Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Clays (family of 2 soon to be 3)!  This is the last Christmas the hubby and I will have just the 2 of us, and I'm going to soak it all in and relax as much as possible.  It's crazy how fast time flies and I can't believe our little babe will be here in a couple of weeks!  Ahh!  Are you ever ready for such a big change?  We are excited (and a little nervous), but we know it's going to be wonderful.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and get to spend time with the ones you love!

XOXO,

Lauren, Daniel and Bebe Clay

via here

A Fur Coat

I have been longing for a fur coat for a couple of seasons now and have yet to find the perfect vintage one to get.  Pinterest this morning is taunting me because all I see are fur coats upon fur coats.  (This rainy cold weather isn't helping either!)

Does anyone else get the perfect image of what they want in their head and then struggle to find just that?  That seems to be the story of my life!

The search will continue.

via 1, 2, 3

A Simple Christmas

This year I am all about simplicity for the holidays.  Partly due to the fact that I'm almost 9 months pregnant and partly due to the fact that we're moving and my house is in boxes as we speak.  Somehow we always end up moving around Thanksgiving or Christmas, and we're bound to get out of this cycle on our next move.  (Which won't be for some time if it's up to me!)

With all the stress going on right now with work, holidays, moving, schedules and baby, I'm sticking to a simple (and I mean SIMPLE) Christmas.  And I'm loving all the Pinterest inspiration I'm finding to help me along in the process.

The hubby has been great about helping me to focus on what really matters because this is such a special time for us, but the type A personality in me wants everything done and done perfectly.  I'm having to let go and just take one day at a time, and that's really all we can do, right?

What do you have going on this season?  Is it crazy like it is here and you are ditching the over-the-top decor?  Or are you settled and decking out everything you can for this joyous season?

via here 

Thankful

It has been a stressful time here lately, but I'm so thankful for my amazing husband, who I love more than anything, and this perfect little babe growing inside me.  My heart is full!

A New Home for Three

We can cross one thing off our list before bebe gets here - a new home!  Yes, we found a house for rent for our growing family, and we couldn't be happier.  Daniel and I tend to be really picky when it comes to home details, but we knew we had to lighten up because you are never going to find the PERFECT house.  There's always going to be things you want to change, but for the most part, this little 1938 bungalow fits our tastes.

There's original hard wood floors, crown molding, a fireplace, and a sizable backyard...all things that were on our "wish list."  But then with all the charm of an old home comes all the quirks...small kitchen, small bathroom, old cabinets, cracks, etc.  Those are the things we have to let go and just get used to.  We don't have too much more time to look... bebe will be here in less than 2 months!

So after the major clean out we will be doing (and I mean MAJOR), we are still going to have to find some space saving solutions.  (Who knew this little bebe could come along with so much stuff!)  I've been searching pinterest for ideas that are practical but still look good, and some of my finds are above.  The major areas we are going to have to cut down on are the kitchen (where are all my dishes going to go?), decor (we will finally have to find a bookshelf and a space for my magazines) and of course, the closet (Ahh!).

I think this is a good change for us though; we need to get rid of all the junk we've accumulated over the past 5 years of marriage and start new with just the basics.

It's a new chapter and we are definitely ready for it.  If you want to follow more of my choices, you can find me on pinterest here.

Now, time to start packing!

images via 1, 2, 3, 4

Oh, Felicity!

Is anyone else still as obsessed with Felicity as I am?  Keri Russell can do no wrong when it comes to casual style.  (Movie choices, on the other hand, are another story.)  She's just so cool and carefree!

image via here

Prepping for Bebe

I guess I have officially entered the "nesting" stage of pregnancy because I have spent all weekend doing the little's laundry and organizing his/her things.  I don't think I've ever been more excited to do laundry and organize bedding, toys, clothes, etc.  I'm sure I won't always feel this way (ask me in a couple of months when I'm sleep deprived and have a screaming newborn on my hands) but I sure am enjoying it now!

It's funny how seeing everything laid out and put together makes the thought of actually having a little one seem more real.  I know it's real (this bump and all those kicks remind me often) but sometimes it's hard to actually comprehend that we are bringing another human being into this world.  Crazy!

And the best part is going through all these emotions with my wonderful hubby!  I think I like seeing his excitement even more than mine.  He's going to be such a good dad that it makes me want to tear up just thinking about it.  (These crazy emotions might have something to do with me being so sensitive lately too.  Ah...this body of mine is going through so many changes so quickly!)

We have three more months to go, and I can't help myself wanting them to go by quickly so we can meet our little one.  I think we are ready to be a family of three!

onesie via Zara

Coat Fever

I am already searching for my winter coat (and have been for a while now...shh!)  and it was 81 degrees outside today!  Is that crazy?  I just can't help myself.  I look forward to Fall and Winter the most and start daydreaming about the coat I will get in April.

