Stylish Little Men: Elias and Grace

So it's been absolutely ages since I did one of my Stylish Little Men posts. With two little men to dress now, I thought it was time to bring it back; especially when I spotted the cute duds at Elias and Grace - courtesy of a blog post on Babyccino Kids.

I will say this, though: this particular edition is more of a mood board than anything else. Don't get me wrong - it's adorable stuff! But when you can spend £30 on a pair of baby leggings (WTF?) and £80 on a toddler's jumper, it's time to admit that the prices have no basis in reality. I haven't spent £80 on a jumper for me! Let alone someone who will outgrow it in 6-months and get wee, porridge, vomit, and Nutella on it in the meantime.

1) A t-shirt and jean shorts is always a good way to go. Stain-friendly and low-maintenance without looking babyish.
2) Oh look! It's the £80 jumper and a pair of jeans. Seriously. If I'm paying £80 for a jumper for my toddler, I want it to wash itself, and perhaps be made of mithril so it never wears through or snags on the car seat clips or swings at the playground. At least the Breton stripe is a good place to start, style-wise.
3) Olive khaki is a brilliant colour for a coat. It's the sort of piece that means that even when your kid does decide to dress themselves, they never have to look like they dressed themselves.
4) A button-down cardigan is a great piece. And, provided it's not a filthy day at the playground, it can be dressed up or down for just about any sort of day out.
5) Striped t-shirts are lovely, and putting the stripes on a diagonal on the breast pocket is a nice touch.
6) When it comes to the littler boys, a side-button onesie is a great idea. For sick days and doctor's trips, having the option to get them undressed without having to fight to get things over a sweet little melon-head is great. Plus, with leggings, all but the most explosive of nappy changes can be accomplished without sacrificing an entire outfit.

For now, though, I'm back to finishing Hot Fuzz before walking the boys to the health visitors' clinic and a trip to the playground.

Around the World

I love globes. I think they look fantastic on display and just have a certain je ne sais quoi on a shelf or atop a bookcase. I've been quietly on the lookout for one for ages now. Much as I have an aversion to needless clutter, globes (and pottery) are something I would happily collect. Here are a few displays that have caught my eye:

1) French by Design
2) Birch and Bird
3) Pursuit of Style
4) Pursuit of Style

The Devil's in the Details

At times like this when it's not really practical to do much clothes shopping, I do tend to turn my attention to all the little details and accessories I could use to alter and augment my look instead. After all; earrings will still work and scarves will still coordinate whether I'm 7 months pregnant or 6 weeks postpartum.

So what sorts of little trinkets am I looking forward to possibly gifting myself with this Christmas?

1) I'm a sucker for plaid and I love this scarf from Zara. If I could have button-down shirts and throw blankets in this sort of plaid, too, I'd be on it all in a heartbeat.

2) Much as I tend to have my mobile in my pocket, it feels like a very grown-up thing to have a proper watch to wear...and I'm pretty picky about watches. This Wanderlust watch from Feral would be loads of fun, and just slim enough in the band not to get on my nerves.

3) I don't usually go in for cocktail rings, but when I spotted this one from Crave Jewelry over on Diana's blog, I had to admit it looked pretty cute. And I like a nice way to add some pops of colour to my wardrobe...especially in the winter, and especially when I keep finding myself drawn to lots of greys and other neutrals in my clothes.

4) Seriously, I don't know what it was that made me change my mind so much about leopard print. These Russell & Bromley shoes would be a lovely addition once my feet are down to a normal size again!

5) This Anna Joyce clutch is gorgeous. Yes, I'll be spending most of my time toting nappy bags around over the coming months, but for those times when I can get away with nothing but a clutch, something like this would do the job perfectly.

6)  I've been loving my new necklace from Edor Jewelry. Anyone who's been following me on Twitter or Instagram has caught sight of my snaps of it...I've been wearing it most days lately. I'm getting in all the wear I can before it has to be traded in for a while in favour of more baby-friendly jewelry!

Anything you've been coveting lately? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Nice and Nearly Essential - Mum Swag

After doing a bit of a Pinterest clear-out this morning, not only am I inspired to properly clean out my own real-life closets (a task that has been far too long in coming), but I've also had a bit of a think about what sorts of things I'd enjoy having as a soon-to-be new (again) mum. Some of what's made the cut to my list is stuff I already have, but most are things I've had my eye on as nice-to-have versions of useful mum kit.

1) The Sture & Folke comforters look absolutely adorable. The fun tags, the velvet patch, the huge fluffy goodness. If I weren't already so invested in making E a duvet cover, I'd love to have one of these for his bed. As it is, they're also meant to be good for use in the buggy as well, for walks on cold wintery days.

2) Stork Sak bags look amazing. And having seen them in person, I can say that they look just as good for real as they do on the site. My first nappy bag is one my mom bought: it's huge, it has a changing mat, and it has a few good elasticated inside pockets. It's been a brilliant bag, but now, really, it's moving up to be E's overnight bag, and isn't quite up to the task of being a nappy bag for two little boys. The above Tote and the Nina bag both have loads of space - just like our current bag - but they also have bottle warmers and a few more dedicated interior pockets for little odds and ends. I'd have to give it a proper look, but these bags seem like the sort of thing that could keep me - and the boys - organised. And that's a tall order!

