21 weeks!

this week has brought so many new & exciting things!

our little guy has been moving around quite a bit & wow...what at amazing feeling! every time it happens, i can't help but smile & picture him doing flips & tricks in my ever growing belly.

even daddy got to feel him move one night!  
we think it's the coolest thing ever.

hoping your week will bring new & exciting things as well...


happy monday!

impromptu date night.

sure. who wouldn't want to go on a spontaneous date night to barnes & noble? drinking coffee & getting inspiration is where it's at.

seriously guys, if you're not looking to spend a lot of money, go check out the bookstore together. pick out your favorite magazines, sip on coffee & discover fun ideas. 

 

 

happy weekend!

oh the cravings!

ah yes, cravings. just one of the many effects of being pregnant.

to be honest, i haven't really had a craving so bad that i just "had to have it" (well, minus that one week when all i was craving was cake. but not just any cake, mind you. funfetti cake.) - i then proceeded to the store next chance i had to grab some. 

these are just a few of the "cravings" i've had so far - nothing too crazy or bizarre. 

like craving dirt? has anyone ever heard of that?

is that a real thing? weird.

what's the strangest thing you've ever craved?

20 weeks!

happy monday!

brunch at gypsy's.

if you're ever in this area, you have to check out gyspy's shiny diner in cary, nc. besides having the cutest little place on the street, this diner has some rockin' food! especially breakfast, which we love to eat anytime of day!

happy weekend, friends!

baby regsitries & iced coffee

as i'm nearing the halfway point in my pregnancy, i realized that it would probably be a good thing to start doing some research on baby items so i can know exactly what i want when i go to register. after already spending some time on this, i must say that it's been just a little bit daunting. that's where my iced coffee comes in...

i know, i know. you're not "supposed to" drink coffee while you're preggers but i still like to have an iced brew every now and then.

oh, where would i be without my note cards?

here's to a great thursday & hopefully, completing my baby item search! oh and to all of you cute mommies out there, don't be shy!

tell me about some of your favorite products. i'm all ears... :)

a little nursery inspiration.

ok, so planning the nursery is probably one of my favorite parts of being preggo so far. i'm sure that when i start feeling the baby move around more, that will probably top my list but for now, dreaming and planning for the nursery is pretty great.

i've figured out that my style is definitely not that matchy matchy kind of theme. you know, where EVERYTHING is farm animals or noah's ark? yeah, not my thing. i like a little variety and having some eclectic fun. i've been able to come up with some things that i'm totally in love with (that was the easy part) but with our budget, i'm sure i'll have to compromise here and there...

1. This is the SNIGLAR crib from IKEA and it's only $69! I like the simplicity of it and that it's gender neutral so I can get more uses out of it. (Of course, I've found some great deals for cribs on craigslist as well...hmmm)

2. This dresser is also an IKEA piece - I'm loving the modern vibe!

3. Ok, so how cute are these blocks? You can customize them which makes them even more personal and unique! Want to get yours? Check them out at Retro Vertigo on etsy!

4. I am totally crushing on this fire red rocking moose! Seriously, how awesome is it? You can find this little cutie at IKEA for $39!

5. I admit that I have a slight obsession with area rugs. I think they just add a whole new look to a room and I'm loving this one from Urban Outfitters! And for a 5x7, you can snag this for $79 and get free shipping!

6. One of the reasons I like this rocking chair is for it's retro feel. I'm not sure how comfortable it is  but it's definitely on the cheaper end of rocking chairs I've been able to find online. It's on overstock.com for $140 and you get free shipping. Oh and just a note, ALWAYS check on craigslist if you see something you like online but just aren't sure of the price. I found this exact rocking chair (and it's never been used) for $100 on craigslist!

7. Ottomans usually don't appeal to me but if I get a rocking chair, I definitely want to have a place to prop up my poor, tired mommy feet. I found this one online at Target and loved how the leather look gives the room a more masculine feel.

8. & 9. When it comes to finding those few, key pieces to add a whimsical touch, Etsy is where it's at. And of course, that's where I found these last two pieces.  The first is this adorable moose head hook but you can find much more at Michelle Lisa's Treasure Chest!
And last but certainly not least are these plush animal pillows from Laura Frisk - these have got to be my favorite items! They are seriously the cutest things. I fell in love when I saw them in Laura's etsy shop & better yet, they are very reasonably priced at just $16 a piece. Please, go check out her shop today! You won't be disappointed! 

I hope this gives you a little inspiration, not just for a nursery but for any room in your home! Have a happy Tuesday! 

saturday morning bliss.

nothing beats a saturday morning that includes

 homemade waffles...

and a little calvin & hobbes.

happy weekend!

cloth diapers & DIY laundry detergent

 planning for your first baby can be a little scary, especially when it comes to your finances so i've recently become interested in the idea of cloth diapers. i mean, who wouldn't want to save money? 

well, i did my research and wow, cloth diapers have come a long way! not only are they easy to use but they can save you an average of $1,000 PER year and most kids are in diapers until around 2 or 3 years of age! that's a lot of moo-lah! i'm impressed.

of course, the problem i've been running into is that there are so many choices and brands out there to choose from. so which one? after reading reviews (and seeing which companies have good deals), i've decided that the "Flip Diapers" are the way to go - they have a really great deal going on right now too...buy 2 covers, get the 3rd for FREE!

another issue that comes up when talking about cloth diapers, is laundry. how much laundry will i have to do? most newborns go through at least 12 diapers a day so if you were to buy 24 (or more) inserts for your diaper covers, you could get away with doing laundry every other day. either way, you're still saving money and i'm about to show you another way to save just a little bit more...

making your own laundry detergent! making this stuff is as easy as pie and will cost you only PENNIES per load! another bonus? you can choose any scent you want and make it smell just the way you like!

DIY Laundry Detergent:

You'll need:
-1/3 bar Fels Naptha or 1 bar of Ivory
-1 cup washing soda
-1 cup borax powder
*You will also need a small bucket or container, about 2 gallon size (preferably with a snap lid)

grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.

looks like shredded coconut, doesn't it? yummy.

 

add 6 cups of water and heat until soap is melted.

add the washing soda & the borax (1 cup each) and stir until dissolved then remove from heat.

-pour 4 cups HOT water into your bucket or container. 

-now add your soap mixture and stir.

-then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water (22 cups of water total)

-add 1 oz. of scented oil (if you so choose)

 note: i like going to Wellington Fragrance  for mine

let soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. 

stir before using and only use 1/2 cup per load.

{have a good weekend, friends & happy savings!}

a peek into this morning's routine...

creating a few more paintings for my etsy shop...

Boy or Girl?

this has been a very exciting week for us! we finally found out the gender of our favorite little person! the night before the ultrasound seemed to drag on. it was almost impossible to fall asleep. it seriously felt like christmas!

of course, all that waiting was worth it and we want to share our special news with everyone. instead of simply announcing if it was a boy or girl, we thought sharing it through a little video was a nicer touch. enjoy!




Music Cred: "Go Together" by Jillian Edwards





so...







it's a BOY and we are absolutely thrilled! little lincoln will be here in december. what a great christmas gift, huh? :)

since i knew we were finding out, i begged my husband to take me shopping after the appointment for a cute baby outfit. as you can see below, i had a hard time limiting it to just one purchase...






thanks for sharing in our joy! we can't wait to meet our little guy!

stormy weather & tea time

  storm's a brewin...

    which means it's a perfect time for a cup of hot tea,

    pandora,

   and working on the new blog!

hope everyone is enjoying their afternoon, rain or shine...