Cook

Unless I have found a fantastic smoothie recipe or something gluten-free, you will probably never see me post about cooking. I would rather paint an entire room than try and figure out what to do for dinner. My creativity definitely did not transfer to the kitchen. I try my hardest and have fun with it when I am in the mood, but Matt is typically the cook in our family. His family grew up cooking together and would center many of their activities around food. He has such great memories of cooking (unlike me), and I have noticed that the intimidation I experience when stepping behind the "cooktop" is just not there with him. Maybe that is the main contributor to my mental block; intimidation. If I fail, what will we eat that night!

Some of the easiest recipes I have learned are basic Cajun recipes. They don't take much technique, are delicious, and require basic ingredients that we almost always have on hand to throw in. Maybe they are my favorite because I learned them from my husband while dancing around my kitchen; my favorite thing to do in the kitchen.

Luckily, my mother-in-law is one of the best cooks I know. She is just a phone call away if I get panicked, and when she comes over I am either off the hook or follow her around taking notes (Cajuns rarely measure). Finally, after a lot of persuasion from everyone around her she started a website to share her knowledge and recipes. She is all about taking the intimidation out of cooking, and is starting a series of classes to teach people of our generation the basics of cooking for their family. I know as a mom I wish I could quickly throw something healthy together for my kids.  Plus, this site is going to be a go-to for Cajun recipes. Now, I can look like an expert while reading the stories from my husband's family! ;)

Go to http://cooktheverb.com/ and check it out!

Nikki

The Ginger Mule Progress

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me post about The Ginger Mule. Late last year a friend, Robert, who owns Rogue Design Build contacted me about helping him with some of the interior of The Ginger Mule, a new whiskey bar and restaurant opening up in Sugar Land, Texas. Knowing this friend well from design school; I knew he would bring amazing creativity and craftsmanship to the project so I jumped at the opportunity to help, even if it only meant lending a creative ear when he needs it at times. We treated this project as a very fluid process; often completing one step before making decisions about the others. Sometimes we would sit together and just scheme up ideas that may or may not work. All he knew was that he wanted to reflect all that is great in America and a general idea about the menu.

This is a small space, and Robert has unique ideas about the bar and how he wants conversation to take place. We started with the idea of an eclectic, hunting lodge feel. We added vintage lighting over the tables and bar to give that milk-glass glow and a little bit of sparkle. The last details are still being put in place; be sure to check back for another update.

--Nikki

Leaving Texas and a Pictli Discount

Friday was the first day I had internet on my computer since we moved two weeks ago, and I'm gonna say what you already know, moving is hard! The day the moving truck got to our house I was on a plane heading to Florida. That was the easy part (for me), and I recommend all women leave their husband to do the dirty work while his parent's watch the kids haha. Honestly, the bachelorette party I was heading to was for a close friend and had been planned well before our move, so the timing was just a little bit of God smiling down on me and giving me some relief.

I used to go to Florida every year, but hadn't been much since moving to Texas. Let me tell you, if you haven't it's a must. The white sand and emerald water are heaven on earth! I flew back Sunday and went to our empty house to get the last few things and video a little bit so the kid's can see where they used to live. The following week, Matt drove our car up (and plants that I am sure will die in the cold), and I flew with both kids a few days later (it was a feat).

My parent's took the move pretty hard, so when Pictli contacted me about trying out their service, I knew just who I would send a framed picture to. You can choose to upload a picture from your computer, facebook, or instagram which made it easy since my mom walks around showing an instagram picture of them and the kids all the time. After I selected the picture I just chose a frame and I was done with my easy, customized gift. I will say that I wish there was a little more of a square frame selection since most instagram pictures are square...I'm sure that will come with time.

My mom loved it! The quality of the print was good and best of all, she was able to take it right out of the package and display it. It would be a great house warming, wedding, or new baby (to the grandparents) gift. Pictli was nice enough to give my readers a 20% discount until the end of May with the code: NT1504. 

Have a great week!
Nikki

Taking In Texas | Part 1

        We are down to one last family weekend here in Texas. While moving is stressful and busy, we are making an effort to enjoy what our neighborhood and city have to offer before we're gone. I do some volunteering for a local children's shelter, Parks Youth Ranch. It is a fantastic privately funded shelter for homeless youth in the area. The kids there will touch your heart forever. A few weekends ago they hosted their 2nd Annual children's fishing tournament. They had tons of treats, bounce houses and games, and Matt and I took on the fishing tournament portion since he really wanted to do something for them before we left and loves to fish. It was a great way to get out and help, and my parents brought the our kids out to enjoy the ranch. Abram got to try his hand at fishing for the first time ever. I'm sure this will continue at the lake this summer, but it was fun to watch his excitement when he got to fish next to the big kids.

       During the week I try to take the kids running in the double stroller a couple times. It gives me chance to get some exercise while they get to relax. Our neighborhood has several playgrounds that we pass during my run and lately the weather has been nice enough to bring them to the playground. Abram is obsessed with slides and Julip loves to swing.

