Marshalls for the Win

{a striped, light, table runner that will work for a few occasions - Christmas, V-day, July 4th...it was on clearance for $10!}

Marshalls (and TJmaxx, Ross, Tuesday Morning, even Ocean State Job Lot (a northern store which I just experienced last weekend)) can be a hit or a miss.  On Tuesday I considered it a home run! I found things that I had been looking for and actually wanted...I'm not even going to pretend that I needed them.  AND I found them on the cheap cheap cheap.  

Lately I have been really avoiding bringing color in the house.  I've been looking for white, off-white or pale creams.  I'm even tired of taupe or yellow creams (which is the color of my kitchen cabinets at the moment...may change that soon).  Some of the things listed have a little color but it's progress towards an all white, neutral palate I'm headed towards.

Anyways - thought I would share some things that I'm loving in my house right now!

{our fireplace isn't working at the moment so this extra large candles with extra flames does the trick on my coffee table.  I'm also really into all white flower arrangements with pops of red.  And that Christmas tree dish was a thrift store find this summer for a dollar :D }

{I was SOOOO excited to find these little guys! and in white! I see them (or something similar) in so many design blogs/magazines.  I can't wait to give them a home on my mantel after the christmas decorations come down.  Only $8 each!}

{This antler piece was on clearance for $10.  Right now it's a bangle/ring holder but I'm sure I'll find more uses for it as time goes on...I even thought about hanging special ornaments on it for a small space Christmas decoration}

Roswelle Gray: Baby Led Weaning

Yesterday I pointed out "Roswelle's Food" in our fridge, except you didn't see baby food jars or purees.  Nope, at 6 months we introduced solids to Roswelle and did just that, solids.  On the recommendation of my peditrician, I read the book Baby Led Weaning and decided it was the approach we would take.  BLW would give me the comfort I desired of knowing exactly what I was giving Roswelle, (no GMOs, all organic, limited sugar, no external processing) and wouldn't leave me locked up in the kitchen pureeing on my Sundays (which I was fully prepared to do).  It also gives her another chance to learn and develop.  She is using all of her senses when she eats; sight, smell, touch, taste.  I'm trying to expose her to as many fruits and veggies as possible before she turns one.  I haven't decided when I will introduce chicken or red meat, maybe 9months, maybe a year?  Just whatever Paul and I feel comfortable with.  

Like anything, there are risks involved.  Yes she could choke, but I guarantee you she can choke on a spoonful of food too.  I make sure the pieces are either really big (for her to chew on) or really small and mushy.  I'm right there with her.  Her saliva is the first step in the digestion process and she uses a lot of it as she learns to move food around in her mouth and eventually get it down.  Definitely check with your pediatrician and pay attention to what your baby prefers (some prefer to only be spoon fed).  Check out the book HERE if you are interested and feel free to reach out to me!

A typical day for Roswelle: 

Wake 6:30am - Nurse

1st Breakfast 7am - Eggs!

Playtime/Nap

Wake 10:30am - Nurse

2nd Breakfast 11am - Bananas, Organic Steel-cut Oats, sugar free apple sauce.

Playtime/Nap

Wake 1:30pm  - Nurse   

Snack 2pm - Baked Apples, Sweet potato, Avocado, etc

Playtime/Nap(sometimes)

Wake 3:30 - Nurse

Playtime

Dinner 4:30 - Baked Spaghetti Squash, Sauteed Butternut Squash, Steamed Broccoli!

Playtime

Nurse/Bottle of breastmilk: 5:45pm

Bath 6pm

Book 6:15pm

BED! 6:30pm

{OBSESSED with sweet potatoes}

{she thoroughly enjoyed thanksgiving}

{Maddie is learning to eat too!}

{she is a messy girl, but messy babies just means they had a great day!}

{playtime with Maddie on Thanksgiving}

{listening to GiGi}

3 items that make BLW so much easier:

Ikea Highchair - cheap and easy.

TommyTippy Bibs - they catch soooo much!

Splat Mat - will save your floors.

it's 10:27 and I can hear her playing in her crib...right on cue. see ya!

Organization: Food!

