I missed Thankful Thursdays and didn't check in today, either, so I bet you guys thought Miss Grace made her arrival.
No such luck. :)
Just a crazy couple of days, but I promise to check in soon.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend
Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
I'll probably regret this post someday...
... but I'm writing it anyway. If only so that you guys can direct me to it after I have a child and end up doing all of these things myself.
So because I just can't help myself, let's go ahead and call this post: "I'll probably make a liar of myself, but after I have a baby, you won't catch me..."
... posting pictures of myself nursing on Facebook.
I don't dispute that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural thing. It is. And I have NO problem seeing someone nursing in public because, heck, if a kid's gotta eat, the kid's gotta eat. Nor do I take any issue with informative breastfeeding blog posts like these, which sometimes contain pictures of cute babies nursing. (In fact, I've loved the girl in the red shoes's breastfeeding diaries series!)
But the nursing selfies I sometimes see on Facebook just bother me because I feel like they're completely gratuitous. If the world absolutely must know that you're breastfeeding at that precise moment in time, I suppose you can post a status about it (although I'll probably put you in the same category of people that use Facebook as a minute-by-minute update of their lives. ["Just ate dinner, and now I'll do some laundry. Think I'll grab some ice cream in a bit. Laterzzz!"])
... sharing pictures of Grace with food all over her face.
This one's all me, y'all. I swear I'm not judging you when you post pictures of your kid with sweet potatoes all over them. Most people probably think it's really adorable. I just get weirded out by those kinds of pictures (particularly those involving savory foods), and I'm not sure why.
... sharing pictures of Grace's (or my) boo-boos.
Again, this is probably just me, but I can't stand it when I'm scrolling through my facebook or Instagram feed and I stumble upon a picture of a gruesome cut (or any other sort of bloody malady). I'm squeamish, and so it's incredibly unsettling to have someone's injury visibly forced upon me like that. So rest assured that if Grace or I slice something open, I won't be showing you pictures of it. This one I can promise to abide by. :)
... talking in detail about Grace's bowel movements (or, heaven forbid, showing you pictures of them).
There's a fine line, here. I'll probably, at some point, lament the fact that she isn't yet potty trained. And I'm sure I'll be quick to celebrate her potty achievements here on a very generic level.
But, y'all.
There are some things that our children won't appreciate us having blasted to the world when they're all grown up. Their poop is probably one of those things. (And you can probably be sure that no one is as interested in your child's poop as you are. Take that for whatever it's worth.)
So there you have it.
My judgy-judgerson post that probably made some of you angry. If it did, take heart because I'll probably be judging myself before too long. :)
Labels:
Planning for Baby
What I'm Loving...
Although the fact that my pregnancy countdown currently reads "22 days" is mostly all that occupies my thoughts and time lately, I did want to share a few things I've been digging recently. Because, let's be honest... if I don't do it now, I probably never will. :)
Skin Stuff...
I've gotten several, "wow, your skin is looking great these days!" kind of comments lately. And while I'm sure it's mostly just that the pregnancy hormones have finally calmed down enough such that my face isn't completely covered in blemishes anymore, I've also been doing several things that I think are helping even out my skin tone and keep me acne free.
Above all, I think the fact that I started using Proactiv has helped me keep the acne to a minimum. I worried about whether it was safe to use during pregnancy, but everything I could find indicates that it's completely fine for the baby, and my doctor didn't see any problem with it, so I went for it. My poor skin really couldn't have been any worse.
Since I've started using it again (I used it for awhile in college), I've gone from having a face full of very visible acne to only a few, small trouble spots. Hallelujah, y'all.
I've also been using the Clarisonic Mia. What I usually do is use a Neutrogena liquid cleanser to get most of the makeup off. Then, I use the Clarisonic to cleanse with the Proactiv cleanser. When I finish, my skin feels really clean and exfoliated. Again, I'm not sure how much the Clarisonic is adding on top of the Proactiv, itself, but since I can't narrow down the improvement to one specific thing, I'm sticking with what I'm doing so as not to break the spell. :)
It's kind of unfair for me to even share this because this product is ridiculously expensive, and I don't pay for mine (thank goodness that my stepmom has the hookup!). But in the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you how amazing this stuff is. It's technically for "mature," aging skin, but I don't care, y'all. I've never put anything on my face that made it feel so soft, smooth, and generally fabulous. I am convinced this is what's evening out my skin tone and keeping it ridiculously hydrated (I use it as my moisturizer). So if you ever get a wild hair and want to spend $152 on a jar of miracle cream, this is what I'd recommend.
