...and then "She has arrived + a shower for Charlie"

>> So it's been awhile since I've posted anything...reason being that we welcomed our new little princess into our lives! Georgia Bree was born July 31st weighing 8 lbs, 1 oz and 22 in long. We are adjusting to being a family of 4 and enjoying every minute with our girls! God has blessed us beyond words and we couldn't be happier! :)

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>> Yesterday we went to a couples baby shower for our friends Anna & Alex.  They are due with their first baby on our anniversary (Oct. 22)!! :)  It is a boy and his name is Charlie!  We can't wait to meet him!  Alex loves anything and everything to do with cars, so since this was a "couple's shower" and usually it's just the mom that gets the shower and the presents to "ooh and aww" over, we wanted to do something special for daddy this time! We had a lot of fun coming up with some ideas and figuring out how to put them together...Here is our finished product! :) ENJOY!

A customized "license plate" made out of old license plates! 

A fun twist on a "diaper cake"...it's a diaper car! Complete with A rubber ducky hood ornament, nice and plush seats, a customized license plate [note the exp. date!] && some brand new Good Year tires!

...and then "look out, there's a new photographer in town"

>> We had decided earlier in my pregnancy that we weren't going to have maternity photos "professionally" taken this time, but rather we will get family photos taken this fall! However, maternity and baby photos are my favorite to photograph so I just couldn't resist doing a couple! So I hired in the help of my wonderful Husband to replace me behind the camera so I could be on the other end! At first he grumbled, and then he was [secretly] excited...and then a little more grumbling when the time actually came! And if you ask him, he will tell you "I don't know what I'm doing!"...well, these photos are exactly what I was looking for and would have captured myself and I am so proud of him and the job he did! Thank you babe and yes, you do know what you're doing! :) {I better look out, a new photographer might be in town! hehe}

...and then "a new camera calls for a new camera bag and strap"

>> So when I bought my new camera, I of course needed to get a new camera bag and strap...however, the ones online are just so darn expensive and I had recently purchased a new bag for all of my lenses and accessories, but didn't have something to protect the body and lens I keep attached.  I found this pattern on ETSY and I couldn't be happier with out it turned out!
**Note: It would NOT have turned out had it not been for my mom --> Alice Teunis [Thanks mom, even though you doubted my color choices when we purchased the fabric...you have to agree it suits me perfectly! Yay for contrast!] :)

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Tutorial can be found/purchased here --> Compact Padded Camera Bag

...and then "she made a truly simple and quick fringe tank"

>> Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted any new Pinterest Projects, but here ya go! I've been wanting to try this one for awhile, but have been waiting to find tank tops really cheap! Meijer finally put theirs on clearance and so I hunted them down so I could make this top!

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Original tutorial post can be found here --> 15 minute fringe top

...and then "she taught sewing 101"

>> Meet Katie.  Katie and I were "forced" to meet in a small group our first day of college, but that's okay...because we've been friends ever since! :) She has a precious little boy named Jackson who is almost 9 months old already! check out :: action jackson :: to see all his fuzzy hairs! hehe! Anyway, she found this adorable moose fabric at a thrift store and fell in love with it (I mean, who wouldn't?) and wanted to make some pillows for Jacks-man out of it! So she came over to borrow my sewing machine and I helped her put together a couple pillows! They turned out super cute and she passed "sewing 101" with an A++ 

...and then "we had a well spent weekend on the lake"

>> It looked like it was going to be a not so nice weekend to be at the cottage due to the weather...but it couldn't have been any better! And we got to spend it with some great friends too! Finally got to swim for the first time this year! She's a little more timid in the water than I thought she would be...but I guess that helps me not be so terrified of her going under (and I get to hold her hand a lot because she won't move unless she's holding someones hand)! :) Even Rocco man got in (not by choice) and he didn't even make his usual beeline straight to the shore...he actually swam around a bit! And of course daddy had his fun on the jet ski! [I may or may not have taken a few rides myself...and the life jacket I would have worn had I taken a few rides, may or may not have been a smidge small and not come together in the middle...]

...and then "Mr. Rocking Horse got his saddle"

>> I finally got the poly on Mr. Rocking Horse and the next step was to add his saddle! Sorry, this is sort of a teaser photo, but I think the big reveal will be worth the wait! :)

...and then "berry berry, quite contrary...how does the garden grow?"

>> Today was filled with different appointments, so no "Pinterest projects" got worked on :( sad day! but hopefully tomorrow!
  Tonight we went over to pick some strawberries from papa's garden! She loved to help pick them, and even found some on her own and was so excited! Then we had some ice cream with berries on top! mmmm! Nothing better than home grown berries! :)

...and then "just keep crocheting, just keep crocheting..."

>> I've started this blanket a few months ago now, and even though I haven't quite finished it, I'm thrilled with how it is turning out and happy with the progress so far! My inspiration was originally found on Pinterest, and I was able to track down the pattern and it turned out to be very basic and simple stitches and super easy to make! [just a little time consuming!] :) A few rows away from being half way!

>> This one I'm currently working on is for Eila, and I have all the threads ready to make Georgia's next! (I hope to get them done before Gia's arrival, but I'm not so sure it will happen...I may have to switch and try to at least Georgia's done before she's here!)

