LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Fat and the Moon Lip Paint // I probably spend an unhealthy amount of time poring over Mille's online shop. While I've got a bunch of different items on my virtual wish list, this highly-pigmented lip paint is beckoning. Okay, and I should probably come clean already. I just really adore the lovely packaging.
• KSNY Spring 2015 Campaign // Have you seen Kate Spade's latest campaign featuring  Iris Apfel alongside Karlie Kloss? They're absolutely delightful! I plan to scour every magazine until I've collected each of the ads.
• Cashmere V-Neck Boyfriend Sweater // Believe it or not, cashmere has wonderful wicking qualities. Ha Ha! I've found this to be true as a result of Max's frequent spit up. And if money were no object, I'd stock my closet with J.Crew's featherweight cashmere in a heartbeat. Their latest line up of colors is outstanding! Tidewater Blue, I'm looking at YOU.
• Small Amorous Satchel // Every girl needs a chic sidekick; this bag ought to do the trick. Remember, leopard is a neutral.
• DIY Fabric Valentine // No need to beat around the bush. Give it to 'em straight with this snazzy banner.
• Fine Fellow iPhone 6 Case // By now you've probably heard the sad news. Kate Spade's Saturday is closing. Womp womp. Since I'm looking to upgrade my phone in the coming weeks, it might be smart to finally snag this cheeky case.
• Clare Vivier Catchall // There's just something about that hot pink stripe that leaves me swooning EVERY stinking time. A fancy little monogram would only sweeten the deal. Wouldn't you agree?!
• Blue Striped Vase // I love browsing Domino's shop because they have the cutest variety of objets. It's been a fun way to get lost on the Interwebs while learning about different online shops and brands. Actually, that can be kind of dangerous, but this is one of those instances in which I like to live on the wild side. #rebel
• Love Rules Candle // The price of this candle is slightly ridiculous, but it might be sweet inspiration for you very own DIY.

Cheers to a snazzy weekend! As always, thanks for stopping by.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

FEELING: If I had a dollar for every time the phrase "Well, damn." crosses my mind throughout the day, I'd have enough money to buy this West Elm console for the living room (swoon!). The words are simple, liberating, but also quite calming. For instance, Max erupts like a volcano just minutes before I'm ready to leave the house and spit up streams down the pant leg of my fuchsia chinos — well, damn. In the process of feeding the bebe and pups, I forget the pot of turkey chili I made is more than just simmering; it's burnt — well, damn. The UPS man drops by and Beesly begins to bark, now Max is awake from his nap — well, damn. You get the gist. I typically get my feathers ruffled when things don't go according to plan (Type-A(shley) alert), but I've learned with a baby this is the norm. Upon thinking or uttering the words, "Well, damn.", I've found that I'm able to accept what goes awry and just keep chugging along. And for those rare instances when things exceed my expectations and I'm left befuddled in the best way, I switch gears and opt for "Hot damn!" Try incorporating both phrases into your daily routine. I really think I'm on to something here.

THANKFUL FOR: I'm not sure how we could have possibly survived the first four months of Max without our Mamaroo seat. The kid loves it and spends a good chunk of his day in car ride or kangaroo mode. In the heat of a colicky fit, it's usually the only way to soothe him (baby straight jacket required). One afternoon last week, the swing started to make some weird sounds and I was afraid we used it too much and it was dying on me. Well, damn. I freaked and wondered how I could manage life without this little gem! Thankfully, with a little trouble shooting I realized an error on my part when switching from the upright/seated position to the recline position. Hot damn! It got me thinking about the baby gear we've acquired and what pieces have been invaluable. To anyone with a bun in the oven, this snazzy machine will be your best friend. Oh, and extra bonus points to 4moms for not creating an eyesore!

