To Paint or Not to Paint

Nurseries these days are getting super creative and very colorful. Long gone are the days of just pink, blue and yellow. Today's nurseries are every color of the rainbow and even wallpapered. If you are not ready to commit to a paint color for the whole room or wall paper from wall to wall consider just doing an accent wall.  It will give a great look without having to paint or wall paper every wall. The folks at one of my favorite blogs Oh Deed Oh featured some great rooms where they did just that. Check out some of my favorites.

www.ohdeedoh.com

www.ohdeedoh.com
Toddler Room

www.ohdeedoh.com

To Paint or Not to Paint

Nurseries these days are getting super creative and very colorful. Long gone are the days of just pink, blue and yellow. Today's nurseries are every color of the rainbow and even wallpapered. If you are not ready to commit to a paint color for the whole room or wall paper from wall to wall consider just doing an accent wall.  It will give a great look without having to paint or wall paper every wall. The folks at one of my favorite blogs Oh Deed Oh featured some great rooms where they did just that. Check out some of my favorites.

www.ohdeedoh.com

www.ohdeedoh.com
Toddler Room

www.ohdeedoh.com

Nursery Planning on a Budget!

So I am planning my new nursery and we are on a tight budget.  Right now the nursery is an extra space in our house the needs some major work done on it.  Actually it needs to be turned into a room.  We need framing, a window and we must work on the logistics of how two children will share one closet from two different rooms (will keep you updated).  So with the budget we have set forth most of that will be taken up doing that, as that may be we still need other items for the nursery. As luck would have it each time I have gotten pregnant someone has had a crib to give me which is wonderful considering a new crib could set me back a couple of hundred dollars.  We are also very lucky to have an extra space within our bedroom that we will turn into a temp nursery until the bigger room is ready.  It actually works out great for the first couple of months anyway with having to get up for late night feedings and that infancy stage.  We did it with our daughter and it worked out great.  The space is big enough for a crib and changing table.

In order to meet my budget I have turned to craigslist and second hand baby stores to help me stay on budget.  Purchasing items from these venues might require a little TLC on your end but will sure save you a ton of money.  For example I just purchased a used changing table and pad on craigslist for $35.00. It will need to be cleaned and painted, but other than that it is in great shape. One piece of advice when getting items second hand, make sure there is minimal work that needs to be done.  For example do not buy a piece of furniture that is missing piece or is severely damaged.  You will end up spending just as much money fixing it as you would if you had just bought it new.   Also I always make sure everything has come from a non-smoking house.  The last thing you want to do is put anything in a nursery that contains toxins.

If craigslist and second hand shops are not your thing, then Wal-Mart and Target are your new best friends.  I really love the nursery lines at Wal-Mart.  They have these wonderfully modern collections right now that are really catching my eye.  A three piece furniture set might set you back around $500 but that is really not to terrible considering you could spend thousands of dollars other places. They are also your one stop shop.  You can literally buy everything needed for your nursery in one place. There really are many places that will help you stay on budget and still give you a great looking nursery.

Speaking of budget, it is always a great idea to establish that before you start purchasing any items. If you don’t establish a budget ahead of time how will you know if you are sticking to it? I would suggest sitting down and making a list of all the items needed to make a nursery (even if you have them, still put them down), then figure out your budget.  I love to make spreadsheets on excel.  I will make my list and then fill in the price at which I purchased my items to help keep a running total of my expenses.  Don’t forget to include in your budget little items like, storage baskets, rugs, paint, wallpaper etc.…  All of that is part of your budget.  I am also constantly pursuing websites and blogs for inspiration.  I find it more productive to have a picture of what my end result will be rather than jumping in blindly.

So just remember no matter what your budget is, how big or small your nursery is, your vision of it is always attainable.

Busy Bee!

So it has been a while since I have written.  I have actually been quite busy.  Emma is growing like a weed and is now crawling.  She goes non stop, crawling everywhere thinking she is so cool and independent.  She is eating on her own and is a great sleeper.  Also going on in our family is the fact that Emma will be welcoming a little brother in February(told you I was busy).  We were very shocked at first but could not be more excited to welcome him into our family.  So my life is adjusting to being pregnant, having a ten month old, getting ready for baby number, and running a household as a working mom. 
We bought our first minivan last week and I thought that would be the one thing I would NEVER do, but I love it.  It is so easy to use and has so much room.  Even my husband likes it.  So my post for a while we will be about adjusting to this new life and all the great things I am finding out on how to make it more productive.  Any comments, advice or suggestions are always welcome.

