Easter's On It's Way

I'm super excited for Easter this year! This is the first holiday that I think Reese will really get to enjoy! Last year she was only 7 weeks old on Easter! She was such a pretty little baby sleeping most of the day and doing a major spit up on her precious dress! By Christmas she was 10 months and with all of the different events, she was just really overwhelmed. By the time her birthday rolled around she was loving it! She knew the celebration was just for her and she was happy to be the center of attention!

I have wanted to make an Easter wreath for quite a while now. I found the things I needed and had a couple things on hand. When I see grapevine wreaths at a thrift store I buy them... they are usually only 50 cents or a dollar! They aren't too expensive at Hobby Lobby, but I know that I might not use it right away or paint it or it might not turn out how I want.

I had painted one of my grapevine wreaths ballet slipper pink a while back. I was trying to make something for Reese's room, but it didn't work out! It was perfect for Easter though! I've been really drawn to purple for Easter, but I'm normally a pink girl so this was perfect! I got some cute glittery colored eggs, a bundle of carrots, and a pink bunny! For now the bunny will have to do, I thought it would go on a different way, but it actually just sets right in there for now. I couldn't find anything else to go in it's place.

Here was my inspiration. I pinned it on Pinterest probably right when I discovered Pinterest.

I also wanted to make a special basket for Reese. I found a basket at a thrift store for like 2 bucks! It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do and trying to figure out how to do it. I didn't know if I should do pink or yellow or white or my recent favorite mint color, or possibly a dark wood stain color. I went with white and found a purple fabric that had bunnies holding different colored jelly beans. It screamed Easter and was like 40% off! I can update it or do a different basket as Reese gets older and can tell me her favorite colors and fabric designs.

I CANNOT sew! I researched how to make a basket liner without sewing. Turns out people use hot glue to hem things, and there is also hem adhesive strips. My mom's friend helped me with the hemming adhesive strips. I would not have known how to do it without her help! I love how it turned out! My mom tied some cute bows for me on the sides! TEAM EFFORT! I'm really grateful for all of their help all of the time!

Stay tuned to see it filled with goodies from the Easter bunny!

We are hosting a dinner with my dad and step mom, and Evan's mom and her hubby! Then we head off to the Easter Egg Hunt at my great aunt's house. It's a huge event! I went to it when I was little, so I'm super excited to take Reese!

Of course I had quite the time finding the perfect dress for Reese. I saw this bunny dress a while back and it was not available for a while. Must have sold out quick. When it was available again, it was never in Reese's size! Last Saturday I checked again and woohoo it was in her size! I thought I'd better do 2-3 day shipping. I had some rewards and things were on sale so I got a really good deal. But by Wednesday and Thursday my order had not arrived. This morning I called because the tracking said it was delivered yesterday! Gap went above and beyond, calling the post office, calling stores to get me a replacement! Then of course a little while ago the mail man said he mistakenly delivered my order to another house! Shortly after the package arrived in the mail! So Reese will be able to wear this perfect Easter dress!

So here's Reese last Easter!

 Reese got her big girl car seat this week! What a difference a year makes! 

Happy Easter! Enjoy the weekend!

Baby Miller's Gender Reveal!

I always had it in mind that I would not find out the gender of my baby until the baby was born. My husband wanted to know as soon as he could. Through the wonderful world of pinterest and facebook I learned about gender reveal parties. I like to make anything into a party! I also like things to be memorable and special. My husband also wanted to know the sex before the big reveal with family. I had a very hard time with this... I felt like I would be able to figure out the gender by his reaction. I backed off and hoped he would change his mind, but the week of our appointment I battled again! We shook on him finding out before the reveal if the second baby we don't find out until the baby's birth!

When we got to the doctor's office he asked the tech to write the sex down and put it in an envelope (which he could have given the sealed envelope to the people at Party City and they would put the correct color of balloons in the box). He said he was going to look at it right before he got the balloons that would be released from the box I decorated. He said he was at least going to wait until I went back to work. All afternoon I hoped he had changed his mind to wait and find out with me. But he didn't. We went to the doctor on Friday and our party was on Sunday. He said he almost slipped up several times and that he thought he could have waited to find out with me.

I really couldn't tell and only thought he might have messed up one thing he said about the baby but we were talking about other people too so it wasn't a dead give away. I just thought about how it's like when you tell someone to buy you one of two things for Christmas, you know what gifts you might get, just not which one!

