Coffee Talk

Happy Thursday friends! I hope you are having a great week. If we were sitting down and having coffee together today, here are a few things that might come up, so grab your cup...

1. It's hot ya'll. Yes, I realize it is summer, it's time for it to be hot, but I'm a little concerned that if it's this hot already, what will July and August be like? This time last year I was nearly 30 weeks pregnant and everyone warned me how miserable I would be for a labor day due date, but you know what? I loved it! I went to prenatal yoga, walked the loop, our neighborhood and swam...but this summer with a 10 month old, she just can't take the heat yet. So we have been enjoying a lot of the air conditioning! 

2. Currently, I am reading The Life Giving Home and it's 100 percent changing my perspective on creating a culture in your home. Read it. Also, I am listening to "Girl, Wash Your Face" on audible while doing laundry, cooking, unloading the dishwasher etc and it is so good! She cracks me up and I am loving listening to a book.  Also, I pre-ordered Emily Giffin's newest book and can not wait for it to arrive. Nerd Alert. 

3. This summer for vacation we are having a little stay cation and just going to enjoy family time in our beautiful coastal town. Then, towards the end of the week, Josh and I are heading out of town for a little 5 year anniversary get-a-way. It's a total surprise to me as to what we are doing, where we are staying, eating etc. The only thing I know is where we are flying to. This makes packing a little tricky... 

4. Can I just say that right now pretty much my outfit of the day is, pajamas to a swimsuit, or pajamas to workout clothes (and I am not working out), and then back to pajamas. Oh, you too? Great. 

5. We all know that Mamas best friend is an amazon prime account, but do you ever worry that they look at your order history and are just like what the heck lady? Case in point, here are the last 3 things we have ordered from Amazon...1. Super glue (yep)  2. Baby toy  3. beach umbrella. What is the strangest thing you have ordered lately? 

Headed To The Hospital

In the last few weeks before that sweet baby arrives, the nesting is in full force, and it feels like the to do list goes on and on, even when everything is done. Well meaning people smile and say "sleep while you can", which actually isn't helpful at all because you are past the point of comfort. But there are a few things you can do to help pass the time and make yourself feel as prepared as possible.

1. Have your home cleaned. That's right, you have earned it girlfriend. We typically do not have a professional cleaning service, but by 36 weeks pregnant, I was done with scrubbing the shower floor. Hire someone to quite literally do the dirty work, and consider it a gift to yourself and that new baby. There is absolutely nothing better than coming home from the hospital to a spotless house.

2. Make a freezer stash and stock up on home essentials. In the last couple of weeks before Everette was born, I was constantly cooking. I'm not sure if it was nervous energy or what, but I packed away close to two months worth of yummy freezer meals, and I was so grateful later on once our sweet meal train ended. Also, now is the time to buy plenty of house hold items such as toilet paper, paper towels, toiletries, laundry detergent etc. You will be home more than usual and using all of these items more frequently, so go ahead and stock pile.

3. Get a pedicure. Now, this one may seem obvious, or frivolous but even with the best of intentions I didn't manage to make this happen. By the time you are full term, your feet are tired and deserve some attention, especially because they are about to be your focal point. I had my pedicure scheduled for 38 weeks to the day, which was also the day I went into labor. I had to cancel my appointment from my hospital bed in labor and delivery, and I remember thinking " who knows when the next time I'll be able to get a pedicure will be." Needless to say, next time, I'll be getting one at 36 and 37 weeks, just in case.

4. Prepare gifts for your medical team. This is absolutely personal preference, and it can be something so small, but everyone we came in contact with during our hospital stay was so incredibly appreciative. These sweet souls are experiencing some of the best moments of your life with you, and some of the most humbling (I'm looking at you L & D and Mother Baby nurses) and a cutesy chap stick certainly does not feel like enough, but it's the thought that counts and we loved being able to personally say thank you all the way from the physician that delivered our baby to our lactation consultant.

5. Go on a date night. This will be the last time that the two of you will be able to just run out for a quick bite or after dinner ice cream. Take advantage of this time and go, go go. Celebrate this chapter of your lives coming to a close, and the best adventure ever that you are about to begin. Get all dressed up and savor every single bite.

What tips would you add before heading to the hospital?

Summer Date Nghts In

Happy Thursday friends! Today I'm chatting about one of my most favorite things, date nights! It's no secret that once you have a baby your time no longer belongs to just you, or you too. Regular date nights out become much trickier to navigate with sitters, schedules and just the overall unpredictability of little ones. Before babies, really any night could become a date night, but now they require a little more planning. It's also no secret that when a new baby arrives it calls for more time at home, so why not make the most of it? 

Now, I still love a good date night out, and we honestly try to keep one on the calendar for once a week, but we also adore a great date night in! Our sweet one is in bed by 7:30, so even though we may have to be home by an early curfew, it leaves plenty of Mommy and Daddy time, with a little intentionality. Here are a few tips for sprucing up your night in! 

1. Grill out and enjoy the porch. We love to put the baby to bed, grab the monitor and head outside. Summer is the perfect time of year to grill your favorite seafood or steak, and then eat on the porch. There is plenty of sunlight left in the evening, so park it on the outdoor furniture with a glass of frose' and enjoy the evening. Outdoor seating, table for 2 please! 

2. Dine in the dining room. You have that beautiful furniture for a reason. Prepare your favorite Italian dish, open the bottle of red, get out your fine china, turn on the music, and light the candles. You will instantly feel like your have gone to one of your favorite restaurants, without the noise or crowd. Each time we do this, I can't wait to do it again. 

