And Baby Makes Three

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T18:22:00.002-06:00

We're back! Check out the new combined blog here.

Hope you are enjoying this holiday season and looking forward to a happy new year!

xoxo

Is it Christmas Yet?

2010-09-22T23:17:00.005-05:00

I think it is safe to say that Christmas this year will be a one stop shop for me. I haven't stopped drooling over the Emersonmade clothing line since it's grad debut and will kindly direct my husband to the site when December rolls around.

There is also a weird surge of motivation that I get when I look at where the line has been able to go in recent years. From starting out selling simple linen flower brooches, they are now about to unveil a new line of heels. Shoes! How do you even go about designing shoes? Do you call your local shoe maker and talk him through the design and then voila! you have custom made shoes? Who knows, maybe that's exactly how you do it. Either way, I am totally crazy for everything they offer and need to either a). get a job, b). win the lottery, or c). wait for the next hefty gift giving holiday to finally add one of these beauties to my closet. ( "A" is the right answer in case you were wondering but I'm hoping I can get away with "C"). Plus, she seems pretty nutty in a really fun kind of way and I totally support that.

from here.

2010-09-11T09:50:00.001-05:00

Little Emma just turned two and we celebrated in a big way! Check out some of our day here.

Zara Kids

2010-09-11T07:27:00.004-05:00

After going totally bananas with the September lookbook from Zara Kids I decided to try my hand at making a little inspiration board. I had tried making these before and for some reason, it never worked out quite right. I think it's part of the whole lack of patience thing. However, these cutie pie little outfits deserved something special, that's for sure. Lately I have been wanting to make a trip to Dallas really bad and the thought of making a quick stop at Zara Kids is creeping up to the top of my list of motivators.

from here.

Madewell/J.Crew Fall 2010

2010-08-30T22:32:00.008-05:00

Just a few of the things I am eyeing at Madewell for the Fall. This gives me a break from drooling over the new Fall J.Crew catalog. All of those dark tones are killing meeeee (in a good way)! After seeing the cast of the new movie, The Romantics, featured in the catalog it made me realize that if I can figure out a way to be best friends with the insanely elegant Katie Holmes I will probably be able to snag all of Suri's hand-me-downs for Emma. That would be the coolest.

Our Weekend

2010-08-30T09:09:00.006-05:00

To say that this weekend was good is a massive understatement. The weather was gorgeous, hot but bearable, which made for a nice relief from the scorching days we have been having the past couple of months.

It started off with a little realxing and jumping on the bed.

Then Emma and I went to Fiesta early on Saturday morning and had waaaaaay too much fun. That place is bonkers.

Then I cooked up a huge pot of charro beans that turned out really good considering I had no idea what i was doing.

Saturday night Sarah and Felipe came over for dinner and Emma found a new best friend.

On Sunday my parents took Emma to College Station for the day to visit Kelly so Brandon and I were able to have a date day. We hardly knew what to do with ourselves. We ended up spending the whole day out exploring a new part of the city, trying new food and drinks, and actually popping into a few shops. It was so awesome and long-overdue. Granted, all we did was talk about Emma, but at least we got to talk about her at CityCenter and at Town and Contry while perusing through the new layout at Restoration Hardware. I just about died and went to Heaven in there. We even agreed on several pieces of furniture we saw in there. This is HUGE people!

Brandon felt he needed to explore a clearing in the woods by our house and lookey what we found! A huge retention pond! lol It was actually really cute. I love it when we get to use the truck like it was meant to be used, even if it was only for a minute.

Seared Ahi Sashimi from our lunch in CityCenter. We cannot wait to bring Emma out there. She would have so much fun and we are both super curious about Ruggles. Can it really be as good as everyone says? Only one way to find out...

Phew, that was fun!

Daydreaming

2010-08-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I am finally going to be done with all the assignments for my PPR course and will spend the rest of the day daydreaming of living in this house. It is officially the most beautiful home I have ever seen. Wouldn't you agree?

Swooooooooooooooon.

Barton Springs

2010-08-26T14:10:00.001-05:00

Sigh.

My thoughts exactly.

Finishing Up

2010-08-26T10:59:00.004-05:00

Today I am already getting lots accomplished here in the library at Lonestar College. This certificate has been a lot more work than I originally thought. I was sure that the only education I would need to be able to teach would be to watch Kindergarten Cop and School of Rock about a million times. Done and done. It turns out there is so much more to learn :)

There should only be a couple more days of writing and then it's on to observing and subbing. Fun, fun! Remember when I said I was giving up coffee? That sure was funny wasn't it? I'm hooked bad with no cure in sight.

Now, for your entertainment/education:

And just in case I end up teaching bilingual education:

Party Planning

2010-08-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

I decided that we are going to skip a "theme" for Emma's birthday this year and just have an old-fashioned dance party. I'm thinking New Years Eve meets ballet class. I love that she recognizes what a party is (ie. balloons, cupcakes, banners etc.) and am just going to let my craft closet explode all over the house. I'm not going to limit the color palette except for trying to keep all of the colors soft and really play up some fun metallics. Too much bold color kind of makes me crazy. This should be really fun and this whole "no rules" thing is quite liberating. These are just a few of the things I am thinking of getting for the shindig...

I love the whole rainbow cake fad that is going on right now but I think I will do it in mini rainbow cupcakes. How precious would that be? Plus, I don't think I have the skills for the cake just yet.

These number balloons are a must.

So are these polka-dot balloons.

Cake bunting? Yes!

This year I will most definitely get a coordinating party dress with my girl. Maybe it's silly, but last year I looked like a total mess and will never make that mistake again. These dresses from J.Crew are at the tippy top of my list. The pink one is soft and would be so pretty with a glittery halo but that green dress would be awesome with a skinny brown belt and loose updo. How fancy.

How awesome would it be to attempt to make some fun piñatas and tassel garland like the ones from Confetti System? We'll have to see about this one, it looks like a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

Emma the Photographer

2010-08-24T19:11:00.005-05:00

Yesterday while I was reading to Emma before her nap I let her take a few pictures with my phone. I told her to take a picture of the flowers, and to my surprise, she did. The same went for when I told her to take a picture of her light and "pretty shirts". All you have to do is tap the screen on my phone to take a picture so it was simple enough for her to master in a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds. This kid is crazy smart. Sometimes I can't believe that I am lucky enough to be able to watch this incredible little girl grow and learn every single day.

