Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Ruche, a fabulous California boutique with vintage-inspired pieces. They're offering one lucky winner a $100 gift certificate to perk up her summer wardrobe.

(Ruche has super reasonable prices, so $100 would get a bunch of cute things -- for example, you could get two tops and a skirt, or a dress and sandals.)

For a chance to win, please visit Ruche's shop and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Kelly from Maine is our lucky winner. xo

Guest Post: Bocce Ball

Recently, I came across two bocce ball sets, and they're the prettiest I've seen. The $2800 Chanel one, of course, is for serious players and would take your bocce ball to a whole other level. Which outdoor games do you enjoy playing?

Restoration Hardware Bocce Ball Set; Chanel Bocce Ball Set

-- By Rachel from Black Eiffel

Guest Post: Mini things for mini people...

...that i'd totally wear in grown-up sizes...

{left to right, top to bottom: roxy little girls romper, smallable striped tee, j.crew girls dress, giga & zaza shoes, j.crew boy's tie, and trumpette metallic mocs}

-- By Joy from Oh Joy and Oh Joy Eats

Guest Post: Magical Bubble Photos

When I came across these photos by Romain Laurent, I let out an audible *gasp." I wonder how he was able to capture such a magical moment? What are your thoughts?

-- By Rachel from Black Eiffel

Guest Post: Picnic Ideas

I love Joanna's idea of having a picnic club. What a blast that would be throughout the warming spring and summer months! I envision delicious food picked up a a local deli or nearby farmer's market and lots of outdoor games like bocce ball and croquet and just having fun hanging out with a group of friends. Here are a few things to bring outside. Happy picnicking, everyone!

From top left: Disposable wooden forks; Portland picnic plates; Weber Smokey Joe Grill; france cheeseboard; Belvoir fruit juice A.P.C. dress; John Lewis picnic hamper Anorak kissing rabbits picnic blanket

-- By Rachel from Black Eiffel

The Kids Are All Right

This movie looks great (as does Mark Ruffalo). It comes out July 9th.

Toby after dinner

A few readers asked for more family photos, so here's one of Toby and me after feeding. He always looks like Wallace Shawn when he's getting burped, which we find adorable and hilarious.

Guest Post: Wedding Inspiration

Since I'm in the midst of planning our wedding which is *gasp* only a few weeks away, I thought I'd leave you with some inspiration for the big day.

Clockwise from top left: Cheese display; cake flags; May 4th tie; butterflies; fieldwork flowers; long guest table; airplants.

Couple in boat; guests.

Thanks again to Joanna for having me here. I've had fun blogging about babies, dresses and weddings. Congratulations to Joanna and Alex, and welcome to the world, Toby!

-- xo, Alyson from Unruly Things

Guest Post: Backless Dresses

I love open back dresses, especially this dress from Eskell's spring collection. Open back dresses are so sexy and perfect for spring/summer nights.

Bottom three from Frances May.

-- By Alyson from Unruly Things

First day of summer

Today is the first official day of summer! Yahoo! Do you have any fun plans for the season? I'm looking forward to taking breezy evening walks, drinking bright pink rose and squeeeezing back into my jean shorts. xo

(Photo by Stephanie Congdon Barnes)

Guest Post: Baby Stuff

Hi, there! This is Alyson from Unruly Things. I'm so happy to be here guest blogging while Joanna is enjoying her new mommy bliss. It seems there are quite a few lovely ladies in my life that are expecting or have just had a little one of their own. So I thought I'd kick off the week with some super cute baby stuff that's made my heart swell.

Clockwise from top left: Vintage sunsuit; organic teddy bear; striped onesie; infant Converse; sara sandals; gingham shirt; bib.

-- By Alyson from Unruly Things

Afternoons with Toby

Afternoons with Toby are the best. We sing and read, and one of us loves to stare for ages at a red shopping bag. I am totally in love with his mouth, which goes back and forth between a triangle and a circle. Although I want him to grow up, I also want him to stay exactly the same forever.

Guest Post: I can see clearly now...

...through multi-colored glasses...

{left to right, top to bottom: milly gum drops ring, kate
spade gumdrop studs, acquamiki pendant lamp, wine and olive wood jar from moma, and ballet flats from fred flare.}

-- By Joy from Oh Joy and Oh Joy Eats

Guest Post: Sky treats

For pops

and ma

and little buddy.

