Lovely Package

I don't think I've ever received such a lovely package in the mail until now. I was so excited to have received my order from The Wanderlust yesterday. I want to buy everything in Danni's shop. Oh, and if you haven't checked out her blog yet, you might want to hop on over there right away because she has the most gorgeous photos and packaging ever! I also advise you to look at her adorable outdoor picnic wedding!

This Week...

Noah is wide eyed and taking less naps. When he does take a nap, he likes to sprawl out and kick the blanket off. // Blueberry muffins for breakfast on a slow Thursday and started on the chalkboard design for Noah's 3 month photo (coming soon).

This weekend we have a youth workers training workshop to attend. What will you be doing this weekend? Do tell!

Arrived in Style

Yes, I am the dork who bought a pack of Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper just so I could get a free Jonathan Adler designed toilet roll cover! I must say it looks great in my bathroom and hides the (hideous) extra toilet paper sitting out. I seriously got excited after sitting it on the counter.

If you don't want to buy the toilet paper to get the code, you can order one for $2.00+shipping here.

Celebrate!

Yesterday was Paul's birthday. He got lucky and had the day off since his birthday fell on President's Day this year. I started his birthday celebration by making him pancakes for breakfast. After he finished his birthday breakfast he opened his gift.

My in-laws got to our house around 9 am and we set out to do some treasure hunting. So glad my husband didn't mind taking time out of his day to please his mother and I! We took them to one of our favorites antique malls. They have everything (almost) organized into categories. They have an area with quilts, radios, kitchen ware, and more! I spotted this adorable owl cookie jar, but it was $24.75 and the man would only take $2 off so I didn't leave with it. I don't know, what do you all think? Should I go back and get it?

I did leave with this adorable tin can and a vintage handkerchief for only $2 total.

After the antique mall and Goodwill we stopped for lunch and then headed home so I could make Paul a birthday cake. It didn't look perfect, but it sure taste perfect!

After having some birthday cake my in-laws left to make their hour and a half trip home. We relaxed for a little while and then left to meet my parents, sister and niece for birthday dinner. We had a great time even though Noah was a little fussy most of the time.

Over the Weekend

On Friday we had a valentine banquet for our student ministry at church. The theme was "Love Rocks" so all of the youth team collaborated and created a rockin' party! I spent Thursday night cutting out (what seemed like) a billion hearts for our game. After cutting out all the hearts I made a mom tattoo onesie for Noah using felt and iron on transfer paper. It looked great with his leggings I purchased on Amazon. 

After the excitement and anticipation of Love Rocks was over I made sure the next day was very low key for Noah and I. Paul had a wedding to photograph so I put together Noah's new rocker (I wonder if he'll ever appreciate my obsession with owls) and I read him his first bedtime story from his Tiny Bear Bible. After Noah went to bed I wrapped Paul's birthday present since he wasn't home yet. I had to use xoxo tissue paper because it's all I had. Oh well, at least v-day was just last week!

On Sunday we went to church and then had fellowship and shakes for dinner afterwards. What did you do over the weekend?

Q&A: Blogger Tag Game and Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner

I've been seeing this blogger tag game on a few blogs so I thought I would start one.

1. I started my blog because...
I started reading blogs back in 2008 when I was planning my wedding. I actually had a wedding blog before a lifestyle blog. Once my wedding day came and went I decided to close that blog and open a personal one. I loved reading blogs and they provided so much inspiration that I wanted to do the same.

2. One thing I love seeing on other blogs is...
Their home. I love it when people give home tours. I have a huge crush on interior design and I could look at that stuff all day!

3. Something I love about blogging...
Meeting new people and making friends. It's nice to have a place, separate from your daily life that you can just be yourself and have a different "set" of friends.

4. Favorite blog posts of mine are...
Nursery Tour
Noah's Birth Story
Postpartum
Sequin Heart Headband Tutorial

5. Something my friends in real life know about me that I've never before mentioned on my blog...
I'm a real clean freak and a little bit OCD...ok maybe a lot! Everything (in my book) has a place and I can't stand when it's all out of order.

6. My new favorite blogs to read are...
I wouldn't call these new favorites, in fact I'm a long time follower of these:
Under the Sycamore
Smile and Wave
Rockstar Diaries
BleubirdYoung House Love

7. Some things I tend to avoid doing on my blog are...
I avoid mentioning religion or politics. I am a religious person and I have mentioned things about my personal walk with God, my church, etc. but I do not use my blog as a place to post my opinions/beliefs. However, feel free to email me if you ever have a question about these topics. I will answer them!

I tag Whitney from Becoming and Sandy from Sandy a la Mode

And the winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is...

Comment #30...

Congratulations, send me an email with your name, dress size, shipping address, and phone number so I can forward it onto Shabby Apple and they'll send your dress to you!

Valentine's Day Recap

I woke up to find this on the dinning room table. "Part one" he's so cute!

While Paul was at work I put his gift together.

After Paul got home from work we quickly got ready to go out for dinner. We had a reservation at 5:30, but Noah was cranky because 5:00 was his feeding time and he's been fighting congestion so we didn't make it to my mom's in time to drop him off. Oh well, I got to have 2 dates for my valentines dinner.

We went to this Italian restaurant downtown that was in the basement of one of the old brick buildings. The atmosphere was perfect and the food was great! Paul surprised me on this one since I'd never been there before. Paul ordered tilapia and I order chicken parmesan. After we finished our dinner we ordered this amazing dessert. It was red velvet cake/cheesecake dipped in chocolate with a caramel, chocolate, raspberry sauce. After leaving the restaurant we exchanged our valentine gifts. I bought Paul a nook since his birthday is on the 20th. I decided to combine the two and get him something nice.

