A Quick and Easy Fabric Basket!

Hey folks! No baby yet... although I'm VERY ready for her to be here! This is just a last minute project I whipped up while we're waiting for our Lovebug to arrive! I wanted to make a fabric basket to hold diapers, wipes, etc on our changing table & I had PLENTY of scraps left from the bedding and all the other sewing projects for the nursery. It wasn't hard to find a  few tutorials on Pinterest/the Blog world... I love how easy the Web makes crafting! Sorry about not having "before" or "what you need pictures" ... I just used the patterns I found and made up my own as I went. Feel free to check out these lovely ladies' tutorials HERE & HERE. When it comes to cooking and crafting, I usually take other's suggestions and then do my own thing. Here's how it turned out...

Happy Friday! I'll post the latest bump pics and hopefully some exciting news soon! 



Lovebug Update & Getting Ready!

Whew... 37 weeks! I am READY for this little girl to come out and make her entrance into the world! She's definitely runnin' out of room in there and this little Mama isn't sleeping at ALL. Lovebug thinks it's real funny to headbutt me down there... making my nightly bathroom visits about every 45 minutes at this point. Last week the Dr. said that she was head down and in position... so it's just a waiting game now! I have another appointment this Friday, and I'm crossing my fingers that she's gonna tell me some good news!

It's such a funny thing, I was so worried about getting all the "stuff"... now that the time is drawing closer, I'm just ready to figure it all out with her in my arms! I've got one more nursery project, maybe two... I'm just keeping busy though now. The stroller is all put together, the swing is ready, and Bri tells her every night before bed that she can come out anytime now! We're both so excited to see what she looks like and kiss her sweet face!

As far as the labor part goes... I've sure had my anxious moments. I really want to do this as natural as possible... no medical intervention, no drugs. Bri and I have been reading the Bradley Book (Husband Coached Childbirth) and the more we read the more calm and comfortable we feel. I just keep reminding myself that women have been doing this for thousands of years... and God made our bodies to do this. I will trust him to know what our birth story will be, and I definitely understand that if an emergency happens... the doctors will take care of me and Lovebug. Until then...

Here's the latest bump pics! You can definitely see my face getting rounder. Oh well... three more weeks of ice cream- right?

Pretty Scalloped Bunting!

Hello folks! This little Mama is writing from a VERY warm Missouri... trying to keep my feet up and stay out of the lovely heat! Just 3ish weeks left before Lovebug should be here, and I'm finishing up some last minute sewing projects as final touches on the nursery!

Since I'm not sleeping too much these days, I've been passing the time spending hours on Pinterest. If you haven't discovered the amazing way to catalog your ideas, diy projects, decor, clothing style, etc... you must stop everything and CHECK IT OUT! I'm in love. No more overflowing "Favorites" bar for this girl! Just beautiful pictures to daydream about all day long!

One of the adorable ideas I found on Pinterest are these Scalloped Bunting. I knew I wanted some sort of pennants (I'm obsessed) to add a little color to the white curtains in the nursery... but these are just over-the-top cute! I grabbed my scraps of Wee Woodland from the bedding and got sewing!

Here's what you need...

-Scraps of fabric in various colors/patterns
-Premade bias tape (I made a LOT of bunting so I used 3 packages of 3 yds each)
-The pattern (found HERE)
-Scissors &/or rotary cutter & board, pins, sewing maching... you get the picture.
-Coordinating thread ( I've used a pretty jade color for everything in the nursery... I like the contrast)

I doubled up scraps of fabric, and pinned the pattern to them, then I cut away! I sewed the two pieces right sides facing on the rounded edge, using a 1/4 in seam allowance. Then I trimmed the seam allowance to 1/8 in and cut several snips in it so that when I turned each scallop out, it was nice and round. I ironed them all flat and pinned them, sandwiched into the bias tape. Then I sewed along the edge closest to the opening in the bias tape in one continuous line. Voila! Lots of pretty scalloped bunting!

Here they are hanging in Lovebug's nursery! I can NOT wait to reveal the nursery soon! It's almost done... just finishing up those last little details! Are you getting excited? I sure am!

Have a great weekend!

A Sweet Soiree for Lovebug!

Goodness gracious time is just flying by! I can't believe I haven't told ya'll about the lovely shower that dear Casey & Renee threw Lovebug & I! I had only been in town for a week at that point and it was such a special treat to spend the day with all my girlfriends getting adorable baby things, and eating delicious sweets!

Casey, Me & my sister, Renee

The Ladies did an absolutely amazing job on the decorations! My heart leaped at the sugar-rimmed mason jars & vintage hankie pennants! My sweet friend Sara made a yummy array of cupcakes, fruit kabobs, candies, dark chocolate truffles, and dipped strawberries! Lovebug and I really enjoy sugar... it's our favorite food group at the moment.

I felt so incredibly blessed by all the gifts that were given! My wonderful friend Jen and her sweet Mama drove from over 3 hours away to be with me and her Mama made the most beautiful Minnie Mouse diaper cake! (We LOVE Disney and I was just giddy over it!) I received so many adorable outfits and tiny dresses... Lovebug will be so well dressed! My Mama bought me my designer diaper bag, that I'm itchin' to fill! I was also given all of my Etsy prints that I picked out and some super cute woodland flashcards! I can't wait to put them up in the nursery!