This year I'm going for something classic and simple.  (That's kind of what I've been all about lately.)  I found this coat at Zara and think it just might fit the bill.  It will last me a good couple of seasons, and it's roomy enough to cover the growing bump I'll have come November and December.

What style are you looking for in a coat this winter?  Colorful?  Crazy?  Tailored?  Fur?  Oh...and I'm on the hunt for the perfect fur (or faux fur).  I searched and searched last year for the "one" and had no luck, but I'm pretty sure this year is my year!  We're having a little...that's got to be good luck, right?

Seriously...

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this home tour on Eye-Swoon.  I have fallen in love with this blog and definitely her home in Amagansett.  It's beautiful in every since of the word, and I would move in in a heartbeat!

You can see the rest of her home tour here.  Enjoy!  (Caution - you might spend the next couple of hours scrolling through her blog.  Hopefully you don't have too much planned for the day, but hey, it's Friday!)

Cravings

I have been lucky these past 5 months as I wouldn't really say that I've had a ton of cravings.  (Aversions are more like it, but we'll save that for another post.)  There's the occasional "I need to have this right now" but then it seems to pass, and I don't crave it again.  But lately, cinnamon rolls have hit the spot on more than one occasion, and I'm eating it up!  (Pun intended.)

On a coffee date a couple of weeks ago, I saw the biggest cinnamon roll that was taunting me.  I was good and restrained, but then at the grocery store I thought I'd oblige myself and picked up a pack of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.  (You know the kind your mom used to cook before school?)   The hubby and I made them the following weekend, and they were perfection.  I couldn't even remember the last time I had one, but why had I waited so long?  I think now I'm going to try to make my own and vary the flavors a little.  Pumpkin would be so great for Fall!

This post really doesn't say too much except that I am enjoying cinnamon rolls.  There could be worse foods to crave and who knows, I might have more cravings in these last 4 months, and you can bet I'm going to enjoy every bit of it!

image via here

Clean Out & Re-do

You can call it "nesting" or whatever suits you, but I am in major clean out & re-do mode.  I know we have 4 1/2 months until bebe will join us in our apartment, but my thoughts are to get the "grunt" work done now so then I can focus on the fun stuff - the nursery!  And since that said nursery will be in the corner of our bedroom for the first couple of months (yes, we will still be in our one bedroom apartment when bebe gets here) I want all this junk in our house gone!

So, first things first - my closet!  I have already cleaned out my shoes, purses, accessories and clothes and have sent them off for donation.  I'll probably do another round once bebe gets closer because I still have WAY TOO MUCH, but it's a start.  Then I'm moving on to the rest of the house - decorations, kitchenware, furniture.  I only want the essentials, and I want everything to feel very minimal and clean yet still have plenty of character (like all the images above.)

I am gravitating toward white and gray in the nursery corner (because bebe's gender will be a surprise), and that has me on a kick to make everything in the house mainly white.  White has always been my first love in interiors and makes any house seem so light and airy, which I love and will probably need once all the bebe stuff starts to take over!

So, now you know what I'll be doing the next couple of weekends...cleaning out and getting rid of all our excess "stuff" we've accumulated over the past couple of years.  Where, oh where did it all come from?!

images via 1, 2, 3, 4

A Change

I finally did it!  I chopped my hair off a couple of weeks ago and couldn't love it more!  (Here's a pic the day after it was cut.)  I haven't had short hair in 7 years and it feels so fresh and new for Fall.

I am also loving the fact that cooler weather is starting to creep in (slowly but surely we will be out of the triple digits!)  And you know what that means - bell bottoms, long sleeves and layers...yippee!  Fall is my absolutely favorite time of year, but I'm already noticing that it might be a little tricky this year with this growing bump.  I can still fit into most of my pants, but I just know its only a matter of time before my favorite high-waisted wide legs don't fit any more.  :(  And does anyone know of maternity bell bottoms?  I am definitely going to have to find a pair!

All in all, I'm excited about the new changes ahead and couldn't be happier about this little miracle growing inside me!

photo via here and more of my Fall style here

Way Too Cute!

via here

An Egg Sandwich A Day

Lately I have been trying to eat more protein (for my health in general, but mainly for this little bebe inside me).  What I used to enjoy every so often has recently become my fave...the egg.  I will always be a carb lover, but this little guy has changed my life.  Instead of my regular toast and jam in the mornings, I have toast and a hard-boiled egg and ta-da!...I'm full until lunch.  And then when lunch rolls around, I simply add an egg to my go-to wrap, and looky there...protein in both my meals so far.

