The Final Farewell

Today was (finally) the day we officially closed on our house in Durham - as in papers signed and it's sold! It's a happy occasion because it means we are one step closer to the next chapter of life with our family, and one step closer to just about every personal goal we have been working towards - but it felt odd.
Every time I have been in that house recently over the last few months it hasn't felt like "our house". It's been empty, shown empty, and we've known it was sold for a while now. But every time I went, I knew deep down that there would be one more thing that I forgot to touch up, repair, or what have you. Now that I think about it, even though I sporadically complained under my breath that there was always something else, part of me enjoyed knowing I would get to go back one more time.

So many wonderful memories happened in that house. It was our first house together right after we got married:

Cliche - but fabulous!

It's where we started our family and where we brought Dablet home:

That house was so full of happiness for us as a family, but it also carried many tough life lessons. No matter how you look at it, I will never forget that house. When I walked out today after the final walk though to make sure I had all things checked off my mom asked me "any regrets?". I said, "no, no regrets - we're one step closer to so much more" and I meant it. I was even fine though signing a flurry of papers, meeting the buyers and feeling thrilled that they would have so many of the same fabulous milestones that we had with their new baby in that house. Once I got in the car I became inexplicably emotional - I wish I could blame pregnancy hormones, but I don't think that covers all of it. 

It truly was no longer our home - even though we haven't lived there in months. I felt like I had to turn over the spaces in the house to someone else. Where we had the blow up bed before we moved all our furniture in, the loft where Kyle and I would watch movies before we were parents and have at home date nights, the spot the rocker lived where I took so many naps with Dablet, the countless family dinners made in the kitchen, the Christmas tree corner, the playroom, the spot behind the couch where Dablet first crawled, even where I was sitting when I realized I had miscarried each time. 

For a while it was hard for me to realize that I was turning over space and that was all. I wasn't turning over memories; I wasn't turning over emotions. Whenever you leave a home, no matter if you loved or hated the space, there will be emotion because it has been your home. It has sheltered your family and provided for you, but you get to take that with you. When you move you change homes but what makes that space a home for the years you live there goes with you - your family. I am so blessed to have an amazing family that makes emotional ties to places so strong! I say thank you to everyone who spent time with us in that home, and cannot wait for all of the new memories to come in our next home especially bringing home our baby boy and seeing Dablet grow into a fabulous big sister!

Making Organization Work!

Organization shouldn't be something that makes you scared, overwhelmed, or feel like you are constantly repeating the same cycle and getting nowhere. Let's face it, that SUCKS! Who wants that feeling?! Not me! Just like cleaning your house for 10 minutes every day (and not the 10 minutes before guests arrive when you ALWAYS get more done than all week!), organization should become part of your daily routine. To make this work for you, it requires a bit more than physically putting everything away.
Our house is in shambles with our home makeover going on, but that doesn't mean my life can't be organized! Part of this requires getting the family all on the same page. You have a schedule, your spouse (or significant other) has their own schedule, there are appointments for pets, kids, date nights, parents (yours!), etc. How do you make sure you keep everything together and keep yourself together at the same time?!
Here are a few ideas!

Calendar, to do lists, chores, receipts, and family menu schedule all in an easily accessible place with reusable features!

I'm in love with chalkboard paint! Not only does it come in different colors from our friends at Benjamin Moore, but you can make it any shape you want!!

Something else that happens on a daily basis here is the question, "What's for dinner?" Rather than playing the game of "What do you want?" "I don't know, what do we have?" over and over while you prepare to play kitchen scientist with the random items in your fridge, only to get frustrated and order in, pick up, or drive through...take 15 minutes every weekend and stop, plan, shop, schedule. Not only will you eliminate the kitchen craziness, but you can try out new recipes, and better yet SAVE MONEY!

Simple to use, easy to see, and easy to make custom!

This is a little bit more intricate, and I honestly envy those that pull something like this together! The hanging cards are recipes color coded by food type. If you have a large family, buy in bulk, or need to budget further in advance, this type of monthly planning might be perfect for you!

If you're looking for more ideas to organize your home, life, overwhelming amount of "stuff" check out my Pinterest boards here!

