Baby Hud + Big Boy Miles

My youngest sister is having a baby soon and I definitely wanted to make her sweet baby boy something. Boys are so much harder to make things for than girls.  They are tons of girl-y things to make but no so much for the boys.  I bought a cute book of baby things by Lotta Jansdotter...very cool girl...and it has so many cute boy/girl things to make.  I chose this giraffe rattle a) because it's NOT clothing (baby's get so much of that) and b) it's fairly simple to make.  I picked out a grey fabric from Ikea...also neutral and fairly modern...and when I cut out the two pieces the one side (first picture) came out with the pattern and the back side was totally solid grey.  For me, that wouldn't do.  Fortunately it gave me the chance to get ultra crafty and test out my hand embroidery skills...i love doing that.  I definitely like the embroidery side the best.

Embroidered Side of Rattle

Upclose View of Stitching : Hudson (his name)

Another fun thing that I love to do....t-shirt transfers!  It's a great way to make plain ol' onesie's really fun!

What could be funnier than this?...

Quote: "I pity the foo...who changes this diaper"

Also, one of my sweet nephews, Miles had his 2nd birthday in August.  What do you get a two year old? Toys? Clothes? No! A hand made Monster Buddy of course!  

Again, this is from the same book as the Giraffe Rattle.  Props to Lotta.  This is so easy to make, really.  It's so funny to look at that mischievous face.  

Bottom line...Miles hated him.  So typical.  His older brother, Ethan, loves Monster Buddy.  He always comes through for his Aunt Raven.  He makes my heart smile.  Every. Time.

P.S. His arms and feet velcro! What's not to love?

P.S.S.  I made him out of a bed sheet I bought at a goodwill for $1 (i did wash it first!)

Here are all of my precious nephews:


Baby Hudson....Due November

Miles....cute, cute, cute!

Ethan.....the coolest 2nd grader I know

Byron....aka Baby B....ruff & tumble!  He knows no pain!

Brennan....hilarious! He's so smart and so clever.  His age is deceiving of his ability to understand the world around him.

Jackson.... Two words. Heart. Breaker.

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Pretty Please With A Cherry On Top?

There is something about a beautiful wedding that makes my heart skip several beats....not flatline, just pitter-patter.  Maybe it's the romanticizing about life long love and companionship or the thought of uniting two separate, beautiful lives into one equally beautiful life.  Maybe it's just the stunning dress and the sharp suited tux or the good food and good times.

Right now, I feel like I am at the crest of the phase of my life where everyone around me is getting married and soon everyone around me will be having babies.  I have attended three weddings this summer, have been invited to at least two that I was unable to attend, and have kept up with many more on the beloved world of Facebook.  Weddings are everywhere!

I loved my wedding....outdoor reception, gorgeous dress, good food, handsome groom :)  All the little details that can go into putting a wedding together make me so happy.  I love the creativity and thoughtfulness that have been put into the different weddings I have attended and those that I love to view online.  Speaking of which, my entire inspiration for writing this post is a recent wedding I was made aware of from a blog I love to read (Design Sponge).

If I had seen this before Dustin and I were married, I would have definitely put on my whiskers and copy-catted every detail of this wedding!  I have combed through every picture and every detail, multiple times, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at perfect little touches that make this wedding simply beautiful.

Next big shin-dig I have my hands in, will definitely reflect some cherry-loving, mountain-veiwing, vintage-inspiring details.  I have two more sisters left to be married off....hmmm... :)


Moutainous View....haybales, really?  There are butterflies doing somersaults in my tummy!


Beauty defined....kraft paper linens...stained, wooden, folding chairs...white, stringed lights....sigh, I'm in love!


It's all about the details!  For place settings, they traced a scalloped plate (so stinkin' easy) and the napkins are dish towels...love, love, love!



Two words...yum + so stinkin' cute...ok four words!  Again, brown paper lunch sacks, seriously, could it really be that simple?


I already have an obsession with glass bottles and jars, so seeing sweet little flowers tucked so daintily into these classic containers brings a tear to my eye.  Also, how cool is it to decorate your cake with cherries versus the typical flower arrangements?  I am all for thinking out side of the box...clearly so was this bride!



Words cannot describe how this cabinet makes me feel.  End. Of. Thought.  Also, drinking from a mason jar is one of my most favorite nostalgic things ever!


