Shopaholic?

All that is on my mind today...is shopping.

     Clothes....shoes....and purses!

Maybe this is thanks to watching Sex and the City 2 again last night. 

SJP's outfits make me warm and fuzzy inside....or maybe I'm just a shopaholic.

I found myself browsing through stores online as I sat out in the sun. I packed up Scarlett and took a small trip to the shops to pick out a thing or two for each of us. Awhile back, I wrote about how I needed to stop shopping so much and start enjoying the little things. Which, I did. The simple things are the best part of life. I wrote about that HERE. But there is something so therapeutic about shopping. I am almost positive that I am not the only one to feel this way. Right? Bad mood? Buy a handbag. Rough day? Order a swim suit online. It is the perfect anecdote.

   I can't quite put my finger on it, but it gives me a sense of peace. Seeing that perfect skirt that you know would look wonderful with the shoes you bought last week. Or trying on your favorite top in 4 different colors. Browsing through aisles and aisles of shoes that are calling your name. I know that material things are not important. Still, I can't see the hurt in enjoying something that you like once in awhile. At one point, my fiancé would have said that I was a shopaholic...he may have been right in the aspect that I could not walk into a store without finding something to buy. This is true. I used to justify my purchases by saying, "It was on sale. Originally $98 and I got this steal for $ 45!!" How could Ty disagree with a savings like that?

  The truth is, that shopping is one of my favorite things to do. I am pretty money conscious. I never spend money that we don't have. I always look for affordable items and you would be surprised by the amount of items that I pass by even though they would be perfect addition to my closet. Ty says, "If shopping makes you happy, then do it."

    What a guy, right? Thank God I found him to marry....Haha. In all seriousness, what is it about shopping that makes me so happy? Is it a bad habit? Is it merely a great mood enhancer? Is there a fine line between being a shopaholic, and being a good bargain shopper?




Two Thirty-Five Designs

Sponsor Lauren Rebecca.

    

Whoa. It's been a different month. That's for sure. Lots going on in life...wedding planning,  attending weddings, getting sick, raising Scarlett, traveling etc etc....ya know, busy.

First off, I sponsored thee Blog Hop this month and am so pleased with all the new faces and followers. Thank you all! My e-mail is a bit overwhelming lately. I appreciate all the comments and emails!! If I haven't gotten back to you, I'm plugging away at it little by little. All the love and friendly hello's have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

    I have been working on sponsorship info. I am so excited with how my blog has grown in just 6 short months. I love all the wonderful feedback and positive comments that everyone has given me. They are truly a blessing. I'm having so much fun!
Want To Sponsor Me for the Month of July? 
CLICK HERE.

    I look forward to hearing from you! 

Summer Accessories: Head Wrap

My style is completely eclectic.
I have no rules and nothing is out of the question. I try things.  Some things I love and other things don't work on me. Sometimes, I wear things that others aren't fond of, and that 's okay with me. Because what matters, is that we feel good in our own shoes, right? My scarves don't get used in the summer because it's so hot. This weekend, I picked a scarf and wore it as a head wrap. I really loved wearing the simple, but fun accessory. Sometimes style is thinking outside the box. You don't have to only use something for it's main purpose. Like for instance, a scarf can be great hair adornment or work as a belt.

Here are some other cute ways to wear a head wrap HERE 

What are some of your favorite summer accessories? 

What accessories do you use in different ways then what they are they are made for?

Wear & Thoughts.

 I have a million thoughts running around inside me today. No specific topic.

I am trying to soak up some sun this weekend. Not looking forward to the gloomy week ahead of rain and low temps.

 I've been listening to Ray Lamontagne quite a bit lately. His music is very inspiring. Very soulful. Music is a huge part of my life. Ever hear a song and it reminds you of a particular time...or someone? 

I love that effect it has. Music is a wonderful thing. 

I'm excited to have my family coming to visit next weekend. This will be our first 4th of July in New York. I'm sure it will be eventful and lots of fun.

Scarlett eats like a bird. I struggle to find things to feed her. Any suggestions? She loves pasta, bread and wheats but I can't get the girl to eat fruits or vegetables. Strange since she loved vegetables when they were pureed. But now, Little Miss Independent won't let me feed her. 

Ty. He's always on my mind. I find it so intriguing that I can fall deeper and deeper in love with him as time passes. I expected things to grow...routine. And even though life inevitably slows down the excitement of any relationship, he still makes my heart beat faster. He still gives me butterflies. 

I have been working on my save the dates. I can't believe I'm getting married! It seems surreal. I always imagined I would marry. But it's actually happening now. It reminds me that I get to be with Ty for the rest of my life. Such a calming thought.

I'm digging dresses over skinny jeans. Like the outfit I wore below. 

Easy and effortless.

Sometimes, I wish I was braver. 

I wish that I had more courage. But I am who I am and I accept that. I work on my faults everyday. 

Some quotes that are with me on this weekend:

"Always remember, you are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, But I think I ended up where I needed to be." 

-Douglas Adams

"A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor." 

