Friday faves

Posted on January 19, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

JanuarySunrise[a recent sunrise I couldn’t resist photographing]

I have yet to see this in stores, but have heard rave reviews about this twist-tie top from Target’s A New Day line. Hoping to try one on this weekend if I can snag some alone time at Target 🙂

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and wouldn’t this be the cutest mommy + me combo ever? And it’s on sale too!

Are you an art lover? Then this app might be for you. Recently launched, the Google Arts & Culture app is seeing a surge in popularity do to its face finder feature. Take a selfie to find your lookalike portrait in a museum.

The flip clock screensaver is all over the blogosphere, but I have yet to download it for my own personal use. Until this week, when I stumbled  Fliqlo’s free version.

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TTD DIY: personalized step stools

Posted on January 18, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

I know the holidays are over, but I am just now getting around to sharing a little DIY that Santa did this year 😉 A few days before the big event, little elves were busy personalizing these cute and practical stools for the boys.

I had purchased the black IKEA Bekvam stools to start with on a recent trip to Kansas City. They also have white or birch. Before assembling the stools, I used 2″ letter stencils to personalize them with their names, using white chalk paint.

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After the initial paint job, I went back in and touched up corners. Once dry, Santa assembled the stools and placed them under the tree. IMG_9950.jpgIMG_9951.jpg

The boys now use the stools in the bathroom and kitchen. Heck, I’ve even used them a time or two to grab something out of reach. Definitely an easy hack to add a little personal touch!

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TTD faves: under $100 fitness finds

Posted on January 17, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

The new year is here and I’m motivated to take the time to get back to the gym and start feeling healthier in general.

Post-Fitz I just never really got back into a routine of focusing on me + spending time at the gym, and when I stopped nursing him at a year the pounds just crept back on. I set a goal for myself this year to put me first, even if it is just for 30 or so minutes a day. I deserve it, and so does my family.

So in the name of wellness, I went on ahead and pulled together a bunch of fun fitness picks to help you kick off 2018 in style. Purchasing new activewear is sometimes exactly what you need to motivate yourself to SHOW UP and GET IT DONE. Another big helper for me, is a good playlist. Check out mine!

TTDFaves_Under100FitnessFinds2018yoga mat // sports bra // water bottle
moto leggings // sneakers // long sleeve

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Friday faves

Posted on January 12, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

EmilyStumpf[the prettiest custom paintings by local artist, Emily Stumpf]

JT is back ya’ll. Justin Timberlake, if you have been living under a rock, is releasing a  new album on February 2 – you know, to coincide with his Super Bowl Halftime show, and his first single, Filthy, is already out. Thoughts?

My hands are always full. Always. I schlep around the most ridiculous amount of stuff, so when I saw someone using one of these cases from Bandolier the other day I was more than intrigued. Really feelin’ the red Emma version!

If you are local and have kiddos who are off of school this coming Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then you should take them over to the Science Center of Iowa for a little learning on their day off – FOR FREE. Speaking from experience, get there early.

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Milk Street Baby x Suite Dreams

Posted on January 10, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

Let me start this post off with “can I get a do over?”

That is exactly what I said upon entering local baby furniture retailer Suite Dreams this week.

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I had the privilege of co-hosting the Milk Street Baby launch event and seriously, everything was just so breathtaking. It was good enough to make me want to go back and have my babies all over again. Well, not really, but the pieces truly are works of art.

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On top of getting to see the new line of transitional nursery furniture first hand, I also got to meet the owner and creator, Julie Knisley.

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Crib safety is Julie’s passion and each of her products go through rigorous testing and surpass the highest of crib safety standards. Each piece is handcrafted using the finest materials and is also made to order. The furniture takes a minimum of 12 to 16 weeks to build, but the kind of craftsmanship that is put into each item is visible.

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One of my favorite features from the line were the addition of LED lights underneath and within the drawers. No more rummaging around in the middle of the night to find diapers or a new pair of jammies in the dark. GENIUS!

