{the blog}

does working really hard induce labor?

 

On Monday I wore this* and that day I had a construction jobsite meeting... you know the type where you hurdle concrete blocks and 2x4s, climb on dangerous stairs, and rub elbows with some of the work force's finest.  A worker saw me and said, "Oh my gosh!  You look like you are about to explode!  Is it twins!?" 

To which I replied, "No, actually its quadruplets, don't I look great!?"

Grrrrr... don't mess with the pregnant woman. 

Speaking of which.

For the past few months I have set the thermostat to 76 degrees before bed.  This is nice and comfortable to me.  Chance thought the power bill was too high last month so unbeknownst to me when he comes to bed (later than me) he has been tapping it up to 77 degrees.  He thought I wouldn't notice.  At 3:00 this morning we had a very serious conversation about him not touching the thermostat anymore... or else.  I had been suspecting foul play for the last few nights and finally solved the mystery early this morning.

My creativity is being sucked up by the design work I'm working fervently to wrap up in the next week or so, and as a result the blog might take a hit, I apologize in advance, please bear with me.  I'm hoping that working my booty off equates to going into labor naturally (and sooner, rather than later).

Peace.

*- the shirt is Gap maternity, the skirt is Old Navy

bump. before and after.

 

Marla took this last week.  There it is folks... me, my baby, and my twin sister who is not pregnant.

My baby has been in the oven for 27 weeks... I really like her a lot already.  I hope feelings are mutual.

Thank you Marla for taking this picture.  You rock.

it's windy... be careful

This morning I had a doctor's appointment... everything went well.  Doctor wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic to (hopefully) kill this never-ending sinus infection.  So, post-appointment I drop the prescription off at Publix and decided to kill the 20 minutes devouring a Cinnamon Crunch bagel at Panera.

With my husband in tow we head to Panera.  Let me preface this story by telling you that we've been having gale force winds this week. 

Got out of the car at Panera, headed towards the front door... when all of the sudden out of nowhere, a massive gust of wind took the bottom of my cute little black fluttery skirt all the way up around my neck. 

Panic.

I fumbled around for what seemed like 20 minutes trying to grab the edges of the skirt... couldn't find them... they were flapping in the wind so fast I could not get my hands on them.  So, plan B I dropped my purse, hoping it would grab my skirt on its way down and help me out.  

My purse falls in the open position and everything within it went everywhere.

I screamed.

I still had my skirt up around my neck.

I likely screamed again.

I finally got a hold of my waistband and yanked it down. 

Yes.  Not only did my skirt come up in the wind.

But then I managed to pull it off in an effort to solve the problem.

Brilliant!

Chance was walking ahead of me (I'm sure because he was racing to get the door for his pregnant wife), when he finally turned around there I stood in the parking lot with my purse on the ground, all of its contents all over the place and me standing there with my skirt half way between my waist and my knees. 

He said "what are you doing!?"

I was mortified.  I did a 360 to see if anyone was watching.  Then laughing, blushing, and sort of wanting to cry I walked into Panera.

I dang sure needed that Cinnamon Crunch bagel now more than ever.  

A man was peeking out of his booth... laughing hysterically.  Hey gave me a wink and mouthed "oops!" my way.  I guess "oops" is better than a thumbs up?  I'm not sure. 

No one else would look my way. 

I was wearing the panties that last time Chance saw me in asked: "Does Mimi know you stole her underpants?"  Mimi is my grandmother.   

be back soon

 

I hate to vent, but I am not well.  I feel like I swallowed a porcupine.  My head is splitting and those glands in my neck, you know the ones under your ears, well mine feel like they might explode.

I plugged in the humidifier last night and was awake most of the night taking in deep breaths over the top of it, my head hanging over the side of the bed... can you picture it?  Only to get up this morning and realize the humidifier is broken and wasn't working all night long.  All those deep breaths for nothing.

If you'll pardon me for a couple of days, I have a lot of business to tend to... but promise I'll be back soon.

photo from Nathan Egan

some of you asked

for the Fudge Pie recipe...

 

and while I didn't really assist, I did observe the making of this pie and believe me, it's easy! 

I love easy!  And delicious!

Darby just posted it in case you wanna give it a whirl.  Follow this link for the recipe: FUDGE PIE

some of you also asked about my dress...

TJMaxx, it's not maternity... just bought it 2 sizes bigger than I usually wear.

 

someone asked about my watch...

I bought myself my Swatch in gold.  (I have it in red too.)  Thought it was discontinued, but found a site in Europe that still sold it. I was leery, but it was an awesome transaction, I was even allowed to meaure my wrist and the watch came already sized (with the extra links in the box).

 

some of you also asked about my husband...

