Showing posts with label friday favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friday favorites. Show all posts

11.18.2016

friday favorites

Happy Friday!! Hope you all have had the best week!! Snow is in the forecast tonight and I'm actually really excited about it. Normally this time of year we've had quite a bit of snow and in some ways November has felt empty without any (though the 50-60 degree days the last few weeks have been incredible)


Yesterday afternoon I had my 28-week OB appointment and 1 hour glucose test and for the first time my whole pregnancy, was able to fly solo since I didn't want the girls to have to sit and wait with me. My clinic is in one of my favorite parts of the city on the most charming street with darling little shops & boutiques and our favorite grocery store. I passed my glucose test and to celebrate, did a little early Christmas shopping and picked up some fresh cut greens for the kitchen. I told myself I would wait to decorate until after Thanksgiving (we cut down our tree every year on Black Friday and then decorate throughout the weekend) but once I got home and lit my fresh balsam candle, I had to pull a few trees out of storage to pair with my greens. Dustin already had the girls fed and ready for bed so I curled up on the couch with a Hallmark Christmas movie, a big mug of chili and a sliver of my favorite chocolate cake. All my cozy November dreams came true! 

Our biggest plans for the weekend are taking the girls to see Santa tomorrow morning and meet live reindeer, decorate Christmas cookies and do a Christmas craft at a local flower shop and nursery. We've done it every year since Olivia was born in 2013 so it's become a fun tradition we always look forward to. And to kick the weekend off, here are a few Friday favorites!

one || I love these vined monogram ornaments for the tree, I picked up one for each of the three girls. We have a lot of ornaments that I've had since I was a little girl, passed down from my grandparents and parents, but every year I love finding a few to add to our collection and these are simple but so pretty.

two || These suede bow boots (below) are some of Olivia's favorite, she wears them almost every day and everywhere we go. She can easily get them on and off herself and I love that they're neutral to pair with every outfit. They're on sale with an additional 40% off right now too!


three || Our absolute favorite bows are by Free Babes Handmade and a few weeks ago she released the most gorgeous hand tied velvet bows as part of her holiday collection. They have been sold out since her release but she is restocking her shop today!! Berry (above) and Ginger are our favorites!!

four || My go-to shop for handmade personalized jewelry, Made by Mary, is offering 20% off everything in their shop through November 19 (or until they sell out) using the code HOLIDAY20 at checkout. I love so many of their pieces, especially the skinny bar bracelets and hammered crescent necklace. They are elegant and timeless and with personalization, hold so much extra meaning. A perfect time to start shopping for the special gals in your life with a little extra savings!


five || This picture book is one of our newest favorites; it's beautifully illustrated and with a creative, unique storyline. We've taken almost all our Christmas books out of storage so those tend to be what we read the most of this time of year and this is a fun non-Christmas one to add in to our rotation!

six || You all know my undying love of floral and I especially love floral dresses. It's not often I shop for myself but this black floral dress is at the top of my wishlist from one of my favorite online boutiques, Piper and Scoot. I also love this cozy Cabin Fever sweatshirt.

Hope you have a fun + festive weekend!! The first of my 5 holiday gift guides will be kicking off next week, so excited to share them with you all!! XO

11.04.2021

friday favorites

Happy Friday!! We have been enjoying a week of beautiful weather and crisp Fall air. Sleeping with the bedroom windows open lately has been one of my favorite things, I feel like I wake way more refreshed after breathing in fresh air all night. It hasn't quite been cold enough to put our flannel sheets on yet but in the next few weeks we'll definitely be pulling those out. So cozy!

Sharing a few favorites below to kick off your Friday. We have a low key weekend ahead of us and lots of sunshine in the forecast so I'm sure we'll be getting outside with the girls.


one || This Feather and Birch "gather" sign above our favorite Sugarboo Designs love letter canvases is my new favorite art piece in our home. Immediately after it arrived I had to hang it up and love how it completes the space. It comes in 3 different sizes (ours is the 44") and is handmade by Mama of two, Heidi, in Michigan. It's perfect for year round but I especially love it as the holidays approach and all our family + friends will be filling our home. Heidi offers it in black as well as an unfinished wood, if you want to paint or stain it a different color.

two || I've been wanting to make sweet rolls from scratch for quite some time now, especially as the weather gets colder and the holidays approach. These homemade orange sweet rolls look amazing and these overnight pecan sticky buns look equally delicious. I grew up eating orange rolls so they are so nostalgic to me, and being that breakfast is by far our family's favorite meal on the weekends, I'm hoping to give one (or both!) of these recipes a try soon.

three || This Rylee & Cru swallow dress is one of my favorite pieces in Poppy's wardrobe. Not only is it the ideal neutral for Fall and Winter, it's so soft and equally perfect for playing around the house or paired with leggings and a bonnet when we're out and about. I also love every single dress from Fin & Vince, including the mustard cottage dress with pockets I shared in a photo earlier this week.

four || Our favorite bonnets this Fall have been from Pixie Herd, they are so warm & cozy and come in gorgeous gender neutral colors, hand crocheted by a Mama who started her shop just a few months ago after making bonnets for her own daughter's first winter last year. And one is up for grabs on instagram this week @blessednestblog!


five || Last but not least, I've had so much fun collecting art for baby girl's nursery. Planning a special space for another little girl has been so much fun and I can't wait to see it all come together as her arrival gets closer. This wildflower art print from Mak & Ruby is one of my favorites. You know my love of all things floral and this quote has been a favorite of mine for a long time!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that your November is off to the best start!! I haven't brought out the Christmas decorations yet but Olivia has been asking to put up all our Christmas books on the girls' shelves so maybe this weekend we'll take the leap with that!

