Be Our Guest...

As I have mentioned before, we have done a ton of moving in the past couple of months.. From a house in Dallas, to a tiny apartment in Toronto, to temp housing in Michigan and now finally to a townhome in Birmingham, MI for the next year...  Having said that, I'm dying to update our guest bedroom. We just redid our master bedroom, which I now adore, it's a great neutral haven and it is all from Restoration Hardware, therefore my husband and I can agree on style and design..

However, we tend to disagree on the guest bedroom.. I LOVE color!! When we first met, my apartment was decked out in pink and green, he said it was like Lilly Pulitzer came in there and threw up! Hey, I'm a southern girl, I love monograms and pink and green :).

Our guest bedroom in this townhouse is a bit weird in that it also serves as our office/entry way from the garage.. Not ideal, but this isn't permanent so we make it work :). There are some great pieces in the room, i.e. my Prada sign (Greg surprised me with this when I arrived in Toronto), our very cute antique esq bed from PB, and a very cute lampshade which currently does not go with our bedding :). I have inserted some pics of the room and the items:

So as you can see our dog Rex, loves to hang out down here and move around the pillows, so we can't do a clean white/black color theme because dog hair will get on it.. You can also notice that our current yellow lampshade TOTALLY clashes with this neutral bedding.. And the large blank spot above the bed, is just going to stay there as Greg is anti painting or wallpapering a house we will only be in for a year..  :(

Here is what I am thinking for the bedroom:

I love Serena and Lily bedding they have color without being too crazy, so hoping I can get Greg to go for one of these:

I love this one, it's navy and I'm loving the whole navy and black combos right now and I think I could still keep my yellow lampshade for some color..
Bedroom Option #1


I love this coral one, as it's bright and who wouldn't want to walk into that every day, this just makes me smile.. Might be a harder sell on the hubby.
Bedroom Option #2


I ADORE this Anthropologie one but I'm pretty sure he will shoot this one down in a heartbeat.. Trying to go with the argument that the whole house is pretty much neutral in Dallas and Michigan, so I could potentially have one room with lots of print and color??

Bedroom Option #3


I like this yellow one from Pottery Barn, still love yellow, black, and white combo..
Bedroom Option #4


We have awhile before we will redo the bedding downstairs mainly because we are about to welcome a little one in March, and our lives will be focused on that and I'm pretty sure I will not think about this bedroom downstairs :). However, I do want to get new bedding this Summer, since this is a room that you have to walk in and thru daily!

Let me know your favorite!

Cheers!
JNK

Devoted to My Devotional..

I have always been one that sets out to make time for God daily, but somehow I end up pushing that aside and end up spending my 15-20 minutes reading blogs, catching up with friends, or watching TV. I made a resolution this year to spend at least 15 min a day doing a devotional. I follow a few blogs and kept hearing about Sarah Young's, Jesus Calling, devotional. I must admit I was a bit delayed in conquering my New Years Resolution, as my mom purchased the devotional for me for part of my Valentines Day Gift.

As I am about 2 months in,I can say that this is by far the best devotional I have done. More importantly, I have been able to stick to my NY Resolution. I feel so much better after spending that time with God, and it's just like the gym, when you put in the time you get so much more out of it. 

I highly recommend this devotional for any woman at any stage in her life. I make notes in mine on a daily basis and it has forced me to really pick up my bible on a daily basis, and focus on becoming a better Wife, Mother, Friend, Christian, and Servant of God.

I like to purchase my books through Church bookstores, therefore my mom picked up my copy at her church Lovers Lane Methodist. However, I have inserted the link below for you to check out the book and hopefully purchase if you aren't in the Dallas area to swing by Lovers Lane or if  you don't have a bookstore inside your Church.

Jesus Calling


We had a crazy snow storm last night, so I'm hoping this is the last of our snow and we can finally look forward to Spring!!!

Happy Hump Day!
Cheers!
JNK

Get Your Seat Checked..

