Smile And Wave

What I Wore: Family Date Night Turned Night In

Friday nights have quickly become family movie night. Brett and I are usually both pretty tired so it's a nice way to enjoy the evening because it means less fussing and more smiles. This weekend Brett decided to take our evening to the movie theater to see a claymation film so we all got ready and shuffled about the house until it was time to go. I am not a claymation fan and Brett must've picked up on my vibe because he offered to turn it into a mama's night off while dad takes the kids out.

I am so lucky.

I really only wore this for about an hour before changing into jean shorts and a t-shirt for my Pinterest marathon. I was searching for backyard inspiration like it was my job!

Outfit Details: Dress, Target. Shoes, TJMaxx. Belt, Target?. Necklace, ModCloth.

The kids had a great time. We realized later that it was Ruby's first movie theater experience! Well, if you don't count that time we brought her in to see New Moon when she was a few weeks old. She slept through most of it. 

I love this photo of Sebastian above. He's such a cool kid. 

I hope you had a lovely weekend!

-Rachel

R.E.D.

When picking names for our growing baby girl we settled pretty early on the name Ruby. It was a good mix of old-fashioned and relevant and I just liked how it sounded. 

With the last name Denbow and the first name Ruby it was obvious to us that her middle name should start with an E. Emmerson it was.

R. E. D.

We called her Little Red as a newborn but these days it's Roo.  

If you ask her she'll tell you her name is Ruby Duby. NOT Ruby Emmerson.

Outfit Details: Vintage shirt, Little Reader Vintage. Skirt, Wal-Mart. Saltwater Sandals, My Saltwater Sandals. Amber necklace, Amberizon.

Speaking of initials, as soon as I saw this necklace on Jess' blog I e-mailed Brett to let him know about it. It arrived today and I am so happy with it. The charms have their initials and are sweet in and of themselves but I'm really in love with the chain. I have a thing for brass. 

My Little Red isn't so little anymore. She's so articulate and thoughtful and asks questions about EVERYTHING. Her legs are getting so long and, after looking back on past photos, I can tell her hair REALLY IS GROWING! 

Sebastian is almost out of school for the summer which means this one gets her play mate back. I'm going to relish this summer of their young lives together. SENTIMENTAL!

-Rachel

What I Wore: Mother's Day Skirt

This maxi wrap skirt has got to be one of the quickest sewing projects I've ever finished! I bought this fabric at my friend, Roxanne's, garage sale about a month ago and set it aside knowing someday it'd be put to good use. After seeing so many beautiful maxi skirts on fashion blogs and Pinterest I decided I needed to make one myself. In fact, if my sewing machine gets fixed soon I'll happily share a tutorial to make your own. In the meantime you can find one here, here, and in our Home Ec e-course.

It's light and flowy and easy to wear. It takes a lot of fabric but would work well in a solid (cheaper). I'm thinking a linen-like fabric or even a light denim should be next on my list. 

Outfit Details: T-shirt, Target. Maxi skirt, handmade from vintage fabric. Gypsy platforms c/o Blowfish. Sand Timer Necklace c/o Unexpected Expectancy. Leather bag, thrifted. Vintage glasses, thrifted. 

I love the extra inches these Gypsy platforms give me. At 5' 4" (barely), I need all the boost I can get when going with a maxi. They're also the most comfortable pair of shoes I currently own!

This skirt makes the fifth article of handmade clothing I've added to my wardrobe this year including the two tops I made last week. I'm hooked! 

What summer trend would you make yourself if you could?

-Rachel

Road Trip Essentials

Every now and then I get the itch for a road trip. Back in Missouri we usually scratched the itch by visiting family or venturing to St. Louis but these days I'm itching for an epic, summer time, college flashback kind of road trip. No plans as of yet but I thought I'd get warmed up by sharing what I like to pack whenever I know I'll be sitting in a car for awhile.

