So if you have a daughter or son who has an animal that they especially love, you HAVE to check out this Etsy store, Planet Pudge. I bought this penguin tee with the money that Nana and JJ sent Charlie for her birthday, and let me tell you, it is darling. The quality is wonderful, and I loved this girl’s work so much I bought Charlie a pumpkin tee for next month as well. Really sweet and affordable, and you know that someone’s going to want to wear this ALL the time!
Thanks, Nana and JJ!!!!!
Oh, I just love J. Crew. It is by far my most splurge-worthy clothing addiction next to Anthropologie. If money were no object, I would have head-to-toe wardrobes from these two stores. Last year I bought this gorgy (that’s short for gorgeous, btw) black ruffle-necked button-down for my birthday and was so hoping to score the striped version as well, at some point. However, considering I am pregnant, it didn’t seem very prudent to buy the striped one from the outlet and have it hang in the closet for a year.
This year, the retail store has the version pictured above, and I am majorly swooning over it. Luckily, I did find a maternity version SORT OF like the striped one I’ve been wanting at A Pea in the Pod. I’m breaking it out as soon as it’s comfortably cool outside. Did I mention that I also purchased the sweetest peacoat from Pea in the Pod as well? I had to have a coat, right? Now comes my toughest challenge yet…I need a semi-formal dress for my brother’s wedding in early October. I have nothing that fits the occasion, and it looks like none of my gal pals do either. I’m carting Charlie to a mall in the ‘burbs on Friday to see if I can find something…if any of you happen upon anything noteworthy, do let me know!
For Today, September 9th…
Outside my window… I am wishin’ and hopin’ for cooler days.
I am thinking… I am LOVIN’ the baby announcements we ordered! Truly special for the season…
I am thankful for… my community of other moms, what in the world would I do without them??
From the kitchen… tried the most amazing “colossal butterflied shrimp” from Trader Joe’s last night…delicious!!
I am wearing… my full panel maternity jeans, baby. Yup, we’ve moved into the next phase, 3rd trimester!!
I am going… to Michigan to visit Ms. Jen and her boys a week from today!! Can’t wait!!
I am reading… my 900 page Vogue (hey, it takes awhile to get through that thing!)…
I am hoping… for some positive signs about our future.
Around the house… I am project-less for the moment. Not quite ready to start figuring out the office situation yet. I think I’m “nested out”, at least for the week. 😉
A few plans for the rest of the week: (hopefully) the last glucose test tomorrow morning to determine if I will have to monitor my sugars at home (aka finger prick), a possible drive out to Woodfield Mall on Friday, Ms. Kim’s Matilda Jane show on Saturday morning, and Happy Birthday wishes to Aunt Janet, Mimi, and Uncle Evan, all in a row!!
Here is a picture I am sharing… getting ready for Ballet this morning…
If you want to know more about the Simple Woman’s Daybook…
Let me tell you, toddler ballet is no joke. Not only did the girls have a real ballerina as their instructor, but they practiced stretching, running jumps, and pointing (of toes). Did Charlie participate? Mmmm…sorta. She spent most of the time clinging to me and running in place (Flashdance-style), and she and her friend Emilyn alternately giggled and hugged on each other.
Totally fun though, to see all the little girlies in their tutus and glittery barrettes. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few of my Mom’s Group friends in the class as well!!
Check it out: ARCC Ballet & Dance!
So, in all the craziness of the past month I COMPLETELY neglected to share that Charlie is starting ballet tomorrow morning! Anyone who knows me knows that being either A. a prima ballerina and/or B. a chorus line dancer on Broadway are two of my unrealized dreams. I took ballet at a very young age but unfortunately didn’t stick with it long enough to be any good, and I always knew I would want my daughters to at least TRY it.
Truth be told, I’m not sure that there will be much “technique” involved in the 2 year old “Pre-Ballet” class, but we all know what’s more important at this stage of the game, don’t we? Leotards, tutus, and ballet shoes. Yup…and lots and lots of pictures, maybe even me with a video camera, if it’s allowed.
I am SUPER geeked about this class. Stay tuned for tomorrow!!
I am proud to say that every single stitch of clothing in this apartment is washed, dried, folded, and put away, as of this afternoon. Vann hung out with Charlie after naps today so I could finally get this armoire/closet project finished. Doesn’t it look so sweet?
