identity capital for the 20-somethings

Has someone ever said something to you that to them may have been nonchalant, but wound up being deeply impacting on your life? I have. My psychology professor at Auburn made a profound comment one day that has run through my mind ever since. "You girls better figure out now who you are and who you are to become, based on something other than your looks; because by the time you are 35, all the 19-year-olds will be prettier than you." It was in that defining moment that it kind of hit me. He is exactly.right. What am I doing here? Why am I so wrapped up in how I am dressed or look for class, when there are tons of people who would give anything to be in my shoes- at this college, getting a degree of their choice. Their choice to then use, contentedly, every day for the rest of their lives. It was really only after that day that I feel I truly got serious with college and making a career out of what I learned there, not just treating it like some big, swanky, co-ed summer camp. He helped put into perspective that I ain't got all day to figure my life out; that within a few years if I don't have a plan in place, it might just be too late to put it altogether.

Chassity over at Look Linger Love posted this awesome video yesterday about this generation's 20-somethings and how we have been taught that we have "extra" time to kind of flounce around through life for a decade since 30 is the new 20. Meg discusses how wrong this saying truly is. She talks about where we perceive a lot of our 20-something decisions to be "identity exploration," a lot of them are really more "identity procrastination." Instead, we should start investing in "identity capital" as it begets identity capital for your future.

Makes sense, and it wouldn't hurt the guys to hear it, either.

Check it out here.

current lustings

I am always lusting over something. That is just a given. But I about fell out of my chair over this gorgeous flatware. ugh.

Gold-dipped flatware

The idea of hanging frames from the ceiling. It adds so much more detail to the whole wall. And check out the designer behind this particular home. She is quite amazing.

Dana Wolter Interiors

The pool/beach days this summer are calling my name and this cover up...

Trina Turk Tunic Coverup

aaaannnddd this tote.

Mossimo Large Straw tote

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend! 

prepare.

We Alabamians know too well the loss and devastation that comes with tornadoes. They are here in a matter of minutes, gone in a matter of seconds and can take everything that took years and decades to build, with them. They not only take materials, but they take life as well. It is a devastating reality for which we should all prepare.

We can never be fully ready for an emergency, but the thought of losing everything, including identification and my loved ones- makes my heart race. Here are some "Emergency Kit" guidelines to use with your own family. A plan of action and kit in place are just two small but huge steps to preparedness. 

While you are at it, pray for those trying to make sense of and pick up the pieces after Monday's devastation in Oklahoma. For them, today is not just another day. 

whats been goin on

Besides monthly updates for the nugget, we have just too.much.going.on.around.here.
Seriously.
So I thought I should probably recap it all so I don't forget later down the road...

We lost Ginger, the family Dachsund, at the beginning of the month. It was super hard on all of us. My mom and stepfather got Ginger a month after they got married, 12 years ago. She watched me, my sis and our step-brother go through middle school, high school and college. She had lived in 3 different homes with us and passed away right before my parents move into their new house. She lived a long life of love but we will still miss her so. In honor of Ginger and a new house, Ginger was buried in the natural area of the new home and we are going to plant some flowers and such around her resting spot. Mom put a letter in her casket that my stepdad built for her. Mom is also going to hang her collar on a hook in the new laundry room- just as she would if she was still here.

Pets are not just pets. They are truly an extension of our family. Sometimes a better extension of our family. Hell, I sometimes think I like more animals than I do people. They are 100% loyal and loving companions. I guess that is why it hurts so bad when they leave us. Mom told me this quote and it helps with the pain of losing sweet Ginger: 

In some lighter notes...
We celebrated Ri's friend Will at the beginning of May as he turned one!

And this time last year we had just found out we were having a girl, and we spent Mother's Day weekend talking about how crazy it was that this time next year, I will be a mom. That time has slammed into my face at 90 to nothing and I cannot believe Mother's Day is in honor of me for the first time in my life. What? We spent this one also celebrating Mom and Jessica's birthdays. 

Seester's 26th birthday

Wearing our matching Shelley Bee Originals skirts- they were a hit!

Early morning snuggles on Mother's Day

Helping GiGi read one of her Mother's Day cards

sweet gift from Jessica & Gigi for Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was full of love, food and good company. Saturday I even got to squeeze in some shopping with mini and lunch with my girlfriends from high school and all some of the new babies.

And have spent the rest of any down time since then on this!

We are now in the last week of school for the year. I have this week and one more sans kids before I can kick back with the babe for 2 months. It couldn't come soon enough. 

birthday planning for cupcake

I have already started brainstorming Ri's 1st birthday.
 I know. I am crazy. It is 5 4.5 months away but here is the deal: I work full time August-May, and with September kicking off football season (we don't mess with Southern football, ya'll), it would be smart of me to get a lot of her party deets covered this summer while I am on break.

