29 September 2011

Project Mania: Chevron Fabric

Sometime early this summer I found an amazing neon green and white chevron fabric (note the new blog background). Dom was not super into it, probably because I wanted to essentially drench the baby room in it. 
I can be a little over the top. 
Despite his distaste I bought a few yards and regretted not getting more. Now mind you I had no plans for it. Just that I loved it and no amount would be enough. Plus it was like 2 or 3 dollars a yard. 

 I hung it on the wall by a couple nails and paper clips just for inspiration and there it stayed for weeks. At times I wished that I had more so I could cover the wall with it.


Then I remembered the bulletin boards my dad made me out of ceiling tiles, wish I had pics somewhere. Ceiling tiles are the ABSOLUTE best bulletin boards, way batter than the standard cork kind, they are tons thicker and seem to take the abuse of constant mutilation with pins way better and can hold heavier objects.  Plus they are so cheap, you feel free to do whatever to them. I have painted mine, covered them in fabric and ribbons and when all is over you can toss it away if you want. 

So if you want an easy and cheap bulletin board, pick up a ceiling tile, or do like my dad did when he was young and tile an entire wall with it.

If you choose to go with paint, it is super easy just paint it with whatever you have got. Then for wall hanging you can screw or nail directly to wall, hot glue it, or get picture hanging hooks if you want to be legit. I recommend hot gluing the hook onto the board, it’s a little more secure than a tack nail would be.

Or you can cover it in fabric. Simply cut your fabric about 6 inches larger than your tile and pull the excess over the back and hot glue down. And presto! You are done. Now for hanging I decided to use some fun ribbon to hang them. Not totally committed yet, they could still be tweeked in the coming weeks. But if you like the ribbon hanging all you have to do is hot glue it to the back. Use a good big glop of glue to make sure it holds well.


I hope someday when you need a bulletin board you take my word for it and make your own. You really will love it!

Also you just got a sneak peak of the bird mobile!

27 September 2011

Week 35


(inspired by Pacing the Panic Room's Maternity Series)

Nursery Update

Last glimpse you had of our nursery was this....from our weekly belly series six weeks ago. 
 We had our bassinet ( my dad refinished it, it has been in our family since my Great Grandmother. A prized possession in my life)
Some birds were in from the mobile (over on the window sill), our glider slipcover was half done, and I was still trying to figure out what to do with the wonderful chevron fabric. 
I was thinking about a navy wall, which would probably be amazing, but also really dark in our usually too dark place. So I have since abandoned the idea. 

Well, the fabric turned into bulletin boards... they still have some tweeking ahead of them I think. 

and the Bird Mobile is FINISHED!
(more on that topic)

Here are some cuddly stuffed animals from Auntie Rachelle (looks like her dog Daisy), the O'Donnell Family, and Dominic gave me one as a first baby gift. 

Ok this swing was a long time coming.
 I really really don't like typical baby colored stuff. You know the kind with obnoxious colors and freaky looking animals. If you love the abundance of colors, great! Babies probably love it too! But it drives me crazy to look at in such a small apartment. And I worried about baby colors taking over our lives. 

When searching for a swing I wanted a small version, for our mini place, that could both swing and vibrate. There are few options. Ok, there is only 1 and it comes in the before mentioned crazy animals with primary colors. I was just going to give in and buy it and attempt to make a new cover, or force myself to buy a cute one that was just swing or just vibrate. Until I discovered the swing that changed my life forever. 
(que angels singing)
It works with almost any infant car seat (Graco is the only recommended brand by the manufacturer, but our Baby Trend...as pictured... fits perfectly). It is just a frame with swing, vibration, and sound options. It's small and folds for easy travel (as that is what it is intended for). I love that baby can go straight from car to swing if need be. 

Back to more updates. I found this wonderful super heavy upholstery fabric the same day as the green chevron and it has now become a rug. 
Baby's dresser: paint chip art, a gift I can't unwrap because it is too pretty, a scrapbook of stuff from the showers and ultrasound pics, a basket full of grandpa-made wooden blocks, and Grandpa's Dam Doll (don't ask). 
Side note, sweet Detroit Tigers Pacifiers from Uncle Neil!
Lets call this corner the reading and feeding space. (The Boppy has since gotten a little facelift, with a custom cover...should have taken an hour, but took like four, I hate when that happens. If only I didn't have to have piping!)
This banner was an unexpected addition, it came from the shower thrown by our friends here at Monte Vista. A creation by Cheryl Sharp, decorator and artist extrordinaire. Dom and I both love it hanging over the window (Takes a little away from the ugly vertical blinds).

