Neimies

Loving the new Neiman Marcus collection for Target that just came out today. Maybe now I can feel like I am shopping in the "fancy" stores without breaking a sweat (or the bank). There were a lot of great hostess gifts and outfits in this collection so I am definitely going to check it out this weekend. Hopefully it has hit the shelves here in Boston!

 

Glass /  Shaker / Tray / Top / Blazer / Ornaments

 

 

 Have a great weekend everyone!

 

XOXO Katie

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Going Neutral

A big "thank you!" to everyone that sent their kind words when I dropped the news about the baby on the way. We are so excited and I can't wait to share all of the fun things that this new chapter will bring!



We have decided that we are not going to find out the gender of our little nugget before his or her arrival. For the control freak planner in me this is going to be a little tricky, but I never walk away from a challenge :) Alas, people have done it for millions of years, and I don't think my baby will be any less bombarded with colorful and (probably) unnecessary accessories than the next on the block.

 

Honestly, I didn't really have to think twice about not finding out the sex of the baby. I just remember listening to the story of when I was born and how exciting it was for my parents when the doctor called out, "Its a girl!". My parents had been convinced I was a boy as they already had my brother and there had been a long string of boy cousins all born in a row. So when they realized that a tidal wave of pink and sparkles had just entered their life they were shocked and excited (or so they say...). I just want that same feeling when our own baby arrives!

 

 

Here are the challenges that I am going to be working with in the soon-to-be baby's room:

 

 

#1. It has to be a fully functional guest room as well as baby's room. My mom and sis are going to come and stay once the baby comes and I want it to be totally comfortable for them. Not like they are sleeping in a Toys-R-Us.

 

#2. We are on a VERY tight budget and I am determined to do this room for as close to $500 as I can get.

 

#3. Storage is a huge issue. Our closet in the guest room is already 3/4 full and we have no additional storage in our apartment or building. When it comes to "baby gear" we are going bare bone style. Like, "does a baby really need a crib?" bare bones style...

 

#4.  Since we won't know the gender, the color pallet needs to appeal to both a boy or girl. It can be somewhat adapted later, but I would like all the main components to be in place before I'm working on 2 hours of sleep a night.

 

#5. I already have some of the components of the room in place because it was already a functioning guest room (light gray walls, rug, chair, drapes, comforter, bookcases) so whatever I do needs to be in line with those elements. I really don't want to buy anything new if we already have something that is in good shape.

 

 

Below is the inspiration board that I am going to be working from. I am sure some things will change but so far I am loving the look!

 

The color pallet will be tan, cream, white, and pale blue. I will add in pops of pink if the nugget ends up being a girl, but I think that baby will be happy with the room no matter what!

 

Crib / Rug / Lamp / Dresser / Basket / Fabric / Chair

 

XOXO Katie

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Dressing Up For December

I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge holiday decorator. I find the clutter that seasonal decorating brings to be unbearable (at least while we live in this apartment). I am sure when I have a basement, attic, or at least a free closet that I will feel differently. But for now I keep the holiday decor VERY limited.

 

Now this poses a problem for my husband. He grew up in a house hold that would be decked out to the nines for every holiday, and Christmas was the holy grail of twinkle lights and stockings galore. Literally, his mom should win an award for decorating every surface of an 7 bedroom house before the first snowflake hit the ground.

 

Just to be a good wife ,I make sure that I do a little decorating so that I wont get nicknamed "the Grinch" during the holiday season.

 

There is one other small issue that we have in this household. One live tree + two crazy agile cats + breakable ornaments = disaster. Two years ago when we brought them home from the animal shelter on New Years day they bolted STRAIGHT for the tree. Literally climbing up it and knocking things off before I even had time to put the crate away.

 

 

 

 

So this year we went a slightly different route and didn't spring for the tree, instead we went for the Christmas ball! Ok...its a little sad and Joey looked like Tiny Tim walking out of the lot with a ball rather than a tree strapped to the car roof. But since I (and crossing my fingers that Joey will be with me if the residency stars align) will be traveling home to Chicago for the actual holidays, so I didn't see the need to have a big tree to put gifts under. I know...I know... Grinch, Grinch, Grinch. But this Grinch also hates vacuuming dry tree needles in July.

 

How do you like to decorate for the holidays? Are you a clutter-phobe like me?

 

 

XOXO Katie

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I'm Not Dead...Just Pregnant!

Sorry for being totally MIA for the last 2 months, ladies and gents.

I have been a little umm...preoccupied to say the least!

 

After almost exactly three years of being a married couple, Joey and I were thrilled to find out that I was pregnant just 5 days before our anniversary on September 19th. We kept it pretty quiet, only telling immediate family members, until we had our 12 week ultrasound where we confirmed the little nugget was cooking properly.

 

We are so nervous scared amazed excited about the newest member of our family and we can't wait to see what adventures this new chapter brings!

 

The photo below is how we told all of our friends that our "little pumpkin" was on the way:

I am not going to lie, so far pregnancy has been a little rocky for me. I knew I was always a "sensitive" person, but man-o-shevats the morning sickness really kicked me in the butt! Joey liked to call my episodes "Katie exorcisms". Lovely, but not all entirely false. Thank goodness that phase has begun to pass. I can finally keep my eyes open past 7:30pm, and not fear waking up every morning not knowing how the day will unfold.

 

 

I welcome with open arms this next phase of pregnancy where everyone says I will feel my best. Bring it on, baby!

 

 

With a due date of mid May looming (sometimes the Doc says the 13th and sometimes the 20th) I have a TON of projects that I want to accomplish and I will take you all along for the ride!

 

Here are some items on my checklist:

 

-Decorate nursery on a budget

 

-Have a baby (and its clutter) in a 1000 sq ft apartment

 

-Learn money saving strategies for post baby

 

-Cook healthy non-hippo inducing foods while preggos

 

-Make decisions about baby's needs when I have NO idea what I'm doing or what half this stuff is

 

-Learn how to keep another human alive for extended periods of time

So I am excited to share this journey with you and I hope there are some Mamas out there that can give me some words of encouragement, advice, and confirm that I am not totally helpless on this first-time-mom roller coaster!

XOXO Katie

 

And don't worry I won't bombard you with weekly bump photos and stats...those I will save for just once a month :)

 

 

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