la-la-la-la-la... I love you....**

(**My thing on here has been to always use song lyrics as post title---it's getting to be more and more of a challenge! This post is about blogs I love.. so there you go. Give me a break. I have an infant. I'm tired. My brain isn't as sharp as it used to be!)

Anyways... there are some really great blogs and websites I've discovered lately. Some people are so darn creative... how inspiring! Here's a round-up of BLOG LOVE!

1) EatDrinkChic --The color palette of the site alone makes it worth a daily visit!
From the site: Style inspiration, D.I.Y & free stationery printables for parties, entertaining, weddings, the home, gifts, food, fashion & more, created by Amy Moss.

Cute finds post

DIY Ice Cream Parlour

2) A Charming Nest --This is very cool because I know the blogger! One of my sorority sister's created this blog recently to showcase her nifty--and thrifty DIY projects. Her ideas are fabulous and her instructions will help you do-it-yourself! I am so impressed by her work.

Her latest post shows you how to create a Pottery Barn work of art....

Pottery Barn's version

Erin's copy...WOW!

3) Polka Dot Market--Endless inspiration if you have parties to plan for little midgets!
(Their pictures are all copyrighted so you'll just have to pop over there yourself and check it out.)
I think I really need one of these! How sweet!

4) Bakerella --Get in the kitchen and make some cake pops--you will not be disappointed! Delish!

5) The Old Painted Cottage -- I always like to check out the "Cottage of the Month", a photo home tour posted, you guessed it, monthly! Plus, her blog and shop are also great.
Her images are also copyrighted.. but take my word for it and visit.

Play this old-school jam while you read...

We were a family, my darling, right from the start...

Many things have changed since we've had our little girl.. all for the better. Eloise is approaching three months and I feel like we've hit our stride. She cries, we know how to react. She smiles like she knows us. Our hearts melt. I feel like I can give so much love, more than I ever thought possible. I talk to other women who have children and I feel like I've been let into their club! And most things baby/child related make me weep on the spot. Case in point, the Wilco (my favorite band!) song, My Darling. Of course, hearing this before Eloise made me cry... now it has new meaning. It's just a perfect, modern lullaby. See the lyrics below and  video following for an old but excellent performance. Lovely! 

Three peas in a pod

Go back to sleep now
My darling
And I'll keep all the bad dreams away
Breathe now, think sweet things
And I'll think of all the right words to say


Because we made you
My darling
With the love in each of our hearts
We were a family, my darling 
Right from the start

Grow up now

My darling

Please don't you grow up too fast

And be sure, darling

To make all the good times last

Because we made you

My darling 

With the love in each of our hearts

We were a family, my darling 

Right from the start

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink...

I am a new mom! What a whirlwind! If I had to pick a theme song right now... it would be this one, by the Beatles.




Soon enough I know she'll be sleeping just fine through the night.. and I'll look back at these early weeks with nostalgia! (I hope.) Sometimes I can't believe we have our own baby. We love her more than even we expected! In the meantime, I need to invest in some serious undereye concealer and eye cream!

my sweet Eloise Hope! 

She makes being tired worth it!

Rock-a-bye baby on the tree top...

I haven't posted on here in a long time, I know. I'm just sooo tired these days! But I have a new burst of energy as we continue to work on Baby E's nursery. (I believe they call it "nesting"--although the urge to clean, clean, clean hasn't struck yet-- to Matt's dismay.)  The room is really coming along and is looking really adorable, if I do say so myself. All we need now is the sweet little baby. (And the rug to come in... ) The rug didn't work! Cute in person... wrong color!

We've found the cutest artwork on Etsy. First---we used this french alphabet poster as a jumping off point for her colors.

from Bibitty on Etsy.com

With black and white and pink bedding... we needed a way to introduce other colors. So the pastels in the poster tied it all in. We framed it with a black frame and now it really pops off the pink walls!

This is her bedding. Don't worry we didn't use all NINE pieces... hello, matchy-matchy!


We used the blue in the "?" in the french poster to paint a bookcase my mom and I found at an antique shop. It adds so much!


To tie in the pastels again... we ordered several prints from Trafalgar's Square, another Etsy seller.

I LOVE these and can't wait to get them in!

Prints from Tralfagar's Square

I think they will add just the right touch of baby "whimsy" to the room but keep the vintage-y look I love!

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas...

Even though Christmas has now passed---I want to post our cute (if I do say so myself!) Christmas card I created on tinyprints.com. They have so many unique cards and this one with a little pink in it was just perfect! We didn't send out a ton this year because I got them out a little late. But I will definitely use that site again.

Here's the back!

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy....

 

from Hostess with the Mostess blog 

Too bad I am not having a Christmas party this year... because I keep running across the most adorable and tasty looking ideas! Like this cute vintage pastel Christmas dessert table from Hostess with the Mostess blog! Always good inspiration on there. This reminds me of going shopping when you really don't have money to spend... you always find what you really like--same as looking party pics---when you aren't having a party. File away for next year when I'm feeling less pregnant--and more domestic diva. Oooh, but it makes me really crave iced sugar cookies. :)

Snowgirls dessert party

Festive centerpiece 

DIY Rock Candy Christmas trees 

You still have a chance to go all Martha for the holidays. Here are the instructions to make these cute little rock candy Christmas trees.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ok. Maybe it's the holiday tunes but I'm starting to feel more festive! I've run across some CUTE Christmas decor online and in catalogs lately. Some loves that I am putting on my list....

1) Pottery Barn Burlap Sack Advent Calendar

I love this! It goes with my "decor" and the pockets are great for all kinds of goodies!

2) Christmas ribbon wreath

I can't post the image of the next one on my list...(copyrighted!) So you'll have to click on the link to see the adorable Christmas ribbon wreath. It is all handmade and so sweet! 

3) Boxwood Topiaries from Ballard Design

I need two of these babies for my front porch!

4) Happy Holidays tree garland from Pottery Barn

 Another Pottery Barn pick--this Happy Holiday garland. I think it would look great on my mantel!

5) Walk in the Woods dishes from Rosanna, Inc.

Rosanna, Inc. has great stuff! All her collections are super-cute and her holiday patterns say "Christmas" with a modern-twist. I am loving the baby blue background here. I already have her "12 Days of Christmas" plates--which I don't think you can order anymore.

They inspired my whole holiday color scheme.. (as far as one can have a holiday color scheme)