By now I hope your Thanksgiving left-overs have been eaten! It is the perfect time to clean out your refrigerator and store your food strategically.  Our fridge may look empty to some, but this has a full week's worth of food.  Some tips, use parchment paper as a liner for your shelves for easy cleaning, take food out of bags/containers as soon as you get home (I store my eggs in extra glass vases!), and display healthy food at eye level.  

**I can't believe I'm showing the inside of my refrigerator.  It feels personal?!? ha!

{fresh fruit with lots of color}

{plenty of vegetables, one of two full drawers}

{when possible, store your drinks in clear containers that make things look cleaner}

{follow suit in the pantry, instead of having bags falling all over the place, put items in mason jars}

{since we try to avoid processed foods, we don't use much pantry space (just ignore my chips) ;)}

Thankful

There are many, many reasons I want to be home in GA this Thanksgiving, but we instead decided to wait to spend a full week there for Christmas. As time moves forward it is getting harder and harder for everyone to be under the same roof for the Holidays (and I know I'm the one who moved to BOSTON). But I will be with my family.  My new little family that Paul, Roswelle, and I make. :)  And we will be with Paul's family who love me like I'm their own, and I them.

Tomorrow is an intentional day of gratitude.  For some of us a day to reset our perspective, remember those we have lost, and reflect on what really matters. I'm thankful for health which is commonly a forgotten gift, happiness which is a choice I am lucky to make, and for these pictures that capture very happy moments from the past month.

Today, I'll be in the kitchen preparing for tomorrow.  My favorite movie of all time, Gone with the Wind, will be on in the background (on AMC all day today!).  It will be a good day!

{missing Trey who was busy flying all over the South-East :)}

Tatte Cafe and Bakery

A few weekends ago I saw a picture on Instagram of a cafe in town - Tatte Bakery and Cafe.  It looked like a mixture of lovely and cool and I decided I would try it out this week - a reason to get out of the house with Roswelle, coffee, and something to blog about...perfect! 

Below are some quick photos I managed to get with a busy, busy
baby on my hands. There is no graceful entrance, casual coffee, and relaxing blogging/reading these days! Thankfully, I was able to meet a girlfriend there (was great catching up with you Erin!) who happily held her while I snapped a few quick shots.  By the end Roswelle had had enough and was screaming (arched back and all) and we quickly left the rest of the sans-baby patrons so that they could have their lunch and coffee in peace.  

All in all it was a successful trip!  I'm hoping to hit this up with my girlfriends for brunch this winter.

{a cool, eclectic light display in the center of the shop}

{ Avocado & Soft Egg Tartine was simple but surprisingly delicious. I could not get enough!} 

What I SHOULD have ordered: the Shakshuka, looked amazing!

{our hipsteriest (new word, folks) outfits I could conjure up}

{Roswelle's new favorite doll, a blabla doll, more on that another time}

A Thanksgiving Hash

(The sunnyside up egg is optional - but adds even more flavor and nutrition!}

Just in time for Thanksgiving, the dish you must have on the table this year: Brussel Sprout Hash.

Paul and I made this a few weeks ago while we were in Georgia and we have been making it every chance we get, ever since.  It's a super healthy meal (Paleo of course) and it packs a TON of flavor.  Don't like brussels? - just give this a shot - even my grandfather liked it! 

You can find the recipe at the end of the post but below are some step-by-step shots of the easy dish.  I suggest using super fresh, local ingredients, it really makes a difference!

A MUST for this meal is to have a wide vegetable peeler as pictured above.  It will prevent you from cursing yourself for starting this meal (and me for suggesting it) during the peeling process. 

{cut the peeled squash in half and scoop out the seeds (toss) - then chop in into medium chunks}

{slice the brussel sprouts - about 4-5 slices a sprout}

{my little helper, eating her broccoli}

{the ingredients (not pictured: evoo, salt, & pepper)}

{her favorite food - sweet potatoes!}

The secret to making this meal distinct from anything else on the menu is the bacon grease.  According to the recipe, you will bake the bacon while chopping the other ingredients.  Once the bacon is done, pour the grease from the pan directly into the sautéing pan!

{sauté the squash and onion first, then add brussels, chopped bacon, evoo, and s&p}

If you want to get fancy, top off the hash with a sunnyside up egg.

