Scenes from our weekend!

This weekend was a ton of fun and it felt so productive too. On Friday we took the girls pumpkin picking which was a blast the weather was really on our side which was so nice to pumpkin pick with an actual fall breeze. C had a blast and O pretty much slept the whole time haha. Then Saturday we worked on Cs big girl room I can't wait to show you the final product in a few weeks! Side note she's loving sleeping in a big girl bed and has been doing so well with it it's awesome. Sunday we took C to a trampoline park for the first time and she had a BLAST, she wasn't the only one who loved it. Steve and I thought it was super fun too and can't wait to go back! Here are a few snapshots.

She was acting like a ghost! lol 

Taking a trunk picture with your pumpkins is a Hollins family tradition, O apparently didn't get the memo. 

Dresser | Knobs | Overlays 

I'm in LOVE with her dresser of course the tape will not be there I just taped it up to see how the overlays will look. 

  

Jumping her little heart out, way too cute

XOXO

Apple Picking

If you follow me on Instagram you would know that we went apple picking last week. C has been watching the video we took of her pear picking from last year at least once a week. I am so thrilled she loves this yearly tradition of ours. Growing up on the east coast we went went apple picking as kids and when we moved out to California in 2012 I made a point to find a place where we could go here. Luckily we found an adorable place tucked into the hills in Oak Glen. If you haven't been to Riley Farm and you live in Orange County I highly encourage you to drive up and go! And while you are there you need to grab some of their delicious cider! We LOVE heading out to Riley's, we usually go in late September or early October. They have apples, pears, pumpkins and even u-pick wild flowers. Depending on availability you can pick all these things until your hearts content. Be sure to stop by the general store and grab some honey and apple butter too. No this is not a sponsored post, I just really love coming here it feels like home and the weather is always slightly cooler too. Happy Picking!

XOXO

Watching her Grow Up

With every passing month I think it gets harder and harder to watch her grow up, as much as I want her to be independent when it happens it almost hurts a little. Its a bitter sweet thing watching them get older. She needs me a little less in certain ways, and all I can do is enjoy these moments as they happen. It's just so hard. I love it when her little personality comes though in everything she does (remind me of those words when she's a teenager). This chick is a lot like her mama, she knows what she wants, when she wants it, she looks at the word no as a challenge she's always willing to conquer and she loves with all her heart. 

Playing with her bestie the other day at one of there activities, these two love each other and it so sweet watching them grow up together. 

The other day we went to run some errands, we talked the whole time we were in target she gave me her opinion on certain items and attempted to convince me of things she needed. After our errands we got come lunch and headed to the park to have a picnic and play. She loved every moment, there were some big kids there she was desperately trying to hang with, running up to them introducing herself and scurrying right behind them. My little peanut is already wanting to be big. I wish there was a way to tell her to stay little forever but alas no mom before me has figured it out. Keep me posted if any of you do. 

Outfit picked out entirely by her, and no bow hence the wild hair. My favorite. 

For now I'll relish in the fact that I am her favorite person and enjoy this moment in time. 

XOXO

Grand Canyon

If you follow me on Instagram (@bumpsbabesandbellinis) then you know we headed out to the Grand Canyon for Steve's birthday trip this year. We had so much fun hanging out just the three of us and loved all the cold weather at the canyon. It was fun to be bundled up and not break a sweat, then once the sun went down it got too cold and we all turned into big babies. HaHa

The view were truly heath taking, I am so glad we went. We disused once the kids (and I say kids because one day we hope to have more, no I'm not telling you anything) are older we want to go back and do some hikes and explore more, it was a little hard this time around with peanut. 

Of course in true peanut form she fell asleep the minute I put her in the carrier and didn't see a whole lot of the Grand Canyon. Then I made a rookie mistake and tried to transfer her to the stroller thinking she'd be more comfortable in there, she only woke up and was super cranky then proceeded to have a full on MELTDOWN in the middle of the woods. Making memories right? 

Gotta love my husband for capturing her meltdown, and me now for sharing this moment with you guys. She was obsessed with the snow and kept calling each pile "snowman", I can only imagine she got that from frozen overload but I found it adorable. It also made me realize we will need to make a real snow trip this year. 

