"A Good Start"
By Maria Taylor

You're one with the burdon of intuition.
You're one with the freedom of a blank stare.
You're one with the best friend you lost,
You wish was still there.

You're one with the dust on that old piano.
You're one with the strings on your new guitar.
You're one with the wind through the open window,
You are.

It was a faint line that brought you here,
And a pulse that kept you in time.
It was the comfort of a tradition,
Like the few that were not that kind.

It's a shame now, baby, you can't see yourself, And everything you're running from.
And it's the same world, honey, that has brought you down,
As the one that's gonna pick you up.
And pick you up.

You're one with the echos of conversation.
You're one with the strangers you overheard.
You're one with the lesson that was the best one you learned.

It was a faint line that brought you here,
And a pulse that kept you in time.
It was the comfort of a tradition,
Like the few that were not that kind.

It's a shame now, baby, you can't see yourself, And everything you're running from.
And it's the same world, honey, that has brought You down,
As the one that's gonna pick you up.
And pick you up.

It was a long, dark, sleepy morning walk.
You fell down, case and point.
It was a good start.
It was a good start.

And it's the same world, honey, that made you feel so bad

As the one that makes you feel so good, feel so good...

Images found via Weheartit

Beautiful

{image found via Pinterest}

Remember that time I was pregnant in Miami?

My design partners were joking with me that I looked like I popped right out of Miami Vice when I showed up for work in this outfit. I couldn't really argue with them, it did feel very Don John. (On a side note, I met his son and did a script reading with him once and he was adorable and so sweet.) Anyway... I  felt deliciously spring in these colorful stripes, another score from Saint Grace, and I believe this Forever 21 tuxedo blazer I picked up on a whim has turned into my best summer/pregs purchase ever. It goes over everything! And was $30 bucks! Hope you have something amazing planned for Memorial Day. 

Dress - Saint Grace (similar here)

Blazer - Forever 21 (avail here)

What I'm loving at Jewelmint (+ 50% off code!)

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for half off your first item!

Cinema Americano Bracelet

Have it!

Always Have Paris Ring

Want it!

Shanghai Eclipse Pendant

Want it!

Briar Beauty Necklace

Have it!

Saint Grace and the Wall

Tee & Leggings - Saint Grace, Blazer Forever21, Cork clutch - Vintage

I had a fabulous morning yesterday with a girlfriend I hadn't seen in a while. We took a stroll on Abbot Kinney and she captured some outfit snaps for me on one of my favorite shooting walls. (Last time here.) We found some great stuff. A dress for her at Principessa for for a wedding she's attending in Israel, a giant strawberry pastry for me (for well, obvious reasons), and some silly putty for the monkey to keep her distracted while we gabbed away and did some long awaited catching up. 

I'm OB-SESSED with my new Saint Grace gear. Pregnant or not, this line is to die. So super soft and deliciously cozy, and the giving fabric and stretch means that I can wear it through all of my continued growth and beyond. It's so difficult to find cute maternity clothing, so I'm ecstatic when I find non-maternity stuff that works. The tee is long in all the right places and the leggings have the fit I want, but feel like pajamas. 

I threw on one of my fave cropped blazers, paired it all with a vintage cork bag, and was as pulled-together as pulling-together was gonna get! (There was a time when I would have worn this with my favorite pointy pumps, but you gotta give a girl a break.) Now about that pastry... 

Simple Savory Salmon

As my husband will attest to, I'm not a serious chef. OK, let's be honest. I'm really not even that great of a cook. But I'm trying. I do LOVE to bake, however. In my opinion, you either have the baker gene, or the chef gene and I have the former. But I still need to feed my family and find a way to do so in a healthy manner. Enter: This super easy, baked salmon recipe adapted from All Recipes.com 

I even used the leftovers for a healthy and delicious salad the next day for lunch! 

Dinner - Baked Salmon

2 fillets of salmon (I cut them in half)

2 cloves of garlic - minced

2 Tbs olive oil

1 lemon - juiced and zested

1 Tbs parsley (fresh is better, but dried is fine)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl. Place salmon inside and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate and marinate for at least one hour. (The longer the better.) Bake salmon in glass baking dish, covered with foil for 30-40 min, depending on how thick the fillet is. Bake with the entire marinade covering the fish.  Serve with a steamed or grilled vegetable. 

Lunch - Salmon Salad

I baked this salmon for three (including a toddler) so there was at least a half a fillet left over for this salad the next day. I used the leftover zucchini I grilled up as well. Chopped some baby carrots, iceberg lettuce, two boiled eggs, and threw in some canned garbanzo beans for good measure. The dressing was a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Delicious!

