Etsy Love

I've been an Etsy fan for years now...not only can you find unique items, but it's also a way to simultaneously support independent artists. With that said, I thought I'd start featuring some of my favorite Etsy shops...I'll let you know if I have personal experience with them, and I'll let you know if they're just ones I hope to buy from in the future!

 

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Spark Modern

 

I love textiles and am addicted to throw pillows. I always get asked about mine, and most I've ordered are from this Etsy shop! The quality is incredible; the communication is great, and you don't have to leave your home to order! Here are a few of my favorites in their shop right now:

Peter Dunham Textiles Taj Pillow Cover -- Onyx/Ash

GP&J Baker Nympheus Pillow Cover in Biscuit

Peter Dunham Textiles Fig Leaf Pillow Cover

 

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SunDrop Clips

 

My girls wore these little barrettes in their hair all the time when they were little. I'm not a big bow person (and I'm from the South!?!?), but I love little clips. These are ideal for babies and toddlers with not much hair...mainly to keep the hair out of their eyes. Santa brought Lily a stocking full of these one Christmas. A few of my favorites currently in their shop:

Unicorn Felt Hair Clip

Flower Petal Felt Hair Clip

Floating Heart Felt Hair Clip

 

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Sugar Fresh

 

Buying from Sugar Fresh was one of my first Etsy experiences. Her art is simple, clean, and modern. The following print is one of my absolute favorites! I have it hanging in Lily's and Hadley's room. An important reminder that we all need. I also think this makes the perfect gift for a newborn. You can choose among tons of background colors.

 

I Am a Child of God Print

 

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Layered + Long

 

The creators in this shop make simple, handcrafted jewelry. I own the following necklace (in gold, with my girls' names) and wear it all the time. You can choose different fonts, type of metal, length of necklace, etc.

 

Mothers Necklace

 

I also really like the following. How fun it'd be to have a stack of them with special names, dates, or sayings.

 

Personalized Cuff Bracelet

 

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PomLove

 

I've ordered tissue paper poms, garland, and confetti from Kristen's shop and have always been so pleased! The colors and quality are just stunning, and they really add such a fun pop of color to any backdrop. I used the poms for Lily's first and second birthdays, and what I love about them is that once they're assembled, they look really cute as décor in a bedroom or playroom. I think the garland is adorable in a bedroom as well, especially over a bed or crib. And the confetti looks so pretty on a white tablecloth!

 

Tissue Paper Confetti

 

Tassel Garland

 

Tissue Paper Poms

 

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Any other Etsy shops I need to check out? It's one of my favorite sites to browse! I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. We don't have much planned, and I'm excited about a low-key few days with my family. See y'all here on Monday.

Loving Lately

A few things I'm loving lately...

 

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This bag from Anthropologie is too cute...it's vegan, and I love the perforated details and light metallic gold color.

 

Pascala Vegan Leather Tote

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I like the embroidery on this top, and it looks light and easy to wear!

 

Embroidered Yoke Tassel Tee

 

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This bathing suit is darling! I love a white bathing suit on a little girl...and the watercolor whales are just precious.

 

Printed Ruffle Tankini

 

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I saw this necklace in the store, and it's such a statement...looks like a jellyfish to me, which I love!

 

Marmura Pendant Necklace

 

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I've been a fan of Gray Malin's photography for a long time now. I'd love to have one of his pieces or prints, but that probably won't happen any time soon! Until then, this coffee table book is great and would be beautiful displayed anywhere.

 

Beaches

 

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It's not secret that I'm a fan of a slip-on sneaker. Love the color of these, the scalloped edges, and that some foot would show through the perforations.

 

Serra Sneakers

 

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Gap is having its big 40% off everything sale right now. Even things like pajamas and jeans are on sale, and that rarely happens. I adore this two-piece set. Would be so cute on my girls for the summer.

 

Print Short Sleep Set

 

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I've been all aboard the return of the flare jean train. They're just so flattering on all body types, and I like the way they look in the summer with flip flops or a wedge. And I love the wash of this pair.

 

Light Wash Flare Jean

 

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How sweet is this dress? The color is soft and pretty, and the flowers just make me think of spring.

 

Garden Border Flutter Dress

 

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I love this tankini two piece. The flamingos are too cute.

 

Flamingo Two Piece

 

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These shoes...just perfection. Leopard and a slide in one...I'd wear these all summer long.

