If you follow ABP on Facebook, you know that our friends Jeff and Jill had a darling daughter about a month ago. In fact, when we went to visit Chattanooga recently, I actually had the opportunity to attend her beautiful baby shower. And then a few weeks later, we made the trip all over again just for the chance to see little their little girl after she came home from the hospital.
Now if you are a long time reader, those names may ring a bell with you. Well, four thousand points to you because they are the same Jeff & Jill that we helped rework some walls in their lake house in a post ages ago. And then they allowed us to see the finished space and those kitchen cabinets knocked our socks off.
Now our socks are off because of another reason: little Lola Grace.
We met her at about three days old and she was stunning with a head full of BLACK hair and the sweetest delicate fingers I have ever seen.
Well, let’s fast forward to this past weekend when we made our way to Jeremy’s fantasy football draft party. Since Jeff plays in the same league, Jill drove down too and brought with her the little snugglymuffin. Jill was telling me about how she got some newborn photos done and didn’t exactly get the pictures she expected (also known as I-coulda-done-that-with-a-disposable-camera-disappointment). Since I wasn’t exactly getting a thrill from watching the guys pick their running backs, I suggested that we take the little one outside for an impromptu photo shoot.
Seriously. Could there be anything cuter?
Break out the butter…I wanna eat this one for breakfast.
I think I’m in love.
And it looks like Will is too. Sorry Clara to make you see this. Apparently summer flings are still hot and heavy here in Georgia.
I gotta talk to this boy about his hands. and the rest of his parts. and how No means No.
I just hope Jill isn’t too disappointed with these photos. I know it was a joy to take them…and editing them was just as fun. Is it weird that I get a kick outta photoshopping? Because I do. Like I would totally do it all day long. But that would mean McHandsy would have to sleep one heckova nap. A girl can dream, right?
Just like last year, we plan on divulging our 2010 DIY To-Do list to you all so that we can keep motivated, inspired and on track for our home improvements. Sure, Twenty-Ten is over half way done but all the more reason to share this honey-do list pronto. And just like 09er (sorry the “er” is necessary when you say nine…er), I walked through the house with such vigorous excitement levels that they would have Richard Simmons sweatin’ with pride. Obviously we had to narrow down the thousands of items to a more manageable list (one that wouldn’t give my sweet husband a coronary or be too hard to handle during Will’s naptime). So here it is – the items that we plan on tackling with our True Value store credit (and some of our hard earned cash too).
#1 – Guest Bedroom
First up is our highest priority – the guest bedroom. When we moved into our house, we brought Jeremy’s old Room’s To Go bedroom set with us and stuck it into the guest bedroom. Sortof like an outta-sight-outta-mind kinda move. It was fine…a complete set with an outdoor woodsy theme that was ultra rustic for our taste. Fast forward to last year and we realized that this room was fairly gross. It was embarrassing. Whenever we had guests, we would be all like “Welcome to our home…please enjoy this fugly room.” The walls were sprayed by the previous owner and the paint job was sloppier than a blind pie-eating contest. Not only does it not reflect our personal style and have nasty paint (or lack thereof), it also has a dinky fan that barely works, furniture that although relatively new, is too large for the space, and bedding that desperately needs replacement.
#2 Upstairs Hall
Our upstairs landing and hall received a little update recently with a couple framed art pieces, a new chair and a little sidetable. But do you see those walls? Of course you do. I mean…seriously…it’s a carwreck that calls for rubbernecking. Those walls fell victim to the same sprayed-with-antique-white-sloppiness that took out our guest bedroom. It’s hard to tell, but believe me, they need more work than siamese twins. I’m thinking new paint and maybe an accent wall?