Plus, with her only turning one, the theme can pretty much be all up to me. She won't know the difference; as long as there are toys and food, she is good.
Ya feel me?!

Ri's day-mom (I hate the word "sitter" and "nanny" for so many reasons) has always called her "Cupcake." Ironically, we gave my mom a pink cupcake on her birthday last year, when we found out we were having a girl. Also, Ri's initals are framed on the wall in her nursery, with the letter "C" having a cupcake printed on it. Cheesy coincidences? Maybe. But who freakin' doesn't like cupcakes!? 

I took the cupcake theme just a bit further with the idea of more of a "Sweets Shop" to give us more options to play around with. Here is an inspiration board I put together to jump start the planning. 

With a plan like this, it seems easy enough, but looks like I have a lot of DIY in my summer's future! I look forward to starting to process and posting about the projects! 

Items for purchase and optional vendors:

Straws, paper goods, twine, balloons & milk jugs: The TomKat Studio

seven months

On the down slope to one! Wow. This has been a HUGE developmental month for us...

One of my besties had her precious little one on April 8th. It was that day that Rilynn finally sat up completely on her own for a handful of minutes. That same week, we had a couple of days of nap regressions no naps at all and then things seemed to go back to normal. She also started taking naps on her side and then by the weekend of April 12th, Ri put herself to sleep and slept every night on her back for a couple of weeks. I was blown away. My baby is growing up. 

We are still slowly introducing solids. Her little tummy gets stopped up quite easily and she is still just so much more interested in her bib, the bowl, the spoon. She was only taking 4oz for her morning bottle for a couple of weeks this month and is now taking 6oz but no more. I don't know what gives.

April 14th Rilynn sat up on all 4's and has been practicing her "take off" since then. I have a feeling she will figure it out any day now and I am having night terrors of childproofing the house. Scratch that. Seriously, this post goes to show how much things can change in a matter of weeks! I had been working on this post all month and continuously had to rewrite or take out bits and pieces that were no longer the case. Rilynn is now CRAWLING! As of May 1st, one day shy of 7 months. It's like she just woke up that morning and knew what to do. It is still at a snail's pace (fine by me!) but so so cute!

We have been working on our wave 'bye bye' and Rilynn has the imitation of chewing food down pat. We have been trying to get her to say Ma-Ma or Da-Da but she ain't havin' it. She now responds to her name and looks for Da-Da and Copper when I say their names as well. She will sit and roll her hands, which Tay Tay taught her to do in Patty Cake.

The 2nd week of April, after her 6-month check up, I took Ri to an ophthalmologist to make sure she didn't have Strabismus. I had just noticed that in many pictures, her left eye looked a little different than the other. I knew if something was off, it would be best to correct it now. I also knew going in that she definitely got my almond-shaped eyes that look almost closed when she smiles, so I knew it could be a false alarm. And luckily for us, I was right. No issue, just one eye is shaped a little differently than the other, and as she grows, it will fix itself. In the meantime though, ironically, the doc said she has an astigmatism in the right eye, and nothing wrong with the left- the one I thought had an issue. He said it might fix itself but to let her wear a patch over the strong eye for 1-2 hrs a day and come back in July to check again. So weird considering Chris and I both had perfect vision growing up. I am not going to lie, we haven't done the patch yet. My gut tells me that 6 months is a little too early to go to drastic measures for an astigmatism. I know I am no doctor but I have done some research on it. And when the doctor gives us the option of doing nothing until July, doing a patch until July, or doing glasses, I am assuming he isn't as concerned or "doing nothing" wouldn't have even been an option. July will be a better time for me to re-evaluate the issue. Anyone have any advice on this??

We are holding our own paci now. She even somehow finds it in her bed at night and puts herself back to sleep. Woo hoo for Mommy!

Ri loves her car rides!

Ri hates, hates, hates getting her clothes changed. She better get used to it. We play dress up around here.

But she is better about it now that she can sit up instead of lying on her back for the whole ordeal. She also hates me rubbing her down with lotion after her baths. She doesn't mind me doing her legs so much but she hates me putting lotion on her arms.

She loves her baths more than anything. I am ready for her to be able to sit up steadily by herself so we can get out of the baby tub where her splashes won't come so far out of the tub and onto the floor. If not, I am going to have to start wearing a bathing suit for bathtime. Think I am kidding? But it is so cute to watch her have such a blast. She doesn't mind splashing water all in her face either, so I am hoping the beach/pool this year will be nothing but giggles.

Precious drool baby

Piggies first pedi

Best of friends!