As seen below, the longer the hash cooks the better and softer it will get.  I hope you take a chance on this dish this year and enjoy it as much as we have! 

Recipe, serves 8-10

(adapted from this recipe: http://paleogrubs.com/brussels-sprout-hash-recipe)

Ingredients

1. 1lb uncured bacon
2. 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
3. 1/2-1 small red onion, finely diced
4. 40-45 (1stalk) Brussels sprouts, stemmed and sliced
5. 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
7. 2-3 eggs, optional

Instructions

1. Place the bacon in a separate pan and bake at 350 until crisp. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate and crumble into pieces. Pour the bacon grease in the pan.
2. Add the butternut squash and onion to the pan and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Stir in the Brussels sprouts, along with a tablespoon of olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until the Brussels sprouts are dark green and fork-tender.
3. Add the crumbled bacon back into the pan and stir. Optional: Make two or three small wells in the hash and crack an egg into each. Cover and cook until the eggs are set. Serve immediately.

Favorite Things Friday

Happy Friday, y'all.  Due to some travel plan changes, my week had a slow pace which was much needed.  The weather here was rainy and chilly most of the week which only warranted one or two outings a day for us.  It was a nice change of pace for me and I feel ready for the weekend ahead.

Here are some things that are making my life better, currently.

Personal & Home:

{this mini steamer is the real deal.  With a baby and a schedule that seems to change on the fly I rarely have time to get out the iron (and who really wants to anyways?).  The mini steamer fits in my closet or luggage and gives me an wrinkle free outfit on the go and in turn one less wrinkle in my morning - only $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond.  worth.every.penny!}

Food:

{Lately, I scrutinize every single ingredient in every thing I eat.  I blame it on the recent article on the nutritional value of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte that floated around on facebook - it opened my eyes to the numerous unnecessary ingredients and chemicals in our food.  BUT this Blissful Eats granola pictured above put my mind at ease for the most part.  It's great to have a healthy snack option that keeps my admittedly over-thinking, worrisome mind at ease.} 

Baby:

{This baby diaper rash cream is the best I have found so far.  Many of their products are sold at Whole Foods with ingredients I am comfortable putting on Roswelle.  I use the diaper cream, baby wash and baby oil.  The European based skin-care company has great items for Mom too!}

Have a great & safe weekend y'all.  Paul, Roswelle, and I are headed to the Cape this weekend to celebrate and remember the life of Paul's Grandfather and namesake, Paul M. Fusini. <3

Roswelle Gray is 7months...today!

This is my 250th post! 

I can't think of a better thing to write about today than Roswelle being 7 months old! 

Today is a good day!

(that's 3 sentences with 3 exclamation points right there)

Motivational Monday: JPPilates Stroller Bootcamp

The words Stroller and Bootcamp (one word in my world) probably aren't two words you would typically put together, but Jennifer Phelan of JPPilates did!  Roswelle and I have been going to her mommy+baby classes since Roswelle was 4months old (I wish I had started earlier!). Once a week, I have been making the quick drive to Charlestown and participating in her #strollerbootcamp.  If you are lucky enough to be a new mom (or nanny!) in the Boston area, I really encourage you to join us.  

 Jenn will tell you that she is figuring it out as she watches her own baby grow.  She has a 9month old adorable son, Grayson (#babyboomer - check out his hashtag on instagram!), and she has been coming up with ways to workout with him since he was born.  As a personal trainer and pilates enthusiast she wanted to get back in shape but had to balance being a new mom as well.  I'd say she figured it out and found the balance!

  Some more about her classes: Her tagline phrases "up an inch, up an inch"..."down an inch, down an inch", and the famous "c-curve" will have you sweating and your legs literally trembling but will get you the results.  The game changer for me, your baby comes with you!! Your baby can cry..poop..nurse during the class and it doesn't matter.  There is no pressure to keep you baby quiet or asleep - the more active the baby the more interesting the class can get for you.  ;) You are surrounded by a new community of moms which we all know is key to being a happy, healthy mom yourself.

More classes are going to be announced soon - you can find out more info on her website (http://www.jenniferphelan.com/) or follow her on instagram @ jppliates1 

{jppilates1 pushing #babyboomer}

Below are some personal photos from our last class this past Friday.  With the New England weather quickly turning cold, it was the last outdoor class at Bunker Hill Monument.