#3 – Kitchen Cabinets
Throw me a guitar, I am jumping on that white cabinet bandwagon. Don’t stop me. I knew it would happen someday. And since I am not really a jump-in-with-both-feet kinda girl (hey, I used to work in insurance!) I figured that maybe testing the waters with the upper cabinets first would be the best bet. I also think it would be great to remove the doors on one or more for open shelving. And maybe add a little beadboard backing to the open ones? We will see. Anything will be better than my bad stain job that currently takes place on the doors.
#4 – Laundry Room
Remember how we wanted to finish a beautiful laundry room fit for a spray-n-wash fiend? Didn’t happen. We got distracted with a little thing called Will. So now that we are finally coming back up for air after near drowning in babyiness, we decided to bite the bullet and summon in the pros to help us with ductwork and plumbing (aka - Jer’s friend and my brother). Then we can finish out the drywall, install cabinetry, throw in a sink and a workspace…plus paint, lighting, and accessorize!
#5 – Basement Steps
This was actually on the list for last year. OH THE SHAME. We need to finish the banister and railing, the trim, the storage door, and the walls. And when I say walls, I mean we are re-painting (the green doesn’t look right next door to the green living room)…and staining and painting the steps. It’s gonna be, in the words of Katy Perry, so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle.
We have alot to get crackin’ on, huh? Lots of paint. Lots. Looks like we are gonna need to get our sleep so that we can cut loose on these projects…if that’s possible with an almost five month old. Maybe we should go on vacation just to get our strength up. You know…sleep till noon, put our brain on bedrest and stock up on carbs so that we can kungfoo these to-do items right away. Keep us to it, ok? We need your support…because it would be just plain embarrassing to see that basement stairway for a third year in a row.
As you know, I am a beginner when it comes to photography. So naturally it came as a huge surprise to me that so many of you have left comments and sent emails asking what camera and lenses I have, what I use to edit my photos, and for advice when it comes to shooting photos. Afterall…I am definitely not a professional. Let me repeat that…I HAVE LITTLE TO NO KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO PHOTOGRAPHY. I just know what I like and what I think looks pretty. And sometimes I get a little lucky.
So first let me tell you about my gear. I own a Rebel XSi. My darling boyfriend bought it for me as a first anniversary present. Little did he know that he bought me my ultimate accessory. Now I rarely leave the house without it strapped around my neck or tucked into my purse. I chose this camera because it was an easy to use beginners DSLR. A DSLR basically means that it is a digital camera that can handle different lenses and can give the photographer accurate framing at the time of picture taking. The Rebel XSi is a 12.2 megapixel camera…so basically it takes big quality photos perfect for printing. And being a beginners DSLR doesn’t mean that it is exactly cheap. They usually run around $500 so this is definitely an investment.
As far as lenses go, I own two lenses. The first is the lens that came with my camera – it is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ISO (pictured above). It is great as far as cheap lenses go especially since I can get pretty wide angles on the thing and it goes down to f/3.5 (which in my opinion is okay for outdoor pictures and well-lit areas). Here are some examples of photos I have taken with it:
I also own the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens. Since the f-stop on this lens goes all the way to 1.8, it can produce those fuzzy backgrounds that I love and does some pretty amazing portraits. Also, it works much better than my other lens in low light situations. I think that it is the best piece of equipment for a Canon for a tight budget (it costs less than $100!).
The bad part is that it is a fixed lens (meaning you can’t zoom in or out…well…you can but you do it with your feet.) Also, it is loud when it focuses…so it’s not exactly appropriate for your kid’s school poetry reading but perfectly fine for a choral recital. Here are some pictures that have been taken with the nifty fifty:
My last little piece of photography equipment is not actually mine. It’s a wide angle lens adapter that screws onto the 18-55mm lens. I ordered one after borrowing my little sisters and it is a really FUN little ditty to play with even though it doesn’t produce the best quality of photos. It does do quite a bit of distortion and vignetting but can capture super wide angles without the hefty pricetag of a real lens. Speaking of pricetag, did I mention it is like $8 ?! Yeah. I’ve paid more for bacon. Here’s a link to one site that sells them.