The most organized people pull their inspiration from others who have the skills worthy of idolizing! For fabulous DIY tricks, organizing tips, thrifting finds, and overall good taste take a look at Lynda Quintero-Davids Pinterest boards! Here's one of my favorite office looks from her boards for a last dose of inspiration for the day:

I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday and find some inspiration for organization!

Happy Pinning!

Family Ties

Happy Monday everyone!
Tomorrow is the start to a new chapter of life for us down here in NC. My mom is moving to the area, more specifically about 3.5 miles away from us, for at least a year. She bought a townhouse on a lake with amazing views the end of April, found a renter for her *amazing* condo in Boston, and will be flying down with her two cats in tow tomorrow afternoon! If you had asked me several years ago if I thought this would ever happen I would have told you you were out of your mind. It is amazing how much family relationships can change over time, and as a parent I realize that the actual relationship between parents and their kids is incredibly important!
Not only will this mean some Grandy/Abby babysitting time (let's face it, it's a perk to be able to go out on a date), another cohort to go on Target and Farmer's Market trips, BUT....wait for it....she has a whole townhouse that needs to be decorated!
Insert giddy excitement and bubbly laughter here!
Sure, she's bringing all of her furniture and decor items, but anytime you change spaces; you need to change your look just a bit!
I am beyond excited to help her do that, and to show you some of our DIY "Mrs. Fix-it" ways to make her current things just a bit newer. For now, here's a room that "screams" my mom!

Photo from Coastal Living

The only thing I would change about this would be the curtains, but other than that the glass jars, fresh blue hydrangeas, old books, comfy couch to read on, creme and blue hues....all my mom!

Also on the inspiration boards this week is the second week of the Wayfair contest on Olioboard! The topic is nurseries and kid's rooms (also the topic of the recent OlioHop), and both Dablet and I have an entry! I'd love it if you would check out my boards on Olioboard and vote for either "Dablet does Olio-Nursery" or "Dream A-Way Nursery" in the contest! Also, check out the Facebook page for a giveaway I have going that ties into the contest!

I hope you all have a great week!

Getting ready for BHI - Part 1

"Have baby, will travel" is getting ready for the summer edition! This year we have two "big" vacations planned that will somehow work their way into the schedule of softball games and culinary classes. The first will be back to Bald Head Island for the fourth year! This is the same spot the Kyle and I had our wedding almost two years ago....how time flys! The second will be to Wellfleet, MA, on Cape Cod. This is the same town I used to vacation with my family when I was growing up; over 14 summers straight! Given that BHI comes first, it will be Abby's first trip to the beach and it will be a family affair!

This picture is one I took two years ago on Bald Head. This is by far one of my favorite places in the entire world! You have the fantastic beach and ocean scenery (as well as some great shells!), and then if you go into the island you have an entirely wooded area that makes you feel like you're in the middle of a rain forest. They have everything you'd need: grocery store, spa, and a surprisingly high number of fun shops! The food is incredible (no matter where you eat), and our favorite place to "dig in" is Eb and Flo's for the steamed crab legs!!!!

Of course, if we're planning a beach trip for our little girl I started looking at some beach fashion. Here are some of my favorites...maybe I can have a mini splurge with some of our tax refund....

All of the above are from Polo. I really love the little kid boat shoes...and have been eying a "grown up" pair for myself as well. The "mommy version" are Sperry's and can be found at Nordstrom

I love the rose gold color, and the mesh sides!
Going to the beach, or even thinking about going to the beach, makes me instantly relax. Whenever I pack I inevitably over pack because what if the weather changes, or I miraculously decide not to lounge around the entire time we're there? Maybe I'll get all of my outfit decisions out of the way through the blog so I only over pack for Abby this year!
Hope you enjoyed the little girl clothes...so much more to come!
Until Next Time
Dabble



