This sweater reminds me of the yeti stuffed animals that my brother and I had growing up. My grandparents gave them to us for Christmas one year (amongst many other, more normal gifts), and then the next year they gave us baby yeti stuffed animals. Kooky hey?

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Amp up your LOVE lingo! That’s right my SWEETS, my LOVELIES, my PRETTY PRETTY PRINCESSES, bust out those terms of endearment. Aim them at your family and friends, it’s like a hug in a word.

Outfit Details: Wilfred Cardi, Madewell tee, Joe Fresh pants, The Bay necklace, Roberto Vianni shoes, Karen Walker sunnies

I’m wishing that this view was still just outside my window. Thankfully, I have loads of fun lined up for the weekend, from celebrating my Mumsie’s Birthday to a tea date with a fabulous friend. What’s on your agenda??

You gotta do, what’cha gotta do, when the mugs are just too tiny.

Packing up is far more enjoyable than unpacking. Does anyone want to send me a laundry fairy?

A the other day I came across an intriguing idea, rolling up your damp hair into a sox bun before going to sleep. A cascade of gorgeous waves was promised by morning. Results for me? CRAZIEST. HAIR. EVER. I looked like I had been electrocuted. My hubs laughed and mocked, my baby cried and ran away.

An O in my bed. Enough said.

This passed weekend we stayed in a really lovely ocean front suite. It was a bit chilly outside, but an early morning beach adventure was the perfect way to kick off my Mr’s Birthday.

Naturally, coffee came along.

With my little one scampering around the nearly deserted beach, I became somewhat disturbed when we noticed 3 very large bald eagles circling above us…giving us the eagle eye (ha ha ha ha).

I wish I had been using a zoom lens on my camera. They are such gorgeous birds (even if they do eat babies…which they totally don’t. Sorry Eagles!)

Here I am pointing out the Baby-Eating-Eagles to my baby and telling her to try not to appear too delicious.

Total fail. How could this face not appear delicious?! I pretty much spend everyday trying not to gobble her up.

‘Playing’ on the beach = Constantly trying to charge recklessly into the water.

Enough picture taking, Parents! This way please.

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Leave a lovely little note in your husband’s wallet, your child’s lunchbox, on your friends desk at work, etc. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A happy lil’ Post-it is a sweet way to let someone know you care.

PS – I badgered my Mr. to think of a Love Tip. Yes, the one above came out of his man-brain, but only after this conversation:

Husband: What are you doing?
Me: Trying to think of a good Love Tip for this post.

Husband: When are you going to start including naughty tips???
Me: Pretty much never seeing as both our mothers read my blog. (Thank you both for doing so!)

Outfit Details: Zara top, Gap vest, Gap jeans, The Bay necklace, J.Crew boots, Ray Ban sunnies

Hello my sweets! Did you think that I wasn’t coming back? I have to be honest, I almost thought I wasn’t for a moment there. Life has been extra busy (in a happy way) and I just couldn’t keep up with the blog. I found myself feeling pretty guilty about it at first, thinking things like why don’t I have back up posts to use when needed and other bloggers seem to keep up with their blog, life, general fabulousness, why can’t I?

THEN, I just put the internets out of my mind. I focused on enjoying all the things I’ve had going on, our reno’s, my Mr. birthday, our out of town excursions, etc. And I began to feel much better.

UNTIL, I started thinking does my blog matter? There are so many amazing blogs out there, would anybody miss mine if I didn’t return?

FINALLY, I said, put away that tiny violin Nat!! That’s not your stylo.

So, here I am. I’ll be here for the rest of the week. And probably next week too. Because, I really do like it here. And I like you. xx

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Slow down and recharge. For a day, a week, an hour, you decide. Read some cheerful chick lit, go for a walk with your family (holding hands a MUST in my book), take a couple deep breaths. Ahhhh…

Happy Valentine’s Day Lover-loos! I hope you have a smashing day with lots of love in your heart! xx

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Make a tiny little ‘Love List’ to keep in your wallet. How do you make a love list? Easy peasy. Get a small piece of paper and write a huge run on sentence listing things that make your heart happy. Any time you need a pick me up read the list. Keeping it in your wallet means that it’s always close at hand. My list has everything from names of my family and friends, to lattes and nail polish, to places I’ve travel, to peanut butter and chocolate.

Outfit Details: thrifted red silk top, Wilfred cardi, Zara skirt, Forever 21 necklace, Aldo shoes, Ray Ban sunnies

After a few days of glorious sunshine, the fickle gods of weather have now dimmed the lights and turned on the water. Blerg. We’re off on a mini roady today. A little day trip adventure, we’re going to see a man about a sink. It’s funny how getting ready to spend a long day away from our house looks like I’m packing up my toddler for some sort of world tour.

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Send some Valentines! Wasn’t it a blast in elementary school to give out little cards to everyone in your class?! Kick it old school and pick up some silly kids Valentine’s, or check out the amazing offerings on Etsy, or make your own! Your friends, family, co-workers, bus driver, mail man, neighbour, barista etc. will be pleased as punch. xx

Outfit Details: James Perse tank, Winter Kate cardi, Joe Fresh pants, vintage necklace, Steve Madden shoes, Karen Walker, Cole Haan bag sunnies

Happy hearts! As soon as I saw this pin (yes, I’m Pinterest crazy, I know!), I knew that I had to make a bunch to include in my Valentine’s cards. Aren’t they so sweet?! They’re super easy and inexpensive to make. A perfect little DIY. Here’s some simple instructions just in case you’re wondering:

1. Determine the size of the heart you’d like and cut it out of paper to use as a template. (Base your heart off of the corner of a piece of paper. That way you’ll have the right angle needed to fit the book page.)

2. Trace a bunch of hearts onto felt. I made dark and light grey, cream, burgundy and bright red.

3. Stitch two pieces of felt together using complimentary thread. Again, think about keeping the corner angle for the page to slip into and stitch about half way down and around. (I choose a ‘back side’ and kept the tiny little knots of thread exposed.)

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Get complimentary! Yesterday, I thought my hair looked like a hot mess when I left the house. But then the wonderful Starbuck’s cashier told me that my hair looked awesome. Instant mood boost! What a sweetie. So, today I’m going to pay it forward and compliment people I cross paths with. xx

Omgoodness! A warm and sunny winter day is seriously the perfect excuse to take my pants off. Hmmm. Not sure that came out right. Oh well. Once I went outdoors, it was actually hard to tell which was brighter, the sun or my blindingly white legs?! Ba boom ching. Oh boy, it’s going to be one of those posts hey? Riegn. It. In.

Lately I’m really enjoying playing with the balance of casual (in this case, denim jacket & Toms) and dressy (lace & rhinestones). One of my favourite style bloggers Jules of Sincerely Jules has perfected the art of wearing sneakers with dresses and skirts (check out recent inspirational examples here & here).

I’m crossing my fingers for more sun shiny days. Check back tomorrow for a LOVEly DIY!

TODAY’S LOVE TIP: Let’s be huggers! Dole out some age/situationally appropriate hugs today, just for the sake of it. You’ll be happy. The hug-ee will be happy. Win win. Now, I realize that all this hugging might be easier for some than others, so if you’re feeling hug-adverse for whatever reason, why not dish out some epic high fives?! Good? Great. Go get ‘em. xx

Outfit Details: AE top, Gap jacket, Joe Fresh skirt, vintage and ASOS bracelets, Toms shoes, Ray Ban sunnies