Heavy Heart

Yesterday, our small community lost one of their own.  A son, brother, husband and father of two young boys...this individual will be dearly missed.  Having lost a brother myself, I can relate on some level.  But I just cannot imagine losing my husband...the father of my children.  His youngest is Ethan's age and this unfathomable loss has hit me to my core.  My heart grieves for his sister and his wife.  And those two young boys that won't get to see him again.

I'm holding my loved ones just a little bit closer in light of this tragic event.  My prayers are with his family and friends who grew up with him and are grieving this loss. 

xo natasha

Ethan is 15 Months!

Yesterday Ethan turned 15 months!

What's New:

Ethan's gotten really good at following direction.  The other night he was playing with a toy and since it was time for bed, I asked him to put it away.  Not expecting much I was so surprised when he put it back where he got it.  And yesterday, he picked up a crumb on the floor and put it in the trash.  Amazing I tell ya!  We've also gotten him to blow kisses {which is very familiar to thank you in sign language...}

Wears:

We've officially moved to 18 month jammies, but he's still fitting in his 6-12 month jeans.  Everything else is 12-18 months.  OH and he's still a shoes size 3...

Eats:

While we still rely pretty heavily on hearty purees, Ethan is starting to adjust more and more to pastas and other solids.  He also loves avocado and fruit.  

Teeth:

I think we have a total of 6 now...with more on the way.  The second two have popped out on his upper left hand side.

Talks:

Lots of baby babble but some decipherable words, a new one being "up".  He can mimic the sounds of what we say, but it's more inflection than actual words.  He also can sign more, please and thank you.  Smart boy!

Loves: 

Ethan loves pushing buttons and seeing what happens.  He's very mechanically inclined.  He also grabs for the door handle {and is dangerously close}.  Another thing he loves is sweeping, vacuuming or some combo of both.  We really need to get him a play vacuum.  He would love it!  He still loves his music and pretty much dances anytime he hears it, whether on the radio or commercial.  He just can't help by feel that beat!

Another new "love" is his blankie.  Every morning when he wakes up, he insists on taking it with him and drinking his morning bottle with it.  Sweetest thing ever!

Hates:

Ethan hates having anything taken away from him...like it becomes a total melt down scenario.  

Goes:

It's been nice that we've gotten to stay put this last month.  Ethan enjoys getting outside more and more...which sadly won't be much of a reality once the snow hits.  It's been SO cold these last couple days...but it doesn't seem to phase him.

And of course, anywhere Wilson is...you're sure to find Ethan close behind!  ;)

xo natasha

Last call this weekend to enter the $100 giveaway to Minted!  Winner will be announced on Monday!

Fall Style for Boys

Tee // Beanie // Striped Top // Vest // Pants // Mittens // Boots // Hi Tops

With the transition of seasons {and the chance of snow today!!!} I'm looking for warmer items for Ethan to wear.  I have to say...I still really enjoy dressing Ethan, especially now that he's walking.  Pants seem to fit better and of course, adding accessories, like shoes and beanies, is way more fun this year.  Above is a snapshot of the things I'm drawn to...of course you know I had to add some camo.  I am LOVING this pair for me as well!  ;)

xo natasha

PS...there's a couple days left to enter to win $100 for your holiday cards at Minted!

Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes

These may not be the prettiest looking pancakes but they are oh so good!  Thick and flavorful...you definitely need to make these this weekend for brunch!

Recipe from Tales of an Overtime Cook

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats (old fashioned)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch ground nutmeg
Pinch ground ginger
Pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar 
2/3 cup canned pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup milk (we used non-fat)

Method:

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. (We used the electric griddle)

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oatmeal, baking power, spices and sugar. 

Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined.

Spray the griddle well with Pam, or use a small amount of oil. When the griddle is hot enough, spoon some of the batter onto  frying pan and spread it slightly into a circle.

When the pancakes are set on top, flip it and fry for a couple of minutes until both sides are golden brown.

Wanting more pumpkin?  Check out the following posts:

Pumpkin Scones

Pumpkin Bars with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin "Donut" Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar

Pumpkin Spice Cupcake

Pumpkin & Pomegranate Granola

Yay for pumpkin...yay for fall!

xo natasha

PS...there's still time to enter to win $100 to Minted!

My Favorite Looks: Emmy Awards

I thought Sunday night's Emmy Awards was actually one of the best in a while, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the dresses on the red carpet.  Here would be my top five, in no particular order:

Only a dancer like Julianne Hough could get away with this dress, but I thought she looked beautiful.

Sofia Vergara looked stunning in Vera Wang.

Claire Danes dress does not photograph well but it was really gorgeous on camera.  I'm just not sure it was the best cut for her on top.

Malin Akerman's dress was another stunner on camera.  I absolutely love all of the texture and the pale blue.

