Hot Air Balloon Project

Just a quick little post to show off our latest nursery project. I thought that this hot air balloon was going to be an easy project, but it definitely did not turn out that way! My first attempt at it was SO messy (used fabric and tons of Modge Podge). When we turned on the light instead the balloon, you could see all of the mistakes. So, I had to re-think my original plan and came up with this. Much better!!

Here are some other pictures of the nursery (I think I might have shared some already). 

George and I spent all afternoon running errands...Costco, Home Goods, World Market, Target, Pier One. We actually had a lot of fun looking for "house stuff" :) Now time for bed!

Weekend Recap

Well, I didn't take any pictures at Marie's bridal shower on Saturday. Someone else was taking pictures so I slacked off. I did take a few on Friday night while I was setting up so I'll at least share those. We got a lot of our ideas off of Pinterest. We actually started a pinboard for the shower ideas a few months ago. What did people do before Pinterest?! Marie got some really nice gifts...now, just 7 weeks or so away from her wedding (Nov. 9). 

7 more weeks until Marie's wedding means that there are just 5 more weeks until the baby comes!! I'm sure it will be here before we know it, but at the same time it seems so far away still. It is hard to really grasp how much our lives are going to change with a baby around. I can't wait to "meet" her :) Also, I think we have somewhat officially decided on a name! Madeline Marie Lucas. There is no significance to the name Madeline other than the fact that we both just really like it. And, of course, Marie is after George's little sister (who happens to be named after George's paternal Grandma). 

Off to bed. My new week's resolution is to get more sleep....because I lacked that last week and it was no fun. Goodnight!

Housework Kick!

My blog posts have been few and far between lately. I keep on meaning to sit down and write, but then I manage to find something else to distract me!

School is clicking along now...3 weeks down, 4 more to go! I really like my professors and classes this semester. They aren't the easiest classes, but I am learning a lot.

This weekend I am looking forward to hosting my friend Marie's bridal shower at our house. The shower is a group effort with all of the bridesmaids (four of us) putting it together. I have been working on a few projects/decorations for it. I will post pictures after the shower :)

George and I have been on a housework kick lately! We keep getting ideas for projects. My parents gave us some of their furniture (a full bed and a recliner) so I think that is what spurred our ideas. The bed ended up leading to the guest room project and the recliner ended up leading to the loft project. And then there is the nursery project too...which is just about done now! Here are some pictures....

George getting ready to mount the bookshelf. I'm glad he did this b/c I hate drilling holes into the wall...I inevitably put pictures/wall hangings in the wrong spot!!

We later added a hook to the right to "balance" things out...

The crib is all ready...it just needs a baby! 

On Sunday, I had the urge to make a new wreath for our front door. I am longing for fall so it has an autumn look to it :)

I got this cute chalkboard "baby countdown" sign on Etsy. It took awhile to arrive so I haven't been able to use it until recently. I'm not sure if you can tell or not in the picture, but my legs/feet are SOO swollen. It's not too fun, BUT I suppose I cannot complain since my pregnancy has been very easy and smooth compared to many others.

Rochester Baby Shower

I have a couple of minutes before my flight boards in Rochester so I figured I would upload a few pictures from the shower on Saturday. I didn't get any pictures with people so I will have to get those from Emily. My Grandma Warren, Katie, Alaina, and Aunt Gail hosted the shower down at the lake and everything was beautiful. 

Katie put together a mini scrapbook (on the left). It was is so neat...it has a spot for the guests to sign, a place for the invitation, places for pictures from the shower, etc. 

I thought there flowers were so pretty. The little red ones looked like raspberries to me.

Aunt Gail made my favorite, chocolate covered strawberries!

I LOVE this quilt that my Aunt Gail made...can't wait to put it in the nursery. 

The food (various sandwiches and salads)...

White Chocolate Raspberry Cake from Wegmans.

Gifts for our little one! 

Thanks again to everyone who put the shower together for me. It was so nice to celebrate with all of my family in Rochester. PS- I am in Orlando now...I have a 2 hours layover :(

Baby Projects

I'm getting back into school mode with some course "pre-work" tonight. I am trying to get ahead so that I have the weekend to just relax. 

