Friday Favorites

Happy last Friday in August! I mean.. how did that happen?! We've had a rough week over here, I think Rowan is allergic to sleep (ha!) between the hours of 4:30 AM and 7 PM, so my favorites today are going to be short and sweet!

New Rug + Booties

Rug. Booties (Taupe sold out, similar)

Y'all I love our new rug for our guest room! The colors are even prettier in person. Its pretty thin so I wouldn't recommend it for a high traffic area, but its super soft! And no, we haven't had any boot weather here in Charleston yet (insert grumpy face emoji) but the cooler temps up North made me super over the summer. I can't wait to break these booties in with some skinny jeans and a cardigan!

Funfetti Cookies

I'm not sure if there is a greater invention than funfetti cupcakes, but funfetti cookies are right behind them. I just used the box cake mix with 1/3 cup of vegetable oil and 2 eggs. So easy and perfect for my sweet tooth. Now if only I got this excited about the veggies I also purchased! 

Emily Ley: "3 Steps to Overcoming Overwhelm"

Wearing multiple hats (mom, employee, wife, blogger, etc) has taken its toll on me the last few weeks, and its easy to get overwhelmed. Making time to take care of myself and do what I love (i.e. blogging or working out!) has not been a priority, so Emily Ley's post really hit me. It might seem like obvious advice but it really helped to read it! Highly recommend!

Mini Me

Rowan looks so much like me in the photo above, I can't get over it. I still see a lot of my husband at times too though, I think he's a really perfect mix.

Festive PJs

Y'all I can't help myself... I'm already stocking up on festive pajamas for Rowan. I picked up these and these, now I just have to hope I guessed his size right! Holidays are going to be so much fun this year!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Linking up with April and Christina!

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Stroller Talk

When you're working on your baby registry there are so.many.options.

Want a breastfeeding pillow? There's like 18 of them. How about bottles? Five million types with different parts. Do I want the puppy or the jungle-y bouncer?

Add in your hormones, budget, and expectations for when baby number 2 comes along.... It's overwhelming. 

Since I didn't plan on jogging with my stroller (unless you count catching up with the ice cream truck) and trunk space wasn't an issue, I had an even larger variety to choose from. 

 Elizabeth Bag c/o Lily Jade. Stroller.

My criteria: one that can be converted to a 2-seater, the ability to attach a bassinet (which we never ended up buying), a roomy storage basket, and the ability to face the seat towards me or away. What? You thought weight, ease of folding, and a smooth ride would be a priority? Ha. 

Don't hold my momiform or my inability to strike a less awkward pose against me. #notafashionblogger

I will say that overall I really love our stroller. But there are days when I wish I had a lightweight umbrella stroller that could fit through aisles at the Carter's store. Seriously why don't they make their stores stroller friendly?!

Behold, the Britax B-Ready stroller... In all of its large and in charge beauty. 

Britax B-Ready stroller. (FYI- That bar you see hanging is easily attached to the other side or it can be removed.)

What I love...

Everything is adjustable. The seat can recline to 3 different positions, the footrest moves, and the handlebar can move up and down based on where it's most comfortable for you. My favorite aspect though is the reversible seat.   

Convertible. When the time comes (definitely not in the near future!) we can add another seat instead of having to purchase another stroller. So its a larger price tag up front but we don't have to do it all over again when Rowan gets a sibling. You can also buy a bassinet attachment, which I was all about until I realized the only time we'd really use it was for walks around our neighborhood since he'd be in his car seat while we were out and about. 

Ease of Use. The single foot locking mechanism is easy and changing the direction and recline of the seat is really simple.As for setup, now I think it's pretty easy to fold and unfold but at first it was so hard for me to remember how to do it. It self stands while folded which is also a great feature.

Quality. It's very sturdy- I don't worry about any flimsy parts or faulty tires. The harness and large sunshade are also really nice. 

 Elizabeth Bag c/o Lily Jade. Stroller. Stroller Fan.

What I'm not crazy about...

Size/Weight. This is a large stroller, there is no doubt about it. It's probably one of the widest out there so let's just say we don't take this to King Street for shopping. It's also on the heavier side. Again... I knew this going in and compromised for the sake of adding a second seat later on. 

