Side Table Needed- Bring In The Stump

There are still some items missing from the nursery, one of them being a side table for next to the rocker. Bring in this beauty...

A few months ago a wonderful client called to tell me that there were stumps on her street and volunteered to grab some for me. Of course I said yes and she has been holding on to these for months for me.

Last week I picked them up and this brings us to the part of the story that really Patrick should narrate. I had warned him of my next plan for the nursery- a stump side table- but what he was thinking when he opened my car and found the trunks I am sure would be a great comic relief.

Apparently there is a lot that goes into getting a stump from its natural state to a state suitable for home use, especially when the space it will be used in belongs to a baby. I will let you know what I find out and how this progresses. Needless to say this will be one of those things that will completed post baby arrival. I can't wait to for the finished product though, the lines in this one I hope will be fabulous!

Love The One You're With- Veranda Interiors

Today I am thrilled to welcome Melissa from Veranda Interiors as my guest blogger. I can't remember exactly when we became blog friends, but everyone should be lucky enough to have a friend like Melissa.

Her interiors are gorgeous, following her own home's progression is envy inducing and I have even made a special trip to H&M thanks to her post; but her kindness and support outweighs all of that. I feel very lucky to have met her in the crazy blog world!

I am SO thrilled to help out our expectant mother, workaholic, incredibly nice, favorite blogger Marianne by participating in this great series. When she first asked me to do this post we were hunkered down in our crappy rental while our new home was under construction, I sent a note back telling her that I could only do a 'hate the one your with' post. I really wanted to share images of our new home with you but we moved in and a week later we were off to our cabin at Tablerock Lake for the summer...so here I am, featuring the cabin since it is a place that we completely overhauled and we are now able to create so many wonderful memories here.

To ensure that the growth of the boys is documented as well as the fun that we have while here I set up this wall across from the front door so it is the first thing you are greeted with. I picked up the adorable growth chart off Etsy and have put some of our favorite images around it. They can change out from year to year...or I may just cram the frames closer together and add more.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and even here it is the same case. We are constantly seated at the island, creating yummy cookies with the boys, and cooking up a storm for my family when they come for the weekend, all 22 of them! The kitchen has come a long way, here is an image of what we were working with when we took possession of the home.

{before}

{after}

The family room on the main level of the home gets a lot of use from guest and our little guys. All I have to say is thank goodness the cream sofas are slip-covered, ha! My favorite item in this space is the antique teak bench from Bali that we use as a coffee table. The patina is wonderful and it just gets better with use.

{before}

{after}

The dining area of the home is right next to the great room so it had to all flow together. Once everything was drenched in white I started the hunt for decorative items. While I am still in search for many more things the space is working for me...for now.



{before}

{after}

Since we are never here during the winter months I needed to fill the fireplace box with something. The pillar candles were perfect since it is a darker space of the home and the ambiance it gives off is perfect. Tucked away in one corner of the room is Nemo, our glass fish from Roost, he is our cork collector at the cabin and the only fish I can seem to keep alive.

We tend to party it up with a bevy or two by the camp fire or on the dock so we needed a space for a bar but we are a little cramped. To accommodate the storage we required I found a great antique armiour that I adore. It is tucked away nicely in a corner and serves a great purpose.

So this is where we have been hiding out this summer. Thank you so much for visiting and do come again, I promise to make you a wonderful meal we can share. Mel xo

Thank you Melissa, of course I love it. Now I can't wait to see the house progression in the coming months!!!

Quiet Time- The Beginning...And Everything That Comes With It

The picture above is the first thing I ever purchased for the nursery. It is a page from a Bible dating back to the 1600's that I tracked down after seeing the Bible originally a long time ago at Scott's. It is not just any page though, it is special to me.

I won't go into all the details but around 8 weeks pregnant I was anxious and worried. While we did not have to endure anything close to what many couples do to get pregnant, it didn't just magically come easy to us, it took time and a lot faith. Then we were pregnant and me being the worrier I am battled fears of losing the baby. So during one particular fit of worry, a crazy and simple thing happened and God sent me the following passage:

"Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all creatures that move along the ground."

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28

I was so comforted; God has given me such a sense of peace during this time.

But here we are in the final week, one the verge of a new beginning and I have to be honest. In between the excitement and joy over meeting our son; fear, worry and anxiety are creeping in. Over what exactly I don't know. I can't explain it but I am sure many of you out there understand. Maybe it is the waiting and the unknown? Maybe it is change that always scares me? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I want more than to meet our son and become a Mom.

I don't think I have ever prayed as hard as I have throughout this pregnancy and the prayers here at the end are coming fast and furious. I know He is listening, I know that one or another-no matter what, everything will be okay, and I just have to be still in Him. Sometimes though that is much easier said than done.

Bathing Beauty

I saw this backsplash/wall while flipping through the latest Pottery Barn catalog and I loved it so my first thought was I need to use that for a client at some point (although I would use something different on the floor probably)...Then while cleaning up my pictures some I realized that I had been looking at tile like that for a client recently...and now I hope we use it even more.

Oh how I love working on bathrooms and kitchens, especially when beautiful tile is involved.

You Can Find Me....

Guest blogging on Emily A. Clark today...

Thanks for having me Emily!

