Image Sourcing

Since I spend far more time on Pinterest than on my blog, I thought I'd blog about Pinterest.

(Again.)

I am the most OCD pinner I know.  This is because, like most everything else in my life, I am too nitpicky about the details to just relax, & pin&repin away without editing or overanalyzing.

But please tell me I am not alone.

Please tell me that there is somebody else out there that actually

goes back & edits boards from time to time,

deleting the things that are no longer inspiring for whatever reason,

or deleting that one image that detracts from the overall prettiness of its particular place in the collage.

Please tell me that there is somebody else out there that actually checks the link of an image before repinning it.

& please tell me that there is somebody else out there that will take the time to actually attempt to find an image's *original* source to pin from!

(Because really, there are so many gorgeous food images on Pinterest that in no way link back to any kind of recipe, which just drives me bananas! ;))

So, here are a few of the recent "pretties" that caught my eye, that I just had to roll up my sleeves & go hunting for a more substantial source than just a Tumblr, or a blog post that only credits another Pinboard, etc...

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

via the Little Teochew

the Vanity Project

via a Lovely Being

Peach&Pearls

via Chic Chef

Anthropologie Tangerine Flicker Dress DIY

via Welcome to the Good Life

Easy, Breezy Summer Outfits

via Jo De La Rosa

You Are My Sunshine

What beautiful weather we've been having during the back-to-school season!

(Knock on wood.)

Yes, there has been some rain.  But overall, August has been much less miserably hot&muggy than its usual.  This has helped ease the transition for Pretty Little Bare Feet (who is actually sporting Sun-San Salt-Water sandals most of the time) onto this new school year's bigger playground w/ more children to befriend.

So here's to sunshine & these last few fleeting glimpses of summertime!

(via: Pose)

Personalized Preppy Visor by 2 Preppy Girls

"You Are My Sunshine" Fun Size 9x10 Sign by Go Jump in the Lake

Colossal Dots Curtain in Yellow by Porridge at Anthropologie

Solar Fair Dress at ModCloth

Have a fun, sunshiney day today, no matter the weather! =)

Guided by Glitter

I apologize for blog neglect.  If you've been a longtime reader, you'll recall that I did not start blogging until Pretty Little Bare Feet was more than six months old, & I did not actually post with any regularity until she was more than a year old (with a somewhat established naptime).  So, considering My Little Man is six days from being a year old...

(I can't believe it!)

...it's not that surprising that I haven't been the best blogger lately.  I'm also planning a relatively big pirate-themed 1st Birthday party.  & summer is always a bit more chaotic since regular "school-year" activities quiet down.

(Yes, even for three-year-olds.)

Furthermore, even though it is glaringly obvious every evening that Pretty Little Bare Feet still needs an afternoon nap, she rarely takes one.

I do intend to commit some more time to the blog once I get an updated header, & start editing the sidebars & updating the look.

You can find me "posting" a lot more frequently on Pinterest.  I do love&adore Pinterest!

Anyway, while I'm taking this downtime, let me share with y'all my current favorite daily blog read. Are y'all following the Glitter Guide yet?  You must!

(all via the Glitter Guide)

New Projects

Where have I been? Tangled up in new commitments&projects, of course.

I have taken on an appointed position on the Board of Directors at Pretty Little Bare Feet's Montessori school. I am also in the newest provisional class of our Junior League.

(I deferred last year because of everything going on with My Little Man at that time. & yes, I really must set away the $ to get a new header with My Little Man in it - I know, I know!)

I also recently decided,

after seeing a friend make some fantastic children's clothes,

& seeing a gazillion strangers on Pinterest make fantastic children's clothes,

& looking at some fabrics&patterns&PRICES at Hobby Lobby

...I must sew!

(via: Lil Blue Boo)

(via: Made)

(via: Clever Charlotte)

I have been avoiding my sewing machine, which I received from my sweet mama for Christmas back in 2008 (right before Pretty Little Bare Feet was born). I have been intimidated by it, but I've decided just to get over my mental block about not knowing what I'm doing. Surely if I can get a law degree (it ain't easy!), I can figure out how to sew. Right? Right?!

So I've been planning&doing, finally turning a portion of our gigantic third bedroom into an office/sewing area for myself. My inspirations?

(via: Heather Bailey)

(via: Classy Clutter)

What have you been up to?

Think once I get my office like I want it, I'll be better about cleaning up the blog & updating it as regularly as I want to?

