Today E and I went and met our Granny Nena for lunch and some shopping at Hobby Lobby. We came with a sweet utensil caddy and these little guys:

I am 39 weeks pregnant. Get out of town. That is so crazy!

I went to the doctor on Tuesday and…well…there hadn’t been any change since last Tuesday. So she was like “You might have another week or so. Looks like you might make it to your due date after all. That’s just my best guess.” Augggggghhhhhh!!!! So I have decided that doctors have no real idea when you are going to go into labor. It is all just a big guessing game.

So yesterday I walked around the mall for like 3 hours. Today I walked around a different mall for a couple of hours and then had Taco Bell for dinner. (That is what put my mom into labor with me!) I guess being disappointed at a lack of progress made me realize that I am actually ready for her to be here.

If she is born next Monday, her birthday will be 8.9.10. That would be pretty cool.

So since there is no baby news to report, here are some nursery pictures.

The crib is mine from when I was little. Cliff’s mom painted the painting.

My mom made the two quilts. You can see the various sheets and recieving blankets that match.

Here is the changing area with lots of fun books on the shelf. There is a little diaper caddy thingy on the side and and  ultrasound picture in the frame.

I am really happy with how it all came together. Now to just put her in it!

(p.s.- Would you pray that C gets to feeling better before I go into labor? He has a sore throat right now and feels yucky and I don’t think it would be good if he felt that way when it was time to go to the hospital!)

I spent a while today at Babies R Us wandering around and looking at various baby bedding. I am so excited about the color scheme that I ended up with. I had registered for a bedding set from Target, but it was only available online so I couldn’t tell what it felt like and it also seemed kinda expensive especially since you still had to get a couple of sheets and you probably don’t really use the blanket that much. So after mixing and matching various things, here are some swatches of the colors and patterns that I picked that go together  .

The first picture shows the bumper in the middle, which is sage green, and the two patterns are the sheet and changing pad cover patterns. The other two pictures are just receiving blankets that go with it, and I bought a crib skirt on amazon that is like the striped part of those two pictures (they didn’t carry it at the store). I am apparently really a fan of these colors together. My wedding colors were sage green with pink accents. And of course when you thrown brown in next to pink, that is always nice. If I had a boy next, and didn’t want to buy totally different bedding, I could still use the bumper and just get a couple of new sheets. It is all Carter’s stuff, of which I am an extremely big fan! I love all of their clothes way more than any other brand. I don’t know why, it is just my favorite. So I am glad to have that all figured out!

Want to know your decorating style? Here is a fun website that has a quiz you can take and it tells you a general idea of your home style and then gives you some tips. It is a website from the TJMaxx HomeGoods store’s website.

Here are my results:

HomeGoods Style Scope Results:

Earthy Casual

You’re interested in creating a welcoming home where people feel comfortable and happiness flourishes. You appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly. And you are never taken in by the trend of the moment.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

Putting Your Style to Work!

With your style and needs in mind, here are a few tips that will help you make your home a little happier.

1. Your Design Challenge: ORGANIZE The front hall sets the mood for your entire home. Consider how to accommodate all the room’s functions as beautifully as possible. At the very least you need a console, and if you’re short on storage, consider a dresser. Outfit the surface with nice trays and bowls for mail, keys and sunglasses. Keep a trash can for immediately tossing the junk mail. Closet-door or wall hooks encourage coat and bag hanging rather than dumping. If you have children, try to give each a basket in the closet for hats and gloves. It’s nice to have a chair or bench for changing shoes, a mirror for last-minute lipstick checks, and a lamp or sconces for warm light.

2. Your Happy Place The more serene your bedroom feels, the happier you will be. A pretty coverlet over a big duvet makes the bed look smooth—and not all duvet-lumpy! And, a blanket folded at the foot of the bed breaks up the big expanse of fabric. Euro shams—those big square pillows—are great for reading in bed, and a few decorative pillows can also be a nice touch. Consider adding a basket or a small occasional table near your bedside table for books, papers, lotions, linen spray or whatever you’d like.

3. Be Party-Ready All the Time! Scent: The first thing you notice about a home is how it smells. Use naturally fragrant cleaning products. If you find a scented candle or fresh potpourri you love, stock up on it. Any scent you like, whether perfume or linen spray, can be used on upholstery, bedding or just spritzed into the air.

Mood: Nice, flattering light makes us feel good. So nix the harsh, direct light from overhead fixtures in favor of the softer glow from floor and table lamps. Also, stock up on some votive candles and a couple of hurricane lanterns for setting around the room.

Food: Devote space in your pantry or on a shelf for go-to party essentials: crackers, dip, chips, nuts—whatever you like to serve. Keep on hand a collection of attractive bowls and cocktail napkins, and you’ll be able to set a spread—instantly!

Drink: The simplest and chicest thing is to have a drinks tray or table always set up. Include a mix of pretty glasses, an ice bucket, a lovely pitcher, and bottles of soda and water. When the bell rings, just add ice and limes.

I think it is pretty accurate of my design. I do value comfort and natural things.

What result did you get? Do you agree with it? Leave me a comment and tell me about your results!

Last summer I found this cute chair at Ross for $20.

I bought it to go beside my overhead, at the front of my classroom. Well…it is cute..but ended up not being all that comfortable since it doesn’t have a back. I don’t know why I didn’t buy a new one during the year last year, but I didn’t. Last Monday, I made it my goal to find a new one. After searching all over TJMaxx, Ross, and Tueday Morning with a budget of $20-25 (my usual stops for a good deal) I found this one at ikea for the low price of $16! Unfortunately it comes in 34 pieces. So the hubby’s job was to put it together.

It was so cheap, I even bought a cushion to tie on for added comfort. I thought I would share about my fun classroom purchase since today is my first offical day back for the year. Since it is so far away, I haven’t been up to work in my room all summer. I didn’t take much off the walls, and there isn’t much I am going to change about my organization/system from last year, so I figure I don’t really have that much to do. This week is teacher stuff, next Monday the kids come! Will I be ready????

How many people does it take to replace a light fixture?

At least four apparently (counting a photographer). And two pets. You can’t see Buddy. He is hiding. The ladder is scary. And, yes, I AM helping. I am holding a flashlight, since you can’t have the lights on when you are replacing them. Thanks for the help, mom and dad!

Yay for new light fixtures!

Christmas decorations are just lovely, aren’t they?

Here is my favorite part of the decorations.
I particularly enjoy the ornament sitting on the floor.
Buddy the Christmas Cat loves the tree too.

The other day when it was cold, we built our first fire in this house.
My nativity is on the mantle with a sign that I just love.
Those stockings we bought the year we were engaged, and I love that we wrote each others names on them.

Here is a decoration that came from my hubby’s side of the family. His grandmother always used this tree and it was something he really liked.

Here is our Turkish nativity scene.

And here is a nativity scene that we had when I was little, which is now our on dining table.

This could easily be the most random ornament on our tree. Its from our honeymoon: a Christmas manatee!

And here are some other special ornaments on our tree. I love that our tree is full of ornaments that make me remember special things. My hubby loves superman and my mom got him this one year. The round ornament is from Turkey. And the other ornament is from our church.

I leave you with a picture of what Christmas is really all about. The birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Who loved us so much, before he even knew us. Who desires to forgive us of all our sins and have a relationship with us and bless us, so that we may bless others.
“I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16