Dress: Old Navy

Distressed Jeans: American Eagle

Leopard Heels: Alloy

Belt: Wet Seal

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

June 21, 2013.

Today, I am working on my Save The Dates since our wedding is only one year away!! I know it's going to go by in the blink of an eye! I wanted to share a peak with you....

(Pause music @ Bottom of Page)

For you Ty....I love you more than words can say.

I wish you all A Lovely weekend...

Pieces of Life Lately.

     I feel like Mondays are coming more and more quickly lately. The weekends are not nearly long enough for my liking. What have we been doing lately? Well, we traveled from NY to MA on Thursday night while Scarlett slept. We attended one of my dearest friend's wedding in Boston, on Friday. While I drank only water, I watched others around me with drink after drink. I discovered that I do not miss drinking or hangovers, but I do miss dancing, entirely! And I've made it a promise to go dancing more often.

     We brought Scarlett to a Summer Solstice Festival on Saturday. We bought her the sweetest hand-made Hello Kitty baby. Then, we stopped at Ty's old stomping grounds, the Fire Station, to meet up with some of his old co-workers. My Scarlett is NOT shy. She flirted her way through the fire fighters, climbing up their boots and smiling.

     Saturday evening, we caught up with friends and did dinner, drive by fire works and a movie. Adult time is much needed on my part. I have been thinking about that a lot the past week or two. How much I miss working. Ok, let me rephrase. I wouldn't give up raising Scarlett for the world, and I love that I have had the chance to write more, but once in a great while, I still miss getting up in the morning, making a cup of coffee and heading out to work with my old co-workers. Or maybe it is the adult interaction I miss. Either way, I never stop wishing that I had more friends in New York. I also wish that I could move all my friends from Mass to New York, but that seems like the most unlikely of the two, to happen...Ha.

     Sunday was Father's Day and we began the morning by giving Daddy his Father's Day card. Then we spent the rest of the day at my sister's camp with my father. Scarlett got to play with a little friend. It was nice. She doesn't get to play with many other children either. Then, while we lounged by the pool, Ty had to pack up and head back to New York. I sat sad-faced when the good-bye kiss came. That is an inevitable occurrence when Ty leaves. I literally feel like a piece of me is missing/aching when he is away from me. I stayed behind to take care of a few things and visit some family before heading back to New York in the next couple of days.

     To distract ourselves, we are backpacking, taking nature walks, visiting with my sister and Scarlett's cousin and soaking up some vitamin D. Scarlett started walking last Wednesday so I'm busy busy with my little mover.

Thee Networking Blog Hop!

Are you ready to network??

Are you prepared to make some new bloggy friends??

Well, here's your chance!

Rollingstones Chic.

Rollingstones Tee: I bought so long ago, I can't remember 

Skirt: ModCloth

Skinny Belt: Gifted

Shoes: Boutique

Tuesdays With Mom: Anna

I'm so pleased to be swapping with Anna today. I found her through my good friend, Katie's blog a couple of weeks ago. When she asked me to swap for Tuesdays with Mom, I was all for it. Please take a minute to read and check out her blog.....


in april i went to uganda.

for those who don't know my story yet,

i should say i went  back to uganda.

i didn't go for vacation

or on a mission's trip

or to visit old friends.

i went, really, to visit a grave.

not just any grave.

the grave of this sweet boy

my son, lucas.

i met lucas when he was six months old,

and living in an orphanage.

he had been found abandoned on the side of a street,

stayed at a local police station until the courts deemed him abandoned,

and then moved to a baby home for orphans.

it's hard to know the best way to tell this story to others.

do i just say it simply?

i met lucas,

fell in love with him,

became best friends with a six month old,

cared for him eight hours a day,

went home to america,

went crazy trying to bring lucas home,

found out lucas died alone,

missed him forever?

or do i try to really explain how it happened?

explain how lucas edged his way into my heart,

taught me more in a few short weeks than i've learned before or since, about love.

do i explain how the death of lucas made me realize i had been his mother all along?

do i talk about the hours of research i put into learning about adoption?

or the hours of research put into learning about sickle cell anemia?

the tears i cried,

the times i yelled at God,

the sunsets

and Christmas's without him?

the empty place he left in my life?

or do i simply say that when i met lucas he was an orphan,

but when i left him he was my son.

i know it doesn't make sense at all.

but to me, it doesn't have to.

visiting his grave was the next hardest thing to losing him.

with the dogs and their tore up ears,

the biting ants

and the garbage,

i just kept thinking-

beautiful boy, how can you be here.

and then i remembered that he isn't there at all.

to learn more about me and lucas,

come on over to glitter, small world.

we'd be happy to have you.

Pieces of This Week.

 This past week consisted of parades, playgrounds, children's museum, traveling, dining out and a photo shoot. I had to go back to take care of a few things at our Massachusetts's home. I thought I was only going to have to be gone for a day or two. Ty couldn't stay with me as he was starting his new job. It ended up being a week and, like always, I was dramatically missing Ty. 

