Inspiration

How do you normally decorate a room? Most of the time, I have a mental picture of how I want the room to end up looking and then start looking for fabric, paint, decorative items, etc. Sometimes this method works.... other times I am left searching for the just right piece.

I am already starting to mentally decorate Miss A's big girl room. (NO I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!) And this time my inspiration is a super cute polka dot fabric.

I can already picture it.... light turquoise walls. White vintage metal beds. Pink and yellow accents. This wonderful quilt.

Almost makes me want to get knocked up so I can move her into her big girl room. Not really.

***New pictures at Baby M***

My Uniform

Ever feel like you wear the same thing everyday? Just the very thought of that used to drive me crazy, but now I am beginning to like it. It makes getting dressed much faster and you don't even have to think about it!



These days my uniform consists of an embellished T, jeans, cardigan and cute flats. If I am going to be meeting up with people I toss on some cute necklaces. Voila! Plus, these days everyone from Target and Old Navy to Ann Taylor Loft are making cute t's and cardigans.


Neither one of these are in my closet right now, but I am stalking them to go on sale. And if we know the ways of Ann Taylor Loft and Old Navy, they might be on sale by the time this post publishes.

And those flats, well I don't own them, but I love them. Anyone seen any similar shoes floating around?

Crap on tile

Well, not crap... more like the back layer of glue from a sisel rug.

Back in early December, we had our cleaning ladies come as a Christmas gift from us, for us. We LOVE these ladies, but this time they put the kitchen rug back on the floor too soon and it glued itself to the tile.

My first clue to this little problem should have been that the rug was not slipping and sliding all over the place, like it normally does. But I did not pick up on that little tid bit. Instead, we went weeks with out kitchen rug basically glued to the floor. Lovely.

Any tips on how to get this crap/glue off the tile? I have tried Goo Gone and was unsuccessful.

***UPDATE*** The cleaning lady and her crew are going to come back out next week and attempt to remove the crud from the tile. If they can't get it up I will try some of your wonderful tips and suggestions! Thanks for the info.

A Prayer for Haiti

I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Haiti a couple of years ago. It was a life changing experience that will forever be with me. As I watch the horrific stories coming from Haiti right now, my heart aches. My cold, dark heart melts.

A Prayer for Haiti

Haiti Cries...And We Cry With Them
(A prayer as we search through the rubble) by Rev. Safiyah Fosua

Earth shaking
Home Breaking
Ground moved the mountain into my way tragedy!
Broken bodies
Broken hearts
Broken lives.

Haiti cries
And we cry with them.

God, our hearts are aching as we try to imagine what the daylight brought to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Heal the young eyes that have seen far too much on this day. Heal the hearts of many who have lost friends, family and a way of life on this day. Be with those who are missing. And those who are dying outside of the grasp of loving hands to hold them. Loving voices to soothe them.

Move us over here from empathy to action. From sympathy to substance as we contemplate what can be done to help today, and many days. Into a forever changed future. Amen.

Random Thoughts

This is going to be all over the place.... hence the random thoughts.

1. Baby M is 10 months old! Therefore, I need to start planning her first birthday party!!!! I know you all have some great party planning blogs... please pass them along! I am thinking a garden party theme might be fun. Or vintage circus theme. Decisions, decisions.

2. I made chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and they were delish. Seriously, some of the best I have ever had. Chewy and crunchy at the same time. Not sure what makes them so wonderful, but they are addicting. (And I am not even a huge chocolate chip cookie fan...)

3. I love doing crafty things around the house. I cannot sew, so I have a love affair with the hot glue gun and the staple gun. I recently recovered the cushion on an antique chair that my Mema had restored. Love this fabric.... I am also having living room curtains made from this fabric.

4. I also made a bow holder for all of Miss A's bows.

5. I got my H1N1 shot this afternoon. I love how CVS and Walgreens now do vaccines.... it was super easy to just pop in and not have to wait for a doctor or nurse.

***New pictures over at Baby M***

Shoe Day!

When Miss A is hanging out in her car seat she loves to pull on her socks and shoes, tossing them all over the backseat. I just laugh at her and and gather up all of her stuff at the end of the car ride. But, now that we are in the middle of an arctic blast in Dallas, I need to find some shoes that are more baby-proof. And, since she is almost walking I wanted something that was good for her feet. I ordered these for her today:

Aren't they cute? It is near impossible to find baby shoes that are not covered in flowers, hearts, butterflies, glitter or cartoon characters.....

And speaking of shoes, I already have these:

and she is going to be getting the baby version!

Hand in Hand

There are a couple things that I have learned in the almost 2 years that I have been a mother.

1 - When your mother says "I hope you have a daughter just like you!" .... well, that will come true.

2 - When you hear a sweet little voice say "Uh oh Mommy.....I sorry" something messy has probably just happened.

and most importantly.....

3 - Antibiotics can give babies the runs.

We have been really lucky with Miss A. She is hardly ever sick, but when she gets the occasional ear infection, she ends up taking antibiotics for at least 10 days. Clears up the ears, but upsets the rear.

But - I have finally learned. Jamie Lee Curtis and my pharmacist helped me pick out the best probiotic ** for Miss A. She has only been taking it for 3 days now and viola. All better.

So, from here on out - antibiotics and probiotics go hand in hand in our house.

**She is actually taking one the pharmacist had stashed behind the counter. It was less expensive than the others, plus it is chewable and you get more for your money. I can email you the exact name if you are interested.

The Great Debate

The thermostat debate.

In our house, we are polar opposites when it comes to temperature. I love for it to be cold. Love to sleep with the window open. And love for there to be a slight nip in the air. Love to sleep curled up under a pile of blankets. The Mr. could not be more opposite. Loves to have the heat on. Hates to sleep with the window open and hates to be cold in his own home.

When I watch the weather and they talk about an 'arctic blast' I become giddy with excitement. I get excited about sleeping with the window open and burrowing under the covers. Last winter when I was pregnant, we never turned our heat on. Never. Well, maybe once... the. entire. winter. Guests in our house would complain about the temperature, but I would always win... because I was pregnant. This year, I cannot use that excuse and people just get annoyed with me.

Most mornings when we wake up the temperature in the house is 59. And, I love it! So, who wins the temperature debate in your house?

***We do turn the heat on upstairs so we do not freeze Baby M. I am not that cold hearted. ***

Cooking Christmas

This year, Santa was very nice to me. The majority of my gifts revolved around a cooking theme which is just fine with me.

This avocado pitter/slicer is a great gadget. I used it tonight for the first time and it made slicing the avocado a breeze. This will definitely be used a lot in our house.


I have yet to try out this Ebelskiver pan. What -- you have never heard on Ebelskiver pancakes? They are light and fluffy pancakes that are usually filled with jam. I also got the recipe book to go along with it. There is a wide variety of recipes -- from sweet to savory. I am getting hungry just thinking about them.

And today is New Year's Day... Happy 2010. Last night we celebrated NYE in a very responsible / parental kind of way. We had a family game night with some friends and were home in bed by 1. And as far as resolutions.... I am just going to aim to get rid of the baby weight. I think it is going to be the death of me.

***New pictures on Baby M ***