I am Busy

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So leave a message! 

Sista sista is in town again this weekend, and while we are planning on having ourselves some fun, there is also some business we have to attend to.
Val is the savvy techy in our family, so she is going to help me with a few blog changes, along with being the mastermind behind my new website.
For those that don't know, if you check out this post, you might be able to figure it out.
**More fun details to come soon, promise**

Oh- and we'll probably partake in a little of what is going on in the picture above!

Have a great weekend!

Pool Essentials

Apparently we are having a heat wave this week, so naturally it has me thinking about lounging poolside (or really anywhere tropical)!

So let's chat about some of my favorite "pool essentials", shall we...

A perfect pair of sunnies is a must! 

:: retro ray bans :: 

Really been wanting to experiment with a one-piece lately (this brings back some scary memories though of my swim team days and those horrific one-pieces that marjorly accentuate the buttox)

:: j.crew fanfare ::

*before i could get my hands on this pretty thing, it sold out in my size. the two below are coming in a close second. and if you can't tell, i'm trying to move alway (sort of) from bikinis, they are not as attractive when your constantly bending over picking up the wee one* :) 

:: j.crew arrowhead ikat tank :: 

:: j.crew draped blouson tank (really digging the red chili color) ::

I'm a sucker for a cute cover-up

:: j.crew whisper gauze sand dollar tunic :: 

:: lilly pulitzer cassie dress slub (perfect pool to night transition dress) ::

I'm super picky about flip flops and haven't swayed from these since I was introduced to them

 3-4 years ago

:: havaianas (a summer staple) ::

I was gifted this cooler last year and love it!!

:: lilly pulitzer insulated cooler :: 

This Etsy shop has the cutest prints for koozies- they will keep your beverage stylish and cool while catching some rays!

:: rouge & co. ikat monogrammed koozie ::

Mama needs a stylish tote for all necessities!

:: pottery barn teen ikat dot tote ::

A fashionable beach towel is also must!

:: yachting stripe beach towel (i'll take one in every color, please) ::

:: personalize beach towel via etsy :: 

What are some of your favorite poolside must-have's??

Summer Days

Who's in?? 

Stay tuned tomorrow for some of my favorite poolside essentials to go along perfectly with these hot temps that have decided to greet us! 

:: images via here + here :: 

Restaurants & Kids

I came across this on Facebook, and I found it to be quite comical and oh so true! 

Those of you out there with little ones, take FULL advantage of going out now to eat because it was way more enjoyable then compared to now! :) 

Of course it still doesn't stop us from going out with baby girl (she is my favorite kind of entertainment), I'm just more prepared to get eat cold food and chug wine faster than I normally would. 

Lil Sugar

So I may be late to the game here, but I just recently heard about Lil Sugar.

I've always been a fan of Pop Sugar as my source for some celebrity style and gossip, I just somehow must have missed this hidden gem! 

Lil Sugar gives you the latest in maternity style + ideas on how to throw an amazing birthday party for your mini me + food ideas for kids + parenting sources + kids shopping + celebrity mom buzz. 

It's a mama's or mama-to-be's one stop shop! 

I will definitely be adding this to the rotation on my daily reads. 

Does anyone out there have any sources that are your go-to's for the 'lil sugars in your life?!

The Perfect Summer Short

I've never really shopped at Ann Taylor Loft, although not for any particular reason...probably other than the fact it's at the mall and going to the mall these days with baby girl is torture :)

They usually have such great stuff at some pretty great prices.

Well the MIL and myself went to the mall over the weekend to make a return and found ourselves browsing through the store and later walked out with these fancy pants

I didn't want to take them off!

 Comfy and flowy...two of my favorite things!

Pretty sure you will find these on me every week this summer, dressed up or down. 

I even think they will carry me into fall with a sweater and some TB gold flats ;) 

Go check them out-- they are also available in this color and this print

My new friend, Kale

I'm part of a dinner club on Monday nights, and while I can't make it every week, I do try for at least once a month. 

Usually we part ways for the summer and meet up again in the fall, but we're going to try and stay connected with a few special get togethers...each hosted with a theme.

This past Monday was "Veggies and Vino" night and we had a great time! Everyone's dishes were amazing! And I'm pretty sure I consumed enough greens to carry me over for a couple of weeks.

I don't have any pictures from our evening, but I did manage to take a quick snapshot of what I decided to bring...

One Pot Kale & Quinoa Pilaf

This was a super easy recipe to whip up in no time and I love that I had almost all of the ingredients on hand.

Do check out this recipe because I'm pretty sure it will become part of your dinner rotation...I know it has here! 

It was...

three years ago today

and it's still one of our most favorite days (aside from baby girls birth-duh!) to sit and reminisce about!

What a beautiful journey it's been 

Love you babe!!

(and we're so thankful to be sharing this day with a special little boy who is joining the world today)

Race Recap

If you read Friday's post, then you know what I was up to this weekend. 

Whoa. 

My legs are majorly paying for it today! 

I was hoping to finish in an hour, but managed to pull off an hour and five mins, so I can't complain.

But, I did it and now I can cross running a 10K off my list. 

I've managed to run a couple half-marathons and a lot of 5K's, but never a 10, and I'm sure it won't be my last. 

Although I think I have finally learned my lesson after this one...I need to train!!

I'm pretty sure my face says it all in some of these as I'm coming across the finish line.

You can bet that I indulged in some pool time + a few cocktails + frozen yogurt topped with yummy goodies afterwards!

Keep Running

Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."

-Oprah Winfrey

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This is what I will be repeatedly telling myself bright and early Sunday morning.

While I've sort of been feeling like a slug lately, I decided to randomly sign up for the Midtown Race Series 10K this weekend! 

Here we go again because I have yet to train a lick for it and I'm pretty out of shape!

However I'm hoping that yet once again my adrenaline will pull through for me and get me through this 6.2 mile stretch through the hills of Raleigh.

Wish me luck...I think I'm going to need it. 

Happy Friday!!