But I think the men really stole the show this year...I mean, how much do you love these two?  And I'm so happy Breaking Bad won for Best Drama.  I can hardly contain my excited over the series finale THIS Sunday!  Ahhh!!!

Did you watch the show on Sunday?  Any looks I'm missing?!

All images from E Online

xo natasha

PS...don't forget to enter to win $100 to Minted!

Minted Feature + $100 Giveaway!

Hello Friends and Happy Fall!

If you're like me, you've already started to scope out the new holiday card designs for this upcoming season.  And chances are, if you checked out the Minted website, you may have seen the winning card design which featured our family's photo!  It was so cool seeing our photo on the winning card design and of course, the photo would not be possible without the the talents of my awesome photographer and friend Darcy of Artyard Photography.  

Minted just introduced their new foil-pressed holiday cards and I am loving them.  Here are some of my favorites:

Happy Everything

peacelovejoy

Cheers!

Twinkle Twinkle

Merry Christmas

So are you ready for the best part about this post?!  The wonderful people at Minted are giving away a $100 credit towards the holiday collection to one lucky Schue Love reader!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click here and fill out the fields.  That's it!

Enter by this Sunday, September 29th and the winner will be announced on Monday.  Good luck!

xo natasha

PS...I'm guest posting over at Kids and Cabernet today while Amanda is on vacation!  Check it out here!

Fall Uniform: Olive + Leopard + Statement Necklace

Blazer [similar] // 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Top // Pants // Necklace // Flats 

You all know about my new obsession with olive colored everything for the fall, so I thought I would show you a recent outfit that incorporates that new color and some other trends that I'm loving right now.

First, I have to point out the white tank I'm wearing.  I scooped it up at Target and really love it.  It's longer and sheer in the back and really flowy.  It compliments skinny jeans perfectly.  Speaking of skinny jeans, how great is this olive colored pair...also from Target!

I love leopard and like incorporating it in little ways, like on these flats.  The exact print is no longer available at Nine West, but you can find similar pairs here, here, here and here {get 25% off them too!}.

Last, isn't this statement necklace gorgeous?!  And can you believe it's only $18?!  I have to thank Katie for introducing me to this gem...it's pretty amazing and worth every penny!  Also, you might notice my little "E" necklace by Maya Brenner...still loving it too!

OH and before I let you go for the weekend, I want to announce the winner of the arrow tank and headband!  It's...

Julie from The Girl in the Red Shoes!

Congrats!!  So fun for my blogger turned real life friend to win!  Yay!!

Have a great weekend!!

xo natasha

Fall Mantel

Are you sick of hearing about the fall yet?  I sure hope not, because I've got a lot more to discuss.  Over this past weekend, I sadly finally took down our summer decor {including Ethan's 12 months garland...sniff sniff!} and threw up some fall decor.  I have to admit, the change in scenery is nice!

The decor is pretty simple...I wrapped a couple vases and candles with this burlap ribbon and purchased the fall branches from Pier 1.

Some rustic sticks and woodsy spheres gives it an earthy autumn touch.

  

I added a picture of Ethan in his owl hat {very fall} and put his little moccs on display.  

You can check out my 2012 fall mantel and 2011 fall mantel for some additional ideas!

You know I'll be adding some pumpkins soon and maybe a cute burlap banner too!  ;)

xo natasha

Psssst!!  Don't forget to enter to win a cute arrow top and headband here!

Fall Trend: Olive + Camo

blouse // scarf // anorak // flats // camo pants // olive pants // dress

I got to do a little fall shopping over the weekend and became obsessed with all of the pretty olive colors and fun camo options that are in stores.  Gap, in particular, has a beautiful shade called gartland green.  Among the options above, I love this dress and this camp shirt.

And how cool is that anorak?  Even the word "anorak" is cool.  If the above option is too pricey, check out this more affordable option here.

If camo isn't your thing, olive green also goes great with leopard!

xo natasha

PS...don't forget to enter to win an arrow tank and headband here!

everly b. love arrow {+ giveaway!}

Some of you my have noticed my newest sponsor on my sidebar, everly b.  Kamaya...the talent behind this cute shop, offers the cutest apparel for mama and baby.  She was sweet enough to send along the love arrow tank and knot headband for me to test out and review.

I absolutely love the tank...it's so soft and easy to wear.  Perfect for lounging around or working out in.  The knot headband is such a fun accessory too.  And bonus...she makes them for baby girls too!  Here's a better look at the tank:

And I'm dying to get my hands on the baby version here:

Now for the fun part, Kamaya is generously giving away a headband and an arrow tank for either you or baby.  How awesome is that?!

