painted dining room chairs

So in the spirit of NOT playing it safe with decor in my house I'm going to go bold with my dining room chairs. 

(Well two of them anyway)

I tend to always pick the safe option when it comes to colors or fabrics in hopes that I will like them longer.  And I do.  I always like what I pick.  But in exchange, I never LOVE it.  It's like picking the guy you can live with and not the one you can't live without.  I'm trying to fix that one item/room at a time.

This weekend it's the chairs.

I'm painting them either hot pink or gold and will throw some badass fabric on them similar to what I showed below.  It's going to just be similar because I'm buying at a local fabric source, UFab Fabrics and picking out something in stock because I only need a small amount and I don't want to have to wait.

Y'all know how I love to hear your opinions on here, so...

What's your vote?

Family Pictures Outfit Ideas & pink pants update

Is it really just Thursday?

Godbless.

Anyway, I've got another outfit inspiration for family pictures for y'all this morning!

And remember I still have one opening for a session in the DC area and am looking at my calendar for dates to come to Charleston.  Please let me know if you're interested in a SC session so I can include your date preference in my trip plans!

*****

holy crap I can't believe I'm putting this picture on my blog I don't even share crap like this on my facebook page.  

But I promised y'all I would go to The Limited to check out their pink jeans.

I had both kids and no stroller with me (jessamie, you inspired me) and my mom there for help but I barely had time to throw the jeans on much less analyze in the store.

Anyway, they're awesome.  I'd say they fit true to size and have a decent amount of stretch in them.  They're a bit lowrise so they created a not so yummy muffin top where some excess baby weight is still lingering.  Not a fan of that but can't really blame the jeans.  They're pinkier than in my fab phone picture but you get the idea.  Also, I'm 5'9 and they actually came to ankle which I liked, most I've found are all cropped too much for me.

Oh and my top is and scarf are target

 Okay, let's end on something pretty, like my baby girl playing on a vintage bicycle.

loooooove

pink pants and such

So I'm pretty much floored by how awesome y'all are and encouraging of my art pieces.

I was actually texting a friend about selling my pieces just the other day and emailing with a perfect stranger who wants to buy some custom pieces as well so I've been busy creating a lot lately.

Of course I'll share on here first and give y'all first dibs!

***

And, I am stiiiiiiiiiill in the search for some colored jeans.  

I want pink.  

And I want them cheap.

What can I say.

I found these on pinterest and I think I might go check them out today.

I haven't been inside The Limited in eons so I have no clue about size or fit but I'll let you know so you can order online.

I went to Old Navy yesterday and their pink jeans are the most perfect color but it seems they're extinct everywhere.  They had a zero short and an 18.  If that's you ladies, go to Willow Lawn and pick them up!

 I'm also ob.sessed with this splendid dress but sadly they're out of the pink. 

I feel a DIY coming on....

and speaking of diy....

I do have a little something already in the works that involves this gold striped bench

 And I'd really LOVE to find a spot in my house to do something nuts like this crazy navy and silver wonky chevron wall

And I'll end on this fun little non-sense

Because who doesn't want to think about oooey goooey chocolate cupcakes with oreo frosting all day?

Chocolate Cupcakes with Oreo Whipped Cream 

Makes 24 cupcakes

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons Oreo cookie crumbs
24 Oreo cookie halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 cupcake pans with paper liners.

Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl until combined. In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Then add vanilla and eggs, one at a time and mixing well after each one is added.

With the mixer on low, gradually add in dry mixture and buttermilk alternately in 3 parts, starting and ending with the dry mixture. After the last addition, stir until just combined being careful not to overmix the batter. Divide batter into prepare cupcake pans and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean with a few crumbs. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the whipped cream frosting, combine cream, sugar and vanilla in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-heat speed until stiff peaks form, then gently fold in Oreo crumbs with a rubber spatula. Pipe the whipped cream onto the cooled cupcakes with your favorite tip and garnish with 1/2 Oreo cookie on top.

Small updates for a big impact

Jamie Meares showed us how to style a sofa over on Glitter Guide and I pinned it.

Chassity talked about implementing ideas and not just pinning them over at LookLingerLove.

Jill Sorenson at LiveLikeYou discussed why you're home should be a direct reflection of you.

Good advice, and today I'm listening to these talented ladies. 

 I finally framed two more pieces of my art that I love even though I'm not sure they're perfect for the space forever.  They reflect what I love right now and I like them and they make me happy.

I also tossed my dotted scarf from Target over the back of the sofa like a throw.  

It instantly updated the look and feels much more "me".

(here's the link the scarf but it can only be purchased in stores)

Have y'all done anything simple (or drastic) to make your space feel more "you" lately instead of just dreaming about it?

*****

Oh and updates.

Most importantly, my friend's little baby boy made it through his hours long surgery like a champ.

He'll be in the hospital through the end of the week recovering from such a major surgery and I know he and his family could use the extra prayers.

And Tag officially has Torticollis which is causing plagiocephaly.  

Basically his neck muscle is too short on one side causing him to drastically favor that side which in turn causes the flat spot on his head.