So what do you think?  Am I crazy to be so crazy about this wedding?  I think not.  Check out more pics of the gorgeous wedding with the details of who, what, where, and when on my favorite blog Design Sponge.

That's it for now.

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Why Must I Love Crude Humor + Tommey Family Visit

I can't believe it.  What seems like a month ago has already turned into a year.  Yesterday seems so near and yet the days keep on moving right on by; unlike a slow and steady train making it's way along sure and tangible tracks, my days fly by like the roadrunner on crack.  So long Wile E. Coyote.  Hello mayhem.

Dustin left for a 4 day conference in Chicago this morning.  So jealous.  How I would love to spend this week in the Windy City instead of in the whirlwind of Back to School Madness.  I don't think a whirlwind carries quite enough potency to describe the Back-to-School insanity at Staples. Christmas at Staples doesn't even hold a candle to Back to School time at Staples.  Trump Card please!  Regardless of the number of hours I work this week, I do know that my adorable husband will not forget to bring his work weary wife (say that three times fast!) a fabulous souvenir home from Chitown. "Ahem"...babe, are you reading this?

Dustin's parents came to visit this Labor Day weekend along with cousin Matthew (just for one night) and we had a blast!  Dustin and I....really just Dustin....have given a lot of Philly tours to friends and family since we've lived here.  This trip, we gave his parents a lot of re-run tours (who doesn't love a good re-run!), things that Dustin and I have seen or experience countless times, i.e. Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Cheesesteaks - a 1,000 times over, Eastern State Penitentiary.  But, we had several "firsts" this time too, like.....

Our First PHILLIES Game!
Phils vs. Brewers - GO PHILS!

Topped off with Chickie's and Pete's famous CRAB FRIES...drool!



JACK'S FIREHOUSE - across from Eastern State Penitentiary

We loved this place!  A little more expensive than you would normally expect to pay for lunch at a restaurant, but after the experience we had, it was oh-so-worth-it!  Upon first glance, I read right through the word Firehouse and didn't realize that it's really a real firehouse.  It hit me once I noticed the brass fire poles stretching from floor to ceiling.  It's obviously no longer used for it's original purpose but it still has the look of a 19th century fire station.  After being seated and really digging the looks of the place, we were served our water from a chilled, vintage glass bottle...love, sigh....then after ordering the waitress brought out fresh, homemade, buttermilk biscuits and mini-cornbread muffins with, also homemade, strawberry preserves. Double sigh.

Once our food had arrived, we took a moment to gaze in awestruck wonder at the some of the most deliciously captivating entrees that we had ever laid eyes on.  I ordered the breakfast quesadilla which was generously stuffed with the most perfectly cooked eggs, thick strips of bacon and spicy, pepperjack cheese.  I am regretting not taking a picture of this before I devoured it...darn.  Wait!  Googleimages to the rescue!

After our meal, which filled us to the brim and then some, our waitress brought us the check along with a little gesture of hospitality.  Seriously, this is my favorite part.  Accompanying our bill were fresh, steamy, melty, chocolately,smelly-goody, home-stinkin-made, complimentary (what!) chocolate chip cookies!!!!!!  This restaurant will forever be distinguished in my mind as a restaurant above all others.  Who does that?  Complimentary homemade cookies?!  It was like a cleansing the palette thing they do at some Asian restaurants with sherbet, except warm and chocolate. yes ma'am!  I was super impressed, if you can't tell. Come to visit me in Philly and I promise I will take you there!  Please come, be my excuse to go!


Lots O' Fun with the Tommey's!

I have been watching YouTube videos too much lately, only because they make me laugh so hard!
Examples:

Antoine Dodson - Bed Intruder Interview & Song
"run and tell that, run and tell that, homeboy, home, home, homeboy"

I'm on a Boat - *Warning* the f-bombs are "a-flyin" "I've got my swim trunks & my flippy-floppies"
i confess...i don't know why but this is soooo funny!  call me scum, but I can't stop laughing!

If you can handle all the obscenities, please check out Burt & Ernie's rendition....it's so wrong it's funny!
Sesame Street Rap

Lastly, i heart Flight of the Conchords....
My favorite video of the week...Business Time....border-line raunchy, but not really.  Best line: "That's why they call them business socks"
"It's business, it's business time"


It's also 1AM....I'm so out!


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