LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Here's what made me feel all twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

• Dress Your Tech // Each week, Bri shares a handful of free downloads with her readers. I was particularly smitten with this past week's watercolor dots. They're insanely precious! Download this option along with a handful of others here.
• Dangling Teardrop Earrings // Okay, these officially win the award for happiest earrings ever. What's not to love?!
• Hello, June // Have you read Corrina's blog, Cocorrina? It's dreamy, m' dears. I could get lost in her gorgeous portfolio.
• Envelope Clutch // I will always be drawn to the color orange, and the "Sunset" option is just screaming my name.
• Charlotte Street Mug // Oh my stripes! I wouldn't mind sipping my morning coffee from this little guy. Swoon.
• Color Chroma Throw // I find myself dreaming about the days ahead in which I'll snuggle with our little boy. They say this feels like cashmere and it's machine washable. It's functional AND aesthetically pleasing. I'd say it's a no-brainer!
• Fatty Sundays // I know I mentioned these deliciously adorable pretzel rods in Monday's LLD post. Well, let's just say I got in some trouble from Flyboy. He was particularly unamused that I kept them from him. Hey, they were MY Mother's Day gift from MY sister. Maybe if he's lucky I'll order them again so WE can enjoy them together. They're tasty!
• Stray Dog Designs // I've wanted a piece from this company for SO long. To me, this snail is everything! How cute would it be sitting on top of my desk?! Speaking of snails, #OFDGOINGPOSTAL June pen pals are going out today. Look out for an email! Woah, my thought process is ALL over the place today. All aboard the crazy train.
• Tube Scarf // Let me break this down... It's navy, has stripes, AND polka dots. It's under $15. That's what I thought.
• Father's Day // How did this sneak up on me?! I apologize for the late Gift Guide. I'll have some last-minute gift options for you next Tuesday. I promise! Until then, don't forget to pick up a card. I love this one from Sugar Paper.
• They're Real! Push-Up Liner // I said I needed to get better about "researching" beauty products in Wednesday's post, but I've yet to master the art of applying eyeliner. Some days are mediocre (at best) and other days are just plain pitiful. I've heard a-mazing things about this one from Benefit and I can't wait to try it! If it's like the mascara, I'm hooked!

Welp, there you have it. Cheers to a snazzy weekend. Make it count, m' dears.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

This tumbler from Ashley Brooke Designs just seems fitting these days.

THANKFUL FOR: One of the sweetest things about being pregnant is the genuine excitement and happiness you witness from family and friends. It's been an absolute treat to hear them talk about their future with our little one. He's their baby, too! I love that they take ownership of him. It reminds me what a blessed future he has ahead of him and all of the wonderful people he'll be surrounded by. It tugs at my heart strings and erases any worries I have about silly details like strollers and parenting guides. 

EATING: What's a pregnant girl to do when she's got a serious hankering for Kalbi—Korean BBQ Short Ribs?! She starts scouring the web for recipes and plots the next time she can sweet talk Flyboy into firing up the grill. Yep, that's EXACTLY what she does!

WATCHING: Orange Is the New Black returns on Friday for its second season. No wait, it gets better... Flyboy is leaving for a quick weekend trip. Are you stinkin' kidding me?! I wish that meant I got to binge watch without him, but we have this pact where we tune-in together. You guys, being faithful to your husband and your TV shows is hard work! I don't think there are enough trips to the Home Depot or Tractor Supply to keep me preoccupied from Friday to Sunday. Wish me luck; I'm SO going to need it! 

FEELING: In Flyboy's absence, I'm eager to check a few items off my to-do list that aren't necessarily the kind of tasks you want to complete when he's around and we could be having fun instead. I'm talking about things like organizing my closet, creating future blog posts, getting crafty, etc. Maybe this is just me trying to make lemonade out of lemons. While I wish it was gin-spiked lemonade, you bet I'll reward myself with oodles of Bravo, a manicure, and maybe something with chocolate and peanut butter.

LISTENING TO: This week's ear worm courtesy of Coldplay's song A Sky Full of Stars. Their lyrics are so repetitive and catchy. "'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars..." We get it, you miss Gwyneth already. That doesn't mean I have to.

