10.1.2014

{Norah turns ONE}

Hi friends! So it's been over a year since I last blogged and while I'm not completely sure what my plans are for this blog (you can read more in my about section) I do know that I have a huge fear of losing my photos.  You may think I'm crazy but I seriously think about it all. the. time.  Photos are really important to me because they capture moments and memories to have forever & I feel like they freeze time for just a bit!  Needless to say, I'm obsessed and love taking them and probably take way too many.  I save them to my computer as well as an external hard drive but I still am always worried I will lose them so I thought this space would be another place I could upload them to try and keep them safe... starting with Norah turning ONE! ONE? Yes, one!! I can't believe it either.

Friday the 26th was Norah's actual birthday so we celebrated just the three of us.  She had birthday pancakes, lunch at Chick Fil A and then a cupcake later in the day. The pancakes were the three ingredient pancakes I'm sure you have seen floating all over the internet.  They are made with bananas, eggs & we added one of Norah's favorites, blueberries.

We LOVE Chick Fil A!

Later that day we let Norah enjoy a strawberry cupcake and she LOVED it! I had plans to make her first cake, like the one you see all over pinterest...obviously that didnt happen! ;)  We lit the candle at first but then quickly had to blow it because she kept trying to grab at it which is why she is so upset! As soon as we started singing she started to smile.

Did you say cake?!

Saturday was the big celebration at our home with friends and family.  I tried not to worry too much about the weather but obviously I did a little but was thankful for clouds and temps in the 80's.  I think everyone had a great time and I have to be honest, afterwards, I felt like I had just had a wedding...exhausted!! I planned here and there for a couple of months and diy'ed most of the decor.  My favorite project was her monthly banner I made with her monthly stickers and photos. I had the used stickers laminated and cut out and then clothespinned them to jute along with the photos we had taken each month. Here are some snapshots from the party.

Opening presents...

"Happy Birthday to you..."

My whole heart.

You can see more photos on my Instragram, link for that is in the top right corner.  Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit! I plan on sharing the gifts we got Norah and some favorites very soon!

<3 Katie

8.14.13

{Beauty Favorites}

I know I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks since we've been busy with baby showers and getting ready for baby N's arrival but I really wanted to share some of my recent purchases that have become some of my favorites!

Garnier BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin:   I've always been a powder foundation girl and I've never worn a liquid foundation.  I would say my skin is combination to oily and more on the sensitive side.  I've tried several BB Creams since the BB Cream craze started and they either broke me out or were too heavy.  This product is the perfect amount of coverage, very light on the skin, easy to blend, and more importantly doesn't break me out!  I use this daily as my moisturizer and foundation and I buff it in with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. It also has SPF 20 which is a plus since protecting my skin from the sun is a priority.  Since it's also moisturizing its easy to build up on certain spots or blemishes without looking cakey.

Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara:  When Maybelline first came out with the Falsies Mascara I was a huge fan because it gave my lashes both length and volume!  The Falsies Big Eyes also gives length & volume but more importantly it has two wands, one for the top lashes which tapers at the end to get into those small corners and another for your bottom lashes that is super tiny which makes it easy to cover each bottom lash to give the "Big Eyes" effect.

Loreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo:  I bought this shampoo after reading reviews online and I have been loving it & the smell is amazing!  It's supposed to "instantly and over time repair the five visible signs of damaged hair - split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness, and dehydration - without weighing hair down."  I believe every word!  The first time I used this my hair felt so much healthier, was shinier, and felt so light!  I've used it for about two weeks and I can definitely say my hair feels stronger and this is with just using the shampoo, I will be purchasing the conditioner very soon!

Have you tried any of these products or do you have any favorite beauty products that you are loving right now?!

<3 Katie

7.30.13

{Maternity Photos}

Last week my DH and I had our maternity photos taken by the amazing Erin with EE Photography.  You can view her blog here.  Erin is one of the sweetest people I've met & SO very talented AND our baby girls are due within days of each other! :)

Erin photographed our engagements and wedding so I knew I wanted her to capture this special time in our lives.  You can view our engagement photos here and our wedding photos here.  Below are some of our favorites from our maternity shoot.

 

Ivory Dress:  Asos Maternity
Chartreuse Dress:  Loft Outlet
Pink Top: Anthropologie
Gold Headband: Anthropologie

 <3 Katie

7.28.13

{DIY: Coat Closet to Mudroom}

When my husband and I moved into our house almost two years ago, I knew something had to be done to our small and out of place "coat closet".   Over the next several months of us unpacking and getting settled it became a catch all for things that didn't have a place yet.  It also had so much lost space at the bottom that could be used for storage, something our home definitely lacks.

