Hello Fall.... I've missed you!

I am not sure about anyone else but come the end of August I am done with summer. It maybe because I just finished running a 11 week summer camp for children 3-12, but come end of August I am itching for pulling all my fall decorations out! Of course as always my husband makes me wait as long as he can. Yet, I finally have convinced him that September 1st is a socially acceptable time to start decorating. After all, the renowned Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling tells us that meteorological fall begins September 1st in Chicago. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

So come September 1st, there is no holding back! I pull out my favorite fall candles Leaves from Bath and Body Works, which I over course bought 3 weeks prior and try to convince my husband to either A) open all the windows or B) come to Home Depot with me to see what they have. I get an eye roll, he informs me at its 84 degrees out so the air stays on and seems silly to light the candle but to have fun at Depot.

The kids and I had a blast at Home Depot. They usually have a great selection of fall items! I love these mums they carry in these apple baskets. You get the flower and basket for like $5.99! Over the last few years I have been saving the baskets after the season and then just adding the flowers for $3.99. However you have to act fast because they are gone within the week. I secretly stalk them!

My porch decorations have gotten larger and more elaborate over the years. Whenever I get them out of the attic my husband shakes his head. Oh well... it make me happy! I do get majority of my stuff from the Dollar Tree. I think I got most of this stuff in the beginning of August. It does tend to get picked over pretty quickly! For the bigger items, they tend to be more neutral so I use them all year round.

Some new additions are the copper lanterns! I have been eyeing some for about a year but they were on clearance at target in the beginning of August and HAD to get them. I put faux pumpkins in there and the mini wagon. They will rot or I have been warned!

This year for my flower containers, I tried to get flowers that would last into fall nicely. It has been the first year that I haven't killed them all off by this time. However, since they did so well, it limited planting space for my fall additions!

Well... unfortunately photography is not my thing yet so this is the best I can get of the whole set up! I still have my eye on a flannel blanket and more seasonal pillows! Hopefully soon! Does anyone else love a decorated fall porch?

Ahoy!!! Big Boy is 1

Ahoy! This big guy turned 1! We planned a nautical themed party for him. I thought it would be perfect for spring (when I was planning in January). However, apparently the weather was not on my side!

Outfit from Gymboree

 

When it comes to weather for parties, if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all. I was optimistic two weeks before the party. The extended forecast for party day was 63 and sunny! A beautiful day in April in the Chicagoland area. However as it got closer to the party, it was looking grim. Turns out the weather man was wrong! They were saying 32 and snow! So we had a back up plan...

Yes! that is snow on the bottom right!


 A tent. Thankfully my mom came up with the idea and the funds (best mom ever)! So then we had to re-plan the set up of the party but I think it turned out well!


 

photo wall and appetizers.

I created this photo wall from all photos I took from Wyatt's 1st year. Each one had a title card, his monthly chalkboard picture and then some of my favorites. The appetizer table was placed right when people walked in and all were "sea" themed snacks. We also had themed tables for dessert and drinks.

 

 

 

Centerpieces were a work in progress. The buckets were used from my son's Baptism and I repurposed them by tying a sailor's knot out of twine. The picks were pieced together from items I got at either JoAnn Fabrics or Hobby Lobby. I learned the hard way after the baptism, that you need to add sand or the tip real easily.

 

 

Birthday Boy loved his cake. His father gave him utensils to really dig into the cake. I made the highchair decoration from ribbon I got a Hobby Lobby!

 

 

Happy Birthday Big Boy! I cannot wait to celebrate another year with you!

 

Threenager...

I have heard horror stories about the terrible twos. It made me nervous! However in our house two came and we were doing ok... Until about two months ago. As we approach my daughter's third birthday it was like she changed over night! She has always been stubborn and strong-willed but it is now magnified. Apparently we enter the "threenager" stage. Let me tell you the sass is real with this small one!

I saw this Blog  by Kristen Hewitt "10 signs you are living with a threenager" and they were all true! I'm hoping she will depart this stage quick because it is a rough one! Makes me nervous for the actual teenage years! The only saving grace I am sticking with is a saying my mom says. "They always give you a few bad years, hope it's 3 and not 17!" I'm praying it's three!

Mama's out there what do you do to deal with this?

New present!

New docking station

I am one of those people who are not into all the new gadgets. However, I have always wanted a Apple Watch the second I saw it. Of course, my husband thought it was not very practical but he surprised me with on for Valentine's Day this year.

