Tag: sponsored

Wardrobe Updates for Spring
Sponsored by Nordstrom Rack

I’m about halfway through this pregnancy now. As I grow, I’ve been sticking mostly to the maternity clothes I have from when I was pregnant the first time around with Eleanor, five years ago. Let’s just say… I’m not as excited about my wardrobe as one could be. Nordstrom Rack is now shoppable online, so I had some fun checking out the new site and putting together my favorite finds. I spotted a cute pair of straight leg maternity jeans, and below I concentrated on shoes, accessories, and jewelry. You know, the stuff that always fits.
1. Sugarlips Long Sleeve Blouse
  Ever so slightly sheer, and with a mandarin collar.
2. Eye Candy Los Angeles Green Rock Pendant
  I like the simplicity of jewelry that’s essentially a rock on a chain, with a little gold to hold it in place.
3. Michael Vincent Michaud Round Stud Earrings
  The imperfect gold setting makes these interesting.
4. Cole Haan Bellport Carryall Tote
  That punch pink is just so delicious, and perfect with a bit of leather trim.
5. Bucco Valentony Gladiator Sandal
  They go with black and brown, the straps are great, and hello, stripes! For $27. So awesome.
6. V Optique Pier Readers
  For those of you that only need readers (rather than glasses with a full prescription), these are a lovely shape.
7. Harlyn Silk Colorblock Pocket Shift Dress
  The easy shape of this is so perfect, especially from the back. And how cute are those pockets?
8. Dogeared Initial Ring
  I’d wear a stack with my kids’ initials, but I was chuckling thinking of what four letter words I might spell out, knuckle tattoo style.
9. Vince Camuto Diamond Pattern Ring
  A big ring with big impact.
10. Lucky Embroidered Square Scarf
  I am in favor of quirky details like the tassels, and the fabric is a gorgeous shade of pinkish red with embroidery.
11. Hobo Lorna Crossbody
  Big enough to carry everything without being bulky, and the green is a fun color.
12. Mixx Shuz Jane Ankle Strap Flat
  Yes to a bit of unexpected pattern at the heel.
Things sell out quickly, but new Nordstrom Rack goods for women, men, and kids are added to the site weekly, all at up to 70% off and with free shipping over $100. (Plus you have the option of taking things back to the store or sending them back by mail within 90 days, so returns are easy.) The sale events are powered by HauteLook and if you have an account there, you can use it for NordstromRack.com too. The shopping cart lets you add items from both sites, and they ship to the US, Canada, and Australia. And now that they’re online, it’s so much easier to keep an eye out for what’s new. I’d add that dress to my cart, but I think I’m already too big for it and it won’t be practical for nursing. I’m going to go for the scarf and sandals though! They should go a long way toward making my current maternity options a bit more fun.
May 15, 2014
Getting Outside to Explore in the Garden

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

This is what the garden looked like on the day we bought the house, in late August of last year. Almost no grass (there’s a small patch out front), but plenty of greenery.

Aside from the snow we had last week, spring is pretty much here (yay!). Trees don’t start getting their buds until now in Chicago though, and the earliest spring flowers and plants are just starting to push their way up through the soil. After we raked our yard, we were left with a few patches of green shoots and a whole lot of dirt.

Oh, and antique objects, likely collected from flea markets. A spinning stone wheel, upon which we can sharpen our broadsword? Check. Antique washing machines? Yep, we’ve got a couple. Old street signs, spotlights, and various child impaling artifacts? Check, check, and check!

Some of it is cool. Some is dangerous. We’ll have to pare down.

We were out there all weekend, cleaning up the front and back yards. The kids loved to help, which basically consisted of them digging holes. (Great job, guys!) We got good and dirty playing and exploring outside, and then the kids fell asleep.

Ha! I wish we still got naps out of them sometimes. Nah, we finished up outside and then went in to wash our hands and get cleaned up before dinner. Lemon Verbena is our usual soap, but when I switched to Basil, Eleanor actually commented on it (“something smells yummy!“).

