Color Coded Monday: crème de la crème

Romantic, earthy and basic... Cream

I love thee.

(I thought these frames would be a good to test out the fabric craft?)

Links:
Distressed Wood Frames
Rosette Pillow
Knitted Handbag
Baby Booties

Love for Espresso

I am not a coffee drinker. Never have been.

But something has happened.

White Chocolate Mocha.

Creamy and hot.

$4.50 per cup.

I loathe this new love because it's just unhealthy. On so many levels.

We may have to part soon... tear.

Or

We may have to give up food instead.

I'm for the latter.

Color Coded Monday: Mellow Yellow

I have long since given in to my love for yellow. It snuck up on me and for now, I gravitate towards it. Cheveron printed chair, birch pouch and owl tacks... love these, want them.

(LOVE LOVE LOVE the chair!)

Links:
Cheery Yellow Chair
Corduroy Pouch
Owl Nest Tack Pack

Garlic is food gold

Who doesn't like garlic? Okay, so some don't... sad, but true. Garlic is definitely overused by me. I.love.garlic.

One of my favorite garlic infused foods is none other than Garlic Cheese Bread. Give me bread and garlic and I'm a happy girl.

As my faithful followers/follower knows, I am a Pioneer Woman fan as are so many others. I love her recipes and found this one that is a must try.

View the rest of the steps and recipe here: Garlic Bread

As a garlic lover, I could just eat it alone... yes alone. That is how much I love it. Breath mint anyone?

I've never roasted whole heads of garlic and these photos from the Pioneer woman make me want to head to the grocery store, buy bags of garlic and head home... and pick up some Listerine as well.

View the rest of the photos and recipe/technique here: How to Roast Garlic

All photos taken from The Pioneer Woman

Happy garlic cooking and watch out for that killer breath.

I ♥ Fabric

Fabric has become my new love. I love it but I can't sew. I've always wanted to, but everything on my plate I haven't sat down with my mother and learned. To tell you the truth I don't see me having the time soon so I'll settle for working with Fabric in another way.

Framed fabric. genius.

I've been trying to figure out what to put on my walls, in addition to the frames I mentioned here. I came across a blog with a link to Woman's* Day* craft project.

Woman's Day Fabric & Wallpaper Art

Color Coded Monday: Tiffany Blue

This post has nothing to do with babies. Just thought I'd put that out there.

As you know, I have been consumed with Etsy and while this 'love' last, I see us having a long long future, I thought I'd post a color coded Monday. Monday could always use a pick me up, right?

Tiffany blue is one of my all time favorite colors. So what better color to pick for my first color coded Monday...

You'll notice I picked two dressers because this is what's currently on my mind. I'm tired of storing my clothes in piles. Maybe one of these will be the one? or something like it?

Links:

Owl "Thank you" card

Pumpkin Pincushion

Rosette Pillow

Vintage Dresser

Dresser with Mirror

Baby Stuff

You can't say I didn't warn you here.


Not only has she stolen my heart... my pocket book is emptying quick. ;)


Not being able to fit into newborn clothes just yet (she fits perfectly into preemie clothes except for her long arms), I've held off on buying these elaborate outfits. But I love them! They are all from La Bella Flora and I must win the lottery soon or else I just may being pushing a cart around... at least I'll have a beautifully dressed niece.




I have spent a lot of time on Etsy lately. I could browse through all the categories all. day. long. But what has me hooked is the baby category. Some things I can get but others, like the bottom right headband is way out of my budget, $55 for one. So I'll have to try to make my own version.

The wipey case was purchased this past week, it matches her bedding... how could I not get it?

(Etsy links: Snazzie Drawers (patterns), Fab Flower Headbands, Hearts Smile, Jenny Candy Designs )

I'm a sucker for elaborate headbands and will be making some tonight for Rylie's newborn session tomorrow. Sure to be long but I can't wait to photograph her sweet face and post some here.

All this going on and on you'd think I was the parent. Loving her is not hard to do... especially when I don't have to stay up all night. I'll leave that to her mommy. ;)

A Country Baby Shower

The Saturday before my niece was born, we gave my sister-in-law a baby shower at our home. My SIL's sister was in charge of the food, I was in charge of the decor.


I collected mason jars of all sizes before the party and by the time the day came I had a pool table cluttered with jars.

I had a vision in mind of a country, shabby chic party and I wanted pale shabby chic roses but couldn't find them. So I went with a country pale pink mix and loaded up the mason jars.

For the centerpieces, I grouped three different sized mason jars and filled them with flowers. I then took pictures from the maternity session I did for my sister-in-law through Bumble Photography and tied them with ribbon the largest jar.

I added a little country doily accent on the edge of each picture to give it that country look.

We didn't want the traditional cake or cupcakes so my mom baked up a storm with her delectable creations. We had cookies, spiced breads, apple cakes and an assortment of pies.

I made these little stick with the pictures at the last minute that morning. Used some vintage scrap book elements and glued them on scrap paper and them dirtied the edges with my vintage ink. Added it to a dowel and they were now an added decoration for the arrangements on the food tables.

