Bye Bye Terrible Twos, Hello Threenager!

It used to just be the "terrible twos" you had to worry about. However, much to my dismay, there is a new stage with an even more panic inducing turn of phrase; the "threenager"! (three-year-old teenager). At least at the age of two many of the tantrums and tears can largely be forgiven because your child is simply trying to express themselves and discover their independence. By three those excuses are pretty much out the window. They know better; in fact, they know everything, or at least they think they do. 

I know this, because I now have my very own threenager living under my roof.  In typical threenager fashion she threw a fit on the night of her third birthday party. Cue the music "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

She didn't want to come to dinner, blow out her candles, eat cake, or even open presents! So her friend Naomi and I took matters into our own hands. I'll be damned if I have to miss out on chocolate cake just because she didn't want to blow out the candles.

Fortunately eventually the storm clouds lifted and we were all able to enjoy the Paw Patrol-themed party (she's obsessed with the Nickelodeon show), and of course, chocolate cake!

Adam is normally the cake baker of the family, but since he was out of town this week, that duty fell squarely on the shoulders of yours truly. I would never hear the end of it from my dear husband if I used a boxed mix, so enter Pinterest! I used this recipe for the cake and buttercream, and this one for the oreo cream filling between the layers.

 It turned out amazing if I do say so myself. In addition to tasting great, I thought it looked pretty cute too! 

Part of the credit goes to my adorable sous chef. When she's not throwing a tantrum she's actually a lot of fun to be around.

While the birthday girl opted not to have cake the night of her party that certainly didn't stop her little sister!

Just in case chocolate cake wasn't enough I made puppy paw cupcakes in keeping with the theme.

While this was just a small dinner with family and friends I still felt compelled to decorate a little. Nothing like either of the girls' first birthdays (really need to post about those at some point!), but cute nonetheless. 

As you would expect with a Paw Patrol birthday there were a few Paw Patrol toys which were obviously a hit, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite birthday gifts this lucky girl received. 

Her first barbie and first Disney princess.

I found this adorable necklace at a craft fair I participated in and fell in love! It amuses me that my little pony has made a comeback. All things are cyclical I guess.

 This Elephant bank was also a craft fair find. 

How cute is this chunky crochet cowl and finger-less gloves made by my friend and party guest Danielle?! Gifted just in time since the weather has just recently turned. 

Finally, I want to share a photo of a birthday tradition that some of you may find a little offensive. You've been warned...

Logan received this candle as a baby gift. The concept is cute; burn it down each year on the child's birthday all the way to the age of 21. While this may just look like an ordinary candle, in person its wrinkly pink exterior and large conical shape conjure up images of something else entirely. Maybe it's just our perverse minds, but we light it each year with a giggle and marvel at the fact that someone would give a baby a giant...well, you know what!

Happy Birthday Logan!

Getting My First Fix!

Once again I have let far too much time pass between blog posts. I love to blog and share what's happening in my life, but somehow that is the problem. Life! When you're busy living your life other things tend to slide. So, I'm sorry, and at the same time I'm not sorry; because I would rather be busy living life than glued to my computer screen every day.   

Ok, moving on...

Recently the online personal stylist service Stitch Fix seems to be blowing up my Facebook feed. I've had several friends give it a try and it piqued my interest. Do I really need a personal stylist? No. I love to shop (much to my husband's dismay), love to accessorize, and I spent many a year in clothing retail, so I know how to put together an outfit.  Unlike the busy working woman who doesn't have it in them to hit the mall, I am a little different than what I imagine their typical clientele is.

So why bother with Stitch Fix? 

I'm a big city girl recently relocated to small town America. I've grown quite fond of small town living, but like anything there are pros and cons. One of the biggest cons for me is no good shopping. I pine for Nordstrom, J Crew, and Anthropologie. Here in south central Idaho I have three stores on my regular shopping rotation, they include: Target, TJ Maxx, and The Brass Monkey, which is a great boutique, and as far as I'm concerned our town's only shopping saving grace. However, when I realized that my last two clothing purchases were made at Costco just one aisle over from 40lb bags of rice and 5 gallon bottles of ketchup, I knew it was time to give Stitch Fix a try! 

Here's how it works:

1. You fill out a very detailed style profile. You will answer all sorts of questions regarding sizing, pricing, preferences, etc. You can even share a link to your Pinterest fashion board if you have one (here's mine) so your stylist can get a better sense of what you like.

2. Order your first fix. Your card will be charged a $20 styling fee, however if you keep one or more items you will be credited back the $20.  Keep all five items and you receive 25% off your entire purchase.

3. Then sit back and wait with baited breath until your Stitch Fix box arrives! Seriously it's like being a kid on Christmas!

