Birthday Bonanza!

No!  It is NOT Mr. Man's 1st Birthday yet, but it is quickly approaching.  If I could find some way to stop time, I would because it is truly flying past.  I feel like we just brought him home from the hospital last week.  Then, I look back and realize it has almost been 10 months.  One of the strangest phenomena of having a baby is that it doesn't really seem like he is growing that quickly or that he has changed that much in appearance because I see him all day, every day.  Then, I look at the pictures.

Two Days Old

  

9.5 Months Old

 So instead of being sad about my little baby growing into a little boy, I am going to overcompensate by throwing a fabulous party!  I cannot wait to celebrate not only his birth, but also the 1st year of our little family.  (And that we made it.)

Bring on the insane party planning.  Enter Etsy!  And lucky for me, it is Windowshop Wednesday at The Katie Chronicles... and guess who we are stalking today.  If you didn't guess Etsy, then I cannot really help you.

I should state that I also cannot help you if you cannot guess the theme of this bonanza.

Perfectly Seussical Invite by peaceloveinvites - It even ties into the polka dot fabric I want to use for a photobooth station.  (Yes, a photobooth.  You can judge me now.  I really don't care.  I warned you that I was going over the top.)

Seuss Inspired Digital Paper by photodesignz - SOOOO much inspiration jammed into this one image that I can hardly contain myself

An Entire Party Package by photodesignz - should I not have the time to design all of the papergoods!

Party Labels by Cupcake Designs - I could use these on tents to label all of the food goodies

Party Hat by Dainty Couture - Would go great with the striped tie that I am trying to hunt down

Custom Tie by Sprinkles of Love - Maybe I'll scratch the striped tie in favor of even more fun!

Costume Hat and Tie by mojo3777creations - If I want to really go all out in embarrassing my child

I could keep going, but I'll spare you.  As it all comes together, I promise to share my progress.  Hopefully, that progress is better than our house progress.  Or my progress in getting my Monday surprise together.  One of these days...

Wednesday! Wednesday! Wednesday!

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means.  Right!  Right?  Right... 

For those of you who are little slow on the uptake today, it is Windowshop Wednesday.  This means that we get to link up with one of my favorite ladies, Katie at The Katie Chronicles.  (And don't forget to peruse her fabulous recipes while you are there.  You may even get a sugar coma through your screen.)

Today, Windowshop Wednesday has us browsing Old Navy.  Now, this leaves me with a dilemma.  A rather large windowshopping dilemma.  I may or may not have recently needed to get 'some' summer clothes.  The need was definitely there.  I spent the entirety of last summer in maternity clothes.  When things started heating up here, I pulled my old summer clothes out of storage... and well, let's face it.  Things have shifted since then.  The things that did still fit were no longer practical for my current life.  Those shorts that I used to wear over my bikini to the beach.  Not that appropriate, or comfortable, for playing at the park.  So yes, I had an actual NEED for new clothes and it didn't break my heart. 

Enter my dilemma.  The 'window' part of windowshopping has long since passed for me at Old Navy.  It is just a fact.  I am literally scared of doing anymore windowshopping.

To solve this dilemma, I am going to post pictures of some of the items that I already bought and my reviews.  I hope you don't mind.  And well, if you do, then you can go on your perfect little way.  Hmpf. 

Tie-Belt Shorts

I love these shorts.  And I normally hate shorts.  Like a want to shred them type of hate.  These shorts are absolutely heaven.  They aren't too short or too long.  They don't hug my thighs.  Plus they are light weight.  After getting my 1st pair, I decided to get them in every single color. 

Chiffon-Trim Boyfriend Cardigan

This is the perfect cardigan for every occasion.  I can throw it on with my jean capris and a tank top.  Or I can pair it with a flirty dress and some heels.

Diagonal-Stripe Jersey Tank

Great utility tank.  It's airy and looks it (without being see-thru.)  I'm thinking that I need it in green as well.

Smocked Top

This top fit several of my criteria, so I got it in light blue AND gray.  It can be dressed up or down with the right accessories.  It is light weight without being nonexistent.  Plus it even feels a little flirty.     


And that wasn't all I bought, but anyways...

I should have some house updates soon!  Supposedly, the exterior is getting painted this weekend.  That is a big SUPPOSEDLY because we are going out of town for 2 days.  We'll see how it all goes down.

Plus I think I have figured out what I want to do for our curtains.  More on that to come. 

Happy Hump Day!

A Stripe-ing Obsession?

Lately, I am obsessed with anything patterned.  Gone are the days of a simple solid.  Graphic patterns have my undying love.  My Pinterest boards are overrun with them.

Pillows

Z Gallerie

Living with Punks

Etsy

Curtains

Z Gallerie

Etsy

Rugs

Macy's

Fabrics

But this graphic pattern love is being countered by stripes.  Glorious WIDE stripes.  If I throw the chevron stripe into this group, then my love multiplies. 

This leads to my current dilemma.  Stripes or patterns in the dining area?  I have decided that I will be painting my own curtains in there.  BUT WHAT TO PAINT?! 

Should I get a stencil to replicate these gorgeous curtains? 