And here is what some of the photos look like when you use it (keep in mind that these are all-the-way-zoomed-out so basically I am right up on top of the subject when shooting!):
Also, every photo (and I mean EVERY SINGLE photo) that makes it onto the blog is edited. I wish that I were that good to produce flawless pictures with the correct exposure and perfect focusing that I didn’t have to edit them but alas, I am not that talented. Therefore, I download all my photos and they go through the editing process in Photoshop.
There could be a million and a half editing questions out there so I will just give you the basics. A couple of Christmas’s ago, my darling boytoy bought me Photoshop Elements. I would have been perfectly happy with that. But my photo editing software story doesn’t end there…I was able to score a free copy of Photoshop CS4 (which is part of the Adobe Design package) from a friend. CS4 allows for actions. Actions are like shortcuts to editing quickly and efficiently. Many of the actions that I use are free curtesy of The Pioneer Woman and Coffee Shop.
Now onto education. Everything that I have learned about photography and editing has been from online reading of other blogs, googling and personal experience. I have read my camera’s manual about four times cover to cover but that is the only book I have ever read when it comes to picture taking. I have been able to subscribe to several natural light photog blogs and they teach me something new every time the author posts. Since I modeled a bit after college, I learned how to be in front of the camera and that experience has definitely helped me in the areas of lighting, texture and angles. The rest has been from shooting, shooting, shooting.
When it comes to actually shooting pictures, I only shoot in manual mode. As I was learning I started out with my Aperture Priority setting and then moved on to manual. Shooting in manual forces the photographer to learn how to adjust their ISO, f-stop and shutter speed to capture their image with the right amount of lighting. And speaking of lighting, recently I started shooting in RAW (versus previously shooting in JPEG). This option allows me to adjust the exposure after the fact in Lightroom. This is a program that came with my Adobe package and I love being able to quickly change the lighting and clarity and individual color saturations and hues.
Finally, there is my wish list. Like any self-taught photographer, I definitely feel like there is tons of room to grow. I also realize that I have learned how to use my camera to the maximum. And a hunter is only as good as the spear he carries. So therefore I would like to graduate to a more advanced spear. Namely the 50D. Or the Canon 5D Mark II if I was feeling especially generous toward myself. According to my research, I have found that the 50D is the next step for advanced amatuers. Also, I would very much like to get a Canon Speedlite 430EX II after reading about how effective they can be when shooting in lower light. Of course, I would be mistaken not to mention that it would be cool to have a Tamron 28-75/2.8. Lastly, I would like a Canon EF 75-300/4-5.6 lens…so that by the time Will is playing soccer I can capture his kickin’ skills.
So there you have it folks…everything that you need to know about my photography brain cells. Anyone else out there with a camera on their wishlist? Or maybe you are like me and just wanna upgrade? Perhaps you just need a little push to snag a DSLR and this is the post that pushed you over the ledge? Jump ya’ll. It’s really fun to fall for photography. heehee…the cheese continues 
When I announced Brook’s new arrival, I told ya’ll about round two of maternity photos that I forgot to post. And since there were a few people interested in seeing more maternity pictures of Brook, I thought I would put them out there before I got distracted again. So many of you are preggo, I thought, maybe you would like a few maternity photo shoot tips on what to do before and during your own picture session (just so that you can get the photos you want!).
Tip #1 – Tell em you style desire
It’s really helpful to tell your photographer what style you like when it comes to photos. You can even send them samples of photos that you like. Just remember, they can’t recreate the photo with you in it…well, unless they cut and paste the face…but they can gather style information from the samples. When I say style – think of it as the photo mood. Are they fun? Quirky? Serious? Romantic? Nostalgic? Ethereal? Modern? Superhero?
