What I wore // busy prints and big hair

 head to toe:

earrings - downeast 

ruffled shirt - ross
pencil skirt- ae 
opac tights - target
black highheels - ma

Hope you're having a good start to your week darlings!

xo, Emily

Weekend Wrap-Up

This Week: We had a fun full week! Sophie started waving every time we or anyone says hi or bye, and this morning she said "hi" back to me when I got her out of bed. So fun:) We had a fun dinner date with martins parents, Ellie had a really fun little birthday party with lots of cousins and friends, Martin threw his back out really bad and its not been getting much better. Fingers crossed! I had a midwife appointment and looks like baby is doing great! Good strong heartbeat and measuring perfectly. Only about 9 more weeks! Phew!

Weekly Snapshots: Sophie's many faces while eating noodles:)

Weeks Favorite: Daddy-daughter nap

Next Week: Next week I'm looking forward to a little work vacation with the family, meaning that we leave on our vacation so nothing can get in the way of our work.haha  Martin will be working full speed ahead on his new novel, and I'll be working to stock up the 'ol shop, and get some much needed sewing done. In addition I'm looking forward to lots of fun blog planning and possible girl time with my bestie.

Most popular post of the week: My zucchini fritter recipe. Think I'm gonna make some right now!

A Few Facts: 

• I've never permanently dyed my hair.
• This week I discovered a new love of ice-cream cake!
• We're hopefully getting our fence put in the back yard very soon! 

Good luck in the coming week everyone!!

xo, Emily

DIY: Lace Earring Frame

Hello! I'm really excited to be sharing this DIY today because ever since I made my own earring frame a few years ago I've had so many people compliment it and ask how I did it, and so today I'm going to show you how!

Its SUPER easy, and the result is just too cute and functional to pass up don't ya think? Most people say they have their earrings in a plastic bag or in a jewelry box somewhere, so don't you think this is a much better way to keep them out where you can see them? Also they don't get all tangled up and possibly damaged with this method, and you wear them more! So shall we get started??

What I used: 

• thrifted frame (be sure and use staples if weak or composite wood)
• small chunk of lace fabric
• scissors
• staple gun (or tiny nails if no gun:))
• a glue gun. (optional)

Instructions: 
Step 1. Lay your lace over your frame and position it to where you want the pattern to end up approx. Start by stapling (or nailing) the four corners first, making sure to tug the lace nice and tight over your frame. Proceed of course to fill in the gaps with your staples (or nails) about every few inches, tugging your lace outward from your frame as you go:)

Step 2. Make sure your staples or nails are firmly in place. Also be sure your lace is not slacking even a little. You want your lace very tight so it can support your earrings. If using nails you'll want to bend the last bit of nail over by tapping it with your hammer to make a hook of sorts. this will hold on to your lace better, and protect from damage to your walls:)
Step 3. Once your lace is firmly secured to your frame all the way around, take your scissors and cut the lace to be just a bit smaller than your frame all the way around. At this point I choose to hot glue a strip at the edge of my lace all the way around to prevent from fraying, but you'll have to be the judge of how fray-able your lace is:)

And voila! You're done!! Stand back from your frame and be very proud of yourself:)

What you see here is probably about an 8th of my dangle collection, not to mention my studs.haha So you can bet my frame easily holds tons of earrings, and than I have a few freestanding racks on my dresser and throughout my room, but I use my frame everyday! And you will too I know:)

 Make sure and leave a comment if you have any questions! Or even if you're just feeling commenty:)

I hope you have a lovely lovely day.

Xo, Emily

Friday Finds #13

Happy Friday everyone! This week's been so so rushed it feels like, but I'm looking forward to some down time with the sewing machine next week. Here are some super fun and inspiring things I've come across this week. Enjoy!!

This week I found...

...these carved crayons by Diem Chau. what attention to tiny detail!

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...this anchor dress from Modcloth. Ever since I was little anchors have had a special meaning of steadfastness so to speak and I just love them! Maybe once I have a waist again I'll be able to fit in it.haha

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...these yummy yummy looking goat cheese rolls from Ree Drummond. I am so making these!

