Design Your Dwelling

I've Moved To a New Blog - Nothing But Neutral!

2015-05-20T11:47:00.001-04:00

I've moved! Find me at my new blog - Nothing But Neutral!

I needed a fresh start to encompass so much more of me and what I'm about. I'll still be sharing decorating tips and a few mommy tips but I'm going to add more fashion and lifestyle posts.

Please join me here. :) Thank you!

High five for Friday

2015-02-13T11:48:00.000-05:00

What-a-week!

One | Colton is a pretty good shopping pal! The kid loves to ride in the cart and hold stuff!

Two | I decided to host a Jamberry Nails party - I love these nail wraps - easier to apply than polish and they last so much longer. If you are interested in ordering, go here and look me up (Beth Kohler) at checkout. All orders will be shipped directly to you!

Three | I got this new planner from Thyme is Honey. I've had my eye on it for awhile and finally decided to get it.

Four | I hosted an e-design giveaway ($150 value) at Hello! Happiness. There is still time to enter the giveaway.

Five | I got these Valentine's Day beauties from Colton today. So sweet! :)

My last minute Valentines for kids

2015-02-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

It happened. The dreaded statement "Mom, I need __________ by tomorrow!" Except Colton is only 7 months old and can't talk, nor does he really care about Valentine's Day. This is what I learned when I dropped him off at daycare yesterday morning. My husband forgot to mention that daycare was having a little Valentine's Day celebration today and Colton could bring Valentine's for the other kids if he wants.

Of course he wants to!! :)

Good thing I dropped him off at daycare. I rarely drop him off at daycare.

Thank goodness I keep a lot of "stuff" around. (My husband doesn't call it stuff) I'm kind of like a paper, crafty-thing kind of hoarder so coming up with a little, last-minute Valentine was not too difficult and evolved into something I would consider cool. (Then again, I'm in my 30's so let's hope the kids don't think it's dumb...)

I had the following things stored away: (I knew I bought all of these things for a good reason)

Pillow boxes (Target dollar section for a year ago, you can get them in nearly any craft aisle)

Card stock

Multi-use labels

Crayons

Washi Tape

Reese's hearts (I bought for my husband for Valentine's day)

In each pillow box I included a card with "from: Colton" signed on the back, six heart-stickers, two crayons so they could color their cards, and a Reeses heart-shaped peanut butter cup. Then, I sealed the box with washi-tape.

Here's what I made...

Valentine's Day Cards

All these took were a stamp, ink, and card stock. I was going to color them but seriously, who has time for that??!! So, I included a couple of crayons so they could color them on their own!

Stickers

Using the circle-shaped multi-lables I made heart stickers. Each package got six of them. From what I remember about being a kid, stickers were the best!

I say I did pretty good with this last-minute Valentine!

I knew this would happen sometime, I just figured it would be well after we got him into school! Mom of the year - here I come!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

PS... sorry Grandpas, Grandmas, aunts, uncles, and friends - your Valentine's are on hold! See you around St. Patrick's day?

House tour: 3/4 bathroom

2015-02-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was house-cleaning weekend and, since I had a clean house, I thought I'd continue the post-renovation house tour. With that - welcome to our 3/4 bathroom!

This bathroom is a brand new addition to our home! The space used to be our laundry room, which you used enter from the guest bedroom. And, the doorway you are looking through didn't exist. We had to cut the doorway into a wall in our entry way and add three steps.

We had to get somewhat creative to design this new bathroom. Since we have a small home, and knew we'd have guests more often with a baby on the way, we needed an additional bathroom that included a shower, especially since we tore out the 1/2 bathroom that used to exist in our kitchen. After working with our contractor, and thanks to my husband's excellent know-how to make things work, we have this 3/4 bathroom.

Thanks for stopping by! For more of our home, visit my house tour page!

Sources

Mirror: Target

Soap Dispenser: Target

Shower Curtain: West Elm

Rug: World Market

Bath Towel: Target

Flower Holder: World Market

Wall Hanging: Ikea

Bump Day: Baby things worth registering for or gifting

2015-01-28T12:22:00.000-05:00

I've been a mom for seven months now. I've learned a lot and know that I have a ton more to learn.

Colton - 7 Months

As Colton has gotten older, and busier, I've discovered a few things that are handy to have. I wish I had thought to register for these things. Lucky for my friends who are having babies in the near future they will more than likely receive a few of these goodies from me.

