Currently

I've been a bit absent from this little blog space these last few months since it's been harder to find quality time for myself that doesn't involve procrastinating down the internet rabbit hole.  Mostly my days have been filled with enjoying the beautiful southern California spring weather or snuggling at home and keeping up with the nesting needs of a family with two kids and a little house.  (Those three days of dishes won't wash themselves, our dog refuses to put away our mountain of laundry, and the dandelion weeds in the yard just get bigger every day.)  Throw in mixed work schedules and suddenly there's a new week and a new list of to dos ahead of us.

For those of you that don't know me personally, my part time job is actually as a "Personal Shopper" for a major retailer.  (I even have little business cards with my name printed on them!)  It's so much fun to play with clothes and to meet and help people update wardrobes for new jobs, events, and/or life changes.  All of it is such a neat way for me to play with my own style while meeting the needs and styles of so many other awesome women.

I've been refreshing some bits of our home lately too.  We've been here almost a year, and even though most projects still have a way to go before the home feels complete, I've found that taking time to spruce up little vignettes throughout our space, helps me feel more at peace with the bigger projects still ahead.

Today I thought I'd break my bloggy silence for a current mix up of some of my favorite home spots and translate them to some of my current favorite outfit inspirations.

Clothing can be so much more than fabric.

Even just segments of a gallery wall in our bedroom can pull out pops of color and a unified feel.  This outfit via Atlantic-Pacific gives me that same feel for color contrasts, ease, and even a sense of movement.  The black heels glam it up, but the more sensible "park chic" mom in me would probably wear some ballet flats instead. :)

Our home is such a mash up of favorite things.  There's no rule that says they need to match.  Which is why I am definitely a fan of mixing prints.  Done too wildly and you can give yourself a headache.  Done just right like this outfit again via Atlantic-Pacific and those favorite pieces in your closet are now best friends.

On afternoons when I'm lucky and both kids are napping, I climb into this chair, procrastinate whatever seems totally boring, and curl up with a book.  The root of this outfit via The Sartorialist is just a pair of flared jeans, simple white tee, and an easy tailored jacket.  It's cozy, effortless, classic, and still has its own personality.

Yellow, gray, and white is ALWAYS a good color combo and I'm definitely a fan of this menswear inspired look via Coco + Kelley using it too.

I know.  I know.  It's a problem.  But what's more of a problem is collecting all of this fun jewelry and not wearing it.  I never, ever want to feel "done up."  So when I want to wear some extra sparkles, I make sure my outfit stays neutral like Olivia Palermo's via Stockholm StreetStyle and let the accessories do all the work.

I might be doing dishes, but I'm definitely daydreaming I'm on vacation instead.  It's a tad short for me to feel comfortable during everyday wear, but, man, oh man, this simple chambray shirtdress again via The Sartorialist is a one I would surely own forever.

We have a lot of vintage elements throughout our home, but I never want it to feel like an antique store in here.  The same goes for any vintage pieces I have in my closet.  If it feels like I'm wearing a costume, the piece will just sit in a dark corner and never be worn.  This outfit via calivintage's Flickr photostream has that sweet vintage feel without making you feel like she's stepped out of a time machine.  She's classic, retro, and yet totally fresh.

Youthful whimsy runs wildly through our house.  And to be honest, did so even before our kids were born.  Is 33 too old to be super excited that the youthful whimsy of overalls is finding their way back into street style again?  I mean we all had Osh Kosh as kids, and we all went through an "obsessed with Felicity Porter" phase in college, right?  But now in my thirties, I can simply throw on a sweet necklace, a foldover clutch, and cuff the hems like this look via Where Did U Get That and I can be so current, right?  Right?   

I'd love to hear where you've been finding your bold or subtle inspiration from lately.  Please share!

Also, these two.  My inspirations at their finest.

Until next time.
XO Amy :)

Octoberfesting

It may still be flip flop weather here in Southern California, but that's not stopping us from celebrating a great Autumn season.

How's your celebrating coming along?

Simplicity

There's a mockingbird's nest in our orange tree in the backyard.  The mother bird perches herself on a nearby rooftop.  She's ready and fiercely cries out when we get too close.  She's gone only a few moments throughout the day to find food. 

And then she's back.  Feeding.  Protecting her family and her home.

I've had a tiresome week.  Too many hours spent working.  Too many boxes to unpack.  Too many hours spent feeling frustrated that there's only 24 hours in a day.

I watch that bird every morning and I'm envious of simplicity.

Simply, deep breaths. 
Simply, one moment at a time.

Hunting: Keys

We (hopefully!) close escrow on our new house next Friday.  I'm still holding back my little brain from diving deep into decorating and renovating ideas.  (Confession: I've been known to lay in bed for hours contemplating cardigans to wear the next day.  Designing a house could be extremely detrimental to my sleep habits.)

So until I allow my brain full access to day (and night) dreaming about ideal home spaces, I'm etsy window shopping for a new keychain to properly showcase some new to me keys. 

{Reclaimed Leather Keychain from Banoo}

{Serotonin Keychain from Molecular Muse}

{Upcycled License Plate Keychain from Pluma Accessories}

{Monarch Butterfly Leather Keychain/Bag Carrier from Kookii}

{Enamel She Ra Keychain from Cartoon Junk}

"Well, the turkey's done."

I know, I know, you aren't supposed to get too excited until there are keys in your hands...
I know, I know, an inspection can find serious issues and blow this whole grand plan in the dumps...

But...

WE!  ARE!  BUYING!  A!  HOUSE!

So enjoy some giggles for us as we soak in the anxiety that is about to bless our lives.

Monday Motivators

Home.
We're closer to you.
A new door.

Home.
Sharing a mirror.
Filling a closet.
Peeking through your window.
Digging through your dirt.
Making noise.
Noise.
Noise.