I took this one right before she went to sleep. She was taking turns waving hi to me and putting a washcloth over her doll so they could both go "night night". This kid just melts my heart.

Weekly Sewing: Pillow Complete!

2010-08-24T08:00:00.009-05:00

I am so proud of myself for finally completing a pillow and it came out completely adorable. The two panel method I used in the back is really very simple and you can hardly even tell it's there. It also really helps the pillow keep it's shape a lot better than I originally thought.

So here is the breakdown:

Lining casualty.

21" square.

(2) 14-1/2"x21" panels with pre-existing finished edge.

I cut out my pieces after violently ripping out the stubborn lining. I remembered how difficult it was when dealing with a lot of fabric from when I made tablecloths for Emma's birthday party so I tried to break the panel into sections before I started making cuts. Folds were my friend.

I then put a quick zig-zag around all of the raw edges because I want to be able to throw it in the washer without the whole thing falling apart.

Here comes the fun part. I just pinned the front square piece to one of the panels, pretty sides facing in, with the finished edge down. (Remember, I used the finished edge that the curtain already had for the exposed edge of the panel.) Then I did the same thing with the second panel only with the finished edge up near the middle.

Then I just sewed the whole thing up with a 1/2" (ish) seam allowance. I pressed the edges, folded it inside out and pressed it again. Then, voila! My pillow is complete and it only took me an hour!

Finished pillow pre-karate chop.

Finished pillow post-karate chop.

I'm so proud of myself and plan on making the other one tonight after the little one is asleep. Now for all you experienced sewers, I know that this is hardly a tutorial and the finished product is far from perfect but it works for me and it actually looks pretty stinking good. I am already thinking of new and better ways to create these little tutorials and can't wait until next week!

Weekly Sewing: Pillows

2010-08-23T09:16:00.005-05:00

Good morning! I thought a lot about what project I should get started on first and decided on making two of the pillows for our kitchen bench. I already have two 20" pillow forms so I am going to just do a simple square with the two panels in the back instead of a zipper. I don't anticipate ever seeing the back of the pillow so I don't think it will be too huge of a deal.

This is my plan for making two 20" square pillows:

I am going to cut out two 21" squares for the front face of the pillows. This will give me a 1/2" seam allowance on all sides, I believe.

For the backs I will cut out four 14-1/2"x21" rectangles. The edges of the curtain are already finished so I will use those for the edges of the panels that will remain exposed. These measurements will give me a 1/2" seam allowance on the remaining three sides as well as four inches for each panel to overlap. Maybe that's too much, maybe it's not enough but theres only one way to find out. I plan on making them during Emma's naptime today so I can leave the rest of the afternoon open to tend to the house and school work.

Wish me luck!

A Little Bird

2010-08-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't she cute? She lives in the guest room right now until we get the right bedding. I think she likes it in there, though. I cannot tell you how happy I am to FINALLY have this little pillow in my home and plan on admiring it daily. The trick is going to be keeping it as far away from the little sticky fingers in this house as possible.

Getting it Together

2010-08-19T11:40:00.010-05:00

To say that I am behind right now is a huge understatement. After battling the brutal onslaught of papers that I had put off till the last minute my teacher pushed the deadline back another two weeks. Thank the Heavens! Now I have time to breathe and really do some editing. I am so disappointed in myself for being so careless and really plan on learning from this experience. I think now, more than ever, I want to get organized and create a sense of normalcy in our lives. Poor Emma is just walking around the house wondering why laundry never gets put up and papers continue to be piled in random corners of the house.

So, starting today I am in hardcore cleaning and organizing mode. I need to change my behavior and take my role as the homemaker seriously. It's really embarrassing that it got to this point, again.

So with the house in order I want to get to sewing next week and thought I would show off a few of the neat fabrics I got the other day. I have been having lots of luck in this area lately. I have different plans for each and am going to try a new format here on the blog to keep me motivated.

On Mondays I will lay out my plan and show all the supplies I am going to use. Tuesdays I will give a little tutorial on how I created it and from time to time I will offer giveaways that will end on Friday at midnight. I think it will be really fun, for me and for you! So keep checking back to make sure I'm keeping myself in check. If needed, leave a stern but loving comment to keep me focused :)

These are Japanese linen fabrics that I thought were absolutely incredible. They are sturdy enough for home decor and just darling in person. I plan on making Emma a throw pillow for her bed from the pink sunglasses. So sassy for my little rascal girl. I will probably make pillows from all three of the fabrics and share them with family and friends. I can't wait to see them finished.

My sisters have already requested pillows for their desk chairs out of the pink zig-zag fabric so I guess I should start there first. The black zig-zag will probably be used in our new "craft room" we are thinking about making. Not sure exactly where to use it at the moment, though. I thought about covering a bulletin board with it and using it as my inspiration board. We'll see...

I am crazy for these fabrics and plan on making a little dress or a swing top for Emma out of the blue fabric and the brown was too pretty to pass up.

Now this fabric is probably what I'm most excited about. I am going to outfit Emma's little bed for her dolls with custom bedding and this is going to make for a perfect little blanket. I plan on using ivory chenille on the inside so those little dolls stay super cozy! If it turns out cute I will just have to order more to make Emma one of her own. For now, if there is any extra I might make Emma a pair of pajama shorts and put a little coordinating ruffle on a tank top for her to sleep in. Too cute.

Now these are some shots of my once beloved craft closet. I spent so much time getting it organized and it is borderline out of control again. Come Monday morning I hope to have it in tip top shape for all the projects I have planned.

