Happy Gloomy Weekend

Today is a very gloomy day here in the northeast. The temperatures are hovering in the mid to high 50's. Most are bummed about this, but I, am thrilled! Today has the feel of a crisp fall day, my favorite type of day. So I decided, as exhausted as I am, to live it up. While I was waiting for my dear husband to crawl out of bed, I decided to get a head start on my thank you cards for my upcoming baby shower. Since I am privileged enough to have access to the list of rsvp's, I addressed the envelopes to all my expected guests so that once my shower has passed I can just write the thank you letters and pop them in the mail (always thinking i tell ya). I sent out thank yous to those who cannot make it to the shower but have already sent gifts along (thanks again everyone!).

I thought these cards were adorable, and they just so happen to match the decal I put over the baby's crib (see post from earlier this month). I knew they were meant to be when I found that for 50 cards I would only need to spend $12. A happy Target find!

By the time dear hubby got out of bed, I was ready for lunch (though I'm always ready for lunch). We decided to pay our respects to a dear friend of over 10 years now, who will soon be with us no longer.

In just two days, sadly, this great restaurant will be closing its doors. TJ and I stopped in for a last meal and to enjoy my most favorite tea ever, Sonia's Sachlib, in the warm and cozy atmosphere Helsinki provides. I was devastated that I would never taste such a wonderful tea or their amazing butter spread ever again, until....we overheard the most amazing thing. Without knowing it, we happened to sit next to the owner who was explaining to a friend that he would be reopening Helsinki in Hudson, a town over the border in NY just 45 minutes away. I know 45 minutes! But it is soooo worth the drive to enjoy their delicious cuisine and Hudson has some really great shopping spots that I love and don't get the chance to visit as much as I would like. So it all works in my favor.

After, we wandered around Great Barrington hitting up some of my favorite shops, which I just love to do. We did some grocery shopping and then headed to Lenox to fulfill my next craving...hot chocolate from Chocolate Springs (cool fall-like day remember). I added a yummy blueberry scone to that order!

After a stroll in our garden to check out my pumpkins (yes that is the same pumpkin as pictured earlier this month), I picked and hung my lavender up to dry. And we started our yummy homemade, baked mac 'n' cheese dinner (well, TJ really made it while I wrote this). And after dinner I plan to relax with my new book, which I am totally loving!

Yes, this gloomy day really was a good one!

How my garden grows

Today I paid a little visit to my beloved pumpkin patch and was just thrilled to see how much it has grown. I compared the pictures to the ones I used in a post about a month ago and I just can't believe the difference. I have pumpkins!!!!!

I want it!!!!

But I can't have it. I have decided not to do a theme for the babies nursery nook (named so since she doesn't have an actual bedroom but a designated space in a rather large nook right outside of our bedroom). I'm not knocking anyone who loves themes for the nursery, but I'm just not the Winnie-the-pooh, Dora, princess type. What I do love is nature and I am trying to incorporate that into the decor together with light organic colors.

That is why I just love this mobile from Anthropologie and would love to have it for the baby's nook. However, it is a little out of my price range, so I'm just going to keep this picture here to look at every now and then. Isn't it gorgeous!

Pillows the size of people...well little people

With a little girl on the way, I've been trying to come up with ideas of fun things that I can make for her nursery nook that she can grow with, and hopefully, cherish through the years. I found this pillow and just love it! The always inspiring Rubyellen made this for one of her adorable little girls and though you can't tell from the pictures, it is big enough that her daughter can actually lay on it as if it were a bed.

I'm not sure I can actually recreate such a detailed piece of work but it certainly got the wheels turning for me. Rubyellen always has amazing and fun crafty ideas on her blog www.mycakies.blogspot.com and has adorable finds in her Etsy shop www.mycakies.etsy.com.

Rubyellen seems to frequently pop up on some of my favorite websites to visit for inspiration like www.freepeople.com which has the coolest blog ever and www.designingmoms.blogspot.com.

Got Scraps? no sewing required

I am always looking for things to do with the mounds of fabric scraps that I keep. And since I recently came to need some drawer sachets, I thought that I would try my hand at making them.


I happened to have a bag of locally grown lavender on hand that I've been waiting for the right project to use, and some ribbon scraps as well. With all the ingredients ready, it only takes 5 easy steps to create a fun little sachet.

1. lay out small rectangles and squares of fabric scraps



2. pour little heaps of lavender in the center of each scrap



3. bunch the fabric up around the lavender



4. tie a ribbon in a knot around the center of the fabric (right above the lavender), then tie another knot to prevent spills



5. and finally, tie a pretty bow and you are done!

I was surprised at how quick this project is and it uses up some of the beautiful little scraps you saved from your projects of past.

I did it myself.

Since I've had to put my cushion project on hold temporarily (I forgot to pick up cotton filler, ooops!), I decided to give my next project a go. My wonderful sister has lent me her antique (yet uniquely restored) dresser to use for our baby's room and I thought that the drawers could use a little pick me up. However, finding a cute drawer liner that matched the purple, yes purple, dresser was a bit of a problem, so, my solution was to go to my favorite little art supply shop that is just a few towns away and pick up some of the fun, quality paper that they carry (in longer strips so it covers the length of the drawer).

I found a repositionable spray adhesive and, after some measuring and cutting, I now have some very cute, dresser matching drawer liners.

If you prefer scented drawer liners just fill a spray bottle with warm water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. I used lavender! Don't soak the paper, just a little bit of spray will go a long way.

It's a...

Girl!!!!!!!!

Today darling hubby and I found out that we are having a little girl. We couldn't be more excited! I see little dresses and tea parties in my future and I just can't wait. Unfortunately, we didn't get any good pictures of her to share but that's okay, the news is good enough. Now, we will celebrate!