Sounds like it's nothing serious at all just a major pain in the butt.

Weekly PT and stretches at home with every diaper change.

Awesome.

I REALLY appreciate those of you who already have shared your experiences with me and welcome any advice or information from anyone else who's dealt with this.

Mad Men Monday

Season Five premiered last night and it kinda makes me okay with waiting for Season Three of Downtown Abbey.

Let's dish
It was okay.
Not quite as awesome as I was expecting.
I was hoping to be a bit more inspired by the decor at Don & Megan's pad.
Or the clothes
Or something.
I'm also pretty much over laid back Don.
He needs to get a martini and get his attitude back.
I like him snappy.

{PS-That's me with the big bow, have you Mad Men'd yourself yet?}

***

Also, I need some prayers for my friend's little baby boy Patrick.  He's just two weeks younger than Tag and was checked into MCV over the weekend and is being prepped for abdominal surgery this morning.
He has a 15 month old sister at home and my friend will seriously have her hands full.

***
Also, Tag has another little special appointment at Children's Hospital this morning for some problems with his neck and head.
I don't anticipate it being anything too serious, but in need of attention all the same.

ikat beach tote

Happy Sunday Friends.

So I'm pretty amazed at some of the things I found at Pottery Barn Teen today.

I seriously need to order this ikat tote for my pool bag.

And you can monogram it.

 And how awesome is this ikat towel?

And this chevron basket sorta makes me want to try riding a bike.

Sorta.

outfits for family pictures

Happy Saturday my lovelies.

So it's raining today.

Awesome

I've already pulled out all of my indoor tricks for Wells and it's only 8:56am.

Thank goodness I hear the music for Minnie Bow-tique starting up.

That might buy me another 15 minutes to finish my coffee!

All of you pre-kids ladies better enjoy a lazy rainy morning in while you still can!

***

Here's a little board I put together for another client you may remember from last fall.

They wanted preppy and classic in Spring colors and sweet little M just wanted to wear a pink dress.

A girl after my own heart!

{I only have one spot left now for photoshoots at the monuments so email me if you want to book it before it's gone}

family picture outfit ideas

 I'm so excited to be getting back into full swing with photography now that Spring has officially arrived.

I've had so much fun helping out some of my DC clients put together their wardrobe choices and I thought y'all might like to be inspired too!

FYI-I still have two session dates open for photoshoots at the monuments in DC surrounded by the famous cherry blossoms so email me if you're interested.

How adorbs is this family going to be?

how to blog with kids

My life seriously revolves around being a good momma. 

I forgo lunching and shopping in favor of playing kitchen or going to the park.

{So not judging the moms that can swing that, Wells just won't let it fly}

I sing songs and build boats (Wells' version of a fort) and do laundry and cut up cheese 

ALL DAY LONG.

And with a few infrequent exceptions I wake up to feed Tag 

ALL NIGHT LONG

I'm not complaining, honest.  I love it.  I was made for this.

Photography, blogging, diy's & design, mothering, being a wife, taking a shower, etc.

But, I've been noticing few comments and emails lately that lead me to believe y'all think I have it together.

ALL THE TIME

I don't

I'm not perfect and I'm not without my daily struggles.

Sometimes I just can not do it all.

And sometimes I have to do things that will NEVER invite me to guest post on the BabyCenter blog or get me a feature in Parents Magazine.

And I'm okay with that too.

So in favor of keeping it real, here is a quick little peak into how I accomplish things sometimes.

Step 1

Place toddler in a safe but secure location 

(I chose the high chair)

Step 2

Locate their favorite show onDemand 

(Wells chose "toot-toot car" aka The Wiggles)

Step 3

Keep them hydrated

(Wells prefers her "bot" full of soy milk)

Step 4

Keep them nourished

(two "doctors treat" aka lollipops back to back seem to do the job in our house)

Step 5

Give them access to their favorite toys

(Wells chose the "purpa bowl" and "hands" aka a wet wipe)
***
If any of y'all have an secret weapon mom moves that you pull out just before you pull your hair out feel free to comment them here (or email me if you don't want the whole bloggy world to know you sometimes give your kids McDonald's fries to get through a Walmart trip (oh wait, that's me again)

front hall console

Seriously, are y'all so sick of my entryway.

Sorry.

It's just been a thorn in my side since we moved in.

And I  have no budget to fix it.

Literally.  

So I'm making do with what I've got and figured some of y'all might be in the same boat and appreciate the evolution of a space not just a magical "ta-da" transformation.

Or maybe you just want more pictures of my adorable children.

Who can blame you.

They're precious.

Let's get a show of hands for putting the babes up first...

Great, now let's get back to the matter at hand.

ch ch ch changes

I decided to keep going s l o w l y  with the white paint.  

I'm stopping at the drawers and thinking on it over night again.

This is a crap cheap table from Target from my first apartment post college so I'm pretty sure there is no sanding and re-staining in its future if I eff this up.

And like I said before, I can't go buy a new table so I've got to make this baby work!

I've got my knobs sprayed gold to make do until I can order the gold ring pulls I really want.  

I decided to scrap the basket and boots entirely. 

