my favorite tropical dessert: mangoes with coconut rice

it's a rare sight to see; me choosing a dessert that does not involve chocolate, custard, gelato, cake, cookies, brownies, etc. however, i do have a major crush on rice pudding (when done right) along with this delicious duo: coconut rice with mangoes. this is a delectable pairing, you cannot go wrong. basically if the word coconut is on a menu, i usually order it without hesitation. i'll eat a ramekin of this for breakfast (while my family has frozen waffles) and for a moment i imagine i'm on a tropical vacation. i justify the sweet and carb combo because we're headed out to the surf soon to catch the first waves of daylight... i snap back into reality as i sign paperwork, oversee homework, and push lego guys out of the way on my kitchen table. still, the mangoes and rice are the real deal. this recipe is so simple, you might start making it on a weekly basis. that's not so much a warning as it is an invitation.

Mangoes & Coconut Rice
Thanks to my darling friend Jamie Anne for this recipe!

1 1/2 cups white uncooked rice (Basmati or Calrose short-grain work great)
Cook rice according to directions and set aside. Then transfer rice into a larger bowl.

3-4 Mangoes (ripe, deeply colorful, firm but not too firm - like an avocado) **
1 (14 oz.) can pure coconut milk (I buy the 'light' version)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt

Combine coconut milk, sugar, and salt into small saucepan and simmer over low to medium heat until sugar is dissolved. This takes about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The milk will turn from milky white to a more clear color. Remove from heat.

Pour coconut sauce over your sticky rice. Stir to combine and allow to rest. The rice will continue to soak up all that coconut sauce and the flavoring will be infused into every grain. Do this at least an hour (or longer) to absorb the coconut milk. Meanwhile, remove skins and slice mangoes into bite-sized bits and place into separate bowl. Dish it up into pretty bowls; serve at room temperature. Add a few raspberries for a kicky, bright garnish.

Serves 6, approximately.

**The great news is they now sell mangoes by the jar!! I've seen them near the packaged salad kits. They are tasty, juicy, and ripe and take ALL the work out of this dessert. Seriously worth your money if you're short on time or terribly impatient when cutting mangoes (and / or have a toddler at your feet).

Note: Ladies especially seem to love this dessert. Take it to bookclub, a buffet or girls night out. It travels well, assembles easily and is a fun change from the usual monotonous sweets scene. Enjoy!

am currently on a carmelita kick / hilary's caramelita recipe

my dear friend hilary was one of my favorite idaho finds. we were neighbors and became very close during the years i lived there. lucky for me, her fam moved here when we moved home. such a happy crazy coincidence! we still get to see each other. in fact we are running a 5K together this weekend. if you feel so inclined, please donate a little for a good cause. we are running on a team in honor of her sweet angel baby michael. hilary is one of those friends that you know God put in your path for a reason. i have learned so much from her, i get teary every time i think about it. she is one of the most genuine, charitable people you'll ever meet. and she brings you cookie dough, just for no reason. and she shows up early when you're hosting parties, to help out. and she usually stays late to help clean up. she is that type of person. i'd never met any one else like her.

to make a long story short, i am a better person because of hilary. she is too humble to ever realize all she has done for me and my family. in this household we talk about her and her husband like they are legends. we really love them. enough gushing, onto the carmelitas! p.s. happy birthday, hil! admittedly, i have been on a carmelita kick for months now. they hit the spot, are quick to whip up and keep for days in the fridge. these bars are perfect for a picnic, a church activity or with a scoop of ice cream to accompany The Office finale. (didn't you love it?!)

i text hilary every time i make one of her recipes. she is an amazing cook. due to her gorgeous slim physique you'd never know she has a sweet tooth. but i love how she can put it away with the rest of us. just another reason we get along so well. i've been meaning to blog this recipe forever, so in honor of hilary's birthday, i give you her carmelitas!! careful, they are addictive.



HILARY'S BEST EVER CARAMELITAS 
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/2 jar Mrs. Richardsons Butterscotch Caramel sauce (brand name is essential)
1 package (2 cups) milk chocolate chips (Hilary insists on using Guittard)

 In large bowl combine first 6 ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle half of crumbly mixture into a foil-lined, greased 9x13-inch pan. (I smash mine down to ensure no holes for slippery carmel to get through.) Bake at 350 F for 10 to 15 minutes.