{kudos to the mom with TWINS in the group}

{Roswelle learned what to expect in the workout classes and now enjoys seeing me jump around}

{parking our babies in the strollers behind us, we used a hand rail as our "bar"}

{Jenn will even hold your fussy baby for you while you finish your push-ups. thank, I think. ;) }

{Roswelle learning how to do a plank...or just trying to eat grass}

{I'm not in a c-curve position here (whoops) but Roswelle loves to be up in the air!}

{practicing her shavasana...."namaste" ;) }

{phew that was tough and fun!}

{Roswelle learning to share and play with babies her age!}

{some of the group - sans sleeping babies in their strollers - we never wake a sleeping baby!}

If you are in the Boston area, let me know if you want to join me.  Community is such a powerful thing for moms and I have learned how important it is for Roswelle's and my health.  Thanks, Jenn!

**Blog note, there was no "Favorite Things" post on Friday, last week just got the best of me and I couldn't get it all together.  I gave myself some grace and let it go.  You'll have one this week, or at least that is the plan!**

Roswelle Gray: Her 6th month of Life!

{my favorite recent photo of us}

Life has been busy lately and I can't believe it has been so long since I have done a 'Life with Roswelle Gray' update.  Before the passing of my uncle, I was actually in GA with my family for 10 days.  Paul went on a guys trip and was in NYC for work so it was a great week for Roswelle and me to head South.  

Roswelle will be 7 months on Monday, 10/21!!!!!  I can't believe I have a 7 month old!  Some highlights in Roswelle Gray's life: she is an AMAZING napper/sleeper - we just lay her down for her naps during the day (no rocking, shhh'ing, etc) and she sleeps 6:30pm-6:30am.  She is eating solid foods - her favorite foods are broccoli, oranges, and eggs.  She is still exclusively breast-feeding, we are doing the Baby Lead Weaning approach to introducing food, I'll plan to do a separate post on it - it has been a great experience for us. She can navigate all over the living room rug but no official crawling yet.  She LOVES attention...she will sit in her activity seat completely still until we look over at her and then she will start to bounce and smile and talk!  

*photo overload warning*

instead of writing out paragraphs of what we have been up to, I decided to show you through photos and captions!  

We got her all dressed up for church in Georgia! My mom jokes "the bigger the bow the closer to God" ;)

{Mia, Momma, and Baby!}

When I hang around my 16yr old brother with my baby on my hip, I'm acutely aware of how officially uncool I am. That's ok with me ;) guess I'll be what the young kiddos call 'basic'

Roswelle loves animals now!!!! She giggles when they lick her toes.  I think a trip to the zoo is in our future.

{some of my favorite moments at home are out on the back-porch swing}

{after 10 days they finally reunited}

{...}

{big, happy girl!}

{we meet Paul for lunch at least once a week - this day was his 36th bday!!}

{rare snuggles - she is usually on the move or asleep in her crib}

{discovering food!!!!}

{we were headed to a wedding - leaving the babies at home - my first full night away from her!!!}

{trying to act anything like parents on our big night out - kissy-face/peace-sign and all}

{little bit of a rough start on our Thursday morning}

{locked us out of the house with nothing but my sunglasses in hand. Used a diner gift card from across the street to get back in}

{still made it to meet dad for lunch - not how you should baby-feed :P}

{cheered on Auburn vs Miss. State - tough loss}

{Hung out with cousin Maddie!!!}

{went shopping like a big girl}

{took a long nap in Boston Garden during an unseasonably warm day yesterday}

phew, that's it.  I have just a few minutes before she wakes up from her morning nap.  be back soon!

Favorite Things Friday

Lately a few things in particular have either been making my life easier or making me smile, or both!  I'm going to try to implement a series of Favorite Things Friday with categories Personal, Food, Home, and Baby.  Hope you enjoy!

Personal:

One of my favorite bloggers, Erin Gates of Elements of Style, just released her design book.  It is full of amazing design spaces and personal stories of hers.  A must for your coffee table!

