My little Man and his teepee...

 

 

It was the perfect fall day and so we decided to finally take the teepee out of the house and snap some photos! I can't wait for the day where both of my boys are playing in and around it!

Teepee by belittleyouandme on etsy!

New Years Eve

 

I'm currently listening to my husband "sshh" our 9 month old son to sleep on this New Years Eve. I can't help but take this rare moment to reflect on this past year.  It's incredible how much your life can change in just 12 months. I count in months now...I'm clearly a mom. I've grown so much as a mother and as a wife. One thing is for sure, bringing a child into this world changes you.  It changes you physically (expected), it changes you emotionally, it changes your relationship with your partner, and it changes your view on the world and who you thought you ever wanted to be. This is all for the better of course! I will say that it wasn't all champagne and roses with the husband these past months.  It's tough work being a mother and a wife. It's a balancing act, and I'm pretty sure I don't have it down yet.  If you asked my husband, he'd most definitely give you the same answer. Tough. Tough, yet rewarding. I always knew motherhood would be the hardest job I'd ever do - I believed em' when they told me - but I never knew just how rewarding it could all be! It's amazing what a smile can do for you at 2:12 in the morning.  It's also amazing how connected I can feel to my husband when we're both changing a blow-out diaper, at a party, with a rambunctious 8 month old who just loves to roll around during all the fun. In the midst of dealing with poop on your hands, not enough baby wipes, a complete outfit change, party guests wondering what we're doing in the bedroom for 10 minutes, and the baby exploring around on the carpet in an unsecure diaper...you suddenly lock eyes with your husband and just smile at one another. Yes it's a stinky, sticky, and embarrassing situation, but it's ours. Lovingly ours. I'm so very thankful for my little family!

 

Cheers to the New Year!

 

 

For the record, I'm not a fan of champagne or roses. I prefer smiles and diaper changes.

 

(Dylan and I at a family Christmas Party)

Girl Crush: Mandy Moore

I love this look on Mandy Moore! She was at the CFDA Fashion awards earlier this month looking polished and chic, and yet still able to portray that sweetness we all know and love!  I adore her fresh faced make-up (w/ a lovely pop of pink on her pout), sleek pony, and that stunning dress by Lela Rose! Girl Crushin' ;)

(Photos via justjared.com)

Zebra Stripes

I've been searching for the perfect baby carrier for quite some time now. I love my Moby wrap but I know my little guy will outgrow it pretty quickly. I'm looking for one that would work for a quick trip to the grocery store and could even be used for hiking! The Ergo is definitely a front runner and as much as I like to keep it simple and choose solid colors, I can't take my eyes off Ergo's new zebra print! So much fun!!! What do you think? Would you wear these stripes?

(Photo via ERGObaby)

I'm back...

...with a baby! It's been months since my last post and a lot has happened since August 2011...well just one thing really. My baby boy Dylan River Lind was born March 30, 2012! Between morning sickness in the first trimester, some serious napping in the second, planning in the third, and then welcoming my little guy...I've had no time to blog! I'm happy to be back and hope to keep it up while I'm getting used to this whole Mommy thing ;)

~ Daddy and Dylan - 1 Day Old ~

August 11th

4 years ago today I married my best friend, my rock, my light, and truly the best man any girl could ask for! This photo has always been my favorite from our wedding.  I love the look on his face.

Jeans: skinny or bell bottoms?

I'm currently on the hunt for a great pair of dark wash jeans.  You know...the pair you immediately regret buying soon after you walk out of the store. The pair of jeans you find yourself fibbing about to the husband. "Oh, they were on sale!".  Not so much. The pair you realize was worth the price after 2 years have gone by and they're still your "go to jeans"! That's the pair I'm talking about. The only problem is...which style? I'm loving both the skinny jeans and blue bells from EmersonMade and wish I could just purchase every article of clothing they sell!

I may be leaning towards the skinny jeans, only because it's so easy to go from flats to wellies when Seattle decides to show it's true colors! If I lived in California I would purchase the bell bottoms in a heartbeat! What pair would you choose?

(Photos by EmersonMade)

Bon Iver - Holocene



I can't stop watching this video set to Bon Iver's "Holocene". Apparently this was the creator's first attempt at stop motion animation. Well done! This is my favorite song from the new album. To me, "Holocene" feels like a journey and this video fits it perfectly!

Friday Flashback



Do you remember this video? I was in love with The Wallflowers back then, and I still have a little crush on Jakob Dylan. Oh those baby blue eyes!!! Happy Friday!

Sweet Delivery

My wonderful friend/cousin-in-law, Brandy, was kind enough to drop off a few treats at our doorstep last night. We scored some homemade strawberry jam, puree, and fresh squeezed lemonade! She went strawberry picking with her husband and 2 adorable boys (Tanner and Ryder) this past week and came home with a lot of strawberries.

Doesn't that sound like a sweet way to spend your day? And how cute are her jars and tags? The tag reads "From the Kitchen of...Brandy".  Love it!