Hand and Face Wipes | I use these ALL THE TIME! They are especially handy to have when you are feeding them baby food in a public place and need to clean up their face and hands when they are done.

Grass | I love this for drying bottles, spoons, food bowls.

Diaper Pail Refills | I go through these more often that I thought I ever would. If you see a diaper pail on a registry, buy these. You can never have too many and they don't outgrow them like diapers.

Baby Jumper | There will come a time when you need to contain your baby - even if it's just to run to the bathroom. Colton is crawling now so to get him to stay in one place for more than a second is a pretty tall order. A toy to "contain" him has been really helpful. Plus this type of exercise toy really helped his overall strength.

Baby Spoons | I got baby spoons for my baby shower. It was nice to already have some when Colton started eating - one less thing to have to run out and purchase.

Play Mat | Get a big play mat. They work great as a carpet protector, until they start crawling. I wish I had asked for a big play mat.

A few more things to consider gifting or registering for:
Extra crib sheets & mattress protectors
Toys & books
Waterproof bibs
Baby Wipes

Things to try to avoid registering for or giving:
Clothes with snaps, especially pajamas. (These are a nightmare at night or if you have a busy child like mine.)
Lotion and body wash. There is a such thing as too much. Colton will still be using all of the lotion and body wash we were given until he is 5 years old.

Client e-design

2015-01-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was getting a sponsorship & giveaway post ready for an ad spot that I will be running on Natasha's blog - Hello Happiness - and I came across an e-design I did for a client a few months ago. I can't believe I forgot about this design - it's one of my favorites!

I really like the play on colors and the idea of a barn wood feature wall to bring contrast and texture to the space. Nancy's house is a farmhouse in the eastern US that is filled with natural light - she has an eclectic style that made this design so fun!

High five for Friday

2015-01-23T11:17:00.001-05:00

One | I spent some time in San Antonio, TX for work this week. The warm weather was nice and it was neat to see a different city. I also considered this a mini vacation.

Two | We have two new babies on the farm - both healthy heifer calves!

Three | Colton has been busy - crawling plus two teeth - all in a very short seven months.

Four | I have, in a way, given my wardrobe an overhaul since Christmas due to gift cards, coupons and great deals. Should I share some fashion-type posts??

Five | When I got back to the office yesterday I received the nicest note from a gal that works on my team. It was an awesome way to come back to work!

A working vacation...literally

2015-01-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

When you have a family, traveling for work is not fun.

This week marks the first time I've traveled for work since Adam and I were married over a year ago which also means that this week is the first time I've left Colton for more than one night. I tell you what - I miss my boys like crazy and now realize the anxiety that people feel when they have to travel for work.

By anxiety I don't mean that I think my husband can't handle everything on his own because there is no doubt in my mind that he can. I refer to anxiety as a sort of sadness or fear of missing out on what might be happening at home.

However, I giving up the feeling of anxiety and am soaking up these three nights away for home as a mini-vacation.

1. I'm in a warm, sunny climate.
It's been 70-80 degrees here in San Antonio! That's compared to 30-40 degrees in Iowa.

2. I get to sleep all night long.
Colton is teething which keeps me from sleeping through the night.

3. I take my time getting ready for the day.
I can get up at the same time as a I do at home, get in a quick workout and get myself ready for the day and I'm not responsible for anyone else.

4. I get to eat out a great restaurants.
I always try to eat somewhere local to the place I'm at which generally results in some pretty good food.

5. Someone else makes my bed every day.
I love this and am thankful for hotel housekeeping.

6. I'm visiting tourist attractions.
There is no reason I should just go back to my hotel room and sit after my meetings are over. This week I headed to the River Walk in San Antonio - total tourist attraction!

The only reason that it's been easy to consider my work trip as a mini vacation is because of my husband. He's a wonderful man that is perfectly capable of taking care of himself and fantastic dad who takes excellent care of Colton which leaves me no reason to worry about things back home.

House tour: living room

2015-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Our house tour continues!

It's taken me a long time to decide how I wanted to decorate our living room. We had the basics because we needed them - couches, lamps, side table, tv stand. It was the decor that I still needed to decide on to make the space feel put together and home-y. Ok - so it was mostly the pillow covers I was looking for. Finally, between Christmas and New Years I found them and could finish up the space.

