instagram sunday

last week we...

enjoyed lots of family time while we still could
made cupcakes for opening day
labeled and filled spice jars
made a super cute vinyl neon clutch
made an upcycled pallet wood and ball jar garden
crossed a bunch of stuff off that loooooong list
added some more stuff to said list
clipped tiny little finger and toe nails
cooked yummy tortellini with alfredo sauce and asparagus
went out for dinner
spent an afternoon at construction junction and the center for creative reuse
finished the raised garden beds
planted seeds
received a beautiful quilt
took our first two steps :))
were treated to the hubs phenomenal chicken and oven roasted potatoes
installed some more lights in the living room and guest bathroom
almost passed out over the price of cheese
sold some stuff on ebay and in the vintage shop
waited for papa to come home

what did you do?

happy easter everyone :)

diy upcycled pallet wood and ball jar planter

i've been so busy this week. having the hubs start back to work has given me somewhat of a boost of energy to get things done and lots of extra time to scratch things off my to-do list. it's actually funny how much more productive i become once he doesn't hang around the house all day. anyone else like that?
anyway, i started the big spring cleaning. mopping all floors, cleaning windows, rearranging here and there... lots of fun stuff.

logan and i have our daily routine down pat so i can rely on his nap times to get things done and also work on some more creative projects. if there's one thing i have learned about myself over the last year or so, it is that i need to do these projects for myself. it helps me stay sane and be a better mom and wife at the same time. i love being a mom, rolling around the floor all day, building towers out of blocks that get knocked down within seconds, tickling that chubby little belly and currently even wiping a very runny nose. hey, i even enjoy doing the housework (except folding the laundry - hate it!). having some time to myself though, to get my own little projects done and out of my massively overloaded brain, makes me enjoy those moments even more.

so i'm gonna stop rambling on about my emotional inner workings now and leave you with one of those little projects i whipped up during nap time. it's a super easy upcycled pallet wood and ball jar planter you can add to your home decor or make useful in a bathroom or kitchen.

here is what you'll need:

pieces of old pallet wood or other weathered looking wood scraps. of course you can also always buy new wood and stain or distress it to your liking
pipe clamps (find these at your hardware store usually close to the plumbing section)
screws/nails
screw gun/drill
hammer
hole punch
ball jars
plants

first you want to cut your wood pieces to the desired length. i used two pieces in the back to nail the slats to. i originally wanted to screw them to those two pieces but ended up just using nails. i messed around with screws that weren't quite long enough for way too long...
you may also want to attach a couple of extra screws somewhere, if you're planing to hang this on a wall.

you can see the holes from my failed attempt to screw this together

what your front side will look like

i then decided where i wanted to place the ball jars and measured and marked all three spots for the clamps.

now comes the fun part: to make holes in the claps for your screws. i'm gonna be honest, it took me a while to figure this out. i used a hole punch but the metal just wouldn't budge so i eventually decided to just try and widen one of the already existing holes and move the clamps' locks to the side instead of the front of the jars.

to widen the holes i used the same hole punch and just snipped of the extra metal.

now all you need to do is screw the clamps to the board. i opened them up completely to get enough room with the screw gun. you may also want to pre drill the holes to make it much easier

then just place the ball jars in the clamps and tighten them as tight as you can so that they don't move. i filled mine with some succulents and phlox and plan to hang it on the wall somewhere.

you can also use this as bathroom storage for cotton balls, make-up sponges etc...
or plant some herbs and keep it in the kitchen.

now that i've figured out the best way to make the holes in the clamps i think i could make another one in under half an hour. this is really a super simple project and it looks so great.

5 trends to try for Spring 2012

in case you missed my post over at love stitched last week, here it is...

Hey everyone! Spring is finally here and I am so glad to be back today to share some of my favorite Spring looks with you. Trends come and go so it is important that you choose the items you buy carefully and try to make them work with your existing wardrobe. Don't be scared. Trends are fun and give you a great way to experiment with your style and find out what you like, don't like and what truly works for you. The following are suggestions and inspiration for you to apply to your existing wardrobe and lifestyle. I chose mostly budget friendly items that won't break the bank. Don't spend a ton of money on trendy items you may only wear a few times. Expensive items should be classic pieces that will stay in your closet forever.

Neon Accessories by theforgestyle

Bloomingdale s shopping tote, $25
Rhinestone jewelry, $35
GAP braided leather belt, $30
Wallis pink scarve, $28
Neon sunglasses, $12

If you're not sure about a certain trend like Neon for example, try to stick with accessories instead of buying a bright jacket or pants you may not feel comfortable in. We all have those items in our closets that still have the tags on them because we were too eager to buy into a trend that didn't suit us as well as we originally thought. Opt for a pair of sunglasses in a neon yellow or if you mostly like to wear blacks, white or grays, add a pop of color with a neon scarf.

