Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Summer Totes

Surprise! This post is really about totes. As in bags. Not as in "totes ma'goats".  Having sold my SKIP HOP diaper bag on the Craigslist after Owen I might need to look for something for Tate for this summer. But I am preferring to get something a little more mainstream that I can carry after baby and that doesn't scream "I'm full of dirty diapers and chew toys". Even though it will in fact be full of dirty diapers and chew toys ;)

A few I am scouting at Nordstrom.com -

Fossil Sydney Shopper

Kate Spade Francis Tote

Kate Spade Flatiron Barbara Tote 

Or this one from Furbish -
cute stuff people.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Brunch for Baby Tate

Sweet invitation and favors for the guests.

Her own name banner and some adorable gifts to open!

Sweet friends to celebrate with.



Gorgeous florals and delicious spread!

Ready to eat! 

Sister in law and BFF.

It was a fantastic time spoiling our little girl.  LOTS of adorable outfits from Rolly's - the cutest baby shop in town - and even some new pj's and a robe for me! (Thanks mama!) I love these ladies so much and was so happy to have a few hours with them on a gorgeous Sunday!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Progress

Here's a little sneak peak into baby Tate's nursery. Just need to get some things up on the wall - hopefully by this weekend. We are slowly getting there.

Curtains and Poof are from Land of Nod (who doesn't love their stuff??), Rug is from World Market (feel like we should have gone with the 8x10 - always go bigger people), three frames waiting to be hung are from a local consignment sale - artwork is still being finalized.  Blanket is made by my loving mother which will end up probably being the comforter for her "toddler bed".  Lamp I found on CL (whaahooo).

First and foremost, I apologize for that blinding overhead light.  Crib bedding was made by my dear mom's friend and originally used in Owen's nursery.  Green = reuse.  The doll house in the corner was mine and I am trying to find the time to paint it and use it for storage of toys, dolls, books, etc.  

Progress is coming but we still have to hang the mirror and the shelf over the dresser and the pictures.  Hopefully this weekend that will be done!  I am happy with how it's coming along, already one of my fav spots in the house and last night I just sat in my rocker with my feet up and had some "me" time. It was really nice.  Seeing the room in photos helps me to edit down rather than just being in the room.  I would love to have some crown molding installed one day - in all the bedrooms!  But for now, a girl can dream. Can't believe just 6 weeks away from meeting our little girl!

Friday, April 4, 2014

I'm so excited!!

Ekkkk! So this weekend we are having built ins installed in our LIVING ROOM!!! This is so exciting as I was not thinking it would happen so soon, but we are doing it!

Ever since we have lived in this house (1 year Memorial Day weekend!) I have wanted to do this and am so excited to check it off our list so soon in our life in this home.  A few inspirational shots I have been saving via my Pinterest.

our fireplace is totally decorative....(shhhhh) but i'm really thinking it could be cute painted black...

love these details and the painted back. we plan to keep ours the same color as the main walls, a warm beige.

this room is gorg. i can't promise my shelves will stay that bare, but love the molding details and beach vibe.

i have saved this one because i like the simple cabinets at the bottom.  we won't be putting our TV over the mantle, i still want this room to have some formality to it so we plan to have a space created for it to fit on the side - fingers crossed it comes out as we have envisioned!

Hopefully I can get around to some before and after pics as well....

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Wall doings

Our walls are lacking love in many places.  I hope to gradually find things that I can't live without to make our home feel more like us rather than just go to the store find something that will work for now and throw it up.  It makes it hard but in the long run, I know it's what we need.

Right now our dining room wall needs some love.  In the worst way.  John suggested getting a few large scale pieces and putting them up.  But what? Our dining room's pretty traditional at the moment.  I would like to bring in some modern touches to even it out a bit.  Of course I don't have pics of our current dining room, but here are some ideas that I am loving to try.