Here is the design board I put together to help me see the items I wanted in my space all together.

Overall, I've come to like the space. It feels causal, livable, and trendy.

Our living room is not big, instead of small I prefer to use the word "cozy."

I found these great pillow covers at H&M. They are just what I was looking for and SO affordable!

One thing I always try to incorporate into a space is something unexpected. I liked this tin sign because it was unexpected and has since generated conversation and a few smiles.

I am a big fan of Anna Riflebond's work but instead of spending the money on a large print, I found this calendar page and fit it into a frame. The "K" is from a local vintage decor store.

Before you start complimenting me on how nice the space is, I have to share a bit of reality. With a 6-month-old boy who is now on the move, this is what our living room looks like most days. :)

To see more of our home visit my home tour page!

In addition to decorating my own home, I also offer interior styling services. The spaces I style are comfortable, liveable, and affordable. Find more information here.

New year, new look for my living room

2015-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Actually, my living room has never really had a "look" because I have never had an idea of how I've wanted it to look. I decided just to live in the space for awhile until I got a feel for it - one that was versatile, comfortable and could still look put together with toys scattered across the floor.

The basics are already in place - couch, love seat, side table, tv stand, and paint color. It's the accessories that I've needed to decide on. So, after a whole lot of sitting in our living room, I finally got a feel for the accessories I was looking for.

Accessories make a space fun because they add energy, comfort, and an element of surprise. Not to mention, they are interchangeable at any time.

Simplify

2015-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of a new years resolution type of gal, no particular reason besides that I'm just not.

But, with a new year comes new ideas and goals and this year I feel as though I want to simplify my life. It would be a lie if I said I had a complicated life because I don't but I've created what feels to me like a cluttered, busy lifestyle. Instead of having a million thought running through my head at the end of the day of all of things I could or should be doing I want to be present with my family, not be too busy to spend time with my friends, or feel rushed to complete a project I could have done months ago. This (hopefully) also means giving up over-thinking things.

So what does this look?

It looks like...
Keeping my priorities in check
Not over thinking things, I'll let them happen, it will work out, it always does
Getting rid of things I don't need and don't use
Doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen right after each meal
Only running errands during lunch 1 day/week
Meal planning
Putting away my phone after supper time
Avoiding the use of credit cards
Focusing on only one side business at a time (blogging + interior styling)
Not feeling pressure to write consistent blog posts
Keeping up with a cleaning schedule
Taking advantage of opportunities as they arise
and a few other things I'll think of along the way...

This will be simple...

Happy 2015!

High five for Friday

2014-12-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

One | Morning play time is the best and lately this kid loves books!

Two | Last minute packages are coming in the mail. I got myself a little something... this Julep nail polish.

Three | We went to meet Santa Claus this past weekend. He loved him!

Four | It's not often that we take pictures together. I like this one.

Five | It's Friday. That's a good thing!

Thank you all for reading my Bump Day blog post this week! :)

Bump Day: Losing the baby weight

2014-12-17T14:18:00.002-05:00

This weekend my husband and I went to one of our very good friends' wedding reception. While we were there I received a lot of nice compliments about my appearance since I hadn't seen many of those who were there since Colton was born. Their nice compliments light a spark under me to write this post.

I think one of the most scary things to think about when your pregnant is "what am I going to look like after I have the baby?" and "am I going to get my body back?"

There is no one answer to those questions that is the same for every woman but what I believe makes the difference is our mindset. I have always known that I want to be a good-looking and healthy mom for both my husband and my children. My parents were complimented often about how young and good-looking they were (and still are). This was important to me when I was younger, especially in high school and college.

Pre-Pregnancy 2013

I was also raised to be healthy and was taught to take care of myself. These became priorities while I was pregnant with Colton. I didn't allow myself to think "I might as well eat it because I'm going to get fat anyhow." (that's not to say I didn't eat ice cream or sweets ever...)

Instead I took notice of what I was eating and I quickly noticed that my body would tell me what it needed by the things I craved which was often fruits and vegetables.

I also kept up my exercise routine. In the early months of my pregnancy I worked out 3-4 times a week, combining cardio and weights. As my pregnancy progressed my workouts naturally adjusted to more walking/cardio, less weight lifting. By the time I got to a week or two before Colton was born I think I was just doing cardio and only 15 minutes at a time because my pelvic muscles were sore - probably from my body getting ready to have a baby. The point is, I didn't quit exercising just because I was pregnant. I think I was even at the gym the week Colton was born.

