Author Archive | rae

SUNDAY ON CAPITAL HILL + SAVING WHAT YOU LOVE

By rae on May 20, 2019 in FAMILY, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, LITTLE CITY GUIDE, LITTLE TOURIST GUIDE, SEATTLE CITY GUIDE

Aside from Yoder (a.k.a. Johan, my husband) being on shift, this past Sunday was my absolute favorite in awhile. All the kids were with me including Ozzie’s gf (who we adore), the sun was out, we fit in some park hangs, attended the kids’ uncle’s movie premier at SIFF (seattle international film festival) which was amazing, followed by the after party and finally a quick stop at Dick’s Drive-In on our way home.

Almost perfect is almost an understatement. It was a good day so figured it deserved a blog post! More photos and full story!

After being in the car and before sitting in the theater, we walked over to the park to (hopefully) get all the wiggles out. The kids all stuck together at the swing set which made my job of keeping track of everyone way easy so I grabbed the big camera out of my bag and started snapping away… How many pics can one mom take of her kids on the swings? Apparently a lot, lol. Actually, my real problem is narrowing down which ones I want to share in a post. Otherwise they’ll all make it into a chatbook at some point!

This girl (Tilly below) is coming into her own lately and I! AM! HERE! FOR! IT! A reminder that persistence, creativity, prayer and positive parenting is effective and worth all the hard-work even when you aren’t seeing the results yet. KEEP GOING! KEEP LOVING! KEEP ENCOURAGING! + KEEP PURSUING THEIR HEART!

Now if she would just stop growing up so fast, that would be cool ;)

Something about a giant park in the middle of a city full of business and buildings and busy streets makes my heart extra thankful. A little cheesy but true!

Next stop was the movie and I know I’m biased but if the wild film comes to a film festival near you (there are still some screenings happening in Seattle!), you must go and don’t hesitate to bring the kids either. Poppy loved it but she was also watching her uncle (and a little of herself) on the big screen which I’m sure helped. I’d say K or 1st grade and older would enjoy it. Even though the film is about salmon and our environment, it’s also a story of resilience, connection and industry without a spec of political undertone (Praise Jesus) making it so much more appropriate for kids. And as someone that often finds herself frustrated by so many political extremes and conflict, more appropriate for me too, lol.

I have no idea how my brother in law, Mark was able to tell such a relatable story on such a specific issue but he did and I couldn’t be more proud or impressed.

The last film Mark made came out on Netflix for a bit so i’ll let you guys know if that happens again. For anyone interested in seeing it in a theater, I’m guessing the screenings page of the web site will be updated soon!

Nothing like an afterparty to make you feel like a total rockstar and these kids were eating (and drinking) it up along with all the attention from adults and bottomless soda supply. Luckily they were serving dry soda which has half the sugar, ha! Paired with all the yummy food, beautiful view, good music and chill Seattle vibe, it really was a one of a kind event. Bummed I didn’t get a photo of the grub (lots of salmon of course!) or the view from the front of the boat (ugh!), so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

More info on the restored ferry boat venue HERE! Then if someone could please plan another event there and invite me that would make my life :)

Hanging with their auntie! Also, the progression of Poppy in the last two pics is priceless. Girlfriend hit her limit and was ready to go home! Her wild head of hair only added to the dramatic head flop.

But first Dick’s Drive-In on Broadway because my kids will only eat so much salmon before they need fries and a milkshake to round out their meal :)

Thanks for letting me gush all about our Sunday! Would love to know what you would want to do on an almost perfect day?

xo, Rae

MEAL PLAN: MAY WEEK 3

By rae on May 19, 2019 in EAT, MEAL PLAN

Hey loves! Excited for this weeks meal plan but also wishing there was away to make the grocery list making and shopping more easy. (Tell me I’m not alone!?) These days there are so many great places to shop (some for specialty reasons, others for practical ones) so I’m sure cutting back would help. Click-list at Kroger/Fred Meyer is a lifesaver too. And Johan doesn’t mind stopping by the store either (which the Cozi app makes so easy!) so maybe I should just embrace whatever errand running is left, lol. Would love to know how you guys keep the kitchen stocked and meals prepped in the comments!

