M & J Monday

I love you in the morning

at the start of every day.

I love you in the evening

when sunshine goes away.

I love you when the stars

glow in the dim moonlight.

I love you in the silence

that comes with every night.

I love you when the wind is still...

and in the warm spring breeze.

I love you in the summer sun...

and with the fallen leaves.

I love you in the crisp white snow

that quietly fills the sky.

I love you in the stormy air

when strong dark clouds pass by.

Let's watch the world together,

in rain, or snow, or shine.

I love you always and forever

sweet child[ren] of mine.

Sweet Child of Mine

~Carolyn Jayne Church

Happy Monday!
Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

Julia || 18 Months

A year and a half has gone right on by. While we won't celebrate with a cake or anything too fancy, I might have to slip over to our favorite donut shop and split a glazed donut with my favorite little lady. She and I share an affinity for those, and splitting one seems a mighty fine way to celebrate another six months gone by.

To the update!

Height: 32.5 inches (75th percentile)

Weight: 21.15 pounds (15th percentile)

Teeth: 16

Loves

Keeping up with Marcus.

Laughing and making others laugh.

Being outside.

Getting wet and dirty.

Riding in her tricycle.

Music of all genres.

Books - particularly the touch-and-feel and lift-the-flap books.

Mickey Mouse - even though she's never watched an entire episode of MMCH.

Dancing - shaking a tail-feather is her favorite.

The Dance and Move BeatBell and Dance and Move BeatBowWow.

Shoes - particularly her rain boots, and shoes that are too big for her (like Marcus' and mine).

Her Melissa and Doug baby doll.

Bubbles.

Attempting to go up and down stairs like a big kid.
Cheese.

Snacks.

Dislikes

Veggies.

Strangers who come at her abruptly.

Hearing the word no.

Cooperating for pictures.

Diaper changes - still.

Sleeping in past 4:30/5a.m.

The garbage truck.

Words

It seems as if Julia has slowed down a bit in the way of new words, however, she loves to babble non-stop, and is also a fan of the high-pitched girly scream (of which I'm none too fond).

Other notable moments

A few weeks ago we signed up for Gymboree, and Julia seems to really enjoy it. She's still a little leery of the teacher, but the music, dancing, and bubbles are right up her alley. I'm loving the one-on-one time with Julia, and a few times I found myself flooded with memories and emotions of doing the same songs and activities with Marcus when he was this age.

Last week Julia landed in the ER for her second round of RSV as well as a nasty ear infection. It was quite the traumatic experience for both of us. Thankfully Julia is feeling much better this week due to antibiotics and breathing treatments.

Julia has some of the most delicious little curls and I hope she hangs on to those for a very long time.

Speaking of hair, recently Julia has been on a kick of selection her own accessories: bows and shoes. For most of the photos pictured today I tried to get Julia to wear the neutral/gold bow, but she insisted on the pink headband. 

Cheers to the spunk, the sass, the snuggles, the mischief, the attitude, the laughter, and all that's in between! Onward we move to month 19! 

Wall Crawl - Babes in Long Beach

What does one do with a free Friday? Convince a friend to take a day off work and partake in a wall crawl... With kids.

So, we totally made up the term wall crawl. Essentially it's just like a bar crawl... Minus the booze. However, it was complete with a wobbly toddler and a couple of not-so coordinated boys. So, keeping three kids upright felt just like the end of a bar crawl. And, bonus points for no headaches the following morning.

When I pitched Liz the idea of going on a wall hunt around Long Beach I knew she'd be game. Since our fellow blogger/'gram/real life friend Erin has showed us that walls can be really, really pretty, finding walls has become a fun little game (though I'm pretty sure Scott doesn't fully agree on this). 

I plotted out a few walls throughout the city of Long Beach, and though it rained all. morning. long. that didn't stop us from hitting a few very artsy facades. 

Wall One

Located on the side of a record store, this mural is huge, and has a lady? mermaid? on it as well (see the purple hair on the left side of the wall?).
Mural by @sarah_joncas
Toxic Toast Records: 757 Pine Avenue, Long Beach

Wall Two

I'm not sure if this counts as a second wall, as it is the same wall as pictured above. However, it gets it's own dedicated space since it is a completely different mural. It's kind of weird, and funky, and fun.
Toxic Toast Records, 757 Pine Avenue, Long Beach
Mural by @evahscat

Wall Three

Easily my favorite wall of the day, as I'm partial to blue. It covered the entire face of this building, and capturing the whole piece was impossible. Also note, Julia was not at all feeling this. Shocking.
InterTrend Communications, 228 East Broadway, Long Beach
Mural by @htzk

