Sew Swap!

A little while ago, I joined up in a 'sew swap' hosted by one of my new Instagram friends, Ashley. Ash blogs over at the Little Willow Tree. Cutest little blog with tons of sewing ideas, tutorials, and more! I've actually done a few tutorials of hers myself and learned some new tricks of the trade. :)

Being relatively new to sewing, it helps to get tips from more experienced sewers!

So anyway, when I saw that she was doing a 'sew swap' I knew it sounded like it was for me. She assigned everyone that signed up a partner, (someone we didn't know, of course!) and the assignment was to sew something for them based on a small questionnaire she sent out.
I was assigned to sew for Jaime from California. Since I learned that she was a busy mom, I wanted to make her something practical, but of course, cute as well! So I made one of my favorite little 'practical' cute gifts for her, this little clutch: (and of course, wanted to incorporate at least one of her favorite colors, which was red...)

This was so fun to do!

Unfortunately I didn't get an item from the person that was assigned to sew for me yet, but I think maybe it's because sometimes, things take forEVER to get to Hawaii!

But now I have something to look forward to, can't wait to see what it is!

Be sure to head over to the Little Willow Tree to check out all the other cute sew swap items, & I hope we can do this again, ladies!

My Etsy Shop.... Finally!

Something I've wanted to do for a long long while...Finally I've accomplished! I opened an Etsy shop!

(Just in time, too, there is no way I would have had the time to start this up with a newborn around!)

I graduated from The Art Institute a few years ago after studying Graphic Design for what seemed like forEVER....And haven't found a single 'real' design job. I've done some side/freelance projects here and there, but nothing too serious or consistent. Design jobs are definitely hard to come by, especially when there is stiff competition and most want to hire someone with lots of experience. 

This is a way that I can still do what I love to do, keep my design skills fresh & get some more experience myself. Plus, I may make a little money in the process and I'll be able to work my schedule around it!

Right now I just have a few items listed, mostly nursery art that I designed for Liam's room and invitations I've done for parties of my own, but I'll add more and more as I have the time!

A few of my favorites that I've listed so far:

Recognize that one? Yep, it was my shower invite.

[not to brag...but I loved it.]

Some cute name art, inspired by the one I did for Liam's nursery. :)

&& I've got some more name art in different styles, too!

One of my favorite little nursery quotes :)

This little print can be done in so many different colors!

Anyway, I could post all of them here, but where's the fun in that...then you couldn't check out my shop for yourself!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaLunaDesigns

P.S. If you know me, you know that design is not my only creative outlet...I've taken to sewing recently as well. So eventually, during the gobs of free time I'll have while taking care of a newborn, I do plan on opening a shop with some little handmade goods, too. Because in my opinion, the world needs way more cute little boy stuff.

My personal pregnancy 'must-haves'

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I remember scouring the array of mommy blogs out there and taking in tons and tons of helpful information. I really find that the best way to get good information and advice is from each other! 

I read several of these 'pregnancy favorites' lists and loved trying out things that others had suggested, so I've compiled my own list of my personal pregnancy 'must haves'.

1. Yoga pants! Around month six or seven, you will love having these around! (*Tip: Get a size larger than you'd normally wear. Your waist will thank you for it!) My favorite for yoga pants, shorts, & capris is Victoria's Secret Pink. I don't like to look frumpy, and all of them are super cute, not to mention multi-functional. I wear them to bed, around the house, and to the gym. They're perfect to run quick errands in and still look somewhat put together. 

2. Good chapstick! It's crazy how dry your skin/lips can seem during pregnancy, and I've used chapstick like it's going out of style! Burts Bees has always been one of my favorites. 

3. Ok...maybe it's just me...but I HATED swallowing prenatals. First of all... Um, horse pill much? I found that I would actually kind of groan inwardly when it came time to take mine, and I was so thankful when I found these at Target....chewables!! They're yummy and so much more fun to take. These are about 9$ for a two-month supply.

