porch time with Paisley

loving today and tomorrow's forecast...
Friday's forecast through the weekend? Not so much.

mmmm a delicious (and super healthy!) snack and relaxing with my girl

It feels like it is summer. The temps are in the high 80s, the sun has been shining bright all day and there is the slightest breeze. Why can't the weather be like this year round?! Since the forecast takes a giant turn downhill as on Thursday night, Paisley and I took full advantage of the nice weather that we had for the day! I mean, there is SNOW in the forecast for Friday and then rain for FIVE DAYS STRAIGHT?!!! What the heck is that crap?! It is almost May! Ughh soo ready for nice warm and sunny summer weather! Paisley chewed on her bone and patrolled the neighborhood while I munched on some carrots, cucumbers, green peppers, pita slices and cheese with some hummus for dipping! I also made myself a frozen drink that was only a raspberry lemonade but it was still refreshing none the less...even more enjoyable drinking it out of a margarita glass! I'm hoping tomorrow stays as nice as they say it is going to so that Paisley and I can enjoy a long walk together and more porch time relaxing! 

bringing an old rocking chair back to life!

While we were all in Madison a few weekends ago, us girls spent an afternoon out thrift shopping. I love that  our form of quality time is going thrift shopping to see what kind of good bargains and old deals we can find....we usually find some pretty awesome and quality things which I'm always impressed by! So I was just browsing when my eyes laid upon a cute and perfectly old rocking chair. It was screaming my name actually. I promptly walked over to it, made myself comfortable and immediately claimed it as SOLD to ME! I just knew that I had to have it for Peanut's nursery. What kind of nursery doesn't have a classic rocking chair?! The cushions were definitely outdated so I knew I would want to do something about them but for the cool price of $25, we could not pass the beauty up! It was in great condition with no big knicks out of it anywhere or broken off wood pieces! Score! Thankfully my parents were coming back to stay at our place in North Liberty so we managed to fit the chair into their car so we could bring it home with us that weekend! I have been surfing the net for nursery ideas and I think we have it narrowed down to what we like and what we want to go with...I really like the ones with neutral colored walls and then bright vibrant colors paired with several mix-n-match bold patterns. Modern but still classic and so cute for a baby! With that in mind, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby last week to find some fabric to update the chair cushions and was pleasantly surprised with what they had in store....sooo many bright colors, fun patterns and awesome designs!!!! Perfect! I picked out the aqua chevron that was "duck canvas" fabric because I thought it would be more sturdy and hold up better for chair cushions! I scoured the website for a tutorial and how-to for recovering the cushions and couldn't find any that I really liked so I basically did my own thing. I didn't measure anything (sorry Mom, I completely ignored your tip of "measure twice and cut once!) and I didn't make a pattern...just winged it and thankfully, it all worked out! All in all, the chair only cost $40 total ($25 for the chair, $10 for the fabric, $5 for the batting) which is a steal considering how much a brand new rocker or glider would cost! I think I will still keep my eyes out for a bigger lounge type chair for the nursery too because Jordan says the rocker is too small for him...perfect size though for me and Peanut!

Paisley being no help whatsoever...
she kept trying to fluff up the batting and would lay on it!

the finished project! the bottom left is what I started with...
and then I redid the cushions and squared them off!
I also added arm cushions and side pockets!

Friday Funnies - 4.26.13

What?! This is the last Friday Funny of April! How that is even possible, I just don't know!!!! This weekend it's supposed to be sunny and in the 70's!! Whoo hooo!!! And I have an awesome weekend project lined up to do while Jordan is working at the golf course. Hopefully I will get it done over two-days and then can post the pictures by the end of the weekend...that is my goal! I've been busting my butt with school stuff lately so I'm taking some time to enjoy doing something that I really want to be doing....which is obviously crafting stuff for Peanut! Plus, it's so hard to study and focus when the weather is this nice even if I can't be out enjoying a nice cold drink on the porch...ahh I guess lemonade and tea is just as refreshing! Enjoy the beautiful weekend and do something fun!

image via Pinterest
This is part of my nightly routine once Jordan falls asleep after I talk his ear off....

