CREW CUTS

Those of you who know me are aware of my obsession with stripes and the occasional nautical ensemble. Much to my pleasure (and my bank account's dismay) the new line of baby clothes from J.Crew looks super cozy and pairs classic simplicity with a nautical twist. Perfection!

THE NEWEST ADDITION

After a four month break, I'm excited to share with you our newest addition. Landon Maximilian was born on October 10th, 2011, weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs. 14 oz, and 22 inches long. We've all fallen in love with him, especially Mason who absolutely loves being a big brother. The two boys get along wonderfully, which is more than any mother could ask for.

OH BABY!

Well, it's the end of an era. Bright and early Monday morning we're scheduled to deliver this little miracle that's been growing inside me for the last 9 months. Of course I'm beyond excited, but a part of me feels a little bittersweet. My mom arrives tomorrow, so tonight marks our last evening as a family of three... by ourselves... in our home. It's a little surreal. My husband and I are planning a special dinner and an evening of family time so we can relish it one last time before the madness begins!

And this is what I currently look like. It's official that I have no more room to give my little one. I can't wait to meet him on Monday!

SHOUT OUT

My bestie, Johnelle Mancha of Mignonne Decor, got featured on Apartment Therapy today and I couldn't be more proud. She and her lovely bf, Brian, just finished a tremendous amount of work on their charming Oakland home. I've featured some photos but you can read the entire write-up right here.

HAPPY FALL

Even though we live in Southern California and don't typically see the seasons change, Fall is by far my favorite time of year. I love it when the temperatures start to drop, when I can finally open my drawer of scarves, pull out my boots and enjoy a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. I am one of those people who actually looks forward to the holiday season, and for me the beginning of Fall is the kick-off to several months of food, friends, cozy nights and lots of family time.

CURB APPEAL

I while back I posted about wanting to update the look of our front door. I'm happy to say that after 18 months, it has been done! I don't have a "before" picture, but I certainly have an "after". And I came up with some ideas around what we've already done to enhance the look even further – a modern look with a traditional undertone.

1. Our new front door after a few coats of paint. 2. Modern topiaries found on Apartment Therapy. 3. Progress Lighting Cylinder lamp. 4. Metal planters from CB2. 5. Monogrammed doormat from Pottery Barn.