#PROJECTdecor

Today I'm guest posting over at Fresh Mommy blog. I was so excited when they asked me to be a part of #PROJECTdecor. 

It's a month filled with all things decor, so I know you'll wanna stay tuned.

Check out Tabitha's (the author of Fresh Mommy blog) first project - DIY pallet beds. Amazing.

I'll be sharing several posts, the first of which is The Art of Styling where I share my tips for a well-styled bookshelf.

And if facebook is your jam - head on over and join the group -we'd love to see what projects you've been up to!

Grady's birth announcement

I remember the first week Grady was born, my friend Kerry was over and I looked at her with tears in my eyes and said "I don't even want to make his birth announcements."

As a graphic designer, and one who loves to design, this was a sad statement. But that's just a testament of how far we've come. 

It was just a few short weeks later that I couldn't wait to design his birth announcements and show him off to the world.

So, here's what we sent to family and friends announcing our sweet boy.

I took a picture of G in his crib all stretched out and then graphically designed it using photoshop.

I love his sweet little face looking up at me in this picture.

Design inspired by this one.

 And just to keep it real, here's my favorite outtake.

Look at that wrinkly little leg.

We truly are proud parents of our sweet Grady boy.

Need a photo edited or graphically designed? Email me for a quote.

the gift of dinner + free printable

Before you have a baby, you're kind of oblivious to some of the things that go on in the baby world.

I know I was.

But then my friends started having babies and I started receiving meal train requests.

Before you have a baby, it might not naturally occur to you how difficult it can be to actually prepare a dinner with a newborn around. It wasn't until I had a baby of my own that I realized how truly helpful it is to receive meals after your baby arrives.

My sweet friend Kerry set up a meal train for me and for the whole month after Grady was born we received a meal every other day.

This was SUCH a huge blessing for this overwhelmed and overtired mama.

Just knowing there was one less thing I needed to worry about while we adjusted to our new life with Grady helped ease my mind. Cause the Lord knows we would have eaten fast food for those first weeks for sure.

We received absolutely delicious meals and really appreciated the time and effort that went into prepare them for us.

I always struggle with what to make when I'm bring someone a meal - so here are a few of the meals we received (not the actual recipes) and loved. 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

source

Enchiladas

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Chicken Parmesan

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Chicken Salad

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Pesto Pasta

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White Chicken Chili

source

I want to thank everyone who brought us meals that first month - it was such a blessing and we are grateful to have such good friends.

Because I know how much it meant to me, I want to encourage you to bless your new mama friends with a meal! I've created a free printable that you can use to attach to your meal so you a) don't forget to give instructions, b) in case you just need to drop the meal off, or c) if you just want to make it a little bit cuter.

The file is designed to print out on a regular piece of cardstock. I've designed it so you can print it in grayscale and save that colored ink (yeah, I'm frugal like that.) There are two on a page, so just cut the page in half and you have one to save for later!

You can download it and print it for yourself right here.

brightening my day

I really believe in little details that help make a day a little happier.

Something as simple as a pretty pattern can brighten my day.

Since I've gone back to work, I make myself a cup of coffee in my to-go mug every morning.

In an effort to make my mornings a little prettier, I upgraded the plastic coffee cozy that came on my mug with a cozy made from a piece of fabulous vintage fabric that my friend Kerry gave me.

You might remember that I upgraded a to-go mug as a gift last Christmas using the same method.
You can read more about the process here.

A sweater sleeve, a piece of fabric and a sewing machine is all you need.

(I think hot glue would work too if  you don't have a sewing machine.)

It was so quick and simple, I made a summer and a winter version. :)


I recently saw these white plastic to-go mugs at the dollar store - so this could make a very inexpensive gift!


And now I sip my coffee on my way to work in a little bit better mood.

Fall jump-start

In my book, Fall offically starts the day after Labor Day. Not September 22.

Kids go back to school. Sweaters show up in the stores. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available.

Now if only the Virginia weather would get on board.

It won't officially hit me until I feel that crisp in the air, but I like to jump start that fall feeling by decorating!

In honor of jump starting fall this year - I'm offering 15% off in my shop until September 22!

Use code: FALL15

I've got some great fall finds:

A great vintage leaf serving tray

Add a few candles and you have an instant centerpiece.

A vintage nut bowl

Throw in a bag of nuts and you have an easy appetizer for dinner guests.

Vintage fireplace matches

Add them to your mantle - practical and cute!

Set of 5 mustard yellow lace-trimmed napkins

Perfect color for a fall tablescape.

Set of 3 milkglass planters

Plant some mums and line these up on your table!

Vintage owl pendant

Add this to a long necklace and add flair to your fall outfits.

Vintage Brass apple

Classic fall decorating piece.

Vintage thermoses

Fall picnic anyone?

Vintage Chevron Afghan

Perfect for getting cozy at home.

Vintage Pyrex bowl

Imagine mixing up a fall treat in this.

Vintage Fall Harvest Tablecloth

Easy way to bring fall into your dining room!

Vintage Owl Wall Hanging

Mix up your collage wall for fall or add him to the mantle!

Bring on Fall!

AWE vs. me

One of the catalogs I love to get on a regular basis and peruse through for home decor is At West End (AWE). They call themselves "a unique place for rustic and recycled home decor". Right up my alley.

Their catalogs are always filled with pretty and inspirational images and finds. Flipping through the catalog this month, I couldn't help but notice how many things pictured were so similar to things in my own house that I had picked up while thrifting!

Their tiny animal planters...

...my tiny animal planter (quarter yard sale find)

Their wrought iron anchor...

...my wrought iron anchor (50 cents at a yard sale)

Their rake hanger...

...my rake hanger ($3 at an antique store)

Their way to corral twine...

...my way to corral twine ($1 at a yard sale)

Their door stop...

...my door stop ($1 at the thrift store)

Their color coordinated books...

...my color coordinated books (4/$1 at a thrift store)

Their white ceramic owls...

...my white ceramic owls (50 cents each at the thrift store)

Their honey jar...

...my honey jar (50 cents at the thrift store)

There were also a couple things that reminded me of stuff in my shop:

Their towel holder...

...honeysuckle finds towel holder. ($20)

Their owl trivet....

...honeysuckle finds owl trivet. ($7 - SOLD OUT)

Maybe over time their images have subconsciously influenced my eye for a good find. :)

What catalogs do you look through for inspiration?