Monthly Report – August 2012

I tried to squeeze this one in before the end of the month…but you don’t fight with a pregnancy induced coma.  Unless it’s with a nap.  In which case you just pray that said nap happens in a relatively flattering position and you don’t look like a dog asking for a belly rub.  So here’s what’s up…these is my version of a recap…all the stuff I chatted about way back in August.  I’m kinda shocked that the kitchen started back then.  It’s like the never ending project.  I’m over it.

    

INSIDE PROJECTS:

• Giant Will photo for CHEAP.
• Installing kitchen handles…only a little late.
• Three new rugs
• Stairway runner got the boot
• Kitchen Drama:
  • Inducing kitchen renovations
  • Who needs doors anyway?
  • Clearing the cabinets 

     

FRIENDS & FAMILY & PERSONAL POSTS:

• So it took me a little longer to fall in love. 
• Will & Clara’s watery date.  Chaperones included.
• Maternity photos & how pregnancy is different this time around
• Our Port St. Lucie Vacay Recap
  • Getting our toes wet
  • Manatee Center
  • Beach time!
  • Children’s Museum Awesomeness

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN POSTS:

• Instadump – August 10 

SPONSORS:

Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to have a job like blogging.  Sure, it’s a low-paying gig but the point is…it’s paying.  It actually pays for itself and gives us some leftover to put into the house…which is great news because it’s feeding the blog and making me feel like I have the best job in the world.  And this is possible because of sponsor ads.  Advertising is not a dirty word to me.  I am quite sure I have the best sponsors in the world.  I am lucky enough to bring my favorite friends (that would be you!) to some of my favorite products (that’s the Ryan Gosling in this relationship).  So let’s get the matchmaking started…     

My Art Habit is a great resource for original framed art.  That’s right.  Not just prints rolled up in a tube.  But the complete package.  FRAMED art.  Have you framed something at your local craft or frame store?  It’s ridiculous.  But this art?  Well, it’s ready to go from the mailbox straight up to your wall.  I especially love their abstracts. 

The Tile Shop made me fall in love.  I’m not kidding.  I visited my first Tile Shop showroom and pretended to move in.  Why yes, I do need fifteen bathrooms all done in luxurious tiles and beautiful finishes.  It wooed me.  And then they put a ring on it.  There was some inappropriate public touching.  The faux wood tile, the marble, the grout lines…oh my!

Velata is the name of new fondue warmers and chocolate pouches perfect for celebrations, special occasions and treating yourself to a break.  Doesn’t living intentionally mean dipping everything from pound cake to bacon into chocolate?!  Seriously.  I’m thinking its the perfect gift to a friend or family member…just as long as you have one yourself 🙂 

Textured Ink etsy shop carries the wow factor when it comes to art.  It’s fresh and modern and perfect for anniversaries (who has one of those coming up?  oh right me.)  I love the travel world poster and the custom monogram art print.

You know what a good idea is?  Knesting slipcovers.  So everyone and their brother has Ikea furniture…but Knesting.com makes slipcovers that turn your inexpensive&lookingit furniture into inexpensive&lookscustom pieces.  So go scour craigslist and then throw a slipcover on it…. 

I am a customer of RugsUSA before they ever became an advertiser.  You can imagine my excitement.  It was beyond thrilling.  I am such a big fan of their rugs…their variety….their prices…their sales. 

 

Is that pumpkin cute or what?!  It makes the room smell good too.  I can practically feel autumn with my nose.  Scentsy is THE warmer that releases scents from their variety of waxes that can make your home feel like any season.  Plus – their Frankenstein and Turkey warmers slay me. 

Patti Brown offers up some awesome photography tools that can take a good photo and make it look studio-worthy.  She is like a miracle worker.  And so all you moms can start bragging on Facebook when it comes to your massive photo skills.   Click here to learn more!

Preppy and modern and unique.  That’s how I would describe Huckleberry Grace.  I love love love their custom lunchboxes.  They make me wish Will was going to school so I could send him with such a stylish turkey sandwich carrier 🙂  And their adult products are adorable too…can you say polka dot iphone case?!

Evgie sells wall decals.  Plain and simple.  Except they aren’t plain.  And they are very simple to use.  They are like art for your walls that you can remove…which comes in handy if you are a renter or live in a dorm or plan on switching up a room anytime in the near future (coughnurserycough).  It’s a perfect way to be an artist or infuse personality without actually having any skill. 

Eye charts are no longer just for the optometrists office.  Now they are the cute way to say what’s on your mind.  But in a sly, you-gotta-be-smart-to-read-this, kinda way.  The crazy-love poster makes me smile. 

My dear older brother has a plumbing business and I would be remiss to not at least tell ya about him. He’s honest to a fault…and hates the fact that plumbers have a bad rap for being scam artists that charge too much to snake a toilet. So as the faithful sister that I am…here is his facebook info and if you are in the Birmingham area…hopefully you can ask him to give you an honest assessment of your plumbing issue.

HAPPY PERUSING!