Enjoying the Small Things

Enjoying the Small Things

My Favorite Valentine Inspired Looks

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Valentine’s Day is an especially memorable holiday for us because Dash is our Baby Cupid and shares a birthday with the day we celebrate love, but there’s a number of other reasons I love this February holiday–namely, having good reason to pull out Valentine-inspired things out of my closet. I’m looking at you, pink neck bow. Speaking of neck bow, taking the #1 spot in the list below is the perfect romantic neck bow blouse, at Target now. Also in this list–my favorite red shoes, the prettiest bra I own and a red skirt that made angels sing in the dressing room at Anthropologie last week. My Valentine-inspired favorites:

  1. Who What Wear Blouse with Neck Bow
    Let’s have a round of applause for the neck bow, please. You know I love my neck bows, and this blouse does it right–big enough so it doesn’t hang limply and balanced out perfectly by the delicate blush color. And I love the sleeves–fitted around the wrists and then subtly ballooning out into a little poof.
  2. Noonday Collection Orbital Earrings
    Aren’t these fun? They’re part of Noonday’s new spring collection, and every piece is divine. White t-shirt, jeans, and these babies is all you need.
  3. This Matte Lipstick (Color: Love)
    I keep this in my car console so I can quickly fix one of those “Dear God, I need help” situations when I pull the rearview mirror down to take a look before I step out of my car. It’s the perfect matte red, and it instantly makes you look put together.
  4. Heart Sunglasses
    Super affordable and F.U.N. I’ve been wearing them on my runs to trick me into thinking running is fun.
  5. Glossier Cloud Paint (Color: Puff)
    Santa slipped this in my stocking last year, and I’ve used it every day since (I also use it in Dusk). I love this soft pink color–all you need is a little dab on the apples of your cheeks to give you that natural flush.
  6. The Bee & the Fox “Mother” Tee
    Whenever I’m looking to add a new graphic tee to my collection, Bee & the Fox is one of the first places I go to. I love their simple tees, and this one’s blush/red combo is perfection.
  7. Halogen Emilia Loafer
    These were my favorite shoes I bought last year, and I wear them all the time. Red shoes are my favorite way take an outfit up a notch, and these work with everything–skinny jeans, skirts, black pants, overalls. And I love the shiny patent leather!
  8. Free People Adella Bralette
    I have this bra in three colors, and it’s the prettiest one in my drawer. It’s not super supportive, but it’s really great for loose shirts, strappy or off-the-shoulder shirts or anything low cut because it’s pretty and delicate enough to peek out without screaming “I’m a bra.” The tiny double string straps are a work of art.
  9. Pink Vans for Madewell (super affordable, on sale)
    The perfect blush color, retro vibes and that subtle platform sole…total score.
  10. Scarf Hair Tie
    I was given a couple of these for my birthday, and I’m in love. Lainey’s already stolen one of them. Instantly turns a workout ponytail into something chic.
  11. Anthropologie Sandra Belted Skirt
    Very Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley. I fell in love with this skirt the second I saw it on a rack when I walked in Anthro last week, tried it on, and the rest is history. If I wasn’t sold already, the other women in the dressing room did it for me. One woman walked out to go find one for herself and another told me, “If you don’t buy that, you’re crazy.” Thank heavens for the gift cards I saved.

Are you a dress up for Valentine’s Day kind of gal? There’s always the subtle route of a little pair of conversation heart earrings or shoe clips.

Earring of the Month

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This post is sponsored by Pair Piercing.

It was 1986. I was school shopping for the first day of second grade when I spotted a pair of yellow hoop earrings I was sure my dad wouldn’t let me get, but he said yes and thus the perfect back-to-school outfit was complete–a Modonna-esque trifecta of miniskirt, bulky yellow sweater and hoop earrings. I felt like an Esprit ad, the ultimate 80’s mark of confidence. I don’t remember any of the other earrings I wore as a kid, but I remember the hoops because of the memory with my dad and the way they made me feel.

Fast forward thirty-three years later, and I’m watching Lainey tuck wayward wisps of hair behind her ear as she slips the perfect delicate pair of heart hoops in.

“Did I ever tell you about the yellow hoop earrings I never thought my dad would let me get?” I asked her. I know I’ve told her.

We made our own little rite-of-passage moment from earrings last month when, after weeks of anticipation, Lainey sat next to her best friend she had been reunited with in Chicago, and the two of them got their ears double pierced together. Instantly, they seemed older. We commemorated the event with photos, they texted their friends, and the moment was filed under things I know they will remember.

