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

 

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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

Mardi Gras

It's that time of year again...we are gearing up for Mardi Gras!

As most of you know, the hubs is from the New Orleans area, so we've made it a little tradition since we have been married to get down there for at least a parade or two. This year the mister will actually be riding in a parade, which will be really fun to see him a top his float, flinging beads to the masses while in costume!

As I'm nearing 9 months pregnant, there are a few things I'm already lamenting regarding this trip.  I will be tired, can't walk far or stand for too long, can't stay up very late, but mostly....I'm lamenting the loss of this rare opportunity to look amazing in an evening gown.

The past couple of years, we have attended the Endymion Extravaganza, the ball after the Endymion parade.  It is a true black tie event and there are some amazing dresses there!  But me?  Oh, I'll just be in a muu muu and some crocks. 

But in the midst of all the preparation, I've been secretly day-dreaming of the dress of my dreams that I'll (maybe) get to one day wear.  

I remember a dress that a friend of ours wore to my sister's wedding.  It was a metallic jacquard burnout on chiffon over a colorful underlay.  It was really beautiful!  I asked who the designer was: Aidan Mattox.  I have been obsessed with his gowns ever since!  They are really much more beautiful in person, gorgeous materials and a perfect fit!

 

 

 

 

 

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In search of the perfect baby book

For a week or so now, I have been in search of the perfect baby book.  It seems the popular choice right now is a traditional silk covered style, perhaps monogrammed.  Don't get me wrong, they are beautiful, and I love a monogram!  But I was hoping to find something more special, different from the way my bride's book looks.

It seems like a simple task, but let me tell you...it is not!  Trying to find a baby book with vintage style and minimal cheesiness is no easy job.  Here are a few that struck my fancy.

I love this design by Binth.  It's modern but with hints of retro.  And I love the woodsy theme and shades of green.

For a more Victorian look, I love these books by Terra Traditions.  While some of their covers are a little over the top, I love the sweet, vintage images on the inside pages.

 

This memory book from Uncommon Goods also caught my eye, with it's hand-drawn style.

And then there is this little beauty.  Mother Stork's Baby Book  is originally from 1904, but has recently been reprinted!  How adorable does it look?

But my all-time favorite has to be this beauty from photographer Meg Fish.  If you haven't seen her work, I urge you to check out the link.  She is working from scratch, designing the entire book herself and then having it printed.  How is it that my favorite option always requires the most work.........??  And why I am seriously toying around with the idea of making my own baby book??  I must be crazy!

Do you know....

Do you know Lola Donaghue?  Check out some of her beautiful paintings! I love her use of pattern and color, and the color is balanced with a muted white overlay or background.  So fun and vibrant!

I love that the work is neither feminine nor masculine, and I love their whimsical quality.  These would be great in a child's room, but also in an informal den or family room.  They are so happy!

How fantastic is this yellow guy?  I love the quality of the brush stokes in her paintings!

To see more of her bomb-diggity work, check her out on etsy!

Holiday Getaway

How is it already January 8th?!!??  The last few weeks have gone by so fast, and we did virtually nothing over the holidays to prepare for baby Daly.  It's not panic time yet, but I feel like it's getting close!

While I had great aspirations of finishing the nursery and arranging folded onesies into our new nursery cabinet between brisk strolls around the neighborhood or prenatal yoga, the reality is that we were out of town a lot and I ate my weight in chocolate.

But I was able to squeeze in a mini-vacation with the daddy-to-be, which was a great distraction from my extremely long to-do list.

Since we were already in Mississippi visiting family, we thought we'd first stop into New Orleans for a friend's wedding and brunch the next morning at one of our favorite spots, Antoine's.  This is a special place for us, because this is where we dined the night we were engaged.  Out of tradition, we ordered the Baked Alaska for desert, which really turned some heads and sparked a great deal of jealousy amongst the fellow patrons.  Some people just know how to order...

After brunch, we headed to The Grand at Point Clear for a few days.

Photos courtesy The Grand website

Neither of us had been to The Grand, and I must say, it was rather magical.  We arrived just in time to see the gorgeous blood-red sunset on the water before heading to dinner.  When we returned from dinner, the hotel's holiday lights were all lit up and it was beautiful.

While we were down there, we stopped into downtown Fairhope and found some great boutiques.  My fav was "lulu & me", a fantastic fabric and home decor boutique where I found some beautiful fabric for the nursery.

They also had these charming paper mache candelabras in the window, which I fell in love with.  I may have to try to recreate these on my own.

And by far the best restaurant we went to on our stay was The Wash House. 

 If you go to the Fairhope area, you must, must, MUST go to this place.  I wish I had taken photos of the amazing food we ate, but it's rather romantically intimate in there and I didn't want to spoil the mood for other diners.

It is located in a sort of backyard barn, and the inside is cozy and whimsical, with light-wrapped branches hanging from the ceiling and a brick fireplace.  And the food was absolutely amazing.  

The trip was short, but it was such a treat being able to spend time away from the real world with only my husband for a few days before we begin the marathon to April and then a new life with baby.

I hope your holidays were peaceful and relaxing!

Mad for Plaid

Nothing says winter holiday like plaid!  It's cozy and charming, and I love the rustic quality it can bring to a formal interior.

It's hard to beat a tartan or bright red during the holiday season, but I've also seen some great winter white plaids as well.  Those are a great way to keep your decor light and bright, but still with a festive edge.

I hope you are enjoying your holidays, gearing up for Christmas, and experimenting with some wonderfully chic holiday decor!

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