       We also got to say goodbye to a few close friends and family this past weekend with a laid back bbq, in the backyard. Even though it had been raining for days and the backyard was a swamp, we set up the bounce house with a tarp to give the kids a way to get out their energy. Julip was in hog heaven for her first bounce house experience...surrounded by tons of dirt-covered balls to chew on.

    We are trying to finish up some of the house stuff during the week to give us some time for one last Houston adventure this weekend. I want a zoo trip and Matt wants a boat trip...we will see who wins. Hope your weekend was amazing and your Monday only takes one cup of coffee!

xo,
Nikki

House Hunting & Egg Hunting

I think I've mentioned here a time or two that we are moving...to Ohio...from Texas...SOUTH Texas to NORTH Ohio to be exact. It will be a big change for our family. We will also pay for good snow advice next winter.

We listed our {first} house a couple weeks ago, after what felt like a decade of talking about it. We had three offers within the first 2 days, one of those being from the first people who saw it. It was a huge relief for me since the staging was all mine.

We lived with my parents the entire week we kept it on the market. Then, we headed straight to Ohio to buy a house while my parents watched the kids. We had about 50 houses on our first list and narrowed them down to 20-something in different areas of Cleveland. We knew nothing about Cleveland so the first few days were just driving around to see different areas. By the time Friday came we had narrowed them down to our top two. It was straight out of an episode of House Hunters {I hate that show}...I always feel bad for the people because there is never a perfect answer. House 1: Location and House 2: Roomy and updated. 

In the end, after lots of tears from me, we went with house 1 and paid a little more than we would have liked for a smaller house that is in a great location. We will be down-sizing and cutting out the guest bedroom completely so that will be a challenge. The yard is great, as well as the community, and there is lots to do in the area...the lake is a mile away. Matt has always dreamed about being near the water and this will probably be the closest we ever get to a lake house, so that's what we will call it!

We headed back to Houston, on Friday evening, and had company come in for Easter. I tried to get the kids ready early enough to get their baskets before church. Abram is NOT a morning person, so he refused his shirt and didn't smile until he saw the candy and animals. Julip was just trying to sit up without falling and had gotten a mosquito bite on the middle of her forehead the night before... These picture will be awesome to look back on haha.

It was muggy and overcast for the majority of the weekend, but luckily the rain held out for our Easter egg hunt. We all went to my parent's house after church where we grilled everything you can think of, dyed eggs, watched the kids get WAY TOO into the hunt, and had my mom's Easter strawberry crepes {made gluten-free for me}. I seriously had dreams about them the entire week before!

Abram loved playing with "the boys"; he always imitates everything they do. Whenever they were counting their eggs on the grass, he began throwing his into the grass, yelling " 2, 3, 8, 10, 14, 18, 20". He cracks me up...hope your Easter was fabulous!

xo,
Nikki

Because I Love You | Free Valentine Printables

I whipped up a few Valentine printables for our gameroom shelves. Just click on the pic to pull up and download the 8x10 or 12x12 print for free. If you're on instagram I would love to see how you used the print; tag me @ntag1.

Also, I would love to hear what kind of art you love or wish to see for nurseries, kid's, and teen's rooms. I'm starting on a project that I think you'll love and your input will make it even better!

XO,
Nikki

5 Months | Baby 2

I realized the other day that all of J's clothes were getting too small. Then it hit me that I was still trying to fit her into 3 month clothes. Reality check momma, she is FIVE months old!

Weight: She weighs about 16 lbs, 12 oz and is in 9 month footed pj's. I could hardly believe it when I realized her Christmas jammies were 9 month. This is all happening too fast.

Health: Baby girl got RSV this month. We had just done the RSV test the week before and it was negative, so when she was congested and couching I just started battling it with the nose frida, saline spray, and humidifier. A few days later, she began coughing so much that she would stop breathing and I would have to hit her back, making her throw up and start breathing again. After it happened for the third time in a day I rushed her to the pediatrician. RSV. Luckily, they got her on breathing treatments asap that helped so we didn't have to stay at the hospital.

Julip and her twin (aunt)

Sleep: We moved her to her crib this month because she completely outgrew the rock-n-play and would flip to her stomach in it. She sleeps mostly on her stomach and about 10-12 hours at night on most nights. I will forever love her good night time sleep, but the girl is a no nap ninja. The only way she will nap is in my arms (like right now, as I type).

Diet: She eats 8 oz. of Enfamil Gentlease every 3-4 hours. We are also starting to notice she mimics our chewing and we feel so bad eating in front of her. She stares us down like she is savoring every bite. I can't believe we are almost to the point of high chair and food.

Clothes: Julip is mostly in 3-6 and 6 month clothes now and size 3 diapers. Like I said earlier; 9 month pj's. I have so many un-worn clothes that we just couldn't get her in fast enough. I'm also getting a little worried that at the rate she will be wearing her summer clothes in February.

