108 months. oh happy day!

 

   
three thousand two hundred & eighty-five.
one hundred & eight.
nine.

seven moves.
seven cars.
three births.

a sort of marriage by numbers.

Today the husband and I celebrate our marriage.  Our commitment.  The good.  The bad.  And sometimes even the ugly.  Nine years.  I blinked and here we are.  I could tell you how we fell in love.  How I chased him.  How we lived in hotels for the first year and a half of our marriage.  I could recount each move.  Each birth.  But instead I will tell you this.

I love this man.  This husband of mine.  Not because he is perfect but because he is perfect for me.  He is who I need in this life.  He reminds me to loosen up.  Dive into life.  Live each moment.  We have fought.  We have made up.  And we have supported each other every step of the way. 

Happy 108 months husband.  I love you to the moon and beyond.

p.s. wanna follow me on instagram?  my name is mollyelmer :)
p.p.s. someone had asked the question on my one my vacay posts about who Melissa is... She is my husband's first wife.  They were married 10 months before she passed away.

dust off that camera | summer photo contest.

You know all those awesomely perfect family pictures I have taken every year?  Yes, you do?  Well, the photographer, her name is Stephanie (of Auburn Soul) and she is a pretty cool cat.  If you are wanting to hone your photography skills then listen up friends...

Win a spot in Mamarazzi's September Boot Camp

OR

1 on 1 Phone Mentoring session with Stephanie & Emily (for out of staters)!

1- “Like” MamarazziBootCamp on FaceBook

2- Post your favorite summer photo on Mamarazzi’s Wall

3- Tell your friends to “like” MamarazziBootCamp on FaceBook

Details:

-Photo with the most “likes” WINS!

-1 Photo entry per person

-Entries must be received by September 1st at midnight (central time)

Good Luck!

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

story time.

Perhaps one of the tasks of motherhood that makes it to the tippy top of my favorites list is story time.  Me and books - we go way back.  I have cherished story time for as long as my memories can recall.  Book fair at school was like Christmas morning.  It was that good.

Now as a mother to three, I get to have the opportunity to anchor in my children a love of books.  I am one who never needs an excuse to venture to the bookstore and leave with a new book in hand.  I could spend hours selecting just the perfect picture book.

So at story time (right before bed time), we each pick out our favorite book.  And we get lost in the pages.  At times you will find me reading with different accents, adding dialogue where it doesn't exist and just plain having a enjoyable time with my boys.

At this moment, here are a few books that tickle our fancy.

pout pout fish
there's an alligator under my bed
the spider and the fly
the runaway pumpkin
knuffle bunny

my week in review and other such stuff.

I or should I say we, bravely made it through our first full week of school.  Whew!  I was informed the first two weeks were the most trying and so far, that analysis has proved to be full of truth.  Dinner with a heaping side of meltdowns?  Tyler is exhausted by night fall and although he talks about school enthusiastically, I've already gotten the "I don't like school" drama.

Last week it was wake at 6:30.
breakfast.
make lunch/snack.
load up back pack.
out the door by 7:30.
every. single. morning.
And have I mentioned I am not a morning person.
I think it is safe to say we all miss the lazier days of staying home.

Also, afternoon school pick up is creating a hot mess of N's nap time.  Oh boy, crankiness is abound over here after the school bell rings at 2:50.  But overall, we are slowly adjusting (and liking) this new phase.

And now my friends, I appreciate the weekends that much more.  Even when the husband works.

How was last week for you?  Fun? Crazy?

link love.

Happy Monday friends! Hope you had a relaxing weekend. Lots of wonderful links to share but here are a top few from the last week that made my favorites.

This hair tutorial is super easy and you will receive many a compliment.  I promise.
A bit of helpful information for all you bloggers.
The best pinata tutorial. Ever.
A peek at some wardrobe basics.  From REAL women :)
THE. BEST. GIVEAWAY.  outfit your babe in freshly picked moccs!  oh yessiree!!

friday favorites : by Shannon.

 image credit | George Thomas | via flickr

a few of Shannon's favorite things

summertime lightning storms

all things nautical and navy

comfy old t-shirts

crisp new stationary

a brand new pen

ocean breezes

searching for sea glass

the sounds of my sleeping baby

books that you can't put down

cooking for a big crowd

boumy.

 image credit | boumy.com

Even though boys get a bad rep in the clothes department, I actually quite like shopping for my boys.  I especially enjoy perusing the racks for my sweet little N.  But I am picky.  Very picky when it comes to what my babe wears.