Jenny signed us up for the book signing in Fenway on Tuesday night.  So happy to have met her! (and it was a fun excuse for me to actually get dressed up during the week)

Food:

{Fall in a box. literally. smells amazing!!}

Home:

While at home in GA, I used my mom's white (and 'green' eco friendly) frying pans.  I love how crisp and clean they make the food look as I cook.  I cooked spaghetti sauce in them and they came out perfectly clean - no staining!

Baby:

We love this inflatable ducky for bath time.  Roswelle can sit up in her bath safely, it's just enough space for her to play in, and it fills up in less than a minute! Much better than having to fill up the entire tub and hold onto her to keep her from tipping over while she plays.

A Fall Refresher

First - thank you so much for reaching out to me yesterday.  The facebook comments, messages, and texts really impacted me.  It's scary to put feelings out there, especially in a culture that puts on a perfect front, so thank you for making me feel supported. We are all going through something so we might as well come together and hold each others hands through it.  

As promised - a little post on a simple Fall update! I love changing the house to match the seasons.  A few weeks ago, on the first day of Fall, I went up to the attic and grabbed my Fall themed throw pillows (I forgot the blankets!) and started from there.  

The pictures aren't perfect (argghhhh I need to get my camera fixed!!) but they'll do.  Most of this change-up was free.  I switch curtains and lamps around the house, found throw pillows that I had stored from last year and added just a few Fall accessories.  When you have clean, neutral items and colors in a room, it is easy to transform the room with just a smidge of color.

our Fall-ish mantel: 

A brown bolster throw pillow, gold/mercury containers with rope detail and fall colored flowers.  My only plant in the house (still alive!), a ceramic cream pumpkin, and a simple twig wreath.

Above: our living room before I did the Fall refresher

The updated room: 

I switched out the curtains from Roswelle's room.  I was sick of the 2yr old polka dot Ikea ones that didn't reach the floor in our living room.  I switched the lamps from our bedroom.  New pillows to add some fall colors.  And the easiest way to change the feel of a room - a scented candle and coffee table accessories.

I'm debating on whether to fill the leaf dish with candy-corn (a personal favorite) or a healthier option such as pistachios... it's still empty 2 weeks later. 

  Curtain advice from my fav blogger Erin Gates of Elements of Style is to hang curtains as close to the ceiling as possible and to have the hem of the curtain gather slightly on the floor.  It draws the eye up, giving the illusion of taller ceilings and adds some drama.  

real talk

Today is a beautiful Boston Fall day which should leave me feeling exhilarated, fresh, motivated.  But I've had some really bad days these past few weeks with the passing of my Dad's brother, my Uncle Tommy.  

I've been absent on my blog because of this and it just didn't feel right to jump right back into blogging about flowers, brunches and and seemingly seamless days without being real first.  Over the past few weeks I have had feelings of immense sadness, anger, weakness but also compassion, forgiveness and strength  It goes without saying that the loss of my uncle has brought up past emotions of losing my own Dad and I've decided to go talk to someone about it.  I can feel part of me saying I don't need to talk to someone, I will get through it just like I did when I lost my Dad 5 years ago, but I have a 6 month old this time and I know postpartum can happen for up to a year after having a baby.  I want to be smart and healthy for her if anything else.     

I do have my faith which has helped me get this far and will help me get back to a new normal, which we all do after a loss.  I believe Jesus conquered death and I believe God loves us in our darkest moments.  I've been reminding myself these things when worry and sadness start to creep in.  I also believe my own pain has a purpose.  I want to provide hope and strength to my cousins; it's an unfortunate bond that we now share and I choose to make it a strength of ours rather than a weakness.

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others..." 2 Corinthians 1:4

I don't talk much about these things on here because this blog is a fun creative outlet for me but just like anyone else I have really bad days.  And among all of the perfect food pictures, my smiling baby and my "clean" house, I lose my temper, I feel inadequate and definitely insecure some days. 

But I'll be back tomorrow posting about a quick Fall re-do I did in the living room.  My heart is still beating and I am choosing to be life-giving by giving my time to others, being a healthy mom, and even writing on this silly blog.   

kabobs >> frittata

This past weekend was our first weekend back in Boston in several weeks.  To ease the pain of no longer being at the beach on a Friday night, I decided to make Paul a big meal for Friday night. I stopped by Whole Foods to pick up fresh healthy ingredients for the weekend.  

