Red Stripes Forever

Can you tell that when I like something I sorta obsess over it? Hence the red week (strawberries, lipstick, beach outfits). Now more stripes! I'm even guest posting on Spearmint Baby with, yes, stripe-y picks for the kiddos.

Stripes and sparklers. This is my ode to 4th of July.

Watch | Candy Cane Tulip | Circus animal necklace

Red espadrille wedges | Sailor tote bag | Stripe headband

Umbrella | Barber shoppe soap | Maraschino twine

Striped ramekin | Infinity scarf | Stripe espadrilles

Question | Which Beach Outfit Is Better?

Red stripes - Beach by henryhappened

I need your help. We're going on vacation to the beach in a couple of weeks, and I'm trying to figure out what to wear. Yes, I will be in a one-piece and there will be Spanx involved. But I love red and I love stripes.

Which option to you like better, 1 or 2?

What about you, do you rock a two piece at the beach?

Fourth of July Favorites | Guest Mom Betsy

 

Whether we are at home or away our family loves the 4th of July. We love to celebrate America's birthday by seeing fireworks, watching our local parade and, of course, enjoying a few barbeques! Enjoy these cool finds from around the web for the 4th of July.

Stars and Stripes Cookies

4th of July Bike Decor

Pretzel Americana

Uncle Sam Ice Cream Cones

Glitter Stars Craft

Creme Filled Strawberries

4th of July Crown

DIY 4th of July Kids Shirts

Patriotic Mason Jar Sippy Cups

Red White & Blue Popcorn

4th of July Printables

What are your plans for 4th of July?

Do you travel or stay at home?

Stay Cool.-B

****

I'm loving all of the red, of course! Thank you, Betsy, for being our Guest Mom today. Don't miss all the fun finds at Coolkids!

Cool Mom | Betsy of Coolkids

Meet Betsy - a seriously cool mom who just happens to blog about cool kids! She showcases amazing kid finds at her blog Coolkids. She's totally in the know about funky Etsy shops and fashion sources. I love seeing the real life stylin' kiddos she features each week. Don't miss her 5 picks for cool little people. Welcome Betsy!



My name is Betsy and I am the blogger over at Coolkids! I am a mother of two cool kids (Mia 5 and Dylan 2). We live in the suburbs of Chicago, but I am a city girl at heart. I moved to Chicago after college and lived in the city for 10 years. We headed to the burbs after we had our daughter. I work as an Account Manager. I started my blog about a year ago for a creative outlet. It has since become a bit of an addiction, a great hobby and something I love to do!



I feel best about being a mom when: At the end of a long hard day, I get a million hugs, kisses and I love you's! It makes it all worth it! 

I stopped feeling guilty about: Being perfect. I tried my hardest to have the "perfect" home for the first 3 years of my daughter's life. Our house was pretty organized and clean. Then we had Dylan, and I realized for my own sanity I couldn't keep up the prefect facade any longer. Our house looks decent but it is not close to being perfect. I am okay with that because no one is perfect! 

My favorite family ritual: In the warm months we try to eat an earlier dinner on Sunday, and then we head out for ice cream for dessert. It is something we all enjoy. 

My favorite moment of the day: Morning. I love when my kids crawl into our bed with their crazy bed heads, blankies and lovies and cuddle up with us for a bit in the morning before we start our crazy day.

 
The biggest mistake I made with the kids: Not taking my son's paci away when he was one! He just turned 2 and is super attached! Ugh. 

How do you stayed organized? Hmm. It is really hard to stay organized working full-time and dealing with two kids. There just isn't enough time in the day! I will be honest and say we are not that organized at the moment and I am working on it! Can you get back to me in a few months? ;) 

Unhealthiest thing you passed off as dinner: Cereal 

Our family has fun together when: We love to spend time outside. We all love going to the spray park and beach together. 

Describe your mom style: I have to dress up for work Monday through Friday. On the weekends I am pretty casual, but I would say it is a Gap/J.Crew/Loft mix. We can call it Casual Cool Mom. ;) 

5 Favorite Things for Cool Kids

1. We love giddy giddy pouches
2. We love the contigo cups since we spend a lot of time in the car.
3. My kids favorite snack is pirate booty smart puffs!
4. My kids love their backpacks
5. Both of my kids have super hero capes that they LOVE! It is fun to see them play super hero's together! :)

Red Lipstick Diaries | 5 Days, 5 Shades

I've decided to celebrate one of my favorite colors this week - red. Yesterday was strawberries. Today is my new beauty secret - red lipstick.

For years I've relied on Chapstick and lip gloss. Then I saw how fabulous red lipstick looked on this mom and this one too. I've always feared fire engine red, sticking to safe shades, but these ladies look hot so what the hell?

