Friday, January 30, 2015

Friday Round Up

Rounding up a list of my favorite things from around the internet this week. I would say I am excited it is Friday, but everyday is Friday for me.  I am taking "maternity leave" aka not feeling guilty for not wearing real pants or brushing my hair until the beginning of March. 




What does your profile picture say about you? I have aged out. There is nothing about having your child as your profile picture. 


The Biggest Mistake in Decorating, could not be more accurate. I know from personal experience.  I am a sucker for a deal, but this is when you say "NO". Nothing cheapens a room faster than a cheap sofa. There are tons of places to cut corners and save on a budget, this is not one of them. Buy once, cry once. 

Speaking of loving a deal, are you guilty of sale bragging? Put all your ostentatious labels away, our generation wants to get the most bang for their buck. 







Thursday, January 29, 2015

3 Months


The turtle is now 3 months old. Weighing in at 14 lbs. He has officially doubled his birth weight. This month he found his hands and is starting to show off his toothless grin when he sees someone he recognizes. Favorite activities include listening to 90s Country (I blame his father) and sucking his thumb. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

My Favorite Jeans

Madewell new arrivals are in! I have a an addiction to their High Riser Skinny Skinny Jean. I have a feeling the new Flea Market Flares are going to be on steady rotation this spring. These jeans have been a postpartum life saver, the high waist sucks you in. 



Monday, January 26, 2015

Around My House

I have been on the hunt for a good looking, older gentleman of a chest for my not so formal living room.  I finally found something last weekend at my favorite Raleigh shop Studio 123. It immediately reminded me of Anna Spiro's chest from her Apartment Therapy tour circa 2009

Most days I really want to paint my living room green. 


I have been playing with these samples from Ellisha Alexina all weekend. Pictures do not do them justice. These Turkish inspired textiles have a watercolor effect that is stunning. 


My Mom came to town this weekend while Doug went hunting.  We had the best time cooking and spending time with the nugget.  He is growing so fast it makes me sad.  Speaking of growing, I cannot keep this kid clothed. He pretty much skipped 3 month clothing and went straight to 6 months. I am your typical Southern crazy person who has a unhealthy need to stick a monogram on anything. I bought a ton of these onesies on sale and got teeny monograms put on them. Little boy clothes are hard and this is a great way to keep it functional and sweet. 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Traditional Nursery
















I am still working on finishing the nursery. He came 2 weeks early and we thought we could possibly be moving. We still have some blank walls and the mobile may be hanging on the door, but you get the jist. 

I wanted something sweet and traditional. There was really not a theme, but I wanted to incorporate puppies and old family photos. I also tried to buy pieces that would grow with him or I could use in another room. 

Source List

Acrylic Shelf |  We have teeny rooms and this was a great way to add storage.
Puppy Mobile | I totally copied one of my best friends, Lindsay. These are handmade and heirloom quality in my opinion. Shipping takes a while, but it is so worth it. 
Quilt | The quilt was a gift from a dear family friend. 
Puppy Rocker | This is probably my favorite thing in the nursery. It was a gift from my best friends at my shower. 
Jenny Lind Crib | You cannot go wrong with this crib. It is an instant classic and under $200. 
Mirror | The mirror came from a local antique shop, Robert Corprew Antiques. 
Dresser & Changing Table | These antique pieces came from a local vendor as well. 
Rug | Another local find. I found this remnant at Eatman's Carpets and had it cut for the room. 
Bunny Lamp | My mother in law picked this Kelly Rightsell lamp at a yard sale. 
Glider | I had this custom made, if you are interested in similar pieces please let me know!


These amazing photos are courtesy of Sara Logan Photography. She snapped them during our newborn photo session. I cannot say enough wonderful things about working with her. If you are looking for someone in the Raleigh area, she is your girl!

Friday, January 16, 2015

I woke up like this



If you need something to get you through Friday, google Katie Ryan Vine. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Adventures in Cooking

True story. I do not cook. Like anything. At all. I love food,  I just think it tastes better when someone else cooks it. Since the arrival of our new house guest, going out to dinner every night is not an option. I have decided I am going to take up cooking and you are going to have to deal with me being overly excited about cooking basic things. 

I just got the Skinny Taste Cookbook. I like it because it is easy for a beginner and obviously it is health conscious. Skinny its he name of the game these days. 

One of my favorite recipes are the Make-Ahead Western Omelet "Muffins".
These are great to make at the beginning of the week and stick in the fridge. 
Ingredients
6 large eggs
6 large egg whites
Salt/pepper
3 ounces sliced ham(finely chopped)
2 ounces of swiss cheese, chopped
1/2 cup of chopped red peppers
1/4 cup of chopped scallion. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a standard 12 cup muffin tin with oil. 

Beat the eggs and egg whites in a bowl. Add salt and pepper. Mix in the ham, cheese, peppers and scallions. Pour 1/4 cup of egg mixture into each cup. 