10.07.2021

friday favorites

Happy Friday! This week has been a fun one for us girls with the best weather and afternoons spent on long walks and picnics at our local park. Dustin and I went out for dinner last night to our favorite hibachi restaurant to continue his birthday celebration and it was so nice to get out just the two of us.

Last week was filled with a lot of running around to errands, appointments, etc. and this week has been much more low key which has been nice. We don't have any big plans for the weekend ahead which I'm actually looking forward to, because last weekend was quite packed. It's nice to have busy weeks and then slow ones, I definitely thrive on that variety and need those breaks of slower paced days.


To kick off your weekend, I've rounded up a handful of Friday Favorites!!

one || This shower curtain is on my wish list. I don't think I could ever justify spending that amount on a shower curtain but maybe some day I'll catch it on a super sale! We have a beautiful floral one in our master bathroom but I have been on the hunt for something a bit more "Fall" and this one is stunning! I also love this one if you're floral-obsessed like I am.

two || This striped diaper bag from Bodomint is the diaper bag of my dreams. It arrived this week and I haven't stopped finding things I love about it since! Created by Rebecca Waldron, while living in Hawaii and on the hunt for a multifunctional but stylish bag that she could use with her son, together with her husband Tyler she put her degree in fashion design and experience in the action sports industry to good use and created her bags! Bodomint was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2014 and their bags have been in high demand since.

I've used many diaper bags since having Olivia 3.5 years ago and this is hands down my favorite thus far. It is more spacious than any I've used in the past and has so many pockets inside and out to keep everything organized. It can be worn as a backpack, over the shoulder or carried by a handle like a handbag, a feature I just love. I'll be sharing more about it in an extra special post soon, but for now had to rave because I am obsessed. You can preorder the striped bag here and it will ship within a week or two! They also come in black and those are estimated to ship late November.


three || One thing that we love around here are bonnets. Poppy wears them almost every day and although Olivia has outgrown all of hers, I've held on to them as keepsakes for P to grow into. A few favorite shops to find bonnets from are:

Briar Handmade // Heirloom quality bonnets in all sorts of patterns, including beautiful Liberty of London florals. We love this buttercup one for Fall.

Roz Sew // The london pixie pom bonnet Poppy is wearing above is from there; you can customize your bonnet any way you like with the prettiest fabrics and colors to choose from, including lots of options for boys!! This one is floral corduroy, mustard binding, the cozy lining and burgundy pom. Wish it came in my size ;)

 Hello Charlie! // Run by my dear friend Madie, this Starry Night bonnet in caramel is on it's way for the new baby, it's perfectly gender neutral and you can have it lined with sherpa for those colder months ahead. I also love this Fall Tapestry one, a new favorite for Penelope.

four || I love all things Fixer Upper and these Ford Vases are probably the neatest I've come across.


five || I shared earlier this week on instagram @blessednestblog a picture of one of my favorite corners in Poppy's room and had so many of you ask about the shoe holder. I love displaying the girls' shoes and accessories in their rooms as much as possible, it makes for the best functional decor ;) The wire basket with hooks underneath can be found online here. I also love this wood wall cubby.

What have you been loving lately?! Share your favorite finds below. Hope you have the best weekend!

9.09.2021

our week in pictures & friday favorites

We are already over a week into September and it's been nothing short of amazing. We've had temps that feel like Fall for the past two weeks and I even had to pull out my cozy sweaters when I've been outside with the girls cause of the chill in the air. We've been cooking and baking all our fall favorites and burning candles nonstop. I'm pretty sure our house has smelled like leaves + pumpkins for the past two weeks straight. Not that any of us are complaining ;)


This past week was a busy one with Olivia meeting her preschool teachers and starting dance and us finishing up our live edge shelving project in our kitchen. We took a trip to our local apple orchard on Monday as a family (a tradition we started last year, going every year on Labor Day) and have been spending almost every morning out on a walk or having a breakfast picnic with pumpkin muffins & egg soufflés at our local nature reserve, just a few minutes from our home. We have just a few days left before Olivia starts school so us girls have been getting out and about together as much as possible. And it's Poppy's birthday eve today so we are finding fun ways to celebrate her and the gift she is to our family!


One of the projects I was most excited for in our kitchen was our open shelving project. We had custom cabinetry put up in the main portion of our kitchen but I knew I wanted something a little different above the dishwasher, not just a single cabinet all by itself looking out of place, so we decided on a set of 3 floating shelves made from live edge lumber to compliment the rustic style of our home.


I am so so happy with how they turned out. I still have some decorating to do on the top and middle shelves but so far I'm loving them. They make the space feel so warm and really bring it all together. That wall sat empty for the past few weeks so now that they're up I feel like my kitchen is exactly how I envisioned it would be. We used these steel brackets to anchor them to the wall. You can get them in any length for your space and can select between lightweight, medium or heavy duty depending on how much you are planning to put on each shelf. If you're thinking of incorporating some open shelving into your kitchen, I highly recommend it!! They are so much fun to style for each new season and holiday and add function while still keeping the space feeling nice and open.