3. Revamp movie night. Netflix is every new parents best friend right? Next time you are at the grocery store pick up popcorn, soda and your spouses favorite candy and store it in the pantry. Or grab your favorite ice cream and toppings, and order that movie that ya'll really wanted to see in the theatre but missed, because ya know, baby? If you are like us, we love watching TV in bed, so bonus points for watching it in another room that feels fancier. 

What are you and your husbands favorite date nights in? Comment below! 

New Mom Etiquette

Happy Thursday friends! This post has been simmering for quite awhile, and I recently reached out to a large group of my mom tribe for their help. I asked them all what tip they would add for visitors in the hospital or at home in those first few weeks, and they had plenty to share on this topic. Outside of the of course obvious, be sure to wash your hands, and not visiting while under the weather, below are their top 5 tips! 

1. Allow some space. Almost every mama mentioned this in some way! There is so much excitement when a new baby is born, and lots of friends and family want to share in that joy, right away. However, it's very important to remember that this is a special bonding time for the new baby with it's parents, who are trying to adjust to their new role. That new baby will be just as sweet to visit in a couple of days or even weeks once everyone has settled in. 

2. Keep visits short and sweet. This was also mentioned by almost every mama. Whether it be in the hospital or at home. You certainly wouldn't camp out in some one's room or home if they had just had major surgery, and for those c sections mamas, they have. New moms especially need some privacy, and it's difficult to learn how to nurse with a room full of people. Pick up on cues from the new parents on when it might be time to head out. Everyone knows that new moms are exhausted, and it's impossible to rest with a crowd. Also, newborns are very unpredictable and life with them is all about flexibility. It can be tricky to estimate when it will be a good time for visitors to stop by, so always check back in closer to the agreed upon time. 

3. If you are visiting the new mom at home, bringing a little snack is always appreciated. No need to ask her if she would like something, go ahead and just ask her for her Starbucks order, or milkshake flavor. If you are so kind as to bring her a meal, consider bringing lunch or skip the dessert with dinner and bring something that could be enjoyed for breakfast the next morning. These meals often get overlooked and are always much needed. 

4. While you are visiting, if she is solo, offer for her to go grab a shower, and if she accepts, go ahead and wipe down those counters, or take out the kitchen trash. Don't wait to ask if there is something you can do, I promise it's there. If visiting a second or third baby, consider bringing a small something for the older sibling. It will make them feel incredibly special and included. 

5. Most new moms don't need someone to come over and hold the baby "for you". They just spent the better part of the last 10 months, growing this precious bundle, and then giving birth, it is her rite of passage to hold that baby, and she doesn't need a break from doing it quite yet. She does need a break from those day to day chores that still need to get done. Offering to pick up her groceries, or entertain her other child for the afternoon is a huge help. When you are there, be sure to ask how she is feeling and doing, not just how the baby is sleeping or eating, because the answer to that question is every 3 hours. 

A week after we brought our baby home, and Daddy had returned to work, a few of my girlfriends came over one morning, brought breakfast and just relaxed on the couch. They were there solely to check in and visit with me, and what a breath of fresh air that was. They knew how important that was, because they had all been there before too. If you have a new mom in your life, whether it's her first, second, or third time, take the time to shoot her a text, or drop a card in the mail, or even leave her a cup of coffee on her welcome mat to enjoy later. She is so lucky to have a friend like you! 

Step Into Our Office

Happy Tuesday! Today I'm sharing a room in our home that we slowly pieced together over time, and turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the house. As you can see in the last picture, when we purchased our home it had a treadmill, an office chair, and a computer printer randomly sitting on the floor. First things first, when we moved in we painted the office our all over color which is sea salt cut to 50 %, and then quite literally shut the door. This room stayed completely empty until this time last year, when we got down to business. I am still a big believer of not touching a room until its necessary, but in our home the office has french doors that lead into it, right off from our front door, so it seemed like it was time since it got some much exposure.

Much like our guest room, I just took inventory of different pieces we already had, that were not being used in any other space, and tried them in the office. The garden stool sat in the living room of our first home, and I originally made the coral fans for the living room in our first home, but we have also used them in a dining room, and now the office in this house. We have a mirror that used to be Josh's grandmothers hanging in the office, and the different items on the built ins are all things I have just re purposed.

The most interesting piece of furniture in the office is by far the arm chairs that sit in front of the desk. When we purchased one of our homes, these chairs and a foot stool were sitting in one of the bedrooms and I was immediately drawn to them. We included them in our offer to purchase the home, and the seller agreed. When it came time for us to sell that home, those chairs and foot stool were still in the house the day before we closed. Not wanting to give them up, I made a special trip to Raleigh back to the house to grab them, and the stool, at this point having no idea where we would even use them. 

Fun fact: we have gained quite a few pieces of furniture by including them in our offer when we have purchased homes, for example, our kitchen table and bar stools, powder room sink, back porch furniture, and now the office chairs. However, we have also had to leave some pretty light fixtures, a brand new shower curtain valance, and a silver serving tray that I still miss. So, I guess you win some and you lose some. Ha! 

The finishing touches in the office were simply removing and selling the ceiling fan, adding this light fixture from world market, and assembling the desk and chair from IKEA. Knowing this room wouldn't get a ton of company, we opted for economical pieces that looked nice. 

And just keeping it real, I should let you know that in order to take these photos, I had to move my bridal portrait off the floor, because we still haven't figured out where to hang it in this house, and scoot Everette's car out of here because the office doubles as it's garage, as well as quite a few amazon boxes. Oops. It's not perfect but it's one of my favorite little corners of our home. Thanks for stopping by!