vintage rotary phone.

I've had my eye on this phone for awhile and look!  It's on sale!

DIY friday: pencil eraser stamps.

Friday is my favorite day of the week, but a Friday before a three day weekend?  Pure bliss.  Today I'm planning on tidying up the cozy brick house, playing some catch up on laundry and finishing up my first ever real sewing project.  (I'll share the results next week) When that's all done, I'm breaking out the supplies needed for today's DIY project.  My little heart went "pitter, patter" when I saw this darling pencil eraser stamp tutorial at the always inspiring Creature Comforts blog and I've been itching to try it out.

What about you, dears?  What are your plans for the day? Any picnics or BBQ's planned for Monday?

Whatever it is that you're doing, I wish you sunny skies and happy hearts.

friday favorites: by kristin.

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a few of Kristin's favorite things

fossil catalog
holding a brand new book in my hands
numbers
fry sauce
a good DIY 
my little one's belly laugh
a chair with personality 
second chances
pretty doilies
the last mile of an early morning run

Thanks Kristin!  Oh, and did you know Fossil has a blog?  

You should check it out.  It's quite lovely.

If you would like to be our next friday favorites, go here!

9 by design.

Now that I have officially gotten hooked on 9 by Design, I think I need to get my hands on this book, Downtown Chic.

Any other fans out there?

custom heart sampler.

Do you have any summer weddings to attend?  If so, I'm pretty sure this would be the sweetest wedding gift ever.

it's a wrap.

I have been on the hunt for a pair of stylish, flat and comfortable sandals.  I wanted something I could throw on with some shorts or a dress and that I could still chase my boys in.  Oh and I didn't want to spend a fortune either.

I have looked everywhere, except online.  I am really not a big online shopper when it comes to shoes.  I need to be able to try them on, walk around and really test them out.  For me, I find it too much work having to ship back and wait for the exchange pair.  Maybe I just want instant gratification, no?

So I kept up my search and finally found THE pair.
perfect price
stylish
comfortable

Do you have a favorite pair of sandals that pass the test?

the weekend.

Hello Friends!  

Did everyone have a lovely weekend?

The husband treated me to a hot date in Dallas!  I have been absolutely craving sushi this whole pregnancy.  {The only downside is that I am limited, since raw fish is a no no.}  So we decided to be adventurous and drove downtown to a new to us restaurant, Tei An.

Tei An has now been added to my list of favorites.
Excellent service.
Modern decor.
Beyond delicious food.

I've been craving it ever since we left.

shabby apple swimwear.

Have you heard?
Shabby Apple has a swim line!
Just as gorgeous as the dresses,  the swim line is bright and cheery.
I'm quite fond of the pacific paradise.
Which would you choose?

craft me a necklace.

It's no secret that I might have a small blog crush on Joslyn over at Simple Lovely.  She has fantastic taste and a killer home.  Her blog is a daily read for me and I thought these sweet necklaces would be fun to make.

I went to my local craft store, grabbed the supplies and some fun crafty crafts for my boys to do {not sure my husband wants them sporting necklaces}.  I plan on making them sometime this weekend.  I'm pretty sure I'll gift one to my little sister.

So tell me, what sorts of crafty things do you fancy doing?

ps.  have you seen the out of this world table her dear husband made her?

protect.

The sun is becoming more + more intense in these parts dears.  One thing I feel passionately about is protecting my skin from the sun's rays.  I love the sun, don't get me wrong, but I love my skin more.  This is my favorite sunblock.  The non-greasy, continuous spray helps me get to all those hard to reach places and SPF 70 means my pale complexion and freckles are safe and sound.

Do you have a favorite sunblock?

nursery fave.

When I asked for nursery ideas, this one popped up in my email.  And I must say, it is my favorite by far!

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stripes.

I'm really loving stripes right now + this tee is my favorite new wardrobe piece.  Great deal, right?

Have you found any great striped things I need to know about?

friday rain.

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Hello my friends.  I know I have fallen short the last few weeks with Friday Favorites but I promise to pick back up.  Today it is raining and storming and oh how I love a good Texas thunderstorm.

I hope all of you lovelies have a fantastic weekend.  Tomorrow if the rain subsides, I want to grab some fresh produce from the local farmers market and head to a fabric store.  We are going to recover a glider and I need to start figuring out just exactly what fabric I want to use.

What will you be doing this weekend?

pirates ahoy!

My oldest guy is turning five at the beginning of June.  I've decided to host a lake party [keeps the house clean!].  Pirates will be the theme.  I have tons of ideas swimming around in my head and can not wait to put it together.