And to kick off the weekend, how about a few Friday Favorites?!


one || This pumpkin soufflé candle has been burning all day and night. It's the perfect fall fragrance without being too sweet. It fills the house quickly but isn't overpowering. Plus the jar and gold label is gorgeous.

two || I've shared before that we are all big Chipotle fans over here. I'm pretty sure I could eat Mexican food seven nights a week, especially when I'm pregnant. I craved it with both girls and later found out my mom craved it when she was pregnant with me; this pregnancy has been no different. Olivia requests it at least weekly and even Penelope loves it. Through the month of September, kids can eat free every Sunday at Chipotle with the purchase of an adult entree (burrito / bowl / salad / tacos), up to two kids. So Dustin and I get our meals and then both girls get a free kids meal. We usually pick up Chipotle during the week but after hearing about this promotion we switched to Sundays and will definitely be taking advantage of it again the next 3 weeks in a row like we did last Sunday.

three || I have always wanted to try making homemade applesauce but totally been intimidated. I grew up with memories of my grandpa always making it using apples from our backyard, I lived on it as a kid. It's such a comforting food for me and so nostalgic. We normally buy it freshly made from our local orchard but this year I was determined to make my own. I quickly discovered it is SO easy and so so delicious. I used this recipe & Olivia loved helping.

four || I recently came across this book and the cover immediately won me over. The illustrations inside are equally as beautiful and it's the perfect bedtime story for the girls.


five || Little by little I have begun collecting a few special pieces for baby. I feel like by Baby #3 I have become so selective with what I buy, especially since we have so much of what we need already and I've been waiting to find out what we're having so the items can really be personalized. But this mudcloth bamboo quilt is the coziest thing ever and perfectly gender neutral. The girls discovered it last week hiding in the baby's closet and had so much fun using it before nap time for reading, giving it a little big sister love and breaking it in.


six || I love a good World Market find and this white scalloped dish and these sculpted hand towels are two of my most recent purchases. I can't ever get enough of the green-yellow mossy color in my home, it's so natural and warm and perfect year round. I love the dish for in a bathroom to hold jewelry or a bar of soap or at your kitchen sink for dish brushes and sponges like we have it.

seven || In the hunt to find exactly what I wanted to style our shelves, I knew I wanted to incorporate a fun light that could be programmed on as it begins getting dark, especially that daylight ends much earlier here as Fall nears. I have seen so many fun mason jar solar lights but was looking for something that was battery operated so I didn't have to leave it outside to "charge" all day. I came across this glass cloche with LED string lights yesterday on sale and knew it would be perfect (pictured on our second shelf above, not on). It takes 3 AA batteries and can be set on a timer to stay on for 4 hours, shut off and then turn on 20 hours later automatically. I have ours set to run from 6-10pm each night and don't have to do a thing! I love the soft glow it gives and the ability to light up the shelves safely.


We are taking it easy this weekend celebrating our sweet Penelope as a family before her party next weekend with all our friends, and of course enjoying the weather!! Hope your weekend is the best! 

8.26.2016

friday favorites

Happy Friday! I had my 16 week OB appointment yesterday and just set up our next ultrasound for early September, we are all so excited to find out what we're having! Olivia goes back and forth, always telling me something different but mostly just saying "One will be a boy, one will be a girl!" I gently remind her that we're just having one baby at a time ;)

We have a fun weekend ahead of us with plans of a date day for Dustin and I at our state fair (hello, deep fried three musketeers!), which means the girls get to spend some time with Nana (aka their favorite person ever) and a double date on Sunday with friends of ours. I'm very slowly getting the house prepped for Fall because I don't feel like I can officially start until September is here, but having a brand new kitchen to decorate just makes me so excited! Below are a few Friday Favorites to kick off your weekend. Those of you who are ready for Fall will especially appreciate them ;)

one | This wool garland is my top pick for Fall decor and bonus that it's from one of my dearest friends' shops. We have some new art to hang in our kitchen on our shiplap wall and I can't wait to drape this over it; it just arrived yesterday and it's so fun & vibrant, the perfect festive piece!

two | Our 4th anniversary is coming up next week and I not-so-secretly dropped the hint to Dustin that this pumpkin towel was on my wishlist (along with my favorite small batch almond toffee and sea salt caramels...). Anthropologie is offering free shipping today, making it the perfect time to purchase since its not sold in most stores. I can't wait to drape it over my farmhouse sink; it has me wanting to break out all my pumpkin recipes!


three | Olivia loves playing pretend and I have been on the hunt for a doctor kit for her for months, wanting something wooden and well made rather than something plastic that would break right away. I came across this one from Little Cottonwood and now that it's here, she is having a blast being a doctor to me, Poppy, her bear and every other stuffed animal in the house! I also love the black and white geometric playmat, magnetic fishing set & wooden cutting food. You can save 15% off your total purchase from Little Cottonwood using the code BLESSEDNEST15 at checkout, valid today through Thursday September 1, 2021 // Start shopping here


four | This week Olivia and I took advantage of Poppy's long morning nap to do some baking together and we made this pumpkin crumb cake. You can make it gluten free by using our favorite Cup4Cup flour, which is always what I use to bake. It's incredibly easy to make and so delicious, not too sweet with just the right amount of pumpkin flavor and spices, making it the perfect pairing for coffee or eggs at breakfast time or a light afternoon snack!

