Monday, March 31, 2014

DIY Geometric Mobile

DIY Geometric mobile

When I was dreaming about baby stuff and what would go in his room and all that fun stuff, I was eyeing some really fun geometric baby mobiles... but some of them were like $100. I was kinda disappointed but I knew I would end up DIY'ing a different type of mobile... maybe felt triangles or pom poms but then I came across this website that had templates for these paper geo shapes (I believe the correct term is Platonic Solids:)) and I saw all my baby mobile dreams coming true.

This isn't really a full blown tutorial because its just way too simple for that. But since approximately 1million of you asked how I did it I thought it did indeed deserve its own post. Here's how you can make one of these for yourself! Baby or not I think they are a fun way to decorate.

First you'll need to get card stock in the colors of your choice, just one sheet for each shape. Then go here and print the template on said card stock.

Follow the instructions in the link to assemble the shapes. You just cut them out, score the lines that you need to fold and glue it together. It can be a little time consuming on the shapes that have a lot of folds but for the most part its super quick and easy.

DIY Geometric Mobile
DIY Geometric Mobile

Make a stitch through the corner of your paper shape with a sharp sewing needle and light-colored thread, knot it and cut the thread to the length you need it to be. No need to stitch through multiple times since it is so lightweight.

After a failed attempt to make a wire frame I ended up just hanging them from the ceiling and it does the job just fine!

DIY Geometric Mobile
DIY Geometric Mobile
DIY Geometric Mobile
DIY Geometric Mobile
DIY Geometric Mobile

If you have any questions about the mobile that I overlooked leave me a comment!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Beck's Nursery

Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery

Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery
Beck's Nursery

We opted out of the themed nursery which probably makes us the most unhip parents on internet right? This room is pretty tiny so I wanted to keep it simple and minimal. We picked a dresser that could double as a changing table but also be a piece we could use for years, I'm super happy with this one. Since we bought almost everything used (and made the other things) we spent next to nothing for his sweet little room (which is good because I would've spent way too much on it)
It's bright and airy and my favorite spot in the house.


Crib and Dresser: Ikea
Geometric Mobile: DIY (tutorial coming soon!)
Black Arrow: DIY
Fan: Vintage
"I love you to the moon and back" Canvas: Red Envelope
Knit Blanket: Handmade
Rocking Chair: Baxton Studios
Fox Print: Kelli Murray
Gray Changing Pad Cover: DIY

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Being pregnant and why it was important to not complain

(Maternity photos I never got around to sharing. This was 34 weeks)IMG_4547IMG_4565


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I've been wanting to write this post for ages, but I couldn't get it out. I got pregnant this time last year, so it's a good time to publish it, right?

Being pregnant was so surreal. The whole thing. I remember waking up on easter morning super early and had a feeling I was finally pregnant. I took a test but it was so so so light I shrugged it off and decided to not take another one for a few more days when my period was supposed to have shown up. We picked up a digital test so there would be no guessing, and I handed it to josh after I peed on it so he would know first. When he finally looked at it he ran around the room and finally came back and said, "there's a baby in there!" I know it's cliche but I instantly felt different.

Being pregnant is such a gift. I know its such a normal thing that it starts to seem like nothing, but it isn't nothing—your body is growing a freaking human. That is INSANE! And it drove me crazy to hear people complain so much about being pregnant. Yes, it can be uncomfortable. Yes, I threw up more in nine months than I have in my whole life. Sure, your body changes and it isn't always cute. Yes, you can't eat sushi or drink wine. But, complain about something I've been wanting my whole life? I seriously couldn't even fathom it.

So I was positive about it. Not forcefully, but if I was asked about it, I gave an honest answer about how much I enjoyed being pregnant. And I can't count how many comments, emails and in-person chats where people said things like, "it's so refreshing to hear someone talk positively about being pregnant." Why is that not the norm?

One of the main reasons I think it's important to approach this mindset during pregnancy (or even before) is because I think it sets you up for your birth. If you think getting stretch marks, uncomfortable sleep, swollen ankles, and whatever else is bad, where is your mind going to be when you're having painful contractions every few minutes? If you come from a place of gratitude throughout your pregnancy and you just roll with the punches—learning to love it knowing what it produces—then come labor, you are already in a place of confidence, gratitude and positivity which I think puts you in a good place for birth.

However, the more important reason I have a hard time stomaching the complaints is knowing how many women are heartbroken over infertility, and the trouble they're having getting pregnant. Or women who have lost babies. You have something they so desperately want and would give anything for, and showing anything but gratitude for the life inside you—no matter how uncomfortable—is really insensitive. To those women: You deserve apologies. And lots of them. 

I'm a complainer to my core. It's something I've been trying to work on for years in every area of my life. So I know the temptation. I know it well. Whenever I would get "complaining thoughts" I tried to take them captive immediately and realize just how lucky I was to have a baby, alive, inside of me. More than worth every ache and pain, stretch mark and sleepless night. 

I know this can be a controversial subject and people are entitled to complain about whatever they want—big or small—my hope is that you simply find this encouraging. Growing babies, birthing babies and raising babies is hard but staying positive and remaining thankful is so important. 

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