3) I've said it time and time again: I really want Chewbeads! I like fun, chunky necklaces, and with another little one on the way who won't take long until he's in the grabbing, pulling, and chewing phase, I don't want to worry for the safety of my jewellery. (In other words, my lovely new Edor necklace will be taking a hiatus soon...) It's nice to have something that's not only sturdy enough to withstand tiny fingers, but is perfectly safe for the inevitable trip into tiny mouths. I had a Fat Face necklace that E used to chew on and I always worried about the paint from the beads coming off in his mouth. That wouldn't be a problem with a Chewbeads necklace.

4) Have I mentioned how stupidly excited I am to try out my new Aden & Anais muslin swaddle? Because I really am. It's huge, soft, cute, and not the sort of precious material that you'd pout over in the event that your sweet little monster sicks all over it. I'm looking forward to seeing just how well it holds up wash after wash; and with such a light and thin material, I think this will always be our dedicated swaddling blanket. You can always add extra layers later on. Of course, I apparently breed children like myself who can still overheat while sleeping in the dead of winter. When E asked the Husband to turn his fan on last night at bedtime (mind you, it's currently the coldest day of the season so far), Husband definitely looked at me and said, 'He's your child!' So, it's nice to know that I can wrap up my next boy without worrying that he'll get too warm in his swaddle.

5) I freaking love my Planet Wise wet bag. Yes: I got it because I cloth diaper, but it's still useful beyond the realms of cloth nappies! I've used it to hold E's soiled and muddy clothing if he gets particularly filthy on an outing: it's nice to know that in a serious emergency (you know the kind I mean) that you can safely tuck away dirty clothes without fear of any lingering smell or transferring stains until you're home to bung everything in the wash. I also regularly take it with us when we go swimming: even the medium-sized bag that we have is capacious enough to hold all of E's wet swimming gear and mine at the end of some time at the pool. Honestly, from the pool, to the muddy park, to the poop-covered emergency stop, I can't recommend this thing enough. Also, I have to give a shout-out of thanks to John & Sherry over at Young House Love for writing the cloth nappy post that put me onto this thing in the first place!

So there you have it; some of the bits and bobs I have - or would love to have - for day-to-day mummying. My next step? To consider the nice nearly essentials for:
-breastfeeding fashion
-cloth diapering
-potty training

After all, I'll be looking forward to those first two again in very short order!

A Place to Begin

Looking for a few links to make your way into the weekend? As Ethan's currently parked in front of a Bob the Builder marathon while playing with his cars, I thought I'd cobble together a few things that I enjoyed looking at this week.

via, Hansel from Basel

Hansel from Basel have brilliantly cute socks. And some pretty cute tights as well. I've been looking for a pair of orange winter tights for ages, and as this pair are on sale, I might just be putting in an order this weekend...


I don't usually recommend movies (no real reason for that), but this trailer for Her really caught my eye. It sounds just bizarre enough to work, and I have to say; Joaquin Phoenix is really rocking that mustache.

via, A Beautiful Mess

As it's finally getting chillier here, I've been thinking about fun soup recipes to try. This black bean tortilla soup from A Beautiful Mess sounds mouthwatering. Guess what I'll be making the boys eat before the year is out!

via, Toyella

These floating duck bath toys look awesome. And unlike the cheapy version we snagged E ages ago from the grocery store, it looks like these actually float upright and don't just keel over onto their sides. It's worth having a peek over at the rest of the kiddy swag on Toyella: it's all so cute!

via, The Brooding Hen

Speaking of children's toys, I desperately want to try this project from The Brooding Hen. A PVC piping waterworks for the bath? That's just up our alley.

via, NYTimes.com

I loved reading this article from the New York Times on stay-at-home-mums trying to break back into the work force. That said, as I'll be in a similar position of trying to get back into work in another few years once my kids are bigger (and actually born!), it was a bit depressing to read just how difficult and dismal everyone's prospects sounded after taking the time out to spend with their children.

via, Canister

This Steep Canister is gorgeous, and it fits with Mason jar lids to make it water tight...you know: if you're enough of a hipster to just have Mason jar lids lying around the house to spare. Even without them, I'm a big enough pottery enthusiast to want this mug all for my very own.

Have a great weekend!

Screen Style: Charlie and Lola

It's that time again. I've been meaning to get around to another Screen Style post for ages, but nothing was really catching my eye. I've watched a few new things here and there, but there's been nothing that really made me want to look into its style. Then I had A Moment.

I was letting E watch some Charlie and Lola the other day when the Autumn Special episode came on. Most years, when August rolls around I'm already jonesing for autumn without any extra encouragement. But this year, what really set of my wistful pining for dead leaves, crisp breezes, and all things pumpkin was this Charlie and Lola episode. Suddenly, I needed to tell E all about his birthday and pumpkin picking, and Halloween; and go out collecting acorns and conkers to decorate the table.