 

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...this new idea of yarn bowls?! So clever! I'd never heard of these before, but I want one for me!

 

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...this cupcake ferris wheel from Horchow! I love love this. So cute. Don't you think the cupcakes would taste better if you took one from there?

 

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...these sheer houndstooth tights from Nordstrom. A friend pointed them out to me last week and I knew I had to track them down. Too bad these ones are out of stock, but there are more out there I can feel it! haha

 

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...this strawberry rhubarb lemonade from green kitchen sounds and looks so delicious don't you think?

 

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...this look from Polyvore. I love the natural and organic colors mixed with the hip and trendy pieces. Those heels are my favorite I think... what about you??

 

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...this dandelion print from papermoth on etsy. it just makes me so excited about this weather! Love love this time of year...

 

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Hope you have a fun Friday every body! I'm going out for some errands and to enjoy this 70 degree weather with the family! What fun things are you looking forward to this weekend?

Xo, Emily

Underwater love

I've decided that I am in the process of expanding my photographic repertoire, and the first way I'm going to do that is by becoming an underwater photographer!!

I know that this may sound a little funny after this post on how water always tries to kill me, but  after seeing all these beautiful images of under art taken by Elena Kalis, I would just love to get myself the equipment to take a few of my own,... even if it means I'll be shooting just my little baby girls legs at the city pool.haha

Here are a few of my favorite images from her website:

You really have to go check out all her work on her website, it's truly beautiful and inspiring. 

I am looking to purchase this awesomely cheap 35mm (film) underwater camera & having it re-sealed by a pro - so it doesn't flood with H2O. I can't afford an underwater housing for a DSLR just yet which I am sure Elena Kalis uses. Future wish list perhaps??

Bleh. I know its just turning spring, and I don't wish the time to go any faster, but I am so looking forward to summer:)


Xo, Emily

Ems Zucchini Fritters

Happy day after the Vernal Equinox! This recipe is a perfect way to bring in spring I think:)
These fritters have really become a staple here in the meyers house, not only because they're delicious, but also because they're relatively healthy! haha I came up with these last fall just kindof as a way to mix fried foods with these extra garden veggies in a fun and easy way and I  love the result! The mixture is so basic that its really more just to bring out the flavor of the zucchini, and because they're more thin than say zucchini cakes they turn out with a crispy outside and a soft warm center: 
Ems Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini 
• 1/3 C. flour (whole wheat works too:))
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• cracked black pepper
• olive oil

Method:

1. Grate up your zucchini in a medium sized bowl and top with the egg, flour, salt, and a dash or black pepper. Mix together just in a circular motion using your fingertips till the zucchini is coated and the whole mixture is pasty and sticky.

2. Add just enough oil to cover the bottom of your saucepan and turn the heat to medium/low. To make the patties I like to scoop about 1/3 cup of the mixture with my fingers together in a cupping shape and form the mixture with my other hand into a circleuar patty.

3. Gently place your patty in the hot oil by just letting it slip from your fingers into the oil (I know it sounds weird and scary but it'll make sense when you're doing it:)) Make sure your oil isn't spattering and cracking first! lol

4. While your fritters are cooking in the pan I like to add a tiny bit of fresh ground pepper to each one. Really brings out the flavor I think, just don't add too much! You'll be able to tell the first side is done because you'll see browning from the top. Carefully flip over in the pan and use the spatula to press down a little in the middle so help with even cooking.

5. Move the finished fritters to a paper towel-covered plate and serve immediatly! To cut the oil just a bit more place another paper towel inbetween the batches of the fritters, if they hang around long enough for that! haha

And that's all there is to it! Sometime I may have to  come up with a sauce for these or something, but personally I don't see how that could improve them any more.

The outside is just so crisp and crunchy almost, and the inside is so soft and chewy. Mmmm!!! I may go have to make some more right about now... I actually crave these before any other fried food, so give them a try and let me know how you like them!


xo, Emily

two

Ellie-bean turns two years old today. I just typed it out and I've said it a bunch already this morning but its still a little hard to believe! I know every mother and probably father says this at every milestone reached but I have to say it: I just can't believe it!