Meal plan below.

MONDAY | broccoli chicken fritters

TUESDAY |easy huevos rancheros (meatless tuesday :)

WEDNESDAY | take out for a busy evening!

THURSDAY | bbq chicken salad + pizza (we’ll use this recipe but use some of the chiken on homemade pizza as an option)

FRIDAY | something store-bought — cutie platter, costco stuffed peppers, boxed mac + cheese, meatball subs, french dip sandwiches, smoothies + PB+J’s :)

SATURDAY | sesame noodle salad (add rotisserie chicken and pack up for a picnic)

SUNDAY | salmon skewers with pesto dip + pasta + happy hour!

BREAKKIE | toaster waffles + smoothies, crepes + whip + berries, energy bites + fruit

LUNCH | starbucks copycat PB+J boxes, cheese + meat cracker stackers, energy bites + yogurt + fruit — Only packing lunches 2 days a week for the rest of the school year… asking Johan and the kids to fill-in if they want packed lunches on the other days!

SNACK | hummus + ranch + veggies, popcorn + chocolate milk, fruit and snack bars

TREAT | feeling like eating all things lemon so maybe we’ll make lemon bars or lemon cheesecake

If you know of any good lemon bar recipes, link it in the comments!!!

Also, don’t forget to share your tips (or woes) for grocery shopping!

xo, Rae

OOTW: MY UPDATED UNIFORM, FITTED TEES + BUCKET BAGS

By rae on May 16, 2019 in OOTW, Uncategorized, WEAR

Move over boyfriend/vintage/boxy tee, because there’s a new girl in town and she’s got a snug fit, cute neckline and a bit of texture but is equally as comfy. Okay, so maybe I’m not quitting on my favorite cotton tops, but I am definitely making room for a new fit and style. It feels good to add something to my jeans and tee uniform that’s a little more femme so I thought I’d share! Bonus that it’s such an inexpensive wardrobe update you can mix and match. Add a bucket or basket bag and boom, easy summer outfit!

Looking a lot like a style blogger in this pic, ha!

More like the real me in this one! Doing some adjusting.

Prob tmi, but I only wear strapless bras… no patience for shoulder straps. They make me feel claustrophobic (for lack of a better word!). When wearing a boyfriend, boxy, or vintage tee, I can totally get away with it without too much adjusting going on, but with a fitted tee it’s a different story so I may need to get over the whole strap thing. If anyone has a brand or style they recommend, please spill the beans in the comments!

Just taking in the moment. Thankful to have a husband that’s home randomly during the day on a weekday. Makes me feel like we’re playing hooky whenever we take advantage and sneak away for a bit. Also love that he doesn’t mind wandering with me (or snapping pics for that matter!). Definitely payed off yesterday when we found these pretty stairs!

What’s your favorite way to freshen up your jeans and tees rotation?

xo, Rae

MOTHER’S DAY + FAMILY VALUES

By rae on May 13, 2019 in FAMILY, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, PARENTING

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! Still feeling extra grateful that these 5 made me a mama and for the crazy adventure and wild love that comes with motherhood. There is nothing like it.

Of course we all know it’s not all morning snuggles and dance parties. It’s exhausting and challenging and incredibly humbling to raise these kids. I’m thankful though that just as they’re growing and learning, so am I. My perspective has changed over the years which makes everything more enjoyable. My faith has been tested which has made me stronger. And my arsenal of tools and resources has grown, which has made a world of difference.

One of the most applicable tools we’ve used is creating a list of 5 Core Family Values. It’s given so much structure and purpose to how our family operates and makes decision making so much easier too (hooray!). So I thought I would share with you what ours are in case it’s helpful! Keep in mind, this is less a way of measuring how good we are at each value and more a way to keep us focused on what’s most important.

Sharing our list in detail and pics from Mother’s Day at my parent’s house below!

