baby baby baby!

it's baby season! lots of friends are expecting, which means I get to make cute stuff :) I made three burp cloths and a swaddling blanket for friends of ours who are due any day now. they don't know what they are having so I tried to choose colors and prints that were fun for a spring baby but gender neutral. the burp cloths have a side of cotton print and a side of soft chenille to help absorb all the stuff that comes out of baby. and the swaddling blanket was my first go at dying fabric! i love the cute aden + anais swaddles but they are a bit pricey, so i decided to make my own! i got some white gauze at joann's and a box of orange dye, and it turned out so cute! i did a double line of zig zag stitching around the edges to give it a little character. i'm pretty much in love with it and can't wait to make more. these are such simple and easy gifts to make for friends with babies on the way. i love being able to give practical, needed gifts with personal touches.

 

let's get healthy

as i mentioned a few posts ago, we've been trying to live a more healthy lifestyle when it comes to what we put in our bodies. now, i'm the first to admit i'm no where near being a health nut. i love donuts more than anything. i have taco bell for lunch more often than i should. and honestly i don't think there's anything wrong with that. i think it all comes down to balance and moderation. with that being said, i'd like to introduce you to my new lunch friend.

 

we recently joined a csa (community supported agriculture) and receive a box full of local, fresh, organic produce. the majority of the box is full of a variety of greens, and it's been a challenge figuring what the heck they all are and how to use them. so i've been piling some along with fruit in a smoothie. it's so yummy and filling, and packed full of good stuff for you! this past week i've done frozen berries, an apple, half a banana and a big pile of spinach. splash a little water on top and let the blender to its' job. these smoothies definitely look like something you'd find in a diaper, but don't judge a smoothie by its' color! they are super tasty! my goal for this next week is to get a little more adventurous with my ingredients... i'll keep you posted :)

bloom into spring exchange!

about a month ago my bff lisha, who blogs at one house one couple, asked if i'd be interested in participating in a "spring exchange" that she and another blogger, meagan from local at last, would be hosting. i said of course!

i was partnered with another rachel who blogs at get neat and she sent me some pretty cute things!

 

 

she sent two small cups- one i used to put jelly beans but those were gone in a few days time so there's no documentation of that :). she also sent a bar of lavender scented soap that smells awesome, a cute little note pad, and a happy little spring chick!

thanks rachel for the spring goodies! and happy spring everyone!

my new best friends

our sink had been smelling pretty stinky. i would put lemon peel down it over and over, and the stink would still linger. so last night i decided to actually take out the little black rubber ring and look down in the garbage disposal. 

OMG IT WAS SO DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!

i'll spare the details, but i seriously almost barfed. i ran to the computer and googled how the heck to clean the crap i had just found. and thankfully the solution was pretty simple. fill up the disposal with ice, add a cup of coarse salt or vinegar, turn on cold water and run the disposal til the ice breaks up. tonight i coated the disposal with baking soda and poured vinegar all over it (i never get tired of watching that little science experiment), then did the ice and salt trick. and it's already looking a million times better. so to those of you out there with garbage disposals...make sure you check it every now and then!

happy weekend!

I'm starting the weekend off right with a little bowl of chocolate cheerios. seriously, the best thing ever invented. so thankful the weekend is here and looking forward to time with friends and family and each other.

this season of life

i feel like i'm, once again, at this sort of in-between season in this life i'm living. we've been married for almost two years (holy cow how did that happen??), we've settled into the routine of day-to-day living, we take our dog out and let each other know whether or not she poops and pees, we have jobs we both enjoy; life is good. and yet i feel like i'm searching for something more, like i'm ready to take the next step life is putting in front of us. i've been having more and more days of feeling like i can't live in our condo much longer, my baby fever is burning, and i'm just feeling plain old impatient. i find myself daydreaming about living in a cute house with a yard for penny to run in, a sweet baby in my arms, and my amazing husband by my side. i know all of these things will come in time, but somedays it feels like time cannot go by fast enough!

i opened my bible up tonight to this verse..

You are my portion, oh Lord; i have promised to obey your words. i have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. i have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. i will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

psalm 119:57-60

it's so easy to become wrapped up in our own thoughts and ideas and dreams, when really our destiny is already laid out for us. i'm trying to stay rooted in the promise that a plan has been made for me. the greatest desire of my heart should not be having more than one bedroom or buying cute baby clothes, it should be living my life in a way that reflects the love and grace of jesus. i'm challenging myself to be better at this. anyone with me?

craft night: round two

a few weeks ago my lovely friends and I had another fun craft night. this time we all came up with ideas using paint chips. I found an idea on pinterest (duh) and decided to make a few "prints" to put in frames over the couch. we had a bunch of colored frames up before so this is definitely a change in pace. much more simple and minimal. and i obviously still need to make one more :)