So in tribute to kickstarting my unhealthy recurring obsession with the last four months of the year, here's a look at the style of Charlie and Lola (with all due credit to Lauren Child, who wrote the books long before it was a TV show).

1) 'This room looks a bit like our house: there are lots of patterns everywhere!' That's how Lola describes Interior With Aubergines by Henri Matisse. With such an endorsement, I thought it was fitting to include a print of this painting. Of course, the same episode features works by Van Gogh, Lichtenstein, and Cedric Morris; so there's plenty of options if Matisse isn't your cup of tea.

2) The Orla Kiely abacus flower wallpaper looks like the sort of thing that ought to be in Charlie & Lola's kitchen. It has bold pattern and a pop of fun colour...and looks (especially in this picture) rather mid-century modern. The other image, from The Pursuit of Style, looks like Mrs. Summer's style, too.

3) For a more grown-up version of the square-ish rucksacks that Charlie and Lola carry, this Dr. Martens brown leather rucksack really does the trick. Even I could be convinced to go back to a two-strap bag if I had one like this.

4) Of course, no screen style post is complete without including a few outfits to try. This collection I cobbled together on Polyvore has looks for both Charlie and Lola...depending on who you'd rather emulate.

5) Perhaps you could snag this Centro Caraffe from Design Within Reach to keep in the fridge to store your pink milk. Though personally, I'm not keen on strawberry-flavoured milk, so my pink drink of choice might be this smashed raspberry lemonade (virgin or alcoholic as your preference dictates!).

via, A Beautiful Mess

Hope you found something to enjoy there. Oh! And for those who don't actually obsessively follow me on Facebook and Instagram, we have more news on the baby front:

IT'S A BOY!

20 weeks and all looks good. Only another 20 weeks to go until D-Day (Delivery Day). Here's hoping the time flies by!

A Place to Begin

Happy birthday to me! In the spirit of celebrating the anniversary of my birth, the Husband has taken the day off, and once E wakes up from his nap we're heading out to let me do a bit of shopping and then tonight it's dinner out and Star Trek: Into Darkness, with the oh-so-adorable Benedict Cumberbatch. Ginger or no ginger: he's my type. Tall, thin, pale, blue eyes, deep voice, English. Seriously people, I know I have a type...every last one of those descriptors fits my husband, too! Are you ready for 139 minutes of ogling Mr. Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto? Because I am.

Happy. Effing. Birthday. To. Me.

So what goodies will I leave you with to peruse while I go enjoy my birthday spoils? These ones:


Goodmornings.org, via SwissMiss.
 I like the idea behind this. It's such an easy thing to do to say 'good morning!' as a way to brighten your day and someone else's.

My feet have traveled plenty of places. Edinburgh, London, Salt Lake City, Rome, Venice, Copenhagen...they'll even be going to Vienna next month! I'd like to come up with a fun photo template like this to save all of the fun places we get to visit.

I do love so much of the stuff that Diana at exPress-O links to and this cute story of a trans-Atlantic relationship is really fun. I like the idea of the split screen narrative, because when such an important part of your life is so far away for so long, it really does feel like you're living in two different places at once!

Here is today is a good way to get some perspective; and I love the minimalist style of the animations and the graphs. I feel like the only thing it could possibly be missing is a .gif of Neil deGrasse Tyson giving you a thumbs-up. Let's get on that, people.

Poketo and Lisa Congdon have made tea towels! These look absolutely adorable to me and I have Poppytalk to thank for showing them to me this week. Also: no idea who Lisa Congdon is? Have a gander at some of her work...

So yes, a lot of the cute clothes I've seen lately are either specifically maternity, or are pregnant friendly. This isn't on purpose. But with a shirt as cute as this one from ASOS, surely you can justify buying it with or without a bun in the oven!?

I don't speak French, but I still loved how cute this Olive Us episode was from Design Mom. Little Red Riding Hood? Too awesome.

via BOBgear

So eventually I'd need a double buggy, but if I had my way and money was no object, this BOB jogger would be mine all mine! But then, Runner's World did give a good review of quite a few good joggers that are less likely to break the bank.

Mommy Mondays: Free Swag

So the other week my loot from Shopbop came in the post. The gift card arrived, I eventually decided on what I wanted to order, and when it got to the house we all know I was too excited not to try it on straight away.

This striped top is super comfy. And I always love a reason to have another short-sleeved tee. I've gotten really into tops with a shirttail hem lately. I just appreciate the fact that I have a bit of extra coverage in the back when I need to bend over or squat to pick up E. Plus, the curve of the hem feels a lot more forgiving at a shorter length than most straight hems do...especially on looser-fitting shirts.

Those Gap jeans are a fun purchase as well. I'm the last person I thought would like or look good in mid-rise straight-leg jeans, but these things are stylish and super comfy. And, because they're so classic, I can dress them up to do a smart casual look, or I can dress them down into my usual mom uniform.

