Evenings at 34

Top, Hat, Shoes: Vintage // Thrifted

Socks: Target

I'm 34 weeks in officially and so stunned to believe that I am only 2 weeks short of when the doctor says I'm ok to go at any time.  Who knows?  Perhaps baby boy will be here sooner than we think!  Anyhow, the weather is sweet and warm and several evenings have been spent at my little garden plot getting it ready to grow just in time for summer.  The hubs and I are taking this weekend off and heading back to our hometowns to get away and spend some leisurely time together before the baby arrives and things really get turned around.  I cannot wait!  Other than that Mama is craving coconut water and banana popsicles and vegetarian chili with avocado....yum, right?  I'm finally sleeping a bit better and really feeling the urge to do some spring cleaning and sprucing up my lawn....uh oh - you know they say that is a sure sign that the baby's arrival will be soon :-)

That's about all for now.  What have you been up to lately darlings?  

Wishing you plenty of spring sunshine!

Love bunches, 

Hey Hey Mama

Dress: Miss Selfridge (2010)

Hat, Bag, Shoes: Vintage // Antique Mall

Lady Tie: Flapper Girl // Etsy

Cardi & Tights: Target

Hello and Happy Friday Darlings,

Earlier this week before arriving home, the little fam and I snuck away for a day to visit my mom and dad and celebrate Mother's Day together at Hotel Hershey - (you know, in chocolate town USA).  So we feasted and feasted and stuffed ourselves to capacity and really just enjoyed one another's company.  Being just a month and a couple weeks shy of welcoming our second little one into the world, has me super excited and always hoping that I can be as good as a mom to my kids as my mother was and always will be to me.  I'm certainly not perfect, but I do the best I can do.  As for my mom - well, she's pretty awesome, I cannot lie.  I am very thankful to have her in my life.

So that's just that.  It's officially the weekend and I am turning on relax - mode.  I see plenty of gardening and cooking in my future over the next few days...hehe.

Enjoy yours too!

Love bunches, 

Now and Then

Skirt (Dress) & Brooch: Vintage // Thrifted

Hat: Borrowed from the Mr.

Top: Modcloth

Shoes: Seychelles

Oh hello there darlings, 

I'm finally back to my home front and getting settled once again into this glorious little thing called a daily routine...trust me, I couldn't be happier!  Living out of a suitcase is not necessarily ideal especially when you are 33 weeks along - but no complaints here, it's always nice to get out of town if just for a bit and visit family and the hometown, and the city of Philly of course.

So now that I am home and kicking my feet back is in order, I'd still say I'm doing a good job of making my closet work for me during this pregnancy.  To date, I only purchased 3 maternity pieces from Asos - which were on sale - not really because I needed them, but because I thought they were especially adorable.  Vintage pieces like this little tent shaped sundress are really where it's at.  This time around, I'm very thankful to be carrying mostly in my belly (and boobs) and not my whole body like my last pregnancy.  Truth be told though, I am eating much healthier now - a lot of fruits and veggies in contrast to the Dunkin Donuts and mocha frappuccinos which I pretty much so ate five days a week while carrying Keane....haha.  My my how things change when you are a few years older :-).

So that's about it.  If you are here on the middle east coast like me, keep warm and cuddly and survive this cold front we are having.  30 - some degrees and freeze warnings?  Spring, where did you go?  Cheers to hot tea and tights and blankets.

Love bunches, 

Ipad Mini Giveaway!!!

Hello there darlings!

Just in time for the weekend, I'm happy to be taking part in an amazing giveaway hosted by ChantillySongs and some other blogger friends! We've all banded together to bring you an awesome prize for one lucky reader- a 16GB iPad Mini in white or black!! How seriously sweet is that?

The iPad Mini is a perfect and convenient device for busy people of all stripes. Great to take with you when you're on the go, and don't have room to lug your laptop along with you. You can use it as a reader, check email or browse the Internet on it, write to-do lists, reminders, record inspiration, and more! 

Please note: This giveaway will be open until May 30th, and will be open only in the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Australia. 

Chantilly ~ ChantillySongs ♥ Marisa ~ The Shades of Monet Chronicles ♥ Lisa ~ Lala Faux Bois ♥ Shell ~ Kitty and Buck ♥ Marilyn ~ Pulp Sushi ♥ Sammy ~ The Cookie Button ♥ Amanda E ~ Little Lady Little City ♥ Regina ~ Acute Designs ♥ Katherine ~ Of Corgis and Cocktails ♥ Amanda A. ~ Little Tranquility ♥ Joanna ~ ModaMama ♥ Roxy ~ GrrFiesty ♥ Vanessa ~ Take Only Memories ♥ Sabrina ~ The Little Owl ♥ Miss Angie ~ My So-Called Chaos ♥ Shai ~ Vagabond Studio ♥ Chelsea ~ Life Unpublished ♥ Lauren ~ A Wild Tonic ♥ Jenna ~ Kitty Cat Stevens ♥ Jessa ~ Caked Blog

Now, enter your heart out if you wish....  Best of luck darlings! xoxo Marisa 

a Rafflecopter giveaway     

Le Famille Nautique

Dress: Swapped via Jacqueline

Scarf, Bag, Shoes: Thrifted

Necklace: UO

Shirt: Target

Hello there darlings!  This is just a quick little pop in today as internet is slow as a tortoise right now.  