We had a follow up with the Neurosurgeon last week and it appears from the last CT scan that the blood clot is being reabsorbed.  This is best-case scenario!  An answer to prayer!  We have another follow-up in July, but the doctor was very optimistic.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support! 

 

some have asked about my due date...

The little girl is due September 13th.  That makes me 22 weeks pregnant this week, and for those who don't think in "weeks" (I didn't until I got pregnant), that would be 5.5 months.  The weekly email updates I receive from Baby Center tell me that she weighs 1 pound (the size of a spaghetti squash).  She moves around a LOT, kicks and spins and it's nothing short of amazing.  We haven't really started on the nursery... I did buy fabric and a chair... but I'll save that for another post! 

 

Thanks for asking!!!

 

95% sure that it's a....

GIRL!

Despite the fact that I drank a 40 oz (fountain) Dr.Pepper (which I have never liked, but drank anyway because my sister said it would get that baby moving), she still didn't cooperate very well.  Three ultrasounds, two technicians later... and we are 95% sure it's a girl.  We will know for sure in 4 weeks!  We are really excited! 

In other exciting news... remember this yellow bassinet I bought at Brimfield?  Annmarie shipped it and it should arrive today!

Is it safe to start dreaming about the nursery... or should I wait 4 more weeks?

 

*- please don't leave me any lead paint comments, we know.  we'll have it checked. :)

 

Secret Garden

Chance and I have officially embarked on our backyard face-lift.  It's far from done... but yesterday at lunch (I often lunch outside in my backyard, it's my favorite place) I was dreaming of all the potential.  Also dreaming of someone donating $25k so we can really do it up right. 

Here's a little recap of what happened over the weekend:

 

I should mention that I didn't tell Chance this guy was coming over with this thing (it's called a Trackhoe).   Sometimes it's just better to take matters into your own hands.  Amen, girls!?  So, he was quite surprised when he came home for lunch.  I was a little worried he might want to strangle me... his response "Awesome, I think it's awesome!"  That's Daddy Boy in the background (orange hat)... men love this kind of stuff... but you know what?  I kinda do too.  

   
We cleared out lots of dead trees, vines, and overgrown brush that was eating up 75% of our backyard... then we called for some fill dirt.  Three loads.  Which of course lead to the need for more equipment, so we had to go pick up a Bobcat. 

 

Alright, so that's it for those shots... I'll show you more when it's closer to complete.  I am so grateful for this yard... here at the beach most lots are really small.  The man who developed our little neighborhood saw value in larger lots... and for that I am very grateful.  I've hinted to Chance that there's even enough room for one of these*... because come July and August I'll probably be huge and will need to take a refreshing dip. 

While this was going on in the backyard my brother-in-law was out front spreading pine straw.  He's an Archaeologist with a side business: Honey Bee Farms Pine Straw.  I am learning that being pregnant gets you out of a lot of stuff, last year I helped spread pine straw... this year Chance, Justin, and our neighbor took care of it for me!  I like how that worked out!  Here they are spreading it in the front yard.  My Red Bud is still showing off!  

 

So, back to my story... yesterday at lunch while I was day-dreaming I grabbed my camera... I realized I haven't taken pictures in awhile, so I figured I better get back on it.  I take "progress" shots of my garden every year... it brings such joy to look back at them as the months carry on.  So today I took a few photos and I figured I'd share them!

My favorite watering can is this vintage one... because you can go from pouring-position to not-pouring position with a quick release of your hand... thank you continuous big round handle.  Others I have had weren't as well designed.

 

That's lavender growing in a pot behind the watering can, although it does look like it's coming out of the watering can... I assure you it is not.  This is my 3rd attempt at growing lavender... 3rd times a charm, I hope.  I need to get it in the ground. 

 

My geraniums wintered under the covered porch... on the freezing cold nights I put a sheet over them with a lamp under the sheet.  Fire hazard?  I hope not.  It was worth the risk.  Look at those blooms.  I love geraniums... I get this from my Momma... she always had Dad drag hers in the garage every winter.  AND they are super easy to grow from clippings, just need a little Rootone.  That Rosemary plant in the foreground is 1 single plant.  It is gigantic.  Rosemary doesn't like to be trimmed, but it was taking over the path, so I finally trimmed it back.  Here's a better look...

 

Out front... I'm still deciding what to put in the galvanized troughs planters.  I bought 2 Lantanas at Lowe's on Saturday, mostly because the color made me want to EAT them... but I've pretty much been wanting to eat everything I see lately.  They might not be a good choice for the planters, but I sat them there for the time being...

 

Sweet as candy, aren't they?  Love the pink/yellow color combo.