I am thinking a full tour by video sometime in the near future! 

25 September 2011

Journal Snobs


A long time ago I found this idea on etsy. I immediately thought of Stacey Leibeck and I stored it away for a rainy day. Well, her birthday came around so I thought it would be the best time to finally pull it together. 

Anyway, I thought of Stacey because she is the only other person I know who is a journal snob. 
Or at least that is how I remember it, maybe I was just looking for someone else to be as crazy as me and pinned those attributes on her as well. 

Stace, if your out there and I am wrong, don't tell me. It is better to feel not alone. 

Anyway. I find selecting materials for journalling an intensely private and personal experience. 

I think it is because something about those blank pages and new pens and pencils contain some kind of magic. 

I personally have come to a place where the pages must be entirely blank. Lines are too hindering, too confining.

I love a good Moleskin because of the history of it. Knowing that Picasso and Hemingway's fingers flipped through those same creamy pages is just so.... I don't know there are no words. 

But I also love a good canvas bound sketch book, so un-assuming and blank. Ready to be transformed. 

This last time I even gave spiral bound a chance. It was perfect for this time of my life where it is filled more with torn out pages from baby magazines than it was full of doodles, sketches, quotes and ponderments. 

Anyway one major problem for me with journalling, is I am too scattered to find my pen/pencil and I like to have different options. 

So I created a journal bandolier for Stace, should have photographed it, I felt the fabric choice was uniquely her. And then I had just enough elastic over to make my own! A surprise treat. For now it will rest on my planner because that is getting more use than my journal these days!




23 September 2011

Quilts!!!

Baby has some truly WONDERFUL quilts from family and friends. 
This one is from Anna Reno over at Adding Some Color to Team Reno
I LOVE the fabric choices! 
I also am SO GRATEFUL to have handmade items for the new little one. They are such precious gifts that represent hours of work and focus, all to shower him with love. 
This is the backside of an awesome quilt from Dom's mom, Grandma Adams. I love love that over time the fabric will keep wearing and will feel lovely and chenile....oh and it is in a chevron pattern. LOVE. I got a sneak peak of it this summer and little did I know that we would get it. 

My Grandmother, LuLu gave this quilt to the little one, with all hand stitched quilting. It is so precious to me that my son will have a quilt from his Great-Grandmother. I can't express my joy in this one. I actually cried the first night I had it.

And then there is the puff quilt from me (I'll do an update soon with better pics so I can link it up with the others over at HoneyBear Lane,) I think it will make a great play mat because it is so thick and soft. For now it is hanging out with Mr. Giraffe.


  Oh, and the blanket I knitted! haha. Proud of that project, it was a feat of self will to learn something new. Well no matter how you slice it, baby is not getting cold any time soon!

22 September 2011

"So...What are you doing with all your time?"

A lot of people have been wondering what I have been doing now that I'm not working. 
Understandable. 
Sometimes I have no idea what to say, except that I always feel like I am always doing something. 
  1. I have been doing a much better job being domestic. Keeping up on the cleaning and the laundry, although I am looking at a cobweb on Dom's desk now. I'll get to that later. And occasionally I even do something really domestic, like bake bread. 
  2. I am cooking a human, so it generally takes me a little longer to get things done and I often need a nap. 
    • this also includes that fact that like 30 extra pounds in the beer belly section make doing simple tasks, like picking something off the ground, really hard and frustrating. And generally I need to sit down afterward. 
  3. We have been busy seeing the optometrist, the pediatrician, birthing classes, the mid-wives, the chiropractor, and we still have to establish care with our new primary doctor, and go to the dentist. I also have been subbing here and there, first in the dorm and then in classes.    
  4. The ever beckoning lists in my life continue to cry for completion, yes July and August are over but their lists speak from beyond, seeking to be all crossed off. 
  5. Baby Showers, more pics to come on that topic.
  6. Thank You cards.                                          
  7. I have been trying to get at least a tiny head start on Christmas gifts because I think I might be a little busy in a month or so.
  8. Constant baby research is always at the forefront as well. 
    • We plan to eventually give cloth diapering a try, after the first few weeks (or months of constant diaper changes). We settled on BumGenius 4.0 and a stash of knock-offs. 
    • These two books were recommended by Laura VanWingerden and Pam Byrd.
      •  Finished 12 weeks and working on the Vaccine Book. I will use some of the info from 12 Weeks in conjunction with the info from Happiest Baby when the time comes for baby to need to learn better sleep habits. And I have only just begun The Vaccine Book. But I love that Dr. Sears is not overly pushy and I honestly am not sure what his stance is yet, he just offers facts about each vaccine, thank you Pam and Laura for bringing these to my life.                                               
  9. I have been documenting my finished creative projects on pinterest, to give myself a little pick me up when I am feeling like I haven't done anything or that I have a lot to do.  
  10. Baby's name is still up in the air. Don't worry this list is much smaller now. This was my mega list, which Dom cut way down and then added his own. We are probably closer to 20 options now.
  11. And I made time to read a book, short, but still sweet.            