 Sprinkle chocolate chips over the baked crust and top with melted caramel mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture on top. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

note 01. / if you want extra dense carmelitas for a party, simply double the crumbly dough topping by melting 3 sticks butter and add 3 cups flour, 3 cups oats, 3 cups brown sugar and doubling the soda and salt. use 3/4 jar of caramel sauce and 2 cups or more chocolate chips. (you can't really mess these up.) bake the doubled recipe in the same 9x13 pan.

note 02. / here's my tutorial on prepping and cutting carmelita bars. (did i mention how they are the perfect sweet for sharing?) i make them so often, i pretty much have the process down to a science. line your 9x13 pan with foil and spray with pam. then continue with the recipe as directed. that way, you can easily lift them out of the pan and peel off the foil for cutting. make carmelitas a day prior to when you plan to serve them. or at the very least, early in the morning of your dinner party. let them refrigerate overnight so the caramel can set up properly. the next day, when you're ready to slice them, take them out and let them sit on the counter for 15 minutes or so (while you eat breakfast). carmelita edges make the perfect breakfast dessert. slice off edges and save for husband and kiddos. then continue to slice into bars. place bars in sealed container and refrigerate until you're ready to roll.

tip for tuesday / wannabe washi tape now at officemax

who doesn't love a good roll of washi tape? i have a growing collection and love to tape everything up and mix and match 'em. even though it's trendy. i like the neon trend too. so sue me. i don't even mind the wannabe washi tape rolls showing up at target and other easy-access stores. has washi tape sold out? if so, i for one am in favor! bring on more washi / wannabe tape! we office-supply hoarders love it.

this is one of my favorite rolls by far. now available at your local officemax! it's geometric patterned, a bit wider than classic washi tape. it's mint! and it's made my scotch. (do you know how i love scotch brand double-sided tape?! this is the next best thing!) and i just happen to be wearing mint pants today. talk about trendy. and matchy matchy. well, there's your tuesday tip. xo.

p.s. washi on wiki.

am a fan

am a fan of instagram. i didn't get it before. now i do. #callmeasocialmediaslowpoke. i plan on making an Artifact Uprising photo album. instagram is the perfect lazy-person scrapbook.

am a fan of string cheese. with apples. or alone and in my purse all day, a little smushed.

am a fan of spring rain. it's so refreshing and is making our lawn soo green.

am a fan of OPI gargantuan green grape. the perfect mint hue for nails.

am a fan of old navy v-neck tees. i live in them.

am a fan of fabulous envelopes. i love a grid design.

am a fan of these pretty necklaces. i hope to meet kersey this week at bijou market!!

am a fan of these maypole colorful felt balls and the darling girl behind them. yay, aubry. (i met her and some other very talented ladies at an intimate crafter mama meet n' greet the other night. thanks to michelle of twig for the invite! lets do it again soon!)

am a fan of the gallery wall. dan has given me the go-ahead to let me have-at-it in my kitchen. am hoping for something lovely like this little pinspiration.

am a fan of all the darling illustrations found in the little low studio shop. this adventurers print would be perfect for my family of little adventuresome men.

am a fan of hunkering down to fold laundry. am thinking i'll be ordering something from amazon prime to make it a night. any good movie suggestions?!!

am a fan of creative collaboration projects. i am so grateful for you awesome incredible people (mostly all women!!) that i get to work alongside with. seriously, i pinch myself. i love brainstorming big things together.

am a fan of this tea boy's plaid button down. if i could justify hanging another one in their closet, it would be mine.

am a fan of family bike rides.


p.s. my brother and i had a little discussion about blogs the other day. i wonder.. is blogging dead? are we on the way out, especially due to google reader going away for good!?! are you still out there? if so, say a little hello in the comments. perhaps it's just the device you read it on is too cumbersome to comment?! anyway, just a bitty experiment!

5 awesome things for the weekend.

+ planning on busting out the traditional trail mix for general conference this weekend. (it's going to be streaming live on saturday and sunday. are you excited?!)

+ this Elder Uchtdorf talk from the general young women meeting was so uplifting and riveting from the get-go. i love hearing him speak.

+ i've recently discovered sally hansen's insta-dry anti chip top coat. it's ammmmazing. it dries quick and looks glossy for a very long time. my sista thought my nails were shellac.

+ raining today. benji reminds me, april showers bring may flowers. will be making a fort later for a readathon. he has discovered richard scarry books. this makes me entirely happy.