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Milk Street Baby is sold exclusively through Brixy retailers, such as Suite Dreams located right here in Windsor Heights, Iowa. If you are in the market for nursery furniture, make them your first stop! With 27 years of experience, you can rest easy knowing that they only stock the finest quality of brands.

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For more on Milk Street Baby and Suite Dreams, find them on social media at @milkstreetbaby and @suitedreamsforkids.

This post was created in collaboration with Milk Street Baby + Suite Dreams.
Thank you for supporting the brands we love at Tomorrow’s To Do’s!

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Branstad family photos 2017

Posted on January 8, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

With all the madness of the holiday season combined with a whole bunch of content (hello, gift guides!) that I love putting together in the month of December, this post kept getting moved back.

Fresh into 2018 and I can’t wait any longer to share our annual family photos with you!

Our photographer, Rachael Hall of Rachael Maria Photography, is the sweetest ever, but has since relocated to Georgia with her darling family. My hope is that I can carve out some time with her each year when she returns to visit family in Iowa. Fingers-crossed.

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Friday faves

Posted on January 5, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

DSC_1450[a sweet outtake from our family photos that I will be sharing SOON]

I’m so excited to share that next week I am co-hosting the Milk Street Baby launch event at Suite Dreams in Windsor Heights on January 9 from 4-7 p.m. If you are in the market for high-quality, hand-crafted transitional baby furniture then you must stop by and check Milk Street Baby out. My favorite part: the company is owned, operated and created by women!

I printed off a free clipboard calendar from This Little Street last year for my office and they are back and better than ever with the 2018 version. And if you like the calendar, you are going to love her new kids clothing line dropping next week!

Looking for some cute socks to wear for Valentine’s Day? No? Just me? Any who, if you are holiday obsessed and need a pair – I just snagged these confetti heart socks from Madewell on sale!

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Download: Christmas 2017

Posted on January 4, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

This week I was back to work and back to blogging and am looking forward to a great 2018!

I spent my break with the boys and our families and wouldn’t have it any other way. Thought I’d share a peek into the craziness that was our life over the past couple of weeks.

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[Home Alone on repeat for my mini McCallister]Christmas2017_11
[Branstad cousins]Christmas2017_14
[Haas cousins]Christmas2017_04
[the biggest little cheeser there ever was]Christmas2017_15
[Santa’s view from above]Christmas2017_16
[the loot]Christmas2017_10
[obsessed with Fitzie’s new snow boots (similar)]Christmas2017_02
[the cutest personalized name blocks from Bannor Toys]Christmas2017_03
[this Gathre playmat was a hit!]Christmas2017_06{my little reindeer]Christmas2017_01
[getting into trouble, per usual]Christmas2017_05
[even found some time for myself #selfie]Christmas2017_07[that included a trip to St. Kilda for their delicious lattes]

 

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China 2017 // part four

Posted on January 2, 2018 by tomorrowstodos

Let’s finish up this trip to China, shall we…

Our remaining time in Beijing was spent exploring and eating. We took a trip to a local high-end mall and were amazed at the amount of art installations throughout the building.

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The trip to the mall was not to shop, but to dine at Din Tai Fung and gorge ourselves on xiao long bao (Chinese soup dumplings).  China2017_59China2017_60China2017_58
We also managed a quick trip to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. China2017_54China2017_53China2017_5

If you follow along here, you know that every November Marcus usually prepares a three bird feast for our families, known as Turducken. Well, we decided why not do it in China this year. Different country, same delicious dinner!China2017_15China2017_8China2017_13

The last day, before we headed off the airport to embark on our long journey home, we had to go back to Din Tai Fung one last time. China2017_78

Our trip home was pretty uneventful and I’m surprised how well the boys did. As my buddy Gus Polinski (John Candy) said, “Kids are resilient.”China2017_81We had the best welcoming committee at the airport in Des Moines. Check out the garbage truck on the top of Ev’s sign 🙂

Our trip to China was amazing and the boys were such troopers. Now, the week after we got home everyone was pretty jet-lagged, but we are back on schedule now and looking forward to our next big trip.

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Be merry

Posted on December 25, 2017 by tomorrowstodos

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.

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