I started searching on Pinterest for "small coat closet makeover ideas" and found quite a few photos of coat closets turned into a mudroom and I immediately knew this was the perfect DIY project for this space.  Not only would it give me more storage space for all those "little things" but it would be a pretty place for guests to leave their belongings when they visit.  If you have little ones, this is would be a great space for them to put their shoes, backpacks, etc.

First, I cleared out the closet, removed the coat bar and cleaned.  I knew I wanted some sort of bench in there so I did some measurements and searching online.  Last, I added some baskets, a white door hanger, a pillow & a cute wall decal.

{before & after photo}

Straw Baskets: Tj Maxx
Pillow: Marshalls
Wall Decal: Hobby Lobby
Bench: Target
Storage Cubes: Target

You can purchase the storage bench here: ClosetMaid 3 Cube Bench

Overall the project was pretty simple and I loved how it turned out but more importantly we use the closet every day.  It also doesn't hurt to be reminded each day that "life is beautiful" because it is!

Have you done a project for a closet in your home?  I'd love to hear about it!

<3 Katie

7.10.2013

{Nursery Organization}

I wanted to share a couple of things I've gotten done this past week for N's nursery.  First, are these Racheal Wall Hanging Baskets from World Market.  They come in sizes small, medium, & large, I got one medium and one large and hung them on one of the walls to use for book storage.  The room is a smaller than average room so after the crib, rocker, & changing table/dresser we don't have much more room for furniture.  This was a perfect and affordable solution.

This adorable RASKOG Turquoise Cart from IKEA was delivered yesterday!! I will be putting it next to the changing table/dresser in N's nursery to store diapers, powder, wipes, etc. It was so easy to put together too! 

This cart can be used for so many different things and in so many different places.  Play room, children's room, office, classroom, etc!  I know we will have this thing for a VERY long time.  I'm really wanting to get another one now for my craft room! :)

<3, Katie

7.2.2013

{Chalkboard Labels // diy project}

One thing I need to tackle in the near future is organizing baby N's nursery closet.  I know I want to use baskets on the top shelf to try and keep it clutter free and I wanted to make some labels for the baskets.  Any chance I get to use chalkboard paint, I'm on it! I love that stuff!  This way I can write on and erase anytime I need to change what's in the basket because being a first time mom-to-be I probably won't know what will work best until she is here and is the center of our world :)  Below I will show you exactly how I made my set of five chalkboard labels.

Materials Needed:
-cardboard pieces
-scissors
-pencil
-jute
-chalkboard paint (I used spray)
-stencil for label shape
-hole punch

First, I found my stencil I wanted to use, printed it out, and then cut it out. Next, I traced the stencil five times on the cardboard and cut each one out.

Then, I took my five cut outs outside and laid them on a large enough area safe for me to spray paint & not get any paint on the garage floor.  I have to keep the hubby happy when it comes to "his" garage & yes, I've made that mistake before! ;)  Once laid out, I spray painted three coats on each side.  I let each coat dry before applying the next.

After the painting was done and they were completely dry, I brought them back inside and used a hole punch to make two holes in each piece.  Then, I cut ten pieces of jute that were each about ten inches long.  I tied knots on one end of each piece of jute and then threaded them through each hole.

Once I purchase the baskets I'm going to use I'll thread each piece of jute through a hole in the basket and then tie the two pieces on each label together inside the basket.  I practiced attaching one of the labels on a storage basket I had in my laundry room so here is an idea of what it will look like.

Any mom's out there know what I should put on the labels to start out with?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

<3, Katie

7.1.2013 

{Victoria's Secret Amber Romance as Mosquito Repellent}

A recent news alert was sent out that mosquito's tested positive for West Nile in my  home town.  As soon as I heard about it I passed the info onto my family since they still live there & have precious little ones who LOVE to be outdoors! 

I ended up on the phone with my sister later that day and she mentioned to me that her significant other & his buddies use Amber Romance body splash when they are out fishing to keep mosquito's away.  What?!?! There's NO way!  So what did I do as soon as I got off the phone with her?  I visited my friend Google.  I found lots of posts about this and the success people had.

If it does work, not only will the scent bring me back to my Jr. High days but it smells more pleasant than the usual repellents most of us use, I won't feel like I need to bathe as soon as apply it and it probably contains less harmful chemicals.   

As soon as I have the chance to try this out I am going to & I will be back with an update! I'm so anxious to see if Victoria's Secret has been keeping ANOTHER secret from me!! :)

Have any of you heard about this or even tried it out?  Let me know, I'd love to hear!

<3 Katie