Friday loves

this is a fraction of the junk that is in our food here in the U.S. 

- sad, but true. so happy to be a part of a company that bans these ingredients from our products. 

Russell Brand is a boss.

I hope that when Ronin is four, he's half as cool as this girl. 

some Etsy love: this necklace, a detailed to-do list, and this personalized journal. 

"behind every great kid is a mom who is pretty sure she's screwing things up." 

- Jess' awesome take on this quote. 

a baby sea lion jumps on a boat and cuddles. aka my dream come true.

Friday loves

new research shows that an infant's heart rate slows in just 3 seconds in his/her parent's embrace.

10 ways to spread the blog love.

most common beauty blunders.

this video - so cute, and so heartwarming. I hope this is how Ronin sees me.

these custom hand painted wooden dolls. I WANT. 

loving this colorful picnic blanket. we'll need one for our park trips this summer!

Veronica Roth released the title and cover for the third book in the Divergent trilogy. SO EXCITED.

a Hungarian theater group performs on Britain's Got Talent. - a MUST watch video. these folks are so incredibly talented. 

Happy Weekend! 

Friday loves

summer wardrobe essentials for little fellas. 

the only spilled milk that leaves me in awe. 

this onesie for Ronin to wear at his first birthday party (someone hold me). 

tiny teepees are all the rage right now, and I want one, damnit. this one, to be exact.

um, this kid. what a freakin' heart breaker. 

and finally, this post on having mom friends. - it's SO hard being a first time mom and not having local mom friends. don't get me wrong, I have friends with kids (my BFF has two and another on the way), but they all live 30+ minutes away from me, and it's not exactly convenient to visit and have playdates when I have to work around pumping and nap time. I'm making it a goal of mine in the next few weeks to meet more local young moms. 

round up: Mother's Day gift ideas.

although I was told "Happy Mother's Day" a few times last year when I was pregnant with Ronin, I'm pretty excited to really celebrate this year. being the awesome husband that he is, Sean already bought me a gift (something from Etsy, apparently, so it should be good!) this year.  

I was inspired by Jessica at Little Baby Garvin to put together some gift ideas for those still looking for the perfect gift. unlike her themed gift guide, I went the route I normally travel - the practical gift. I'll be honest - I don't want flowers for Mother's Day. I want something that I can wear, drink, or use to relax. I'd be ecstatic to receive any of the items on this list for Mother's Day. oh, and as a bonus, they're all under $40!

1. for the technology lover: cell phone case ($39.00).

2. for the sentimental: unique greeting card ($4.25).

3. for everyone: NAKED basics palette ($27.00).

4. for the wine lover: wine of the month membership ($34.00/month for classic series).

5. for the beauty product fanatic: birchbox subscription ($10/month).

6. for the jewelry lover: personalized initial necklace ($36.00).

7. for the busy mom who needs a break (aka everyone): LUSH bath bomb ($6.35).

8. for the fashionable: mint hobo bag ($32.99).

Friday loves

a PSA regarding citronella oil & kids. - A MUST-READ for all parents of young children. 

a cute child fashion blog. psst. they have a shop too.

Aubrey Plaza on Ellen. - I want to be friends with her. she's so awkward and hilarious.

the dresses at Old Navy right now are amazing. I want one of each. seriously.

something hilarious: the reviews of this banana slicer.

a link to a link to all of IROCKSOWHAT's free downloads. 

(confession? there are 3 of these in Ronin's nursery.)

two words: bandanna bibs. 

HAPPY WEEKEND, friends! 

we have a busy one coming up. I finally built our raised garden bed today, so 

I'll be planting an abundance of fruits and veggies tomorrow. 

I'm co-hosting a baby shower on Saturday (cannot wait to share the details!) 

for my friend Jen, and Sunday will be spent doing stuff around the house. 

I hope you all enjoy your weekend! 

round up: favorite small shops for babes!

it's no secret that I love Etsy, so it should come as no surprise that when it comes to buying unique items for Ronin, Etsy is my number one place to go. however, I have discovered a few other handmade shops along the way thanks to the easy networking of Instagram. and you have to admit, there's something incredibly rewarding about supporting small businesses. here's a little roundup of some of my favorite shops for babies.  

