so much to share

I wish I was sharing baby pictures, but she is still "baking" as we say. I'm just now at 37 weeks, so I wouldn't have really wanted her to come any earlier than now, BUT now that I'm here, and considered full term, I wouldn't mind if she decided to make her appearance! But, for now I'll share some things that I think are just too good not to pass on.

FIRST: I've been following a new blog, and LOVE it. It's a Christian blog for women, and I've read so many wonderful posts - they really do lift my spirits and encourage me. There is a button on my sidebar but you can also click HERE to go there. I call it a blog, but it's really a lot more, because they have other resources there as well, like a book club! How fun is that??

The next thing I have to share is an idea I got from Ali's Blog, and I thought it was such a great idea that I wanted to pass it on. It's a daily "list" you make - 3 things you're THANKFUL for, 3 things you WILL do that day, and 3 TO-DO's to get accomplished. She explains it much better than I could, so go on and click HERE to go to the post. I think it's a great way to start the day, and be reminded of all the blessings we have around us that we should be thankful for!!!

And finally, a little project that I finished up yesterday. I got the inspiration for this from a link that Sam posted on her blog - click HERE to check it out. At first I was going to do the project that this gal does, and make it for my recipes and menus, but then I remembered we're moving in few months and my stove top doesn't have cabinets that would work with something like this, so I'm going to put that one on hold until I get down there. BUT I have been looking for a system to keep all the forms, book orders, etc. that the boys bring home organized and in one place (read: not all over my counters or stuck on the fridge). So I took her idea and made it into something that would work for my needs. Here is what I came up with.


For the magnets, I found cute buttons and used my glue gun to attach them. The lettering on the folder was cut with my cricut machine - note to self: use that more often!

Here it is hanging up in it's final "home". Sorry for the bad light, it's in our laundry room by where the boys hang their backpacks.

I have some fabric washing for my next project, don't know if I'll get to it today or not, but I really hope so because I can't wait to see how it turns out. I hope you are all enjoying your weekends, doing fun weekend-y stuff. We still aren't sure what we are doing with the rest of our day...but for now I'm off to fold some laundry and maybe go on a walk to enjoy the beautiful spring weather we have.

A place for everything...

And everything in it's place...I've become even more of an organizational basket-case than usual.

All I can say is I must have hit the "nesting" stage of the pregnancy because I've been doing some very NON-Kel like things. Like ironing...I HATE ironing. I don't even iron the hub's uniforms, he does it - I avoid it like the plague. But yesterday I found myself ironing the wrinkles out of the pillowcases that go on the guest bed. Never-mind the fact that they are going to be wrinkled the first time someone lays down, or that we're not expecting anyone for another 5 weeks (after the baby arrives) but yesterday it was something I felt just HAD to be done.

Odd...very odd indeed.

Then today I continued my trend by washing and then ironing the bed skirt for the guest room as well.

However, in the midst of all this ironing I did come up with a good system to help organize my desk a bit - this is where the "everything in it's place" comes in. My desk and I have a "love/hate" kind of relationship. I love it because it does this.

I can't stand it because when it's open it's a giant mess and there isn't anywhere to put anything and the top of my scanner ends up as a landing pad...blah.

But I came up with this, and it not only works great but I had all the stuff on hand.

To make the folders, I used two file folders, stapled the sides, and covered them with cute scrapbook paper. I joined them together using paperclips.

Now I have two pocket folders to store all my papers that I can't file away yet, but I don't need ALL the time. These papers usually end up, A. stuck to my whiteboard making it all messy, or B. floating around my desk and driving me insane.

For the clear pocket I used a page protector. I cut off the side, and now it's the perfect size to hold my monthly calendar that I print out, and it's easy to swap one for another.

The lettering I did myself with a sharpie. To attatch it to my board I used these command strips from 3M. That way I can easily remove the folders if need be.

And I still have a little room on the whiteboard to jot a few things down. Best of all...

I can see the top of my scanner!! Ahhhh...

Now if only the cute fabric I ordered would get here so I could get to work on my next project. Maybe I'll come up with another clever idea while I wait. Only time will tell.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

checklists and countdowns

It seems like we've been doing a lot with both of these here recently.

Last night it hit me that our little girl will be here in ONE MONTH!! That's right folks, we are at 4 weeks and counting. So I figured that it was time to make a checklist for all the things that need to be done before she arrives.

As you know I've been sewing a bit recently and I talked about making a nursing cover a few weeks ago after my trip to the fabric store. I finished it today and I am happy with the results. Who knew I could make such a thing?!?! Here are a few pictures of my little project. It was fun, and only took about two hours start to finish. Can't beat that!

pieces pinned and ready to sew together

close-up of strap that goes around neck

all finished
here it is on me, excuse the bad picture. I took it myself in a mirror, and with my shirt it sort of all blends together, but you get the idea.

I have a few more projects on my list - I think next up will be a play-mat. We also finished getting her bed together. She now has a mattress and all the bedding has been washed and assembled.



