Today's Favorite Pin

Happiness is a funky colored chandelier.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Today's Favorite Pin ~ Sunday Edition

In honor of the Lord's day, I've chosen a pin featuring a great Bible verse. It really applies to all facets of life, but my Husband and I can especially relate these days.

The KJV of the verse is "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap"

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Today's Favorite Pin

I'm sure you've noticed that Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar is everywhere. I love how the caterpillar above is done with cheap-easy-to-get paper lanterns. So cute!

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Today's Favorite Pin

The Beloved Quilt

I’m sure you’ve noticed that quilts are just everywhere right now. I’m not sure if it’s the pending cold weather (hard to imagine right now!), or just a “re-trend” of the tradition of quilting. In any case, you can find a quilt to suit your every need or design want.

My bedding during my early 20’s was this awesome (discontinued-boo!) quilt from Anthropologie. I remember my Dad bought it for me for a birthday, and I was lucky enough to get the quilt and the pillow shams. I have to say that was the most comfortable bedding I have ever slept with. Hands down. I still have it, although it’s a little worn out after years of use. 

I’m currently on the hunt for an equally comfortable quilt for our bedroom, to add to our current bedding during the winter. My problem is two-fold: 1) I’ve been spoiled by the luxurious comfort of the original quilt and 2) I don’t want to spend more than, say $80- MAX. I also need to stick to our existing color palette of Turquoise and Brown.

Bed Bath & Beyond

In my travels, I have only fallen more in love with all things quilts. They can be used for so many different things. Tapestry quilts can be used as wall hangings.

 Pinterest

They can be used as a fixture on the sofa to add color, pattern, and provide comfy warmth during movie nights.

 Pinterest

They can have traditional block patterns, or awesome modern and funky prints.

 Pinterest

Anthropologie still has a couple of my fav’s.

Anthropologie

Quilts also have a rich history:

Quilting traditions are particularly prominent in the United States, where the necessity of creating warm bedding met the paucity of local fabrics in the early days of the colonies. Imported fabric was very expensive, and local “homespun” fabric was labor intensive to create and tended to wear out sooner than commercial fabric. It was essential for most families to use and preserve textiles efficiently. Saving or salvaging small scraps of fabric was a part of life for all households. Small pieces of fabric were joined together, to make larger pieces, in units called “blocks”. Creativity could be expressed in the block designs, or simple “utility quilts”, with minimal decorative value, could be produced. “Crib quilts” for infants were needed in the cold of winter, but even early examples of beautiful baby quilts indicate the efforts that women made to welcome a new baby.

I am a sucker for a beautiful baby quilt.

My Mom made this one for our son Mickey, and it was a gift at our shower. She made it from fabric scraps that I used in his room décor, as well as (my favorite part) scraps from my husband, Michael’s, old plaid shirts (you can even see the pocket with the Polo logo!).

 

When he was really little, we used the quilt on the floor as a tummy time mat, and took it everywhere with us. It’s been washed dozens of times and only gets softer. Now, it’s being used as cushy-ness on the rocking chair in Mickey’s room. I can’t wait for the day when I can snap a photo of little Mickey carrying his quilt around (Linus-style) while sucking his thumb.

Bottom line- I love quilts. Love the history, love the patterns, love the colors, love the feeling. Do you get that same nostalgic-home feeling when you’re wrapped in a quilt?



Today's Favorite Pin

Today's favorite Pin! I l.o.v.e. fresh colors in the living room. Such an easy design concept to follow: floral, solid, polka dots or geometric pattern all in the same color family = instant Living Room!

Dinosaur Birthday Party

I know everyone says this, but it’s worth saying again… I. can’t. believe. he’s. one. year. old.  It’s true, while I can’t say the year “flew” by, it definitely does not seem possible that the tiny baby we had just minutes ago is already so big! And in a big boy car seat!

I started thinking about Mickey’s first birthday back in December. I should probably reveal to you that I am obsessive when it comes to party planning/ list making. I start way too early and always do way too much. Case in point: I had our entire wedding planned and dress bought before my husband proposed. Seriously.

So, themes??? Monkeys, ABC, jungle animals, Very Hungry Caterpillar, it all crossed my mind. I settled on Dinosaurs, because they are my current obsession. I feel a little like a trendsetter because when I first started out with my Dinosaur craze, there wasn’t much available, but as the weeks went by, it seems that every store has Dinosaur something! Pajamas, plates, toys, piñatas, the list goes on…

I considered hosting the party at a restaurant or banquet hall, but squashed that idea when I remembered we were paying with Monopoly money. But where am I going to put the 70 people on the guest list?? Fine, I’ll make it work in my house. Yes, we could have had it at a park, which would’ve been pretty, but very very very very hot. We’re in Florida, remember?

I ordered the invitations from Shutterfly, and used my Pampers points to pay for them. (Awesome!)

Everywhere I went, I took my party planning folder filled with napkin samples, ribbon scraps, and anything else to keep my focused on my design.

We ordered cupcakes from a new cupcakery in Tarpon Springs, Mmmm Delicious. They were most certainly delicious. Orange creamsicle, White Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Heaven, Classic Vanilla, and Cherry Vanilla. Yummo! We borrowed their cupcake tower because I couldn’t justify buying my own, but if you have a little more time, it could be built very easily.

There were mostly adults on the guest list, with about a dozen kids, so I wanted to have some kind of activity that everyone could be involved in. T-shirt station? Sand art? No. I decided on a Scrapbook Station. I set out markers, stickers, scrapbook paper, trimmings, borders, journaling cards, and everything else. Then, just let guests go to town creating a page for Mickey’s scrapbook, and leaving a space for a picture of themselves from the party (for me to fill in later). It was fabulous, and the end result is a great memento!

I also had sprinklers going in the backyard (remember: hot) for the kiddos. We all got a little wet (especially me, had a hard time connecting the hose)!

My husband, Michael, carved the watermelon to look like a Dinosaur, and we had sandwich stuff, fruit salad skewers, and lots of other goodies to eat. Certainly no one went hungry.

Every inch of the house was Dinosaured, from the decals on the walls and windows, to the art work above the cupcake table, to the scrapbook supplies, to the birthday banner (homemade, of course).

All in all, the party was a huge success with a total of 50 attendees. Way too many toys to fit in our house, way too much leftover food, and (bummer, I guess I'll have to eat them!) a few leftover cupcakes, too.

Mickey was such a gem the entire day. He was all smiles and went to anyone, so happy all day long. Thanks mostly to my mad-mommy-skills and foresight to schedule the party from 11-2, put him down for an early morning nap at 9am, woke him at 10:30, and let him play until 2, then he went down for his 2^nd nap. Perfection!

Next year we won’t go as BIG. Do you believe me when I say that? No? Me neither. Bring on the next event!