Ava's Birthday Picnic

On Memorial Day three years ago (May 29th that year) we were bringing our sweet daughter home from the hospital. She was a beautiful healthy almost 9 pound baby (8 pounds 13 ounces). 

This weekend we celebrated her 3rd birthday with family and friends. 

Since I am 8 months pregnant, I promised myself (and my husband) I wouldn't go overboard with the party. I think I did a pretty good job keeping it simple and small. We just had it at a park and barbecued. My daughter wanted to have a "picnic" for her birthday so we went with the gingham theme. She had a wonderful time with her friends and we adults enjoyed relaxing in the sun and playing Bocce ball. Here are some pics...

Pink lemonade cupcakes and flower cookies... per the birthday girl's request...

Nana's famous potato salad...

Can't believe my baby is so big. 

She makes us laugh everyday and has such a silly personality. 

Thank you, Lord for the gift of our precious "big girl". 

Easter DIY Inspiration

I have been hard on myself lately as I've found it difficult to find time  energy to tackle all the projects I have in mind around my house. Especially as Spring and Easter approach I have so many ideas and yet I have barely taken down my valentine's day decor. Is anyone else in a slump like this? I guess being 5 months pregnant with a 2 year old at home might have something to do with my lack of energy. 

However, I am definitely not experiencing a lack of inspiration. I thought I'd highlight some other's amazing DIY projects since featuring my own is not happening any time soon. Here are some of my favorite Easter project floating around... 

Hope they'll inspire you and you'll have better follow though to make them your own! 

I am dying to try these Stamped Easter Eggs from Crafty Scrappy Happy

How perfect are these Pastel Meringue Nests @ Sweetapolita... I can't believe the little feathers on top. 

Look at this adorable Burlap Bunny Table Runner from Eclectically Vintage... I love that its whimsical and of course I love anything burlap. 

This is one project I'd still really try to get up before Easter... I am obsessed with this bird's nest specimen art from Midwestern Girl

I thought I'd share my Easter decor from last year with you for the sake of inspiration at least...

Now, if only I could get off this couch and find my glue gun! 

Our Baby Gender Reveal Party: Its a....

Yesterday we had a gender reveal party to find out if we're having a girl or a boy. It was such a special time with our close friends and family. This is our second baby and we did the same idea to find out we were having a girl the first time around. Here's how it works... the doctor at the ultrasound determined the gender and wrote it down and sealed it in an envelope for us. Then, we took the sealed envelope to the bakery and asked them to put pink on the inside if it says girl and blue if it says boy. This way, we got to find out with everyone else and it was a surprise for everyone! (For anyone who's worried, we had the doctors do a back-up envelope just in case)

The frosting is... PINK! 

Ava is beyond excited to have a little sister! 

Its a girl! And we are beyond excited!!


Sharing at these fun blogs this week....

A Creative Princess Party
Show and Share @ Southern Lovely
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts

Ava's Vintage "Big Girl" Room

Today while I was supposed to be doing the dishes and mopping the floor... I got a little distracted. I started my 2.5 year old daughter's room when we first moved in and it has been "almost" done for 6 months now. Well, an adorable table found at goodwill provided the motivation I needed today. So, the sink is still full of dishes and the floor is still dirty... BUT my daughters room is adorable and she is smiling so I guess I count that as a productive day. The table makeover is still in progress and the paint is drying as we speak...  Here are some pictures of the room minus the table and chairs...  I'll add them tomorrow and post as a "part 2."

I found this dresser at a thrift store for $25.00. I love the pale pink, original hardware, and chipped paint... I didn't get a good picture of the brass casters on the high boy legs.... Its a gem and I love it in the room.

Ava's bed is Ikea... As much as I was dying to do a real vintage brass I had safety concerns and couldn't find one sturdy enough with safe distance between the bars etc. Plus, this one extends from a toddler size to a twin size and has an extendable mattress too. It works. 

Reading Nook... 

That quilt was my momma's and then mine... and now I smile when I walk by and see her snuggling with it. 

This toy chest was also my momma's... I painted it but left the original vintage bottom and wheels.

Normally, its full of stuffed animals but I wanted to show the adorable bottom.

I made the curtains and pennant banner from vintage fabric

 found in a cousins old farmhouse attic in Kansas. 

Avaree loves her room... 

and I love that it has family stories to tell and a legacy interwoven in every touch. 

Now, if we are having a boy... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M GOING TO DO! 

Definitely not a "gender neutral" room! 

Table makeover final touch coming soon... 

Linkin to these lovelies...

Show Me What Ya Got #105 @ Not Just A Housewife

Overflowing with Creativity 2/2 @ Its Overflowing

Link Party and Giveaway @ 36th Avenue

A Creative Princess Party

Show and Share @ Southern Lovely

Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts

A New Year Update...

It has been almost 3 months since my last post. It has been somewhat intentional and somewhat inevitable as life has just been so busy. I thought I'd start the new year with a post as a general update about our crazy life right now.

I started a new job as the Elementary Coordinator at our church. I oversee the 1st- 4th grade program of about 200 kids a Sunday. I'm absolutely loving it but its been a huge adjustment working again after being home with my daughter and only Nannying for the past couple years. It has been a great outlet for me to pursue my other gifts and passions outside of motherhood and domestic home life.

Avaree, our 2.5 year old started preschool 2 days a week while I go into the office. She is thriving and LOVES it. Every night she asks me if she gets to go to school tomorrow. When I dropped her off even the first day she told me "go Mommy, go home, I play with my friends!" I cried a little but so thankful she is so independent and confident. No separation anxiety in this little fireball. Here she is on the first day of school...

My husband is still working two jobs to take care of us. He is so amazing. We are praying this fall he will be able to find a teaching position again and also begin work on his Master's degree. He has put so much on hold to allow me to stay home with our daughter and I'm pushing him to pursue his dreams and trust the Lord to provide some of the financial relief we need. Excited to see what God's going to do. Currently, he has to work most evenings which is so sad for our relationship and as a father it just kills him not to be home to eat together, or put Avaree to bed, etc. This will become even harder as we have recently learned that we will soon be....

A family of 4!!! Yep, I'm pregnant! We are thrilled. I'm 15 weeks and have had it rough so far. So thankful to be into the 2nd trimester and praying to escape the extreme "all day" sickness I've had. Avaree is so excited to be a big sister and has already been a big help to Mommy. She is convinced its a girl of course, and my husband is sure its a boy. I have no premonitions so far. The plan is for me to continue to work after some maternity leave... I am only 20 hours a week and have amazing flexibility and ability to work from home most days. We are blessed.

The thing thats been missing lately is any projects, crafts, or creative outlet for this girl. And I AM GOING CRAZY. I did get some pretty decorations up for Christmas (ha, actually they are still up- don't judge hehe) but I haven't taken any pictures. It is time for some projects and now that I'm feeling a bit better, I can't wait to get started. So, I'll do my best to get some pictures up. This blog is one of my New Year's resolutions because I realize how much I just love and need this creative side of me. I've been craving the inspiration of my blogger friends and dying to know what everyone's been up to lately. So, I'm back. I am putting no pressure on myself to meet any blogging goals or expectations. But, simply to continue to use this blog as a chance to connect with others who inspire me, and to give myself the chance to share my own passions and gifts. Thanks to everyone who reads and visits here. I've missed you all!

(Our New Year's Eve dinner party table) 

Here's to this new year and all the little surprises to come!