LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

The perfect blend of productivity and fun, this past weekend was a good one. Oh, let's get straight to the details. Shall we?!

• Donning my most sparkly pair of sandals, I headed to the dentist last Friday morning determined to distract the doc from finding any more cavities. Little did I know, this appointment required a teeth cleaning only. Hooray! Imagine the excitement and relief that came over me when the technician broke the good news. I'm thinking a save like this can be attributed to the bejeweled shoes. When all else fails, BLING out the BIG guns!

• On Sunday, we took a day trip to San Antonio's gem of a 'hood—the Pearl Brewery District— and savored all its charm. While strolling through the farmer's market, we sipped on iced coffee from Local and devoured sweets from Bakery Lorraine. Since the district is pretty much food-focused and we needed to kill time so we could eat AGAIN, we visited a smattering of locally-owned shops like The Sporting District, Roo & Me, and Bike World. When we finally decided it was socially acceptable to eat again, we mosied on over to the Boiler House for an outstanding brunch. Maybe it was just the Tom Collins talking, but our meals were fantastic! I'm already eager to visit the area again—so we can eat some more.

• Since nap time is sacred around these parts, Flyboy and I couldn't help but look forward to Max's afternoon snooze so we could relax together sans baby. On Saturday, we made the most of our time alone by attacking the front yard and sprucing up the patio (with the help of these cheerful pillows). Being the nerds that we are, we joked we got stoned, but that just really meant we spent two hours moving 1,640 pounds of rocks from Flyboy's truck into the yard for a little landscaping project. Eat your heart out, HGTV Yard Crashers! And to prove we REALLY know how to have a good time, we spent the remaining afternoons hanging out on the patio sipping on gin and juice.

• Flyboy is trying his damnedest to get the babe to sit still, but it's clear our 11 month old is a Max on the move. Since he was a wee infant, we've both had visions of snuggling up on the couch with our love nugget, but that's never been the case. Sigh. We initially blamed it on his bout with colic (???), but we're learning he's just a natural-born busy body. As someone who also believes sitting still is overrated, I should probably take the blame for this trait. Oops! Flyboy's determination to put this "skill" into practice is commendable, and I'm trying my best to model good behavior by making time to sit and read books with Max periodically throughout the day. Yesterday's attempt was a total flop, but something tells me it was my choice in reading. Maybe Mitford at the Fashion Zoo was more for me than it was for Max?! Ha Ha!

• We're just a month away from Max's first birthday, so I'm scrambling to come up with ideas to make his celebration special for ALL of our family. In an attempt to get organized, I started making lists and sorting through photographs (in this album), which made me feel ALL the feelings. Then, after spending more time than I care to admit staring at party balloons and bulk confetti options online, I looked over from our desk at Flyboy and began sobbing. Amid the snot-filled dramatic sniffles, he managed to decipher the majority of what I was saying, which quite honestly made very little sense, and suggested we take a cocktail break (cue sanity serum) on the patio. Who can argue with a solution like that?

Alright, enough of my rambling. How are YOU? How was your weekend?