Tip #2 – Wear something form-fitting to the bump
I always recommend having a few tops up for grabs when it comes to maternity shoots. Personally, I like things that are tighter on the bump…granted, I didn’t follow my own advice with my own maternity clothing choices but I did have to hold the dress tighter out of view so that I just didn’t look like I had a tumor in my midsection. You definitely don’t want people to question whether or not you have just a poochy stomach…that’s for your post-pregnancy body. My favorites are tanks with texture (throw a fuzzy sweater over the top for a cold day), anything with an empire waist, tops that are tight over the entire bump with a bit of pattern like polka dots or bold flowers, button down shirts (for those expose the skin on the tummy photos) and pretty much anything that cinches under the boobs. Also, white and black tops are hard to photograph (unless the photog works the contrast really well) so take that into account. Lastly, sometimes a nostalgic item that is personal (your grandma’s brooch, your mom’s vintage scarf, etc.) can add that extra-special touch to the pictures that you will be able to share with your child long down the line. Brook’s dress (picture above) is actually a family heirloom that was timeless for a glowing mother.
Tip #3 – Where the heck do I look?
This is the number one thing that gets repeated during photoshoots like a million times by the subjects. Look at each other, look at the bump, look into the distance, look directly at the camera…they are all good options. There is no written formula for the perfect photo…just remember that this is a happy time and you don’t want to look stiff or uncomfortable. Just like in the photo below, sometimes NOT looking at the camera can bring more attention to the guest of honor…the baby belly.
Tip #4 – Break it up with something fun
Shoots can be overwhelming to people who don’t constantly have pictures taken (don’t worry – Will does not fall into that category.). So one way you can break up all that stress is by trying something fun. Take a couple minutes to have a tickle fight…have a few frames of you doing the Little Mermaid hair flip…show the photographer exactly how you feel by squatting and stretching out your back…pretend you are in labor and watch a stranger’s reaction….force yourself to laugh outloud until it actually becomes funny. Anything to break up all that stiffness. With Brook, I asked her if she would be up for a leap. I just laid the camera flat on the ground (and pushed my face into the grass) and I got a few pictures that really show part of this girl’s fun personality (and willing to do anything attitude!).
Tip #5 – Choose and Use your surroundings
This one is pretty straight forward. I like picking locations that are full of options – benches, creeks, paths, bridges and grassy pastures. A park like the one we did this shoot at can be a great option but so can a more urban location. Get out and check what different backgrounds are available before committing to a specific place. Lots of photographers have go-to locations but are open to suggestions.
Tip #6 – Hands and their whereabouts
For some maternity photos, I like girls to naturally put their hands on their bumps. On top of the bump, below the bump, and holding the bump on the sides all work for the mommy-to-be. Children can also put their hands anywhere on the belly…it’s cute and adds a very familiar, loving feel to the photos. Now…it is in my personal opinion that Daddy should put his hand on the mid to upper part of the belly. When their hand is under the bump, I always think that the photo is really just a little too intimate. It’s like he is one hop, skip and a jump away from starting a reenactment of how baby came to be. Granted, there are always exceptions to this rule…but in general, I like the Dad to act like he is feeling baby move…not holding baby up.
Tip #7 – Smile naturally
This may sound dumb but don’t plaster a perma-smile onto your face and expect greatness. The best smiles are the most natural. I like to tell people to take a break from smiling. Then their facial muscles are less exhausted (and more ready for that perfect smile). Can’t get a natural smile easily? Tell yourself jokes in your head. Or think about your favorite movie line. Or your most embarrassing moment. Or picture your father-in-laws face if the baby latched onto him.
I hope these tips help you gals out if you are planning on getting maternity photos snapped. And I’d love to hear any other tips you have for those mommies-to-be out there. Or you could just tell me how much you love that jumping picture? Perhaps it is the one on the bridge that you really adore? I love her smile in that one…and the first one…and the mood of the one on the stones. Oh heck…I love em all for different reasons.
p.s. Click here for the first round of maternity shots I did with Brook.