I am really excited about this new format and can't wait to get started! I'm off to continue cleaning and tasting the bean and water soup Emma has been slaving over all day.

xoxo

Dressing Room Fun

2010-08-18T16:04:00.006-05:00

Anthropologie has the best, most beautiful, largest dressing rooms around and I had a little bit too much fun in one this morning. Maybe it's because that store makes me a little loopy with sensory overload or Emma was saying hi to everything we passed (I'm talking, "Hiii, dooooor", "Hiiiiii, baby", "Hiiiii, juice", "Hiiiii shirt"...) but it was so nice to do a little shopping with my girl.

Oh yeah, you see that dress. On sale for $29.99 and I got my pillow! I just couldn't turn down a deal like that now could I? Emma is obviously madly in love with it...

Life is pretty good right now aside from the fact that I have an insane amount of papers to STILL finish up, like ASAP. Why am I blogging, you ask? Well it keeps my head from exploding all over the computer screen and creating another mess for me to sweep aside. Mark my words, I will never procrastinate again.

Why Hello There!

2010-08-18T08:00:00.006-05:00

A quick hello on a little break from playing catch-up.

I want some of these posters for our dining room since they are pretty much the first thing you will see when you walk into the house. To me they are really stunning and I absolutely love that they are black. It makes them masculine in their dark tone and scientific approach, yet floral and delicate enough to appease my all-of-a-sudden girliness that has come over me lately. Any other suggestions for, ahem, cheaper alternatives would be greatly appreciated but I'm pretty smitten with these. So I guess it's back to saving pennies. I should be able to get them in about 400 years. Slowly by surely we'll get there. It's art, after all.

from here.

This only reinforces my love for wishbone chairs. Just when I decide against them, I see them in action and I fall in love all over again. I even spy one of those botanical posters on the wall there. So awesome.

from here and here.

Listening to these fellas really helps to keep me in a good mood. That guy on the keyboard cracks me up for some reason. He's playing a keyboard on a sailboat for crying out loud!

Yes

2010-08-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

So much is right with this. Love the final product, love the inspiration, love all of these sites individually and would love to take a hammer to my backyard. Like tomorrow.

Le sigh.

via remodelista

Sunshine

2010-08-17T01:27:00.004-05:00

This is going to be a crazy week full of writing papers, loads of laundry and continued failed attempts at dieting but it sure was awesome when we made it outside the other night to focus on what was really important. Even it was only for an hour or so. It just does the body good.

Even a pedicure can't hide my hobbit feet. yikes.

Pretty Things

2010-08-16T14:16:00.005-05:00

When I first saw these pillows I wanted them so bad I thought about buying them at full price. But only for about half a second. Then the price dropped to $49.99 each and I considered it a little more. Now, they are at $29.99 and it almost gave me a heart attack. Two of them are just what my future bed is needing. I can see them propped up ever so delicately against my white sheets and fluffy euro shams. Just perfect.

Why, OH WHY, did I have to see the 30% off sale items and free shipping at J.Crew and buy all sorts of goodies before I went to the Anthropologie website! This is very upsetting...

Una Noche Con Los Vermillions

2010-08-13T09:45:00.005-05:00

My gorgeous family from Spain has been visiting with us this week and we have been having the most incredible time sharing stories, laughing, and getting to know each other all over again. Last night we went to Nina and Rudy's new house and were welcomed with a spread of dips, cupcakes, pizza, pasta, brownies and really the list goes on and on. All you need to know is that everything was insanely delicious. We then played Guitar Hero and Pictionary till our sides hurt from laughing so hard. Let me tell you, these ladies get crazy. Even the (extremely outnumbered) fellas got on board with the laughs. Great times were had by all and I can't wait to celebrate again tonight. Hopefully I will swipe my Dad's camera and be able to take some good shots seeing as how my phone can only do so much and tonight is definitely going to need some proper documentation.

Of course I had to lead with some pictures of my girl! She was a doll last night, as usual!

Gifts

2010-08-12T13:29:00.003-05:00

When we went to Corpus a couple of weeks ago my Uncle Joe gave me about a million unbelievably awesome finds that he had thrifted over the years. The little desk, I belive, is a a childrens sewing table, or that's what I plan on using it for. I think I am going to paint it with chalkboard paint and let Emma have as much fun with it as she wants until it's time for me to teach her how to sew clothes for her dolls. (So that gives me at least 3 years to learn how to do that myself, right?)

The little stool is a vintage Singer sewing stool that is so cool I still can't believe I even have it. The base is cast iron and the seat is still in excellent condition (and comfortable to boot) considering how old it is.

I tell you what, my Uncle Joe has an exceptional eye when it comes to scouting terrific finds and I am so lucky that he likes to share :)

Still Loving...

2010-08-11T09:23:00.006-05:00

My light/new-to-me kitchen.

My Old Soul New Heart earrings that I literally wear every single day. And still continue to get compliments every. single. day.

And last but not least, my droid. Can you tell that I am head over heels for this picture app that makes them look like old polaroids? I'm not sure I will be over it any time soon.

Yum

2010-08-07T23:02:00.009-05:00

Have I mentioned that I love Houston? Well, I do. I love that we can drive a few miles and pick up a Vietnamese coffee from a little Vietnamese bakery in a shopping center where you can buy live fish from a tank to cook for dinner and get any Asian ingredient you can think of. I also love that I have an adventurous husband that used to frequent this little area and wanted to share it with me. How funny is it that the woman who sold him the coffee had to make sure he understood the strength of Vietnamese coffee. Apparently, it is very strong.

And after our day at the aquarium we made the trip out to my favorite taco stand to get a few gorditas. Even though they weren't as good as they normally are I loved that our day was full of unexpected and interesting ventures that you could ony find in a city that embraces cultural diversity. I love it, I love it, I love it!

This is shaping up to be a really great weekend and it's only Saturday!

The House

2010-08-06T13:21:00.010-05:00

Say hello to my new light!

I love her so much and can't wait till I can get the right bulb to really let her shine to her full potential. I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders now that the ridiculous floral wallpaper is gone for good. In the kitchen, at least.

Next on the list is new hardware, bamboo shades and painting the cabinets white but for now I am beyond thrilled that we finally crossed something off the list. I am also unbelievably proud of myself and thankful to my Mom for helping me peel wallpaper till our fingers hurt. The end result is just what I was hoping for. Baby steps, people.

