SBQL for soaking up summer

Okay, now really enough with the back to school talk. There's still plenty of time left before Labor Day weekend, and I'm soaking up as much summer as possible - and resurrecting the SBQL series with a sweet (supposed to be song, but this is so much better), book, quote, and look for doing it up right:

sweet - the best way to make the most of glorious in-season peaches: individual peach crisps. A la mode, of course.

book - The Vacationers is a perfect summer read, taking place over the course of a family's two-week vacation on Mallorca. You can just feel the gorgeousness of the island in this book, and that makes it even better to read in the sun.

quote - thanks, Emerson, this is just the life philosophy I need right now. Summer always feels so short-lived that I want to make sure to live in it now!

look - chic and perfectly polished but relaxed in one of my favorite colors, this is exactly the kind of look I want to wear to exude summer vibes while we still have dress-wearing weather around.

How are you soaking up summer?

SBQL for vacation

This week we're enjoying our first official family vacation - even Ginger is along! Peter last had time off just before Christmas, and he's had a lot of weekend work responsibilities lately (not to mention, WINTER), so we were ready for a break and a change of scenery and a chance to spend some good quality time all together. Also ready for with vacation week: my song / book / quote / look of the moment:

song - I've been humming "Here Comes the Sun" to myself for weeks.

book - I've had The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry on my shelf since my parents finished it while visiting right after Hendrik was born and left it behind for me to read... and I'm excited to finally get a chance to read it this week during nap times and daddy's turns on baby entertainment duty.

quote - I would add "and your favorite people to do it with," but this about sums up our approach to our vacations in general.

look - not complaining or anything, but our vacation weather forecast isn't hot, more along the lines of mild... it's still so nice to wear lighter layers though, and this nautical look is perfect inspiration for it.

SBQL, holiday style

Somehow the past few years December arrives and it seems hard to believe it could possibly be the holiday season - perhaps it's the milder Cincinnati weather, after growing up being used to a lot more snow and cold this time of year.

So it almost feels wrong to start in on the Christmas music right now, even if it is after Thanksgiving, but with my mom visiting this week and taking care of making my house look festive with garlands and centerpieces, it's beginning to feel at least a little like Christmas - thus time for a little update of my current favorite song, quote, book, and look for the holiday season.

song - Peter, Paul & Mary's holiday album is one of my top choices for the seasonand usually the one I start with when Christmas music becomes allowable. "Children Go Where I Send Thee" and "Light One Candle" are two favorites, and I also love the Hanukkah songs on this album too.

book - one of my book clubs picked David Sedaris' Holidays on Ice for our December selection. I've read it before but am enjoying going back through the funny stories. It would be even better to listen to it though, because things are even funnier when he reads the stories.

quote - a cute Rifle Paper Co card perfect for the season.

look - I don't usually wear plaid, but right now I love it for a festive outfit, especially with great layers like this look from A Little Dash of Darling.

SBQL, new mom edition

A little update on the new mom happenings around here, in terms of a current song, book, quote, and look...

song - I've got a little lullaby-ish playlist to put on when I've got a fussy baby, and James Taylor is a favorite for while we rock; I like to sing "sweet Hendrik James" instead of baby James.

book - the Kindle has been quite nice for one-handed reading while I nurse, and young adult books are perfect for feeding times too as they tend to be easy to follow even if you pick up and put down frequently. And this one was quite enjoyable.

quote - more like the nights are long, but this quote has been on my mind lately. Hendrik's almost a month old already, so I know that time flies by, and despite the tiredness or the tiring overload of diaper changes, I need to try to enjoy each stage before it's gone!

look - I'm still kind of figuring out this dressing for nursing thing - Lauren put me in mind of ponchos/capes as a good option for a post-partum body and nursing though... This outfit spotted on Pinterest is an awfully cute way to do it.

currently: SBQL, vol. 3

New month, new song / book / quote / look to share with you - except I'm substituting "sweet" for the S because I can't keep my eyes off them on Pinterest lately.

sweet - mmmm, chocolate chip layer cake. Luckily I'm in no mood to cook/bake anything even semi-involved lately, so that's saving me from this.

book - this one has been on my to-read list for a while, and it just made it to the top by default since a copy was just sitting on the library "new releases" front table, ready for me to take when I went in to return something else!

quote - with 12 days left to my due date, I'm working on drowning out apprehensions lots of positive labor & delivery thoughts - and this free printable from Honey & Fitz is reminding me to believe it and do it.

look - how well does this outfit fit my declared current love of neutral outfits with black as the base?! Can't wait to be able to button up shirts again...

How about you?

currently: SBQL, v. 2

Time for a little update of my song / book / quote / look of the moment:

song - The Age of Worry off of John Mayer's Born and Raised album - a good one for listening while I work, and I especially love this song.

book - A Land More Kind Than Home, one of my September book club selections, up for discussion this week.

quote - always a good reminder to choose joy, especially as I work on enjoying the little things in the final weeks of pregnancy  (lovely lettering by Kelly Cummings).

look - J.Crew Factory is attracting me with this fall-ness, especially with the burgundy/denim combo I've already professed love of.

How about you?

(Volume 1 here)

currently: SBQL

Here's a fun twist on the currently post - SBQL (song / book / quote / look) from Jenna at Je na sais quoi. Here are my SBQL picks of the moment:

song - "Mountains Beyond Mountains" - before vacation Peter went on a CD-borrowing spree from the library, and so we've been listening to a lot of Arcade Fire in the car and at home this week.

book - Beautiful Ruins, from my summer reading list - liking a lot so far!

quote - feeling sooo busy, busy with lots of work and baby prep, and this is a good reminder to break everything down into daily tasks and not fret about the rest until the allotted day.

look - stripes, denim, leopard print, red pants... everything excellent all rolled into one by Coast with Me. Must recreate!