Switching gears to talk about that sink for a second… Have you lived with double taps before? Some people can’t stand using them, but I don’t mind at all. You just have to get used to using a stopper, and then it’s no big deal. And the antique sink here is my favorite because not only is it adorable, it’s an inch or two lower than usual and the height feels really good. Maybe it’s not so great for taller folk, but I love it and the kids can wash their hands without needing a step stool.

But back to the garden. We’ve heard from neighbors that the previous owners spent a lot of time outside, tending to the garden. There are mature boxwood hedges, peonies, roses, hydrangeas, various hostas, several trees and bushes, and at least three types of vines. I know enough to recognize some of it, but the rest will be a surprise. It will be interesting to see what pops up throughout the spring and summer!

One more shot from last year…

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

Mrs. Meyer’s is hosting a giveaway, and the Grand Prize Outdoor Contest winner will receive a custom-designed pre-fabricated greenhouse by Studio Shed, along with everything you need to start your very own vegetable garden. Once installed, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day will help you celebrate the tradition of homegrown food with a catered farm-to-table dinner party for you and 30 of your closest friends.

Visit getmessycontest.com for more details, and to enter.

April 22, 2014
Inspiration for a Horse Birthday Party for Kids
This post was created in partnership with Bing.

Eleanor’s fifth birthday is only a couple of weeks away, and Brandon and I had been asking her for the past month what kind of party she’d like. The answer? A horse/LEGO/Play-Doh/kitty theme. She had a Play-Doh birthday party last year (complete with the most amazing birthday cake), so after some further consideration, we’re going with horses this year. Which means I’ve been looking for horse birthday party ideas that don’t involve cowboys and cowgirls, derby hats (as much as I love ’em), or the presence of a live horse.

Some of the ideas are way over the top compared to what we usually do for the kids’ birthdays. A cute cake and some show ribbons? Great! A party on location at a barn with horse rides for everyone? I’m sure Eleanor would flip, but sorry kid, your party’s here at home. Still, I’ve had a lot of fun using Bing to search for inspiration. Each search earns points too, with their free Bing Rewards program (even when I use Bing on my phone). I’m going to redeem some of the points I’ve accumulated for an Amazon gift card, so all of my searching will add up to one very large horse-shaped balloon for free.

Here are some of the items and ideas we’ll be using for Eleanor’s upcoming party. I’ve already shown some of these to her, and she’s super excited!
1. Decorations for a Pony Party
  The vintage vibe and color palette are lovely.
2. DIY Horse Ribbons
  These would be great for decorating, though I suspect they take some time to make in multiples! Vintage ribbons are plentiful on eBay and Etsy, too.
3. Horse Party String Lights
  After the party, these can decorate E’s bedroom.
4. Horse-Shaped Jumbo Foil Balloons
  Two or three of these ought to make a big impact.
5. Horse Topper on the Cake
  A toy horse is a sweet, simple way to decorate the birthday cake.
6. Pin the Tail on the Pony
  The perfect party game to play.
7. Tiny Toy Horses
  For the goody bags, along with stickers, candy, and other assorted items.
This post was created in partnership with Bing.

I’m required to disclose a sponsored partnership between our site and Bing. I have been compensated in exchange for this post in the form of payment, product or experiences.
April 15, 2014
The Playroom Art Center

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

I’ve been working on the playroom on the third floor. We’ve all been feeling a little stir-crazy, waiting for spring to officially arrive (though we had a sneak-peek yesterday and today with temperatures in the fifties!), so it’s been great having a fun space inside the house setup for the kids. There are plenty of toys, plus a play kitchen on one side and an art station on the other. Lately, we’ve been going upstairs after breakfast to paint, work on arts and crafts, or color. Eleanor helps set everything up.

Why yes, we do always use a mug with a kitty and fireworks on it when we paint.

August likes to paint at the easel too, or use watercolors, but he wasn’t into it that day so he played with his cars while I helped Eleanor. After a while, he made some cupcakes in the play kitchen which we all agreed were the most delicious ever. They were made of eggs, chocolate and ketchup. Yum.

Eleanor painted a rainbow. For The Rainbow House, naturally.

