iphone happenings

Last night I was scrolling through my phone looking for a new screen shot. A ridiculous number of photos. Yes 'um I'm obsessed.

positive thinking

Today I have a lot of people on my mind so I am sending out good vibes to 'em. Thinking good thoughts and trying to visualize what I want to come true. I want my friend to get an offer on her condo, my nanny to get into medical school, my husband to get an important call, plus throw in some moving-pregnancy-new job general good mojo for some folks and there ya have it. Before I go to bed at night I try and visualize what I want actually happening. Then I ask God to wrap his arms around those people. Hoping if I send out some love it might help. I think it may.

Oh, and I've been asked to add… a tired, burnt out, stressed out lawyer/momma to my list. I'm on it cuz!

home again home again

Time to head home so we packed up our things once again and drove south. Seems like every few weeks I am packing a suitcase, but the visit with family & friends is worth the effort. Mimers was a pro and I think some of that had to do with her new ride. We just bought her a bigger carseat and it's like having a caddy in the back seat. More room for the Moosh. I was all excited about twirling her around to face forward in a couple months and now the rules seem to be changing. Children should face backwards until 2? Scuma! Seems ridiculous to me, but after seeing the multiple warning labels covering every child item I purchase, I'm so not surprised.


Anyway, it's back to work around here. Hubs is making the final push in school, while Mimers is changing little by little every day. Just this morning she was chilling on her tummy in the living room, and when I came back from the kitchen she had scooted to the dining room. Mind you, she scooted backwards, but she scooted none the less. And I've noticed she's arching her back just a bit trying to get that pot-belly off the ground. Can I say she's already growing up too fast? Because she is. When I visited my friend Nicole last week I couldn't believe how tiny her brand new baby was. Pink skin all swaddled up tight. Precious. Lordy, time sure does fly.

{ my new favorite beer from blue moon }

So after that wonderfully warm tease, it's back to dreary, cold, and rainy here in Greenville. Boo-Hiss. And I woke up needing extra caffeine to open my eyes. My fabulous sleeper (can't believe I'm saying that) is going through a little separation anxiety I'm afraid. She had a few weird nights while we were home & had a crying fit when mom was babysitting one night. Then last night she woke up an hour in just wailing. I went in a few times, but finally had to let her cry it out which was horrible. It took me back to those first few months in an instant. She did finally get to sleep on her own, whew, and woke up happy as a clam like nothing ever happened this morning. Poor nugget. I blame this miserable weather and I'm crossing my fingers all will return to normal when the sun comes out. Oh, pretty pretty please.

pops bday

Today is my daddy-o's birthday. 62 years young and he goes and goes and goes from morning to night. Seriously, the man does not stop. Constantly rattling off stock numbers & watching the markets every move, or rambling around in the truck checking on every inch of the farm. He is driven to the core and works harder than anyone I know. He's the one who really supported me starting my own business. Without his support and tireless encouragement, I would not be who I am today. Thank you Pops. Much love and happy birthday wishes to you.

everything in bloom

As we arrived for a visit home over the weekend, my folks were packing up for a trip of their own. Ahh, well we promply spread out around the house, leaving traces of baby in our path. Toys seems to get scattered as Miriam is now learning how to drop & throw things. And Mose has an uncanny ability to be right there when Sophie is tossed in the air.



Everything is coming alive outside. Sprouting buds, green leaves, and bugs buzzing around. Sleeping with the windows open and Tennessee air blowing through. Spring is here and thank goodness for it.




Some friends made a visit to the farm. We grilled, walked to the barn, and stripped down the babies as the heat rose.

spring wish list

A little bird, ever so sweetly, mentioned to me that we need to limit our spending lately. Totally fine I said. No problem Sweets. But then piperlime crept into my email. Before I knew it I was adding items to my shopping cart. Shoot. Of course I didn't purchase a thing, but boy did I want to. These are right up my alley.

top & belt : emerson made
florals, jeans, bag, sandals : piperlime
shorts : anthro

Well and then I HAD to do a mini-me list. Hmm, what would Miriam wear? Too easy.

boho dress : rikshaw
stripe dress & checked skirt : pink chicken
wellies : joules
shorts & jumper : city sprouts
dead tshirt : rowdy sprout via lovelymorning

sun & sniffles

There's just something about a little sunshine that can warm your soul. I've been kinda cranky lately, so this past weekend was a perfect relief. We celebrated a friend's 30th, enjoyed the spring weather, and heard the good news of 2 friends engagements (congrats Currier & Carlisle!!!). The only snafu was baby Moosh got her first cold. Poor nugget was sniffling and sneezing and just not herself, but it was too warm not to be outside. So I set up a blanket in the backyard (like I used to do with Mr Cooper, sigh) and we watched the branches sway.

The weekend also brought us some new treats. Hubs was going to Atlanta for a meeting and I persuaded him to hit up Ikea on his trip. I've never been, but I've heard it's insane. He came home with a sweet highchair. It's slightly cattywompus, but for the price I can live with it. So excited!