five | This boo striped dress may be my favorite Fall dress ever for little girls. I ordered it last week using some discounts and rewards and ended up getting it for only $3! The sweatshirt top is super cozy and the tutu is really fluffy with multiple layers. I have a feeling Poppy will be living in this all Fall long, especially paired with some fun leggings as the temps drop!

six | Alice & Ames released their fall collection today and let's just say Olivia will be wearing their dresses all Fall and Winter long. She asks to wear a dress every single day (girl after my own heart) and these are our absolute favorite. So many fun choices of both solids and patterns and perfect for school, adventures, family photos and more!

seven | I am loving these ankle boots for the cooler season ahead, not too high of a heel and feminine detail on the top with the cutout. They come in both taupe and black and I love how versatile and classy they are! These ones with a round peep toe are also fun and perfect to sport before the snow flies.

eight | Last but not least, this slow cooker enchilada quinoa looks amazing. I could eat Mexican food 7 nights a week and always crave it during my pregnancies, so this is on the rotation for our next cool night. Quinoa is one of Olivia's favorite foods and something I always keep on hand so I can't wait to try this version and top it with some fresh avocado and Fritos!

Happiest weekend!! XO

6.10.2021

friday favorites

Happy Friday! Today I've rounded up a few Friday Favorites I've been loving lately, including one of my favorite gifts us girls are giving Dustin for Father's Day this year! It's hard to believe we're already 10 days into June. Poppy is 9 months old today and I still wonder how time could possibly be passing this fast. 


1 // We spend so much time outside during the summer, especially during the afternoon once the girls wake up from their naps and we have some downtime before dinner. Olivia loves trail mix of any sort (we call it "pup mix" because my dad always called me pup as a little girl and now he calls Olivia that) and it's been so much fun to let her build her own with a little trail mix station. I usually pack trail mix in Dustin's lunches as well, so I set up bowls with different nuts, dried fruit, etc and after Olivia fills a little bowl with her own creation for a snack, I let her fill a few containers for Daddy for the week. These mini latte bowls make it extra fun and are the perfect size for her little hands. 

2 // We have been spending a lot of time grilling lately being that our kitchen is under renovation and dessert for us these days is almost always our favorite popsicles. I really want to try making our own this summer, I know Olivia would love that. These blueberry rhubarb breakfast pops look so yummy and so do these blackberry cheesecake ones.


3 // This Father's Day is certainly the most special yet and I wanted to find something that Dustin would not only love but that would be memorable and practical so we're giving him a Daniel Wellington watch. I have a matching one and love the rose gold and blue hand detail. His is slightly larger the mine and can be shopped here. Mine can be found here. They are classy and timeless and I love the look of the weathered leather straps and the minimal face design. Being that he asked for a weed whip for Father's Day (thrilling, right?!), I'm pretty sure he's going to be surprised and love his new watch! You can save 15% off your DW purchase through June 30 using the code BLESSEDNESTBLOG at checkout.


4 // Olivia's favorite thing to wear every day is a dress, anything she can twirl in. I recently got this linen dress for her and love how classic and almost old-fashioned looking it is. It would be so darling paired with this one for us Mamas.

5 // Last but not least, I am always finding ways to add art prints to our walls and this floral one is a new favorite. No such thing as too much art, right?! ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! XO

5.27.2016

friday favorites

Us girls are happy campers to have Dustin home for the long weekend and Olivia has mentioned to me multiple times that because Daddy doesn't have to go to work, they plan to build a fort. Well, add that to our weekend plans of relaxing, spending time outside, grilling & having a fire with s'mores and I think we're set. Here are a few Friday Favorites to kick it off, all of which are on sale for the holiday weekend!

1 // Lately I have been loving Alice & Ames dresses. As soon as Olivia gets dressed each morning, she sees how well she can twirl in whatever she is wearing and their ballet dresses were seriously made for twirling. Save 20% off your purchase using the code MEMDAY20 at checkout.


2 // Have you guys heard of gathre? They make amazing leather bonded playmats, perfect for indoors & out and they come in a wide variety of colors + sizes. We spend so much time in the backyard having picnics, going to the park & even tea parties at home in our living room {which Olivia insists on having sparkling water with} and their mats are perfect for all types of adventures with your little ones; they wipe clean, fold easily and are water impermeable. Plus the leather is so luxurious. Save 25% off your purchase using the code JJ25OFF at checkout. And stay tuned for a chance to win your own on my instagram @blessednestblog coming in June!
3 // One of our favorite children's book series is All Aboard! Books illustrated by Lucy Darling Shop in collaboration with babyLit books, all six can be found here. Lucy Darling Shop also sells the cutest memory books and fun nursery prints. To get 20% off your total purchase, use the code JJ20OFF at checkout!

4 // Last but not least, I've expressed my love of Piper and Scoot many times and I can't help but share this darling polka dot tunic for us Mamas. It's nursing friendly & also comes in a white version here and I love it paired with jeans but think it would be so cute by itself on hot summer days! Save 20% off your order by using the code MD2016 at checkout. Plus they always offer free shipping within the US!

Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend relaxing with the ones you love most! XO

5.20.2016

friday favorites

Happy Friday! It's Olivia's birthday weekend so we've got lots of fun things planned, including homemade pop tarts (a birthday tradition), her party & a few other special activities including lots of time outside, paint-a-plate and more. To kick off the weekend, below are a few Friday Favorites for you!