Leopard Tali Slide Sandals

 

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This dress is so cool to me. I like the color; the long sleeves are unexpected this time of year, but it still looks breezy; and the eyelet at the top makes it special. Plus, I think you could wear it in late summer and even into early fall. A win-win.

 

Madewell Daybreak Eyelet Dress

 

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These earrings are just stunning. I'm drawn to coral/orange/red colors, and I like that these aren't fully beaded...so they're probably light. Nothing I can't stand more than a heavy earring!

 

Amalfi Drops

 

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That's all for today. Hope everyone has a happy day. The weekend is almost upon us!

 

Life Lately

It's so crazy that the school year is beginning to wind down...I think we have only 20 days left? With that said, I'm scrambling to think of ideas and activities to keep us busy and happy this summer. It can be hard to entertain two little ones while simultaneously trying to get things done that need to get done (i.e., laundry, meals, errands, housework...). How does everyone find that balance?

 

I think the month of June is going to keep us really busy. I'm helping with Vacation Bible School at our church, and both girls will attend that with me. Then the next week Lily has swim lessons (she can't wait...j/k)...and we're planning on going to the beach the next week! I'm hoping it'll be a fun, memorable summer for all of us.

 

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I went to the doctor on Monday for this awful cough I've had. Turns out I have asthma-induced bronchitis...got some meds and am already feeling better. And as much as I love that steroids clear up inflammation, I hate the side effects. Ugh.

 

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I'm really trying to find the time/motivation to start working out again...I'm not trying to lose weight, but I want to be healthier...and more toned. I started doing a Tracy Anderson arm video (it's less than 4 minutes long!), and it is crazy how much your arms can hurt after such a short time. I guess that means I have a long way to go.

 

 

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I made these carrots as a side for dinner recently, and we loved them. Rob used to be very anti-carrot, but these got him to be a fan. They were simple to make, and I thought the colors were pretty once the dish came together.

 

 

Roasted Carrots with Feta and Parsley

{Martha Stewart}

 

3 pounds medium carrots, cut 1/2 inch thick on the bias

3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss carrots with oil on a rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Roast until carrots are caramelized and tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer carrots to a bowl and toss with feta and parsley.

 

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I've had the hardest time finding a piece of art for our half bathroom. It's probably my least favorite room in our house, only because it's more masculine than I like (the sink is raised and is a rust color, and it sits on a black vanity). Anyway, eventually I'd like to do something different in there...maybe paint the vanity and choose a different sink. But that's not in the cards right now. In the meantime, I've been looking for some art to brighten the space up and to make it a little more fun. I was so excited to find this piece at a local thrift store! It's an original watercolor, and the frame is this beautiful shade of purple. It was just what I was looking for!

 

 

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I'm pretty sure I need this cutting board in my life.

 

 

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I picked up two cute bathing suits for Lily at Target. Can't resist a pineapple, and I love the ruffle sleeve and Hawaiian-esque colors in the second one.

 

I also picked up Chrissy Teigen's cookbook. I've heard great things about it, and her recipes aren't intimidating, which I like. Can't wait to try a few things!

 



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Another day, another smize from Hadley. I'm telling you, she is a ham for the camera. She's got the duck lips down pat!

 



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We went for sno cones after school yesterday. Lily is in her element with a sno cone!

 



 

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I hope everyone has a happy day!

 

 



Greek Quinoa Salad

Y'all...this was one of the best new dishes I've made in a while. Not only is it pretty (I love the colors), but it's healthy and tasty. Quinoa is packed full of nutrients, and it's gluten-free...we're not on a gluten-free diet, but I know a lot of people are these days. We had this salad as a side with pimiento cheese sandwiches this weekend, and it was the perfect combo. Next time I'll probably make a larger batch and eat on it for lunches during the week. I think it'd be a tasty side for grilled fish or even burgers. It's light yet filling, and the flavors are fresh. Enjoy!

 

 

Greek Quinoa Salad

{Bobby Flay}

 

3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped to a paste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup quinoa

2 cups red and yellow grape tomatoes, halved

1 cup pitted kalamata olives

2 green onions

2 pickled cherry peppers, diced

1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced

1/2 English cucumber, cut into small dice

Feta for sprinkling

 

Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, garlic and some salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the salad to allow the flavors to meld.

