THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THINKING ABOUT: On Saturday, HRH Charlotte Elizabeth Diana graced the world with her royal presence, and I was tickled pink at the sight of Wills and Kate with their precious little princess. Swoon! When events like this take place, I love reading what others have to say on social media. Flyboy, Max, and the pups aren't much for royal chitchat, so I have no choice but to turn to Twitter, blogs, etc. for a little entertainment. Perhaps I'm being too sensitive, but I couldn't help but notice the general feelings of excitement turned sour when images of the Duchess surfaced. People were rather harsh about how coiffed she appeared just hours after giving birth. I get where they're coming from to a degree, but do we really want to see royalty step out in yoga pants? And why are we so quick to judge others when something isn't done in a manner that we see fit? Do we feel threatened? If I had the staff that she does, you can guarantee I'd want to leave the hospital with a blowout and a beautiful dress. 

FEELING: After Monday's juice mishap, Max and I headed to HEB for a few odds and ends. I stopped by the fresh flowers, as I typically do, to see what was available and got a little queasy when I realized they dyed the Hydrangeas. Who in their right mind thought that was a cute idea? If that wasn't bad enough, they dyed them in pastels. Ew. I got out my phone, snapped a quick picture, and sent it to my mom. I knew she would be equally terrified at the notion. I really never thought I'd use Hydrangea and tacky in a sentence together, but this was hideous, folks! I'm certain Yolanda Foster from RHOBH and all of her Dutch fabulousness would cringe.   

THANKFUL FOR: Whenever I earn a free drink from Starbucks Rewards, I see it as an opportunity to splurge, so I always swing for a venti. I can't rationalize the cost and calories if I'm the one paying for it on a regular basis, but if they're going to treat me to a drink, then I might as well get the most bang for my buck. Just yesterday I opted to use my free drink and it was delightful.

EATING: This week I tried a few new recipes that are definitely worth sharing. On Sunday, we devoured Grilled Spicy Cilantro Shrimp and Spinach Salad. It was fabulous, and I can't wait to use the marinade in other ways! It's definitely one of those recipes I'll make frequently this summer. On Tuesday I dabbled with the Veggetti and made zucchini noodles for the first time. For $15 I figured the contraption was worth a shot, and I was actually impressed with the outcome. I can see myself incorporating the "zoodles" into other recipes even though saying "zoodles" feels a tad bit awkward. Last night, I whipped up these Thai Chicken Salad Wraps with Blueberries. Since Flyboy has been coming home around 9:00 pm, lighter meal options are ideal.

LISTENING TO: As I attempt to write today's post, Max is screaming from his crib. It's nap time and he's fussy. We've been going and going all morning, jumping around from one activity to the next. He MUST be tired because I'm exhausted. I really think we both need (deserve?) a little break. As he wails and whimpers, I can hardly think straight. It's taking everything inside of me not to just give in and go get him. Gah, I can't help but wonder how it's possible to love someone so much, yet they have the ability to drive you bonkers at the same time. Was this what my mom meant when she said "I love you like crazy cakes", because this kid is driving me crazy, and I could totally eat my feelings with a fat slice of cake.

WATCHING: It all started when Flyboy was gone for a few weeks in January and I found myself sending him videos of Max. At that time our darling child was really starting to be expressive, and I would do ANYTHING to make him grin or giggle. Then one night, after a particularly rough day, I got out my phone and played a video of Max to feel the good feelings. You know, as a reminder for myself... Well, I couldn't help but notice that Max also liked to hear and see himself, so I showed him the video. BIG mistake. Huge. From that moment on, I think I created a narcissistic monster. This kid lights up when he sees footage of himself. Quite honestly, it's sweet but also slightly embarrassing. I really don't know what to make of it, but it's clear I've already ruined him.

READING: I read the Iris Apfel quote above, and it immediately made me think of my mom and what I find most beautiful about her. She has this incredible way of connecting with others and makes everyone she comes into contact with feel treasured. I think that is such a gift! In an age of cell phones and selfies, I think we're slowly losing the art of being genuinely interested in others. 

LOVING: While visiting my parents in DC, I picked up one of these Side-Slit Scoopneck Tees in Navy from J.Crew. I had no clue how much I would adore the simple shirt or how often I'd wear it. They're on sale right now, which means I should stock up, but I wish they would consider making them in more colors. The neckline is perfect, and they wash up like a dream.

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

ART I HEART

"VERY WELL"

"TWO WAYS"

"LEMON DROP"

"OFF THE RECORD"

"ENJOY THE VIEW"

It's no secret I've got a sweet spot for colorful abstracts, so I was ecstatic to learn about Charleston-based artist, Cindy DeAntonio. The distinct brushstrokes and bright hues that characterize her paintings are simply delightful. When I originally set out to create today's post, I had no idea it would lead me to DeAntonio's art, but I'm so glad it did. Amid the stormy Swell Rio weather, it turned out to be the burst of color I was desperately craving. For more of Cindy's work, visit her website and Furbish Studio's Pop-Up Shop.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

Maxwell Christopher Fine, you are my favorite.

Don't forget!! Mother's Day is THIS Sunday! Mom always knows best.

Sometimes you engage in a little spring cleaning and come out bearing a disco ball. Winning!

Stripes and tassels forever. This combination makes for a mom-semble worth donning on repeat.

