Daddy Meets Penny for the First Time

Many of you know that my husband was deployed to Afghanistan last October during my 7th month of pregnancy (pretty good timing, eh?). It was a long 7 months, especially after the baby was born; not because she was a tough baby to deal with, but because I wanted more than anything for him to be able to see her.. hold her... kiss her... to know her like I did.

When Penny was born, I emailed Dan pictures from my cell phone, but that was all I could do to make him feel a part of it.

Well, 7 months has passed and our new little family has finally been united. Thanks to the amazing Ryan Southwell Films, we will have this moment to treasure forever. I can't say ENOUGH about Ryan and I'm so glad he was able to be with us documenting one of the most precious moments of our life. Thank you Ryan for the greatest gift anyone could ask for.

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Lieutenant Dan has been deployed in Afghanistan since last October and is on his way home. But what makes it special is that he has a new baby daughter waiting to meet him for the first time. Watch as this journey unfolds throughout the day as the tension builds and the family reunites for the first time as three. It's a crusher. You can't help but feel some of the patriotism when he arrives home. As I said in a prequel to this post, this is the stuff life is all about.

I chose this song because it starts soft and subtle, with a little bit of mystery. But the end has a huge payoff that I love. Lifehouse - "Everything".

Summer Vintage Sale

Okay, so I feel horrible because here I am blogging about this amazing vintage backyard sale, and I lost the flier with the name of this sale!! If anyone recognizes this sale, PLEASE let me know the name of this traveling vintage sale!! I know there are more of these ladies' sales to come and I want to be able to provide the information... so please help me if you can!

The greatest thing about this sale was I accidentally happened upon it... don't you just love it when that happens!? It was right around my neighborhood and I just stumbled across a sign.. totally MADE my day!

The perfect way to start a Saturday!

Penny's Vintage Inspired Aqua Nursery

Finally a complete tour of the nursery! Well, it's still not 100% complete (missing curtains, lampshades, etc), but it's 90% done!

I wanted a chandelier, but wanted a fan too for the summer, so I researched a bit and found a chandelier attachment! The chandelier light is attached to the white ceiling fan... it's the only chandelier attachment I've ever been able to find!

The 1-2-3 was decoupaged just like the "P" in the last post!

This bookshelf will become a before and after post shortly... it was hideous before!

I got this darling picnic table from a friend's garage sale! I love it!

You can find these prints (and other cute prints like it) here and in all different sizes!

This pink shelf was hideous before the makeover. It was a $4 garage sale find in Santa Barbara and when you see potential, you can't pass it up! Add a nice little coat of pink paint and voila!

Hubby did ALL the bead boarding (installing and painting with spray gun) and also painted all the walls! A BIG thanks to him for all his hard work!

And ALL for THiS little thing!

Looks like she's happy with the nursery!

Paint Color in nursery: Sweet Pea by Olympic (at Lowes). Very aqua and minty but not too bright.

P is for Penny

BEFORE (I forgot to take a pic before I decoupaged the paper to the letter!)


I made this a few weeks ago but just got around to blogging it...

I think it's a rule that you always have to put your baby's name somewhere up on the nursery wall, right? Well, I was a little rebellious and only did the first letter of her name.

Easy project but here are instructions just in case:

Materials:

• Modge Podge (decoupage)
• Paint brush OR sponge brush
• Letter or letters to create
• Paint for letter
• Sandpaper (fine to medium grit)
• Cute paper
• Scizzors

1) Purchase the letter/s (I bought mine at JoAnn's)- you can buy wood (mine is wood), paper mache, chipwood, etc... lots of options.. they all end up looking pretty much the same although some are lighter to hang than others.

2) Paint your letter with craft paint (I just used the cheapy acrylic craft paint in candy pink)... you can also spray paint but you might need to prime first depending on the type of material you purchase.

3) Pick out your paper or wallpaper to apply to letter. I used 12x12 scrapbook paper.

4) Put letter over paper and cut a square a little larger than the letter.

5) Apply decoupage with paint brush or sponge brush to the letter. Place scrapbook paper over the letter. Let sit for 20 minutes.