Sharpie Pens...
With all of the thank-you notes I've been writing lately, good pens are essential. I really love these because they write smoothly and don't seem to smear like other pens.
Address Stamp...
Speaking of thank-you notes, I ordered this return address stamp on Etsy, and I'm in love. It makes addressing envelopes a breezy breeze, and, in general, I've been pleased with how well it goes on (though the ink does seem to adhere better to some kinds of paper than others).
And that, ladies, is what's floating my boat this week. What are you loving? Link up with Jamie and tell us!
With all of the thank-you notes I've been writing lately, good pens are essential. I really love these because they write smoothly and don't seem to smear like other pens.
Address Stamp...
Speaking of thank-you notes, I ordered this return address stamp on Etsy, and I'm in love. It makes addressing envelopes a breezy breeze, and, in general, I've been pleased with how well it goes on (though the ink does seem to adhere better to some kinds of paper than others).
And that, ladies, is what's floating my boat this week. What are you loving? Link up with Jamie and tell us!
Labels:
I love...
Monday, March 25, 2013
Meal-planning Monday...
We made it to the grocery store this week, which means that I was able to plan for a few meals this week.
So here's what we'll be having at our house for the next few days!
Crockpot Potato Soup and salad
Dorito Taco Salad
Tilapia with Shrimp Bayou Sauce and rice
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese (thanks for the idea, Charlotte!) and salad
So here's what we'll be having at our house for the next few days!
Crockpot Potato Soup and salad
Dorito Taco Salad
Tilapia with Shrimp Bayou Sauce and rice
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese (thanks for the idea, Charlotte!) and salad
Labels:
Cooking and Recipes
Week Thirty-Six...
How far along? Thirty-six weeks. Insane.
Baby is the size of... a crenshaw melon (whatever that is?).
Best moment this week? We've had a lot of good moments this week. My work shower went fabulously. And then this weekend, Micah and I went and basically bought all the stuff on our registry that we hadn't gotten yet: bottles, side-snap tshirts, the changing pad, etc. Our cart at Target was overflowing when we got to the checkout line.
Miss anything? Same old, same old. Sleep. Bending over. Feeling my hands. Being able to walk around a store without wanting to collapse from exhaustion/back pain.
Movement? Lots this week.
Sleep? I don't want to talk about it... :)
Food cravings? Ice, ice, and more ice. I've been chomping away on it for about two weeks now. I'm sure it's terrible for my teeth, but I can't get enough.
What makes you queasy/sick? Nothing.
Morning sickness? Nope.
Other symptoms? I think I've officially started nesting. My best friend gave me heck at my shower about how disorganized my pantry was. I was bound and determined to leave it as it was, but I tripped and almost fell (again) over all the stuff on the floor earlier this week. So we spent last night cleaning out all of the expired food and rearranging some things. It's so pretty and clean now.
Gender? She's still our little angel girl!
Looking forward to... finishing everything up in the next couple of weeks so that we're READY whenever she decides to arrive!
Friday, March 22, 2013
High five for Friday 5...
Yay for Friday!
What are you guys high fiving about this week? Link up with Lauren and Joy and let us know!
One. Miss Grace and I started our weekly appointments today. It's so surreal that we're already at this point. I am 70% effaced (TMI?) but not dilated at all. I won't complain even a teensy bit because, as far as I'm concerned, she can keep baking away in there. We've still got a lot to do before she arrives!
Two. The girls at work (and several of the male attorneys' wives) threw me the most lovely shower. It was at an adorable tea room in Dallas, and they went all out.
More macaroons (have I mentioned how much I adore them?), delicious food, and sweet, handmade touches.
And, by golly... in addition to all of the ADORABLE cute things they got me (including several lawyer-themed onesies - one says "Attorney Work Product" on it. I die.), the hostesses went in together to get me the City Mini Jogging Stroller I registered for. I'm so thankful for these girls. They make long hours and stressful days so much more bearable. :)
Three. I just ordered some headbands from here for Grace.
