Intertwining like a ring around the finger of a girl

It's wedding Wednesday and it feels like crunch time all of a sudden.  I have been so busy with life that I rarely notice the time just ticking by...(it could be that a large portion of my free time was spent voraciously reading the Hunger Games trilogy). 

So today for wedding Wednesday I am deciding to focus on something old.  My friend Breann and I created this garland out of old cds, scraps of scrapbooking paper, a couple yards of ribbon, packing tape, glue, some alpha stickers and some ink.  I use this particular garland to adorn the door of Sloane's nursery.  However I am thinking of making a garland for the kids area at the wedding. 



It was seriously easy.  I snagged a few "mix cds" that I made a long time ago for things like working out to the tunes of Justin Timberlake.  I have nothing against Justin or working out (well maybe a little against working out) but I feel a little ridiculous trying to bring sexy back at this point in my life.

 

We stuck the scrapbook papers onto the cd with scrapbooking glue, tacked on the alphas using my xyron adhesive sticker maker (you could do a layer of mod podg over the top to assure the adhesive quality, especially if you want to use anywhere with humidity- like outside, bathroom or a kitchen).  Then we inked the edges with a small ink pad just to give it a little more dimension and attached the ribbon loops to the back of the cds using packing tape, then you can adhere another circle of paper over the evidence of the tape and in case you have it freestanding then both sides are decorated. 

Easy little project.  

linking up a few places today:  Ginger Snap Crafts  Family Home & Life   My Girlish Whims  Sugar and Dots  Crafty Texas Grils  The Sasse Life

title courtesy of Jason Mraz, Bella Luna

sunshine day

My sister (and my carpenter step-dad) had quite the task ahead when she began her nursery.  In a few short months we changed my parent's guest room into a charming, sweet, updated little room perfect for a new addition (and for an office/guest room in the future).  This room had been long ignored-- for about 10+ years it was dubbed "the middle room" which meant storage area for extra furniture, the computer and the exercise bike and tons and tons of 1990's clothing my mom forgot that she had (think Suze Orman jackets).  

This was the weekend we cleaned everything out.  We had already changed the blinds and valance.

Yes people that is wood paneling, and ugly puke carpet

The people who designed this room loved them some wood

My sister had fish on her wall when this was her room, circa  1998

Every little detail is transformed-- down to the electric face plates, doorknob and  hardware

Guest book from the shower-- cream walls

Accessories in the built-in-- new yellow paint on the accent wall (goodbye fish)

Take me out to the ball game prints over the crib-- love that painted paneling!

New wood floors, New slipcover on the couch, New hardware on the desk, New pillows

My favorite part of the room-- the flooring and the accent rug (Target)

Spray painted the mirror

The sheet has the faintest blue hexagons and a creamy yellow skirt that matches the valance

Cozy spot to sit

It's hard to believe it's the same room.  It's so beautiful, and minimalist (just like my sis) and we all worked very hard to get it done before little sprout made his way into the world.  She ordered a beautiful print from Etsy that she had framed at Hobby Lobby and that needs to be hung, and we are still working on one little project for over the changing table-- but otherwise it's home for bebe Ledger.  

Sigh...onto the next project!  

title courtesy of the Brady Bunch (yep) that cheesy song they sing as "The Silver Platters"--can't help it all the yellow makes me so happy 

as you sleep: Sloane's nursery tour

Dear Sloane,

It's hard to say good bye to the nursery we brought you home to...I've wanted to post about all the little things in your room for a long time now.  Lucky me, Jenna took photos of some of the little details when she was over for your 6 month photos.  I spent a lot of time before you were born trying to make every detail lovely for you and to make it affordable.  I am happy about how it turned out.  I hope when you look back at the photos you are too.

