a spring day

"She had not known before, how much the beginnings and progress of vegetation had delighted her. -- What animation of both body and mind, she had derived from watching the advance of the season which cannot be unlovely...."

-Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

It is spring!

Even though there are many drawbacks to the fact that I am working 3rd shift this month, one big, beautiful  bonus is that I get more time outside in the daylight!

Here are some photographs from my jaunt on this 

sweet Sunday...

  

G

bathroom storage: {girlie dilemma to delight}

Men: before you move in with a lady, please be prepared for the necessary space she may require.
First off: 
I love old, historic homes.

Unfortunately, sometimes in order to have those gorgeous original hardwoods and 11.5 foot ceilings, you sacrifice large bathrooms/closet space.

Which brings me to my bathroom dilemma: all my crap...and where to put it.

My husband doesn't seem to get it, but: chicks have stuff.  Lots of it.  Many products that may or may not be necessary every day.  It doesn't matter. 


I adore girlie stuff: makeup, clothes, lotion, accessories, clothes, perfume, clothes...but I digress.

Since moving in to our home Hubby and I have been sharing one sink in the teeny jack-and-jill bathroom that adjoins two small bedrooms {sense a theme?} upstairs.   

Let me just say this: two grown people should NOT share one sink.  It is not natural.

Exhibit A: My crap Our sink on a given morning

{hubby loves me.  hates my crap everywhere.}

My itty-bitty space in the itty-bitty medicine cabinet. This is barely a fraction of my womanly wares:

{really narrow shelves = stuff falling into sink constantly}

 My crammed-full drawer:

{cursing ensues each morning when I have to take literally everything out of this drawer to get ready. Rrrraaaarrg!}

Now enter your exclusive sneak peak of the "new" master bathroom...

Both hubby and I get our very own {ginormous} mirrored medicine cabinet

{I love how much of my girlie goodness I can cram in this baby!}

Not one, but two drawers each...

which I have added some clear organizing bins to

so I can even more stuff!

\

Drawer two...I have a lot of empty space in this lovely!

{does that mean I have to buy more stuff?}

Mirrors and vanity sink cabinet were purchased at Ikea.

Installed by amazing hubby.

Organizers I just got on sale at Target.

No assembly required.

:o)

More of the bathroom reveal to come!

**heart pumping wildly in excitement**

Love -- 

G

n.y.c

Spent the weekend in New York City 

with Hubby.  My fourth time there, and it is always, always a grand time!  
The main focus was watching the NCAA tournament games in Newark, NJ;
however, we got to spend time with friends and fellow fans in Hoboken,
wander Times Square, dine in Little Italy, and explore Chinatown.

Here are seven sweet somethings from our trip...

1. night out in little italy {sipping pellegrino in lieu of chianti}

2.  sipping cappuccino afterwards

3. imagining life living in a historic n.y.c. apartment

4. view from our hotel room 

 5. chinese lanterns

6. tiny buns - yummy, tiny buns 

7. victory for the kentucky wildcats! 

Hope your weekend held many sweet moments!

G

baby bump alert: a pea in my pod

"There's a pea in your pod!"

a woman at work exclaims to me every day.

She yells it across the room, and I can only grin and nod.

Another sweet lady, twice my height, with an infectious grin who calls me "Cuz"tells me:

"You look good with a little weight on you, Cuz!"

However, I am now addressed mostly as "Mama."

Which I thought would feel weird...

but it doesn't.

It warms my heart

and makes Baby kick a little harder.

{cheesy yet classic: the heart/belly button pic}

This is the sweet spot of pregnancy.  Where the "Pea" is not incredibly nauseating, and the "Pod" is not uncomfortably big.  I can still wear my high heels.  No stretch marks yet. {Knock on wood.}  Weight gain of 22 pounds.   Maternity clothes are no longer optional.  I embrace changing into sweatpants as soon as I get home from work.  


Though it be sweet...this portion of my "pea in the pod-ness" has it's moments.  Speaking of peas...

 I seem to be peeing constantly.

I dream strange pregnancy dreams.  Like giving birth to a slice of pizza...and even trying to breastfeed it.  {FYI this is not an easy feat!}


I finally registered!  Which, though initially daunting, was incredibly fun.  A huge thank you to those of you that gave me much-needed mommy advice.  Keep it coming!  It all helped me immensely!  I feel a little more confident I will be equipped with the necessities.

