happy things this morning

happy tuesday morning everyone!

i am feeling overwhelmed but happy.

this is why:

we are approaching settlement on our current home and have reached a verbal agreement on a purchase price for this home.  i have already begun to decorate the home in my mind, especially when i can't sleep.  i have also started snapping pictures of homes in my neighborhood so that i can copy their paint scheme.  i look like a creepy stalker taking hidden shots with my phone as i walk by these homes disguised as a mom with a baby carriage.  anyway...i am thinking light gray with white trim and black shutters.  thoughts?

perfect breakfast of vanilla yogurt, fresh strawberries, granola and honey.  couple that with a huge steaming cup of coffee...heaven.

this kid waving "hi" this morning while i made breakfast makes the sleepless-because-of-two-more-teeth-coming-in all worth it.

these two new lipsticks i picked up yesterday.  and no mike, they are not the same color!

revlon's fire & ice and orange flip.

quinn's shoes.  and his little hand reaching for them.  he has pretty much been barefoot since the day he was born.  socks in the winter, but rarely shoes.  lately we have been putting on a pair and waking hand-in-hand down the street.  he barely needs my support, but he won't take more than a step or two without it.  

what i am wearing {in my mind} right now

bridget - i meant for that bracelet to have a border.  so take that.

now where is the "buy it now" button?

monokini makes a comeback

i remember wearing a monokini in fifth or sixth grade and thinking i was pretty darn cool.  one piece in the front and bikini in the back.  tricky.  kinda like a mullet (business in the front, party in the back).   

printed french monokini

kenneth cole plunge monokini

cut-out ruffle monokini

well the monokini is making a comeback apparently and some of them are a bit cuter than my grade-school-80s-options.  who knew?  so if you want to relive some of the fabulous 80s, find a monokini, put loads of hairspray in your hair, and listen to some Simple Minds.

just ask paris hilton, kesha, jenny mccarthy, lindsay lohan, audrina patridge, eva longoria, and jessica alba.

my first guest blog! and my new favorite headband

i am guest blogging over at itsahuntlife for my sister bridget while she loves on her new little baby.  come check out her blog and see me over there today.  

i recently received this fabulous headband from luxeboulevard on etsy.

stephanie has some serious talent and i am loving wearing this...almost every day since i received it.  i love how there are so many colors in it that it compliments any outfit i throw together. 

what's more is that my dirty-hair-thrown-up-in-a-messy-pony-bun-thingy-because-i-am-a-mom-now looks WAY better thanks to this addition.  to prove it, here i am in the morning in my robe looking somewhat passable with my new hair accoutrement.  

mike thinks i have a problem. he might be right.

i was at the mall with quinn and mike last week.

gap had this sale.

a really great sale.

i meandered through the racks of clothing, trying not to make eye contact with the jeans.  i browsed the shirts, the shoes, the accessories.  i finally caved and wandered over to the jeans, playing hard-to-get at first.  hello motherload!  i immediately and with urgency handed quinn over to mike and began pawing through the gads of jeans.  ALL IN MY SIZE!  this couldn't be possible.  i NEVER find jeans in my size.  the sales girl casually offers "anything on sale is an additional 50% off."  what the bleepity-bleep!  "are you serious?" i ask,  "that is like practically free.  you guys are like giving these jeans away!"  now my pawing becomes even more frantic, as if at any moment the sales girl was going to renege on the deal if i don't move faster.  i have now grabbed about five pairs of jeans when this young, adorable girl and her mother approach the rack.  she is built exactly like me, just a good bit shorter.  without so much as a word i thrust pair after pair into her hands, again exclaiming "this is ridiculous, they are like giving these jeans away!"  i am not sure what she or her mom thought of me at the time, but they accepted each pair i offered.  later in the dressing room i find the young girl and give her the jeans that i decide not to buy. she shyly says "i love you."  i smile because i know how difficult it can be to find a good pair of jeans that fit right.  her mom comes up and smiles, a look of appreciation in her eyes.  i gather up my jeans and leave the dressing room to find mike and quinn.  "you have a problem" mike says as i show him the jeans i am about to make my own.  he is absolutely right.  some people gamble, others drink.  i buy jeans.  and these jeans were practically free.  i am talking $6, $9, $10.  get to gap.  you will be so bleepity-bleeping happy you did!  

check out my new jeans below:      

give me more jeans!

it has been said on more than one occasion by more than one person that i have a ridiculously large jean collection.  i LOVE jeans.  LOVE.  and i am so into the emersonmade.com assortment of high(er)-waisted jeans paired with fabulous belts and basic tops.  i may in-fact be a hippie at heart (i totally dabbled in high school).  so it is no wonder that i want a pair.  maybe two.  here are a few of my favorites.  think:  floppy straw hat, great wedges, wavy hair.  ohhhh...sounds good, huh?

spring fashions...love

i wish i was a supermodel sometimes...so i could wear these absolutely beautiful clothes, so people would just hand me things for free even though i make tons of money, so someone else could do my hair and makeup.  yummm.  it would be fun.  but since that is not happening in the foreseeable future, i will just have to appease myself by browsing through fashion magazines and pretend i am wearing the clothes and trying out the latest and greatest free bags and shoes.  want to dream with me???

i love the nudes.  they make me look washed out but i still love them.  

in lust with this George Esquivel handbag.  and at a mere $1200 i am sure to get it NEVER.

