Jill's Baby Shower

I have some much to catch you all up on around here.  First and fore most, on the baby shower that I hosted for my girlfriend Jill and her baby girl Lilliana. Everything turned out really well.  I stayed up late for a few weeks pumping my heart and soul in to the details and it was worth every minute.  My co host Julia worked equally as hard to help make the afternoon just perfect for our dear friend.  I think Jill and her guests really enjoyed themselves and she was definitely showered with tons of stuff for her new babe.  Baby girl's are just so much fun to shop for!!

Food.  I am wondering why I am even posting this because most of the food wasn't even out at this point! But you get the idea?

Candy bar on the right, gifts starting to pile up on the left!

Candy Bar.  I kept it small this time around.  I put little packs of Sweet Tarts in one of the big jars and Reese's in the other because those are Jill's favorite.  I got a great deal on Jelly Belly jelly beans for the smaller jar on the left and then I had Carmel's on the right.  Chocolate covered almonds in the small jar in the bottom right corner and chocolate covered pretzels on the platter {home made by ME! mini tutorial coming soon}.  There was sooo much candy left over afterwards. Good thing Halloween is right around the corner!

The spice drop topiary I made myself as well. I hit a good sale at Hobby Lobby the day I went to buy supplies and it only cost me about $15 to make. The most expensive thing being the Styrofoam topiary!  I painted the pot turquoise and used that paper you put in gift baskets in brown for a dirt look.  I wrapped the "stem" with pink ribbon and then just hot glued spice drops to the round ball. I did try to use toothpicks so it would be edible but that was way to much work. Besides, spice drops always taste stale.   I put Lilliana's monogram on the pot but no one picked up on that.  Her initials are LDG. So when I glued them on  everyone said it looked like it said dig {because you put the first initial in the middle} .  Stupidest thing I've ever heard. Apparently Jill hasn't shared her whole name with everyone.  Hahahaha!

We used colorful balloon bouquets to bring some more color to the room.

I made these tissue flowers to hang from the fire place and place on the tables.

A different view of the Candy Bar, Diaper Cake {by me}and presents.

Love all the pink.

Julia made the cupcakes.  She was worried the frosting was a disaster but I thought they were cute.   I always have a bakery do my cakes/cupcakes so the fact she did them herself was good enough for me.

Her mom was sweet enough to make us lovely floral arrangements.

Jill, Julia and Jill's girlfriends from law school.

Opening gifts.

Being silly trying on a hat for Lilliana.  So leeetle.

Jill's aunt Dede showing off a handmade quilt just for Lilliana by one of the grandmother's of one of Jill's law school friends.  Did you get all that?

I am so lucky my mom let me throw this shower at her house {and helped me so much getting ready}.  My parent's home is just stunning and there is a lot of space to entertain.  The bottom floor is basically one big room so it's easy for everyone to interact whether you are in the kitchen, dining room or living area.  In this picture we are in the living area and you can see the back wall of the house from here! You almost don't even have to decorate because it is so beautiful.  Especially the dining room that I faux painted to look like a textured wallpaper!  Haha! Thanks again Mum!

Next up...Natalie's shower in a few months! Can't wait!!!



Show Us Your Life Fridays-Kids Rooms/Nursery's

This week at Kelly's Korner we are showcasing our children's rooms.   I am so excited to see these rooms because although I just did Aidan's room about 6 months ago, I am always looking for fun things to add to it!

I started to do something straight out of the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and then I thought I might want use furniture and colors he could grow with. Plus, I've never been much of a "theme" person.

I bought these letters on sale at Hob Lob for like a buck and painted them. I think they turned out so cute.

 Home Goods everything here.

 This is the dresser I was given by a neighbor for our house before we even knew about Aidan. I always hated the natural maple color it was so I bought some turquoise paint and antiqued this dresser. I love it!

I bought these shelves at Ikea.  I think they were around $20. They have been the best for Aidan's books.

These are just some frames and a little car that sits on the shelf on the right side of the window.

So that's it!  I think it turned out really cute.  His bedding is from Pottery Barn Kids and Garnet Hill.  His rug is also PBK and was leftover from his nursery. The throw pillows were made by my MIL out of minky fabric.  I have been meaning to get them monogrammed.



We definitely plan on changing out his boring light fixture soon I just can't find anything I love!

If you have any suggestions send them my way! Can't wait to see all the other rooms!

Massachusetts

Every time the seasons change from Summer to Fall here in Charlotte, my mind always wonders to how beautiful it must be in New England by now.  The trees are probably just about finished changing color, the old New England homes are all decorated for the season.  There are pumpkin stands at every corner.  The weather is probably perfect.  Crisp in the evenings and cool enough during the day you can already sport your new fall boots and that cute long sleeve T you bought on clearance (this is my vision, work with me).

Ever since the first time my family took Adam to visit Massachusetts he has said "Let's move".  I always kind of thought the idea was crazy but lately I have been thinking about how much fun it would be to take off on this adventure and move 600 miles away and experience something totally different with my hubby.  I think about how much fun it would be for Aidan to see all the seasons.  I love the idea of being snowed in.  My only request is that we are within twenty minutes of the city.  For Sox games and aquarium trips with the Kid(s).  

So we're going to talk about it a little more.  We are probably a few years away from making a concrete decision but at least we can say it's on the table now.   I get a little excited just thinking about it.  Well more than anything I think I get a little excited about decorating an old salt box and home made ice cream stands and summering in Maine.  

You could all come to visit.

Pumpkin Patch

I have been working so hard to create traditions around our house for Aidan.  I've also been working hard to make sure they are traditions that will be fun for a number of years and not lame traditions that I have to beg everyone to participate in. I don't know how long this one will last but we made our 4th annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch this year. 