And now, I have a waking baby to console. We had a trip out to the Vyne today and someone got a little up close and personal with the 500-year-old gravel.

Screen Style: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

I've been meaning to watch this movie for ages and I finally bit the bullet yesterday and put it on to watch over lunch. It's not that I was worried it would be rubbish, I just tend to put on re-runs of TV shows I like during lunch. It means I have something fun to watch, but that I can just keep on in the background while I blog. That's the thing about my lunches: I may not have more than 7 people who read this blog, but I like to consider my lunches 'working lunches'. E is napping and I can set up shop in the living room to get a few things done that would take too much of my attention while he's awake.

So anyway, back to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.  I first got the recommendation to watch it from Diana over at exPress-O. Though there are lots of genres of film that I enjoy, I do like my romantic comedies, and love stories in general. Ewan McGregor is the uptight fly fishing expert, Dr. Alfred Jones. The gorgeous Emily Blunt is Harriet Chetwode-Talbot; financial adviser to a visionary Yemeni Sheikh who wants to bring the sport of salmon fishing to his home country.

The story is a fun one, and though the romantic part of the plot does end up following the usual script, I personally think that the writers left room to have it take a non-conventional direction, and the story certainly wouldn't have suffered if they took a path that didn't bring its main characters together in the normal way. I think, in that sense, that it works as a romantic comedy because it doesn't make its 'predictable' ending feel like a foregone conclusion for most of the movie. Also? It's fun and well-written and has some to-die-for scenery. Oh yeah...and the style!

1) Ewan McGregor's (Dr. Alfred Jones) shirt when he first meets Sheikh Muhammad is a lovely multi-colour check on white. It's clean and preppy, but still understated. This offering from Joules comes pretty spot-on to achieving the same look. I'd advise pairing it with a v-neck jumper and a fishing vest!

2)This fly fishing print is a fun way to get the look of some of the flies without necessarily going the kitschy earrings-and-brooches route.

3) Emily Blunt's work outfits the first 2 times she meets Ewan McGregor are cute. Harriet seems to have a thing for nice cardigans. I can't say I blame her! I've added more jewellery than she wears in the film, just as an option on how to accessorize these sorts of outfits.

4) Moroccan-style lantern. I know that this takes place in the Yemen, but the lanterns they have set up at Sheikh Mohammed's camp do look an awful lot like this one.

5) The Voido rocking chairs in white make an appearance in the offices where Emily Blunt's character, Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, works. They're on the expensive side, but they're really fun!

6) Dark Salmon paint by Benjamin Moore. Not only is the name completely appropriate; it looks to be the same colour on the walls of the dining room of Sheikh Muhammad's Scotland manor. I could imagine doing a room in this colour with some white board & batten up to chair rail height...

So there you have it! The adorable British romantic film, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. I may have to go and read the book now, just to see how it compares. This is definitely a film I'll be watching again.

Stylish Little Men: Andy & Evan

I managed to find this brand thanks to some mindless Pinterest stalking one morning. Oh and I may have jumped the gun in the Modern Family Screen Style post by saying that Andy & Evan had already shown up in my Stylish Little Men series. Oops. Every now and then I forget which posts I have scheduled for which weeks. Anyway: now you don't have to feel like you've missed any of the preppy goodness of the Andy & Evan brand, because now I actually have a post detailing my favourite parts of their current, child-sized, frat-tastic collection.

Prices: expensive, so look to these as one-off presents. Their mission statement does talk about their desire to make things that are good quality, so again it may be a matter of getting one or two can't-live-without-it pieces that won't wear out, even as hand-me-downs.

Polka dot bow tie ($21) Even though with the polka dots this isn't as versatile as it could be, it's absolutely adorable. With a nice gingham or plain shirt this would look great.

Boys' Monte Carlo Multi-Coloured Fedora ($31) This made its appearance as the Manny Delgado-inspired piece in my Modern Family Screen Style collection. I'd love to have a hat like this for E, though after having him try one on in the store the other day, I don't think I could convince him to keep it on. It makes for some classy summertime shade, though!

Boys' Edmund Oxford Shorts ($40) The buttoned cuff gives these some great detail and structure, and the hook clasp is nice and easy to get off when you need to make an emergency nappy change or toilet trip. Plus, again, it can be dressed up for church, family reunions, or outdoor weddings, or can just be paired with a nice polo or t-shirt for going around town.

Baby Pique Romper ($36) I adore rompers like this. E has a few from the Gap that are similar. What's nice is that if anything spills, yes you're taking off the whole outfit, but you can just bring along another romper suit and you don't have to worry about having a mismatched, undersized t-shirt with nice trousers, or vice versa, if your little boy spills or wets through anything he has on.

Baby Toggle Parka ($82) The one thing E's wardrobe is missing at the moment (besides shorts and a long-sleeved polo) is a non-puffy coat. Yes, we're getting into the full swing of spring, so he doesn't really need a heavy-duty coat, but for days when you want to keep warm, or just keep the wind and rain off, and you don't need your kid to look like the Stay Puff marshmallow man, this is a cute and classic option.