Our party was so much fun! I of course had fun doing lots of projects and then getting everyone together! We did a diaper raffle as well. Anyone that brought diapers entered the drawing for a sweet prize--a night out at the movies with candy and Topsy's popcorn! If they brought more than one pack of diapers they got to enter their name again!

 

I just love love love the balloon display, from Special Events in Blue Springs.They do parties and cute accessories!

Cast your vote!

The invite was created for me by the same designer that did so many things for my wedding:

 Kim Totty

 I'm pretty proud of this little banner I made out of scrapbook paper. I traced some cute letters I got at Hobby Lobby and hung it on jute with the clothespins that people wore to show their vote. My hubby even called this banner cute!

The votes were even just before the reveal!

Team Blue

Team Pink

 The Reveal!!!

 It's a girl!!!

 Mommy's excited! Daddy's in trouble (:

My cousin was pretty certain it was a girl! She bought a boy outfit too, but this was the set of outfits I wanted to go buy if it was a girl!

All of our family and friends loved this party! We had a great day, got lots of diapers and celebrated our baby!

Thrifting... repurpose

I have become quite the thrifter! It all started because I was really getting my kitchen organized. My husband also built me a pantry. In preparation for the pantry I wanted to find some containers and baskets to better organize items in the pantry. {side note--I just love that pantry! I need to post about it}
This post is about a couple of items that are finished. I've already done quite a few projects, but they aren't ready to post yet!

Some of the containers I got for organizing did not need anything but a trip through the dishwasher. I found this canister set and saw some potential. Nice solid wood and heavy glass containers that sealed really well.

This is also my first successful distressing project. After one coat of black paint, it was just too black, and not the look I had imagined.

My hubby sawed off the tops, I had already taken off the knobs that were on two of the canisters. Then the tops got a coat of chalkboard paint... and tada!

I really love this little set!

So here is my candle holder inspiration... I loved the colors, but I have orange in my kitchen. This also inspired my grey and organe kitchen.

Here's what I found at the first thrift store I looked... there's tons of gold decor at the thrift stores. All they need is some paint!

[BEFORE]

[AFTER]

Just a different color makes the world of difference. I am ready to tackle furniture now! There are such great deals on good wood furniture... with a coat of paint and new hardware they are good as new! And you get a super good deal on something that could be as unique as you choose! 

What color candle sticks should I get??

Favorite Wedding Moments

Here's a look at my most treasured memories of such a perfect day! It was so fun, the weather was great, my vision came to life and everything was so beautiful! Evan and I were surrounded by all of our friends and family!

 

I love Evan's face when he first saw me... and the only time I cried was when I first came out to see him. I was just too happy and excited to be very emotional!

My bridesmaids and my mom got my dress on just right! I was so happy when I was in all my bridal attire!

When we first got to the park, a girl was saying "oh how beautiful", Evan said "Thank you! It took me all day to look this beautiful!" She then said "NO! I was talking about her!" We were laughing at Evan and happy to get the compliment!

Pictures were a blast! The boys were having fun!

 Nothing makes a bride feel MORE like a princess than when a little girl spots you from across the park and says she wants to go meet the princess! She was so cute and so shy! I love her red boots!

Finishing touches before the ceremony, the not always so quiet and calm flower girls stayed calm and quiet in my dressing room and watched me... My maid of honor and I put a little make up on them and they were so sweet.
 
Evan's cousin sang so well!

You may kiss your bride! I always wanted to practice our kiss, but Evan would be too silly! But it was perfect on our day! XOXOXO!

My mom looks so happy here! This was right after the ceremony.

I love when we were introduced at the reception! Evan was really happy with how everything turned out and didn't feel as bad for the money that was spent! Right before we went out he was saying "you're my wife now!" It was so cute!

A special dance with my handsome granddad! He wasn't sure how well he would dance, but he wow'd everyone!

I got my smash! I tried to smash it on Evan, but I think he opened his mouth too wide or something!

  I loved everyone's reaction to the big panties Evan pulled out during the garter toss! And my uncle caught them!!!

 
There was non stop dancing! The kids never left the dance floor and The Kevin Ellis stole the show during shout at the softer now part!

I'm so happy my best buds from high school were there and that we have stayed in touch all these years!

A few of my absolute favorite pics!

We had the most amazing photographer! She's so fun and the pictures just have a special touch...

all photos by www.allisonkruiz.com