Now that Nicholas is crawling and doing his best at trying to pull up on pretty much everything in site, I have started outfitting his tiny tootsies in shoes, albeit, only the best.  I have a few favorites, Boumy being the newest to make the cut.

First they have to be stylish.  Nothing too "babyish" or "cutesy".  Soft material.   Easy on.  Easy off.  High standards?  Maybe.  But I like the little to be comfortable.

Boumy shoes are made of genuine leather and were born at the hands Anouk Henderson in the Netherlands.  Another mother who was left wanting with what was available in the market.  So she dreamed up her own version of the perfect baby/toddler shoe. 

Nicholas is the proud owner of a few different styles.  Here is my take.  They are made of scrumptiously soft leather.  Easy to slip on and off.  The quality so far has held up to baby handling and teething drools.  The price is comparable to other styles in the market and they pass my stylish test.  Boumy offers a selection for boys and girls ages zero to two.

Now that we have the feet covered, we are ready for some toddling around.  Go Nic!

Nicholas was given Boumy shoes to review.  All opinions are my own.  And I only post what I love.  If you have a product that would be a good fit for My Favorite Things, please email me for more info.  info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

helpful hint : pill box.

(lets me be honest. my boys need their vitamins after eating a doughnut breakfast.)

My memory fails me quite often and I find myself constantly forgetting to dole out daily vitamins and allergy meds.  Half the day will escape me before my brain clicks on.  But I knew I needed a quick and easy solution now that I have a school goer.  Weekly pill box (times two).  My kids find it amusing and I don't forget.

motherhood | a hug will do.

Psst... My biggest flaw?  I have a temper.  There I said it and now you know I am not perfect.  One of my struggles as a mother is to control this fiery personality of mine.  I am surprised I am not a ginger (although I did, once upon a time, have strawberry blonde hair).  But that is neither here nor there.

I would like to congratulate myself for improving over the last 6+ years.  I have become better (not perfect) at closing my eyes.  Breathing deep.  And sometimes even escaping to a corner to calm my nerves.  The guilt that piles up after yelling is depressing.  I believe one of my (most important) jobs as a mother is to testify of my unconditional love.  And well, yelling just doesn't fit into that equation, now does it?

I have learned that there are (usually) three culprits that contribute to meltdowns...

1. hunger
2. lack of sleep
3. in need of attention

And I have also learned the power of a hug.  Because sometimes they just need to know (and feel) that you love them.  That you love them despite the tears.  The messy house.  The bickering.  I am their rock and they should know that.

christmas with Tiny Prints.

sneak peek at my Christmas card!

I am a planner through and through.  I am pretty certain it is in my genetic make up.  The husband quite frequently pokes fun at the fact that all I enjoy talking about is almost always about "things" I want to plan.  To that I say "whateves"!  Nothing wrong with a dose of OCD.

Besides planning, I have a life long love for paper.  And so it is to my extreme pleasure that I have had the opportunity to work with Tiny Prints (who just also happens to be a current MFT sponsor).  Tiny Prints wanted to give me a hands on experience with their product, from start to finish.  And because I love to plan, I of course chose to work with their Christmas card selection.  Is it ever really too early?  Never!

 image credit | tinyprints.com

The website is a breeze to navigate.  The tricky part?  Narrowing down my selection.  I had an attraction to too many designs.  So much loveliness!  I finally pinpointed the perfect holiday card and started the process of personalizing it.  Easy peasy.  Completely hassle free.  Which is what we all need when planning and prepping for the holiday madness.  The prices are very comparable to other companies and the actual quality of the product is quite pleasing.  Nice, thick paper that feels smooth to the touch.  I was very pleased with my results and can not wait to dream up more excuses to place an order.

I was given the opportunity to personalize a set of holiday cards to review.  All opinions are my own.  And I only post what I love.  If you have a product that would be a good fit for My Favorite Things, please email me for more info.  info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

new chapters. a new normal.