Baby Lord of the Gings Shirtzies ($48) First of all: kudos for the nerd reference. Second of all, I love the contrasted cuffs against the green and white gingham. It really brings home the prep aesthetic. Plus, when you still have a littler dude, the onesie will keep everything tucked in.

Baby Nautical Zip-Up ($52) Stripes and elbow patches? It's all too much cute! Plus, zippered hoodies are an easy way to get some good layering on cooler or windier days.

Mommy Mondays: Comfy and Stretchy

Some days I don't want to put much effort in at all. I'm more interested in being comfy than trying to look cute. That said, the two things aren't mutually exclusive. I just try to collect comfortable stretchy pieces that still look nice.

I have to say that I love this outfit. And I admit that I'm looking forward to being able to wear it through the first half of my next pregnancy. (That's not an announcement!) The stretchy cami from H&M is great, and the floaty top from Sainsbury's is perfect for layering in warmer weather. And nicely, because it's a thinner fabric, the flowy cut doesn't add any bulk around the middle.

The leggings are comfy, and the whole thing can be dressed up with different shoes or jewellery depending on where we're headed for the day. To be honest, though, I'm rarely headed anywhere that isn't a playdate or baby group or grocery shopping. So not much 'dressing up' gets done to this outfit. What I would like to add to it, though? Maybe some Chewbeads or dangly earrings or some fun bangles.

via, Chewbeads

via, Saks Fifth Avenue

via, Cusp by Neiman Marcus

Screen Style: Modern Family

I've been watching a bunch of re-runs of Modern Family on Netflix lately over lunch. Seriously, I love that show. And so when I was casting my mind about for ideas for the next Screen Style post, this was definitely at the forefront of my mind.

The Husband and I have watched this together for ages, ever since we were introduced to it by our friend Katherine. It's become a staple of our TV watching roster and so on nights where we need to keep dinner brief to get E to bed, if we're not watching The Office, we're usually watching Modern Family.

-Gloria dress
Though it's not always occasion-appropriate, Gloria's dresses do look fabulous. I'd definitely love more occasions to dress up like that.

-Cameron's button-downs (in men's and women's options)
Cameron's button-down shirts are so much fun. They're bright and colourful, and full of patterns. The two men's options come from JCrew and Boden; the women's options are the Kingston and Maywell shirts from Joules. If you want to be a curvy, spicy diva like Cameron, this is a good place to start.

-DVD boxset
I absolutely recommend the box set or buying the episodes on iTunes for this one. That way you don't have to miss any of the BB gun-shooting, hot tub-crashing, Spiderman costume-wearing, front lawn-serinading action!

- The blue paint from Phil & Claire's entryway
I went looking on the Benjamin Moore website to try and find a colour that approximated the shade of blue in Phil & Claire Dunphy's stairway. Surprisingly, when I Googled Benjamin Moore's Colonial Blue paint, a picture of the set of Phil & Claire's place from Modern Family did show up as one of the search results. Looks like I was pretty spot-on! And this slightly chalky, almost powder blue is a fun colour in its own right. Actually, I've been thinking of painting the living room...

-Kitchy animal decor
Useful, cute, and animal-themed, this happens to have one leg up on Barkley the butler dog. I know I could use a good place to keep important or urgent reminders for the family.

-Woven hat
Andy & Evan made their first appearance on the blog in the Stylish Little Men series. Their tagline is 'for little gentlemen' and that feels so appropriate since this piece was included to get a bit of the Manny Delgado look.

- Staircase carpet runner
Pottery Barn's Enzo Medallion Dhurrie Rug comes in a 2.5'×9' version that could make a great runner on stairs or in an entryway.  If it goes on the stairs, you could get enough traction to avoid even that one slippery tread on Phil & Claire's staircase!

Something Gold, Something New

I've been planning for ages to replace the rug that was in our living room. It was just too small and too worn down. It had come with us from the Husband's last two bachelor pads, so it had definitely seen better days.

So...notice anything?

When she was here, my mom very generously offered to pick us up anything we needed for the house. That was the perfect opportunity for the old rug to go! We went over to Next and picked up the beauty in the picture above. It's the Shah Gold rug, in a medium.

via, Next

I love that the pattern is a traditional Persian rug-style pattern, but that it comes across very muted. Plus, the browns and blues work fantastically in our living room. I'm excited to get to layer some bolder colours on top of it eventually.

Oh yeah, and then there was the matter of our white HAGALUND couch from IKEA. Seriously: don't ask me what we were thinking when we picked up a white couch at the store when I was already about 5 months pregnant. How we expected a white couch to survive intact with a baby is beyond me.

To be fair, the white slipcover for our Hagalund has weathered pretty well. And then during my mom's visit, disaster struck. In quick succession, Ethan managed to wipe a face full of spaghetti sauce on the arm of the couch, and then stealthily peed all through the cushion. Seriously: we had no idea he was even peeing! He was just sat there watching Sarah & Duck as we got him ready for his bath, and then later as I pulled out the mattress to set up the bed: there was a foot-wide puddle rapidly soaking into my couch cushions.