As soon as I returned, it was like a scene straight out of the Notebook. You know, the entire running and jumping up on him as he enters the door. You would think after 2 1/2 years together, things would have simmered down...Not really. We took Scarlett to The Children's Museum on Saturday. It is an entire building set up like a mini interactive town for kids. Grocery store, train station, restaurant, Post Office, fire station, band stand, construction site, and school are just a few of the exhibits there. Let's just say that I'm sad I never got to go here as a kid. At one point, Ty said, "Ok Mommy, time to stop playing and go to the next room." After that, we watched a parade and then brought Scarlett back to swim in the pool for a bit. We tuckered her right out. Scarlett fell asleep at 6 pm and slept until 8am the following day. 

Now here it is, Sunday and I'm sitting outside typing this with curlers in my hair, getting ready for a photoshoot. The peculiar looks from the neighbors are amusing me... I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

In 10 days...

I am so excited to be hosting June's Blog Hop @ LiveLaughRowe.
If you haven't heard about it, it's an awesome way gain new readers and give
your blog or shop exposure! So...what is it? It is a networking blog Party where
hundreds of bloggers link up to meet new bloggers and grow their blogs.
So mark your calendars for Sunday June 17th and come party with us!
If you want to find out a little more about it,
you can do that by clicking on the button below. 

And check out how many bloggers linked up last month!

Stripes & Breakfast.

This past weekend, Ty and I took Baby Scarlett out for her very first breakfast meal. Yes, she has had breakfast before. but this was the first time that we ordered her, her own meal.

We chose a cute little restaurant made up of all things vintage.
When they delivered her mickey mouse pancake, Scarlett's face was priceless.
"Is that for me?!" was the best way to describe her expression.
Precious.
The rainy weather has allowed us to wear some of our favorite cozy attire. Popovers!

Me:

Striped Popover Hoodie: J Crew

Navy Skinny Pants: Forever 21

Rain Boots: TJ Maxx

Scarlett:

Skinny Jeans: Old Navy

Cable Linen Popover: J Crew

Baby Gladiators: Babies R Us

Her Gift.

My writing lately, has become scarce here on the blog. Not because I am at a loss for words. But because I have been using up all of my thought and time on something else.
I have been writing a book for the past couple of years.
When I say the past couple of years, I actually mean 4 years.
Writing is my love affair.
I have days when I consume myself in it more than I should.
Days when I don't even want to look at it.
Days when it disappoints me. And days when I want to relish in it for hours on end.
Through all the seasons, one thing stays true: I am passionately in love with writing.

It has taken me many months to find the perfect story.
I cannot tell you how many times I have started over, throwing my countless hours of work away.
When Scarlett was born, I thought, 'There is no way that I am going to be able to finish this now. She will be my focus of attention for years to come.'
While this is true, she is my priority, I didn't expect to be blindsided by her gift.
I had planned to go back to work after my maternity leave was up. My job, as a banker, was important to me. Up until the very last day, I had every intention of going through with this.
On that day, I couldn't leave her.
I couldn't let someone else raise her while I worked, making merely enough money to pay for her child care.
It didn't make sense to me.

It was in those moments of grief, over losing time with her, that I chose to stay home. We didn't know what we would do financially. With great timing, Ty got laid off from his main job as an electrician, the same week that I left work. Although he still had fire fighting to fall back on,
I felt as though I had made a major mistake in our lives.
But I prayed.

I have this theory on life. That everything happens for a reason.
Though I may not understand much of this, I believe this because it always has in the past.
Just when things seemed to be at their hardest and most difficult; just as the door shut, a window opened.
A window offering Ty a job opportunity in New York. It was more than I could have wished for.
We jumped. We packed up and left in a months notice.
To say it was easy, would be a lie.
Then and there, with no friends around, and with Scarlett as my only job, I realized something marvelous.
 I had time.
All this glorious time had arose. I needed to fill it. Nap time twice a day. Play time, when Scarlett just wanted to be left alone. Time that Scarlett spent with Daddy.
Writing was the idyllic answer.

Scarlett, unknowingly, gave me the gift of time to write. Had she not came along, I might have spent many more years, between work and life, procrastinating my passion.
My book has been rewritten and revised numerous times.
But I am so utterly free in knowing that it is almost done.
By done, I am referring to my words. After that, comes the immense project of trying to find an editor, an agent, and a publisher.
That will be an adventure, in itself.
But I will pray that something will come along and blindside me, yet again, just as Scarlett did for me.
Someday, I will thank her for this generous gift that she has given me.

My Little and I: Skirts & Such.

INHABIT top, $44
Quiksilver short summer skirt, $50
Oasis ankle wrap sandals, $30
A Wear striped canvas tote, £30
Ted Baker summer straw hat, £30
Peek 'Elle' Tiered Skirt (Toddler, Little Girls & Big Girls), $48
Steve Madden 'Beaming' Sandal (Toddler, Little Kid & Big Kid), $23
Boys 2-7 Bullet Hat, $30
Peek 'Julianne' Ribbed Tank (Big Girls) Green XX-Large, $15