I hear Nicholas softly talking over the monitor.  I groggily roll over and push my phone to on.  Crap.  I slept through my alarm.  On the first day of school no doubt.  Instead of waking at six o'clock, I am now racing to the shower at 6:50 am.  This is not how I imagined the first day of kinder unfolding.

The morning is a bit topsy-turvy and rushed and I am feeling guilt already for not paving a peaceful day to the start of his school career.  My first born, my Tyler Golden is a bona fide KID.  I close my eyes and try to recall exactly how we got from birth to kinder so quickly. 

Tyler oozes excitement.  He comes down from his bedroom completely ready to take on the day.  His smiles tell it all.  He is ready.  But I am not.  I wanted to take my time.  Eat breakfast together.  We were so rushed I forgot to have a morning family prayer.  And now my heart is just a little bit sad.

Husband and brothers load up in the car for the short two minute drive.  And in we walk, hand-in-hand to only part ways a few minutes later.  I snap pictures.  Situate his backpack and lunch box in his cubbie.  Take one more photograph of him sitting at his table.  Then all of a sudden it is time to say goodbye.  He graciously allows me to kiss him.  I wish him luck and then I turn around and walk away.  But I don't cry.  The tears only come as I type this post.

Did I do enough in the short six years I had him all to myself to instill confidence?  kindness?  love?  Will he feel scared or uncertain?  Make friends easily?  Make good choices?

At the point I finally feel like I have the whole mothering business down, we start a new chapter.  My character in this chapter will play a back seat roll.  School life will be featured and I will anxiously await the narration of his day when he jumps in the car after dismissal.  I am not sure if I like this part of the story yet but I know soon we will find our new normal in the pages of this chapter.

These thoughts have been swirling in my mind for quite some time and now I get to experience them.  A few days ago I read a post on "chapters" by Nat the Fat Rat and I do not want my readers to think I in any way "stole" her idea.  My thoughts and impressions are authentic.  But do check out her post.  She is a lovely and captivating writer.

We had our back to school dinner, wrapped books and all, on Saturday night.  I will share all about that in another post :)

H&M.

The new H&M in Dallas just opened the other day and I am intrigued as to what the hype is all about.  Leaving the older boys with the husband, with baby in tow, I have decided to courageously brave the insane crowds.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy weekend friends!

currently crushing.

West Elm had me at hello.  I adore flipping through the catalogues that find their way to my mail box.  And I dream about the full to the brim bank account I can use to fund my shopping spree.  Right now I have my eye on...

the parsons mini desk

the rajasthan-stripe printed dhurrie
(2.5'x7' - runner style)

mercer bathtub caddy (pottery barn)

and even though this is not from west elm, i still want it

the road trip.

I like road trips in theory.  I grew up where almost every summer we would find ourselves driving from Dallas to Colorado Springs.  I have fond memories.  Or at least I've blocked out the less scary ones.  I remember counting how many cars my dad could pass (on a two lane road) at a time.  I believe the record stands at twelve.  But my young self could be exaggerating.

And then one day I had children of my own and we (husband and I) began embarking on our own road trips.  I now appreciate my parents a little bit more and the chaos they most definitely endured with four children.  No dvd player.  No iPhones.  No iPads.  I am pretty sure we might have had a game boy and a cooler full of beverages.  No seat belts.  Just blankets and sometimes bickering.

My goal and objective for each road trip we have taken - to not kill anyone.  I am (only slightly) joking.  There is something with the equation of being cooped up in a confined space with three small children + no where to escape.  But in the end, the memories that stay will inevitably invite us, yet again, to hit the road.

A few highlights in no particular order...

The cooler temperatures.

The beautiful scenery.

Watching my boys scurry around with their cousins.

Eating good food (a separate post all its own).

Remembering Melissa.

Elmer family reunion.

Gabbing with my sister-in-law.

Dates with the husband.

Bocci tournaments.

Money dig.

Maverik.

your daily jewels.

image credit | your daily jewels

Do you hear that?  Freedom?  Or is that just the sound of school is session?  Whether you are counting down the days or perhaps, a little sad to see summer end... I think we moms need to start a new trend.  Back to school shopping should not just be for the children.