 

It has been a while since I have felt creative.  My energy level is back up and I am ready to enjoy this second trimester!

I just purchased this stamp and this set of happy tape!  They are part of the party planning, but shhh, I'm not sharing any details yet.  I'll be sure to show pictures of how it all comes together.

parlor hawk.

I've been listening to the sounds of Parlor Hawk ever since my go to music blog, Passionista posted about them a couple of weeks ago.  This is exactly the kind of music I love listening to on a lazy spring day with a sweet breeze blowing through the windows.  You can listen to a few tracks here, download the album  here June 15, or enter Passionista's Parlor Hawk giveaway right here.

What do you like to listen to in the Spring time?  Any new bands I need to know about?

dagmar daley.

I haven't been able to get this darling Dagmar Daley children's sun suit out of my head since spotting it on Simplesong.  I want one in my size.

paper straws.

These striped paper straws are a must have for your summer entertaining.  They make me want to host a garden party right now and at only $3.00 for 50, I couldn't pass them up.

nursery ideas.

I had my midwife appointment this morning.  All is well and in just FIVE weeks we will be able to find out the sex of baby e.

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Right now I am searching for nursery ideas, boy or girl.  So dear readers,  I am asking you to help me.  I'd love for you to send me links to any of your favorite nursery designs.  Would you?  Just email me at molly@afewofmyfavorites.com

hello Crystal B.

Danyelle and I are excited to welcome back one of our favorite sponsors, Crystal B.  The weather is warm {or at least warming up}, flip flop season is upon us and that means some fun accessories are a must.  Crystal B. has rings, earrings and necklaces abound, waiting to find a good home.  Her accessories are one of a kind!

The gal behind Crystal B. is just as lovely as her jewelry.  Want to get to know Crystal a little better?  Here are a few of her favorite things....

gardens, orange popsicles, 

an entire day to watch the PBS version of Pride & Predudice in one sitting, 

yarn stores, a new box of crayola crayons, 

discovering an old jewelry box full of treasures, lemon anything, laughing with friends, 

books, black and white television shows, learning something new, 

a walk with my dogs, my family

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{etsy shop}

hello Hang 'em Awl.

Molly and I are so happy to welcome back Hang 'em Awl as our latest sponsor.  Are you planning on some home decor or organizing projects this spring?  Hanging some new artwork or shelving, perhaps?  Well then, friends.  Do yourself a favor + order some Hang 'em Awl's right now!  One quick glance at the demo and you'll be as convinced as we are that this just might be the most clever invention in tools since the phillips screwdriver.

Mothering Moments from Joslyn of Simple Lovely

I was honored that Molly and Danyelle asked me to post a little something about Motherhood... Thanks for having me ladies!

A day doesn’t go by that being a mom to my two girlies Audrey (6) and Millie (3) doesn’t amaze and humble me. That I get to help shape these two lovely little creatures constantly fills me with awe.

Looking back, I sometimes feel that I glazed over Audrey’s babyhood a bit. I was so daunted by becoming a mother (and all that it entailed) that I seemed to fixate on the next milestone, the next moment and never really relished what was right in front of me. So when Millie was born, I vowed to savor all the little things to sort of make up for what I missed with Audrey.

And now, my most fantastic, most memorable mothering moments are not the awesome ones… Rather, they are usually the mundane things that happen in-between the big stuff. Having living room dance parties, watching the girls sleep (all rosebud lips and flushed cheeks), seeing them play together, discover something new, chase ladybugs, get completely and utterly lost in an activity – these are the moments that standout. These are the things that are burned on my brain.

You can find more of Joslyn over at Simple Lovely.

Mothering Moments from Lyndsay of Lyndsay and the Johnsons

Thank you, Molly and Danyelle, for asking me to post about Motherhood! I'm happy to share a favorite mommy moment, and a few thoughts on how I got there.


I thought that I might faint from delight when my daughter’s tiny little head poked its way out from under my ironing board. It was Sunday evening, and I was finally getting to all of the unfolded loads of tiny pink socks, and dinosaur toddler shirts. I was sitting on the couch and the ironing board was set low to the ground (so that I could fold, iron, and watch movies on the couch, of course). Maya was crawling all over, trying her hand at cruising and whether or not she wanted to give walking a go. Not quite yet. So she poked her way under my ironing board and popped up in my lap. Her wispy bangs were in her eyes, and she beamed up at me as if to say, "You can't keep me out of the loop, Mom! Now pick me up or I'll chew through the iron cord!!" I swear she is absolutely the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I think my children are brilliant sparkling gems (albeit loud, messy, spirited gems) sent straight to me so that I can love and care for them. And I often feel unworthy of the gift, I admit. My son, Finn, said the other day, "I am so glad you're my Mom!" Woah. That’s heavy stuff coming from a 3 year old for the first time! I felt like he had chosen me, and he was letting me know it. I told him, "I'm so glad you're my Finn!"