Most people think I'm crazy for never really liking "that much" protein or meat, but it's just how I am.  But maybe not for long...eggs are so easy and quick that they have won me over.

And just look at all the recipes you can make with them.  I am definitely trying these 3 sandwiches above.  Do you have any favorite egg recipes I need to try?

via 1, 2, 3

Oh Bebe!

We have some news in the Clay household - Baby Clay is coming to join our little family in January 2014!  Yippee!!  We couldn't be more excited or thankful to start this adventure and are looking forward to all the ups and downs that we will soon face.  It's going to be a new chapter in our lives, but we are so ready!

Baby Clay, we can't wait to meet you!  January can't come soon enough!

A Little Pink Never Hurt Anyone

via here and here

The Fishtail Braid

It's just way too hot to do anything with long hair.  I wish I knew how to fishtail braid, and then I would rock this style every.single.day.  Yep!  I sure would!

via here

Jumpsuits For Days

What do you wear when it's over 100 degrees everyday, and you know it's only the beginning to a long hot summer?  My answer - jumpsuits!  They are airy, easy and so comfortable.  (There's only a slight difficulty actually taking the thing off every time you have to go to the bathroom, but hey, it's worth it!)

All these lovelies are from Anthropologie, and I might have stocked up a little this weekend to prepare me for the months to come.  (They are having their summer sale, you know?!)

Beach Bound

Whew!  Things have been CRA-ZY around here lately, but all that doesn't matter now because we are heading to the beach! Woo-who!!

It has been a couple of years since we have taken a relaxing beach vacation (my only idea of what a REAL vacation should be) and we are beyond thrilled to eat, drink, layout and do absolutely nothing for a solid week.  For me, that's the only real way I can re-charge.  I need that down time (maybe it's because I'm chill anyway) but vacations that are all go, go, go just seem to wear me out.  Don't get me wrong, they are still fun and all, but sometimes a girl just needs to do nothing.  Right?

I've packed my suits, my hat, a few dresses and plenty of reading material, and I'm good to go!  You can expect a refreshed, energetic, tan (hopefully) chica when I get back to the states.

What about you?  How do you re-charge and relax?  Are you a beach gal, mountain gal or city gal?

via here

Memorial Day

So grateful for today and for all the people who gave their lives to make our country possible.

via here

White is Right

Summer comes along every year, and I just want everything to be clean and fresh at home.  (The 103 degrees outside probably has a lot to do with it!)  I don't want clutter.  I don't want junk.  I don't want color overload.  I want white, white and more white.  

White is right...so right for summer!

I am in the mood to clean out and go all minimal on you because there is just no other option when it's SO HOT outside!  

White, white, white...that's all I want.  (OK...maybe just a little bit of color too!)

images 1, 2, 3, 4

Oh Carey

You are my fave!

via here

Workspace Envy

I'm not only a huge fan of JCrew, but I'm a huge fan of Jenna Lyons as well.  She has helped the company take giant leaps in the right (style-wise) direction.  

And now that I have caught a glimpse of her office, I know why I like her so much.  That desk.  That chair.  Those inspiration sketches and pics.  Washi tape!  Yes, washi tape!  Everything I dream of in an office already setup for me to just move right in.  

Jenna, if you are ever looking for a replacement (you know, for the president of JCrew, no big deal) give me a ring!  I'll gladly take over the reins (if it includes your office.)

more images here found via here

Swim

It's time for swimsuit season again, and this year I am obsessed with retro cuts and one piece wonders.  I tried my first retro suit last year but have to admit that they aren't the best for laying out and working on your tan.  But really, who cares about that?  Style doesn't need a tan...pff! 

So far this year, I'm declaring it the retro summer of the decade.  All I am finding is high waisted bottoms and one pieces that blow all the other suits out of the water.  (Did you pick up on that pun?  Ha!)  They are just so much more fun and have a ton more character than all the other suits.

When I browsed Anthropologie's collection this season, I was completely in awe and wanted all of them.  (Too bad for that number showing in my bank account.)

But seriously, look at these suits.  

Even though I already got a new suit, I'm hoping the hubby will let me indulge in a second one just because he loves me.  (#3 is my favorite!)

all suits via anthroplogie

Snack: Avocado Toast

The hubby actually thought I just made this concoction up the other day, but with much persistence I convinced him that avocado toast is a "real" thing.  (I kinda wish I had made it up though because then I could gladly take all the credit!)

Have you tried it?  If not, you must.  All you need is 1) toast 2) avocado 3) salt and pepper - that's it!  Of course you can get all fancy and add whatever extra fixings you want, but I like to keep it simple.  Simple, fast and tasty, that's my kind of meal anytime!

pic via eye-swoon (I just found this blog and am now obsessed.  Where have I been?!)