Beltline Brunch & Play.

I admit, I've done a poor job getting into Atlanta and exploring. Since I've grown up here, I just don't make time to keep exploring. Stevie and I do such a great job exploring other cities, because it's an adventure! But when we are home, I tend to hibernate a bit more and just enjoy my immediate surroundings. Like my backyard and the golf cart paths :)  But every time I go into the city I am reminded how close it is and how we should just do it more. Because the food is better, you guys. It just is.

I've been feeling a little insulated at home. A little baby-fried. I love being home with my kiddos but we are so in it right now, up to our neck in bottles and swaddles and no sleep and OUR MEAL TRAIN ENDED. So basically there hasn't been anything to look forward to (have I mentioned how much I loved my meal train? I can't even talk about it anymore. Because I get too sad that it's over.) But all that being said, we were due to have some good old fashioned FUN. So last weekend we trekked into the city and met our friends the Hunts for brunch in Inman Park, right along the Beltline. Everything at Parish was soooo good (hence the "food is better in the city" comment) - if you go, get the Croque monsieur, the cranberry french toast and the corned beef hash. It was SO GOOD.

Like seriously, I need more.

Then we walked the Beltline, found a playground and a water fountain (two musts when you're a parent with wiggly little people) and chowed down on King of Pops popsicles. I'll admit, the weather was still slightly chilly for popsicles, but we are beckoning spring onward, so it felt like our duty to have King of Pops. :)

I can't believe how BIG Everett has gotten. I remember holding him just like I'm holding Daxton these days, a little baby in my arms. I remember trekking into the city with him, along with my monster stroller and basically everything we own, just for a few hour stint in the city. I can't believe that time is over. I can't believe I am doing this again. I can't believe I made another baby and he's here and he's so big and beautiful. It's true when they say it - everything with kids goes by SO FAST. It feels so challenging when you're in the thick of it, but then you blink twice and maybe move once or twice and suddenly your baby is a toddler and you have another baby in your arms and its like - what happened? Are we really a family of four?! Wasn't I like, just living in NYC and going on auditions and doing whatever I wanted with my time? Oh the wonderful selfish years.

Those are gone.

But! That's why we trek into the city and play, because even though all my years going forward will be consumed with meeting everyone else's needs and making sure they're happy and healthy - this mama wanted a day in the city, and that's what she got :)

It was just a really, really good day.

P.S. - Recommendations for other family-friend restaurants and activities in the city are so welcome! I want to do more Atlanta things as the weather warms up - any suggestions?

P.P.S. - I'm running a giveaway for another few days over on my Instagram, gifting one special mama with some must-have postpartum products from Earth Mama Angel Baby - don't miss it!

P.P.P.S. - I'll be helping host an event at the Peachtree City Banana Republic this Thursday evening, 2/23 from 5:30-8pm and I would love it if you came out! There will be bites and drinks and pants (the promoted item of the evening :) I'll havemore details for you on my Instagram tomorrow :)

3 Ways to Style a Springtime Scarf.

I laughed so hard when I found out Banana Republic was sending me some springtime items to share here on the blog. I mean, seven weeks ago, I gave birth. My very first thought was, this post-baby body isn't in any kind of shape to be modeling cute clothes!

But after a moment, I thought, shame on me.

That is a terrible attitude to have about this postpartum body of mine, this body that grew a beautiful, healthy baby boy. And then I realized that if my initial reaction about my post-baby body is so negative, there are probably a lot of women who think this way about themselves, too. And it's not okay!!! We have to celebrate the important things, like the gift of giving life to little humans, and have grace on ourselves for the process it takes to create a baby and to rehab from having a baby, too.

In fact, if anything this is the time to spend a little more time on clothes, just to help make the transition easier. It can be tricky to find pieces of clothing that are flattering during the postpartum phase, but I found that this white ruffle jacket and silk floral scarf create a fresh, elegant look. They highlight features that are beautiful on every woman - the face and the neck, all the while minimizing the areas that are still in flux for me (hello, those are maternity jeans I'm still wearing!)

I had so much fun playing around with this spring scarf that I decided to style it three different ways:

1. Around the neck.
This is my favorite way to wear one of these little scarves, because it feels so cheeky and elegant. And Audrey Hepburn worn them this way, case closed. Instead of a necklace, opt for folding your scarf until it is long and thin, then tying it loosely around your neck.

2. Tied in your hair.
I like this look tied up in a high ponytail, because it feels young and fresh, like I'm going to a sock hop. You can also try trying the scarf around a low bun or in a side braid - the options are endless!

I've got a little shadow ;)

3. Tied around a purse.
I have seen scarves on purses styled so many ways, and they're always fun and unexpected. I just tied this scarf on the handle of my bag to give the neutral palette a little pop of color. Isn't the kelly green just perfect?

Styling and photography by Rachel Hill.

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Ruffle Cotton Jacket

Geo Floral Scarf

Outfit Details:
Banana Republic Ruffle Cotton Jacket, Banana Republic Geo Floral Small Square Scarf, Gap Maternity Jeggings, Stella & Dot Gilded Path Double Wrap Bracelet, Top (past season, similar style here)

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Many thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Easter Sunday!

