decisions, decisions

Our dining room is boring. A total snoozefest. Almost two years into ownership of this house and the dining room still has no art on the walls. The only colors (and I use the term loosely) are white, beige and brown. I don't know why I've given the dining room the shaft, but it's finally getting the attention it deserves.

We have a chair rail in the dining room, which is pretty pointless when both the upper and lower sections are painted the same (boring) color. I've decided to paint the lower section a darker version of the beige on the wall.  But the wall with the windows doesn't have a chair rail, and it's a focal point in the house (in fact, the first thing you see when you walk in the front door). So, the question is: Should I paint it the darker color or leave it as is?

Here's a "before" (aka "right now") of the room (this color is also in the living room):

Here's my mockup of the room with paint on the walls (plus curtains I plan to add). This is the version without new paint on the window wall.

And here's the version with new paint:

And for even more comparison, here is what the room looked like when we moved in (with the window wall the same color as the upper half of the other walls, which was also the same color as the living room):

I like how the darker color highlights the white molding. But I also like the idea of not having to paint. Decisions, decisions. What do you think?

Update: And then I went Pinterest browsing this afternoon and found this dining room (that happens to be Keri Russel's).

I'm digging the really light walls with the dark furniture (and I must have those chairs). So perhaps a better option would be to keep the color I have on the bottom of the chair rail and paint above a lighter color. (And, for the record, I really would love to have wood floors like hers that aren't orangey brown and match none of the color palettes in my house.) Hmmm...

first birthday party: crafty goodness

Well, Miss E's party was fun, but it did not go off without a hitch. There was the cramming of all the tables and twenty-four people in our tiny house because of the rain. And then Eleanor, being a toddler, was cranky at nap time, so we had to push back the cupcake-eating until only three people were left to witness it. But that's okay; it wasn't her real first cake-eating anyway (we documented her actual first cake-eating experience during a little photo shoot three weeks before her birthday).  And despite my insecurities, everyone really did have a good time. Plus, the decor turned out just like I had envisioned in my head, and the sweets tasted just a good as they looked.

The invitations beckoned our guests to join us as we celebrated our "sweet" little girl turning one year old. I designed the simple invites and had them printed as 4"x6" photos at shutterfly and then rounded the corners with my corner punch (the invitations are hiding somewhere, so this digital version will have to do for a photo).

As you know, the centerpiece of the party was the desserts table in honor of our sweet little girl. I used the sweet theme and number 1 design throughout the party's various elements.

 

Yummy lemon cheescake bars + tags I designed. (The vintage scale usually decorates the top of my fridge.)

 

 

Absolutely beautiful cake made by my friend Tiffany of Flying Buttercream Cakes (I made the tiny bunting) and inspired by this cake. Tiffany actually made the cake for the aforementioned cake-eating photo shoot that awesome photographer Marissa Bowers did (one photo is displayed on our mantel, below). The cake was too beautiful and delicious to go to waste, so I froze it to use for the party. 

 

I also made a no-sew fabric banner (the "Happy Birthday" is above the sweets table) to accompany Marissa's cake-eating photo of Miss E. These days, the Eleanor part of the banner hangs in Miss E's room. I also love that the total cost for the banner was $2.75 (and as the hubby said, way cuter than any plastic banner you could buy for $2.75). I had most of the fabric in my stash (one quarter-yard I purchased from Hobby Lobby on clearance for $.75), bought a spool of ribbon, and used scrapbooking letters I had on hand. 

I don't love this photo, but I have to share one of my favorite things from the party: the banner I made from Eleanor's monthly photos (seen here). What fun to see the changes from month-to-month, deciding whether or not she always looked like Eleanor from the beginning (she did in fact), and determining which month she started to turn into the E we know today (nine months). This is where I kept the favors (bags of candy for the adults and dollar-store toys for the kids) with labels that read (You're a sweet "1").

 

And that wraps up all the prettiness from our little girl's big day. To finish, here are photos of the sweet guest of honor:

~Kristin

first birthday party: inspiration

My sweet Miss E turned one in June, and in the months leading up to that milestone I poured over loads of inspiration photos to help me plan my big event (thank you, Pinterest).

The starting point for Miss E's party was this dress:



My mom and I walked the mall the afternoon before I went into labor. At Janie and Jack, we saw the most adorable dress I've ever seen. Since Miss E's gender was unknown at the time, we left empty handed. But Mom and Dad stopped off at the mall to buy the dress on their way home from the hospital after meeting baby E.

I had initially envisioned an ice cream social or vintage soda shoppe party, but I wanted the food to be easy and make-ahead, and to be able to set all the food out and not worry about it. So I went with the theme "sweet" (for my sweet little girl) and planned a pretty dessert table as the centerpiece. That's when I discovered the joys of pinning. Here are some of my favorite party table inspirations (images via referenced links):

Gorgeous first birthday party by Lovely Little Parties (photographed by Melanie Mauer, via Amy Atlas Events' blog, Sweet Designs). I love everything about this party, down to every last sweet detail.

 

Love the pale blue hues, pom poms and banner on this table by Style Me Gorgeous. 

 

Love the pretty details and color palette on this table created by Amy of Our Daily Obsessions, via Amy Atlas Events' blog. (Also love the baking theme of the party; saving that for a future Miss E birthday!)

Bright and cheery candy buffet found on The Party Dress. Love the layers and bunting.

~Kristin

etsy key chain mini-roundup

I'm in the market for a new key chain. Considering that my current key chains are my Kroger and expired LA Fitness cards, this really should go at the top of my list of purchases.

I tend to hold onto key chains for a while (see note above about my LA Fitness key chain being expired). Prior to that, my key chain was a $3 Old Navy miniature blue shoe a friend gave me ten years ago and had reached way past the point of nasty.

And, so, I present a very brief roundup of etsy key chains:


Practical, but cute fabric key fob from MomNMiaQuilts. Might be a good idea since I am always holding key + Miss E + a million other things. Plus, it's a great price.


Could this printed metal key chain from riskybeads be more perfect? I heart it so much. And it's durable, which is good idea considering how long I employ key chains. It also comes in necklace form, which I'm also hearting.



And then there is the simple, pretty and appropo map key chain from designsbytaylor2u. A bit pricey for a key chain, but I do love the concept.

Which one would you choose?

enjoying the lazy days of summer

I hate the heat. And crowds. So during the past ten years or so (since I left school and summer no longer equaled vacation) I've not been a big fan of June, July and August.

Since the arrival of sweet Miss E, though, I am enjoying a whole host of things through her eyes, summer included. Rather than rushing through the 90-degree days and looking forward to fall (my favorite season), I'm trying to sit back and enjoy my lazy, warm days of summer with Eleanor.

Currently the two of us are enjoying:

• Hot afternoons in the pool with E's daddy.
• Early morning walks through the quiet neighborhood.
• Play dates and Sundays in the park.
• The freedom and exhilaration and swinging beside by daughter.
• Ice cream and cold beer (not together)
• Yummy, healthy dinners cooked by my hubby on the grill.
• Freedom from the usually responsibilities.

Thank you, summer.