Baby Gear Love: Crib, sound machine, pacifiers, pacifier clips for our spittin' baby, boppy, bob & double bob jogging stroller, double stroller, activity gym, and aiden and anais blankets, the bouncer, nose frida, bumbo, footed pj's.

Crying: She is such a softy (like momma). She cries if something touches her head, if she is hungry, or tired. She is a really sweet baby!

Likes: Sticking her tongue out, eating, watching my face, talking, watching tv, sucking on her hands, looking at her feet, music, her brother when he isn't stealing her toys, trying to sit up, standing for short periods, kisses on her cheek, and going for jogs.

Dislikes: Poopy diapers, loud noises, laying down when she wants to sit up, her car seat, getting dressed, being tired, and baths with her brother.

Sibling Love: Abram is a very helpful big brother. He is always trying to give her the pacifier and brings me a burp rag when I need it. He is starting to get jealous when I have to feed her in the mornings (his hard time of day). He is also starting to get possessive over toys now that she can play with some. He will take them and say, "mine", and then hide them and move onto another toy. He is having to learn how to share all over again.

Milestones: Julip talks and smiles to anyone who will interact with her. She loves to eat her hands and play with hanging toys. She will roll from side to side, but will NOT roll over. She just has no desire.

This month Julip celebrated Christmas, looked at lights, and spent the night at Doodle's.

xo,
Nikki

2015!

Over the years I have gone from welcoming the new year with a list of resolutions of what I want to do, to a few simple resolutions of the type of life I want to live. Change is always uncomfortable for me; heck, I think it is for most people. I once heard a saying from a friend, "when it comes to change in humans, slow is fast". For me that could not be more true, so while the idea of the first day of the new year being like a restart button and suddenly everything changes sounds great; in reality I know that these resolutions will be a commitment I strive for each day of the new year. Maybe by 2016 I will be one step closer to the person I want to be.

Balance and no expectations are my resolutions. After having Julip and going from a full-time working mom of 1 to a part-time work-at-home mom of 2, I am still dealing with a lot of change. There are days when it seems like I try to do too much and days when I feel like I dominate. I am striving for balance in raising my children and pursuing my design career. My worst fear would be to be spread so thin that I stop excelling at these items I feel so passionately about.

I still have my list of personal, family, and business goals but will not put unrealistic expectations on myself. I will also not limit myself; simply live each day for what it is and try my best.

2015 is already proving to be a year of tests and growth for me. Along with goals to grow Mini Magnolia Designs, my online design business, there is also a strong chance we will be moving to another state. We first found out about a possible move when I was still pregnant. Since then the locations and dates have changed, but the chance of a move is about 90%. To say that I'm nervous about moving away from the support of family and friends to a state up North, where it snows, is an understatement. 

After changing a lot about the current house we live in, the thought of another house to make my own both excites and exhausts me. I had already bought wallpaper and lights for house updates when we got the news, so I am anxiously holding onto them until we need to make our next house a "home". I would appreciate the prayers and will keep you updated on the progress of our move.

Before we leave I am finishing up a collaboration on the design of a small restaurant space. We start demo this week so I cant wait to share what's in the works! Happy 2015!

xo,
Nikki

A Christmas Playroom | Home Tour

Have you ever had (or have now) a room the is in-between every other room and serves multiple purposes? Rooms like that are some of the toughest to make a usable space out of; ours is about 90% done (still need a cool light) so I figured I would finally post it decorated for Christmas.

When we moved into our house we had a room at the top of the stairs, in the middle of all of the guest rooms. We had no kids yet, so it was the designated "man room". It was the one room Matt could put his posters and hunting decor in. It basically sat there, unused, with taupe walls and a beige hand-me-down couch that was ripping at the seams until we had baby #1. 

When we needed a nursery our office had to move to the man room. There was a niche that fit Matt's old garage sale desk perfectly. I loved the rough wood look of the desk, but took his childhood chair and painted it green to offset the wood. We also had some brown floating shelves that were moved next to the desk. When the walls were painted I took the white and painted the shelves, then added gold to the edges later.

 About 1.5 years ago I decided I was going to take that poor room into may own hands and start giving it a face lift. I installed a small chair rail and painted the walls white on the top and Benjamin Moore's Witching Hour on the bottom...while listening to reggae music and dreaming of a beach vacation. It made a HUGE difference in making the room feel larger and brighter! I will say that I wish I would've gone a little bit darker on the bottom, as this color can look slightly navy in certain light.  

I then tossed the couch and slowly started trying to make the room a usable playroom/man room/office. It really doesn't host the guys much, but I needed to leave up some of Matt's decor so he still feels like it's his house haha.

Then with baby #2 my large, brown Ikea shelf had to move out of the soon-to-be nursery. I didn't want it taking up precious wall space, so we used it as a divider. It felt so dark and heavy so I painted the outside white and it really helped to blend it with the walls. In order to make it toddler friendly we bought some threaded metal pipe and attached it to the wall, leaving a one foot gap in between the wall and shelf. We can now use the shelves from the room and the hallway, and the room feels like it's own space now rather than an extension of the hall.