Enter below...and good luck!  The winner will be announced this Friday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Loving Lately: Fall Edition

Madewell Zip Pochette // Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Perfume // Gold iPhone 5S
 West Elm Favorite Throw // J.Crew Crystal & Tortoise Earrings // Zara Pointed Flat Shoe
Diptyque Tuberose Candle // Bobbi Brown Fall Palette

Fall brings about thoughts of warm colors, textures and layers.  The above is a snapshot of what I'm loving lately.

You know my love for pointed flats lately {as demonstrated in this post!} and these Zara flats are no exception.  I'm also loving my new Bobbi Brown palette...it's so rich for this time of year.  Last, I love Jo Malone and Diptyque and I know both of these scents would be right up my alley.  I have the latest Nordstrom catalogue sitting nearby and there is a sample of the Peony and Blush Suede that smells SO good!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  You can see what we're up to by following my on Instagram!

xo natasha

Little Obsessions: Toddler Products We Love

I thought I'd write a little round up on some of the toddler products we're loving lately.

We have the BOB stroller, and while we love it, it definitely lacks in storage.  Enter BuggyGear!  They have an awesome BuggyButler that not only acts as a drink holder {and insulated I might add} but also has several extra compartments to hold your necessities.  I especially love the cooler compartment to keep Ethan's food nice and chilled.  BuggyGear also sells over great products for your stroller, like the B-Hook and BuggyGuard, which are great for trips to the park or when you need to lock up outside a restaurant.  We used all of these products when we traveled last month and it definitely helped for storage and peace of mind.

Now that Ethan is walking, we are experimenting with new shoes.  We currently love these Tiny Toms and he seriously gets compliments everywhere he goes.  Such a stylin' little dude!

I was recently introduced to this organic Mama and Baby line called Earth Mama Angel Baby and I'm super impressed by their products...especially those for mama.  The Natural Stretch Oil is supposed to help prevent stretch marks {something I was super paranoid about during my pregnancy} and the Happy Mama Spray is supposed to help with nausea in those first few months...and for mamas with kiddos, it can even help with car sickness for those long trips.  We also love the smell of the baby lotion and wash.  

Last Christmas, I was searching high and low for cute Christmas jammies, so I didn't waste any time this year finding the perfect jams.  How cute are these Long Johns from Personal Creations?  I love that they have Ethan's name on them too!  They have a ton of cute personalized options for Halloween as well!

Last, we purchased the Ergo carrier when Ethan was an infant, but Ethan hated facing inward on our front so we didn't use it too much.  Well, I'm happy to report that he now LOVES being on the back looking over my shoulder and it's super comfy for me.  I hiked for an hour round trip and didn't have any problems.  If you're intimidated by larger hiking backpacks, then definitely consider the Ergo!

So there you have it!  What are your favorite toddler items right now?

xo natasha

Shoe Love: Fall Flats

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.  7.

I am totally falling for flats this season and I'm especially digging the d'orsay style that is already so popular.  I've also had my eye on the bow detail...and of course it's all about the pointed toe.

Are you stocking up on pointed toe flats for the fall?

xo natasha

PS...check out my fall style post over at Yuppie Files and help her welcome her adorable daughter Adelyn!  :)

Schue Vacation Part II: Michigan

Lake Michigan was the first lake I fell in love with and it's still one of my favorites {next to Tahoe of course!}.  It's very different from Lake Tahoe though in the fact that it is SO much bigger.  And one a sunny day, the water is perfectly calm.

I have always loved the grassy dunes and how green it makes everything.  We used to play hide and go seek and hunt for frogs in those dunes!

I seriously cannot wait for the day until Ethan can do the same.

But for now...we'll play in them for a bit.

And enjoy the beach!

The sand is so much more fine in Michigan, so Ethan was having a hey day with the texture.  He even plopped his face in it! 

Ethan loves giving "loves now"...especially while mama is busy reading!  ;)

We love going over to White Lake to check out the lighthouse.

Having just finished reading Whiskey Beach on this trip...this shot above totally remind me of it!  Love my trashy romance/mystery novels!  ;)

And of course, the old bayou.

We didn't get to see any turtles this time though!

And while our trip was super low key...spending time on the beach and with family...we did get to sneak in a fun blogger meet up with Julie from the Girl in the Red Shoes and Baby Hudson!!  

I mean, how cute are these little buddies?!  It was so nice to finally meet Julie!  We've formed a close bond having both had boys around the same time and I can tell you she is the sweetest person in real life!  Just as gorgeous as she looks on the blog and so down to earth.  We loved swapping mama stories and learning how each of the boys are doing.  I loved it...and wish we lived closer so the boys could grow up together.

Luckily, we plan to get back to Michigan more often so Ethan can enjoy all of the things that I did growing up.

Lake Michigan holds a special place in my heart...and always will!  

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

xo natasha