THINKING ABOUT: In the spirit of keeping things real around here, can we talk about Tripp and his disgusting dog habits?! Why does he find it necessary to scoot on every one of our rugs? I know what you're thinking, "You need to get his glands squeezed." Yes, we do that regularly—not to worry. I really truly believe he does it to punish me. Oddly enough, I have this sixth sense. No matter where I'm at in the house, I can usually feel when he's up to something mischievous and gross. I'll run from the bedroom to the living room and he's at it. In the midst of a slumber, I'll wake up to see him staring at me, just scooting away. I swear he wears an ornery smile when he does it. This dog constantly tests my patience and the only forgiving thing about him is the adorable seersucker bow-tie he wears when he does it. Now, on to prettier things...

READING: Did you happen to catch the June issue of Matchbook Magazine? It was an interior design dream, I tell you! I don't want to spoil it, but Loren Hope's studio is featured and it's flipping fabulous. Every detail is just as lovely as I imagined. Just when I think the issue couldn't get better, they upped the ante and let us into the world of design goddess, Emily Henderson's home.

LOVING: At my last doctor's appointment, I was told I needed to work on getting more Vitamin D. Okay, fine by me! As a big milk drinker and sun lover, I don't think this has EVER happened, but you can bet I'm ready to get those levels up! As a result, Flyboy and I visited the base pool last Sunday. It was the first time we wore our swimsuits since we departed Hawaii back in October. Le sigh. Reminiscing about our Sunday fun days of the past, we set out to take a dip in the name of Vitamin D and beat the 100-degree temps. While the scenery wasn't quite the same as Windward Oahu (tear), it was nice to cool off and catch some rays.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!

P.S. Here's hoping this whole "dog shaming" thing actually works! Tripp is embarrassed by the details divulged in today's post.

REPEAT OFFENDER

As I cleaned out my makeup bag this past weekend, I was reminded that I tend to waste a lot of money "testing" various beauty products. VIB Rouge, anyone?! Sure it's fun to play with makeup, but I start to get all red in the face when I think about the dollars invested in the next BEST thing. As I sorted through items to keep and toss, I thought about how many times I've actually bought multiples of a product. It's not often that this happens. I mean, it's got to be REALLY amazing or there's a good chance that I'm going to move on to something that gets better reviews. When I thought long and hard about my favorite products, I realized that it comes down to five products. While I don't consider myself an expert, I do know that I've done a lot of "research" on the topic. 

• BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL! MASCARA // There's a reason this stuff gets rave reviews. I bought it when it first came out, and I haven't gone without a tube since. It lengthens, lifts, and separates your lashes like a boss.
• ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY-IN-PLACE MAKEUP // I have combination skin that tends to be pretty sensitive. I also have some acne scars on my cheeks that make me incredibly insecure. This foundation does a great job of hiding any imperfections and doesn't irritate my skin. The long-wearing formula is an added bonus! I've worn this while hiking (and sweating) in Hawaii. Even after an evening spin session, my makeup stays in place. In the Spring and Summer months, I like to mist my mug with Urban Decay's All-Nighter Spray to give the matte makeup a dewy finish. 
• NARS LIPSTICK IN CATFIGHT // I should probably confess that I walked by Sephora every day on my way to work in Hawaii. I became a junkie, and I honestly kind of loved it. In search of an everyday lipstick shade, one of the beauty gurus turned me on to this pink and nude color. I was instantly smitten! The semi-matte formula is actually quite creamy (non-drying) and long-lasting. I love that it added subtle color to my lips, without the need to reapply.
• ESSIE NAIL POLISH IN CLAMBAKE // If this was the movie "Steel Magnolias," I'd proclaim Clambake my signature color. The creamy red-orange is nothing short of perfection. Even when I don other colors, I usually wish I would've stuck with it instead. It's not the easiest color to find in stores, but it's available online via Target. Funny enough, I found my latest bottle during a layover at the Atlanta airport. I have a rule where I must stop at all Essie displays, no matter the location—you know, just in case they've got m' shade. Much to my delight, they had it! I guess all those hours spent watching Real Housewives of Atlanta paid off. I feel like Nene was looking out for me. Thanks, Mrs. Leakes! Bloop.
• NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER // I've never loved a concealer before, but I literally gush whenever I talk about this stuff. It's full coverage, doesn't crease, and works wonders when concealing blemishes. I dare someone to try and sway me on this one. It's worth every penny. While I stand by all five products listed, this is my top pick.

I realize most of these products range from $20-$30, so they aren't necessarily cheap. To me, they're worth the investment. For every dollar I've spent testing drugstore beauty brands, I've wasted an equal amount of money dabbling with high-end products. It all comes down to whatever works for YOU. I think we all want something that suits our needs and makes us feel more confident. 

What are your Holy Grail products? Do tell.

