Monthly Update

I'm back for my monthly post. Sorry folks but that is about all that this working mama of 2 has time for these days. I luckily found this pocket of time (thanks to the hubs for accidentally waking me up - I can never go back to sleep) to blog a bit.

M & G are 10 months old. I can hardly believe it. In a few short weeks we will be celebrating their first birthday (Can't wait!!!). The boys are still doing great. M is recovering from a case of the severe sniffles. He has picked up some serious ninja moves trying to fight me from sucking his poor nose (the joys of motherhood). Who knew that I would one day be able to list that as a talent??? G gave a few sympathy sneezes here and there but basically stayed well. Both boys are incredibly mobile (not walking yet). They are everywhere and into everything (except the toys we have spent a fortune on). We have become skilled at barricading them in the living room and anticipating what things they will destroy in a matter of seconds. Namely magazines - poor Pottery Barn didn't see it coming. Neither did I when I had to clean up as a result of M eating some of the poor magazine. Both boys are really showing their personalities lately. We are loving every second of it. I can't imagine life without 2.

We celebrated my birthday yesterday. Still going strong at 25. We did a few of my favorite things. Did a little shopping - PB and Central Market, picked up a shirt at the Loft, watched a few movies, Kev cooked up some amazing scallops, we followed with some great spirits and cheesecake, played with the two most adorable boys. I would have to say this was probably one of my best days ever. Not that we did anything that amazing, I just love my life and am very blessed.

Pumpkins!!!

If you have ever been to my house you've probably noticed all of the black and white checkered accents I have. I have been collecting Mackenzie Childs' Courtly Check pieces since my mother in law first got me hooked on it 5 years ago. Whenever she is in town we usually oooh and ahhhh over the latest catalog. Pointintg out things we "need" and have to have. This past weekend when she and my father in law came to visit it was no different. After perusing the most recent catalog we did a little browsing on ebay and saw the cutest courtly check pumpkins that a lady who paints knock offs Mackenzie pieces painted. We we immediately feel in love with them (there were 3) until we saw the price tag - a whopping $143 dollars. That's right - for pumpkins (the fake kind you get at craft stores that cost a mere few dollars each). Well there was just no way I could ever afford those babies. My obsession over these pumpkins just wouldn't go away though (my mother in laws didn't either). I decided that I would try my hand at painting them and see if I could recreate these pumpkins (for much less of a price tag as well). We printed off pictures and went to the stores for supplies. After the in laws made their way back home - I set to work. Luckily the hubs was home watching the boys so I could get down with my creativity. Low and behold I was able to make perfect replications of each of the pumpkins on ebay. I now have the cutest centerpiece for my island. I even made a set for my mother in law and mom. And I did all 3 sets (11 pumpkins total) for about the cost of the original 3.