One last “warning” because I had a hard time emphasizing that all of these values are “in progress”. We are in no way, shape or form, perfect at any of them… okay, now you can read :)

OUR 5 CORE FAMILY FALUES

WE SET EACHOTHER (+ OTHER’S) UP FOR SUCCESS — My personal favorite because instead of forcing things, it reminds me to do what works! It means we support each other when we’re thriving as well as when we’re struggling. It also makes self care a priority so I know exactly what to do when that “mom guilt” creeps up on me! YAY!
WE ARE GENEROUS — That means when a student comes to the door with a fundraiser, we buy something. When we are eating out, we leave big tips and when God gives us an opportunity to give to a charity, we give. It also means we’re generous with intangible things too… like patience, love, encouragement, etc.
QUALITY TIME — This is why everything from our morning routine, to tuck-ins, and reading is a big thing at our house, and why we plan outings and activities as a family outside of the house (less distractions!). It’s also what makes making an effort to plan date nights and kid dates worth the effort — no matter our love languages.
FUN, FUN, FUN — Even when we’re tired, we’re going to rally. Even when the experience/situation is a dud, we’re going to look for ways to make it fun. And when we’re faced with two choices and one will be more fun than the other, we know which one to choose :)
WE LOVE LIKE JESUS — This one is more of a challenge to be less selfish, judgmental and fearful and more prayerful, proactive, inclusive, present and approachable. More than anything it makes people’s hearts our priority and dictates how we show up for them. It also requires us to do the hard things when it comes to setting healthy boundaries and navigating relationships… It’s complicated and simple all at the same time and not to be completely cheesy but I find asking WWJD actually really helpful, ha!

Ohhhh, the chaos of trying to get (almost) everyone in the frame. For the most part our kids appreciate and even enjoy getting their pictures taken but that doesn’t mean the process goes smoothly… one of these days I’m going to set up a video camera so we can document and share the whole process, lol.

Skateboarding is easily one of my favorite childhood pastimes so I love anytime we have one to bring on a walk with us…

… Plus it get’s everyone to hold hands which you all know is my favoritest thing ever. Evidence below!

Bumming hard over something his brother did… Oh how I remember this feeling as a kid!

Also, more hand holding below :)

Have you set values or intentions as a family? If not, what would you want to be on your list?

Either way I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences… you guys have the best insights!

xo, Rae

MINI MAKERS: WATERCOLOR FISH HATS WITH THE WILD

By rae on May 12, 2019 in KIDS, MINI MAKERS, Uncategorized, WORK + PLAY

You guys! I’m so excited to share this fun project I got to dream up for my brother in-law, Mark, and the “School of Salmon” program a group of kids put together based on his film The Wild. The idea of SOS is to bring awareness to the planets last wild salmon run (which is in danger) by watching a 5 minute video then sharing their thoughts on the subject and in the end, challenging another school to do the same.

If you want to participate at home, you can find more info here and then follow along with the fish hat DIY below!

YOU’LL NEED:

water color paints + brushes
white matte (not glossy) pasteboard, cut into 4-inch strips
pencil + ruler + scissors/razor (or a large cutting board)
scissors
white or neutral colored crayons
colored card stock or construction paper (for fins and lips)
googly eyes
glue stick

HERE’S HOW:

Cut poster board into 4 x 36″ strips (using the longest edge of the poster).
Doodle or make a pattern using a white crayon, then paint over using watercolors. You should be able to see your crayon marks underneath… it’s called resistance painting!
While drying, cut fins (we used a triangle shape) and fold one corner down about 1/2-inch. Then cut lips (fold scrap of paper in half and cut a “B” shape).
Once dry, glue eyes, fins (along folded edge) and one side of the lips to your poster board strip.
Finish by closing the headband; measure the size of child’s head. Where the paper overlaps, cut a 2-inch slit at the top of one side and at the bottom on the other side. Fit the slits together so they crisscross and look like tail fins. Cut fringe or a shape to the “tail” if desired!

Such a fun way to play and support and ultimately start a conversation so we all feel empowered enough to save the things in this world that we love so much… No doubt we’re raising a generation of activists and world changers!