It’s this rite of passage that inspired the idea behind Pair Piercing, a subscription box for girls that not only includes a beautiful pair of hypoallergenic, skin-friendly earrings (designed by luxury Brooklyn jeweler Page Sargisson) but meaningful expert-designed conversation starters on collectible stickers to help encourage heart-to-heart conversations with your daughter.

You get to choose all the details from how long you want the subscription (3, 6 or 12 month and you don’t have to remember to cancel it–it ends when you say it ends) to what earring club you prefer (Sterling Silver, Gold Vermeil or 14k Gold).

Your first box will also include an acrylic earring stand for organizing and displaying earrings.

I love all the meaningful details packed into each Pair Piercing box and how each pair of earrings is thoughtfully designed, age appropriate (Lainey loved the little “#/@” mismatch pair in one of the boxes!) and made to last. These are the keepsake earrings.

It’s the perfect gift for any tweent girl and a great way to celebrate milestones. And…just in time for Valentine’s Day! Have a little girl with pierced ears you want to show some love to? Order by February 8th for Valentine’s delivery. Join Pair Earring of the Month Club, and use Code ETST for $15 off.

I know there are a lot of subscription box products on the rise, but it’s so much fun when you find one that’s perfectly fitting for your child. The Pair Piercing box fits Lainey to a T, and I love that it’s more than just earrings; it’s about connecting and finding meaning in these little rites of passage buried in childhood.

As time feels like it slips by a little faster these days, it’s nice to have reminders to cherish these moments.

The little hearts on her ears are working.

What’s in My Cart: A Fix for “The Moment of Ravenous Beasts”

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I’m thrilled to be partnering with Stonyfield Organic this year, a brand that not only can always be found in our refrigerator but one whose values we admire. What began as a nonprofit organic farming school in New Hampshire is now the Stonyfield company made up of hundreds of family farms. This is the first sponsored post in a series you’ll see throughout the year, combining a little Stonyfield love with the same stories and loves we already share here. 

I’ve recently shared my love for the new world of grocery shopping delivery service which basically transformed my life and has already saved me hours of time and stress. But even with online grocery shopping (…and yes, I still find myself running to the store on my own), I still usually have some kind of predicament I’m trying to solve as I fill my cart. Predicaments of the past have included:
– Revamp the kids school lunches so they’ll actually eat them
– Why do we never have breakfast food?
– I’m tired of serving the same three dinners every week
…and my personal favorite:
– Buying lots of cleaning products will magically fix the mess

My latest predicament though is to solve the Moment of the Ravenous Beasts. What’s the Moment of the Ravenous Beasts, you ask? It is the segment of time between the second the dismissal bell rings and the moment we actually arrive to a source of food and, consequently, the time of day my kids are the most hungry they’ve ever been in their entire lives. Surely that sliver of time isn’t that long, you’re thinking, and waiting for food isn’t that hard to do. That’s what I thought. But the dragons in the back of the car writhing and promising that they are absolutely going to wither up and die if they don’t get something to eat right this second beg to differ. God forbid you suggest swinging by the post office real quick or, say, stopping to get gas. And if we have an after school activity? Forget about it. Death by starvation is imminent. Please tell me I am not the only mom who experiences the after school Moment of Ravenous Beasts?

So, back to my shopping cart. The latest installment of Life Made Easy by Grocery Delivery Service had me scrolling through the online aisles of our Super Target looking for sustainable snacks I can take with me when I head to car line–something that can hold the kids over for a bit if I have errands to run or we need to head to Nella’s theater class or a tutoring session without stopping at home.

Behold, the new Stonyfield Snack Pack.

They introduce a new occasion for eating yogurt, no spoons needed. And they’re snazzy–yogurt plus crunchy snack.

There’s pretzels with chocolate yogurt, graham crackers with strawberry yogurt or their two new flavors–strawberry yogurt with chocolate chip cookies, and vanilla yogurt with chocolate cookies (all of our favorite!).

The Snack Packs are super easy to pack, stay contained in the package (no car mess!) and the best part…they calm the dragons! Ravenous beasts be gone!

And they embody all the good things that make Stonyfield who they are–farm fresh ingredients without GMOs or toxic persistent pesticides. You can find Stonyfield Snack Packs at Target, Walmart and a variety of other grocery retailers.

No more snapping “Do you think I can make food magically appear?!” to the kids when they’re asking for me to deliver something NOW. The Ravenous Beast case has been closed. Moving on the next week’s cart predicament…30 minute meals so I can spend more time decorating the dollhouse.