Friday loves

thirty-three teachers who got the last laugh. 

- false. I just laughed REALLY hard. 

loving the latest photos at Spilled Milk. 

cannot wait to get this baby pool for Ronin.

possibly the most hilarious IG feed of all time. 

John & Sherry (and Clara & Burger) moved again! 

- is it just me or does it seem like they moved into the second house like yesterday?

just bought this bathing suit and I lurve it. 

- so flattering and not the typical black, ruched one piece.  

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I'll be spending most of my weekend working on my new business venture, and I'll be spilling the beans early next week. so excited to share everything with you guys! :D

HAPPY WEEKEND, friends! 

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! 

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.
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Friday loves

John & Sherry's (and Clara's) DIY sand rock box. 

definitely something I'd like to try to conquer once the peanut is old enough to enjoy it!

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this gift idea for brides. 

you give them 6 bottles of wine in a basket to share with their husband during their big "firsts" of marriage - first fight, first baby, etc. 

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these utensils. 

not only are the bright colors outstanding, but the handles are weighted, which means the "head" of the tool is always in the air and won't rest on a dirty counter.

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Lauren's DIY party favors. 

bonus: they also double as decor! these would be awesome to use for just about any occasion.

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birth photography makes me weak in the knees.

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these two cute fellas. 

it's kitten season and I'm so sad that I won't be able to foster any this year.

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I know I'm late on this, but textfromdog is fucking hysterical. 

seriously. read it. it'll make your day. 

I can't stop laughing.

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HAPPY FRIDAY! 

:D

Friday loves (baby-fied)

umm... so in case you haven't noticed, my brain has been full of baby crap lately. so welcome to this week's edition of Friday loves: BABY-FIED.

this AMAZING nursery I discovered recently. 

seriously, it's everything I'd want for a little boy's room - bright colors & bold patterns, grey walls (which just so happen to be my favorite grey paint - Sparrow by Behr), and a non-themey modern style. 

so hey Graham, I'm totes copying your digs. hope you don't mind!

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What to Expect When You're Expecting - THE MOVIE. 

fuck yeah. I will be seeing this one in theaters.  

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the classics, in board book form. 

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this blog post... 

it contains all kinds of useful information on pregnancy, birth photography, natural childbirth, etc. 

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and while we're at it... THIS one, too. 

10 things they don't tell you about what happens AFTER you give birth. 

hilarious and terrifying all at the same time. 

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baby Caps gear. 

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bloggy friend Vicki is also having a little boy! 

so glad to have her on team blue with me. :D

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aaaand, something NOT found on the net, but in my mailbox instead. 

a Hunger Games onesie for little baby Ronin. 

YESSSSS. thank you, Aunt Kaycie!

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HAPPY FRIDAY, YA'LL!

weekend recap (with cell phone pictures!)

Friday Night:

Sean & I met up with our awesome friends Kaycie & Adam and grabbed lunch at a local Irish place before heading into Baltimore. we had some drinks at Howl at the Moon and then cabbed over to Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to see this excellent fellow perform stand up comedy. 

and THEN I laughed so hard that I couldn't feel my face and I'm pretty sure I urinated a little in my pants. if you ever have the opportunity to see Louis CK's stand up, fucking DO IT. 

after the show was over, we headed back to Howl for some more drinks and good times all around. lots of dancing, singing, and people watching. and then Taco Bell for the drunk ride home. nom. 

Saturday:

clean clean clean clean clean clean. I cleaned my house from the minute I woke up until I had to leave for my cousin's sweet 16th birthday party in preparation for the Scentsy party I was hosting Sunday. I scrubbed baseboards, mopped floors, rearranged kitchen appliances, and hung up fun cork boards in the kitchen. 

cousin Sammy turned 16 years old. CRAZY! she's so beautiful and free spirited. love her to death. we had pizza and cake to celebrate. it's always wonderful to spend time with my mom's side of the family. 

when I returned home from the party (at about 9:30PM), I did a little more cleaning/straightening up and then convinced Sean to help me build our IKEA dining table that's been sitting in the kitchen (in the box) for MONTHS. 

I also decided that there was no way I could put together IKEA furniture without wine. this may or may not have had anything to do with the mistake we made while building, causing us to backtrack juuuuust a little bit to fix it. woops. the table only took us about 2 hours to put together, and that was mostly because we had to use a screwdriver because the drill battery was dead as a door nail. 

yes, I've already broken out the Christmas pajama pants. don't judge me. 

oh well. we got her done, and she is beautiful! there are two additional leaves to expand her to seat 8, but 4 is perfect for now. now I just need to figure out how to decorate a dining room table. 

