WISHLIST WEDNESDAY

After discussing fitness trackers with my mom this week, it occurred to me that I've had every intention to share THE Iris Apfel's smart jewelry collaboration with Wisewear, but I never got around to it. Shame on me! What was I thinking?? As if our beloved feisty fashionista hasn't conquered enough already, the 94-year-old style icon went on to design a line of wearables. Squee! Just as you might imagine, they're daringly modern—like Mrs. Apfel herself—and simply stunning. See the rest of the collection here.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! I'm SO glad last week is OVER. The holiday hangover that followed the 4th of July left Max and I at odds, and it was emotionally draining. No matter what was going on, the two of us butt heads nonstop. Stubborn is as stubborn does, am I right?! Gulp. I found I had very little time for shenanigans and it felt as though Max upped the ante in the mischief department. We're talking BIG time! At one point I went to the sink to fill his juice cup (per his crafty request) only to realize that he snuck out to the backyard on his own. I swear I didn't look away for more than 30 seconds AND the door was locked. Sigh. This toddler stuff is not for the faint of heart, I tell you. I've been told we're currently in the "trenches" of parenting, and I can totally believe it. Once again, we have to rethink the way we handle everything and add more tricks to our toolkit—this seems to be the only constant in parenthood. 

With all of the messes and hairy moments that came with last week, it was especially important to keep an eye out for the little successes. Victory came in the form of fresh mango salsa, nap-time libations with Flyboy (Peach G&T, anyone?!), and getting m' hair did on Saturday. Hallelujah! To top it all off, we had a playdate at the park on Sunday morning with some friends and when we got home Flyboy and I were beaming. Max was incredibly sweet to the other kids and even more persistent about passing out hugs, sharing his hat, and giving high-fives. All bias aside, it was darling to see him interact in such a kind and loving manner. Sometimes it feels like we spend so much time caught in a power struggle with a 21-month-old child. We spend so much time saying the word "NO!" and correcting our tenacious tot that it's very easy to overlook what we're doing right. I think I'll chalk this up as a win!

Enough about me. How the heck are YOU?! I'm dying to know.

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LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Artwork by Laurie Fisher // I stumbled upon Laurie's work while poring over Serena and Lily's website. The holiday hangover had me craving something creative. I couldn't help but fall for the bold colors and messy lines, which led me to Fisher's online portfolio. I've decided By The Sea and Vinyl are some of my very favorites, but they're all sooooo fabulous!
• Sugar Paper for Target // It turns out we don't have to wait for Christmas to see this power couple unite for another fabulous collaboration. I may have snagged a few office essentials online (these punchy pencils, snazzy scissors, and this oversized eraser), but part of me thinks this lamp is an absolute necessity. Has anyone seen it in person??
• Faby Designs Wristlet // Every once in awhile you get the chance to work with someone who's incredibly creative. For me, that's Feben Teffera, the insanely stylish designer behind Faby Designs. We worked together at J.Crew in Hawaii, but it wasn't until the military separated us that I learned about her knack for creating accessories and clothing. Each piece is handmade and one-of-a-kind, which is a rare treasure these days. I still can't believe I own one of her designs! Eek!
• Ole Henriksen Power Bright // When Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere fame tried this at-home brightening mask with her staff, I was astonished by the results. I'll let you know my thoughts as soon as it arrives. I have high hopes!
• Canvas Weekender // You guys! I adore this bag. So much. I wonder if it has anything to do with living in Swell Rio. Ha Ha!
• Ruffle-Sleeve T-Shirt // I can't help but wonder how this top compares to the version J.Crew unveiled earlier this summer.
• Ariella by Hayley Mitchell // She's precious! There's something about those sweet lips and cheeks that make me squeal.
• Ultra Glam Gold Leaf and Hot Pink Swivel Chair // Imagine this luxurious lounge chair in an office or over-the-top closet. 

Happy Friday, m' dears! Make this weekend count.

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Thursday, m' dears! Despite a four-day weekend with Flyboy, the Swell Rio struggle has been VERY real as of late. Perhaps that might explain the late start to the blog week?! Sigh. Let me explain. I'm sure we can find humor in it all anyway. We always do...

