ANNIVERSARY TRIP

The weekend after Christmas was our seven year wedding anniversary.

We go back and forth planning each year, and this year it was Philip's turn to plan. Since his parents were coming to California for New Years, we asked them to watch the boys so we could go on an overnight getaway. It was our first time being away from the boys overnight at the same time (we've both separately been gone from them), but since we were only an hour away in Beverly Hills, it was good first run, and as it turned out, everything went great.

We left in the early afternoon on Friday and drove around Hollywood for an hour or so until we could check into our hotel. We stopped at Greystone Mansion and since the grounds were open to the public, we stopped and walked around. They were unbelievably gorgeous.

After checking into the hotel room (with only one mishap where our room's deadbolt had been locked from the inside and I was sure that once we got in we would find a dead body), we got dressed up and headed out to dinner at Spago. It was AMAZING. We got a spinach pasta with mushrooms and a creamy sausage sauce  for an appetizer (I could have eaten an entire pot of that stuff), and the prime rib for two for our entree that came with an amazing rich pepper sauce and the most cheesy, gooey, divine cheesy mashed potatoes. Philip gave it a 9.5, which is the highest score I've ever heard that tough grader give (I give everything a 10...). I'll be dreaming about that dinner for years, I think.

After dinner, we walked up and down Rodeo Drive. We had walked it earlier while it was bustling with people, but now all the shops were closed and it was calm and quiet, with just soft Christmas music serenading our walk. It was romantic and fun, walking down the streets, looking through the windows at a million gorgeous things. We stopped at Bouchon Bakery on our way back to the hotel for some french macaroons and a homemade oreo (the macaroons were amazing, the oreo was not).

For Christmas, I bought Philip some french cuff dress shirts from Charles Tyrwhitt, and then RedEnvelope generously sent him some beautiful monogrammed cuff links, which I surprised him with after dinner on our anniversary. My favorite part is that they're lockets, so I plan to stick a picture of me in one, and the boys in the other. He wore them the other day and looks incredibly dapper. It was a special little gift to give him after we got back from dinner on Friday night. (They also have all sorts of other gorgeous and unique wedding and anniversary gifts, which you can see here!)

The next morning, after a gloooorious sleep in, we check out and then drove down to Hollywood where we ate lunch and then played tourist for a few hours by taking one of those Beverly Hill, Hollywood, Celebrity Home bus tours. So fun to just sit in a bus and sight see together. 

I wished the weekend would never end, but all too quickly it was over and we were heading back to our babes. But you can bet I'm already planning our next getaway sans children. 

her:

coat: c/o sheinside

jeans: old navy

heels: DIY

him: 

cufflinks: c/o RedEnvelope (check out their other gorgeous wedding & anniversary gifts here!)

suit: off saks 5th 

shirt: charles tyrwhitt

tie: similar

socks: neiman marcus

shoes: nordstrom

DATE NIGHT

dress: c/o sheinside // belt: kohls // gold clutch: c/o hello fab // heels: kohls (similar) // watch: michael kors

Lately, Philip and I have been getting better at regular date nights. Now that we have two babies, we're both working (even if mine is from home), have decently demanding church responsibilities, and much more, I'm realizing how important it is to have regular alone time with my guy...more than just watching a movie together on Saturday nights (as much as we love that). This weekend we dressed up and went to the Newport Beach temple. With a twenty minute drive there and back, we got a chance to just sit and talk, and just be silent together (and with two kids, that is precious). And just that one evening was enough to totally rejuvenated me for the new week. Maybe the dipped cone from McDonalds that we grabbed on the way home had something to do with it too...

Time to kick Monday in the buns.




I also write for Babble! See some of my recent posts here!

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Thirty.

Seven years ago I met you when you were a little twenty three year old baby. You swept me off my feet with your good looks and charm, and all these years later you still look at me like you did back then. Thank you for supporting me in every little crazy thing I do, loving me like mad, making me laugh every day, and being my best friend. Can't wait to celebrate your life today, and call you an old man from here on out :) 

Happy birthday, love!