There's a mix of man art and kid's art. I wanted to put a jack-a-lope in Julip's nursery but didn't want to pay so much for one. Then, I saw LayBabyLay's instagram with a paper mache one and found this tutorial to make it. I think Joni has since put up her own tutorial. 

Abram loves his Ikea table and chairs and his teepee that we got from Amazon. I added washi tape to the poles and some ribbon to the opening. I also took a small, useless table we inherited, cut it shorter, and attached a tray from Target to make it a usable side table with a little interest.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing it as we are enjoying actually being able to USE it! 

xo,

Nikki

Free Christmas Printable

Happy Cyber Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday. We always go to visit my family...9 hours away (10 with kids). I just got in late last night and am playing catch up today. 

Right before we drove home I realized I forgot to take a generation pic with my granny (who Julip is named after). She is 100 years old...5 generations in this pic. We may not look our finest (travel attire), but this is a keepsake picture for sure.

Before I left last week, I decorated the playroom (which is about 90% finished) for Christmas. Included in the decor were some simple Christmas prints I made. While I am busy editing the playroom pics to share later in the week I figured I would "gift" everyone the Christmas prints just in case they need one last thing to finish off their Christmas decor. Just click on the picture to pull up the 8 x 10 pdf printable. Need a larger size? Email me (under the contact tab) and I will get it to you.

xo,
Nikki

3 Months Old | Baby 2

Halloween came and went so fast that I almost forgot it was Julip's three month birthday! She is no longer a newborn and is such a sweet baby; she's always trying to chat with us and her brother. I swear I could eat her up sometimes...I mean those cheeks!

Weight: She weighs about 13 lbs, 4 oz and is filling out most of her 3 month clothes. She will be in 3-6 month and 6 month clothes within the next few weeks.

My behind the scenes "help" haha

Health: She has been great this month! We have been giving her Prevacid once a day for reflux, and that's all she needs to feel better. Her nose has been stuffy, but it's nothing to worry about really. Wow! I think this is the shortest "health" section I have ever typed.

Sleep: When Matt got back from his two week trip to Ohio Julip would wake up every time he would move or get up for work. I was exhausted! I was trying to wait until 12 weeks to move her, but finally around 11 weeks I made the call to move her up to her room. We kept her in the rock-n-play (next to the crib) for night and give her naps in her crib. I'm honestly a little nervous about having to make the transition. As of 3 months, she will go anywhere from 5-8 hours, but has done a couple 9 hour stretches! No real schedule yet, I just feed her every 3-4 hours and change her into her pj's before the night feeding. I keep trying to wake her for a dream feed like I would do for Abram, but the girl WILL NOT WAKE UP! I am starting to think that trying to get her to eat is shortening her sleep. I'm trying to do as little as possible to jinx her sleep. ;) 

Diet: She eats 6 oz. of Enfamil Gentlease every 3-4 hours pretty consistently.

Clothes: Julip is mostly in 3 month clothes now and size 2 diapers. Her pajamas are starting to stretch on the shoulders so I anticipate a switch to 6 month pj's soon. It is so crazy to see these socks that were huge on her at birth getting way too small. :( They really do grow so fast!

Baby Gear Love: Rock-n-Play, sound machine, pacifiers, pacifier clips for out spittin' baby, boppy, swing, her carseat and stroller attachment, bob & double bob jogging stroller, double stroller, activity gym, happy baby wrap {the moby was so hot and heavy}, and aiden and anais blankets, footed pj's.

Crying: She cries when she is hungry, when she is cold, when she has the hiccups, and when her tummy hurts, when she's tired, and when I pull a shirt over her head {she HATES it}.

This picture just makes me giggle for some reason...I think it's the chunky legs

Likes: Eating, watching my face, talking, watching tv, taking naps on our chest, sucking {pacifiers}, warm baths {she is totally relaxed}, naps on her tummy, music, her brother, staring at lights and fans, going for jogs, and being rocked.

he was a little helpful...

Dislikes: Diaper changes, poopy diapers, loud noises when it's quiet (she startles and cries so much), having to do too much exercise (tummy time) being cold and naked, her carseat, getting dressed, being tired, and laying flat on her back.

Sibling Love: Abram just adores his sister and is constantly giving her kisses and hugs, trying to share his toys, and entertaining her. She will just look at him and smile as he jumps around the room for her. He is trying to help me teach her how to roll right now. Sometimes he tries to pick her up and put her in his lap. The times when she can go in his bed are some of his favorite times. 

Milestones: Whenever we smile or talk to her she smiles back and tries to mimic our mouths and sounds. She has much better control of her head, but still hasn't rolled.  When we kiss her cheeks she just laughs and laughs. She has also started to put her hands in her mouth and notice her feet.Those legs are also quite scrumptious these days.

