Let’s start out the week with some cuteness, shall we?! Today, I’m sharing what’s going on in Emma’s life at the moment… because Girlfriend is busy. ;)
Also, fair warning: This is a LONG post. I’m feeling good today, and I’m in the mood to chat. 😂 With any hope, it’ll be a somewhat entertaining post!
Here we go:
Pink Scalloped Coat (Look into this yellow scalloped coat, too! More options below.) / Evolve Navy Pumps c/o / Mark & Graham Hand-Painted Tote / Newer J.Crew Polka Dot Machine-Washable Top (Also recently ordered this similar dress and love it!) / Mark & Graham Stamped Initial Necklace (Best Mother’s Day present ever!) / Ray-Ban Sunglasses / Old Navy Rockstar Jeans (I’m wearing the maternity version. Here are all the Rockstar jeans; so soft and stretchy but don’t bag out!)
Bah! The Larkins had a bummer Saturday. It snowed, and then Emma came down with a stomachache that wouldn’t quit… and we spent the rest of the day cuddled up on the couch with her. (Awful seeing her so sad!) Hoping tomorrow is better.
I feel like my family is just in this “hurry up and wait” phase that simply won’t end until the baby arrives. I’m having a hard time concentrating on or accomplishing anything these days, and Mitch says the same. I mean, part of it is that I’m pretty uncomfortable… but another part of it is totally mental. Life almost seems to be on hold.
I’m disappointed in myself for feeling this way. I’ve always caught myself whenever I’ve found myself wishing away the days or weeks or months until something big happens, as I never want to wish my life away. There’s so much goodness that happens during the “in between,” you know? And… life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans, to quote John Lennon.
Hello, Ladies! Cassandra here from The Calm Collective. I’m currently nestled up in my apartment, surrounded by all the twinkle lights. (They’re year-round. Yes, I’m that person. 😜) There’s cool, fresh air (with a hint of warmth in there) coming in through the cracked window, and some seriously delicious aromas wafting from my slow cooker as I type this. As you can imagine, I have zero complaints at the moment!
I know. It’s the end of April, and we’re all sick of temps in the 30s and 40s. But soon (so soon!), spring will be here, and these cozy days spent inside without guilt will be gone. It’s time we think of chilliness differently; it’s time to soak up all things comfort!
One of my favorite things about this in-between season is that during it, I do a lot of cooking for myself, and experiment. And in full tribute to that, I wanted to share five of my go-to slow cooker recipes that are currently rotating through my crockpot. I eat vegan or vegetarian about 50 percent of the time, so there’s surely something for everyone here!
I apologize for my brevity this week. I was super tired during my last month of pregnancy with Emma, and that’s proven to be the case with this one, too! Getting through the day is a struggle; my eyelids are constantly closing on me, haha. I also have zero interesting things to say right now. Do you ever feel like that? When someone asks you “What’s new?!” and you’re like, “——.” 😂 That’s me right now. Bo-ring.
BUT I do have some really good “Recent Finds” this week. So #winning right there. 😉
You might also like: The Best Mother’s Day Gifts, 15 Statement Coats for Spring and 15+ Preppy Spring Outfits to Recreate.
Without a doubt, the best Mother’s Day gifts are from Mark & Graham–an amazing brand that’s under the Williams-Sonoma Inc. umbrella. (Just like Pottery Barn is!) I LOVE it. Actually, “love” doesn’t do my feelings justice; Mitch would describe the whole thing as an obsession. 😂
I can’t help it, though. The quality is simply off the charts, and everything is so preppy, personalized and meaningful. It’s my go-to place for special gifts in general, whether for Mitch, my parents or my in-laws. And every single time that Mitch’s given me a gift from Mark & Graham, he’s hit it out of the park. (If you’ve been following along with us for a while now, you know that this very affordable stamped initial necklace is probably my most prized possession! More on that below.)