Sitting for hours in between destinations calls for something to keep my hands busy. It's usually an art journal or craft project and only when the kids are occupied or asleep! I keep a coin purse on hand for those unexpected gumball machines or parking meters, a vintage scarf for that second day without a shower or to add extra color to my outfit, my iPhone to catch those moments when I don't have my DSLF handy, and of course, a great pair of sunglasses!

You never know what kind of pit stops you'll make along the way so it's nice to have easy shoes to slip on and off and a spare pair just in case. I think a comfortable pair of neutral flats and an easy pair of leather sandals go with just about anything be it a dress or shorts, a fun necklace on a long chain feels whimsical and helps dress up a casual t-shirt kind of day, and healthy snacks help with my road trip sweet tooth.

Details: Yellow purse, ModCloth. iPhone case, Casetagram. Sunglasses c/o Tumbleweeds. Sand Timer Necklace c/o Unexpected Expectancy. Local Native flats c/o ELF. Saltwater sandals, My Saltwater Sandals. Vintage silk scarf, thrifted. Coin purse, local shop. Art Journal and colored pencils, Hobby Lobby. 

Elsie and I co-wrote an art journal e-course earlier this year and this is the art journal I used. It's about half way filled up from e-course prompts with a few pages full of DIY ideas and house projects I want to finish. I love having a space to create with no pressure. It's one of the most relaxing creative outlets I have. It also lends itself well to sitting still through a few states and possibly time zones.

Any road trips in your future? What are your favorite things to pack? 

-Rachel

What I Wore: Tulips and Sunshine

I'd like to nominate yesterday (Monday) as an alternate Mother's Day. Mostly because of the sunshine. 

Ruby and I enjoyed some time trolling about the backyard enjoying the perfect weather while rearranging strawberry plants and sweeping dirt. We took a walk to the park to swing and pick dandelions before nap time and dog poop duty. I bet you've never worn a dress to pick up dog poop, have you. It doesn't make it any more fun.

Our afternoon included a thrift store or two, NPR on the radio with the windows down, and more glorious sunshine. I didn't have to cook (thank you leftovers!) and after hosing the kids down in the yard, we skipped baths and Brett put the kids to bed while I went to the gym. 

Outfit Details: Vintage dress c/o Katie Shelton. Belt, Target (?). Cowboy boots, thrifted. Cameo necklace c/o Benandi. Vintage suitcase, thrifted.

Maybe that's all a girl really needs to be happy - sunshine, a pretty dress, and the people she loves most. I'm telling you, that thrifting didn't hurt either.

Ruby and Sebastian were chasing Sunday around in between shots. I think Ruby thought this was her cue to come stand by me for our regular mama/daughter vintage shot. Sweet thing was covered in dirt and chocolate pudding but still has that great little smirk. 

Here's to sunshine!

-Rachel

What I Wore: Spring Shoulders

Great weather means it's finally time to bare the shoulders! I purchased this black and white zig-zag number from ModCloth about a month ago because I love the graphic print. It's actually a dress but it's a bit shorter than I'm comfortable with so I layered a skirt over it. 

I made my skirt last year during a weekend sewing frenzy. I was in the mood for something new but it wasn't in the budget so I got resourceful. I think those kinds of projects are some of the most satisfying! I made it reversible from two vintage sheets in really great colors. The other side is a green, tan, yellow, and white plaid print. 

Do you like how I'm wearing sunglasses inside? That's how bright it is in our dining room. Just kidding.

Outfit Details: Dress, ModCloth. Skirt, handmade. Belt, thrifted. Boots c/o Lotta from Stockholm. Wooden Veneer Glasses c/o Tumbleweeds. Necklace c/o Unexpected Expectancy. Turquoise rings from two different trade shops.

Speaking of being resourceful, I am setting a new goal this summer to make at least four more things that I'll realistically wear in public. I've already got a sketch in my mind for a wrap type dress and another for a shirt waist dress. Here's to setting some fun goals, saving some money, and using up some of my fabric stash!