Peplum and Theme Parks

 

peplum top: c/o choies // undertee: downeast basics // skirt: old navy // necklace: c/o inpink // watch: michael kors // heels: target

Over the weekend, Philip and I went on a date. And not just any old date...an all-day date to Six Flags Magic Mountain. I planned this date months ago, intending to do a little surprise overnight getaway to celebrate Philip's 30th birthday. Long story short, Philip accidentally read a secret text message that ruined the surprise, and then we ended up changing it to an all day date, rather than an overnight trip, because of Buck's refusal to take a bottle, but despite all that we managed to have the funnest day date ever.  Kayla watched our boys (along with her two babies, and her husband gone at work all day (the woman is a saint!)) and we came back to them bathed, happy and completely worn out from a day of fun. That made the day even better.

When you have two babies, alone and quiet time together is suddenly so much more limited, so having an entire day just with Philip was absolute bliss. Plus, we both love roller coasters, so it was one of our favorite dates ever and made me realize we need to go on dates way more often...especially if they involve riding roller coasters til we're blue in the face!

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Also! The winner of last weeks bubble necklace giveaway is....Manda! Congratulations!

Shoot me an email to claim your winnings! 

And don't forget...use code MERRICKSART at checkout to get 10% off anything at Daily Product Deals for the next month!

Weekends

The older Peanut gets, the more fun things we do on the weekends. Not only because he's old enough to enjoy it, and because his one afternoon nap is so easy to work around, but also because he goes nuts if he's cooped up inside for two days straight.

Here's a little recap of our weekend fun.

 

1-3. Peanut loves playing in the water with his shovel and bucket. So with the spigot outside our house, he splashed and played for over an hour while Philip and I sat on our shady porch. We'll be doing this a lot more this summer, I'm sure.
4. I'm working on a larger than life painting of Peanut, and that big floating head cracks me up every time I walk past it. Peanut also runs out to the front room to check it out every so often, saying, "I need to go look at the painting." Hilarious.
5. While the boys took an afternoon nap, I went out and did a little shopping, all by myself. Heaven. Also, I bought three new bras. Double heaven.
6-8. With all the raving about Nat The Fat Rat's winning cookie recipe, I had to make them. They were AMAZING. Perfectly crispy around the edges and gooey on the inside. Plus, the sea salt was a delicious little touch. Peanut mostly liked picking out all the chocolate chips.
9. On Sunday, we attended a baby blessing for our very good friends. Peanut spent the entire time in their basement driving around in this little red car. With both of their older boys too old for the car, and with their upcoming move in two weeks, they generously gave it to Peanut. He was in heaven. And, as you can imagine, a major meltdown ensued when it was time to put it away at bedtime.

Hope you all had a happy weekend too!

Twenty-Nine

 cardigan: target

t-shirt: target

belt: cozy

trousers: anthropologie (old & refashioned)

shoes: steve madden via plato's closet

Yesterday was Philip's twenty-ninth birthday. Although he's minorly freaking out about next year's big 3-0, he was totally fine with twenty nine, and happily celebrated being a year older. Unfortunately he had to go to work, but he did get to sleep in a bit, and come home early...so it wasn't all bad.

We celebrated with his favorite dinner (which, sadly for him, he only gets once a year since it's not my favorite), and his favorite dessert (with peanut butter M&M's instead of regular).   

Along with dinner, we opened a few presents. With The New iPad and 1200 count Egyptian cotton sheets for our bed, I scored big points -- he was a happy camper.

Can you guess who chose the wrapping paper?? Peanut said, "I think Daddy will REALLY like this one." I had to oblige.

Here's to one more year before this old man is officially over the hill :)

Life

skirt: target (shop), top: anthropologie (gift from mom), black cardigan: target (altered), nude heels: kohls, pearl bracelets: charlotte russe, initials necklace: gift from Philip

Yesterday, after church, I jumped on facebook and while scrolling through my news feed, came across a friend's status. She announced that her children's pediatrician had passed away on Saturday, and then gave his name and the name of his office. I did a double take and realized that was Peanut's pediatrician. Just like that, gone. A man that I didn't know really well, but one that I had met with multiple times, who had given me advice and direction for Peanut, and who took such great care of our little boy from the time Peanut was only a few days old. It sent me into a temporary state of shock, and then all day I thought of him, his wife, and his five young children.

