{seven}

Dan and I got married seven years ago today.


We seriously look 16 here, don't we?!

Happy Anniversary Handsome.

{love list}

Happy Friday friends!! Let's see what is on my love list for the week, shall we?

1. Painted nails...



I can't remember the last time I painted my nails a dark color. I usually stick with clear or anything that isn't noticeable when it chips. But in my quest to try things I usually shy away from, I chose this gorgeous shade of grey and I love it! And no worries...I was parked when I took the photo :)

2. This super simple glittered pumpkin tutorial...

Pumpkins + Elmers + glitter = easy and fun Halloween decor. These would be cute with initials too!

3. Kendi Everyday...



Not only is Kendi adorable, but she puts together great outfits. I love how she illustrates them with where she purchased each piece, and how genuine she is in her posts. Love this hoodie + skirt combo.

4. This adorable (and free!) owl embroidery pattern...

Add embroidery to my list of things I need to learn how to do!

5. A good reminder...



What are you loving today?

{mellow out}

I go through phases with my music. I typically become obsessed with one CD at a time.

For the past month or so, it was my main man, Eric.

Yesterday I discovered an album that is the perfect balance to the fun, upbeat tunes Mr. Hutchinson has to offer.

Enter Mr. Jeremy Larson.


You can listen to the entire album by clicking on the photo above.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for mellow music and this is where its at.

Check him out. (His almost wife Elsie is pretty awesome too.)

{closer}

I had a dream last night that I want to share with you.

Usually my dreams are super strange and involve little tidbits from my day all blended up into some bizarre combination of faces, places and experiences.

The only time my dreams make sense is when I'm worried or stressed about something. In that case, my go-to dream takes me back to anxiety-inducing junior high school. I can't find my schedule, locker, class, etc. Gotta love that dream.

Last night's dream took me to another place that invokes real fear for me.

First, let me preface this by sharing that I have a fairly extreme fear of heights. Anything above a step stool creates heart palpitations, dizziness, you name it.

In my dream I was on a huge staircase, and between the steps were gigantic, open gaps.



I was trying to navigate my way down the stairs, but I was paralyzed by the fear that I would fall through one of the gaps. I was so scared that I layed down on one of the steps, hugged the tread as tightly as possible, and closed my eyes.

There were others going down the steps around me. They didn't seem scared at all by the daunting open spaces that had me frozen in a panic.

Then a woman stopped and told me to open my eyes and look down.

Trusting her advice, I did.

And I saw the ground, only a few feet below me.

I could reach out and touch it.



What a feeling that was.

And then I woke up.

And I realized that the hopes and dreams I have for my life and the life of my family maybe aren't as far out of reach as I thought they were.

Maybe we are all just a step away from our dreams.

We just have to have the courage to open our eyes and move forward.

{happy feet}

My feet have three very fun reasons to be happy this morning...

1. My grey boots!!! Ahhhh...I'm finally the owner of these lovely suede boots that I've been drooling over for months and months. And they make my feet look tiny! Bonus when you wear a size 9 and some change.

2. New entryway rug thanks to TJ Maxx. I'm a sucker for this color combo and pattern, and the modern pattern will still jive with the midcentury modern vibe I'm going for in the space. It makes coming and going at our place a lot happier, even for the cats!

3. And the most exciting news of all (once the honeymoon phase with my boots wears off) is that we are getting our hardwood floors refinished! Our front room, hallway, and bedrooms all have hardwoods, and they are in a sad state...our front room especially. Here is a photo from before we moved in...

The previous owners must have had this planned as well, but stopped at the sanding stage, which means we were left with mostly unfinished floors. Not quite what you want, especially with two toddlers spilling their sippy cups and dropping spaghetti on it.

So starting on Friday our front room and hallway floors have a date with an electric sander, stain and a few coats of poly!

I am beyond excited to get this project completed and have fresh, clean floors. It will be quite interesting keeping the boys (and the cats) off of it for 4-5 days, but it will be well worth it! You can bet I'll be posting some before and after pics next week.

So there you have it, three reasons my why feet want to do a little jig today (well, maybe after I have my first cup of coffee).

Happy Monday friends!

{love list}

Happy Thursday friends! Today is my Friday so consider that my unofficial #1 on today's love list.

Here are the things that are officially sending me over the moon today...

1. Sharing Kodak moments...



Wouldn't you just love to leave this for a stranger to find? Or better yet, be that stranger? (click here for the full story on this fun pay it forward project.)

2. Silhouette jewelry...



This would be so sweet with my boys' silhouettes.

3. Fall festivals!

This weekend is one of our town's annual fall festivals, and I can't wait to go. Booths with antiques, handmade items (and some random junk for good measure), elephant ears, hot chocolate, and of course pumpkins!


Photo from a past year at our fair...don't you love the brick sidewalks?!

Makes me want to plop myself down in the fall scenes from my favorite movie, You've Got Mail...you know the part when Tom Hanks takes his aunt and brother (crazy family) to a fall festival, and then to the Shop around the Corner for storytime?



Bouquets of sharpened pencils....

What a happy movie. :)

4. Squirrelpearl's home...

First of all, this squirrel lover can't help but love her name (also the name of her fun Etsy shop). But her home makes me love her even more. You can see lots more before and after images here.