• Because we just visited Austin and have a few upcoming trips on tap, the 4th of July holiday kind of snuck up on us. Aside from washing both cars and yard work, we thought we'd take it easy and relax. Unfortunately, this YOLO approach backfired when Flyboy blew through SEVEN tubes on his road bike and popped a few flats. Of course I couldn't come to the rescue right away because on both occasions we had to work around a napping tot and a cake baking in the oven. I think we can all agree that 108 degree weather is a prime condition to be stranded and sweating in the "dry" TX heat.
• To shake things up on Sunday, we hopped in the car and ventured to Garner State Park (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes away). On the way, we had breakfast at a cute little coffee shop in Uvalde called The Local Fix where we devoured steak, eggs, and French toast. We knew we were going to be burning some serious calories later that morning hiking and swimming, so we might as well make brekkie count. Oh, but the joke was on us! You see, when we finally arrived at the state park, we found out that it was FULL. The sweet lady working the parking lot explained that it was uncharacteristically busy, even for a holiday weekend, and that they wouldn't be allowing any more people into the park. Womp womp! We were so bummed. To make matters worse, Max was less than thrilled to be cooped up in his carseat and was kicking and screaming like a fool. The idea of driving another 100+ miles under these conditions (toddler shenanigans and an outing letdown) made me want to cry. Thankfully, on the trek home Flyboy noticed a big black footprint on my forehead. I looked in the mirror and realized it must have been when Max dropped his juice cup and kicked me in the face when I went to retrieve it. Well played, kid. Oh, and to top it all off, the air conditioner stopped working later that evening, but maintenance swooped in to the rescue and after three hours of fixing our AC unit we were back to Chill Town by bedtime. Hooray! It's moments like that which make us happy we rent. Silver lining, anyone?!
• After a few weekend flops, Flyboy went all Clark Griswold on the holiday and decided that we needed a kiddie pool for the backyard to keep cool. I was honestly tickled by his enthusiasm and knew this option seemed awfully convenient considering our fickle toddler and his current sentiment toward the lake and pool. So, while Pop and Tot ventured into town, I dusted off my favorite beach hat (haven't donned that bad boy in YEARS) and skipped around the house imagining all the fun we'd have sipping cocktails and making memories in our backyard. Hahahahahaha! Imagine the look on my face when the boys returned home with nothing but contact solution and a set of arm floaties. What the what?! They made several stops at various stores in town, but they found NOTHING. Apparently this is the time of year that Walmart and HEB swap out the fun summer merchandise for school supplies. Because THAT makes complete sense, right?!
• Feeling defeated yet again, I put on my happiest beach hat and the boys slipped into their swim trunks. After a weekend of nonstop flops, we were bound and determined to just roll with the punches. While we noshed on pretzels and pistachios and threw back a pair of stiff Tom Collins, I watched Flyboy sit in Max's old baby pool to keep cool and smiled as our sweet little boy ran through the sprinkler with the most genuine excitement. Sure the holiday had is upsets and struggles, but it all worked out and we were together. Perspective is everything. Oh, and for the record, we planned NOTHING on Tuesday, kept our expectations for the day reeeeeeeally low, and there were no glitches. Sweet success!

Now, tell me something giggle inducing that happened to you or your family this weekend. I'm sure there's something...

P.S. Mad props to Flyboy! You see that last photo? He's totally winning at fatherhood as he carries a screaming Max to the car after it's time to leave the park. In 99 degree heat at the height of nap time, this is NO easy feat. Bravo!

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Simply Curated Soy Candles // If the scent of these handmade candles is half as delightful as the packaging, sign me up.
• Mayde Red Reef Towel // Nothing says 4th of July like a healthy dose of red-and-white stripes. This looks picnic worthy.
• Laguna Basket // Because pom-poms are the fireworks of embellishments. Sprinkle those bad boys on everything!
• Panama Hat // I'm in desperate need of a new sun hat, but the trusty J.Crew option is on backorder. This ought to do.
• Scalloped Blouse // Of course it's already sold out. Just look at the practical price tag. Sigh. We could have been besties.
• Fringe Sandals // Make a snazzy statement for less than $13. Can someone tell me how this is possible??
• Super Spaceship Sunglasses // I realize my birthday is still several months away, but I think I might ask for these Karen Walker sunnies. Every time I fall for a pair of specs, it never fails that they're made by the designer.
• Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed // This book is chock-full of inspiring quotes. Each page is like a mini pep talk.
• Instant Confidence Stick // Since I can't afford Botox, I wonder if this would minimize that pesky wrinkle on my forehead?
• Parrot Keychain // I think Kate Spade is the queen of quirky keychains. I find myself falling for at least one every season.
• Boylan Heritage: The G& G // This ginger elixir would be a refreshing twist to the old Gin and Tonic. Bottoms up, m' dears!
• Mayfair Cruiser Bicycle // How much fun would it be to cruise along the block on a breezy Swell Rio night on this ride?

Happy Friday, m' dears! Make this 4th of July weekend count.