Sunday, November 30, 2014

Fifteen.

Alec is fifteen months old today and as I write this post, I can't help but admit, that my eyes are beginning to well with tears. Happy tears for the amazing amount of joy this little boy brings me each and every day of my life. And a few sad tears too, because my little baby is getting so darn big and time is passing too darn quick. It truly feels like just yesterday that we welcomed our little bug into this wild world.

Fifteen months is fun. It's seriously a great stage of life. I've already shared about how fantastic the one nap transition has been for us. He's sleeping better at night which is amazing for everyone in our household. And his naps are longer during the day so I am able to get a bit more done than before. So, needless to say, it seems as though we are all happy campers thanks to the big transition. Sleep really is everything, isn't it?

Alec is becoming quite the little chatterbox these days. He doesn't make too much sense, but the inflection is there, and I almost feel like I understand what he is trying to say. Every now and again, he gets out a word clearly and I'm amazed and I cheer and clap and he repeats it until the applause stops. He has a vocabulary of about fifteen or so words/phrases that he uses regularly and it's fun to hear him apply them accurately. "Nigh, nigh" and "All done". Kids are amazing, like little sponges soaking up every little thing they see and hear. It's nuts.  What is best about his new-found speech is that we are able to communicate a bit better with one another which allows things to go much smoother throughout the day.

I am really loving his growing personality these days. This kid is seriously the biggest goofball. He loves to laugh, and to make you laugh. It's seriously all fun and games, all the time.  He is constantly egging me on, trying to get me to tickle him or chase him. It makes for a fun (and super exhausting) day, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am very grateful to be able to work part-time so that I can be home with my boy. I know not many moms have that opportunity and with Alec's heart condition it's a real blessing to be able to avoid daycare these first few years.

Lately, Alec is leery of unfamiliar faces. He's got that 'stranger anxiety' thing going on I guess. It doesn't take him too long to warm up, but I am hoping it's a passing phase. Once he warms up, he will run circles around you and within minutes he will put on a dance performance that will have you in stitches. Ahhh, I love that little boy so darn much. I almost want to try for another, BUT not quite yet. I want to relax and enjoy this holiday season and then who knows what 2015 will bring? Happy fifteen months little bug, mama and dada (and pup) love you dearly.


Friday, November 28, 2014

Ten Things

…that caught my eye across the web
And Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you were surrounded by those that you love and that your holiday feast was as delicious as mine! xo


Wednesday, November 26, 2014


I know, I know. It's a little early to start thinking about holiday party attire… but is it? I feel like the holidays are so insane and who wants to scour the busy mall for an outfit, last minute, when they could easily get a sweet deal online, way ahead of time. Either way, one of my favorite online shops is having a party promotion and all holiday party attire is 25% off. 

Since becoming a mama and cutting back my hours at work, I always feel pretty guilty spending money on myself. However, I think I can splurge on one fun party dress this season, especially for under $100. ASOS has some really affordable finds and because they aren't your standard store at your local mall, you know your dress won't be the same as someone else's at your next Christmas party. Above were a few of my favorites, but there are many more fun, affordable options on their website. Happy Shopping! and Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Be safe! 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Ch-Ch-Changes! Good Morning Beautiful has a new look for the holiday season! Just a few subtle changes to keep things fresh around here. Hope you like the updates as much as I do.

Now, I will confess, I may be a little MIA over the next few weeks. For starters, the holiday season is among us, which means, we are busy busy busy. Tons of fun gatherings to attend and lots and lots of shopping to do! But hey, busy is a good thing right? I can't wait to catch up with family and friends over the next few weeks and ring in the new year with a bang!

Also, I recently purchased and downloaded the PHOTOSHOP + DSLR BUNDLE from A Beautiful Mess. I have been following this blog for quite some time, and I find it so incredibly inspiring. The co-founders, Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson, are seriously dynamite and their careers have really taken off over the last year or so. You can read more about them here. Anywho, I have really been wanting to hone in on my photography skills for quite a while now and when I saw they were offering online lessons for a decent price I jumped on it. Not only is this program affordable, but it's also all online and I can go through each lesson at my own pace (which is a must when you have a wild toddler to look after!). As you can probably see, my photos are quite amateur and I have tons of learning to do. My husband has been super helpful with teaching me the basics of photography and our camera, but I am super excited to truly learn how to take a quality photo in manual mode. I am hoping all this online education will raise the bar a bit and enable me to make some serious upgrades with the blog.