+ am joining the masses on instagram! after a friendly dose of peer pressure i am loving the quick snapshot and connection with friends. find me @martawrites. a whole new addictive substance.

mommy dates & nars lipstick

 

image source / nars 

one of my guilty pleasures is taking my little boys on mommy dates. it usually involves something fun for me (paper source & sephora) and something fun for them (hot dog on a stick and a stroll through build-a-bear). i try using my best date manners and benji is learning to hold doors open for seth's stroller. no distractions; no texting, no disciplining (if possible), just chit chat and lots of holding hands and genuine compliments. if you give them air to talk, it's awesome to see what toddlers come up with. on the way to the mall we talked about volcanoes and dinosaurs and the word extinct. 

another guilty pleasure (since i don't have time to truly peruse and choose), we run into sephora and pick a wild colored lipstick at random (benji sometimes helps). i try it on and wear it for the rest of the day deciding if i'd ever purchase it. i like to think that it whips my messy bun and leggings into a chic fashion statement rather than a fall-out-of-bed look. yesterday i tried NARS SCHIAP. it's a semi-matte lipstick. its shocking bright pink hue is the perfect pick-me-up and 'take that!' for the winter months. it's adorable and actually wearable. am a fan. and the good news is, it stayed on after eating said hot dog on stick. which is pretty important when it comes to dating.

gift idea for your favorite workhorse entrepreneur

anyone who sits in their office all day long relishes in a useful and beautiful office supply. truth be told, right now my basement studio is exploding with gift wrapping projects half done, shipping boxes of hidden gifts, cards for seth's baby book (which i should actually start up on any day now) and projects galore piled high on my scanner. it's a terrible mess. there is hardly any floor space to be had. 'tis the season, right?! however, i do know and love a good office supply when i see one. so instead of cleaning my office, i created a list of top picks for you! much more fun.

 + orla kiely pencils. (i have these! too pretty to use. mainly for admiring.)
 + liquid flair pens. my new favorites. (read my pen post here!)
 + plain industrial tags and packaging supplies are always handy.
 + moleskine journals are a classic for a reason. the blank paged ones are my fave.
 + books like blog inc. and the handmade marketplace are full of helpful advice.
 + thick luxe business cards by moo.com. ammmazing quality with a fantastic price.
 + you can never go wrong with a unique address rubber stamp. ooh la la!
 + multi-organizer by boon (mine is loaded with pens, scissors, post-its & sharpies. love.)

did i mention he is smiling now / and other happy things.

in his star pj's. / almost four months old.

little sweet seth has conquered the giant gummy grin. it's our favorite and makes me go bonkers each time he does it. benji climbs over and perches over the crib to watch his brother grin and sometimes even giggle. it's this darling chuckle, that sometimes suddenly turns into a cry. but he's a pretty happy camper and–as moms often say–i can't imagine life without our little redhead hanging out with us. his eyes are turning a deeper blue and his nose is a little ski slope. he is wide eyed and curious. he recently discovered his hands and watches them intently. i can't get over how simple and sweet and slow and lovely a life with a baby is. i mean, yes, it's crazy and fast paced and nights are still topsy turvy, but when i see him in his bouncer just checkin' out his tiny fist, it makes me smile. and then he smiles. and then i pinch his little hedgehog cheeks.

topping the list of other happy things...

+ i just finished The Truth About Style by stacy london. (it's not the typical style / fashion book. it goes beyond that.) you guys, i loved it. i think you will too. if you like fashion, stacy london or any self-help, feel better about body image and just suck it up and get a kick in the pants to accept what you were given and celebrate style.. it's a must-read. my mom let me borrow it. she knows the best books.

+ i have yet to find a blue nail polish that i like, until now (suzi says feng shui in OPI). this is unexpected and novemberish, moody and reminds me of van gogh starry starry night. i am sure he's rolling over in his grave at that comparison, but still.

+ i get to make the stuffing for thanksgiving! what kinds of additions do you like in your stuffing? i like apples and sausage and sage..

+ dan is making pioneer woman's flat apple pie for my family's annual pie night. mmm. mm.

+ we had a huge snowstorm last week. benji played in it for hours. i got used to scraping the windshield again and the effort of bundling babies up. oh the joys of warm boots and cocoa. still loving darn tough brand socks. dan surprised me with a new pair.

+ in the beauty department, i got eyelash extensions from a friend (seriously amazing) and dyed my hair dark (wowza). i'm basically a whole new person. get excited.

+ recently i rented the katy perry documentary (no shame) from red box when dan was working late. so, basically, i'm still the same ol' me. with a nursing babe and loads of laundry, there is lots of tv to be watched. lacking cable... i've been suckered into The Voice, Dancing With the Stars or DWTS for people in the know (i detest long random acronyms), and The Mindy Project. what are you watching?