While in the produce section, I spotted some pre-made kabobs and decided to buy the ingredients to make my own, figuring I could make more for my money since I knew I had wooden skewers at home.  

{Ingredients: Red&Yellow peppers, local grape tomatoes, onion, mushrooms}

{I soaked the wooden skewers to try to avoid them burning on the grill}

I was able to make 6 total; one is not pictured. To make kabobs you chops the items up into big chunks, so the process is very fast.  These took me maybe 10 minutes.

{Skirt Steak!}

Not the prettiest picture I have ever taken - but it was one of the best home made meals in a while.  Simple vegetable skewers, cauliflower rice, roasted asparagus, skirt steak with only salt&pepper.  No processed ingredients, no additives, no stress! 

I have become a little neurotic about food as I am preparing to feed Roswelle real food...I'm working on finding the balance between feeding her healthy, organic, nonGMO, local food and being a realistic American (hehe...ehhhhhhh). 

<insert scared wide-eyed emoji here>

BACK to my post! The next morning I used the leftovers to make a frittata.  A new mom I met in a baby & barre class I go to gave me the idea - she said she just throws in her leftover veggies into a pie plate and adds eggs - so easy! 

{2 kabobs, cooked asparagus, raw kale and 10 eggs; butter the dish; baked at 350 for 35 minutes}

{I topped mine with feta cheese}

Paul and I ate the entire thing...plus a pound of bacon. In one seating. Good thing i'm training for the half!

Frittatas are our new favorite thing.  You can get really creative with it.  If Paul ate cheese, I would add a few scoops of goat cheese to it before baking. Next time I might add bacon IN the frittata - BOOM. 

frittatas make me say hakuna matata

Because it's Monday...

...thought I would share some of my favorite pictures and videos that make me smile...even when it's a Monday.

A lot of these pictures are from snapchat, which is an app I LOVE. One of my girlfriends from GA (mer-mer) and I communicate through pictures all day long. I share my first cup of coffee of the day with her, how I styled my hair (or sometimes lack of style aka bedhead all day), or something silly Roswelle did that afternoon and she shares her growing baby bump, her messy living room from her 2yr old Gable, and even pictures from her pillow at night telling me goodnight! 

Have a great day, y'all!

Still not so sure...

My brother Carson jokingly asked if the stroller straps are organic...unfortunately they aren't.  :O

{I love this picture}

Almond Pancakes

Just in time for the weekend...I have an almond pancake recipe for your Saturday morning breakfast! We made these last weekend at the cape on a whim - Paul looked up a recipe and selected based on the ingredients we had at the cottage.  It wound up being delicious and more importantly they looked good too.  I can't tell you how many paleo baking recipes I make and it just doesn't look as appetizing as the regular baked items.  I am someone that definitely eats with my eyes and I appreciate presentation of food just as much as the taste.  Bonus: after eating these health packed little cakes - you don't feel lathargic and in need of a nap.  I went on a run after eating these and felt great.  

If you are more of a waffle person - check out these almond waffles.

The recipe is simple  1 1/2 cups of almond flour, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup of milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Combine and your done.  This makes 6 pancakes.  I must warn you they are very...nutty. You can definetely tweak the recipe by using almond milk, adding coconut or regular flour for taste, etc.  The thinner the batter the thinner the pancake and vice-versa.  Have fun with it!

To balance the nuttines of the pancake, we make a wild berry compote.  Use frozen organic wild berries (Trader Joe's Fancy Berry medley is my favorite) and local honey.  Warm in the pan until a think sauce consistency. 

The key to the perfect pancake: no butter in the well heated pan and wait to flip until you see the bubbles! (pictured above)

{that's a beautiful stack of health if I do so say so myself}

        Enjoy! I enjoy mine with the berries AND maple syrup - organic obviously (I can feel my brothers rolling there eyes) ;)

Life Lately: 2014 Summer Wrap-up

Welp!...summer is officially over.  It was the busiest and best one yet, we made it to Truro 11 out of the 13 weekends we had available this summer.  This past weekend, Labor Day Weekend, was the best weekend of the summer in terms of beach weather - ending things on a high note. 