For all my local friends, Uncle Mark and a group of kids (including Tilly + Griffin) will be on King 5 at 7am this morning if you want to check it out!?

xo, Rae

OOTW: EASY + CUTE “SOCCER MOM” OUTFITS (WITH SONNET JAMES)

By rae on May 7, 2019 in OOTW, spring, STYLE + PLAY, summer, WEAR

It can be easy to get stuck styling dresses the same way over and over again so I thought it would be fun to put together a few looks using the same dress. They’re also ball-field approved for all you mamas spending evenings and weekends cheering on your kids while also playing with, keeping track of and entertaining the rest of the cheer squad! Plus dresses make port-a-potty situations so much easier, ha!

Also excited that the outfits include my new favorite Sonnet James dress. What I love most about SJ dresses is that I never have to worry about them being too short, the material being too precious, or whether or not I’m going to be comfortable (i.e. I’m always tempted to sleep in mine at the end of a long day, lol). If you haven’t purchased one of Whitney’s dresses yet, I highly recommend treating yourself to one as a Mother’s Day gift! They’re all so good and so is her overall messaging and mission.

Without further ado, here’s 4 ways to style a spring or summer dress… scroll through and then let me know which look is your favorite!

OUTFIT NO. 1 | dress, shoes, sweatshirt, belt (thrifted), sunnies (similar)

Layering a bulky top over a dress with a full skirt isn’t usually the most flattering, but adding a belt gives a hint of a waistline and that “tucked” look that we all love! That being said, I’m also a big believer that not everything we wear has to be the most flattering… It’s okay to just have fun with it!

OUTFIT NO. 2 | dress, shoes, hat from Espen’s team, denim jacket

Ok, so maybe the little league hat isn’t the best way to balance out the converse on my feet on a normal day (it’s a little cheesy), but it totally works for a date at the ball-field in my opinion, ha!

OUTFIT NO. 3 | dress, shoes (love these and these), sunnies

It doesn’t get anymore effortless than throwing on your favorite dress with your comfiest sandals and a fun (statement-ish) pair of sunnies!

OUTFIT NO. 4 | dress, sweater, jeans (similar, love these too and they’re on sale!), shoes, bandanas

A bandana is a great way to add a pop of team color to the mix! And for games that aren’t as warm (or when you want to participate in a cartwheel competition), one of my favorite street style looks is wearing a fitted jean under a flow-y dress. A cropped cardi or jacket warms things up without adding too much bulk.

A few fun outtakes :)

Had to grab some candy for the shoot and Ozzie’s game later in the evening. I’m not much of a candy eater these days (if there isn’t chocolate or ice cream involved!), but I remember sucking on lemonheads at my big brother’s baseball games as a kid and bubble gum is a must for our kids these days… plus it’s an easy treat to share with the other kids (and adults) at games too!

What’s your favorite candy to snack on at a baseball game or sporting event?

Oh, and which look is your favorite, 1, 2, 3, or 4!?

XO, Rae

PS – A BIG shoutout to Johan for hanging out and snapping pics long enough for me to do a few outfit changes… no idea how you put up with my shenanigans but I’m thankful you do!

PARENTING HACK: EARLY RISER ACTIVITY BASKET

By rae on May 3, 2019 in FAMILY, KIDS, LIFE, MAKE, MOM HACKS, PARENTING, THINGS WE LOVE

We all know that in most cases, after having kids, a full nights sleep becomes a rare luxury and a Saturday morning spent in bed isn’t going to happen anytime soon, and personally I’m okay with it. However, when the kids roll outta bed at 5:45am on a Saturday, it’s nice to have something quiet and calm for them to do (so they don’t wake up the rest of the house!) that doesn’t involve a screen. Of course we love a little tech time, especially on the weekends but when Poppy and Griff wake up around 6am and the rest of the crew wakes after 8am it can be hard to keep screen time to a reasonable amount. This is where our activity basket has come in handy… Get the full diy and some ideas for making your own below!

