so alaurable

I Love Hue

2009-11-15T22:00:00.001-06:00

Whoops, I forgot to schedule some posts for over the weekend, so I missed Saturday. I'm not going to count it against my November blog goal since I'm already well on my way to 30 posts total, my loophole.

I had a few more ideas to finish out Baby Week, but I'll save those for later if you're interested. (Documenting pregnancy, finding out and revealing the gender, and names)

Here's my latest poster like. I love anything with a color wheel:

I Love Hue, Made by Girl, $30

DIY ABC Art

2009-11-13T07:00:00.013-06:00

When I came across this ABC print from The Love Shop ,I was reminded of this cute baby shower with its own DIY version that graced the welcome table. Pretty cute, no?

Art for the Literate Little One

2009-11-13T06:00:00.011-06:00

I adore these refreshing, colorful takes on the classic alphabet poster.

ABC Love, $45 (I've been coveting this for a while now!)

Customizable ABC Kids, $50 and $65
Made by Girl

Alphabetic & Numeric Odes to Helvetica
ModernPop's etsy shop (say that three times fast), $25 each

happythought's etsy shop, $47 each

Modern Motive's etsy shop, $12.50

Laurie Coyle Designs' etsy shop, $12

Petit Collage's etsy shop, $30 each

Alpha Monsters, $25

And if you can swing it (hopefully baby's name is not too long), these "__ is for __" are the cutest I've seen:
__ is for __, $20
Paperfinger's etsy shop (shout out, Dallas, TX)

Also, check out this guest post on Design*Sponge for some more great alphabet posters.

Cards for Every Baby Occasion!

2009-11-13T05:00:00.001-06:00

When you care enough to send the very best...

It's Baby Making Time!, earmark

Totally Screwed., thebeautifulproject

Finally, jeanfrancisbean

Happy Pregnancy, goatcards

I Love You So Much, upup

Hey Ma, TweeCards

Congrats on Your Baby, maybeyoushoulddie

You Had a Baby, goatcards

Art for the Little Rock Star - Part 2

2009-11-12T07:30:00.002-06:00

Some more nursery art options for the music-loving (and animal-loving) baby:

Barking Bird Art's etsy shop - lots of cute animal prints with different themes

Lee Arthaus's etsy shop

Art for the Little Rock Star - Part 1

2009-11-12T07:00:00.002-06:00

For the baby that liked to rock out in utero, I think some of these band posters would look great in a nursery, either as its own theme or to supplement a color palette. The baby would be instantly cooler than I am, since I have never heard of a few of these bands.

From The Small Stakes:

I adore this She & Him print (as well as this YouTube video of Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt of 500 Days of Summer - love the choreography!)

From Hero Design Studio:

From Gig Posters:

Art for the Language Lover

2009-11-11T19:00:00.000-06:00

I hope to still be able to travel when I have children, although I know I'm still going to want to take some baby-free trips! J's family took him to Peru and England when he was itty bitty, and I want to have cute photos of my offspring in Paddington Bear-like coats in London as well!

The world traveler baby will certainly need to know his ABCs in multiple languages, so I think these prints will look darling in a child's room.

Italian Alphabet Flashcards

Italian Alphabet Poster

French Alphabet Poster

Spanish Alphabet Flashcards

Above all from bibbity's etsy shop

Arabic Alphabet poster from Waafia's etsy shop ($5!)

Art for the Baby with a History

2009-11-11T07:00:00.008-06:00

How special would it be to incorporate this geneology artwork from My Tree and Me into a child's room?
They offer customized as well as DIY options, such as the Proud as a Peacock Tree. I think this would be such a great way to display all of the family members that love the bambino.
I really want this last one for my living room - love the design, even without the names!
The prices are pretty reasonable (all under $100), but my wheels are spinning for some fun DIY ideas to create something completely personalized

Shower the Baby Mama!

2009-11-10T19:00:00.000-06:00

I want to help plan a baby shower so I can use cute ideas like this:

Decorate with this Baby Mama banner
La Mujer's etsy shop, $15

Play this "Wishes for Baby" activity
Download here, via I Heart You

Wrap presents with this DIY paper (cute idea for any occasion)
from The Happy Home

Also, the Hostess with the Mostess has lots of fresh, modern baby shower themes here.