And he brought home my new favorite toy. A basket o plush veggies. Mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, green onion, and carrots. Seriously, I'm obsessed and now I'm dying to visit the store myself.

interior dreams

Last Sunday was dreary and raining so when the baby went down for her morning nap, so did I. And when I woke up an hour later I was looking around my room wishing someone would sweep in and give me a re-do. I mean it's fine, but nothing special. Nothing like these bedroom shots I saw in Lonny.

The reality is we're not here for too much longer. Our house is adorable, but it's tiny. And more than anything, it's not ours. I definitely tried to make it cute, but knowing it's a temporary rental really put a damper on my decorating dreams. Maybe the next house, hubs? Crossing my fingers.

ps: guess I was onto something about Nashville being "the coolest" 'cause anthro agrees.

photos from lonny + decor8

8 months

Lately I've been hitting the snooze button more than not. 5 more minutes please?! All snuggled under the covers and not ready for that cool air when I slip out. But then I hear a few little peeps and know it's time to rise. Always in a different corner and different position, even with her sleep sac on, Miriam is eagerly waiting my arrival. She certainly doesn't mind the bags under my eyes or the mismatched pajamas I have on. I can be exhausted and cranky, but when I see that little bed-head pop up with a grin I can't help but smile. It's the best.

Seems like I was just the other day bringing her home for the first time and feeling totally anxious about everything. Even giving her a bath was nerve racking. But slowly I'm getting the hang of being a momma and starting to feel like quite the expert. Well not really, but we are in this groove called a "routine" and it's glorious.


We're just relishing in this time. She's great when we venture out to dinner (at 5 o'clock mind you). Still fits in the car seat on the highchair. And you plop her down on a blanket and there she stays. Playing with toys or rolling onto her stomach, but that's as far as she goes. Hard for me to believe that she will one day be mobile. I saw a small glimpse tonight in the tub when she grabbed the sides and pulled up into a squat. Whoa. Kinda wish she could stay at this very stage for just a moment longer.

bearings nashville

I moved home after college. My first job was at an advertising agency in town, but in my mind it was just temporary. I had my sights set on New York. Somewhere big and different, and where I didn't run into someone I knew at every single turn. The truth is I didn't know what I wanted to do. But then things started to fall into place and make sense. I found a career, I fell in love, and eventually I started a business that I adore. All things that might not have happened had I jetted off to a new place. Plus, who am I kidding? I wouldn't have lasted a week in the big apple. Brother Will is MUCH more suited for that lifestyle than moi. Really I love being close to home and enjoy running into people when I'm in town. Familiar faces that knew my grandmother or went to school with my mom. Seeing friends I've known since pre-first grade. Looking back I'm not sure why I wanted to move except that other cities seemed much "cooler" at the time.

Funny because home seems to be quite cool at the moment. Every time I turn around there's a new store, a new blog, or a new restaurant popping up. One of the neatest things I've found lately is Bearings. A lifestyle blog for Southern gents in Nashville. Right up my husbands alley.

Now I don't want it to go and change TOO much, but it's great to see Nashville evolve. Deep down it just makes me long for home even more.

up there

The paint is chipping away, but you can still find remnants of hand painted advertising on buildings around town. I actually love how the colors are faded and rustic looking.

{this is one of my favorite buildings in Greenville}

Now advertisers use printed vinyl adhered to buildings, but can you imagine painting something of this scale by hand?! There's this beautiful short documentary, Up There, about the few painters struggling to keep it alive. Love it. In places like New York there are companies still wiling to pay for their artistry. And I think I've got to start drinking more Stella beer since they seem to be one of its largest supporters!



UP THERE from Jon on Vimeo.

the velvet tete-a-tete

Except for minor touch ups & tiny details the "new room", as we call it, at my parents home is finally finished. No more staining the floors 3 or 4 times and causing everyone, including one blind dog, to tromp through the side door. No more doors slamming, deadlines missed, and countless details to attend to. No more paint fumes smelling up the kitchen. And no more reggae blasting from the painters radio outside (though I rather liked that part). Whew! Now on to furnishing.

{obviously still a work in progress, but these two chairs are kind of perfect}

Momma & I have been playing decorator on my visits home. Moving furniture around, holding up paint colors, and flipping through magazines as we tear out inspiration. So fun, but I'm afraid I'm not a huge help. My artistic brain is quite opinionated, but not that helpful with interior design ideas. We were going in circles on seating. That is until we discovered this fabulous photo. I was taken with her outfit, but momma had her eye on that sofa. Turquoise velvet in a cool lounge shape. Ah-mazing. We figured the pretty lady sitting on it, being a southerner, might just give us some insider info if we asked nicely. Sure enough, her kind husband did. It's a vintage Edward Wormley by Dunbar. I can just imagine us lounging gracefully on each side and taking in the view. Somehow it needs to find it's way home and into the new room!

{photo from here}