I am going to do my best to stay on top of things amongst all this craziness, but I make no promises. Cheers to the start of an awesome holiday season. I hope you all pack in as much fun as possible!

And one more thing, I recently discovered the Afterlight app and it's an awesome way to upgrade your iPhonography. It offers 56 unique filters, 66 natural textures, and 128 frames. Check it out, it's worth the 99 cents I promise.

Below are a few pictures I took and manipulated with the app.

xo- L

Friday, November 21, 2014

Ten Things...

...that caught my eye across the web


  • A stunning girl's nursery via apartment therapy. 
  • A yummy mulled wine recipe from one of my favorite blogs
  • Therapeutic oils for the whole family, there is a remedy for just about everything
  • I really wouldn't mind owning one of these clever weekender bags
  • A gorgeous Thanksgiving tablescape from the amazing house*tweaking
  • Is this not the most adorable tent, perfect for our next beach vacation
  • Baby names on the rise in 2014, Violet and Beau were always two of our favorites 
  • A sweet sale at Gap, $45 off $100, so you can get this, these, and these all for under $60
  • J.Crew does it again, this jacket is perfection
  • Proof that babies are just tiny drunk adults
Happy Friday! xo

Thursday, November 20, 2014

How Could I Forget?

As I sit here, during Alec's nap time, and make lists and lists of presents to buy for family and friends for Christmas, I started to realize that I have totally bypassed another very special holiday all together! Maybe it's because I have to work Thanksgiving this year, or maybe it's because I want to stay ahead of the rest to avoid mall crowds at the end of December… but either way I have decided to pump the breaks just a tad and refocus my energy on next week's holiday of thanks. 

As I reflect back on this passing year, I become overwhelmed with joy just thinking of all the amazing things that I am so very thankful for. It has been one of the best, and most challenging, years of my life. As many of you readers probably know, our son, Alec, has a very serious heart condition. He was diagnosed in utero at just nineteen weeks. Last November, only two months after his arrival, Alec had major open heart surgery. It was the absolute scariest time of my life. Nothing will ever be as difficult as the moment I walked my boy to the operating room doors. We held him, and kissed him, and then as he rolled away, Kiel and I held each other as tears rolled down our faces. I swear the stress of that moment alone has taken years off my life...BUT with great faith in our medical team and God, the support of our family and friends, and Alec's amazing strength, we got through it. Our babe has thrived like we never imagined, and with that I am eternally grateful. Not only has he gotten stronger, but so has my marriage and the bond we share with our supportive family and friends.

'Thankful' doesn't really begin to describe how I feel about this passing year. It's hard to believe that so much has changed in just a little over 12 months. We are now parents to a beautiful, strong boy. We settled into a new home, which we could never have done without the help of my parents and grandfather. We celebrated our boy's first birthday, which was an amazing milestone after all he's been through. My sister-in-law set us up with a 'Go Fund Me' account and with the generous donations from family and friends we were able to pay off all of Alec's medical bills and create a savings account for future procedure/surgery costs. A close girlfriend of mine organized a heart walk team in honor of Alec and an amazing group of family, friends, and co-workers walked to support the cause in 2014 and 2015. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child and I swear I don't know where I'd be without my incredible village of supporters out there. So so so many truly awesome things happened over this past year or so and I am grateful beyond words. I feel so incredibly loved which is really all you need in this world. I only hope that this upcoming year is just as fabulous as the last. Thank you for reading. xo -L

image courtesy of nestofposies.com

Monday, November 17, 2014

Transition

ONE > TWO.

