Mamas Need Motivation Too

As all of you know I had beautiful baby #2 about five months ago, and since then I've devoted much of my time to baby snuggles & devouring cinnamon rolls. I've been a little slower to get myself and my body back into shape, partially because I don't have the motivation like I did before. After I had Owen I was determined to have a bangin' body in my dress, and so every single day I was grinding it out and eating chicken breasts and broccoli. But this time, I've been kind of complacent and unmotivated, so I decided to reach out to a fellow mama in my community. Rachael Morris is a health and fitness coach, and a really great resource and all around person to go to. I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about true healthy habits, but I want to make sure I do it the right way this time, and truly make it my lifestyle.

I don't like the sluggish exhausted feeling that I sometimes struggle with now having two kids, and I know I'm not alone. But after working with Rachael and participating in a 7 day clean eating challenge, I knew I wanted to share her story. She's been through the trenches, just like the rest of us, and has made it out alive and well - better than ever. So of course, I asked her some questions so that you guys could see for yourself!

Why now in your life?

I started getting the bug to live a healthier lifestyle after my son was born. I wanted to lose the mommy weight and get back that confidence I used to have. But I realized that in order to get to where I wanted to be, it had to be a lifestyle change. So I started researching healthy recipes and what to eat and when, in order to maximize my metabolism while still giving me energy to keep up with my son. I then started to incorporate exercise as a daily practice, which not only helped with my results, but helps with my stress and anxiety we can all get as working moms. But once I started looking at it as being healthier all around, the weight came off and I fell in love with the lifestyle.

What gave you the motivation?

My motivation began from wanting to lose the baby weight. But what has kept me going is how I feel. When I started cutting out the processed foods, and started eating healthier, my energy level changed, my face cleared up, my mood was better all around, and the weight fell off. The biggest motivation to live a healthy lifestyle now would be my son. I want to be the mom that can keep up with him and run around and play. (And boy moms know how much energy they have) But I also want to teach him how to live a healthy life.

As a mother, how do you make time for this kind of lifestyle?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was, "Schedule your workouts like meetings with yourself, and boss's never cancel," and that's exactly what I do. The day before I think about my schedule and all I have going on, and figure out when I can fit in that workout and just make myself do it. If I need to get up 30 minutes early to do a workout DVD or make it to the gym, I just make sure I do it. Working out for me first thing in the morning is key, because it gets it out of the way and I won't have to worry about making excuses or being too tired after work. Also, I think food prepping on Sundays is so important. I always say "Fail to plan, plan to fail." If you make healthy snacks and plan your meals on Sunday, you don't leave room for grabbing unhealthy options later in the week.

What advice would you give post-partum moms that feel exhausted with the new addition?

Don't stress about losing the baby weight. Eat healthy whole foods that are going to give you the energy you need (healthy carbs are key), make sure you hydrate, and start slow. Start with walking and slowly work your way up. When you stress about losing weight your body releases cortisol, and when your body releases cortisol, it holds on to fat. So enjoy your new baby, rest as much as you can and don't stress!

Can working moms be successful too?

Absolutely! When I first started my healthy lifestyle I was working 40 plus hours a week in a corporate office. So it definitely can be done. I think scheduling/planning is huge here. And just focus on your goals and remind yourself why you are doing this. Get an accountability partner (a friend, husband, Facebook group) to keep you motivated too!

You know I have to ask, what's your favorite recipe to cook around a busy schedule?

Crockpot Italian Turkey Chili, because I throw everything in a crockpot in the morning and come home to a delicious healthy meal.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

• 1 medium onion chopped

• 1 medium green bell pepper chopped

• 1 medium red bell pepper chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 lb. of lean ground turkey

• 2 cans of organic kidney beans

• 1 can of tomato sauce

• 1 cup of red wine

• 1 cup of chicken broth

• 1 Tbsp. of chili powder

• 1/2 tsp. of salt

• 2 tsp. of pepper

• 1 tsp. of garlic powder

• 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro

• 8 tsp. of goat cheese crumbles

Directions

• Add onion, bell peppers, garlic, turkey, beans, tomato sauce, wine, chicken broth, chili powder, salt, pepper & garlic powder into a crock pot.

• Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-8 hours

• Top with cilantro and goat cheese crumbles

If you need some motivated or just want to learn more about Rachael, I encourage you to go visit
rachaelmorrishealth.com 

Oh, and while you're there you can thank her for your dinner plans tomorrow night!

