Bah Humbug

Now that Thanksgiving is over we can start thinking about Christmas!!! With the birth of our first born son coming right around the corner I have decided that we are going to have a Charlie Brown tree this year with the bare minimal. I went to Paul Michael's store today and got a little tree wrapped in burlap and a nativity scene. And that my dear friends will be the extent of my Christmas decor.

But I can still enjoy some pretty pictures and inspiration from the pros.

This is kinda the look I am going for this year.....

And a girl can still dream.....

Love this entire room from Better Home & Gardens!!!!

Love an aqua Christmas!!!

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Exactly

Monday back at work after a 5 day holiday......

Week 33

Our little man is the size of a pineapple this week. I am defiantly in the waddle stage of my pregnancy, and its down right hard to do daily task carrying around this big belly. Only 7 more weeks of free room and board in mommies belly for the little peanut. We are going to the doctor's office every 2 weeks now, packing hospital bags, and making sure we have everything we need for a new baby. Who ever dreamed that such a little person would need so much stuff.

The nursery is 95% done, my lovely husband is priming the bookcase right now in the garage!!! Once the bookcase makes it back upstairs, a few finishing touches and I can relax and enjoy the peaceful little space we created.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

I was told to bring deserts to our little Thanksgiving gathering, and since I am the cook I get to pick what goes in my oven next Thursday (yes Thanksgiving is only a week away). Sweets have become the vain of my existence throughout this pregnancy, so everyone will be lucky if half these cookies actually make it. Who can go wrong when you mix peanut butter and chocolate - perhaps two of my favorite ingredients.

And for the husbands favorite desert I might mix him up a batch of THESE to bring along with us to visit the family. But back to my little heavenly blossoms.........

Ingredients:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

Extra sugar

48 milk chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove wrappers from heresy kisses. Mix together all ingredients expect the heresy kisses and extra sugar for rolling cookie ball.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges.

Let cool and enjoy!!!!

Quote

Think I just needed to remind myself today that attitude really is is everything!!!

Showered with love!!

Last weekend was our baby shower. It was absolutely perfect with all my favorite people celebrating this new life that is about to come into the world. I am so lucky.

Here are some photos from the day.....

Such a cute idea - we had baby pictures of me and my husband hanging from the

mantel with little Michael's ultrasound pictures in the middle. Who will he look like?

Everyone wrote a little note to the baby!!!

This is perhaps the most amazing red velvet cake I have ever put in my mouth.

It's from Southside Bakery in Lafayette. To die for.

And last but not least my phenomenal group of friends.

I kid you not when I say I could not make it through life without these ladies.

They are the core of who I am, we have celebrated many years together and

many ups and downs!!! It makes my heart happy to have everyone together!

The Weather Outside is...

Absolutely perfect!!!! It's 65 degrees and a lovely Friday afternoon, this day is just plain gorgeous. I wanted to send you off on your weekend with some of my favorite inspiring outdoor pictures.

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!!

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Sharon Montrose Prints

We finally ordered our three Sharon Montrose prints for the nursery. I already have the empty frames hanging on the wall and it will be so nice to have them filled with these gorgeous animals for little Michael. I was not going for a "theme" for the nursery but it seems that the animals have taken over. I hope the little peanut loves animals as much as him mommy does.

I purchased three of the white Ikea Ribba Frame in 12x16 with 8x10 opening matte for $9.99 each. The prints measure 7x9 so that will leave me with a thin 1/4 inch white border between the print and the matte.

The only other design project we have left in his room is to sand and paint the big bookcase. Then it will be off to purchasing more practical things - like a car seat to take the peanut home with!!!!

Halloween!!

Have a safe and happy Halloween!!!!

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Week 30

This week is a huge milestone for me (and the little peanut). Week 30: we are finally in the 30's, the baby could thrive and survive outside my belly, in the 3rd trimester, 10 weeks left, and 70 more DAYS!!! I feel like we are finally in the home stretch, my life is slowing down and I am taking time to relax and enjoy this stage in our lives.