(I've also cooked up another idea for another blog, but I think it'd be NOT-anonymous, so not sure how I'm going to go about that just yet.)

"I'll think about it tomorrow." ;)

Our Boring Staircase

We have lived in our home for almost three years now, & it has been a slooow process getting things decorated.

(& in some cases, even furnished!)

We bought more house than we had furniture for. With both My Prince & me being straight out of professional school, we had accumulated mostly odd hand-me-down furniture & inexpensive college apartment staples. We have bought some new items...however, we haven't made it a major priority because we have small children.

(I'm sure I don't have to tell y'all that our furniture is getting some pretty serious wear.)

Also, we don't want to spend money on items we aren't going to love. But we can't always budget for the items we truly want to have!

One of my biggest challenges has been decorating our walls. We have quite a bit of art, actually. Some of it is really great, like original hand-painted works from local artists & travels abroad. Some of it is less exciting, just cute stuff I've found at places like Hobby Lobby.

The issue for me is that I don't want to hang something that has not been properly framed&matted.

(& professional framing&matting can be pretty expensive!)

& in the case of family photographs...I do want to display the large, beautiful ones we have had professionally done - but I also don't want to completely overwhelm our shelves&walls. ;) I always second-guess my editing!

So although there are a few things hung here, & a couple over there, there is still a lot of work to be done on the walls of our house.

One area that is still completely bare is our staircase.

(Except for the wall that forms the base, but I think of that more as part of the little walkway that leads to our master bedroom.)

Our home has one of those stairwells with a small landing in the center, which U-turns the staircase the rest of the way upstairs. I see design ideas for curved&"straight-up" staircases all the time, so I decided to look around a bit for some ideas for what I have to work with. Do you love any of these?

(via: Home Klondike)

(via: Smith&Vansant Architects)

How cool would it be to have a built-bookcase on the landing?!

(via: Southern Accents)

Thank you, Pinterest, for letting me know that I am evidently the only person whose staircase does not have a window anywhere along its path. Also, for reminding me that design here may be thwarted by the fact that Pretty Little Bare Feet can reach many of the points along the stairs' walls, making anything that is hung there vulnerable to the whims of a tired little girl on her way to bed. This is especially important since apparently the only design option here is to just plaster a gazillion framed photos or pieces of art on the walls. ;)

Pinteresting Update

So you know how a few weeks ago I was musing about Pinterest & not getting excited about it?

Well...

...I got excited about it!

Follow me on Pinterest!

I've been thinking maybe I could maintain the blog better if I got rid of some other "clutter." I'm thinking about just following all the bloggers I follow on Twitter on their actual blogs...

(duh)

...& then deleting the Twitter account.

(or at least giving notice of its abandonment)

I'm not the greatest at maintaining my (personal, private) Facebook account, but I do it just to keep in touch with those I wouldn't otherwise easily keep in touch with.

So if I could stay relatively current on

blogs,

Facebook,

& Pinterest...

...I'd feel "connected" enough, I think. More so than I have been, anyway! LOL

(& I'm behind on email, as usual...)

So tell me, how do *YOU* maintain your social networking?

(while presumably having a "real life")

& do you keep your blogger identity separate from your personal contacts?

Happy (long!) Weekend!

What I Want This Weekend, February 3rd, 2012

Here are some pretty things I've come across this week,

from some blog

or catalog

or friend

or magazine

or another;

or just from my own browsing&shopping&surfing,

that I need to convince My Prince to dole out the cash for...

Textured Sweater in Black by Splendid

I'd probably wear this with a black sleeveless top underneath it. With all of the constant weather changes this year, lightweight layering is pretty much the best way to go!

(& I never even heard whether that groundhog saw his shadow...)

"Love Conquers All" Code Double Wrap Bracelet in Periwinkle by Antoinette Lee Designs

So cute for a Valentine's Day statement, but perfectly classic for anytime, too!

Pink&Green Paper Butterflies Wall Decor by Simply Chic Lily

Pretty Little Bare Feet's bedroom is mostly gender-neutral - which is good, because one day we (may) let her & My Little Man share it. There are lots of touches of femininity, though, such as the pink minky glider rocker & ottoman, & several pieces of ballerina art on the walls. Pretty Little Bare Feet herself gets more&more girly every day, & I know she'd be fascinated by these 3D butterflies on her bedroom walls. They could also be used as beautiful decor for a party!

