West Elm - Love

I know it seems like I've all but given up on this blog considering the long breaks in between posts, but I honestly haven't.

There's just a part of me, lately, that feels like living in the real world instead of behind the lens of the camera. I've decided to put the camera down for a bit and just live life. It's freeing, and at the same time, bitter sweet. There have been moments when I wished I would have brought my camera along to capture those belly aching, laugh so hard moments that seem to creep up whenever we as a family are out and about. There are times when Alex is bent out of shape over one thing or another and I wished I'd had my camera to capture her pouty, scrunched up face. Sometimes, as good as it may be, the phone on my camera just doesn't do the moment justice.

This past weekend we went to visit the brand new West Elm in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. What a remarkable place. Even though for years now I've inhaled all of their catalogs and drooled over their website, I was beginning to think the whole thing was a myth. Now my dreams have come true. West Elm is here and it isn't a mirage.

The store is beautiful, just like I thought it would be. The goods are lovely {and some, a bit pricey}, though not surprisingly so. My only disappointment, it was only one floor. What the what?!?

Is it possible to fall madly in love with an ottoman?

There were several items at West Elm that I wanted desperately to bring home, including these ceramic pieces. The checkout line wound around the store and with the children, I thought better than to keep them waiting in a store full of breakable objects, so I left without buying a darn thing - dang! I said good-bye to my love, Ottoman, and also a "see you soon" to the ceramic pieces. The Ottoman was $600 so I don't think I'll be buying that, ever. I'm now on the hunt for its doppelganger. Eh, love is fickle.

After West Elm, and a lunch break at Whole Foods, we took the -- now don't giggle -- S. L. U. T. {South Lake Union Transit} to downtown Seattle.  

These hats were a big hit with me and the girls, but Jon wasn't having them so these stayed at the store too. In hindsight, I think they are a tad Jerseylicious for a five and eight year old.

Still... so cute. HA!