Congratulations to Kayce – the winner of the New Mom’s Prayer Bible curtesy of the fine folks at Zondervan and ABP. I pray your friend gets that miracle that she needs. Be on the lookout for an email from me to get the prize delivered to ya.
I loved this one. Really. I was literally rolling over in bed after our night-time feedings just so I could grab my iPhone and read the prayer requests. And I loved how the vast majority of the entries were from those of you who are currently pregnant – YAY! & one heckova big CONGRATULATIONS! And I better throw in a huge ”THANKS” while I’m at it…each day this week, my piddly morning walk with Will went from my normal two miles to SIX miles because I was so engaged with praying for each request. Why does that deserve a thanks from me? Well, if you saw my thighs you would know I need a little more exercise…and you supplied just the distraction I needed. I am a friend to bacon but bacon is not a good friend to me.
On a more serious note, there were some heartbreaking prayer requests from you all…for friends, family, jobs, babies, attitudes, husbands, safety, forgiveness, money and life…things that brought tears to my eyes, requests that showed how much we are in need every single day. I am praying for ya’ll. And others are too. That may not help with the stress of 2 am feedings or the wait till husbands get home from serving in the military…but it might help one little person gather a little more patience or hope or faith…and if that is the case, then this post was worth it.
Some of you asked what you could pray for me about….and the thing I pray for each and every day is this: that I would not love this world and the things in it more than I love God. That I would be willing to give Will up each day to his heavenly Father. And that I would have a servant’s heart. All the time. Especially with Jeremy. Thanks for asking. You guys are such good friends
In the past week, we’ve been to True Value five times.
(Yes, that is Will’s first time in a buggy!)
The first time was just to check out the products that we could potentially use for our Blog Squad projects. The second time was to retrieve the pacifier that we accidentally dropped in the store on the first visit. Note: the time period between the first and the second visit was four hours…just enough time to suffer through traffic on the way home as we searched the diaper bag for Will’s ONE acceptable pacifier, a nuclear baby meltdown, a couple threats to Jeremy’s life, and me chunking several other brand pacifers at our kitchen cabinetry, finally soothing Will enough to get him down for an abbreviated nap, breastfeeding, climbing back into the car and sitting through rush hour traffic on the way back to True Value, retrieving said paci, breastfeeding in the parking lot only to sit in traffic with a tired and CRANKY baby. The third time was to return purchases that we decided were unneccessary for our projects (did we seriously need the value pack of sandpaper? the correct answer is no. we need four sheets.) The fourth time was to purchase paint. The fifth time was to purchase more paint because we didn’t purchase enough of the right color the fourth time.
Needless to say, we are on a first name basis with the check out girl. And we now know to NEVER leave a location until successfully locating the pacifier. Regardless of all the baby-drama, we actually had a really fun time scoping out the store and their new wares. I literally walked up and down every aisle doing spirit fingers with my hands in the prayer position. And I am pretty sure my perma-grin was something from a young child’s clown nightmare. Basically, I was like a celebrity in a Gucci store. Except scarier.
And I am not the only one to have fun…I am pretty sure Will had a fun time on his maiden voyage to True Value too.
That photo makes me laugh. Oh and just as a reminder to those of you who don’t have any idea what we are talking about…we were one of the lucky few that were chosen to be part of a group of bloggers (known as the Blogsquad) who partner with True Value stores to tackle and share DIY projects. They supply the moolah, we supply the energy. And then we tell you all about it.
So what did we buy? Not telling. Not yet anyway. I will tell you that we spent quite a bit of our True Value dough in the paint department. God bless color matching! And the new True Value painting website – which gives handy tips like an easy chart of perfect finishes for each room in your house, tips on painting everything from accent walls to trim to frottage, and even color psychology. You should definitely check it out…it’s got information on paint that I didn’t know existed in a single location.