Grandpa G. & Gigi bought you this shelf, I DIY'd the bird house and the two birds are Christmas ornaments from Target

etsy find, target frame

Target find DIY'd crib

I DIY'd the flowers and picket fence, my friend Kate made the big-eyed owl peeking at you

lovely piece aquired through a trade, available on etsy

Target dollhouse bookcase, vintage & new blocks

hello birdie

miss s has many books

vintage golden book and mellisa & doug pull toy

revamped Craigslist dresser w/ paint, poly and new hardware- favorite piece in my home
thirft store bunny, DIY'd owl, vintage brush, Target basket, gifted turtle, DIY'd thrift store monogram

a bed by the window, night stand from a tag sale- 5 dollars plus an anthropologie knob

we vascillate between yellow, pink and white sheets

Lots of good sleeping happened in this space
photo by Bret Palmer

beautiful shaggy rug from a yard sale for 10$

We were so blessed with friends who gave, scoured Craigslist for us and helped us renovate furniture that we only spent 5$ on nursery furniture.  Seriously.  We were gifted everything else.  The rug was 10$ The art was 20$. Frames were 60$. DIY'd knick knacks and monogram 55$...grand total money spent 150$.  Grand total of time spent: priceless.

close your eyes, and i will be swimming

lullabys fill your room,

and i will be singing singing to only you

dont forget ill hold your head

watch the night sky fading red

but as you sleep, and no one is listening

i will lift you off your feet, ill keep you from sinking

don't you wake up yet

-something corporate, as you sleep

they love to tell you stay inside the lines

my newest little stack of vintage (50's & 60's) bookish goodness (the bottom one is The Secret Garden)

a little toybox bench for Sloane, skirt for mommy & cup for the nursery

isn't it precious?

Lately I've been fighting my urge to join pinterst, as I know I will get addicted to it and I don't have enough time as it is...but it's oh so lovely there. 

Browsing a few new blogs I <3

• aiming low
• studio calico
• lunch break

• oh happy day

Doing a little scrapping in honor of my sister's graduation.  So proud of her.  She will be attending nurse practitioner school next fall to earn her doctorate (I am jealous as I used to be the sibling with the most education). I thought she looked adorable in her little old school nursing uniform.  Isn't it a great tradition that they still take these photos.  Apparently the little hat indicates the degree of BSN and the white scrubs indicate her being an RN.  Her little nursing lapel pin is on her left shoulder and they said the pledge of Florence Nightingale at her pinning ceremony.

I did a little arrangement of candy in apothecary jars with handmade Rx labels for her table.  I didn't snap a picture but I did snap a pic of the sample bottle I made to show my mom (those are yellow mini m&ms).  It turned out pretty cute, I will have to track down a photo.  The Rx labels were things from my sister's life.  One of them was an Alice in Wonderland theme "drink me" and one was a Breakfast at Tiffany's homage: "to cure the mean reds".   We did get a pic of my mom's amazing nurse cake though.  Too cute.  (the bottle collection is right to the right of the photos of my sister and her friend (they had their reception together at a hotel). 

So ready for the weekend.  Can't wait to see what the days will hold, hopefully some relaxation and lovely weather. Hope your holiday weekend is all you want it to be!

title courtesy of John Mayer: Real World

lima bean lima bean does whatever a lima bean does

She lives with two parents who have a penchant for nicknames

Sifting through old photos I'd yet to scrap here is one
from the birth announcement of my bff's first son: Maxx.
I'm a little behind, he was born Feb 29th 2008

My bff's second son: Quinn was born January 28th 2011
(we are already planning their eventual wedding)

 more of the little champ: how great of a name is Quinn!?
I love it!

In other news:  so the nursery is complete.  My baby is 5 months old. My excuse was that she was born early, although she was only born 5 weeks early not 5 months... (fail).  Finished the last DIY project (at least until we move this summer) Pictures and post to follow!  (Of course I will have to remove all the baby stuff that is actually awesome but looks well, like baby-stuff and that will allow for all my shabby-chic and DIY gloriousness to shine).

tutorial here

Speaking of DIY...here's one I've had on my favorites bar forever (over a year) to try.  I must find a foot board I like now that it's yard saling season again (HOORAY!). 

Sloane turned 5 months old over the weekend.  My baby sister graduated from nursing school.  And I celebrated my first mother's day...all of these things made me feel a little bit like time was flying. 

I know this was a boring post, but I really wanted to update, even though I suppose that is as banal as speaking just to hear your own voice. 

title courtesy of Keenan (the lima bean's father) who adapted the hit song "Spider Pig" sung by Homer Simpson.

and then I think about my fear of motion which I never could explain

new art for the nursery acquired by goods/services trade (so hippie of us). So excited to hang it on Sloane's wall. It's so fitting as she just LOVES to hear "You are my sunshine" right now. I just love Amy's work, and the best part is that she is a sweetheart too.