The driving was hard but C hung in there like a trooper, we probably won't be doing many road trips again for awhile, with as much as this kid flys its best to stick with what you know. Speaking of flying we are heading out soon yet again for my best friends wedding. I love being able to travel, but this month has been ALOT, we haven't been home for a weekend since the second week in October. So I'm looking forward to a nice week home soon. 

I love capturing moments of her just being herself, man I love this kid.

XOXO 

Stitch Fix Review #5

This has easily been one of my favorite boxes yet. I made mention after my last box to Stitch Fix that I wanted to see more fall pieces but since it's been so hot here I needed fall pieces that were light weight. They totally got the memo and sent me some things I just love. 

THML | Tavia Pullover Sweater | Medium | $68.00

This top is so cute, I love the mix of stripes and the navy and olive together. I need up sending it back though because it was itchy. It has wool in it and for me that's kind of a no go, I have a hard time with harsh fabrics but I loved the look of the top a lot. 

Market & Spruce | Sawyer Space Dye Dolman Sleeve Knit Top | Medium | $58

This I kept, you all know I am a sucker for a good dolman top and market and spruce apparently. This is such a light weight sweater, perfect for the upcoming southern California "winter". 

Fate | Adair Jacket | Medium | $68

This jacket was the only thing in the box I wasn't a huge fan of. It was too big and felt very boxy on, plus the length on me wasn't my favorite I would have preferred it shorter, so it went back.

Kut From Kloth | Kate Distressed Boyfriend Jean | 6 | $88

Last month as you saw here, I kept the Kut Kloth jeans they were the only thing from last months box I liked. Well I went to put them on last week and they ripped in the zipper/crouch area. I wrote Stitch Fix about it since I hadn't even owned them a month yet and I wash in cold water and hang to dry. They are letting me return them with the returns from this month and offered a replacement or refund. I decided to get a refund, because I like the above jeans better so win win for me I suppose. 

Street Level | Horon Reversible Magnetic Closure Tote | $48

This bag is SO cute and so versatile. I love it and when I saw it I knew I was keeping it. Super pumped to add this one to my bag collection. 

All and all I really enjoyed this fix.

XOXO

A Week Away

Well we are back! We were in TX for a week hanging out with family, celebrating halloween and taking peanut to her first Baylor game. We taught her how to "sic em" with the best of them, and now every time she sees a BU she goes "GO BEARS", yup I'd say we are raising her right. 

It was awesome we had so much fun and I loved watching her play with her cousins. Halloween in particular was a BLAST. She totally understood it this year and would go up to peoples houses and say "or treat" completely omitting the trick part, this girl knew what she wanted. Her costume if you didn't see on Instagram was a HUGE hit and handmade by her grandma, lucky duck and she became obsessed with Monster inc. just in time for the holiday. We also got to meet our new little nephew who is adorable. 

Peanut did really well traveling considering she's been on a plane 22 times, she a trooper. I let her have the iPad this time around and she looked like such a big girl in her own seat eating her snacks and watching a movie. 

She had a hard time adjusting sleep wise this time around, but I enjoyed the extra cuddles that come from sleeping with her. Things are back in full swing before we gear up for the next two trips, yup you read that correctly the next two trips. I have kind of come to terms with the fact that Steve and I are crazy, oh well we are just raising a seasoned traveler.

 She kept running around telling us "I Boo, I Boo mama" My Mother in-law nailed this costume! 

I'll be back with way more blogging soon, until then hope you all had a fantastic halloween. I cent believe Thanksgiving is around the corner. Aunt Shell is coming and Auntie Em and I are cooking I can taste the turkey already its going to be a good one. 

XOXO

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

On Sunday we took a trip to pick Pumpkins and we had a blast! We went over to Tanaka Farms again, it was pretty busy but C had fun. She was a little bummed at first because she insisted on picking pears again and didn't understand why we couldn't do that. HaHa. Once we got out there she picked away, I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing these traditions with her. It's one of the things I looked forward to so much after having her. So bring on the pumpkin pie, caramel apples and candy corn we are in full Halloween mode over here!

We are heading over to TX to trick-or-treat with the cousins next week and I can't wait for you to see our costumes.

XOXO

Fall Themed Cocktail | Caramel Apple Sparkler

I love fall themed everything, it's just so yummy and sets the mood for the prefect fall day. Here is a recipe for one of may favorite drinks. It's inspired by a similar drink at one of my favorite restaurants in Laguna Beach. I have been making this yummy concoction for 3 years and it's my go drink for the fall season. You'll LOVE it, Enjoy!   