In a recipe rut? Trust me and try The Foodess' Spicy Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw and Lime Crema. 

Sometimes Nanny Fine assumes the role of neighborhood watch. Queen Bee is on Berner Patrol.

Monday's outing might have been a little uneventful, but at least we came home with flowers and mail.

Pureed peas are on the menu this week for Sir Maxalot. I hope he's just as giddy about this lovely shade of green.

Color lovers will rejoice when they get their hands on one of these adorable stickers from Pencil Shavings Studio.

Max gives a whole new meaning to the term "sloth meltdown". In fact, this looks more like shade.

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

Happy Tuesday, sweet readers! This week started off hopelessly optimistic, as most Mondays do. You see, I spent the bulk of last week sniffling and popping cough drops like candy. I'm still not entirely sure if it was a cold or allergies, but I felt crumby and was eager for a fresh start. Naturally, I threw on my rose-colored sunnies to greet the week ahead with gusto. Or so I thought... 

Living in Swell Rio, it's very easy to get caught up in all the amenities this border town does NOT have to offer and I've found myself going to that negative place a lot since we returned from our vacation. This week I was bound and determined to find something new or exciting to appreciate. Thankfully, I heard about a new juicery via social media, Googled the hours and location, and planned a little Monday morning excursion for Max and me. Upon arriving at the address, I got a little confused by the residential surroundings, stray dog, and roosters, so I flipped a u-ey. If we went any further we would have greeted Mexico. 

While I'm certain the address was accurate, nothing about the location said "We sell fresh juice!" Part of me was tempted to pull over and ask the gentleman in the Border Patrol truck if he knew about the place, but it started to rain and Max began to sob dramatically. I suppose this was probably divine intervention. In a stubborn attempt to escape the mundane, I can imagine myself showing up at a stranger's house with my infant in tow requesting a cucumber and mint concoction. Then again, that might cost me my "Mother of the Year" title and we can't have that. He He! Instead I was left wondering, "What would Meryl do?" We're talking about Streep, obvi.

Bummed and befuddled with a hankering for fresh juice, we headed to HEB for a few odds and ends. The ridiculousness of the situation was enough to make me call my dad because I figured he would find the humor in our uneventful outing. All chuckling aside, I've got a little digging to do because I'm not giving up on this magical and mysterious juicery. Until then, we'll stick to Starbucks.

Alright, enough of my babbling. How are YOU? How's your week?

GIFT GUIDE: MOTHER'S DAY

THE GOODS:

Mirabeau Necklace $66 // Sweater $79 // Lily Avenue Darla $88 // Hand Lotion $5 // Striped Scarf $49 // 

Mishelle Cuff $68 // Pattern Play Tassel Keyring $45 // Vitamin C Body Oil $58 // Lipstick $28 // 

No. 1 Mom Card $5 // Candy Stripe Pareo $48 // Bad Taste Print $25 // Ceramic Heart Dish $10 // 

Hampton Street Rosebowl Vase $75 // Namesake Beaded Bracelet $40 // Pom-Pom Beach Tote $90 // 

Soy Candle $20 // Jo Malone Cologne $60 // Sunshine Pennant $24 // Capri Earrings in Turquoise $88 // 

Headliner Sunglasses $55 // Double Breasted Jacket Polish $8 // Ikat Napkins $40

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Neon Knotted Rope Necklace // Raise your hand if you have an unhealthy relationship with J.Crew's persimmon...
• Here We Go Again Balloons // This just seemed really appropriate for The Love List. Another week ends with a smattering of swell items to lust over. Yep, that's definitely The Love List. What else would you expect?!
• Peggy Heels // Pumps like these deserve all the heart eyes. Just look at those colors and that fabulous abstract print!
• Sense and Sensibility // It's no secret I love Leanne Shapton (remember this post?), so I was ecstatic to see these Jane Austen classics with cover art created by the artist. What a pretty reason to revisit the classics!
• Clambake Cocktail Napkin // Just as Andy Cohen loves a jumpsuit and a side pony, I love a cute cocktail napkin.
• Pink Reading Glasses // Oh heavens! These punchy specs are just too much for me to handle. Damn you, 20/20 vision.
• Save the Bees // I simply adore J.Crew's superfly tees created by Donald Robertson, which benefit the Xerces Society in the US in their mission to save the bees—the most important plant pollinators that are disappearing rapidly.
• Heart Flower, 2014 // Have you heard of ThePosters.co? It's a website with artwork curated by Athena Currey and Adrian Rosenfeld making art accessible and affordable to the masses by publishing museum-quality prints available for a short period of time. A portion of each purchase will work toward their goal to fund 1,000,000 hours of art classes for kids.
• Happy Card // I can't get enough of the shop, Easy, Tiger. I knew they sold adorable glasses and mugs, but had no clue they offered a selection of cheeky t-shirts and hilariously funny note cards.
• Mid-Century Furry Stool // It's been a long week, so why don't you kick up your feet on something scrumptious?
• Tea for Two // We could use a new teapot and I've got my eyes on the snazzy Smeg Tea Kettle; however, this Lizzy Yellow Teapot is an awfully nice pop of color and a bargain to boot.

As always, thank you kindly for stopping by. Cheers to a snazzy weekend, m' dears! Make it count.