        

Well, time to go eat pizza and peas!

{kidding}

G

{strawberry salads forever}

Tonight

an easy dinner that only looks complicated.

{the best kind}
Starring the best fruit ever:
the strawberry.

Start with fresh, luscious strawberries...

 ...toss them in with baby lettuces, thinly sliced red onion, and a balsamic vinegarette...

 ...top with goat cheese crumbles and candied pecans -- my favorite salad!

Serve with some scallops sauteed in butter, seasoned with salt and pepper {read: easy!}, wild rice {hellooo Rice-o-Roni!} and baked salmon.  Season it however you like.  {I use olive oil, paprika and marjoram.}

 {got omega 3's???}

What did you have for dinner tonight?
Much love from the kitchen...oh, and then the couch watching Idol {go casey!}

G

are you {succulent}?

Are you a  

"succulent wild woman?"

This is one of my favorite inspirational books.  If you have never read Succulent Wild Woman by SARK - do so!  You will be inspired! 

Sometimes I forget I am succulent.  

Like when I eat fries from McDonalds and feel fat.

Like when I get so overwhelmed with all my projects that I throw my hands up in the air, bury myself in my bed, and get absolutely nothing done.

Like when I feel like I have no control over anything. 
Like when my hormones/life overwhelms me and for seemingly no reason at all I have to have an ugly cry in order to feel better.
{my husband loves that one}

I had to re-read Succulent Wild Woman recently to remind myself that being imperfect is all part of my succulence.  To remind myself that being authentic is more important than being every thing to every person.  That I might not be the best at something, but putting my best effort in will only make me do it better each time I hunker down and TRY.  That I can choose to be happy and I am capable of doing ANYTHING!  I can also choose to hide in bed for most of the day and that is OKAY.  :o)  That I should SAVOR everything - dessert, the sunshine, sleeping in with the one you love, uncontrollable laughter with a true friend.

"Don't power walk. Saunter slowly in the sun, eating chocolate, and carry a blanket so you can take a nap."
-SARK

What made you feel succulent today?  


For me?

Sleeping in...with my new full-body preggo pillow:

This Boppy makes me happy!

Finally bringing home a sprig of the plant I take care for at work...so I can grow my own at home:

{someday you'll have roots!}

{growing things makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger}

"Nourish your eye and spirit with inspiring things. They will bloom with your tending." 

-SARK

Hoping you had a wild, Succulent Saturday...

G

{a peek at the nursery}

People say, "Oh, you're due in July?  You have plenty of time!"

I think, "Yikes.  Only 4 more months!?!?"

Needless to say, I'm a planner.

Not a throw-things-together-perfectly-at-the-last-minute planner.

{I wish}

I am a write-a-million-lists, dream, daydream, create-inspiration-boards, steal-a-million-pictures-off-the-internet, dream some more, ask-a-million-questions, complete-in-phases planner.

{Exhausting, yes}

So here is where I am at with the nursery design process:

The bedding was the most difficult part...especially considering there are not a lot of cute baby boy bedding sets out there.   At least not that suit my specific taste {read: modern yet classic yet munchkin}  I managed to find a set that is both of these elements, and also colorful enough to stimulate Baby.  

I picture him dreaming sweet dreams while surrounded by these fabrics:

As for wall color, I want a color that was light, modern, and doesn't scream: "Nursery!" I figure the Boy will do enough screaming on his own.  Though probably not "nursery." Unless he is exceptionally verbose.

 I will be using a combo of these paint colors:

Oh, and let's not forget my {Craig's List beauty} of a crib.  I am in so in love with this crib I might marry it.  I am also secretly glad I found one I didn't have to repaint.  Here is a tiny glimpse of its sleigh-style loveliness:

Eat your heart out, Pottery Barn Kids...I paid only 100 bucks.

The next item on the nursery planning list: the changing table.  I am actually looking more for a large dresser that I can morph into a spacious changing table/baby clothing storage unit. 

My budget is $40...definitely don't think I will get out of re-painting this one.

Sweet decorating dreams to you!

G