Why did no one tell me this!?! Or maybe people did, but I was too exhausted to remember. All I know is that my little babe is napping once a day now. And to most new moms that probably sounds like the worst thing ever, but rest assured, it is not. It is sooo NOT. It's amazing actually. Because although he is only taking one nap… it's a solid two to three hour nap. Imagine what you can do with that much time… and all at once! No more cramming my entire adult life into one, one hour nap. I can actually sit down during nap time and not feel guilty for once.

Not only is the one LONG nap fantastic because I have time to actually do things, but because he is actually worn out and ready for a nap when the time comes to take one. Also, bedtime is no longer a struggle because as said before, he is actually tuckered out and truly ready to rest. Just the other night, he literally grabbed his lovey, walked up to me with his arms up in the air, and said "nigh nigh mama". It was the most amazing thing. Now we make a little routine of it.. nigh nigh dada, nigh nigh mama, nigh nigh doggie.. and so forth. I can't even take the cuteness. I am seriously loving the one nap transition. Our days are running much smoother now that we have an agreeable routine.

*Side Note. Kiel was away for three days last week. He had a work conference in Baltimore and it was just me and little bug for three days straight. My husband's time away was difficult. We reaaally missed him, probably me even more than Al. Alec was actually incredibly good, like unbelievably good. But regardless of how amazing our little one can be, come 6 pm, (most nights) I am ready for a little break and really eager to see Kiel walk through that door. There is something to be said for the little team we have created over the last year. When it comes to parenting, we have developed a nice little system that allows both of us some "me" time throughout the day.  My husband is a truly awesome partner, and such an amazing, hands-on papa to our boy. I am very verrry lucky and what I truly realized while he was away, is that I am so glad that I don't have to do this whole parenting thing alone. SERIOUS props to all the single parents out there. You are amazing. I don't know how you do it.


Why yes! We did dance to Christmas music all afternoon one day. Kiel often proclaims that I 'jump the gun' on things… and so what, maybe I do. But damn it felt good to bust out the ole Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby Christmas tunes while Dada was away. Judge me all you want folks, but I am soaking up every ounce of this holiday season! 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Ten Things

… that caught my eye across the web

  • 24 West Elm Hacks, if only I knew how to sew
  • The cutest stuffed animal ever, courtesy of Anthropologie
  • A super fun holiday ensemble, the only time of year that I might consider a little sparkle
  • The perfect little man haircut
  • This website is great, tons of quirky finds. I especially like this one
  • You can add this faux leather mini to my long christmas wishlist
  • 26 Free Printables to hang on your gallery wall
  • The perfect holiday candle for the winter season, I love balsam and cedar, but all four are great
  • My little guy earned the rights to rock this adorable tee
  • An awesome blog I follow about home design
Fall is holding on for dear life around here and it's beautiful. Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

A Quick Getaway

This past weekend my parents agreed to watch Alec overnight, so we jumped on the opportunity and headed North to see some old friends from college. It has been over two years since I have had the chance to visit my old pal, Chelsea, who only lives about two hours away in Hoboken, NJ. She is the very best hostess and every visit is full to the brim with adventure. She is one the those people that never lets you down, always ensuring that she shows you the best time possible. Not to mention, that she alone, is such a joy to be around. 

Hoboken itself, is actually a really great time, but this visit Chelsea took us into bustling New York City.  We went to a delicious dinner at Rosemary's, an Italian restaurant in the West Village. We shared small plates, and enjoyed sipping rosemary lemonade and Prosecco cocktails. After dinner we ventured to the Biergarten at The Standard Hotel for a drink while we waited to hear from friends. Once we got in touch, we jumped on the subway and headed into Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There, we went to Kinfolk and Black Bear Bar. We had an absolute blast boozing, dancing, and just catching up on old times. We ended the night at a lock pizza shop, and each enjoyed a slice or two. Mmm, so good. I only wish we had more time the following morning to do brunch with everyone, but unfortunately, we had to be on the road by noon. 

