Show us your life- Nurseries

Today is "Show us you life- nurseries and children's rooms" at Kelly's Korner. Since I haven't participated in anything in forever and I love Emerson's room I figured I would join in.

Here is the entrance into E.'s room. The letter was a baby shower gift.

The wall color looks more subdued here than it is in person. I choose a fairly brighter coral type pink that matches the bedding and Mark painted a brown trim around the top.  I painted this letters from Babies R Us. It took many, many coats. Since there was so much pink I wanted to bring out the blue in her bedding some more. 

Her bedding is the Brooke collection from Pottery Barn Kids. I fell in love with it when I saw it in the store. It's eclectic with lots of patterns and colors, and not babyish at all. The sheet has tiny owls on it and some graphic trees. I pulled from those trees to do the tree paintings on the wall. Drawn by hand, and painted while very pregnant makes for a very sore back. Her crib is from the Amy Coe collection at Babies R Us. The pictures doesn't show it but the lower portion is a chestnut wood and it has a drawer on the bottom. I loved the simple look of it. 

These asymmetrical boxes were a steal at $5 a piece. I got them at Nordstrom from the visual merchandising department when I worked their years ago. They decorated our living room in our first apartment. I repainted them white with a kelly green interior. They frame each side of the window.

Mark refurnished a dresser painting the body white and we added these fun knobs. It matches the crib colors exactly. He also refinished a white trunk that is front of the window. I had a few more pictures but these are old and it doesn't exactly look the same since our house is on the market. 

But, here is little girl enjoying her room a few months ago. Where did that chub go??? 

Looks cozy, huh? With the prospect of moving on the horizon I'm pretty sad to leave our nursery we put so much heart and energy into. But, Emerson will have other rooms. I'm not sure I'll do pink again. Unless she insists, and she might. I'm thinking a fresh blue perhaps. But, when I became pregnant with a girl I wanted a fun, colorful room, that was imaginative and different. I think we achieved that and I love it.

Show us your life- How you met your husband!

This is the story of how I Mark and I met.

I grew up in a small town in the foothills of NC where I enjoyed dancing around as a mouse.

Mark grew up in the capital of North Carolina and was just plain goofy!

But, one thing is for sure we both had an amazing sense of style....

As you can see here. :)

I started Appalachian in the Fall of 2001 as a freshman, the same school Mark was attending. The first couple weeks of school I joined a sorority and soon had a big sister. She invited me over to go to a rodeo! I showed up thinking I was at the wrong apartment when there was a guy standing over the balcony. It turned out to be her cousin/roommate Mark. We attended the rodeo, where Mark was the only guy wearing khacki shorts and sperrys, and we had an instant spark. I invited Mark to my first grab-a-date which is the picture you see above. You think the story would end there but it doesn't! I was nervous and Mark wasn't very nice. Ha! So the relationship didn't go anywhere. After a year and a half of a love/hate relationship and lots of jealousy Mark finally asked me on a real date after some much needed guidance from Kara in March 2003.

Mark graduated that following December and we continued to date long distance until I graduated in May 2005. Then I packed up my bags and moved to Raleigh.

On October 16th, 2005 Mark proposed and I said, "Yes."

A year later we were married in the very place our relationship began.

A year and a half later we learned we were expecting our first child, a girl, in March. Emerson Kaye arrived in February and has been the most wonderful daughter in the world.

A year later we are loving this sweet baby and the direction our life has taken us. If you had asked me in 2001 if I would have had a beautiful little girl and be married to Mark in 8 years I would have never believed it! I just think about all the possible ways we could have never have met or just went our separate ways but God had a plan for us!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Show us your Life Firda

Today on Show Us your Life Friday - we are talking Beauty tips and Hair and Make-Up products! So this is probably the thing I should I be talking about the least since my beauty product knowledge has dropped off in the last year. I use to love make-up and now I hardly wear it. Emerson appreciates my natural beauty. ;) But, I will attempt to give my two cents for all that it's worth. I've gotten really into natural products since becoming pregnant and not wanting any additional chemicals in my body or carcinogens. I've become a big of Jason's beauty products. I buy my stuff at Earthfare but I occasionally see it at Target now, and of course Whole Foods.