Nicole Kidman in Bazaar

Nicole Kidman and daughter Faith Margaret on the cover of the June/July issue of Harper's BAZAAR. 

Via Harper's BAZAAR

I love this shoot with Nicole Kidman for Bazaar Australia. The shots were originally taken for a private family album. She allowed the photos to be used for publication, only if the children's faces weren't seen. So lovely and so inspiring on so many levels.

Raising a Boy, To Do lists & Winner Announced

At my last doc appointment, I rocked some sparkle and silver to keep things interesting. (You better believe I took that heavy metal off while being weighed though!) 24 weeks today and we'll get to see him on ultrasound! 

They say the best things in life come to those who wait, but I'm already feeling super anxious (nervous?) about the arrival of this little guy. There's something about the responsibility of raising a little man that has me on my toes. I just want to do right by him. Be the mother he needs to be the best man he can be. And it just hit me like a ton of bricks what a responsibility that is.

On top of it, I constantly have a million To Do lists running through my head. I have a serious need for things to be taken care of already! (Things like moving into a new home, setting up the baby's room...) but I know life never really works that way, and I just have to go with the flow and find other ways to cure my nesting need.

On my list: 

~ Create & Print our wedding album

(Yes, we never did this. How sad! See why I need to do this before baby #2 comes? It will never get done! I was working on doing it through Blurb, but wonder if there's an easier program...)

~ Organize my recipe book

(This is a giant task. It's a mess. Not sure if I want to print it from a digital creation, or just hole punch & bind loose papers. I'm way too nostalgic! There are recipes written in family and friends handwriting that I adore! Still looking for inspiration on how to accomplish this.)

~ Make a home binder

(I plan on ordering these amazing printables here. I can't tell you how good it will feel to have this done!)

~ Scan important photos & album them all

(I have a box full of old photos. It is my dream to have them all organized by date, and also find a way to hang on to those wonderfully sentimental letters, poems, writings and things, without keeping the clutter.) 

(This is a good idea here.)

Anything you're currently working on that you'd like to share? 

Oh, yes! Congrats...

Elizabeth Mays! You're the winner of the Misikko flat iron contest! Super thrilled that a hard working teacher won this this prize. You certainly deserve it. Yay! Email me for details. xx

{All photos and links (except #1) sourced through Pinterest}
Visit my organization board on Pinterest here!

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Has it become painfully obvious that I don't want to step out of my beloved tunics these days? I just love them. This one is especially special because the embroidery and colors on the crisp navy make it summer/spring lust-worthy and so fun to wear. It's just gorge as a top or dress, and I've already worn it at least ten times since it arrived from PB&J Boutique. All I needed was a turquoise clutch and bright "Strawberry Margarita" polish to polish it off (and since I can't currently polish one of those babies off myself!)

Have a lovely day, guys!

Tunic - Johnny Was c/o PB&J Boutique

Earrings - Forever 21

Polish - OPI Strawberry Margarita

Suede Clutch & Beaded Bracelet - gifts from two amazing girlfriends 

(Shout out Jen & P-dog! Love you guys!)

*24 weeks pregnant

Tortoise Shell Love

Are you as obsessed with the tortoise shell trend as I am? Here's some fun options I found in every price range, for an easy way to pop it in! (I'm drooling over the Michael Kors watch and adorable birdie hair clip from Asos!)

Sunglasses  

1. The Row $475 ssense.com 2. Full Circle $40 nastygal.com 3. Tortoise $14 fredflare.com

Watches 

1. Michael Kors $275 bloomingdales.com 2. River Island $43 asos.com 3. Chronograph $26 lordandtaylor.com

Bangles 

1. Michael Kors $95 macys.com 2. Parker Cuff $75 trinaturk.com 3. Kenneth Lane $63 bloomingdales.com

Accessories 

1. Michael Kors $85 macys.com 2. Vince Camuto square ring $48 macys.com 3. Asos Pieces hair clip $12 asos.com

Mumu Tunic Kaftan Dress

Remember when the word "mumu" was super uncool? These days a roomy kaftan or tunic (or mumu, as I like to say) equals super boho chic, if you ask me. And lucky for those of us in the family way, these suckers are perfect and deliciously easy to wear. Just make sure to start belting above the bump, or you'll end up looking like a giant, round, printed ball. For the rest of you, keep it loose and easy.

Have a happy day!

Mumu - A ridiculous score at Ross, but I found you some similar: 

in high, mid & low price ranges

Belt & Bangles - Vintage

Earrings - Forever 21(similar)


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