THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

via

THINKING ABOUT: Beesly has a checkup appointment at the vet this morning and while we're there we plan to pick up Tripp's ashes. All along we've had every intention to take them to the lake (and save a little to mix with Beesly's ashes someday), but I haven't put much thought into the idea of physically having the urn in the house. What do we do with it?? Aside from my grandpa passing last February, I haven't dealt with death much. Everyone seems to handle grief differently, but the idea of having this reminder in our home makes me feel sad and quite honestly a little uneasy. I don't want to rush the process, but I'm eager to spread his remains. When we lived in Texas eight years ago, Lake Amistad was one of the first places we saw Tripp really come to life. The fear that consumed him went away whenever he was swimming, retrieving a ball, or wading in the shallow water like a hippo. I'll never forget our first visit; he was a totally different dog. Suddenly trips to the lake gave us hope he would come around and when he finally did it made our challenges with him in the first years SO worth it. Naturally, it only makes sense that we honor him with tennis balls and one more trip to the lake. He may have physically left us over a month ago, but he lives in my heart forever.

THANKFUL FOR: Nothing makes you appreciate your child sleeping through the night until they don't. Womp womp. On Tuesday there was literally nothing we could do to stop Max from crying off and on from 9 PM until 4 AM Wednesday. Considering he had a stomach bug earlier this week, we ensured that he went to bed with both Tylenol and Motrin. Additionally, the white noise machine was on, lavender was being diffused, and the temperature was on the cool side just as he prefers. Both Tripp and Beesly were in his crib along with his snowman, monkey, and Minion. Flyboy and I couldn't figure out what his deal was. Was this another sleep regression?! Finally I had enough of the cat and mouse game, so I insisted we let him cry it out, which meant I slept with earbuds and the white noise app running on my phone while FB tossed and turned. Everyone woke up the next morning disgruntled and I've got to admit that I'm just really happy Wednesday is over and we get to hit refresh.

WATCHING: What is it about the movie Frozen that sucks kids in? I swear it's magic voodoo. Do you think it's the animation? The colors (serene shades of blue and purple)? The music? Whatever it is, I bow down to you, Disney! There are few movies that Max will sit and watch, but this is currently his favorite. Sometimes I think it has something to do with the fact that he's snowman obsessed and Olaf is pretty adorable, but the character doesn't make that many appearances for him to watch from start to finish.

EATING: Last Saturday Flyboy was reading Runner's World and decided to whip up one of the breakfast recipes featured in the latest issue. I'm not a huge egg lover, but these Pesto Egg Cups have made me pretty excited to wake up and work out.

PESTO EGG CUPS:

Whisk together 8 eggs, 1/3 cup of sour cream, 1/3 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 3 Tbsp. of pesto, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes. Pour into 12 greased muffin cups and bake at 375 degrees until eggs are set, about 20 minutes. 

LISTENING TO: Okay peeps! I could use your help coming up with a new spinning playlist. My go-to Pandora stations are getting to be too predictable these days and the lineup I've got on iTunes has grown stale. What song would you listen to if your alarm went off at 4:20 AM and you needed an instant pick-me-up?? I'm open to any and all genres. What's your favorite workout tune?

READING: My mom sent me an amazing book entitled Other-Wordly and the English nerd in me is eating it up. Illustrated with the most charming scenes, the book looks at words in various languages that are equal parts odd and wonderful. What's not to love??

LOVING: When Flyboy shared this article he found about rescue dogs swimming in a pool filled with 4,000 tennis balls with me, I immediately started giggle crying (that's a thing, right??) and thought of our dear Tripp. I'm going to refrain from rambling about it too much because it will resort in more ugly crying, but if you get a chance, PLEASE read this feel good story. It's SO worth it. 