Even though I exercised and ate well I still gained weight! At the dr. appointment I went to a few days before Colton was born I weighed in at 190lbs - 40lbs over my normal weight! My husband was in disbelief that I weighed that much. Weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable.

Pregnancy 2014

Colton was born on June 21. It's taken 6 months to feel back to "normal." And "normal" hasn't come without work and dedication.

Some of the baby weight is going to come off naturally. The remaining weight you need to work at losing and it takes time. That's ok. Believe in yourself and find your confidence.

When you have a newborn, it's kind of like an excuse for not doing anything. Colton only served as my excuse for a little while, until I realized I needed to get out of the house so Colton and I went on a lot of walks on a local walking path and sometimes, at night, Adam would send my out for a walk with the dog while he spent time with Colton.

I also ate well and took time to make lunches for myself that were healthier than a sandwich and chips. My sister was training for a half-marathon and changed her diet so I asked her for a few suggestions.

Once I went back to work I started getting back into my old exercise routine of cardio and weight lifting. Six months later I weigh 155 (I'm 5'6" for reference). I still have weight to lose but all of my favorite clothes fit so I say that's a win plus I've started a more regular weight lifting program which may contribute to the 5 lbs that are still hanging around. I am back to size 8. I'm comfortable here.

Post - Pregnancy 2014

Here are a few things that worked for me and I'd encourage you to use as a starting point.
1. It's ok to buy clothes that fit after you have the baby - you need to feel confident and beautiful, not frustrated.
2. Don't tell yourself you can't eat something, just eat it in moderation.
3. Exercise when and how it fits your schedule.
4. Ask one of the trainers at your local gym to write a workout plan for you.
5. If you don't have a gym membership try out the Nike Training Camp app - it's awesome! I use it on days that I don't make it to the gym.
6. Enlist people you perceive as "healthy eaters" to help you find good things to eat. Follow healthy.food.choices on instagram for ideas too!
7. Schedule time to go to the gym. I always have 'gym + lunch' on my outlook calendar at work that way no one schedules over that time.
8. Avoid the scale - judge by how you feel rather than how much you weigh
9. Do your hair and make up, you'll feel better when you feel good about how you look
10. Find inspiration. I follow Mama Laughlin on Facebook - she is truly an inspiration!

You can do it... I promise. Just believe in yourself.

Linked up at: Serenity Now

High five for Friday

2014-12-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

One | My Christmas shopping so complete! I'm just waiting for a couple of things that I ordered to arrive. I'm feeling accomplished because in the past I've always felt as though I am scrambling.

Two| Our house is decorated! I've mentioned this before, I don't really care to decorate for Christmas. Mostly because our house is small and I have to think about taking it all down again... Btw, I am excited to have found these stockings after searching multiple Target stores!

Three | Last Saturday I hosted a handmade gift workshop with a few friends. It was a lot of fun and I think I may host one again.

Four | Colton and this dog... he loves her! He especially loves being licked by her - it makes him giggle.

Five | This one may surprise you but I helped give cows shots this morning before I started work. I enjoy working with my husband and doing this sort of thing.

Make your own gift card holder

2014-12-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

I try really hard to not give gift cards for Christmas. But sometimes, that's what people want.

In the case that I do give gift cards like for weddings, bridal showers, baby gifts, (ok Christmas too), I try to spice them up so that it appears as though I put a little more thought into the gift. I do this by making my own gift card holder.

It's really pretty simple and you only need a few things.

Supplies: Stamp, ink pad, glue spots, paper cutter, card stock, and a gift card!

Here's what to do:

Step 1 | Cut the card stock to size. I cut my to approximately 8 1/2 by 3 1/2 - 4 inches.

Step 2 | Fold the card stock in half.

Step 3 | Use your stamp of choice to stamp on the outside of the card.

Step 4 | Attach the gift card to the inside of the card with a glue dot.

Step 5 | Write your note. (optional: Write the value on the card, behind where the gift card will be attached.)

Step 6 | Give! (This is the best part!)

This is super simple and can be used for any occasion! I happened to make this one for a friend's bridal shower.

Back to the basics

2014-12-10T17:22:00.002-05:00

I'll be the first to say that I can do it all, or at least try to do it all.