After attending our first Labor and Delivery Class last Saturday and then Breastfeeding class this past Wednesday, I have heard more than enough times now that 80% of car seats are installed wrong.. I had been watching Fox and Friends a few weeks ago when they did a segment that the safest seat in the car was in the middle. Greg installed our car seat on Sunday afternoon, and let's just say it wasn't as easy as some may think. Our car especially was difficult because the owner manual was a bit confusing on which seats could latch etc.  After numerous Google searches we came to the conclusion that on our LR4, you aren't able to put the infant seat in the middle seat using the latch system.

I had researched a website that instructed you on nearby institutions in which you could get your carseat checked. Luckily, the Birmingham Fire Station is right around the corner for us, and I was able to make an appointment for this Friday.

Showed up at the Birmingham Fire Station to be greeted by a Channing Tatum look alike (I wish I would have a taken a picture )fire fighter named Alan who would be checking my car seat.. I'm pretty sure I was blushing and thinking to myself maybe I should bring Greg's car up here next week :). It was a great experience, Alan first gave Greg a thumbs up on his car seat install and then proceeded to adjust a few things. He did verify on his manual that with our Peg Prego carseat it's recommended that the infant seat be on the latch system and therefore must not be placed in the middle seat in our car. He spent an hour with me going over the car seat, ways to adjust the seat etc. He also instructed me to bring a doll or stuffed animal to go over the features of the car seat and how it is suppose to fit on the baby. I did learn that it is not recommended that you have a seat cover on the seat, however he did tell me that it is up to the discretion of the parents, and he said more than half keep the cover for the seat on there. I decided to keep the cover underneath the carseat, as I was the bright one who choose tan leather interior :).

I must admit it was very informative and I learned a lot and feel much more prepared when it comes to our carseat. I highly recommend parents getting their carseat checked for reassurance and it was a great learning lesson. Plus, if your local firefighters looked anything like ours, it will be well worth your trip :)!


Here are a couple of pics of our approved carseat. (Excuse the lighting, I took the pictures in the garage.)

I have provided the link below for you to be able to look up the closest institution that does carseat checks near you:
Carseat Inspection Link

Have a great weekend!
JNK

Wednesday Wants

It's starting to look a lot like Spring... In retail stores, that is... It's still cold and snowy up here in the midwest.. But that hasn't stopped me from making my little want list as I'm wishing and hoping that warmer weather is right around the corner.. 

I love MINT, I am seeing it everywhere which is making me super happy! In fact, I even talked myself into buying mint nail polish today at Target.. I mean it is the color of the season... I have found myself loving these J Brand Mint Jeans.. I first fell in love with the J Brand Mint Leather Super Skinny Jeans, but I'm pretty sure spending $900 on a fashion color leather pant, is not in the budget for March or EVER :(.  I still think it would be such a cute look, the mint leather pants, a cute driver or oxford, white blouse all while pushing an adorable little Baby K in a stroller  :).. I have inserted the link for the mint leather pants, but don't fret J Brand has a non leather mint pant, that I will have to settle for :)

J Brand Leather Super Skinny

I recently heard of Everlane through another blog I read, www.thelovelist.net, and ever since I checked them out online, I'm dying to own some of their stuff.. I definitely want some of their tees, and especially one of their blouses. This white blouse reminds me of the Vince ones that I love but is half the cost.. If you haven't heard of Everlane, you should definitely check them out. This will be one of my first purchases once Baby K has arrived:

Everlane Silk White Blouse $80

The footwear piece I'm loving right now are the oxfords.. Again, a pair of these oxfords would be so cute with my mint pants and white blouse :). I found these at Nordstrom, and the best part is they are under $100, which I feel like is a major fashion win these days!!

Nordstrom Halogen Oxfords


I don't know about you, but come Spring/Summer, I'm always searching for a new pair of shades.. I have been lusting after Karen Walker #1's for awhile.. They are still on my want list, hoping I will get a pair for my bday this year :)!! Link Below:

Karen Walker #1


Hope you are having a good week thus far, only a few more days!! We have a breastfeeding class this evening, so that should be interesting.. :)

Cheers!
JNK

YUMMY- Healthy Fruit Snacks!!!

