Sometimes when I speak, I talk fast–barely pausing to take breaths and certainly not breaking at obvious places for thought consumption. I’m realizing the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because my girl’s mind gives her mouth a run for its money. When Lainey tells stories, they often come out in an enthusiastic string of words–a race of thoughts that get jumbled and are finally interrupted with the longest, most dramatic inhalation you’ve ever heard. Like a kid who’s been under water too long and breaks the surface with a theatrical gasp for breath.
And then she continues on.

This is all to say this post is me speaking fast. Breath will come at the end.

*****

“Mama, come look! Nella blows bubbles!” Lainey was holding a dripping bubble wand this morning and motioning me to follow her toward where she and Nella were sitting by the front door. And I recognized her enthusiasm as the same exaggerated kind that delivered the news the other day that Nella said SophieandLatte. “Perfectly,” as Lainey described, wide-eyed. So I, of course, expect to walk in and pretend to be overly excited when really Lainey’s just very generous with her praise for her sister. But this time she was right. Sister purses her lips and gently blows when Lainey holds up the wand. Perfectly. Iridescent bubbles grow and float. And I am laughing and clapping and praising not only the little sister but the big one whose lavish praise means something, you know?

Bravo, little bubble blower.

*****

I got super twitchy tonight. I realized I hadn’t had alone time in over a week and suddenly the walls of my house were closing in. And I don’t know if Brett was just overly understanding or if maybe it was obvious I needed an hour, but I barely raised an eyebrow early this evening and he was all “Just go, babe.” I decide, five minutes out of my driveway, that the great mission of my outing will be finding the perfect sexy red for my lips. Because, even if you’ve found the perfect red for your lips, you should never give up the challenge of finding a better one. Got the meaning of life figured out? Great. Keep seeking. The joy lies in the search, KWIM?

I find what is the perfect red for the time being. At a make-up counter in Kohls, of all places–between one aisle of granny panties and one aisle of men’s polos that are eternally “on sale.” And I think this red is so fabulous that I generously smear my lips with it once I get to the car. We’re talking multiple layers of thick and sticky, and I am feeling sexy. So sexy that I walk in three more stores to run some errands and don’t realize until I get home that my teeth look like I just stepped out of the ring. I might as well have just scribbled on my teeth with a red Sharpie.

I still love this gloss though.

Within seconds of picking her up when I got home, Sister smiled, noticing my lip gloss, and tried to swipe it off.

*****

Insert random picture of Lainey in a moment of “Stop getting into my stuff.”

*****

The little Ginette doll my mom found when Lainey was a baby has made a comeback–and all the clothes my mom made for her.

My new favorite thing to do is sit and watch Nella attempt to dress this doll. It reminds me of these precious days, not so long ago.

And I have a feeling it won’t be long before Lainey comes running. “Mama, Nella dressed the doll all by herself…perfectly.”

*****

Found this adorable talented girl yesterday after my cousin saw her on Nate Berkus. And her Instagram frame idea was so awesome, I printed 60 of my favorite phone dump photos today and am thinking how we’re going to transform her idea into something that works for us. To come, to come.

*****

I am in need of a deep inhalation.

But first.

My girl’s got moves.

Poor girl is aching to figure out this hula hoop thing. She throws that hoop and gyrates and nothing happens.

Soon. It will happen. Perfectly.

Tonight, under a clear blue Florida sky and entranced by fall’s preview breezes, I watched, smiling, as two people I love had a moment.

You can’t plan that. You can’t pose them. It’s just….magic.

He is humble and pretends it’s no big deal when I swoon.

*****

Loving our October breezes.

*****

October’s going to be crazy for us. But good crazy. We’ll be in San Diego later this month for something I’m really excited about. Check out the Just BeCause campaign being launched by Infantino and Step 2 Toys. I’ll be guest shooting for them, and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this. They are supporting children of ALL abilities in an inspiring way. If you are in the SoCal area and are interested in your child being a part of the shoot, check out the casting call here. More to come.

*****

Finally, welcome back to a familiar friend now, Independent Scentsy Consultant, Jessica Clough, who returns for another month in sponsorship. Girlfriend’s got it on! She has me hooked, and this season’s just begging for candles and scents and the art of home. Jessica has done an amazing job communicating with her clients, and every time I get one of her cards in the mail with a new sample scent, I’m on line checking it out minutes later. Case in point: Autumn Stroll and Cozy Fireside. Contact Jessica at jessicaaclough@gmail.com about her specials.

Loving my new Bamboo Tali warmer.

’tis the season.