But back to shopping. I can tell you that we did NOT buy this fire hydrant. Although I did try to convince my boyfriend that it would make a lovely conversation piece.
And while I was attempting to convince him that we could totally use the hydrant as a bidet (WA to my HOO!), my boyfriend was over checking out the Carhartt work wear. Dungarees are generally not his style but I think that he would look stunning in a pair of coveralls.
So folks that is how we connected with True Value in the last week…but there are other easier ways that you can do it. Actually you can hook up with True Value without leaving the house. It really couldn’t be easier…all you have to do is click on the pictures below to connect with them via Twitter and Facebook. And if you haven’t befriended me on facebook…well, you should…because my self-esteem is held together by the thin thread that is FB.
Oh and here’s another reason to make sure you are buddies with us on the famous Book-o-Faces…come November, we are participating in an Ask-The-Squadder session with all our friends. That’s right. You’ll get to ask us any question you so desperately want to know the answer to…I anticipate inquires like ”How did you land such a beefcake of a boyfriend?” and “How hard was it to install the hardwood in your kitchen?” and ”How much bacon do you consume on a daily basis?”…you know…life or death kinda questions Just make sure we are friends so that when the time comes, you can fire those questions at us.
“I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.”
Sorry guys. I’ve been distracted lately with the birth of this little one:
On Sunday evening, my friend Brook started feeling those labor pains that she was expecting.
You may remember that I did some maternity photos for her a little while ago… which reminds me, I didn’t even get around to posting round two photos (yeah…we did some at the park…they were really fun. Is it weird to show you them after the fact? let me know.)
Anyhoo…Brook started having contractions and at 3 am-ish, her water broke.
That’s when it all began…You may recall she was gung-ho about going natural…even if it meant a breeched birth…like I honestly believed that she would choose to tear off her arm in pain before ever considering any other option. And since she was attempting a VBAC, she knew that it would definitely require the gumpshin to tackle it and the right doctor. Some of you recognized my description of “little Jewish man” as the dead ringer for Doctor Tate. You were right! And I got to meet the famous all-natural-method man.
Let me tell you…this man was incredibly patient and let my dear friend decide her fate…which is kinda unheard of these days when it comes to labor and delivery. I really liked him after we chatted…he’s a quirky kinda guy (which you know immediately makes me feel kindred to him) but he does have his downfalls. I mean, the man doesn’t touch bacon. Can’t win em all :)
At about 2 in the morning (this is after OVER 24 hours of natural laboring), Dr. T recommended some Pitocin to get her cervix open. Did I mention that this girl hadn’t slept in over 2 days? Yeah. Ridiculous. So in order to gather her strength to push, she got an epidural after the Pit (so that she could sleep for an hour or two!) and a few hours later was able to birth a beautiful baby girl after only 30 minutes of pushing.
Honestly, I am jealous beyond measure. And hopeful. It makes me think that there is a slim chance of me delivering my next baby without a c-section. I hope. Dr. Tate was all like “come see me the next time” but I don’t know if you can trust a man that doesn’t eat pork. I mean…with the exception of Jesus of course
I know Brook was slightly disappointed that she delivered with a bit of help…but c’mon girls…you don’t run the marathon the first time to win. You run to finish. and not die. And then you get an awesome prize at the end. I wish I could scream that from mountain tops to all you pregnant girls out there. DO IT, TRY and if it gets to be too much, there is no shame in getting meds. You are a winner either way!
Now let me step off my self-made-soapbox…
Little Margaret Olive was born at 7:39 am on Tuesday morning and weighed in at 7 pounds 4 ounces. She was 19 inches long. AND BEAUTIFUL. I thought that vaginal births always meant a wonky head…but this little girl was GORGEOUS. Julia and I already have Ethan and Will fighting over who takes her to prom.
Jeremy, Will and I got to see her before and during her first bath. Man, this girl can let loose a yelp! She might be a singer one day with a big voice like that. And the hair! My goodness…I love dark hair on a newborn.
