Holy Cuteness Batman!

PSA: Serious cuteness over on Zulily with Nui Organics...I would totally eat Lucy up in these. Come to mama!

Kitchen Reveal (Phase One!)

My kitchen reveal is up on Apartment Therapy today! I'll be (must more gradually) working on phase two and sharing updates here on A Lovely Lark, so stay tuned for more kitchen posts to come!

A sneak peek - the before:

And the after!

If you'd like to see lots more photos and read about the process, you can check it out here. xo, Lauren

Violet Says Vol. 9

1. We were eating pancakes one morning, and Violet stopped mid-bite to tell me, "Mommy, there's not a snake under the table, you know. Because that would be hah-wih-bull! Because he would eat my pancakes and your pancakes and my syrwup and your syrwup!" Then she promptly went back to devouring her stack.

2. Back on the Fourth of July while we were watching the fireworks Violet says, "They're SO bootiful! But why there not a castle?" (Thanks, Disney.)

3. We were in the middle of putting on jammies, undies off, dress still on, when Violet said, "Daddy, you want to see THIS?" And spun around, held up her dress, and mooned him.

4. Since Violet can eat dairy now, she LOVES pizza but not the crust. After eating most of one piece, she handed the crust to her papa and said, "I don't like crust. Maybe I'll like it when I'm a daddy."

5. We were in the yard playing, and Kev was doing some yard work. He had a big pile of branches that he had clipped from our weeping cherry. Violet spied the pile and exclaimed, "A bean stockin'! But Daddy's not a giant?!"

6. On kissing: I don't want any princes to kiss me, because I don't like peach lips! (Violet and Lucy both have "wed" lips and I have pink lips)

7. I was trying to get the dishwasher loaded the other day, and Violet was pestering me to play with her. I finally said, "Sweetie, I need to get these dishes loaded so that we have something clean to eat off of, and we don't have a maid who will do it for us, do we?" She thought for a minute and replied, "No, because Daddy's at work!"

Nature-Inspired Nursery

I'm participating in a pin party tonight with Serena & Lily and Project Nursery at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST with some other amazing bloggers - 100 Layer Cakelet, Green Wedding Shoes, La Petite Peach, and Mini Magazine! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. You can find all of the sources for my nature-inspired nursery idea board and a ton more inspiring nursery ideas tonight - hope to see you there!

Oh to Have a Vanity

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MODERN BATHROOM

I know all of the reasons that we choose to live in a tiny house - we love the location, the character, and the fact that it's not much to heat, clean, etc. It's cozy and homey. But there are some things that I would change if I could. One big one would be the size of our bathroom. The only full bath in our house is only big enough for a small pedestal sink. Oh to have a place to set my flat iron, hair dryer, toothbrush, etc.! That would be truly amazing. So when I was contacted by the folks at Modern Bathroom to check out their site, I went straight to the bathroom vanities section and lusted over all of the glorious countertop space. I mean, wouldn't this be just perfect in our bathroom?

Sigh, a girl can dream. Maybe someday we'll be able to afford a larger house in our neighborhood without sacrificing the things we love about our current house. For those of you who are lucky enough to have space for a real vanity, Modern Bathroom has a great range from modern vanities to transitional vanities to vanities with an antique look. And here's where you can find everything on the idea board:

pink love salts, medicine box, mirror, sconce, painting, shower curtain, rug, basket, hand towel, vanity

xo, Lauren

This post was sponsored by Modern Bathroom. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Lucy Vivian: Four Months Old

 A bit late, but better late than never! My sweet baby girl, you are four months old. It's amazing all of the new things you are doing. The bubbles and coos have subsided and now you cough or make little screams to get our attention. It's so fun watching you try to communicate with us. Mommy, I'm hungry *cough cough cough!*  Mommy, I'm getting tired *cough, squeal, cough!* It's only when you become overly tired or are extremely hungry after waking up from a long sleep that you cry these days. Overall you're a very happy, smiley, bouncy baby girl. In fact, I had trouble getting a good clear photo of you this month because all you want to do is wiggle and ROLL.

