LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, m' dears! It's probably best if we go on and get straight to the details, shall we?

• Could we do that whole three-day weekend thing all over again? I can't decide what I enjoyed more—the spring-like weather or an extra day with Flyboy?? While being in the company of my boys was delightful, I managed to get the house to myself on two different occasions for a few hours. Can you say cleaning and organizational bliss?
• It's best to take full advantage of nap time, so while Flyboy rode his bike and saw a movie with a friend, I polished off the remaining Christmas thank-you notes and thumbed through some of the parenting books I bought last week. All of this productivity was divine, but not as fabulous as the nap I took on Saturday afternoon. Say what?!? I can't remember the last time I passed out on the couch for a quick snooze. It was almost as enthralling as list-making. Almost...
• Since we've had our fair share of beautiful weather this past week, Max has grown accustomed to cruising in the jogger on long walks and logging in some quality time at the park. I was especially happy to have Flyboy around for some assistance on the slide (Max is obsessed and won't quit unless he has to!) and wrangling the tot back into his stroller. 
• I often confess how much I adore all of the clothes and accessories that come with having a little girl, but dressing a boy has definitely grown on me. It's a rare day when we don't coordinate in some capacity, and I love it! Seeing Max run around in a toggle coat, colorful trainers, or a cardigan clad with elbow patches makes me weak in the knees.
• You know that life has slowly returned to normal (sigh!) when unpacking is a thing of the past and you start nesting again. Max certainly hit the jackpot over Christmas with all of the sweet gifts, so it's been necessary to weed through the old and make room for the new. I've noticed the bigger he gets, the larger the toys become. Yowzah!
• We received the gorgeous book, I Have A Dream, in the mail yesterday—just in time to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My mom sent a copy to add to Max's growing library because that's just the sort of thing teachers do. And while the babe is still too young to fully appreciate such a sweet gesture, I took a moment to read the book for myself. The beautiful artwork paired with Dr. King's speech served as a moving reminder about why we celebrate the three-day weekend. It made me excited about the future when we get to read these kinds of books to Max. Then again, I suppose when your dad is an historian and your mom is a teacher who takes her civic duties VERY seriously, you're bound to geek out and pass these sorts of passionate traits on to your own kid. Maxwell Fine, you've officially been warned...

Enough about me. How are YOU? I'm just dying to know.

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

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

• A Likely Story Journal // Aside from imbibing and reading a few parenting books this weekend, I can't wait to spend an hour or two list making. I feel like this is a necessary thing to do at the beginning of each new year. 
• Sequence Pointed Heels // It's not often that you find shoes in such a lovely shade of green. Why is that?? Bravo, ASOS!
• Mala Tassel Earrings // Krysos + Chandi does it again! How perfect are these? I can see you donning them already.
• The Slim Boyjean in Hatfield Wash // I picked up a pair of these at Madewell while visiting DC and I'm obsessed. The best part? They don't get that saggy bottom like most BF jeans. I've got my fingers crossed they offer it in other washes.
• Pantones and Nail Polish // I thought this was such an adorably clever graphic. Something tells me the gals of Cheree Berry Paper and I could be the BEST of friends. Why didn't I think of this?? It's SO good! 
• Arrow Stirrer // I got carried away when I saw the latest Kate Spade goodies on Lifeguard Press. These are a must!
• Cocktails Metal Sign // Jump for gin! It's Friday. Which way to the bar cart? Great, thanks!
• Larabee Dot Soup & Cereal Bowl // I wouldn't mind a set of these darling dishes sitting pretty in our cupboards.
• Babe Paley Quote // Upon reading this quote, I immediately got out my dictionary (erm, I mean app) and looked up non-sequitur. It took me back to the old days when I'd ask my dad the definition of a word and he'd direct me to Merriam-Webster with the assignment to report back. In case you're interested, this word means illogical or unexpected.
• Yellow Victory Trophy // The perfect way to remind yourself and others how flipping awesome you are!
• Drapey Long-Sleeve Striped Tee // Another wardrobe staple I managed to bring home with me after our trip. I adore the super soft feel! Also, stripes... Does this need any more explaining? I didn't think so.
• Tjena Box with Lid // Part of me wishes I would have loaded up on some of these great boxes when I visited IKEA last. What about that color? Clearly I'm in the mood for a little spring cleaning. Flyboy, you've been warned!
• Hand-Drawn Love #43 // I didn't think it was possible to love this series any more. But then Bri and Maddy upped the ante with a wonderful quote from Charles and Ray Eames. The pink and red combo was enough to make me squeal!

And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for, I give you the winners of the Starbucks giveaway...