-Rachel

Worn: Misha Lulu Got It Right Again

I have been a fan of Misha Lulu's collections for a few years now after having seen several of her pieces worn online and by some pretty cute kids in Springfield. I love how her lines have evolved over the years but still have that consistency of being absolutely charming and playful and mixing and matching great prints. I don't think I've ever seen something from any season that I wouldn't want for Ruby. 

Outfit Details: Vintage dress, thrifted. Circus shorts c/o MishaLulu. Saltwaters from last summer, here.

Karen and her team have been working incredibly hard to launch the Spring/Summer '12 collections and she was so sweet to send Ruby a few pieces to add to her wardobe. One of my favorites are these striped shorts because they are so soft (easy to play in) and go with almost everything. We like to mix and match over here!

They're already a new favorite staple in her spring/summer wardrobe. 

When I first set eyes on some of the illustrations from the circus line I got a little giddy. They are so beautiful and the color story is perfect. Pinks, corals, yellow, and black. In love.

We styled this shirt with some jeggings and a skirt I made from some darling polyester fabric I thrifted and her sparkly sandals. She loves to show off her mama pedicure. 

Outfit Details: Top c/o MishaLulu. Jeggings, Target. Skirt, handmade from vintage fabric. Sandals, thrifted. Amber teething necklace (that we still wear because we love it), Amberizon.

You can find Misha Lulu from a number of stockists online to pick out one or two of your favorites. One of the best things about Misha Lulu pieces are how well made they are to last more than one season and sometimes even more than a few years. Ruby has had a tunic that she's been able to wear since last spring and it's still going to be big enough to wear as a top next spring. 

Speaking of spring, I think we've struck gold with the beautifully mild weather here in Colorado Springs. It's been dresses and shorts and bare feet for a few weeks now. I'm going to enjoy every single day of it!

What are your favorite things to mix and match in your wardrobe? In your kids? Do you still find ways to layer in spring? 

-Rachel

What We Wore: Denver For A Day

What's cooler than exploring a new city on the perfect sunny day? Doing it with your favorite people in the world!

That's exactly what our family did last Friday to celebrate Brett's 31st birthday. We have a history of travel/shopping birthdays for Brett.

There was San Francisco in 2008 where we visited the Alameda Flea Market, Rare Device, and a few other fun handmade shops.

April 2009 I was in my first trimester with Ruby so there is no documentation of Brett's birthday and I can't remember for the life of me what we did! Sorry, Brett.

In April 2010 we took a surprise day trip to Arkansas to pick up his birthday present, a Vespa! 

April 2011 was a weekend trip to Oklahoma City where we got to enjoy a whole day of exploring by ourselves while my parents watched the kids. It was AMAZING.

This year we made some more fun memories thanks to everyone's suggestions on Twitter and on the blog. If you're planning a trip or just haven't been out in awhile, check the comments in this post!

We were planning on staying overnight before we realized we were so close to home that we could easily enjoy a full day and still get back to our own beds. Staying in hotels is not quite as fun or relaxing with children who won't go to sleep unless you do too. Hehe.

Outfit Details: Dress, Target three years ago. Flats c/o Blowfish. Belt, thrifted. Satchel, ModCloth (similar to this). Wooden glasses c/o Tumbleweeds. Top locket c/o Gleeful Peacock. Middle locket, vintage and thrifted. Bottom locket designed by Elsie for ModCloth (gifted).

Ruby's wearing: Vintage dress, traded. Too small shoes from Target that totally fit in the store. Wooden sunglasses c/o Tumbleweeds. 

Sebastian's wearing: Thrifted shirt, gifted shorts, shoes from Target that I let him pick out. He's ready for a summer in Colorado, for sure!