I've looked all around Etsy for pretty, handmade headbands and bows, and most of them are SO expensive. These look like great quality for (relatively) decent prices, and I can't wait to see them on our sweet girl.
Four. Wouldn't you know it... not an hour after I posted the nursery reveal yesterday, I got a call from Buy Buy Baby telling me that our glider is in. So it looks like we'll be heading to Frisco tomorrow to pick that up and (hopefully) grab the last few things that we're going to need before Grace gets here.
And, by golly... in addition to all of the ADORABLE cute things they got me (including several lawyer-themed onesies - one says "Attorney Work Product" on it. I die.), the hostesses went in together to get me the City Mini Jogging Stroller I registered for. I'm so thankful for these girls. They make long hours and stressful days so much more bearable. :)
Three. I just ordered some headbands from here for Grace.
I've looked all around Etsy for pretty, handmade headbands and bows, and most of them are SO expensive. These look like great quality for (relatively) decent prices, and I can't wait to see them on our sweet girl.
Four. Wouldn't you know it... not an hour after I posted the nursery reveal yesterday, I got a call from Buy Buy Baby telling me that our glider is in. So it looks like we'll be heading to Frisco tomorrow to pick that up and (hopefully) grab the last few things that we're going to need before Grace gets here.
Five. I saved the very best for last. I had told you guys about a month ago about my sweet Mimi having lung cancer. Over the past few weeks, she's been to a series of doctors, had multiple biopsies, a PET scan, and all kinds of other un-fun things. But we found out today that her PET scan was CLEAR! The cancer hasn't spread anywhere else, and it looks like the tumor is going to be treatable with a few rounds of radiation, which she should start soon.
To understand what a blessing this is, you'd have to know that Mimi was adamantly opposed to doing any sort of chemo, and the doctors had already told her that she wouldn't survive an operation to remove the tumor. So radiation was really the only shot, and we were so worried that she might have a kind of cancer that couldn't be treated with radiation. Needless to say, we're all jumping for joy at this wonderful news! :)
What are you guys high fiving about this week? Link up with Lauren and Joy and let us know!
Labels:
Home and Family,
Planning for Baby
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Nursery Reveal!
Finally, right? :)
I fear that all the suspense and buildup are going to result in a huge letdown for you all, but I want to share our little angel's room with you anyway. It has been a labor of love, but the end result, I think, is a pretty, happy, simple space that I love being in. First I'll show you around, and then I'll give you a list of sources at the end so you can find anything you're looking for there.
Alright. Come on in, y'all! (And make yourselves at home because you're going to be here awhile...)
*** Note - the first two pictures were taken by Lauren Ammerman Photography after Grace was born and added to this post after its original publish date.
*** Note - the first two pictures were taken by Lauren Ammerman Photography after Grace was born and added to this post after its original publish date.
This is what you see when you first walk in the door.
We went with a pale aqua color for the walls. It took a few days for us to get used to it, but once we did, we fell in love. I swear, you guys, every single person who walks in this room says, "it feels like such a happy place!" and I'm convinced it's the paint color.
That big empty space over in the corner by the window will eventually hold the glider (if it ever comes in...).
Here's a closer look at the crib.
I opted to do without a bumper. When she gets more mobile, we'll probably put a mesh bumper in. But for now, it'll just be the sheet (we'll move the quilt away from the crib at night).
This may be my favorite part of the room. We ordered the letters from Pottery Barn Kids (and ended up having to paint them because they weren't bright white enough). The circles are just embroidery hoops with fabric. It was the simplest thing to put together, but I think it makes a fun statement.
I've talked about the quilt here before. We had it custom made using Amy Butler's Soul Blossom (Passion Palette) fabrics, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. So feminine and vintage and comfy.
The pillow was also custom made (Etsy is a curse word as far as my husband is concerned) using one of my favorite fabrics from the quilt.
Clearly. I used the same fabric for the diaper bag.
Now let's spin around to the other side of the room back toward the door.
You've seen a few of these elements before in the sneak peek I tortured you guys with a few months ago.
The lamp base was a HomeGoods find, and I found the shade at Garden Ridge (for $6... love it). The bear was selected for Grace with much care by Micah in Paris.
The burp rags were (another) Etsy purchase using various fabrics from the Soul Blossoms line.
