HELLLLOOOOOO 2013!!

New Year's Eve may be one of my favorite holidays. Christmas is great with all the gifts and everything, but on New Years, you get the chance to start completely fresh in the new year, whilst (love that word...did I use it correctly?) celebrating for the year that past. It's the feeling of accomplishment and anticipation all rolled into one night.

Before Olivia, I would ring in the new year in downtown Boston, in a crowded bar, with a few of our friends and lots of alcohol. January 1st was never a very good day for me.....as most of it was spent with a hangover. The last few years, we've spent the night at home, relaxing, watching tv, and just having a good time with friends. No hangover. Thank you Olivia for coming into my life and stopping me from being hungover on the first day of every year :)

Another thing that I like about New Years is the resolutions. I know lots of people say that they don't keep them.....but I like the idea of being introspective and trying to better yourself. It's always nice to take a long look at yourself and see what needs changing. So, of course.....I've come up with a few resolutions of my own.

1. Take better care of myself
Since Olivia's been around I've made every excuse in the book not to exercise, eat right or drink enough water. Lately, I have even been sleeping in my clothes and not washing my face or teeth before bed. It's just bad. I put EVERY single ounce of energy I have into Olivia. I need to make sure I take care of myself at least as much as I take care of her......so that I can be around for her for a good long time.

2. Go to the Dentist
I HATE the dentist. Hate hate hate. I haven't been since before I was pregnant....which is just stupid. I pay for dental insurance monthly...and eventually I'm going to have a little girl that is going to need to go to the dentist. I need to be a good example. Right?

3. Take more time do hobbies....and blog.

We'll see how it goes!!

My Insta-Week

This past week was so exciting!!  I've never been really politically minded, but this year I was so AMPED for the election.  I think it's because of the fact that I'm a mom now.....

I am so excited that Obama won!  Prayers have been answered.

This weekend is a long weekend for me!!  I have a couple projects planned....that I will share with you next week.....

Alright....here's my week in review.....care of my Instagram feed.........

From top Left to Right: Olivia HAS to watch Mickey basically on top of the tv / Mommy and baby at yet another doctor's appointment / Oatmeal, Theraflu and Irish Tea....I was sick / I VOTED! / Shopping in the Christmas Aisle in Target is Happiness / Some times you just want to paint your nails 5 different shades of pink (ombre) / Doing my nails and drinking wine, watching Election night coverage

Follow me on Instagram @babymarg08

Pinterest Inspired: Christening Flower Arrangements

After Olivia's christening we had a little reception at one of the local restaurants. I had scoured Pinterest for decoration inspiration. I didn't want to decorate that heavily, because the function room we were using was really cute. I did see this idea for flower arrangements which I LOVED......

Original pin via Pinterest

Original pin via Pinterest

I used that idea for my centerpieces and I thought they came out amazing!

Mason jars, flowers and lemons all came from the grocery store. It was so easy to get prepared, and as a nice little side effect the lemons kept the flowers fresh for a couple extra days!

Christening Dress

In February Hubs and I had Olivia christened. She was about nine months old. Most of the time the babies are much younger at a christening. We put it off a little longer than I (or our very Catholic families) had wanted to....but her arrival into this world was a little bit more eventful than we had expected.

Before she was born I was DEAD SET on making her Christening gown, but as things got busier my resolve waned. I ended up doing a lot of online gown shopping before I made my final decision to make the gown. Everything I saw online was so shiny or expensive.....or both. I wanted Olivia to look like a baby in a pretty white gown.....not a bride.

So, it was decided, I would make the gown. I had bought this pattern from Simplicity:

image via Simplicity.com

I liked the lace in View A, but I liked the bodice in View B and decided to meld them together. I decided on cotton batiste as my fabric and ordered everything I needed from Fabric.com. This is in no way a sponsored post for Fabric.com (because my blog really isn't popular enough for those), but they were FABULOUS. I got everything I needed....even the buttons, all from one place, only had to pay shipping once, and didn't have to wait in a long line (while trying to juggle a bolt of fabric and a squirmy baby) at the fabric store to have my material cut. It was amazing....and only cost me $35. I was a happy mommy. Oh wait, I just remembered, I got the lace at Joann's.....so I got almost everything at Fabric.com. Still counts. I remember obsessing over the lace. I wanted it to be just perfect.

I took pictures on my iPhone while sewing, so bear with me......

The bodice had pin-tucks on both sides of the center. They really didn't turn out as perfectly as I had hoped, and I really couldn't figure out why. I took them out and resewed them a couple of times, but it always came out the same way. After the second time redoing them I gave up and hoped it wouldn't be so noticeable to everyone else.

The pintucks on the bottom of the gown came out MUCH better. Of course my stitching could have been a tiny bit straighter, but all in all I thought it looked good. I love how the ipod cord and baby toy just snuck into the pic......

All together, no sleeves or collar, but all the hard work done. I ended up having to tack down the top row of lace because it just didn't want to stay upside down.