What are your thoughts on showers? I think they should involve lots of fun drinks (virgin for the mama-to-be, of course), minimal cheesy activities (ugh, no candy bar in the diaper), and a lot of laughter.

Oh, and involving the baby daddy if possible. It's his bebe too.

Art for the Future Interior Designer

2009-11-10T07:30:00.004-06:00

This nursery art will have your budding designer baby dreaming about how to redecorate the nursery:

"I Want to Rock With You" and "Keep on Rocking" from yumalum's etsy shop, both $37

Pretty Mod's etsy shop, $35 (lots of great silhouettes to personalize)

Jaimers' etsy shop, $18

Century Finds, $49

Did NOT Need to See THAT

2009-11-10T06:00:00.005-06:00

This may be put a bad image in your head, but it is Baby Week. I was flipping through J's OB-GYN rotation packet to look at his schedule when I accidentally came across a very graphic PowerPoint slide of a baby crowning. Definitely not something I need to see again.

That is all. Happy Tuesday!

Nursery Inspiration

2009-11-10T06:00:00.004-06:00

I heart all things polka dot, so I loooove this chair, as well as the book rack.I try not to post images without their source, but I cannot find the source for this one. (Please let me know if you know where this photo is from.

Get $10 from RueLaLa

2009-11-09T20:00:00.001-06:00

If you're not already a member of Rue La La, you can sign up using my invitation link here and get a $10 credit just for signing up. (Maybe I'll sign up again under a different email address so I can get the credit too...haven't gotten any yet!)

Do They Make These for Grown-ups?

2009-11-09T07:30:00.001-06:00

When I'm pregnant for the first time someday (hopefully), I know my over-researching self will have trouble deciding what to buy for baby. A friend that had her first this last year has great stories about the process, such as wandering cluelessly around Babies 'R Us with the registry scan gun until the teenage, male employee walked them through it, category by category. (He knew what to recommend based on what all the moms who had done their research were buying.) When the pediatrician determined that the baby was taking in liquid into lungs when breastfeeding and needed to switch to formula, she had to rush out and buy bottles and figure out the nipple situation. (Haha.)

I don't know anything about baby equipment, so I'm going to be questioning all mothers I know when the time comes. However, I really like the look of these stainless steel bottles. Hopefully they have the right nipples.

Baby Week!

2009-11-09T07:00:00.003-06:00

Since I am around a lot of moms and pregnant women, and several blogs I read are by expectant mothers, and we just found out my sister-in-law's 2nd baby is a girl, I have a major case of baby fever.

I've been saving off cute baby ideas for future inspiration*, so I thought I'd share my favorites this week for Baby Week!

Figure Skating Baby Booties, Mahar Drygoods (a little pricey at $40, but oh-so-adorable)

* I hope that's not weird, but I think it's smart for me to have some ideas. When I got engaged, I had honestly not been looking at wedding stuff at all, thinking it would jinx me and/or overwhelm me. The latter definitely proved true, so I want to be ahead of the game if and when the time comes for me to pop a human out of me.

Classy Cocktails

2009-11-08T07:00:00.007-06:00

Who doesn't need a good beverage dispenser? This trio dispenser from Z Gallerie ($70) would be great for serving vodka infusions, including my fave, the Stoli Doli.

The spigots seem kind of too close together to fit tall glasses, but maybe the middle section can be twisted off to the side a bit.

What Are You Reading?

2009-11-08T07:00:00.005-06:00

I am about to load up my library queue ("the Netflix for books!"*) with some new reads. I have over 140 books in my "to read" list on Goodreads, where I store all the books I want to read, so I certainly have no shortage from which to choose!

What are you, dear readers, reading right now? Any recommendations for me?

Also, aren't these newly designed hardcovers from Coralie Bickford-Smith for these Penguin classics beautiful? My bookshelves would love to display these!

Found on Amazon for $13.60 (sold elsewhere for $20)

Christmas gift for my book-loving husband?

* Trying once to encourage a friend to use the library, where reserving books online makes it oh-so-easy, I told her to think of it as the Netflix for books. She thought this was hilarious, as the library is The Original for checking out materials instead of buying.

