Ta Da!

Well, since we now know that we have another little girl coming in November/December I decided to tailor the nursery to fit a little girl. Although I love the Polar Bear inspiration, one photo caught my eye on Etsy and it is all over from there! I had another nursery board done for a little boy too... all pick-up trucks and urban cowboys!

I discovered when putting this board together that there are lots of blogs that offer Interior Design Boards and have wonderful looks that they put together. Even more are the blogs that feature children's spaces and always post their favorite rooms for our viewing pleasure. Check out WithTwoCats for Boards and Design Dazzle for pure eye candy!

Most of the things here I am going to make,

but some future purchases are:

1. Sheepskin Rug from Ikea

2. Up Up and Away by Alicebgardens on Etsy

3.  Some kind of white bookshelf

4. Growth Chart from Little Sprouts

And here are the projects I have lined up for this room:

1. Fabric sampler on Embroidery Hoops from here

2. Birth Day Stamped Hoop similar to here

3. Fluffy Clouds on the Wall, like here

4. Custom Night Light, DIY from Martha

5. A few Black Apple Dolls from Martha

Most of the basics too I will be making, custom curtains, sheets, etc!

Stay tuned and have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!!

Announcing...

We are sooo excited and there is so much I want to post about!

For now I am going to continue my happy dance

and put together a new nursery board for "Miss M"!

Top 10 Reasons Why Today is a Perfect Day

Today I feel like my old self. I feel happy, energetic, peaceful, inspired, patient, and creative. I haven't felt like this in a few months and it is a relief to know that I am still in here somewhere, beneath the finicky stomach and the headaches. I feel accomplished, heck I felt accomplish by 10am this morning and it is just getting better and better! Here are my Top 10 Reasons Why Today is a Perfect Day:

10. It is about 72 degrees out with sunny skies and a beautiful breeze.

9. I feel like my well of patience has returned, especially with my youngest little troublemaker!

8. My creativity has come back to me along with the desire to make things again.

7. I am not stressed about ANYTHING and feel so calm.

6. I woke up easily after a good night's sleep... something that is getting harder and harder to do. 

5. All the girls are so well behaved that we took an extra trip to the park after the Nature Center Trip!

6. I found the perfect party favor box here for the girl's joint birthday party!

5. Thanks to this photo I am inspired to start a project which CAN'T be completed in a day.

4. My DIY Glitter Toes are holding up despite showers, sand, and sneakers. 

Did I mention how much I love them? lol!

3. I am really close to putting my own icon next to my blog URL and that makes me smile!

2. I actually woke up hungry this morning... that hasn't happened in weeks.

1. Tomorrow we get to find out if this baby is a boy or girl, and that makes me REALLY happy!

My Picture Perfect House

Heck no, it isn't my ACTUAL house! Are you all on crack?! Lol! You think after having 4 little girls in my house all day it is in any shape for photos..... NOT! (Of course I love having all these little girls running all over my house, a girl has to dream though!)

Thanks to House of Turquoise I can  plan for the distant future days when my kids are grown, my cats are all non-shedding, and my husband doesn't care how I decorate the house. This is what my Dream House looks like:

(all images via House of Turquoise)

Isn't it lovely? All that color... mmmm.... definitely going to be my future home someday!

Blog Makeover Giveaway Winner!!!

Thank you all sooo much for commenting and voting on the new blog look! It really made me feel better knowing that you all liked it as much as I did, and that it isn't too messy or hard to read. I am glad to announce that the winner of the Blog Makeover Giveaway is............. AMY!!!

 Amy said...

I really like the look of your blog. I think it flows well, and keeps things neat and together. My fave points: the title part--I think it's pretty, creative, and gives that scrapbook-y feel. I also like the pregnant woman to one side and the framed "Summer 2010" on the other. The peeling paint on the wood/house is precious and comforting. It helps give the blog a homey-feel. I agree with danasparkle that the dark bubbles might be a bit bold in contrast to the other parts in the title. Another fave part: the CK signature and "Other things you might like" (or is it "enjoy?"). I have tried to update the look of my family blog but it never looks original or creative, or "me" which is something I love about your new style!

So Amy, please email me (mrs.conniekrebs@gmail.com) and we can get started on your blog makeover asap! I can't wait to help you get a look for your space that fits your personality and content.

Also, as a thank you to all my wonderful readers I am offering a coupon for 20% off ANYTHING in my Etsy store OR Free Shipping (USA) from now until the 4th of July!! Just add 20%OFF or FREESHIP to the Notes to Seller when you check out and I will refund you the amount!

Have a great day!!!!  

"You are One Crafty Mama!"

So my oldest daughter exclaimed after I finished a sundress for her and AJ! I went to Jo-Ann's for some last minute cake toppper supplies and saw that sundress material was a whopping 60% off... of course I HAD to let the girls pick out some fabric for themselves. Not only was there some awesome strawberry fabric, but AJ had already picked up her tube of dress fabric and was singing, "I have a Belle dress, I have a Belle dress". Lol, I was done in. The question was whether I was going to be able to pop out two sundresses, complete with straps, in a mere 45 minutes.... thank goodness my girls watched some Backyardigans while my machine hummed away!

On top of my awesome dress making, we also decided this morning to give ourselves some pretty Glitter Toes, thanks to this wonderful DIY from Or So She Says! I had no clue that with some clear nail polish and some fine craft glitter we could have sparkly toesies in minutes!!! LOVE them!