I made the canvases myself, and they were a pain. I had to (1) order the wooden letters (2) draw a grid on the canvases to ensure the letters would be centered, (3) glue on the letters, and (4) paint over each canvas by hand (I couldn't find any flat spray paint in the right colors). It took about three coats to cover up the pencil lines I had drawn.
But in the end, I absolutely adore them. The idea to use the lyrics from one of my favorite hymns just came to me one day, and I couldn't think of anything more perfect.
The banner was another Etsy purchase. I could have made something like this myself, but since I don't sew (after this, I realize that it would have saved me TONS of money and would eventually like to learn how), it likely would have looked much more homemade, so I opted to pay someone else to do it.
This is the gallery wall. Oh the gallery wall...
It took forever to come together, but it ended up being fairly cheap (except for the "You Are My Sunshine" sign, which I bought on Etsy). The frames are all from Goodwill (none of them cost me more than $3 apiece). I painted and distressed them and filled them with my favorite maternity pictures. The top left open frame surrounds three vintage-y keys I had laying around the house (they were a Pottery Barn purchase), which I painted to match the green frames.
I made this by gluing Scrabble letters to white cardstock, and I think it's really fun.
Overall, I really love how the wall came together, even though it took me forever to figure out. I'll replace a couple of the maternity photos with newborn photos once Grace gets here. :)
The last section of the room (I swear, we're almost done!) is by the window.
I ordered the tissue paper poms from (you guessed it!) Etsy. The green paper lantern came from Walmart. The curtains are from Pottery Barn Teen, and the little green "Twinkle Twinkle" sign came from the Canton Tradesday shops near my town.
The bookshelves are actually picture ledges from Ikea. They were very cheap, and I got all the books from Half Price Books or Once Upon a Child for a few bucks apiece.
Lastly, here are a few random things scattered throughout the room.
When I saw these boxes at HomeGoods, I couldn't pass them up. The colors are absolutely perfect for the room, and the words made me happy.
The rug is a jersey material rag-type rug. It's so comfy, and I envision Grace spending lots of time playing on it in the years to come.
This table was a clearance find at Hobby Lobby. It was originally hot pink, but Micah primed and spray-painted it for me a few weeks ago. We'll probably put her little sound machine/projector on here at some point. For now, it'll just go next to the chair so that I'll have a place to set my phone, etc. while I'm nursing.
Whew!
If you've made it this far, you're a champ. We adore our little girl's sweet room, and we are so glad it's nearly finished!
Listed below are all of the individual elements and where we got them. If I've missed anything, feel free to shout it out in the comments, and I'll do my best to track down an answer.
Source List
Wall Paint Color: Lazy Days by Valspar (in flat)
Crib: Bassetbaby Ava Convertible Crib in white
Crib Quilt: Rag Crib Quilt in Soul Blossoms (Passion Palette) (Etsy)
Crib Skirt: Custom Ruffled Crib Skirt in Amy Butler's Dehli Blooms in Grass Fabric (Etsy)
Pillow: Throw Pillow Cover in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy)
Letters above crib: Pottery Barn Kids (painted white)
Embroidery Hoops: Hobby Lobby
Diaper Bag: Custom Maranda Lee Emma Medium Bag in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy)
Lamp base: HomeGoods
Lamp shade: Garden Ridge
Burp cloths: Park Life Burp Cloths in Amy Butler's Soul Blossom Fabrics (Etsy - this particular set is no longer available, but they probably do custom orders)
Wooden letters (on painted canvases): Unpainted Baltic Birch Wood Letters (2" high, 1/8" thick, Times New Roman font)
Banner: Custom Soul Blossoms Bunting (Etsy - I had her incorporate additional Soul Blossoms fabric from the Passion Palette)
Picture frames for gallery wall: Goodwill
"You Are My Sunshine" board: Custom 21 x 24 Wood Sign Subway Art (Etsy - I had her use a custom light yellow paint rather than the more gold-ish paint that she normally used)
Keys (in frame on gallery wall): Pottery Barn's Vintage Keys
Curtains: PB Teen Ruffle Rings Drape
Curtain tiebacks: Urban Outfitters Triple Beaded Flower Curtain Tie-Back
Tissue paper poms: Party Poms Set of 7 in light pink, light yellow, and leaf colors
Green paper lantern: Walmart's Martha Steward Celebrate Paper Lanters in Green
Picture ledges: Ikea's Ribba Picture Ledge (21 3/4")
Decorative boxes: HomeGoods
Rug: Walmart's The Rug Market Shaggy Raggy Yellow Rug (round 4')
Side table: Hobby Lobby
Here's a closer look at the crib.
