Friday Favorite

Hanging out in her baby cave...


Happy Friday! 

Nine Months

Hello sweet girl...

How can I accurately describe how much we love you?

Or how funny you are?

Or what a blessing you are to us?!

Words just can't do it justice. Everyone who has met you knows what I am talking about. You truly are a joy to be around and we are continually thankful for you. 

This last month you have grown by leaps and bounds! You are officially a crawling machine and you can pull yourself up on everything! You are a bit hesitant when it comes to getting down but you cruise along the couch just fine. They say it's just a matter of time before you're walking so we'll see. I'm ok if it doesn't happen soon :) Here are a few other milestones you've reached this month:

- "dada" is your new favorite word...you say it constantly much to Brian's delight :)

- you have FINALLY learned how to nap longer than 30 minutes!! yay! you average about 1.5-2hrs per nap

- you are even more curious about everything and like to follow us around the house just to see what we're doing

- started weaning yourself from nursing (so sad for mommy) down to just twice a day

- grown out of your 0-3 month clothing...you're firmly planted in the 6-9 month range :)

We're still waiting for some teeth to pop through but that doesn't seem to keep you from eating whatever you want! You're still our champion eater...your size deceives people until they see you chow down! Happy nine months, baby girl. May the next one be just as fun and exciting. We love you!

Yo Yo! VOTE for ME!!

Ok folks, I'm shamelessly plugging my entry in the EPIC giveaway over at Vintage Revivals. If you haven't been over there, go now. Seriously, stop what you are doing, follow the link and just go.

Still here? Fine but don't say I didn't tell you. Anyway, Mandi is awesome (no not me, Mandi, although I'm awesome too), Mandi of Vintage Revivals. She is uber creative and some of the stuff she comes up with just blows my mind, not to mention makes me feel like I need to troll all the second hand stores in my neighborhood looking for stuff I can revive. For those of you who were too lazy interested in my post to check out her blog, here are a few of my favorites:

Faux Fireplace

Scrap Bedding

Acid Mirrors

DIY Rug

Isn't she just fab?! Anyway, the reason for this post you say? Only the most awesome giveaway EVER! She's giving away her talent and time (and money!) by flying out to someone's house and doing a makeover!! How totally fantastic would that be?!

Now in order to even be considered, I must first show you the space that I would have her make over if I happened to win this makeover. After thinking for a minute about which space I would choose, I picked our formal living/dining room. Technically it's two separate rooms but because it's so open, they kinda flow into each other so I'm going to pretend it's just one big room :) Just go with it.

It's the first room you see when you come in and it's kind of embarrassing that it's the last room to be decorated! You know I love doing projects around the house...remember the banister, guest bathroom, framed mirrors and wall art...this room though is my kryptonite. It leaves me weak and defeated.

Ok, ok, it's not in horrible shape, it's just not in shape. I'm not complaining AT ALL. I'm just saying I need help. There are so many possibilities, so many options. I just don't know which way to go. Plus, if I have the chance of someone doing it for me...for free?! Heck yeah I'm gonna chance it ;)

I'm not afraid of color...clearly the green walls tell that story

There are also lots of pieces of furniture and accessories that are just waiting for some Vintage Revivals love

The couches still have life in them and my plan was to reupholster them but clearly that hasn't happened  

Awkward spaces, weird arches, and no motivation = an unfinished living/dining room. 

So here's where you come in. Once the giveaway closes to submissions, Mandi is opening it up to voters. So write it down, make yourself a little note, put it on the fridge, in your Outlook calendar, on your iphone, whatever...VOTE FOR ME. And for those of you who didn't write it down, don't you worry, you know I will remind you when the time comes.

Happy Easter!

Hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends!

We spent the weekend at a fair,

 (if I keep pulling on this string, I might be able to eat that pink thing...)

opening fun presents,

(this is the best Easter basket ever)

playing dress up,

(giving me her opinion about putting on her shoes and her headband)

and spending time with family. 

(sizing up her cousin, J'Adore)

(having fun with G-G)

 

Happy Easter!

Friday Favorite

Hey there gorgeous.

Happy (Good) Friday! Have a wonderful Easter!

Impromptu Date Night

So Brian's work schedule is different from most. He works 4 10hr days and has two days during the week off plus one weekend day which means our "weekends" are usually Wednesdays and Thursdays. I don't really mind the schedule since I'm not working right now anyway. It lets us do random errands on days when there aren't crowds of people everywhere and allows for unexpected date nights during the week. Tonight we trekked down to San Diego where we left baby girl with my parents and headed to Petco Park. The Padres and Phillies were in action and Brian splurged on fantastic seats for us!

(check out those condos...they can literally watch a game from their balcony!)

We were almost sitting on the field and it felt like we were part of the action. Brian was ready to jump out there and lend a hand if they needed it! He had to settle for trying to catch foul balls instead :) Here are a few pictures before the game started (on the old camera since it fit in my Brian's pocket):

 (requisite self portrait)

 (the fans trying to get autographs...they were literally standing on my feet...that's how close these seats were!)