+ along with james bond, we are planning on watching Elf over the thanksgiving holiday. i still wish will ferrell wouldn't pour syrup over his spaghetti. it gets me everytime. and we'll surely be avoiding black friday doorbusters and instead wiggling seth into his little bear suit and stomping around in the snow with little cousins. and then bundling up in front of the fireplace.

+ can't wait to plan the long list of to-dos for december with dan on the long car ride. we usually read a silly people magazine and then dive into discussion. there are so many festive activities to think about, especially now that benji is in the magic age. looking forward to writing letters to santa, seeing christmas lights, and meeting the man himself (again). sending cards, wrapping gifts. perhaps hosting another girls night or dipping pretzels. and definitely making mom's apple cake with best ever sauce at some point. what are you most excited for? let the holidays begin. 

happy thanksgiving.
i am oh so thankful for you.

james bond + nail polish

OPI SkyFall collection

 i love how opi keeps cranking out pretty polishes for new movies. it's a genius marketing maneuver. i especially liked the polish, the spy who loved me (seen here). it's the perfect glimmery red for your upcoming christmas party. of course–they are all so glam–any shade will do.

p.s. have you seen the new 007 yet? (no spoilers.. we're waiting for thanksgiving break.)

favorite finds / gold edition

+ dying over these gold polka dot sheets; a little metallic touch in the bedroom.
+ caitlin wilson design debuts her metallic line of throw pillows!
+ i love everything danni does. here are her metallic spools of twine.
+ washi tape is a must in my studio. this set is perfect for the holidays.
+ i fell hard for these golden note cards. hooray for rifle paper!
+ oh joy does it again. check out her line of clothes for littles.
+ keiko lynn has gorgeous, glowing makeup tutorials and much more.
(am excited about her adorable, fashion-ey, new-to-me site.)

p.s. golden leaves are falling all over the lawn in our backyard. they are so beautiful, piling up in mounds of rich color. it looks like a painting. we have a church raking activity this saturday. can't wait to bundle up and get out early in the morning to rake up a storm. hope it's not too wet! last year benji was the official leaf pouncer. hope you're enjoying november to the fullest. it'll be over before we know it!

go vote. happy election day.

inspiring me today...

01. / 02. / 03. / 04. / 05.

tonight we'll be eating presidential pasta and folding laundry (which is always on my to-do list), perhaps painting my fingernails (a rare treat with a babe in arms) and drinking root beer (dan's fave) at our own little election party for two (or more). what are your election day plans??

one of my favorite things ever / seth's birth announcement

baby announcement design & details by SHE PAPERIE / letterpress by somersault / my own snapshots

for someone like me, a birth announcement is more than a trivial tradition. it's the real deal. it's more important than crib bedding designs and hospital bag contents. i mean, nowadays texts and tweets are the first announcements of birth, i get that. but still, a legit birth announcement (sent through the mail!) feels like a right of passage. to me, it's an honored hello to the world. or perhaps that's just the stationery sweet tooth talking; it's another incredible excuse reason to mail something marvelous.

during the nine months, i had dreamed up some simple ideas for seth's announcement and hoped to find time to design it myself. ha! then he was born and all my spare hours turned into moments and holding him (and napping!) seemed more important than any other task at hand. so i turned it over to a designer i could trust completely with such a precious project. enter, suzanne of SHE PAPERIE. (she rarely blogs anymore because she is slammed with creating beautiful paperie projects. follow her instagramming obsession right here!) she totally understood why this project was so important to me. suzanne is so awesome with her custom work; putting her heart into every collaborative effort. we texted nearly every day, usually in the wee (freelance design / feeding baby) hours to make sure we both shared the vision for seth's announcement. she took my ideas and ran with them, taking them into flight up into the clouds. her design really took my breath away. and since suzanne is the queen of details, she thought of all the ways to package it together and present it (all tied up in a bow inside the envelope). she found coordinating twine and washi tape that would tie the loose ends together perfectly! her packaging skills kill me. this announcement perfectly suited our little mr. seth.

and... the letterpress (!!!) printing by somersault was absolute icing on the cake. look at how thick and luscious that stock is. my dreams are made of paper this thick. better than a genie in a lamp. check out more photos featured on somersault's facebook page.

thank you, suz!

falling for fall / at williams-sonoma

we got out of the house and found ourselves having a bit of a field trip at williams-sonoma today. i fell for all of their new things for fall. wouldn't the apron (don't you love the feminine cut?!), cider & spices make a thoughtful thanksgiving hostess gift?