Child Care

When I found out I was pregnant I considered myself lucky that I had so much family in town to help me out with babysitting when the time came. I have my parents and I have my husbands parents to watch Emma. However I ran into a dilema, I had a party to go to last friday and neither sets of parents were going to work out.  I was in sort of a predicament. These days with child saftey being my number one priority and being able to to trust someone with your child I was a little stumped as to what to do.  Then I remembered a friend of mine that I knew through Junior League had recently started a nannie and sitter placement company called Little Sprouts Family Care, LLC (http://www.littlesproutsfamilycare.com/).  So I quickly emailed her in the middle of the week asking her if she had anyone available from that friday and she said absolutly.  Now mind you the people she employees go through background checks, they are certified in CPR, they must show proof of automobile insurance and the list goes one.  One might think they were applying to the FBI.  So on friday at 6:50 my door bell range and a wonderful very sweet manored women shook my hand and stepped into our house.  I picked up Emma and within seconds Emma was smiling and reaching for her.  I showed her around the house gave her some minor instructions, and filled out her paperwork from the agency and off my husband and I went.  She sent me a text with her phone number within minutes of leaving and a text when Emma went down.
I have to tell you it was a wonderful experience knowing I could trust a non family member with my daughter. Working with the agency was great and I know I will use them again. In this day in age whe it is so hard to trust anyone with your baby I am so glad there are companys like Little Sprouts Family Care.

The art of diaper bag packing

The diaper bag, the bag filled with all the essential goodies to make our little one happy. It is important not to forget anything, because that one time you do is when you will need it. I have put together a list of what I put in my "Main" diaper bag.  It may seem like alot to tote around and it is, so I keep a smaller bag with me at all times that I put the items I need for that particular outing.

1. Diapers
2. Wipes
3. Diaper garbage bags- For those times when you need to stash the dirty diaper in your bag.
4. Bottles
5. Formula- for those breast feeding just switch the formula for a nursing cover.
6. Bottle of water- I never trust the water anywhere except my own house.
7.Changing pad
8. Change of clothes for baby and mommy- I always keep an extra shirt with me for those little accidents.
9.Bibs
10.Blankets- I always have three
11.Any kind of toy or favorite item to keep the little one occupied
12. Pacifier
13. A packet of food. and spoon.  You never know when you will get stuck somewhere at a feeding. I love the Sprout Organic baby food the packaging is just perfect for tossing in your bag.
14. Camera/Video camera
15. Important phone number sheet.
16. Medical packet to include: infant/child Tylenol, gripe water, gas relief drops, neosporin, thermometer, and band aids.

Like I said this sounds like alot but I have smaller bag that I fill.  Speaking of diaper bags below are some of my favorite diaper bags, if money was no object :) )

Louis Vuitton Monogram Diaper bag retails for $2,150.00



Rebecca Minkoff diaper bag retails for $475.00



Timi and Leslie Charlie diaper bag retails for $149.99

Where has this been these last 5 months?

While surfing the internet yesterday I came across this wonderful new product. It is not out on the market yet, but I am sure anything from this company is great. I know from experience that while up at 3:00 am  with a screaming hungry baby that will only stop because you are holding her that making a bottle with one hand is possible but not a great idea. This new machine allows you to make a bottle with one hand, warm a bottle, warm up food and it is SELF cleaning.  Plus I love the look of it. It would certainly make my counter top look alot neater considering I have all of these items on seperatly on my counter.

Check  it out online at http://webapps.easy2.com/cm2/flash/generic_index.asp?page_id=36102171

Baby Food!!!

Well it has been a while since I have been here.  With a little one finding the time has been a bit more challenging.  Emma needs to be occupied all the time now when she is not sleeping.  Big things have happened since I last wrote. Emma was given the okay to try solids, boy is she happy!! Now I may not be the most healthy eater but it is up to me to make sure my daughter gets all the nutrition she needs to grow and be healthy. So I make her baby food.  Besides the fact that is is a fraction of the cost to make it, I know that what I am giving her is the freash and what is says it is. I decided that the fruits and veggies that she is eating will be all organic. Not only do I know what I am giving her is the best possible food, us in the kitchen together making food has been a bonding and special time for us. I ordered the Baby Bullet online and LOVE it.

I know there is some contraversy on feeding babies less than six months solids but I went on the advice from my doctor and Emma is doing great.  At first is was a struggle to get the food to stay in her mouth but she quickly learned.  She only gets food for dinner right now but in a week at 5 months I will start giving her breakfast and at six months she will get three meals.  Below I have listed some brands of food that my friends feed there kids and rave about them.

Sprout Organic Baby Food- http://sproutbabyfood.com/index.php    

Not only is made by one of my favorite chefs and father Tyler Florence, but the packaging is great to throw into a diaper bag.

Earths Best- http://www.earthsbest.com/
My good friend fed her son this brand in the begining and he absolutly loved it.

Ella's Kitchen- http://www.ellaskitchen.com/

Plum Organics- http://www.plumorganics.com/

I would also suggest to any new mom to register for a baby food maker. I have the Baby Bullet which I love and it came with alot of great accesorries.
http://www.babybullet.com/

My sister in law has this cooker and loves it.
http://www.beabausa.com/

So no matter if you choose to make or buy your baby food, just try and make sure you are giving your baby the best ingriedents.

Saying Goodbye!