GOOD MORNING ACTIVITY BASKET

A Few Ideas:

a snack (fruit leathers or a banana and zbars are usually our go-to)
calming blend essential oil roller (ours has 5 drops Frankincense, 5 drops tangerine or orange + fractionated coconut oil — the blend promotes feelings of peace and creativity!)
coloring supplies (or these water wow books!)
favorite picture book (this is our current favorite)
pretend and creative play toys (I added a dress-up mask from opposite of far and unicorn horn by brooklyn owl, pipe cleaners + some peppa pig characters… we also have at least one basket of legos in every room of the house which come in handy and also love this chalkboard “laptop”!)
a basket or bin for storage
HOT TIP: hide the basket when they’re done and then put it out by their bed once they’re asleep at night :)

Meet our two {very} early risers… after hitting the jackpot with three incredibly good sleepers (at least after the first year) and nappers these two non-sleepers came as a bit of a shock to us. Most nights at least one of them crawls into our bed at some point and they both seem to be able to sense when either Johan or I are up and at ’em and then act accordingly, ha! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good snuggle sesh in the morning and am always happy to see their sweet faces but the whole reason I get up early is so I can squeeze in a little work before our day starts. While there’s no shame in Netflix-ing, after a long winter and very rainy April, we’re really trying to cut back on all screens. Having a dedicated basket for them feels special and fun and has been a lifesaver… If you try out an early riser activity basket with your kids, I’d love to know how it goes and do my best to keep up with comments on the blog and DM’s or comments/tags on Instagram so hit me up!!!

These kids and their oils. Obsessed + I don’t blame ’em. I also love that it’s another way to teach them how to pay attention to how they are feeling and then take care of themselves. By the look of these pics, I think Griffin would bathe in oils. Not a coincidence that it’s a calming blend he’s rolling on, lol.

After a few years of using oils and doing all of my own research and sourcing (remember when we used to sell them!?), I finally got smart and signed up for Young Living. Kicking myself for taking so long as it’s saved me time and money and has given me access to products we use daily that I would otherwise have to live without (I see you thieves). I’m still working on setting up a resource page that’s easy to share, but if you’d like to know more, sign up, or ask me alllll the questions you can leave a comment or send me an email at rae(at)raeannkelly(dot)com!

Happy Friday Loves!

xo, Rae

10 COMPANIES THAT MAKE IT EASY TO TWIN WITH YOUR MINI

By rae on May 1, 2019 in FAMILY, KIDS, LIFE, MOM + MINI, Uncategorized, WEAR

Me in the pic above: Thinking about what to name our pizzeria and when I can match with one of the kids again. For all my fellow matchy-matchy type mamas out there I thought I’d share a roundup of my favorite companies that make mom + mini twinning a no brainer.

Snapped a few pics (because matching must be documented) while Johan and I took Griffin on a quick dinner date… we ordered cheese sticks (G’s fave), salad and drinks all around and then a pizza and salad to bring home for the rest of the crew. We were only out and about for a little over an hour but it was the perfect amount of time to sneak in some Q.T., finish a placemat word search together and give Griff our undivided attention.

More below!

That look on his face! (insert heart emoji)

10 COMPANIES THAT MAKE IT EASY TO “TWIN” WITH YOUR KIDS

Olivia + Ocean, because the best place to match is definitely at the beach or pool!
Did you see this collab between alice + ames and sonnet james?
Shop doen and their kids line, it’s all sooooo dreamy and romantic but still functional.
Anine Bing and bing kids… we’re wearing their sweatshirts here + here (Griff is wearing size 6-8 + it looks cute and oversized on Poppy too).
Whistle & Flute has some seriously cute tees.
Plain Jane usually has items in matching patterns like this buttery soft robe and play gown for your little.
More super cute tees by jean & june.
Albion isn’t super match-y, but they make it easy to coordinate…
Tiny cottons and their newest women’s line. I want it allll!
Bobo Choses is another favorite!

Don’t remember the last time I ate something I didn’t end up sharing with someone but I prefer it that way… and not just with the kids. Johan and I almost always share an app and main dish on date nights, an ice cream cone when we’re out for a treat and a venti coffee when we run through Starbucks. Is that weird? Ha! Maybe it’s the “me too” middle child in me?

