An interior designer I am not, but I thought I’d share how I’m planning on decorating this little one’s nursery. Behold, my attempt at a mood board:
I’ve actually made really great progress on the nursery so far.
The crib is something we have on hand that’s been stored at my parent’s house. My grandpa made it many many years ago and it’s such a special piece. The crib in the image above is not our exact crib, but it’s close.
I’ve already got the curtains and rug and the wall paint has been slapped up. We also ordered the glider a couple months ago and are just waiting for it to come in.
I have loved these baby animal prints by Sharon Montrose for a long time, and the hardest part is just narrowing down which ones to choose. These three are my favorite. I think.
Oh, and that is not the dresser/changing table we have. We are using one we have on hand and will just be painting it white (or more likely, we’ll be paying someone else to do it because ain’t nobody here got time for that). But in my nursery fantasies, I would be changing poopy diapers atop a white campaign-style dresser.
And I am obsessed with jelly cat stuffed animals. They are so cute and have so many fun options. This flamingo makes me laugh, so I know she’s a keeper. She’s so spunky with that hair-do!
And that’s about it. I’m sure there will be some more touches we’ll add as we go along, and I’ll be sure to share photos once the space is all done. This is actually the first room in our house that we are decorating from scratch and it’s been so fun to pick out each piece specifically for the space rather than try to make what we already have work. Now, if only money grew on trees. c’est la vie.
Whew! What a week (and weekend) it’s been. This blog has been suffering a little bit but I think of you guys a lot. Here’s the lowdown on life lately:
1. Work has been crazy busy. Between busting my tail in the office and trying to get ready for a baby, I’ve pretty much had time to eat and sleep and do little else. But life doesn’t stop just because work is busy!
2. Speaking of getting ready for the baby, we finally, finally started to prep the space for the nursery. It’s involved lots of furniture moving and rearranging of bedrooms, but we’re almost done and should be ready to paint and get some baby furniture in here in the next couple weeks.
3. Jason’s Meme had major heart surgery earlier this week. We spent two days in Charlotte this past week to visit her after her surgery. She’s on the up and up, but her recovery is not without its challenges. Prayers during the coming weeks are welcome. Meme is such a special woman in many people’s lives and is one of, if not THE most honest, loving, and genuine person I know. I’m always telling Jason, I’m so lucky I married into Meme.
(photo by Grace Hill Photography during Christmas 2012)
4. On the weekends, we’ve been balancing our free time with prepping for baby and shopping for new stuff for Early Bird. We took a bit of a hiatus over the holidays because traveling and Christmas festivities left little time for snagging new goods, but we’ve got some new-to-you stuff added to the site and I should have some more up later this week or weekend. Thank you all SO much for your support over the past couple of months. This little hobby of ours wouldn’t be possible without you.
5. I’m sure there is more that I’m forgetting. I tend to do that a lot these days. I thought pregnancy brain was some sort of fake excuse concocted by I don’t even know, but it’s real, I tell ya. I find myself walking into rooms and forgetting why I’m there, not being able to find things that are right in front of me, opening the fridge and completely forgetting what I was going to get (um… milk for the cereal), and if I don’t write something down, you can forget about it ever happening.
So, that’s about it until I remember what else it was I wanted to tell you.
Have a great week, trillas!
Is Christmas really less than a week away. Wowza! The good news is that I’ve purchased and wrapped all of my Christmas presents. I asked Jason if he wanted to go to the NCSU basketball game on Saturday and he told me he needed that day for Christmas shopping. say wha? That boy is cray, but I love him for it or maybe I should say despite it. LOLZ. (gah, I just annoyed myself with that LOLZ.)
I’ve got a few life updates for you:
1. We spent this past weekend with my inlaws in Charlotte to celebrate the season. It’s always such a whirlwind because Jason comes from a LARGE family that all still lives in Charlotte so we’re always bopping from here to there to make sure we get to see everyone. It’s a total blast and the weekend culminates in all the cousins getting together to perform the Christmas play for the “grown ups.” You may argue that we should fall into the category of grown ups, but alas, birth order and not age dictates who does and does not participate in the play. If you are lucky enough to have married one into the family, then you get to be in the play, too. This is my 7th year running as an angel in the play, but the Tony’s have not yet come calling. Just call me the Susan Lucci of musicals.
It’s really a big production, complete with story telling and singing appropriate Christmas songs at appropriate scenes. Like, when the angels appear, we all sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. And then when the kings arrive, we sing We Three Kings. And so on and so on.
2. Early Bird was selected to be a Vintage and Market Finds vendor on One King’s Lane. We are supes excited about this turn of events as it allows us to bring some of the finer things we stumble across to a mass market. Some rich person out there has got to be interested in these fab lamps, right? These can go for over $3,000 on 1st Dibs and they are really, really, really awesome. Like I never knew the difference between nice lamps and the $60 ones you find at Home Goods until we scored these. Major improvement. I hope you buy them.