So I hope you join me in congratulating this really special family on their new addition. Little Maggie is absolutely perfect, you guys. She almost makes me want to get pregnant again. Almost.
***This Giveaway is now closed and no longer taking entries. Thanks to all who commented. The results will be announced Friday, August 27, 2010***
Happy Friday ya’ll! And thanks a bunchload for all the well wishing you did yesterday to my friend Jules. It was amazing to be able to meet little Ethan and capture all of those first moments. I was so excited that I decided that there was no better time than now to do a giveaway in their honor.
This giveaway is actually something that is near and dear to my heart. You guys know that I love me some Jesus. Like way more than I love bacon…and I have an entire page devoted to pork…so you know that is alot. Well you can imagine my elation when a longtime reader (Hi Rachel!) who happens to work for a Bible company called Zondervan offered a free New Mom’s Prayer Bible to me and to one of my readers. I almost cussed I was so happy.
And when I received it in the mail, I tore into that sucker faster than you can say HELP ME BABY JESUS. Afterall, a little prayer never hurts…especially when you are sleep deprived, nursing sore nipples and worried about diaper rash, SIDS and whether or not you’ll ever fit into that pair of jeans that you bought right before you found out you were sperminated.
So I can attest that this bible is not just the normal version…but perfectly tailored for those new mommies. Now you might be thinking “Katie, this is not a normal giveaway. I thought you did home improvements?” And I say to you…you are right. And in my opinion, nothing can improve your home more than a little Jesus juice Paint comes close. But the Son of God always wins. It’s in the rule book.
Now to the good part – how you can get your hands on one of these leather bounds yourself:
PRIZE : New Mom’s Prayer Bible
DESCRIPTION: The NIV New Mom’s Prayer Bible is perfect for the new mother, whether this is her first child or her fifth. The full text of the NIV Bible is included, along with relevant inspirational content on topics like sleep deprivation, body image, work/life balance, and marital adjustments. A great gift for the new or expectant mother!
NUMBER OF WINNERS : One (1)
TO ENTER : Leave a comment with the phrase “HOLY MAMA” and tell me something you need prayer for…maybe your stressful job or your ailing grandma or your envy over Julia’s great skin.
PRIZE SHIPS : Within the USA
NITTY GRITTY : This giveaway ends on Friday, August 27th at 8am EDT. Only one contest entry per email address. The winners will be chosen using Random.org and announced on Saturday, August 28th.
p.s. if you can’t wait to get your hands on this product, you can head on over to order one for yourself right here right now.
I have had the distinct priviledge of sharing parts of our life with you. And you all have no idea how encouraging it is to hear your comments when it comes to photography or renovations or even when it comes to sharing the everyday humdrum. I also have the honor of giving you a little insight into my friends and families lives…which can be a little hairy at times (yes, I now hear…PROMISE THIS WON’T GO ON THE BLOG…or…DON’T YOU POST THIS PHOTO!….from people quite often) but I also know that your comments worm their way into the hearts of my nearest and dearest and they appreciate them too. I am saying this all because I feel like this post is kinda a coming of age.
Let me explain.
You all know my friend Julia. She sang at our wedding. Then I posted about her own wedding ages ago. There was a time we took a mini vacation together with other friends. I have talked about how she threw parties, and even a baby shower for me and shopped with me, and how we all got pregnant together. (not together mind you…just at the same time-ish). Heck, I’ve even divulged her maternity photos, her delivery plans and the baby shower I threw for her. There is very little that you don’t know about this girl.
And then this weekend happened.
Her little boy was born. Ethan William Anderson.
And now it feels like this blog is not just a glimpse into my life but into those whom I love. And I get to share this with you. whom I also have fallen for
So without further adieu, let me show you some of the photos I was able to snap this past weekend while I wasn’t oohing and awwing over this little guy.
