Happy Wishes!

Things have been crazy around here - crazy good and crazy busy! We've had an amazing first Christmas with Alice and our family. Hope you all had a happy Christmas too and have a very happy 2012!!



In other happy news, Jennifer over at Rambling Renovators asked me to participate in her Great Reads of 2011 series where she is sharing some of her favourite blogs and their favourite posts. Rambling Renovators was one of the first blogs I started reading and let me tell you, this girl has got great style and great taste. Hop on over to check out her list - tons of great reads! Thanks so much for having me, Jenn :)

Also, another great blog 6th Street Design School is featuring some photos of my home today. Kirsten is a super talented interior designer from Utah and I was beyond flattered she wanted to feature my home!! Pop on over to her blog here to take a look. Thanks so much, Kirsten, for the feature!

Happy New Year all!

Christine

My House: Christmas Decor!

Christmas finally made it's way into our home! I wasn't sure if it was going to make it this year, but after a nice long nap from Alice I was able to get up the tree and some decorations. Better late than never! My dad reminded me that when he was a kid they used to put up the tree on Christmas Eve. Apparently it's an European/Austrian thing along with opening up presents on Christmas Eve (a tradition I was always happy to keep alive).




You would think I'm getting paid by Superstore or something - the stockings, ornaments, letters, stocking holders ALL came from Superstore. You might recognize the faux bois pattern in the frames, that's the wrapping paper I used this year! I just cut and framed it up for some instant art.



These ornaments get sparkles EVERYWHERE.



And of course the tree...




Merry Christmas, happy everything all!
peace,
Christine

Wrapping it Up

Things are finally starting to feel festive around here. This past weekend we had an early Christmas celebration which means half my presents are wrapped and already out the door.

I'm in love my with black and white checked wrapping paper I picked up from Home Outfitters. It's cute, can be used all year round, and it's FUZZY!! Love that. I might have been a little too excited when I opened the package and realized it was textured ;) Add some ribbons I had lying around the house, some great free printables from here and here, and we've got some pretty presents that were ripped apart in seconds (as they should be).



In other festive news, I finally got around to putting up some Christmas decorations. December 21 isn't too late to start decorating, right?

Happy almost Christmas y'all!

Christine

Alice: Month One

warning: this is a lengthy post dedicated to all things baby, one particularly cute baby in fact. It's been such a whirlwind since Alice was born, I just need to get it all down before I forget....

This month has been a big one.  The first month of Alice's life, our first month as parents, our first month as a family.  It's kind of life changing, but in a really good way.

It's started off with a waiting game, 41 weeks into my pregnancy I was starting to wonder if this girl would ever make an appearance into this world.  I seriously had to ask, "I can't be pregnant forever, right? RIGHT??" It certainly felt that way at times.  On November 9, Alice finally decided to make her debut into the world and she was most definitely worth the wait.  She made 16 hours of labour (back labour no less, I don't wish that on ANYONE) worth every single emotional and painful second.  I know they say you forget the pain, well after a month it's still fresh but I would do it again in a heartbeat.



It's been amazing and exhausting month full of cuddles, poops, friends, family and love. Oh, and touch of sleep, we could use a little more of that ;) Thank you to all our family and friends who have been there to support and shower this baby with love. We love you.

I'll be taking a photo of Alice once a month on Alice's blanket given to her by her great Grandma. Here she is looking all grown up at one month.



Month one and currently loving...

- watching her slowly "de-squish". You know how newborns have the kinda puffy, I-just-came-from-the-womb look, everyday her pretty little eyes would emerge more and more, show pretty little eyelashes and become more and more alert.

- smiling. I don't think I've ever smiled so much in my life. The littlest things she does makes me smile.  Just looking at her makes me smile. My favourite is watching Mike hold her and the smile and love written all over his face - melts. my. heart.

- Alice's smiles. She just started smiling and I love that toothless little grin.

- her grunts, stretches and cute little noises combined with her hilarious waking up and pooping faces. This girl is funny without even trying.

- learning that everything takes longer with a baby.

- the way her head nuzzles into my chest.

- seeing how much happiness Alice brings not only to me but to the people I love the most. She is lucky to have such amazing friends and family in her life. You are very loved, little girl, very, very loved.

Happy one month birthday, Alice.

the little things: Happy Mondays

A full 6.5 HOURS of sleep...
a visit from Alice's Nana and Opa...
a quiet moment with a sleeping baby, a cup of tea* and blogging....
followed by a movie night out with my bff, my mom and Robert Pattinson.

I couldn't ask for a happier Monday :)



Hope yours is equally as lovely.
Christine


*my new favourite tea "northern lights" from David's Tea. I bought it when I was 41 weeks pregnant. It's a yummy blend of apple, peppermint, juniper berries, and raspberry leaf, so if you're in need it might induce labor ;)

Virtual Shop: Festive Fair Isle

Even though there isn't a sign of Christmas in my house just yet, I've definitely started feeling festive. The tree and stuff will hopefully come soon but in the mean time I'm virtual shopping again. I am just loving all the fair isle pattern out there, makes me want to curl up in front of the fire with a hot chocolate. And p.s. how hilarious is that baby model?? I think Alice needs one of those outfits...

(1)  (2)  (3)  (4)  (5)  (6)

Things have been a little quiet around the blog lately, this "doing it all" thing with a baby is tough and my one handed typing skills kinda suck (how do you moms do it??). I had great intentions to do some major blogging today, but Alice is having one of those "I don't feel like sleeping" kinda days. Right now she's rocking it in the baby bjorn while I miraculously get to type with two hands!! The things I took for granted....

I hope to be around more often to say hello and Alice, of course, sends her love too! Yep, couldn't go a post without cute baby shot. She's kind of a big deal around here ;)

One of about a million shots in my iPhone of Alice on my lap.

later peeps,
Christine