Bake until eggs set, 20-24 minutes. 



Another gadget that has been a game changer is the Paderno vegetable spiral slicer. Pinterest told me if I want to be skinny I need to be eating zucchini noodles. Zoodles. I broke down and ordered the slicer thinking it was going to be just a waste of money and take up precious cabinet space. We tested it out this week and I am obsessed. Zoodles are surprisingly tasty and easy. 


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

NATIVE | Antique KilIm Accessories

I was bee boppin' around the Internet when I came across these insane kilim necklaces. After some clicking I found out it was only my insanely talented friends, Kate Jackson Ward. Anyone who knows Kate this does not come as a surprise. She is super stylish and evidently a genius. Her new line Native is hand crafted from antique flat-woven kilim tapestries. 




Follow her on Instagram to know when she adds new one of a kind pieces
@anativelook.




Monday, January 12, 2015

Let's Catch Up


 I have had the best maternity leave. I picked a great time to have a newborn. What would normally be called seasonal depression, is now socially acceptable because who takes a baby out during cold/flu season?  I have got to spend a lot of quality time with the TWO new men in my life. This guy and...

the other man in my life, Jax Teller.  Doug and I have been binge watching Sons of Anarchy. It is my favorite show of all time. I know what you are thinking, motorcycle gang? Really? Just watch the first two episodes and you will be hooked.  We finally finished Season 6 and I have no clue what to do with myself. 
 
I guess I could spend my new found free time taking down our Christmas tree. I feel like I need to come clean. It is January 12th. Not acceptable. 


Instead, I have been watching RHOBH. Can we please discuss the amazingness that is Lisa Rinna? I want to be her friend. 

I did not make any resolutions this year. I just want to be stress free and enjoy every second with my sweet baby. 

Speaking of that sweet baby,  I still have not finished his nursery. I am not going to lie, I thought we were moving. We made an offer on a house the day before I went into the hospital. Of course, things did not work out. 2014 was the year of unsuccessful house hunting. Hopefully, we will have some better luck in 2015. These shelves, seen on my Instagram and every Pinterest board labeled nursery can be found at CB2


That is all folks. Lots of babies and Netflix. 



Thursday, January 8, 2015

2 Months

I have no clue how 2 months have gone by so quickly(actually 10 weeks). I have been taking a monthly picture, but I am too lazy to upload the pictures. I want to be better about documenting everything because it feels like time is flying by. 

My little turtle is 10 weeks. We had our 2 month follow up this week and he is a whopping 13lbs. 5oz, which is almost double his birth weight. He is such a happy baby. He loves eating (obviously, look at those cheeks), swinging and taking baths. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

2015 | I am embracing...

 More dark trim. Preferably the same color as the walls. 



1/2/3/4

More custom lamp shades. Preferably pleated and lilac. 


1/2/3

More antiques. Preferably mahogany with pretty brass hardware.


More simplicity. Preferably high waisted jeans and button ups. 


1/2/3

More time with friends. Preferably eating good food with perfect lighting. 


1/2/3

What are you feeling for 2015? 


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Favorite Newborn Essentials



I promise this is not going to turn into a Mommy blog. I am far from an expert, but my entire life has revolved around a newborn for the past 2 months. I thought I would share some things that I think made my life and the baby's life a little easier. The first 2 months have been based around sleeping.

UppaBaby Vista | If you are expecting I am sure you have done tons of research about strollers. I remember feeling so overwhelmed. I honestly made my decision based on recommendations from friends who I really trusted. It has great reviews, can transition to a double stroller and has a great resale value. It is on the pricier end, but has been worth it in my opinion.
Sleep Sacks | The transition from a warm womb into the cold world cannot be easy. We have been using sleep sacks since day one.
Pacifier Clips | Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy. I have bought so many pacis and they just disappear. I am convinced Hank is eating them. I got one of these adorable clips from Beaufort Bonnet and it helps me keep my sanity.
Diaper Warmer | I feel like this is a secret no one told me about. Evidently, freezing cold wipes are a form of torture to a new baby. After we discovered this diaper warmer I could change a diaper without waking the baby up. Anyone who has had a newborn knows that this is a kind of a big deal.
Rock n' Play | By far the biggest game changer. He has been sleeping in this since we got it around 4 weeks. It helps with reflux due to a slight incline. You can rock the baby back to sleep. It is easy to travel with. Just go buy it.
Infant Lounger | My friend Caroline passed this down to us and we use it all the time. Perfect to lay on the counter top during bath time or hang out on while we are laying in bed.
Zip Onesie | I swear by these Old Navy zip onesies. The first couple weeks he lived in gowns, but when he started moving around he would kick them off. Zippers are your best friends at 3am when you are changing a diaper.

What is the one thing you could not live without?