We set a wedding date. We chose 4/27/12. I kind of wanted 4/9, it was my grandparents anniversary, they were married 60 years when my grandfather died last august. But it was on a Sunday in 2012 and since a lot of people (all K's fam) will be coming from out of town I didn't want to have a Sunday affair. So 27 was the next best because 2+7=9. (My step-brother mathmagical teacher Chance would be so proud of my numeric notions).

I read an article in this month's Real Simple (thanks to my 1$ off coupon) on how to stop procrastinating. They have printed it online. It's worth a look-see. I have been making myself do at least one thing off of my list of "things I have to do but don't want to" each day. The wedding date wasn't on that list but it might have seemed to be as long as it took us to hammer it down. Today I apply for new (hopefully cheaper) insurance for baby and finish up my state taxes (I know procrastination at its finest).

All this talk about things I don't want to do makes me want to talk about the things I do love to do. List #23 prompt.

guilty pleasures...ahhh

music
amy winehouse: rehab
insync: bye bye bye
ceelo green: forget you (although I prefer the radio edit)
petula clark: downtown
justin beiber: baby

food
girl scout carmel delight/samoa cookies
sour gummy worms
chips & salsa (copius amounts)
margaritas (with chips & salsa)
imported chocolate (especially swiss)
cherry coke

etc
thrift store shopping
reality tv
yard saling
etsy
blog reading
beverly hills 90210 (the original)
the skulls (ah joshua jackson)
alfie or the holiday (ah jude law)
elizabethtown (ah kirsten dunst falling in love with orlando bloom)

title courtesy of the Indigo Girls: Galileo

if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it...

I suppose this could have two titles either: "adventures in breastfeeding" or "there is progress on the nursery, what?!"...

First lactating then art...

Of course I was going to breastfeed my child. A woman who is interested in a natural delivery is of course going to breastfeed her child, and I am. I am doing it. (Sometimes I need a reminder that I am actually successful as most days I am completely miserable).

I have had a rough go of it. I did a lot of research (in true Shan fashion) and asked for a lot of help. I got a very wonderful Medela pump (this is the Cadillac of pumps apparently) from my friend Brandy. I had help from the lactation specialists while Sloane was in NICU (probably part of the 20 thousand dollars billed to me today--that's just for the NICU, not the labor/delivery/obstetrics/pharmacy-thank-god I don't have to pay an anesthesiologist-too-crazy-expensive to have a baby).

I read only the best books about it i.e.: The American Pediatrics Guide to Breastfeeding and used Kellymom as my online granola source for crunchiness. My book briefly glossed over things like "discomfort, pain, and problems that may (but probably won't, please don't use formula) arise".

The thing is problems did arise. Ten fold. To the tune of having to be on pain killers and OTC pain relief and millions of online searches and a couple of doctors visits. The thing about feeding issues, which seems counterintuitive is that the solution is always: nurse MORE. Seriously?!

It's an ever present concern. The baby has to eat. The baby has to eat a ridiculous 12 times a day. 12 times a day to be in pain. Believe me the 2 hours between feedings are the shortest time spans ever. It's not that there is anything wrong w/ formula: I was formula-fed.

Here's the thing. I cannot quit. I won't quit. Breast milk is the equivalent of liquid gold. (If you don't believe me google all the shiz it can cure-- seriously, weird). If you still don't believe me "accidentally" spill any mom's supply of breast milk. She will want to spill your blood, I guarantee you. Preemies need the liquid gold a lot. So I am going to tough it out. It will be the other thing (besides the drug-free delivery) that I can hold over my daughter's head when she is a sassy 16 year old. "I breastfed you in pain 12 times a day everyday for (x amount of time) roll your eyes at me again and I will roll your head on the floor."

In the meantime, or until she turns 16, I am extremely thankful when my friends visit and make the feedings go faster by distracting me with talk of gossip and oscar-worthy movies. Kate, you made my day today!