I love my watch! However something I love just as much is my 1byone 3-in-1 charging dock. It may seem silly but it is amazing. I have lots of gadgets mainly because I have two iBaby monitors running through my old phone and iPad every night. I also then have my phone and watch. I had cords everywhere! It was a nightmare! Half the nights my watch wouldn't charge because I would accidentally knock it off that little disk!

Then I got this product to review and I am in love! It's amazing. All the cords are nearly put away. Most importantly, my watch instantly connects and cannot be knocked over accidentally! It really is the little things that make life awesome! I feel like anyone who has an Apple Watch needs this product!

** disclaimer - I did receive this product for free but all the thought and ideas are my own! ***

Kitchen Chalkboard

I love chalkboards... probably because before I was a SHM I was a teacher. I have a chalkboard that I made from the tutorial from one of my favorite bloggers Jessica Garvin (find it here). I have used my chalkboard for monthly belly shots and now do monthly shots of my babies.

Example of my chalkboard

However, I wanted a hanging one for my kitchen that didn't cost a fortune. Ensue a trip to Menard's. Where I found a piece of 2x2 birch for less than $2! My only suggestions is to lay the board on the floor to make sure it doesn't curl. Then it was home to paint, drill two holes and tie a pretty ribbon. The project was super quick, easy and cheap! I couldn't wait to hang it! Waiting for the paint to dry was the worse!

The finished product

Hope that was helpful! Does anyone else love chalkboards as much as I do?!?

Nursery Bedding

Planning my son's nursery was harder than I thought. The room was already painted this tealish-blue color from when it was my office and I really hate painting. I also wanted to have a nusery that he can grow into and does not have to be redone when he is like 3. 

I stumbled upon this fabric when I was at Joann Fabrics and it was perfect! It was silhouettes of forest animals and it matched the paint perfectly. I decided to use it as the valences for both windows. The fabric underneath is a light blue with a faint tree bark pattern (hobby lobby).

Then I found cooridnationg fabric to go with it. I covered some pillows from one of those beds-in-a-bag, we had from when were first married. Of course they cannot be used now that little guy sleeping in there but of course I have a plan! I have my eye on a tee-pee for the room and think they will be super cute in there!

I do not know about you but after I come up with what a want like 6 months later the stores have everything. It is slightly aggreviating because I always end up making everything myself but now it is everywhere! I walked into Hobby Lobby, Pottery Barn Kids and Land of Nod and woodland things are everywhere! Guess I was ahead of the trend!

Baby Boy Nursery....

My husband and I knew we wanted to have our kids close in age... well luck was with us and they are 22 months apart. Sometimes this makes me question my choice of judgement but most days I love it!


When we found out I pregnant again, I was picturing a little girl. In my head, I figured we would move my daughter to the office and make her a new "big girl" room and reuse the nursery since we just did it. However, at my 20 week ultrasound, that plan came to a halt because the new baby was a boy. A boy! I do not know how to deal with a boy. We have all girls in our family. When I babysat it was usually for girls. Now I have to plan for a boy. I wasn't sure I was ready.


Little did I know this was harder than I thought. When looking at things for a nursery it was either to cartoon like or to grown up. What was I going to do!


 I also decided that a woodland theme is what I wanted but not with cute critters. I think my husband thought I was nuts.


Like my daughter's room, I ended up making most of the bedding and window treatments, which I will write about later. My main focus was the long wall that would be the main focal point of the room. I knew I did not want to get a tradition baby furniture, they do not use it that long. So this is what we came up with.


lamp & laundry basket from target - wire storage baskets from Walmart
Bear Rocker and chair from Pottery Barn Kids

The table was made for me by my uncle. It was the something I think will be useful as he gets older not like a traditional changing table they grow out of so quickly.

My gallery wall. I have to admit I am a little obsessed with (my lack of photography skills does not do it justice). It did take a large amount of time. I made the majority of the items from Hobby Lobby. The animal prints are from a Etsy artist Susan Windsor. They are so adorable. The centerpiece was created by another uncle of mine. He painted that raccoon by hand on a piece of birch bark from our family cabin. Every time I walk into the room, it makes me smile! Of course, I had to have a chalkboard! This on is a piece of a tree ring that they sell at craft stores. It took like 6 coats of paint but was worth it!


Here is my pinterest board if you want some of the inspirations ideas that I had! more to come on the fabric and bedding!