5. This fun crocheted cuff project...

I reallllly need to learn how to make one of these.

So that's this week's list folks. Care to share what you're coveting this week?

{imperfection}

That word has come to have such a negative connotation, hasn't it?

Pretty much since I can remember, I have worked SO hard to be perfect.

Don't rock the boat.

Don't upset the apple cart.

I think you get where I'm going, right?

It is EXHAUSTING. The constant wondering if you are saying the right things, making the right moves, looking attractive enough etc.

All too often I find myself apologizing for being me.

Someone compliments me and instead of saying "thank you!" and leaving it at that, I have to add a disclaimer to the end. Kind of like the micro-machine guy talking at the end of a car advertisement, but I say it at a normal pace and leave the conversation with this negative cloud hanging over both my head and the compliment giver.

For example (this actually happened), someone told me a few weeks ago that I have beautiful eyes. She might have actually used the word stunning (or maybe I'm making that part up). Did I just say "thank you!" and move on? Nooo. I had to add something like "I just wish I didn't have to hide them behind these glasses" or something to that effect.



Now that I think about it, isn't that kind of like turning down the compliment? How rude of me! (See...this striving for perfection thing can actually backfire on us!)

Sometimes I try so hard to be humble that I can't even accept praise.

And becoming a mother has only magnified this quest for perfection x 1,000,000. Seriously - how all-consuming is momma guilt? Some days it covers me like a cold, wet blanket.

So I've made a decision friends. Enough with this perfection stuff. Because you know what? It is impossible to attain! And you want to know another thing I've recently realized?

Imperfection can be so beautiful.



Being authentic is delightful.

Figuring out who you are and only doing things that add to that identity is freeing.

Truly.



Don't those words just put a big smile on your face?

I know I still have a lot of work to do in order to embrace my imperfections (and those of others), so I've decided to give this book a whirl...



It sounds like just what I need to keep this imperfection train going.

Care to join me? You can purchase it for $9.98 with free shipping here. (I'm a sucker for free shipping.)

If you decide to join me in reading it, let me know and we can support each other in our less than perfect-ness. :)

{shop}

I recently discovered Linkel Designs on Etsy and I want to take home 2 or 10 of their gorgeous (and super affordable!) jewelry pieces.

These earrings are the perfect autumn accessory...

Peridot is my birthstone and my favorite color so this necklace is calling my name...

Simply gorgeous earrings...

Love a bold statement piece like this...

The color and quilted look of this ring make it one of my favorites...

A really sweet piece and the key adds a great touch of whimsy...

Check out their shop for even more lovely pieces! Happy shopping friends!

{creative thinkers}

Apparently Landon likes to create challenges for himself. Here he is at our Great Aunt and Uncle's house yesterday finding an alternative route onto their front porch...

I'm tempted to make a "wide load" joke right about now. Well I guess I just did, didn't I?

He might actually make it!

Well hello there handsome...

And while that feat was being accomplished, Ben was meticulously cleaning their light post with a baby wipe.

We really should contract him out for this type of labor.

{winner!}

Sorry I'm a tad late in announcing the winner of my 5-OH! giveaway. This girl's weekend was filled with work (boo!) and time with family (yay!).

I won't make you wait in suspense so here we go! The winner is....

Allison!

I can't think of someone more deserving. Congratulations Allison! Your fun package will be on its way soon!

{work it}

I had a fun little photoshoot today with my friend Katie and her adorable 2 month old son Mason.

He knows how to work a hat...

This modeling stuff is tiring!



All of these styles are available in the shop!

{love list}

You all ready for some first day of fall love?

Here we go...

1. Giveaways! Enter mine!

You know you want these cute goodies!

2. This book...

I don't even know what kinds of crazy crafts are in this book, but the title owns me, since I am 1. crafty, and 2. by definition, poor.

And she's making pom poms with yarn on the cover. Enough said.

3. This new online magazine...

Rue rocks. That's all that really needs to be said.

4. Talking toddlers...



Gosh darnit I just love my boys! And no worries...Ben was not hurt at the end.

5. Yummy fall food...



I really want to try this simple recipe. I'm all about chili, stew and hearty soups when the temps start to dip. (disregarding the fact that it is going to be in the 90's here today...shameful.)

6. This space...

Gray. Yellow. Turquoise. Velvet. Modern. Industrial.

Oh and there's an owl! On the side table...see it?!

Love.

What's on your love list today friends?

{mini-me}

I can't help but make an Austin Powers reference when I look at our boys. They are really miniature versions of Dan and I in so many ways.

I may be a brunette now but back in the day I was sporting lighter locks, just like Ben's. And check out our matching profiles....

The minute Landon was born I immediately knew he looked like Dan. They both have this cute under the eye puffy thing going on, and not in a tired way....just like their cheeks decided to work their way up a little farther than most. Does that make any sense?

Oh well...you can see for yourself here...

Ben has recently adopted a love for rocks, just like his Momma had when she was his age.

Here I am at 3 years old, noticeably proud of the collection in front of me. And here is Ben a few weeks ago with just about every rock he could find in his Gigi's yard.

(He doesn't look happy, but believe me, he was having lots of fun with those BIIIIIIG rocks).

It is so rewarding and inspiring to see their personalities start to come through, and how similar they are to their mom and dad. I like to think they will be their own people with all the best parts of us mixed in.