I started where most of my beauty finds come from - Walgreens. I chatted up the beauty sales clerk, asking about popular brands and colors. These women are a font of information. Even better, whatever I don't like I can return for a full refund.

My challenge: wear a different shade each day for a week and decide whether I could pull off this look without major embarrassment.



Day 1: Maybelline Are You Red-dy
I loved the shocking red lipstick the minute I put it on. I felt a bit like a clown, but quickly started to embrace it. It was bright. Bold. A great true red that didn't dry out my lips. And I loved that I didn't need to put on anything other than a swipe of mascara. When you wear red you need to keep the tube close by to keep checking and applying it. It takes 2-3 coats to get the right color.

Day 2: Revlon Fire & Ice
The color looked great immediately after applying it, but it didn't stay that rich shade for long. Whenever I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror I had that ugly red ring on the outer edges of my lips where the color had worn away. Yuck. And I wasn't sure the hubby was loving the challenge. He kept giving me tentative kisses, worried I would brand him before going to work.



Day 3: L'Oreal British Red
After spending the day at home with both kiddos and being on day 2 of not showering, I was not inclined to gussy up. For a trip to Target I added the warpaint with a scarf and turquoise bangles to distract from the greasy hair situation. The color looked more pink than red in the tube so I was dubious. Amazingly the red made me feel almost pulled together.

And the smell of the L'Oreal lipstick reminded me of playing dress up in my grandmother's closet and painting lipstick on my (boy) cousin. It felt so good on the lips - very smooth, not cakey or drying like some. The color was just right.

Day 4: Revlon Flame
The shade looked quite pink in tube, which is so frustrating. I hate that you can't see the actual lipstick before buying. I had to force myself to wear it all day and tried not to make eye contact picking up the kids from camp. Definitely my least favorite.

Day 5: Clinique Red Red Red

Since I hadn't found my perfect shade yet, I decided to trade up. And it was so worth it. True to its name, the color was a rich red. No pink here! And it stayed on! And maybe because it was day 5 but bright, shockingly red lips almost felt normal. This would flatter just about any skin tone. A definite winner.

Conclusion: I'm a convert. Red is an easy day look for moms who don't want to fool with lots of make-up and a super fast way to add some sexy to date night. I'll probably keep trying other brands because finding the right shade is worth the money.

Would you wear red lipstick? Any recommendations?

Strawberry Soup and Strawberry-Banana Popsicles

I love cooking on the weekends. It's my only time to experiment with kitchen concoctions slightly more exotic than mac & cheese. Since my strawberry obsession drove me to buy 10 pounds of strawberries we've been eating them at every meal. But this weekend it was time to freeze or get creative.

After an amazing watermelon soup on Saturday, Mark suggested strawberry gazpacho. Sounds yummy. Caroline loves her nightly after-dinner treat and asked for a popsicle. Done!

Can I just say how much taking food pictures cracks me up? Everyone makes their food look so yummy, and I'm lucky to find a clean kitchen towel. I have about 30 seconds to get something on a plate and a picture snapped before someone sticks their finger in my bowl. How do people do it?

The soup, however, was creamy and delicious. I expected it to taste like a smoothie in a bowl, but the texture was different - not thick and meal-replacement like. But smooth and lovely and perfect for an appetizer. And how perfect is that pink?

Strawberry Soup

Adapted from Food Network

3 cups hulled and sliced fresh or (thawed) frozen strawberries
1 small orange, peeled
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 Rose wine
Fresh basil sprigs, optional

Put everything in a blender and puree thoroughly. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Pour through a fine mesh strainer and garnish with sliced strawberries and basil.

Popsicles have been pretty popular in our house this summer. I've been trying to find a good one that's made with actual fruit and not too sweet. As usual, nothing has compared to this homemade version.

Strawberry Banana Popsicles

Recipe adapted from Williams Sonoma via It Mom

1 cup pureed strawberries
4 oz. plain yogurt
1 1/2 TB honey
1 large banana, sliced

Puree strawberries and pour into small bowl. Stir in yogurt and honey until dissolved. Place banana slices in popsicle mold - I had a plastic popsicle mold from Target and the bananas stuck to the sides pretty easily. I could fit two slices on each side. Then spoon in strawberry mixture and insert popsicle stick. Freeze for at least an hour.

The Happy List

Happy Weekend everyone!

A few things that made me happy this week ... all of your encouraging words yesterday - I've loved all of your comments, you guys are the best! Mimi & Papa coming up for a visit, finding a steal on vintage porch furniture, and loading up the car with as many houseplants as it would carry. Palms make me feel all tropical-y. Now if I can just keep them alive.

A few more happy things from this week:

1. MINI WATERMELONS

Last weekend we loaded up on fruit at Costco. The best part? Two mini watermelons that were the best I've ever tasted. I still have 5 pounds of strawberries and 6 mangoes to go through. Maybe I will wrap them up in ribbon like these adorable ones from You Are My Fave.