And then I have a moment when I get overwhelmed and stop everything I'm doing. So, I'll take a quick breath and then start all over again. My mind never stops - it's a blessing and curse.

Lately my want to do list is growing like crazy! Here's a quick glimpse of what's on it:
Be a great wife
Be an awesome mom
Help my husband with farm "stuff" when he needs it (we like working together)
Build an interior styling business
Consistently publish blog posts on this blog
Start a second blog
Own a boutique clothing shop
Learn how to use photoshop
Improve my photography skills
Continue building my card shop
Get ready for Christmas
Host a handmade gift workshop (this was SUPER fun by the way!)
Participate in vendor shows with my paper goods (I told my husband to remind me that I said I wont do another vendor show)
and... oh yea... work a full time job!

There's more, but I'll spare you the time of reading through a longer list. :)

Instead of telling myself that I can't do it I remind myself that I can do it all, just not all of it right now! Instead of just diving in, I'm learning to put some plans in place. I've always been a "now or never" person.

I've decided I just need to get back to the basics and focus on what I really want to do beyond my implied roles. That's blogging and (hopefully) building my interior styling business.

Except I wont apologize for not writing a blog post for a few weeks. I was just too busy trying doing it all!

Do you ever feel this way?!

The happiness journal

2014-11-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

Happiness is an awesome, crazy feeling that we deserve to feel every day! I'm fortunate that I do get to feel the sensation of happiness every day, through my husband, through my son, through my friends and even through really simple, little things like getting a phone call from a friend or a clean house.

Unfortunately, sometimes, we hit a rough patch where we forget to see or feel the happiness around us. Once, when I ran into one of those times my best friend suggested that I take a moment every day to write down two good things that happened. I kept them in a journal and over time I was reminded that no matter what, something good happens every day. I called it my "happiness journal."

It's a simple practice that has the potential to yield huge results.

I've given happiness journals to friends - friends that were going through hard times and friends that were experiencing exciting times. It works the same and is a neat way to record different seasons of our lives.

I challenge each of you to give it a try. If you need a new journal to get started, you can find these in my shop. Otherwise grab any old journal, or notebook - it will have the same effect!

High five for Friday

2014-11-14T15:02:00.002-05:00

Blogger isn't working today so I don't have any pictures to share. Bummer because I had a picture of two really cute kids to include. :( Have a super weekend!!

one. Colton and I made a trip to Minnesota to spend the weekend with my parents. (More like so my parents could spend the weekend with him...) It was fun to be there - they love him SO much!

two. During our trip to Minnesota my good friend Melissa came over to visit and brought her sweet little girl. In the short time we spent together I learned the following three things: babies are funny together, it's impossible to get a picture where they both look at the camera at the same time, boys are very different than girls (Colton is like a bull in a china shop, while this sweet girl plays, and sits, so nice.)

three. I got to do a little shopping in at a couple of stores I've been dying to shop at in New Ulm, MN. I love them both - Semblance and Gallery 512 Boutique. Check them out!

four. Family day! Adam, Colton, and I got to spend a whole day together, just us. We had so much fun doing a little shopping and having a little lunch.

five. I found this at the grocery store. I took a chance on it and was pleasantly surprised!

Bump day: an introduction to baby food

2014-11-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

We recently introduced Colton to baby food. Our doctor mentioned that for the first couple of weeks starting food was all about discovery. So, why not let him play with his own spoon?!

Fortunately Colton loves food and is already starting to get full when he eats. We always have a bottle on standby though. We've also progressed to the highchair!

Here are a few things I've learned in these first few weeks of introducing baby food:

- I feed him when he's hungry. If he's not hungry, he wont eat.

- I avoid feeding him when he's getting tired. If he's tired, he wont eat.

- I try to feed him between 5-7:00pm to keep some consistency.

- If we are in a new place, he doesn't eat that well because there is SO much to look at.

- If he still wants more food after he's eaten what I made, I make more.

- I always follow up with a bottle, just in case.

- I've tried a fruit and a vegetable. He likes them better than rice cereal so I always start with the cereal since that's probably still easiest on his little belly.

The most important thing our doctor told me as we started him on food was that baby food was not his primary source of nutrition at this point, his formula still is. Over the past week or so we've started to make the transition more baby food and less bottle during his early evening feeding time.

As a first-time mom, the thought of starting him on baby food was a little scary because I had no idea what I was doing but it's actually REALLY fun!