4. Try on everything, even if you think you won't like it, you may be surprised! I was. In fact, I let out an audible "yuck" upon pulling out a sweater that I actually ended up loving. Then decide what items you're keeping and what's going back (in a postage paid envelope)!

5. Complete the online checkout, leave feedback, and if you're hooked like me start counting down the days until your next fix arrives!

I loved opening my first stitch fix to find a personalized note from my stylist, Kristy, sharing detailed information about the pieces she chose for me and how I should put them together. Additionally they include style cards sharing ideas on how to put it all together and create different looks!

Thought I would share with you what came in my first fix. 

I put in a request with my stylist for very casual everyday clothing, relaxed denim, and sweaters. It may still be 85 degrees, but I'm ready for fall!

Navy Becker V-Neck Blouse $44, skirt and shoes my own

 I pulled this sheer navy blouse out of the box and was really excited about the color and pattern, but the fit and style weren't perfect so it's going back.

Grey distressed detail sweater $48, black skinny jeans and boots my own.

 This is the sweater I pulled out of the box and thought yuck. It just looked so boxy and boring. However, it's got really great detailing (doesn't really show up well in this photo) and is really comfy! This is a perfect example of why you need to try things on, and put a little trust in your stylist. Pretty sure I'm going to wear the heck out of this thing this fall.

Grey and black striped Dolman Top $48, Liverpool Straight leg jean $78, shoes and scarf my own.

 I was shocked that one pair of jeans could fit so perfectly. Usually when you are shopping for jeans you have to try on at least 20 pairs before you find the right one. That being said I decided to return these because I already have a great pair of straight leg jeans and I wasn't crazy about the wash anyway.

This top also went back because I have something strikingly similar in my closet already. I'm a sucker for stripes!

Teal Green waffle knit cardigan $48, Liverpool straight leg jean $78, shoes my own.

Finally, I put in a request for a drape front sweater and was excited to find this in my fix, but alas the sleeves were just too snug. I do however love the color!

So there you have it. My first fix complete! I only kept one out of five items, but seriously contemplated keeping the jeans and striped top. However, I'm really on the hunt for some new and different things to add to my fall wardrobe. So I guess I'll just have to wait for my next fix, and I'm cool with that, because to me that's half the fun!

Are you ready to get your fix on? Join me, click this link now!

Get your fix on!

I promise you won't be disappointed. Treat yourself! Christmas is still three months away, why wait when you can have Christmas delivered right to your doorstep next week!

Big Girl Room Complete

It's been almost a year in the making, but I think Logan's big girl room is finally finished! When we moved into our new home in March of 2014, Logan started out in this room which I shared pictures of awhile back.

Knowing that another baby girl was on the way I decided it was easier to just transition Logan into a new bed in a new room rather than moving the crib and the rocker and playing Tetris with the furniture and bookshelves. So Katie Parker inherited Logan's old room; and I got to start with a blank canvas. Oh the possibilities!

As I have mentioned in previous posts working with existing furniture pieces and thrifty finds to transform them gives me a little bit of a high, and it's not just from inhaling the paint fumes! I love the satisfaction of seeing the before and after. In addition I love a mix of old and new and furniture pieces that compliment one another rather than being perfectly matchy-matchy.

So here's a little visual on how it all came together:

(A) I started with these cute vintage bamboo end tables, sanded and painted pale aqua.

(B) Then more sanding and repainting of this Chinoise style dresser.

(C) Next this day bed from Ikea, with wonderfully large storage drawers underneath perfect for large stuffed animal collections, or if you are like my two-year old, your many pairs of shoes. Seriously this girl has a shoe problem. I have no idea where she gets it! (ha ha!) 

(D) I added these cute Anthropol0gie knobs to both the daybed and dresser drawers.

(E) For a personal touch, this wall monogram decal from Pottery Barn Teen did the trick.

(F & G) My design assistant (aka my mom) and I came upon this cheery floral fabric and knew right away that it would be perfect to reupholster this chair with, and make a few throw pillows to boot!

(H) This pouf from Target was the first thing I bought for the room

(I) Had my handy man (aka husband) hang more of these Ribba picture ledges from Ikea to display books just like we did in Logan's original room. 

(J) After rehabbing the bamboo chandelier in the other room I knew I needed an equally fun light fixture for this room. Thanks again to my design assistant for finding this funky fixture in an antique shop in Florida! 

(K) Speaking of funky, these silly dog trays fit right in with the rest of the vintage decor, after a little paint of course! 

Finally paint, drapes dressed up with a little grosgrain ribbon trim, an area rug, a pair of brass pharmacy lamps that were collecting dust in the basement, a few colorful accessories, and voila!

l used to think Logan's original room was my favorite one in the house, but now I'm not so sure. This new room turned out so bright and cheerful, it makes me happy just to walk in there. It makes me even happier to walk in there and see my little lady playing with her new kitchen (post on that coming soon) or rolling around on the rug giggling with her daddy; and happier still tucking her into her new big girl bed each night. 