Our speed date with Griffin has me thinking that it’s time to schedule more one-on-one (or two) kid dates. Would you guys be interested in date ideas or seeing what we end up planning?

Also, please share your thoughts on matching or shops you know that make it easy!

xo, Rae

HAPPY MONDAY + A FAMILY UPDATE

By rae on April 29, 2019 in FAMILY, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, STYLE + PLAY, WEAR

Can’t you just feel the warm pavement in this pic… after such a nice March (by PNW standards anyways), it’s been a rough, cold and rainy April until last week when the sun started making some appearances. Of course chunky sweaters are still a wardrobe staple but they feel more spring-ish when paired with sandals and a camisole. I’ll link outfit details below along with a little family update and a few pics from visiting Johan at the fire station the other day!

OZZIE | Last week Oz asked how I handle the younger kids touching me/my clothing with their sticky fingers. I explained that after you have a newborn that poops, pees and spits up on you, a little chocolate or smeared banana is no big deal… Would you guys agree? I think I scared him out of ever having kids, ha! In WAY bigger news, he’s decided to attend WSU in the fall (YAYYYYY!). We still have a few things to figure out but he’s put in his request for dorms and has a visit scheduled! Meanwhile we’re doing our best to help keep senioritis at bay, meet all the deadline and enjoy all the events that go on during the last few months of high school (did you guys see Johan throw Oz the “first pitch” at his game last week on Stories!? I saved it to the “ozzie” highlight if you want to see)… PSA (in case you were wondering) SENIOR YEAR IS NO JOKE PEOPLE!!!

ESPEN | Has a new mouth full of braces and it’s the cutest thing ever. Especially now that he isn’t as sore and feels like eating something other than smoothies and protein shakes. Poor guy. He’s also started flag football after school along with a new baseball team and basketball camp which has made keeping up with homework a little tricky… Love this age so much because they’re still so young and silly BUT hate how serious school and sports can get (even though I’m v thankful for both!). There’s definitely a learning curve even the second time around as we try to navigate it all. So proud of Espen for being up for the challenge!

TILLY | Also has new hardware in her mouth, lol. She’s been dying to get a retainer ever since Espen got his about a year ago and her dream is finally a reality. Although, having to keep track of a case to put said retainer in while she eats, etc. wasn’t part of that dream and has proven to be a problem that has somehow become everyone’s problem. We love you Matilda and the excitement you bring to all of our days! In other news, her love of slime, baking treats and planning sleepovers is still going strong.

GRIFFIN | Talks a lot about getting an x-box, has become besties with a boy that lives on our street (so fun!), is playing on a new soccer team and is reading like a champ which somehow just makes life so much easier. We just finished the book Double Fudge by Judy Blume. Griff loved it and I have to say, even after reading it with all three of the older kids, it never gets old!

POPPY | Is all registered for her pre-k class for next year, has been practicing her cartwheels (more like monkey jumps) endlessly, and is begging to take another ballet class (hopefully next month!). Every morning she wakes up and asks if the kids have to go to school… needless to say she is counting down the days until summer vacay!

YODER |Is working on getting his realtors license just in time to list our rental property that also happens to need a massive amount of TLC… Yesterday he somehow managed to make lots of progress on the yard with a team of 7 kids (all 5 of ours and 2 of their friends), lol. Never not impressed by his work ethic. Today he recruited my parents to help us paint the interior and then the hard part begins as we’ll have to decide what to upgrade and what to keep as is… and you guys know how indecisive I am so pray for my husband!

ME |Did you guys see the textile I designed for Olivia + Ocean!? Fabric and product design are my absolute favorite kind of design projects to create and collaborate on. Working on a few other projects lately (some collabs and some DIY’s) that I can’t wait to finish and share. Aside from work, I’ve been struggling to get over a terrible case of bronchitis (yuck)… having coughing fits and not being able to breath well is really cramping my style, ha! Prob time to head back to the doctor, huh?

