Nursery Inspiration

Back in July when we first found out we were expecting, I was all about decorating the nursery! That was before we started house hunting, house buying and house renovating. My decorating budget and time was quickly consumed by our renovations. Oops! When I thought we'd still be in the apartment, this is what I had planned.


chandelier Serena Chandelier by Stray Dog Designs // fabrics Gray Line Linen and Alan Campbell for Quadrille // glider Crate & Barrel Hathaway Glider // table lamp Meurice Floor Lamp by Jonathan Adler // art Animals Alphabet and Numbered Animals at Minted, Heart Party by hillarybird via Etsy, and Love You to the Moon by Gus and Lula via Etsy // lamp Robert Abbey Isis Lamp // rug Wild Chev Rugs by Genevieve Gorder for Carpel Rugs // crib Room & Board Moda Crib

While the nursery is completely functional, it's definitely not decorated. I'm rethinking a few things based on the new house (can't hang a chandelier in the middle of the room because of the low ceilings) but a few things will be the same... we have the crib, glider and floor lamp. Currently gathering ideas for round two of the inspiration. Maybe I'll have Thomas' nursery complete before his first birthday...

Master Bath - Before & Progress

More than one person have mentioned that the "before" pics of the hall bath "aren't that bad". My dad told me "you're never going to be hired to take 'before' pictures because they look too good". See, I was so excited about the new house, and making sure I documented this transformation that I got really into the before pics. I rented a wide angle lens for my camera, used my tripod and took my time taking the pictures. Well since then, my tripod is covered in dust, the rental lens was returned, and day to day life is consumed by moving, tax season, getting settled and now baby! So the progress shots definitely aren't shining! I guess that will have to wait until the "afters".

In the meantime, let's take a look into our master bath. While it is our master bath since it's off the master bedroom, it's hardly the size of what you'd consider a master bath at a whopping 4' x 7' (that's tiny, FYI). We removed what I called the "torture tub" as it was less than 4' long yet quite deep. Just bizarre. Yes, in a true "what's right for the space" decision, we would have gone with a pedestal sink for space and visual purposes, but we needed a vanity so we squeezed one in. Ok, enough with the chatter...


I could go on and on about this bathroom and I certainly will when I share "afters" but I could spend all day in that shower.

Life Update

So on Saturday, March 23 I started this post...
I'm currently sitting in bed, watching HGTV and blogging! This used to be such a normal part of my routine but geez, it's been a while! I've missed blogging and look forward to getting back into the routine but these past few months I've just had to be self-absorbed and focused or else I'm sure I would have had an epic meltdown (or 12). While we have so. much. to. do. it's important to remind ourselves of how much we've accomplished... 2013 has been a big year-- buy the house, substantially renovate the house into our home, move out of the apartment where I've lived for 5 years (with Andy for 2.5), prepare for baby (who will be here no later than April 2) and all of this during tax season which is usually enough to cause epic meltdowns in and of itself!

We're getting settled into our new place and each day, I'm happier and happier to be here. We lucked into an amazing neighborhood. We currently have lasagna in the toaster oven (kitchen is still in progress literally as I type) that a neighbor brought us the other day. Then our across the street neighbor saw the appliance delivery truck in the driveway and realized we didn't have a kitchen so he brought over some BBQ chicken from his grill. The kids across the street have been playing basketball all afternoon and the sounds of all the other kids riding bikes just makes me smile.

Flash forward two days to Monday, March 25...
Thomas Joseph Peden arrived! He was a couple of days early and a surprise to me as I was convinced he was staying put!


We are totally smitten! It's amazing how much he's already grown up in just two weeks! He's packing on the pounds nicely and his doctor gave him the thumbs up at his 2 week check-up. We are slowly adjusting to life as a family of three and the only reason we're not complete zombies is because of the very generous amount of help we've received from the grandmommies! I hope to be back blogging soon as I truly do miss the creative outlet!

Hall Bath - Before & Progress

You're supposed to do "before and afters" right? Well, if I waited for the "afters" to share of the house, it would never happen. So I think it's going to be before and progress shots with follow up progress shots for a while. Andy said the other night "so when we move in, our living room will have a sofa and a TV on the floor?" Yep, that's about right.

But onto the hall bath. I think my "befores" are a little too kind. This bathroom was just down right bizarre (but not as bizarre as the master!) and ugly, so it all had to go!



And that's just what happened. We ripped it all out to the studs. Since our total renovation was originally a fairly small scope, we did not move any plumbing, not that there are that many options in a 5'x7' bathroom (although the master bath is even smaller!).



It was amazing how fast they built it back. The original plan was for a tub but as we got into the renovation, it became apparent that there just wasn't room. I was a little concerned for a bit that the babe would have a deprived childhood of a life without a tub, but I got over that pretty quickly-- he can just go to his grandparents house!



