posts decided not to go through the past 2 days.
Did you think I'd died?
Succumbed to the craziness that is also known as my new life?
Well....basically, yes.  Yes I did.
And now the really great posts I had lined up for Halloween and the huzz's birthday have done gone to waste.  Also, I am sleep-deprived from dealing with a week-long baby ear infection + this new job.  My house is messy.  I will be giving my man belated birthday gifts.  I contemplated not showering this morning due to extreme exhaustion.
Mom fail, wife fail, blogger fail.
Fail, fail, fail.
But I am back.
It is Friday.
And in that, let us all rejoice and be glad.
;)


1.

Ryan Bingham

How can a voice that sounds like it spent it's entire life smoking Newport's, drinking Sriracha, eating dusty cat dander, and screaming bloody murder sound so damn good?

Aside:  While this song is good, this one is still my favorite from that movie.

2.

Boots + Skirts

Well, pretty much boots in general.

'Tis the season!

3.

Sick Baby Survival

Seen on Pinterest, and perfect for a busy crazed mom

who doesn't want to miss an antibiotic dose!

(Insert: ME)

Genius.

4.

Pottery Barn Kids Halloween Treat Bags.

We saw some pretty, down-right shoddy trick or treat bags this year.

(Read:  One princess was using a taped-together Victoria's Secret bag.)

But not so at PB Kids!

Yet even on Clearance, the price is still jacked.

Totally going to make my own on the cheap for next year!

5.

Clean House in 15 Minutes per Day

{HERE}

Must. Take. Notes.

But seriously, very doable, right?

I especially need to get into the habit of putting things away immediately.

Super bad at that for no good reason!

And a few more fun links (because I owe ya big time)...

This was totally me yesterday. 

I have a lot of eggs and jalapenos in the fridge - contemplating this for breakfast.

46 ideas for D.I.Y. jewelry you might actually wear!

Digging these multi-textural stilettos.

I absolutely love her food blog, so this book might be a x-mas list "must"!

What an amazing, amazing nursery.

This raises a good point (and made me LOL).

Have a great weekend, loves!

~images via pinterest x 2, pottery barn kids, & organizing made fun~

More peas, please.

 The babe likes peas.

I am thrilled!  Beside myself!

We might as well chalk this one up as a miracle.

Recipe via Baby Love.

All you need is 1.5 bags of frozen organic peas ($1.99 each at Whole Foods),

water, and a blender!

Then, voila! , 30+ 1-2 oz servings of fresh, bright green peas.

Once he's ~8 months old, I can't wait to try their recipe for "p.e.a."...

peas, edamame, and apples!

Protein, veg, and fruit all in one little nugget!

LOVE.

I urge you all to try making your own baby food.

Easy, economical, and wonderful knowing exactly what your little one's consuming!

I should also note that this recipe could double as adult food.  Namely, I think it would make for a killer sauce base for a grilled piece of white fish OR a delicious topping (with some feta) on crostini.  

Yum!

~photos by b~

The Friday Five

1.
Joshua Radin
Remember him? {HERE}.
How could you forget with such a tale like that?! ;)
He recently released his latest album with this title track:

I have to say, as much as love the female harmonies of days past,
I am feeling the bluegrass-jam session-y feel of his newest stuff!

2.

Bib necklaces

When purchasing a "trendy" piece of jewelry,

like this bubble necklace from J. Crew,

I hate to spend the big bucks.

Enter:  Etsy

About $125 cheaper, and still cute and on trend!

3.
"Baby Love" Cookbook
LOVE it.
I've made two super simple recipes for apple and butternut squash thus far,
with 4 more (pears, peas, peaches, & sweet potatoes) on deck!
So far, it passes the mom AND foodie seal for nutrition AND good taste!

(Blog post(s) regarding this topic to come soon!)



4.
Trader Joe's Wasabi Mayo
The ultimate sandwich condiment.
The huzz requests it daily.
Tasty on roast beef, turkey, ham...even in tuna salad!
Try some, our taste buds urge you.

5.
10 Things to Check Before Buying a New Home
{HERE}

I wouldn't have thought to taste the water!

And a few more links, just because I love ya...

I've been busy searching/organizing slow cooker meals for when I go back to work.
This site has some pretty good ones!

Ten quirky hotels.

(I think I'm more of a "boutique" hotel girl myself.)

Top moves for six-pack abs.

(Hey, I'd settle for the return of just a two-pack of abs.)

This necklace length chart is SO helpful, especially for online ordering.

Have a great weekend!

~images via j.crew, etsy, amazon.com, trader joe's and doitandhow.com~

The Friday Five

TGIF!

The weather has been bangin' this week.

And I can't wait to celebrate the end of August with both of my main squeezes,
as well as with some of my friends Saturday night!

Here's what I'm digging this week...

1.

Foster the People

Remember  my love for them? {HERE}

That song still tickles my pickle.

And this jam is no exception:

2.
"Takeout Tuesdays" in Schlitz Park
Food truck extravaganza!
And lunchtime fun with my two favorites.

(Note the teeth fixation.  Then send me good vibes.  Or booze.)
I think we will make this a weekly ritual for as long as I am granted the luxury of Tuesdays off.  You can find us perched on a bench along the Riverwalk.

3.

Peanut Butter Panda Puffs

Am I the only non-child who is in love with this cereal?
I care not.

Buy it at Trader Joe's for about $2-3 less than at Whole Foods.

Surprise, surprise.

4.
Stylish ponytails.
Why can't mine ever look like these?

Freakin' models.



5.
An apology to the parents I judged...
{HERE}
Holy cow.  I second every sentiment!  A must read, whether you have kids or not.
We have recently experienced some unfortunate baby meltdowns in Church/restaurants and I have felt the glares from non-parents...glares that I'm sure I once gave to a poor mother (or two) and her screaming child on a plane, for example.  But I feel you now, woman.  I feel  you.  Woof!  And I am sorry.

But, gosh darn it, I do still believe my kids will be the best behaved ones around.
I'll make sure to it!!

Thank you , Clifford.  :)


And a few more links, just for fun...

This bedtime calculator is so cool! I wonder if it actually works?

Speaking of bracelets, how adorable is this mini bow bangle by kate spade?

Remember my rant about being a homemaker?  (How could you forget?)
Well, check this -ish out.  Word to your mother.  Literally.

Thinking about reading this book.

I would like these shoes.  Minus the zero on that price tag, however.

This is funny...and very true!

I want to make Mario Batali's recipe for spaghetti with green tomatoes and pesto.
I was drooling while watching him make this the other day on The Chew.
That is, until he took a bite of his own food and proclaimed,
"Damn, I'm a good cook!"
I then instantly snapped out of it and remembered why I abhor him.
I'll still try the recipe, however, seeing as this one was such a damn delight.
;)

The West Nile Virus is rampant.  Be careful out there!
(Read:  Now's probably night the time for homemade spray!)


Ta ta for now, kids.
May your weekend be all things fun and amazing!

~photos by b / images via naturespath, wit and delight, plumprettydelight~