I didn't get very many pictures of the food, but it was yummy:

• Sliders
• BBQ Pork Sliders
• baked beans (my grandmothers decades old recipe)
• Salad
• Potato Salad (my mom makes the absolute best!)
• Homemade Mac n' Cheese

For the guestbook, I purchased this childhood favorite of my brothers. Growing up this book was past to each of us and I believe to this day it's all our favorite childhood story.

Guest signed the front and back and someday when baby girl's mom and dad read her this book it will have more of a meaning.

Rylie Drew

Rylie Drew is here. On July 30th at 10:22AM, she came 3 1/2 weeks early and caught us all by surprise. :) We're not complainin' though.

She weighed 5lbs, 13oz - 19" long. She is absolutely beautiful and has a full head of dark brown hair with red and blonde highlights and blue eyes, but we'll see what those turn into.

I photographed the birth and a ton of photos after but I haven't even looked at my photos yet. Things have been a little busy.

Mom and baby are healthy and very happy. Dad is nervous but in love with his new girl. :)

Pictures to come very soon.

-frazzled mess-

I woke up this morning frazzled, not quite all there and had to stop for something strong enough for me to wake up. After leaving Star*bucks I remember I'm the one opening up the office today... nice. Walk in, everyone's in the hall waiting. Not a good way to start my day. So I put on some music, sipped my Caramel Machiatto and tried to forget the morning disaster.

In preperation for this weekends baby party - I'm making something like this tonight... fingers crossed that it comes out looking like this and not like a five year old craft project. I have no backup.

"window" shopping

Earlier this year I wrote this post about removing wallpaper and painting the bedroom. Already I am out of that room and into another one and the walls are white. Stark white. I kind of got stuck with the paint color (if you could call it that) because the week the room had to be painted I was on a tight budget that did not include paint. So I had to use what was already in the garage which was my ceiling color - marshmallow white.

I sometimes get the sense that I'm in a hospital room, go to bed at night and expect to hear beeping and intercom - "code blue"... not very relaxing. I refuse to re-paint because - 1.) I don't have the time, 2.) I'm spending all my extra money on a new niece and three 3.) once I pick a color, I'll change my mind a day after it's painted. I'm a self-admitted indecisiver (not a word, I know but it fits).

So - to solve this "hospital room" issue - I've been looking for major color in rugs, furniture, window coverings, wall art, etc. I am in love with Anthropologie's home section. Love. All of the below items can be found online.

This gorgeous simple rug is called "sweet at honey", how appropriate. This mirror art is not something I would buy, but I plan on making this. Not with mirrors but monochromatic frames.



Curtains have been a big deal for me. I love prints. Especially bold prints, but unlike my normal picks, these two are bold but in understated colors. Love them.

I have been on the lookout for a bright, big patterned chair and of course these are way out of my price range. I love the blue with the antique frame. I think this says exactly what my style is. vintage with modern twist.

Of course, this piece caught my photographer eye! I would just LOVE to have this for Bumble. How fun is that?

When all the looking and wishing is said and done... it's craigs*list that calls me. 10% of what I'd pay here, maybe not exactly what I'm looking for but hey, I can eat the next week... that's important.

Baby Fever

Do you see the sweet angel above? This is Sofie. My niece. I took this picture the day she was born in January 2010. She stole my heart that day and it's about to be stolen yet again.



I have baby fever. Not for myself - good grief - NO. But for my niece aka "no name" who will grace us with her presence come mid-August.



The day I found out "no name" was a SHE I went out and bought her her first baby girl clothes. Two little onsie tutu's. I haven't stopped since... If there's a baby department, I'm there. I can't always leave with something but I'm always looking.



I am anxiously waiting to cuddle her and spoil her rotten... I plan on being her favorite. So, be prepared for post consumed by a dark haired sweet thing aka "no name".

It's all in the centerpiece

My mind has been swarmed with party decor ideas... baby shower decor. I am not a fan of the normal baby shower - streamers, paper plates and balloons.

I think more along the lines of fresh flowers, candles clear cutlery and chandeliers... I had the idea of go country/shabby chic for my sister-in-law's baby shower: gingham tablecloths, white lights hanging across the patio into the trees handmade paper streamers and centerpieces made of old boots as vases with shabby chic roses. That was the initial plan... but things have changed and gone more shabby chic than country. I cannot wait to show pictures because I think it's going to be gorgeous! But for now, here are some of my favorite centerpiece ideas for any occasion...

My favorite... I love the white vases clustered together... clean lines and modern.

The below is similar to what I'm doing at the baby shower... I love it!

My California

Where can you find perfect weather? Blue Skies that run into the ocean?

Newport Beach, CA

Sign I walked by at Balboa (the Newport bay). Talk about jumping to the point...

By the way, can you see Waldo in the middle picture... he likes to spend his off time on Newport Beach. ;)

Marry Barry

One year ago today I was in Alabama at my sister's wedding (post here and here).

One year ago today my sister married her childhood crush and they started their Happily Ever After.

Happy Anniversary, Mr & Mrs Barry!

Bit by the Blogger bug

Blog Post Coming Soon.

Break is over...

I've missed you, my dear blog.