 (Phillies' pitcher Roy Oswalt)

(Umm think this is just a picture to show how close the field is not to show of Maybin's butt)

It was a good game even though the Padres lost. Late night but fun...kinda reminded me of our younger days when we could stay out late and not have to down a 5hr energy for the drive home :) Oh and for those who noticed, yes I got a bang trim and I wear them like that for the first day or two until they grow out to the perfect length! Yes, I look like I'm 10 but it's all good. 

Friday Favorite

We bought our little girl a farm.

And on this farm we had Anayah! E-I-E-I-O!

Happy Friday!

Lamp Shade Re-Do

This post is late but hey, better late than never. Anyway, I told you in this post about the lamp shade re-do that I completed for A's nursery. Here's a quick glimpse at how it all happened.

I found this really cute lamp in the As-Is section at Ikea and was so excited. I love glass lamps but even at Ikea they can be pretty pricey. This bad boy however was only $3! Score! (I should have known at the time that there was a reason it was so cheap but more on that later). Anyway I brought it home where it sat in her room for forever a year 8 months. I had imagined recovering her lamp shade using the fabrics in her room but I never quite got around to it. When I finally found some motivation to finish it, I realized I didn't just want a plain shade so I decided to add some ruffles to it because who doesn't love ruffles?!

First I cut strips of fabric about 2 inches wide (the width you cut will depend on whether or not you want finished edges). I decided to go with a finished edge so I ironed both edges under. You can sew the edges down (or use interfacing to have them stick) or just leave them as is if you're lazy like me! You can also leave the edges un-ironed (is that a word?) for a more shabby look.

Anyway after you decide how you want your edges, set your machine to the longest stitch length and sew a straight line through the center of your strip. Now I know there is a ruffler foot attachment that you can buy and avoid this whole process but I don't have one so this is how I roll.

When you sew your strip be sure not to back stitch at all and to leave a couple of inches extra thread at the end. Take your strip and start pulling the top thread out while at the same time pushing your fabric in the opposite direction, causing it to ruffle. Continue pulling out the top thread until your strip of fabric is as ruffled as you like. Tie a knot at the end to keep it from coming undone and you're finished.

I used hot glue to attach the ruffles to the shade, starting at the bottom and working my way to the top. If you look closely you'll notice I gave up on the finished edges except for the top and bottom. It was taking too long and I figured it added to the charm of the shade.

This project wasn't very difficult just very time consuming because of all the ruffles I had to make. I was so excited when it was finished, even more excited to put it together and finally add it to the nursery. Imagine my disappointment when I tried to place the shade on the lamp base only to discover that one (or more) of the metal prongs was missing (now I know why it was so cheap)! The shade sits on there but leans to one side or the other. Fail! I was way too irritated to figure out a way to fix it so I just put it in her room and leaned it up against the curtains. Who's gonna know? Other than all of you?!

Yes, I'll fix it one of these days...maybe right about the time I get her name up on the wall! Ha.

Kinda Proud of Myself

Let me start out by saying that I'm not comfortable "tooting my own horn." I'm a firm believer in my actions speaking louder than my words and I'd much rather show you what I'm "good" at rather than tell you. BUT this is different. I just finished a small-ish project for baby girl which I am so proud of and wanted to show you. It's not anything new or groundbreaking, but it was a challenge and I'm mostly just happy I got it done.

I was inspired by the cart cover that Mandy got for Jack from this shop on etsy. It's much nicer than many cart covers I've seen and I loved the fabric she uses. The cheap thrifty side of me decided I couldn't pay what she was asking and figured I could make it myself. This is what I decided to tackle:

 (image courtesy of tinderdesigns)

I ended up finding a pattern for a cart cover that I planned to follow but in the end I just wrote down the measurements from the one Mandy had and kinda just winged it from there. This one is professionally sewn so obviously it's MUCH nicer than mine but for my first cart cover, I must say it ain't too shabby. It wasn't supposed to be too difficult of a project but the perfectionist in me had to have it "just so" and perhaps it took me a bit longer than it should have. Brian helped me with a few of the details (poking himself several times with the pins...hehe) and in the end, it turned out just how I wanted it...at a fraction of the cost! Even better right?!

Hopefully baby girl appreciates the hours I slaved spent working on something cute for her.

Looks like she approves!

Friday Favorite

Does this look remind you of a certain someone? 

Reminds me of her daddy. Hehe. 

But this one is more like me. Ha.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Anniversary

This time last year we were in Hawaii on our babymoon, about to welcome our little girl into the world, excited for the unknown.

Fast forward one year.

Life is much different! There are so many new experiences, exciting adventures, and changes we've gone through this last year. At times things have been challenging, frustrating, and even heartbreaking, but our baby girl is perfect, the light of our lives, and an amazing blessing. I know I wouldn't have made it through all of this without my husband, my partner, my friend.

Happy Anniversary B! Thank you for being an amazing father and for going on this adventure with me. I look forward to many more adventures with you. I love you.

Friday Favorite

So I'm  not quite sure what is going on with Blogger right now but ALL the pictures I am uploading are showing up VERY unfocused! I'm really annoyed and quite bothered. I'm off to investigate and hopefully solve this problemo. Enjoy the blurry picture (GRRR) of baby girl playing hide and seek.

Happy Friday!

**edited post: I think I fixed it!! is it blurry??