13 September 2011

Sneak Peek: Worthington Save the Date Photo Shoot

Without revealing too much...


...I am working on editing the photos so Becky can get her save the dates put together and sent out. 

Becks, promise to have them done soon!

11 September 2011

Give Birth to Hope

Baby Adams first act in his life will be to an act of giving. Giving of that
 which sustained his life for nine months, that which he no longer needs and would otherwise be discarded. 
But which will offer the hope of life to someone else . 

He will be donating his Umbilical Cord blood. 
If you are pregnant you have the opportunity to give even more than birth to a new life.
You and your baby have the opportunity to give birth to hope for someone else. 


More Information on the Process:
Call a cord blood specialist at 1.888.932.6568 to get started. 

***The more available cord blood, which contains stem cells, the less desire there will ultimately be to create stem cells through therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research. ***

Please consider donation. 

Not Pregnant? Consider Bone Marrow Donation. Most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days, and their marrow naturally replaces itself in 4-6 weeks. 

You have the opportunity to give life to another person on this earth. 

Why Not?

07 September 2011

Mango Cake and Quilts

 The Stoddard Family is a buzz with excitement. The first in the next generation is on his way and I don't think any of us can wait to meet him (especially Aunt Rachelle)!
Join us in some baby shower fun!

Onesies from Auntie Becky and her mom Theresa...and a couple I made, plus the finished Puff Quilt!
 And decorations by Becky and Theresa. Our baby will love the beach, he simply has to.

Diaper Bag picked out by Uncle Wes. There are so few cute ones I am uber excited for this one! I won't feel like a frumpy mom carrying this!

 Baby Who Shall One Day Be Named now has a quilt from his Great Grandma Luanne, isn't it beautiful??? And it is hand quilted! I am so excited to have it that I may or may not have slept with it that night.

I got to see my closest friends and my family. It was nice to see everyone one last time and catch up before the baby arrives. If we are up to traveling we will bring him back to see everyone around Thanksgiving. But this all depends on his plan for arrival and when it will be!

 Ashley and I laughing about something, note the extreme similarity in clothes. Some things never change. 
Just the way I like it.
Dr. Suess from the Rojas clan. I LOVE Dr. Suess. They also gave me cute little pirate pajamas (don't worry for the baby).

 The cake came from Porto's Cuban Bakery there are several in So Cal, the line may be long, but I promise you it is SO SO worth it! Baby's most favorite Aunt, Rachelle got the cake...and she loaded him up with bath supplies and the cutest little man clothes. I seriously think he will like her better than me ;)

 Just one of the many outfits from Rachelle, if you know my family, you will think this little shirt is hilarious. I think we need a family photo. My Grandma gave Dom a similar shirt to welcome him to the family as well.

 Kendra and I are both pregnant, 18 weeks apart. Amazing how much you grow in 18 weeks right???
 I can't even imagine what the next 7+- will hold for my ballooning belly!(I forced her to take this one even though she doesn't have a bump yet!)


Becky and I. Big changes are coming for both of us.
  Me: the obvious and Her: a big wedding coming in the summer.  
I had the privilege of  helping out by taking photos for their Save the Date cards. It may have been disgustingly humid and hot, but the pictures we got turned out great. (I may have taken 800 to get a solid 100 good ones but I think it was worth it) More to come on the photo shoot.

Baby Uggs, because grandma's just can't resist! They are just the cutest!
Me and and my bridesmaids, minus Stacey. You were missed!
All the great gifts, I am so grateful for everything that was bought and made for the little guy.
 More pictures to come when I get them from Rachelle, Grandma Adams also made her new grandson an adorable quilt, that I had seen glimpses of and LOVED. And there were lots of other gifts that I am blessed to have received.