Back-To-School For Babies

While my back-to-school shopping list might not consist of construction paper, pencil bags or notebooks just yet, I do have a list of things I stock up on. I am a part-time teacher at a church in our community for 3-year-olds, and we are fortunate enough to have my littles spend the day at "school" in the same program. It's exciting but also very nerve-racking as Sawyer will be in the little Lamb classroom this year. To prepare I have put together a list of some basic necessities and some of my favorites for children who attend daycare, pre-school, or any other similar program.

J.CREW Band-Aids
Owen has an obsession with putting a band-aid on anything and everything. The second his knee even touches another surface, he needs a band-aid. If your child is anything like mine, then these are a perfect solution & even better toddler fashion statement.

Minted Waterproof Name Labels
I can't tell you how many labels I've gone through that have claimed to be "waterproof", but these take the cake. They don't fade, they don't peel & they don't give you a headache. The only downside to these Minted labels is that there are so many amazing designs to chose from - I want them all! These labels are the best for bottles, sippy cups, and other lunch box accessories that go in the dishwasher.

Dr. Brown's 8oz Lavender Bottles
Whether you're sending your baby off with breast milk or formula, these bottles are perfection. We've tried a few and right now these work great with Sawyer. I personally love the limited edition lavender ones from Babies R' Us, they're such a pretty color.

GAP Kids Camo Backpack
Other than the precious finger paintings and macaroni necklaces that Owen brings home, there really isn't a need for a full-size backpack. What I love about this one is that it's the perfect size for a toddler, not too big and not too small.

Ryan and Rose Paci Clip  & Engraving
We've all heard the stories from the mom who went to pick up her baby only to find someone else's paci plugged in their mouth. I can rest assure you that probably won't happen with a pacifier clip. These are beyond perfection - they're literally an accessory to your babies outfit while playing important roll. The best part about purchasing one of these cutie clips from Ryan and Rose is that you can have it engraved with you child's name/initials.

Innobaby Stackable Containers
Absolutely love these stackable containers, they're so easy to use and even easier to clean - dishwasher safe! These are perfect for Sawyer going into the Lamb room to pack her first finger foods as they can hold 1/3 a cup of snacks or 8 oz. of formula.

PB Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box
This PB Kids lunchbox is one of our favorites. They come in fun patterns, and a perfect handle for Owen to carry. We especially love the outside drink holder.

Foogo by Thermos Stainless Steel Bottle
Packing a nutritious lunch is very important, and that includes a healthy drink. This thermos literally keeps liquids cold for up to 8 hours and is so easy for toddlers to use independently. If you've ever had any hesitation about sending cold milk to school with your child, this bottle is the answer.

Wildkin Nap Mat
We've tried a few nap mats, but always end up going back to a Wildkin. They're insanely easy to clean and roll-up. What I love is that the pillow and blanket are attached, and there is a carrying strap that even Owen can hold onto.

What are some items you & your little ones love for back-to-school?

Attention Please

Have you heard? There's a new baby in town, and she might be disturbing the peace.

The other night was the first real time that I saw the "first child fangs" come out. I was doing the dishes (like the perfect little house wifey - HA) and Reed was playing with Owen, when Sawyer started to cry. He went over to grab her and give her attention - and in the blink of an eye Mt. Owen erupted.

When people say every child is different, they're not lying. My two babes couldn't be any more different, and yet they share a lot of the same qualities. He was a chill little baby, never making a peep. Owen could just sit in his swing or bouncy seat forever and be perfectly content. While Sawyer is also a good baby, she likes to be held. When you're not holding her, you're in trouble. She too enjoys her activity center and other things, as long as you're right there playing with her. Maybe it's a girl thing, but she enjoys being the center of attention. But for Owen, that attention needs to be on him.

It's so crazy, when I look at pictures of Owen right before Sawyer came into our lives, he looks so little. Now that he's a big brother I look at him in such a different light. He's such a big boy, and so self sufficient it makes my heart melt sometimes knowing that he's not the baby anymore. I think adding the second kid is definitely an adjustment, and it's important that you make special time for your first born. I remember literally crying while I was pregnant with Sawyer (those hormones were off the charts), thinking how could I share all of the love I have for Owen, with another child? And If I did share it, then would Owen feel as loved as the other baby? It's ridiculous to even think that way, but in the end it all works out.

