Our Baby Boy Is 9 Months Old!

Our Baby Boy is 9 Months Old!

My sweet boy, you are 9 months!! How does this happen?! I blink and you are a month older. The number scares me more so than seeing you grow. Seeing you change and transform into a mobile, light hearted, silly, bright little baby is the best reward each day. I think I need to get over this whole idea that each month that number goes up that all of the sudden you won't be my sweet little baby anymore. I mean, you just get better and better.nit literally kills me when You smile at me when you spot me from across the room. I melt into a puddle when you crawl into my lap, you want me, your mama & you make that so clear all throughout the day as you lean out of whoevers arms are holding you into mine. I love how much you love mama. I know it's selfish, but Im okay being selfish when it comes to you. Daddy & I play tug-a-war with each other & playfully argue over who gets to go swoop you up out of your crib after a nap. We take turns holding you when we go on family adventure dates. We each want to be the one who makes you smile and laugh until you squirm. You are the best part of us, I can't believe together we made you. 




A lot has changed this past month. You are mobile in every sense of the word! You can sit yourself up from a laying down position (& that has been your favorite thing to do when mommy lays you down for a nap..sigh), you love to try to pull yourself up onto your knees and try to stand, we hold your hands and you do pretty well at standing with a little support, you army crawl all day long quicker than mama can chase you, you are so busy and into everything (especially wires, ropes, strings, anything hanging & dangerous..lol), you get on all fours and go a couple feet to get something in front of you but then to go the distance you go back to crawling on your tummy, you point your little finger at everything so we are starting to teach you what things are called (this week we are learning "leaf", "flower", "bird", & body parts like "tummy" & "nose" , not sure how much you're picking up quite yet), you are eating table foods like corn and peas and noodles along with puréed foods, breast milk Is still your favorite and I'm okay with that because it's our boding time & oh so healthy for you, you have learned so many social ques it's as though I'm hanging with a little dude all day and not just a baby, you have taken interacting to a whole new level of fun! 



We love you sweet boy. You are the most special tiny human & life is so beautiful with you in it. 

^^no excited for shots at his 9 month check up..but he sure does make a cute scared face^^

^^^"Mama, You can't work out when im down here crawling in between machines"^^^

^^^the bond these two have together makes my heart so full^^^

^^^watching as mama and daddy play "h.o.r.s.e" at the park^^^

^^^a little Easter fun i'll show more of later^^^

 ^^^At the San Diego Zoo having fun with his best friend Mikey & the parental gang of course^^^

^^^this is the adorable proud face he makes when he stands^^^^

 ^^^ MY happy place right here^^^

^^^my world in one picture^^^

^^^trying some multigrain waffles and almond butter.. table foods are so much fun!^^^

  XO

What We Wear: Ryan + Reese

What We Wear: Ryan + Reese

Hi ladies, a friend of mine just opened up a brand new online boutique called Ryan + Reese and they have great hip, on trend, adorable clothing & accessories! Ryan + Reese has a ton of fun bohemian chic, hippy, free-spirited flirty outfit options.. which we all know is right up my alley. They sent me a couple items and i couldnt wait to put on these fun leather shorts with adorable detailed scalloped edges! You MUST get your hands on some of these. They are a high to mid waisted short, super comfortable, but really sexy and effortlessly dress up your outfit. I can't wait to wear these on a date night with my man and stack on some statement necklaces and maybe a fun lip stain.  You can pair these shorts with a tank, a chunky sweater, or even a rocker T like this Beatles Tshirt I paired mine with. I threw on a mint colored belt and necklace for a splash of subtle color.  These will definitely be a pair of shorts i wear on repeat throughout the summer.  Check out what else Ryan + Reese has in their shop & follow along on instagram, link(s) at the bottom of this post. 

