Friday Favorites

This week has definitely felt like it disappeared before it ever started. That happens when you start it off by traveling. We took a short vacation to visit my dad in North Carolina for Easter where we ate lots of chocolate and barbecue and homemade doughnuts. I immediately ran to Costco when we got back to load up on greens and veggies. Our CSA starts in about a week, and we’re super excited for all the experimentation it will bring to our kitchen. This weekend we’re planning some major spring cleaning. Now that we’ve been in this house for a while, we see several areas where we can streamline, reduce clutter, and implement better storage. I can’t wait for DB to get home so we can chow down on nachos and get things moving around here.

All this spring cleaning has triggered a big itch to do some DIY projects around the house (I made the blue pillow cover in the photo above). In my stolen moments, I’ve been watching classes on Creativebug and Craftsy, as well as dreaming about the links below.

Design Sponge offered up this simple and beautiful tutorial on fabric covered photo mats that I love.

Sharpie paint pens + terra cotta pots = genius!

Grainline Studio featured a tutorial on how to mod her Scout T-shirt to look like this Madewell denim t. I love it because it goes hand in hand with fashion revolution day (which was yesterday).

A house full of tiny bears totally calls for some Bear string art.

Brooklyn Tweed just released Wool People 7. I love the beautiful simplicity of this scarf. Also, chevrons!

Colette Patterns released their Guide to Sewing with Knits, and two lovely new patterns. I’m pretty excited to make myself a pencil skirt.

Hope you have a creative weekend!

xo, S.

 

Wardrobe Architect: Weeks 10 & 11

I feel like the further I get into Wardrobe Architect, the more clothes I find myself pulling out of my closet to get rid of (maybe I’ll get around to photographing them and getting them up on Threadflip this weekend). Even though I like to think I maintain a minimalist closet, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have some magpie tendencies that drag my eye and my wallet towards details and silhouettes that are beautiful but just not me for one reason or another. Amongst the things I’ve pulled out of the closet, there is lace (totally not me), dirndl skirts (so not flattering), and other experimental pieces either in shape, hemline, or color that I could just never get to work. I definitely won’t miss their absence in my closet.

For week 10, we revisited the palettes we made in week 6. I kind of already did this in the week 9 exercise, where I decided to focus my spring and summer wardrobes with crisp white, black, heather grays, navy, and red. It occurred to me that the palette is a bit nautical, but I don’t intend to go out in lots of stripes and bateau tops. I’m going for a more active, comfortable mom look than a preppy yacht club one. I plan on sticking with this and maybe adding lighter shades of blue to the mix. So this week, we’re talking about what clothes we want to make or buy based off the silhouettes and color palettes of the preceding weeks.

American Apparel

Everlane

For the most part, I created my capsule collection based off things I already have in my wardrobe. I’d love to make myself a new skirt and some tops, but given that my size is a still a variable, I don’t really want to spend the time or materials on making things that won’t fit in a few months. I have bought a vintage denim wrap skirt (adjustable waist is key!), and I’ll likely one or both of the shirts pictured above. I’m also on the prowl for dark brown leather sandals (Any suggestions? I haven’t found any that have really wow-ed me yet). I’m really loving these eyelet dresses from Madewell and Boden, but I’m not sure about those dirndl skirts, or the expense, or the size…hoping for a big end of season sale on one of them.

Madewell

Boden

Lately

Since the end of February when DB had to go on an exercise for a few weeks, things have been a complete and utter whirlwind. It’s been a constant slog of both of us working, a revolving door of parents coming in to help, working out, and doing our best to spend as much time hanging out with the kids at the cost of leaving the house in a pretty messy state. I hear this is normal for parents of young children, but that doesn’t always make me feel better about the piles of laundry in our bathroom and all the bread and cereal crumbs around the house. What I really miss right now is having time for creative pursuits. My sewing machine is buried under stuff. A sweater I started in January hasn’t been touched in 6 weeks. I did manage to eco out about 15 minutes to play guitar on Sunday, and I really enjoyed that. Luckily, we’re headed towards a break from all this in the next couple weeks. Time to get some serious spring cleaning done, but more importantly, get outside and enjoy these warmer but not oppressively hot days.

These photos were all taken with my iPhone and most had a little help from VSCOcam (favorite app!)

bro time // i cobbled this outfit together to go to a work fundraiser // do you like my hat?// a window in Georgetown // sweet face for mom mom // along the Potomac // dress blues day at work // dimples! // sunday morning // we went on a date. i wore new shoes // a rare moment of calm

Friday Favorites

Another whirlwind couple of weeks has just FLOWN by. We’re taking a break starting this month, regrouping as a family, taking a little road trip, and generally just doing our best to go outside and enjoy the weather before the oppressive humidity and crazy bugs start showing up. Oh spring, you are such a brief but lovely window. Hope you’re warming up and getting some much needed air wherever this weekend finds you.

This article is exactly why I’m not concerned about how long it will take to lose weight, but instead focused on adopting and keeping healthy habits for me and my family.

Rashida Jones has natural beauty down pat.

I want to visit Victoria Smith’s San Francisco.

Also, Paris!

Made a version of this pizza a couple days ago…perfection!

How utterly gorgeous are these embroidered portraits?

I haven’t had much opportunity to knit recently, but obviously I should. This is your brain on knitting.

Tintypes on found cans. So beautiful.

Mint and red is always a favorite.

Have a great weekend!

xo, S.