:: My inspiration can be found here :: Crochet grey & yellow baby blanket

...and then "Mr. Rocking Horse [who still needs a name] gets his color"

>> It was a busy weekend and now has been a busy week as well! I did manage to spruce up this little guy with some stain, but unfortunately that's as far as we are for now [poly to be applied tonight]! I wasn't sure how the stain would turn out, but it actually took to the grain really well and he has a lot of fun dark and light spots to make him truly unique! I have made all the [cheap] purchases to make him complete with a saddle, mane/tail and reins but they are still just a work in progress. He wanted to show off his new color, but this might be the last post from him until his big reveal! :)
    **He still needs a name! Do you have any suggestions? Or maybe the right name won't come until he's completely made over? Please leave your comment if you think you have the perfect name for him! "Mr. Rocking Horse" just isn't cutting it!

...and then "snow leopards & peacocks & giraffes...Oh My!"

>> Today we ventured down to Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek with my parents...It was a blast! We had planned this trip awhile ago and almost didn't go, but I'm so glad we did...and the weather was beautiful [no rain like the early week forecast showed, and not too hot]! It is a very nice zoo and highly recommended! They have a few different animals than our local John Ball Zoo has and some of the same as well! Eila's favorites were the snow leopard (and cheetah) and giraffe! I also loved the peacocks! Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy! :)

>> Many of the animals, including this snow leopard, were quite active today! It seems like most of the times I go to the zoo, all the animals are doing is sleeping off in the corner of their enclosed area! This little [big] guy was given a frozen "frisbee like" treat and he was having a blast with it! He even got a little crazy when a persistent little bug started tickling his nose [tried to get a picture, but he only did it a couple times] and he started leaping in the air and batting at the bug!

>> These peacocks seemed to think they owned the place! They would climb/hop the fencing and just wander where ever they pleased! Here is Mr. Peacock trying to strut his stuff for Miss Lady Peacock [who was not impressed]! Ive never seen one with it's feathers out like this and when he would get all excited he would shake them and they made a cool noise as the feathers hit each other! 

>> She loved to feed the giraffes [although I'm not sure who loved it more: her or the giraffe!] 

>> It has sort of become a tradition to get her favorite animal at each new place we go [probably going to have to end that sooner rather than later..ha!] Meet Jeffery the Giraffe! Oh..and of course, the "post-zoo car ride nap" picture :)

...and then "out of no where, we have Asiatic Lilies"

>> Since we started having decently warm days this year we noticed some sprouts coming up in these big barrels in front of our house...funny thing is --> I never planted perennials in them!! The first summer we lived here I didn't plant anything in them & last summer I planted a few annuals that had sat in their store boughten containers until they were clinging to life before I finally got around to planting them, but let's just say...it wasn't pretty! Fast forward to this year and where in the world did these beautiful Asiatic Lilies come from??? Beats me! But aren't they going to be gorgeous when they are in full bloom?? YUP! The first bud finally completely opened a couple days ago and I can't wait until there are more!

...and then "last day -- new bow, new hair"

>> New blonde and red hair! And of course...one more bow day! :) 

>> We matched today! [at least for a few minutes, because she just doesn't keep bows in her hair :( ]

...and then "another day, another bow"

>> Another day...another bow...This one I've done before and It's just a lazy hair day quick fix! 

...and then "Mr. Rocking Horse makes his first debut"

>> Meet Mr. Rocking Horse (better name to come!)...Last fall I was at a craft fair and I came across a gorgeous repurposed rocking horse that I badly wanted for Eila...and then I looked at the price tag: $75! [cough cough] are. you. nuts.??? Well, I don't know if that lady sold that horse, but I certainly was not going to pay that much for it! 

     Anyway, since then I have been looking at garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and so on to find a rocking horse that I could repurpose somewhat similar to the way the craft lady had but for far less! Most horses I had found were either too expensive or already decorated in a way I didn't care for....until last weekend! My mom and I ventured out to the 28th street flea market on Saturday and mixed in with a bunch of tools and lawn equipment was this lovely little guy! You may say, "but he's not that lovely?"...well you just "hold your horses"! [oh yeah, just said that!]  

>> This is exactly how I found him (minus a very very thin layer that I sanded off just to make him smooth!)...a blank canvas, and he will fill the "reigns" of that craft fair horse perfectly! [get it, "fill those reigns"?, like "fill those shoes"? yea? oh, never mind] Now ask me, "Amanda, how much did you pay for him?"...oh ya know, only $7!!!! I mean, I couldn't have even made this horse for that cheap! 

>> So now he is all ready for his makeover to be the perfect looking rocking horse! I'm not going to give away all my secrets just yet, but here are a few bits and pieces that will be incorporated one way or another to get your minds turning:

          leather

          denim

          flowers

          lace

>> Stay tuned for more updates of Mr. Rocking Horse's makeover! 

...and then "she wore a bow for day 2 in a row"

Today I wore the bow again with a different one of her styles! Should have taken the picture this morning instead of just now when I've worn it all day and it got progressively messier as the day went on! Hmm, maybe a new style tomorrow too?? 

Day 2 of wearing a bow

I should also mention that the nature of my "braid" was also a pinterest find...
>>You can find it here... http://pinterest.com/pin/231091024602131414

...and then "she decided to try something new"

>> I've decided to give the "blogging world" another chance.  I've had a couple other blogs and I just couldn't keep up with them...but now that I'm home, and what I will post I post to Facebook anyway, I hope to be able to keep up with it! So "cheers" to my first blog post on my new (created myself) blog! :)

p.s. that silhouette at the top, yep...that's one of our wedding photos I turned silhouette! :)