I opted to do without a bumper. When she gets more mobile, we'll probably put a mesh bumper in. But for now, it'll just be the sheet (we'll move the quilt away from the crib at night).
This may be my favorite part of the room. We ordered the letters from Pottery Barn Kids (and ended up having to paint them because they weren't bright white enough). The circles are just embroidery hoops with fabric. It was the simplest thing to put together, but I think it makes a fun statement.
I've talked about the quilt here before. We had it custom made using Amy Butler's Soul Blossom (Passion Palette) fabrics, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. So feminine and vintage and comfy.
The pillow was also custom made (Etsy is a curse word as far as my husband is concerned) using one of my favorite fabrics from the quilt.
Clearly. I used the same fabric for the diaper bag.
Now let's spin around to the other side of the room back toward the door.
You've seen a few of these elements before in the sneak peek I tortured you guys with a few months ago.
The lamp base was a HomeGoods find, and I found the shade at Garden Ridge (for $6... love it). The bear was selected for Grace with much care by Micah in Paris.
The burp rags were (another) Etsy purchase using various fabrics from the Soul Blossoms line.
I made the canvases myself, and they were a pain. I had to (1) order the wooden letters (2) draw a grid on the canvases to ensure the letters would be centered, (3) glue on the letters, and (4) paint over each canvas by hand (I couldn't find any flat spray paint in the right colors). It took about three coats to cover up the pencil lines I had drawn.
But in the end, I absolutely adore them. The idea to use the lyrics from one of my favorite hymns just came to me one day, and I couldn't think of anything more perfect.
The banner was another Etsy purchase. I could have made something like this myself, but since I don't sew (after this, I realize that it would have saved me TONS of money and would eventually like to learn how), it likely would have looked much more homemade, so I opted to pay someone else to do it.
This is the gallery wall. Oh the gallery wall...
It took forever to come together, but it ended up being fairly cheap (except for the "You Are My Sunshine" sign, which I bought on Etsy). The frames are all from Goodwill (none of them cost me more than $3 apiece). I painted and distressed them and filled them with my favorite maternity pictures. The top left open frame surrounds three vintage-y keys I had laying around the house (they were a Pottery Barn purchase), which I painted to match the green frames.
I made this by gluing Scrabble letters to white cardstock, and I think it's really fun.
Overall, I really love how the wall came together, even though it took me forever to figure out. I'll replace a couple of the maternity photos with newborn photos once Grace gets here. :)
The last section of the room (I swear, we're almost done!) is by the window.
I ordered the tissue paper poms from (you guessed it!) Etsy. The green paper lantern came from Walmart. The curtains are from Pottery Barn Teen, and the little green "Twinkle Twinkle" sign came from the Canton Tradesday shops near my town.
The bookshelves are actually picture ledges from Ikea. They were very cheap, and I got all the books from Half Price Books or Once Upon a Child for a few bucks apiece.
Lastly, here are a few random things scattered throughout the room.
When I saw these boxes at HomeGoods, I couldn't pass them up. The colors are absolutely perfect for the room, and the words made me happy.
The rug is a jersey material rag-type rug. It's so comfy, and I envision Grace spending lots of time playing on it in the years to come.
This table was a clearance find at Hobby Lobby. It was originally hot pink, but Micah primed and spray-painted it for me a few weeks ago. We'll probably put her little sound machine/projector on here at some point. For now, it'll just go next to the chair so that I'll have a place to set my phone, etc. while I'm nursing.
Whew!
If you've made it this far, you're a champ. We adore our little girl's sweet room, and we are so glad it's nearly finished!
Listed below are all of the individual elements and where we got them. If I've missed anything, feel free to shout it out in the comments, and I'll do my best to track down an answer.