Now onto prettier things. I finally ordered some art via Etsy for the nursery and I totally love it.




also, in other news, after 4 years of courtship and the birth of our child, Keenan decided Christmas morning was the perfect time to pop the proverbial question. I said yes and gladly wear this little number and am proud to report I don't have to relate to "All the Single Ladies" anymore.

title courtesy of the aforementioned tune by Beyonce

You call me a mountain...I call you the sea

Just thinking today about naming...this seems to be the hottest button issue. EVERYONE asks what her name will be (shortly after they ask the due date and the sex of the baby).

We have a short list of names we like, but I am unable to commit yet. I am not just being secretive.

Although if I was only fictionally pregnant I would name her from this list...

Scout (like Miss Jean Louise's nickname from my favorite book To Kill A Mockingbird)-- In real life people will tell you this is a dog's name

Lux (like Lux Lisbon of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides) Lux in real life falls into the "a little TOO strange for the gals I run with" category. Also it may be in bad form to name her deliberately after a fictional girl who commits suicide.

Bette (like Bette Davis, consummate actress of my favorite era) Alice is back on trend again, why not? sigh... Keenan is just not big on Bette.

Greer (like Greer Garson, another actress) although somewhat unisex sounding and uncommon, Greer does rhyme with "rear" and I thought that might be setting her up for all sorts of easy distasteful sex jokes...at least with the real names we have on the list kids have to get a little more creative.

Sylvia (like Ms. Plath) we could call her "Sylvie" but alas, again a little too dark of a namesake.

On to other things that people seem to ask about a lot...the nursery colors/theme/progress...Here is a pic of the crib skirt fabric and the spindles of the crib (those were quite impossible to spray paint and quite tedious to brush paint, thank goodness for my friends). The colors are maybe not totally "true" but they are close. I also have a totally fun large plum colored shag area rug and have lots of yellow accents.

Lima bean is apparently already spoiled...case in point-- she is having a total of 5 baby showers. It's a bit ridiculous (I'm kind of embarrassed to tell people), but also makes me feel incredibly blessed and special. Here is her swag from the shower held at work. She also got the cutest book shelf that looks like a dollhouse (to hold that huge stack of books she got). She is now 3 showers in and has 2 left to go and I need to get all of her loot washed, assembled, organized and thank you notes written (I've got to keep up with Emily Post).

Much to my chagrin most of my posts are about my impending motherhood, in fact there is not much else to them. I struggle now to make a rational non-baby thought. I try to keep up with the political climate but it leaves me depressed. Sigh, back to my "to do list". One day my brain will return, right?

title courtesy of Ingrid Michealson

let's make peace tonight

This is the home stretch and it is time to pull it together.

Having all the nursery furniture acquired (by my Craigslist maven of a friend Whitney) and painted (by my guerilla girlfriends who aren't afraid to spend a whole Sunday in the DIY-trenches with me Whitney and Kate) and delivered (by Whitney and her mom always-posh and polished Paula) and then sealed (by myself and lima bean's daddy) and then assembled (by daddy as it is apparently the rite of passage to fatherhood) has greatly decreased my anxiety and makes me happy. I like walking by the nursery and seeing that my little girl has a space in this world (and not just in my body).

I am trying not to compare myself or my pregnancy to anything else before it or around it and when the depression comes I try to just recognize it, own it and realize that my feelings are valid, and that I not only don't have to do things like everyone else does, I don't have to want to do them either (this does not mean I have 2 heads or will be a horrible mom).

Things to do before the lima bean makes her arrival:

• pre-register at the hospital
• make a playlist for the ipod and pack bags (mine, k's and lima bean's)
• write thank you notes for all the generous friends and family we have
• purchase a car seat/travel system & get it installed
• finish the nursery
• choose a name and a middle name (can be done upon arrival)
• finish the first reading of Alice in Wonderland (we are about 3/4 of the way through it)
• achieve a society that has no wage gap, rape or domestic violence

Now for the sublist...nursery

• attach drawer pulls to the dresser
• paint the nightstand (it's not quite the same creamy white as the other pieces)
• DIY the lampshade
• acquire perfect shade of green paint to paint the mirror
• finish poly-ing the crib (I missed a couple spots)
• DIY some art, hang said art
• DIY crib skirt via tutorial on Young House Love
• figure out storage solutions
• wash clothing 0-3mos and put 6mos-2T into storage bins
• organize closet
• hang shelves
• finish DIY mobile
• secure changing pad to the dresser

title courtesy of the indigo girls: let's make peace tonight