Luckily, the slipcover is washable, so we treated the stains and put everything through the wash. But my mom - quite sagely - pointed out that a darker colour might hide the stains better so that we wouldn't have to take the cover off to wash it so often. I admit, though I picked out the tan cover, I wasn't sold on it at first and I worried it would look odd since we were so used to our (mostly) white couch.

Personally, I think it looks great. The Husband loves it and pointed out that the tan slipcover actually gives the couch much better definition against our white walls: so it doesn't just blend in and get lost so much. Now if only I could get this gorgeous paper up on the walls...

Petal Pusher by Joy D. Cho, via Hygge & West

Mommy Mondays: Leopard Print Heels and Jeggings

I never thought I'd be the sort of person who went in for jeggings, but now I own a pair. I also never thought I'd be the sort of person who had animal print anything and yet, my leopard print high heels are probably my favourite shoes at the moment. I'll still never get there with snakeskin or zebra print...that's just too much.

I love this outfit because it's actually quite simple. The camisole layered underneath gives me good cover for all the bending, squatting  and lifting you do with an active toddler, the jeggings are comfy without being restrictive, and the top is breathable and stretchy. Plus, with a flattering cut, a scoop neck, and just a hint of lace around the collar, it's one of my go-to tops for a smart-casual look. I've had this thing now for about 7 years. It's not going anywhere until the fabric under the arms wears through. I can't begin to describe how sad that will make me.

But the thing that really dresses up this otherwise simple outfit is the heels. Just a pop of print against some nice solid neutrals really makes the whole ensemble feel put-together in a way it wouldn't otherwise. It also helps that the neutrals in this outfit are slightly different than my normal palate of green-or-navy top over blue jeans. Having the darker colour on top and that olive drab in the jeggings is ever so subtly different for me. Even when it's that minor of a change, I like working in different colour combinations to the outfits I wear.

Yes, this seems like a post-breastfeeding sort of outfit: though if you layered a nursing cami under your fancy tee of choice, there's no real reason you couldn't wear this sort of thing with a younger baby. I expect I'll do just that whenever it's time for Baby D #2. As for high heels with a baby? Provided you're not doing more walking than you'd expect to do around a mall, they aren't bad. This particular pair has a short enough heel that I'm not teetering around when I wear them. For indoor days (or outdoor days that aren't in soft grass or mud) they're absolutely fine.

The Fashion Show In My Closet

via, Penny Pincher Fashion

Everyone has those moments where they can't think of what to wear. It's not that you don't have any clothes; you just can't find what you want to put on that fits your mood, or that you haven't worn to death lately. Speaking for the cheap-and-cheerful crowd: the solution is NOT to go out and buy yourself more clothes. That cycle will just keep repeating itself and suddenly you'll have an indecently large wardrobe that you practically never wear. The key? Learn to work with what you have. There are plenty of blogs that have posts (or are entirely) dedicated to helping women learn how to mix and match individual pieces to create outfits. A Beautiful Mess, Outfit Posts, and Putting Me Together.

I've already admitted this in a previous post, but I have to say it again. Back in uni I used to stay in my room some evenings just trying on all of my clothes. I'd empty drawers, pull hangers from the closet, and have piles of clothes on the bed and shoes on the floor. I'd dress, strip, and re-dress all in front of the mirror that hung by the door, changing outfits and individual pieces at a moment's notice. I wasn't going anywhere, I wasn't indecisive...I was just playing dress-up.

As a tween, I went through a horrible phase where I'd change outfits multiple times a day. I'd just get bored with what I had on. The first time my dad met two of my friends, I'd left them stranded on the front porch while I went upstairs to change. I got better as time went on, but I was still coming down from being the girl who could pack 12 outfits for a weekend away doing nothing.

Discontinued, but via Emerson Fry

All grown up now, I don't find that I have as much time to just sit and sort through my clothes. If you're a very visual person, like I am, it's definitely a useful exercise to get a good feel for how far your clothes will actually go. And sometimes, you find a way to get new life out of an old piece of clothing just by switching up how you'd normally wear it. The freeing thing about having your own personal fashion show is that you aren't going anywhere! It's all research and development. You have nowhere to be where you need to look fabulous, so if an outfit bombs for some reason, it's not the end of the world. And you can get as crazy as you want trying to find a look that you like!

Here are the essentials for having your own Closet Fashion Show:

1) full-length mirror
2) space to spread out your materials (an uncluttered dresser or well-made bed would do)

3) time to spare
4) some fun and relaxing music (that print is discontinued, but here's the store it comes from)

Seriously; get into the swing of things and see what new looks you can come up with using what you already have. You might surprise yourself!

Screen Style: Hot Fuzz

If you haven't seen this gem of a police comedy, I highly recommend it. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, when brought together with director Edgar Wright, are absolutely genius. Granted, the last 20 minutes definitely deserve the world's biggest salty language warning, but it's not much worse than everyone's favourite scene from The King's Speech.