Again, I recognize that not all Mommies have the clothing obsession that I do…but in my defense, when you, your daughter, and daughter-to-be all share the same small closet, it makes things very interesting. I’m sure that Vann feels like he is drowning in a sea of shoes, accessories, jeans, and coordinating tights, and I feel for him, really I do. But, in a little over two months time he’ll be the only man in a house of (wait for it) five women, so hey, he’d better get used to it.
I look at it this way: I only have a few years to enjoy dressing my girls the way I want to…and then they have their whole lives to figure it out for themselves. Charlie is already getting opinions about things and she’s only two, so I’m going to enjoy this as long as I can. All of that to say, Vann and I were laughing about how nice it will be to have our own sinks, closets, etc. in a new house…no more sharing bathroom time and no more stacking my clothes on the dining room table. I can shut the door of my closet and NO ONE has to see it but me.
There are still some of Charlie’s things in my closet, and we are still sharing a dresser, but this armoire has given me back most of the space I had lost. Thank GOODNESS for generous neighbors like our dear Jill and Carl!!
Runway…
Realway…
Oh, words do not describe how much I love this little Matilda Jane dress. The designer of Matilda Jane started out selling her wares at art fairs. I wasn’t able to drive to Plymouth, Michigan for the MJ art fair this summer but lucked into someone’s extra dress from the big online sale. It’s called the “Party Knot” and I just adore it!!
What a crazy, busy day!! We moved Charlie’s small Ikea dresser into the office/baby room/cat lair and I washed and folded all of the newborn clothes and got them put away. Meanwhile, Vann and Carl broke their backs (not literally, but still) getting our new armoire up our front stairs and into Charlie’s room. It is a lot bigger than the piece of furniture that was there, but we had measured it and knew it would take up some space.
HOWEVER, I should say that after an hour or so alone in there (Vann took Charlie to the grocery store) I made a ton of progress and got most of her fall clothes put away. I’ve never been able to hang everything before (only the fancier things, and in my closet) so it was awesome to be able to SEE all of it!! Not only that, but Charlie even has boxes for socks, tights, hats, and bows!!
Now, I know, dear readers, that not all of you can appreciate such things, but having this extra bit of space is going to be a lifesaver for us! Here are some “before” pics (I’ll share the “after” pics when I get finished with it this weekend):
You can see how large it is relative to Charlie’s size. It will be perfect in a big girl room!! We can’t thank Carl and Jill enough for this amazing gift…Vann and I were discussing how this is the kind of stuff family does for you. We are honored and so appreciative of their willingness to not only give us this piece of furniture, but give it new life and help move it in for us. They have really served us today.
…I do my best work at 11:30 pm.
Ok, I admit it. I’m a little obsessed.
I’m not sure why I didn’t really decorate for fall last year…maybe I felt like I had too much on my plate chasing after a one year old…which doesn’t make much sense considering I am now chasing after a two year old AND am almost 28 weeks prego. I think I’m just going to chalk up my current new decorating energy to nesting, plain and simple. Having this baby during my favorite time of year has me all warm and fuzzy inside!! Since I anticipate spending quite a bit of time in our apartment these next few months, I really want our place to be warm and inviting, for myself, my family, and the guests we’ll have over to see this precious bundle of joy.
So, I’m obsessed. With pumpkins. Of all shapes, sizes, textures, colors, etc. Today I found the cutest fall/harvest decorations at TJ Maxx, gotta love it there!! I don’t particularly care for potpourri or fake flowers, but I have been dreaming up a tablescape for our huge dining room table (which is normally stacked with laundry that needs to be put away). I even bought our first wreath and hung it on the front door!
The “pumpins” (as Charlie would say) pictured below can be found at Pottery Barn. I may need to swing by there this weekend and look at them in person. I am loving the metallic ones especially!! How fun!!
And speaking of having no place for folded laundry, our sweet upstairs neighbors Jill and Carl did the most amazing thing for us. Last month Jill mentioned to me that they had an armoire downstairs that we could have if we needed extra storage space for the girls. It needed to be refurbished, but we were welcome to it, and after discussing it with Vann and measuring Charlie’s room, we decided that it would be the perfect solution to our closet issues. Fast forward a few weeks later, and today Jill and Carl call us downstairs to see the finished product, as they offered to refurbish it for us. Let me tell you, it took my breath away. They put so much love and care into it, and it is DARLING. She painted it white for me, hung a bar in it for Charlie’s many dresses, and even purchased pink hangers and baskets for storage. We were floored by this sweet couple’s kindness and generosity. Is it normal to be geeked about organizing an armoire?? I can’t WAIT to get that gem moved in this weekend. What a gift!!!