Paul handed me an envelope that had this art print on the front, he designed it himself. Inside the envelope was...

A gift certificate for a full massage. I am so excited and cannot wait to use it! I could sure use a day off complete with a massage. I love my husband!

What did you do for Valentine's Day? Any surprises?

Love Day

Dear Paul,

If I were to write everything I feel, it would be too long of a post. I am so glad God put us together! I love that we do EVERYTHING together and we're always side by side. I would rather be with you than anyone else. You've stood by my side when I was sick, upset, having a bad day, and even stubborn. Obviously no one's life is perfect, but ours is pretty close. We have God, each other, and a beautiful baby boy. What more could I ask for?!

Dear Noah,

God knew you before you were formed in my womb. It's weird to think of life before you, if feels as though you have always been in my life. No other moment will ever compare to when our eyes first met. God knew I wanted you before I did and I'm glad he chose me to be your mommy.

Happy Valentine's Day to my boys!

DIY: Sequin Heart Headband

1. These are the supplies you'll need: scissors, sequin trim, stretchy headband, and felt.

2. Cut out a heart shape from the felt. The size depends on how big you want the heart to be. You might do a quick check after cutting it to make sure it's not too small or too big.

3. Starting at the top center, start gluing down the sequin trim by working your way around the heart and stopping at the center.

4. Glue the heart and a square piece of felt (as backing) to the headband and you're done!

Ps. If you want to purchase a headband like this instead, you can get it here.

Weekend in Instagrams

Our weekend started on Thursday when Noah and I decided to go with Paul to his client meeting at Starbucks. A caramel apple spice was on my menu. Then we decided to have Taco Bell for dinner because I didn't feel like going back home and cooking at 7:00 at night.

When I went thrifting with my mother in-law I picked up a bag of embroidery floss for only .99, but I left it in her stash by accident so my father in-law was kind enough to bring it back. Now I have some embroidery floss for this week's DIY. 

I've been waiting on our Anthropologie to get more of their large farmer's baskets and they finally had them again so I picked one up. I can't wait to put it to good use. I think I already know what I'm going to do with it. I'll share once I actually do it.

I'm currently stocking up on fun kitchen accessories. I'm sure if you've been reading for a little while you know that I have a red, black, and white kitchen. While I still love all my current kitchen accessories, I would just like to make it a little more cheerful with more colors.

Noah has been coughing and having congestion since Thursday so we called the advice nurse at his pediatrician's office to find out if we should bring him in for an appointment and she suggested a humidifier. So, on Friday we headed to Lowe's to get this adorable owl humidifier for Noah's room, but they didn't have it in stock like the website said they did so we headed over to Target to browse their selection. Sometimes you have to go with practical instead of cute I suppose! After leaving Target, Paul and I had...can you guess...Cracker Barrel for dinner. I always like staring at all their random decor.

On Saturday I had lunch with my best friend at Olive Garden and then we did a little window shopping at Anthropologie. I just had to get a shot of this display they did out of yarn. I also got a shot of these hanging lanterns so I could think of a DIY version.

Shabby Apple Giveaway

I'm so excited to bring you my first sponsor giveaway here on OSL! Shabby Apple is an online boutique specializing in vintage-inspired women's dresses, skirts, and accessories. I was so thrilled when they asked me if I wanted to host a giveaway. I immediately responded with an obvious yes!

Shabby Apple is offering one OSL reader this beautiful Spanish Steps dress. I absolutely love it and think it would look great paired with a cardigan, tights, and flat leather boots. After all, you want to be comfortable for your trip to Rome (not included).

Here's how to win this dress:

• Head over to the Shabby Apple Facebook page and "like" it (if you haven't already) and then leave me a comment letting me know you did.

For additional entries:

• Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know.
• Tweet this giveaway and let me know in the comments.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a link in the comments.

Giveaway entries will be accepted until Thursday, February 16th and the winner will be announced on Friday, February 17th. Good luck!

Bumbo

Still recovering so I haven't been doing anything exciting. I'll just leave you with this adorable owl! We tried out the bumbo for a few minutes today. I was a little nervous putting him in it. He didn't know what to think at first, but he never cried. He just looked around and posed for the camera.

Today...

I started getting a sore throat on Sunday night and it has now progressed to coughing, sneezing, blowing my nose and a headache. Paul stayed home from work to take care of Noah so I could rest and not pass my germs. I'm hoping tomorrow's post will be much more exciting.

Weekend in Instagrams

First of all I want to say a HUGE thank you for all the sweet comments and emails regarding my postpartum. Even the comments about Noah have been so kind. It's nice to know that there are many fellow bloggers and friends who care enough to share their feelings and advice. I really do read and appreciate every comment!

Over the weekend we visited one of my favorite thrifting spots, had dinner with friends after church on Sunday, and I came down with a cold, which is in full force today. I've been praying for a healing because I don't want to go a day without kissing my boy!

What did you do over the weekend?

This Week...

Noah had his first bath in the whale tub on Monday night. Paul and I expected him to cry, but we were surprised when he just laid there staring at me, smiling, and cooing. He loved every minute of it! He loved it so much that he cried when I took him out and dried him off with the towel.

We decided Noah is too big for his cradle now, so we are training him to sleep in his crib in his own room. We chose the wrong week to do this because he was also due for shots this week. He hasn't been the same since. He has been super fussy and doesn't sleep without being held. He's been waking up every hour at night. I'm hoping his schedule isn't off and this is just a phase of getting over the shots and getting used to the crib.

Noah- 2 Months Old

Likes:

-being held
-taking baths
-looking at the lights

-playing with daddy

-Baby Einstein videos

-sleeping in the sling

Dislikes:
-being put down
-car seat/carrier
-being still