Friday, May 30, 2014

GIVEAWAY // Win a $300 Gift Card to UGallery



Designing and creating Essley's nursery from scratch in what used to be our guest room (pictures coming soon) ignited a serious home redecorating bug in me.  First up was giving our outdoor deck a mini makeover, and now I'm hoping to do something with our bedroom (by far the most neglected room in our house).  Mainly I'd like to paint/rework some of the furniture in there, and I'd also really like to add some nice artwork to the walls.  Lucky for me, I was recently introduced to the coolest curated online art gallery called UGallery.  They sell one-of-a-kind artworks (over 6,000 of them!) by hundreds of different artists, and each one is hand-picked.  I've discovered so many pieces that would look beautiful in our bedroom, and I really love the fact that most are originals. 

The idea behind UGallery is pretty great too.  Founders Stephen Tanenbaum, Alex Farkas, and Greg Rosborough came together in 2006 to create a revolutionary approach to online art sales that democratizes the entire art buying process. Clients can browse the collection by price, medium, style, size, color, or artist.  They can also give any piece a weeklong test run in their home risk-free.  How cool is that?

And now for the best part!  Today I'm thrilled to be partnering up with UGallery to offer Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win a $300 gift card to go shopping on their website. Whether you're redecorating like I am, just in the market for some new art, or looking for some really amazing gifts for friends or family, you'll be able to pick out whatever you want!


To enter, just visit the UGallery website, then leave a comment below telling me which piece is your favorite.


Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following.  (*Please list each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).
  • Like UGallery on Facebook
  • Follow UGallery on Twitter
  • Follow UGallery on Pinterest  
  • Follow UGallery on Instagram
  • Follow Bubby & Bean on Instagram 
  • Post the top image from this post to Instagram with the following caption:  Follow @ugallery and @bubbyandbean to win a $300 UGallery gift card! Repost for 1 entry. #bubbyandbeangiveaway #giveaway
  • Tweet this: Enter the Bubby & Bean and @ugallery GIVEAWAY to win a $300 gift card! via @MotM_EcoFashion  http://bit.ly/1rpcZLX
  • Pin the top image from this post on Pinterest 
  • Click the Facebook 'Like' button below to like this post on Facebook 

This giveaway will run through June 5th and is open to Bubby and Bean readers worldwide.  The winner will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after.  (Important: Please make sure to check back and/or leave a way to contact you in your initial entry.) 

Thanks again to UGallery for giving Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win a gift card to their fantastic site!  Good luck!

Works of art used in collage above by: JJ Galloway, Amber Flora Dixon, Crystal Dipietro, Jack Androvich, Alex Ember, Scott Bergey, Suren Nersisyan, and Andrew Vernon.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Baby Essley: the Fifth Month



Today Essley Morgan turns five months old.  It's so cliche to say this, but seriously, where did the time go?  How is she five months already?  I remember packing away her six month clothes during the final month of my pregnancy, thinking about how it seemed like it would be an eternity before she wore them.  And now she's wearing them, yet it only feels like it's been few weeks since that day.  Parents are always all, "they grow up so fast," and "you blink and they're not babies anymore," blah blah blah.  But honestly, it really does feel like that.  Essley is a completely different person than she was even a couple of months ago.  I look at newborn pictures of her and barely recognize her in comparison to what she looks like today, and really, they weren't taken long ago at all.  The whole thing is weird and amazing, wonderful and scary.  It's absolutely bittersweet.

I skipped doing a four month update to share our birth story, and in the three month update back in March, I mostly focused on the big revelation I'd had about parenting (in brief: books and advice from others are great but a mind that is open to figuring it out for yourself along the way is all you really need).  I did mention some of the third month 'milestones': her consistent coos and shrieks, regular gummy smiles, an ability to sit up when propped up, an ability to self-soothe, a new alertness and interest in the world around her, etc.  I'm glad I recorded these things, because reading about them now makes me feel so proud and excited about how much more she's accomplished since then.  If I'm this much of a dork over her doing things like rolling over, I can only imagine how annoying I'll be when she has dance recitals or sports matches or field days or science fairs. Sorry in advance.


