I live for them.

Happy weekend, friends!

xoxo

We spent some time outside this morning. Our backyard isn’t much. A patch of grass with a budding orange tree in the corner. Beside the patch is a gated area with an empty hole of a once-pool. Our plan is to salvage that expanse and turn it into a garden and dining area. Anthony has sketched out his dream backyard and Ella is anxious for a garden to grow her flowers and tomato plants. First we have to break up the pool plaster and fill in that giant hole with tons of dirt. It’s too bad dirt costs so much, and too ironic to think about.

What we do have in our backyard, on that small patch of grass with a baby tree plunked in it, is two little girls always ready for fun. They’re oblivious to the size, I think. They see the potential in that grass instead of what it could or should or hopefully one day will be.

So this morning after peanut butter toast and strawberries, we ventured out into the grass. Ella was an explorer, examining all the weeds that had popped up overnight. Plucking their tiny yellow flowers and making wishes on the lone dandelion in the center of that patch. She pinched her thumb and index finger together and held them to her eye, a makeshift magnifying glass so she could see all the details. Poppy tottered this way and that, making her haphazard trail with her baby doll tucked under her arm like a football. We played baseball, we tossed beanbags, we blew bubbles that the wind carried up and over the house.

When it started to sprinkle, we headed back inside. And today I think we’ll embrace the rainy scent that swirls through the house. I’ll admire the gloomy skies above and we’ll have a much needed lazy day at home.

via Phoenix Style Collective

PS – Anthony and I will be attending the Arizona Blogger Conference this Saturday! (Look at that lineup!) I’m so excited – now, what to wear?
Will you be there? I’m hoping I can not be too shy and say hello!

xoxo

It’s really starting to feel like Summer around here. And with the early arrival of warmer temperatures, we’ve been dappling in Summertime activities. Here’s a look at what we’ll be doing, come those 100+ degree days:

Today I took the girls on a lunch date and we sat on the patio while we ate. It was almost miserable. By the end of the meal, Ella’s little puff cheeks were red hot and she kept telling me she was ready for a nap. Poppy was a little sweatball in her carseat by the time we got home.

I think it’s that time of year when I lock us all indoors. It’s just too hot to go anywhere!

Here’s hoping I can turn our patio into a comfortable place to relax and watch the girlies splash through the water this year.

Do you have any plans for Summer?

xoxo

And here’s a little Ella-ism just for good measure…

“I have found a bird in the woods.
It lives in my hat.”

Yes, okay. Here’s hoping the little things (such as pails on our heads) bring us happiness over the weekend. Have a great one!

xoxo

While colored pants may not be destined to become classic, they have quickly become a classic for me in this season of life. Bright red, royal blue, and even the ultimate colorless hue. I never thought I’d do it, but last Fall I bought white denim for the first time in my life. And not just one, but two pair. It doesn’t sound like a smart equation, a mother of two small girls, one of whom particularly revels in her messes, to be traipsing around in white pants…

Since becoming a mom three and a half years ago (why is time moving so fast??), I’ve become much more aware of my style. What pieces make me feel like my own person. It’s become a necessity for me, almost like giving myself a chance to breathe as a woman, wife, and individual.

There are days when I revisit my closet three or four times before I find clothes to help me feel like myself on that day, at that moment. Sometimes I pull open my dresser drawers knowing I’m not going to find what I want, but hopeful that something has magically surfaced overnight. And some days I finally give in and fall into my standard outfit: heather grey AA v-neck, jeans and sandals.

That’s where the creation of colored jeans can help me out. I can dress in that ultimate comfort attire but look, just maybe, a little more interesting. These red pants definitely make me step out of my box – but just enough so that I’m not out of my comfort zone.

Something else that helps me identify with myself – a piece with sentiment. I always try to incorporate something that holds personal meaning into my outfits. This ring was once my dad’s and it’s one of my very favorite pieces of jewelry. I wonder if I wear it too much but I don’t think that could ever be a problem. Days when I dress a little less than my ordinary, I cling to these pieces to keep me feeling like myself.

From my closet:

Sweater // Forever21
Tee underneath // Gap
Pants // Target
Loafers // Ruche
Belt // Forever21
Turquoise ring //  my dad’s

What are the elements of your ideal outfit? Are you a mama? What pieces do you cling to in order to feel like yourself?

xoxo

The weather was kind of unbelievable on Friday; cool and breezy, highs in the 70s. So there was a rumor of a trip to the zoo floating around the house that morning. I just didn’t know what time we’d get there, and initial plans included only us girls. When Anthony called to say he was heading home midday, we spruced ourselves up and hightailed it to the zoo.

We had such a great time. The most gorgeous weather (besides a few giant wind gusts), happy girls, camel rides, falling in love with monkeys, and of course the carousel.