1 // This derby dress in dusty rose is gorgeous. Piper & Scoot is my go-to spot for mama-friendly pieces that are not only super comfortable but beautiful and this one is just so good. A summer staple for sure.

2 // For you expectant mamas, this journal looks so darling & is definitely on my wish list for baby #3. Here is a baby book version by the same company. We have one of theirs for Olivia and it's such a beautiful gender neutral, classic way to record those special moments during the first year with your little one.


3 // This year I asked Olivia what she wanted for her birthday and she so matter-of-factly said "a pink cake and one book!" I've shared many times that I have a deep love of children's books and share a lot of our favorites here on my lit list page as well as my ongoing #BlessedNestLitList series on instagram. Every few months I create a wishlist of new books coming out for the girls and being that she has loved all the past Flora books, I was so excited to pick up Flora and the Peacocks as her "one book" for her 3rd birthday!

4 // Dustin, Olivia and I love salads but I've always struggled with finding delicious and healthy dressings that aren't full of junk and totally negate the healthy habit of eating a salad in the first place. We recently discovered a few new ones at local food fairs that have quickly become favorites. We picked them up for weeknight dinners and absolutely love them. Salad Girl has such a range of delicious ones, our favorite is the Dark Cocoa & Sea Salt, which is like a rich balsamic with just the right amount of sweetness. We love it on mixed greens with raspberries, walnuts and an aged cheese like parmesan. I also recently stumbled across this Italian dressing by Hampton Creek (makers of our fav "just mayo") and love how versatile and flavorful it is.


5 // One of our all-time favorite shops for handmade dolls & loveys is Dainty Cheeks. Chrissy's stuff is so good that it sells out within minutes every time she restocks, but is well worth when you do get your hands on it cause it's truly incredible. She's most well-known for her unicorns and unicorn loveys & this week I teamed up with Chrissy to give away a $50 shop credit to one of you for your own! To enter, head over to my post here. Giveaway ends next Tuesday.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

5.06.2021

friday favorites

Happy Friday! I can't believe we're already a week into May and that Sunday is Mother's Day! Last year my parents were actually on a cruise and I was 23 weeks pregnant with Poppy so Dustin, Olivia and I had a low key day together and it was really nice. This year we'll just be going to brunch with my parents and then hopefully spending the rest of the day outside. We are getting a new fence next week and have been wanting to start gardening and updating our landscaping so the boys might tackle that on Sunday while my Mama and I relax with the girls! ;)

Here are a few things I've been loving lately to kick off your weekend!

1 // As a Mom of two little girls {who are just so much fun to dress}, I feel like I so often forget about finding cute & comfortable pieces for myself. Since most days are spent at home, it's easy to forget how good I feel when I dress in clothes other than yoga pants and tee shirts. My go-to place lately for clothes for myself has been Piper & Scoot. I picked up some gorgeous floral dresses for our photos last weekend & our family session coming up in June that are seriously a dream come true. Many of their pieces are nursing-friendly and maternity friendly {when you size up}, plus I love that everything is really affordable. They offer free U.S. shipping on every order and with each order placed, you receive a 10% off code for your next purchase in your emailed receipt. So...hint hint, buy one thing you love and then using your code, grab another! This High-Lo floral dress is pictured above but I also love this mint one here & this top. They release new pieces often but they tend to sell out fast because they're just that good.

2 // We are taking a few trips this summer with the girls and I am starting to think ahead now of what exactly we'll be needing to bring along for them. These ubbi tweat snack containers are my new go-to for packing my diaper bag or for a trip. Unlike ones we've had previously, these actually have a lid that snaps shut but still have an opening that a child can reach through for easy snack access. That way I can pack up what I need ahead of time, throw it in my diaper bag and it's set to go without getting stale. Our favorite thing to fill snack cups with for Olivia are animal crackers or trail mix. Poppy mostly just gets puffs these days but girlfriend loves them just the same.


3 // I have been on the search for ankle boots for sometime now and every pair I found was so uncomfortable. I came across these last weekend and they were everything I wanted in a low boot but still so so comfy. Because of the slit in the side, they don't hurt or press against your ankles when you walk. I could seriously wear them all day! I bought them in taupe but they also come in black.

4 // You guys know I love everything floral, even when it comes to my laptop screen, and ever since I can remember I've loved the free "dress your tech" downloads from Design Love Fest. You can find countless styles here with new ones added each week but this set of two floral borders is one of my favorites. I have one on my screen now and love opening my computer and seeing it every day! It's all about the little things, right?!


5 // Last but not least, I recently custom designed wooden love letters for our girls in collaboration with My Deerling Made. I absolutely love how they turned out and am so excited to have them hanging up in the girls' rooms. If you love rustic wood signs as much as I do, be sure to enter to win a $75 shop credit to @mydeerlingmade over on my instagram page here! Giveaway ends Tuesday May 11.

Have the best weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all you Mamas & Mamas-to-be!! XO

4.08.2021

friday favorites

It's been quite the low-key week since the weather has been cold and rainy. We've been taking lots of naps, eating lots of soup and per Olivia's request baking almost every day. Brownies are probably my favorite treat to have around...there is just something so good about them, they always hit the spot. This week in addition to brownies we made vanilla bean scones (that my best friend so kindly got me totally hooked on) for out of town company and they were delicious. To kick off your weekend, here are a few Friday Favorites including the recipe below.