Easter Easter Easter. I love Easter Sunday! I feel so grateful because I got to spend time with all my family (well, the ones that live in this state) for church, dinner and an egg hunt on Sunday. Stevie and I have previously spent a lot of years in other cities for Easter, so it feels really good to make up for lost time, now that we are back in our home town. It was a wonderful hoopla of a party, complete with a southern-style potluck, kids and Easter eggs galore, and a healthy helping of springtime rainfall. We got outside for a quick moment to snap these photos before the rain ensued.

Everett was so lively this year, and was much more engaged with the festivities of my childhood that I hold so dear. We decorated the cross at church (we put flowers on it to remember what Jesus did for us), and after Everett's afternoon nap (and a lot of scrambling around the house to clean up!) Stevie and I hosted both sides of our families for dinner and a drizzly egg hunt. A little rain couldn't stop us! My only regret was the my sister Kara and her little family couldn't be with us for such a memorable day. Ugh, we need that family jet right about now, to transport us back and forth from her home in Florida to ours :)

While I stood around with my parents and in-laws, we couldn't help but laugh in wonder at all these adorable kids, who were INTO the egg hunt. Last year Everett was just a little babe (remember when he still had brown hair??), but this year he is in full-fledged toddler mode and wants to keep up with his bigger cousins. They all had so much playing in the yard and hunting for eggs. Every time Everett found an egg, he threw it like a ball. He called them eggs, but definitely treated them like balls. I don't really want him to get into football (I mean, the injuries!), but unfortunately I think Stevie is grooming him for it. I mean. Look.

If that's not a football stance, well then, I don't know my football.

A few more! Okay, a lot more...

My nieces and nephews all have those piercing, watery blue eyes, huh? They're so gorgeous and I looooove them. We had so much fun hosting and celebrating in our home (and yard!) this Easter. I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend, too!

P.S. - Make sure to check back tomorrow -  I'm sharing some Spring looks with Banana Republic!!


 

Signs of Spring.

I spent two days on my hands and knees back in the fall, digging holes in my front yard and dropping papery bulbs deep in the cool earth. I had no idea what I was doing. I was never taught how to garden. And I thought there was a mistake with these bulbs, because they looked strangely like onions. I didn't know bulbs were supposed to look like onions. Thankfully, they are, and I must have followed the directions somewhat correctly, because over the past week - my flowers have sprung alive! I absolutely love spring, and this year I am especially excited to be celebrating this special awakening of the woods from my own corner of the world. Watching the season resurrect in every plant and tree and yes, even the weeds, that surround my home has been the sweetest experience. This place feels so much like home that its almost strange. Because in reality, I haven't lived here for very long. But I absolutely love and adore my little home with its old cedar frame and weathered wooden fence. I love the odd exterior shade of green and the aged shrubs and the birds that spiral around my yard like the gentlest halo. I love watching my son roll around in the not-yet-lush grass and throw his ball in the yard and yelp with laughter when Stevie tackles him to the ground. I love all these moments, especially their recent increase, along with the rising temperatures and the growing flora and the longer sunshine in the sky. I'm sure everyone feels the exact same way about Spring. But I must say, I'm feeling those feelings. And it's even more fun to watch Everett experience the surprises of Spring. He tried to grab a fistful of my tulips. That was a teaching moment. About how hard mommy worked and how he needs to appreciate the flowers for their tender gracious beauty.

Being barefoot and drinking coffee on my front porch and feeling the balmy breeze and watching these flowers unfold. My son's extra-long hair. My unpolished toenails. His protruding toddler belly. My untanned skin. My husband's type-A plan for the lawn. These are signs of Spring in our little corner of the world. And for me, there is really nothing better than right now.

Love you, Mom.

Love you, Mom.

She woke up early to fix your breakfast before school. Fed you. Bathed you. Changed your dirty dirty diapers. Made a big whooping deal about your birthday. She was never upset when you woke her up because your tummy hurt. She laughed when you played dress up in her closet. She was always at your school play, your chorus concert, your big game. She came early to bring snacks. She helped with your homework, ordered pizza for you and your friends on Friday night, and let you go to that really awesome concert downtown. Because she trusted you. Although it didn't stop her from calling your cell phone A LOT. She took you shopping for prom dresses. She let you cry on her shoulder about that dumb boy who didn't deserve you anyway. She slipped a twenty in your hand when you were going back to college after being home for the weekend. She helped you move time and time again, coming behind you to clean the bathroom while the boxes were being transported to the truck. She let you travel the country, the world, and didn't let her worries about you being so far away affect her ability to let you go. But she sure did pray. She smiled through her tears on your wedding day. She held your hands while you were pregnant, answered every question when you asked "How bad is this gonna hurt??", and was by your side when you finally, exhausted, welcomed your wiggly, darling baby into the world. She was always, she is always, and will always always be there. For as long as she has breath in her body, she will give all her joy to your existence.

Okay, that was my mom.

But I bet yours was something like that, too. At least, I hope so.

This year is my first Mother's Day. I can't believe I'm allowed to be a mom. I can only hope to measure up in the tenderest way, because I have incredibly large mom shoes to fill. Well, not true. She has dainty little feet. But her footprint over the journey of my life has been immeasurable, innumerable with oodles and oodles of loving tracks. Inexplicable. She has given me her life's blood and her hearty Hungarian laugh. Her full cheeks and strong thighs. I am the mother that I am, because she was the mother that she was. I will probably screw up a lot, but she taught me that having grace for myself is one of the best gifts I can give to my family.

There is no perfect mother, but I would like to argue that she is. Close.

I hope you give mom your whole heart of love today.

A little more about my mom here.