I keep the tray of the easel lined with paper towels so that it doesn’t get too glopped over with paint, but I don’t stress about the kids being neat. They can do their thing, and then we clean up any errant paint spills and splatters when they’re done.

The paints are washable, so cleaning up is easy. I keep a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s countertop spray in one of the art cubbies on the desk, and I try to enlist the kids’ help as often as I can. I spray, they wipe. I clean for real, they push a toy vacuum around. (You take the help you get, right?)

The light is so nice up there in the mornings, and the kids have such a good time. It’s one of our favorite places to be.

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

Mrs. Meyer’s is hosting a giveaway, and the Grand Prize Arts & Crafts winner will receive a custom-designed Craft Center, fully stocked with all of the art supplies and materials you need to enjoy fun, messy crafts in the comfort of your home. Once installed, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day will throw a party for your kids and up to thirty of their friends, hosted by Design Mom’s Gabrielle Blair.

Visit getmessycontest.com for more details, and to enter.

March 11, 2014
Style: Pink. Always.
Brought to you by Motorola Moto X: Thousands of combinations. Design yours.

I always return to pink.

I wrote, a couple of weeks ago, about needing a new winter coat. I did consider tailoring my old coat so that it would fit again, but the proportion of the pockets and lapels would look wrong on me now. So I ordered the pink coat I’d featured and even though it’s not my usual favorite shape, I love it! I suspect the color may be clouding my vision — my rose-colored vision — but I’m fine with that.

Motorola has just come out with the Moto X, which can be customized in 2000+ ways to match your unique style. So what color did I choose to inspire me as I put together a style post? If you didn’t shout PINK!, you must be new here. Hello!
1. Pink/Gold Triangle Earrings, Hive & Honey
  On sale, so go grab ’em quick!
2. Layer Cake Glasses, Rivet & Sway
  Perhaps the cutest glasses ever.
3. Merino Tippi Sweater, J. Crew
  This is the sweater style I wore when I interviewed Martha Stewart, and I shall henceforth call it The Martha Sweater.
4. Samira Wool Calf Hair Coat, Club Monaco
  Pale pink wool, with matching pink leather details.
5. Ultra Skinny Pants, Gap
  These pants are the best! I have them in black, and in this bright red.
6. Hamilton Heights Sloan, Kate Spade
  Ladylike pretty.
7. Reese Brogues, Anthropologie
  I got very excited when I saw these, which is kind of a silly thing to say about shoes.
8. Moto X, Motorola
  The perfect pink, with red for some kapow.
Someone noted that I seem to be wearing pants a lot more lately, which is true. I still rock a skirt or a dress pretty often, but now instead of only breaking out the pants a handful of times per year, it’s a more even mix. Pink though, is still ever-present in my wardrobe. Do you have a color that you always return to like that?
October 14, 2013
Camp Wandawega Getaway

This post is brought to you by Banana Republic. Visit www.BananaRepublic.com for the hottest summer fashion trends.

Last week, I spent a couple of days here.

I’m lucky to have this job of mine. Banana Republic wanted to work with me to promote their new Milly line, and asked that I invite a few people for a summer outing. Inviting bloggers wasn’t a requirement, but I wanted my friends Jess, Kim, and Heidi to come. Then I crossed my fingers and sent an email to the owner of Camp Wandawega, hoping to rent a cabin. You know — that place in Wisconsin with the paint-by-number nursery?

That’s the one. I’d seen the place in magazines and photo shoots for years, and was thrilled when Tereasa was able to accommodate us. Kim was familiar with it too, and was equally excited about going. Can you tell we were into it?

We were all pretty into it. (Plus we all got some cute new clothes, so bonus.)

Jess decided that we were glamping. I don’t know if that’s technically accurate, as we did have beds. The showers were communal, so I guess there was that. And we probably could have slept in the camper, had any of us wanted to.

Anyway, we slept in beds, in a sweet little 3 bedroom cabin. This was my room.

Brace yourselves, because this place was amazing and I have approximately 2,042 photos of it. (more…)

June 11, 2013