3. No bump picture this week. I know you are frowning into your coffee right now. I’ve been swamped with tying up Christmas loose ends and getting ready for two holiday parties we’re going to this weekend, holiday baking, plus some guests that are staying with us. I love the hustle and bustle that this time of year brings, but I am just one woman and will gladly admit when I can’t handle it all. So this week’s casualty is the bump photo.
I was halfway out of my work clothes when I remembered I hadn’t snapped a pic to commemorate 22 weeks. whew. disaster averted.
I could probably spend the rest of my pregnancy in the second trimester and be a-okay. I’ve heard that the third trimester gets worse, so I’m really enjoying basking in uninterrupted sleep, minimal potty breaks, being able to lay on my back and still fitting in to the occasional non-maternity dress. Thank goodness for lycra!
La bebe is growing hair this week, but there is no pigment so the hair is bright white. How do I know this? Whattoexpect.com tells me so. It occurred to me last week that we’re in the teens when it comes to counting down the weeks until we become a family of three. To think that we started counting down from 40 and now there’s only 18 to go. I know it will fly by. I even scheduled my next regular dental cleaning for May and it was crazy to think that I’ll have a baby by then!
I don’t think I ever shared the results of the anatomy scan we had a couple weeks ago, but this little Cookie is looking to be in tip top shape. Four chamber heart? check! Tummy full of amniotic fluid? check! Femur at appropriate length? check! Spine intact? check!
In more ME news, have I mentioned lately how over my braces I am? Because I am. I asked my orthodontist if we could work it out so these braces come off before April. He didn’t seem too optimistic. womp. womp.
(A sign that the groom made for the reception entrance. Jason was supremely jealous of the tool arsenal that must have been required to craft such a sign.)
I spent a long weekend in New Bern, NC, for the nuptials of one of my best friends. The whole weekend was brimming with love and really reflected the personalities of the bride and groom, who just so happen to be two of my favorite people. I’ve known the bride for over 10 years and I can’t imagine a more perfect groom for her than the one she said her “I Dos” with on Saturday. The weather was insanely perfect for the ceremony down by the river, and the dancing at the reception was non-stop (a key element for an awesome reception, if I do say so myself).
(me and my main squeeze. Gah, he is hot.)
(The totally lovely bride and groom.)
(My friend Erin is due six weeks before me. It’s been so much fun to have a close friend to go through pregnancy with. Fun fact - we found out about our simultaneous pregnancies when we ran into each other at the doctor’s office before either of us had told anyone!)
(Me and the gorge bride! She gave Kate Middleton a serious run for her money with that waist size. I should have thought about that before shoving my pregnant belly in a picture next to her.)
(Me and my fellow b-maids down by the river.)
And I spotted this photo on facebook in which I am a total photo bomber at the rehearsal dinner. Woopsies!
Hope you chickens had a fabulous weekend filled with your own version of love and friendship.
(alternately titled: stuff I like and other women probably will too)
I know you’ve seen tons of gift guides if you’re an avid blog reader, but here’s another one just for fun. I’ve pulled together some of my favorite items of the season and these would be just about perfect for any woman in your life that is 23 or older. Any of these are sure to delight.
These Love Birds LA clutches are so erm… clutch (see what I did there?). They range in price from $45 to $105 and each is totally unique. If you’re lady needs a spunky accessory that is totally swoon worthy, snatch her up one of these.
My new obsession is Kiehl’s body wash in the orange lychee scent. It feels totally luxurious on your skin and has a really subtle citrus scent that has just the right touch and leaves a lingering scent on your skin. It is really just lovely and at $24, it’s an affordable indulgence that your lady friend will love. It’s obviously available online, but if you’re in the Triangle, there is a Kiehl’s counter at the Belk in Crabtree Mall.
For unique, but affordable jewelry, look no further than Hyla Dewitt. Hyla is a local jewelry designer that I recently discovered and her pieces are SO unique and covetable. They range from $35 up to $220, so there really is something for every budget. But no matter which piece you pick, you’re guaranteed to gift something fabulous. Available here and here online and I believe the Charlotte’s at North Hills carries her stuff in the Triangle area.
If you want to gift a really special piece of jewelry, look no further than Kerry Catherine Jewelry. Unfortunately, you have to visit the brick and mortar shop in North Hills to purchase, but if you’re local consider yourself lucky. Jason has gifted me a few pieces from here over the nine years (!!!) we’ve been together and they remain some of my favorite pieces of jewelry. Kerry Catherine uses precious metals and semi-precious stones to create pieces that are so organic and ethereal. I always get compliments when I wear something from here. Definitely worth checking out if you have the urge to splurge.
And finally, a few items that are always in favor if you need something simple and straightforward:
- Kate Spade earrings. Can’t go wrong here.
- Korres Lip Butter. These are $12 a pop and make a great stocking stuffer.
- Restoration Hardware Luxury Plush Robe. Jason gifted me one of these a few years ago and I still wear it almost every single day.
- A Birchbox subscription. I talk about Birchbox all the time, so I feel like I’m beating a dead horse with this one, but it’s $10/month and you can get a gift subscription for three months up to a year. Birchbox is literally the one single piece of mail I look forward to getting each month. They are mailed on the 10th and I’m obsessive about checking my email from the 10th until I receive it.