Amsterdam

(Love this photo taken by my husband)

My best friend's German wedding was sort of a kick in the butt for my husband and I.  We had always wanted to go on a European vacation, but it always sat on the back burner. We decided to make the most out of our trip to Germany, and in addition to a trip to Italy, we were also lucky enough to partake in a road trip to Holland! Amsterdam served as a pre-wedding getaway for the bride, groom, and some of her family/wedding party.   

Oh...the houseboats, museums, bicycles, pubs, food, fashion, Red Light District, beautiful locals, architecture, and my husband's favorite beer shop, De Bierkoning! It's definitely a city worth visiting again! 

Below are some more of my favorite snapshots from the trip...

(Carl and I found a boat/bicycle rack to hang out on! )

 (Enjoying some dutch beer with the bride and groom, Faith and Nico!)



Amsterdam Flower Market

I'm still in the process of organizing our photos from the European vacation we took a few months ago.  I came across these shots from the Amsterdam Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt), and realized I had yet to post any pictures from this part of the trip!? Well, here are a few of my favorites from the market. I was so tempted to buy these, but sadly had to pass since we only had a few days to explore this beautiful city!

More to come!

One Day

I just finished reading 'One Day' by David Nicholls. The hilarious, tragic, and refreshingly realistic story of Emma and Dexter left me laughing and crying, even after I put the book down! It begins with the two meeting on July 15th, the day of their college graduation in Edinburgh, Scotland. The story then takes you on a 20 year journey of their lives, but only revisits the two on July 15th of every year, one day. The movie comes out next month and I can't wait to see it! Check out the trailer below!

Update: In theaters August 19th!



Cruising



I love this bicycle from Adeline Adeline. Not so sure I could pull it off in those heels, but love the idea of cruising around on a bike with a basket while wearing a summer dress. Check out this shop's new bicycle in Kate Spade New York Green! Hmm...Blue or Green?

(Photo via Hanneli)



Gone Campin'



There's nothing better than packing up the wagon and hitting the road for a fun filled weekend of camping, hiking and some much needed relaxation! That's our plan this weekend and we're hoping for some decent Washington weather.

The photos above are from one of our camping trips/hikes last summer.  We stayed at a campground in Sequim, Washington and hiked 5 miles to this lighthouse!  You can actually rent the lighthouse and the keeper's quarters for a week, but you must also run the place! During our trip, a family from the UK was renting it and they said it was turning out to be the most memorable and unique family vacations they ever had. It would be an amazing experience to be a lighthouse keeper!

Positano Blues



It's only been a few months and I'm already longing to head back to Italy! I miss cappuccinos in the morning, delicious pastries, sunbathing, steps, unique and colorful front doors, more steps, margherita pizza, sipping cold limoncello in the afternoon, and the color blue! 





Our favorite Positano drink...Limoncello!

Camp Wedding



I just had to post these photos from a recently featured wedding on Once Wed! The bride and groom decided to have their wedding at a Boy Scout Camp that was tucked away in the hills of Orange County.  How cool is that?  And don't you just love the bride's dress and her gold headpiece? I also think their choice of turquoise wedding bands is just lovely and unique! 



(Photos by Braedon Photography via Once Wed)

A Perfect Night in Positano

(My must have pieces of jewelry. For this night, I opted for the larger Forever 21 necklace and ring in the upper left hand corner.)



(A beautiful coral red polish - OPI on Collins Ave)



(My versatile Marco Buggiani bag was a must for our European getaway!)

                                 

(I was able to break out my new sandals for the first time!)

My husband and I took our packs to Italy, so I was very limited as to the items I could bring along. I decided to pack more of the basics and versatile pieces for the better part of the trip. This outfit was by far my favorite and most comfortable of the bunch! The black maxi dress is by Pink Rose.  I'm pretty sure I picked it up at TJ Max a few years back for less than $20. Score! I'm a huge denim jacket lover and this particular one, by Gap, has been a "go to" piece for years. My bag is by Marco Buggiani and the sandals are by Kelsi Dagger. 

On this lovely Italian night, we decided to venture all the way down to the beach to have dinner at Chez Black.  We had spotted the restaurant earlier that day and decided to take a chance on it.  During dinner it was really neat to overhear honeymooners say it was THE restaurant to eat at in Positano!  And it was.... Perfect!



Snapshots



My husband is famous for taking pictures when I'm not looking.  He figures it's a little "surprise" when I look back and edit photos!  When doing this, the photos are usually super embarrassing and immediately deleted.  These photos on the other hand were definite keepers!  All were taken in Positano. 

Positano in Black and White

(Minutes after arriving in Positano)

(First glimpse of the view from our room)

(The beginning of a Positano Storm)

I distinctly remember the feeling I had after stepping foot off the bus in Positano, Italy.  I felt a bit exhausted, excited and at peace all at the same time.  I remember thinking..."wow, this is our little playground for 4 days!".  What an amazing 4 days it was!  I love these photos because they capture the moment without the need of any color. I just love it when a photo can be just as meaningful (if not more) when in black and white.