Pickle ball might be the best game ever invented… Johan and I are on the hunt for a doubles league if you know of any??? ha! Just need to work on my backhand and wearing appropriate shoes.

WEARING | camisole (it’s machine wash + on sale… wearing a size 2), sweater, jeans (size down atleast one size!), shoes (bought them last spring and love these too)

POPPY’S WEARING | this tee and jeans from Peek Kids (no longer available), shoes

Daddies are the best. Hero at home and at work. Plus he likes to play so our kids basically hit the jackpot.

Happy Monday-ing friends!

xo, Rae

WORK + PLAY: VINTAGE POOL DAYS + A PRETTY FLORAL I DESIGNED FOR OLIVIA + OCEAN

By rae on April 24, 2019 in MOM + MINI, MOM BOD, spring, summer, THINGS WE LOVE, WEAR, WORK + PLAY

If this doesn’t have you dreaming of pool days with your babes (big or small) this summer, I don’t know what will! I love Olivia + Ocean for their mission to make swimwear that fits into a mama’s lifestyle… so that in between all the towel drying, sun screening, meltdown managing, snack making and (fill in the blank) you can feel stunning, pulled together and more likely ready to play, snuggle, sunbathe or participate in a cannon ball contest.

Danielle (the mama behind O+O) puts equal thought into creating vintage-y modern swimmers for your mini that make sunny day adventures extra special and nostalgic.

All of this to say, O+O just launched the sweetest collection that includes a floral print I designed and am totally smitten with. The full collection coordinates too so you can go full mom + mini matchy-matchy or twin just a little bit.

Don’t you love it?!!! My favorite to date… Poppy will be running around in this for sure and I love the red bikini as well.

A pop of red for me too, please! So classic.

Some of my favorite memories are of heading to the pool almost daily with my mom and brothers during hot Chicago summers — I still have no idea how my mom managed to make time for h o u r s of splashing around while raising a busy family and home but I’m forever grateful that she did.

Not to get too sappy and sentimental, but it’s a good reminder that we won’t get these days of raising little humans back. Even more sobering is that our kids won’t get their childhood days back either… Thankful for companies like Olivia + Ocean that make it easier to be present and playful while we’re in the thick of it.

Love you guys!

xo, Rae

Images by Morgan Pansing

HAPPY EARTH DAY + A TIN CAN HERB GARDEN

By rae on April 22, 2019 in KIDS, spring, summer

Earth Day is today and my kids have been sharing all kinds of new-to-them info about different ways to take care of this sweet and beautiful earth that takes such good care of us. So far they’ve picked up most of these tips from school so I thought it was time to do a little schooling at home… not that I taught them anything new, but we did do some up-cycling and planting!

Here’s how we made our UP-CYCLED TIN CAN HERB GARDEN:

You’ll Need

.5-inch and/or .75-inch alphabet stickers (we used .5-inch for the water can and .75-inch for all the other tins)
Empty tin cans (the cilantro is in a larger ‘crushed tomato’ can
Drill & bit or nail and hammer
Acrylic paint & brushes
Painter’s tape
Rocks from the yard
Soil
Plants or seeds

To Make the Cans – Clean and dry empty cans. Use a drill and bit or nail and hammer to make 3 or 4 holes in the bottom for water to drain. Place alphabet stickers as desired on can. Use painters tape for a dipped paint look, on the opposite end of the can from stickers. Paint until can is covered, drying in between coats if needed.

To Plant Herbs – Place 3 or so rocks in the bottom of can. Add soil and the plant, filling with more soil as needed.

Then water…. and try a taste of each herb.

Or make your big sis do it.

Clip sprigs anytime they are needed for a fancy drink, garnish or dish!

It’s sweet to see their passion for the earth and environment. Until they give me a hard time about using too much water or remind me that the microwave is much more efficient than the oven. Lols.

Do your kids ever so the same?

We’ve come so far from the days of ‘Give a hoot, don’t pollute’! It was such a fresh, new concept when I was young (or at least that’s how I remember it?).

XO, Rae

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