CHARMED

IT'S TRUE. We are almost 5 months along! This evening was one for the family history book. At 19 weeks, Sean & I not only found out the little being growing in my belly is a baby BOY, but we officially spread the word and announced the big news to everyone outside of our immediate families. Due March 24th, 2011..........our arms are open and ready to welcome this precious soul. We love you endlessly already.

I'm here. I am! It's been quite the epic year. I've gotten married in May, embarked on the most magical and dream-like honeymoon to Switzerland & Italy into June, and have since been on a whirlwind of activity. A HUGE announcement will be made this Thursday evening! Have a feeling I'll be finding myself back here more regularly - lots to update!

I was a fine arts minor back in college........and really, very picky about the artists I truly honestly loved. It's a small handful. As in one person. And that person was Vincent Van Gogh. I was obsessed. I painted his classic "Cafe On The Terrace" about 39 times. {the Van Gogh Original} Including a mono-color version sitting on my desk at work done in all blues. {my BLUES version} WELL, with a new house and lots of walls to cover, I embarked on an art expedition online to discover a future-new-favorite. And who I found was Gustav Klimt. BEHOLD: and my personal favorite.... Saturday night, I broke out my stash of paints, brushes, and nabbed a blank canvas from my growing pile and made it happen. Why spend money on a print or re-production? When you can re-create - injecting a smidge of your own style, and enjoy the tangible paint strokes? The true medium it was created in.

'Inspiration' slash things I love BOARD at work Blueberries, oatmeal, vanilla soymilk, splenda........best. breakfast. EVER. It's my water.

Since we're having our reception AT a music venue......I came up with the idea to stage a MERCH area with custom designed wedding-esque wares (of course FREE for guests to take.....) After coming across Minepress on ETSY......I died a little, and knew I had to order some button pins. What's great is you can send over the photos or text you'd like and have Rebekah arrange for you onto a pin template.....OR you can do what I did, take her blank template and GO TO TOWN creating a custom masterpiece. Absolutely in love. What a conversation starter......and I can't wait for the POKEMON effect to happen with our guests - gotta collect them all! Got the finished product in the mail yesterday......in love. Will post photos!

More inspiration..... [tissue paper poms] [monogrammed floral flag] [hanging lanterns] [cupcake towers] [fabric flower garland] Sigh . So much to do, so little time.

I think we've given in! After endless back and forth.....we've decided to NOT run off and elope completely alone for the attractive cost of $50........we've decided to rent a space and throw a party for our wedding. It really would be special to be surrounded by those we love. Not a full-on-traditional 'reception' however.......a rough around the edges laid back live-music EXPERIENCE. We're looking at a really sweet music venue - and hopefully planning on having a friend's AMAZING band play. I've been up ALL night researching. I want to stay on a strict and tight budget..........and I want it to be DIY/handmade/homemade.......simple, eco-chic. Some inspiration I've fallen in love with thus far....... [Clear wine bottles - with gorgeous tapered candles at all different heights......how GORGEOUS and stunningly simple is this. I can hunt these bottles for free and pull this 'centerpiece' idea together for just the cost of candles!] [Lovely home...

My mom is my everything! I don't have enough proper vocabulary to begin to describe how marvelous she is. I affectionately call her my momma bear, and yes, although I am a 25 year old 'grown up' lady, I will always be her BABY BEAR. On a girls trip to New York City last year, during which I was esteemed tour-guide, my momma pulled her shoulder dragging a suitcase with broken wheels through the maze of staircases and train stations. I to this day feel terrible that I didn't snatch it from her and help more along the way.......because her shoulder has been bothering her ever since. She's recently been getting acupuncture which seems to help. I was thinking what I could possibly do to help in some way. A way that preferably utilized my sewing machine. :-) I GOT IT. A homemade rice-filled HEAT PACK! (or cold pack - if you pop it in the freezer) All-natural to boot, gotta love that. I excitedly went out to get all of the 'ingredients' for this project. Muslin for...

I've been extraordinarily busy at work lately. Which I'm happy for - since I absolutely LOVE my job. Being the PR/Marketing person for a branch of doctor's offices doesn't sound like it would be a dream job.....but it certainly is to me, my friends. It's been chaotic since our practice has merged with another and now we are officially a NEW practice all together - since January 1 2010. I've designed a new logo, announcement ads for the newspaper, written radio spot scripts, and put together press packages to send off. In my case, I really believe just putting myself out there has served me more than I even realize. My job 'description' has surpassed any kind of outlined list of tasks you can put on paper. I walk through the reception areas in our different offices and my photos are framed and hanging on the walls. I have a make-shift photography studio in the X-RAY department. I update the employee "INTRANET" with my latest photoshop creations...