Welcome back to Shop Ruche, one of my favorite online shops offering the most delightful collection of stylish goods for mama, baby and home.  A vintage-inspired boutique with a modern touch, Shop Ruche continues to add new items to their site every day.  It’s one of the first sites I go to when I want to add some new pieces to freshen up my wardrobe.  And the bonus?  It’s affordable.

My faves right now on their site for spring and summer:

meeting time pants in mustard, creative walls interior decor book, feline tortoise sunglasses, hummingbird glass water bottle, poetic license always there woven sandals, polka dot iphone 5 case, mustard beautiful day kitten heels, eventuality polka dot lace dress

And their Children and Baby shop keeps getting better and better–more items, more style–a perfect place to find a baby gift full of character or that perfect little something to add to your little’s closet.

LOVE these current items in their shop:

Top, From L to R: sailor girl swimsuit, marigold ruffled bloomers (I die!), bespectacled baby cap, whale print eco-friendly shorts
Bottom, From L to R: gingiber brown bunny onesie, knit elephant plush (Dash has one, and it’s so soft) birds of norway bubble dress, plaid driver’s cap

Use code KELLEHAMPTON15 for 15% off all regular priced children/baby items (code valid 4/9 through 4/16). 

Welcome back, Shop Ruche!  You make me excited for spring and summer style.

So I just deleted an entire four paragraphs because I realized at the end of that fourth paragraph that what I was writing wasn’t really fun to write anymore.  It was all “motherhood is so hard” (said like a five-year-old throwing a dramatic fit), and you know what?  It is hard.  Saturday proved that for me, and I could write every awful thing that happened–who was crying and how I dealt–and it would be funny.  It would be relatable.  You might have even thought to leave a comment that said “thanks for keepin’ it real.”

Truth is, I write here about what feels good to write about and today, after earning my stripes in the Hot Mess Mom Club, I’m not going to write that motherhood is so hard post.  Because I’m kind of over it this morning. 

Alright, I’ll share just a little bit from Saturday’s craziness because I went to the trouble of drawing a picture for the story.

After picking up my wallet from a restaurant where I left it for the second time this week (yes, same restaurant, two separate times), Heidi and I took the kids downtown Saturday for some fun.  Let’s just say every kid was crying, I didn’t have enough arms to help, and when we finally got to an outdoor restaurant to collect our thoughts, I said to our super hot waiter when he saw all the kids, “I know what you’re thinking–table from hell.  Promise we’ll take it easy on y–.”  Except I couldn’t even finish the sentence before Nella’s stroller flipped backwards.  With her in it.  Yep, boots in the air again.  Super Hot Waiter had to save her while everything that was in the stroller including an orange juice, my purse and a wet diaper flipped out and I sat helpless, Dash crying in my lap, from the other side of the table.  Whew.

So here, a picture:

And by the way, Heidi says this is all part of the naturally orchestrated universe because Seven Week Meltdown post third kid is a given.  She’s been telling me this for an entire year, and funny Saturday should land exactly seven weeks and two days past giving birth. 

*****

It’s funny how trained I’ve become as a woman to think that the “I’m failing” stories make me more likeable.  I tend to be a bit of a people pleaser, so I’m easily trained on these things.  Tell them that you lost your cool, that your kids have massive fits, that you can’t lose the pregnancy weight and they’ll like you better.  You know what I say when anyone tells me I look good after having a baby?  I have it memorized.  I fire it back without even thinking:  “Oh there’s some Pillsbury skin underneath the shirt, don’t worry.”  And I breathe a sigh of relief as if suddenly I was forgiven, “let in” after being proven.

I realize there is truth to why we’re trained this way.  We naturally accept our own imperfections a little more when we find them in others too, and that’s okay.  Power in numbers, comfort in a like-minded group.  I’ve totally been guilty of saying “Thank God” when I discover my outwardly put-together friends have junk drawers, messy closets and laundry piles the size of landfills.  But I also don’t want to need to hear these things in order to be okay with my own shortcomings.  And I certainly don’t want to base my likability of someone on the presence of faults like mine.

We share our weaknesses not to be liked but because the community that’s built in the process helps create a kinder force to accept these imperfections and a stronger force to overcome them.  But we must make lots of room in between to celebrate each others’ strengths, high-five for the days well played, and recognize in our own lives where things are very good indeed.

