Showering Baby Tegan

This past weekend my sister and I threw a shower for our brother and sister-in-law who are having a baby GIRL. We made lots of food and decorations in hopes of helping them prepare for their little girl that is due in September. 

I made centerpieces using mason jars that were decorated using purple and green burlap, purple twine, and a piece of circle paper with Tegan's initials. Then we filled the mason jars with purple hydrandeas and babies breath for a simple look. All of the mason jars were decorated differently which kept things interesting.

I also took paper and folded it in half, added owl stickers and wrote Tegan's name and initials on them to set up with the mason jars. An owl was on the invitation so that was a great way to keep the owls appearing throughout the shower. 

For more decorations I made a pennant banner with purple and green burlap, a "Baby Tegan" banner using twine and scrapbook paper, and a banner with her initials "TMO" using tulle and scrapbook paper. 

Overall, the shower went great and looked great. My brother and sister-in-law got a lot of gifts to help them welcome Tegan in a few short weeks. We all can't wait to meet her and to see my brother hold his sweet baby girl in his arms. At times like these, you can't help but realize how blessed you truly are in life.

Here are some pictures from the shower of the decor, food, and fun. Enjoy!

"Baby Tegan" banner and burlap pennant banner.

Mason jar centerpieces. 

Centerpieces. 

Food and table decor.

"Some girls are just born with a little glitter in their veins."

Dessert table with initial banner. 

Food table. 

More decor. 

Presents galore.

Soon to be parents to a baby girl. 

McCurry ladies.

Two baby girls on the way.

Happy Birthday America

I had a great 4th of July. Very low key, but still fun. My sister moved into a new house about two weeks ago, so over the 4th was the first time I got a chance to see her new digs. We had a nice long weekend just hanging out at her house, going to her neighborhood pool, and eating lots of food. Here are some pictures from the weekend. Hope you had a great 4th!

Me and my sweet girl.

After the fountain fun.

Needless to say...she had fun. The girl loves to splash.

The Wall family. Check out that cute baby bump...baby girl #2!

Fruit Pizza

I don't think I've had a fruit pizza since I was about....10 years old maybe. I completely forgot how great it is! Tonight I made my version of a recipe I found on one of my favorite blogs How Sweet It Is. You can find her recipe here. 

When I say "my version" of the recipe, I basically mean that How Sweet It Is' recipe calls for some extra ingredients that I didn't have nor felt like buying...so I went with what I had. It still turned out delicious and it got several compliments from my friends who enjoyed it with me. 

The ingredients that I didn't use were bananas and coconut rum. I also didn't add the glaze to the top of the pizza. I wanted a more muted fruit pizza without the citrus kick. Check out the recipe and try it for yourself. It's an easy and refreshing dessert for a weeknight. I prepped everything last night and just assembled it before dinner tonight. Enjoy!

My friend Brooks enjoying the fruit pizza.

Yummy.

And...We Have Kitchen Chairs

Slowly but surely I am furnishing my apartment. The one big piece of furniture I am still missing is a kitchen table and chairs. Recently I found some great kitchen chairs for sale on Craigslist. After I talked the seller down $15, i met her to pick up the chairs (with a friend and in a public place of course). I'm pretty excited about the chairs for several reasons...

1. The interesting style of them. They are definitely not your traditional chair, but that's what I like most about them. White rod iron with fabric covered seats.
2. The fabric that came on the seats actually goes with my decor very well. 
3. I got 6 chairs...for only $45!
4. All of them are the same except for one. One has arms which means I can easily use it elsewhere if I decide it doesn't fit with the table I get.

Now all I need is a table. I have my heart set on a cheap table that I can paint yellow!

An up close of the chair.

All 6 of the chairs.

A Sweet Reminder

I was recently rummaging around my apartment and found some birthday cards from 2 years ago. I have saved my birthday cards since I was a little girl.

The cards I found recently were extra special and just the reminder I needed. You see, these birthday cards were from when I turned 23 and lived in New York City. I was missing my family and apparently, as the cards read, they were missing me too.

The card below struck me though. Sometimes it's just nice to know someone loves you that much..."a heap". 

I wouldn't take back the time I had in NYC for anything. I grew up a lot and got to know more of my family that lives there, but I also know that I'm exactly where I'm suppose to be right now. Close to my siblings and their families. A short drive from home. Near all of my friends that I've had for years. It's a sweet reminder to remember why you are where you are. Sometimes we just need a reminder.

My 23rd birthday card from my Grandma.

Lego Land Florida

This past weekend I went with my brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews to Lego Land Florida where we spent two full days at the amusement park. We had a great time! Just imagine a theme and water park where everything looks like legos...and you have Lego Land.

We rode roller coasters, let the boys drive us around in lego boats, and enjoyed cooling off on the water park's slides. Remember those water slides that you go down without a tube and they literally just drop you down the slide? I remember them being fun. Not anymore. I went down one where you are in an enclosed slide for the first 30 seconds and then it drops you out. Needless to say I was slightly freaking out the entire time I was going down the enclosed part. Okay, I was completely freaking out.

Besides the scary slides, we had such a good time. It was so much fun getting to see the boys take it all in. Here are some pictures from our trip...now I'm in desperate need of a beach vacation with a drink in my hand.

 

 

A Patio...Finally

When I moved in to my apartment a couple months ago I instantly set up my patio, as I have been anxiously awaiting the day when I would have one again. When I lived in NYC I barely had an apartment, so a patio was just not happening. Not to mention that outdoor space in Manhattan is not something that people have, unless they are super rich...which I unfortunately am not.

I purchased a few plants, my mom gave me a few plants, and I put together the patio set I bought over a year ago (when I didn't even have a patio). The patio set had been hanging out in storage, but I just knew that one day I would have a place for it! Then a couple of weeks ago, my mom helped me plant tons of herbs in pots she had lying around. I now have a patio complete with:

• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Garlic Chives
• Oregano
• Spider Plant
• Gerber Daisy (my favorite!)
• Flower Basket - flowers, ivy, sweet potato plant, etc.
• Lights

I just love outdoor spaces and am so happy with how mine turned out. Now I just have to keep everything alive...the thyme is already fading on me!

My patio.

Updates with herbs, lights, ribbon.