Baby Girls Nursery || Emma's

Sources & Links

Cloud & star mobile ||  Large & small dog stuff animal(s)  ||  Crib sheet  ||  Crib old  (similar here)  ||  Changing table old  (similar here)  ||  Round gold mirror  || Pink blanket  ||  Rug  || Glider  ||  "Darling Let Your.." wooden graphic print  ||  White ruffle tiered curtains sold out (similar here) ||  Pink round accent pillow  || Floor lamp  ||  Gold night stand  ||  Floating book shelves Ikea or  here   ||  White pom pom pillow sold out  ( similar here)  ||  You Are My SunShine wooden saying C/O Modern Birch  ||  Flower knobs (sold out - similar here)  ||  Swam head  ||  Gold star garland C/O Pearl & Jane  ||  Black wire wall basket   

DIY's

DIY pom pom Sea Basket Tutorial

DIY Bow Storage

Huge thank you to Jessica & April over at Modern Birch and Amy over at  Pearl & Jane because there sweet and personalized details truly make Emma's space feel unique!! 

And I hope this post helps inspire you to think and feel that you can make your own baby girl or boy's nursery's simple, subtle, and yet still of course... beautiful. Always beautiful. 

Warmly, Steph

Current Promo Codes as of September 18th 2019:
FALLBABY20 for 20% off at Modern Birch (ends 9/22)
MAMAJOTS for 20% off at Witts End Design
MAMAJOTS for %15 off at Graced House
MAMJOTS15 for %15 off at Baby Jives Co

Sister Gifts To Support Bonding

The First Sister "Meet & Greet"

When the time came for the two girls to meet (16 hours after Emma was born) Abby was very timid. Mainly because of the hospital experience… the machines, how mommy and daddy had been gone awhile, the UV on my arm, hospital bed, and Emma. Especially Emma.

To be honest, it did sink ours heart a bit to see that Abby was not interested in holding Emma at first and equally surprised! Which if you follow me on Instagram, you know how obsessed Abby’s been over my belly bump. Constantly giving it kisses and asked me about 25x a day, “if baby sis was going to come out now?”  So, we decided to start the bonding with a little gift giving to help her see that Emma loves her. And “thought of her.”

Big Sis Gift

(Emma to Abby)

Emma gave Abby a wooden pretend doctors kit which you can see all the creative fun things inside it here. I choose to go with BPA and chemical free kit since the idea of Emma’s gift was to encourage Abby to “play” with her. Which I’m SO glad I did because she started to immediately open up the doctor’s kit right there in the hospital.  

Little Sis Gift

(Abby to Emma)

As for Abby’s gift to Emma, I pulled together a few things that had been “her favorite items” from her first year (pink blanket, pink binkie & pacifier clip) and let the card say just that. They are all items Abby already has and so it was great for her to see that Emma now gets to enjoy these things too.

Parents Gift

I then decided to gift both girls these cuddle and kind puppy dogs because A) Dog stuff animals are Abby’s favorite (hence her Birthday PAWTY theme) and B) I loved that I could get her AND Emma something to physically show and demonstrate to Abby that she’s officially a BIG SIS by giving her the “big” doggy. Abby LOVED this idea!

I could tell because she immediately walked over to Emma with her little dog and gave it to her. Then asked if she and the little dog could give baby sis a kiss. Oh, my tired exhausted heart! It was so, so, SO sweet and exactly the kind of interaction all of parents hope to see between our kids.

Summary || Bonding Ideas

So yes, I would highly recommend doing something for the sibling’s (if you can swing it) because it really helped set the tone that Abby is included, thought of, and important. And to be honest yes, I did have had my doubts before going into labor that maybe a sibling AND parent gift was too much?? However, I’m so glad I did both! It really helped them interact and get Abby excited about being a big sis. 

However, if you don’t see that sweet interaction in the hospital I would say don’t worry! It’s important that I add in here, Abby was with my dad for 2 hours going in and out of our hospital room which included lunch at Starbucks and play time on the playground across the street. It took a full week for Abby to warm up to Emma and learn "how to interact" with her newborn baby sis.

Once we were all back at home in an environment Abby knew and loved she REALLY warmed up to interacting with Emma Plus, I get it from a 3 year old’s perspective…hospitals can be a scary place! And like all relationships, bonding takes time. That was my big take away from the experience as a parent! That and a few gifts can help with that bond. : )

As always, let me know if you have questions!

Warmly, Steph

Father's Day Gift || DIY

For the second year in a row now, I’ve done this gift idea on Father’s Day for Steve and since it’s his favorite gift to get (I only know this because he told me) I thought I'd share! Especially after hearing over in Instagram that all of you were interested. 

 A personal slide show seems very much, like yeah Steph. I get it. Slide shows are something anyone can put together! 

However for Father's Day, I make sure to keep each photo and the overall theme focused on Steve and his girl (soon to be girls!) Along with a few other ideas to make it fun and surprising for him.  