Source List
Wall Paint Color: Lazy Days by Valspar (in flat)
Crib: Bassetbaby Ava Convertible Crib in white
Crib Quilt: Rag Crib Quilt in Soul Blossoms (Passion Palette) (Etsy)
Crib Skirt: Custom Ruffled Crib Skirt in Amy Butler's Dehli Blooms in Grass Fabric (Etsy)
Pillow: Throw Pillow Cover in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy)
Letters above crib: Pottery Barn Kids (painted white)
Embroidery Hoops: Hobby Lobby
Diaper Bag: Custom Maranda Lee Emma Medium Bag in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy)
Lamp base: HomeGoods
Lamp shade: Garden Ridge
Burp cloths: Park Life Burp Cloths in Amy Butler's Soul Blossom Fabrics (Etsy - this particular set is no longer available, but they probably do custom orders)
Wooden letters (on painted canvases): Unpainted Baltic Birch Wood Letters (2" high, 1/8" thick, Times New Roman font)
Banner: Custom Soul Blossoms Bunting (Etsy - I had her incorporate additional Soul Blossoms fabric from the Passion Palette)
Picture frames for gallery wall: Goodwill
"You Are My Sunshine" board: Custom 21 x 24 Wood Sign Subway Art (Etsy - I had her use a custom light yellow paint rather than the more gold-ish paint that she normally used)
Keys (in frame on gallery wall): Pottery Barn's Vintage Keys
Curtains: PB Teen Ruffle Rings Drape
Curtain tiebacks: Urban Outfitters Triple Beaded Flower Curtain Tie-Back
Tissue paper poms: Party Poms Set of 7 in light pink, light yellow, and leaf colors
Green paper lantern: Walmart's Martha Steward Celebrate Paper Lanters in Green
Picture ledges: Ikea's Ribba Picture Ledge (21 3/4")
Decorative boxes: HomeGoods
Rug: Walmart's The Rug Market Shaggy Raggy Yellow Rug (round 4')
Side table: Hobby Lobby
Labels:
Planning for Baby,
Pregnancy
Thankful for...
There is much to be thankful for this week, so let's jump right in!
{I'm thankful} for a mid-week breakfast with my love today. We both stayed home this morning so that we could (1) go check out one of the daycares we are considering and (2) keep Lilly in the house while our lawn is being treated. (Don't ask... my husband is strangely obsessed with weed prevention. It's so weirdly adorable...) After we left the daycare and before I headed in to work, we grabbed some pancakes at Denny's and enjoyed a little quality time. I just love doing life with this guy.
{I'm thankful} to be back in my own car after having it in the shop for a few days. (I'm not quite so thankful for the $1100 bill for the repairs to the locks and windows, but alas...) The loaner car they gave me was really nice and new, but it felt strange driving a sedan after being in an SUV for almost three years. This girl won't be going back to driving a car anytime soon.
{I'm thankful} that my sweet dad and stepmom went and got our carseat and stroller for us yesterday. They saved us a trip to Buy Buy Baby (and several hundred dollars!), and now we can just focus on getting all the rest of the little things we need for Miss Grace. When I think about the fact that she'll likely be here in less than a month, I get incredibly excited and freaked out all at once.
{I'm thankful} for all of your sweet words in response to yesterday's post. You guys are always so encouraging and uplifting. I feel very blessed that my blogging experience has been 99.9% positive - I've yet to encounter the hateful comments and interactions I sometimes see on other blogs, and I feel so lucky. But I'm not. I just have the best readers/friends a girl could ask for. :)
What are you guys thankful for this week? Link up and tell us!
What are you guys thankful for this week? Link up and tell us!
Labels:
Thankful Thursdays
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A crack and then some...
I've had a crack sprawling across my car windshield for about a year now. It started out as a tiny chip from a rock thrown at me by an 18-wheeler, but as time went on it began to spread. I kept putting off getting it fixed, and it continued growing. One day I hit a bump on the highway, and it shot across my view like lightning. Just like that, my windshield was ruined.
And it has stayed that way for months now because I'm too darned lazy to do anything about it.
The other day, I was driving in a storm, and between the rain, windshield wipers, and the crack, I struggled to see where I was going. As I slowly made my way home, I started thinking about my life and this blog, in particular.
I feel like I've been so preoccupied lately with doing and going and accomplishing that I haven't really reflected. And when I sit still long enough to catch my breath, here's what I want you all to know:
My desire is that you guys can look through all the stuff that seems to preoccupy my thoughts and life and see Him, clear as day.
