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.

9 Months!

They boys are 9 months old today? Can it really be? I guess I shouldn't be surprised they are showing all the signs. Crawling all over the place, eating bigger meals, putting everything in their mouths, fighting over toys, loving being held - all the time, wearing their parents out - in a good way, being vocal about their wants and needs - wish I could decipher what they were saying though, smiling and giggling at everything - like their hand shadow, spitting food back at us when they disapprove - mainly G, M likes everything, and basically just turning into the two cutest little guys around.

I wish their was a magic pill which would stop all of this growing. As much as we get excited about the things that they are learning how to do it makes us sad knowing they have left a stage behind. They have so much ahead of them and I don't want to rush it. At times I watch them and wish I could freeze time. Like when I am holding a sleepy, cuddly M or G after their night time bottle, or when they giggle at each other, or the first time I saw G crawl the right way (M is still soldier crawling), or when it's bath time and they are a splishing and a splashing, or when their dad is playing with them (they think he is the coolest parent besides their mom), or simply when they stop and smile when you call their name.

What brings on all this sappiness you ask? Well two days ago we had to lower their cribs. G is pulling up and M is on the verge. I knew we needed to do it obviously for safety reasons but by no means was I mentally ready to accept the fact that my babies, were not baby babies anymore. I knew this would happen someday every since we picked out the cribs and the sales lady showed us how to lower them. But I still feel like this moment somehow snuck up on me. It feels like one moment I was expecting G and M and the next lowering their cribs. FYI - it was really the hub who actually lowered the cribs.

Stay tuned for my next blog where I post pictures of them graduating from college. I am sure that will be here before I know it to. In the meantime and I going to soak up every bit of their innocence that I can. Here's to 9 Months. Happy Birthday babies!

These photos were taken Friday afternoon after a short nap (should have been a long one - they needed a long one). So that explains the dazed look they have. Still just as cute though.

iheartorganizing

Before this spring I would have considered myself a pretty organized person. And honestly on the surface I was. But once you started going through drawers and cabinets you would find I and or the hubby don't always put things away in the most orderly fashion. I will also admit I have on occasion shoved things in a closet until things piled up enough that I was forced to move the contents to the attic, which has turned into a small store of sorts. Every time I get the itch to redecorate I just head on up and see what I can find. My husband though has told me on numerous occasions that the time is coming when I will have to seriously get rid of some of the things (I call them treasures) that I have accumulated over the years. I'm not looking forward to that day.

Earlier this spring a friend introduced me to a blog which would be the source of inspiration for my summer of organizing. This blog is from a mom who should have a degree in organizing. I wish I could have come up with some of her ideas. But for now I am fine copying. It not only saves brainpower but time from having to figure out how to make my life easier through organizing. My only regret is not stumbling on this site sooner. It is exciting to watch the rooms she has made over and how she keeps her family (she has 3 boys) living in such an organized house. I owe the following organized spaces to the blog "iheartorganizing."

After seeing my most recent organization project the hubs said there is medicine that can help with this. I replied that maybe if he was on some there would be no need for organization. Lol.

This was a direct copy from her blog. The cabinet with baby stuff already existed but the now hanging bibs were kind of just thrown in there where they would fit before.

The boys nursery was missing something between the door and the closet for some time. This space lived bare for a while. I took some inspiration from her little boys room and found this shelf at target and added bins that match ones from the boys closet. I heart this space.

I spent a little time browsing Rate My Space's office room pictures. I kept seeing cute office organizers and wanted to add them in our office. I searched high and low to find not only ones I liked but inexpensive ones as well since I would be buying quite a few of them. I randomly found them at this ubber chic boutique down the street called Walmart. That's right folks Walmart. I am kind of digging that place right now.

I loved the office space she featured on her blog. It was super cute. One of the features I loved was the under the desk fabric valance she made to conceal office items. I copied it as seen here with a pre made panel that I cut down and added and accent fabric to. I jazzed it up by adding a pleat to the middle. It was the first time I attempted to make a pleat and it turned out pretty well.

Here is the last of it. More storage bins.

I finished up the pantry today. I sighed as I headed out to the store as I told the hub I'd be back once I tracked down some bins. He just laughed at my fake sigh and said that is was okay for me to be excited about organizing and there was no need hiding it. I think I am done organizing for a little bit or until iheartorganizing comes up with something new that I need to copy.