I have taken advantage of my free time the past week by working on some more nursery projects. We did our crafting day over at my parent's on Saturday and Terrisa and I made a lot of progress on Parker's quilt. She is going for a nautical theme -- I love the colors that she has picked out! We actually did not follow any kind of pattern for this quilt. Terrisa saw something that she liked on Pinterest and we just winged it! 

My favorite thing about Parker's bedding is the little sailboats. We made a template for the sailboats out of paper and then cut 4 of them with the fabric. We put some this iron-on adhesive behind the sailboats and then sewed around the edge. 

It's still a work in progress, but it is going great so far :)

While we were crafting, Brian took Paisley swimming. Before she went in the pool, I told her that I wanted to take a picture of her. She struck this pose and then asked me to see the picture. When she looked at it she said "awwww..." 

I have also been busy making a few things for our nursery. Both of these projects were first-time projects for me. George put up the curtain rod and I made these simple curtains. It couldn't have been easier and it was much, much cheaper than paying for curtains!! 

I also made a fitted sheet. This one was also pretty easy. The nice thing about making your own fitted sheet is that you can pick out your own fabric. If you're interested, this is the tutorial I used http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-crib-and-toddler-bed-sheets.html

I have a couple more small projects and then we'll be done with the nursery. Next project is our guest bedroom (that will be a ways off though). I hope everyone is having a good week -- see everyone in Rochester next week!! 

This and That

I'm enjoy some additional free time with no school for a couple of weeks. I've spent some time just relaxing on the couch which has been awesome! I start back up on next Saturday with two more classes (7-8 weeks), Accounting and Supply Chain Management. Once I'm done with these two, I will have no school for over 3 months! I am able to take 3 months off because I loaded up on classes this summer. I will pick back up in January and have just a few more classes before graduation in early May! I can't believe that I am already 75% done with my MBA. It has been flying by! 

A few exciting things coming up. Hannah is moving into her dorm on Friday and starting classes next Thursday. I am so excited for her -- especially because she is going to be living on the downtown campus. The downtown Phoenix area has been revitalized over the recent years. There are some awesome restaurants and trendy spots that she'll be able to enjoy. My mom, Emily, and I are heading to Rochester two weeks from tomorrow. We didn't make it to Rochester this summer (b/c we headed right to Boston) so I'm really looking forward to it. Can't wait for some cooler temps too! 

This weekend, Terrisa and I are going to work on some more nursery projects so hopefully I'll have some pictures to share on Sunday. Terrisa has picked out some great fabric for a quilt and I will be finishing up some curtains and making a fitted sheet. Terrisa and Brian told us last night that Paisley is getting anxious to hang out with her little brother. She has been asking them for Parker to sleep in her bed or for Parker to sit next to her. I think she's confused :)  When the babies come, she will be a great big sister and cousin. She loves her little baby dolls and stuffed animals. 

I almost forgot! George and I took our class at the hospital over the weekend. It was Friday night for 3 hours and Saturday morning for 4 hours. They went over different possible procedures and types of birthing (c-section, natural, epidural), labor positions, breathing, etc. They also did a hospital tour. Overall, it was pretty helpful...but I told George afterward that I ignorance was bliss :) Haha. 

Nursery Projects

As mentioned last week, I have been working on some nursery projects. Here are a few pictures of my progress. I got the little hassock for $8 or so and just recovered it with some different fabric -- it was such as easy, 10 minute project. The pillow was a good use of some leftover fabric and the fabric pennant banner was a first for me. I have always wanted to make one and finally had an excuse (and some time) to do it. The nursery will be repainted tomorrow so I will show some more room pictures when that is done. 

This weekend, I started watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. Everyone is so obsessed with this show (including George who has seen every episode). The new season starts on Sunday...I am trying to get caught-up so I can be apart of the hype. It's rare for me to sit down and watch TV, but after tomorrow, I will have off school for a few weeks.

 On Saturday, George and I went to Liberty Market in Gilbert for brunch. I really like their food. The salad I got had a lemon vinaigrette which was very delicious. George got a bread pudding french toast. As you can imagine, it was delicious as well. 

Off to bed!