Bobbi Brown Dress for Success Scarf by Echo Design

Bobbi Brown, one of my favorites, co-designed this limited edition scarf with Echo Design (known for their fabulous scarves). Sales from the scarf benefit the organization Dress for Success, & what I really love is that they are straightforward about how much actually goes to the nonprofit - $20 for each scarf, which is a pretty generous donation! Read more about it here.

(Also, it's just a really, really cute scarf that would effortlessly add style to basics.)

Colorful Plush Alphabet Magnets by Beeper Bebe

I know all of y'all fellow mamas probably have the obligatory alphabet magnets. & some of you are probably in the same boat that I'm in - your preschooler has completely taken over the refrigerator door, & you're only left with the freezer door! ;)

(Okay, & I admit that I use some of the side of the refrigerator, too - hey, we get a lot of really cute invitations & photos, & the memo board on the pantry door can only hold so much!)

But I think such priceless works of art should be complemented by stinkin' cute magnets like this set, rather than the little primary-colored plastic ones, right?!

T.G.I.F.! What do YOU want this weekend?

...& the Rest...

Pretty Little Bare Feet's Birthday party was yesterday, & that means that the last few days - when I intended to blog about the rest of my Globes-inspired shopping - were

long,

busy,

& ended late.

I don't know how I'll ever catch back up on sleep, but I've certainly done it before!

So to wrap it all up, I wanted to share some of my finds that centered around the trends of pale pastels, metallics, headbands, & Old Hollywood...

Pale Pastels

Knitted Pastel Slouchy Jumper in Pale Pink at Topshop

Metallic Stripe Tee in Light Fern Heather at Talbots

Butterfly Meadow Cup&Saucer Set in Butterfly Blue by Lenox

Metallics

Byrdie Bow Dress in Metallic Silver by Contrarian at Singer22

Metallic Jacquard Mini Skirt in Roasted Hazel at Ann Taylor

Metallic Gem Bauble Bracelet in Metallic Silver at Gymboree

(For your little fashionista!)

Headbands

Rhinestone Headband in Natural at Juicy Couture

Lilly Pulitzer Bright Floral Print Fabric Headband by Looking 4 Lilly

(I have one of these & love it!)

Felt Flower Headband in Dark Pink at Hanna Andersson

(Another find for the littlest trendsetter.)

Old Hollywood

Hollywood Flair Top at ModCloth

Elaina Cigarette Pant in Black by Lilly Pulitzer

Toddler's & Little Girl's Ruffled One-Piece Swimsuit by Juicy Couture at Saks Fifth Avenue

(Let the hunt for the perfect bathing suit for Pretty Little Bare Feet begin! & this year we'll have to find some fantastic coordinating trunks for My Little Man!)

Jewel Tones - Not Just for Bling!

I've previously mentioned that before I became a Lilly Pulitzer addict, it was very rare that I ventured out of my

black,

gray,

& navy

comfort zone. & to this day, my favorite non-Lilly store for my own wardrobe is White House/Black Market.

But since discovering my beloved Lilly (& having children!), I have become more adventurous with color - most of the time.

(On my nails, at the very least!)

There wasn't a whole heck of a lot of color on the red carpet this past weekend, & I'm hoping that will change over the course of this awards season.

Because these striking jewel-toned colors...

...were fantastic looks!

For those of us that don't grace red carpets, how can we add jewel tones to our lives?

Icy Embellished Dress in Sapphire by Free People

Ruby Teardrop Earrings by Ippolita at Neiman Marcus

Fish Figurine in Sapphire by Lalique at Bloomingdale's

(This would add such a chic, fun pop of color to an office done in neutrals!)

Ricci Shift in Turquoise Jungle Glam Toile by Lilly Pulitzer

Large Emerald Stone Pave Ring by ABS by Allen Schwartz at Bloomingdale's

Tissue Weight Wool&Cashmere Wrap in Red Posh by Nordstrom

& of course we can easily infuse some of this rich color into our kids' wardrobes!:

Boys Hand-Smocked Blue Marlin Bubble by Shrimp&Grits Kids

Cobbler Lined Plaid Clogs in Garnet/Espresso by Crocs Kids at Zappos

(Oh, I know Crocs aren't cool or whatever...& believe me, I can't put them on my own feet - but children & nursery school teachers looove them!)

Kids Rory Ruffles Cardigan in Lagoon Green by Lilly Pulitzer

(You won't believe the sale price on that!)