DESIGN MOODBOARD

When my mom and sister visited in April, we cleared out the baby's room. In a few short hours, my mom painted it the loveliest shade of grey—it's simple and serene. Suddenly it was a lot easier to envision life with a little one, and I was eager to start the decorating process. The room is fairly small, and I knew that I didn't want it to feel like like your typical nursery. I wanted there to be classic elements, but mostly with a modern flair. I abhor the idea of themed rooms—no, thank you! And while I LOVE lots of color, I didn't want to walk by the room and feel like the Crayola Factory vomited all over our kid's bedroom. Eww. I thought about all the things I wanted to fill this little space with, and beautiful hardback books immediately came to mind. Can you ever have too many? Fun pops of color will come from shelves filled with bright tales and a few tchotchkes will add personality. Clearly, I plan on lots of texture (pom-poms, anyone?!) and a few shiny elements for good measure.

Days after my family visited, I started creating individual moodboards for Baby Fine. They were both a work in progress, but I had to have an option for a boy AND a girl. It was a particularly fun way to organize my ideas in Photoshop and gave me something to look forward to. Yay! I waited in anticipation to see which one I'd get to share with you, and I love how it's all come together. While the bones of the nursery are gender neutral, it's the art and knick-knacks that make it specific to either a boy or girl.

THE GOODS:

Mounted Zebra Head

DIY Pendant Cord

Herringbone Pom-Pom Throw

Ochre Crown

Typies Alphabet Cushion

Dorian Gray by Sherwin-Williams

"Home is Where the Heart Is: Texas" Print by Idlewild Co.

"Ferocious Beasts" Print by Idlewild Co.

"Red Hot Series" Print by Courtney Price

Hudson Crib

Grey Stripes Cube Bin

Ah-Ha to Zig-Zag by Maira Kalman

Kido Air Plane

Strandmon Wing Chair

Ikat Pom-Pom Pillow

Moroccan Leather Pouf

Color Block Woven Basket

In addition to the items mentioned above, I plan to buy these curtains, this mobile, and use this IKEA bookcase as storage/changing station. This cart (in grey) from IKEA will come in handy as well! I love it when a plan comes together.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

B stands for BOY—and that's exactly what we're having!

A snapshot from my sister. I surprised her with a Bonjour Balloon. They're like sunshine in a box!

Probably one of my favorite note cards. Ever. Eat your heart out, Donna Meagle.

Flyboy's idea of the perfect weekend.

While FB likes to pedal and sweat, I look forward to our Pancake Sundays.

No Peonies for me this year. Sigh. But George Strait on the cover of Texas Monthly is kinda the same thing, right?!

Clearly I've got a lot to learn about children's sizes. It looks like we'll be prepared for puddle jumping...in two years!

A sweet gift from my sister. I successfully hid them from Flyboy and devoured them on my own. I'm surprised he didn't see sprinkles everywhere.

Snail mail from sweet friends has a way of brightening the dullest of Swell Rio days. Thank you all SO much!

In case you couldn't tell from the top photo, we're having a BOY! Keeping this little nugget of info from you these past few days has been quite the challenge. I apologize for getting you all amped up, only to leave you hanging. Oops, that was rotten! But I'm sure you can understand we had to inform all of our family and close friends before blasting the BIG NEWS on social media. 

Now that everyone is in the loop, I should tell you that I was completely blindsided when the technician told us we were having a baby boy. What the what?! For weeks, I had imagined the idea of a little girl, and I had envisioned all the accessories I'd buy her and all the glitter we'd play with. It felt so real. I've never been so confident in my life. Ha Ha! Can you say delusional? I was afraid to tell anyone that I had such strong feelings it was a girl because I knew there was a good chance I'd be wrong, but I really thought this is what they meant when they use the term "mother's intuition." Clearly, I still have SO much to learn. In fact, I'm beginning to think my dad was on to something when he sent me the following email 12 days ago:

"Weirdest dream last night...I was playing with the cutest little boy I'd never met before and he kept debating with me. He kept saying "I wanna be an actress!"  And I kept telling him, "You can't be an actress. You have a ding dong. You have to be an actor." This went back and forth several times before I tickled him and made him laugh. Then I woke up.  What the what??? Was it a vision? Am I clairvoyant? We shall see..."

Some day I plan on sharing this story with our son. It appears his Gampy was on to something when he emailed me on May 21, 2014. Not to mention, it's far cuter and funnier than my version. What boy wants to hear his mom was certain he was a girl?