My advice to anyone embarking on the beautiful journey of expanding the family, is to make an effort to plan and set aside your special time for the first little one. I bet your thinking, "Duh Summer, I was already planning on it," but let me tell you, that extra attention will slip away from you real quick. There have been special times where I will leave Sawyer with Reed, and take Owen to the grocery store with me, or even to a mommy-son date at the Dinosaur Exhibit (which by the way I thought he would LOVE, but it was a little too Jurassic Park-esque). He just feels so special knowing that he's the only child there getting all the hugs, hand holding & lovin' in the world.

While you might think that your new baby has more needs and therefore requires more attention, think again. All children have needs, they just might be different needs. I encourage you to make special time for all of them, and focus on giving your undivided attention to both of them individually. I promise your big guy or girl will warm up so much quicker to the fact that there's a new baby in town, and you'll feel so much better about sharing the love (not to mention save yourself from some major meltdowns).

Behind The Lens

When Owen was born I knew that I wanted to have lots of pictures of him. Well, between life and the wallet getting in the way, I didn't manage to get many quality pictures throughout his first two years of life. Most of the collection of photos we have are from the iPhone - which I guess isn't too bad if you have one of the newer models (who am I kidding it sucks). When I was pregnant with Sawyer I told Reed I had to have a good camera this time around, and it was then I got my first DSLR.

I've been learning the ropes, and doing lots of practice shooting around the house. The other night I had the pleasure of working with Kayleigh Kannady, of Kayleigh Kannady Photography. From being the Major of our high school drill team to a talented artist behind the camera, she's definitely someone I have always looked up to. Kayleigh is such a genuine person and truly loves what she does - which makes her not too shabby of a mentor either.  We were lucky enough to have her photograph our last family of three pictures right before Christmas. Every time the camera comes out I hope my pictures turn out half as decent as hers do when I shoot.

One thing I have noticed is that the more pictures I post of my family, the less I see of me. Nobody ever sees the person behind the lens, and quite frankly it's sad! There are so many more pictures of just Reed with the babies, you would think he was a single dad. I can't be mad at anyone else for it though, as it's partially my fault. I have this vision in my head of how I need to look, and those last few pounds of baby weight are just kind of lingering, which means I don't put myself in pictures. But I will tell you, Owen is 2 years old and Sawyer is already almost 5 months old and I'm regretting it - BIG TIME. Don't wait until you feel comfortable for pictures (it might take longer than you expected) because when you and your family look back it'll be sad when mom is nowhere to be found.

Throughout this learning process there is one thing that I am sure of - I never want miss the moments. The silly dance parties in the bedroom or fort building in the living room, those "when you least expect it" unposed & unplanned pictures always turn out the best. I really enjoy taking pictures of my kids, and capturing those still frame memories that will last forever. Who knows, maybe one day I'll even venture into doing the same for others! *wink wink*

(the one time I'm in front of the lens & I wasn't even ready)

Tie-Dye Tuesday

Literally the last time I tie-dyed was in college for a sisterhood, it's been so long. One day I was walking down the craft aisle and spotted the colorful array of Tulip Tie-Dye kits and just had to have them! But then I thought...it would be a little boring if I just sat outside dying articles of clothing all by myself, so I invited some friends over & we made a play date out of it! Reed even helped me with fun snacks like rainbow goldfish & fruit kabobs. I'm so sad I didn't get as many pictures as I would like, but when you're the hostess and you're trying to make sure the kiddos are happy, things don't always go as planned. That's ok, we had fun!

This sounds silly, but whenever we do a craft project that is going to need a lot of space and get messy, I always go to Walmart and stock up on the $2.00 waterproof shower curtains. They're so much cheaper than using the real deal paint protectors from Home Depot, and so much bigger than using a trash bag. I keep lots on hand for those pretty days to take outside and do fun messy projects with - we just toss them when we're done.

 The cool thing about tie-dye is that you can literally dye anything - and trust me we were. There were baby bows, baby headbands, onesies, shirts, leggings, dresses, shorts, and more. And it doesn't have to be all white either. For example, Allie did a cute white shirt that had a glittery image on it, and it turned out so cute. Another one of my favs were the Aden + Anais (the best) swaddle blankets, they turned out insanely dreamy.

Everyone's pieces turned out SOO good, I'm slightly obsessed. Some of mine kind of look like one big blob of color (like Owen's tank) but still - it's a one of a kind. I even went back and dyed a few more things after it was over. What other fun things would you tie-dye?

Tulip Tie-Dye: we used the carousel, neon & ultimate kits // Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets: solid white pack

No-Sew Seams

Is it just me, or is Heat'n Bond pretty awesome? Literally love this stuff. It's an adhesive tape that acts as a hem after you apply heat (your iron) to it. It's very inexpensive and very easy to find - any craft store. I mean don't get me wrong, it isn't the answer for all things, but when you don't have a sewing machine (it's on my Christmas list) and need to hem something it works wonders.