1 // These petite vanilla bean scones I mentioned we made yesterday are so so yummy. But then again, isn't everything that Ree makes?! A true labor of love, they're a little time consuming but really easy to actually make and the end result is so worth it. I used the full recipe and ended up with 30 petite scones, but you could cut it in half too. I'd recommend chilling the scones 20-30 minutes in the fridge once you've put them on your baking sheet so they don't spread too much. And I made ours GF by using our Favorite Cup4Cup gluten free flour, but all-purpose will work too!


2 // One night toward the end of the week I usually run a bunch of errands for the weekend and Thursdays have become my go-to day lately. I leave the girls at home with Dust and spend a few hours getting everything we need (aka actually getting the things I almost always forget when kids are in tow) at a bunch of different places. Last night at Target I stumbled upon a brand of green cleaning products called Common Good and truthfully, knew nothing about them except that their simple packaging was beautiful and I was instantly sold. Lavender is forever my favorite scent and all their products smell amazing. I've been wanting to make the switch to wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets forever and just hadn't, so I was excited to see they made dryer balls. I plan to add a few drops of essential oil to each one before using...probably lavender! To read a bit more about their products in addition to whats on their website, The American Edit has a great article I came across. So far what I've used, I'm loving and can't wait to try more.

3 // I recently picked up a few new pieces for Spring for both Penelope & Olivia and after I started getting their catalogs, I've found so much fun stuff from Tea Collection. With a catalog offer, you can get 20% off plus free shipping on your first order so the savings adds up quickly. Their rompers are my favorite for babies and I love all their dresses for toddlers. We take a pretty minimal approach to the girls' wardrobe, investing in several staple pieces that will last instead of a million clothes that wear out quickly. That also means less clothes to wash & fold! 

4 // I have been on the search for awhile now for a good multivitamin toddler gummy that wasn't filled with junk or super hard for Olivia to chew. Sometimes they're so hard and seriously look like they've been sitting on the shelf for 10 years. Yuck. I started using Zarbees, a natural brand created by a father and pediatrician shortly after becoming a mom. They now makes gummy vitamins sweetened with honey and I picked up a jar at Target on my trip last night. Olivia loves them and they're a nice hassle-free alternative to the liquid multivitamins we sometimes use. We have tried almost every single one of their products and love them all. 

5 // Last but not least, earlier in the week I shared 5 of the most important things I've learned through motherhood in a post here. If you read that you'll know we love having dance parties on the daily. A few tunes on our playlist right now are Classic by MKTO, Cecilia and the Satellite by Andrew McMahon, Uptown Funk (such a good dance song!!) by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars & You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins (an older one but still gives me all the feels every time I listen). Nothing like a dance party to get everyone feeling good! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! XO

3.25.2016

friday favorites

Happy Friday! It's been a little extra quiet around here as I've been feeling less than 100% off and on for the last few weeks and seem to spend my "free" time (can we even call it that as Moms?!) resting and playing with the girls. Spring allergies mixed with other random stuff but thankfully everyone else has stayed totally healthy and I am so grateful for that!!

That being said, we are so excited for a fun Easter weekend ahead. Last night we went on a double date with some friends of ours out for the most delicious authentic Italian food. Dustin has today off so we planned a little date day while my Mama watches the girls, then getting a few errands done since we're hosting on Sunday and having a low key dinner at home tonight before we catch up on a few of our favorite shows! Tomorrow we have my best friend's older son's birthday party and then Sunday is of course Easter. Last Easter I was 16 weeks pregnant with Penelope and am so thankful to have her here with us this year! It's amazing how much can change in a year!

I've rounded up a few Friday Favorites to kick your weekend off!

1 // If you follow on me on instagram, you may have seen a sneak peek yesterday at my new favorite bag for Spring (and all year round!!), the Day Bag II from Nena & Co. I use it as a diaper bag & absolutely love it; the generous size is perfect for fitting everything in it for both Olivia and Penelope plus a few things of my own. My wardrobe basically consists of black + gray (anyone else?!) so this bag is a beautiful pop of color with all my outfits; all the textiles at Nena & Co are hand woven in Guatemala by Mayan artisans and then assembled in Utah. The story each bag tells and the history it holds is incredible and if you want to win your own, stay tuned for a feature & giveaway coming in April!

2 // Throughout 2016 I'll be sharing my favorite children's books under the hashtag #BlessedNestLitList on IG and this is one we've been reading a lot lately. I mentioned last week that Olivia absolutely loves letters and spelling and this ABC book, Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White is the sweetest. In addition to letters it's a great way to teach your child the months of the year and about different seasons. Plus it looks darling on a front-facing bookshelf in any child's room or a nursery.


3 // For awhile now I've been on the hunt for a backpack for Olivia that was big enough to hold a few of her essentials (her stuffed animals, blankets, water bottle, books and other random toys she wants to throw in...) but I wanted one in a sophisticated pattern (aka floral) and made from material other than plastic. I stumbled upon this one on Amazon randomly last week and took a chance. I was going to use it as her Easter "basket" instead of her traditional basket but she managed to get her hands on it before I could hide it in our closet so I decided to just let her have it early. #CantWinThemAll :) I love the overall size and even though she's only 3, it's actually a great fit on her. It comes in a variety of patterns and is pretty inexpensive! I adjusted the straps to be as tight as they go and they're perfect, so it's something she can not only use + wear now but grow in to and use next fall in preschool and eventually Kindergarten too. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, I'm not in any rush for that.