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

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy February, m' dears! Let's just preface by saying the details in today's post are A LOT cuter than what's actually transpired in West Texas lately. Yowzah! Amid depressing headlines and a looming freelance deadline for yours truly, the week has been plagued with a slew of migraines and one nasty stomach bug. Is it too late to mention that it's only Wednesday?! Gulp. Approximately an hour before I sat down to write today's post, we were both covered in projectile vomit. Yoo hoo, can we get a cleaning crew in the kitchen and stat?! Yes, the coordinating striped ensemble I picked for my favorite mother-son duo to seize the day was covered and no longer looked as cute as I'd imagined. Le sigh. But on the bright side, there's been oodles of snuggling and low-key activities like reading in the teepee, Play-Doh creations, watching The Secret Life of Pets, and coloring. Afternoons have been spent listening to NPR, staring at Photoshop, writing thank-you notes, and purging/organizing various closets throughout the house to avoid MORE Photoshop. Some of the best moments lately have been the result of sunlight streaming into the dining room (it's like I feel Tripp's presence), short walks to the mailbox with Beesly to exercise her leg, fresh license plates on the new wagon, and catching Max parrot my every move (both hilarious and terrifying all at once). There have been a lot less meltdowns this past week, which has allowed us the opportunity to enjoy life with a toddler a lot more, and I think that's made all the difference. I'm not sure if we should attribute that to reading No-Drama Discipline or if it's just because Maxwell isn't operating at one hundred. Either way, it's been a nice change of pace—even if it means scrubbing ALL the surfaces with bleach and multiple wardrobe changes.

Enough about life in Swell Rio. How are YOU? I'm dying to know.

FEATURE DETAILS: Pom-Pom Flats // VW Van // Lip Balm // Field Jacket // Lemon Zest Tippi Sweater // Postcard // Tea Towel

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• Stitched Sham // In my humble opinion, The Land of Nod green is right up there with Kate Spade's hue. It's a beaut!
• Xanax Pillbox // Have you been watching RHOBH? Does anyone else want to smack Dorit? One minute she's laughing alongside Eden and Lisa R. The next she's running to LVP and Boy George to meddle some more. She needs to go!
• Tassel Garland // The best way to add a splash o' color to a party or room. Now when's it going to be available??
• Lorelai Gilmore Enamel Pin // I can't remember how I stumbled upon this, but it's enough to induce a double-barrel grin.
• Alistair Petit // My obsession for this crazy great circle crossbody is borderline unhealthy. I've dreamt of it TWICE.
• Blue Quadrilateral by Anna Ullman // Just one of the paintings featured on Consort that left me speechless. Swoon!
• Orange Slingback Boots // Oh Zara, you know you had me with that marvelous metallic detail at the top of the heel.
• Water Lily Earrings // Springify ANY outfit with the daintiest set of dangly earrings I ever did see. Seriously tho...
• Pleated Ruffle Top // With a pattern inspired by the Duke of Windsor, I might as well be considered a royal in this top.
• Like Hell Button // I adore the simple selection of girl gang gear (in blush and black tones) offered by this Etsy shop.
• Lips Paperweight // Nothing like a Clare V. trinket to top off this week's Love List. Does this mean it's almost V-Day??
• Wishbone Chair // Nerd alert! Sometimes I find myself on Design Within Reach just to read about the designers.
• KSNY Magnet Set // Let's just say it's going to be necessary that this colorful box of fabulosity come live with me.
• Ban.do New Arrivals // Could founder Jen Gotch run for president already? Just look at this magical assortment. Eek!
• Wooden Cutlery // I see a special picnic at the lake (to honor Tripp) in our future. These will be a cheerful addition.

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

P.S. I've got an upcoming deadline, so I'm not sure if I'll be back next Tuesday or Wednesday. 

It really depends on how much I can knock out this weekend. Wish me luck!

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

PINK OVER BLUE OVER GREY BY CLAIRE OSWALT

THINKING ABOUT: Being cooped up in the house for the past three weeks fulfilling my role as Clara Barton to our resident Berner has resulted in frequent baking. Gulp. This, my friends, essentially negates the thirty minutes I spend on my bike every morning and I'm fairly certain my jeans will feel the wrath soon enough. Sigh. Perhaps a lot of it is mental, but without our daily strolls around base, I don't necessarily feel really good about eating said baked goods (but that hasn't stopped me). Ha! Life with Max means I rarely get the chance to sit down for long periods of time, but part of me would like to get a step counter of some sort to keep track of my activity and also to monitor my heart rate whenever I spin. Do you have any recommendations as to what brand or model is best? I don't want to spend a ton, but it would be nice to have something that's accurate and not too terribly hideous.