4. When it came time for me to really start looking for maternity clothes, I had a super hard time finding things that I thought were cute. I also had a really hard time spending $30+ on maternity pants/bottoms that would only be worn for such a short time. I was so glad when I found these skirts at Old Navy. Cute, SUPER comfy, and multi-functional...AND you can wear them when you're no longer pregnant. Trust me, when you're 39 weeks pregnant, you just might want to live in these. 

5. I found these fruit bars in the ice cream section at the grocery store very early in my pregnancy. These are perfect when you're trying to eat a healthy diet, but still want a little sweet treat! They're made with all fruit and have a healthy dose of vitamin C...Double Score!

(Side note...I never got super nauseous or sick in my first trimester, but for anyone that does, I'm sure these would be good to have around!)

6. If you've been pregnant or are pregnant, I don't even have to tell you what happens to the tatas! Now, as I mentioned above....I'm a lover of Victoria's Secret. I can't even tell you how many cute VS bras I had that no longer fit. That's right, I went up an entire cup size in my first several months of pregnancy. (This is not a complaint!) However, rather than buying a bunch of new bras (I'm sure after I finish nursing my old ones might fit again...) I've seriously lived in bandeaus like these pups from American Eagle. I don't have to tell you how important it is for your girls to be comfy, and bandeaus are perfect for that! Now obviously there will be times you'll need something more supportive. I personally just got something cheap at Target...your size will change again when your milk comes in, and then again when you stop nursing, so as awesome as it is to have a sweet new rack, don't bank on it staying that size!

7. Ahh, the dreaded stretch marks. I was so worried about getting them at first.  I bought a bottle of BioOil at Longs. I think it's about 12$ for the small bottle, and it lasted me a good three months. I honestly can't say that I swear by this stuff.. I stopped using it after those three months and switched to just a good Vitamin E lotion for my belly, but I love the way this stuff smells, and I've always, always heard fantastic things about it. It did seem to work fantastically when I did use it though! I was just too lazy/never got around to getting more.

(I am very thankful to say I didn't get a single stretch mark! I personally think it's a combination of keeping your skin hydrated, not gaining too much weight, and genetics. Yeah, can't do anything about that last one unfortunately.)

8. It is so important to stay hydrated, even more so when you're pregnant! Hydration for two! Not only for obvious reasons, but I really think it helps out a lot with the dry skin and stretch marks as well! This little Starbucks tumbler helped me drink water in style :) I find that I'm more likely to do something if it's convenient (aren't we all!) and it's so easy to just fill it up and go! You don't even have to take a lid off to drink. 

9. Ok, back to the whole boob situation. If you are pregnant in the summer, or live somewhere like me where you can wear a bikini year-round (don't hate!) you will need a new bikini top! (or a maternity one-piece. I have personally been most comfortable with my belly un-restricted, but everyone is different!) 

I have sooo many bikinis, but once my girls grew, none of the tops fit. I decided it would be best just to get a good, supportive top that would match most of the bottoms I already had. I got this one in white. The good thing is, it should still fit while I'm nursing, and it comes with a removable strap, so it's super easy just to throw a nursing cover on and pull the top down without taking it completely off.
(p.s. yeah, sorry about the super hot VS model...just what we all want to see when pregnant, right?! Don't worry...you'll get your body back...and if you don't, well, you've grown a child and are a better person because of it!)
 

39 weeks... So close!

No baby yet! Will this be my last update before Liam? I ask myself that every day now........