1 U.S. Wood Toys - adorable wooden toys made right here in DC. 

2 Little Hip Squeaks - baby blankets and headbands in fresh prints and fun colors.
3 Ajalor - vintage inspired handmade baby shoes. 
4 Two Giggles - modern baby books and journals. 
5 TrulySanctuary - eclectic, hip, and witty printed onesies (kids & adult sizes too). 
6 Smiling Tree Toys - personalized wooden toys, puzzles, teethers, nursery decor, etc.
7 LittleNestBox - colorful mobiles and garlands - customized to match your decor.
8 Juniper Wilde - sophisticated, eco-friendly decor and other products for kids. 
9 Candy Kirby Designs - organic baby leggings and blankets in stylish patterns. 

round up: Easter basket goodies!

we're not big on celebrating Easter in our house. at least... we weren't... until we had a baby. but now I'm all about the Easter bunny, dying Easter eggs (next year), and celebrating the holiday with gifts for Ronin. 

1. My First Easter bunny bib. 

2. The Runaway Bunny. 

3. B. One Two Squeeze Blocks. 

4. Peter Rabbit Plush. 

5. Baby Touch & Feel book. 

6. The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

7. Bunny costume. 

8. Laugh & Learn Remote. 

as far as the actual basket goes, I wanted to stray from the typical wicker basket simply because they just take up too much room. I know that I would get sick of looking at it and would end up throwing it out after each season... especially if I didn't splurge for one from PB or something. I decided to buy a fabric bin on Etsy that can grow with Ronin; one that we can use year after year. 

are you getting excited for the Easter Bunny? I'll be taking Ronin to sit on his lap at the mall next week, and I may or may not be hoping for a meltdown. I feel like every kid needs a crying Easter Bunny photo, am I right?

round up: birthday wishlist!

there are only 9 days until my birthday! I usually start the count down a few months before now, but then life happened and I forgot I even had a birthday. kids, I tell ya.

I'm a pretty big fan of making wish lists, and the celebration of my birth is no exception. these are just a few things I'm lusting over lately. maybe I'll get lucky and see something on this list in my house in a little over a week.

1. stella & dot necklace. 

2. timi & leslie diaper bag. 

see also: I am two outings away from throwing my POS Skip Hop Versa out the window. 

3. target lampshade. 

4. maxi dress (also target).

5. fine one one cheek color by benefit. 

6. nate berkus wooden box. 

I'm big on hiding crap in boxes. it's better if they're cute. 

7. "you are loved" print. 

this is actually for Ronin's room. 

confession? I actually had a LOT more to add to this list, but then I realized that it was all shit for Ronin - cloth diapers, a diaper sprayer, an activity center, etc. 

welcome to my life as a mom.  

Friday loves (a day early)

FYI I started this post a few weeks ago, so some of these links may be not as recent as the ones I feature in most of my Friday Loves posts. ;)

Mompetition. 

Mompetition doesn't start at motherhood... it starts at pregnancy. TRUST.

there's always someone trying to one-up you or make you question your parenting decisions. 

I, for one, am not a fan, and I vote for Danielle's way to battle those competitive moms: 

kill them with kindness. 

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some marriage truths:

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a guide to mixing patterns in your home.

super fun (and useful) post!

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um, okay, call me crazy.
but I kinda sorta want to speed up time
so I can hear Ronin spout off funny shit like this.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if poop was made of airplanes?”
I die.
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I ordered this baby book earlier in the week.

personalized baby book. ours is navy & white.

in the notes to seller, I mentioned to her that I was due any day now and that I slacked on ordering a baby book. she emailed me back and offered to send me the pages once they came in from the printer so that I could have them to record important birth details and put his foot/hand prints on the dedicated pages. she would then send me the actual book when it was ready.
I thought that was so above & beyond my expectations that I had to share.
:)
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a girl-power-esque post by Vicki.

love her and her wisdom. 

and her River.

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Ashley Goldberg's pattern designs on Flickr (thanks to Lauren for the new obsession).
so awesome. I want this one made into curtain fabric for my living room. right now.

I'm also a big fan of the prints in her Etsy shop - check em out!

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HAPPY FRIDAY, folks! 
hopefully I'll be having a baby this weekend.
<3 b="b">

Friday loves

these curtains from Urban Outfitters. 

why am I just now realizing how affordable their window treatments are? 

I'm thinking these may be residing in our living room soon. 

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a thorough spring cleaning checklist. 

also known as: I'm nesting and I need help. 

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I'm usually not a fan of wall decals at all. 

however, I am really digging these circle name designs. 