Twenty Something

Or should I paint nice, thick stripes? 

The Nester

Or do I go with a chevron pattern?

Nuestra Vida Dolce

Then, I need to decide if I want to go with yellow or apple green.  Or maybe I should go with tan to compliment the wall color, like The Nester did.  I think I will know more once that yellow patterned rug pictured above arrives TODAY.  


Help me out here peeps!  What would you do?


Bonus question:  Should I attempt to knock-off the aquamarine Z Gallerie curtains above?  This stencil looks like it could do the job! 

Cutting Edge Stencils

P.S. Next Monday, I am going to be rolling out a little link-up action.  Check back later in the week to see what it will entail.  Hint: I know you like to SCORE!  Or at least, I do.

Window Shopping with Katie

My dear friend, Katie, over at Katie's Chronicles is window shopping today.  I wish I could join her in the flesh, but the internet realm will have to do until my private jet arrives. 

Today, we get to peruse Crate & Barrel.  Then again, I don't think that there is a day that Katie doesn't peruse Crate & Barrel.  She may or may not have a healthy obsession for their wares.  Her Crate & Barrel is my Pottery Barn/Z Gallerie/West Elm.  Yes, she has one obsession to my three.  I think we know who is the unhealthy one.  *shifty eyes*

Anyways, enough about my shopping freak-ness and on to the window shopping!

Enter OCD grouping of items

Living Room (Check out my Pinterest board for a sneak peak at what I am trying to accomplish)

Meridian Marimekko Madison Indoor-Outdoor Pillow

 Perfect pop on our dark couch

Colias Bird Cage

would look great by the fireplace

Kitchen (Pinterest Board)

5-Piece Parker Bowl Set

splash of color in a very white kitchen

Set of 3 Flexible Grip Mats

Soooo functional and pretty

Corn Griller Basket

= SUMMER!

Delilah Green Plate

as fresh and flirty as a plate can be

Master Bedroom (Pinterest Board)

Chloe Chair

a bit bolder than a slipper chair

Classical Symmetry Green Print

I can see 3 of these side by side above the bed

I could go on and on, but I think that my decorating budget has been tapped out this month.  Only super duper scores for me for awhile, then again I don't really like to buy anything that isn't on sale.  You can check back in on Monday to see what I've scored lately. 


Oh, and Katie, by the way... if I buy anything I 'window' shopped today, I am blaming you.

Nursery Recap!

Before I last left you, I had thrown together a little inspiration for Mr. Man's nursery.  (He's only 9-months-old, so it's still called a nursery.  Right?  Please tell me so.  I can barely handle him turning 9-months-old.  He cannot have already transitioned into just a regular ol' bedroom.)  I am happy to report that he has not been sleeping in a cardboard box this entire time.  However, his room has undergone a couple of transformations. 

This is what we started out with:

Try to not be too jealous of our gorgeous carpeting, or the archaic ceiling fan.  Don't forget to have extra long cables come out of the wall to maximize your baby-proofing.  I won't even comment on the stickers under the layers of two-tone paint.

First, we got a good dose of primer on those walls and painted them 'Warm Caramel'.   
(After removing aforementioned stickers of course.)

Then, we took out the carpet.  Put in laminate flooring.

Added some baseboard.  Actually assembled a crib.  Got a dresser/changing table and a glider.

 

 

Did a bit of DIY letters because no nursery would be complete without them.

We like to get them started early in this house, so his tools were ready to go on his changing table.

Replaced/created our own light fixture.  Built a picture ledge.  Put his library together (complete with baby safe cable cords!)

 And that was that for about 6-months, when my child finally got a name!

This was also around the time that he began to get mobile.  This meant 'Good-bye' to the dangerous bookshelf that was hanging out in his room.  (And the dangerous cable cords!)   Now, he has two matching nightstands that serve as toy chests and bookshelves.  I love the color they add to the room.

We added a shelf above his changing table because he was also starting to kick everything off of it.
Fun times.  >_<

It only took me 9-months to grow a child.  And it is taking me more than 9-months to finish his bedroom.  Something isn't adding up.  We still have some tweaking to do for me to consider it 'done.'  His dresser is still missing 4 knobs.  I need to decide on a Dr. Seuss quote for his wall.  I also have my eye on some artwork.  I am contemplating putting in red Roman blinds instead of the curtains.  By the time I have all of it finished, we'll probably be switching him to a big kid bed.  Such is life.       

As a bonus, his room (and every other room in the house) currently does not have window molding.  All of the windows have been replaced over the last couple of weeks.  The hubster wants to trim and paint the exterior before tackling the interior 'fun' of getting new windows. 

So there you have it.  One (almost) finished room from start to finish. 


Where did I get all of the goodies?  Glad you asked.

Dresser - Ikea
Crib - Goore's
Light fixture - created from a basic feature at Lowe's and a shade we bought on LampsPlus
Rug - Ikea (no longer available)
Shelf - Ikea
Dresser Knobs - Pottery Barn (no longer available)
Bedding - Pottery Barn

Craigslist provided us with the nightstands (which I painted to match the letters of his name) and the glider.  Goooo Craigslist.  I love me some saving of the moolah.