*That coffee picture isn't staying up there. I was thinking of putting a shelf to showcase all of my white serving dishes and cake stands.

A little shot of our new table. I am scouting cushions to put on the chairs but have yet to commit to anything. I think that sewing cushions that actually look tailored might be just outside my DIY capabilities. Any suggestions?

Once we get the walls primed I would like to try this color out. There are really no stopping points in the house so once we choose a color, it's going EVERYWHERE! I have yet to get Brandon to understand that people actually do accent walls. He once told me that they are strictly for apartments. What? It was too funny not to share.

The color is Pale Smoke by Benjamin Moore.

Last by not least, I want to sew up some pillows for the bench out of a leftover curtain my Mom isn't going to use and some burnt orange fabric I found at an estate sale for $1. I can't believe I'm finally the person who gets to say that! If they don't end up working there I can think of about a million other places to put them. Very exciting stuff going on in the Guilbeau house! Just ask Brandon, I'm sure he is just giddy over all these new ideas. Haha, I crack myself up.

Out of Control

2010-08-06T09:49:00.003-05:00

I think I need to add, "organize the bug's playroom" to my list. Help!

Texas Love

2010-08-06T09:01:00.005-05:00

pic via meg

I think that it goes without saying that my love for Texas runs deep. I am in a bit of a waffle phase right now and this waffle maker is so stinking cute!

For the sophisticated Texan, which I clearly am.

Oh my, this little hat is almost too much for me to handle! I think Emma clearly needs one for this upcoming football season.

Preparing for the Weekend

2010-08-05T12:03:00.004-05:00

Today I am going to try and accomplish as many of the "little things" as I can so we can get a jumpstart on our fun weekend.

Ahem, peresenting the to-do list:

1. buy flowers for my gorgeous birthday gift to myself recycled glass vases a la Hobby Lobby. 50% off!
2. do ALL the laundry. even little weekend trips really set us (me) back when it comes to laundry.
3. get groceries to last for the next three days. our new plan is to keep only the freshest ingredients in the house and to have our meals planned out. explicitly. sponteneity is not our friend when food is involved.
4. make cupcakes to share with neighbors.
5. disinfect, disinfect, disinfect.
6. after everyone is tucked away in bed, do some reading.

I have a pretty good English Tea buzz going that is giving me tons of energy. Maybe the no coffee thing is actually going to work out!

The School of Dwell

2010-08-05T11:12:00.006-05:00

I decided at the beginning of the summer that I was going to get my teaching certificate in place of returning to school to study architecture. It really was not that tough of a decision because I am rather spoiled and can not bear the thought of being away from my girl like I was when I was working the typical 8-5 day. Teaching will give me my summers, holidays, great hours and seeing as how I want to teach kindergarten, a chance to get messy and crafty. A win all the way around.

However, I still love everything about design and find myself overcome with excitement when I receive the newest issue of Dwell in the mail each month. When I first started reading Dwell it was to say the least, full of content and bursting with innovation. That's at least how I saw it, anyway. Now, it seems to be more ads than anything else and it makes me fearful that my only source of architectural insight is dwindling. I have heard that Architectural Digest is a bunch of bologna, but I don't know if I would really know the difference anyway. I just enjoy reading about new techniques, materials and drooling over clean lines, floor to ceiling windows, perfect lighting and modern furniture.

So, does anyone know of any other good architectural magazines? I don't want to lose my edge just in case I'm 50 and decide to go back to school to be an architect.

Just kidding.

Sunshine Baby

2010-08-04T15:49:00.003-05:00

Go here for a few more pictures of my girl soaking up some sun.

Under Construction!

2010-08-04T15:35:00.006-05:00

Goodbye wallpaper and flourescent light box. Hello textured walls and my beautiful new light fixture! I actually cried when I saw the finished product and it wasn't just from my aching back and swollen fingers.

I will post pictures if I ever get a break from writing papers to clean the kitchen.

This and That

2010-08-03T22:38:00.002-05:00

I have decided to give up Diet Cokes and coffee. There are a bunch of other things on the list but I think you get the idea. And that may or may not have been my last breakfast taco, I still haven't decided.

*In my class today I learned that for every year a behavior is in place, it takes at least one month for that behavior to be significantly changed. So for example, since I have not been regularly exercising in three years, it will take me at least 3 months to recondition the behavior. I thought that was interesting.

I bought this shirt at Target last week and have worn it probably 30 times. It feels very Wikstenmade to me and that makes me feel super hip.

I got this print and have yet to decide where to put it. For now I'm just enjoying saying "HALLO" in the most obnoxious German accent possible.

Sweet

2010-07-13T10:55:00.001-05:00

from here.

Hello, Cutie

2010-07-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

Now this is what I have been missing all summer. It is only $14 and most importantly, it's orange! Awesome!

From here.

Pondering...

2010-07-11T19:00:00.006-05:00

In keeping focused on the inspiration room I think I have found two small chandeliers that would work nicely over our dining table (or the dining table we will have one day).

What do you think of this one? The reviews say that it is definitely more black than copper, but I think I would spray paint it beige or white and sponge on some gold anyways. I think the price is relatively fair and that they would look absolutely lovely when you walk into the house. We have so much natural light in our house that the crystals would really be able to reflect (or is it refract?) the sunlight beautifully. And how snazzy would it be if they were set on a dimmer? I see many a glasses of wine being shared around my future dream table. Nice. At $2.95 for shipping and free returns, you really can't go wrong.

Well, at least it's something to think about.

Jewelry Dish

2010-07-11T11:53:00.002-05:00

I want this on my bedside table for my rings to rest in. Just a little glamour, you know.

from here.

The Look

2010-07-09T09:11:00.007-05:00

You know how it goes. When you become so consumed with nesting and brainstorming of ways to transform your home into the pages of Domino with a few "low budget tricks" that you lose sight of your oringal vision. That's where I usually am.