Ok, so truth be told I probably haven't had a fruit snack in 20 years or so. However, the fruit snacks became a discussion in our house after we went down to Dallas for our Baby Shower and my nephew C got Greg hooked on Scooby Doo fruit snacks. It got so bad that C even just started bringing Uncle Greg a packet anytime C got himself one. I'm pretty sure I should probably send my sister a couple of packages, because pretty sure my husband snuck a few even when C didn't want one :).

One day, ok let's be honest during the day on my usual Pinterest time I came across this healthy fruit snack recipe. I showed it to Greg and got his approval, although we were both hesitant as we had tried the dried strawberries in Toronto and failed miserably and we were both upset.. But then again maybe it was something with those Canadian fruits, ovens, or just our luck in Toronto in general. I'm a big fruit eater, and Greg just really isn't as into as I am, so I was really hoping this was a recipe that would work for us so it could be a staple in the fridge.

IT WORKED!!! Our first batch was just strawberry, and they were AMAZING!! I mean so amazing that I'm positive the first batch was eaten in 24 hours or less.. Our second batch we made strawberry again and blueberry.. Strawberry was still my fave, but Greg preferred blueberry. We plan to tackle blackberry this week, and have decided to include Mango at some point..
We did alter a few things on the recipe:

1. We couldn't find grass fed gelatin, went to Whole Foods didn't have it, so we settled for Knox Brand. I think they turned out fine and I'm sure not quite as healthy, but come one it's just 5 tbs of gelatin for the batch.. The second batch we even used generic (GASP!) Kroger brand gelatin and it turned out fine.. So don't sweat if you can't find grass fed gelatin. We did find it online, but I'm not paying almost $30 for gelatin (Sorry that's a manicure, J Crew item, baby outfit.. you get the point).. 

2.On our second batch Greg decided we should add wax paper to the bottom of the dish before we put into the fridge, and it made it so much easier to cut into squares once they were ready..

We did make the executive decision that if this recipe was to stay for awhile and Baby K enjoyed it we, would have to be those parents who added shapes, letters, numbers, anything besides just boring old squares :). 

I have included the link below:

http://thankyourbody.com/homemade-healthy-fruit-snacks/

Cheers!

JNK

I DID IT!!

Finally..

Ok, so I've finally tackled one of my New Year's Resolutions of starting a blog... I'm not gonna lie, I have tried to sit down and tackle this blog creation thing multiple of times, but it hasn't been easy. I would rather create excel spreadsheets any day of the week, then tackle some of these blog formatting issues (Yes, I'm a nerd, I love excel :)). But as we are in the last 5 weeks of preparation before Baby K is due to arrive, I figured I better get this baby up and running. My dear friend Mallory (www.Charmingcharlotte.blogspot.com) just welcomed her little girl Landry last week and assured me I will want this blog up and running to by pass time in the middle of the night :).

 We had an exciting day on Saturday, as Greg and I attended our first of two Labor and Delivery classes. I must admit I'm a control freak and like to be in the know of everything, so I have a read a ton of books. I felt very prepared going in, and even whispered to Greg, this is so repetitive... HA! And then the labor video was shown, and I couldn't watch.. I simply asked the lady afterwards when can you get the Epidural??? She definitely shot me the evil eye.. But hey, I watched 2 min of those ladies in active labor, I felt like it was a very fair question to ask..  I'm so excited to finally start this blog, as I have become a very loyal reader of some blogs.. In fact I probably need to go thru and edit my blog roll, but I must admit I'm addicted. I've learned great recipes, great clothing sites, good relationship advice, baby tips and more!! I hope my blog will be one that you can take away something from even if it is maybe a, "Thank goodness that didn't happen to me! " 

Cheers!

JNK