I think they'd look great on a nursery wall above a crib or changing table!

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fo free: 830 printables - from lined paper, to budget sheets, to music paper. 

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I want to print this and frame it. 

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DIY: chalkboard paint + basic wooden blocks = creativity & fun for hours.

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how to: introduce pets to a new baby. 

I will definitely need these tips in a few weeks.

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this site is chock full of creative and unique gifts for all occasions.
like this modern personalized drink tub:

how awesome would this be as a housewarming gift?

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Mrs. Stroller's thoughts on breastfeeding.
I love this, as breastfeeding is one of the things I'm most worried about when it comes to having a baby. 
I really want it to work for us, but I am aware of all the issues that could arise.
fingers crossed that Ronin & I have a successful BF relationship.
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these baby shoes. 

anchors and sail boats?
SQUEEEEEEE.
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Happy Friday, lovahs!

Ronin's room: inspiration board

I whipped this up yesterday just to have an idea of how everything will come together. and I gotta say... I lurve it. check out the sources below.

[1] color scheme: grey, navy, aqua, yellow. paint color = Sparrow by Behr. it's the same color we have in our entry way (which is shown in my latest bump photo).

[2] mobile from Etsy. I love the modern fabric and the simplicity of the design. I don't want anything too distracting up there. if you'd like the link to the seller, leave me your email in the comments. I haven't purchased it yet, so I don't want to share the link. ;)

[3] pendant from Ikea. because there isn't enough room for a ceiling fan (location is too close to the wall), I want a simple pendant lamp that will bring some natural textures to the room.

[4] octopus hook from Urban Outfitters. I love this guy. he's quirky and boy-ish. I'll hang him on the back of the door.

[5] gumball lamp from Land of Nod. I may not end up buying this exact lamp, but it's the style and color I'm looking for. this will either go on top of the bookshelf or on an end table next to the glider.

[6] Baby Mod Modena crib. I did a whole post on this yesterday.

[7] hippo bookends from Serena & Lily. obviously, used to keep books together. I like that these are a natural color so that they can be used in his big boy room as well. also? they're hippos. FTW.

[8] Billy bookcase from Ikea. I'm torn between the Billy and the Expedit... I may end up with both depending on what will fit. either way, this kid needs a bookcase and it shall be one of the two. I feel like the Billy has more storage space, so that's why I chose it for the board.

[9] Hemnes 8 drawer dresser from Ikea. pretty self explanatory. white, cheap, and easy (that's what she said). however, we'll be using these knobs instead to spice it up.

[10] letter hooks from Anthropologie. I'll be buying his initials (RRQ) and posting them either on the back of the closet door, or on the wall somewhere... maybe above the bookcase.

[11, 12, 13] artwork from Etsy and Land of Nod. they fit the color scheme and they're personal to us as well. we did a "perfect pair" theme for our wedding, Mama loves hippos, and well... bikes are a little boy's favorite toy! if you'd like the links to the sellers (for the pear & hippo prints), leave me your email in the comments. I haven't purchased them yet, so I don't want to share the link. ;)

[14] Trinity glider. mmmm, I love this chair. keep in mind that it'll be navy blue with white trim, and not the off white color shown. if I had photoshop, I'd change it... but I don't, so just use your imagination.

not pictured: the nightstand (to go next to the glider), the rug (still contemplating), the bedding (in this post), and obviously, the cute clothes and toys he'll be spoiled with.

so there you have it: Ronin's room, in a condensed board.
I'm so excited to get started and put some love into this space.
I'm so excited to have him grow up with all this stuff that I've picked out just for him.
I hope he loves it as much as I do.
<3

Ronin's room: the bedding

dude. there are SO MANY options when it comes to baby bedding. lucky for me, I knew from the get-go that I was not going to invest in a bedding set. it just isn't worth the money to me, because 1: the AAP recommends not using bumpers in cribs, 2: babies aren't supposed to have quilts/blankets in their cribs, and 3: I like an eclectic style and don't really want anything matchy matchy.

however, the one bedding set that really caught my eye was the Not a Peep crib bedding collection from Land of Nod. the prices weren't too steep, and I loooooved the modern patterns, as well as the grey and mustard yellow color. most of all, I liked that I could pick and choose my pieces... I didn't want the actual bird print anywhere, but I love the stripes and dots.

unfortunately, every item in the collection is backordered until at least July. sad trombone. and I am not a patient person by any means. even though Ronin will be in our room for the first few months, I didn't like knowing that his crib might not be complete when he comes home. sad trombone indeed.