Once we hit our limit we headed home, stopping first at La Grande Orange for a pizza picnic outside. We can’t take Ella there and leave without gelato, so next it was a stop into The Grateful Spoon next door for dessert. I left to grab a drink and when I returned, the girls were prancing around the shop, sharing spoonfuls of Ella’s chocolate gelato. I’m thinking it was the sweetest thing they’ve done yet. And Poppy thought it was the best thing in the universe.

We came home for baths and books and bedtime, and then a little Mommy and Daddy time with our own tub of gelato to-go.

It was the best afternoon. I am a planner by nature. I need to have things scheduled out to think clearly. But Friday was a taste of something different, when I let the day lead itself, and we landed in the best family date I can remember. Here’s what it looked like:

xoxo

(more photos from Easter Sunday)

These people, they have my heart…

Have a happy weekend!

xoxo

Good morning friends!

Not much to say today, just checking in with an outfit post. How do you feel about stripes on stripes? Or mixing patterns? I’m always dressing the girls in competing patterns – stripey pants and floral tops are my favorite combo on them. But when it comes to me, I always play it safe. I really like the way the stripes work together in this outfit though. Who says little kids get to have all the fun?

Right now I’m sitting here in our front room next to the open windows. The breeze is blowing in and the temperature is gorgeous today. Days like this I can’t help but imagine I’m on vacation in San Diego. I asked Anthony if he’d play hooky today and take his girls out for coffee and muffins and strolling around town.

Guess what he said.

*Soon enough, Katy. We’ll be on vacation soon enough.*

The littlest sprout is napping and Ella Faye is busy busy busy in her imaginary world. I love the background stories she provides as I work. Later it’s lunch with my parents and maybe working on a special project for the girls.

And maybe a little more falling in love with this weather…

From my closet:

Cardigan // Urban Outfitters
Dress with belt // Target
Boots // Steve Madden

What’s on your agenda for the day? Do you like mixing patterns and prints in your outfits?

Have a great Wednesday!

xoxo

On Easter Eve, Ella Faye and I baked and decorated chocolate bunny cupcakes. She delicately built each little face and sneakily ate a few pink noses for good measure. I love baking with this girl. She always seems to find a way to get each ingredient onto her tongue.

After, we laid out a nice spread for the Easter Bunny. He needed a carrot, “a-course” and a bunny! cupcake! and a glass of water. And then my girl worked her little hands in careful, so intentional strokes to spell his name. And her daddy and I melted.

And the bunny paid his visit.

When morning came we inspected our baskets, ate and dressed in our normal hurried Sunday morning fashion, and headed to Easter Mass. My mom took Poppy into her arms at the start of mass, and – it was an Easter miracle. That baby slept a good half hour, which meant we all got to stay in the pew, sit side by side, and actually listen to the readings. Of course once she did wake up, she let that bottled up feist bubble over as I walked her down the aisle to communion. Hair pulling, fist in my mouth shoving, clawing at my cheeks, flailing to break free feist. I’m sure we were a sight. And it wouldn’t be complete without her squint-eye (practically a wink) and sideways grin once we’re back in our pew. She looks at me as though it were a skit we planned all along, and we’ve most definitely just pulled off the spectacle we were hoping for.

After lunch and naps we headed across the street to my parents’ house for egg coloring, egg hunting, dinner, and general fun outside in the gorgeous weather. I’d say Yaya and Papa did better than the Easter Bunny. A bubble machine. A bubble machine, and the girls went wild.

It was a sweet day spent together as a family. There has been a heavy weight surrounding our pack recently, brought on by medical issues and overwhelmingness. Easter Sunday and time together was what we needed. I’m ever grateful for my parents and our relationship. I was blessed with them. And every day I know the blessing of this man and these little souls I share my life with. All of them and my faith in Him is all I need.

I hope your Easter weekend was beautiful.

xoxo

On Saturday we took the girls to the annual Easter egg hunt at our church. I am so thankful to be a part of that community – I grew up a part of this church and am thrilled that our girls will grow and learn in that same rich environment.

We had a blast. Poppy went on her first Easter egg hunt and decided she only needed just the one pink egg to fill her basket. Ella gathered a nice collection out on the field, which grew considerably when a boy from one of our favorite families came by and donated half his basket to her. He did the same thing last year and his sweetness got me again.

There were photos with the Easter Bunny and a trip to the balloon animal station for bunny balloons. Ella was entirely smitten with her puffed-out green bunny, but the thing about balloons, you see…once we got home, he was only a pair of legs and shriveled up head with big eyes. So we had a talk about how balloons don’t like to stick around for too long, always disappearing or floating away, so we have to enjoy them while we can…

It was a great morning and kickoff to our Easter weekend. Everything is so much fun with little people around. I’m so grateful to relive these exciting occasions through my girls.

Here are a few captures of the egg hunt along with some Instagrams from the morning:

We hope you had a wonderful Easter! I’ll be back later with more memories of our Easter celebration with family.

xoxo