Well, enough is enough. I do know that ultimately I want to have a very European approach to designing our home. I want to find quality, timeless pieces that will grow with us. Like forever. I want pillows and (maybe) art to change seasonally, not furniture. I want to take a picture of my house upon completion and in twenty years be able to see that the style will still hold up. As a Mom with a hopefully growing family one day, I almost feel compelled to nest. I want our home to be inviting, cozy and have a sort of moodiness. Like when it's raining outside and the sun is still out. Just calming as if there was an overcast filter over everything.

Most importantly, I don't want to be thinking, constantly, about getting it together. So I have decided put it in the hands of Nate Berkus, as he did it best, in my opinion, in the home of Katie Lee Joel as seen in her famous Domino spread.

It's masculine, feminine, open, timeless, pretty and I truly think that a style like this would only get better with age. I think that it is basically just a culmination of various styles that I frequently post and admire, the trick is going to be staying focussed. So I am off on a mission to shamelessly copy it all, or at least copy the "feel". Piece by piece. Finding a piece here, reupholstering a piece there, painting, painting, painting. I have always been a copier and I'm ok with that. This home just epitomizes everything I love. Practically to a T.

This is going to be fun and I hope to share some of my finds and ideas to test the waters. At least I have some direction now. It was getting a little out of hand before. We are going furniture shopping tomorrow and you better believe I will have these pictures with me to keep me on track.

pics from here.

Ok, but I really love this house, too. I think I have deeply rooted decision-making issues.

A Love Affair

2010-07-08T19:47:00.004-05:00

I am so head over heels in love with well designed and achingly expensive chairs right now. I decided that I want one chair for Christmas, one for my birthday, one for Valentines Day and one for anniversary until a set is complete, piece by beautiful piece. These chairs are classic, timeless, perfect and I love them. I need a j-o-b, A to the SAP.

That velvet chair just kills me and I can already envision everyone sitting in those perfect wishbone chairs for Thanksgiving dinner. They really are stunning. It's probably unhealthy the amount of time I have spent drooling over these beauties, I just can't help it.

To see where I spend my time picking apart each room and saving pictures into folders called "dream kitchen", "dream living room" and so on, go here and here. Pure perfection in my humble, housewife, design enthusiast opinion.

In hopes of curbing the quarter life crisis....

2010-06-04T12:06:00.006-05:00

I find myself exceptionally inspired by so many women that have created such beautiful lives both professionally and personally. It is probably due to the fact that now, as a mother, I feel like I am always one step behind. I never feel caught up or that I truly put my all into every second of the day. I am simply in awe of those that seem to be able to "do it all, beautifully".

It seems that frankly, with my ridiculous laundry list of projects I want to complete, I am overwhelmed. So I hope that now, as a 25 year old woman, I will be able to better handle the every day business of being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, (fingers crossed) teacher and (wishing on a shooting star with four-leaf clover in hand at 11:11) shop owner/designer.

I have high hopes for 25, but if I can make it to 26 with my husband and baby girl still smiling, I will undoubtably be as proud as ever.

You know what, I also want to have some fun. Spontaneous, silly, crazy fun every single day.

picture from here.

25

2010-06-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to me!

So far I have gotten the awesome die cut machine from my Mom, which would have made for a great birthday in itself, but wait for it....

Tickets to see the Kings of Leon! Brandon, sweetie, you are the best. Thanks and I love you to pieces!

To be totally honest, the only gift I want is a nap.

The Most Beautiful Recycled Glass Vases

2010-06-01T21:02:00.005-05:00

I think these are just the most beautiful vases, and the set together...perfection.

I bought my Mom this vase for Christmas, thinking it would look like the ones above. Sadly, I don't think that I quite hit the mark. It was a beautiful vase, just a little thinner than I would have hoped for. So Mom, THESE are the vases I would have loved for you to have. Maybe one day I will have them and then I will let you borrow them occasionally. If you're lucky, muahahaha!

Haha, sorry about that.

Loving These Everyday Dresses

2010-06-01T15:06:00.002-05:00

It's times like this that I am so happy that I have a little girl.

from here.

GOOP, and why I love Gwyneth Paltrow

2010-05-28T07:13:00.009-05:00

This reminds me of when I went to Spain and everything was covered in marble. Floors, walls, everything. How glamorous. I love the shower/tub layout, and if we are clever, I bet we could do something like this in our bathroom, sans marble, of course. I think that would put us slightly over our budget, haha.

UPDATE: How silly of me, it plainly states that she used a tile made to look like marble! Even better! I wonder if you can tile over wallpaper?

Thanks, Shea :)

Making a mental note to put subway tile to the ceiling when we redo or kitchen.

I just discovered Gwyneth Paltrow's little side project, GOOP, and I am simply flabbergasted. How cool can she be?

I am particularly smitten with this Nashville home tour and THIS little walk-through on creating a chic Mom "uniform". I love it.

Wrapping

2010-05-27T10:15:00.007-05:00

I am so in love with the idea of wrapping things in handkerchiefs (what a thing to be in love with, right? kinda weird...). What a great housewarming gift, or host gift at a dinner party? I especially like how the wine bottle looks all swaddled up like a little baby, haha. Too cute!

The whole blog, from what I have peeked so far, is pretty amazing, as well. I had pretty much only limited myself to a whopping 5 blogs the past few months because I was getting pretty annoyed with all the "happy-go-lucky-picnic-cupcake-look at what I wore-my house is always clean-organic food-iness". And now that I am home with Em full-time she is definitely keeping me busy. No more lunch hour to urgently scan the web trying to make myself forget I was selling BOILERS! Deep breath...so happy to be out of that place.

But, this blog looks to be a good one full of really good ideas. So I guess I'm back up to 6, and counting probably...

from here.

Fabric Tape

2010-05-27T10:08:00.003-05:00

This kind of makes me feel a bit ridiculous for spending as much as I did on some Japanese masking tape recently.Live and learn, I guess!

from here.

Cloud Rug

2010-05-27T10:04:00.002-05:00

Aren't these cute?!

from here.