Sources and more pictures to come as we finish up the bathroom. This is one room that might just get finished! But in the meantime, you can find me going gaga over the plumbing fixtures.

Hall Bathroom Inspiration

Our original "cut-off date" was before Thanksgiving. If we didn't find a house before Thanksgiving, we were going to put the house hunt on the back burner and focus on how to rearrange the apartment to make it perfect for our soon-to-be family of 3.

Well that was the plan but that's not what happened. Oops! Realistically, would I really be able to put the house hunt on the back burner if the perfect place came on the market? Nope. So instead we went under contract a few days before Christmas with a closing date in mid-January. Knowing that the beginning of the year is already the busiest time for me with work and add to that planning for the arrival of the babe, it was going to be a tight schedule, especially because we had renovations to do before we move in. So I started gathering inspiration ideas and here are what I had in mind for the hall bath.

Stay tuned for later this week for the before and progress shots of the hall bath!

first row, left Editor Zim Loy's Master Bath featured in House Beautiful's Unique Bathrooms - Cool and Creative Bathroom Design Ideas - Photo by Jonny Valiant // right Real Estate Listing for 305 Sea Lane in La Jolla featured on House of Turquoise // second row, left Liz Caan Interiors // right Bailey McCarthy's Austin Home via Design Sponge - Photos by Paige Newton // third row, left b.home interior design by Tracey Butler // right Kohler's Tresham Collection

Simplifying My Make-Up Routine

I have always loved make-up. I still remember my first "real" make-up. On a trip to New Orleans, mom took me to the Bobbi Brown counter at Saks and after a make-over, she bought me a few eye shadows, a blush and some brushes. That planted the seed and I've loved make-up ever since. I've never been able to stick to a particular "look". I've always liked to do different things, try new things, and generally do something different every day. This hasn't always been a good thing as I have pictures to prove.

Recently I've settled into a routine and have no desire to change things up. I guess after 18 years of experimenting, I've finally hit a groove. It's nice, because I've been able to simplify. Good timing since I'm sure my mornings aren't going to be quite as leisurely once the little one arrives! I'm sure some would not consider the following "simple" but it is for me! And really, I can get through the whole routine in 5 minutes on a work morning.


The Beauty Blender-- this is a must have. Another mom influence in my make-up routine. I think it was a stocking stuffer one year and it's been the first step in my make-up routine ever since. A tip-- make sure you get it damp first. It plumps it up and gives you a sheer coverage of foundation. And the perfect foundation is Laura Mercier's Crème Smooth Foundation. Then Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder with Elizabeth Arden's Face Powder Brush sets everything so it stays on all day.

To finish the foundation, I add a little color... Laura Mercier's Brow Powder Duo and Trish McEvoy Natural Blush.

Then it's time for the eyes-- my favorite part. I feel like this is where I can change things up. Covergirl Liquiline is the best eyeliner... goes on smooth, stays in place and it's from the drugstore! Or sometimes I like to use a smudge brush, like Trish McEvoy's Brush 54 Va Va Voom Smudge and a dark eyeshadow. So eyeshadow. I've never liked a set palette. There are usually a few colors that I like but the rest are wasted. That was until I received the Urban Decay Naked Palette as a birthday present from a dear friend. It's perfect. Finish off the eyes with L'Oreal Voluminous® Carbon Black Mascara and I'm ready to go!

Where's the lipstick, you might ask? That's an area where I still haven't found my stride. I usually just put on some aquaphor and I'm done. Maybe this should be the next thing I work on... Have any lipstick recommendations? Other make-up favorites?

Home Inspiration

Babies and house renovations have been on the brain constantly (oh and taxes but I won't bore you with that!). We closed on the house on a Friday in mid-January and the renovation started the following Tuesday and has been going full speed ever since. Due to the condensed timeline with a firm end date (baby's going to come whether we're ready or not!), we had to do a lot of planning before we even closed (made me a nervous wreck! I don't like to count my chickens before they hatch.). One thing I tried to do was come up with an overall tone for the house. It's not a big house, so I wanted a cohesive look and these are some of the images that inspired me.

first row, left James Michael Howard // right Lonny Magazine Jul-Aug 2011 - Photography by Patrick Cline - Interior Design by Lauren Gold - Art Direction by Michelle Adams // second row, left House Beautiful April 2007 - Designer by Barbara Westbrook - Photography by Pieter Estersohn // right Thom Filicia Inc - Vogue Living // third row Design by Lauren Liess - Photography by Helen Norman & her assistant, F.J. Hughes // fourth row, left Justin Bishop via Desire to Inspire // right Mara Roszak and Alex Polillo's Home featured on Apartment Therapy