LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! If I'm being completely honest, I should have seen this coming. I'm talking about the pity party I threw last Saturday afternoon. Yep, I was struggling BIG time! I'm not proud of my mini melodramatic meltdown, but I definitely did not set myself up for success either. You see, I'd looked forward to getting my hair colored all week. It was, after all, going to be the highlight of the weekend. The BIG to-do!!! But by the time I returned home from my appointment at noon on Saturday, I realized the fun was over and panic set in. From time to time, living in this desolate location starts to wear on me. Pair a variable like that with our FIRST weekend of Whole30 (no sweet treats, eating out, cocktails, etc.) and you have a recipe for disaster. There's not much to do around here and when most of your days are spent mothering, it all starts to blend together in a hazy fog. I often find myself wondering what exactly sets the weekend apart from the actual week (with the exception of having Flyboy all to ourself) and I get a little anxious when Friday rolls around. I start out with the best intentions to make the most of our family's time together, but I long to make memories OUTSIDE of our house and the routine trip to Home Depot. I look for creative ways to keep things fresh, but the monotony slowly starts to suck the life out of me and the idea of spending 1.5 to 2 more years here feels daunting and depressing. 

Whenever I have moments like these, it's important for me to communicate. I was raised to be grateful for my blessings and make the best of any situation, but admitting that I'm frustrated is only human and necessary. I sometimes feel guilty for harboring such feelings, but then I remember that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Hmmm, I think that one hits a little too close to home in Swell Rio! Ha Ha! Because I'm a doer and I like to take action, it's crucial that I remain proactive about upcoming opportunities to get outta Dodge. I'd say it's time we plan a few weekend road trips, shall we?! In addition to airing my grievances and whipping out my planner, I've found it's imperative I take time to be creative. For example, Saturday's pity party came to a screeching halt when I dusted off my DSLR and we headed outside to a nearby park. As hokey as it sounds, seeing Flyboy and Max through my camera lens helped me refocus. A little fresh air and perspective can change a lot.

Over the last month, my grandpa's health hasn't been the best and it's only worsened in the past week. I suppose you could say the situation has definitely heightened my sensitivity to time, how it's spent, and who it's spent with. Since Max has graced us with his presence, I feel this dire need to make the most of our time together. I want to fill his life with SO much love and new experiences. I feel like it's my purpose. Selfishly, I want to give him the kind of childhood that I had—one rich with culture and opportunity. But when I really reflect on my past and the reason those memories mean so much to me, I realize it all had very little to do with the activities or the locale (although, they certainly didn't hurt...). Instead, it had EVERYTHING to do with the people that surrounded me.

So while I shot my camera aimlessly last Saturday night in hopes there might be a potential keeper in that batch of blurry snapshots, I was reminded that our current location might not be ideal, but we're together. In the end, that's all that really matters.

Alright, enough with the reflective ramblings on this end. How the heck are YOU?! Do tell. I'm dying to know.

P.S. Oh, and in an effort to shake things up Swell Rio style, we hiked a new trail on Sunday. Would you believe me if I told you that a deer followed us for a good chunk of the hike? Yowzah! Nature girl, I am NOT! Also, I may have twisted Flyboy's arm and talked him in to filming an homage to Toto—much like Dax and Kristen's viral video. You can watch pop and tot's version here. I adore it!