Brightly Colored Denim by theforgestyle

Acid jeans, $80
Old Navy skinny fit jeans, $35
Charlotte Russe red jeans, $30
Stretchy pants, $30

Brightly colored denim is everywhere and it sure makes me happy.
Some of you might be scared to try this trend but it is actually pretty foolproof as long as you follow some easy rules:

1. The pants are the statement piece, don't go overboard with other colors but rather stick to neutrals.
2. Make sure to get a nice tight fit like skinnies or cropped chinos. Be careful with looser fitting bootcuts, they can easily make you look frumpy.
3. Stick to simple shapes and accessories when it comes to the rest of your outfit.

Floral Prints by theforgestyle

BKE Boutique dolman sleeve top, $52
Floral print skirt, $40
ASOS high heels, $32
ASOS floral backpack, $63
Forever 21 jewelry, $6.80
Pieces metal jewelry, $13
Neon Floral Silk Square, $68

This is a recurring trend that will definitely continue on into summer and come back around next year. Florals are an easy way to add a whimsy and feminine touch to any outfit. Use florals to soften up the look of leather pieces in an outfit or if you don't want to go overboard on the flower-power look, simply add a few fun jewelry pieces or a scarf to make a statement.
Floral prints usually come in a wide variety of sizes and with lots of pastel colors - another trend this season. Another great way to wear this trend is on your feet. If you're not quite sure how to pull off this look, start with shoes. When it comes to floral print skirts, dresses and shirts be aware that larger prints will draw more attention and smaller prints will give you a more subtle look.

Fringe by theforgestyle  

Fringe shirt, $25
Daytrip fringe vest, $26
Minnetonka shoes, $50
John Lewis yellow shoes, £70
River Island leather clutch, $54
Iosselliani drop earrings, £168
Elegantly Waisted Hippie Suede Fringe Belt, $110

This has got to be one of my personal favorites right now.
Fringe provides movement to your outfit and therefore more interest. When it comes to clothing stick to neutral colors and only wear one fringe item in an outfit. Wear a fringe vest with a plain t-shirt, pleather leggings, sandals and a wide brimmed floppy hat for a look that is oh so Boho. You can be a little more adventurous when it comes to the colors of your fringe accessories. Combine neon colors and fringe in your jewelry and opt for a pop of color with bags or shoes.

Striped Maxi Skirts by theforgestyle

Jessica Simpson striped skirt, $49
Karina Grimaldi ankle length skirt, $122
Swell floor length skirt, $45

This last one is an item everyone should have in their spring and summer wardrobe - the striped maxi skirt. It comes in so many colors and variations and makes for one incredibly easy outfit. Best of all, you will be as comfortable as if you were wearing your pj's.
Wear your maxi with a simple, tight t-shirt or tank tucked in and accented with a skinny belt for an easy, no-brainer outfit. Best of all, more than likely you already have those pieces in your wardrobe.

look one: pants: AE jeggins, black heels: isaac mizrahi for target, blouse: old navy, necklace: the gap, flower earrings: h&m, watch: michael kors, lip color: coral by revlon . look two: same pants, floral wedges: rampage, t-shirt: tresics, fringe vest: xhilaration at traget, earrings: bijoux brigitte, bracelets: AE. 

Here are two easy ways to style a pair of colored pants. 

For the first outfit I simply paired the pants with black pointy toed heels, a black button down blouse, a skinny belt and a statement necklace and lip color in the same red as the pants. 

For the second outfit I paired the pants with a simple white t-shirt, a fringe vest, floral pattern wedges and floral pattern earrings, combining several of the trends mentioned above. 

Easy right? 

dear husband

dear husband,

tomorrow is the day i've been secretly and lately quite openly dreading since last season ended this past october. tomorrow is home opener and with that comes a full 6 months of almost non-stop work and way too much traveling for you. i know you love what you do and i am so very grateful for all that you do for our little family. i know we are blessed beyond measure in so many ways, including your job that provides us with much more than just the basics. we've had such a great six months at home, traveling, being spontaneous and deciding what we wanted to do on a day to day basis. very few people get to spend this much time simply enjoying their family life and not worrying about making money. i look forward to joining you on a few trips again this year, so that you don't have to miss us too much. i know you will. i know it will be hard being away from us so much and maybe missing out on a few milestones. as i say "don't worry about that" i have to smile because you are such a worry wart when it comes to your family. probably even more than when you unnecessarily worry about whether you're doing a good enough job at work - babe you are phenomenal!