 

Now for our fence... I mentioned a few weeks ago that Chance and I have been working on it.  Our fence is painted "Secret Garden" by Sherwin Williams... it makes me happy... that same little delight that comes about from fun nail polish names.  Our house is painted "Artichoke" also by Sherwin Williams... which makes me equally happy.  We live in a jungle of green and I love it.  The design didn't take long to figure out because it matches our existing trashcan enclosure and our outdoor shower.  Chance welded the gate doors, they are 6' wide (12' total) so in the future when someone donates that $25k we can put in a real pool... a big truck/tractor will be able to get into the backyard.

 

 

Our landscape friend is meeting me today to talk about Phase 2 of the backyard make-over... a little sod: Empire Zoysia.  

Will keep you posted on our progress. 

*- don't diss 'em til you try 'em... in this economy an above-ground pool is sounding smarter everyday!  

my New York friend

During school I did my official Interior Design internship in New York.  I was naive and young and didn't quite know what I was getting into.  I found myself living in Greenwich Village with 4 other friends from college, all of whom had landed various other internships themselves.  I can remember the morning commute on my first day of work like it was yesterday.  Was the best subway route really take me through Times Square and Grand Central Station every single day?  Was it really going to take me 45 minutes to get to work everyday?  Oh yes, it was.  Was I really going to be broke in NY, eating hotdogs for dinner every single night of the week?  Yes.  Was I going to be too exhausted to have fun?  Yes.  Was it going to all be worth it in the end?  Yes. 

I spent 3 days a week at Victoria Hagan Interiors and 2 days a week at Scalamandre.  I had lost sleep over these two jobs before I ever even darkened their doors.  I was offered both internships and desperately wanted them both... I didn't think it would hurt to ask for them to accommodate this request, so naively I did just that.  And to my surprise they complied. 

My first day on the job at Victoria Hagan I was the only intern.  I did what I figured most interns do, organized project work and ran errands.  My second day at this job I realized there were going to be two other interns... both students from New York School of Interior Design.  One a guy (whose name escapes me now), and the other a girl... Laura about my age.  The guy didn't last long, maybe 2 weeks.  Laura and I were left holding the torch, and realized early on we would become fast friends.  She had received her undergrad degree at Vanderbilt... our common-bond ties to the SEC made me feel a little more comfortable in the Big Apple.    

Laura and I spent many days running around and soaking in all the interior design 2 eager students possibly could.  We kept fresh flowers in the office, kept drinks in the fridge, made copies, re-organized the sample room, shopped a lot, went to the D&D more often than we cared to, and laughed a lot.  We snuck to Tasti D-lite as often as possible, this was pre-GPS... we didn't need GPS because we had every single one in the city memorized by address.  And incase you are thinking "oh that must be like a TCBY place or something"... no, TCBY ain't got nothin' on Tasti D-Lite. 

I remember a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond when we were sent out to purchase 40 down-filled pillows... a nice little adventure out of the office.  Or so we thought.  It wasn't until we got to the check-out line that we couldn't quite figure out how we were going to get those 40 pillows back to the office.  We stuffed them into 2 taxis... a sight to be seen for sure.

The point of my story: by the end of it all I had a new friend... who had experienced something with me that I knew would forever impact my life.

Laura Casey has since started her own design business too.  They have recently moved from New York to Charlotte, North Carolina.  She and her husband Tim have 2 little boys... and the point of this whole post... she's blogging now!  I think everyone needs to check her out: LAURA CASEY INTERIORS : BLOG 

  

green shutters, white siding, and a picket fence

It's another beautiful day here in Florida.  Not trying to rub it in... just sharing.  And don't worry I'm not out enjoying the sunshine riding bikes, sipping lemonade, playing tennis, or anything fun like that, just looking at it through my office windows.  But I should mention... dinner is in the crock-pot... I love it when I have it enough together to make dinner at lunch time.  All is well here folks. 

Yesterday Camila @ High-Heeled Foot In The Door posted an interview she did with moi, you might enjoy reading it... here.  Thank you Camila!   

One question she asked stumped me a little... and I was surprised by how much thought I had to give it... I thought it would come to me quickly and it didn't.  This was the question:

What is your favorite all-time movie that you would have loved to have been the set decorator for?

Recognize this place below?  That was my final answer. George Banks' place.

 

What would your answer be?  Please tell. 

good mornin'

 

I only have a second... but I didn't want to leave you without a cool image {above from Style Files}... love those parquet floors, that cool sink, the lights, the display.  All of it! 

Here's the truth right now- I'm swamped... and I'm feeling really guilty about all the emails in my inbox that I have not yet replied to... so if you have emailed me (or called me) and not heard back yet... my apologies.  You should see my desk (and my to do list).  You would call the mental hospital and have me admitted for sure.

I'll be back soon!  Hopefully!!