4 // Old Navy has had some pretty great shoes lately for toddlers and if there is anything Olivia gets excited about getting in the mail, it's definitely new shoes. I recently got her these when they were 50% off and she loves them. They're perfect for Spring and so cute no matter what you pair them with, but especially skinny jeans. I also have my eye on these colorblock sandals and they come in a handful of colors!!

5 // Last but not least, babies in bonnets are just my favorite, especially bonnets with pom poms. And especially when the baby is mine. This bonnet is from Links & Co and you can win your own in your choice of colors today by heading to my instagram @blessednestblog.


Hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating the resurrection of our Savior!!

3.18.2016

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! Another week has come & gone and here is a round up of a few of our favorite things to kick off your weekend!


1 // One of Penelope's favorite animals to snuggle and nap with is her maileg bambi deer. The polka dot version above has since been discontinued but here is a similar one that is just as sweet. Stay tuned for a giveaway coming in April where two followers can each win their own!

2 // Olivia is busy learning the alphabet and I often find her sitting with books in her lap naming every letter of every word on every page. She loves letters and spelling, just like her Mama. These adorable alphabet art cards {Ff shown above} are not only fun for teaching your toddler letters but would also be darling framed in a nursery. Plus they teach so many new words. Olivia's favorite is the R card with a green robot on it, because it gives her an excuse to run around the house saying "beep! beep beep!" very loudly. I came across them a few years ago at a local children's boutique when I was pregnant with Olivia but just recently found them on Amazon at a great price!

3 // I shared last week that we just started Penelope on solids right around 6 months and I am having so much fun making different foods for her. I found this cookbook on Anthropologie's website a few weeks back and then was curious to see if Amazon had it cheaper and was pleased to find they did! I've been loving how many ideas it gives me for new meals and food combinations for her and there is so much great information in addition to recipes, especially for a first time mom (wish I'd had this 3 years ago!) on portions, feeding routines, transitioning from purees to finger foods and more.

4 // Last weekend Old Navy was offering 40% off every single item and I picked up this linen flutter-sleeve dress for both girls. Olivia hasn't taken hers off since it arrived and even though P won't fit in hers until the end of summer, I just love it. It's a great staple piece for a spring and summer wardrobe, it's lightweight and seems so comfortable. Plus my forever favorite color.


Have a wonderful & relaxing weekend!! XO

3.04.2021

friday favorites

Happy Friday! It's been a really good week but one that flew by in the blink of an eye! I feel like just yesterday it was Monday morning and us girls were still in pajamas way past noon. This week has been another low-key one but we've had lots of sunshine and have been doing a few projects around the house so that's always exciting. Dustin is just about finished with our February DIY (he plans to finish it up tomorrow) and I'm so excited to reveal it!! Then I'll have to pick a new one for March!!


Today I've rounded up a few Friday Favorites to kick off your weekend!

1 // What's better than a baby in a fluffy tutu?! I shared a roundup of our favorite ones a few weeks ago on the blog here & this pink one {above} has been on repeat on Poppy all week. It comes in gray as well and I love that one just as much! Right now it's on sale with an additional 30% off using the code DRESSEDUP. You can get free shipping on orders over $50 or free shipping on orders under $50 as a silver cardholder {Select the 3-5 business day shipping option for $7 and then just enter the code MYCARD at checkout to get the $7 taken off}.

2 // I recently came across this hand lettered sign and fell in love. What a beautiful piece for a dining room or kitchen. 


3 // We are all about neutrals around here and this pintuck dress {above} is a wardrobe staple. We had a similar one for Olivia that she wore from 6 months on and I love not only how cozy it is but that it can be easily dressed up or down. Wish it came in my size! Though I can bet it wouldn't look half as good on me as it does on my babies.


4 // I love all things floral so when I saw this gorgeous paper garland at Target last week, I grabbed two to frame one of our favorite pieces in our living room. They had a similar one last year that coordinates well with this version, so I pulled that out of storage and hung it up nearby.


5 // Last but not least, this custom family portrait was recently made for us by Inklane Design and it fills me with so much joy to see it hanging in our home every day. Because it's become such a treasured piece in our home, I'd love to give away a custom portrait to one of you for your home! You can enter to win a $100 shop credit to Inklane Design over on instagram @blessednestblog this week and I can't wait to see who wins!!
Have a wonderful weekend!! XO

2.26.2016

friday favorites

Happy Friday! We are looking forward to warmer temps & a lot of sunshine this weekend alongside minimal plans, just the way we like it around here. This past week was super low-key, most days were spent at home lounging with the girls. Olivia and I ate a lot of french toast {her favorite breakfast to share...not that I'm complaining}, the girls took lots of bubble baths and we all read lots of new books. 

This week I also let Olivia get into Poppy's crib a few times and you would have thought I had given her the moon. Each week as Penelope gets a little older and more of her sweet personality comes out, the bond these girls share and the fun they have gets better & better. That arm hook just melts me.


I've rounded up a few Friday Favorites below to kick off your weekend!