Large scale maps.
I know this isn't anything new and has been done for years, but I think it could really work for this space.  I found a great ETSY shop (link below) that has some wonderful vintage options.  I'm thinking just simple black matted frames to hang them in a large group and be done.

inspiration shot:
Vintage Maps - Paris, France 1705 size 36" x 44" ( set of 4 sectionals )

A massive painting or wall hanging.
This also is a tough one because I am so not good at finding something I love and it can be very expensive. Thankfully for ETSY (yes, all caps is necessary) I may be able to find a nice piece by an unknown amazing artist that I could afford.

inspiration shot:
Domino Decorating Ideas | Living dining room - November 2007 Domino magazine

Dining Room


this last one by the way, might be the most beautiful home I have ever seen.  GO to the link NOW and check it out. You won't be disappointed!

So those are my plans for now. Either some big maps framed or a big painting/something to hang.  Decisions, decisions.


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The perfect little desk

So I have been scoping Craigslist for weeks now looking for the perfect little desk for our living room. Just somewhere we can house the laptop, bills and important papers since our current work station is our sofa in the den. And I found it! And it's mine!




I love the size and the detail of the wood.  Wish it had a top to it as well, but I am excited to do some decorating with a new lamp and frames and find a fun chair to recover to use.  Could even possibly paint it down the road, but I love the look of wood so will probably leave this one alone.  Also have a guy coming Friday to give us a quote on putting built in's around the fireplace.  Of course the den needs new carpet and we definitely need to fence in the back, but built in's can't be tough (i.e. expensive), right? 

Do you hunt on CL ?  The seller said she had over 20 people contact her in just one day and I was the first one to say I'd buy it so it's all mine!  I promise to follow up with some photos of how it ends up at our house. 

Here are a few shots I found on Pinterest that are inspiring me.

secretary desk by stairway. After kids toys are gone
Pottery Barn of course.

Well contained, classy bar.  I would prefer two or three small pictures above, though, for more color and definition.
I never even thought of this possibility!!

Great post on home offices and finding pieces to fit your space. Little Green Notebook: Thinking about my home office
Can you say swank?

red mahogany stained secretary with claw feet and horizontal stripe curtains
This was an amazing re-do

English Study, small and cozy and liking the fact they used contemporary art
Love it all!

Barometer work lamp - found one just like this at Ikea! $29.99
And maybe a lamp like this one?

desk lamp designed by Jo Hammerborg in the 1960s for Fog & Morup - Denmark
or this one...

stay tuned!


all images found via Pinterest

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

Archer Eats

So a few weeks of dinner times and these are our standouts.


The easiest Potato Soup known to man!



I just recently found Cassie's blog at Hi Sugarplum! and this girl is all things DIY and actual things you can really do yourself.  When I saw her post for this amazing crockpot potato soup I knew we had to try it.  It's just as delicious and easy as it sounds.  Per the hubs request, I chopped up extra bacon and mixed it into the potato mixture to bake with it and we cooked it on the stove since I didn't have time to let it cook in the crock pot all day. But it was just as hearty and yummy as I thought it would be.

Owen wouldn't try it but he loved his grilled cheese.


Spinach & Meat sauce Lasagna


This one really just came from what was "already in the fridge" meal.  I picked up some lasagna noodles and ricotta from the store and we went with it!  John had made a ton of this wonderful meaty tomato sauce the week prior so I knew I was going to use it as our sauce.  I bought a big tub of fresh spinach from one of our Costo trips last week and promised the hubs I would finish it off.  I'm still trying.  Hopefully this week we will do a girlled chicken and spinach salad (YUM) and that should help take care of some of it! So cooked down the fresh spinach to add in with the ricotta and layerd it up with shredded mozzarella, noodles and sauce.  Baked it at about 350 til bubbly and let sit for just a few.  It's even better the next day!

Before it went in the oven but you see how beautiful it is? And it was H U G E!

I was too scared to do no bake noodles, but we did put some unbaked noodles on the bottom row and it turned out fine!

Owen didn't want to try because of the green (grrr) but he did have a few noodles and meatballs (we call any meat in our house meatballs & he gobbles them up)

Southern Living Italian Sausage Grits bake


This one was a toughie.  John and I used to cook all these amazing dinners when we were just 2 and now it's very rare to have something with so many components and techniques in preparing.  He was a whiz and I was just trying to keep up.  O was a champ and played down stairs almost the whole time.  That was a treat in itself!  But it came out super amazing and hearty and perfect for a chilly Sunday night.