Completed! Isn't it so pretty?? Honestly, I think it's probably the nicest thing I have ever made. I should have taken a picture of the seams on the inside too, cause I made sure that they were all done nice and neat as well.

Linking up at a few parties.....

My Insta-Week

It's Friday!!  Yay!! Best day  AND easiest blog post of the week!!

Here's my week in review.....

From Bottom Left right around the L to top Left :  Olivia's Halloween Costume / The "damage" we incurred from Sandy / Surprise Roses from Hubs / Home sick with baby (I love her) / Halloween sit and spin Pink Pumpkin Surprise / Buzz Buzz Buzz

And today I am thankful for strawberry yogurt and how well it hides the presence of Amoxicillin from my child.  All my life I have hated strawberry yogurt....but now, now we are in love.

Follow me on Instagram @babymarg08

A Month for Giving Thanks

Today is the first day of November (holy cow where has the year gone).  This morning while I was sitting in my car, waiting to get over the bridge from Quincy to Dorchester (seriously less than five miles), and getting more and more frustrated by the second (only took me an hour to get to work today), I started thinking about positive thinking.  I am a huge believer of positive thinking, but not a very good follower.   I let myself get bogged down by the little disappointments of the day too much.  Way too much.  

I've decided that I'm going to give thanks for something that is positive in my life everyday in November.  This hopefully will set me on the right track for the upcoming Christmas season and the new year to come. I have SO much to be thankful for........I'm tired of focusing on what is wrong. It's just so DEPRESSING.  Plus.....As Drake and my Husband say....."You only Live Once" (actually Hubs says "You only get one Trip").........

I know I don't blog everyday, but I'll catch up for the days that I missed when I do.  I won't have it take up the whole blog entry (cause I have SOOO much interesting stuff to talk about).  Feel free to participate with me.  A little positive thinking can go a long way.....

So....Here goes...

Today, on a day that that I was 45 minutes late to work, I am REALLY thankful for my job.  I love working where I do.  I finally love doing what I do.  And, most importantly, I finally have the flexibility that I need to take care of the most important thing in my world, my family, the way that it needs to be.  Not only do they not stress when I show up late, nearly every day, but it is never questioned when I need to stay home with a sick child.  I really feel blessed to have found this job...........

The Tale of Hurricane Sandy

Is it too early in the week for me to wish it was over??  I'm there already, I swear.  Freakenstorm storm Sandy preparations, survival and aftermath have just been exhausting. The actual storm didn't end up being that bad, I think it was the preparations that were worse.

Sunday Olivia and I went to Target to return a pair of shoes, get batteries, and coffee......all the necessities. I was hoping it would be a quick trip...but, instead it was a disaster.


When we got there I went straight to customer service to return my ONE $8 pair of shoes that I bought mistakenly in the wrong size.  Ahead of me was a man with an entire cart........

The shoes......can't wait to wear them....

I naively thought he was just returning a few things....  $800 later....I was ready to explode.  Also, Let's just say I am not a person who's stomach reacts very well when there is cream or whole milk in their coffee......and I'm pretty sure there was. It is NOT easy to look calm and collected while absolutely RUNNING to the bathroom with a toddler and a cart while people are freaking out about the upcoming storm.  I almost didn't make it......

Monday, while the storm was on, was absolutely lovely.  No traffic and I got out of work at 1pm.

Mommy's coming home early, better finish these munchkins before she does.....

Seriously, what could be better?  But, then I backed into someone trying to get out of line at Burger King. The hittee...he was not pleased with me when I asked if I had "gotten" him.  His response "YES, you DEFINITELY hit me, I FELT IT".  I knew I had hit him (hit is such a strong word here though. I was going 2 miles an hour...if that).  Was there any damage?  No....of course not......it was a Toyota Tacoma....I mean...if that can't take the impact of 2 mph bump on it's bumper....we've got problems....

The hurricane "damage" at our house.....

Today, maybe the worst thing of the whole three day Sandy affair happened.  When I went to the kitchen at work to get my lunch I noticed a box of Joe on the table.  YES!  Office Kitchenette code says if you leave it in the kitchenette then it's public domain and I can eat/drink it freely.  So, I filled up my coffee cup and went over to the microwave to heat it up.  My coffee cup was too big and wouldn't fit in.  This was terrible...I was already invested in the coffee.  Frantically I searched the cupboards.  I found a cup that looked clean and I thought my coffee would fit.  I poured it in and heated it up.  It wasn't until I was pouring it out that I noticed a lipstick stain on the side of the cup.....  ewww....could I still drink the coffee??

I asked both my sister and my friend Andrea.....they gave me the same response....as long as I didn't drink it in the "heating up cup" I was fine.  PHEW.  I was really tense there for a few moments.....

Also, since Sunday Olivia's been sick....which is really why I don't have anything interesting to blog about.  I need to take pictures....but she insisted that I come home and nap with her yesterday.  Who is going to argue with a sick baby??


 NOT I....NOT I.