CONGRATULATIONS Gretchen, Kelsea F., Christina S., Lori E., and Holly! Caffeine awaits!

Please email me so I can get your gift cards to you and stat.

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

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

Painted Pattern via Herbert Green

THINKING ABOUT: On Monday, I filled a plastic bin with uncooked rice and buried a bunch of Max's little toy animals in it. I thought it might be a fun and an easy way to mix things up after our morning stroll. Just as I hoped, we had a BLAST! Real talk—three days have passed since our "low-maintenance" fun-tivity and I'm still finding grains of rice scattered throughout the house. Parenthood, yo!

THANKFUL FOR: It's no secret that Tripp and Beesly are pretty quirky dogs. Trust me. They may be pretty, but they're even MORE quirky. Yeeeeesh! But no matter how rambunctious Max might be, they remain so patient with him. Both pups are getting up there in age (Tripp 12 and Beesly 7), but they allow the babe to climb them and grab at their jowls and fur. While Flyboy and I weren't entirely gung-ho about returning to Swell Rio after the holidays, we were eager to see the three of them reunite. It was such a precious sight!

FEELING: Hawaii spoiled me BIG time. I got used to having a little color during the Winter months, and I kind of miss it. Actually, I miss it A LOT! Fortunately, I tested Beauty By Earth's Self Tanner recently, and I can't stop talking about it. It's non-streaking and gives you just the right amount of color. The best part? It's made with natural and organic ingredients. This isn't sponsored; I'm just really impressed with the product. Oh, and don't be a goober and forget to wash your hands like I did after the first application. 

EATING: I made these Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps and they were tremendous!! Flavorful, easy, AND healthy—what's not to love?!

LISTENING TO: If you frequent this little space in hopes you'll mingle with Mother of the Year, you should probably stop reading here. I'm about to let you down with another low-brow jam. Okay, now that we cleared that up (insert eye-roll emoji here), I should tell you about my latest theme song — S. O. B. by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats. Have you heard of it? I'm certain it's the sort of tune a director would use as background music in a fictitious mom biopic about yours truly. On a daily basis, I hear the chorus play in my head whenever I'm on my knees cleaning spilled juice for the umpteenth time or witnessing another meltdown because someone said "please" and didn't get what he wanted. I swear I'm no lush, the song is just sooooooooooo damn catchy.

WATCHING: Per my sister's recommendation, Flyboy and I binge-watched Making A Murderer last weekend. The true-crime documentary on Netflix about Wisconsin man Steven Avery is equal parts fascinating and disturbing. Yikes! Let's just say, it's far from my Bravo norm, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. Have you watched it? What did you think?

READING: Mad props to Amazon Prime for helping me whoop it up over the upcoming three-day weekend!! Woot woot! That's right, I'm about to get nose deep in parenting books, y'all. For those interested, I ended up getting the following reads: How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, The Whole-Brain Child, The New Strong-Willed Child, and Simplicity Parenting. Any bets on how many pages I'll read before I take a tip from the ol' theme song and "give me a drink..."?!?

LOVING: When I was pregnant with Max, I often wondered about all the things we'd do together. Can you blame me? I'm a planner. And although I wasn't entirely sure what I'd do with a little boy (I'm still learning), I definitely knew that we'd play in the rain with matching wellies and colorful slickers. Remember the ginormous galoshes I purchased when we found out we were having a boy? Yeah, those will probably fit in in TWO MORE YEARS. Ha! Anywho, on Tuesday, we received a package in the mail from my mom. Enclosed was the most darling raincoat I've ever seen!!! While I'd never frown upon sunny weather, I'm eager for him to wear it. In fact, now would probably be a good time to order a pair of rain boots that actually fit. It's time we make my dreamy vision a reality!

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

A CUP OF KINDNESS: STARBUCKS GIVEAWAY

I should keep today's post short and sweet because I have a fat stack of thank-you notes to tend to (Oh, hey Christmas gifts!), and we all know that nap time is sacred around here. Anywho, I thought we could all use a little mid-week pick-me-up, so I've decided to treat my dear readers to a cup of coffee. That's right, YOU deserve a cup of sass! While I wish we could really meet in person and drone on about important topics such as striped ballet flats and polka-dot envelope liners, I've decided doling out five $10 Starbucks gift cards will just have to do for now. I repeat, FIVE lucky readers will win a gift card loaded with ten bucks to be spent at our beloved coffee chain. Interested in entering the giveaway? Prepare yourself for this next part. It's going to be a real doozy...

Leave a comment below. Tell me a joke. Ask a question. 