From Left to Right: Sandy, Ross, Paul, Roswelle, me, Jenny, Maddie, Rob.  We used a self-time to take the picture and I actually like that we are off center just a smidge.  

This past weekend we made it out to an early breakfast at my favorite spot in Provincetown.

{something was very intriguing apparently}

The girls are great early in the morning.  Paul and I will be making it to a lot more brunch spots than dinner spots this Fall, which is a-ok with me. 

By the end of the summer Roswelle was very used to the beach routine.

In between holding their babies up in the air, Rob and Paul played endless amounts of volleyball this Summer.

{Roswelle loves to sit up and LOVES tags!}

{Roswelle and Gigi (Sandy)}

{bath time}

{I think every baby should be bathed in the sink at least once}

{Madelyn Grace agrees with me}

Roswelle is 5 months!  She sleeps through the night 90% of the time.  Her bedtime is 6:30pm on the dot.  Every night we have the same routine: walk 5-5:45pm, Bottle 5:45, Bath 6pm, Books 6:15 and eyes shut no later than 6:45pm.  She is becoming more interactive each week and it just keeps getting better and better.  She loves to read, roll-over, scoot!!!, and she is practicing sitting up on her own (almost there!).  She is still exclusively breast feeding and we are planning to introduce solids right at 6 months - I am reading up on Baby-Led Weaning (a method of introducing food) and planning to take that approach when the time is right. 

{she looked like a doll to me the other morning at breakfast - hello eyelashes!}

{baby curls}

It was a great summer!  (thanks for posing Maddie!)

Personal update: tbt (on a Wednesday) to my cheerleading days.  I'm running the Newport Half Marathon on October 12th.  I'm up to 7 milessss.  I guess you could say I was giving myself a little pep/cheer/dance here (after completing the run).  Paul kept making fun of me for saying I needed to get amped up for my run but it is true!! It is hard to get myself out the door knowing I'll be running for over an hour instead of taking care of my baby/family.  I have to continue to work on taking care of myself and I know the healthier I am, the happier(and healthier) Roswelle will be.  

Sooooo long Summer.  I'm welcoming Fall with open arms (in a cute sweater/scarf/boot combo).  ;)

Updates All Around

I put this Ikea bookshelf together in literally 10 minutes flat.  It was so easy! and no tools needed! Either this is just an ikea phenomenon or Ikea has stepped it up when it comes to assembly.

The R & G will be painted soon...and I might hang them over her crib instead of scrunching them up on this shelf.  

{I've already made some changes to the wall gallery..}

I bought this heart mirror at Hobby Lobby - knowing I would paint it gold first chance I got.  

I used my fav secret weapon - Gilding Wax

I also bought the above framed art for $8.  I liked the frame and the verse but it was a little plain for me.

{I spruced it up with a black and white stripe folder I had}

ps. I'm lovinggggg black and white stripes right now...trying to find a good place for it besides this.

{tada - although I broke the glass pane in the process :/ }

outtakes:

Roswelle Gray Updates:

{she sleeps on her stomach or side most of the time now}

ps. paul put her jammies on backwards - I feel like every dad needs to make that mistake once, like a milestone, ha!

{she holds her bottle all on her own - finishes it all by herself (with supervision)}

{Paul's favorite thing these days is to get her when she wakes up - she is all smiles}

She's my little peanut!! I take her all over the city with me.  My grandmother, Mammie, says she was born with jets on. :)

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These pictures are from Tuesday - we went into the city for an early breakfast with girlfriends and then headed up to NH to the closest Hobby Lobby with Jenny and Maddie!  

The three of us are headed to the cape this weekend (again!).  It will be another fun, low-key weekend.  Life is going well.  Even those I am a SAHM (stay at home mom) I'm still working for the weekends when Paul is around.  I have never looked forward to him getting home as much as I do now!  

Have a great weekend, y'all!

House Project: Wall Gallery

I've been working on this project while Roswelle naps during the day, and oddly enough she is napping as I write this The wall gallery was a work in progress for a couple weeks which I started back when my mom was in town.  I went up into our attic and grabbed any frame I could find; some without a glass pane, some with random art (old purchases from HomeGoods) and some from around the house.  