Honestly, I have to tell you, it was the best year thus far because for the first time, Aidan knew what was going on and he was wicked excited to be riding on a trailer filled with hay, to a never ending field of orange pumpkin goodness. 

It was a little weird trying to celebrate the on set of the fall in almost 80 degree weather but we did our best and a good time was had by this little family of three.  We took the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and the boys took off and I tried to keep up while snapping pictures to capture our family memories.  They picked the three prettiest pumpkins in the that patch {if I do say so myself} we stopped off to pet a few common farm animals and then hopped the hay ride back to the front of the farm where we forced Aidan to take pictures in front of the best pumpkin display on the side of any North Carolina highway. Just like we do every year. 

Here are the pictures to prove it all...lots of them.

Waiting on the tractor to pick us up for the hay ride

 Ready to go

 Happy

 and their off

 "How about this one"

 "Get this one Daddy"

 Pumpkins for miles {it seemed}

 Our pumpkin stash

 Cutie

 At this point Aidan was saying to me "Come on Mommy, catch up"

 Little petting zoo

 Bunnies

 Waiting for the tractor to come back and get us

 This is the main house on Carrigan Farms. As far as I know the family lives there currently.

 More pumpkins

 We call this picture the compromising position picture.  At this point Aidan was actually stuck in a split and started to cry.  I was dying laughing.

Happy Fall Y'all

Love,





Not Really a Conversation With a Three Year Old...But Sort Of

I went grocery shopping the other day and bought a ton of fruit.

Me: Adam, can you seriously believe Aidan ate two of the bananas and two of the apples tonight? 

Adam: Are you complaining about his healthy eating habits?

Me:  No, I am complaining that he ate that in 30 minutes right before dinner and I couldn't stop him.  Then he didn't eat dinner. 

Adam: Have you tried hiding the fruit instead of leaving out in the fruit bowl on the island.

Me: Great idea. I've got the perfect place.  I'll put it all in the microwave, he will never find it there.


Next morning. We are laying in bed, I hear Aidan get up and head to the kitchen.  I'm listening. Open fridge. Grab milk I made for him for this a.m.  Close fridge.  Hear his little mitts feeling around the top of the island for fruit (you know cause he can't see up there).  Silence for a minute. 

Aidan: (screaming) MOMMY!!!! DADDY!!!! Someone hid our fruit in the microwave.  Don't worry, I found it.

Adam: Good one.

Me: Damn it.

Show Us Your Life-Offices

This week at Kelly's Korner we are showing off our offices.  Except I don't have an office.  When Adam and I moved in here and we were unaware of the fact that we were just months away from growing a baby we had an office.  It was my least favorite room in our house.  It was smack dab between our kitchen and the hallway leading to our bedrooms/bedroom and so people saw it all the time.  I tried to paint it this fabulous blue color and it turned out terribly.  The desk was cheap and there was tons of random paper everywhere.  Bad DIY bulletin boards leftover from high school hung on the walls and there was a Pottery Barn sofa that we just kind of stuffed in there because we didn't want to part with it but was way too big for the room.  It got to the point where I couldn't stand to go in there anymore.   I totally transformed it in to a guest/playroom for Aidan this year but that is for another post.

THIS POST is to show you some ideas of have about making a small closet office or taking some space from my laundry room to put a teeny desk and some storage shelves.  I have come to the conclusion that I do need somewhere to store our important paperwork for the house and it would be to my advantage to have a quiet area where I can pay bills, blog, write Thank You notes and whatever else I want to do in that space.  So here are some ideas of what I am thinking.  And I will probably literally go through every other post in hopes that I find some great ideas.

Ok I LOVE this.  I don't have any closets this big in my house {downfall of OLD home} and I would never take the door off because then Aidan could get to my stuff.  BUT the small desk and cute chair, printer cart and blue and white storage is dreamy.  Adam has promised a cute pendant light just like this one if I can find a closet to transform. 

via http://www.mustknowhow.com/

This is probably more practical for my house.  Right now our closet in the playroom has that white closet organization system that everyone has.  There is a shelf that is about counter height that I could easily have a piece of wood or cut to put over it so my things wouldn't fall through the cracks.  I could paint the wood or cover it in a fun fabric and then put glass on it {too much work?}.   Anyways I could find an old counterstool and paint it really cute.  Then just use baskets to get organized and slide them right in to the already existing shelving. 

 via http://www.smallspacestyle.blogspot.com/

This would be the laundry room option.  I don't have this much space but this is pretty close to the color I am getting ready to repaint the laundry room and I know for sure I want a white desk with a file cabinet

to store my important stuff.

  

via http://www.thepurplepea.net/

Ok, I am off to look for more ideas! Thanks for stopping by!



Happy Anniversary To My Man

Adam,
  Today is the anniversary of the day you blessed me immensly by making me your wife.  It was such an amazing day, wasn't it? A beautiful wedding. I would have married you in the mud, in jeans, with no make up on. I just wanted to be yours so bad.

  When you asked me to marry you, I remember staring at that BIG ring in that little box and my life was flashing before my eyes.   I was seeing scenes from my childhood, a little freckle faced girl, dancing around dreaming about the man she would marry and suddenly I was just thanking God it was you.   Thanking Him for sending me such a strong, understanding, HANDSOME {who are we kidding you are the hottest man alive} giving, loving, loyal man.  Then I thanked him twice for letting us create our sweet Aidan together.

  You have changed my life. When I look at you, I can't believe I got so lucky. I love you more every time I lay eyes on you.  I am still excited everytime I hear your voice on the other end of the line, when you walk through the front door from work, when we reach a milestone in our relationship together. 
  If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing.  Not a thing.  It all brought me to you.  Thank you for loving me and for being the man I always dreamt about.   Happy Anniversary Baby!!

My Love Always, April



Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.