Oliver + S Pattern

2010-05-26T07:40:00.005-05:00

I ordered this awhile back and am finally going to get started on it. I have been collecting some great clearanced fabrics over the last month and have the perfect combination picked out. Hopefully the two-three hours that Emma normally naps for will give me some time to make some progress on it. I have read nothing but great reviews on their patterns, being something like little lessons in sewing instead of just the patterns, and can't wait to get started. The house is FINALLY clean and I have a perfect work surface - so no excuses today.

pattern from here.

FYI

2010-05-21T17:30:00.001-05:00

I will be constantly updating the food log here.

Happy Weekend

2010-05-21T10:27:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow we have tickets to hang out in a suite at Sam Houston Race Track and we might even be able to sneak down close enough for Emma to get a good look at some of the horses. She absolutely adores anything that has to do with amimals, especially horses. I, on the other hand, am going to try my very best to stay on the straight and narrow in the diet department. I just know that they are going to have hot dogs, cheese fries and nachos. I might leave in tears after I either stay strong or cave in to the temptation. Either way, I don't see it ending pretty for me.

Right now I am sitting in the living room and my house is a total disaster. I have been pretty sick the past couple of days with terrible allergies and now that the fog has lifted, I am ready to throw on some gloves and go disinfectant crazy. Luckily everyone else managed to stay healthy because I was in no condition to play nurse.

Enough procrastinating. Happy Weekend!

pic from here.

Food Log

2010-05-21T09:45:00.003-05:00

Midnight Snack:
Disclaimer: I'm almost positive that midnight snacks are not allowed on diets!

1 scoop of non-fat banana split frozen yogurt.

Could have been worse.

Breakfast:
Cup of green tea with honey and lemon.
1 tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter on Whitewheat toast with honey. (Sorry blog world, organic peanut butter is expensive and I didn't have the time to whip up a quick homemade loaf of whole wheat bread. maybe one day.)
1 banana

Food Log

2010-05-20T22:46:00.003-05:00

Lunch:
Isagenix chocolate shake with half a banana and 2 strawberries.

Snack:
100 calorie pack of almonds.

Dinner:
1 1/2 bowls of my world-famous tortilla soup. I think this was my best batch to date. It must of been the homegrown squash and jalapenos that sent it over the edge. One of these days I'm going to need to post the recipe because it is too good to keep a secret. It will probably change your life.

Can't stop gaining weight

2010-05-20T09:20:00.007-05:00

I guess I might as well keep myself accountable by posting what I eat. I did so well dieting last week and actually lost 5 pounds. Yes, that same 5 pounds that keeps creeping back and then burning off every other week. The 5 pounds that brings me under 145 pounds and puts one of those smiles on my face that is impossible to get off. The 5 pounds that lets me put on my jeans straight out of the dryer without grasshopper lunges and deep, deep breaths.

So this weekend we were in Lafayette and I gained 6 pounds in 4 days. I am so disappointed because I am so looking forward to a summer where I can put on a modest one-peice swimsuit and splash around with my girl.

I am desperate and more determined than ever to shed the pounds. So without further adieu, let the food journal begin!

Breakfast:
Cup of green tea with honey and lemon.
Small bowl of oatmeal.

Ok, there's that. Now for the mantra...

I can do this. I'm not starving and could probably live off of reserves for another month. No snacking. Put down the Potato Chips...

The Garden

2010-05-20T03:29:00.006-05:00

Did you know cucumbers grew like this? I didn't. Gardening takes up a lot of space!

These pictures were taken a little over a week ago and it is remarkable how much our crop has grown! We are going to have to start harvesting pretty soon and I cannot wait to pickle my own cucumbers! And then there's tons of tomatoes for fresh salsa, squash for grilling, cantaloupe, watermelon, plenty of peppers and even some onions. My sweet little lemon tree has yet to sprout anything, but it is growing more and more everyday and making me oh so very proud,

Happy Summer!

Pretty Shirt

2010-05-19T17:45:00.002-05:00

from here.

these too.

Playroom

2010-05-19T17:38:00.004-05:00

After being totally inspired by this picture, I have decided to seriously tone down Emma's bedroom and playroom. I think it will work better with my vision for the house as a whole, the vision that I am 100% married to, and have already started brainstorming of ways to make it happen.

These prints are too cool and I think they would look just lovely in her playroom. Not to mention, I think they are absolutely beautiful.

Summer Crafting

2010-05-19T17:24:00.007-05:00

One moment, I have to turn on the broken record...

I hope to spend this summer crafting, sewing, dyeing, stiching, designing, and painting non-stop. It's time I put in my part in turning our house into a home and over the last few months have started compiling a little stash to work through. Allow me to introduce you to my crafting arsenal:

Doesn't it look like fun?!

And I was lucky enough to get an early birthday present from my Mom and coulnd't be more thrilled about it. Say hello to the most amazing die cut machine in this whole entire world. I don't know how to use it just yet, but it's going to be awesome when I do!

I Wonder...

2010-05-17T23:42:00.002-05:00

I wonder if I could get a regular full length mirror on the cheap, glue it to a piece of ply wood, buy some of those mirror tiles they sell at Hobby Lobby and glue them around the border, then frame out the whole thing with a few mitered edges and some black paint.

Too much work? Would it look cheesy?

from here.

Happy Weekend!

2010-05-14T08:53:00.004-05:00

I hope my weekend is as good as these perfectly styled frech fries look.

from here.

Cool Necklace

2010-05-14T07:59:00.002-05:00

from here.

Cheating

2010-05-13T14:09:00.003-05:00

Yes, cheating already. It's not exactly a new post, but more of a borrowed one. Either way, if you would like to see new pics of the cutie pie head on over here. Enjoy!

I Promise

2010-05-12T11:41:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow I promise to blog again here on this blog and more importantly, on this blog. Sorry to family and all two of my readers for being MIA.

I recently quit my job (yes, I'm a bad wife to leave my husband to carry the burden of supporting the family in this tough economy, and yes, I'm a great Mommy for being totally, completely devoted to this little one of mine. Or at least until the fall when I hope to be teaching. I sure can't wait to be called Mrs. Guilbeau all day.). It's been a busy month to say the least and now that I am getting my head right, I will be back to blogging like normal. Well, hopefully better than normal because I wasn't very good to begin with.

So, until tomorrow friends!