If my life and blog are a windshield, I fear there are far too many things obstructing your view of my Lord. The upcoming arrival of our baby girl has taken front and center, and I don't regret that one tiny bit, but I hope you know that we are praising Him for this gift. That I see every tiny kick as a blessing poured out on me.
And, while I love showing you how our house is coming along, I pray that my gratefulness that God has given us a place to sleep at night is apparent. (If I'm being honest, I know that it's not.) Even Thankful Thursdays, the days I've set aside for praise, have become entirely disconnected from His many blessings in our lives.
So, while I still want to document our lives here and will obviously continue to do so, I want to be abundantly clear that He is the reason that we're going to meet our baby girl in less than a month. He is the reason I can wake up smiling every morning. (Because it was God's providence, and not my mediocre atheletic abilities or penchant for rainbow eyeshadow, that drew my smoking hot quarterback of a husband to me all those years ago. And it is God's grace that allows me to wake up next to him every morning.) He is the reason that I have a job that I adore. And He is the reason that I feel as though my life has been filled with so much goodness my heart might burst.
So if you can, try and look past the cracks and rain and windshield wipers sprawling across my life and see God's goodness and faithfulness. I'm going to try and do the same. :)
Labels:
I Love Jesus
House update: game room...
We've been working on our game room for awhile now. And although it's definitely not done, I figured I could at least give you guys an update on our progress so far. Thankfully, we've nailed down all the big things. I just think it needs some softness - some fun throw pillows for the couch, curtains, cozy blankets, and whatever other pretty things I find for it down the road.
So come on in, y'all...
The first thing we bought for the game room was the pool table. It was a Craigslist steal, and hopefully we won't regret getting it later. (It just seems like so many people buy pool tables and end up getting rid of them after a few years...)
Next, we found the couch (also a Craigslist purchase), which was a great bargain and exactly what we were looking for. It came with the throw pillows that you see in the picture above, but I sort of hate them. I've searched the world over for some that are acceptable to me and I haven't had any luck yet. But I haven't given up... :)
At some point, I decided that a "travel" theme would be pretty cool for up here. Shortly thereafter, I found the subway wall hangings at Home Decorators, and I couldn't pass them up. They were SUPER cheap and went well with the slightly industrial feel I was going for.
I also liked the travel theme because it gave me a place to display at least some of the pretty pictures I took in Paris and London. I bought a few Groupons from Canvas on Demand at the recommendation of my photographer best friend (who indicated that they had great quality for great prices).
I also liked the travel theme because it gave me a place to display at least some of the pretty pictures I took in Paris and London. I bought a few Groupons from Canvas on Demand at the recommendation of my photographer best friend (who indicated that they had great quality for great prices).
Lauren edited these pictures that I took of London and Paris to make them black and white, and then I placed the order with Canvas on Demand. I absolutely adore how the canvases turned out. It's sort of hard to tell, but they're massive (24 X 36), incredibly sharp and crisp, and totally look like something you'd find in the art section of Z Gallerie.
Love.
Here's a better glance at what's on the other side of the pool table.
Here's a better glance at what's on the other side of the pool table.
The media center is a dresser that I bought and had painted and converted to a media center by removing the top drawers. Ideally, I'd like a tree of some sort on one side of it, as well as some fun, knick-knacky things on top, but we haven't gotten there yet.
The dartboard was Micah's idea, and the London-ish chalboard was a Hobby Lobby clearance find. I like the splash of red in the room, which isn't like me, as I'm not normally drawn to red in my own home (although I LOVE seeing it in other people's homes).
Spinning back around toward the couch...
I found the clock on clearance at Hobby Lobby and just loved the pocketwatch look of it. The frame next to it has resulted in some serious conflict between Micah and me.
I made this collage of all the Instagram pictures I took while I was in London and Paris (and am considering doing a tutorial on how I did it - would anyone be interested in that?). I think it gives the fairly serious room some much-needed whimsy, but Micah hates it. He thinks it crowds the wall above the couch and that we should move it to the hallway. I literally started crying the other day during an argument we had about whether it should stay or go (I may or may not be slightly hormonal right now...).
As of now, I'm winning. :)
Again, we're definitely not done up there, but I'm pleased with how it's looking so far. I have a slight suspicion, though, that this space will end up filled with toys and stuffed animals here before I get around to finishing it...