Wall Four

Another massive, colorful mural that I simply wasn't able to capture in one frame. I believe, from afar this is an imagine of a baby sleeping on a pelican. Liz and I both agreed from a distance this mural was kind of weird. But, up close the colors were really pretty.
Mark Schneider Fine Jewelry, 245 The Promenade North, Long Beach
Mural by @telmomiel

Wall Five

After all those walls we thought a stop a the Aquarium to let the kids run free was probably a good idea. The mural on this wall was just icing on the cake to our wall-filled day.
Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Mural by @pantonio.o

Wall Six

After the aquarium we thought we were done, but then we realized we were a mere five minutes from just one more wall. Naturally we had to go.
Another one that took up the entire wall, and made it impossible to capture the full image.
Super Suds Laundromat & Wash and Fold, 250 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach
Mural by Gail Werner

I have to give a massive shout out to the kids for going along with our crazy antics of finding walls and simply running around in front of them. I'm sure it wasn't their idea of the best day ever, but I think it's safe to say both Liz and I enjoyed our adult hunt for pretty painted buildings.

Don't be too surprised if more wall crawls are in our  very near future. ;)

M & J Monday

The ocean has lost 

her baby teeth.

They're shells 

upon the shore.

And every day 

she grows new teeth.

Each night 

she loses more.

She spreads 

her teeth 

upon the beach.

I gather up a pile.

I bring them home 

so I can keep

a piece 

of ocean smile.

Happy Monday!

Shell Teeth

~Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Fix #12 + $150 SF Giveaway

Since my last fix didn't knock my socks off I figured I might as well go ahead and immediately sign up for another one. My winter wardrobe is still pretty sparse and could use a little beefing up.

Per the usual I requested Raquel, and was so fortunate to again have her as my stylist. I asked Raquel for more of the same from fix #11: warm, cozy, cable knit, along with something fun for Valentine's Day, and maybe a pair of black booties.

Raquel was able to track down all I requested, save for the booties. Fingers crossed those will be in a future fix.

Before getting to the threads, be sure to stick around... I've teamed up with Liz from Chasin' Mason, Carly from Lipgloss and Crayons, Sara from Running from the Law, Whitney from Work it Mommy, and Courtney from A+ Life,  for a $150 Valentine's Day Stitch Fix Giveaway at the end of today's fashion show. Be sure to get entered!

Ok. On to the threads.

RD Style || Paulli Cowl Neck Knit Top

The color of this sweater was perfect. The texture and thickness (which wasn't too thick at all, perfect for Southern California) was spot on. The cowl neck was a nice touch that I was fond of. But, the slits, on both sides of the top, that reached more than half way up the top were more than enough for me to immediately send back.

Verdict || Returned

RD Style || Brandon Side Slit Pullover

Again, loved the color and loved how insanely soft this sweater was. It was a tad thicker than what might be warranted for our winters, but I knew it would have made for a great piece during a weekend in the mountains. But, those dang slits again, on both sides. Nope. The point of a sweater is to keep me warm, not to allow a solid draft to my torso from both sides. Back it went.

Verdict || Returned

Emily Rose || Barb Button Back Pullover

Sooooo... I wore this piece entirely wrong. Apparently the buttons go in the back. WHOOPS. However, that said. Green isn't a color I ever gravitate towards, and the back (which is actually the front) was so short. Even had I been wearing it correctly I wouldn't have been comfortable with how short it was. And, it wasn't my idea of soft and cozy.

Verdict || Returned

Cozy Casual || Jemmie Textured Open Cardigan

Cardigan wearing dreams are made right here with this piece! The length is perfection, the color is a neutral that will surely pair with every single thing in my closet (leggings included!), and the texture gives it character. Oh. And, it's SO SOFT. I know it's pretty close to the cardigan I kept in my last fix, but I simply could not send this piece back.

Verdict || Kept

Current Air || Caspoli Cold Shoulder Blouse

Real talk. When I first pulled this piece out of the box I turned up my nose. This was the piece that was supposed to be my mink-sy Valentine top. Initially, the print didn't wow me and I thought surely there was no way I'd wear this piece in February - 60 degrees is entirely too cold for all that business (my college self is rolling her eyes so hard right now). Then I put it on. The neck line plunges, the pattern isn't overwhelming and gaudy, and I'm a serious sucker for the cold shoulder. Let's not forget to mention Scott noted how much he liked it. I then dropped him a million hints about a Valentine's Date Night. Please note, I don't care if the date actually happens ON Valentine's Day, I'd be more than happy for a date night any time.
It didn't take too much wear to convince me that I couldn't send this piece back. Plus, I fully expect to reach for this in the summer months.

Verdict || Kept

And there it is. Did I keep the right pieces?

If you haven't signed up for Stitch Fix give it a shot, sign up here.

Now. Don't forget to enter the $150 Valentine's Day Stitch Fix Giveaway! Entering is easy peasy, just use the Rafflecopter prompts below!
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