As I thought about this doctor for the rest of the day, it brought to mind a personal loss that we experienced as a family last fall -- the loss of my second pregnancy. I got pregnant toward the end of the summer, and after ten weeks, I began bleeding and after an emergency ultrasound, it was confirmed that the baby had stopped growing at seven weeks. Just like that, gone. A baby that we had prayed and hoped for, that we anxiously anticipated the arrival of, was gone. I know that so many women experience miscarriages, but still it was heartbreaking, and devastating, and it made me realize how fragile life really is.

But through all of this it's made me realized and appreciate how blessed I am to be living an amazing life, to have an unbelievably supportive and loving husband, and to have Peanut, who is my pride and joy and is absolutely brimming with life. It's so easy to get caught up in daily life that sometimes we forget to really live. To enjoy and appreciate the life we do have. 

So today I'm living my life to the fullest, because I'm grateful for life. Hope you are too.

Date Night (#2)

Remember how I'm doing a year of dates with Philip? Well, Saturday night was our February date.

Since we've been married, we've talked about attending a BYU basketball game together, but for some reason we've never done it. So it was top on my list of things to do during our year of dates.

We dropped off Peanut at Kayla's house (thank you!), and headed off for an evening of cheering on our Cougs. 

Our seats were the second to top row, but amazingly we had a great view and our noses didn't even bleed (whew).

Senior Night brought our favorite Jimmer back 

We finished off the evening with dinner at a new BBQ place in town, and watching Harry Potter #3 (we're making our way through all 8 since I got them for Christmas!).

Next month we're going ice skating -- I figure skated for about 7 years back in the day, and amazingly Philip and I have never been skating together...can't wait!

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I have a bunch of fun projects in the works this week...watch for some new tutorials coming soon!

Valentine's

got nailed by a dripping roof on my way to take pictures...just some water on that sleeve

pink pashmina scarf: street vendor in London, gray top: stolen from kayla (embellished by me with this tutorial), red pants: forever 21, sparkly flats: payless (shop), lipstick: maybelline "are you red-dy"

Since we have a toddler, we're opting to stay in this Valentine's Day. We've done that a few times over the years, and I have to say that I kind of like it. Yes, I have to make dinner and do the dishes (actually, no I don't...Philip always does the dishes for me, that sweet guy), but it's kind of nice to not have to find a babysitter, not fight the crowds, and be able to enjoy the evening in the comfort of my own home.

However, I will still be getting fancied up, expecting flowers (which I know I'll get), and making Philip take a picture with me, because that's how I roll.

Happy Valentine's Day!



Oh, and Peanut has a special Valentine's Day message for you:

Did you die from the cuteness?! I did. 
 (shirt + jeans: target)

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I'm linking up with EBEW today, wearing pink and red in honor of valentines day! Head on over to their site to see more awesome outfits!

Five on Friday

jacket: f21 (gift from in-laws), top: urban trends: pants: gap (shop), glitter flats: payless (gift from mom) (shop), pearl earrings: gift from Philip

Five Thoughts for Friday:

1.  I have a mile-high stack of clothes waiting to be refashioned. Planning to tackle them this weekend and post tutorials next week!

2. I'm getting bored of my hair. Maybe I'll dye it dark, glossy brown. 

3. Speaking of hair, has anyone else wondered how everyone had bangs last summer, and somehow in just a few months everyone's bangs grew to the length of the rest of their hair so they can do the middle part? How am I the only one with only slightly overgrown bangs, struggling to blend in with the rest of my hair??

4. The highlight of my day yesterday was that this outfit photoshoot took only one minute. It doesn't take much to make me happy. 

5. Thank you for all your sweet well-wishing for Philip's ankle! He hasn't complained one time, so I have no clue if it's feeling better or not...but he's being a very good sport about it! 

Happy Friday!