{diy} baby shower onesies

It was so fun to help throw a baby shower for my sister-in-law. One of the things I wanted to put together was a diy onesie station. It ended up being a big hit and I was so impressed with the adorable onsies that hung on clothes lines strung in the backyard. 

As a guest you could choose to paint or iron-on to create your masterpiece. I provided several different foam stamps, iron-on letters, and specific images printed onto transfer paper. A tabletop ironing board and extension cord allowed for guests to complete their designs outside with the rest of the party.

An example and simple directions were hung on twine above the table that displayed the materials. 

Each paint color had its own little ceramic plate (which cost about a dollar each at IKEA) and sponge brush. The sponge brushes are very inexpensive and made it so easy to apply paint to the foam stamps. The foam stamps enabled people to make legit looking onesies. 

A bowl of miniature clothes pins were on the table so that guests could hang their creations up to dry. The finished onsesies created a little gallery for guests to walk through, gather ideas, or simply enjoy.

We even covered the future dad's favorite sports teams. Gotta love printable iron-on paper.

{celebrate} baby shower invites

The invites are out and the celebration is quickly approaching. The theme? A new chapter. I was inspired by a Martha Stewart book-themed baby shower and used their incredibly charming images for these invites. There are five simple steps:

1. Format invites in a word processing program.
2. Print
3. Cut and trim using an edge punch
4. Create insert with special directions for guests and registry information
5. Address, stamp, and send.

These images also greatly influenced the color palette of the party. The combination managed to feel slightly gender neutral, having the aqua to balance out the different shades of pink. After putting these together and being so happy with them, the following colors have become the focus of our little soiree.

As a bonus we already have handmade fuchsia overlays from the lovely rehearsal dinner our family threw for the mister and me. Those, paired with my small collection of aqua jars and vintage teal ornaments, should create a nice backdrop for this joyous event.

I cannot wait to meet my future niece or nephew!

{dreaming of} fall

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... fall. Today was the first day that really felt like fall to me. As I rolled my bike out of our apartment laundry room it crunched through a pile of leaves. It was light outside, but cold and misty. I love fall. I love the weather and the thoughts of crafting at home to the sound of rain on the windows.

... making my own cheese. Can you believe they sell kits now, just add milk. Homemade mozzarella with the last of my tomatoes still clinging to the vine. Sign me up. 

... baking French Macarons. Since the arrival of my new Kitchen Aid, it is all I can think about. Baking has won me over.  I was spellbound watching butter and sugar being beat together. The pillowy cloud of sweetness was never something I could whip up by hand. Magic.

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... going to bed earlier. I have found that I like to be out while the world is waking up. Biking to work as the light gets brighter and the birds lift off the telephone lines is the most peaceful part of my day. The only problem is, if I go to bed too late, it is impossible to drag myself out from under my cozy comforter in the wee morning hours. 

... a tattoo. I have thought about a tattoo for a long time. I like the idea of getting one with my mister. However, my hubby, the avid blood donor that he is, has been hesitant because it would mean being unable to donate for an entire year. When we returned from Mexico he was surprised to discover they wouldn't accept his blood because we had traveled to an area that had been exposed to Malaria. Now I am left pondering what it is that I would get now that the opportunity is presenting itself. I love the freedom and peacefulness of soaring birds... I love the Eleanor Roosevelt quote, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I also think it would be romantic to get a tattoo that matched or connected to a tattoo that the mister would get. Hmmm... so many things to consider. 

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We are half way to the weekend. Hope you are having a good week so far...

{bedroom} too country?

The last two people to walk into my bedroom have immediately described it as "country." Although "French Country" is definitely a term that I feel captures at least part of my aesthetic, I definitely want to be a little edgy/industrial as well. Looking at my bedroom with fresh eyes, I find myself wondering... is it too country?

So here's what I am thinking [thanks to the Domino book of decorating], I am going to collect a bunch of inspirational images and get clear on what my style truly is. I am lucky in that I am a person who has not made many big purchases. Family hand-me-downs and craigslist have been my best friends. So now, as I enter a phase of my life where maybe some purchases can be made, I want to get clear. What is my style?

I love so many things. Domino suggests that a person collect things and images and say what you like about them in order to get to know your personal style. I have found that there is much work left to be done, but this is at least a first step heading in a direction...

 

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I love the pop of the yellow in the headboard and the vintage feel of the bed frame. I like the detailing on the wood. I also like that the blankets are a little disheveled, it looks lived in. 

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The pintucking caught my attention right away. I like the simplicity of the white. I like the wood siding on the walls and the hardwood floors.

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I HEART the floors. The contrast of the color and the print in the duvet make me happy as well.

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It is the feel of this photo that gets me more than the design. I like how lived in it feels. I love the doors in the background that peek through to the tub.

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The pop of color is totally stunning. The bed is a little mod for me, but then I love the old radio and little alarm clock. I also really like the line of the lamps. The mister and I read in bed a lot, so light is definitely important.

The answer to the question of is my bedroom a little too country might be yes... None of these inspiration photos scream French Country, although I still maintain that there are wisps of that influence. I might be a little more confused now than when I started. So what to do with this bedroom of mine?

{inspired} word art

The movement of furniture is an incredible tool for change. With the help of my cuz, Kate, my bedroom feels like a completely new room without the purchase of any furniture. As a result of this dramatic redesign, I now have two walls that are begging for art. Lately, as I have perused the web looking for inspiration, I have been drawn to displays that incorporate quotes, symbols, and words.

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I am feeling inspired to create a large piece to ground my display. I would like it to represent what home is to me and my mister. Quotes that have jumped out so far include:

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The more I think about it, the more I want to juggle the art I already have and introduce words into other rooms as well. I can't wait to get started.

i'm back and oh so inspired

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The summer hit hard in the best of ways. I ended up holing up in our home while my hubby buried himself in books, studying for the bar. It was quite blissful, sitting in my red wicker with a glass of wine, getting lost in the pages of books I had been meaning to read. Some things got done, but mostly I busied myself relaxing and caring for the people around me. As a result my blog has been a little neglected. But now, life is back to its regular motion. I am back in the classroom with my students, biking to work, and craving the structure of my blog to bring me back to what inspires me. Lately, I have been getting lost in blogs and images. My most recent purchase, that I have fallen knee deep into, is the Domino book of decorating. It has me looking at my little home with fresh eyes. I can't wait to share what unfolds.

{dreaming of}

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... living in the moment. This seems to be a reoccurring theme for me. Part of the reason I started this blog was to inspire myself to do things now that I am excited about, to get away from spending my time thinking about long term plans. I am getting better about it, but it is definitely on ongoing process.

... having a backyard barbecue before the end of July. I love to have friends gather with good food and conversation, summer feels like the perfect time.

... starting to write letters again. Snail mail is so fun to receive and such a nice way to connect to people who live far away. I found a letter that a dear friend wrote me and it has inspired me. I want to get back to that.

... getting a set of mason jars. Several years ago I bought a set of 30 cheap wine glasses from IKEA. Since then I have used them incessantly for parties. Now I want a set of mason jars to go with them for beverages other than wine. Maybe I can get them in time for the barbecue...

... completing projects. I have so many wonderful materials purchased and ready. Now I just need to find time to sit down and create.

... eating Caprese from the garden. The basil is doing extremely well and there are flowers on my tomato plants. I cannot wait to harvest.