I was to chicken to see if O would try it so I made him a toddler version of just cut up sausage and some cheese grits and strawberries.  He did better with it and as much as I want him to eat what we eat at every meal, sometimes knowing is half the battle.  

So there you have it! A few of our recent successes for dinner. Quick, easy and good!

We love to go out to eat and Saturday enjoyed a fun night out with some friends and their little one, V.  O was smitten and they were hamming it up for just about anyone who would look their way.  Mexican is always a hit with our guy, he can't get enough beans and rice!

 I promise V is not picking her nose. 

Post nap snacks are always fun at our house too. Sunday O & Daddy enjoying some peanut butter & crackers and celery!

Aren't they just the cutest?

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Right now I'm...

I am taking a hint from my friend Jessie and doing a little journaling in this post.  Sometimes it's good to jot down thoughts and feelings about where I am in this current time in my life! Thanks, Jesse!

Right now I'm:

Loving
 - 
My new Sam Edelman Booties that I have been craving for over a year and they were almost 50% off!. I went with the fun green ones to spice up my maternity wardrobe, which I'm really not LOVING. Also, loving my hubs who is such a great dad and partner in life.  

Reading - 
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Children. Our perfect little sleeper has had a few rough nights and we are working through them together. He is adjusting to a big boy bed and a new room and is a trooper, but needs to keep his body in that bed all night long! Any tips are appreciated! 
BUT I did just finish Gone Girl and highly recommend it.  I can't wait to see the movie.

Waiting for - 
warmer weather!! I swear one of these winters I'm going pack our bags and we will go somewhere nice and warm for a getaway!

Excited about
 - 
Having a baby girl. Owen is going to be such a great big brother. I love how he comes to my belly and wants to pat 'baby Tate' or give it kisses.  Last night we talked about taking baths with baby sister and he was pretty excited. Also excited we have officially decided on a name, Tate Marion.  Tate just came to me (like Owen) and Marion was my grandmother's maiden name.  

Trying to
 - 
Keep patience when things aren't going my way.  From getting O ready to leave in the mornings (aka TODDLER TIME) to feeling there just aren't enough hours in the day to dealing with just about anything. HAVE Patience!!

Working on
 - 
.... hummm, trying to be better and more proactive about cooking dinner during the week? That sounds pretty weak, but it's true.

Enjoying
 - 
Having Downton Abbey back. I just love those Crawley's! 

Using
 - 
My new Mary Kay spinbrush (Thanks to my other Mother In Law) which is similar to the Clairsonic face brushes and is really making my face feel bright and nice during these harsh winter times. And just got some new shampoo that I love ;) How is that one for easy to please? Rusk Sensories Brillance Shampoo smells heavenly and does a great job on my hair.  Just got that well needed trim and loving it too.


Wearing
 - 
See "Loving" but also my Christmas present from John, a new watch (Michael Kors Tortoise). That is such a perfect compliment to my citrine (O's birthstone) ring. Receiving jewelry never was a big thing to me, but I really love the pieces he's given me. And the meaning behind them always makes it even better.


Planning
 - 
Baby girl's nursery and waiting til February to pull the trigger on painting furniture and really getting into decorating.  My Pinterest board for Baby Girl is outta control.  My new obsession is doing metallic star decals on the ceiling.... wonder if Nana is up for it??


Singing
 - 
hmm, bedtime songs most recently.  But our boy loves to sing and he is so good at it! I love to listen to Owen belt out Jesus loves me, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle. Sweetest little voice there ever was!


Needing
 - 
A night out with the hubs.  We are trying to do one date night a month and I'm ready to go to dinner and a movie with him again soon.

Learning -
To realize that this too shall pass.  Life won't always be a full night of interrupted rest or fun Saturday night plans with friends cancelled due to an unexpected stomach bug... Sometimes things happen and we have to roll with the punches.


Listening to - 
My music is still the same but have had Shovels & Rope on heavy rotation my Spotify or Pandora radios.