       This month Julip celebrated Halloween, dressed as a witch and a cookie monster, went to her first pumpkin painting party, first play date, and went to the pumpkin patch.

Also, I am guest posting over at The Girl In The Red Shoes today. I'm sharing my breast feeding journey with both kiddos on Julie's Breastfeeding Diaries series. I began reading it back when it first started, and when I had Julip or any time I had a trouble accepting the difficulties that came my way I would refer back to the series to read other's stories. It's a great resource for new moms who are just trying to figure out the best way to nourish their new bundle! Click on the link above to read mine and other's stories.

xo,
Nikki

A Very Mini Magnolia Christmas!

If you or someone you know is seriously in need of a new nursery, child/teen room, or playroom but doesn't know where to start then e-design may be the answer you are looking for!

My Mini Magnolia Designs website is still under construction, but I am starting to take on new and exciting custom designs for your mini's. 

For the next three weeks (through December 2nd) you can get my Design Suite Package; specially wrapped and shipped for whomever you are buying for. Due to the custom nature of my designs and the time and attention I dedicate to each client, there are only 7 spots available and it is first come, first serve!

What's inside the pretty packaging?

- 3 example boards to show my work and explain how the process works

- 1 voucher for a custom design of the room of their choice

   - Design Suite includes:

        * A design inspiration board customized to fit your budget and needs

        * A detailed shopping list for all specified items

        * Recommended Paint Colors

        * A design report with the concept and customizable options for your space

        * A Floor Plan

        * 3D Room Layouts showing the placement of everything

        * One round of alterations after the initial design is provided

The price for everything (including shipping) is $350

E-mail me at info@minimagnoliadesigns.com or leave your e-mail in the comments on this post, facebook, or instagram and I will paypal invoice you. Once you have paid I will ship your "design in a box" within a week to the address of your choice.

xo,

Nikki

Our Halloween/ Abram's 2nd B-day

The last two weeks have been a hectic, great time with a holiday, a wedding, a birthday, and Julip turning 3 months old the day of Halloween! For the sake of this post, let's start at the very beginning. Abram's birthday party was set for the day after Halloween months ago; due to our good friend getting married the weekend of his actual birthday.

I've never really decorated much for Halloween, so I figured I would make his party Monster/Halloween themed to have a good excuse to buy some more decorations and not stress out about trying to re-decorate. 

Halloween out take...check out instagram for the ONE good picture!

The night of Halloween we dressed him in his Wild Thing costume and headed to a friend's house for their annual cal de sac Halloween get-together. We each put out a bowl of candy, ordered pizza, and brought desserts. This year we played the Elsa drinking game which wasn't too bad considering we took our kids trick-or-treating for the majority of the time.

My parents came to help us, and my dad and Abram literally ran from door to door "tick or teating". Abram insisted on carrying his own bucket of candy. He was like a little boy! Tear... He kept up with all the older kids; running around all night long and digging through his candy.

The next morning he woke up to us preparing for his party, with my in-laws. We had Jambalaya, pigs in a blanket, mint-chocolate dipped marshmallows (Matt's request), cheese dip, candy, monster punch, regular and gluten-free devil's food cupcakes, and chocolate covered apples for favors. We set up some carnival games and fun jumps in the back yard. If you don't have a fun jump you should make it a Christmas gift to your kids and yourself; it saves us during almost every party/dinner/tailgate and is safer for the young-ins.  It all came together perfectly and everyone had a blast; costume or no costume. 

I don't think Abram stopped until he hit the pillow. We had some help opening Abram's gifts from some of our favorite little boys. They tore through every gift and Abram was so happy to see his favorite things; cars, balls, LSU, and elmo. Seriously, I have no clue where to put everything! That's more scary than Halloween! 

Oh and for the record, it took a full week for all of the black to get out of his nose...oh my.

xo,

Nikki

My Friday Five

I'm linking up with Darci and the gang again for 5 on Friday. I'm also going one step further and joining in on, "Oh Hey Friday". We have been busy in every facet of life lately. I cannot believe my baby boy will be TWO in about two weeks! Ahhh!

{ONE}
This made my week; we got Abram's school pictures and I just about died from the cuteness! We know the photographer so she made sure he was lookin' sharp ;). She was trying to get him to say "Julip". He just looks like a little man...with LOTS of hair.

{TWO} 
I'm sure everyone is aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you also know that it is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. This is a topic that is close to my heart. If you read back on my blog, you will see that before my human babies arrived I had several furry babies. Gable was my soul-dog. I got her from a breeder, and when she arrived she was filthy and had worms. She also appeared to have been emotionally abused. I worked with her for 5 years, and we shared an unbreakable bond. Then she ran from a friend that was babysitting her. I searched every shelter in Houston (all 5) every other day for over a month. I also became involved with the rescue community. It was then that my eyes were opened to reality. Only two Houston shelters even try to adopt out bully breeds, and even if your healthy dog arrives at a shelter, there is a three day hold before they may euthanize because of over-crowding, etc. Depressing I know. 