Actually, you are now a champion roller - it's difficult to keep you on your back - and you can roll from belly to back as well, although not as easily or gracefully. You love being on your tummy and are so strong. You even try to roll when I put you in your car seat, so we've been using the pack and play more often lately.

 The other amazing thing is that you are already somewhat mobile! You can do a full push up and sometimes even get up onto your knees for a couple of seconds in crawling position. The result is pushing yourself backwards, so when I put you at one end of the crib or pack and play, you quickly end up stuck at the other end! I think you'll probably crawl earlier than your sister did - we'll see!

 Speaking of your sister, she still is loving you to pieces. She's started singing to you and reading you books. Her favorite song to sing to you at the moment is Thumbkin, which is your favorite as well. Thumbkin, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Patty Cake, and the ABC's almost never fail to get your attention and a great big smile. You also love your toys - especially the ones with faces, like your chatter monkey, pink elephant, and red bird. The ones that are easy to chew on are big hits as well. Everything goes into your mouth these days, including your hands and feet! You just found your feet the other day and it's so funny to watch you happily munch on your wiggly little toes.

Although you're still fairly gassy, it doesn't seem to wake you or bother you as much, so mama just started adding dairy back into her diet. We'll see how it goes! You have been having more trouble staying asleep for naps and at bedtime - we think it's the dreaded four month sleep regression. Often you'll suddenly roll onto your belly, and automatically do a push up with your arms, which wakes you right up. We've been getting a lot less done around the house since your naps have gone from a solid 1-2 hours to 20-30 minutes in length. You often want to go back to sleep shortly after waking, so I know that you want to sleep for longer stretches, but all of these crazy developmental changes are just messing with your naps. Your sister is a great comforter, and often the sound of her Shh-shhh-shh's will quiet you right down when you're fussy. She loves to bring you toys, give you your paci, give hugs and kisses, and generally smother you.

We all love you to pieces baby girl, and your mama is equally thrilled and saddened by all of your growing and changing! It's a joy to be your mama, and I can't imagine life without you. Can't wait to see what this month brings. xo, Mommy, Daddy, and Violet

Play Kitchen Before & After

A long-time reader, Andrea, recently emailed me these stunning photos of her daughter's play kitchen, and I just had to share it with you all. Here it is before:

 And after:

Crazy good, am I right? She used my knob DIY too - love it! Thanks so much for sharing with us Andrea! You can see more photos over on her blog, Andrea Jennison Interiors.

Happy Friday! xo, Lauren

Well Hello There!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately - we've been busy soaking up the last few days of summer, painting like crazy people in the kitchen for our Apartment Therapy Style cure, and enjoying the smiles and snuggles of our two little ladies. So in lieu of a real post, here are some pretty pictures for y'all:

Lots more over on Instagram! xo, Lauren

Yes, please

Just snatched up a bunch of great stuff from Serena & Lily's big sale! Up to 50% off a ton of great items plus free shipping with code BIGDEAL. Just thought I'd pass it along!

Liveblogging Apartment Therapy's Style Cure

If I seem a little absent lately, it's most likely because I'm working full steam on my kitchen. I'm currently liveblogging for Apartment Therapy's Style Cure! (Not to mention wrangling my three-month-old and three-year-old) If you want to follow along you can check out my posts here. xo, Lauren

Thanks, Disney

This one is growing up so quickly, right before my very eyes - I can't believe it. Yesterday she went and got her own cup, filled it with water from the sink (spilling a bit) and I just about cried when she marched into the room and proudly showed it to me.

She's also been talking a lot about death lately - such a big concept for such a little one to wrap her mind around. Ironically, I think we have Disney to thank - so many mamas an daddies dying in those films. As I was putting her to bed the other night, she said to me, "Mommy - I don't want you or Daddy to go to heaven with God, because I need you." and then added, "I need you to play with me!" Which made me smile a little - such is the world of a three-year-old. When I tried to explain that everyone dies eventually, but not for a long time. She said, "But I don't want my people to die." I tried to assure her that I wouldn't die until she was a very old lady and I was a very, very old lady, but that upset her too because she doesn't want to be an old lady - she wants to be a little girl forever. Like Peter Pan. (darn Disney again) I managed to steer the conversation onto another topic, because I don't want to lie to her, and I don't think that there was any truth that I could utter that would satisfy her.