Wanna see how animals eat their food?!!

the lizard and rhino are so great! and how isn't the friend busting up laughing the whole time?!

it's April 25th aka the perfect date

today has been a good day strictly because it's April 25th....I mean, it's the perfect date! And yes, the weather was nice enough for only a light jacket. Bonus! Get out there and enjoy the perfect date doing whatever it is you have to or want to do! 

15 weeks

15 weeks update: well, still no official bump pop! just to clarify, it's not like I am mad or upset about this by any means because I will be sad to retire all of my go-to pants and favorite shirts but it's just weird not really feeling pregnant yet! I'm thankful for having such a smooth ride so far and have my fingers crossed it stays this smooth for the both of us but I am looking forward to being able to dress up my bump and not have people whispering if I'm gaining weight or am actually pregnant...I'm in that awkward middle stage! I also bought a scale because I have been having a huuuuge uncontrollable appetite. If more than an hour passes since the last time I ate, I feel incredibly hungry so I always make sure to load up my bag with plenty of snack options and things to munch on! I was also very happy and surprised to see I've only gained 1.5 pounds since my last appointment considering how much I feel like I've been eating lately! It's starting to get slightly uncomfortable to sleep on my stomach but not too bad...I know I need to start adjusting now and not  letting myself stomach sleep all night! I am excited to work on my weekend project...updating an old rocker for Peanut's nursery! My mental vision is really cute so I hope the real deal turns out just as cute!

aunts & the kiddos

This picture makes me so happy. There's nothing like a family weekend that really warms my heart! What a perfect way to spend the afternoon than with my sister and best friend....and with our hilarious and adorable niece and nephew, Teagan and Kemper, to love on as well! We are so blessed to be their Aunts and Godmother's! I never knew how much they would impact my life and how much I could possibly love them but my heart grew exponentially when each of them were born! I can't wait for them to meet their baby cousin this fall and watch them all grow up together!

all I want for Christmas is a ticket to Ellen's Mother's Day Show!!!!!!!

This is my plea to get on Ellen's Mother's Day Show!!!!!! I have been emailing her once a week since the day I found out I was pregnant for an invite and a ticket to her show. I may or may not have at one time told Jordan that our first baby was going to be planned around Ellen's Mother's Day Show so that I could attend the taping and be far enough along to have a belly but not too far that I couldn't travel.....and well, what do you know?! That "plan" actually worked out for us! I know the odds are so sooooo slim of ever getting that magical call that I'm getting a ticket but I like to think my odds are still just as good as everyone else's that's applying to be on it! She has a contest going right now that's called "Ellen's Baby Phrase That Pays!" where each day on her show, a word flashes then on-line, you enter that word and at the end of the week it makes a phrase so you enter the phrase then too....easy peasy! And you know I've been entering with the word everyday and the phrase at the end of the week! Jordan and I both have all of our fingers and toes crossed in hopes of getting a ticket! Peanut, I hope you have your fingers crossed for us, too! I know there are hundreds, probably thousands, of women and families worse off than Jordan and myself who are much more deserving than this incredible day of give-aways than I am. I haven't saved anyone from a car stuck on the train tracks. I haven't jumped into water to rescue someone who is drowning. I don't have any secret or hidden talents (unless being able to crack every bone in my body counts?). I haven't invented any crazy product to make our daily lives easier. So what have I done? Well, let's see... I have always been supported by my amazing family. I have some of the goofiest friends in the world. I married an incredible man who will make an awesome daddy. I have been inspired by kids with cancer and their families to always do my best, laugh every day, and be thankful for who I have in my life. Because of the people in my life, I am a better person and it's them who will make me the best mom I can be - not all the latest and greatest gadgets. Winning a ticket to Ellen's Mother's Day show would be one heck of an experience that I would never ever forget. And sure, it would make some things way easier on us and our bank account! And I would definitely not pass up the ticket or the opportunity to go which is why I find myself thinking about it pretty much daily! Ahhh! Please, Ellen! Pick me! I would love to dance with you and be infected with your kindness to bring back home and spread to everyone here...we can all use a little more love and laughter in our lives everyday!