Nap time is craft time! Yesterday I finished the banner I've been meaning to get done in Blair's room. Here are the before's and after's:

before

Oy, you can tell I failed to open the curtains for the shots below... live and learn.

I totally winged it for this project. I didn't follow anyone's tutorial and just bought a bunch of fabric and went for it. I used no sew tape (where have you been all my life?!), scissors, and iron, and some ribbon. I also used my cricut to cut out the banner template and trace them on the fabric.

I cut the no sew tape to fit the backs of the pennants.

I left a smidge of space between each pennant so you could see the cute rick rack ribbon. Super easy and the whole project only took a couple hours. I'm pretty pleased with the end result and I think it adds a little oomph (as my aunt would say) to her room.

I love Blair's nursery and it's one of my favorite rooms in the house but it still doesn't feel complete. Since she came five weeks early there were things that never got finished. One thing I wanted to do was complete a gallery wall. Although I am realizing this is a lot more difficult than I had imagined. It's easy to make a symmetrical photo collage but much more difficult to do something more haphazard and still have it look right. Here are some ideas I found while "pinning" and some things that I have lying around that I think would work.

I love the idea of hanging baby's shoes, and beanie. I'm definitely going to do this.

here

 I also like the idea of a little shelf as well as framing a fabric you love.

here

I also have a vintage mirror in B's room I'm thinking about incorporating.

here

I have some silver trays from my great grandmother that would look pretty as well. (how do you hang those?)

here

I want to choose some of Blair's hair pretties and do this.

here

I love that she framed a onesie. I was either going to do that or hang a dress.

here

I was also thinking about her gallery wall being a "corner" gallery wall like this one below:

here

I think the last gallery is a little "busy" but I like the concept.

canvas print i found from homegoods (where else?!)

gold inlayed platter from great gramma

silver platter from great gramma

 Don't laugh at my HORRIBLE sketch (clearly I lack perspective and need to re-take geometry) but this is what I'm thinking...

What do you guys think? Here is a picture of the corner I'm thinking about using. And now that I look at it I already see some adjustments I will have to make ( I forgot about the chair rail). You can see the vintage mirror in the photo. Any tips or advice?

HomeGoods got the best of me (and my mom) this past weekend. But I'm not sad about that! Here are a few goodies that I added to our home.

before: we had a tiny little vase on our counter

after: I found a much larger and prettier option

before: one photo

after: gallery wall (still deciding on which photos) thanks for the advice!

 

 

 

tray, candles, flowers

a splash of fun (M says the pillow looks like 80s pants)

a metallic frame

before: low plants

after: tall plant stands 

added this picture to our bedroom. I told M that it was Italy and that it could remind him of how much I want to go there.

I thought the above picture blended well with the existing one

also couldn't resist this little guy to add the the Val Day mantel :)

oh and I finally got crackin' on some first bday party decor :)

First of all shout out to my little brother who turned 19 yesterday! On my birthday in April we will be ten years apart! (yes that makes me ALMOST 30 this year! what?!)

i do not know who this baby is

{health}

Oy. We had a tough week. Blair was teething like made in the beginning of the week. Fussy, not sleeping well, etc. Then towards the end of the week her nose started running like a faucet. All clear boogies so I'm wondering if it's related to the teething? It doesn't seem to be slowing her down at all and she's still eating/nursing like a champ. I did take her to the doctor just to be sure she was teething and didn't have an ear infection and he said she was fine.
 

{sleep}

I forgot how good I had it when she was sleeping 7-7. I think God allows us crappy weeks of sleep just so I can be reminded of what a blessing it is to have a good sleeper. ;) I think we turned the corner though. Last night she slept till 6:40 am which is so much better than the 5 am wake up call we were getting. She was starting to wake up at 10pm and 1pm and since she was teething I was letting her nurse but we nipped that in the bud last night by just having Dada go in and soothe her. I'm hopeful that tonight we won't have any wake ups. Naps have been good still. 
 

{diet}

The girl loves her meat. And she doesn't discriminate! She likes steak, fish, turkey, and chicken. Last week I made a super healthy turkey meatloaf recipe found here and baby girl gobbled it all up! 
 

{crying}

mother Theresa, pharoh-pharoh, or bob marley. you pick.

Still crying off and on when her teeth are hurting. 

{social}

On Saturday night she stayed up late at a dinner party that my friend's parents threw. I said she behaved marginally, they said she was great. ;) She also hung out with her grampa while Mama and Dada went to church on Sunday night. Not to mention all the shopping she's been doing with Lala and Mama at Homegoods (totally addicted). Today she is going to music class again and we invited some of her friends along. Should be really fun! 

{milestones}

She is still perfecting her dance moves and clapping skills. I'm hoping music class aides in this. She started motioning that she wants "more" when I'm feeding her finger foods by doing what looks like a hand motion for "come here." It's really cute and I did happen to get a really low quality video of her doing it in the car...

Also she is quite professional at sitting up in her crib now whenever she wants. It cracks me up every time I see her doing it.

{post partum}

 
I finally got some batteries in my scale and weighed myself after the holidays. I'm usually not one to gloat but I actually LOST a pound or two. So I did what any girl would do to celebrate...

i got my girl scout cookie on

My Aunt recently sent me the CAbi look book for the Spring line. I was literally squealing with delight over the clothes. (Insert eye roll here from Matt). I know, it was raining yesterday and I'm not ready to bare my winter white body but I died a little inside when I saw how cute the stuff is! Here are the looks I am LOVING... (lucky for me I'm helping host a party. My birthday AND mother's day is right after!).

so cute for a date night! Val Day?!

summer bbq? (minus heels?)

lovin these pants

adore this whole look

comfortable cute pants

love that the shorts cover the bum and then some :)

such a fun minty green

ahoy matey! perfect for the beach!

I can hardly wait to get my little paws on some of these items. And I seriously love the quality of the clothes. I purchased my first CAbi items last fall here and I find myself always gravitating towards them in my closet. They are so flattering and comfortable and what new mom doesn't want that?!

PS no one asked me to promote CAbi on my blog...I just really love it.:)

This weekend we are hanging out around home. Maybe a little Homegoods with my Mama and some carpet cleaning with M but not much planned. And that is just fine with me!

OH! And thank you for the suggestions on what to do with my living room I actually already ran out and bought some frames for a gallery wall. :) I think that will help add some interest. I also bought a tray with some candles, knick nacks I liked etc. I can't wait to see what you think...thanks!
*all photos courtesy of CAbi

Yesterday turned out to be "one of those days." B woke up at 5:25 am B had a decent day until about 4 o'clock when she decided to turn the rage on. She was acting tired but wouldn't nap and seemed tired with all her toys. When M came home I did the "hand off" and he took her for a run while I decompressed and made dinner/cleaned up. Isn't it funny how those things can be calming to you when you can do them ALONE? Then I decided I needed a treat for Blair's teething...

Golden Spoon did me right

1. frozen teether 2. dye free Tylenol 3. pure baby tooth brush (to chew on) 4. nighttime orajel 5. celery 6. teething tablets

romper from Gap, celery from Ralphs ;)