Then she dropped this one, "Why Opa and Nam (Grandmom) not kiss? How will they get a baby in their belly?" I dodged that one by explaining that they already have babies that are all grown up - her Daddy and aunts and uncles. Luckily that was an acceptable answer, but I'm worried because that mind of hers is just tick, tick, ticking away, and the questions are only going to get harder. I don't know if I have the right answers for her, but I'll try because I must. (Or maybe I'll tell her to go ask her father?)

It's sad when those care-free, innocent minds start to fill with the realities and worries of life. Such big thoughts for such a little person. Now I'm going to go smell Lucy's head in that creepy way that only mamas understand and gaze into her big blue innocent, care-free eyes and will her to never grow up. Like Peter Pan. Well, maybe I'll let her only grow up a little bit - just enough to sleep through the night perhaps?

And on that note, I'm off to bed. Happy weekend, here's hoping that your littles don't ask you any deep questions, or if they do, that you have all the right answers! xo, Lauren

Get On My Walls

Hunting for some artwork for the kitchen and I'm really loving these black and white beauties:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Circus-Inspired Nursery

Don't worry, no creepy clowns here! I came across this gorgeous print on Etsy and fell in love with the colors of the festive circus tent. It would be the perfect palette for a gender-neutral nursery or kid's room! If you'd like more details and sources you can check out my ideabook over on Houzz.com

Handmade Love

Aren't these handprinted tea towels from A Sunny Afternoon Co. just gorgeous? I'm thinking one of them may find a home in my kitchen...

Ramblings On Being a Mother of Two

I've always known that I wanted more than one kid - I have a sister and I can't imagine my life as an only child. She's one of the few people other than Kev and my parents who I feel really "gets" me. I can completely be myself around her and she still likes me. And we're pretty much unbeatable at Taboo! :) Who wouldn't want that for their kid?

But there are hard parts about being a mama of two. Decisions like, do I stay upstairs with Violet and finish putting her to bed while Lucy screams bloody murder, or do I leave Violet to get Lucy and have her cry instead? Do I put Lucy down juuust when I'm finally getting her to sleep to help Violet on the potty even though she is perfectly capable of doing it herself? And how the heck do I clean my house or get any work done??? I say, "I can't right now" or, "In a few minutes" to Violet so often these days that when I do get a free moment I want to spend it playing with her. Sigh - first world problems.

And there's another layer that I didn't even know would bother me - Violet is doing sooo much more with Kev, and while I completely adore the two of them together, I hate that I am missing out on certain moments. It seems so silly that I can be thrilled about something and mourn it at the same time! I'm happy that their daddy-daughter relationship is getting stronger and that he gets to experience those moments that he's missed out on in the past. Little things like riding with her on the train at the zoo and taking her to the park. They're developing their own Daddy-daughter "things" - picking vegetables from the garden and dance parties and special looks.

And I cherish my one-on-one time with Lucy, because we don't get much of that - sometimes I guess I just want to have my cake and eat it too :) I'm slowly learning that I can't be everywhere and everything for everybody, nor should I be.

One thing I know for sure is that I love both of my girls to the moon and back and they love each other like crazy. I can't wait til they can play together and have inside jokes and share secrets. Sisters are special, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Kitchen Inspiration

I've been scouring Pinterest for kitchen inspiration, and I think I've narrowed down the look I want:

1. Light and bright + natural wood tones - I'd love to have all white walls like these photos, but since we're painting the cabinets white and have white appliances, I think it will be a bit much. I'd love to get stainless steel appliances, but it just isn't in the budget.

2. It's no secret that I love color and as much as I love the above looks, I definitely want to add some hits of color into the space like this:

Isn't that yellow door just adorable?! We don't have a pantry, but we do have a door that leads to our side porch, so that may get painted a bright, fun color. I actually already own the print in the larger photo above, and that may make it's way into the kitchen as well. I'm also in love with that minty green pendant, but I'm not sure that Kev would go for such a bold choice - we'll see. I know it's never going to be my dream kitchen, but here's hoping it'll be a lot cuter than when we started! xo, Lauren

Images Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6