*****

It is time for deep inhalation. It will come in the form of cold sheets and warm babies.

Good Night. Happy Wednesday.

Sometimes when I write, it just works. The keyboard and I are practically lovers, and a half hour of pecking paragraphs is like a good make-out session. Like I could smoke a cigarette when it’s done and feel good because writing did exactly what I wanted–provided this magical outlet to express myself. (For the record, I’ve only smoked three cigarettes in my life and two of them were under the bleachers at a Montrose Highschool Football game when I was Homeschooled Girl flirting with disaster).

It doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, it’s laborious and I’m critical and it just feels like I’m trying too hard. Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes I hit “publish” thinking “this isn’t very good” and sometimes I’m right. That’s part of any passion. Artists paint crap sometimes and photographers take blurry photos. Teachers have bad days and accountants make major errors in tallying receipts. But you do what you do because you love it, not because you’re good or getting there or very bad and trying.

My point is that my last Hallmark piece was a difficult piece for me to write. I had a horrible case of writer’s block and when I hit publish, I winced. I wasn’t happy with my product, and I didn’t think it was any good.

And it really doesn’t have anything to do with writing but more with the presented subject–the idea of women wanting to be the best moms, the best wives, the best people despite our limited circumstances. I realize how powerful we are when we listen to each other. And I really listened in your comments. And I smiled realizing that what I thought was not my best writing was still honest, and it brought some poignant responses that made me think.

I want moms who struggle to feel better about themselves. I want women who have to work to pick up their kids from daycare, drive home and spend those couple precious hours before bedtime knowing that quality is valued more than quantity. I want my friend who is going through chemo and feels guilty for what she can’t do with her babies right now to understand: Good Lord, they know! They know you love them, they feel it with the precious time you do give them. And I want to believe this myself–because sometimes I forget.

You take what you are given and you work with it. You smile and you love the bejesus out of everyone around you for every second you’re blessed to do it. You make it work, and you give it–you give them–your all, your passion, the secret part of your heart that says things you want them to hear. Like “you mean more than any of this.”

*****

After a busy day today, I figured I’d prove my point. One hour. One hour that extended six minutes past. I took my girls and buckled them into their seats and told Brett we’d be back in an hour. And, in the span of sixty-six short minutes, I gave them my all. I was funny. I was attentive. I poured out motherly love from a gushing hose.

We played I Spy in the car and I purposely didn’t say “the sky” for my first guess on Lainey’s “I spy something blue” even though I knew it was the sky. I wanted her to have the satisfaction of stumping me. And when I looked back at her in her car seat, I really looked. I smiled with my eyes and I said I love you with every cell in my body.

We went to the beach. A short drive and a very short trip to the shore just to sink our feet in, grab a few shells, chase a few seagulls.

Our pants got wet, and sand stuck to Nella’s sticky palms, but that’s okay.

We didn’t stay long. It didn’t matter. Lainey can’t tell time yet, and she only measures anything by how much fun she has anyway.

I love this necklace: Stella & Dot

Our favorite beach store was closed, so we skipped popsicles to take this picture in front of the ice box…

…and scurried on our way with thirty-four minutes to spare.

We decided to cross off a quick swings & slides from our adventure scavenger hunt and mad-dashed through puddles to make it to a soggy playground while time was a-tickin’.

Butts got wet, clothes got soaked–kids smiled.

And then it got really fun. Lainey caught on to this how-much-fun-can-we-have-in-one-hour game, and we were flying. Laughing, running back to the car, checking the clock to see what else we could cram in our Hour of Power.

Fifteen minutes to spare. We’d hit a Whole Foods on the way home, its juice bar perfect for our grand finale smoothie treat.

We pulled in as it was getting dark, and I snapped a picture of my dashboard clock to say we did it in an hour, even though we intended to take our time inside.

And we did. We slowly rolled our cart through aisles, taking time to sniff sandalwood soaps, roll on essential oils, browse the colorful produce display. I forgot what time it was and brought two happy kids home ready for bed.

Lainey asked if we could play our game again tomorrow. Because she had more fun in sixty-six minutes than she had in a while. Quality. Not quantity.

You take what you have been given and you make the most of it. Your kids will know you love them.

Kids just know these things.

*****

Giveaway winner for a free baby blanket, courtesy of Cozy Rags:
Commenter #472: Jenny–We in sunny California are soaking up the last bits of summer before we dive head first into fall baking, pumpkin patches, crock pot cooking and cuddling under cozy blankets! Can’t wait until fall hits us!

Congratulations, Jenny! Please send your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net and type “Giveaway winner” in the subject line.