I also enjoy their apricot body wash. I am also a fan of Burt's Bee's conditioner. It's smells amazing and is so creamy and moisturizing. Again you can find it at Target. Like I said I don't wear that much make-up anymore but I do have a favorite cheap mascara. Cover Girl Lash Exact is great, doesn't clump, and runs about $6. If you want to really splurge YSL mascara is to do die for and really makes you look like you got fake lashes put on. Plus it smells like roses if you're into that. Ha. But, for now I'm a bargain girl and Cover Girl will do. I use to buy all kinds of eyeshadow from where ever but, when I got married I went to Sephora and discovered LORAC. I have this Croc Palette with four eyeshadows and a blush. They are wet dry shadows and really the most beautiful colors on. A little bronze and pink mixed. I got married 3 years ago and still use it! It is running low but I'm sure I will purchase again. I don't wear lipgloss anymore because I'm constantly smooching Emerson and she is so sensitive to beauty products. But, if I had to go all out I love Stila Lip Glaze. It's a little on the pricier side but if you take really good care of it, it last a good while. Oh and they are scented! One year I had a pumpkin spice variety and it was amazing. But, then I ran over it with my car. Sigh. At Christmas time they usually sell the variety sample packs of 5 for $20 but the sell out super quick. That's about the extent of my beauty tips. As far as hair I have a flat iron, hair dryer, etc. but I usually let it air dry. Ha!

Show us your life- Baby Gear

This week on Kelly's Korner we are talking about baby gear. Something that is very fresh on my mind of course so I think I can give it a go.

Things we love

1. Baby carriers!!!- What can I say this is my number one must have. There are plenty of options and I think you need a few to get you through the baby stages. First I made myself a ring sling which is great for newborns to sleep in. Anytime we went out and about the first 4 months I had it with me and I would pop Emerson in when she was tired. She loved it! But eventually she got to heavy and we moved on to the snugli. That worked for a month but then we fell in love with our ErgoBaby. It is a lifesaver. It's comfortable, supports Emerson's hips, and she seems to really enjoy it. I have also been able to nurse in this which is a big advantage in my book.
2. Swing- The first month Emerson loathed her swing. But, then magically she loved it. We have the nature one with crickets, water noises, a butterfly mobile, and a mirror above. It soothed her almost immediately and always put her to sleep.
3. Bumbo- I know Kelly said she didn't use hers but I can say we have used ours a ton. It took a while for petite E. to fit in it but once she did it was awesome to put the tray on it and let her play with her toys. Since she is a late sitter and still not so great at it this helps her see around her. I'm sure when she starts eating we will use it for snacks as well. So I guess it depends on your baby. I would say get it used if you don't receive one as a gift.
   
4. Rain Forest Soother- I use to have this on the changing table to distract Emerson. It plays nature noises and lullabyes. Plus a cute monkey that swings around. It turns on by pushing the bird and babies can figure it out pretty quickly. Now it's attached the crib side so I can put Emerson in there when I'm putting up clothes, etc. She loves it!

5. Exersaucer- We just got into this the last month or so. But, now it's great to preoccupy
Emerson when I'm cleaning, cooking dinner, whatever. I switch out the toys attached to it
so it stays interesting.
6. Bouncer- What can I say? Without it I probably would still not have a shower. Haha. I
really on use it during that time but it helps me stay clean. I would recommend getting a
bouncer with should harness straps not just lap straps. Otherwise when they turn about 4
months they'll try to get out.

Things we didn't use so much

1. Bottles- Not sure why I registered for any but I'm lucky enough to stay home with Emerson so there is really no point. I've given her one 1oz bottle four months ago and it came straight out her nose. Awesome. If you're nursing, SAH, then I would say buy as needed.
   
