Furniture makeover inspiration.

I just came across this desk makeover on Design*Sponge. I was planning on doing a bit of thrift shopping for a dresser for the baby's room tomorrow, and this before and after has me even more excited to find something I can really fix up.

Whatever I find, I want to use a punchy color, as the walls in our house are all white. Cross your fingers that I'll find something wonderful I can work with for a great price!

The sideboard.

Here are a couple snap shots of the sideboard in our dining room. The cubies have been perfect for storing my art supplies and some of Rudy's math papers. Hooray for getting organized!

The painting on the left is by the ever-wonderful Kelly Tunstall, and the print on the right is by our incredibly talented friend Jeremy Slagle, (you should definitely check out his site).

...and a silly picture of me for my Grandma Dee :)

Belly! 33 weeks prego!

Well I've finally gotten to taking a couple of belly pictures. I really think we need to start taking weekly picture because this little guy is growing fast!

Sorry about the bad quality photos, but you get the idea I'm sure.

Also, I cut all of my hair off again. It's so nice and cool on these hot Ohio summer days. I wonder if one day I will actually grow out my hair again. I don't think I care all that much either way.

Buying a bed.

{A pretty bed from livingetc.}

I will begin by saying that Rudy and I are both over 6 feet tall. Rudy is 6'5'' and I'm 6'1''. We have been sharing a full sized bed since we got married three years ago. I like to tell people that this was the biggest adjustment for me when it came to being married and living with someone. One wouldn't think that sharing a bed would be that hard for a newly married young twenty-something! But it was!

Now that our baby is almost here (September!!) and we are planning on co-sleeping, I've been thinking a lot about biting the bullet and buying a bigger bed. Combine that with finding some money in a forgotten savings account (about enough to buy a quality mattress), and I'm ready to hit the showrooms!

A couple of nights ago I did an online search of how to shop for a mattress. Buying a new bed is such a big investment that I didn't want to go into a store only to be duped by a smooth sales pitch. I can now say that I am very well equipped with know-how on how to find the perfect bed at a great price. It's all about the "Thanks, but I'm just looking" and the "Wow, that price is pretty high" lines. I've never fancied myself to be much of a haggler (or one at all!), but I also feel that the sales people in the stores are taught to use enticing tactics and greasy sales techniques to sell me a bed at a higher price than it is worth; i.e. not being able to price compare because the exact same mattress is sold at different stores under different names.

Anywho, I got to the end of my research about what to look for, (coil count, coil gauge, firmness etc.), and then got lost lost lost in the world of organic mattresses. And why conventional mattresses are harmful for specifically pregnant women and their babies. Because the flame retardant chemical on all normal beds, PBDE, is absorbed into the body and passed on to the baby through blood as well as breast milk. Great. What expectant mother wants to read this at 11:30pm after a long day?

The next logical step was to research organic mattresses, made out of non-chemical soaked foam and naturally flame retardant wool, right? Wrong. Because organic mattresses cost 4 to 5 times more than what we are able to afford. This sent me into a spiral of angst over how I want to be able to do something right for not only our family, but also our environment (PBDE is also found in the blubber of Orca whales and seals because of dumping), but the cost is completely prohibitive. It just seems like you shouldn't have to be rich in order to make a change in how things work. Maybe just by writing this and raising awareness I am making a difference?

I finally came to the conclusion, after more research, that while we absolutely can't buy an organic mattress we can find a happy middle and buy a conventional one and put an organic wool cover on it which will keep the chemicals from reaching our bodies. Yes, we will be putting money into the hands of those making beds by less honorable means, but we can also contribute in a small way to making a change by buying a cover from an environmentally responsible company.

All this to say, YEAH!! WE'RE GETTING A BIGGER BED!

India Print.

Another one for the baby's wall. Oh boy this one is good. Elephants, pups, teacups and cameras. Yes please!!

Get it here. Except if you buy the last one, and not for me, I will be sad.

Blabla dolls (and impulse purchasing).

Hello Blog-o-sphere. I've had a long day, but a good day. Work this morning and an appointment with our Midwife, Kathy, this evening. Everything with mama and baby P are looking great. I can't believe how fast all of this is going. It feels like our little man will be here in no time.

I just happened upon Blabla Kids' website, and am in love with their knit dolls. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I have wanted a sock monkey sort of doll for my little one to be. I found this perfect guy in Blabla's selection of their classic dolls, and I couldn't be more in love! So I decided, after much going back and forth, to go ahead and get him.

Is it considered an impulse buy if you have known you wanted one for six months? I'm going to go ahead and say no :)

I'll do it soon.

First of all, I love this photo by Pia Ulin.

Secondly, yes, Rudy and I have moved into our new home. But no, I'm not ready to put up any pictures. In a new place, I tend to have grand intentions but no means to actually make them real. I've been saving my tips from the coffee shop for the last few months, trying to come up with some sort of a decorating budget. I've got a bit saved up, and as long as I'm (very) savvy, I think I can make some things happen with this new place.

I'll try to document the process as I go so you can follow along. I just wish the closest Ikea wasn't in Cincinnati!

Bedroom in a closet!

This kid's bedroom is in a closet! And it's awesome! I love the colorful styling and simple, ever-so-cute toys.

See more of the details here.

Olive Manna Travel Mug

Want it

Our third year together.

{The only photo taken of our little family on our 3rd}

Last Thursday, June 17th, was Rudy and my third anniversary, (and our second anniversary of having Gatsby). We had such a great day together.

While taking Gatsby on a walk we heard music and lots of people so we went to investigate and found a public pool within walking distance from our house! After we got home from the walk, we went down for a swim. It was about 90 degrees out, so a dip was just what I needed.

That night we went to go see The Life Aquatic at the Wexner Art Center's Drive-In movie's first showing for the summer.

The showing was free, and the night couldn't have been more perfect. There was free caramel corn (my favorite!) and fireflies dancing over people's heads.

We even got to bring Gatsby! He mostly slept on his little bed and was admired by all. The guy behind us even took a picture of him because he thought he was so cute.

I had forgotten how much I really love this movie. Cate Blanchett's baby belly is pretty cute too.

{A shot of a previous showing from the Wexner's site}

Ooo those shelves.

I am really loving this room with its grays and its beautiful thick wooden shelves.

I would probably throw a pop of intense color in there, but that's just me.
Seen here at Desire to Inspire.

All of our stuff...

...in one room.

This is what all of our belongings look like when they are consolidated into the dining room of our old house. I may have mentioned before that Rudy and I had to be out of our old place on the first, but can't get into our new place until the thirteenth. Our landlords (and their son who moved in) let us keep all this in the dining room for a couple of weeks. Rudy, Gatsby, and I are staying with my Grandparents right now, which seems like a mini-vacation while we wait for our new home.

While it has been sad to move on from our first place here in Columbus, I am also excited to start fresh in a new, more updated, home. We should be moving in this Sunday!