*****
Okay, this new sponsor is the bomb. Introducing Okllo, maker of unique, meaningful kids’ tees that feature historic Americans. Oh, I love these. I loved being able to tell Lainey, as I slipped her Amelia Earhart t-shirt on, all about that strong, adventurous woman who had a dream.

And when I read the quote on the Benjamin Franklin tee, it had my Nella’s name all over it. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

I’m a huge fan of the baseball style t-shirt. Plus, it’s good thick cotton, and they’re very well made. These shirts have a voice, and they’re perfect for your child or a gift for a child you love. Check out Okllo, and use Code ENJOY20 to score 20% off your order.

One commenter on this post will win a free t-shirt of their choice, courtesy of Okllo.

*****

Sending you off with my two favorite funnies from today.

A: I randomly happened upon this and laughed: Lainey tucked in Olivia and her brother under the covers–a.k.a., tears in her quilt.

B: Gross but true: Nella challenges the dog to kiss her.

On the mouth.

Brett thinks it’s disgusting because–and I quote: “Dogs lick their butts with those tongues.”

His disgust only makes it ten times funnier.

Happy, Happy Whatever-Day-It-Is when you read this.

If Brett says “Trouble in River City,” we all deploy–jumping up from our stations on the couch, in the kitchen, in the office–and off to find Nella. We usually find her in one of the following situations:

A: Making a bee-line for an open toilet.
B: In a mad dash crawl to mess up a line of crayons Lainey spent forty minutes organizing from lightest to darkest shade.
C: Going for a bottle of rum (yes, this happened. It broke, and now we don’t keep rum in the pantry).

We got trouble in River City a lot these days.

At the bottom left corner of this mirror, you can always find little tiny lip prints.

Sneaking the dogs crackers. She flings them really fast and laughs when the dogs catch them in the air.

I bought our first gallon of apple cider this weekend. I simmered some with mulling spices this afternoon and drank a hot cup while I watched Lainey chalk out palm trees and little people on cement that was equally hot.

I am willing the sun to dial it down a bit while still enjoying the summer that dwells somewhat eternally here.

We are doing exactly what I intended for September. Slowing down a bit, staying in, having people over for dinner and upping our candle usage by a few hundred percent.

Pasta and Wine Saturday night

It’s a cozy mentality, and I like the way it seeps into everything these days. I swear I talk slower–although I’m sure Brett would beg to differ.

Catching bubbles.

Snail Family. Big Daddy, Little Mama, Brother and Baby Sister.

We spent the afternoon at the library this afternoon, and I had knots in my stomach because I felt like all the librarians were looking at me–peering deep into my soul where my late fees fester. Librarians know these things, I am sure. Trouble in River City–they can smell it. I am also sure my fear of cops and librarians says something disturbing about my psyche, but either way, I’ve decided I’m going to clean up my library act and find a responsible way to make harmony in the book borrowing department.

I like it there way too much not to fix this.

And so do my girls.

So we left making wishes in the fountain to be better book-borrowing citizens and were on our way home.

And now, I’m off to pack bags. Brett’s headed to South Beach for work, and we decided to head over with him to spend time with an old friend and explore the city for a couple days. City, culture, colors and no agenda–just the way I love it.

*****

Congratulations to the winner of a new slow cooker, courtesy of Relishrelish.com.

Comment #68, Hazel: Kelle, you crack me up, with your crazy escapades, you must have more than a little of Anne of Green Gables in you! Nice bruise, how talented of you to make it kite-shaped! I always bruise easily and am forever wondering where they came from. Your girls are both growing up so beautifully.

Hazel. Love your name. Love your Anne with an “e” reference. Now get on up and send me your contact info, if you please, so you can be a slow cookin’ champ.

*****

Just Ducky Originals returns as a sponsor this month with their classic children’s clothing, all made in Asheville, North Carolina. You can sign up to host a fall home show here or shop online here. (Check out their beautiful holiday attire!) Just Ducky also allows you to custom design items by selecting patterns and alternating fabrics of your choice.

Lainey’s dress: Contrast Jumper in Rosy Corduroy and Red Snow Dot


Nella’s dress: Contrast Jumper in Vintage Bow and Vintage Rose Dot

The quality is impeccable, and the fit is sublime. Shop Just Ducky HERE and to get your items shipped free use code FREE SHIPPING.

*****

More from South Beach later this week. Happy Monday!

Oh, and your stories from 9-11 were beautiful. I read every one, and it’s amazing the way everyone remembers every single detail from where there were that day. Thank you for sharing.