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Mr. Boddington's Gift Wrap // I could just squeeze the cheeky and creative geniuses behind Mr. Boddington's Studio. How great are these Hat Gift Cards and this Right Hand On Red Wrapping?! Since my sister's birthday was on February 2nd, I couldn't help but search for something festive to help her celebrate. These options are FANTASTIC!
• The Sophie Lamp // You know the blog week wouldn't be complete unless I include something with a ridiculous price tag. I know, I can feel the eye-rolling from here, but this vibrant beauty deserves the spotlight. Don't you think?!
• Greenwich Grove Teapot // I saw an old (?) Kate Spade ad and they had this adorable teapot on a desk holding pencils and pens. GENIUS!! Part of me can see it setting atop my work station. It's been missing a POP of green.
• On-Purpose Beaded Clutch // Who doesn't love the cause behind this punchy pouch?? The craftsmanship is outstanding.
• Tippi Striped Sweater with Shoulder Buttons // Say what?! Slap me and call me silly because this sweater makes all of my dreams come true. I truly didn't think my trusty Tippi could get any sweeter. I guess I was wrong, and I don't hate it.
• The Lydia Flat in Suede // It's been a few years since I got my first set of Sidewalk Skimmers from Madewell. Does "Magic Pot Shoes" ring a bell? Well, in the event I need a replacement for my beloved electric blue flats, I think I found them.
• Torva Soft Toy // You could say I fell hard for this broccoli clad in gingham when I first laid eyes on him. I mean, what's NOT to love?! Ever since a trip to IKEA with my mom over the Christmas break, I've had MAJOR regrets about not snagging this little guy for Max (alright, me...). Thankfully, my mom grabbed the toy for us and all is swell with the world.
• Tasseled Neon Stripe Pillow // Requirements for The Love List include stripes, tassels, and some sort of throw pillow. This week's post includes ALL three. My work here is done, my friends. This bright beauty is perfect!
• The Daily Mark // If you're on Instagram, follow @thedailymark. They have THE best funny and inspirational quotes.
• Melamine Lunch Plates // Something tells me that lunch could be kicked up a notch with these polka-dot plates.
• Orange-Spiced Gingerbread Cookies with Cranberry Glaze // Apparently I'm a glutton for punishment because these are definitely not in our immediate future. Sigh. That doesn't mean that you don't have a sweet tooth though.
• Mint Big Dot // Most Fridays you will find Max and me at the HEB. More often than not, you can bet someone will say something about our colorful collection of Baggu bags. Oddly enough, they always comment on how good they smell. Hmm... Anywho, something tells me our peeps at the grocery store would appreciate a new addition to our crew.
• Coffee/Beer Clock // You'll NEVER forget what time it is with this adorable lapel pin. Katy Kosman's work is brilliant.

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

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

HEY, FLYBOY! MY GIFT IS MY BLOG AND THIS ONE'S FOR YOU.

THINKING ABOUT: I got a new pair of striped sunnies recently (they've made an appearance or two on the blog), and I utterly ADORE them! To be completely honest, I've swooned over these specs since I was pregnant with Max, so I was ecstatic to find them on sale recently. From the moment they arrived and I put them on for the first time, I was smitten. Slap these puppies on your mug and a double-barrel grin in imminent. I promise. Now imagine the following Swell Rio scene that took place last Saturday morning in our kitchen. I was preparing to run errands all by m' self. As I was gearing up to leave the house, I threw on my snazzy sunglasses. I guess I forgot that it was also the first time Flyboy had seen me don my new pair. Sigh. As he took note of my latest statement accessory, I was prepared for him to love them just as much as I did. I wasn't prepared for him to tell me that I looked like flipping ELTON JOHN. What the what?! I couldn't help but shake my head and then proceeded to give him a ton of crap. Perhaps next time he could compare me to someone like, I don't know, the fabulous Iris Apfel?! We had a good laugh and I went on my merry way. But since life has a sick sense of humor, I fired up The Rig and headed out on Highway 90 into town when a certain song started playing. Anyone have any guesses? Would you believe me if I told you that after a handful of radio ads, the first song I heard was BENNY AND THE JETS? Are you freaking kidding me?! I almost had to pull over from laughing so hard. This life is never dull, that's for sure!

THANKFUL FOR: As silly as it sounds, I couldn't be more grateful for footed jammies that keep Max looking little. The older he gets, the more fun we have with him, but that also means that he's growing up. It's all happening so fast. Waaaaaaaaah!!!! Make it stop.

FEELING: A successful trip to the park means that Max returns home with grass stains on his knees and mulch/dirt in his coat pocket.

EATING: In the event you're interested in Whole30 or currently doing one yourself, here are a few recipes we tried this week...

Greek Meatballs with Avocado Tzatziki via Primally Inspired

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa via The Cookie Rookie

Sloppy Joe's with Zucchini Noodles via Jay's Baking Me Crazy

Rustic Beef, Tomato, and Cabbage Stew via So...Let's Hang Out

LISTENING TO: In the afternoon while Max is napping, I like to listen to the Carla Bruni station on Pandora. Something about it makes me feel like I'm being transported to a Parisian cafe on some quaint side street—more than likely noshing on a baguette and people watching. In all actuality, I live approximately eight miles from the Mexican border, praying that nap time lasts a full two hours, and trying my best not to think about the boat-load of fruit snacks we've got stocked in the kitchen cupboard.

WATCHING: If Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's "sole objective was to rage hard and honor Toto properly," then they nailed it in their 'Africa' tribute video. Have you seen it? I want to watch it on repeat for the rest of my life. It's brilliant, and they're darling!!