This is how it all started...on my floor.   I spaced out the frames and started tracing them on newspaper.  It seems like an unnecessary step but it only took 10 minutes and helped me visualize the spacing on the wall.

Above is what it looked like for a good week...I was getting comfortable with items on the wall and then started editing and updating which was the fun part. 

I bought a group 3 framed pictures of dresses for my apartment back when I was 22 and living alone in Atlanta.  They don't fit into my house aesthetic now so I deconstructed them and replaced them with personal items: a recent photo, our wedding invitation and the number 10 which is part of our address now.  I used a lot of scrapbooking items during this whole process - cheap and easy! A 10x10 piece of scrapbook photo fit perfectly in the frame and worked well as a backdrop.

I have always loved this gift bag (from my stylish friend Marcia) and I've been saving it to use as a matte in a frame.  I had the frame pictured below which doesn't have a glass insert (yet) so I cut up the bag and left the handle.  I think it's a fun fit for now.  

The frame above has come a long way.  I purchased it from Marshalls yearsssss ago.  It didn't have a glass pane and had a random photo of a green flower.  I bought an ugly old picture from a thrift store for $1 that was the same size as this frame.  I used the glass from the thrift store purchase and put scrapbook paper as a filler for now.  Does that make sense? I actually love it.

Above is another thrift store find.  It was a great frame for $1 but the cutout is an odd shape - long and slim.  A page from my calendar was the perfect fit.  To make it personal I chose the month of March and drew a heart the 21st with a pink sharpie which signifies Roswelle's birthday.  

I'm really happy with how it looks right now.  I'm not sure if I will go all the way up the wall to the top of the stairs.  I'm sure pictures will change and new frames will be put up. That's the great thing about spackle and paint, you can always change it up!

Roswelle Gray: Life at 4 months

I'm writing this as Roswelle is finishing up her 12th hour of straight sleep.  Well, minus the 20 minutes she was awake this morning at 3:40am (and a couple other times when I just reswaddled her and she fell right back asleep). I finally had the courage and strength to sleep train her and to be honest it wasn't all that bad.  She didn't cry more than 20 minutes over the last 3 nights, average was 7 minutes of tears a few different times.  It wasn't blood curdling cries either...it was more "I don't think I like this" crying.  My biggest piece of advice is to wait until you and your baby are READY.  Her signs were that she would wake up in the middle of the night but would only be awake for 20 minutes, she wouldn't eat much when she was awake, and she would crank her neck while we were holding her almost like she wanted to be put down.  I listened and laid her down while she was still awake and she would lay there relaxing before she literally just nodded off to sleep - happened last night at 7pm.  She was ready to sleep through the night, she just needed a little encouragement. 

I may be tootin' my on horn a little early, we'll see what happens over the next few nights, but I'm going to enjoy this moment for now :)

My mom saved so many of my baby clothes and they now make up a majority of Roswelle's wardrobe.   I love how classic and simple the outfits are, they just don't make 'em like they used to!  She is in my little eyelit top and my pink ruffled bloomers.  My mom just recently brought up another batch of clothes; Roswelle will be wearing 'vintage' pieces until she is 2!

Speaking of my mom, she came to visit for a week!  

We had the best time...all of us!  Paul and I enjoyed some free time at new coffee shops, working out together, and going to dinner.  While my mom enjoyed quality 1x1 time with her grand-daughter.  WinWin for all of us. 

New favorite date spot, reading spot, anything spot - cafe nero.  AHmazing coffee shop right in the middle of the city.  It's a European chain and this is the first location in the States.  If you visit Boston you must go!  

I overindulged on cappucino's one night...had 3 and it was totally worth it.

Other randoms...

We have a mover/scooter!  She can get around pretty well by raising her legs and throwing them down.  I only loosely swaddle her in a blanket that I know she can get out of because of this.

My mom's birthday cake form the PB boulangerie in Wellfleet.  

Roswelle graduated from the bassinet in the stroller to the toddler seat.  She loves to look around and doesn't want to miss a thing!

Ok...I'm off to feed R breakfast and then heading to BYOB pilates.  Next post will be on the wall gallery I've been working on during Roswelle's naps!  I'm really excited to show you guys!

xo