There is a happy side! 

Most dogs in shelters are incredible! Our last two have come from shelters, and both were already house trained, not sick, and had no emotional issues. They have seen the worst, so they will love you more than you will ever know! They are also all different temperaments  (playful, calm, cuddly) and breeds. Bijou is our hound that is a bit crazy at times; being only a little over 2. She loves our kids so much, and is Abram's bud and our protector.

{THREE} 
The birthday party is coming along. I am trying not to panic... I get so nervous about throwing parties; it's not the decor or invites, it's the food! Cooking is something that takes a lot of mental prep for me, especially if it's for large numbers. Paint a mural...when can I start; cook...can I hire it out. For now, I'm doing the things I can do ahead of time so that I only HAVE to cook a few things. Plus, my in-laws are coming in and my mother-in-law does catering. ;)  I fully accept she is a better cook than me as long as she helps. We all have our strengths.

{FOUR} 
I figure if I put this next thing in writing it will make me not back out. After eight years of design school and a couple years in the field; I am starting my own children's design business. It is something I have thought about since I got pregnant, but I couldn't quit a paying design job for something that is no guarantee. Then, some crazy "meant-to-be" stuff happened (details coming soon), and I was able to go to working hourly from home for my job. That allows me to start my dream business (they don't compete). I'm working on getting my Mini Magnolia Designs website live and linking everything together. Follow along on the blog/facebook/instagram and be on the look-out because as soon as it goes live I will be giving away a custom room design! Anyone need an amazing Christmas gift? 

temporary logo

{FIVE} 
Speaking of designs; my daughter's "Make Believe" nursery is a finalist on Project Nursery's October Project of the Month. I couldn't be more honored to have my hard work recognized! Do me a favor and head on over to vote for the "Make Believe": http://projectnursery.com/2014/10/vote-october-room-finalists-2014/

xo,
Nikki

Forever on the Farm

       Growing up, my family moved regularly to follow my dad's job in the oil business. We never lived near my grandparents, so seeing them was always an exciting time usually intertwined with holidays and celebrations. Matt moved a few times as well, but they always returned to their family farm, in Louisiana. He spent his time after school working alongside his Grandpa on the farm, and has a strong connection with the land.

       When we met, I couldn't even imagine having that kind of history and roots to a place. His Grandpa's Grandpa built the Cajun farmhouse that still sits, nestled under the oaks today. His grandpa was born in, and died in that house. The trees that surround the house were planted by his Grandpa at the arrival of each grandchild; Matt can point and tell me which tree belongs to which person.

Sitting in his grandpa's favorite chair

       When everyone started to move away for work Matt's parents began discussing selling the farm; it was a lot for two people to care for as a secondary job. The sale went through weeks after Julip was born. Everything seemed to happen at once, and before we knew it we were having to make a quick trip to Louisiana to pick up the rest of Matt's memories. It wasn't the kind of goodbye trip we were hoping for with Julip only 3 weeks old and Abram fighting a fever and pink eye, but we made the best of it.

       I quickly contacted a friend who was just starting her photography business and asked if she could take some family pictures on the farm, as a surprise for Matt. There we sat as a family of four on a hot, humid August morning; trying our best not to look too sweaty and keep the kids in good spirits. It was Julip's first and last visit to the farm that will forever be deeply ingrained in her daddy's heart.

xo,
Nikki

Five on Friday | Our Week

       Today I'm linking up with Darci and some of her gals for 5 on Friday. Matt has been in Ohio all week {for the second week in a row} and just got back today, so TGIF! Having to take on the role of single mom is tough; props to all of you out there!

{ONE}
 I am attempting to do the Advocare 24 day challenge for the first time since becoming pregnant with Julip. It is much harder when you are not sleeping regularly, but I finished the cleanse portion Wednesday so now I'm cruising through the max phase. It has really helped us get in a routine for better eating habits again.

{TWO} 
I have to join in on the pumpkin posts. I hated nuts when I was a kid, so pecan pie was out of the question. Anything pumpkin brings me back to sitting at my grandparent's house with my cousins, eating pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and scheming about what kind of trouble we can get into. Lesley Graham posted a pumpkin bread on her blog a while back; I enlisted Abram's help to make it this week {after my cleanse phase}. I used honey instead of the sugar so it didn't rise as much as hers. After I refine the recipe I will post a healthier version; just an excuse to keep making it ;). It is AMAZING and perfect for fall...you must try it! I'm totally wishing I was "allowed" to drink coffee right now so I could sit in my morning fog, sipping coffee and eating pumpkin bread on my hypothetical front porch...one can dream.