Constant Reinvention

Last weekend one of my friends from high school came to visit and meet Abby for the first time. Steph is the perfect "wild child" aunt for Abby! I was SO excited to see her and just hang out for the weekend and let whatever shenanigans we always end up getting into just fall into place. We of course took a trip to the outlets and spiced up our house with a fantastic sale at Yankee Candle. I took a little bit out of my "emergency" fund for candles. Emergency? Absolutely....it's the little things that make you feel better when sometimes you feel like everything is falling apart.
In between the running around moments Steph was able to witness a big change moment for our family. Abby attempted to crawl. Ok, she lifted up her arm from the crawling position and immediately toppled over, but it was a start and incredible cute! More importantly, Kyle went back to school. I have been hinting for a while that there were big changes coming, going on, circling around, and I have been virtually ripping away at the pages to find the best way to talk about it all. We have made the decision to sell the brand that we have built as a custom printing company, and that's about all I can get into with that side of things at the moment. Kyle and "the guys" are working on potentially buying a restaurant and with that Kyle is going to get a culinary degree. I admire his ambition and drive to yet again take on the task of mastering a truly specialized field, and I know that he will be beyond successful in whatever he chooses to do.
Of course, that means more $$ out of our pockets to pay for school. Having Steph here reminded me of how easy we had it in high school. We were essentially care free and finding our footing, ourselves, and dreaming of where we were going to go in life. I would like to think that I still have that dreamer in me, and for better or worse I am constantly reinventing myself. Luckily enough, Kyle is in the same boat with me and we can go through the constant changing together supporting each other. However, it's very different now that we have Abby.
Parenting "forces" you to have a sense of security for your family unit and your child(ren). It creates a sense of selflessness in you that says "no matter what is going on in life and how much I have to sacrifice, my child(ren) will be taken care of". I am blessed enough to have incredibly supportive family, but every day I strive to take care of my own on my own. Maybe I finally know how my parents feel when they tell me they want to make sure I am taken care of, but as a parent I want to be able to provide for my family as my own parent. I guess the days of carefree living are over, but to all the parents, supportive families, and everyone else out there do NOT read that to mean that the days of DREAMING are over.
This blog was started with the idea that we all need a moment every day to make ourselves feel absolutely fabulous, even if it's only in a dream!

Until Next Time
Dabble

The space in between

With all the craziness of the holidays in full swing, a business to run, an 11 week old to handle, and some sort of personal life there seem to be few moments of "in between" time. I'm sure that no matter who you are, the holidays do this to just about everyone and I have to wonder, why? I enjoy spending time with my family and decorating the house, lighting the candles, and getting the MASSIVE tree. I even enjoy cooking and hostessing, and finding that perfect gift. Christmas has always been just about my favorite time of the year. I think it's a comfort thing for me. Even after my parents were separated, we still did Christmas together. There were a couple years when I was in college that I did my own thing with each of them, but once I got married Christmas became a "family" event again, and now with Abby I don't think I could keep the Grandparents away!
Even still, I find myself close to tears in moments like the one I had this morning. Abby is going through her 3 month growth spurt a bit early (surprise surprise) and has been fussy, hungry, tired, and clingy for the past few days. She had a hard time going back down this morning after her 6am feeding so I pulled her into bed with me and we cuddled. Before you tell me to "stop that habit so she doesn't get used to it" or "that's so dangerous" I will tell you that she spent her first at least three weeks of life sleeping in our bed, not something I had intended to do AT ALL, she is still alive and well, and every night for the last week can be put down in her pack n play to go to bed while she is drowsy and put herself to sleep....we will do what works for us with the given situation. Anyway (mini vent over), she nuzzled into me and was so peaceful. In that moment in between all of the craziness I learned another level of the value of my bond with her and made a silent wish that all children and parents would remember that this kind of love is supposed to be unconditional, remember that especially during the holidays.
My job might be something I love, but it also makes me insane at times. Sure, in not too many years I will probably be able to say that about Abby, but there is nothing I wouldn't give up for my family. I think that if we took time to notice the little moments in between all of the craziness, we might be able to hang on to a bit more sanity when it comes at you from all angles.
As we get ready to put our Holiday cards together to send out, I am thinking about what to put on the inside message. When I look at the front photo for our card, something most of you will see in the mail and I will post after we mail them out, I see the future. When I look at our future, it's all about the little moments in between. I don't see the craziness of work, or the upcoming "terrible twos", I see all of the blissful moments. So why is it so hard for us to see those when we're in them?

Until next time....

Dabble