(be prepared to be bombarded with lots of pictures. there is a month of catching up to do after all.)

Ready for a Laugh?

2010-04-01T08:41:00.002-05:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Yay!

2010-03-31T08:05:00.003-05:00

These two are so great. I think this is my favorite line yet!

Go to Old Soul New Heart today to see all the goodies!

Dream House

2010-03-29T15:21:00.004-05:00

I am going to Container Store immediately.

Dream kitchen. Literally. So simple and clean.

Dream bedroom.

Dream washroom.

By the way, I'm calling the laundry room my washroom from now on.

from here.

Spring Flowers

2010-03-26T11:22:00.007-05:00

I am over the moon that I spied these gorgeous hooks here. How perfect for all of Emma's baby necklaces and girly headbands!

I am also crazy about this mirror for her room, as well.

from here.

I also can't wait to see their Spring/Summer line! This picture is such a tease!

Thanks, Ladies for a days worth of inspiration!

Happy Weekend!

Love-Hate

2010-03-25T14:33:00.005-05:00

Every time I buy something from Forever21 I regret it.

I wear it once. Just once. Then it literally begins to disintegrate.

So why did I have to see this cute dress above that I could wear with my own little hippie headband?

WHY?!

I also wish I could wear a little romper like this. Maybe after my 30 Day Shred Jillian will have tortured me enough to squeeze into something like this for the summer.

Moomah

2010-03-25T12:02:00.004-05:00

I'm almost positive I have already blogged about Moomah, but here we go again.

I can't help it, I think it is amazing.

Photoshoot Ideas

2010-03-24T13:18:00.003-05:00

I want to do a spring/summer photoshoot of Emma here.

Know any good local photographers?

photos from here.

Well, Isn't That Beautiful

2010-03-24T12:21:00.003-05:00

I think I will be needing a trip very soon.

Just incredible.

Blurb Books

2010-03-23T10:46:00.001-05:00

I am making one of these very soon for me, the grandparents, the great-grandparents and any other parents out there who love my little rascal.

from here.

Why I Love My Mother.

2010-03-23T09:06:00.003-05:00

Because I get emails like this:

she ate a whole wheat blueberry waffle (very little syrup), 1/2 a banana, 2 grapes and a cup of OJ. I love breakfast. Wish me luck with lunch. When can she eat a pbj sandwich?

It's awesome. I love updates.

BFF

2010-03-22T14:03:00.003-05:00

Nellystella

2010-03-22T10:01:00.002-05:00

The cutest.

Happy Weekend!

2010-03-19T14:01:00.003-05:00

I'm getting these tomorrow and it's going to be a happy weekend, indeed!

Great, now I want a pink sequin blazer. What is happening to me?

pictures from here.

Playroom Inspiration

2010-03-19T12:00:00.003-05:00

We are lucky enough to have a 4 bedroom house which gives little Emma her own bedroom AND playroom.

Currently her playroom is a vibrant shade of light blue but I am seriously considering softening it up a bit. Her playroom shares pretty much the same color palatte as this room but they have taken it to that extra level, definitely making it something to aspire to. This was the exact mix of colors that I was aiming for because I think it is just perfect for sparking creativity and imaginative play (watch Nick Jr. much?).

Plus I love, love, LOVE that yellow crib. Too cute.

from here.

Reading Nooks Are Cool!

2010-03-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

We have been brainstorming different ways to turn Emma's closet into a reading nook and these pictures are just what the doctor ordered. I would go crazy for each and every one of these!

from here.

La, la, la

2010-03-18T18:55:00.006-05:00

I can't get this song out of my head. I came across this video the other day and first, fell in love with her bangs and second, hummed this song all day. I don't think my voice could go that high even if I swallowed a whole tank of helium. I guess that's why she's the singer and I'm not.

I think a ukulele was what I was missing when I was jamming to N'SYNC every night when I was in high school.

Pin Cushions

2010-03-18T14:00:00.002-05:00

So adorable.

from here.

My Favorites: Kiki and Polly

2010-03-18T12:00:00.001-05:00

So beautiful.

These all remind me of Emma so much and at such affordable prices I think I might need to get a few of them.

from here.

Ikea Wishlist

2010-03-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

For the entry. With floating shelves above full of Emma's framed masterpieces.
I want three of these bumped up against each other for all my goodies. Or all the goodies I will have one day.

I got us this bedding from Target and I LOVE it. It looks so bright and cheery and SO much better than the pictures give it credit for.

So now the question is, which color dresser should we get? Decisions, decisions...

After we get our hardwood floors I love this rug for either the "study" or the living room.

For my recycling! Why am I so excited about that? Maybe because it's about time we got with it!

For Princess Emma's room.

all from ikea.

Three Cheers for Rompers!

2010-03-17T13:41:00.003-05:00

I would so wear a Mommy-sized version of the fourth one on the top row.

from here.

All Wrapped Up In One

2010-03-17T11:28:00.008-05:00

Most of these ideas are from Freshly Picked, or were originally seen there. One day I hope to be able to make half the things she can. And I will set up a great online shop, run a small boutique on a charming street, and for fun go to trunk shows and set up all my goodies for like-minded people to admire. That is the dream, folks.

Last night I decided I was going to have a crafting bonanza. Emma was in San Antonio for the night with my parents, Brandon was messing around with his video games and I was determined to at least make one thing before the night was over. I moseyed over to my craft closet and became overwhelmed.

It is a total disaster. I took out one box of supplies to make a little headband and spent the next ten minutes looking for my scissors. Not good. Not good at all.

So, before I do anything I need to get it together and get organized. My mind is always a jumbly mess so my space needs to be overly organized to compensate. I want to plan my space to make it the most efficient and not just walk into Wal-Mart and start buying bulky, lackluster plastic bins that really won't get the job done. I want to paint (or wallpaper!) the inside of the closet a fresh lavender or mint, maybe both, or maybe with a splash of lemon, or maybe just all white! Yeah, I did just get really excited there thinking about it.

Anyways, all projects on hold (this time for a reason, not just because I'm lazy) until I can make sense of all my mess.