So below are the 6 categories I set for myself in helping me deicide which photo to use and or take as it makes the entire process so much faster! Easier, and more enjoyable.

|| 6 Photo Categories || 

For Making A Special Father's Day Slide Show

 ||  1  || 

 "Steve & Abby"

 ||  2  |

"Just Abby" photos (Steve's favorite ones)

||  3  ||

3-4 video clips of our favorite moments captured. 

(Our full gender reveal video is here)

||  4  ||

Secretly recreate 3-4 photos from last spring/summer. This could also just be done as a gift too! Side by side comparison shot.

(Warming: it's really fun yet emotional)

||  5  ||

A few candid moments (catching emotion such as laughter here)

||  6  ||

A few favorite family moments/times from the year

(The main focus is fatherhood!)

The Details: Putting It All Together

Organize photos in order from last years June to now.

Add music

Adjust speed

Give your slide show a title

Connect slide show from computer to T.V. using a display adaptor cable

Supply tissues, lots! : )

This project takes me 1-2 hours to complete, although I already have all the images downloaded onto my computer. It's just a matter of dropping them into an album and organizing them. Hopefully this gave you idea on how to create one that can be a bit more personal, emotional, surprising, and fun!

Happy Father's Day weekend to you and your man.

Warmly, Steph

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Abby's 3rd Birthday PAWTY

Mint tableware C/O Ellie & Piper

Hooray plates sold out (these are similar) C/O Ellie & Piper ||  Pink napkins C/O Ellie & Piper || Mint green cutlery set C/O Ellie & Piper

 Cake name topper C/O Modern Birch || Pink cake stand

"Let's Pawty" Balloons C/O Ellie & Piper

Abby's Great Grandma : )

For the theme I kept it very minimal only because I'm 37-38 weeks pregnant and needed to simplify everything. (Balloon arch was a great easy decor pick!) The invitations and gift bags included dog images and stickers along with inviting the kids favorite "dog stuff animal" and real family dog to the party. It was so much fun to have a handful or sweet pups running around our backyard with the kids. Plus, family really enjoyed being able to bring there dogs while we supplied doggie treats and dog bones. 

 In all, I can't believe we have hit the milestone of a BIG THREE year old little girl in our household! Time is quickly pulling us by and it feels very serial to be celebrating her while also days away from her sister arriving. The emotional hormonal mess that this brings should never be allowed for any pregnant mama! (The tears are heavy and strong these days friends).

It was truly a great day (despite ending up in the ER) because Steve and I realized we did something right when Abby kept asking for another PAWTY every minute since it was over! So she can dream.  :  )  Our sweet, energetic, and wild imaginative little girl is now THREE! Happy Birthday my sweet Abby!! (And now... the details)

||  Chalkboard  ||

 I can't do fancy wording on a chalkboard to save my life! Truly, not one of my strengths in life so I did a short step-by-step photo tutorial on how to do "faux chalkboard lettering" which you can see by clicking here. I hope this fun trick helps you too!

Sources & Links:

Abby's green dress  ||  Pink cake stand  ||  Abby's wooden name cake topper C/O Modern Birch  ||  Mint hooray plates C/O Ellie Piper  || Mint cups C/O Ellie & Piper  ||  Let's PAWTY balloon sign C/O Ellie & Piper  || 3 sparkler candle || Party Hats from Target || My maternity dress (sold out of white) black color here 

DIY Chalkboard Lettering || Abby's Birthday

Supplies:

(1) Compressed graphite  (2)Pencil   (3) Chalk marker   (4)Paint brush   (5)Chalkboard paint    (6) Menu Chalkboard sign    (7) Custom message wording

Directions for Folding Menu Sign:

||  Step 1  ||

I painted the folding menu sign frame white paint with 3 coats (if you want white!).

||  Step 2  ||

Next, I painted the folding menu sign with chalkboard paint to get that true black color.

Directions For Fancy Chalkboard Wording:

||  Step 1  ||

First, I ordered the custom wording on Etsy here.

||  Step 2  ||

Then I enlarged the image (16x20) at FedEx and printed out the enlarge image.  

||  Step 3  ||

Next, I scratched the back of print out with compressed graphite.

||  Step 4  ||

Then I taped the print out to the menu sign with painters tape.

||  Step 5  ||

I traced the letters with a pencil.

||  Step 6  ||

Then I removed the print out and tape.

||  Step 7  ||

Lastly, I traced & filled in markings with a chalk marker.

||  Step 8  ||
Style & enjoy!

This entire project takes a couple of days only because the Etsy shop needs 24-48 hours to send you the custom design and get your approval before emailing the final downloadable image. It was much cheaper than you think! $10-$15 well worth it if you're like me and can't do fancy chalkboard lettering to save your life. Once I recieved the personalized download image, it took a day to complete.

  Let me know if you have any questions! 

Warmly, Steph