READING: I received Maira Kalman's Beloved Dog as a Christmas gift from my sister, and I can't tell you how many times I've pulled it down from my bookshelf to pore over and read. Just as you might expect from Kalman, the book is a charming and quirky take on the human connection to dogs. Part memoir, part love letter to our canine companions, the book has a hidden layer of philosophy that  encourages the reader to embrace the glorious imperfections that make us human. Kalman's wit paired with her gorgeous illustrations remind us why dogs bring out the best in us. Whether you're a fan of Maira or dogs, this is a must-read for ALL.

LOVING: If I have to go to Wally World, I like to treat myself to a Caramel Macchiato afterward. It only seems right! But since that's not happening any time soon, I decided a morning of tedious errands in town called for matching cardigans. That's right, Max and I wore matching sweaters! It's incredibly dorky when something like this makes you SO giddy, but I loved every moment of it. I don't know if I've ever skipped around Wal-Mart with that much gusto. Oh, and my orange tote coordinated with his pants. Perfecto!

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

SEND SOME LOVE

Since Max graced us with his presence, my snail-mail game has become pretty lame. After missing the boat on Christmas cards last December, I promised myself I would get Valentines out to family and friends. While I'd love to create snazzy personalized cards, I was crushed when I realized on Monday that February is HERE and I have a rambunctious tot on my hands. Yowzah! Thankfully, I found a handful of keepers at Greer — a fabulous stationery shop that offers a variety of cards from familiar brands like Rifle Paper Co. and Sugar Paper, in addition to less-known indie makers like Elum and Hello Lucky. Because my list of recipients vary in age and snark, it's nice to have some colorful options ALL in one place. Within ten minutes, I was able to cross another item from my to-do list. Now if I could just teach the babe to address and stamp envelopes! I'm sure we'll master that sometime this morning... Right?!

In search of the perfect Valentine? Look no further. Greer is your one-stop shop.

P.S. This isn't a sponsored post. I'm just thrilled with my Greer experience and eager to share with readers.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! You'll have to excuse me. As I pen today's post, I find I'm lagging BIG time. Flyboy and I are on DAY TWO of our Whole30 adventure, and I feel zapped. This no creamer in my coffee thing is no bueno. As a result, I've resorted to hot tea and it just doesn't have the same effect. Do any of you have some magical non-dairy potion I could use to doctor up my trusty cup of Joe?? If not, I can't help but ask myself WHY exactly we're doing this again?? Sigh. I hear the results are totally worth it, so I guess I'll buck it up. But in the meantime, if you find my writing is slightly off in the coming weeks, you can more than likely attribute it to the lack of java and gin. And because we've opted to jump on this "nutritional reset" bandwagon, this past weekend will definitely go down in the books as amaze balls because it consisted of everything wonderful such as pizza and nachos and Starbucks and cocktails. Ahhhhhhh! To top it all off, there were several outings to a nearby park and family jaunts around the base. In the afternoons while the babe slept, Flyboy hopped on his bike and hit the local country roads while I took a photography class online through Skillshare and practiced my skills in manual mode where a clean house and snoozing pups served as my models/props.

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE FEATURED DETAILS:

• Upon cleaning out my purse, I found far too many fruit snack wrappers, old receipts, and a DINOSAUR. It also appears I've started buying accessories based on whether or not they might serve as potential entertainment for Max (hello, airplane keychain!). Does this mean I'm one step closer to finding the secret #BoyMom handbook? Only time will tell... 
• Dressing your kid in a sweatshirt that reads "It's A Great Day" does NOT mean you will have a great day. Hey, I tried!
• Flyboy and I agreed there's nothing sweeter than the feeling you get when you're holding your child's hand as they perfect walking. What a bunch of saps! No, but seriously, it's wonderful! You WILL turn into a puddle of mush.
• Even though Skillshare's got me feeling a little more confident in shooting my DSLR in manual mode (I took this class), I still have GOBS to learn. For instance, I may have gotten the results I wanted as far as lighting goes, but WHY is it so hard for me to take a straight photo? Ha Ha! I'm beginning to believe my brain operates creatively with a right tilt.
• As you browse through today's photos, try not to be TOO jealous of our lovely linoleum floors. Yikes! #BaseHousingPerks
• On Sunday morning, we stopped by SBUX for breakfast. Compelled to savor my last Macchiato for the next month, I snapped a quick pic. Notice the heavenly warm glow shining down on my beloved iced beverage? In the event temptation toys with my emotions, I will live vicariously through this image. That kind of lighting is NO coincidence, my friends.

Alright, enough of our Swell Rio shenanigans. How the heck are YOU?! Do tell. I'm dying to know.

Oh, and if you have any Whole30 advice or recipes, feel free to dish!