The lifestyle up there is so incredibly foreign to me…. tiny little apartments that cost a fortune, subways and taxis, and a melting pot of all different people from all over the globe. In my early twenties, I always thought that I would enjoy the whole 'city living' experience. I thought that maybe I'd regret not jumping at the chance to live somewhere other than 'home'. But now that I see myself more clearly, I know that a big city would swallow me whole and I am surely a small town girl at heart. But that doesn't mean that I don't love a weekend city adventure, because I surely do. Thanks for a great time old pal, til next time friend. 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Lately

Reading: I just finished "This Is Where I Leave You" written by Jonathan Tropper. A super enjoyable, easy read and also just recently made into a movie, starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey. For me, I feel as though the characters were perfectly cast for the film. I can't want to rent it when it comes out on demand. 

Wanting:  I've been itching to get an essential oil diffuser for sometime now. Diffusing certain oils can help purify and cleanse the air of certain bacteria, mold, and pathogens. It can also impact mood, focus, and concentration while also reducing stress. Not to mention, they make your home smell spectacular. 

Eating: Our favorite Sunday Soup, a hearty tortellini and sausage recipe made in the crockpot. Super quick and easy. A family favorite. I've also been eating lots and lots of leftover Halloween candy. Sadly, we only got seven trick or treaters this year, and let's just say I planned for much more than that. Nevertheless, I am averaging a solid one to two reese's peanut butter cups a day and I am starting to feel it in the waistband of my jeans.

Drinking: Apple cider margaritas. I mean who can resist a brown sugar rimmed cocktail. And I've been enjoying myself a spiced chai latte every now and again. Such a perfect drink for a crisp fall day.

Enjoying:  Our budding social scene. The holidays always call for friendly gatherings and it has been fun to get to see everyone a bit more than usual. Recently, Kiel and I took a quick trip up to New York to see a few of our old college pals. It was an absolute blast, a weekend for the books. It felt good to be out on the town again. 

Wearing: ankle boots, cords, and chunky knit sweaters

Listening: Lately, I've bee listening to 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' Soundtrack. It's so relaxing, perfect background music. 

Watching: Kiel and I are trying to get back into Friday Night Lights. We've been working through the first season on Netflix for quite some time. It's such a great show about so much more than football. It really brings me back to the old high school days. Plus, that Tim Riggins is a real looker.

Wishing: That my little guy would rid himself of this lingering cold. Poor little babe has been coughing and snot-nosed for nearly two weeks. Fortunately, it hasn't gotten too bad, but I'd give anything for him to feel 100% again.

Capturing: This amazing stage that Alec is in. He is a total sponge, repeating every word you say. He is so incredibly animated, constantly attempting to wave down your attention so that he can join in the conversation. Lately, it has seemed as though he has an endless amount of energy. He is seriously running circles around me, so we have been visiting lots of nearby parks lately, where we climb, swing, and slide until his hearts content. 


Friday, November 7, 2014

Ten Things

...that caught my eye across the web


Thursday, November 6, 2014

Snapshots

My little ham, sharing sweet smiles during dinner one evening.
A close friend of mine asked me to bake her a cake, and not just any cake! She is pregnant with her second little one and I could not be more excited for her and her growing family. The morning of her second trimester screen, she and her husband opted not to find out the sex of the baby. Instead, the ultrasound tech sent them home with a sealed envelope and she immediately dropped it off to me. I obviously opened it as soon as she exited and jumped around the kitchen when I saw what was inside… it was GIRL! (which is super exciting because they have a two year old son already.) Needless to say, I baked them a little pink cake and iced that bad boy up. My friend and her beautiful little family cut into the cake later than night and her little boy announced the sex of the baby on video. It was seriously the sweetest thing, it filled my eyes with tears to see their joy. Congrats friend! It was such a pleasure to be included in the big surprise!
The master bedroom is coming along.. slowly but surely.
Our backyard friends. Alec loves to stare out the window each evening and look the deer. 
Sea Witch Festival Family Selfie.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Winter Style: Toddler Edition