2. BUNNY WISDOM

I love this wisdom from Baxter Bunny. Such simple and smart ideas - smile more, learn & read everything, think like they do in cartoons. I have a new addiction to Open Culture but my favorite idea: draw bunny ears on your bills.



3. TWIZZLERS

As a it's-not-a-movie-without-Twizzlers kind of gal, I will find a reason to make these clever favors.



4. RAINBOW WEDDINGS

I saw this wedding on Spearmint Wedding awhile back and can't stop thinking about it. More great details here.



5. FAMILY PHOTOS

These gorgeous photos make me want to have six kids. Aren't they the most adorable family?



6. VERTICAL BLACK & WHITE STRIPES

Yay! Yet another reason to love - and wear - stripes. Plus don't we all need red shoes?



7. CAKE PARTY

The cleverest & cutest party idea ever.

My Homework | 6 Ways to Help Your Child Talk

Before we get to the 6 tips, bear with me as I share a bit of our experience. I mentioned here that Henry is 16 months today. He says "mama" and "uh oh." Yesterday he added "go." Or maybe it was "no." I'm not really sure.

He crawls like a mad man. He loves pushing the little cart with the handy weights Dad fashioned. He has the sweetest, toothiest grin and can spend whole minutes playing with his trains and cars. You can tell he adores his big sister.

And yesterday he had his second physical therapy session and his first developmental interventionist session. Those are not phrases I thought I would ever use.

Three months ago when my mother-in-law broached the topic of delays, I was quick to brush it off. "Oh, he's just 13 months old, he's fine."

Then I started to wonder. Henry has always been easily frustrated with lots of crying and what I term "screeching." I cannot seem to make him happy. I've wanted to pull my hair out. And sometimes I've had to put him in his crib and give myself a time out.

I usually chalked it up to lack of sleep (he's never been a good napper) or even a milk allergy (I was weaning him and switching to whole milk). We went to see his pediatrician. When I described his delays in walking and communicating (not talking, pointing, or waving), he was concerned too.

Suddenly it became real. My son might have a problem other than being a cat napper.

The doctor said something that triggered an aha! moment for me - his screeching is probably frustration from being unable to communicate. His unhappiness wasn't my fault for not having a better schedule or breastfeeding longer or somehow being a better mom. I felt such an intense relief. This simple realization allowed me to let go of the resentment that had been building and focus on helping Henry.

We immediately started working with an amazing program in Kentucky called First Steps. They are down-to-earth, kind and supportive. They come to our home. Or to the park or the zoo if I want. They are lovely, lovely people.

Now I am loaded up with tips, games and exercises to do with the little man. I feel so guilty making him do little baby squats. I know, mommy hates them too.

Obviously things aren't "fixed" or perfect and yet I feel really good. We are doing something. And I don't feel like I'm figuring it out all on my own. We're seeing progress in just 2 short weeks - he now stands on his own and signs for "more"!

For anyone else encouraging their little ones to talk, here are 6 tips (my homework) from our therapist. I'm trying to stay zen and rediscover the joy of patty cake.

1. Point and label everything. Use only one word like "spoon" or "ball." Not a long phrase like "there's a big, red ball." Use the same technique when you read stories.
2. Ask "where's ___?" Then point and say "there it is."
3. Practice vocal turn taking. For example, when Henry says "uh oh" I reply with "uh oh." I wait for him to make a sound again and then repeat his sound.
4. Match gestures with words, like waving while saying "bye bye" or clapping hands while saying "patty cake." The goal is for the child to be able to do the gesture by hearing the word.
5. Teach simple signs. Start with "more" and "all done." You can get a lot of mileage out of those two.
6. Add environmental sounds or sound effects when you are talking or reading. Examples:
   
   • Animals
   • Cars
   • Trains
   • Bubbles (pop!)

Henry's Nursery Gets a Makeover

Henry is 16 months old today! And I'm feeling a little guilty because it can be such a bummer to be a second child. Poor Henry's nursery did not get nearly the same attention as his sister's. Heck, he was lucky to have a crib when he came along (and almost didn't).

His room did double duty as a nursery/guest room for a while until his sister needed the bed for her new "big girl" status. Now his room is a little bereft. And girly looking. With lots and lots of brown.



This picture was taken before the full size bed moved to Caroline's room. The room is plenty big - you can't even see the crib or dresser in the pic! Above are the items staying in the room: Crib, floor lamp, personalized name print, and dresser. I can't find a pic of our dresser anywhere. The one above mimics the look but not the size; ours is a full size dresser. The weird animal/bird purchases I made (I chalk them up to pregnancy hormones) are going bye-bye.

There seemed to be a common color theme in my inspiration photos (found here, here, and here). Lime green, blue or turquoise, and white.