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Royal Academy of Arts // In my ongoing attempt to live vicariously through The Love List, I've decided that if I had all the money in the world, I would be visiting London today and 'Gramming the heck out of this perfectly pink summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. I love how traditional elements of the museum were reinvigorated by something unconventional—i.e. the most delicious shade of magenta ever. The curator behind this year's event, Michael Craig-Martin, is an absolute genius! I bow down, good sir. But since I'm stuck in Swell Rio sans endless cash flow, I may have to continue to stalk #royalacademyofarts on Instagram for glimpses of the show instead.
• Fiona the Fox Piñata // Oh. Em. Gee. How darling is she?! Somebody, throw a party and invite Fiona (and me, please) stat.
• Small Leaf Cardholder // Let's revisit the London pipe dream I mentioned before... You see, ol' money bags would definitely need a frivolous way to keep track of all those credit cards and cash.
• Mini Lidded Neon Basket // Because everyone needs a bright beauty like this to store their secrets... Who's with me?!
• Cap-Sleeve Floral Lace Top // A day trip to San Antone requires a J.Crew pitstop. This cobalt number is calling my name.
• Solid V-Neck Cardigan Sweater // Since I'm that girl in the cardigan, I like to browse the current selection of colors to see what's available. Naturally, I got weak in the knees when I laid eyes on the lemon zest. It's totally a Mindy Lahiri hue!
• Lips Onesie // Mi Cielo partnered with Donald Robertson to create these precious limited-edition onesies and t-shirts.
• Follow Your Art Quote // I love the quotes that Eva Jorgensen of Sycamore Street Press shares on Instagram. I especially appreciated the dialog she started when she shared this quote from Art + Fear: "Doesn't it sometimes feel like you have to be born with some sort of artistic genius, or at least a huge amount of talent, to create art? But I don't think that's true. Yes, there are people like that -- people like Matisse or Mozart or Meryl Streep. But the vast majority of art in the world is not made by them. It's made by mothers, mathematicians, and makers. By painters, piano players, and poets. It's made by me and it's made by you -- wonderful flaws and all." How wonderful is that?
• Chasing Paper // Please tell me you've heard about this shop!?! If not, shame on me for not sharing it with you sooner. The company is known for their stylish selection of removable wallpaper. The possibilities are endless, my friends!
• Color-Dipped Toothpicks // Over a week has gone by since I shared some of my favorite items from Sideshow Press. For some odd reason, I can't stop thinking about these adorable toothpicks. Do I have a problem? Wait, don't answer that.
• Silver Arrow Marquee Sign // This may be my favorite way to get lit. Ha! I guess there's just something about that swooping action that begs to be loved. I have a real sweet spot for vintage marquees and this one is fab.
• Domino Magazine // In case you missed it, Mindy Kaling is the latest cover girl to grace the front of my favorite glossy. Here's hoping I get a chance to finally read the Fall 2015 issue over the extended weekend. Yaaaaaaas!
• RMS Lip2Cheek // I recently tried this in Demure and I simply adore the color. I can't wait to try other shades.

Cheers to a snazzy weekend, m' dears! Make it count.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

WHILE PUTTING TOGETHER ONE OF HER OUTFITS IN THE OPENING SCENES OF THE DOCUMENTARY,
IRIS ENDED HER EXPLANATION OF ALL THE STRANDS OF BEAD AND LAYERS OF FABRIC WITH THESE THREE WORDS. 

THINKING ABOUT: It's time to upgrade Max's car seat, which really means my eyes are permanently glazed over after spending hours researching options and reading reviews. Because we have to take the size of The Rig into consideration in addition to the height of both drivers, it's turned out to be quite the pesky task. We're currently looking at models from Diono and Britax, but I just really wish Nuna would put me out of my misery and make a convertible carseat to use whenever babies outgrow the PIPA. Flyboy and I have been incredibly pleased with the ease and quality of their infant seat; we'd buy more of their products in a heartbeat. So while I continue to consider our current options, does anyone with experience care to weigh in with advice or recommendations?

FEELING: I have a dental appointment tomorrow morning and I'm just a tad bit bummed about it. When the beginning of this week rolled around, I tried to come up with a gazillion reasons as to why I should DEFINITELY reschedule the routine visit. But since Flyboy has the day off and he'll be around to watch Max, it's probably best I just suck it up and get it over with. At least I already know what shoes (these bad boys) I'm going to wear to my appointment, so I'll show up looking like a real winner. Perhaps a little sparkle on my feet will distract the doc and she won't discover any new cavities or a need to replace fillings. Hey, it's worth a shot!