2. Travel System- We have used our stroller a few times but honestly whenever I take Emerson anywhere I put her in the Ergo. Even on walks her Daddy likes to carry her. Now when we go for a walk and we don't want to carry her we use the jogging stroller. So I would say you could hold off on the travel system and just have one stroller. Save the storage space. You'll need it.

I'm sure there are plenty of other things that we don't use or need but for some reason I can't think of anymore. I guess I'm being positive today! Oh! One last thing. Buy consignment clothes, scavenge for hand me downs. Get the name brand clothes on ebay. Seriously the best idea ever.

Show us your life-Reception and Honeymoon

So finally the reception. I thought I had a lot more pictures but can't seem to find the professional ones. :( Anyways I did my own center pieces to save some $. Here is Barbara and I assembling the apple vases. There were filled with water and had little tea lights floating on top.
I did a lot of DIY projects. Here is my ribbon board which held the escort cards. Thanks to Martha Stewart!

I thought our reception was a lot of fun. In fact I didn't want it to end. Here we are dancing away. It looks like we are dancing by ourselves but there were lots of people dancing. So much in fact that our DJ extended the reception by 1 hour!

Did I mention that we danced?!? Here is my new hubby breaking it down.

The night flew by so fast we kind of forgot to cut the cake. Finally the DJ remembered but of course a lot of people had already left. So we got to take a whole lot of leftovers home for ourselves. It was delicious. Chocolate cake soaked in raspberry liquor, filled with raspberries, and topped with butter cream. Yummmmmy!

Close-up of the cake. I drew the design on a piece of paper and sent it my cake lady. She probably thought I was nuts. Then in the end she ended up getting it wrong. Oh well. Haha.

Now for the Honeymoon. We went to Sandals Antiqua and it was absolutely gorgeous. I had never been anywhere in the caribbean and this was every thing I thought it would be. Gorgeous aqua waters, soft sand, and warm breezes. It was a little hot but who cares when you are in paradise, right? Here we are on a sailing excursion.

Enjoying the outdoor lounge after dinner.

One of the many gorgeous sunsets.

This is where we ate breakfast. Seriously.

You couldn't beat the hammock chairs there. Perfect for a nap.

I can't wait to go back. I guess will have to go to Beaches now having a little one and all.

Show us your Life-Wedding Party/Flowers/Ceremony

This is the second part of Kelly's Korner Blog's "Show us your Wedding." First up are our wedding flowers. Since we got married in October I knew I wanted something bright and colorful to match the beautiful leaves. My bouquet include red roses, red dahlias, purple calalillies, berries, and a spark of purple. The bridesmaid flowers were similar except much smaller and without the calalillies. They were all tied up with a brown satin ribbon. I loved my florist. Once I saw her portfolio I knew I had to have her. She was already booked for another wedding so I begged and begged and got her to agree to just drop off my flowers at 6ish and I would do the rest. It was economically and I was completely thrilled with the results.

For my wedding party I had three flower girls (my beautiful nieces) who wore flowy ivory dresses and ballet slippers. Their Mom came up with the rest of their look with cute curls and a floral headdress.

Now for the bridesmaids who wore floor length brown satin gowns. They were made by Jim Helm and the bridal boutique matched the outlet price! They featured shirring in the torso which I thought complimented my gown. The ladies sported gold strappy sandals and matching accessories of their choice.

The guys wore bright red vests and ties with an light ivory shirt. Don't they look sharp??

We got married outside, on a pleasant fall day under a rugged arbor. Red rose petals lined the isles, (fake flowers I might add), that we got at oriental trading for $5. The next day the mountain wind blew them everywhere and I felt so bad, since I try to be earth conscious. :( For music I had a guitar play as I walked down the isle. During the ceremony my Aunt and Guitarist sang "It's your love," by Tim McGraw which was very special to me. Another singer also sang, "The Lord's Prayer." One memorable part of the ceremony was a pesky bee that really really liked us. My niece was kind of enough to yell out, "Amy Leigh, there is a bee!" :)

****Again, my pictures are being cut off! Come on blogger.