We have this awkward window in our bathroom, that blinds don't fit on because of the way the tile was laid around the tub, and there isn't a curtain made that fits it properly. So what do you do? Find the curtain you want, cut it and hem it! It's important that you leave at least 1-2 inches longer than your desired length, so that you can fold up to create the hem. I always stick with the super strength because it works on thin fabric, or thicker quality fabrics well - and you can never go wrong with a little extra hold.

All you do is apply the tape, hold the iron over the area, and then go back over the entire curtain one more time so that you have left a pretty strong crease, and you're done! Now I have a set of curtains that fit the window perfect. The fun part about that is, I had enough fabric from the curtains left over that I plan on using to recover my vanity seat in the bathroom. Another real clever curtain trick is adding fabric to a boring blackout curtain. When I was decorating Owen's nursery I went to the fabric store and found some subtle patterns in the colors of his bedding. My mom & I made the addition to the bottom of our curtains. In this case the curtains weren't long enough, so we had to actually cut and add these pieces in between to make them longer. But you can use this stuff for anything - go have some fun! 

(this picture was taken before I owned a camera haha)

Curtains: World Market / Heat'n Bond Super: Joanns Fabric or Wally World

6 New Mom Musts

Alright, now for some brutal honestly. As most of you know, once you have kids things are a little different. The reality is that there isn't a "you" anymore, it's all about "them". I'm sure you are thinking "well duh, I was born to be a mother," but save it. I hate to break it to you, but it's not always butterflies and rainbows, occasionally there will be some boogers and blowouts thrown into the mix. Oh, and add another one into the picture - it's a whole nother ball game. And while your days now revolve around everyone else, it's important to make sure to take care of you.

One thing that saved my sanity, and saves most parents is to develop a routine - and try to stick with it (for the most part). This was a little harder for me because although I consider myself somewhat organized, I'm not as much of a routine person. But once you've got that down pretty solid, and are feeling a little more confident with yourself, there are a few other important things that I think any new mom (or new mother of two) should make priority.

1. Eat Breakfast

Go ahead and turn on the Keurig & whip up a bowl of oatmeal, because you're going to need it. This mom thing will drain you, and it will happen fast unless you refuel in the morning. I admit sometimes I don't have a lot of time for a full breakfast before we have to be at swim lessons or a play date, but a to-go protein shake is better than nothing. 

2. Take a shower

It sounds silly, but when you've been up all night feeding or dealing with a fussy baby, this does not happen on a regular basis moms. Your new best friend will be baby powder - which you should have plenty of by now. But, when you do get the chance, the second you get out of the shower you will feel like a new woman ready to hit the town. But take it easy the first few weeks, and stick to the grocery aisles.

3. Do Your Hair

When I had Sawyer, as most of you know I had extensions in. BAD IDEA. It would literally take me close to 30 minutes just to blow dry the horse mane that was on my head, and it was a lot of work. So ultimately I made the decision to chop my hair shorter, and now it takes me maybe 10 minutes. Now, that doesn't mean everyone should chop their hair off, but you will feel so much better if you take just a few minutes on your locks. It takes no time to throw it up in a cute bun, braid, or spray it with some beach hairspray - messy is in! Just make sure it's not dried spit-up, knotted rats nest messy, that's not going to make you feel any better. 

4. Regular Clothes

I think everyone's definition of regular clothes is a little skewed, so let me rephrase it - put on any clothes other than workout clothes. Don't get me wrong, I have mountains of leggings and racer backs, and of course they're my go-to most of them time (like the time I'm actually working out). I don't know what it is about moms in workout clothes, maybe it's that we will feel like if we wear them we might get a quick jog in? Or maybe if we wear workout clothes, other people might think we actually do work out? Unless you really are going to get a work out in that day - which I applaud you for, I think this is an easy out. If you make it a goal to put some effort into changing out of your all day pajamas or workout clothes at least a few days a week, you'll be proud of yourself. 

5. Mascara

I don't care what you say, mascara is magical. You can pull off the bright eyed and bushy-tailed look when you're only running on 3 hours asleep, it's awesome! Let's face it new mommas just don't have time for your normal beauty regimen. Make-up, what's make-up? But I can guarantee that you will have enough time for that little tube of glory, even if your toddler is smashing your Chanel blush into the shower door, and your baby just spit up all the way down your shoulder and into your Kate Spade purse. Hmmm, better yet, invest in some waterproof mascara. That way, no one will know you've been crying.

