Friday, May 27, 2011

Seven Pounds




Mikka arrived into the world at 7 lbs and 6 ounces, eight twenty-two last Saturday morning. Since then it has almost been a week and I have been head over heels in love with her. It seems that although I have questioned weather or not I would have enough love for my child, I have found that as mothers we always do. That giving birth introduces us to a brand new love. One that is as curious as it is excited. Its the kind that brings back the butterflies in our stomachs and flirty small-talk. A world that is made up of soft sheets and powder. A place of nurture and comfort, always on our minds and always waiting for even just a moment to be together and to see each other. Even if its just from the corner of our eye, even if its just for a minute, and even if its to see them smile. Our desire is to show as much love as we feel, as much care as we can give, and as much of laughter as we can share.

Brand-spankin' new, hope

*Photography by Maria with Bumble Alley.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Bathroom Brushup


It was time. My master bathroom needed some attention. And with only a days worth of work, I finally attacked some of the things that I have been meaning to do, just not getting to.

Towels wrapped in fabric and twine
This is great way to display guest towels without any additional expense. Using beautiful fabric and a little ribbon can give any white towel some added personality.

Hooks added for easier access
This can be an easy and inexpensive fix to towels that you use everyday. I found that just by giving them a place made the space look more purposeful.

Amenities placed on charger
Try using some of the things that you hold for special occasions. This mirrored charger wasn't even being used before I pulled it out, and now it pulls our things together.


Jewelry displayed
With out looking too clustered or messy, metals look great on metal. Look for shiny objects that you can display your jewelry on. Be as unconventional as possible.


An empty wall, dressed up
Just hanging up something you love to look at can be the answer you need for an empty wall. Especially a collection of something.


Pictures and Curtains, hung
My collection of dollies was finally put to use, as well as the curtains I had in a box for ages. I have found that most of the time, I have everything I need to freshen a room up. But very little the time to get to it.

Getting to it, hope.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Awaiting Mikka






No matter the name, there is an opinion. There is always something more suited and most often declared better. Mikka's name was no exception. I wanted it to be part Russian, part American and part perfect. It needed to be her, even before we met her. It needed to have meaning but to also evoke the right emotion, suited for the appropriate time.

Coincidentally, I remember both days. It began after the ultra sound, when I finally made the anticipated call to my family and told them that indeed, it was going to be a girl. My younger sister, who seemed most interested in my pregnancy told me that her name choice was nothing more then perfect. Not too certain about the name, I shrugged "Mikaela" off until a couple weeks later when Jenny came home from school.

Mommy, she said. I know our baby's name. It needs to be "Mikaela".

A little shocked, I wondered if she had somehow overheard the last conversation with my sister. But from the look on her face I knew that her excitement could not have been faked, so I told her that it was a nice name and that we would consider it. Of course, she beamed happily at my response.

My dad came to visit us not too long after and bringing with him, his list of opinions. Unsatisfied with his proposals, I somehow stumbled upon a Russian site and with it, a short list of 10. I think it might have been a modern interpretation of some Traditional Russian names and with only a few options, "Mikka" was one of them. But even more then the name, I liked the definition the was worded so plainly beside it. God's Child.

Although the pieces fell together by themselves, it took a little more time for me to connect the dots and two weeks later it finally hit me that both the names could be one. Mikka-yla.

I ran the idea by with "Genius" and he loved it, but not at all for the reasons I thought, or even the reasons I have given. By far, the name won him over because of the first three letters. Meek.

That was that. Hope.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Envelope system





In the book Financial University by Dave Ramsey, the envelope system contributes a lot to his beliefs for always paying in cash. He believes that having an envelope isn't just for storing cash, it is a way to have control of your money in the places that it should be going.

Taking his method and building a little on it, brought the idea for these adorable leather envelopes. I like the modern touch it has on something so simple but yet continually proven to have worked for decades.

Today, I think it goes perfect with my Calenders by Etto Design that hang on the wall beside them. It makes me feel just a little more organized, a little less stressed, and that much less cluttered.

Funny how an envelope can send a message to my brain and with it, bring forth inspiration. But of course I couldn't just share this with myself and at a recent brunch, I made one for each of the girls. Just a reminder that anything you can use, some one can use also, Hope.