Oh boy baby, I'm sittin pretty here at 32 weeks and really feeling like the last leg of this marathon is the toughest.  Right now I am back in Philly as the Mr. is in business meetings and ice cubes and HGTV are the things that are making me feel comforted right now...hehe.  But when we are back home... sunny days and warm weather have finally made it to where we live and enjoying little lakeside strolls and dinners on the lake as the sun sets have been quite the charm.   Soon enough we'll be welcoming our 2nd little guy into the world and I still have to pinch myself as I type that out.   I cannot wait!

That's just about all for now.  I look forward to catching up with you once I am back home and settled cozily on my little couch.  Hope your week is as gorgeous as ever!

Love Bunches, 

Pastel Papillon

Hello Darlings, 

Guess what?  I'm back in Philly again this week.  Does the hustle and bustle ever end?  Though I've been a little MIA as of late, you can find me today over at Flock Together ... where it's all about pastels and butterflies.

Perhaps I'll see you there!

xo, 

Marisa

Here There Everywhere

Dress, Hat, Cardi, Bag: Vintage // Thrifted

Lady Tie: Flapper Girl via Etsy

Tights: Modcloth

Shoe: Poetic License via Amazon

As a I mentioned before, last week had me back in Philly and one brief afternoon back on my old stopping grounds at Valley Forge National Park, near my college.  During our finally semester, the Mr. and I used to drive here and watch the sunset - usually with a bag of Twizzlers and a cup of coffee straight out of the machine at Circle K gas station in hand (hehe, how's that for glamorous?), and The Beatles Revolver album playing in the background.  Thinking of those days makes me smile because they were all so simple and all so very complicated at the same time.  Back then, the Mr. and I were just friends - just friends that is, that were falling hard for one another.  Pretty normal thing, right? - I guess the big clinker was that I was engaged to someone else...yeah, oops.  I'm not even sure how the whole thing happened but all I know is that it all kind of smacked me in the face one day and I was completely knocked off my feet.  Hey when something is destined to be, it's destined to be and there is just no arguing with that.  Almost 10 years later....here we are, back in this place where it all began and all I can do is just smile.  

Oy vey, what a rabbit trail these photos lead me off on!  I guess you could say, I'm kind of here, there, everywhere with this post ;-).  

As for my outfit - I'm 31 weeks pregnant and just so thankful that I can still fit into some of my vintage dresses.  We'll just see how much longer that will last, hehe.  

Chat soon darlings!
Love Bunches,  

Susie Bird

Dress: Vintage via The Braided Bandit Vintage

Hat, Earrings, Bag: Vintage // Thrifted

Tights: Modcloth

Shoes: Seychelles

After a very full week of running around like a wild banshee, this gal is ready to take some serious downtime. My impromptu trip to Philly was a success, 9 floral hair pieces (crowns and clips) were carefully crafted for my friend's bridal party (me included), and speaking of the wedding itself - it was quite a delightful celebration filled with love, laughter, and plenty of dancing - but now I am quite tuckered, so bring on the R&R!   On the agenda this week: finally getting my hands dirty and planting some veggies in my community garden plot, painting the baby's nursery (hint hint to the Mr.) and our wee little band playing a show on Friday night.  

As for what I am wearing - well, I found this sweet little number of a dress over at my fellow Flock Together gal Hannah's shop, The Braided Bandit Vintage.  Right away I knew it had to be mine because not only did the little leopard print collar tickle my fancy, but it reminded me of my grandmother who was the biggest leopard enthusiast I ever knew.  Yes that's right, Susie, loved her leopard prints - she had dresses, blouses, bags, jewelry, scarves, I think even shoes adorned in leopard.  She had leopard all around the house as well - throws, pillows, sheets, you name it!  All her life she had such a bold and elegant sense of style - and she always appreciated mine which is why I do believe we were kindred spirits.  Anyhow, she passed away two years ago and with that I felt like a piece of my heart went with her...but not to be sad, I know she is always close to me.  In a funny way, every time I slip on this little dress, I can hear her so sweetly say in her boisterous German accent, "Oh I LOVE that dress Marisa".  Above is a photo of her in one of her many leopard printed pieces circa the 1960s. 

That's all for now!  Have one fantabulous week darlings!

Love Bunches,