6. Me Time

I think this one is sometimes the hardest, but most rewarding thing for moms to do. Whether it's sneaking away first thing in the morning to grab a Starbucks, or later in the evening for a bubble bath, its necessary to have some quite alone time. And when you're husband gets home from work, it's time to sub him in. I literally can't wait for my weekly me time. Of course it's not a nightly occurrence because I don't want to miss out on time with the kids, but I do take some time to either catch up emails, or just read a magazine. It's so relaxing and it really clears the mind. 

Now I know what you're thinking, that was the most ridiculously simple list I have ever read, and you're right. But yet as ridiculously simple as those things are, they get overlooked. These are easy mood boosters and you'll feel so much better! If you're not taking care of yourself, you're not going to be the best mom you can be. There will be days that nothing gets done, and you don't leave your bedroom. I'm plenty guilty of throwing on a baseball hat over unwashed hair, wearing the same clothes from the day before, or walking right past my oatmeal in the microwave all day long that I didn't get around to eating. But I promise you, I've done the mom thing twice over now and can attest that things do get easier.

What are some mom musts for you? Even if you're not a mom (yet) what are some mood boosters or priorities that you make sure to take time for? Let's hear them!

Pool Play Date

I know I've mentioned it before, but I feel like summer break just started for us, and we're jumping in feet first! Almost every single day for the past two weeks we've made it to the pool and I've been ecstatic. Today our friends Alissa & Carter invited us to a pool play date. Owen & Carter have been buddies since the Lamb Room when they were 9 months old, and let me tell you, the way they bicker you would think they were brothers. Owen gets so excited when he sees Carter, but boy when those toddler two's come out it's not a pretty sight (notice how I avoided the "terrible two's" term - HA HA denial). We always have so much fun, and love going on play dates with those two and my SIL Allie & cuzy Stevie. When we arrived there was a festive spread of snacks complete with a shark melon & the kids loved it. The Chick-fil-a nuggets brought it in for a home run - thanks Debbie & Stacey!

As I sit here and think about how excruciatingly hot this Texas heat has been, I'm so happy we've made it out of the house as much as we have. And as much time as we've spent in the pool I just know my little mermaid is going to be a fish next summer, and I can't wait. She absolutely loves being in the water - just like her mama. But any chance I get to spend time with other mamas, I'm there. It's nice every once in awhile to have someone else besides a toddler to talk to. Not to mention it makes me feel a little better knowing that my child isn't the only one who likes to dip his Cheetos into the pool. But hey, that's what summer days are all about.

Balancing The Blog

As with everything, the newness kind of fizzles off. I am a teacher so during the summer I figured I would have a lot of extra time to be writing on the blog. Somehow, with two kids, shirts, and the scheduled activities, I have struggled to balance my time. I feel like I'm a circus act trying to juggle it all while hopping on one foot. But trust me I'm not complaining, I enjoy staying busy - that's what keeps life fun. If you ask my husband, he would attest to the fact that I get bored easily. That might explain why when I start a project, I'm already moving onto a new one before the first is even finished. And then all of the sudden our garage is filled with like 50 half finished projects - ooops! But it's true I always have to keep busy and be doing something, so thankfully we have a lot of fun planned for the rest of the summer and I'm thrilled.

This past week was just a preview of whats to come. We had fun at birthday parties, pool hopping, and seeing familiar faces. I know a full weekend of Vitamin D did Owen some good. It's obviously July and I've been on summer break for quite some time now, but it wasn't until recently that it became much easier to take Sawyer & Owen places together. Having the second baby changes the game completely, but I have gotten much better about developing a routine. I might be busy, but I'm having so much fun along the way.

Balancing my time will always be a work in progress, especially as they get older. But just like this blog, the newness of being a mother of two is all very fresh and fun, and I will be sure to keep sharing these moments with you.

Email Accounts..Who's Counting

It must be a Monday thing. I wake up, and I have 67 emails first thing in the morning. Now, if the bank account is looking good, then of course I scroll through and check out all of the different sales and promotions going on. If it's near the end of the month, then I just do one big mass delete, because I know that it's just not going to happen and I don't want to even get my hopes up. But what I have learned is that there is always a sale going on (this is something that my husband always tells me, but I don't like to acknowledge when he says it).