Offer some blog feedback. Share something random about yourself. It's not rocket science.

I typically do the talking around here, so it would be fabulous to hear from YOU for once! There have been countless occasions when your kindness has meant so much. Whether it's humoring me with J.Crew's new arrivals, reading my pointless ramblings in Thursday's Thoughts, or sending words of encouragement when this whole mom thing gets murky—it's appreciated more than you know!!! While this little giveaway pales in comparison to what you all do for me, it's only fair that I return the favor every now and then.

Note: All five caffeinated winners will be announced in this Friday's Love List. They will be selected randomly via Rafflecopter.

**GIVEAWAY OFFICIALLY CLOSED**

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

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

Happy Tuesday, y'all! It's a new week, and I've come prepared with a fresh dose of details. Let's hop to it...

• Despite the rosy photos presented in today's post, last week definitely had its share of trying moments. You guys, I'm learning that motherhood is NOT for the faint of heart. YOWZAH! As someone who likes to complete tasks and check items off my list, I'm constantly reminded that there is NO finish line when it comes to parenting. Surviving (and occasionally thriving) another day is the only real thing I can cross off m' list each night. Just as I grow comfortable with one stage or technique, it's time to change it up. Yet again. And while I understand that each parent and child have their own set of individual needs, it's hard not to compare your wily tot with the well-behaved babe in the shopping cart behind you. With each day, Max becomes stronger and even more tenacious than I thought possible. I try to make light (cope, really...) of his stubborn and independent side with humor, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I end up in tears quite often. I know they say that great kids aren't born, they're made, and believe me when I say that I'm SO willing to put in the work. I suppose Max is just pushing me to rethink my toolkit?? In a moment of despair, I ended up on Amazon (AGAIN!) and ordered a boat load of parenting books specifically geared toward the strong-willed child. Lord help me!

• In the spirit of keeping things real and not sounding like a total downer, I should also mention that there are so many adorable aspects to this growing boy. I may count down the minutes until it's nap time, but I'm incredibly eager to play with him when he wakes. Watching him march around the house with great purpose is a hoot. This kid is ALWAYS on a mission. Oh, and I'll hand out extra bonus points if he's donning his camera or talking on his imaginary cell phone. I guess this means I'll never have to hire a social media rep in the event One Fine Day hits it BIG time. Ha Ha!

• I'm a firm believer that "introverts got to introvert." That statement probably makes NO sense grammatically, but as someone who relishes alone time, I was pretty stinking ecstatic to get my hair done on Saturday (grey strays, stay away!) and squeeze in a moment to try out my new nail polish. Every once in awhile, it's best to make primping a priority. Just as I hoped, Odeme's poppy shade called "Cuba Libre" definitely lived up to his Clambake hype.

• I think we can all agree it's tough to come off of a vacay high. To remedy this, I thought it was brilliant to bring home leftovers from Momofuku's Milk Bar. Hmm, let's see... Being left unattended with an assortment of delicious cookies and a spirited/teething 15 month old—well, that's just a recipe for disaster! No New Year's inspired juice cleanses here, although I probably should. Also, do me a favor and DON'T ask Flyboy how many of those leftovers he got to eat. Oops!

• Speaking of the man of the house, let me take a moment to be all bragadocious. I hope you don't mind! You see, we learned over the holiday break that Flyboy's Christmas lights were GRAND CHAMPION worthy. That's right, he placed FIRST overall in the base lighting contest!!! Woot woot! Of course, this meant it was rough for Captain Christmas to dismantle his outdoor holiday decor this past weekend, but I'm proud to announce that he's already brainstorming about December 2016. After my hair appointment on Saturday, I had the honor in assisting him with the twinkle-light take down. You could say it's the one day each year that he gets to boss me around. Excuse me, I think I meant assertive...

• Maybe we should go ahead and discuss the fifth photo?!? It's not bad enough that Maxwell can walk, nay run, but now he's CLIMBING the furniture. What the?!? Clearly I'm all out of leftover cookies at this point, so eating my feelings is no longer an option anymore. Sigh. Perhaps it's best if I go hide in my closet again and try on my sparkly heels once more?? Can somebody tell me where I can find the #BOYMOM Handbook?? I couldn't find it on Amazon. Wink, wink.

• Finally, I'm aware Max's straps in the first photo are caddywhompus. It's only his stroller, not his car seat, and it's the best we could get considering the meltdown and wrestlemania it took to get him buckled in. I realize this may sound silly, but I feel like it's the sort of thing you have to preface anymore when you post these sorts of pictures online.

Okay, enough about me. How the heck are YOU?? Over and out.