Our 1st Guest

Happy Tuesday Readers! 
We are so pleased to have our talented photographer friend, Emily Large share a DIY project with us today. Liza and I both met Emily in college, and years later, while we were in seminary, Emily married a classmate of our husbands, and our paths have been crossed ever since!

Bienvenidos!

emilylargephotography.com

With a baby on the way, I’m flexing my organizational muscles as we move our daughters into the same room to make space for our new little one.  I’m not a naturally organized or linear thinking person.  I tend to put things where they “make sense to me” or “I’ll remember where I put that later.”  But now I will have to put some logical order to the “organized chaos.”  

And I’ll probably start that project next week.  (-:

Before we get to that, though, I have to re-decorate the room so that both girls feel at home.  And this part will be fun!  With a small budget and 2 budding artists in the home, I decided to put them to work for our project.

I bought about 30 8x10 canvas panels from our local art supply store (A.C. Moore), some child friendly paints, some ticky tack adhesive (it’s like putty) and let the girls at it.  It was a fun afternoon activity we could do together, and including the girls in the project 1) made the oldest more amendable to the rearrangement and 2) made the younger daughter feel more at home in her new room and bed.

We originally covered a small wall in the room from floor to ceiling with the panels with the ticky tack and enjoyed the brightly covered space.  The girls loved putting the ticky tack on the panels and were so proud of their work.  And again, we had another fun afternoon activity working together.

Unfortunately it occurred to me the next day that the beds would have to be rearranged.  Bummer!  Undoing all our hard work wasn’t easy, but it was worth it to get it just right.

We rearranged the canvases to create a bit of a headboard for each girl’s bed.  We moved in the beds, and it’s as cute as can be.

For the rest of the room, I’ve bought some big frames from IKEA and am printing 2 of my favorite photos of each girl to hang on the walls.  I LOVE the clean and powerful statements that large prints make.  (When the floors are cluttered and the beds are unmade, at least the walls are beautiful, right?)  I highly recommend printing your photos at mpix.com.  First class quality on a tight budget.  Beautiful photographs + mpix.com + IKEA = inexpensive, sentimental, and stylish walls.

Thank you Emily! 
If you need beautiful photos taken, Emily is your gal! Check her out at emilylargephotography.com &http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emily-Large-Photography/205407696161061




Besos,


M

Snow Bunnies

January is here with lots of snow, and to say it is a little bleak out and cold is a fair description. Being a girl from Arizona, Manhattan winters took some getting used to, and I never adjusted to Pittsburgh's winters.  When it's cold outside, it is the perfect excuse to stay in and stay cozy, but if you're like my husband, the slopes are calling your name. 

via Vogue Archives

I think I could muster up the strength if skiing looked a little more like this....

Via Vogue Archives

I LOVE these watercolors!

via Vogue 

1938

Isn't this good looking?! Oh, the sacrifice of the model for the perfect pic.

Maybe I will try this next snowfall in Central Park:)

photo by Annie Leibovitz

Via Vogue

via Vogue.com

Don't you just love the punch of orange? 

Stay warm wherever you find yourself this winter!

Besos,

M

Jot it down..

Hello Lovely Readers!!!  

Friday has arrived, and I don't know about you, but I do have a honey-do list that needs some attention!!!  The best way to get myself going has a lot to do with stationary. If you have the right notebooks, planners, and thank you cards, the chores get done.  I have not yet moved into the world of organization via Excel-- I am that woman who continues to love & use good looking paper.

My Agenda.Com 
Here are just a few of my favorites.  I do have the robin's egg journal.

Don't you just love how good looking these leather planners are? Right now they are on sale!!!!

 I LOVE the meal calendars, chore lists, and grocery lists.  It doesn't take much!!

IsPads are great organizers, too!!! 

If you're going to use your iPad in this capacity you need to invest in a DODO Case, or if you have a Henry in your life, these cases are a MUST!!!

You can find them in any J Crew store!!!

The Thank You! 

Jake and I are always writing thank you notes.  The best way to go is with personal stationery.  Our friend Jane Anderson at Plain Jane's is a fantastic stationary designer-- check her out! Jake does love the look of a clean design, where he can easily jot down a Merci!

Via Tiny Prints

Lastly, when it comes to politics, I will be the first to admit I do have my head a bit in the sand.  Although, I have noticed First Lady Obama's fab style and her initiatives on reading and eating well, too. I must say, JOTTING down the hours you've read not only makes you feel smarter, its amazing to see how much you actually read to your children.

I don't think we have the will power to tuck the TV away in the closet like the Obamas, but we are always up for an adventure in a good book, and weekends are great for reading!!!

Sophia loves Black Beauty
(be prepared to talk about death, though. I did not see that coming).

I am also loving Diane Keaton's biography, and the jury is still out on the Grace Based Parenting

(I am only in chapter two).

This weekend is catch up for me. We are only 20 days into the New Year, and I am already feeling a little behind.  Oh well, such is life when you are trying to enjoy it and stay organized!!

Happy Weekending!!!

Mel