THANKFUL FOR: After singing the film's praises on Instagram and my blog, you probably saw this coming. However, if you get a chance to watch Iris, promise me you'll do so. Ugh, I wish I could send you each a copy. Seeing the rare bird of fashion in action was brilliant! The documentary brought me SO much joy and left me feeling inspired by Apfel's spunk and originality. As terrible as it sounds, I often feel stifled by our current location and the repetitiveness that comes with being a new mom, but the film was a fabulous reminder to be YOU and do what makes you happy. The next time I think twice about whether or not I'm overdone for a quick trip to Wally World, I'll think of Iris' clever and carefree approach to getting dressed.

EATING: Ooh, I tried two new recipes for dinner last night that I think some of you will enjoy. If you're meal planning for the week ahead and looking for ideas, I highly recommend Blackened Salmon with Lime Cream via The Garlic Diaries paired with Zucchini Rice via Damn Delicious. I can't speak for Max, but I know I'm pretty jazzed about warming up a bowl of leftover rice for lunch.

LISTENING TO: While Flyboy was working on Sunday night, I decided to bake. It was only after the dough was prepared and the oven had preheated that I remembered I also have a baby to entertain. Oh, hey kid, where did you come from? Oops! In my attempt to be productive while simultaneously do my best to keep Max content, I started handing the babe random kitchen utensils to see if he'd find any of them intriguing. I failed miserably until I presented him with a glorious sheet of, wait for it, parchment paper. You guys, he was beyond thrilled! You would have thought he'd won the lottery. Four days have passed since Max and his baking bestie were first introduced and my little trick still works. Huzzah! The sweet sound of Max zooming around the house in his walker while playing with crinkled parchment paper is like music to my ears. Even if it's short lived, it's not fussy crying.

WATCHING: You may have seen this little gem make its way around social media, but in case you haven't, you need to stop what you're doing and watch this group of senior citizens whip and nae nae. I adore everything about the lively performance, but part of me is still really concerned about the whole break your legs part. (Don't) break 'em, (don't) break 'em... 

READING: Something about this past Tuesday felt really off and I spent most of the day operating in survival mode. Nicely put, the Fine household was one hot mess. To shake off the craziness, Max and I made a quick trip down the street to check our mailbox and get some fresh air. I expected to fill my Baggu with the usual junk mail and coupons, but what I discovered waiting for me was an unexpected delight. Are you ready for this?! Because Mindy Kaling is on the cover of Domino's newest issue!!!! Squeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! Suddenly I didn't even care about the laundry that was piled up on the kitchen table or the unreal amount of Ritz cracker crumbs that Max sprinkled throughout the house. Now before I get too carried away, I should probably tell you that I haven't actually had time to read the beloved glossy just yet. Ha! That realistically won't happen until this weekend. For now, the magazine is placed on my desk and acts as motivation to get through the week (I'm looking at you, dentist!). It's placed far away from Max's crumby paws.

LOVING: Four-day weekend. Four-day weekend. Pour me a cocktail and cue the happy dance, because it's a four-day weekend!

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

IMAGE BY THOMAS WHITESIDE

PINHOLE PRESS

MAX'S MINI BOOK COURTESY OF PINHOLE PRESS

Having spent over a decade of my childhood overseas with the Air Force, my family got used to missing our relatives that lived stateside. While this way of life might not sound ideal to some, it's the only normal I've ever known. Annual visits were chock-full of memories and inevitably led to tearful good-byes. It never got easier, and I've learned it never does. So when I agreed to carry on with this lifestyle by marrying into the military, I knew distance from family would be part of the package. I just didn't realize that adding a baby to our brood would make those good-byes THAT much harder. 

Suddenly I understand what my parents went through each time our family would come and go. I can't help but think about all of those video cassette tapes filled with family footage that would be sent from Europe back to Iowa every few months so our relatives could watch my sister and me grow.  Aside from the occasional visit, it was the best way for us to stay connected. Thankfully, technology has advanced quite a bit since the early 90s (Yikes, and our perms!) and there are oodles of creative ways to for us to stay in touch with our family as Max gets older. 