This is my happy place!

A beautiful sunset at the beach,

Kids playing in the sand and surf,

The smell of sunscreen in the air,

Pebbles between my toes,

As the waves gently roll in,

I have found my happy place in the world again!

Searching for My Happy Place

It seems to me these last couple of days that my preggo hormones have really been making me a bit blue... not "me" at all! I have been getting some killer headaches, the kind that make blinking a hurtful thing, and in general there are a lot of frustrations in my life that usually I can take in stride... just not right now. I am usually the kind of person who always sees the sunny side of life and can get over a bump in the road with ease. This whole "blue period" thing is driving me nuts because I just can't drag myself up.

I am frustrated with AJ, who is battling me about naps and bedtime. I have come to dread this once peaceful routine because my child HATES sleeping and refuses to accept the fact that she still needs naps and can't stay up until 11 every night. Positive reinforcements don't work, negative reinforcements get laughed at... seriously I am in tears many nights because she just refuses to go to sleep.

I am frustrated with our bank who cannot seem to get it's act together... why, when I talk to 5 different people, do I get 5 very conflicting answers to a simple question?

I am frustrated with life, marriage, my changing body that is keeping me from eating anything of substance.... the list goes on and on dear friends....

I totally get that a lot of my feelings are hormones, some of it is the fact that I haven't been crafting which is my own personal brand of therapy, and that some of it is not in my control. I guess it just helps to be able to vent here, in my own little bubble. And I am sure that tomorrow I will pick myself back up and figure out how to deal with all these frustrations in my life. (Duct tape and Benedryll is looking like an option for the bedtime fight! *kidding*)

(photo from here)

Once the garage sale is over I will be reclaiming my craft space and will dig deep in the well of inspiration for something to keep my hands busy... till then I will search for my happy place!

So Thankful- UPDATE

Tonight, after a long day of sun, water, and little girls, I find myself lighting a candle to Buddha for one little brave girl and her family. A high school friend of mine, Krista, has a little girl who was diagnosed two years ago with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. She finished chemo for it about a year ago and has been cancer free since. However, not every child who has this rare form of pediatric cancer is as lucky. One of those children is Ellie Potvin, a wonderous and beautiful 8 yr old whose sparkling eyes light up the room. This is the video that Krista posted that introduced me to Ellie:




Please say a prayer, light a candle, however your beliefs lead you to send some positive light toward this family who has suffered and is facing the death of a beloved child. If you want to read more about Ellie's story and send a donation to her family here are the various links:
Caring Bridge
Lift Up Ellie
Project Bloom Girls

Over the last couple of years, thanks to the Internet, I have heard about too many children fighting a fight that they should not have to face. Mothers losing their babies too soon to a disease that has no warning and does not discriminate. I am sending out my thoughts, hope, and light to all families out there tonight who are fighting along side their little ones.

UPDATE: Today (June 23rd) Dear Ellie passed away in her mother's arms at 11:35am. She is no longer in pain and suffering. There is funeral information on the Caring Bridge website listed above. I hope that someday soon we will have a better way to treat this awful disease, for the sake of all of our children.

Having a Baby- Etsy Style

Through the last couple of years I have come to the conclusion that ANYTHING can be found on Etsy... those hard to shop for people find gifts here, the weird and unusual are celebrated, and really... you don't have to shop anywhere else for quality items... it is a one stop bonanza! I thought it would be fun to see how many fun and cool shops I could find on Etsy that would fulfill all the needs of the posh and savvy mom-to-be! Take a peek, click around, and let me know what you think:

Maternity Clothes:
Bubble Weeds Maternity Top- Ellembee
Maternity Love Me 2 Times Dress- GaiaConceptions
Cute Due Date Maternity Teeshirt- Culpepergeneral
Creamy Muse Dress- LaMuseMama
Cool and Witty Maternity Tees for Entire Family- JellybeanApparel
Homemade Belly Bands- Runsystem63

Nursing Needs-
Cashmere Nursing Pads- MilkMadeMomma
TaTa Tent Nursing Cover- LacyJaneStudio
Sore Nipple Salve- WildRoot


Nursery Decor-
Vintage Bicycle Growth Chart- GiraffesandStuff
Custom Birth Information Canvas- TrendyPeas
Adorable Stroller Blankets- BabyMaeBoutique
Custom Baby Bedding- BirdsHaveFlowers
Fish Mobile- Leptitpapillon

Baby Needs-
Travel Changing Set- DillyBaby
Wet Bags- EssieDesigns
One Size Cloth Diapers- BundledBums
Pretty Burb Cloths- LilHipsters
Awesome Designer Fabric Bibs- MimiAndLola

Baby Shower Things-
Onesie and Washcloth Cupcakes- BabyDeary
Punk Rockstar Clothing Kit- Lowleepop
Baby Feet Shea Soap- SheaSoap
Expecting Mama Custom Invitation- LillyMaeDesigns

Baby Toys-
Apple Wooden Toy- TheBitsyBean
Ribbon Plush Dino- LittleSidekick
Heirloom Wooden Blocks- MaternalNEST
Owl Pillow- ManicMuffinTotes

And the list can go on and on and on.... There are so many new things added daily for everyone you know! Hope that you check some of these wonderful sellers out and happy shopping!!!