My Week Through Instagram

Most of our days start out like this. Unlike her pristine big sister, Miss Elyssa could care less about getting messy. Blueberries are her absolute favorite food and no matter how big her bib is, she always ends up covered in purple. No matter what I do, you’re sure to find traces of blueberry on her later in the day. I’m not sure which part I love more, the happy dance Ellie does as soon as you open the freezer (blueberries go bad too quickly!) or Samantha’s infectious giggle as she watches her sister smash them all over her head.

The end of last week was so beautiful, so I got the girls outside as much as possible. Sam had a ball creating masterpieces in the driveway (and writing love notes for daddy to find when he got home from work!). Of course, the little bean had to get in on any action her big sister was involved in. She grabbed some chalk and tried to make a masterpiece of her own, but mostly ended up covering herself–and my pants–in little blue hand prints.

My little diva insisted on wearing her glittery red flats while riding around on her scooter and digging in the dirt (she planted some rocks in hopes of creating the world’s first rock tree). How could I deny her thirst for a little glamour?

There are buds! It honestly feels like a weight is lifted off of me when I start noticing the first buds in the spring. There’s life again! I’m so tired of looking at bare, gloomy trees. Sam and I squeal a little every time we pass a flowering tree or forsythia bushes. This was the view at one of the playgrounds we hit up last week.

This is one of the masterpieces Sam painted to give to family that came over on my little bean’s first birthday. I believe this one was called “The Heart of the Dancing Sun” or something equally lofty and dramatic. Love that little nugget.

Speaking of Ellie’s birthday, it was jam packed. My husband was out of town for work so I tried to pack the girls’ day with fun (they hate it when he’s gone). It was a little colder, but we went to Sam’s elementary school and walked the track (well, Sam ran). Then we took over the playground there. Samantha was a climbing machine while her sister…

got into trouble! She loves emptying things, so she set her sights on the bottom of her stroller which was filled with things like water bottles and crafts from a storytime we went to earlier in the week. This girl is going to be trouble. She’s got a devilish little grin that is sure to charm her out of many a sticky situation.

All in all we had a nice week. The next few promise to be hectic, but being busy isn’t a bad thing, right?

 

As if I needed another reason to love Kate Spade…

My pal Jackie (aka my Bijou partner in fabulousness) posted this on our bridal blog yesterday. I’m in love!

Kate Spade “Henrietta Street” Fashion Film from Kinga Burza on Vimeo.

From the gorgeous color to the fab song, the typewriter, and all of the pretty Kate Spade pieces, I’m totally smitten! Which means it’s time for a little window shopping, no?

green vase, striped bracelet, glitter pump, t-shirt, stationery, “eat cake” pouch, cork flats, plates, striped bag, magazine clutch, cardigan, necklace, dress, engraved bracelet, purple bracelet

I love them all but if I had to pick just one favorite, I think it would be the engraved gold bracelet, mostly because of the inscription. On the inside it says “this is the year to” and the outside says “be curious as a cat, lose yourself in a good book, add a twist, play your cards right, make sparks fly.” Adorable, right?

Which is your favorite?

Obsession of the Week: Druzy

sources (clockwise from top left): Amy Ming, Hawaii Chic Jewelry
Divine by Deidre, Petra Collection, NYC Jewelry Design, Oh Kuol

I looooove druzy right now! It’s basically a thin layer of little crystals on top of another stone that adds a little bit of whimsy and a whole lot of sparkle. I can’t get enough!

We all know I’m kind of obsessed with sparkle, but this is like a little sprinkle of fairy dust that you adorn yourself with (bonus: you don’t leave a glitter trail that people can track you down with).

I just love the raw, organic look of these! What do you think?

Like Mother, Like Daughter

If there’s one thing that having girls has taught me, it’s that many traits seem to be inborn (please brace yourself for a couple of sweeping generalizations that may only apply to my very specific little universe).

For one, girls like to talk. A lot. In fact, they like to talk so much that you can tell where they are just by listening for a second. Silence? My child is either:

1. asleep (which is very rare)
2. not home
3. up to no good (like the time she decided to play hairdresser with her cousin)

My husband most likely uses this same trick to verify my whereabouts.

Next, girls like pretty things. We like sparkle and ruffles, bows and beads (this is generally where the princess obsession comes in).

Many girls grow into women that still like these things. So much so, in fact, that it’s often damn near impossible to tell the difference between big girl pieces and children’s wear.

1 J. Crew :: 2 Old Navy :: 3 Gap :: 4 J. Crew :: 5 Steve Madden :: 6 J. Crew

My daughter and I would both do a little happy dance at the idea of owning any of the pieces shown above.

Three are women’s pieces and three are children’s. Can you tell the difference?

All That Glitters

Confession: I like things that sparkle.

Like my daughters, my eyes light up at the sight of something shiny as if it’s Christmas morning and the mother load of gifts are sitting within reach.

It doesn’t matter if it’s glitter, sequins, or gemstones. If it’s sparkly, I’m a fan.

It may be super girly and a little bit predictable, but I’m not about to apologize.

And what’s the ultimate sparkly accessory? Why a cocktail ring, of course.

But not all of us can afford gorgeous dazzlers like the one above. Instead, I found eleven pretty cocktail rings that cost under $100 (one for each finger, plus one for good luck!).

1 The Broken Plate, $25 :: 2 Kim D’Angelo, $92 :: 3 Thirty Six Ten, $84 :: 4 Forever 21, $5.80 :: 5 Emitations, $65 :: 6 Kate Bissett, $14.99 :: 7 Blu Bijoux, $24
8 Emitations, $74.25 :: 9 Forever21, $5.80 :: 10 PJ Clarke, $39
11 Camlo Designs, $98