Remember, this space is an extension of our living room and not a true front hall so I'd love it to coordinate more with the rest of the space.

I think for Spring and summer we'll just need flip flops and the extra storage is unnecessary.

Okay, so what's your vote?

Stop at the two tone white on wood or go full on glossy white?

scenes from our house

Tag can lift his head up and Wells couldn't be more excited about it.
Everyone slept through night last night.
Even Tag went from 9-7.
It was amazing.
Wells boycotted her nap yesterday for the first time ever.
Someone please tell me this isn't a phase or lord a mercy a start to the ending of naps altogether.
I've got a quick update on the entryway for y'all later today if little buggie agrees to her nap today.
Otherwise this might be all you get!

Entryway/front hall progress

Okay, so y'all were so extremely helpful with advice on my skirted table options for our front entry way.

I really loved the option of adding the navy trim but I just couldn't get on board with the look.

Too busy.

Wasn't feeling it with the rug.

Really wasn't feeling the styling on top either.

So I decided to scrap it and change tables altogether.

What do you think?

I'll start:

Too dark

Still too much crap below

The water rings on the top right are always visible no matter how hard I try to hide them so I started painting it white (as seen in the second picture). 

I'm thinking about leaving the bottom half dark and adding some gorgeous gold pulls.

{And yes, I did paint that painting as well.}

All of your encouraging words on here and a few new requests for commissioned pieces have really got my creativity kicked in high gear!

 Oh and for those that don't feel like going back to the original post to see the before shot, here you go!

Easter tradition for kids

How adorable are these little birds' nests for Easter?

{with jelly beans}

Bird's Nest Cookies
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies
Allergy note: contains dairy and wheat ingredients

12 oz. package chow mein noodles 
12 oz. package butterscotch morsels
90 egg-shaped candies

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.  Pour the butterscotch morsels in a microwave-safe bowl and place them in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds then remove to stir. Return to the microwave and heat again for 30 seconds. Stir until melted. Add in the chow mein noodles and mix till combined. Use a 1/4 measuring cup to portion out the cookies onto the baking sheet. If the mixture starts to solidify in the mixing bowl, you can reheat for 15 to 30 seconds to melt. Place three egg-shaped candies in the center of each cookie. Allow to set for at least 5 minutes before serving or transferring.

{with cadbury mini eggs}

***

Also, I saw this on pinterest last night and followed the link here for this crazy adorable idea for kids.Give them magic jelly beans to plant 

Voila!

A giant lollipop flower magically grows overnight!

The inventor of this fab idea hawks it for Easter, but really you could make this concept work for so many holidays.

Spring Break Dress

Maybe it's this weather or my much needed glass(es) of wine with some fun girls last night but I am in full Spring Break Mode now!

That little taste of summer and lots of sunshine has me feeling so positive.

I hope everyone else is having as good of a week as I am.

We all need it right?

1/2/3/4/5

Real life {can you relate}

 This is real life.

Capturing things with camera phones and not just fancy lenses.

Even when your baby looks like he's got a mohawk and your toddler is pantsless.
Again.

But sometimes, when she thinks no one is watching, Wells sneaks up on Tag and loves on him.

And it melts my heart in a serious way.

And it's GORGEOUS outside again today so that's all I've got for ya.

I'm taking my kids and going for a much begged for walk.

Of course saying yes is a whole lot easier when Starbucks is just around the corner! 

So we're off to put on pants and live our life.

Our real life.

spring patterns we can all wear

Happy Tuesday lovelies!

Are we all loving this warm weather?

I can't even tell you how much easier it was to get out of the house with Wells and Tag yesterday when none of needed a coat.  Seriously saved me a good 15 minutes.

Anyway, here's more pattern inspiration for you.

Oh yeah, and a WINNER!!!

1/2/3/4/5

*****

I first want to say a humongous THANK YOU to everyone who entered my giveaway.

I'm floored by how many of y'all left such encouraging words about my work.

I seriously wanted to throw out the random generator and photograph you all!

But since baby gotta eat and momma needs some new shoes I'm going to have to go with just one winner.

However, I'd like to offer $50 off a session to 

EVERY SINGLE ENTRY!

and now back to our official winner:

Congratulations 

Paige at Lemon Petals!!!

 Paige said...

I'm a follower of your blog, like JRP + PIP on Facebook and Pinterest! :) I would absolutely LOVE to have a mommy + daughter session with my 1.5 year old!!

March 06, 2012

This girl has some serious style and a baby girl who is equally adorable and if you don't read her blog, you should go check it out. 

I'm really looking forward to setting up our session!

white beds

Completely obsessed with these dreamy creamy bedrooms.

Honestly, obsessed is an understatement.  

The perfect use of subtle patterns and textures is amazeballs.

I'm swooning.

How about y'all?

My sweets

Okay, this is for my cousin Libby who specifically requested more pictures!  I've got a few from the past several weeks that I'll slowly dole out on here!

These are a few of Wells the first time we attempted pictures of her and Tag together.  It was not a big hit.

Hope the rest of y'all don't mind!

***

And don't forget that today is the last day to enter my photography giveaway here