We went for an ultrasound last week and he was weighing in at 3 lbs, which puts him in the 70th percentile for his age. Of course he was showing off for us sucking his toes, making faces, and poor baby has had the hiccups every time we take a look at him.

I have a new found respect for my mother and what she went through to have me in this world. I really can not understand how my body will handle the peanut growing anymore. But those who have gone before me assure me that I will stretch, I will grow bigger than imaginable, and I will go back to "normal."

White is a Color

I stumbled across Lisa Sherry Interieurs in Lonny magazine and fell in love with her style. Here are a few of my favorites from her design portfolio for your viewing pleasure. Such calming rooms....

North Carolina

New York City

Designer Showhouse

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

I have been on the hunt for a round or quatrefoil shaped mirror for the nursery. I finally found "the one" but I have to say I fell in love with lots of mirrors along the way. Here are a few of my favorites...

Via Lowes (30"x30") $64.97. Warning you about the Lowes mirror: the frame is hallow plastic. While it looks great hanging on the wall, I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. For me the harsh black color did not work with the room.

Via Pier 1 (36.75") $299.99. This mirror from Pier One is absolutely gorgeous, but it was all wrong for the little space I needed it in. It was way to big and a bit on the feminine side for a little boys room.

Via Tonic Home (17") $419.00. While this little Captain's Mirror with the leather straps was the perfect size, look, and shape the price was way out of my range.

Via World Market (22"x22") $65.00. And finally here is the one I came home with!!!! It was the perfect size, perfect shape, and perfect color. With my 20% off coupon at World Market the price was not to bad.

Vegas Baby

Sorry for the lack of post - Britt and I just returned from a trip to Las Vegas!!! It was a whirlwind good time and a delightful surprise. The hard working husband won/earned a free trip through the company he works for. Score!!!! Now I am just trying to get back into the grind of work.

Here is the only picture I snapped the entire trip from my iphone.....

2 Cute

I worked on the nursery all weekend. Painting and hanging wall shelves above the dresser, shopping, decorating, cleaning, and patching walls. It was very enjoyable (seriously) and the nursery is coming together slowly but surely. Only 11 weeks left!!! We are trying to buy a few things every month so our budget won't be hit to hard all at once. Here are a few of the things on my shopping list that have made it into the babies room already......

Pintucked Embroidered One-Piece from Janie and Jack for $10.99

Can't beat that price and this is one cute outfit, it even has a little embroider on the back pocket.

Animal Fun Flashcards from Anthropologie for $19.95

I picked my favorite three cards and used them for more art in the room. They are really sturdy stock cards from this Japanese artist named Junzo Terada. Very vintage and amazingly original.

Ikea Knipsa Seagrass Basket for $16.99

I got 2 of them and put them side by side in the big bookcase on the bottom shelf to hold toys and stuff.

Ikea Moolger Wall Shelf for $11.99.

I got 2 of these to hang above the changing table/dresser to put nicknacks on. I primed them and painted them white to match the trim. They came out really cute!!!

High and Wide

Hanging curtains - its never really fun but here are a 3 simple rules you can follow that will make all the difference in the world.

High, wide and gently kissing the ground.

That's the only rules I follow when I hang curtains in my house. I LOVE this illustration that dramatically shows how these simple steps make a huge difference.....

(via Homegoods.com)

Whenever I can I like to put them as close to the ceiling as possible and extend out about 6 to 12 inches on each side. (If you have really tall ceilings going 12" above the window frame is a good measure.) This simple little trick makes your window look taller and grand. Check out these curtains how perfect they look in this bedroom: they are high, wide, and kissing the ground.....

Here is another perfect example. It's simple, understated and follows all the rules....

(via West Elm)

And finally here are the curtains hanging in our living room. I put them as close to the ceiling as I possibly could and hung the rod about 10" wider than the window frame. They seem to be smooching the ground instead of a gentle kiss but I have not had time to hem them.

Happy Hanging!!!!