A Bookshelf for Bean

When we were last in Colorado, Eric's mom gave us a box of books that were his as a child. We sorted through them with Adam and Joe and, I must say, watching grown men get exited about children's books was a hoot. A lot of the books were too tall for the storage cube in Cora's room so some ended up on our bookshelf in the den and then, this weekend, we hung a few shelves in her room to display the rest. I think they're pretty cute.

I wanted shelves low enough that the Beanie-baby could pull herself up and, eventually, reach the books she wants to read. Plus, I think these shelves treat her books like the little pieces of artwork that they are.

Souk Rug

Several months ago, Eric's aunt gave us a souk rug. GAVE IT TO US FOR FREE. Did you know that if I could have any rug in the world, it would be this. exact. rug? No? Well, this. exact. rug. is fab.u.lous. I looooove it.

This particular rug was previously a floor model at Restoration Hardware and it needed a good cleaning, but since I was pregnant and useless when we received it, it just hung out in our basement until last week. Then, last week, I rented a carpet cleaner and shampooed the daylights out of it.

If you've researched anything about cleaning wool rugs on the interwebs, it's supposedly a really bad idea to get wool wet. It's best to get them professionally cleaned. However, I took the risk, shampooed the thing, and it looks pretty stinking awesome, if I do say so myself. I went over it probably 6 or 7 times and left it to dry overnight - with every fan in our house blowing on it. It does still smell a little like a wet sheep.... but I'm hoping that will fade with time :).

Look at how shiny and clean it looks!!!!

After it was dry, I hauled this thing upstairs all by myself, which was probably a really stupid idea, but I blame Cora for that lapse in judgement. She was sitting in her highchair, watching me struggle up the stairs, laughing her head off. Her cheering prompted me to suck it up, and amidst cries of, "I am woman, hear me roar!" I managed to get it into the living room all by myself.

I like it a lot, but I think we'll periodically switch this one out with Eric's Big Lebowski rug. His favorite rug in the spring, mine in the fall... that seems fair....

My Version of Secret Holiday & Co.

Have you ever had a moment when you're in the store/art gallery/whatever and you're like, "omg, look at that cute/cool/trendy such-and-such, I could totally make that in ten minutes, and I can't believe they want (insert ridiculous seeming price here) for it." NO? Well I have that thought ALL THE TIME. For example:

This is the work of Secret Holiday & Co. These banners range from $65 to $85 and there is a huuuuge waiting list for them. Huge. It would take years to receive one because, as far as I can tell, they are produced by one lady who makes them by hand in her spare time.

So I decided to make one. The silly thing is, I don't even really like them that much. I think I was more annoyed that I could make this thing for less than $10 and that there are apparently thousands of people out there that want one and are willing to pay a ridiculous amount for them.

I felt a little weird just copying these banners exactly - I made my banner a little differently shaped and I tried to come up with my own verbiage... but that ended up being a total bust. I knew it would go in Cora's room so I wanted it to have some good advice like, "Be strong and courageous" but "courageous" is a stinking long word and wouldn't fit. "Brave" fits perfectly. I thought of doing a fruit of the spirit, but "Love, Joy, Peace" sounds like a Christmas card and, guess what, "Be kind" is already a SHCO banner. I should have just said, "Mama knows best." Omg that's brilliant; I wish I had thought of that sooner. Danggit.

Anyway, my finished banner turned out fine - since I couldn't pick one phrase, I made it double-sided; that way I can flip it over and be doubly indecisive. I just hot-glued the letters on instead of sewing them and now I'm wondering if I can peel them off and change the words around..... because "mama knows best".... at least the second time around....

9 Months!

Cora is 9 months old today! It's like she woke up and decided, "hey, I'm getting up there in months, I should probably master this crawling thing. Well, today seems as good a day as any...." She's been all over the place this morning! I put her down in her room and she meandered her way to the front room for a while before heading back down the hall to our bedroom. She was having so much fun that she didn't want to go down for her first nap; I think she was so proud of her new skill that she wanted to practice it more. I fear we will have our hands full with our now mobile little creature....

I was talking to a friend and we were ruing the fact that our tiny babies are growing so quickly; fortunately though, each stage has been more fun than the last. I think that helps me to not mind quite as much. I mean, look at this little face - so proud that she is "soooo biiiig." Much more fun than the little needy blob we brought home from the hospital (I can say that because I love her).

Aaaaand.... We're Back!

Eric got me a computer for my birthday waaay back in May (yes, I am aware, I do have a wonderful husband), but I've been putting off writing a return post because, well, writing about everything we've done since Mac I died is pretty daunting. It's been a while!

So.... short and sweet..... what you've been missing from our very exciting, all-important lives:

1) Cora is still freaking adorable and is becoming more fun and sweet by the day.

2) June sucked. Eric was working nights. I was exhausted, and if Cora wasn't awake/needing attention, I was probably on the couch eating or watching TV. Or both. Being a single parent is exhausting. So, needless to say, we did nothing that entire month but try to keep our heads above water.*

*No photo because JUNE. SUCKED. and should be wiped from memory. 

3) Spent the fourth of July in Denver/Castle Rock/Grand Lake; had a wonderful relaxing couple of weeks at the in-laws' cabin.

4) Two weeks later, did the Candisc ride in North Dakota. A week of camping/biking/traveling with an infant and the in-laws.

5) Then, spent a week in Kalispell with my family. Got to see my brothers (!!!!) and meet Ryan's wife and baby daughter for the first time (!!!!!!!!!!!!). Included trips to GNP and a GLORIOUS day at the lake.

6) Just got back yesterday from Eric's uncle's (ridiculously fun) wedding in Colorado.

Note: it's absurd and annoying how many times I leave the house without realizing that Cora and I "match" (see above). I think it happens because I won't really put her in clothes that I don't like and wouldn't wear myself.... Also, I often dress according to how I feel and since I also dress her.... *sigh* Super nerdy and embarrassing. 

7) I am incredibly glad to be home - the last two months have been so fun and full of travel and family, but I think we all need a good long rest and our house seriously needs cleaning; the dust really piles up when no one is there to disturb it.

Stay tuned; more design-y, baby-y, crafty posts to come!