1 // Olivia absolutely loves wearing jewelry, especially bracelets (can you tell?) so I've been on the hunt for some durable ones that she can wear all day, no matter what she's doing. These wood + silicone ones are my absolute favorites & they come in both toddler + adult sizes. I have a stack of four I wear and I just love them! They're perfect for me to wear both around the house as well as out & about and I love that they're safe for Poppy to pull and chew on. Olivia has had other bracelets in the past that have easily broken or snapped with her putting them on and taking them off and these stand up to all the wear and tear of toddlerhood. They would make a perfect Easter Basket addition! 

2 // Penelope has a handful of crib sheets from a variety of handmade shops but my favorite one for everyday photos with the girls is this polka dot one. It's neutral and pairs with everything, I just love how simple and classic it is. Plus it's on sale right now!

3 // Since Penelope will be teething in the coming months, I've kept my eyes open for safe, high quality teethers for her. I love the wooden ones here from The Bird + Elephant; the fabric tie on is backed with cotton terry cloth which Poppy really likes chewing on because of the texture and thickness. I love that it can easily be removed from the maple ring to throw in the wash. This moon teether is another favorite.


4 // It seems Spring has sprung just about everywhere as we inch a little closer to March and Easter and our home is feeling it too, with flower garlands hanging and tulips blooming. I recently spotted this honeybee butter dish and I love the colors for Springtime entertaining and the darling bees on it. Makes me want to throw an Easter brunch tomorrow!

5 // Last but not least, I want to try a new recipe or two before the month is over featuring chicken. We eat a lot of it and I'm always looking for a new way to switch our meals up. This 5-ingredient white chicken chili is at the top of my list and this Italian chicken, mushroom & zucchini skillet looks right up our alley for a cozy night inside when the snow flies again next week!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! XO

2.12.2021

Friday Favorites

The sun is shining, both girls went down at the exact same time for naps today {after Olivia procrastinated nap with about 10 different books} & Dustin and I have a fun little date planned tonight out for our favorite Chinese food, strawberry cheesecake to-go for a yummy dessert & a movie on the couch after the little ladies are in bed. This morning I had my monthly moms group and the theme was "spa day" so we got to make homemade sugar scrubs, get massages, have our nails done & there was even a table exclusively with chocolate + desserts to make your own chocolate box to bring home. Olivia had a blast in her classroom celebrating Valentine's and Poppy hung out with me and all the other Mamas enjoying some pampering! 


Valentine's weekend is always a special one because we have so many memories. We were married in 2012 so Valentine's 2013 was our first together as husband & wife. We were also 5 months pregnant with Olivia at the time and on Valentine's morning, I felt her kick for the very first time. Last year on Valentine's I was 2 months pregnant with Poppy and this year we are celebrating as a little family of 4. 

Since Dustin and I are going out tonight, we thought it would be fun to stay in tomorrow night and grill one of our favorite meals -- filet, alongside mashed potatoes, cheddar biscuits & lots of mushrooms + onions. Then my request was icecream for dessert (seriously, cheesecake + icecream in the same weekend?!...I don't know if we'll ever beat that). On Sunday we plan to pick up our favorite donuts and celebrate with the girls at home, have a big breakfast, give the girls a few simple gifts & then get a heart shaped pepperoni pizza for dinner. We're basically just kids around here.

To kick off your weekend, here are a few Friday favorites:

1 // Olivia loves little animals and playing pretend, and this tooth fairy mouse is even more darling in person. I initially got it for her to have when she loses her first teeth in a few years, but she somehow discovered it and hasn't stopped playing with it since. She loves to tell me that the mouse is "mapping" when its time for her to nap (part of me hopes she always calls them maps instead of naps), and she gives it kisses before tucking it in.

2 // Little Unicorn is one of my absolute favorite brands for baby basics & I recently ordered some of these bandana bibs for Poppy for when she starts teething. I also couldn't resist getting this crib sheet and a few fun swaddles. There is no such thing as too many swaddle blankets. Olivia has a handful from when she was a baby and still uses them everyday.

3 // We try to use natural products whenever possible and that's been one big reason I've loved getting into essential oils. Since I started a few months ago, I am continually amazed at how many uses I've come across for them {P.S. How darling are these handmade EO cases?}. Along the lines of our favorite family-friendly natural products are our absolute favorite organic bar soaps. I place orders every 2-3 months to stock up and all four of us use them daily. Lavender Oatmeal is my #1 {out of stock now but restocking soon} and Dustin's favorites are Rosemary Mint and Litsea & Avocado. Wild Orange is also amazing as is Toasted Almond. Oh my goodness.

4 // Olivia is so into tutus right now so I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive ones that she can wear no matter what she's doing. Aka that she can get paint on before nap time and smoosh avocado into during lunch. I saw this pink one at Target this week on sale and got it for her as an early Valentine's gift. It looks like it comes in a whole range of colors so I might pick up a few more for Spring since they're an extra 25% off this weekend and you can ship them to your local store for free. We try to keep the girls wardrobe pretty simple but in this case more tutus = less laundry for me, since she wears them 7 days a week!

5 // Last but not least, we've been having lots of dance parties with the girls at night while we're getting ready for bed. It's always more fun to brush teeth and get jammies on with some tunes and here are a few songs we've been loving lately:

+  Snapback by Old Dominion
+ Night's On Fire by David Nail
+ Sorry by Justin Bieber (I didn't want to like this song but I just can't help but love it)
+ I Love This Life by Locash
+ Break Up in a Small Town by Sam Hunt

Happy Valentine's weekend to you & yours!! XO


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