Whether to celebrate or perk you up from the sadness of seeing your "baby" off to kinder, buy something sparkly!  Your Daily Jewels has a lovely selection of handmade jewelry.  Bright bold colored gemstones delicately adorn bracelets, rings or earrings.  You are sure to find something to your liking.  And right now, snatch up a lovely at the summer end sale!

Happy end of summer friends :)

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

motherhood : act silly.

Sometimes my children remind me that life doesn't always need to be serious.  It would do me some good to loosen up.  Laugh.  Act silly.  I don't always need to control.  Every. Single. Situation.  I need to feel more and think less.  Let life unfold as it happens instead of planning out every last detail.

There is value in being organized.  Being prepared.  But life needs to be fun.  And my boys are an excellent reminder.

helpful hint : use gift wrap.

A big empty frame hung in our half bath.  Lonely and forlorn.  I needed to fill it with something pleasing to the eye but (at this time) I did not want to spend a lot of money.  What to do, what to do?

Banquet is a long time favorite and as I was perusing the online shop, I had an idea.  I purchased one piece of the gift wrap and voila!  Art that only cost me dollars.

Do you have a helpful hint (big or small)?  I'd love to hear!  Email me : info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

nicholas.

image credit | amazon.com

I happened upon this sweet book, Nicholas, in the bookstore a few days back.  Perhaps, I thought, my oldest would find it funny and really, I needed to collect them.  You see, I have a Nicholas of my very own.

What's on your bookshelf at the moment?

p.s. i bought the soft back for reading and just ordered the hard cover for keepsakes.  i plan on purchasing all of the sweet little collection.

miss ruby sue.

image credit | Kamioephotography.com

Babies, babies everywhere.  Ladies don't drink the water (only slightly joking).  I know so many fabulous women who have just given birth, who are pregnant or who will give birth any day now.

I, for one, am not a girly girl per say.  I rarely do pink or anything frilly and if I was blessed with a daughter, you can assume she would mirror my style.

But... Oh goodness, if I did have a teeny tiny baby girl, I would most definitely be tempted to have her photographed in one of Miss Ruby Sue's outrageously stylish hair pieces.  The quality and time Lori infuses into each piece deems them each a work of art.  They are beautiful and lovely.  "Accessories for happy people" indeed!

p.s. i think i need this hair accessory in my size!

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

back to school with Kickboard USA.

image credit | kickboardusa.com

Six more sleeps and school will be in session.  Out come the back packs and lunch boxes.  Freshly sharpened pencils and pristine boxes of crayons.  Bedtime gets bumped up to an earlier, more acceptable hour and alarm clocks are set.  But how will your child(ren) be journeying to school? Bus?  Car?  Legs?  How about a scooter?

If you live within a decent distance from the school, a scooter is an excellent mode of transportation and Kickboard USA is a favorite at our house (considering we have four).  May I sway you to take a look at the newest member of Kickboard USA - the SPRITE (kick scooters by micro)?  The SPRITE is available in rusty red, black or silver.  It is the perfect two wheel scooter for a child as young as five but can even accommodate (smaller) adults, up to 5'10".  It is sleek.  It is solid.  And it even has a kickstand!  Perfect for parking in compact spaces.  Right now, until the end of the summer, you can purchase the SPRITE at a discounted price of $89.99 (normally $99.99).

Are you ready for the new school year?

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

waving the white flag.

I do declare that I am in need of a vacation from this vacation.  Cliche I know, but this trip was a doozy from start until we arrived home.

I should have realized that beginning any trip being sick does not bode well.  My throat was achey, my nose was stuffy and driving was the last to-do item that I wanted to tackle.  But tackle we did and the drive went smoothly.  Boys and baby slept through the night (mostly) and I (thank goodness) did not drift off to sleep at the wheel.

As smooth as the first of our "holiday" started, a series of unfortunate events began to unfold.  Each one became progressively worse, until at the end, all I could do was cry out of sheer exhaustion.

Unfortunate event #1 : husband had to work a good majority of the first few days.  total downer but I suppose a necessity.