p.s. my boys (i love the plural on that!) took a liking to these and these, of course.
p.p.s. thank you for the great book suggestions!

am a fan

 

am a fan of re-discovering a treasure! look at this vintage quilt! i've had it folded up and stored away for years. (what was i thinking!?!) i am so very much in love with it. (whit and abby are likely laughing right now, they know the truth about my quilt addiction.) i am a collector, which is a nice way of saying that i'm a quilt hoarder. you really can never have enough quilts. you need a quilt for every mood and they all need names. i am spoiled in quilts and i often feel unworthy since i barely know how to sew on a button! this one is just right for the beginning of fall; the fabric feels cool on my skin and yet it is so cozy and soft. i am studying the individual fabrics and imagining their stories. re-wrapping myself up in it is making these night feedings much more dreamy.

am a fan of jimmy kimmel (speaking of night feedings). he makes me laugh out loud.

am a fan of mixing equal parts limeade and gingerale. benji calls it lime-o-nade.

am a fan of bumble and bumble texture undressing creme. this stuff gives my fine hair grit and volume. a little goes a long way. it's so helpful on days when i am attempting the beachy bed head look. and it gives some ooomph when teasing the roots for a top knot or messy ponytail (which is pretty much my go-to for walking benj to pre-school). if you like their surf spray, you'll love this stuff.

am a fan of the october issue of the Oprah magazine. this magazine is always well thought-out and beautifully designed, however this specific issue is loaded with useful advice. (even dr. phil's article had me pondering...)

am such a fan of this article by steve carell. i love when you can hear someone's voice in their writing.

am a fan of meeting blog readers in the flesh. you guys are the coolest. i always marvel that people are out there still reading this silly old blog. a really wonderful photographer came to snapshot my boys this weekend and shockingly she admitted to reading my blog for awhile now (unless you comment, i don't believe you're out there!). we hit it off right away and i can't wait to share jessica's photo session tips with you! i never thought i'd invite a guest into my home and let her watch me make my bed (while she holds my new baby)! there's a first time for everything!

am a fan of blogging for SIX years. happy blog-a-versary to me. as most of you know, this blog has been all over the place. it's had some highs and some lows. i take pride in knowing–no matter what–it's pretty genuine to me. right now it's taken a major leap from anything organized, neat or pre-determined. right now it's all organic and spontaneous posting, i hope you don't mind. and pretty un-airbrushed. here i am, all loosey goosey. words all over the place. as i always say, thank you for reading. i love the community of blogging. i love having all my thoughts in one general location. it's awesome to look back and see so many happy memories. i like watching my ideas change and evolve over the years! (oh boy, have i learned a lot.) i've said it (more eloquently) before: here, here and here.

am a fan of saying no. or at least, i'm getting better at it. these days i'm taking baby steps on the tasks i can tackle. since my creative juices seem to be boxed up with my skinny jeans, i'm taking maternity leave from designing logos and invitations and more (sorry if i haven't replied to your email inquiries!!). however, i have plenty of good designer recommendations for you! for example, suzanne from shepaperie and i have very similar design aesthetic. i can't say enough good about her, i just love her work. she is seriously talented and can read your mind when it comes to custom pieces. (in fact, she is helping me create a very important baby announcement!)

am a fan of layered fall fashion. the denim, the corduroys, flannel plaids, tights and riding boots are all chomping at the bit. planning on painting my nails a moody hue this week.

mara mi at target

am loving all the mara mi paperie products at target these days.
(it doesn't get better than pretty printed paper plates and envelopes!)
happy tuesday.

to the great nora ephron

• incredible handwritten image by lisa congdon.

i was so saddened to hear the news of the passing of nora ephron. she is one of my heroes. we will be having a nora ephron movie marathon in her honor this weekend. when harry met sally, you've got mail, julie and julia, sleepless in seattle, and bewitched are among my forever faves. i especially love listening to her audio books (read the post i devoted to her in 2010). however if you read them in page format, her voice still comes through strong and clear and brilliant. you will want to be her best friend. you feel as though you understand her and you know she'd understand you. she is an incredible writer and i always put down her books (being a little sad to have finished it) with renewed gumption to write my own. to motivate another writer without writing about the topic of writing is the very essence of a great writer. 

summer favorites / beauty edition

my days have been filled with summer fun; i am feeling like a real mom lately. every morning benj and i head to swimming lessons. i throw on a maxi skirt and a ponytail for the occasion, we run errands and to the library and then grab a celebratory happy meal to eat at the park on a whim. (he jumped off the diving board!!) life is oh so lovely. a summer wedding is coming up and the traditional MS bike ride is right around the corner. family is visiting and then it will be the fourth of july before we know it! i will be dipping in and out of blogging all summer long. for now, here are a few favorites from my quick summer beauty routine. do tell, what are you loving lately?

