Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Birthday Inspiration

My baby is turning one in less than one month. Where has the time gone?! Instead of tears, however, I'm throwing myself into her birthday party. There are so many great ideas out there. Take a look at just a few I've come across online:







I've decided on a pink, green, orange color scheme. Here is my inspiration from The TomKat Studio:



I already picked up these cute tablecloths at HomeGoods.


I know - I have a lot of work ahead of me... 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

A Day at the Zoo

We spent the day at the Indianapolis Zoo. It was hot and crowded...and a lot of fun!

Ana and Daddy
Cheetahs



cooling off at the misting station
up close with the tigers - that dirt on the window is from the tiger on the inside!

Ready to go home
Cooled off and playing with her lion snow globe on the way home

I hope you had as nice of a day as we did!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Dresser Project

I picked up this dresser a couple weeks ago at a yard sale. My husband and I were headed home from running errands, and I spotted it as we drove by - needless to say I made my husband turn that car around!


The wood was a little dinged up in places, the feet were damaged, and there was nasty stained green fabric covering the inside of one of the drawers.



But really, this dresser is so heavy and sturdy....the woman who sold it to me had all the pieces to put the dresser legs back together... and we needed more storage in our family room. Plus, I had been looking for a "project" and so I was in the mood to tackle something like this.

First and foremost, it needed a good cleaning. I think there was dust on this thing older than me! Then I followed these steps to painting furniture from Bryn Alexandra at Bryn Alexandra Interiors. I filled in some of the deep dents and holes and glued the leg pieces back together. I gave it two coats of primer and two coats of white paint (sanding in between each coat) and then two coats of water based poly protector. I also picked up new knobs at Hobby Lobby, and.... here she is:

(Excuse the shadows from the knobs.. the lighting isn't the greatest in our family room.)

As for the green fabric - I couldn't get that off for the life of me, so I had to cover it with new fabric.

I think it turned out pretty good for a "first" project.

I had a hard time getting the poly protector on evenly. It was hard for me to see the clear gloss as I was painting it on - so in the light, I can see some unevenness. The hardest part though - having patience between each coat. I wanted to get it done already!! It was torture waiting in between steps... but I'm really glad I did. I like the way it turned out.

Speaking of furniture makeovers, have you checked out Better After? It's a really fun blog that features different before and after projects. I look at it at least once a day!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Mama Mia!

She finally said it... the sweet sound of "mama" can now be heard in our home!


Is there anything better?

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

A Prayer

Notre Dame sends out a daily prayer. It usually changes each day - but the same prayer is being said every day this week for the people impacted by the recent storms. I thought I'd share it with you:

Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters in the southern United States who are suffering from the storms that ripped through parts of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Have mercy on the over 300 people who died as a result of the raging winds and rain. Please comfort those who have lost loved ones. Heal the injured and provide them with peace. Strengthen those who are working to help repair damage and keep the flood waters at bay. Bless the efforts of all those who seek to help in this time of need. We pray that Your mercy and love prevail amidst the suffering caused by this tragedy. Amen.

 I think this covers all the bases, and they could use as many prayers as possible.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Anthropologie Amour

Thanks to a birthday gift, I now have a great gift card to spend at Anthropologie. So fun!! After the babe went down tonight, I got to spend some time looking at its website. The nearest store to me is about an hour away - I can't wait!! While Anthropologie isn't always my style, I can ALWAYS find something fun to add AND enhance my wardrobe....



I'm sure I'll find more once I am in the store! Happy Shopping!


Sunday, May 15, 2011

Hello 30!

Today is my 30th birthday. I'm so thankful to have celebrated it with my family. My brother even surprised me with a cake...vanilla with vanilla frosting - my favorite!

It was so special to celebrate with Ana this year - my first birthday as a mom. I'll have to say, she is what I am most thankful for this year.

I'm also thankful for a husband who is a very good and involved daddy. I'm thankful for a mom I consider my best friend. I'm thankful for two smart and successful brothers who have taken on their roles as "uncles" with such love. I'm thankful for 30 years of no broken bones or major illnesses, a grandfather who is able to enjoy being a great-grandfather, and my loving and kind in laws.

That said, I've given my 30s a lot of thought, and I've come up with some "30 years old resolutions"...

  • I'm going to put more time into myself. I've kind of gotten stuck in this rut lately - a leggings and ponytail rut. I know it impacts the way I feel about myself. So, from now on I'm going to try to put more time and effort into what I wear each day and actually take the time to do my make-up and hair.
  • I'm going to put more effort into being a better friend. I've come to learn just how important it is to have good friends to lean on. I could use more friends, and so I'm going to make that a priority.
  • I'm going to learn to meditate. I need to learn to relax! enough said.
I'm sure there is a laundry list of "resolutions" I could add - and I will - but I think this is a good start.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Starburst Mirror

You won't believe where I bought my new mirror...


...Hobby Lobby! It was 50% off - so at $25 I just couldn't pass it up! You can buy it here, but I think you  have to go into the store to get the half off.

Starburst mirrors are so much fun. Take a look at some I found on decorpad.com: 








While we're on the topic of mirrors... Ana likes them too. While I was rearranging some things around the house today, she spotted herself and couldn't keep her eyes... or hands... off the mirror!


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Thinking Upholstered

I'm dreaming of a new bed with an upholstered headboard. I'm seeing them everywhere, and I LOVE them! So serene and comfortable, yet they can also be glamorous and even fun. Just look at these lovelies:






If I ever do go upholstered, this is the one I would get:
It's the Colette bed from Crate and Barrel. I like the clean lines and neutral look of it. My tastes are constantly changing, so I think this would work best for me.

Happy sleeping from my happy girl!