Unfortunate event #2 : getting completely overwhelmed with car sickness.  turning around backwards while driving in the mountain was not a brilliant move on my part.

Unfortunate event #3 : husband and benny getting sick at the family reunion. boo on all these germs that seem to linger in my family.  what is up with summer colds and the elmers?

Unfortunate event #4 : husband wanted to step up all the excitement with a trip to the emergency room, morphine and all.  gallbladder attack.  wha?  this was new and a bit unnerving.

Unfortunate event #5 : we decide to cut out trip short and instead of stopping in Colorado on the journey back, we head straight for Texas and the triple digits that await us.

Unfortunate event #6 : nicholas starts running a fever.  really?

Unfortunate event #7 : we run out of gas and our battery dies. in the middle of no-mans-land.  I want to curse the heavens but instead flick husband in the ear.  this so not would have happened if I had been navigating the roads.

Unfortunate event #8 : we pull into our driveway at 2:30am.  transfer the boys to their proper sleeping quarters and quickly unload the vacation mobile.  just as soon as husband and I drift off to sleep, ALL the bloody fire alarms in our home decide to go off.  randomly.  the shrill beeps echoing through our home.  the baby wakes.  i cry.

At that moment I was done.  I wanted to quit and wave the white flag of surrender.

No pity party here.  By the end it became so comical.  The trip overall was quite fun and my boys had mounds of fun stirring up all types of trouble with their cousins.  I will be highlighting the fun parts this Wednesday :)


All pictures taken with the instagram app.  My screen name is mollyelmer.  Come follow if you'd like :)

end of summer.

image credit | HORNE

There is something a bit dreamy and picturesque about a lazy picnic at dusk.  If it wasn't sweltering hot, I might actually consider it.

loving the gray striped tablecloth available at HORNE

glassesUSA.com

image credit | glassesUSA.com

Growing up I always had the feeling that my glasses contributed to my dorkiness.  Rightfully so, considering I had huge round eyeglasses that were multi-colored.  You're cringing right or else shaking your head and laughing since you too owned a pair?

But now, now glasses seem to be all the rage, whether you need prescription eyeglasses or not.  And vintage frames seem to be the style of choice.  Did you know that GlassesUSA.com offers vintage and retro frames and that they have a 110% lowest price guarantee, with 100% satisfaction? Awesomeness, yes?

Oh and not to worry if you are in the market for multifocal glasses, they have those too.  You can shop from the comfort of your home, knowing that you are receiving excellent customer service and top notch quality.  You can even play around by virtually trying on glasses with their fun virtual mirror feature.  And since I have the raddest sponsors, GlassesUSA is offering MFT readers a 10% discount off your next order of glasses.  Just type in Mommy10.

I salute you my fellow four eye nerds!  Happy shopping.

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

binth.

image credit | binth.com

Binth has been a long time favorite of mine.  Colorful modern graphics have me wanting to snatch up every single print they offer.  I like to display art in my boys' rooms that doesn't fall into the realm of winnie the pooh.  Sorry if that offends, that just isn't my personal style.

Binth has a wonderful selection of one-of-a-kind prints that would perfectly find a home in any room in the house, not just your child's.  They are visual candy for the eye.  I also happen to adore single ABC letters.  Spell a word.  Spell your child's name.  Or just hang up one letter.  The possibilities with these beauties are endless.

This is a sponsored post. Interested in becoming a MFT sponsor? Email me for more details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

Let Them Eat Cake!

Is there anything better on your birthday than a thick slice of homemade cake and a glass of bubbly? Yesterday happened to be mine and I was lucky enough to have my mom in town to take care of the baking duties - I opted for a classic vanilla bean cake with buttercream frosting but while searching for recipes I came across these lovely numbers that have me itching for another excuse to cover my kitchen counter in sugar, butter & flour...

xoxo, 

Michelle - Pretty Mommy

neopolitan cake, nikole's beautiful frosting at herriott grace, banana nutella cake, s'mores cake, persian love cake, Funfetti Cake 

ps - Thank you so much to Molly for asking me to guest on her lovely blog! At the risk of sounding cliched it is "one of my favorite things"...safe travels lady!!