Her water broke on Saturday night at 3 in the morning. I guess that is technically Sunday morning but whatever. Ethan was born at 2:37 in the afternoon after only about thirty minutes of pushing. He weighed in at 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was super cute. I guess he was even cuter to me because I never got to hold a seven pounder before. Well…I guess I did. That’s probably how much Will weighed in the second trimester Note to self – do not eat pork willynilly during next pregnancy.
I am so happy for Jules and Jade. It’s amazing how much joy I can have for someone else. And unbelievable how much I already love someone elses child. And I am constantly reminded to thank God for all the beautiful and healthy people in my life…that includes you, little Ethan! And yes, it’s okay to say that you hate Julia for looking so dang good after giving birth. I know I did.
Yesterday I chatted about our little bar corner of our dining room. Even in a small space (like the corner of our dining room), it is possible to create storage and add functionality with a little creativity and some patience to find the right pieces. As for our wine racks – they are from the Pottery Barn outlet and were originally black. (you can see the before photo on this oldie post!) After a few coats of spraypaint and some added wine glass holders (from Ikea), they are the perfect place to stash our wine glasses. Also, I found this one on craigslist for cheap so keep your eyes peeled if you are looking to add one to your own home.
But like any good participant on a reality dating show, I thought, why stop there? Let’s go a little further. In fact, allow me to forget all common sense and follow my heart. which happens to be in my pants. Seriously though…let me show you the current status of our dining room.
First, let’s discuss the sad news…our dining room table.
See that corner in the photo above? Yeah. Somehow something screwed it up. Don’t know how. Or what. Such is life. I think that means I just got signed up for refinishing a dining room table that I don’t love. Let me tell you why I don’t love our table. One – it’s huge. Which is fine except it can only hold four people. Weird right? And since I want like ten of Jeremy’s babies…have you seen this man’s tush?!….and a table that has chairs the babies can climb into without rappelling equipment. Since it’s bar height, we will have to teach the kiddos to set up a self-belay before they are allowed to dine with us. Also, the height means that visually it takes up a lot of space…not good in a small room.
Okay. Now that I am done with being Debbie Downer, let’s just chat about the rest of the room.
Right now we have two blue runners (I scored em for cheap as a Happy-Birthday-to-me-gift a while back) on the table and on the buffet. I really like the simplicity of that. I think I got my brain cluttered up in this room after the chaos of the baby shower and I needed a break from setting the table for my imaginary guests.
Since the table had a large white bowl with a few woven balls (that I picked up as an after-christmas-present), I decided that the way to go for summertime was beachy. C’mon…white, blue, and woven obviously equals the shore. So I dug out some shells that I scored for free via the ocean…and some sand that I had in a giant ziplock baggie (let’s not ask!) and my apothecary jars and…
BOWchicaBOW-ER!
Looks like a little taste of summer. And the best part is that if I want to use the buffet, all I have to do is pick up the tray. So simple! Plus, I figure this arrangement could work for any season. Like the tray+apothecary jars would be perfect for fall leaves, a little pinecone or two and a big yummy candle. And a christmas theme could work with a few ornaments, maybe a stack of christmas cards, and a little santa figurine. And don’t get me started on spring…with the flowers and the easter eggs and the endless possibilities.
All in all, our dining room is pretty simple. But I like to think that sometimes, the most clutterfree space is the best design. Helps the creative juices get flowing so that you can busy it up again.
What do you think? Do you like the shell centerpiece? I feel like it’s my last ditch effort to hold onto summer. At least until we go on vacation. (gollywhittakersthatcan’tcomesoonenough!) And I love how the blue of the runner compliments the new celery colored wine cabinet. Any one out there with a creative idea of what to stash in the apothecary jars? Or perhaps you are a bar-height table owner and understand my pain? Or maybe you posted recently your own dining space and wanna link. I’d love to see it and I am glad to share our dining room…in a nut…err…conch shell