Car seat adapter. We weren't a big fan of the Britax infant car seat (heavier than the Chicco Keyfit 30 that we purchased) so we had to get an adapter. Not really a big deal since the car seat still folded up just fine with that attached, but its an added expense.

Suspension. It's a little bumpy if you've got some uneven sidewalks, but that really hasn't been an issue for us. As you can see, Rowan was passed out regardless! 

So the ultimate question is... would I buy the Britax B-Ready stroller again? Absolutely!

We may end up getting a cheap umbrella stroller to keep at Grandma's house so we don't have to travel with this so mamas, do you have any you'd recommend?

Linking up with Natalie and Annie! 

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Summer, So Far

Brace yourselves for a photo dump. We've been so busy this summer I haven't had time to do many weekend recaps, ramble about how I'm totally over summer in the South, or share even the tiniest of progress in the new home. So here goes...

Rowan's first wedding

We took Rowan to his first wedding! He was a hit in his little bow tie and suspenders (from Sweet N Swag, seriously cannot get over how cute these are!) and though there were a few soggy wedding programs, he was really good and we managed to avoid a mid-ceremony meltdown!

Naturally I had Rowan's outfit planned for months but had no options for myself so I squeezed my post-prego body into my rehearsal dinner dress from back when I was skinny, tan and sans bags under my eyes.

I may have had trouble breathing in it this time around but the tree coming out of my back in that photo serves as a good distraction. As does the cute baby, of course!

House Updates

I hit the trigger on a guest bedroom rug which is lightening fast speed for my decision making skills. Any guesses as to which one it was? We also rearranged the furniture in the room and I think it looks much better now!

I also talked my husband into adding a fireplace to our living room! If you know me, you know I'll be going through withdrawals without a mantel to decorate this Fall. I had to compromise and agree to mounting a TV over the fireplace but I do think its the best use of our space. Here is our inspiration (with different tiling)... I'm not sure if we'll DIY or not but I'm crossing my fingers we can make it happen before Rowan's first Christmas!

Date Night

Six months after the birth of our little guy, Steve and I finally went on a date night! We may have been joined by my dad and some of my friends but hey, I'll take it. Thanks for babysitting, Grandma! We indulged in overpriced beers, Primanti's sandwiches (which include fries and coleslaw on the sandwich... total artery overload but oh so good), and some of the best views of Pittsburgh.



Brunch

The atmosphere and food at Edmund's Oast in Charleston is on point! I can't wait to go back this Fall and enjoy a few Fall beers in their outside seating. If you're in town, definitely put it on your list. Though Charleston does not disappoint in the brunch department no matter where you go!

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Guest Bedroom Inspiration

I hope you've all had a great week! A twelve hour road trip with a baby, laundry marathon, and endless coffees later... I'm ready for another weekend!

We packed our SUV to the brim last week and headed North for a wedding and some family time. It was so much fun but exhausting at the same time. Rowan looked like a total stud at the wedding, I couldn't even handle the cuteness. Stay tuned for a photo dump!

Now that we're home I'm hoping to get started with finishing up some of home projects that have been at the top of my list, like painting the remaining bedrooms and putting some decor on the walls. It's been hard to do since A) world's slowest decorator over here and B) when you do it yourself, you're at the mercy of the baby's naptime and your energy level.

I've shared some peeks at our guest bedroom but its sort of been in a standstill since then. Here is what the room looks right now, complete with our resident photo bomber, angry tan walls, and sans any type of legitimate bedding.

And here is what I'm hoping to do with it...

Rug. Bed. Nightstand. Gold Knob. Mirror. Curtains. Dresser (DIY from nursery).

I've been obsessing over some high-end antique-inspired Persian rugs but I'm currently searching for more affordable options because $1,600+ for a rug is crazy. I am normally against putting a rug on carpet but eventually we're going to replace the flooring so I feel safe starting with a rug and working towards other details like paint color and pillows.

(Clockwise from top) Caitlin Wilson Rug. Surya Rug. Anthropologie Rug.
Overdyed Rug. Oriental Weavers Rug. nuLoom Rug.