And good Lord, one of these days I will learn that when someone tells me I seem put together, I don’t have to make sure they know my house is a mess. “You look great” doesn’t need to be followed by a description of my stomach dough, and a rave review of something I cooked does not call for “it’s the only thing I know how to make.”  Compliments don’t need to be softened by backing them up with disclaimers; sometimes you just need to own them.

With that said, this weekend had far more good moments than challenging ones.

Like Family Pool Parties

Dash had his first experience with the pool and loved it.

Also, I really need to wash my windows.

Finally turning on the pool heater means late night pool dips with no shivering

Heidi and I laughed on Saturday that we had every reason to  head back home after the fate of the day proved disastrous.  But neither one of us would make the call, so we just kept pushing strollers with whiny kids. 

We finally made it to the beach where kids were set free and we sat–surrounded by tourists, cooled by strong beach winds–and slowly reordered the memories of the day, these peaceful ones quickly taking the top spots.

For all the times we usually can’t shut up when we’re together, we were quiet on the beach that night.  It’d be nice to say it was because we were drinking in the scene or moved by the beauty of it all, but clearly, we were shot. 

Heidi:  “You want to walk to the end of the pier?”
Me:  “Let’s not and say we did.”

Recovery for Saturday came Sunday when, after a morning clean, our very low expectations for the afternoon were exceeded simply because we managed to paint our nails.

This boy.  He can go from not crying to a full scale vibrato wail in all of half a second.  But he is the best cuddler ever.

Those last two pics?  Yeah, tipped strollers have nothing on them apples.

*******

Popina Swimsuit Giveaway Winner:

Comment #566, Katie:

I desperately need a new swimsuit and have never had one that truly made me feel special. This might do the trick for my return to NC’s Emerald Island this summer, it’s my happy place.

Congratulations, Katie.  Please e-mail me at kellehamptonblog@comcast.net with the subject POPINA GIVEAWAY to claim you swimsuit.

For the rest of you, if you order the red vamp Jantzen suit, use code Kelle for 15% off (already only $75 on sale)

*******

Happy Monday. Time for an evening jog to some Macklemore.  Because the ceiling can’t hold us.

We’re bringin’ back the ‘ol phone dump to the blog.

Our latest favorite iPhone captures:

We’re also reigniting last year’s routine of sharing some of the favorite small things you’re enjoying.  Hashtag your IG photos with #enjoyingthesmallthings, and I’ll choose some to share on the blog every week. 
This week’s #enjoyingthesmallthings moments captured:

******

Two quick matters of “business” (slamming briefcase down on table and putting on my glasses):

*  With paperback release of Bloom, there’s a fun virtual blog tour going on.  You can check it out here.
*  I wrote about our expectations of perfection for our kids on Babble this week.  You can check it out here.

Meeting adjourned.  I’ll type up those minutes later.

******

And finally, a fun weekend giveaway, courtesy of Popina.

Popina Swimwear is back as an ETST sponsor just in time for the sunshine.  Anticipating pool parties, planning your summer vacay, dreading the horrors of swimsuit shopping?  Check out Popina.  I’ve been a Popina Swimwear lover for three years now, and their suits are all I wear.  A big fan of retro swimwear, I’ve found so many fun suits off their site that scream vintage travel poster.  I feel all Esther Williams, not to mention they fit like a dream.  Like give-your-butt-a-hug kind of dream.

Left: Jantzen Vamp, Right: The Retro Grace Suit

Popina offers a wide variety of Jantzen Swimwear, their Vamp solid suit (in red and black) a classic choice for the beach.  Add a big floppy hat and some Jackie O sunglasses, and you’re good to go.  These suits fit good and snug with a little bit of ruching to make them ultra flattering.   I order one size up for the perfect fit, as they tend to run a little small.

So, one of ya’ll is going to receive a new Popina swimsuit.  One comment will be randomly selected from this post (generated by random.org) and announced on Monday.  Popina Swimwear will ship winner’s swimsuit of choice from their site to the recipient.

To make it fun, tell me where you dream of wearing this suit–your ideal summer vacation.

Mine?  Hmmm.  I’m going to get crazy and say somewhere in the Greek Islands.  Family, sunshine, turquoise waters, cliffs in the background, plans for souvlaki for lunch.  A big blanket spread out in the sand, a stack of books, my camera, a blank journal and a good pen, a little music…and my Popina suit.  A girl can dream.