-- By Melanie from You Are My Fave

Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Snoozer Loser, They're offering this rad vintage 1960's quarter pendant. Get this: The pendants were used to carry exactly $2 in quarters for laundry, vending machines or parking meters. How awesome is that? Would be great to wear around town and on trips.

For a chance to win, please visit Snoozer Loser and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Fritzi Marie is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo

Guest Post: Woodsy treats

A reminder for dad

something sweet for mom

and something sweeter for baby.

-- By Melanie from You Are My Fave

Guest Post: Bicycle treats

For dad

mom gets two

and baby is styling.

-- By Melanie from You Are My Fave

Guest Post: Nautical treats

For dad

and mom

and don't forget baby. (Mobile in production and coming soon)

-- By Melanie from You Are My Fave

Have a wonderful weekend

My darlings, what are you up to this weekend? My mom is visiting and has been making us the most delicious meals, including lamb stew and shrimp with creamy rice (and she's baking cookies today!). It has been a wonderful, dreamy two weeks so far as a family. Hope you have a fun weekend, and, in the meantime, here are a few great posts from around the web.... xo

Lovely lighthouse wedding.

How to make the best scrambled eggs.

Living in a Fellini film.

Most beautiful cabin ever.

We just got six of these latte bowls and love them.

A little strut!

Cotton bloomers.

More cotton bloomers.

Pretty outdoor photos.

These paper cups would be fun for parties.

How cute is this photo montage that Abbey made for her son's first birthday? As she said, what a difference a year makes!

A beautiful new paper-cut world map.

Cute notecard.

Green graffiti.

Pretty. She looks like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

A wedding with cookies and daisies!

Adorable British kids clothes.

The World Cup? Yes, please.

Plus two videos:

The Iceland volcano.

This SWEET little boy got a hearing device, and this video shows the amazing moment that he starts to hear.

Have a wonderful weekend!

(Photo by Brookelyn Photography, from this family shoot)

Tourist lanes

Well, that is hilarious.

Toby's tummy time

I mean, seriously. This might be my favorite photo yet. We try to give him tummy time, but sometimes he is just...too...sleepy....

Thursday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Felt & Wire, the fabulous paper goods marketplace. They're offering four sets of notecards from stationery brand Paper + Cup. The flat cards are letterpress printed with pink or mint stripes and come with white envelopes. The lucky winner will get two sets of pink and two sets of mint. Aren't they adorable?

For a chance to win, please visit Felt & Wire (they have such great stuff!) and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Jillian T. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo

Guest Post: Casa collection

Brooklyn-based Roberto Gil's Casa Collection offers custom design and fabrication of children's furniture and has competed over 150 projects in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Harvard-trained architect's influences include Gerit Rietveld, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier and Donald Judd.

-- By Rachel from Handmade Charlotte

Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Elephantine, a jewelry shop based in Seattle. The designer Rachel is offering her eastern holiday necklace, on which a Thai bead is strung onto a sterling silver chain. Don't you adore how feminine it is? I'd love to wear this all summer.

For a chance to win, please visit Elephantine's shop and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Annie L. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo

Inspired by Iceland

Inspired by Iceland is a new project by the Icelandic government that encourages people to travel to Iceland and not be too scared of volcanos. Don't you love this video that they made? The filming is incredible, and, oh, those glaciers! (Thanks, Harpa)

Guest Post: Summer Cycles

Here are a few dreamy vintage rides for exploring the countryside this summer...

The lovely Vespa Ape Calessino, a popular Mediterranean runabout from the '50s, would be ideal.

Piaggio recently announced a new all-electric version of the Ape Calessino (sadly, it's not available in the US).

-- By Rachel from Handmade Charlotte

Guest Post: Summer Camping Trip

An inspiration board for a summer camping trip. Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Vintage postcard; 2. A Field Guide to Weeds book; 3. address book; 4. botanical chart card; 5. Billykirk overnight bag; 6. Roger Miller album; 7. Cole Haan boots; 8. field sketches by William Berry; 9. striped bathing suit; 10. vintage Minolta camera.

-- By Anna from Rifle Paper Co.

Toby in repose

Oh, that face. I can't believe he's 10 days old today. They grow up so fast. :)

Madewell online

Yay, good news! Madewell -- the little sister of J. Crew -- finally has online shopping. They have really fun, laid-back looks. My summer wish list now includes these slouchy sweatshorts. xo