please know that there is one thing you should never worry about and that is whether you're being the best dad and husband you can be. the last year and a half since i got pregnant, has been such a whirlwind.
 again we have accomplished more than i ever thought we would and you have turned into that amazing father i knew you would be. logan and i are both so lucky to have you supporting us in everything we do, even my crazy little escapades ;) you put a smile onto that little guy's face every time he sees you and he loves you so much.

so when you start to feel lonely on the road, or you think you're not doing a good enough job being a dad, husband or even at work, know that we will always be right here for you. we're not ever going anywhere and you don't have to worry about those things at all. you are the best and we already look forward to having you back to ourselves in october.

you know i'll have all of our vacations planned by the end of the season and a new honey-do list will be waiting for you :)

be safe, work hard, don't worry about the things you cannot change, relax (at least try).
we love you

soph&lo

{style files} cobalt blue pants, stripes and denim

pants: tjmaxx, striped dress worn as shirt: h&m, denim shirt: motherhood maternity, shoes: old navy

someone actually took a picture of just the two of us. i can't remember the last time that happened. all our pictures now are of one of us with lo and a few are of all of us but there are never any of just the two of us. so i'm happy about this picture. the hubby's grandpa turned 86 so we went to a small party at my inlaw's house this past sunday and that's where the picture was taken. food was good and we got to hang out with family from out of town that we don't get to see much. so glad everyone could make it. 

a day at the zoo

while we were in florida we spent an afternoon at the florida aquarium in tampa. if you've ever been to the atlanta aquarium this one surely won't knock your socks off, but it was nonetheless a nice day out for us. they have a great outdoor play area with water fountains, sandboxes and a cafe. once the little mister gets a little older i think he will enjoy coming here again and spending some more time. 

now that we're back home we've been working on getting the vegetable garden all set up. i spent a few hours outside getting the soil ready and planting the first onion sets and some lettuce seeds. tomorrow i want to get the peas in the ground and then i am hoping we won't get any more frost so that i can fill the rest of the beds up. i am so excited for my very first vegetables this summer :) 

do you have a vegetable garden? any tips you'd like to share? 

instagram sunday

since we were on vacation last week i missed instagram sunday so this week you'll get an overload of pictures from the past two weeks, mostly from said vacation in florida. i feel like i am totally behind on posts that i wanted to write and i have so many pictures to edit... there is simply not enough time in each day, folks! i will try to catch up this week so you'll likely see more beachy vacation pictures.

during the last two week we...

packed suitcases
painted coral nails
hauled a car seat, stroller, two suitcases, a diaper bag, backpack and the kiddo to the airport twice
wouldn't sleep on the plane
fell asleep 10 minutes before landing, go figure
soaked up lots of sunshine
wore hats and actually kept them on most of the time
put on a ton of sunscreen
ate more mac'n'cheese than mama could eat herself (vacation diet)
stuck our toes in the ocean
got afraid of the ocean
ate sand
ate some more sand
ate lots of seafood
hung out in big hotel beds
cuddled a lot
ate the best ice cream in the world, like every year (almond joy flavor at two scoops on anna maria island, go there!!!)
went back for more ice cream 2 more times
laid by the pool
read books and magazines
played in the water
remembered why we hate places like hooters
went to the florida aquarium in tampa
ate greek food
did not go outlet shopping! a first :)
went for walks instead
had a blast swinging
went to a baseball game with friends
pleasantly surprised mama by falling asleep during said baseball game so she could watch the entire thing, fireworks and wait for papa to finish up work
got a new t-shirt as a gift
almost died several times while driving - florida, you win the prize for worst drivers in the country
watched a few movies on hbo
shopped at cvs and publix
hung out with papa's work friends
laughed a lot
papa got a cold
passed that cold to the little man
had to fly back home but didn't want to
had the worst air tran check-in experience EVER!
paid a lot of money for airport parking
enjoyed some evening sunshine on the drive home
stopped for moe's take-out and some great colored drinks ;)
reunited with the puppies who we missed
didn't take many pictures due to the sick babe
wiped that tiny little nose endless times
saw the doctor
went through almost an entire bottle of triaminic
finally started to feel a little better
tied to decide on a bathroom wall color
went to a 86th birthday party
enjoyed spending time with family from out of town
worked on the vegetable beds some more
mowed the yard for the first time this year

wow, that was a lot! what did you do?