If you listen to Sgt. Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent), then you know that rural policing isn't easy. But getting some of the look from Hot Fuzz definitely is. So while you may never match Nicholas Angel's skill in advanced cycling, you can at least riff on some of the finer points of the film's style.

Sandford Police Badge patch
I know this one is a bit obvious, but without being able to track down a nifty vintage constabulary badge, having the patch of the made-up Sandford PD badge is a good second choice. Also, take a look at this gallery of old badges. I wish you could collect these easily.


Kid-sized PC Helmet
I used to have one of these as a kid. No joke. And what a cute costume this would make with a little cape...it would be so easy!


Cornetto Classico
Considering this is part of the Cornetto trilogy, it's only fitting to down a few of these when watching the movie. Plus, how many of these do Pegg and Frost actually get through during the course of the film?

Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily)
'You should get some house plants...I've been tending my peace lily for three years: oxygenates the room, helps you think, relieves stress, it's needs are simple.' That's all you need to say, really.

Small Raku Houses (Rowena Brown at Gallery Fifty Five)
It may not be a perfectly scaled model village, but you could definitely recreate a stylish miniature hamlet on your mantelpiece with these gorgeous pieces by Rowena Brown.

Swan brooch
Luckily, this swan won't be escaping to run riot any time soon. But for all the cuteness of this brooch, don't forget: a swan could kill a man...or break a man's arm.

New Englander Sock Garters
Channel your inner ballet-dancing, supermarket-managing, homicidal fun runner (or just your inner Timothy Dalton) with these sock garters from Dapper Dean on Etsy. They're to die for.

A Very Sarah & Duck Sideboard

At some point I will wax eloquent about how much I love the new episodes of this show (I've been known to walk around the house singing, 'Tennis, tennis, tennis'...), but for now I have to confess that I've watched this cartoon enough to start pulling design inspiration from it for the house. Not only is that the mark of a well-designed cartoon, it's the mark of letting your toddler indulge his tolerance for repetition way too much! The Husband now laughs at me when I can quote along with various episodes. (Cough, cough - Cake Bake!)

In some ways I love the idea of mirrored furniture, and in others, not so much. I don't dislike Art Deco, but it doesn't feel as 'me' as some other styles. So when I see completely mirrored bedside tables and things, I just think that a little wood would warm them up nicely.

Cue Sarah & Duck's living room! Right behind that fun teal wingback chair there's a thin tall sideboard (or chest of drawers) holding a cute little pot and a globe.

via, Sarah & Duck on Facebook

If this NYVOLL chest of drawers from IKEA had mirrored drawers with round pulls, it would match the drawers/sideboard in Sarah & Duck's living room. If you're more keen on the mirrors than the simple lines, the Laura Ashley Charlston and the Uttermost are other options. Personally, I'd love this 1938 Italian find from Christie's...just in a deeper stain.

However, for the sake of accuracy, you could go with the NYVOLL and follow the instructions on this DIY mirrored dresser tutorial. Yes, it would cost to get either acryllic or glass mirror cut to size with holes, but what a fun project that would be, huh?

Oh, and to go the whole hog and try to snag something like the little ceramic pot and the globe, try these:

Replogle Globes: Livingston
Alas, the globe doesn't have a nice tiny moon and sun orbiting it on the mounting.

White Ceramic Jar, from JD Wolfe Pottery

Seriously...I wish I had room to put a chest of drawers in the nursery. I'd make it look just like this, just with a changing table on top. I may have to consider Craigslisting one of those Billy bookcases now...

Anyone else ready to get their DIY on?

Mommy Mondays: Put On A Little Make-Up

Today's Mommy Monday is all about make-up instead of clothes. Though, rest assured, more clothing posts are on the way.

On Saturday I went into London with my boys and my mom to do a bit of sightseeing and shopping. When we took a peek inside Selfridges, Mom and I made a stop at the Bobbi Brown counter. It's always nice to be treated! I already have a Bobbi Brown foundation and a blush, but I've been realising lately that a corrector stick would be a good investment.

So I sat down in the chair and about half an hour later I walked out with a bag full of goodies. After some lengthy discussion with the girl helping me test all the products I was interested in, this is what I walked away with:

The largest bottle is absolutely my favourite, and it's not even make-up: it's make-up remover. The Soothing Cleansing Oil is fantastic. It goes on feeling like oil, but very light. Trust me, this is in no way like rubbing canola oil all over your face. You pat your hands with warm water and work it all over your face: this is when the oil becomes like milk. It changes to a creamy white colour and any oily texture is gone. And this stuff takes off all your make-up. Anything short of waterproof mascara is GONE. And at the end, once you rinse clean, your face doesn't feel dry and tight and itchy like with some other cleansers. And it doesn't feel greasy, like if you forget to get off all the cold cream. Nope: your face just feels soft and clean. I love this stuff; I can't overstate that. Seriously; I'll be wearing my make-up more often just so I can take it off with this Soothing Cleansing Oil. Way to go, Bobbie Brown.

via, Bobbi Brown.co.uk

Next to that is my new corrector stick. Whether you blot it on with your fingers, or spread it around with a foundation brush, this stuff only works its magic if you match up the shade correctly. This is one of the reasons that it can help to buy more expensive make-up sometimes: if you have a good moisturizer and the right colour foundation or concealer stick (which helps if you can try it on in good light) you can avoid that cakey mask-like look that a lot of women seem to get. This stuff works a treat on all the old dark spots from zits and the occasional under-eye rings. I've already noticed a difference in the evenness of the cover that my make-up provides.

