thursday latelies!

Hello ladies...it's that time of the week again!  This week has been a good one.  Not too much to complain about (except maybe that crazy 90 plus degree heat we've been having!)

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you to all my wonderful readers!  The comments have been awesome lately.  And I have 30 followers now!  Yay!  I know that may not seem like a lot to some of you, but I am ecstatic.  So thank you to all of you who have followed.  I love checking in with each of you.

Okay, have you guys heard of Zhush?  I may be the last person on Earth to discover this place but it's amazing!  I've spotted items similar to both of these at Jayson Home and Garden, which is such a beautiful place but kind of expensive.  These guys...not nearly as expensive and still gorgeous!  If you have not heard of Zhush, go check it out...now!

Mrs. Baker over at Baby Baker Love blogged about doing a 30 for 30 challenge and no this is not Kendi Everyday's challenge.  This is about spending 30 minutes every day getting down on the ground and playing with your child for 30 days.  Frankly I'm really all about the first 30 because I want this to be something I incorporate into our daily life indefinitely.  Today we went outside and drew on the park path...and on the grass...and on a few trees...and in the dirt.  And it was good to just give him my full attention.  I love this challenge and if you have a kid, you should give it a try!

This is literally my favorite thing about summer.  Tomato salads.  Sadly this one is missing fresh basil, but nonetheless it was delicious.  I love getting fresh, juicy tomatoes from the farmers market and making this.  And here's the kicker...ditch the mozzarella and go for a creamy, flavored goat cheese.  So delicious!

I already mentioned our Father's Day picnic but here's the photo to do it justice!  I love picnics in the park in summertime.  

These are my favorite new detail in T's room.  It's a family of foxes and they are so cool!  They are from Kids on Roof.  Don't they have a lot of spunk?

And this is how city kids cool off...in playground fountains!  Talinn is in love with the fountains.  He just dives right in...with clothes, shoes and everything!

Hope you guys are having a great week!  The weekend is one day closer!  If you want to check out other Thursday Latelies, head over to Bex...A Diary.

Also if you want, follow me on Instagram my username is LipstickNLollies!

Thursday Latelies

Let's have a serious moment, okay?  Today as I was biking home I was thinking about what I should include on my Thursday Latelies this week. I got to thinking about my blog and I got this warm, fuzzy feeling.  I am really loving this experience.  You guys make it so worth it for me.  Every time I see a comment, I get super excited!  It's like I've made all these new friends.  And you guys are the best!

Above and beyond the great connections I've made, this blog has helped me in other ways. I've always been self-conscious and uncomfortable in my own skin for as long as I can remember.  I always wondered at what age does it finally click...when do you just become comfortable and happy with who you are and how you look.  I kept waiting for that magic time where I would stop comparing myself to everyone else and it never happened...until this blog...this wonderful little blog came into my life.  I'm happy with who I am and I finally accept me with all my imperfections.  And it makes me so joyful that this has coincided with motherhood.  I don't want my child (and hopefully some day children) to have a mother who has low self esteem...that's not a good message to send!  So I am thankful for this blog and I am thankful that I have finally learned to embrace myself no matter what!  Thank you for joining me on this ride.

Now onto other great things...

I bought this rug for Talinn's room and I LOVE it.  It makes everything come together and looks so good!

I got some Kate Spade sunglasses off Gilt Groupe and they came at just the right time.  I lost my prescription sunglasses (bummer!) and I think that these might just be my replacement.  I've never had aviators so this a big step for me...I know, I know aviators are old news!

There are so many great things about summer.  One of those things is the Chicago Green City Farmer's Market.  They have such amazing fare there and it's all organic.  And I love that they hold it on Wednesday in addition to Saturday because you can beat the crowd.  Here's the bounty I picked up yesterday.  

And lastly, here is my favorite photo of T this week.  I just love these sweet moments that he has every once in awhile.  He can just be so tender sometimes and I adore that about him.

Have a happy Thursday!  And check out Bex...A Diary for more Thursday Latelies.

Also if you want, follow me on Instagram my username is LipstickNLollies!

Thursday Latelies!

Hey ladies...it's that time of the week again!  I had a wonderful, but very short visit with my parents.  And once they left, reality set back in.  It hasn't been the most fun week.  Talinn's been a bit of a handful, we are having our back door replaced and our kitchen sink is still leaking.  Blah.  Well, that's all the more reason to look to the good things that are happening, right?  And there were good things...lots of them.