It's a startling thing that takes place the very second you enter into motherhood (and I'm talking as soon as you get pregnant, or even make the serious decision to endeavor to become a parent). You are ushered unknowingly through doors that don't open again behind you. You are subject to all new levels of fear, and pain, and loss, excitement, and love, and complete joy and amazement. It's the most difficult and rewarding thing I will ever commit myself to. I have never felt more needed and in need at the same time. What a delicious dichotomy, motherhood.

I chose motherhood (I remember the moment I realized I was ready for it). I still choose it. I choose it willingly, happily, over other things that I could be doing. I choose not to work outside of the home, but stay at home and, well, play. I choose to keep my home clean, beautiful, spiritual, and healthy. I choose to use every bit of education that I have pursued to benefit my children and myself.

I am so fortunate to be able to do this.

I also know what I gave up to do this. I gave up a well-paid, full time job as a graphic designer. I gave up the ability to travel on a whim. To dine out when and wherever I want, at fancy places where double strollers can't fit. I liked to do those things. But I am happy to give them up for a while. I gave up insensible footwear (for the most part). I gave up a lot of sleep.

I gave up laziness. I gave up selfishness. I gave up the part of me that was happy to go through my life thinking only of my little world, for a new world that has opened up before me like none I could have imagined for myself. It is my choice. No one else's. I choose this life, and I choose to love it. I choose the right. The right for me. For my children. And I know that I am blessed because of it.

And now to keep things totally real, Finn just crumbled 2 mini muffins all over the newly vacuumed rug after I repeatedly instructed him to KEEP THEM ON THE PLATE! He ran in yelling, "I made a mess! I made a muffin mess!" ... right after he pooped in his big boy underwear. Good thing he's the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. Sheesh.

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

Read more from Lyndsay at Lyndsay and the Johnsons.

Mothering Moments from Lindsay of Run Lucas Run.

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Lucas, my biggest boy was heartbroken tonight when his dad took off on a fishing trip without him. In one of my craziest mothering moments – I decided that it couldn’t be that hard – and that I could take my boys fishing myself. I loaded up the car with boys + a fishing pole and we headed to the pond. I was terrified the entire drive over.  The bait, cast + wait part I could handle. But what if Luc actually caught a silly fish??? Then what?! And he was really good, too. His casts were going far. I was getting nervous.
Luckily for me after 15 minutes or so on the bank - the playground on the other side of the pond seemed waaaaaay more enticing. The sun was going down but I told him we could spend a few minutes climbing on the toys. Right away he made a friend. I heard him ask a little boy in checkered converse– just like him – if he could play.
The new friend only spoke Spanish.
Except for “yes, friend!”
I overheard Luc ask him once what his name was. He didn’t really answer and my silly boy continued to call his new friend “Sir” whenever he needed to get his attention.  They were inseparable until I had to convince Lucas that it really was time to go – that the sun really had gone down for the night.
 
++++
 
I am the mother of boys. Lucas Jude and Gavin West. Two wild, crazy, LOUD!, messy, smelly, sweet, adorable boys.
 
++++
 
Danyelle asked me the other day if  I would be willing to write a little something for My Favorite Things about my “Favorite Mothering Moment.” After finally getting said wild and crazy boys to bed last night – I laid down in my own bed, exhausted - to think of what exactly I was going to write. Then came the lump in my throat when I realized that the day had not been one of my finest mothering days. For most of it I’d been trying to get things done around them.
There was a lot of  - sit down! Hold still! and SHHHHHHHH!
I recognized that they had not actually spent the day interrupting me – I, however, had spent the entire day interrupting them.
That my all time favorite mothering moments had happened while letting my children - be children.
 
++++

Tonight as I pushed Gavin, my littlest boy – laughing in the baby swing – fishing pole stashed back in the car – I kept the corner of my eye on Lucas.
Watching him silently play with his new friend, “Sir.”
Running, jumping, climbing, digging – and laughing.
My mama heart smiled at this moment of happiness and marked this day as one of my favorites.
My boys. 

Read more from Lindsay at Run Lucas Run. 

for the mama who buys handmade.

Does your mother love handmade?  If so, she needs these colorful crocheted bracelets to go with every outfit.