The large bottle at the back is the Extra Eye Repair Creme. This stuff is awesome. It's nice a thick, so a little dab will do. Even hours later, the skin under my eyes feels moisturized, but not greasy. It also helps provide a nice base for the concealer stick to go on.

via, Bobbi Brown.co.uk

The tiny bottle in front is a sample size of the Vitamin Enriched Face Base. Again, this stuff feels lovely. I especially use it around my chin and nose...which for some reason has gone ridiculously dry as I inch closer to being 30 years old than 20. Again, I can see the difference when I put on my make-up after this stuff. If I'm not all flaky and dry, you can't tell that I'm wearing foundation or concealer. I just look like I actually have really nice skin.

via, Bobbi Brown.co.uk

The last thing I decided to pick up was a lip liner in red. I love the red lipstick I got a Sephora back in May of last year, but every now and then it tends to bleed a bit, so I asked the girl at the Bobbi Brown counter whether she thought a lip liner was the best way to help. Basically, it was. But there were also the tricks of brushing on a tiny bit of foundation first, and doing light layers of lip colour: apply and blot, apply and blot.

I have to say that even just over the past 2 days, I've already decided that I love these products. As inexpert as I am at applying make-up like a grown woman, it makes the whole process feel easier and more fun. Now if only I knew how to do a proper smokey eye, we'd be all set...

Screen Style: The Rebound

CZJ, or Catherine Zeta-Jones, is a single mom who discovers that her husband has been cheating on her thanks to an unfortunate clip on the DVD of her son's 6th birthday. So, they move into the city from the 'burbs.
AND! It's got the guy who played Riley Poole in National Treasure.

I *love* the scene where the chiropractor she's on a date with, not only stops to take a loud dump in a porta-john, but tries to have a conversation with her while he's doing it! He's such a creep, but in the most hilarious way. The movie is worth a watch just for the scenes of their date.

It's an absolutely adorable rom-com. I do enjoy a good romantic comedy, and this one ticks all the boxes. Plus, the heartwarming twist towards the end doesn't feel as generic as what the genre usually goes in for. I've been debating rewatching it for weeks now, only I'm afraid that it's too soon and if I rewatch it now, I'll suddenly decide that it's rubbish and stop liking it so much. Has that ever happened to anyone else?

1) This American Eagle baseball cap is sure to get the same worn-in feel that Justin Bartha's character gives off in every other scene in the movie.

2) This is my own approximation of the date night outfit that Sandy wears with her creepy chiropractor. Compiled, as ever, on Polyvore.

3) This jersey scarf from American Apparel is another piece I could see Sandy in. Side note: I had to crop out the eyebrows on this model. Seriously, AA...the eyebrows!

4) If you wanted to rock a sophisticated messenger bag, you could do much worse than this Robert Graham leather flap messenger bag, via Saks Fifth Avenue. (As if I'm mint enough to shop there.)

5) Giving a nod to the children - as our main character is a single mom - the Zara boys military parka captures the look her son wears on the walks to and from school pretty well. Just try not to barf on it if your older sister talks about dissecting small animals...

6) In the beginning of the film, I loved so much of the decor in Sandy's house: including and especially a cute side desk with Queen Anne legs re-painted in a lovely bright colour. This one from Etsy gets the feel quite nicely.

7) When Sandy is out after a cycling class at the gym, I love the little cool-down jacket she sports. As a great approximation, I lovelovelove Lululemon, and their herringbone forme jacket (along with pretty much everything else they make) is to die for. Seriously. Love.Love.Love.

Wondering how I do these posts? I tend to have a huge list of things that I could source with relative ease online. Just general item descriptions of things that have peaked my fancy when watching something. Not that I watch all movies and TV with this post series in mind, but the minute I see enough cute and stylish costuming and props in a film, I jot down a few notes. Here are a few other things I considered hunting down from the Rebound:

-blue Oxford, leather bracelet, jeans
-lots of stylish flats & cropped crigarillo trousers
-nice Nalgene water bottle
-print of San Fransisco (where she's from)
-IKEA mirror; IKEA shelves (like the one's in E's room)
-something like a good European souvenir or a toy giraffe
-huge mom purse

Now, I'm not a desperate Catherine Zeta-Jones fan, but I've enjoyed her performance in everything I've watched her in, and where red-carpet style is concerned, she seems to be a pretty classy lady. Anyone have a favourite romantic comedy actress?