Shameless

I told you I wouldn't be able to resist.

I told you it was wonderful.

Also, I know you've been dying to see the rest of Harper's Easter photos. I'll put you out of your misery now.

Oh my, she is cute!

Some Things Just Might Be Impossible...

A few weeks ago I hinted (aka turned on the computer/set up the order/handed the computer and our debit card to Colt) that I wanted a Mother's Day treat from The Vintage Pearl.

I'm a mom now (to the cutest kid ever). That doesn't surprise me.

Mother's Day applies to me now. That still surprises me.

It also makes me feel old. I have quite an aversion to anything that makes me feel old. That's why I decided I needed a special surprise (is it a surprise if you already know about it?) for Mother's Day. I don't need a present for being Harper's mom. (Being Harper's mom is a present- a miraculous present that I get to enjoy every day.) I need something pretty to distract me from thinking about being old.

I need something pretty from The Vintage Pearl.

Anyway, being the super savvy husband man that he is, Colt got my hint and ordered me something really wonderful (I chose it so of course it's wonderful).

It's coming today.

In a few hours, it will be sitting in my mailbox. It will be here long before Colt gets home from work. How in the world am I supposed to refrain from opening it?

Is it even possible for me to not open it?

I don't think so.

Braids

I found myself reading an article about hair this morning: "The Top 5 Hairstyles for Prom 2011." Um, well, I'm not going to prom. I already went to prom... 10 years ago (old, yes, I'm old. I know this. I spent an hour laying in bed this morning and thinking about nothing but Botox...).

Anyway, braided hair is one of the styles they talk about. I'm so obsessed with braids lately and wish my hair would grow just a little more so I could wear it in a classic french braid. I had really long hair when I was little and my mom french braided it everyday to keep it from getting tangled. I hated it. It took forever and I just wanted to have free-flowing hair like Belle or Barbie.

But now that I'm older and no longer feel the need to look like an imaginary character, I like braids.
I like them a lot.
They are so pretty and feminine.

What do you think of braids?

Are you interested in becoming healthier? Aren't we all. Read this really informative article on sugar.

Little Chair Updates

Remember how much Harper loved her Little Blue Chair?
(By the way, the Little Blue Chair died a pretty messy death several months ago.
I like you so I'll spare you the gag-inducing details.)
Remember how Harper got a Little Pink Chair to match it?
Well, she hasn't given her pink chair much attention.
I think that is because it's been in her room.
Nobody wants to relax in their room all alone, do they?
Oh yes, I want to relax in my room all by myself (well, by myself with a good book).
but that is beside the point.
I moved the Little Pink Chair to our living room yesterday.

Harper loves it!

Do you know what else Harper loves?
Telling me "NO" every chance she gets.
I'm not kidding.
I asked for a kiss not five minutes ago and she didn't hesitate to deny me with a great big "no."
Boo to that.

On a happier note, UPS tracking tells me that our Tom's are going to arrive today!
The words "Our for delivery" make me so happy.
Online shopping is the best.

A Merger

Do you read my other blog (Confessions of a Beauty Aisle Addict)? Probably not. Even so, I thought I should let you know that I've decided to shut it down and just post my fashion/makeup/hair/shoe thoughts on here. Is that okay with you? There will still be plenty of family posting here at Diligent Joy. I'm just trying to simplify a bit.

I like blogging about my family. I like blogging about my deep thoughts. I also like blogging about personal style. I'd like all of my blogging to be in one place. Consider this a merger of my serious and sassy sides.

Besides if you don't like or care for my vain side, you can just skip the hair/makeup/fashion posts.

On that note, I'm sporting a half ponytail today. It's a first. I like it. It's not as fancy as Emily Blunt's but that's okay since I'm playing with babies this afternoon and not going to a movie premier. When I go to a movie premier, I'll make sure my half ponytail is a fancy one, I promise.

My hair is much longer than it's been in years and so lately I've been playing with new ways to style it. The problem is that I'm a totally impatient hair fixer. I like my hairstyles to be like Bond girls- fast, easy, and sexy all at the same time.

Anyway, have you seen the Carrie Bradshaw collection from Free People? It's ridiculously fabulous. For real, these are the times when I wish I had unlimited funds...

A Silly Girl and Her Easter Cakepop

What's Going On?

Right now I'm reading The Help. I know I'm a little late to the bus on this one. It seems like everyone else has read it already. I can see why. It's really good. The cover of my copy compares it to To Kill a Mockingbird. Now that I'm half way through, I understand the comparison but I don't agree with it. This book can't compare with Harper Lee's classic in importance to American literature, not because it isn't a good book but because it's 40 years too late. I mean, we have an African American president so black rights have already come quite a long way and aren't what I'd consider a hot issue for new and important literature.

There are other groups of people, however, who are persecuted (I think the modern term is "bullied") and denied rights in our country and The Help has really made me think about them. I'll keep my specific opinions to myself but must say that it's quite inhumane for any citizen or government to deny anyone their human rights. I like to think that we'd come farther than that as a human race but the reality is that we just aren't there yet. We still aren't living up to our potential as human beings.

What are you reading these days?