Meeting our new buddy, Lindley

I am enjoying my daughter so so much right now. She holds her arms out if she wants me to hold her, she giggles and plays and has such a personality. She is becoming more independent but yet I still get snuggles and lots of baby love. 

And I am so excited to only have a couple of weeks left of work before I can spend 2 whole months with her. It will be such a wonderful, wonderful summer, I will be spoiled rotten and going back to work will be a.w.f.u.l. 

Happy 7 month birthday, Cupcake! We LOVE You!!!

making room at gigi's

My parents are currently building a new home not too far from us. We are very excited that they will be so close and in the new home by summertime when mom and I will both be home from work. In preparation for the move, mom wanted to start thinking about a space in the new house for Ri. That way we aren't constantly lugging stuff over for spend the nights where she might feel displaced in a pack n play, and instead, she will feel comfortable and at home at Gigi's. We have yet decided or really started pulling together pieces for her new room yet, but we have definitely started the idea process, or at least I have. Mom wants turquoise and we actually already have a turquoise dresser that my sister and I painted a few years back so that will be the main piece we will work from. Here is a fun design board of one idea in mind. Mom is not as funky as I am so this design may wind up at my own house, and Ri's room at Gigi's a little more refined, but nonetheless, you can't help but love the way this room screams girl with spunk.
And that is definitely my girl!

Crib Bedding                      Molasses Print

Striped Rug                        Painted Pebbles Print

Storage Basket                   Dresser

Lamps                                Vespa Rocker

Canvas Print                       Lou Lou Child's Chair

Goodnight Print                  

Chosen wall color:
Benjamin Moore Gentle Butterfly

mama's lovin

Mother's Day. I have celebrated it my whole life, but for my mama... thanking her for loving me so. I am very thankful this year to actually be a mama myself, and get to share it with my mom. It is funny- we grow up thinking Mother's Day is like our mom's second birthday. But when it is actually your turn, Mother's Day takes on a whole new meaning. Sure, it is a day to thank all the moms out there for keeping families afloat and the world turning (because let's face it, they are), but for me, it's a day I am just thankful for the honor of being my mini's mom, period. She is my best gift this Mother's Day, honestly.

But who am I kidding? Of course I expect something from hubs on Mother's Day. Over the course of the last year and a half, I have gotten huge, lost sleep, my sanity, pushed out a precious child & have become a WOHM. All the while, Hubs gets to pretty much carry on as usual. My social life now consists of whomever I see in Target and Publix on a weekly basis and there are days I have considered wearing a nightgown to work in hopes that people will just think it is a dress. So yea, I am not ashamed to think I am deserving of a thank you. Motherhood is a superpower. I never fathomed your brain could tackle so much mental organization and hold so much info/to do lists/reminders without exploding. And while I haven't really given it much thought, here is just a little list of things I wouldn't mind for Mother's Day... heck, even half of the list is  really for my child anyways. Yup, I am definitely now a mom...

1. Wooden outdoor swing My childhood memories consist of my mom and I swinging every day on the front porch, cuddling and singing. I have 2 weeks left of work before a summer vacation with mini and I plan to spend a majority of the next 2 months making similar memories on our own outdoor swing. 

2. Personalized Chevron Beach Bag I need a new beach bag but now that I have a babe, it is gonna have to be pretty heavy duty. Large enough for my junk and her junk, and sturdy enough to handle the wear and tear we will be putting on it this summer at the pool/beach. 

3. Britton Wedge Thong Sandal I love these Tory Burch sandals. They are simple, every day wedges that would definitely get their money's worth of wear this summer. 

4. Dreamer Camera Strap I have slowly started using my DSLR camera a lot more lately and will definitely be sporting it around this summer at all times. A little sparkle will help me know which one is mine, and add a little personality to an otherwise eyesore. 

5. Personalized Chevron Cooler Tote Now that Ri is eating more solids and a variety of them, I have found that the insulated lunch bags we have been toting around are no longer large enough to store all the bottle necessities as well as the food, and I plan on us being on the go quite a bit this summer so we definitely need a legit sized tote to use on a regular basis. And yes, I am OCD and prefer that it match the beach bag. 

6. Rifle Paper ombre iPhone case I don't need a new iPhone case as much as I actually just need a new iPhone, but this pink ombre cover is just too much. 

7. Carrie Beth commission I stumbled upon Carrie Beth Taylor recently. She is a local watercolor artist/illustrator that I contacted about some commission work. She is a true talent and her commissions seem amazingly reasonable. Looking ahead into our one day forever home, I want more personal, keepsake items around our house. One of those? A Carrie Beth commissioned piece of Ri baby and me. And Copper, of course. 

Happy Mother's Day Week to all you wonder women out there! You rock!!