so, as always, I turned to Etsy to look for affordable bedding that I could mix & match. I stumbled upon a few different sellers, but ultimately loved the choices (and pricing) at Cottage Belles. I also love that they sell changing pad covers, as that's something I want to coordinate with the bedding.

after browsing through the fabric selections for what seemed like DAYS, I finally came up with a combination that I loved that fit with the color scheme in my head (grey, navy, aqua, yellow). BEHOLD:

I plan on getting the option to add the patterned band at the bottom of the crib skirt. I'll also buy three sets of sheets (I especially love that the sheets have the elastic edges that go ALL the way around the sheet, and not just at the corners). I can also purchase neutral sheets down the road that won't clash with the crib skirt. I love the patterns and how they coordinate with each other without being matchy matchy.

oh, and in case you're wondering, we chose the Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic Lightweight mattress. highly rated by Baby Bargains, it's organic, firm, and only weighs 15lbs (most mattresses weigh a whopping 30lbs). it's expensive, but baby's sleep and safety is worth the cost.

I have yet to purchase these bedding selections, so I don't have real life experience with the quality. I will be sure to update once we order everything so I can review the conditions of the pieces.

disclaimer: I was not compensated by any means to write this post. Cottage Belles is just the shop I chose to order the bedding from. they have not paid me or discounted any purchases in exchange for this review.

Friday loves

this onesie from Monkey and the Bug. 

holy shit. adorable, right?
and if you've been here for a while, you know how much I love alligators. 

although, $40 is a leeeeeettle pricey for a onesie. 

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a pool party for elephants. 

squeeeeeeeee!

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this recipe for slow cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches looks amazing. 

I think I'm going to try it on Sunday. it'll be awesome to bring for lunch, too!

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free Whale of a Tale print over at irocksowhat.

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um, these socks are amazing.
they're superhero socks. with capes. 

SOCKS WITH CAPES, YA'LL.

I already told Sean that I'd be wearing the Wonder Woman ones during labor.

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this Etsy shop.
she sells ridiculously cute cloth diaper covers.
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this home in Portland, professionally crashed by YHL. 
holy crap. I want to live there.
specifically, I'd like to live in the kitchen. so bright & fun!

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these organizing storage bins for your fridge. 
from C&B, of course.
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Happy Friday, bitches!

all was calm, all was bright [Etsy goods!]

since the holidays are right around the corner, I figured it was time for a little seasonal Etsy roundup! 

joy pillow

wrapping labels

modern stockings

yarn wreath

printable wine labels

holiday bunting

snowflake ornaments

hippo card

tree garland

holiday plaid baby gear

happy Friday! 

Friday loves!

this Maryland necklace. 

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this video of a vicious turkey attack. hilarious. 

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this tutorial on adding a tile frame to a raw edge mirror. 

when we get around to re-doing the bathroom, this is on my list. such an easy and affordable fix! 

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this recipe for baked apples. nom. 

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while we're on the subject of food, this recipe too. I'll be picking up some bone-in chicken (I usually buy boneless breasts) and trying it out for Sunday dinner. 

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25 ways to wear a scarf. 

I wish there was an app for this that I could just save on my phone and play any time 

I needed a new scarf tutorial. seriously, it's SO helpful! 

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this tribal maxi skirt from Express. 

my only problem with maxi skirts is that I don't know what kind of shoes to wear with them if it's too cold for flip flops. any suggestions?

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Barberry & Lace, one of my all time favorite Etsy shops, is having a $100 giveaway. how amazing is that?! I want the anchor cameo ring SO BAD. 

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before & afters on Design*Sponge make me weak in the knees. 

especially this one. 

can you guess my favorite part? 

if you guessed the chevron wall, you know me too well. 

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a grown-up tree house.

 I think all my dreams just came true. 

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we are taking a day trip with a big group of friends to do some gambling (and drinking) in Atlantic City tomorrow, which I am super excited about. it should be a great time, and I'll be sure to report back on our winnings next week, along with some pictures. 

have a good weekend, ya'll! 

Happy Friday! 

All Hallows Even [Etsy goods!]

ouija board ring

baby sushi

kitchen print

mosaic silhouette wine glasses

kitty shark costume

toe tag invites

bloody wall decal

felt pumpkin decor

soap fingers

the raven pillow cover

Happy Friday!