THINKING ABOUT: Last Friday, something terrible happened. I got a hole in the thigh area of my Matchstick jeans!!! Well, damn. This was especially awful because it's pretty much the only pair of denim I own that fits postpartum. I've had this particular pair for FOUR months. How could it be?! I was distraught and truly convinced the quality of J.Crew's denim has gone downhill, but I'll save that for another post. Sigh. In a state of desperation I pulled out the Rubbermaid containers filled with my old pants. I wanted to cry because I wasn't sure I was mentally prepared for this moment, but I suppose it was inevitable. Lo and behold, I was able to button my old jeans. Hot damn! I'll be honest, there's still A LOT of work that needs to be done because they look and feel a tad bit snug, but it's nice to have some options again. I felt good about the progress I've made thus far, so I was curious to try on my old shorts. Yikes! Let's just say, it wasn't pretty. Ha Ha! I've always been pretty driven by goals, so this gives me something to work toward and a reason to pedal harder when I'm on my bike. Yay for happy accidents and subtle reminders to keep going!

EATING: Remember when I mentioned turkey chili a few minutes ago? Yeah, well here's the recipe. Any time I've prepared it for family and friends, they've asked for the recipe. It's easy, delicious, and low-fat. I'm still not exactly sure how I managed to mess it up after making the chili for two years. Oy! There really is a first for EVERYTHING. This time around, I was left with an extra "smoky" batch and a stock pot that needed to soak for a full 24 hours. Thank goodness for Febreze and aromatic candles! 

LISTENING TO: Doting mom moment straight ahead! Whenever Max is feeling playful in the evening, I can get him to laugh, and it's ridiculously adorable! I can't wait for Flyboy to get home and hear this high-pitched cackle. The precious sound and smile that follows is enough to make me turn into a giant pile of mush. Despite my best attempts, I haven't been able to successfully record it. Juggling the iPad and getting the timing down is tricky. I suppose this is the type of thing you want to see in person anyway.  

WATCHING: I recently learned my parents have been recording Watch What Happens Live and tuning into Bravo on a regular basis. Get. Out. The fact that I can discuss the quirky nuances of Andy Cohen's Clubhouse with them makes me incredibly giddy. I always loved chatting with them before, but now we get to use terms such as mazel, jackhole, and guzzlet. Squee! Perhaps the next time we're together, we can play games like "Amanda Peet, Are These Your Feet?" and bust out the ol' shotski.   

READING: Tatiana of Flora & Fauna is just darling, you guys. If you don't follow her blog or Instagram already, you MUST! The images she shares of her sweet family are lovely and her words are just as wonderful. I can't remember when or how I stumbled upon her site, but I'm SO happy I did. She's like a breath of fresh air. Last week, Tatiana's "Getting Sorted" post spoke to me in a really BIG way. Since we move around a lot, meeting new people can be tough on this introvert. Making friends is a lot of work and I often feel as though people don't really "get" me. This excerpt had me nodding along excitedly with a double-barrel grin plastered all over m' mug. She was able to articulate what I feel all too often, and I couldn't be more grateful to her for sharing her thoughts.

"And there are so many labels to choose from and if you don't fit any of them it starts to feel like you don't belong. I'm not happy enough. I'm not sarcastic/sardonic/funny enough. I'm not chic enough. I care too much. I don't care enough. I share too much. I don't share enough. I post too often. I don't post often enough... So I ship myself off to the island of misfit toys looking for someone who is an introvert but also have a big mouth like me, who likes fashion but also sweatpants, who thinks her children are the biggest blessing and a gift from God but also locks herself in the bathroom with a bag of chocolate kisses and fantasizes about being childless in Vegas and reading a magazine front to back in one sitting (seriously though what kind of bliss would that be???), who loves Kazuo Ishiguro but also all the Real Housewives franchises (Orange County will always be my favorite) and who can never consistently use the same Instagram filter and knows that's it's probably totally ruining her game. You know the line "if you don't have anything nice to say come sit by me" well my line should be "if you're a total weirdo and don't fit in come sit by me." Really please do join me, it's just me and... well nobody else but that means there's plenty of room!"

LOVING: On Monday, Max and I ran a few errands and topped off the morning in town with a little Starbucks. Obvi. As we made our way through the drive-thru, I pulled up to pay and the girl working at the window said, "Hey, your baby isn't crying today!" I couldn't help but smirk because she was right. This felt like a first; I'm certain it was. You see, as long as The Rig is in motion he's happy. The funny business of starting and stopping in a drive-thru makes him extra fussy, but this time around things were different. Part of me felt really proud of the little guy and slightly embarrassed that she knows us well enough to remember that I'm the hot mess in the VeeDubb who frequents the joint for Caramel Macchiatos while my sweet child sounds off like an alarm. Ha Ha! You know, if Max can keep this up, they may just invite us to come back more often. Hot damn!