I'm not going to get too deep this time around - after typing out the birth story last month, I'm pretty sure I filled my dramatic/emotional storytelling quota for a while.  And I'm not going to talk about my thoughts on being a new parent, because they haven't changed since the third month update - I'm still just going with the flow and learning as I go. But for those who want to dork out alongside me, here's what happened in Essley's fourth and fifth months, in one long run-on sentence.  She took two road trips with me and confirmed that she has road warrior in her blood, she had her first Easter egg hunt (she just watched, but it was still freaking adorable), she gave me my first Mother's Day (and it was perfect), she learned to roll over from back to tummy and did it about a zillion times (she's still very awkward with the tummy-to-back method), she started rolling over to her stomach to sleep which resulted in much longer sleep stretches (she's since gone back to sleeping on her back though, bummer), she had a night where she slept for eight glorious hours straight (hallelujah!) and although it hasn't happened since she's still sleeping better at night, she smiles all the time and has full-on belly laugh giggling episodes that in turn make us have full-on belly laugh giggle episodes (video proof right here), she rocks tummy time on her own (but is still not a fan if it's our idea rather than hers), she's been going for walks on the daily and loves them, she cries much less but has mastered the art of whining (oh boy), she once again measured average weight but in the 95th percentile for height at the doctor (she's my little string bean), she constantly tries to sit up on her own and I have a feeling she'll be there soon, she's still nursing like a champ, she picks up and hold toys (and puts them in her mouth, every time), she discovered (and appears to be obsessed with) her feet, she says 'words' like 'ba' and 'ma,' she turns to look when we say her name, and, out of nowhere, she seems a lot more like a little person than a baby.   


In this final month before her first half-birthday, I'm torn between anticipation for what she'll do next and a genuine desire for things to slow down.  I'm also, of course, grateful beyond words that I get to spend each day with this spirited, curious, happy little human.  It just gets better and better, and although it can be exhausting and frustrating and unbalanced and really, really difficult, not a day goes by when I am not appreciative.  For all of it.  None of the things I've done so far in my life - not my career, not my travels, not any of the amazing things I've been fortunate to experience - have come close to this.  Being Essley's mom wins. Here's to the next five months!

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Six Sensational Swimsuits (That Won't Break the Bank)


Six Sensational Swimsuits (That Won't Break the Bank)
1. One-Piece Swimdress in Navy, Target ($29.99)  //  2. Navy Floating Anchor Suit, J.Crew ($39.50)  //  3. Floral Bandeau Swimsuit, H&M ($24.95)  //  4. Twist Bandeau One-Piece in Pink Multi, Delia's ($39.90)  //  5. Crochet Two-Piece Swimsuit in Ivory, Target ($28)  //  6. Black Bikini Top and Bottom, Topshop ($20 top*, $12 bottom*)


Because I'm nursing, my regular swimsuits are not going to be happening this summer.  (Translation: my boobs are way bigger than usual and no longer fit into my little bikini tops of summers past.)  So I'm on a mission to find a suit that is cute, affordable (since I may only be wearing it for one season), and flattering on my post-baby body.  I did some searching and these six stood out to me.  They'd all look great on a wide range of body types - and equally awesome is the fact that none of them are outrageously expensive (all are under $40).  Which one is your favorite?


*Update: A reader pointed out to me that Topshop's sale has ended.  The black bikini top is now $30 and the bottom is $20.  Much less of a bargain, but still under $40 if you buy separately.

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Monday, May 26, 2014

Hello, Summer!



Happy Memorial Day!  I hope your plans today involve relaxation in the sunshine with friends and family.  Here in the states, today marks the unofficial start of what I consider to be the best season: summer!  Essley and I will be spending the morning and early afternoon in the car, headed back to Chicago after a fun weekend with my sister in Indianapolis.  Robbie comes home today too after a long weekend working a music festival (I know this makes me sound ancient, but the dude had a show last night that started at 2 AM; I am exhausted just thinking about it).  So our Memorial Day plans consist of a long, lazy late afternoon/evening hang on the back deck with fresh margaritas and veggie burgers. There's also a place in my heart today for those of you who have lost loved ones while serving in the military.

Today also begins the last weekend of the month, which means it's time for the official June sponsor call here at Bubby and Bean.  If you're interested in being a part of the blog and our social media channels next month, click here for more info, stats, press, and pricing.  The featured ad space is booked, but there are a few of each of the other sizes still available.

Now go outside, take off your shoes, and enjoy this beautiful day!  (And if you're working today, boooo, I'm sorry!  Make sure you get outside for a while after work. That's an order.)