I’m actually doing an Instagram collaboration with Mark & Graham for Mother’s Day, but felt that the content warranted a blog post, too. (Okay, yeah: There’s that whole obsession thing shining through, haha.) Because if you’ve yet to buy gifts for those awesome moms in your life and are feeling “stuck,” I’m about to solve all your problems! 😉
Here are my top Mother’s Day gift ideas for 2019:
Trench Coat with Quilted Liner (So warm! Here’s the single-breasted trench coat, and all the other London Fog trenches.) / Dooney & Bourke Bag / Similar Tassel Loafer Versions Here, Here, Here and Here / Rag & Bone Jeans (Also available here.) / Similar Striped Shirt Here, Here and Here
I thought I’d dig back through the archives today and share some everyday spring looks that you can easily recreate on your own! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super excited about getting into some non-maternity stuff soon; heck, I’d just settle for anything that’s actually comfortable at this point. 🙈 (Btw: If you’re also in your third trimester, I’d recommend investing in these maternity leggings from Old Navy. They’re the only thing gettin’ me through!)
Company Store Awning Stripe Duvet Cover and Shams; Embroidered Bicycle Pillow; “Enjoy” Pillow; Flannel Lace Sheets and Pillowcases; Basket-Weave Euro Shams; Softest Fleece Throw Blanket; Ashby Floral Linen Fitted Sheet, Top Sheet, Pillow Cases and Euro Shams; Best Down Pillows; Firmest Pillows; Waterproof Mattress Pad; Oversized, Extra-Warm Down Comforter c/o / Other room details here
The Company Store is currently having its “Friends and Family” sale. Use code “FRIENDS19” to take 20 percent off and get free shipping on orders of $75+ now through April 28th.
Recently, I wrote a post about preppy “investment” bedding. Today, though, I’d like to focus on preppy bedding that looks like a million bucks yet is affordable, too!
J.Crew Gingham Trench Coat (Here’s the iconic khaki-colored one, btw.) / Dudley Stephens Fleece / Sperry Loafers / Mark & Graham Elisabetta Bamboo Tote / DL 1961 Maternity Jeans (These light wash maternity jeans are better, though, in all honesty! Also on sale! Also, OMG. Gap just came out with white demi-panel maternity jeans. FINALLY!)
On Saturday, I talked about Floriole, one of my favorite spots in Lincoln Park, Chicago. And today, I’m featuring Sweet Mandy B’s, which, in my opinion, is the neighborhood’s best bakery! It also happens to be next door to Floriole. (1208 W. Webster.)
J.Crew Factory Navy Striped Dress / Mark & Graham Hand-Painted Straw Tote c/o / Newer Gap Bunny Flats
Happy Easter, Friends!
As I mentioned, the Larkins are hanging in Chicago today. It’s our first Easter on our own; we’re usually either with my family on the East Coast or with Mitch’s downstate, but since we’re so close to the baby’s due date, my doctor advised us not to leave the city. So we’re just doin’ our own thing here!
Pink Boden Coat (Go down on size. This one is nearly identical, btw.) / Brook & York Parker Knot Pendant / Sperry Loafers / White Maternity Jeans (Btw: Did you see this pair of white maternity jeans from Madewell?! Love these J Brand White Maternity Jeans, too. Also, if you’re not pregnant, I highly recommend this pair of affordable white skinny jeans. I’ve had mine for years and love them! They’re a deal, and they’re very soft and stretchy yet don’t lose their shape throughout the day.) / Chambray Popover (This is my go-to non-maternity chambray shirt.) / Mark & Graham Tote / Mark & Graham Laptop Case in “Blush”
These photos are a little random, but I’m trying to be better about capturing bits and pieces of our everyday lives in Lincoln Park, Chicago. :) So this weekend, I want to feature two places that we visit frequently in LP. (And they happen to be right next to each other!)
Today, I’m talking about Floriole Cafe and Bakery, which is my go-to coffee shop for work sessions, but also to bring Emma.