Our bikes have opened a whole new world to us.  We live in Chicago but not in the epicenter of downtown.  And so we never, ever go down there. But now it's super easy to just hop on the bike trail.  This weekend we headed down to Millennium Park, where we took a family photo in The Bean.  Fun times.

I went to Zara last week and it was ah-Mazing.  I picked up all sorts of wonderful goodies including these mint jeans that I'm obsessed with.  I've had them um six days and I've worn them twice.  Yeah, clearly I'm digging them.

And I got this sweet, girly shirt from there.  The print is just perfection.

I've been trying to create little vignettes around our home.  For some of these areas, I've been buying new stuff and for some I've been using what we have.  This camera is my husband's grandma's camera.  And can you believe we had it hidden in a case?  What was I thinking?  Sometimes I think we need to look at our space (our lives or our wardrobe) with fresh eyes.  We just put something somewhere, get used to it and never think to change it.  So glad I decided to showcase this beauty!  

I bought a big box of sidewalk chalk and we finally broke it open this week.  So much fun (except when T puts the chalk in his mouth...yuck).  I love this photo of his little hands at work.

And let's just call this the photo of the week.  This shows you what a little rascal Talinn has been.

And last but not least my perfectly pretty peonies.  This is my favorite flower and I love that they are in season right now.  I love how they start out as a ball and then just pop open to this beautiful frilly bloom.

I hope you girls have a wonderful day and take a moment to look back at your own week and think about your what has brought you joy.  Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down in the drudgery but there's always, always good things that bring a smile to our faces.

For other Thursday Latelies, head over to Bex...A Diary.

Thursday Latelies

Hi ladies, welcome to Thursday Latelies!  This week had a rough start (a broken faucet leaking into our cupboards, a certain someone waking up at 5 a.m., a majorly clogged sink and various repair men coming and going) but the good news is...my mom is in town!  Yay!  So I treated myself to a mani and pedi, a luxury I only get when there's someone to watch Talinn.  It was a much needed reprieve from the drudgery of the week.  The color is Essie Bachelorette Bash.  I'm not sure what about this color says bachelorette bash but it sure is pretty!

This weekend we got some vintage tin ceiling tiles and we decided to use them as artwork in our living room.  We have a big open space that needs to be filled.  It's been too long.  Instead of waiting for just the right piece, we decided that these would be the perfect option for now.  They are turquoise, cream and mint.  Super fun!  I can't wait to hang them.

I love the little things in life.  I really honestly do.  And sometimes the thing I need to make my day better is just a little bit of glam.  A stunning necklace and the perfect lip hue can turn any day around in my book.

Another wonderful surprise that I just got this evening is the tablecloth my mom made for our kitchen table.  I love it!  I raved about the Greek key fabric here and now I finally have the finished product.  It's fabulous.  It adds another dimension to our mostly blue and beige family room.  She is just  so darn talented and you better believe I take advantage of it!

They just turned the fountains on at our local playground.  So fun!  Talinn is usually scared of new experiences but he dove right in.  He was soaked head to toe.  Not something I usually let happen when I'm not prepared, but Daddy is more of the spontaneous sort.  I need to be a little more flexible in these situations.  It all worked out and Talinn had a blast.

I hope you guys have wonderful day.  I'm headed downtown to do some shopping sans baby.  Zara here I come!  And after my shopping adventure, my husband and I are going out on an actual date!  Yay!

Check out other Thursday Latelies at Bex...A Diary.

Thursday Latelies in Instas!

Happy Thursday ladies...only one more day until the holiday weekend!  I've decided to just do my Thursday Latelies in instagram photos.  It's easier for me and I think it's more interesting but then again I'm a photo gal.  If you hate Thursday Latelies in instas, let me know and I'll change it just for you!

So onto the what has made me happy this week.  Lipstick, lipstick and MORE lipstick!  I went to Walgreens the other day and there was a sale on Revlon lipstick.  Ummm I went kind of crazy.  I sort of have a problem.  But seriously a good lip shade makes me feel put together and adds a little pop of color to my day.

