Nesting?

It's hard to tell when "nesting" really kicks in for me. I feel like I'm in a continual state of it. However, I think the past two weeks might prove as a case that the nesting has truly kicked in. Here are the signs:

Sign #1: I'm doing a "Seven Challenge" in which I'm giving away seven things a day for 30 days. Sounds crazy but I'm excited about it. We have so much stuff we don't need or use and I like the idea of giving it to someone who could use it.

Sign #2: I'm itching to have enough time to transform these clip on earrings (that were once my grandmas) into hair clips. I think Anthro might pick up my finished product if they turn out like I want to.



 

Sign Three: I reupholstered these stools. The picture below is the BEFORE picture. You'll have to follow along on Thriving Home to see the finished product in the next week or two.



Sign #4: Speaking of Thriving Home, I revamped our side bar on it and got three posts written yesterday. Yes, nesting can manifest in the form of blogging.

Sign #5: I've got Baby 2.0's crib set up with sheets and all. Ya ya, I know I'm still 3 months away from my due date but I am also well aware that my body won't want to do much but sit those last 6 weeks. Adelyn loves to be in his crib and bounce around.



Sign #6: I transformed a dresser into a changing table. Again, check out Thriving Home this coming Wednesday to get the full story. It's orange and I'm trying to like it. Heaven knows I'm not painting it again any time soon!



Sign #7: I've started working on some boy decor for the nursery. It's still in the works but the project has begun!



 

Sign #8: I've already organized a group of pregnant mamas to do a freezer meal exchange in mid-March. I have 5 friends who are all due within 6 weeks of each other so we figured we could each make 5 of the same meal and then exchange them all. I'm excited to get my freezer stocked with meals. I don't want to neglect the health of this little gal when Baby 2.0 comes along!



 

OK, so I think it's obvious. I'm officially nesting and not just in normal go-go-go mode.

I'm growing more and more excited about Baby 2.0. We think we have a name but I'm not 100% committed so we aren't going too public with it quite yet. If you ask me though, I'll probably tell you.

This boy is more of a kicker than Adelyn was. I remember having days where I'd get worried that Adelyn hadn't moved much. I have yet to have one day of wondering if this boy is ok in there. He, like his older sister, seem to have an affinity for my right rib cage. He also is wreaking havoc on Mama's lower back.

I shouldn't complain though. So far this pregnancy has been uneventful and a bit forgettable- which is a good thing! I love all the kicks and movement and I love looking at little boy stuff.

I'm a little worried about how Adelyn is going to handle the new addition. She grows pretty jealous when I hold another baby. Heck, she even gets jealous when I'm hugging or snuggling with Austin. I fully anticipate a few tough weeks as we adjust. Hopefully she'll embrace the role of an older sister love up on little brother.

Well, Baby 2.0 is telling me it's that time of night... time for ice cream that is.

Signing off with one last picture of Big Sis.

Easy Decorating Idea

Here's a thrifty decorating tip: put something colorful in a vase! It can work for almost any holiday or occasion.



When my blogging buddy, Rachel, offered me these decorative balls, I snatched them up with this idea in mind.



I used this vase that was recycled from an arrangement of flowers we received when Adelyn was born.



Here's a snapshot of the final product. Quick. Easy. Thrifty. That's my kind of Christmas decorating!

Feeling Beany: How to Make a Lima Bean Wreath

Christmas wreaths are all over the Internet right now. There are so many different kinds and different ways to make them. When I heard about making a wreath out of lima beans, I was skeptical. However, after I thought about it more it didn't seem like that crazy of an idea. I was in need of a Christmas wreath so I gave it a shot. Here's how it turned out.

It started with a plain, foam wreath that I got 40% off at Hobby Lobby. You only need a glue gun and lima beans after that! I started hot gluing one bean at a time on my wreath. It's a great project to do in front of the TV or with in the midst of a crowd.



They might think you are a little crazy (like my husband did) by attempting to hot glue that many lima beans to a wreath but if you can handle the criticism, it's fun to do around people.



It is a bit monotonous but it really didn't take as long as I thought it would.



After all the beans were glued on, I primed it with my favorite spray paint primer (Kilz) and then gave it another coat of white spray paint.