*Photos by: Kelsey Steindler Photography

Shop Ryan + Reese here

Follow on Instagram @shopryanandreese

Get The Look:

Leather shorts c/o Ryan + Reese

Beatles Tshirt (Similar below)

Ankle boots (Similar below)

Mint Skinny Belt Forever 21 (Similar below)

Mint Beaded Necklace Daisy Shop (Similar below)

Black Messenger Bag H&M (Similar below)

Banana Republic Messenger Bags · Pour La Victoire Boots · Jeffrey Campbell Boots

What I've Been Eating Lately: Quick Healthy Meals Recipes/Ideas

What I've Been Eating Lately: Quick Healthy Meals & Recipes/Ideas

Hey all, I have been stacking up some food pics for you ladies. I try to throw in some new ideas and mix it up throughout the week as well as have some quick healthy meal options for those nights when im exhausted, just put the baby down, and want to get something nutritious in my tummy ASAP without much work involved. If there is ever anything you ladies cook up that you'd like to share i would love to know! Please share below in the comment section your favorite easy healthy meals or even places that make premade preservative free meals or have easy meal prep ideas!

Dinner- Sweet Potato Burger with Organic Grass Fed Beef:

Instructions for Sweet Potatoe Bun: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice sweet potatos into 1/4-1/2 inch and lay flat onto a baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 15 minutes and then turn over and cook another 15 minutes. 

The next time I make a sweet potato bun im going to make one that sticks together so you can pick the bun up instead of eating the burger with a fork.  Heres the recipe for that:

You'll need: 1 large sweet potato (about 3 cups, shredded), 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon cumin, 2-4 tablespoons coconut oil

Shred the sweet potato using either the shredding blade of a food processor or box grater. Stir into a bowl with the eggs and cumin. Over medium heat place 1/4 cup sweet potato into a ball (flatten into a patty) onto a skillet with 2 tbspn of coconut oil or EVOO. Once the bottom browns and holds together, flip it over and cook the other side.
(makes 8 patties)

Grill up a regular patty and layer on top with whatever toppings and sauces you're into. We put bell peppers, cheddar cheese, lettuce, mustard and ketchup with avocado on ours.

I put a side of backed zuchini fries (Trader Joe's premade/frozen) and a delish mango tangerine slaw. ((below))

I used TJ's salad medly of kale, brussle sprouts, and cabbage mixed it together with a dollop of greek yogurt, and chopped mango and tangerines with tangerine juice squeezed on top. Mix together for a sweet tangy light salad.

Dinner- Grilled Chicken, Potatoes with Sauteed Vegetables:

Instructions: Grill chicken tenders or breasts in EVOO until almost done. Add Trader Joe's Garlic Sauce on top and cook until no longer pink inside.  Grill onion in EVOO with chicken until translucent.

Heat oven to 375 and put tiny potatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with EVOO, spribkle salt and pepper to taste, and fresh rosemary. Bake for 20 minutes.

Sautee red, green & yellow sliced bell peppers in EVOO.  If you want to be really quck you can buy TJs frozen pre-sliced pepper medly.

Luch- Italian Chicken Salad: 

Grill chicken on a skilet with some EVOO, lemon, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.  Slice up some romaine lettuce, tomato, and onion. Top with light Mozerella cheese and your favorite Italian salad dressing. 

Dinner- Spicy Ground Turkey Taco Salad: 

Romaine lettuce, cabage, chopped tomato and onion, chopped cilantro, top with chedder cheese. Cook 1 lb ground turkey in a skillet on medium head in 1-2 tbspn EVOO. Add 1 tbspn Chili powder, 1-2 garlic cloves, salt and pepper to taste, cajun spice, & cayenne pepper to taste. Add crushed chipped and avocado on top. I used Trader's Flaxseed Tortilla chips.  Add a side of light sour cream or greek yogurt to be healthier.

Dinner- Lemon Garlic Chicken over Parmesan Rice with Grilled Asparagus & Greek Salad:

Cook chicken tenders or breast in EVOO, squeeze half a lemon to flavor chicken, use TJ's garlic sauce (enough to cover the top layer of chicken).  Grill asparus on George Forman or a BBQ with a little bit of EVOO and sprinkle on steak seasoning.  