How far along? 39 weeks, 3 days. 4 Days until my due date!
Total weight gain: Ok, so the weight. Throughout my pregnancy, I never once had a doctor/midwife say a single thing to me about it. Not a peep. My weight gain has been pretty average for my size, (At this point I think it's about 40 pounds...maybe a tad above the 'recommended' amount) and it's not something I ever, ever worried about. I went in for my 39 week appt. and saw a nurse I hadn't seen before. She said... 'looks like you gained two pounds this week...how's your diet?' What I wanted to say was... Lady, don't you know that sometime next week, I'll be LOSING about 25 pounds in a day!? But I didn't. I just smiled and told her that my diet was fine.
Stretch Marks: Notta one! I am so thankful.  
Maternity clothes? Actually in this photo, I was able to cram myself into a non-maternity shirt! Amazingly! 
Sleep: Still sleeping quite well, other than a few bouts of 'morning' insomnia. Keith leaves for work at a God-awful hour, (like, 5am. vomit.) and he always wakes me for a good-bye kiss. Usually I fall riiight back to sleep, but this week I have been not able to! Maybe just excitement... ??
Best moment this week:  This week has been very good overall...I feel like Keith and I are both very relaxed and just enjoying our last bit of time as a twosome!
Miss Anything?  Just the usual... my cute jeans, being comfortable, and margaritas :)
Movement: It's so uncomfortable at this point. I mean, I know that I will dearly miss it when he's outside the womb, but at the same time I am ready to eat without getting jabbed every ten seconds!
Food cravings:  Nothing major and I have to say, when you are this pregnant, your appetite decreases significantly. I cannot fit nearly as much food in there as I used to be able to!
Anything making you queasy or sick: aside from the thought of giving birth?
Gender: Oh Boy! 
Labor Signs: Sunday night late, I started having some intense pains... A few contractions, but mostly just bad cramping. It even woke me up very early Monday morning, so I was thinking....maybe this is the start of something...?? I had my 39 week appt. Monday and had my cervix checked...barely dilated! At all! She said the outside of my cervix was opened just a little, but that little man seemed 'very comfortable' in there. NOT what you want to hear when you're this uncomfortable!!
Symptoms: Feet still swell almost every day, & I've just this week started to get a very annoying backache.
Belly Button in or out? outeroo
Wedding rings on or off? off! My hands still really aren't that swollen, but I don't want to take any chances.
Happy or Moody most of the time: I am happy and relaxed! Everything is done & I am just enjoying my last bit of 'free time' to do whatever my heart desires. I actually found myself wondering what to do this morning...I've had a 'to-do' list for so long that now that I don't it's like idk what to do with my time! I ended up cleaning my already very clean house. I had a huge burst of energy and even 're-organized' the magnets on the fridge. Yep. I'm that type of person.
Looking forward to: I am quite looking forward to having my body back & feeling like 'me' again! 
Showing: The basketball is very hard to hide :)


 

Nursery Deets--Where I got everything!

Here are Liam's nursery project details!

I love, love, love crafting, so there's a lot in here that I just made/repurposed/designed myself, but if it can be purchased somewhere, I'll do my best to let you know where I got it!

If I forget something or you're wondering where I got/how I made a specific item, feel free to ask.

I didn't really have a specific 'budget', just that I wanted to be as thrifty as possible here. (Having a baby gets expensive, after all! I wanted to make our dollars stretch!)

By learning a few new skills--aka picking up sewing for the first time in my life, scouring Craigslist endlessly, thrifting, & shopping at discount stores (Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.) and Amazon, I was able to put this entire room together for under $500.

It definitely took a lot more time/work than just buying all brand-new, fancy things, but to me it was a labor of love + it's more unique and more my style.

Rug: Urban Outfitters

Hamper: Ross. Came with a plain tan liner, so I sewed a new one from this fabric. 