Add a lovely Christmas ribbon and you're done!

If I could go back and do this again, I would have spray painted the wreath before gluing the beans on. I don't like how I can still see green underneath. I also would have taken more time to pick off the hot glue remnants. Those seemed to show up more when spray painted. From far away it didn't look too bad though.



Overall, I like it... from far away. Just don't look too close. :)

Now if only I could find a place to put it in my house!

 

Personalized Stocking

A few days after Thanksgiving as I was beginning to put out all four of our Christmas decorations,  it hit me...we didn't have a stocking for Adelyn! Guess that wasn't on the baby registry, huh?

I made a mad dash to Hobby Lobby to see what I could find. All of their Christmas decor is 50% off so I snagged this cute stocking for $5.00.

Using my new Silhouette machine, I was able to personalize it by using a heat transfer graphic. It was so easy... I just typed her name into the program, mirrored it,  and sent it to the Silhouette. It cut her name in to the fuzzy vinyl and I just ironed it on!

This was my first attempt at using the heat transfer tools and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out!

Changing Table is Done

You've probably seen the changing table makeover a few times but I realized that I never made an official before and after post about it.

 In case you forgot, I scored this dresser on Craig's List for $40.00. It started out like this...

Then looked like this...

 Then started to look like this...

 And turned out like this!!

 

 I lined the drawers with fun scrapbook paper. To see details on how I did it, visit this post.

I love love love the way it turned out. 

I'm Giddy...

 I'm giddy with excitement over my Craigs List find. I've been keeping an eye out for a dresser that can be used as a changing table in our future nursery. Today, I stumbled on this $45 solid wood dresser. It also came with a huge mirror that isn't in this picture.

 I like that two of its drawers are extra deep providing lots of storage!

 Of course I have major face lift plans for this guy.

 I've really liked the two toned look of dressers lately. Especially with the top stained a deep color and the base painted a white. Here is some eye candy that has inspired me.

 I especially love the look of this one. I think I'll have some fun finding cute handles and knobs too.

Only two things are holding me back from jumping in to this project. 1) It's 20 degrees outside. 2) I'm pregnant. Which means I probably shouldn't be the one staining, priming, and painting. Dang it! Looks like Daddy Conner might have to get his hands dirty.

Oh, I don't want to forget to show you what I did with the mirror that was supposed to go with the dresser. It found a home on my mantle.

 Love a good Craig's List find!

Dear Husband of Mine:

Dear Husband,

First of all, I want you to know I love our home. I really do. However, as I bounce around from blog to blog, I can't help but plan for the future. I thought it would be beneficial to share some plans I have for our next home. Since you are a visual creature, I will shower you with pictures of my vision.

For starters, a non-negotiable in our next home:  two vanities. I love you but I don't love sharing one small vanity with you.

Lets talk about our kitchen. A breakfast nook with benches. Mmmm.

 What house isn't complete without a colorful coffee station? I know you don't drink coffee, but it'd be great for hosting.

 I'm loving the huge kitchen island. Add that to the list, dear.

Lets talk bedrooms a bit. This would make a great guest bedroom, don't you think?

 And how about this one for a strapping young lad we might have some day?

Another kids room idea in case we have twins or something. Always be prepared!

Loving the clean, crisp feel of this one as well.

 Oh, here's a living room I like too. Lots of big comfy chairs. Lots of natural light. French doors that open up to our glorious back yard.

 Speaking of yards, having a wrap around front porch like this one that is looking out on our front yard would be AWESOME. Can you whip that up for us, dear one?

 I think we've also learned that having a mudroom would be awesome. Don't worry. I have some ideas for that too. 

 In the mudroom somewhere, we'd have this amazing sink. Dog baths, rinsing out dirty shoes, cleaning vegetables from our garden- you name it. This sink can handle it.

Attached to the mud room, would be a garden room. Yep. A place to keep all the plants, seeds, flowers, tools, etc. It would of course be clean and colorful. My two favorite adjectives.

 We'd also have a great outdoor space. Something like this.

 I've saved my favorite room for last. 

My craft room.

Excuse me while I wipe away the drool.

 I hope you have enjoyed a tour through our future home. We might both have to get three jobs and be in a constant state of debt, but it will be worth it.