We had another great weekend. We took a trip up to Newport yesterday - so.much.fun!! We rode a train, went to an aquarium, took a ride in a fire-truck, made a quick beach visit, drove past the amazing houses...it was wonderful.

Hot shot with his Daddy

the Munchkin riding the carousel

Today we went to church and have been enjoying family time. I've got dinner cookin' and a fresh batch of sweet tea ready to go - things just don't get much better. Hope you all have had a nice weekend!

blueberries with love

I was so ready for this weekend! Nothing big or huge going on, but I have done nothing but spend quality time with friends and family - bliss.

We had our "big brother" day for the boys yesterday, and we also had a little send off breakfast for our neighbors who left to move to VA. They have kids the same age as ours, and we have all become good friends, so we wanted to send them off with full bellies knowing they would be missed around here. Here is my little (soon to be middle) and their middle one enjoying some Saturday AM cartoons.

These two share a birthday and are only hours apart age-wise. Jennie (mom) and I have already decided it would be the perfect arranged marriage...hehe.

I got a little daring and tried THREE new recipes for this, and I have to say they were ALL wonderful. Baked french toast, an egg casserole dish, and THESE wonderful blueberry muffins. I picked up fresh blueberries when we were out the night before and had been craving some muffins, so I whipped these together Sat morning and they didn't disappoint!

When it comes to menu planning I tend to go a little overboard, but in this case it worked out. The eggs and french toast were all but gone, and the rest (muffins and fruit) we will enjoy for ourselves this week. My perfect way to start the day.

After we said our "see ya laters" we got things cleaned up then left to celebrate the rest of the day with the boys. We took them duck pin bowing (a new favorite for the boys - and new to us southerners) and then to dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe (at the boys request). Then we surprised them with a stay at a hotel with all that comes with it - movies, jumping on beds, and of course swimming in the pool. They had a ball and it was a nice little get away. And as a bonus for me, this AM at the pool if you were sitting in the sun, it was so warm and bright in the room you could almost imagine it wasn't 20 degrees outside!! I didn't want to leave!!

We're back home now, enjoying more family time. It's pretty cold today so we did movies, more Wii Bowling, and as soon as our dough finishes rising, we're making pizza. YUM! This weekend with the people I love was truly the best thing EVER - and just what I needed! Hope you are all enjoying your weekends - and seriously, if you like muffins - give those a try!

tickeld pink

Happy St. Valentines Day everyone! Anyone out there doing anything special today?? We usually stick pretty low-key around here for the Valentines Day. This AM I made my two little Valentines pancakes to start off the day, and the hubby got his choice of what I made for dinner/dessert tonight. And of course lots of hugs and kisses all around, but really that's not any different than any other day here.

I've been a busy bee at the sewing machine these days.

I still haven't started the nursing cover, I need to make another trip to the fabric store before I begin, so I started on some bibs and burp-cloths - and I have to say they turned out REALLY cute.

They are not quite done, but here is what I have so far.

The bibs

The burp-cloths

Cute no? I still need to find something to cover up the clips that go with the bibs, but that's just a matter of getting out the glue gun. I'm really excited about these, and they were actually pretty easy. If you are interested, you can find the pattern for both HERE. My sewing machine and I don't get along all that well, and I swear it has something against pretty stitches, but other than that, I think they turned out pretty cute.

Alright, well that's it for me today. My little projects are pretty much all I have been doing in my "free" time. We had a nice weekend as a family, and this coming weekend is when we have the boys big brother day planned! I can't wait, it's going to be a lot of fun.

Hope you are all doing well out there!

just can't get enough

I just LOVE this. Maybe its that the little boy in it is too cute (even if you can't see his face), or the dramatic music, or even just my love of VW's (we own two), but it's the best commercial I've seen in a long time...every time I watch it (which is at least once a day by request of my three year old), it brings a smile to my face. So for today this is all I have to share. Enjoy - and let the force be with you. :)

ready or not

7 weeks and we will be gathering up the last of our stuff, so that 7 weeks from tomorrow we can head to the hospital to welcome our little girl into the world. Amazing! For those of you who don't know, I'm a scheduled c-section thanks to my first baby (he was worth it!).

So, we've been getting things ready. This week we set up the crib.


It will have a mattress, and sheets, dust ruffle, etc. But I still have to wash all that stuff, get the mattress, and there's no rush at this point.

I've also been bit by the sewing bug and have a few projects lined up. Yesterday I drove out to pick up some fabrics to make all sorts of things. From burp cloths and bibs to blankets and play mats, I stocked up. I just hope my little old machine is up for the challenge.

This is the fabric for my first project - a nursing cover. I found the pattern online, and it SEEMS like it will be something I can handle. We shall see. If it's successful, I'll post the link in case any of you feel inspired to make such a thing.
Okay, that's it for me tonight. Just wanted to post a little something. Hope to be back soon with my finished project and another one on the way. We had a super busy day today, but it was spent celebrating and catching up with friends, so all and all it was perfect! Oh, and I made these brownies to take to a superbowl party tonight. They are in fact still DELICIOUS! Have a great week y'all!