baby essentials :: bloom alma crib

For the first few months, we plan to keep the baby in our room/walk-in closet. I thought about just using a pack n play, but then decided I would LOVE to get the bloom alma crib. I loved the crib, but did not love the $400 price tag. So, we headed to Craigslist to start our search. We ended up finding the crib and the universal changing tray for quite a steal. Isn't it the best feeling in the world to get something you want at a fraction of the price?

It was almost as good of a find as when we found the nurseryworks bedroom set for my son's room. We got the bed, dresser, and night stand all for $600 and together it retails for more than $4000.

DIY :: I'm so glad you were born...

I saw this idea over on Oh Happy Day yesterday, and knew I had to do something like it for my hubby's birthday today. Because it was so last minute, I obviously didn't have time to have everyone mail me their thoughts. Instead, I sent out emails and texts to friends and family asking them why they were glad Andrew was born. I then made an 11x17 poster that said "I'm So Glad You Were Born". Next I printed out everyone's contributions on individual 3.5x2 in. cards and put them in little kraft paper envelopes and sealed with numbers that I also printed. It's his 29th birthday, so I only put up 29 envelopes, but there were over 40 total. So after he opened the 29, he still had a few more to read. I loved hearing him laugh and ooh and aah at what everyone had to say. Needless to say, he LOVED it!

fun find :: atlantic-pacific

{image via atlantic-pacific}

A little while ago, I stumbled upon the blog Atlantic-Pacific. It is a daily log of outfits. Not only are the outfits amazing, but I love love love her hairstyles. It's a great place to look for inspiration when you feel like your wardrobe is blah. After I looked through all of the posts, I felt like I could go into my closet and put together similar outfits. Obviously with my prego belly, it's a little more difficult but it gets me excited to lose this baby weight!

baby essentials :: kidlark favorites

1. Marc by Marc Diaper Bag

2. Bugaboo Bee

3. Aiden & Anais Bamboo Swaddlers

4. Ergo Baby Carrier

5. Plum Organics Baby Food

6. Boon Baby Spoon

7. Playtex Drop-Ins Bottle

8. BabyGap Nightgowns

fun finds :: link love

{image via love & photographs}

I made it back from my girl's weekend in Vegas. It was perfect and relaxing and so much fun. I am in full fledge nesting mode and spent all day yesterday scrubbing baseboards and walls. I still haven't gotten ready today because I have been cleaning out cupboards and closets. I guess I need to get back into the swing of things. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I have a couple fun links for you today.

1. My good friend Megan and her sister in law started a darling blog called, The Thirteenth.

2. My other good friend Erica has a little shoe business and she is doing a giveaway for her newest shoe that is to die for. Run over there and enter because it is a perfect gold, glittery flat that you could wear with anything!

just for fun :: girls trip 2011

{las vegas survival kit}

{I was in charge of the mix CD's}

Getting ready for a quick girls weekend in Vegas with two of my bests! One last hurrah before this baby gets here in a month. Is it weird that I am just as excited for the road trip as I am for the actual stay in Vegas? Can't wait to eat yummy food, watch movies, and lounge by the pool. I will be signing off a day early for the weekend, so I wish you all a wonderful time!

DIY :: custom painted celine pouch

{photo via justbblog}

I stumbled upon this DIY for a custom painted Celine pouch. How genius is this? I love the splash of neon that she used. You can find a similar pouch at American Apparel in a few different sizes, and many different colors. I think the medium size pouch is perfect! I like this idea to keep my personal items in and then I can just take it in and out of my diaper bag.

custom labels :: surf/shark party

Here are the designs I did for Amber and her son's surf/shark party. Below are the designs in action. Thanks again Amber for sharing the pictures of the party. Everything turned out better than I imagined! I especially love the idea of using a pail as the party favor container. Genius!

custom invitations :: surf/shark party

Blogger went a little haywire last week. Glad things are back to normal around here. To start off this week's posts, I am sharing a fun kid party with you. Amber's son requested a shark/surf themed party. I love the color scheme of yellow, grey and navy that she chose. This is the design for the invitation. Tomorrow I will share the water bottle, food pick, party favor sticker, and t-shirt designs. I will also share some pics of the actual party that Amber kindly emailed me. I love seeing my designs in action and getting fun party ideas from a creative mom like Amber!

baby shower :: black, white & yellow

I helped organize and throw a shower for my friend Katie. She has two girls, and is having her first boy in about a month. We are due exactly two weeks apart, so it has been fun tracking our pregnancies together. For her shower, we decided to do a brunch so I wanted to keep the decor light and airy with a boyish feel. So I went with yellow and white stripes, with a hint of black. I was so pleased with the way everything turned out and the food was divine. {I am all about giving food assignments for showers to ease the load!}

photos by kristy dunning

*check back tomorrow to see the invitations*

mother's day :: best day of the year

{yes we all just rolled out of bed}

I hope you all had a fabulous mother's day weekend. This year's mother's day was one of the best yet in my career as a mom. My husband spoiled me rotten, and my kids were so sweet to me all day. I really do feel so lucky to be a mom....it's the best job in this world and worth all the blood, sweat, and tears!

custom header :: the monson family

a tribute :: happy mother's day

Is there anything better than being a mother? Even though I have had some rough days over the years and sometimes I feel like I might rip my hair out, there is no better joy than being with my children. I am so grateful for two beautiful, healthy, fun, crazy, little kids and can't wait to add another little lark to our family in just 7 short weeks.

I am also thankful for a beautiful mama of my own. She is the most loving and generous mother a girl could ask for. I hope my children can look to me in years to come and be as thankful for me as I am for my own mother. Not only does she love me unconditionally, she loves my babies just as much as I do.

And to top it all off, I am blessed with an amazingly talented and loving mother-in-law. I am so lucky to be a part of her family and I am so thankful for the mother that she was/is to my husband, not to mention the fabulous Gigi that she is to my babies.

So to all of you, I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day. Be sure to tell all the wonderful woman in your life how important and special they are to you. Most importantly, let them know that their daily actions do not go unnoticed!

party idea :: cinco de mayo

photos by tiffany garfield

Happy Cinco de Mayo. I love a good fiesta, hence the 2nd birthday party we did for my Scarlett here. I love the food, the colors, the mexican cokes and I especially love the look of papel picado like the invitations I did here. One Charming Party has a darling free invitation and some fun Cinco de Mayo party ideas. Check them out here.