While I adore FaceTime and picture/text messages, I wanted to find other fun ways for Max to become familiar with his family near and far. In my search to bring our loved ones to Swell Rio, I've found that Pinhole Press' customized book of names and faces is a fantastic tool. We have the book with us at all times and while I'm not sure he knows anyone in the pictures just yet, I'm certain that repetition and time will make each individual grin recognizable.

Happy Wednesday, m' dears! How do you like to stay in touch with your loved ones?

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

It's only Tuesday and I'm already really pumped about the upcoming holiday weekend. Anybody with me?! It's not as though we have anything crazy planned, but the idea of spending four days together as a family has got me feeling all sorts of giddy. So while I try my best to stay focused and just get to Thursday (Two. More. Days.), I should probably share a few of my favorite details from this past week. There were a handful of moments that left me feeling grateful. Hmm, where should I begin?

• What's a girl to do when her husband's working late on a Friday night and the babe is sound asleep? Excitedly whip up a gin cocktail and spend the evening in the company of Iris Apfel. That's exactly what she does! Squeeeeeeeee! And just as I'd hoped, the documentary was as delightful as I imagined. If you haven't seen it yet, you MUST! I guarantee you'll fall madly in love with the rare bird on a whole new level you didn't even realize was possible.

• Sometimes you just have to load up in The Rig, drive to the nearest small town, and try a new pizzeria. Even if the pie wasn't much to write home about, it was a fun way to shake up our weekend shenanigans. Not to mention, Max certainly enjoyed the people watching and garlic knots—both of which are really good signs he's definitely our kid!

• On really long days when I find myself counting down the minutes until nap time, I cling to little details that bring lots of comfort like bright morning light, breezy walks around the neighborhood, and a quiet afternoon spent tidying up the house. These moments can easily get lost in all the fussiness and repetitive no's, so it's best if I make a conscious effort to look for them throughout the day. Much like a scavenger hunt, it keeps me focused and helps conquer the crazy.

• Since Max is a 22-pound wrecking ball, it's rare the nursery—or the rest of the house, for that matter —looks orderly and pristine. In ten short months, I'm still learning this is okay. It's how things should be. Ha Ha! But after cleaning his room one morning, I was overcome with feelings of joy and nostalgia. Last year at this time, I was adding the finishing touches to Max's room. I guess I never dreamt we could have so much fun together or that we'd make the kind of memories we have in this small space. Don't get me wrong, I still love when pillows and toy bins are in their assigned spot, but his room is so much more than just that. I hope he loves it just as much as I do!

• Remember when I said that my primary goal last weekend was to dust off my mixer and bake these chocolate chip cookies? Well, I actually followed through and made them for Flyboy to take to work. The recipe is insanely good, and I can totally see myself making them again and again. In fact, it was probably a good thing I got them out of the house and FAST because those bad boys didn't stand a chance unsupervised with my unruly sweet tooth.

• Last week, we were told that a mystery package was on its way to Swell Rio and it would be addressed to Max. The contents of the box would include something that every Texas boy should own. Our interest was immediately piqued and we began throwing out obvious guesses such as cowboy boots or a belt buckle. We never realized that it would be a miniature truck. Obvi! Since Flyboy put the contraption together last Tuesday night, we've had a blast pushing Max around the house and neighborhood. We've found the babe is very serious about keeping his hands at ten and two and he won't hesitate to lay on the horn if he has to. Aw, they grow up so fast... 

• Oh. Em. Gee. This kid is such a busy body. It's becoming increasingly hard to get a good shot of him because he's always on the go. I honestly can't wait until he gets to the age where I can bribe him to sit still for ONE little photo. Thank goodness for a fast shutter speed! On a mother's note, while browsing my camera roll for a picture or two to share on the blog, I couldn't help but notice how much Max's recent hair cut makes him look so grown up. Stahp it. Right now. What's next? College? Dating? Please excuse me while I go bury my head in a pillow and get all Ramotional.

Alright, enough of my rambling. How the heck are YOU??