The overdyed rugs are a little out of my comfort zone but I'm loving the navy and pink combo. I think paired with light walls, white bedding and some interesting wall decor, it could make this room a really fun space for guests.

What do y'all think? Too much?

Linking up with Natalie and Annie!

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Modern Baby Boy Style

I confess: Rowan's collection of clothing is getting a little out of hand. My husband warned me that he does not approve of smocked clothing after the age of 2 (and that's pushing it) so I've tried to branch out.

You all know I also love to shop small as much as possible. I've confessed my love for Sweet N Swag mocs and bow ties, but I've recently found a few more shops that I love! Alley+Rae Apparel is one that I found while scrolling through Instagram.

Bussin' Tee c/o Alley+Rae Apparel

Most of the time Rowan rocks a plain white onesie because its just easy. But when I received his Alley+Rae Apparel tees I decided their little tees might just be the cutest thing ever!

Don't Be Mean Tee. Lulu and Roo Surf Shorts. Sweet N Swag Honeysuckle Mocs. Lulu and Roo Beanie.

These tees are so soft and they wash up really well. There are tons of different options with cute graphics like the VW bus Rowan is wearing or others with fun, positive messages for your babes.

I mean how could I not put Rowan's cute Bussin' Tee on with his pineapple shorts? So perfect for our Charleston summer!

 

You can find more of Alley and Rae Apparel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Make sure to use the code  SWEETRUBY for 15% off your Alley and Rae Apparel purchase!! Coupon expires 9/15/15.

Disclosure: I received complimentary tees from Alley and Rae Apparel for the purposes of this collaboration. 
As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

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Weekend Snaps

Monday, we meet again and always too soon. Ah, how I wish we could rewind to this weekend again, it was such a good one! I felt so productive and we finally got a few full nights of sleep (thank you Rowan!).

Make sure to follow on Snapchat (@HomeSweetRuby) for more of the fun, but in case you missed it here are a couple highlights from the weekend!

Brunch at Poogan's Porch with the Charleston girls + Biana, Pamela, and Amanda during their visit!

SO much fun meeting these gorgeous ladies and catching up! Poogan's is easily my favorite brunch spot in Charleston so you can't go wrong there.

Rowan's first trip to Isle of Palms beach. He still wasn't a fan of the ocean, especially after this mama freaked out when he almost ingested that handful of sand.

Though I'm sparing you from the other 3435 photos we took of Rowan at the beach, you are stuck with my unfortunate hairline above.

I hope you had a great weekend! I'm off to scroll through photos of my now 6 MONTH OLD (!) while he naps. I can't even!

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! It's been a crazy week here with my husband out of town for part of it and Rowan's sudden crazy sleep antics. Is there a full moon or something?! Anyway it's been way too long since I linked up with April and shared some Friday Favorites, so here we go!

ONE

We're getting pretty excited football season is almost upon us! And Fall clothes of course. Though everyone here knows we don't get to wear those until at least October. I die over this puffer vest and these moccasin slippers for Rowan. Those slippers are for sure going in his Christmas stocking, if I can wait until then!

TWO

When your makeup doesn't match your face any longer you know its time to get some color. I'm excited to finally try out the Rodan + Fields sunless tanner that my friend Rachel hooked me up with. Has anyone used it? I've heard so many good things so hopefully it lives up to its hype. Any tips for application?

THREE

Stroller (Love it!). Stroller Fan

Rowan totally judged us for bypassing all of the fruits and vegetables at the Farmer's Market this week in favor of the doughnut truck and kettle corn stand... Look at those chins!

FOUR

Excited for our blogger date this weekend! It's always fun getting together with local bloggers (many of which I consider my Charleston family now) but meeting bloggers while they are visiting is an extra treat. It's safe to say a cocktail and some girl time is much needed after an exhausting week!

FIVE

Cheap Rosé from Trader Joes. I think this bottle was $5 and it was much better than the $9 bottle we bought. I know, big spenders. For the record we do splurge for better wine but I can only have a glass or two since I'm still nursing and I hate to waste it. Also what can I say, I'm a cheap date!


I hope you all have fun plans for the weekend! Aside from stuffing my face with food and finally finishing our DIY coffee table, there are a lot of naps planned in this household. Lets just hope Rowan gets the hint!

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