We have been eating so well lately and it's thanks to this lady.  Every single recipe we have tried on Annie's Eats has been phenomenal.  It's my go-to when I put together my weekly menu.  We have tried so many amazing things like homemade refried beans, pasta alla vodka, chicken ranch pizza, spicy pork po' boys and the latest pictured below chicken gyros and Greek salad.  So good!  Honestly if you have not checked her out, go do it now!  You will be so happy you did!

On Wednesday, I got this fabulous rug.  I love it.  I've been wanting a rug for my kitchen for awhile, but we have a dog and she slops water all over the floor so a full on kitchen rug is not really a good option.  So this little graphic beauty is perfect.  It's the right size and adds a little pizzazz to the space.

One of my favorite things to have around is fresh flowers.  I feel a little down and out without them.  They just bring a little breath of fresh air to our home and to my life.  Here's the latest.  These are perfect paired with my West Elm tray and an Anthropologie bowl filled with lavender.

We just got this HUGE container of bubbles and we broke it out this week.  Having bubbles around makes me feel like a kid all over again!  Next on the to-do list, sidewalk chalk drawings...

I hope you guys have a wonderful Thursday!  If you want to check out other Thursday Latelies, head over to Bex...A Diary.

Thursday Latelies

Happy Thursday everyone!

Blarg!  I tried to do a video AGAIN and recorded the whole thing without SOUND.  Clearly at this point you realize I'm not tech savvy.  But the good news is that we have the sound working (thanks to the hubby) so next week fingers crossed I will be able to finally put up a video.  So without further ado, here's Thursday Latelies...in photos...again...

Our week is going much better.  The weather is absolutely beautiful and I couldn't be more thankful for it.  It makes hard weeks easier.  I mean how can you be grumpy with a day like this.

I was also spoiled rotten on Mother's Day.  My husband got me a brand new bike!  And I love it.  I think it's absolutely beautiful.  I know, I know...that's the most important thing about buying a bike isn't it?!?  Besides its style though, it is completely functional.  I took it out for the very first time this evening and it was great.  I'm hoping that Talinn and I will be able to explore the city and we will have lots of memories of our bike rides together.

Also I am loving these brand new sandals from Target.  The fabric is so fun and colorful, as is the style.  When I look down at my feet, they just make me smile.  And they are comfy too!

And lastly, I am very grateful to have a mother that is so talented.  She sews many wonderful things for my son.  These circus pants that she made are no exception.  I remember my grandma doing the same for me.  Every year for Christmas she would sew me a gorgeous Christmas dress that was twirl worthy and it always had just the right amount of bows and lace.  It made me feel so special.  I hope Talinn comes to love these special treasures as much as I did when I was growing up!

And just one more photo that makes me happy while I'm at it.  This week we walked two dogs--Bodhi and miniature, stuffed Bodhi!

I hope you guys finish off your week with lots of smiles and joy!

If you want to check out other Thursday Latelies, go to Bex...A Diary.

Thursday Latelies!

Welcome to my first Thursday Lately, where we talk about the good things in our week!  I apologize that I don't have a video.  I took one but due to "technical difficulties" we could not load it onto the computer and rather than spend five hours figuring it out, I decided to do an abbreviated version.  I hope you don't mind!

In a nut shell, this week has been rough...very rough.  Talinn hasn't been sleeping very well and therefore the rest of us haven't been sleeping.  It's just been one of those weeks where there are so many things on my to-do list and none of them get done so the list just gets longer.  Needless to say I am taking my little comforts where I can find them.

First up, I went to a healthy home, healthy child party.  It was kind of intense but I had a few takeaways and one of them was this new all purpose cleaner.  I use it on my granite countertops and it smells divine!  I absolutely love it.  Every time I use it, it perks me up.

Another thing is the Pop-Up Dr. Seuss book that I got for Talinn.  He's really into pop-up books right now and this one is awesome!  As much fun for me as for him.

Okay am I the last person to hear of Charming Charlie?  It's amazing!  Gorgeous pieces that don't cost a fortune.  I got these two necklaces in the mail this week and I couldn't be happier with my purchases.  I love them!  Just looking at them makes me smile!

And just because I have a little boy doesn't mean we can't having matching shoes!  Seeing us in these makes my heart melt.

And last but not least, even though he hasn't been sleeping well, this little face makes my week every week, especially when he's in a pillow fort!

Be sure to check out the other Thursday Latelies at Bex...A Diary!  We could all use a dose of happiness!