Personalized Pottery

2009-11-07T07:00:00.005-06:00

Aren't these vases personalized with your monogram so sweet?

The wedding vases can be personalized with the couple's names and wedding date

All from Maid of Clay Ceramics

Happy Friday!

2009-11-06T17:00:00.000-06:00

What are you up to this weekend, pumpkins? The Hubs came back home this week, so we will probably be spending the weekend meeting up with friends and resting up before his OB-GYN rotation starts Monday - this is going to be one with bad hours.

The weather's going to be sunny and in the 70s/80s this weekend here, so while I won't be bundling up in this beautiful plaid coat from Ruche, I am wishing I had this gorgeous red hair and balloon!

Crafty Humor Cracks Me Up

2009-11-06T07:00:00.004-06:00

Rar Rar Press 's etsy shop

When a Problem Comes Along, You Must Zip It

2009-11-05T07:00:00.003-06:00

Today, I'd like to be wearing this cute zipper clip in my hair:

Forever 21, $5

And I'd like to tell anyone who messes with me today one of the following*:
Zip it!
Zip it good
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, ex-zip-it A
Look, I'm Zippy Longstockings
zipit.com.org

* Dr. Evil, has it really been 10 years?

Daily Drop Cap

2009-11-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

ave you checked out The Daily Drop Cap? Talented typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische posts awesome, hand-lettered initial caps for our blogging and crafting pursuits.

have a couple of ideas in mind to frame J's and my initials, but of all her amazing work, I wasn't in love-love with the "L". I think he "L" lives up to its full potential when it's in its cursivey, scripty form, like the "I" at the beginning of this paragraph.

Our initials:

he recently got to "Z", so I was excited to see that she started again at "A". Check it out if you haven't already!

NaBloPoMo/NaBloWriMo/NaDoAnReThMo

2009-11-03T21:30:00.001-06:00

katieblairdesigns's etsy shop

I didn't realize when posting my blog goal that November is NaBloWriMo (National Blog Writing Month) and NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month).

I missed November 1, but I'm going to count more than 30 posts as success.

On the effort, NaBloWriMo states: "Not just 30 'meh' blog posts, but 30 insightful, interesting, entertaining posts that your fellow NaBlo-ers will enjoy and comment on."

Insightful and interesting. Shoot.

I'll see what I can come up with. Please encourage me with some comments, or this is going to be NaDoAnReThMo (National Does Anyone Read This Month?).

Are Your Towels Fancy?

2009-11-03T07:30:00.002-06:00

I think monogrammed towels add instant luxury to a bathroom, but can be pricey. A while ago, I snagged these Ralph Lauren Lawton towels from Horchow on sale for $10, monogrammed. (I was pretty proud of myself. We had just gotten married, so I got a bath towel with a "Mr." and one with a "Mrs." for the master bath as well as some bath and hand towels in our new monogram.)

I've been hoping to get them at this price again for a while now, and it looks like I now have my chance to stock up with their current sale + ALLSALE 30% off promo code.

What do you think?
Do you enjoy a good monogram, or is it too much?
Do you prefer the single or 3-letter monogram?
Can I beat $10 for RL + monogram?
Do you prefer the "bath sheet" over the bath towel for extra coverage?
How many towels do you have?
What's your go-to towel, and in what colors?

Butterfly Migration

2009-11-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, I flew down to Corpus Christi to meet The Hubs. (It's his last week gone!) He showed me around Corpus, and then we drove down to South Padre Island to visit the beach.

I drove so he could study, and was in awe of all the monarch butterflies everywhere, migrating to Mexico for the winter.

source

It was pretty magical. There were so many right in front us that looked like they were going to hit the windshield, but most were pushed up by the wind at the last moment. Unfortunately some didn't make it, and hit either the windshield or the grill of the car.

source

Monarch guts are not so magical. Plus, I felt like a butterfly killer.

I don't want to be a butterfly killer.

source

My aunt and my mom always loved butterflies, and I in turn do too, especially because I feel like it's a connection to them.

source

I miss my aunt.

My aunt had a boat that they lived on in the summer called "Le Papillon". If I am ever lucky enough to name a boat, maybe I will call it "La Mariposa".

I asked The Hubs what he would name his boat?

After me: Senorita Laurita

I like it.