My PG-13 Valentine

Unlike my post about Christmas, which was written almost three months after the last ornament was plucked from the tree and packed away; I'm going to share about Valentine's Day only three days after the fact! I thought about waiting until Easter just to keep up with my awesome track record, but I think this little party is just too good to not share right away!

While I actually spent this Valentine's Day in my comfy pants eating homemade pizzas with the family and watching a movie with my honey (that's as romantic as it gets lately with two kids and a puppy always hanging around); it was the weekend before that things heated up around here! Brace yourselves because this post is about to get all PG-13 on ya!

Local photographer Jessica of J. Ward Photography was running a great Valentine's Day special on Boudoir photo shoot parties, and some of my girlfriends and I decided it would be a fun ladies night get together and ultimately a great Valentine's gift for the men in our lives.

I originally intended to keep the party simple and just focus on the task at hand, but you know me, any excuse to doll it up! Besides, I am still learning to use my new Silhouette machine and wanted to put it to use. I cut out some cute lingerie, heels, and hearts, and stitched them together with my sewing machine to create these little mobiles which I hung above the dining room table. 

I also used my machine to cut out vinyl sexy lady silhouettes, which are vaguely reminiscent of what you might find on an 18 wheeler's mud flaps. Although I assure you there were no truckers at this party!

And, as you can see in the reflection I had a clothes line of lacy undies strung across the room. I'm not sure if my husband was horrified or excited by this, but if I had to guess I'd say the latter! I offered  each guest a pair of their choosing as a party favor.  Needless to say they were new with tags on!

Finally, a little liquid courage goes a long way in getting up the nerve to pose half naked in front of a camera, so of course there was a little bubbly! I have used these champagne flutes dozens of times and I just love dressing them up. It makes an already special drink that much more special don't ya think?

As for food this is where I reeled in my "Martha-ness" a little bit. I store bought (gasp!) some yummy heart shaped shortbread cookies. I did however make chocolate dipped strawberries, but that's not exactly difficult. In fact it's down right easy with this stuff. 

Really, even my two year old can do it. Perfectly dipped fruit every time. Of course you can melt your own chocolate chips, but you run the risk of it turning grainy or seizing up on you, this is so easy and you microwave it right in the container it comes in.

OK, now that I've provided Dolci Frutta with free advertising lets get back to the post, and probably what you've all been waiting for. The boudoir photos!

Before Jessica got to work her magic we were lucky enough to have local makeup artist and total sweetheart Christy work hers. Professional makeup was a part of the awesome deal. More intense makeup than you might normally wear and false lashes go a long way in enhancing these kind of photos.

It was so fun having all my favorite ladies getting ready together, doing hair and makeup. At one point there were four different curling irons plugged in in my bathroom! It reminded me of college when all of my roommates and I would be getting ready for a night out.

Here's a candid of me right before my shoot was about to commence!

Even with the aforementioned liquid courage and the fact that I'm not particularly shy, this photo shoot wasn't quite as easy as I expected. The photographer was wonderful and everyone agreed she made us feel comfortable and gave good direction, but there is still something inherently difficult about trying to look natural and sexy while also trying to pose at the same time. Got to hand it to all the supermodels of the world! 

Supermodel I am not, but without further hesitation here are a few of my pictures.

If I could give two words of advice for those of you planning on doing your own boudoir shoot they would be 

PUSH-UP BRA!

I found this cute lace bralette, you know one of those cute bras with no underwire? Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I don't really need the support of underwire, but sadly I did not consider how vital a role it would play in making the girls look their best. I know my husband knows what I look like both with and without Victoria's little secret, but looking now at the photos I wish I had just a little more pop on top! Oh well, you live you learn.

Of course sometimes a cute bra isn't even necessary, especially when you pose in one of your man's T-shirts while holding one of his favorite beers. I mean what's sexier than that right? OK, probably a lot of things, but it turned out to be a cute shot.

So excited a few of the girls also agreed to share their photos for this post. When you look as good as they do, why not! I love how different everyone's turned out.

Finally, one of my favorite shots of the night was a Valentine's Day gift to myself. To commemorate a fun night and some truly awesome friendships we got together and took this one.

I did crop it a little from the original to protect everyone's identity, although you can't really see anyone's faces anyway. It turned out really cute, even if there were injuries sustained during the dismount! It may disappoint my husband to know that six girls on a king size bed is a bit of a squeeze and therefore won't be happening again anytime soon. Ha ha!

Thank you ladies for a fun night!

Hope everyone had a wonderful, romantic, and maybe even a little sexy Valentine's Day!

xoxo

Kristin