THANKFUL FOR: Over the past week I've received TWO unexpected care packages from friends and they've each brought a tremendous amount of joy to Swell Rio. You know it's going to be an outstanding day when you open a box and find a pair of dangly earrings and a darling mug from Draper James (Hey, Reese!), or endless treats from Trader Joe's like chocolate covered cherries and my beloved Gummie Tummies. Squee! These thoughtful gestures certainly weren't necessary, and I'm completely overwhelmed by the random acts of kindness. Needless to say, it's time to dust off the thank-you notes!

WATCHING: We're a little late to the party, but we started watching The Crown, and I'm pretty obsessed with the series. You guys, the scenes in Malta and Kenya?? Swoon! The accessory hoarder in me started drooling over the sunglasses, brooches, and scarves. Of course, the actual story is pretty fabulous too, I just tend to get carried away with the details in addition to the drama. Can you relate?? I think the last time I got genuinely excited about a brown-and-white polka-dot dress was the first time I watched Pretty Woman. Yep, this Netflix jewel is just that good! I can't wait to binge watch some more this weekend.

EATING: Trust me when I say this Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner might be THE best meal I've cooked in awhile, and I've tried A LOT of really great recipes from the SkinnyTaste Fast & Slow cookbook over the past few weeks. While the meal is inexpensive and EASY, you'll find it's incredibly flavorful! After a few of Gina's recipes called for fresh oregano, I've decided I'll be planting it in our garden boxes ASAP. I honestly think the herb paired with lemon and feta makes the meal so delicious. Try it!

LISTENING TO: Am I the only mom who occasionally doubles down on white noise?? For instance, the noise machine in his room is turned on (full volume, obvi) in addition to an app on my phone, which is currently located outside his bedroom?! Does that make sense?? After a few afternoons with failed naps, I just couldn't take any chances today. It kind of feels like I'm blogging from a tunnel, and I'm starting to think this practice is normal. What is silence anyway?

READING: A year ago I read The Whole-Brain Child and devoured the authors' advice. But now that I'm in the toddler trenches, I find myself looking for MORE help than I ever thought I needed. Because I like Siegel and Bryson's approach in the first book, I was excited to find out about No-Drama Discipline. Have you read it? Tatiana of Flora & Fauna has a dear little boy a few days older than Max and she recommended it in this post. I was so grateful for the advice I immediately ordered a copy and it arrived on Tuesday. Huzzah! I've only read a few chapters, but some of the practices and techniques mentioned have left me feeling hopeful. That being said, the slacker mom in me would probably be a lot further if I didn't opt to stuff my face with oatmeal raisin cookies while watching Vanderpump Rules in the evenings. Then again, who can say no to a roast in honor of Jax Taylor?? Am I right?! 

LOVING: Our local HEB has had Tulips for the past few weeks and the fresh blooms have made life lately so much sweeter. I'm almost hesitant to get groceries this weekend because I can't bear to think about coming home empty-handed. In fact, I think the manager at the floral department might want to avoid me after I hunted her down two weeks ago and asked if she'd open the box of freshly delivered blooms. In my defense, I could literally see Tulip heads poking out of a cutout in the box. Come hither, y'all!

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

COLOR STUDY

NAVY NECESSITIES:

Karen Walker Maze Round Sunglasses via Saks Fifth Avenue

Dear Lover via Castle & Things

Pinwheel Pattern via Kate Pugsley

Leather High Heel Ankle Boots via Zara

Navy Full Fur Collar via Tuckernuck

Gingham Coin Clutch via Clare V.

Ceramic Mugs via Mark & Graham

Goldfinger Lounge Chair via Jonathan Adler

Dreamcatcher Earrings via Tuckernuck

Polka Dot Silk Square Scarf via J.Crew

Odeon Nail Polish via Odeme

New Perfect Fit T-Shirt in Stripe via J.Crew

Navy Moroccan Pouf via Sara Kate Studios

KSNY Order's Up Recipe Book via Lifeguard Press

High-Waisted Polka-Dot Shorts via J.Crew