Sunday:

got up super early since I STILL had more cleaning to do. I wanted the house to be absolutely spotless, so it got the deep clean that it so badly needed. finally got out to the grocery store and back to the house about 30 minutes before people started to arrive. 

the next couple hours went something like this: eat, drink wine, cuddle baby, gossip/girl talk, check the score of the Skins game, cuddle baby, drink more wine, show off Bear's amazing balancing skillz, drink more wine, eat, smell Scentsy, drink beer. 

it was a great time for sure. now that the house is completely cleaned, we will be having people over more often, fo sho. after everyone left, we cleaned up and parked our butts in front of the TV for the remainder of the evening. I vaguely remember falling asleep while watching Homeland last night. 

WHEW! so it was a great weekend for the Quinns and now it's back to reality... I've got a week full of work, school, a vet appointment for Miss Mama Cat, and a visit with a friend who recently decided to take in and foster her own mama cat and 4 wittle babies! eeeeks, can't wait to meet them! 

I hope you all had a FANTASTIC weekend like I did. 

oh, and tell me what you're reading right now. 

I haven't picked up a book in WEEKS and I really need to get back on the wagon soon. it's killing me! 

Bear says HAPPY MONDAY!

Friday loves!

Sherry's DIY Christmas ornaments that she revealed through their Fall Pinterest Challenge. 

I'm definitely going to make my own ornaments this year, along with holiday cards. 

I also love the idea of using bright colors... weeeeeee! 

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this little kitten that I added to my 2011 wishlist has found a forever home. 

cheers to that! 

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discovering illustrator Sujean Rim. 

I love watercolor more than any other form of art, and it's probably because I wish I could be successful at it. this lady is seriously talented. 

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this roundup of paint chip related projects. 

that green calendar at the end? yes please! 

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my tattooer and his shop were featured in this article on BuzzFeed. 

they are great artists and deserve the recognition and exposure. Mike has tattooed all but one of my pieces, and I can easily say that I would never have a reason to go to anyone else for tattoo work. he's one of best guys I know! 

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Martha Stewart tutorials for homemade holiday cards. 

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how to make the perfect snowflake. 

can you tell I'm on a holiday decor kick lately? 

I love Christmas. 

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Jimmy Kimmel & moms who tell their kids they ate all their Halloween candy. 

specifically, this one. 

"YOU SNEAKY MOM!"

hysterical. I can't wait to do this to my kids one day.

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we're going to see Louis CK for the billionth 4th time this evening. 

we're dragging Kaycie & Adam to Baltimore with us tonight and I am SO EXCITED!

I'll be spending the ENTIRE day tomorrow prepping and cleaning house because I'm hosting a Scentsy party with Kathy on Sunday. I've never really had a big group of people at my house before, so I'm a little nervous, haha. lots to do and as usual, not enough time! ;)

Happy Friday ya'll! 

Friday loves

Missoni for Target. duh. 

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book stamps! 

this one is immediately being added to my Christmas wish list. 

(and yes, I already have one started).

I lend my books out a lot, so I figured this cute stamp would help me keep track of my shit. also, my friend Jen has one and she LOVES it. yes please!

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this post by Veronika about how to pack, move, and stage your home. 

lots of great tips, especially for those of us who tend to stress out about packing and moving.

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West Elm & 20x200 collaborating.

fabulous pieces, fabulous artists. weeeeee!

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the discovery of this blog. 
this girl has lost 135lbs and has SUCH a great outlook on life.
her journey is so inspiring and I've found myself reading through her archives all week long.

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this DIY art project.

I'm thinking I will definitely be attempting something like this for our future office.

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John & Sherry's updated office light. 

it's amazing what a little spray pant and a big ol' drum shade can do to transform an outdated fixture.

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Design*Sponge at Home. 

yes please, for the love of Richard Gere, and thank you very much. 

ALSO going on my Christmas list rightfuckingnow.

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Lisa Sherry's home in the newest Lonny. 

if you haven't seen it, check it out. you will not be disappointed.

Lisa is one of my favorite designers and it is very clear that she didn't spare an ounce of talent when it came to designing her own home.

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Jenna Marbles' new video on creating unique pickup and hookup lines. 
effing hysterical.
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I would also like to give my best friend a heartfelt congratulations on the birth of her new baby boy, Rhys Anthony! he is just as beautiful as the rest of the family, and I cannot wait to snuggle him! 

Happy Friday, ya'll! 

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me [book review]

confession: I have a major girl crush on Chelsea. the way to my heart is through my funny bone, and she gives me a major comedy boner. I've had the pleasure of seeing her stand-up live and it's just as amazing, if not better, than her books and her TV show. 