If any of you know me and my husband you know how much we loved and adored our dog Dillon. For 11 years he was our child, we took him everywhere, he came to work with me when I started working for my father.  He quickly became a favorite of our tenant here.  He would sneak down the hall to the girls at the art store to get a treat.  Anthony and I lived in the Keys for two years and Dillon ruled the roost at the resort we ran.  Guest would even ask if Dillon could stay with them for a night because they loved him so much. Last  week Dillon became very sick and we were presented with the hardest decision of our lives.  He was not going to get better and never in a million years did we want to see him suffer for even a second.  After much thought and me going online and exhausting ever measure I could to try and find a way to make him better, we ended up having to put him down.  Anthony and I miss him dearly and no matter how great of a dog our next one is he will never compare to Dillon.  Which brings me to the thought of some day we will have to make that decision again only this time it will be with our children.  We did not have to explain anything to Emma and she did not have to endure the pain we feel, but one day she will.
How will we explain to our kids that it is time to say goodbye to their pet.  We know that we will get another dog soon and our kids and that puppy will grow together.  So when the time comes it will be very hard for them to deal with. I guess we will have to cross the bridge when we come to it. Untill then we will enjoy every moment we can with our new family member and never forget Dillon, his spririt is all around us and always will be. 
We miss you Dillon!

My new obsession!

So when you are a baby it is all about the blankies.  Somewhere down the road your child finds one that they cannot part with. That one special blankie that goes everywhere, that helps calm your baby down, that is soft and cuddly.  So although Emma has not made her choice yet, being that she is only 3 months old, I am sure I have found the brand that she will choose.  When I registered for blankets I chose ones that were warm and thick and would do just that keep her cozy and warm.  However I forgot that living in Florida I would only need those for about two months out of the year.  I think it had something to do with when Emma was born and my anticipation of cold weather and having a newborn. Much like her father and I Emma gets hot very easily.  So now that we are pushing 80 degrees on any given day and my need to still cover her with a blanket I have discovered the perfect one.  Not only is is adorable, it is practical for Florida weather and it is soft.  A couple of my girlfriend had this wonderful muslin blanket when I would see them out or for lunch dates and I finally had to ask where did you get that.  They pointed me to this line call Aden& Anais http://www.adenandanais.com/.  They are the perfect size, the perfect material and the more they are washed the softer they get.

http://www.adenandanais.com/

They are the perfect size for your ever growing baby 47"x47". They were first meant for swaddling but they can be used for nursing covers, portable crib sheets, stroller liners and much more.  The fabric is breathable which is so great for our hot weather.  They are also great to cover your sleeping baby in a car seat or stroller to keep bugs out while you are outdoors. I just bought my first 4 pack and I know I will be buying more.  The other wonderful product they have which I will be purchasing are sleep sacks.  They have two different ones depending on how much coverage or warmth you need. 

http://www.adenandanais.com/

Emma has several but with the much warmer weather approaching she will be too hot in the ones she has.  They come in single or double layers. Like I said I am sure Emma will choose this for her "Binkie " and I could not be more thrilled with this wonderful brand.

Crafty!



My partner in crime Emma.



So anyone who knows me know that I am the least crafty person in the world. Today I decised that Emma needed her name on the door to her room, so I scooped her up and headed to the craft store.  I bought unpainted wood letter, pink and brown paint as well as a couple of essential tools. Now when you see these letters finished they aren't the greatest but hey I will get the hang of this thing.  I think Emma and I had more fun sitting on the back porch listening to the birds but at least I gave it a shot. My next attemp it a bullentin board for above her changing table.  Hope that turns out better than the letters.

This is before I decided to decorate more.

My new career!

So my whole life (all 31 years) I have been searching for what I was supposed to do. I met with life coaches, left where I was living to move and start over (moved to Atlanta by myself for school) tried a couple of different jobs etc... None of which ever gave me that fulfilled feeling of "Wow this is it". That is until November 30, 2010 at 8:48. At that very moment in my life I had my "Wow this is it " moment. My beautiful daughter was born on that date at that time and I had my moment. It is a very crazy thing having a baby, I highly recommend it! Being a mother for the last three months has been the most rewarding and the most challenging thing I have EVER done. I am amazed at how my body produced this laughing, smiling, crying, pooping thing. Being a mother has become the career I have been searching for and I could not be happier with it. It is crazy how in one moment of your life you become a whole world to another person. You are the president, CEO, accountant, janitor, everything to a person for the next 18 years or so. I feel truly blessed to have been interviewed once ( miscarriage) and after nine months of training I finally got the job I had always been longing for.  Now when I say training I am not talking hands on it is strictly in a book.  The hands on comes the second after that little person enters the world and it becomes a trial and error. Because no matter how many training manuals you are given and read nothing and I mean nothing prepares you for the real thing except the real thing.  So here it is folks the real thing from a new mothers prospective. I will be honest I have no idea what I am doing and I take on a day to day basis and pray for the best.  I hope you enjoy what I have to talk about and maybe just maybe get a little something out of it.  Because I am Mom on the job!!!