Home.
We're knocking.
We're shouting hello!
You're about to let us in.

Home.
We're standing on your mat.
We're patiently waiting.

Monday Motivators

2 pairs of shoes
a lone bobcat
the spilled contents of a toy doctor's kit
a whistle
and 4 board books.

i'm sure they've been under the dining table for days.
i'm sure they'll stay there a few more.

we're making a mess.
again.

i could be more productive.
i couldn't be more satisfied.

Hunting: Backyard

It's been only a week. 
Maybe I'm a little overly optimistic, but so far the house hunting adventure hasn't felt too far over our heads.
Again, it's only been a week.

Today I'm focusing on yard space and the potential for great elements to entertain, picnic in the breeze, and grow a few vegetables.

I hope you'll enjoy joining me today.

Oh the many meals we'd eat in a spot like this... (via Design Sponge)

Dressing up a plain wooden fence...(via Sunset)

Adding a bit of lit up marble magic to that plain wooden fence...(via Garden Drama)

Awesome website that instructs you when and where to plant your garden customized to your zip code...(via Sprout Robot)

Waving

Miller found a sand dollar in the car today,
some long ago memory of a warm sandy beach. 
He held it sweetly.
Curiously. 
This magical piece of the sea.

I forget how close we live to the shore. 
A quick trip down the freeway and I could easily be cooled by a single breeze.  
Sweetly.
Curiously.
This magical place of the sea.

"Next week," I plan. 
Gear up. 
Soak up.
Some new sandy memories.

{Ray-Ban Clubmaster Street 1980's Sunglasses from Igneous Rocks}

{Blue Wave Hand Knit Pillow from Cape Gift Shop}

{Beach Worn Seashell Earrings from Celtic Sea Treasures}

{Hand Dyed Cotton Scarf, SAND from Dear June}

{Original Starfish Painting on Paper from Lisa Congdon}

{Seashell Air Plant Tillandsia Terrarium from Robin Charlotte}

Recognize this room?

{It is not even close to being this clean right now...}

Yesterday our little home was featured on Apartment Therapy with a mini tour.  If you have a minute and you find it worthy, I'd love for you to comment on the post.  Check it out here.

Also, on Apartment Therapy this week- "How's a new mom supposed to get a shower?"  It looks like I'm not the only one who can't remember the last time she washed her hair.  Just doing my part to help the environment.  

It's a double dare physical challenge obstacle course of laundry piles in our bedroom right now

Instead of getting off the couch and turning off "Mythbusters" waking the adorable baby snoozing in her bassinet to clean our bedroom, I browsed Pinterest and I am now dreaming that my pajama-ed body is going to snuggle up in some of these cozy, clutter free beds tonight...

{NY Times via Black Eiffel}

{The Style Files}

{Source Unknown found via Pinterest}

{Desire to Inspire}

{House and Home}

{Alvhem: Makleri & Interior}

Sweet, sweet thank yous

It's rather tough to get anything productive done around here when all I want to do is snuggle up with the kids, my pillow, or a crispy cold diet coke.

{Honestly, how cute are these two?  And by cute, I also mean very demanding of my time. :)}

Needless to say, among many other tasks, I still have a few thank yous to send out from birthdays last month, my sprinkling a few weeks ago and tons of other recent gestures from friends and family that we are definitely grateful for. 

I have been meaning to share one thank you I'm quite fond of that I managed to get done on time for the gals that threw my recent shower.

The weeks before the shower, I searched local thrift stores for unique planters that matched each of the four ladies' personalities.  Even though I was only looking for four, it still took a little patience searching a few different spots.  I'm glad I waited to find just the right piece. 

Loaded with some jade ("lucky plants" or "friendship trees") and a quick note of thanks, I made sure those four ladies knew how much I appreciated the efforts they made to make me and not yet born, Ivy, feel truly celebrated. 

Keep your head in the clouds

I'm a dreamer.  It took me years to take ownership of that and not feel faulted by it. 
I'll take as many years as I need to to make sure my kids take ownership of it too.

I'm hoping this mobile I just finished for the little gal is a constant reminder for her to always keep looking up and allow herself to be defined as a dreamer too.

{I traced and cut 2 layers of felt with cardstock cloud shapes, wrapped the inside of an embroidery hoop with yarn, and blanket stitched and stuffed the felt layers.}

{Hung the clouds to the hoop with white thread and criss-crossed clear thread at the top of the hoop to center balance the mobile to the ceiling.}

{Floating in the late afternoon sun*}

*Pink photo series above the crib are the 5x5 versions of these from the beautiful etsy shop of one of my favorite blogs Little Brown Pen.  The photo above doesn't even do them justice.  The chunk of drywall missing under the last picture on the right doesn't do them justice either.  :)

Friday! Friday! Friday!

A shift in the weather lowered the temperature just a few degrees these last few days.
Which in turn, shifted me a few degrees.  A few LOT of degrees.

I can see the outlines of my anklebones again.
I don't feel like a sweaty hobbit around 5pm anymore.
And I've had energy to catch up on (or start) some much needed nesting projects I had hoped to finish by the end of this month.

Enjoy a few teaser photos of the kids' room we're hoping to finish this weekend.

And of course, enjoy a picture of some socks too while you are at.

I'm wishing you have an ankle viewing, less sweaty, productively wonderful, celebratory, socky kind of weekend ahead of you as well.

Kids Room Upgrade: Stage 1

Speaking of great places to rest...

{Climbing, resting, soundly snoozing}

This room's evolved a bit since we first moved in, and it will definitely continue to evolve as the new babe moves herself in too, but this kid space is shaping up to be one that we are proud to re-putawaytoys each and every day. 

Again, at least half of the room is done...