Poor Henry's room desperately needs color. For me this feels bold. What do you think?



The room has a big double window so I'm planning to put up two curtain panels on each side - one green, one blue. And the shelving unit underneath. I'll probably have to find another lamp too now that he's too squirmy to actually use the dresser as a changing table.

Target floor lamp, $69.99

West Elm zig zag rug, $249 (the same one as in the inspiration photo)

Home Depot fern, $13

J.C. Penney curtains, $27.99 each

Minka Aire fan, $299.95 - Ceiling fans seem to be so frowned upon in design but I wouldn't give mine up for the world. Hopefully I can find this cheaper.

Etsy Vintage Hawaii map, $16

Etsy Kentucky Love print, $20 - made by Henry's first babysitter, I couldn't resist.

Overstock pouf, $191.99

West Elm side table, $129

Ikea Expedit book case/window seat, $59.99

Etsy Call Mom pillow, $89 - This will go to college with him.

Etsy Green ikat pillows, $22

Total: $1,271.88

 

Skin Care Tip of the Week - Guest Mom Lindsay

Our guest mom Lindsay is back with a fabulous skin care tip! And check out her Cool Mom secrets here.


I am a licensed esthetician and I LOVE helping people feel confident about their skin.

Exfoliating your skin will help prevent acne, refine your complexion, tighten your pores and keep your skin looking radiant and smooth.

Have you ever walked into a Sephora or a drug store and felt totally overwhelmed because there were SO many choices? Skincare shopping can be intimidating. I tend to get all flustered when I am faced with more than three choices, so unless I know EXACTLY what I need to get I avoid these places.

Today I am going to share with you a little secret natural exfoliator that you most likely already own.

Baking Soda

Baking Soda is the PERFECT exfoliator. It has just the right amount of grain to remove the dead skin cells and give your skin the ultimate glow! I promise you wont be disappointed.

Add a teaspoon of baking soda to favorite cleanser and mix. Exfoliate your face for about three minutes and rinse. Your skin will feel SO soft and refreshed.

Is that so refreshingly easy (and cheap)? Thank you so much Lindsay! Check out all of her skin care tips at Delighted Momma!

Cool Mom | Lindsay of Delighted Momma

I'm so excited to have Lindsay here today. She is the kindest blogger I've met - she could do a tutorial on how to leave a great comment. And it shows. Jump over & you'll see that readers are flocking to find her skin tips, recipes and thrifty finds on her fabulous blog, Delighted Momma.

She's definitely one of those moms you want to sit down & grill for all of their secrets! Thank you Lindsay for giving us a peak into your life as a mom!




Hello Henry Happened readers!

My name is Lindsay from Delighted Momma. I am a HUGE fan of Henry Happened so I am beyond excited to be here today getting to know all of you a little better!

My favorite moment of the day: The morning! My husband Ian gets up early to get ready for work. Max (our 11 month old son) wakes up like clockwork at the same time. Ian brings Max into our room and we snuggle just the two of us for about 30 minutes. Perfect way to start the day!

My proudest parenting moment: Hearing Max say MAMA for the first time! Even though that is ALL he says ... I like to pretend he knows exactly what he is saying ;)

How I balance working from home, being a mom & blogging: Well, I haven't figured this out yet ... but I am working on it, haha! I try to only blog when Max is taking a nap or at night after I have had some quality time with my husband. The days where I work (I own my own esthetican business) I try to give each client my full, undivided attention. If any of you have any tips or suggestions on how you balance it all I would love to hear!

A typical Saturday morning involves: Saturday mornings are my favorite! We wake up, turn on some music and get the coffee started. Ian is the best scrambled egg maker in the world! He makes a huge pan of scrambled eggs for the three of us and we all sit down and eat breakfast. So simple but I would not have it any other way.

My guiltiest pleasure: Dark chocolate covered espresso beans. I am addicted! Seriously it's bad now that I think of it. I make a run to our local grocery store at least 3-4 times a weeks to pick up a little bag of them ... they are SO good.

On my summer "to do" list: Take Max to the beach for the first time, go to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, roast marshmallows in our backyard, do a mud run, go kayaking and learn how to make my own sangria!

Don't miss Lindsay's skin care tip coming up next!

Today's Find | Ripe Goods Jewelry

I just found the Ripe Goods jewelry line. Each piece looks so light and delicate! I'm a huge fan of statement necklaces - on other people. Just can't wear them myself.

I love how the mother daughter design duo is inspired by "fresh" nature and vintage finds. This is my favorite piece from their summer line.



I love necklaces and am trying to remember to wear them more often. They seem like a pretty kid friendly accessory. I'm too worried about losing an ear lobe with earrings or getting poop stuck in a ring. Plus you can entertain kids with necklaces.

More necklaces and lovely earrings from Ripe Goods here.

What about you? What type of jewelry do you wear most often?