A New Ride

I know by now you are probably well aware of the upcoming Missoni for Target line. With over 400 pieces there is a lot to look through. I will say though, this bicycle from the look book has been on my mind.....

Probably need to decide on stroller wheels before looking for myself though....

The Nursery: 38 Weeks

Twas two weeks before my due date, when all through the house, every creature was stirring, especially my spouse*.

The curtains were hung in nursery with care, with hopes that Baby Strong would soon be there.

The nursery is really coming together, I can't wait to share it with you but there is still more to be done so for now I am going to wait before showing the whole room. Here are some peeks though...

Details on certain items coming this week and next...

*I have to say a special thank you to Patrick who has been working so hard every spare minute for weeks now. Painting, hanging, painting, building, painting, measuring, painting.....you get the picture. Pre-baby he was always helpful around the house, he loves a good project, but he did not paint. Little did he know his journey to fatherhood would include roughly 72,000 hours holding a paint brush....

Love The One You're With- Chic Coles

Today's Love The One You're With comes from one creative family! I am happy to welcome the lovely ladies from

This Mother/Daughters team is so fun to follow along it is easy to forget you are not actually part of the family.....

We are thrilled to be here to today to share our "Love the one You're with" post! The first few images that came to mind were from a house we own in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I lived in this house until I was five and ever since then, we have all gathered in this home to celebrate Christmas. The pictures below are summer pictures (hence the greenery outside) but none the less, it is the house that I really do love. The house is old...not like some old houses that were built in the early 1600's but it is still an antique house that has some history.

This room is my room (it used to be the master bedroom with the two beds pushed together) but has since become mine when we stay in the house. There are two windows on the adjacent wall and look out at the large porch and mountains. There is nothing better than waking up to that view. (for photography sake, we used my moms zebra pillows that have been repeated a few times...)

This is my bathroom. It still has the old style sink which makes it very difficult to wash your face when you have hot and cold water coming out of two separate faucets, but I like the charm it holds and i'm glad we kept the original.

The kitchen is one of my favorite places in the whole house. Aside from the many memories it evokes whenever I think about it (from playing restaurant out of that window to making apple sauce in the fall) it is the place where everyone gathers while making dinner and spending time together.

All in all, I think the reason I "Love the one I'm with" with this home, is because it holds some really great memories! Thats what having a home is all about right?

-Melissa from Chic Coles

Thank you again Marianne, we wish you the best of luck with you new office, and your new baby!

Thank you Melissa and the rest of the gang, that was a great post. As I was reading it I couldn't help picture Christmas in that house- waking up to snow on the mountains and a warm kitchen filled with family, just perfect!

Quiet Time- The Prettiest Prayer

I posted this prayer at this time last year. To me it the prettiest prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury,pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.



O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-Prayer of St. Francis

Morning Snack-A Little Bit of Everything

Whew, it's Friday, what a week. The race to the finish is in full swing and I am almost out of gas so today I am going to keep it light. Abode Love posted this picture last week and I have not been able to get it out of my mind since.

Sure I was initially drawn in by the nail details around the room, but if you look there is so much more to love. The floor, see the pattern? Orange lacquer ceiling? Love the sofa upholstery fabric and plaid pillows, have I ever mentioned how much I love plaid?

Then there are the leather side chairs and gorgeous secretary. I also love the little gold side table in the right corner and full urns in the back. This room teeters on being guilty of having too much going on but somehow it all works.

Today

Happy Anniversary to the best husband a girl could ask for.

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating with friends and family on one of the hottest days ever recorded in Nashville, apparently we prefer the milestones in our lives to be when it is toasty.

The picture above is from our rehearsal dinner and there is a great story behind my dress, but I need one more picture to fully tell it so I will try to share soon.

First image via Sweet Nothings

Blog Interruption- Opinions on Strollers

I have to break for a moment from things I love to things I need, like a stroller. We have been all over the world and back again. I would love opinions on what you have used and like/don't like, I am overwhelmed trying to make this decision!

Here are the models we are currently debating:

1. Uppababy Vista- We love the bassinet feature, several different seating options including an option for baby #2 (one day), large basket and great features like screens and you can exercise with it. I plan to walk a lot although I don't run so it should work for that. Love everything about it so far. Cons: $$$2. Bumbleride Indie- To be honest I don't know a lot about these but it came highly recommended so I thought I would throw it out there.

3. The Bob Revolution- It seems everyone in Birmingham owns this stroller and raves about it so it comes with a lot of positive feedback. My concern is the size since this baby will be going everywhere with me if possible, he will be working on my "off" days eventually.Help please! I am looking for something that is functional enough to be used on an everyday basis, can take miles of walking for exercise, will hold up and is really a one stop shop- we don't have room for several strollers.

A Tale of Two Sofas

New catalogs mean new inspiration and I am loving both of these sofas....

Although something about the middle leg above on the Ballard Griffin Sofa is bothering me.Tufted gray perfection from Anthropologie's Ditte Sofa.

Dining Delight

This weekend was spent working on the nursery (updates coming), but I did carve out 30 minutes to catch an old (although new to me) episode of Sarah 101. I was glad I did because I think this dining room is a-mazing.Images and sources HERE.