6) Apply thin coat of decoupage over top of scrapbook paper and let dry completely.

7). Sand all the edges off.

Voila!

AFTER:

Decisions, Decisions, DECISIONS!

If there is anyone in this world who is horribly afraid of making decisions, I definitely earn the award. I sit on all of my projects forever because I am so afraid to commit to one final decision! There are so many colors, designs, textures, fabrics... how can you just settle on ONE?

Currently, the decision I am in the process of stressing over is my buffet table in the entryway. This was an antique find a couple of years ago that I painted white. I love white- so clean, crisp, pure... but I am feeling a need for more color these days. Maybe it's the baby bringing out the life in me.. I don't know. But whatever it is, I have been craving more color!

Current color choice I have been sitting on for the past week?

Robin's egg blue (or sea foam, or turquoise, or any greenish blue)! Can't go wrong, especially in time for spring. These shades of blues and greens have always been my favorite and can be found all over my family room... but hey, I can spread the cheer to other areas too.. it's MY house!

Here are some of my Robin's Egg/seafoam Blue Inspiration:

Robin's Egg Blue is one of those colors, that as an accent goes with any color scheme.

(images: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6) here 2) better homes)

Rock-a-bye Baby

Did I ever tell you how talented my mom is? Well, I will just let the pictures do the talking...

Someday I will learn to sew... (keyword "someday")

We found the cradle at a little boutique shop but it was in desperate need of a skirt and bumper! So it was Mom to the rescue!
I just fell in love with the fresh seafoamy green damask fabric. And it's great because it will work for a boy or a girl!

We ended up velcrowing the skirt underneath the cradle so it's easy to take on and off if I need to (haven't needed to yet though!)

All that work for this little thing...

And here she is inside the cradle happy as can be. I think she likes it : )

It's nice to know people with talent!

Organizing My Life!

Will I ever catch up? I feel like I am still 9 months behind on organizing... paperwork... closets...bedrooms... my office... ARRGHHH it never ends! I feel like I just can't catch up to where I want to be! Am I the only one that feels this way or is this just typical life?

HOWEVER... My office is about 75% cleaner than it was (pics to come soon!) and I wanted to share 2 of my newest organizational tools...

1) This gorgeous damask filer.

I use a filing cabinet for all of my bulk filing, but I use this handy little filer for my receipt filing (since it looks like a purse and all)... All the receipts that I deem important get filed away in this beaut. I have the files labeled as "dept. stores/clothing", "hardware stores", "Home Modification/Contractors", "Craft and Hobby", "Sporting Goods", etc etc... you get the idea. It's been so easy to find receipts that I need for returns or whatever the reason may be...
Oh and best of all? Got it at Marshalls!

2) I LOVE my Card Cubby!


I am a semi-avid QVC watcher and happened to stumble across this little creation and couldn't pass this up...
I had SO many cards; membership cards, gift cards, stamp cards (I like my buy 10 get 1 free yogurt cards, okay?!), etc etc that were taking up so much room in my wallet! And I know you all know how STRESSful it can be when you are walking towards the Costco entrance and have to strum through all your cards in your wallet to find your membership card! Well, stress no more!! All you have to do is simply take your little index finger and strum to the "C" file to uncover your wonderful Costco membership card!
How many times have you been at a store that you know you deserve that free yogurt/bagel/sub sandwich or whatever but you can never find your blasted stamp card. Well, this stressor is now stressLESS with the card cubby! Simply turn to "S" and pull out your Subway stamp card!
Isn't it great?
Want one?
Get it here!

Next on the list to organize? My MAGAZINES!! Anyone else a magazine hoarder? Oh man... do I hoard. Well, hoard no more.

Send magazines to an archival service, like Denver Bookbinding (denverbook.com), which will bind the stash into one or more hardcovers for $50 and up. If you want to keep articles only (which is my thing) try Scanalog ($50, scanalog.com), a software program that catalogs and stores clippings. I'm excited to try these out!!

Happy organizing to me!!