mad for minted!

Have you ever used minted.com before?  I first discovered minted a few years ago when I received a really great wedding invitation in the mail.  It was one of those invitations that was so fresh-looking, fun, and happy that I immediately flipped it over to see where it was designed. Viola!  I had found minted and was in love! 

Minted is now taking over the paperie world-from adorable invites, to affordable artwork, to awesome day planners.  Oh, what's that you say?  They now use gold foil on many of their items?  Check.

And the best part?  They are designed by a whole slew of designers and voted on by regular ole peeps who like paper!  It really makes for a great variety of designs, all of which feel cutting-edge, trendy and new. (Hint: If you're an artist or designer they hold regular design challenges that are fun and easy to enter!)

A couple things I really love about minted:

1.  They will now ADDRESS YOUR ENVELOPES FOR YOU for FREE!  That's right, no more poor handwriting, crooked lines and hand cramps.  Let minted use their super-cute fonts to make your mail look extra special. 

2.  They have a super cute blog that has tons of great party ideas, like precious these DIY party hats that I want to make right now, today, just because it's Friday.

3.  They have the most precious children's stationary.  I cannot wait to order some of these pink alligator notes for the wee one.  These would be perfect for notes to your child's teacher, or thank you notes, or letters to grandma!  See my favs below!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

Practical & Precious : Gifts for New Mom & Baby

Well here we are, 9 weeks into our first little bundle and loving every minute!  It is unbelievable how fast 9 weeks has gone by!  While being at home with the little moonbeam is so much fun, getting out of the house to run even a tiny errand can be a huge challenge.  I am so thankful to have a husband and family that is a huge help when it comes to the necessities we need-running out to get baby motrin, paper plates, whatever little things may have slipped our mind to buy before baby came.  But of course we love when visitors bring us fun little baby gifts too!  

What about you?  Are a practical gift giver or do you pick out gifts based on their preciousness?  Below are some ideas for gifts for new mom and baby.  Oh, and the practical ones are really pretty precious as well...

One thing a new mom can never have enough of is cute loungewear.  When the probability of you changing out of your nightgown is about 0.5%, it helps when it's at least a cute one.  This caftan  is both stylish and practical, easy to wear when nursing baby!

Another thing I wish I had was some baby stationary.  While I'm totally stocked on your basic "thank you" notes, it would be nice to have a personalized option as well.  And how cute are these mommy play date appointment cards? (Woodland stationary, Robot stationary)

For a mommy who loves luxury, try this Caldrea Laundry Set in Sweet Pea.  It's all natural and smells clean and heavenly.

How adorable are these Babylegs leg warmers?  They come in a variety of patterns for your precious little one.

Little girl?  Try this sweet Maileg bunny and the pea play set.  Any little princess would be lucky to have this charming toy!

Little boy?  How cute is this medieval finger puppet set complete with teeny dragon?  We love toys that are just as fun to display as they are to play with!

Nursery

It's hard to believe that we are just a few short hours from welcoming our newest addition into the world.  We are so excited to bring our bundle of joy into our home!  With a neutral palette, lots of linen, and pretty feminine details, her nursery has swiftly become my favorite room in the house.  I hope she loves it as much as I do!

I knew that I wanted to keep the space fairly neutral, but I couldn't resist an ornate oversized gold mirror and the beautiful pink PomPom at Home pillow.  It's a very small space, so keeping it light and airy was essential.  The wall color is Benjamin Moore's Wickham Gray, which we also have in our den.  The strange thing about this color is that in our den it has a blue tint, but in the nursery it has an almost green tint.  Either way, I couldn't be happier with how it looks with the white trim and the gold accents.  Rather than a dresser, we opted to use a china cabinet.  By painting it with Annie Sloan's chalk paint (thanks hubby!) and lining the doors with fabric, it makes the cutest storage for all those tiny socks, onesies, bibs and yes, maybe a parenting book or two...

Some of my favorite details in the room include the starry ceiling, chandelier over the crib, and adorable dream ring by BlaBla kids.  And what about that beautiful day gown?  It was handmade by a close family friend.  The photos really do not do it justice!

Hope you enjoy!

Al Fresco

 The weather here in Alabama has been crazy this year.  Snow, more snow, ice, flash floods.  But Spring seems to be showing through the last couple of days with some beautiful weather.  After a winter of being couped up inside, I have a hankering for some al fresco living.

Sitting on the porch, sipping a cocktail (or mocktail if you're me!), enjoying the flora and fauna, and basking in the sun.  Does anything sound more delightful?

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Vintage Easter Baskets

Easter is just around the corner!  Are you making baskets for anyone special?  I know that Easter Sunday, we will have a new addition to our family, so I've been on the hunt to find the world's cutest Easter basket.

It's harder than you might think.  Most baskets are boring and bland.  Here's a round-up of the cutest vintage-inspired baskets I could find.  Above is the basket I made for our new bundle, and below are the gorgeous creations that inspired me!

 

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Nursery Must: Crib Canopy

The nursery is nearing completion!  With only 4 weeks left until our little bundle of joy arrives, it's crunch time to finish all the details.  

As you know, I love a neutral nursery space, but the way to make it work without being boring is to add texture.  What better way than with a charming canopy over the crib?

Nothing is sweeter than an airy cascade of sheer fabric.  Let it puddle on the floor, and your little prince or princess will have the dreamiest nursery on the block.

 

Lori Gentile

 

Source Unknown

 

The Pretty Blog

Whistle & Wink

Baby Girl Gift Guide

 It's getting so close!  I can hardly believe that I'm only weeks away from holding my bundle of joy!  In my hunt to complete the nursery, I've come across some of the most adorable baby gifts.  I just had to share!

If you have a friend that's having a baby girl, I'm just sure she would love any of these gifts.  And if it's a baby boy...most of these vendors carry precious boy versions of the pink trinkets and toys below.

Hope you enjoy!

Serena & Lily Sleeper  |  Bla Bla Kids Sheep Mobile  |  Bambi Stuffed Animal

Melissa and Doug Stuffed Giraffe   |   Little Traveler Book Set   |  Restoration Hardware Play Canopy

Rikshaw Design Taj Aqua Baby Blanket   |   Vintage Letter Print