Brett said it was the best birthday he's ever had. I think it had more to do with Sebastian and Ruby being exceptionally sweet to him than all the browsing on Broadway and Colfax. Sebastian's presents to him included a Yoda birthday card, two chocolate pudding cups, and as many turns playing his Lego Star Wars video game as he wants. Like, twenty turns. Talk about thoughtful!

Trips to two record stores wasn't bad, either. 

I plan on sharing all the places we managed to fit in in another post with lots of Instagram photos for anyone who'd like to do their own exploring. Thanks for all of Brett's birthday wishes on Instagram last Thursday!

-Rachel

Easter

Does anyone else still have dyed fingernail beds? The kids had a great time dying Easter eggs this year since they could both take part. We dyed them the day before and talked about what colors mixed to make a new color, how to dye them in lighter colors before darker colors, and what colors make brown (all of them together!). 

We took it easy on Easter Sunday after a 6:30 a.m. wake up call from both kids. They loved their baskets and Sunday (our dog) loved snatching up the stray jelly beans. After a hot breakfast, coffee, pumpkin muffins, and a few rounds of dinosaur card games we got dressed and had an Easter egg hunt at the park near our house.

Can you spot the snow covered mountain? It's breathtaking almost every single day.

Sebastian found the most eggs and was quite proud of himself.

Ruby deemed his unoccupied Easter basket fair game as far as collecting was concerned and while he was enjoying the swings, she was evening up the score.

An afternoon at the park isn't complete without a game of catch! I challenged Brett to see who could throw an egg the furthest and soon we were out of eggs. The squirrels had a feast.

We called it a day and headed home for lunch and naps. It was restful and celebratory, although a little bit sad to be away from the rest of our families. We're thankful we got to spend it together, though, as next year we'll be down one. I found myself behind a camera most of the weekend wanting to capture these important memories for myself and the kids.

Practing gratitude for what we have, the opportunities we've been given, the sacrifices that have been made - pretty fitting for an Easter weekend, I think.

-Rachel

What I Wore: My Handmade Dress

I picked up two yards of this vintage fabric somewhere in Missouri before we moved and was newly inspired to make something with it when I found this tutorial again. I should've been unpacking but it was one of those days when I just needed to do something creative. It's the best-fitting article of clothing I've ever made for myself. I can't wait to make something in a black and white polka-dot or large buffalo plaid next! 

I used the basic premise layed out in the tutorial about using a fitted top as a template and then adjusting a few things. I added more width to the skirt so I could do box pleats and bravely sewed in a zipper, wonky as it may look near the top. 

I added lining in the top for a nicely finished look and made everything larger than I thought so I could take it in to fit nicely. If you're feeling brave I suggest trying it with inexpensive sheeting or in a miniature size (doll dress or for a little person) before trying it on something you paid a lot of money for. Once you work out the kinks you'll have a few new pieces in your spring/summer wardrobe!

I wore my dress for the first time on our family date to the Airplane Restaurant. It's in East Colorado Springs and features an airplane themed restaurant with a huge WW11 aircraft attached to it. We got a reservation to eat in the plane and the kids got to play around in the cockpit and peek out the airplane windows while we waited for our food. Oh, and the food! Delicious.

I had Brett snap these outside the restaurant. Ruby and Sebastian ran around throwing pinecones while they waited on us and the weather was just gorgeous.

Outfit Details: Dress, handmade by me. Shoes c/o ModCloth. Cardigan, Target. Turqouise ring, local trade shop. Belt, thrifted. Bag c/o ELF.

So blurry but that look of joy on Ruby's face is priceless.

One of the first dresses I ever made that I actually wore was a white, eyelet, strapless number that I think I gave away when I got pregnant with Sebastian. I wish I'd kept it for Ruby. I've made a few since then but I think I've finally figured out that it's worth doing it right the first time and not taking short cuts if I want to wear it out in public!

Oh, and I need to add a hook and eye to this one because my side zipper had totally come unzipped to the belt between these photos, the coffee shop, and home. Thank GOODNESS I was wearing a cardigan. 

-Rachel