Glider: Amazon.com

Pillow on chair & changing pad cover-handmade myself. Fabric from fabric.com,

Premier Prints ZigZag Twill Girly Blue, & Red Minky Dot

Baby Blanket-Handmade with Michael Miller Flannel Zoology Sea fabric

Curtains: Sewed Myself with this fabric 

Lamp on dresser- Target

Plastic Bin on dresser-Target

'Liam' letters- Urban Outfitters 

Owl Wall hanging-TJ Maxx

Hanging pom garland-Handmade

Fabric Bin by chair-Target 

Nightstand: Craigslist find

Chevron Bins: Target

Frame: Ross, came black, spray-painted white

Owl: TJ Maxx

Lamp: Already had, painted the shade from white to yellow

Shelves: Handmade and painted by my awesome hubby :) using this tutorial

Little Sail Boat softy- Handmade by me with this tutorial 

Crib: Jenny Lind Davinci

(Thanks to grandparents for buying Liam's crib!!)

Crib sheet, skirt, blanket, & pillows handmade by me, fabric found on fabric.com

For the crib skirt, I used Premier Prints ZigZag Twill Girly Blue

Pillows:

Riley Blake Chevron, Medium Yellow & Medium Black, Same fabric as skirt, & Remix Dots Celebration

Sheet: Pimatex Basics Polka Dots Yellow 

Here is an awesome, super easy crib sheet tut.

Sock Monkey: Handmade by a dear friend

Crab stool: Ugly brown stool we had sitting around the house, painted & hand stenciled by the awesome husband :)

Bunting: Made myself, same fabric that I got on fabric.com for everything else, I also used Remix Zig Zags Celebration & Premier Prints Zig Zag in addition to the others.

 Gallery wall 

(probably my favorite part of his room!!)

All the frames here & elsewhere in the room I either got at Goodwill, or the cheap 3$ ones from Wal-Mart and then spray painted.  All together I think I spent maybe $30 on my frames.

The three red frames on the right & 'Oyster' prints I designed myself. All of them I had printed at Office Max for less than six dollars!

Feel free to contact me if you'd like any of these or something similar! (I'm still working on getting an Etsy shop up & running)

UPDATE!

You can purchase my nursery prints here. 

 

'Be Fearless' poster- TJ Maxx

Steamship Print-- Got years ago at Target 

Owl & Feather watercolor print: Danielle V Green Illustrations on Etsy

'French Fry' quote painting--handmade by another dear friend

Crib Mobile: Handmade by me using this tutorial 

'Dreamer' canvas painting, made by me using this tut.

'Dream Big' & 'Greatest Adventure' prints-Designed myself & printed at Office Max.

(Purchase any of my designs here!)

Frames-

Had these puppies sitting in the back of my closet from a yard sale years ago. 

I just strung/taped twine to the back and clipped pics on with mini wooden clothes pins. :)

Giant Tricycle- Purchased years ago in Colorado at a local furniture store

Little onesies--Handmade by me 

Door hook-hangy thing-

Ross

 Little 'toy' bin in corner-TJ Maxx

Dresser--Awesome Craigslist find (came as a set w/ the nightstand for 100$ all together!)

Repurposed dresser & knobs myself. 

I was going to buy new knobs, but couldn't bring myself to spend 35-40$ just on new dresser knobs. All I did was cut out circles of fabric I already had and mod-podged them to the front of the knobs. 

Chalkboard:

So I got this ugly frame on the left from Goodwill years ago, thinking maybe I'd one day use it for something...And I did! I ended up having to cut out the middle, which was just cardboard, and replaced it with a piece of plywood painted with chalkboard paint. The frame I simply spray painted. 

One other recommendation I have for being 'thrifty' is....Start buying diapers, and sign up for Amazon mom!

It's free to sign up, and you get awesome discounts on diapers/wipes in bulk when you use their 'Subscribe and Save' program. I think we have at least 6 months worth stockpiled. (Thankfully space wasn't an issue for us so we were able to do this!)

If you have a Prime membership (great to have if you live somewhere like me where you end up having to order things online a lot) you get free shipping on almost everything!

And I think that's all--

Let me know if I left anything out!!

Liam's Little Lair

'The home should be the treasure chest of living.'
-Le Corbusier

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to my favorite room in the house.

 

 

(Project Details HERE)