I've had the same plain jane first and last name email for so long, but obviously when I got married I had to get a new one - a new plain jane first and last name email naturally. My original email account had become so infiltrated with retail emails that it was almost a little psychotic. Secretly I was excited about having a clean email account that would only be used for shirts and school - real emails with real people.

And then it hit me. Smack dab in the middle of my computer screen...

Like, seriously?? I only wanted to come check out the new Color Bar. But if you insist..

I bet you can guess where this story is going. I now have two email accounts, two sets of coupons, and retail emails oozing out of my inboxes, but who's counting? It's a sickness, really. These sales and discounts somehow brain wash you, and you feel like you'll get left out unless you subscribe. Lately though I have been really proud of myself because I haven't spent much of anything at all this summer, but when I do I'm getting a good deal! That's what I have to keep telling the husband. Hey, at least I have good intentions. 

Chalk it Up

While I was out on my weekly Target run (sick, right?) I decided that I wanted to get some sidewalk chalk for Owen to use outside. Of course you just can't go wrong with Crayola - and there were 24 different colors! That's like scoring the box of 64 crayons with the built in sharpener, but in chalk talk. Any who, if you know my son he's a little rough with his stuff. I knew he was going to immediately break them all in half (48 pieces, not a bad idea) and never again would they fit into the same box, which would be ripped and falling apart. Just an eye sore on my pretty patio and I just wasn't going to have that. I needed a fun container to hold the chalk in outside so I wouldn't have to look at that mess. Then a lightbulb when off - a planter! Lucky for me Target doesn't disappoint, I mean they just don't. I found the perfect little coral planter, and we had ourselves a match made in Heaven. I mean seriously, how cute is that? And the best part is you could use any type of planter, have fun with it!

 Target: Planter / Feeling a little crazy? Here's 48 Different Colors

Pretty Patio

Our patio has good bones, but just needed to be beautified. Most homes our size are built with a smaller concrete porch that extends off of the back of the house. Our previous homeowners had added on a larger slab of concrete, as well as a pergola. The only part I didn't enjoy was coming out to just grey concrete, which turned brown and muddy once it rained and the dogs ran back and fourth across it. So we decided it was time to make the patio prettier - stain it!

We power washed it to make sure the concrete was clean and free of debris (of course right after we did so it rained for a good three days, that's Texas for ya). We bought a semi-transparent stain from Valspar in the brown, because I figured brown would be a more earthy neutral color. The semi-transparent stain also keeps it looking more natural as opposed to just painting the concrete, because you can still see the variations of the concrete underneath. I purchased a paint roller that is made specifically for concrete, and I put the handy husband to work! It was really streaky after the first coat, so the second coat was necessary to even the stain out. We let it dry for a good 24 hours (crossing our fingers for no rain), and then sealed it with the Valspar Protective Seal. The seal keeps the stain from fading, and repels the dirt and water out of the concrete. It also has a nice sheen to it, which makes it look a lot cleaner. What a big impact just a little can of stain can make - I am so excited with how it turned out. I rearranged the furniture, added a few finds from an antique mall, and we now have a prettier patio to enjoy!

Stain: Valspar Vaquero Brown / Protective Seal: Wet Look / Roller: Wooster Synthetic

Anthropologie Almost Broke My Heart

Doesn't your heart just stop when you walk past the gorgeous window displays at Anthropologie? I mean literally I have to pick my jaw up from off the ground before walking inside. And when I go inside I have to whip out the iPad to occupy Owen long enough so that I can soak it all in. Well if you didn't already know, you get a special little 15% off code for your birthday month. So of course it's what I look forward to every year.

But this time was a little different. I had my eye set on a new Capri Blue candle, the gorgeous mercury glass with the gold lid. I've had them spread throughout my house forever, and when I went into the store I knew exactly which one I wanted. Just my luck, they were sold out. How devastating! They only had the mercery glass with the silver lid, and a few others. I didn't want to order it online because I'm iffy about shipping candles especially in this Texas heat, what if it melted or got disfigured? The Veruca Salt inside said "I want it NOW!" so I settled and got the candle, along with a few other things (hello, it's my birthday).

Ok, this is literally a silly DIY, but I mean paint is the fix-all for everything! I have a favorite gold that I use by Krylon, since I did a lot of DIY for my wedding. I tested out a few different gold paints until I found one that wasn't so yellow, and had a more vintage hue to it. Rustoleum also makes a good metallic gold that doesn't have a yellow hue.

Of course I had to throw another candle into the mix. A little touch of paint and voila!

Candle: Capri Blue Jar Candle