Wishing - 
We had tons of money to do some projects around the house.  But we have plenty of years! Hopefully a few updates to our master bath will help ease the wishing for now...


Doing - 
This blog when I should probably be working! 

Dreaming of - 
A full night's sleep... at least before MAY!

Friday, January 17, 2014

An awesome guy, An Awesome Book

There have been some great and awesome people to come out of our humble little city... But there is one guy who many people may not know, but to me and some of my friends he is pretty amazing.

Dallas was pretty quiet and kept to himself.  He definitely didn't try to fit in but he just did. Even with multi-colored hair and baggy pants and chains hanging from his belt he was never mean or rude or picked on by others (at least not to my knowledge). But he had an air about him.  Something to the fact that "he knew". He knew all the petty school drama silliness wouldn't amount to anything in the end.  And he would find his place. And he did.

A few years back we reconnected on Facebook and I found out he had written a book. A book for kids. It is such a wonderful story and he has been all over the country sharing his story.  And he's written more stories. He makes WS proud. And he makes me proud.



Some of the book's artwork I found online ...

cover from "An Awesome Book" 

inside pages from "An Awesome Book of Thanks"




And also there's this...


He had a kid with a movie star

Sorry, but couldn't let that one get by... 

So if you haven't heard of Dallas Clayton or his awesomeness, go and check it out.  Even before I had Owen or had known of Dallas' latest adventure, I knew he would be someone I would tell my kids about.  A boy who didn't let others affect him and found his light and love and shared it with the world.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

RHNY




Well isn't the old saying, "it's not a party until someone's leg falls off?" I love these women...How Carol Radziwill has managed to stick around with these loons is beyond me.  And Ramona.  What a kook!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Time for a trim

Hair appointment this week... It's definitely time!

A few inspirations from Pinterest




I like these piece-y looks with a little bit of wave.  I am also really digging the length right below the chin, but not sure I will take off THAT much length...

Here's a pic from Sat night - a little time with the girls is so good for the soul - and we had to snap a pic of it!


My bangs are grown out enough and there is definitely enough HAIR going on.  Most of my appointments are spent thinning it out! 

Any tips for good softening / curl / subtle wave sprays or cremes? 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Done.

Is it Friday yet?


Just having one of those couple of days where I feel like nothing's really fair and so welcome to my pitty party. Table of One. And I won't be ordering any booze because I'm 5 months pregnant but look and feel like I look like I'm about 8.5 months.

You know? When you feel like there is so much at home to be done and at work I am basically spinning wheels and worry with other people's crap.

It's time to schedule something soon....
And by meltdown I mean sitting in my chaise by the beach/pool/pond...
which doesn't appear to be happening ANY time soon.

Hope I'm back tomorrow with a better outlook. 
Anyone reading this just disregard. 
I'm just ranting and raving and getting out some frustrations through the www and my fingertips ;)

Here's a good jam for us today. 



Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Perusing through the latest CL finds...

One of my favorite daily past times includes perusing Craigslist for any good finds.  Some days I have major success and come home begging John to let me get this new to me piece of furniture.  He doesn't understand the fun it brings me and just wants to go to your neighborhood furniture store and throw down a bunch of cash for something with little to no character or love. Which is fine, but I like "character" and I love "love".

amazing bench with velvet cushions
here


This is a Ballard Wall Mirror. Has a partner if you want to get 2.
This was included with the bench post and it has a tumbler site for all their amazing goodies. 
And this was just the beginning...

Sweet bookcase would be awesome painted and put in Little Girl's nursery

search 'mid century modern' for the real finds. 
great for tv console!

This piece would go wonderful in our living room with the more traditional pieces.
Great condition and GREAT price

This one is holding on to me tight.
What a perfect mirror to go in O's big boy room... Love the detailing and the size!

Convex Mirror for less than $100
Need I say more?

If you end up purchasing any of these items, let me know so I can come to your home and admire it's beauty! I am still holding out for the bookcase and the mirror.  Would love to get all of them but SOMEONE's husband is going to VEGAS in March so should probably hold on to what money will still have.... (sidenote - isn't it amazing what second babies will make husbands do??!)