Caramel Apple Sparkler 

Here it is! 

Recipe

1 oz butternot schnapps 

3 oz sparkling white wine

4 oz apple cider 

Start by putting some cinnamon sugar on the rim of the glass then add all ingredients and mix! 

XOXO

Toddler Fall Fun

Despite it being back in the low 90's over here we have been up to a ton of fall themed activities. C has been having a blast! Friday we went back to Tanaka farms and did the free wagon ride, she loved it! Then we headed over to the corn maze which despite the heat was quite fun. After that we took few photos with the pumpkins and called it a day. This mama forgot how dirty it is over there "hello it's a farm" and needed a foot bath the second we got home. 

Tshirt | Shoes 

Then Monday we took her apple pear picking, apparently the u-pick apples are only on the weekends. Silly me I didn't realize that when I looked at the site. Regardless she had so much fun and we loved watching her. The wether was perfect mid 50's so we were soaking up every minute of this fall activity we could. C really loved helping daddy pick the pears and would yell "PULL" when she grabbed the stick to pick one. She would then place all the pears in the bag one by one and if any fell out she would go "oh oh" and "count them back into the bag.

Pick pears with daddy! 

Dress old | Shoes old similar here | Bow 

 She was waving at dad, love that they have pumpkins on the vine here.

 The fall weather was so nice it felt like home. 

Our little model. 

Then yesterday we mad sour way over to the Irvine Park railroad with some friends and went on the Choo Choo, took tons of photos and C had her first experience in a bounce house. I have to admit I am not a huge fan of bounce houses, the germaphobe in me doesn't love the idea and my  claustrophobia doesn't help either. But she's her one person so she went in and loved it while I was armed with antibacterial for when she got out. She kept yelling at me "mamma look I jump I jump" or "I bounce mama" It was so sweet and I know she had a blast. 

On the choo choo. 

Shirt 

We have been loving this little taste of fall wether and hope it comes around again soon. 

XOXO

Gold Fall Decor

I am absolutely smitten with this time of year! It is truly one of my absolute favorites. But you see we currently live at the surface of the sun, so that crisp fall air, sweater loving, pumpkin spice weather I'm obsessed with I won't be seeing that till November. Until then I choose to deck my house out in all things fall and pumpkin smelling goodness so I can get my fix.

This year I decided to take some of my old fall decor items and have a little spray paint party. I was inspired but a project Steve and I did the other day with our dresser and my necklace stand.

 Dresser 

Necklace Stand We used the Dremel to take off the arrows and spray painted it gold | Mirrored Tray | Bracelet Holder from Target similar here | Ring Holder from Target similar here| Tory Perfume | Burberry Perfume 

Super cute right? Everyone needs a little gold in their life.

With gold spray paint in hand I decided to take this....

 I had the bowl full with pumpkin vase filler that bought at home goods years ago similar here 

I decided to half the amount of pumpkins for the gold incase I hated it. So I only planned to use this many. 

To this!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they turned out super easy too. I decided to mix in some white ones as well. What a fun change! I am so happy I did this! Makes for a different modern look! I also need to clean that bowl..bad. 

I liked it so much I spray painted the leaves for this vase as well. So cute. 

Enjoy the fall weather if you have it and if you can send some my way, I'll love you forever.

XOXO

Dear Summer

Dear Summer,
       You can leave now. Pumpkin is in the stores and officially the sent of our house so please feel free to vacate the premises. Here's the thing we both know you and I were never close, to be honest you're not exactly my favorite season. Sure I loved you when I was a kid and your arrival meant no school, but now you make me hot and cranky. Listen I love your barbecues, pool dates and sure the fire works in July are pretty incredible. But if I am being honest you are just a stepping stone to one of my favorite seasons. I love the crisp fall air, the apple picking, carving pumpkins and the boots oh the boots. Fall colors and pumpkin spice lattes, you see they just get me. I enjoy a good cardigan and a cute burgundy top. I need to hold a warm drink with cool cold air blowing in my hair. Summer your great you really are, I'm just over you.

A photo from pumpkin picking last year, can't wait to see her pick out a pumpkin this year. 

Sincerely Yours,
Nicole