{THREE} 
I am desperate to keep Abram entertained without the tv. Make no mistake, we watch our fair share, but I had a few extra canvases lying around from my etsy days. I put on some Halloween music and we worked together to make a work of art for the playroom. He loved it so much he moved on to trying to paint the walls! Ummm...no way mister. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.... ;) 

{FOUR} 
We are in full party planning mode for Abram's 2nd b-day. I love the invites; perfect for the terrible two's!

Invitation Source

{FIVE} 
We had our 3rd annual pumpkin painting party with some neighborhood friends this week. My mom came to help with the kids so I could paint...HUGE help! I bought a small pumpkin so Abram could put his new-found painting skills to use. It looks like a colorful caterpillar to me and I have been so proud of it!

I hope your week went smoothly and quickly, and cheers {with my advocare spark} to the weekend! We plan on doing yard work, cleaning, and party prep...and there is talk of gumbo since it is now in the 60's at night. Crazy Cajuns.

xo,
Nikki

Master Bedroom Refresh | Home Tour

       It is my firm belief that a home is always evolving, much like life, change is the only constant. It can take months to years to develop a room if you're on a budget. Our home was our first out of college; actually I was in my master's program for 3 of the 6 years we have been here. We started out with very little money, very little time, and lots of hand-me-down furniture. We were so grateful for the furniture our families gifted us, but started to infuse our personalities and sense of style little by little.

       Our master bedroom was the first room we painted when we moved in {can't find a pic of the before right now}. Honestly, if I could paint all my rooms every year I probably would, but Matt HATES to do it. Over time I have been trying to make our bedroom look put-together on a small budget since it is not seen by others often.  Right before I had Abram I did a refresh and then again before I had Julip. I still loved the golden color, but needed something to brighten up the room and add some interest to the "focal" wall.

 

              Some of the biggest challenges were creating a cohesive look with a mixture of pieces obtained at various times, and combining the masculine and feminine touches so that my husband feels like it is his room too. The picture above the bed is actually a Persian rug of the Iranian army from the past. Matt bought it on one of his trips to visit family in Iran before we ever lived together. For a while it resided in his "man room", but got kicked out when it had to become more of a play room.  Matt was a good sport and said it could go in storage, but I thought it would be nice to have something more grande over our bed. He was thrilled! It helps to balance out the floral elements and now I think of them as our personal army watching over us while we sleep. ;)

       All of our furniture and finishes have to stand up to kids and dogs. The bedding was something that was a real challenge for us since our 65 lb. hound dog sleeps with us. She has black hair than can show easily on white bedding, and anything too delicate gets beat up pretty quick. I know I know...we need to stop the bad habit, but we are softies. We found the turquoise quilt at Target and it was perfect! It can add a pop of color to the room, or be flipped to the other side for a fresh, textured white. I got the bench at Garden Ridge, in high school, when it had zebra fabric. I covered it with this faux leather my Senior year, and have been wanting to cover it again. Until I get the time, I settled with throwing this fur rug from Marshall's on top.

       The dresser was a craigslist find. I actually got it over another woman because the seller was so aggravated that the other woman kept shoving it in her face that she was a designer...shhh don't tell. I ended up telling her my secret when I picked it up and we had a good laugh. I got the bedside tables from Homegoods and they were two different colors. I painted them and changed out the knobs with some found at Hobby Lobby. The lamps and basket are also from Homegoods {a long time ago}, and the mirror is from Ikea.

       The white framed pictures are of our parents and grandparents wedding days. They were all framed for our wedding and were then put on our wall, along with my "key to my heart" graphic.

Still on the wish list:

- Another piece of bedding to layer with the quilt

- A possible rug to add some texture

- A different fan that adds some style

- Cover the bench

- Possibly cover the headboard

- Rearrange/add art to the dresser

 xo, Nikki

2 Months Old | Baby 2

       Julip turned two months last Tuesday and had her checkup the same day. She is really getting big and starting to get those adorable baby rolls. Her personality is also starting to show and she is such a happy little lady. I could literally copy and paste the section about hair loss from her brother's 2 month post. Around 6 weeks her hairline started to recede until she was bald on the top of her head, then right before 2 months little hairs started to appear. The new hair is no lighter than the hair she didn't lose, but it does seem her hair lightened a bit.

Weight: She weighed 11 lbs, 8 oz at her check up {57%} and was 23.25 in tall {85%}. Abram was always a tall baby and his weight was always around 50% or more, but one thing was quite different...his head size was always on the smaller side. Her head circumference was 15.24" {66%}! No wonder all the headbands I ordered, thinking she would be about the same as her brother, are too tight! Considering she arrived three weeks early she is doing great! 

Health: She was diagnosed with silent reflux and we tried AR formula, but that just constipated her. After trying out Zantac, she is now on prevacid with Enfamily Gentlease. She has been a little more fussy because of that and some gas, but we have been managing it with Dupois and baby wearing to keep her upright. {Love my happy baby wrap}

Sleep: She still sleeps in the rock-n-play next to our bed. She goes anywhere from 4-6 hours between feedings at night. I have started to swaddle her in the miracle blanket when she will not calm down and for naps in her crib. She is much more aware of her surroundings {and noise} now so napping has been difficult unless she is in a separate room. I loosely follow babywise, so she is on a "flexible" schedule and I try to do a dream feed at night. We are slowly getting into a routine, but it is not very well established yet.