My baby Eleanor, our first baby girl, was born at weighing 9 lbs 1 oz, at 2:30 in the morning, after 16 hours of heavy labor as I struggled with my want to be done with the pain and my desire to deliver her while completely un-medicated and without any 'intervention'. I worked so so hard for her that when I first held her in my arms and we looked at the product of all that hard long work, how could we feel anything but the strongest love in the world. 

Two years old. Wow. Let me tell you a little bit about what she's up to these days:

• She is really quite the talker! People everywhere we go compliment her talking abilities and communicating skills. It sure comes in handy when she's trying to get a point across, becaues even though she doesn't know every word in a sentence, I can usually decipher enough that I know what she's trying to get at. Way to go girl!
• Ellie is really quite the veggie lover! The only thing she isn't fond of is peas I think:) Her favorites are cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli which she has proclaimed as "trees".
• She''s a total flirt, meaning that she loves people and is not afraid or too timid to say "hi!" and wave to everyone she sees out in public.
• Along those same lines Ellis is very very good natured and sweet to everyone. She loves positive attention from just about anyone, and makes instant friends where-ever she goes.
• She's a real tough girl! Anytime she gets a cut or bruise I find out after the fact because she usually doesn't cry about it or give any indecation that she's been hurt. Makes me feel badly sometimes when I see a cut or something and I never knew how she got it!
• Ellie bows the best kisses in the world.
• She's been on a terrific sleeping schedule since she was a few weeks old. 8:30pm to 8:30am every day for just about her whole life. She's also a terrific roomate for sophie who's on the same sleeping and nap schedule as her sister, which means we get date nights every night! 
• She is a very helpful and kind big sister to Sophie, and always helps her with tasks, weather sophie wants her to or not:)  
• Ellie is a super self-entertainer. She loves reading to herself and singing songs. Also she's taken up doing those wooden puzzles and will spend literally hours putting the animals and cars etc back in their slots.

I could go on and on about the things she loves and is into or good at right now, how she's growing and all that we love and appreciate about her, but this list does an okay job for now of summing that all up.

Thank you for  being such a sweetheart Eleanor and for making life as a family so much fun. We love you so much precious girl, and you make us all so happy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!!

Xo, Daddy, Mommy, and Sophie. 

11 Things

I've been tagged several times to participate in this 11 things chain post that's been circulating around all over the blogosphere lately, and I've just been pretty busy I guess, so when a I was tagged by Karm I decided that today was the time to finally re-post! I thought it was a fun way to learn a bit more about bloggers I loved, and I thought it would be fun to let you learn a bit more about me, so thanks everyone for passing it on!  
You know how it goes:


The 5 rules:
1. Post these rules 
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things 
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post 
4. Create 11 new questions and tag 11 bloggers to answer them. 
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them!

