A Birth conference

I discovered a blog called Birth Without Fear when I was about 6 weeks pregnant and learned they were sponsoring a conference in N. Texas within a few weeks, so I signed up.  I already had an idea that I wanted a midwife and a natural, (meaning medication and hospital free) birth but I wasn’t really sure what it all meant.  I knew the conference would have a lot of information that I would use so I was super excited.

And, I loved it; it was for 2 days and I was able to attend all the lectures and get the swag bag and becco baby carrier (it’s awesome guys, can’t wait to use it right away with baby R!).  I didn’t sign up for the ultimate package which included a massage or other mommy-love treatment, yoga class, and mother circle time because I didn’t stay at the hotel and wouldn’t have made those times.  If I had had a friend with me or had to travel really far I totally would have done the whole thing because it sounded great from what I heard.

Here’s what I learned about: Your perfect birth space, cloth diapering, Essential oils, chiropractic care, menstrual care, Transitions of motherhood, choices in childbirth, post partum depression, mothering the mother, breastfeeding, massage and maya abdominal therapy, birth and the subconscious, Birth affirmations, Healthy postpartum care and support…doulas, birth centers, baby carrying…it was so great.

One statement I really liked during the last talk about postpartum care was that in asking others for help, its a sign of being strong!  I don’t think we are taught that enough, we think it’s better to be independent and figure it out on our own-it’s your journey and such and such, but I think we need people and we need to ask people for what we need.

(look at all the baby wearers! so neat) It was so amazing to be around all these mothers and babies and to be so inspired by the talks.  It was pretty emotional at the very end and everyone was in tears.  I’m so glad that I’ve come to the realization that even though this is my first baby, I feel it’s about time we give thinking about birth a positive spin and stop being afraid of what is so very human and natural.  I’m so grateful I was able to attend this conference before having this baby so I could really engage on this journey of having the birth I want.  If you are interested in any of these topics I would recommend the Birth without fear blog and look into the upcoming conferences they have, it could change your life. xoxojess

Decoupaged console table

These pictures are pretty horrible but I did a project to makeover our console table in the living room.  It’s just an Ikea table that was a light wood color that blended with our floors and was pretty blah. I tried painting the drawer but didn’t like it so I decided to decoupage it with a faux snakeskin black and white print. It turned out pretty awesome and faux-animal print is considered a neutral “color”, have you heard that too?  I’m not super crazy about our tomato red wall anymore but I have no idea what to do with it, so for now I like this table in front of it. I recently put a bunch of pictures and candle holders on top and I like how it looks.  I keep a bunch of junk in the drawers like extra candles and I don’t even know what else.

Here’s what I used: Mod podge//scrapbook paper, about 30 sheets//paint brush.  I cut the paper into strips as large as I could and painted the back with mod podge.  I went over the edges and layered the top with one coat to protect it.  That’s it..   So far it looks like new, except a bit of wax that spilled, but it mostly scraped off without damaging the surface.  What do you think?

Have you ever decoupaged a piece of furniture?  Here’s the only before pic I could find of the console table in all it’s Ikea glory. Photo update: Here’s what it looks like today with some of my have pictures and momentos..

Nursery decor I’m pinning

//Volcano wood stacking toy//Mountain pillow//Hi blanket//Canvas storage bin//Black and white art print

//Pom pom curtains//Geometric leather mobile//poms

//Sandra Diekman print//Fox toys//Felt cloud mobile//

*click on images to link to original; please let me know if it is not linked properly.  I’m probably spending way too much time on Pinterest and project Nursery but…how can I help it with all this cuteness?  xoxoJess

My nursery ideas

I did a ton of looking on interest and Project nursery once I found out we were pregnant for nursery ideas.  I would describe my taste as funky, bright, colorful, vintage, modern and eclectic.  The extra room we are using for him is pretty small, about 12×12 but it’s got a bright window and it’s a blank slate, down to the builder’s beige-white walls I haven’t touched in the 5 years we’ve lived here.

I love a bright white room with the white crib and the added color in accessories and toys.. 

Love this color combo..

like this mint and orange, black/grey and white room..

I adore this cloud wall..what if I painted them in gold or black  on a neutral wall?

as well as this polka dot wall..I could paint them in minty aqua or clementine orange..

I also luv the light aqua stripes here..maybe in gray on one wall..

So far we have the crib, Jenny lind in white as in the above pic, change table, and white painted hutch, and crib sheets/bumper/skirt in white/grey chevron and polka dots, super cute, and a closet storage cube.  My dad saved the wooden rocking chair from my childhood and plans to bring it down.  The room will probably have a vintage/modern feel and I love that mix.  I’m trying to use/reuse what’s already in our home and DIY what I can.  I have about 16 more weeks and I’d love to have the room done well in advance of baby R’s arrival so I’ll try to keep this updated as an ongoing (fun!) project for now.

Recipe scrapbook DIY (#2)

Happy New Years!  It’s been a while since I’ve been on, I’ve been keeping myself busy researching baby stuff, visiting family (I went back home 3 times this year, a record since we moved in 2008), and all around just nesting at home.   This is a little project that I made for my sister and her now husband-some of my Fave recipes in a cute little LOVE calendar.  There are ideas on expressing love for each day of the year in this lil book and I simply pasted recipes I love and wanted to share on the pages I didn’t so much love-like wear matching tee-shirts on your next date, gross.  Of course if you like that sort of thing, by all means, just not for me and my hubs haha.   Supplies: Daily calendar, recipe cards, washi tape and glue.  1//Cut the recipe cards to fit into the calendar. Write out your favorite recipes onto the cards. 2//Glue recipes into the calendar 3//use washi tape to add a decorative touch 4//Make sure to add a personal note if it’s a gift–I wrote a special if not cheesy “recipe for Love” onto their wedding date:)  Oh, I should share some pictures of their wedding, my sis and all her (DIY) decor (omg swoon) it was so gorgeous; We went to a small port town in Wisconsin  and it was absolutely freezing but gorgeous there.  It made me miss winter if you can believe.  Here’s another diy recipe book I made a year ago for  myself that I love and actually use, because I keep all my best recipes there.  Cheers! Jess