But let me tell you, when I get all set up I am going to get after these projects. Freshly Picked is pure perfection in my opinion.

Also, a new favorite blog here.

Are you serious? This full skirt is so awesome.

Gold metallic leggings. Yes, please! Learn to make them here.

Plush alphabet magnets. You never knew you wanted them did you? Well, now you know. You're welcome.

Brandon would love this.

But THIS is what I have been waiting for all my life. Such a great way to add simple details around the house. That gray color is pretty amazing, too.

Against My Better Judgement...

2010-03-17T08:36:00.004-05:00

I am an E! junkie.

E! News, The Daily 10, The Soup, Kardashians, Chelsea Lately, Kendra and even the newest train wreck, Pretty Wild. Which is indeed, pretty wild. I pretty much love it all.

As soon as Emma goes to sleep and Yo Gabba Gabba is over (I love that show), it's time for a little DIY Network and then a night full of reality shows.

You know you watch it, too.

30 Day Shred

2010-03-17T08:28:00.005-05:00

We picked this up yesterday and I am so excited! I even got (2) 3 pound weights to help get my shred on.

Don't let me down, Jillian!

Ideas

2010-03-16T13:25:00.006-05:00

I am absolutely in love with these rooms. So fresh, fun and perfect for our house.

from here.

Sometimes I Wonder How I Never Know About This Kind of Stuff

2010-03-13T15:08:00.008-06:00

Amy & Dan Engagement Film from IRIS AND LIGHT on Vimeo.

People actually star in their own little music videos. They get to look like total rockstars and hug and kiss all over their sweethearts. It sounds like so much fun (even though I would look like a total doofus) and I want to try and make a little amateur video of our family. Emma being the star, naturally.

And let me just say that it is a BEAUTIFUL day. Right now Emma is napping, Brandon is out helping a friend move, and I am soaking in the silence.

All the windows are open and the fresh air smells incredible. The laundry is almost finished and life just feels as close to perfect as can be. I even bought some ground flax seed and organic vanilla yogurt at the grocery store this morning. It's the little things, you know?

This house is just about the coolest thing I have ever seen. I am once again totally in awe of all the beautiful things there are in this world and web.

I think it's about time to become a photographer, too.

xoxo

Eclipse Trailer

2010-03-12T12:57:00.001-06:00

This just made my day. Don't judge.

A Treat

2010-03-12T12:46:00.001-06:00

Did I mention that I lost 5 pounds? In my book, that is pretty substantial and deserves a treat.

I think this might do nicely.

Friday

2010-03-12T12:16:00.003-06:00

In my next life, or maybe just this weekend, I want to dress like I live in an Urban Outfitters catalog.

I don't think I could handle permanently looking like such a waif, but I definitely want to incorporate looks like this into the trend rotation.

Or maybe just start some sort of a trend rotation.

Happy Weekend!

Bedding

2010-03-11T15:09:00.004-06:00

After just loving this blog all day long, now I really want this bedding. I think I could wake up happy if I was greeted every morning with such a cheery print. What do you think? Too girly?

Plates on the Wall

2010-03-11T10:00:00.003-06:00

I normally HATE plates on a wall. But this is kind of changing my mind. Or maybe it's the orange tulips (one of my favorites) that is skewing my decision.

found via here.

Dinner

2010-03-10T16:32:00.003-06:00

Yes, again from Smitten Kitchen.

I think I am going to add in a cauliflower puree, spinach, maybe add some mushrooms and skimp on the cheese. But I have to admit, it looks divine.

P.S. We had to give up the giving up meat thing. It was making us lose even more ground in the battle to get Emma to eat meat and try new foods. We feel bad and have now decided to give up fried foods. Well, I just made the executive decision as I am typing this. Surprise, Brandon!

Rice Balls

2010-03-10T08:41:00.005-06:00

I have no idea what to feed Emma. She is turning into such a picky little eater and I am so scared that if I don't find a way to get some veggies into her, we are going to have some big problems down the line. I have now resorted to trickery, thanks to Jessica Seinfeld.

I tried out these Rice Balls, thinking that the crunchy exterior that she loves so much would mask some of the healthier ingredients, but I was wrong. She has a finely attuned sensibility that detects the slightest deviation in texture and veggies just don't stand a chance.

Where did I go wrong?

She took one lick and threw it on the floor to play with all the other crumbs.

So sad.

Stay tuned for more hopeful attempts to feed my picky daughter.

Animal Masks

2010-03-09T12:35:00.001-06:00

Emma would go crazy for these. She might rip it off of her face and tear it to shreds, but she would probably laugh at me really hard if I put it on.

Crazy kid.

from here.

I Love This Girl

2010-03-09T12:24:00.000-06:00

Baby Bean Obsession

2010-03-04T16:51:00.005-06:00

So I might be mildly obsessed with Baby Bean and the owner, Christine. Pretty obvious, huh?

I bought these two dresses for Emmy today from her Etsy site and can't wait to see them in person. This will be the third time I have ordered something from her and each time I receive the package I gasp a little when I see how adorable they are.

A Day in the Life...

2010-03-04T12:45:00.004-06:00

I think I might try keeping track of my day like Christine did here. It might not be "feature" worthy, but I bet it would come out pretty cool. Well, everything but 8-5, and then 5-7 which is usually spent inching in traffic. But those other special hours of the day, in the early morning before the sun comes up and at night when we are thankful to finally be home, are most definitely worth sharing.

It would probably help me prioritize and organize my day a little better, too.

Yup.

2010-03-04T12:06:00.003-06:00

These are a must! Can't wait to put some of these on some of Emma's simpler little dresses.

from here.

Elastic Waist Skirt

2010-03-04T11:29:00.005-06:00

This skirt looks like it was meant for my girl to twirl around in. I could have fun with this one.

tutorial found here.

Knitting

2010-03-03T12:10:00.002-06:00

Emma is on a total teddy bear kick right now and would go absolutely crazy for this cutie. I would love to learn how to knit something like this for us to cuddle with. How thoughtful would this be as a gift for a new baby? I'm sure you would be the hit of any baby shower.

from here.