Games involving the not-so-tasty baby food and a blindfold were played... and a few with diapers. We ladies laughed, caught up, and nibbled on sweets. It was a wonderful afternoon and I will forever appreciate the thoughtfulness of my friends and family!

Me, Lovebug, Marmie, and Gramma...Four Generations!

My First Thrift Store Find & a Makeover!

Well hello again ya'll! Sorry about the long time between posts lately! Bri is FINALLY here in Missouri with me! My little heart is so very happy! Monday we (Bri, and our amazing friends and family) unloaded the U-Haul up 3 flights of steps into our new apartment! Hopefully we'll be all settled in within the next few days.

I told you I'd been keepin' busy while I waited for my hubby. My dear friend Kelsey took me thrifting for a little sidetable to go next to the upholstered glider in the nursery. I was optomistic, since my girlfriends have found some pretty amazing finds here and transformed them into beautiful furniture. I was shocked, however, at the $7 pricetag on the adorable table that I found in the FIRST store we stopped at! Thanks Kels for the help finding this little beauty!

Next up was to add a little paint and then distress it to give it the look I wanted. I took my fabric up to Lowes and found the perfect color... Jade by Laura Ashley. Then the lovely Casey, master furniture transformer, and I grabbed a quart of low VOC paint, a brush and some sandpaper and got to work!

Here's the BEFORE:

I gave the table two coats of paint using a brush and a small high density foam roller. Then I used medium sandpaper to distress it and give it that well-loved look. Casey suggested using a polyurethane to coat the table tops so that I can easily wipe them off... since I'm pretty sure that bottles will be knocked over and stickiness always follows babies wherever they go. I added 2 coats using the same high density roller and let it dry.

Here's the AFTER: 

I'm so happy with this little makeover. I fell more and more in love with the little table each time I saw it. I hope it'll spend many happy years in our nursery!

Have a good week folks and I'll be back soon with more nursery projects!

Bump Pics & Transitioning Home...

Well folks, I'm settling back into life here in Missouri... it's been an interesting transition so far! Don't get me wrong... I'm so very happy to be HOME! Home is just a little different than where I've been living for the last 2 years. The fact that I have to drive a pretty little distance to Starbucks, a trip to get any organic grocery store involves crossing the state line, and my parents called six cars at a four way stop on a country road, "traffic"... different. Staying with your parents after having run your own household for the last 2 years and the weather going from 90 degrees and 100% humidity last Saturday to 50 degrees this Saturday... different. It's just been a lot of change for this little Mama and at 33 weeks, change is very hard. I honestly believe that "home" is where ever I am with Bri. Cheesy, but true. When he gets here and we we're cuddled up on our couch... I'll feel "home" again.

I know life's new "normal" is going to continue to look differnt for a while especially in 7 weeks when our baby girl arrives! At least Lovebug will have a nursery! (I'm jumping up and down with excitement at the thought of this) I signed a lease on an apartment this week and my wonderful hubby will be here in 7 days with all of our stuff to move in and get settled! We'll be house hunting eventually, but we figure... baby steps is best right now. We just need to breathe for a bit.

I've just been trying to keep myself busy while Bri finishes up things in San Diego. Three weeks apart and and I miss him soo much... I'll be so relieved when he gets here! Then we'll be putting together all the pieces of the nursery! I can NOT wait to post pictures!

Until then... here's the Bump Update!

A Bittersweet Farewell to SoCal...

This little Mama is currently sitting in Missouri writing this post. Surprised? I'm still a little shocked myself. It seems insane--all of what has happened during these last few months.... I know I've been vague with ya'll, but I just wasn't sure where to start!

Brian carrying me over the threashold in our first apartment in SD



Last December we were just planning our usual Christmas visit home... but when we got there, we heard about a possible opening for a virtual position within his company. When we found about about Baby Lovebug, we were perfectly content to be in SoCal, but the farther along I got... the more I wanted to be surrounded by family! So Bri quickly put in for the position when we got back to San Diego in January and then the waiting and praying began... I was getting more and more pregnant and time was flying by!

La Jolla Cove... one of my favorite spots in San Diego

Finally in March, we heard that they had filled that position, but that there was another, better position opening. I was disappointed, but trying very hard to remain optimistic. He applied for that position and within a few weeks had an interview. Then... MORE waiting!

At the beach with my Love!

After another few weeks, as I was hitting my 31st week of pregnancy... and feeling like a ticking time bomb, we got good news! He got the new position! I already had a one way ticket home, mostly on faith. Bri was very certain that this would work out, and that we'd be home before Lovebug's arrival. So we'd been packing up all the breakables, and saying our goodbyes to friends. Another one-way ticket back to San Diego could always be bought. So the DAY BEFORE my flight, we were out to dinner celebrating the new job, and saying goodbye to each other for a few weeks until he can drive cross country with all of our stuff!

Sunset over Torrey Pines Beach!

So there you have it ya'll. We've got 9 weeks left till Lovebug's arrival and I'm now searching for apartments here in Missouri! I'm spending lots of time with my family and friends, trying to process the fact that I'm not going back to Cali, and missing my Hubby dearly! It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but I thank God for the blessing to be here with family when our little one arrives and soon we'll be looking for a house and settling in as a Midwest family of three!



Our "family" in San Diego... such sweet friends that we'll miss dearly!

So if you could offer up a little prayer to get this pregnant lady's husband home soon, and for peace of mind and calmness while we get settled in during these last weeks of pregnancy!

Enjoying a romantic walk along the cove!

I'll keep you folks updated!