11 Random Facts
1. The hubby and I are really into Downton abby with a family friend right now, which makes it hard because we have to wait to watch the next episode until we get together and our schedules aare pretty full most of the time:( We're watching them after the fact though on DVD, so we're only in the middle of season two. No spoilers please! :) 
2. I love to haggle prices, and I'm good at it too. Maybe it comes from all my thrifting and garage saleing, but If I thought I would get a better deal by talking down a price at Macy's or J crew than I would:) 
3. I Love Love to read. If I could live in the largest library for the rest of my life and only come out for occasional bathroom breaks and a bit of Chinese food, I would be a pretty happy woman. (If I wasn't married with almost three kids of course:))
4. I genuinely like all types of music. That is to say that I like at least a song or two from just about every genre out there,... except the genre where they're screaming their heads off saying things that I can't understand and frankly don't really want to.
5. I have never broken a bone, or even sprained a muscle really. I've never had stitches even, at least up until last October when I nearly sliced my finger off with a pair of meat scissors. Not my smartest move ever I must say...
6. I have a bit of a TV aversion. Not saying that I don't like the occasional show or series (because I have several favorites), or even funny commercial once in a while, but martin and I chose to get rid of our cable because there's generally nothing on but poorly executed commercials and sadly acted sitcom scripts. We have like six local channels though, and I do appreciate watching Jimmy Kimmel or The Bachelor reruns once in a while while I'm sewing:)
7. I'm not a huge fan I really don't like spearmint flavored desserts. I like spearmint everything else, but when Its miked with like chocolate for example... Bleh:( I don't mind peppermint things funny enough, but that gooey green mint like in Andes mints, or mint chocolate chip ice-cream... tastes like I'm sucking on toothpaste. 
8. When I was little I had a mild obsession with anything involving Ancient Egypt. The clothes, the hieroglyphs, the culture, etc, and I would watch movies like The Mummy and The Scorpion King over, and over, and over.
9. My favorite smells right now are lavender, cut grass, gasoline, and newly cleaned babies hair. Oh I can't wait to have another new baby to clean! Oh and the gasoline bit, don't worry I only enjoy taking a whiff every now and than when I'm pumping up the tank, nothing more:) 
10. I started writing a novel when I was ten. It was 20 pages long, and about a girl who was chosen by a horse animorph woman to take on the task of protecting the world. Glad I married an author, because I don't think I would have had much success in that particular field.
11. 


11 questions from Karm:
1. What kind of book would your write? Would it become a series? I would probably write a children's book about manners or something:) And I would only write more if it was successful.haha
2. What is the most delicious dessert you could eat everyday? (After dinner of course) Oh I don't think there exists a dessert that I could stomach every single day, but if fruit counts as a desert than i could have fresh berries or melon everyday. I really like peanut butter ripple ice-cream:)
3. What would your hip hop artist name be? Why? Uhh, probably Em-wow or E-gosh or something.haha That's what you have to do right just take an initial and mix it with an exclamation?
4. If you could trademark any saying, what would it be? And why? I know is lame but I can't actually think of a single saying right now besides 'if the shoe fits'. So that's my choice by default.haha
5. What is one moment that changed your life? Hmm, toughie. Having my babies naturally without any medication at all. I felt stronger and braver than anyone in the world.
6. Which would you pick? Unlimited calls? Unlimited texting? For sure the calls. Texts are really impersonal and I'd much rather hear a persons voice nine times out of ten. The tenth time is when I have something really uncomfortable to ask or say, than its nice to text instead:) 
7. Which era or period would you live in for a week? Why? Its hard to pick, I love history and so many many different eras would be fun, but I think i'd have to say civil war period. The ladies were just so feminine and the men so masculine:)
8. Which famous person would you book a photo session with? I would love a pose or two with Audrey Hepburn:) We could have a conversation while the cameras clicked away. 
9. What is the first word that pops into your mind when you read 'Love and football'? Family. You have so much fun with your boys!
10. Dangly earrings are better than stud earrings? True or False? Why? False. I love a good dangle, but studs definitely have their place in my collection.
11. What is your favorite drink? And what would your re-name it? My favorite drink would probably have to be water. I know its a cop-out, but I'm really not a soda or juice person. If there was no water however than I'd have to choose a good fresh lemonade and call it sun juice or something:) Oh and I guess I do get a little hot chocolate crazed once in a while... my bad!


11 new questions from me:
1. What is one food or drink that you will not eat?
2. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
3. Where is the best place you've ever traveled to?
4. What is your favorite way to relax?
5. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
6. What is your favorite book?
7. What is your most embarrassing moment? 
8. How would you best describe your personality?
9. What is something your scared of?
10. What is your ideal pet and why?
11. What do you value most in a true friend?


The 11 Lovelies ladies I tag:
1. Cami
2. Janelle
3. Rissi
4. Laura
5. Dusty
6. Lisa
7. Nikki
8. Stephanie
9. Pia
10. Rebecca
11. and the cutie from Phycho Cat!


Remember ladies that this is just for fun, and if you've already done this post or prefer not to re-post than its no biggie at all! 
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Xo, Emmy