My three absolute favorite places to shop for Alec are Baby Gap, Zara Kids, and H&M. Target and Old Navy haven't been doing too bad lately either and they always have a very versatile, affordable selection. When it comes to dressing my little guy, I am not one to gravitate towards denim overalls and child-like printed onesies. I have found that I usually end up dressing Alec in an outfit similar to what my husband would wear... basic henley tees, comfy jeans, flannel, and lots of neutral tones. Some of my favorite pieces in Alec's closet lately:

 these comfy sweats
 this henley 
 this cozy sweater
this flannel
and this knit hat

And a few things I am wanting to add to his collection this winter season:

these shoes
this parka
these trousers
and this sweatshirt

I also recently discovered two new online shops, Mini Boden and Joe Fresh. Both are super cute and relatively affordable. I already have this navy knitted jacket picked out for a friend's little one for Christmas, and, of course, this fleece and these fresh sweats for Alec. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

"We are not perfect human beings,
nor do we have to pretend to be,
but it is necessary for us
 to be the best version of ourselves we can be."
-satsuki shibuya

I came across this little gem while scrolling through my pinterest feed this morning. I read it and pondered it for a few minutes. I began to think about my behavior over the last week, and I can safely say, that I have NOT been the best version of myself whatsoever. In fact, I've been pretty miserable.

Alec has been sick since last Wednesday. It began with a fever, something viral I assumed. On Sunday, the lingering low grade fever sent us to the walk-in medical unit, where the doc diagnosed Al with a left ear infection. We started antibiotics and are hopeful that things turn around here soon. The last six days have been rough. Sleep has been extremely minimal, and our poor little guy has been in a lot of discomfort. There really is nothing more sad than a sick little one, especially when they can't fully communicate their needs. 

Between working nightshift and sleepless nights with my boy, I have been crabby as ever and my poor, saint of a husband has had to take the brunt of my wretchedness. I am grateful for his patience and unconditional love. He sees the best in me, even when I am at my worst. Today, I vow to make a change. No one likes a complainer. No one flocks to negativity. So despite my exhaustion, I am going to dig deep to become the better version of me, because after all, that is what my family deserves. 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Wanderlust

My social media feeds have been swamped with beautiful weddings and alas honeymoon pics galore. I am loving all the different places people have shared about, and I have found myself reminiscing about all our adventures over the last few years. Prior to parenthood, Kiel and I were quite the little travel bees. We tried to plan at least one big getaway a year, with two or so other little long weekends away here and there. Now that Alec is over a year and has a relatively steady routine, I am starting to feel more comfortable with the idea of leaving him. He would be in great hands and I know he would be just fine, but I am sure I will shed a few ugly tears the first time I am away from him for longer than a day or two. Despite the emotional struggle, I think the rewards of going away would be profound.  Kiel and I could really use some quality alone time in a beautiful place. So, with all that being said, I am starting to contemplate our next getaway. We have a a few options already on the table for the late winter/spring, but I am keeping my options open, because, after all, it is a rare occasion that we will get this opportunity again anytime soon. 

Just a few of my favorites adventures…
 A hike up Diamond Head to get this picturesque view of Waikiki
 An excursion above the clouds on the Big Island of Hawaii
 A sporadic trip to Key West
 A beach ride along the Coast of Cali
Our honeymoon along the French Riviera
All fancied up for our evening at the Monte Carlo Casino
A hike up the Falls at Watkins Glen

A weekend away in Chicago to enjoy the sites and jam out at Lollapalooza
Paddle boarding along the coast of Kauai
A helicopter ride along the Napali Coast
 A bike tour around the grounds of Versailles
Cheese and wine with a fantastic view
 A day trip to the haunted grounds of Stonehenge
Enjoying the sites of London Town
 Our very last vacation before Alec's arrival. A babymoon to Anna Maria Island.

Who knows where our next adventure will be, but I am really looking forward to the possibilities. Any suggestions on a location? I'd like to get away for about four or so days….maybe somewhere warm in the winter months… somewhere that we can both relax and site see… somewhere that will make us feel  refreshed and energized. Well, no matter what we decide, I am sure you will hear and see all about it on this here blog. Thanks for visiting! 

xo-L