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Friday, May 23, 2014

Small Space Deck Decor Makeover


Small Space Deck Decor Makeover // Bubby and Bean

After so many months of being stuck inside after the horrendous winter we just had, I made a firm decision that I am going to spend as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors this summer on our little balcony-style deck.  I'm almost ashamed to say that we haven't hung out there much in the past.  We did put a small table and a couple of chairs out there, and we've eaten dinner out there a handful of times, but until now, its main purpose was to house some of our container garden veggies and our old, beat-up grill.  I decided that I wanted it to feel more like an outside living area, and even though space and privacy are very limited (we live in a townhouse and don't have a backyard), I figured that even just adding some colorful plants and flowers, some cushions, an umbrella, and a few decor items could easily transform the feel.  I'm kicking myself for not taking any 'before' pictures, but hey - not every project I do turns into blog content and I didn't realize I wanted to share this until after the fact. :)  Just imagine it looking all gloomy and barren and sad beforehand, okay?  And please ignore the peeling paint - we're re-staining in June.


Over the past few weekends, I went shopping and accumulated some pretty plants and flowers from several different local nurseries.  Then last weekend, I repotted them in terra cotta containers and in the flower boxes that hang on two sides of the deck railing.  We usually don't put anything in the flower boxes (although last year we did make a pathetically unsuccessful attempt at growing lettuce in them), and now that they're full of vibrant flowers, I can't believe I waited so long.  I added a couple of inexpensive outdoor pillows in brick red, a simple grey outdoor umbrella (this one, which is currently on sale for $20 off!), and a block candle lantern that I picked up at IKEA.  I also moved a few of my Buddha statues and crystals and rocks to outside, hung a cool solar powered silk lantern, and I'm going to grab some bulb lights this weekend to string up. It feels simultaneously fun and peaceful out there now, and I love it so much.  It took just a few hours and less than $150 to create a completely new space.  I'm so glad I finally did something with it and can't wait to hang out there all. summer. long.


In other news, it's Memorial Day weekend!  Robbie had to leave town to work a music festival, so I'm working a half day today, and in a few hours, Essley and I are going to kidnap my mom from her work and head down to Indianapolis to hang with my sister.  It's so rare that we get family girl time and I'm really excited for a mini road trip and getaway.  You can follow along with our adventures over on my Instagram (@bubbyandbean).  Have a wonderful weekend, babes!

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

Summertime on the Boardwalk // A Bold + Brilliant Photoshoot


Summertime on the Boardwalk // Bubby and Bean

A couple of weeks ago, photographer Paula Stauffer sent over a fashion shoot for me to consider for publication here on the blog.  I was instantly smitten with the bold, brilliant colors and fresh, light-drenched images, and couldn't wait to share with you guys.  The shoot was for clothing line The House of Perna, an independent womenswear label based in Miami and New York with a commitment to producing all of their garments here in the USA.

I asked Paula to share some details about her inspiration for the shoot and its lighthearted, summery vibe. "For this specific shoot, I wanted to focus on the color of the clothes combined with the environment that inspired them. I choose Florida's Hollywood Beach boardwalk to showcase a fun, stylish environment that would accentuate the bold patterns and prints of the clothing. Also, the models were very young and vibrant and I felt this location fit them perfectly.  Who doesn't love a girl on the beach?  This shoot was a wonderful experience for me. It allowed me to work with a nice group of creatives and showcase a different style of Miami area fashion."


I also asked Paula to tell me a little bit about her photography business and the mission behind it.  "I started my photography business over four years ago, beginning with photographing landscape, and then moving onto moving subjects," she said.  "I want to always create a fun environment that is bright and evokes emotion. I also try and take photographs that create memories and are more lifestyle based than posed."  As for her commercial fashion shoots like this one, she says that she focuses on showcasing the unique quality of the clothing style and the brand itself.  "I also keep my photography style in mind when posing the models, so they have more of a relaxed feel.  My goal with my images is to allow the audience to connect with the models and locations through the way I showcase color and perspective."


Thank you Paula for sharing this beautifully sun-kissed shoot with Bubby and Bean's readers!  It makes me want to hop the next plane down to Miami (with a suitcase full of vibrant beachwear).  You guys can check out more of Paula's work on her website.  You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest

Shoot Credits: Photography by Paula Stauffer, Styling by Amanda Perna, Clothing by The House of Perna, Modeling by Whitney Sharpe and Kelly Francis Sokol


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