After The Help I'm going to take a break from fiction. I'd like to catch up on some inspiring non-fiction. I've got a new Deepak Chopra book to start with as well as a huge pile of photography books to study. I'm determined to learn as much as I can so that when I get my new (and very fancy) camera, I'm worthy of it. A fancy camera needs a fancy girl to use it.

I am open to any non-fiction suggestions you might have.

I watched The Human Experience today and it was amazing. If you are feeling sorry for yourself or sad because you don't have everything you want, you should watch it, too.

Anyway, what else is going on? Not too much around here. I'm heading out with my cute friend Niki tonight. We are going to drink Diet Coke and see Water for Elephants. I'm excited. I loved the book and and hoping that despite the fact that "Edward" is in it, I'll like the movie as well.

Colt's busy. He got a big promotion at work and is just about tickled pink over it. I'm so proud of him. He works really hard and deserves to be recognized. He plays hard, too. He's got softball for the next two nights so I won't be seeing much of him. :(

Harper is feeling much better and was absolutely darling yesterday afternoon. Thank you, antibiotics, for bringing my sweet and cuddly baby back to me. She has wanted constant hugs and kisses the past two days. I'm in heaven. Seriously, there is nothing better than a Harper snuggle.

It Continues

My obsession with baby/toddler shoes continues.

I just bought Harper J her first pair of Toms.

Don't worry, I bought two pair for myself as well (pink sparkle and silver sparkle from the youth department). 

I love Toms and want it to be known that I loved them BEFORE they were cool- like before JMR and Nordstrom carried them. When I bought my first pair way back in 2006 everyone thought they were weird. I liked them for many reasons (a child in need got a pair of shoes, they were machine washable, they were super comfy) and didn't care if my friends/family thought they weren't cute (because I KNEW they were cute). Isn't it funny that now many of those friends/family own Toms of their own? Good for them, I say. Toms are awesome. 

Easter Weekend

On Friday night, we colored eggs.

Harper was sort of in to it, but not really.

Colt colored all of the eggs while Harper tried to drink the coloring mix.

On Saturday we headed to Colt's parent's house for dinner and an egg hunt.

Harper got all dressed up and was seriously the cutest thing alive. 

Harper is the Adams' only grandchild.

Therefore, she is super spoiled.

We left with a carful of candy, animals, clothes, money, and toys.

I didn't think Harper would really get the Easter egg hunting thing this year.

I was wrong.

She got it.

She found 17 eggs and wanted more.

This is my favorite.

Notice that she is on her tippy toes.

On Saturday night, the Easter Bunny came.

He brought Harper some really delightful surprises:

books, movies, pajamas, sandals, bubbles, and a pinwheel.

He also left a few balloons just to make sure Harper knew it was a special day.

Harper J loves mini books and was so excited for a new set!

Harper was actually pretty sick on Easter so we cancelled our egg hunt.

She spent the day on the couch, nursing a cup of juice.

We watched Toy Story 3 together.

She loved it.

I cried. 

That is one sad flick.

Childhood is just too short.
Just look at Harper last Easter, when she was still a baby...

She didn't even crawl last year.

Now she walks, jumps, climbs, dances, runs, and somersaults all over our house.

And her chubby cheeks are long gone.

As usual, I love it and hate it.

I think that's the curse of motherhood.

You really begin to understand the term "bittersweet."

Happy Easter

SLC Saturdays #12... Cotton Blossom Boutique

This is more of an Abby place than a Harper place, for now at least. I'm sure that in 15 years, Harper will love boutique shopping just as much as I do. I really doubt that there is any way I can raise a child that doesn't appreciate lovely clothing.

Cotton Blossom Boutique is located at 2280 E. Murray-Holladay Road in Holladay. It's a ways away from where I live, but I still try to visit as much as often as I can. Luckily it's right by the salon where I get my hair done so I can usually hit both places on the same day. I have so many cute things from here and they are some of my most worn items.

Seriously, it's probably a good thing that I don't live closer.

Anyway, as someone who used to manage a boutique, my standards are pretty high. I expect unique merchandise and excellent customer service. Visiting a boutique should feel a bit like visiting an old friend. Staff should recognize you and and call you by name. They should treat you like a person and not just a customer. If you want to be treated like a dollar sign, go to the mall. If you want to be treated like a person, go to a boutique.

Cotton Blossom meets every expectation I could ever have. It's absolutely adorable inside. The staff is so very friendly and sincere- they aren't just trying to charm you into buying stuff. They don't have to. The inventory at Cotton Blossom is so deliciously cute that hardly anyone could resist it. I was going to photograph myself in my favorite items from Cotton Blossom but after two weeks of putting it off, I've realized it's not going to happen. (I have such a hard time with photos of myself. Ugh.) I decided it would be easier if I just swiped some of their facebook photos instead...

Are you dying now? I thought so. Anyway, you can see more photos on their facebook page or you can visit them in person, just in time to pick up an Easter outfit! They are open 10-8 M-F and 10-7 on Saturdays.

Anyway, have a wonderful weekend my bloggy friends!

I'm going to try and hit a couple of SLC Saturdays spots in between Easter celebrating and family visits and I'm going to have a great time playing, snuggling, egg hunting, and eating candy with this little lady...

XOXO and Happy Easter!