 

Rinse the quinoa in a strainer until the water runs clear. Combine the quinoa, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and cook until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender (about 15 minutes).

 

Transfer the cooked quinoa to a bowl, fluff with a fork, and let sit for 5 minutes to cool. Add the tomatoes, olives, green onions, cherry peppers, red onions, cucumbers, and dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

 

Just before serving, sprinkle feta on top.

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Hope everyone has a great day!

 



Weekend Update

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Here's what we had going on...

 

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First, some wonderful news! My Dad was able to return home on Friday after being in the hospital for a week. His doctor seems fairly confident that his persistent cough is due to a lingering virus, so we're still waiting on the results of those tests for news on how to proceed. He's thrilled to be back at home...and we are so happy to see him there. Thank you to my dear friends and loved ones who prayed for him and for us.

 

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Friday night Rob, the girls, and I had a fun dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather. Our girls are always sharing hugs. Hope it stays that way forever.

 

 

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I was so sad to read about Prince's sudden death. I have so many good memories of his music and wish I had seen him in concert. It seems like we've lost a lot of really great artists this year. I've loved seeing the tributes pour in for Prince. It's obvious a lot of people were touched by his music. And I loved this picture I saw online...

 

 

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I worked on Saturday and was pulled from my regular floor because the census was low. It's always a little daunting to be pulled, but it turned out to be a good, manageable day. Thank goodness for that.

 

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I've been on the brink of getting a full-blown cold the past few days, and I woke up yesterday with a yucky cough. Needless to say, I didn't have the energy to do too much, but I did finish hanging some pictures in Hadley's room. I've been slow to decorate her room, only because she's still in a crib, and I know we'll be moving her to a big-girl bed in the near future. I'm not sure how her room layout will change once we do that, but that's what spackle and paint is for, right? I picked up a few things for her room from Hobby Lobby and adore how it all turned out.

 

How cute is this stool?

 

The feather picture is from Hobby Lobby, and the fox and bear pictures are from the Pillowfort line at Target.

 

 

The pictures below are from Hobby Lobby, and the porcelain flower is from Target.

 

 

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My girls are obsessed with Kinetic Foam...and I'll admit I like playing with it too. This was Hadley's face yesterday when I told her it was time to put the Kinetic Foam away...ha!

 

 

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I'm thinking about making a trip to the doctor for something to help with this cough...my abs are sore from coughing so much...does that ever happen to anyone else? If anything it's a good core workout, right? Hope everyone has a happy day...





Loving Lately

A few things I'm loving lately...

 

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Adore this casual dress and the print is perfection.

 

Knit Midi Shift Dress

 

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This top is super cool...I actually ordered this color and the black. Love the back, which takes a regular tank and makes it a little special.

 

 

Sueded Tulip-Back Tee

 

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The palm leaf trend is everywhere right now. I like that this tank allows you to try the trend without breaking the bank. Would be so cute with white denim jeans or cutoffs. 

 

Patterned V-Neck Cut-Out Tank

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Love the embroidery on this tank.

Embroidered Cotton Tank

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I'm always looking for a good pair of slip-on sandals. This color is unique...a little neutral and a little pink. Plus they look super comfy.

Sam Edelman Georgette

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I'm always sharing purses by Sole Society, but they really are great...for the price point, the quality is amazing. I love the fringe on this one.

Kerry Fringe Crossbody

 

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A fun wrap bracelet which would add some punch to any spring outfit.

Gilded Path Double Wrap Bracelet

 

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Always like the style of a peasant blouse. They're forgiving, and I'd wear this one with regular denim or white.

Women's Printed Peasant Blouse

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I've made known my obsession with pineapples...and this bowl is no exception. It'd be a fun way to serve a summer salsa!

Wood Pineapple Salad Serving Bowl

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This tote is so pretty. I love the Aztec vibe, and the purple touches are, of course, what sold me.

Tassel Tote

 

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This top looks so effortless, and it comes in a ton of colors.

 

Lush Woven Tunic

 

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I like that this dress is loose but still feminine. And I always like army green in the spring or summer. It's kind of unexpected but still works well.

 

Ruffle Flounce Dress

 

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What pretty sandals! I always like gold because you can wear it with nearly anything.

Telly Lace-Up Sandal

 

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That's all for today! I hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend. Hope to see y'all back here on Monday.