SUMMARY:

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me is a collection of embarrassing and prank filled stories by Chelsea's co-workers, friends, and family. unlike her previous books, this edition wasn't actually written by Chelsea herself, save a little excerpt at the end of each chapter in which she addresses the person who actually wrote it.  

"My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate."--Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

the tales told mostly involve the various pranks that Chelsea loves to play on those that she loves... from tricking someone into thinking that someone filed a sexual harassment suit against them to convincing a friend to perform a "duet" with the bride at a wedding. Chelsea has the ability to create the most absurd lies and stories, and is able to keep them going for months on end, if only to make a complete fool out of those around her.

REVIEW:

as much as I love Ms. Handler, I am certainly glad that I'm not friends with her in real life. some of the tricks and jokes she plays on people are down right cruel, but they are still hilarious nonetheless. however, I am entirely too gullible and would fall for every single one. they are often so well thought out that everyone around is in on the trick, with the exception of the victim her/himself. some of the pranks are so outrageous and elaborate that it's somewhat hard to believe they really happened. but then you read Chelsea's "notes" to each person, and realize that she really does act like she doesn't give a shit about them, haha.

while the memories themselves had me laughing so hard I was -----><----- those close to peeing myself (as Chelsea often does, apparently), the writing could have used a little more work. it was pretty obvious that those involved in the book were not skilled or published authors. through parts of the book, I kind of felt like the people telling the stories were trying to be funnier than they really are, and I found myself really missing the voice of Chelsea herself, along with her dry and witty humor. I mean I guess Chelsea would surround herself with other funny people, but I felt like a lot of the humor was forced.

it's been made very clear that Chelsea Handler is an asshole with big boobs, who treats those she loves the most with the biggest asshole-ish pranks she can fathom. while this book strays from her norm, it did exactly what Chelsea sets out to do, and that is to entertain people. I found myself laughing and smiling like an idiot throughout the book, so it is deemed a success in my eyes.

I'm looking forward to...

(shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessi over at Caterpillar Family Blog)

- finally getting my tattoo colored and filled this weekend. it's been a long journey to get this much work done, and I'm ready for it to be complete. I love this tattoo, and it means SO much to me. it's the place I grew up, it's my home, it will always be my home. I'm proud to represent Maryland.

- going out of town next weekend (October 8-10) to visit some extended family on my mom's side. twice a year, everyone gets together and makes apple butter - and I mean the whole nine yards... picking, peeling, cooking, churning, and canning.

I haven't been there for this event since I was a kid. I'm so, so, so excited to see my second cousin and her babies. we spent every single summer together growing up... running a muck and causing riots and just getting into all kinds of trouble in general.

she was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and I haven't seen her since that day, which was over a year ago! she has since given birth to her second child (little girl, Ella) and I cannot wait to meet her. her son, Peyton is so big now, and I can only imagine how he smart he is with a grade-A mama like her! I really just can't wait to spend some quality time with those that I don't get to see often.

- going to see the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins on October 19th with my lova lova. football season is number one in this house, but hockey season comes in at a close second. I can't wait to watch the Caps play their hearts out this season! I'm hoping they continue the dominance they showed last season!

- seeing Louis CK perform live stand up comedy on October 22nd. we've seen him twice before, and he is HILARIOUS. all caps necessary. he has a show on FX (I think?) called Louie, and it's pretty witty and amusing, but nothing compares to the raw talent that is his stand up. he is, hands down, one of my favorite comedians.

VIDEO = NSFW

- my best friend, Kaley, is turning 26 years old in a few weeks! her birthday celebration, which is also being combined with Kath's birthday, takes place on October 23rd. they're starting with dinner at the Melting Pot (NOM!), followed by a little low key shindig at Kaley's house. I'm really excited to have a night with some of my favorite ladies, where nothing but good times is had. AND I'm thrilled to give Kaley her birthday present! :D

- H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N! Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love getting dressed up and hanging out with friends. obviously, we don't have kids yet, so we don't do the whole trick or treating thing, but we make sure to hit a few parties every year and celebrate appropriately! Sean and I have already purchased our costumes for this year, and while we're not matching like we usually do, they're still pretty great. I'll reveal what they are in a future post!

here are our costumes from last year: we were a shotgun wedding. :)

- seeing Daniel Tosh's stand up on November 6th. I've seen bits and pieces of his show, Tosh.0, which is pretty funny, so I'm sure his stand up will be good as well. seeing comedians live is one of my favorite things to do, so I'm sure I won't be disappointed. :)

what are YOU looking forward to?