- If you’re looking for a gift for someone under 23-ish years old, here’s my tip – head over the Nordstrom BP section and buy whatever they have laid out in the accessory section. It’s guaranteed to be what’s cool and hip with the kids these days.
Happy Holiday Shopping!
I’m 21 weeks pregnant. I feel like over the past two weeks my stomach has grown like woah. We had our big doctor’s appointment on Friday where they could tell you the gender if you want, but we are sticking to our guns and keeping the sex of this little one a surprise. It was still very exciting to see our Cookie on the ultrasound screen and look at all it’s organs and systems. Everything looks great! The litte bean even took a few gulps of amniotic fluid while we were watching and it was so surreal to see it’s little mouth open and close. S/he is about a pound and the size of a large banana. Grow baby, grow!
I’m still feeling great these days. I’ve pretty much succumbed to 90% maternity clothing. Though, ironically, nothing I’m wearing in this picture is maternity wear. We’ve been having insanely nice temperatures these past few days, so I’ve been able to bust out some of my looser spring dresses. I’ve gained 8 pounds so far so I’m hoping I’m on track to cap out around 30 or so.
(outfit deets: dress: Splendid // boots: Steve Madden //scarf: do not remember // earrings: Kendra Scott)
In all honesty, sometimes I forget I’m pregnant.
For the most part, I pretty much feel like my regular self (aside from an ever increasing amount of my wardrobe that does not fit). I have to regularly remind myself to “don’t order the raw tuna” and “skip the wine aisle at the grocery store” and “remember to take your prenatal vitamins.”
So, when I was going to bed last night, I caught my reflection in the mirror and my stomach was sticking out as far as my chest, maybe even further (woah), and I was surprised… just for a second.
Then, I was just really, really grateful. That seems to be a theme this weekend.
Today and every day, I am most thankful for this little life I live.
I am grateful for…
…a job that I enjoy going to and that I make enough money to live a life I love and give back to my community.
…a husband who I am so proud to call mine.
… the world’s sweetest dog even though he has the stinkiest farts.
… this little baby in my tummy who is half-baked (I’m 20 weeks today!).
… the roof over my head and the warmth my home provides for me, both literally and figuratively.
… the fact that I live in a country where we get to elect our leader and that I have the resources at my fingertips to communicate with virtually anyone I want to or to access any information I might need.
… the people that read my blog and this little community that has sprouted up on the internet.
… the pies (plural) I will eat later today.
… I guess I’m even sort of thankful for my braces. They suck, but my teefs are straightening out fo sho.
…Oh, I’m also really thankful that leggings are still an acceptable choice of attire to wear out of the house.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Let’s rewind today and go back to the late winter of 2010. Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” was at the top of the charts and the romcom Valentine’s Day was getting ready to hit the theaters. Jeffrey Campbell Litas were all the rage, and so were bangs. I am nothing if not a sucker for some trends — the bangs, not the Litas.
(Me, feeling very empowered with my new bangs, obviously)
On a whim, I had my hair stylist cut me some thick Zooey Deschanel-esque bangs. And she assured me that I could come in and she could trim them any time, for free! What I didn’t realize is that you have to get your bangs trimmed like every two weeks, lest you look more like Cousin It and less like an indie hipster. I don’t know about you ladies, but popping into the hairdresser every two weeks for my free bang trim was not something I really had time for. So, I watched a few tutorials on YouTube and just began trimming my bangs myself.
All was going well until my birthday in March. On March 28, 2010, I trimmed what would be my last bang. Here I am at my birthday party picnic on March 29, 2010.
That fateful day in March, I turned another year older, and unbeknownst to me, I was about to be another hair tip wiser. You see, I’m wearing these sunglasses because my eyeball underneath is totally red. After some Google research and some “help” from WebMD, I was convinced that somehow I had scratched my cornea during my bang trim. Every time I would blink, my eye got redder and more irritated. But, the birthday party must go on and the pain/irritation wasn’t anything that a couple carafes of sangria couldn’t cure.
The following Monday, my eye hadn’t gotten any better, so I made an appointment with an eye doctor. After investigating my eyeball with a magnifying glass, he found that a teeny tiny hair had gotten lodged in my tear duct, so every time I opened and closed my eyelid, I was irritating my eyeball. The next step? Remove the teeny tiny hair, obviously. And how did he do that? I lay very, very, very, very, very still while he used a pair of tweezers to remove the hair while looking at it under the microscope. That’s right, folks, there was a PAIR OF TWEEZERS NEXT TO MY EYEBALL THAT COULD HAVE STABBED MY EYE IF I HAD MOVED EVEN ONE MILLIMETER.
The next day, I promptly began the arduous process of growing out my bangs and will never ever cut my own bangs again, no matter how many YouTube tutorials I watch. And neither should you. Some things should be left to the beauty professionals.
This post is part of BlogHer’s Transformative Beauty editorial series, made possible by Sonia Kashuk at Target.