Linking up with Rolled Up Pretty and Works for Me Wednesday.
The dartboard was Micah's idea, and the London-ish chalboard was a Hobby Lobby clearance find. I like the splash of red in the room, which isn't like me, as I'm not normally drawn to red in my own home (although I LOVE seeing it in other people's homes).
Spinning back around toward the couch...
I found the clock on clearance at Hobby Lobby and just loved the pocketwatch look of it. The frame next to it has resulted in some serious conflict between Micah and me.
I made this collage of all the Instagram pictures I took while I was in London and Paris (and am considering doing a tutorial on how I did it - would anyone be interested in that?). I think it gives the fairly serious room some much-needed whimsy, but Micah hates it. He thinks it crowds the wall above the couch and that we should move it to the hallway. I literally started crying the other day during an argument we had about whether it should stay or go (I may or may not be slightly hormonal right now...).
As of now, I'm winning. :)
Again, we're definitely not done up there, but I'm pleased with how it's looking so far. I have a slight suspicion, though, that this space will end up filled with toys and stuffed animals here before I get around to finishing it...
Linking up with Rolled Up Pretty and Works for Me Wednesday.
Labels:
Decorating
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
House update: upstairs landing...
Looking at these pictures makes me realize how badly I need a real lens for my camera. I adore my 50mm/1.8 prime lens, but it's just not practical for shooting pictures of my house, so I'm stuck with the stupid kit lens for now. I'm thinking a new lens would be a fabulous "push present" from Micah. Who agrees?
Anyway, I wanted to share just a few things we've updated around the house lately. Having the nursery at our house was a fabulous incentive to finish up several projects we had been meaning to get to but never did. For starters, here are a few shots of the little landing at the top of our stairs.
It's kind of an awkward space, so I struggled with what I should do up here for a long while. I found the table at the Wisteria Outlet here in Dallas (if you haven't been, you should definitely check it out). I bought it intending to put it somewhere else, but it didn't work there. So we stuck it here, and now I think it's just perfect!
The flowers and vase are from Pier One, and the frames are from Hobby Lobby.
The window seat was one of my favorite things about the house when we first saw it. I adore window seats. I had originally planned on having a cushion made for the space, but when I priced them, they were about $250, so I opted to throw some pillows on there instead. (Truth be told, the ledge isn't quite wide enough to sit there comfortably, so it's all for looks anyway.)
So I scoured HomeGoods/Marshalls/Hobby Lobby for cheap pillows and ended up with this assortment. The sconces are also from Hobby Lobby.
Lastly, here's the project I promised you pictures of a month ago. It's in an awkward place that makes getting a straight on shot impossible, so this was the best I could do.
I was inspired by this project on Pinterest:
The centerpiece is actually a garden fixture that I found on clearance for $14 at HomeGoods about a year ago. It had been leaning up against the wall all by its lonesome since then, and Micah suggested mounting it to the wall. I ended up liking the way it looked, so I decided to arrange the frames around it.
For the frames, I tried to find more weathered gray ones like those in the picture (and the ones sitting on the table) at Hobby Lobby but never did. But I'm glad I didn't because the frames I ended up with are from Michaels, and they ended up working perfectly (and were SO cheap!). They were already the perfect creamy white, so all I had to do was remove the glass, wrap the backing in burlap fabric, and then distress them a bit with some gritty sandpaper.
For the frames, I tried to find more weathered gray ones like those in the picture (and the ones sitting on the table) at Hobby Lobby but never did. But I'm glad I didn't because the frames I ended up with are from Michaels, and they ended up working perfectly (and were SO cheap!). They were already the perfect creamy white, so all I had to do was remove the glass, wrap the backing in burlap fabric, and then distress them a bit with some gritty sandpaper.
Getting the pictures attached was a teensy bit more complicated. I searched heaven and earth for the adorable clips from the inspiration photo but couldn't find anything that would work. So I got real simple and decided to use pushpins. It was harder to get them straight, and I feel sure something else would probably look better, but I was ready to be done. The "H" was in the raw wood section at Hobby Lobby. I spray-painted that sucker white and slapped it onto the burlap with a hot glue gun.
Here is a (blurry iPhone) picture that shows the frames up close:
And there you have it! Our thrown together upstairs landing that almost no one ever sees! :)
Labels:
Decorating
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)