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

IMAGE CREDITS: Well, Damn via The Paper Cub // Hand Drawn Stripes via Social Proper

SHOP SPOTLIGHT

The people at Rocksbox reached out to me recently to see if I'd like to try their jewelry subscription service. Um, that's a no-brainer because I LOVE accessories! For $19 a month you get access to an unlimited closet of designer jewelry. Who doesn't love that? Once you've signed up, you're asked to take a brief survey which gives the stylists a better idea of your aesthetic. Three pieces of jewelry are then sent to you to flaunt and keep for as long as you want, or they can be swapped out when you're ready to try something new. In case you fall hard for any of the snazzy gems, you get the option of purchasing your jewels at 20% off. Not too shabby!

When I assess my colorful arsenal of accessories, there are timeless pieces I know I'll treasure forever and other trendy items that I typically end up giving away. Looking back at the jewelry I've donated, I realize I probably wasted a lot of money on pieces I didn't absolutely love or need. Womp, womp. Don't get me wrong, they were fun to wear at the time, but nothing I really treasured. Naturally, the option of receiving a box filled with three handpicked pieces to style and wear as I please sounds pretty fun and reasonable. I'm keen on trying different styles without the commitment of purchasing the trendy baubles. And in the event I do fall head over heels for any of the pieces, I can always purchase it at a discount price.

When I opened my first Rocksbox last week, I was pretty pleased with the pieces selected for me. I received the Urban Gem Victoria Necklace, the Gorjana Crescent Drop Earrings, and the Robyn Rhodes Ellis Bracelet. I especially love the simplicity of the studs and cuff. The necklace isn't terribly special, but it's fun to style and wear once or twice. I honestly would have never considered trying earrings like the ones the stylist chose for me, but I'm glad they included them in my Rocksbox. I was  also really drawn to the organic shape of the bracelet. I may keep this brand in mind for future gift ideas. This is a piece I can totally see my sister wearing on a frequent basis. Overall, Rocksbox is a fun way to mix things up in the spirit of baubles and bling. Who can you argue with that?!

Interested in giving Rocksbox a whirl? Sign up here, and use this code ashleyxoxo6 to get your first month FREE. 

Have any of you tried Rocksbox or any other stylish subscription services? Thoughts?

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

"THE DETAILS ARE NOT THE DETAILS. THEY MAKE THE DESIGN." — CHARLES EAMES

Happy Tuesday, peeps! We're still kickin' it in Swell Rio. Despite a weekend plagued with one massive migraine (insert Jimmy Fallon "Ew!" here), Max and I survived with lots of quality time cozied up on the couch in the company of our sweet pups and Andy Cohen. The countdown to Flyboy's return has officially started, and we're thrilled there's only one more weekend ahead of us before he comes home on February 15th. Hooray! Until then, I'll continue to focus on delightful little deetz like lovey-dovey stationery, budding blooms, and a snazzy new craft gin to play around with. Details like these seem to be the best way to flourish in a small border town when your husband is away and you've got a 16-week-old bebe, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

ART I HEART

"Henson had his puppets, Warhol had his soup cans, and now Donald Robertson has his walnuts! Many people have come to view the fashion world as elitist, and unapproachable, but what everyone seems to forget is… Fashion is nuts! Whether it’s Edie Campbell dressed in nothing but body paint and a headdress, or Iris Apfel sitting front row wearing her signature glasses and dressed in red fur, fashion is, and has always been wondrously mad."  

– Drue Robertson

Do you ever come across something SO GREAT you can't stop smiling? I'm talking about an ear-to-ear grin that's plastered on your mug?! That's exactly what happened to me when I stumbled upon this wonderfully quirky series. Yep, I've been prancing around on my tippy-toes in a Donald Roberston daze. As if the Fashion is Nuts series couldn't get any better, I read there's Iris Apfel and Diana Vreeland posters on the way. Squee! If that doesn't make you dizzy with delight, I don't know what will.

P.S. If you don't know much about Donald Roberston, be sure to read about the off-duty artist here. His story is fascinating!