Diet: This month we started feeding her every 4 hours when she wouldn't wake up at 3 or would only drink an ounce. She drinks 4-5 oz, every 4 hours like a champ! We were using Enfamil Newborn, then AR, then newborn again and when the gas got worse, we started on Gentlease...fingers crossed.

Clothes: She wears 0-3 and 3 months clothes, and has grown out of several headbands already...bummer. She is still wearing size 1 diapers and has a long torso like her brother did.

Baby Gear Love: Rock-n-Play, sound machine, pacifiers, boppy, swing, her carseat and stroller attachment, bob jogging stroller, activity gym, happy baby wrap {the moby was so hot and heavy}, miracle blanket, and aiden and anais blankets.

Crying: She cries when she is hungry,, when she has the hiccups, and when her tummy hurts, when she spits up, and when I pull a shirt over her head {she HATES it}.

Likes: Eating, watching my face, taking naps on our chest, sucking {pacifiers}, warm baths {she is totally relaxed}, staring at lights and fans, going for jogs, and being rocked.

Dislikes: Diaper changes, being cold and naked, her carseat, getting dressed, and laying flat on her back.

Sibling Love: She is starting to notice Abram. During the LSU photo shoot he kissed her and she wouldn't stop staring and smiling at him; her eyes followed him around the room. He is still in love. He tries to "help" with her by feeding  her and giving her a paci when she is crying. When she is sleeping in another room he wants to find her, "baby?". We absolutely love seeing him as a big brother. He will walk up and give her hugs randomly and just started trying to give her his toys, hat, blanket, etc...it gets a little dangerous.

Milestones: Whenever we smile or talk to her she smiles back and tries to mimic our mouths. She is ALWAYS sticking her tongue out {since she was born}, and is much better at holding up her head. She will sometimes coo or do a little laugh. When we put her on her belly she just about takes off, and she has rolled to her side on several occasions.

Julip and her future bff at the party

       This month Julip went to her first birthday party, went to the park, started going running with mommy, listened to live music outside, got the thrill of watching mom as a single parent, and went shopping a lot.

Free "Don't Stop Make Believin'" Printable

Whenever I make simple graphics for my rooms I like to make them available to anyone so they aren't limited in created their dream space. I made a couple versions of the "Don't stop make believing" art print above the crib in my Make Believe Nursery.

You can download the 8x10 PDF by clicking the name above the image.

Don't Stop Make Believing 1

Don't Stop Make Believin' 2

I framed a larger version for my nursery, but you can transfer it to a canvas or do anything you can dream up! For a larger version, you may e-mail me at the address in the "contact me" link above.

Enjoy!

Nikki

Happy Fall!

       I cannot believe it is already fall! We have been in zombie/crazy/bliss mode as we try and navigate through life with a newborn AND a toddler. I may have lost my mind when I thought that this would go smoothly-ish. 

      A couple of weeks ago Matt went out of town for an entire week {even over the weekend}. I honestly thought he would come home and I would be unconscious on the floor, with a toddler jumping on me. It was a tough week and we may have watched the movie "Cars" a few more times than I care to admit, but I made it through alive and even wrangled Abram to help me make brownies for us Matt when he got home.

       I am told it gets better and is even fun once they are a little older. That being said I do love both of my babies and life right now, and will even more once I am getting a full night of sleep. I am one of those people who knows I don't do well without sleep, but watching Abram smother Julip with kisses always brightens my day!

      We try not to bring JP anywhere crowded until she is vaccinated {1 more week...I keep having to remind myself}. It has also been deathly hot and humid, monsoon rainy, and mosquito infested here so we haven't been able to go outside...cabin fever. We mainly enjoy football games and baby photo shoots during the games we are losing. It reminds me of why I love fall; it's not about the pumpkin spice latte's {not my favorite}. It's about football and weather I can go outside in after a HOT summer.

       Today, mother nature got the memo. There aren't beautiful colored leaves everywhere...it's Houston people...but the weather is about 5 degrees cooler and 80% less humid so I celebrated by taking Julip on her first run! She fell asleep for 2 hours!! RECORD nap... 

       It gave me time to work on Abram's 2nd b-day party decor; we are throwing a Halloween/monster themed party the day after Halloween. I don't have a lot of Halloween decor because before I was a parent I was never that into it, but this party is giving me a reason to stock up...even if the old women in Micheal's called it evil and gave me the stink eye as I pushed my 6 week old through the aisle of witch hats and trick or treat signs. :/ Don't worry I hate anything scary so this is a happy, candy-filled, festive party.

Happy 1st day of fall and yay for me for managing to get this post up with 30 minutes to spare!
Nikki