Pour the chicken sauce and chicken tenders on top of a bed of cooked brown rice (sprinkle rice with parmesan beforehand if you'd like).  

Chop up some romaine lettuce, red bell pepper, cabbage, and throw together with green or black olives, feta cheese and some sliced cucumber. Top with your favorite greek salad dressing.

Lunch- Trader's Butternut Squash premade Salad with pumpkin seeds, feta cheese, spinach and romaine lettuce, pomegranate seeds, and a light vinegarette dressing. Delish! I didn't make this but their salads are worth sharing..they're so easy and i eat them all of the time for lunch with a side of some type of carb or protein.

Xo 

What We Wear: Stela 9

What We Wear: Stela 9

Okay, lets just chat about how great these bags are for just a second! Stela 9 sent me these two wanderlust handbags from their new Spring 2014 line and I fell in love i n s t a n t l y. I cannot wait to take these to the beach with us this summer! These bags bring so much color to any outfit, they're so fun and have that bohoemian vibe going (which is probably my favorite look right now), and they are great for stuffing full of magazines, sun glasses, sunscreen, a good read, you know,  all the essentials..and if you are a mama like me, well they can even pass for a great fashionable diaper bag! Im all for the "in desguise diaper bag".  I ADORE the little details on these bags, like those little dangling fun colorful pom-poms, two-toned tapestries, and the option to wear the weekender bag slung across your body or carry it on your shoulder or forearm with those perfect suede handles.. perfect for a weekend getaway or if you're just feeling like a bohemian princess and want to be playful and add some zest to your outfit. I pretty much would like to be a bohemian princess everyday prancing around barefoot on the beach or a forest somewhere.  Let a girl dream for a bit..

^^^This is the Isabel Weekender "Sophia Carpet" and I am absolutely obsessed. Its so spacious and has the raddest pattern, you will definitely be seeing me wear this around all.of.the.time...PERIOD.  This roomy weekend bag has a sturdy sueded base with protective metal feet, a zip pocket details the front and it has detachable shoulder straps and suede handles. Yeppp, i told you it was great!^^^

^^^This is the "Shiva Hobo GB" slouchy bag. Its flexible so you can stuff it full of goodies or just put a couple items inside. I love the braided/twisted handles, and OH those details, details, details! This bag is a mix of two-toned tapestries, is trimmed in coins and beads (THE WORKS), has those adorable pom-poms that my little guy wants to EAT, and has a lined interior with 3 pockets!^^^

*Photo Cred: Kelsey Steindler Photography

Be sure to drop by Stela 9 to check out all of their styles. They carry so many options of bags from cross bodies and bucket bags to totes, backpacks, duffles and even wallets. 

15% off to all new Stela 9 Subscribers!! Go subscribe now.
 Follow on instagram: @Stela_9 
& Facebook link here: Stela 9
For latest style tips, discounts, giveaways, etc!

Isabel Weekender Sophia Carpet Bag c/o Stela 9

Shiva Hobo GB Bag c/o Stela 9

Tan Tunic H&M (old, similar cute boho styles below)

Skinnies Paige Denim 

Tan Ankle boots Nine West

Feather Stone Necklace Forever 21 (old, similar below)

G by Guess Boots · Nasty Gal Boots · Dolce Vita Boots

Free People Tops · Free People Shortsleeve Tops · The Trend Boutique Necklaces

"Stela 9 began in the summer of 2010 by an archaeology assistant with a love of Mayan culture, artisan leather crafting and weaving traditions. The line was initially created through a meticulous process of sourcing precious stones, recycled textiles and ethically procured leather that represented our worldly aesthetic.  Today the brand continues to concentrate on the importance of preserving cultural traditions of artisans throughout Latin America and India. Our items evoke wanderlust and are handmade by skilled artisans.  Stela 9 directly contributes to the livelihood and sustainability of the indigenous communities that these cherished items travel from."

Also be sure to follow me on facebook & instagram for daily updates! Links on side bar. Lets connect! Happy shopping ladies!

Xo