+ bobbi brown long-wear cream eye shadow is my go-to swipe-on and out the door fix.
+ dermalogica skin refining masque is a part of my weekly bathing regimen.
+ as is baking soda as my cheap body scrub exfoliant.
+ bath and body works makes a decent self-tanner for my poor legs that rarely see the sun.
+ sephora sells benefit bad gal lash in a mini travel size which i love.
+ moroccan oil (also available in trial size) smells amazing and really does help heal the hair.
+ fresh sugar lemon body lotion is light with just the right amount of citrus.
+ clinique chubby moisturizing lip stick in whole lotta honey is the perfect nude shade and gives a nice moist mwwaaahhh without any sticky shine; i seriously love this stuff.
+ am thrilled with these sweet button-covered ponytail holders.
+ i'm convinced–for us fair freckled friends–bobbi brown carries the best bronzing powder out there. and this stuff lasts forever.

favorite finds

+ sarasa zebra 0.7 pens are becoming a fast favorite.
+ zoi brand greek yogurt is the best in the business. especially with berries & granola.
+ carousel designs is the place for mini crib bedding (baby boy has polka dot & gingham).
+ reading vintage berenstain bears is a new bedtime ritual.
+ leaning heavily on adobe illustrator these days. this how-to book is the best reference guide.
+ can't help but stock up on light swaddling blankets for this summer babe.
+ ate berries in the canaries by o.p.i. is the perfect pop for a pedicure.
+ drippy juicy fat triangles of fresh watermelon. yes please.
+ shanna murray wall decals. so fantastic. i can't seem to choose a favorite.
+ latest greatest font obsession: josefin slab. download it for free!

am a fan

am a fan of simple ink. look at this gorgeous letterpress print. thank you, amy!
am a fan of prepping for weekend parties; a baby shower for bff little whit.
am a fan of baking bread again. made four loaves yesterday, crusts only a little burnt.
am a fan of sydney's style and cheerful persona. the daybook blog is on my daily faves list.
am a fan of the local library. am loving flipping through this and re-reading this book.
am a fan of dan coming home from a business trip. airport reunions are the best.
am a fan of sarah carey's simple recipe videos from Everyday Food. thanks, heed!
am a fan of landing on this collage of jackie o. snapshots.
am a fan of sunny park days. rain, rain, go away.
am a fan of taking a peek at danni's fabulous little notebook.
am a fan of hearing benj say the phrase, speaking of jets...
am a fan of the bright skinny jean trend; now available in maternity. hip, hip.
am a fan of asparagus and finally learning how to prepare it; perfect every time.
am a fan of busting out the barbecue. twice already this week.

little boy love / inspiration board

i could go on and on about how much i think about little boys; the fact that we will have two bouncing around this place makes me so happy. i can't help but dream up shared bedrooms, imagine tiny clothes and diapers lying around, and hoping benji can help swaddle his brother. i am in one moment trying to enjoy every second of the just benji stage while, the next moment, anticipating (and planning) life with another!

just yesterday i sat at the kitchen table (warm spring sunshine filtering in) with the back door open watching benji and his cousin scoot around on bikes, mark up our garbage cans with chalk and play soccer together in the backyard. benji kept his helmet on the whole time explaining that he was a construction worker man. after working so hard, they decided they were getting thirsty. i officially became the watering station with cup fulls of endless drinks. i love watching their imaginations grow. i am constantly wanting to write down every little thing he says and does. like when i gave them string cheeses, their sweaty little bodies sitting down to rest on the steps, and they knocked their cheese sticks together saying, cheers!!

+ i love this wagon for a playroom bookshelf / cory connor designs
+ am obsessed / the boy with the orange bowtie print / by lisa golightly
+ am dreaming of a red crib for our summer baby / chez daphne home
+ the mini cooper onesie / be still my heart / charlie and sarah etsy shop
+ stripey jammies and chubby legs / yes, please / polarn o. pyret
+ dancing dot blanket / just darling / polarn o. pyret
+ wooden car transporter for a helpful big brother / melissa & doug