i love the fedora.  i wore my friend romanos' all summer long.  i guess i should invest in one.  i bought a floppy straw hat for maximum sun coverage...but this one is just too cute.  when i find it, i will let you know.

i love wedges.  they go with jeans, cut-offs, dresses, skirts...yes, everything!  and these are lela rose at PAYLESS!!!  

smitten list

rainbow sandals
cause it just means summer is around the corner and i will be living in a pair of these.  guess i should get these hooves back into flip-flop shape.  in a previous confession, i divulged that i had not painted my toes since before quinn was born.  still true.  6 months later.  as you may have guessed, mike isn't all that into feet (luckily).

theory cordell maxi dress
my new maxi dress because i L.O.V.E maxi dresses and this one is the softest and most comfortable i have found yet.  and it is stretchy enough that i can yank it down and nurse baby boy.  tmi?  i don't think so.  

orgain organic protein shakes from wegman's
perfect for the nursing momma who needs the extra protein and calories.  and it does taste good.  i buy them by the case.

sukan owls pillows
i think i just may be into owls and never really realized it until now.  i bought a stuffed owl for my sister's baby-to-be, i have an owl paper weight and owl salt and pepper shakers.  hmmmm...

heather lins home numbered edition coasters
i think they are super cute and i love numbered things.  is that weird?  i thought about stenciling numbers on the backs of my kitchen chairs but haven't gotten around to it yet.  so maybe these will quiet that need for a bit.

i could add these dresses to my closet...i'm just saying

smitten list

jr watkins hand lotion

this stuff really has helped my severely dry and chapped hands.  goes on every night before bed.  and it isn't greasy!  love it!

barkeepers friend

this stuff is literally a magic potion.  and i told my sister that with a few excited expletives thrown in.  i had no idea how filthy my bathtub was until i met this stuff.  seriously...this stuff is magic.

nioxin hair care system

i have mentioned before (maybe?) that my hair is falling out in clumps ever since quinn turned three months old.  something about hormones and the hair follicles no longer in the resting stage.  so a friend recommended this product and i have only used it for about two weeks and already notice a difference!  huzzah!

eggs

+

feta cheese

eggs and feta cheese...yum.  throw in some tomatoes and some spinach an you have yourself one of my favorite meals.  delish...

quinn's giggles

please please please ignore how silly i sound.  i am well aware that i have become the type of mother that will do whatever it takes for a smile or laugh.  also...ignore how i look - i had worked all night and definitely looked it!  the best part is that quinn watches the videos of himself on the computer and coos and smiles.  it is adorable!

smitten list

jeans, jeans, and more jeans

i am a jean girl through and through.  i may depart from the jean once in a while but will always come back to this wardrobe staple.  and i have loads of jeans...sevens, rock and republic, true religion, you name it...but sevens have my heart.  would love to pick up this pair...yummy.

a good cup of coffee

i have been limiting my caffeine intake since last new year's day...well-timed as i got pregnant soon after and am now nursing.  so i really enjoy a good cup (or half a cup) of coffee.  i saw giada on the ellen show and she made this fabulous spiced coffee that is just delicious.  i have since made it a few times, topped with whipped cream, and dusted with cinnamon.  i could actually go for a cup right now...

Spiced Coffee with Cinnamon

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

2 cups double strength brewed coffee (Giada's Blend)

Vegan whipped cream (Available at health food stores like Whole Foods) - i used regular whipped cream

Directions:

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and reduce heat to low. Add the allspice, cinnamon, and ginger and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved.

Take the pan off the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the spiced syrup to each cup of coffee and stir to combine. (Optional: Top each cup with a dollop of vegan whipped cream.)

Dust with additional cinnamon and serve.

Makes: 4 servings

prague

mike and i travelled all through europe back in 2003 and went to so many fabulous places.  prague was our most favorite city.  it was just magical.  this is a picture of karluv most.  i seriously recommend you visit this amazing city once in your life.  

nibbling quinn's ear

yes, that one right there.  the other one too.  i nibble them all day long.  poor kid!

carrie's blue apartment in sex and the city

i can ALWAYS watch satc.  always.  any time.  any place.  and i fell in love with carrie's apartment in the movie.  love, love, love it.  definitely makes me smitten.

my smitten list

real simple magazine

without fail, this fabulous read arrives on my doorstep (or mailbox) every month.  it is chock-full of practical information, recipes, sources of inspiration, and just beautiful pictures.  i just got my january 2011 issue this morning.  2011!!!!  is it possible?  get your subscription here.  or click to visit their website and see what other tidbits they are sharing each day.

burt's bees baby products

the products smell wonderful and never have any of the bad stuff in them (sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and phthalate).  the shampoo and body wash really is tear-free too.  i put on the little space heater in the bathroom, pandora plays some jim brickman or tim janis, i give quinn a bath and then he gets a nice little massage as the cherry on top.  you can purchase the products at most grocery stores, but i have LOVED diapers.com for my baby purchases.  plus, the free 2-day shipping on orders $49+ ain't bad either.

trumpette socks

these socks actually stay on the little man's feet!  they are the best and so adorable.  you can buy them here and they go with just about everything.  love the red ones for christmas!

my poinsettia plant

christmas is in the air and i love decorating my house for the holiday.  this year we were more minimal but our tree is up, garland is hung from our fireplace and our poinsettia is sitting right below.  i love the christmas season!

this dress

i just love etsy and i love this ivory silk chiffon and lace backless dress.  it is so feminine and whimsical and i want one NOW!  you can check it out here.