I love my boys. I love how drastically different they are from girls. We love action movies and superheroes these days. We have several thousand matchbox cars. (Okay, I exaggerate, but it seems like that many.) Every pair of pants Jackson owns has the left knee blown out from sliding around, driving the cars. They’ve started “pretending” a lot more, mostly a cops-and-robbers type scenario. Derik likes to “fight,” a.k.a. pretend wrestling and MMA. They are boys, through and through, and I love it.

These are all things my boys would love!

1// Big Words Flash Cards ($14) – They love learning new words. This is a fun set of flashcards, for big words. I’ve never believed in talking down to kids…you’d be surprised at what they can learn!

2// Old Navy Cargo Shorts ($22.94) – Lots. Of. Pockets.

3// Superhero Mask ($4) – I think if my boys had these, they’d never take them off!

4// Chalkboard iPhone ($18) – A low-tech way for kids to have their own “phone”…what a cool way to encourage creativity and imagination!

5// Refuse to Sink Sweatshirt ($24) – I have a hard time convincing them that it’s too hot for sweatshirts…they love wearing them. Luckily, it gets chilly most nights here, even in the summer.

6// Q&A For Kids ($16.95) – I would love to have this to record all the hilarious things they say, and get them thinking! 

I love to travel; I’d love to visit all 50 states someday! And I have a dream that someday I can see some of Europe, especially Ireland and Paris, and I’d love to visit New Zealand one day! I think part of the lure of out-of-country travel is having a stamp in my passport…which I don’t have. One day, right? For now, my travel wishes are a lot more simple…I’d love to see more of California (so much I haven’t seen!), visit the Seattle and Portland area, and see more of the South! We’re heading to Delaware soon to visit my family, and here are some things I wish I could bring with me!

1// Merona Cover Up ($19.99) – It’s always nice to have something comfy to throw on after a trip to the beach…this one is so cute!

2// Anthro Construct Maxi Dress ($78) – This looks like the perfect travel dress. It takes 7 hours worth of flights to get back to Delaware, and being comfortable is key.

3// Skinny Stacking Rings ($11/1) – I am in love with stacking rings, and these are perfect.

4// Leather Ballet Flats ($75) – These soft leather ballet flats are gorgeous and look so comfy!

5// Initial Tags Necklace ($27) – I love Junghwa jewelry…saving up for this necklace from my Etsy sales so I can get my boys’ names stamped on it...I think this will definitely be my first piece of her jewelry but it's so hard to decide...it's all so gorgeous! :)

6// Handmade Leather Travel Bag ($159) – This bag. I’m currently looking for something to take on the plane that will hold all my junk…my laptop, camera, headphones, the boys’ snacks…this bag is gorgeous and looks like it would fit the bill! One day…

P.S. Switching Listy List day to Wednesday, and making the Inspired By posts a rotating feature. These are my favorite posts to make, so I’d like to make them a permanent feature! 

I love to cook. And I love getting new things for my kitchen, and I have standby favorites that you can always find there. This is a list of the best of both…the things I have and love, and those that I’d love to try or add! And trust me when I say I’ll do repeats of this listy list…I’m always on the lookout for new kitchen items and always excited to share my favorites!

1// Mrs. Meyers Clean Day ($3.99) – I switch up soaps a lot based on what scents I feel like, but this has been a recent favorite! The scent I love is Lemon Verbena…it’s so light and refreshing! Target has had it on sale for $2.99 recently!

2// Weck Juice Jars ($24 for 4) – I love juicing but it’s a bit of a pain sometimes because you have to clean it right away. With these, I could juice for two days and keep it fresh in the fridge!

3// Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones ($17) – If you know me, you know I love ice cream. Luke got me this book for Christmas, and it is my favorite cookbook. Ever. The Salted Caramel recipe is my favorite ice cream on the face of the planet, which is shocking because I’m a chocolate girl. Trust me, it’s that good.

4// Kitchen Towels ($.79/ea) – How can you beat the price! They wash great, and I use them for everything! I buy 10 of them every time I go to IKEA.

5// White Truffle Salt ($25) – I’d love to try this…I love truffles (the chocolates too, but I’m talking about the pungent mushroom variety here). Haven Gastropub in Orange has these truffle fries that I actually dream about.

6// Blue Bottle Coffee in Giant Steps ($ 17/lb) – our favorite coffee. We’re out currently; I need to order some more!

7// Birch Paper Straws ($6/144) – these are adorable! I’d love to use them for a party!

8// French Rolling Pin ($12) – I need to get a new rolling pin, and I prefer the ones without handles. The one I have now has handles, and they pop out of the center of the rolling pin all the time! So irritating. I think Target has this same pin for only $10. 

Today I thought I’d share some of my favorite things on Etsy right now! I always have a huge list going, so it’s always hard to choose, but you can be sure it will be a regular thing to feature Etsy items here on my blog! I love Etsy, I really do! It’s such a great community of small business owners, really supportive people and you can find some amazing things…like I said I have a pretty big wish list. ;)

1// Hot Pink Washi Tape ($3.20) – I love washi tape, and I always tape up my packaging for my shop with it! This one would be a fun addition to my growing collection.

2// Artemis Arrow Necklace ($22) – Such a cute necklace!

3// Dainty Star Bracelets ($23) – Two cute little stars in gold and silver

4// Japanese Moss Ball Terrarium ($21) – I LOVE terrariums, and this one is so unique!

5// Home Sweet Home Print ($20) – My favorite color and pretty type all in one!

6// Full Moon Necklace ($75) – I love the old “I see the moon and the moon sees me” poem, and this reminds me of it!

7// Signature Publish Tee ($25) – A little biased here because I helped Christa design this. ;) But this is one of my favorite tees ever, so soft and classic!

8// Arrow Print Download ($5) – great art plus DIY? Best thing ever!

What’s on your Etsy wishlist? 

1// Canson Bristol

I love love love this paper. It’s heavy, super smooth, and really white even though it’s recycled! All of my typography art gets produced on this paper!

2// Sakura Micron Pens

This one is an addiction passed on by my mom. She’s always used these pens, and they are by far the best pens, with the blackest ink. My favorite sizes are 05 and 08, but I’m kind of in love with the brush pens for loose, sketchy writing, and for filling large areas.

  

3// General’s Kneaded Eraser

These are a basic essential, and I usually drop mine on the floor or in the dirt the minute I get it, but they are the best erasers out there.

4// Windsor & Newton Water Mixable Oils

Another one from my mom…she did an art class in which she needed to use oils, and tried these out. I don’t think oils are her medium, but I’ve been playing around with them and I’m really starting to like them. The drying time is long, but that’s actually something I love about it.

5// Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils

So here’s my list…tell me what you’re wishing was in your closet!

1// Laptop Sleeve Bag by Better Life Bags

2// C’est Si Bon Tank by neenacreates on Etsy

3// Black Tulle Skirt by fanfaronada on Etsy

4// Beaded Sweet Pea Coral Bracelet by junghwa on Etsy

5// Tiny Globe Earrings in Charcoal by tinygalaxies on Etsy

6// Twig Bracelet by Leif Shop

7// Edelweiss Tulle Tunic by Anthropologie

8// Hunter Coral rain boots from Neiman Marcus