Need more mother's day gift ideas?  Check out some past posts here.

for the sentimental mama.

Your mother's favorite photos would look fantastic mounted on these custom photo blocks.  I bet she would be so happy she might even shed a tear, or two.

Need more mother's day gift ideas?  Check out some past posts here.

for the mama who loves jewelry.

Your mother would love this classic monogrammed necklace. She told me.

Need more mother's day gift ideas?  Check out some past posts here.

mothers day download by Ambrosia Girl.

As soon as I saw this sweet card download on Ambrosia Girl I printed it off, made a few checks and tucked it under my husbands pillow.  He's not a mind reader, you know.

Mothering Moments from Leslie of A Room Somewhere

Molly and Danyelle asked me to write about a favorite mothering moment. Oh heavens to Betsy, after nine years and three children, there are just too many beautiful moments to count. From the time during my first pregnancy when I found out my baby was trying to come 14 weeks too early and our attachment was sealed, to the time my first son had to stay in the hospital overnight with pneumonia and he smiled away the hours, to the time last week when my three-year-old and I peacefully and slept away the morning snuggled in his little bed, the years that I have been a mother have changed me immeasurably.

These days, as I wander into the babyless phase of my time as a mother, my days are filled with worry over my children's choices while they're away at school, the impending scariness of the teen years, and at the same time, the exciting things about maturing children (their independence {they can all buckle into the car themselves!}, the ease of travelling with them, the development of their own goals and dreams, date night!)

Once, after my third baby was born, I wrote a little tribute to my rocking chair for my blog. I've included a portion of that post below, because nothing says motherhood to me more than remembering holding a young, sleeping baby. No moment brings more peace, more overwhelming love than a collection of those quiet few minutes during those heavenly, early months.

I was thinking today, while rocking my baby, of how many hours I have spent sitting in my glider. I'll look over at it one day, in a corner, in a guest room somewhere, and remember all the days and nights I spent slowly rocking and humming. And how many hours my mom spent in her wooden rocking chair, and my husband's mom in her old upholstered one with the creak in it. Neal and I both came from families who rocked us as babies, and I am so grateful for that. We both learned the importance of the peaceful routine of a rocking chair and the soothing movement that can calm a fussy baby.
I have spent many quiet, contemplative moments with a baby on my shoulder, their cheek squished up against their lips, their pure, sugar-sweet breath on my neck. My glider is a happy place, where I rocked Audrey through her colicky hours, sang Wiggles songs to Parker while he drank his bottle, and now where I've nursed Miles by the window, while he stares wonderingly at the light coming through the window. In the middle of these moments, sometimes, I pray that I'll always remember the feeling of having a young baby. I know I'm going to miss it.
I've never been a fan of the old "teach your infant to cry himself to sleep" idea. A little fussing now and then won't hurt, but making a 6-week-old baby cry for an hour? No, sir, not my babies. I worry that I'd one day regret all those moments when my baby was crying and I was doing something unimportant, just trying to "train" them. And why would I want to train my baby to not need me? If my baby can't come to me for comfort when he's six weeks old, to whom will he go when he's six years old? Or sixteen?
All that's not worth it to me. A few months of me sleeping eight hours for all that screaming and torture? My babies need me. I'm their mom. I can lose some sleep for their comfort. I don't think I'll ever look back and think that I held them too much. My mom always says, "You have the rest of your life to do all of those unimportant things. Don't feel guilty, just hold your baby."
When I was younger, the nursery in my house was upstairs and decorated in sunny yellow and white gingham. My mom had stitched a verse of the poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, Song for a Fifth Child and it hung above the rocker. While I was on bedrest for ten weeks with my first child, my mother-in-law picked up a cross-stitch project for me to keep my hands (and mind) busy. It was the same verse, and I finished it just in time for baby Audrey to come. Neal's mom framed it for me and it hung in the nursery.

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.


Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo,
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).


The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

Thanks for letting me share, Molly and Danyelle!

Read more from Leslie, daily, at A Room Somewhere.

celebrating mothers.

{photo by nina leen via rockstar diaries}

This week Molly + I are dedicating ourselves to celebrating mothers.  Because, really.  Where would we be without them?  Stay tuned for special guest posts, gift guides, and sweet surprises lined up for you dear friends. 

crystal b. WINNER!

Sorry we are a little late in posting the winner but here you go.
Drum roll please!


The lucky lady is...

Congrats Annrian and happy mother's day to each mother out there.  You do know that we have the most important job in the world, don't you?

Stay tuned.  We are dedicating this whole week to MOMS!