Living room art change-up

2014-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

I have a hard time letting things be...especially as it relates to decorating our home.

Probably my worst quality, according to my husband.

Just when I thought I was satisfied with some of the artwork I had hung in the living room, I decided to change it. Of course I changed it while my husband was no where in sight so he couldn't tell me no! :)

Before...

After...

While I liked the two pieces of Gallery Wall Art that I had hung here before, I really like this simple artwork better. I'm learning that my style can be defined as "less is more."

Item Sources

Before artwork: Gallery Wall Art

After artwork: Allison Long Hardy (move 1)

Curtains: Nate Burkus

Yellow Pillow: West Elm (similar)

High five for Friday

2014-10-24T12:58:00.005-04:00

I'm back for another edition of High Five For Friday. These weeks seem to be flying by. I guess that's what happens when things get busy and life is good.

One. Colton had a big week this week. He turned 4 months old, had his 4-month check up, and got his first taste of rice cereal. He likes this "eating from a spoon thing!"

Two. The University of Minnesota celebrated their 100th year of homecoming last weekend. The football game was awesome, and they walked away from the game with a "W" over Purdue! I wish I could have been at the game.

Three. There was a rain day this week. It was fun to have Adam home early to hang out with us.

Four. I started reading "Gone Girl." I want to see the movie but someone recommended I read the book first. It's really good so far.

Five. Our daycare provider is pretty awesome. Colton made a Halloween project this week. I never knew how special things that kids make were! I love it!

4 things I am (surprisingly) better at as a mom

2014-10-22T11:57:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I surprise myself.

I heard plenty of pre-mommy-hood stories about how...

"you will never have time"

"your house will be a disaster"

"your going to have spit-up on you wherever you go"

"you'll never sleep"

"your life is over"

This scared me and I was convinced that I was going to fall apart as human-being.

Then I remembered how good my mom was at holding it all together, getting everything done, and looking like a million bucks every time she left the house. I began to pray that those traits, somehow, had made it into my DNA. Some did. (Thank you God!)

I've found there are four things that I am surprisingly better at now that I'm a mom...

Washing dishes. I hate doing dishes. Since Colton came along there are never dirty dishes in our sink anymore. I wash bottles once a day and since the sink is already full of hot, soapy water I was dirty dishes too.

Picking up the house. We don't have a big house so a little clutter (baby stuff) basically makes our house look like it's a disaster. I pick up the house once a day and sweep/dust/vacuum our floors regularly. I never had a messy house, I just make more of an effort now. (p.s. That's just my camera bag on the table in the picture...)

Being more timely. I have my dad's genes when it comes to timeliness. I always think I can "just do one more thing." That's changed. When I have to go, I (99% of the time) stop what I'm doing and leave.

Getting fully ready first thing in the morning. Pre-Colton days I used to wait to shower on my home office days and weekends until after I went to the gym. Then I would only dry my hair. Now, most mornings (not all) I get fully ready (hair, make up, etc...). I think it's about feeling human and confident for me. Plus, I never know how my day is going to go anymore.

Who would have thought I'd be better at these things?? Definitely not my husband. Probably not my mom either...

Don't worry, there have been things I've gotten worse at too. I'll save that post for another time. :)

Ocotober Citrus Lane Box Review

2014-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm a sucker for monthly subscriptions that send a box in the mail. I'm also a sucker for my baby so when I came across the sponsored post for Citrus Lane in my Facebook feed I took a look and decided on a 3-month subscription to give it a try!

Citrus Lane finds new kids products for ages newborn through 5. Each month you get a box with 4 or more items that relate to your child's age. Sorta like Birchbox for kids.

I opted for a 3-month subscription at a price of $24/month. I did save 50% on my first box with the code SAVEHALF.

Here is what I got:

Bake N Shake Donut Rattle by North American Bear Co. I like it. It's soft and squeaks but doesn't rattle. Maybe we got one that was faulty. Colton isn't overly interested in it yet, but it's hard for him to get his hands around. The set of 6 is sold for $30.

Cage Bell from Hohner Kids. Colton is just starting to get into toys that make noise. He likes toys that play music more than rattles. This one is light weight and easy for him to get hand around to hold and shake. It retails for $7.50.

Where Do I Live Soft Book by Tiny Love. This book is awesome! By far our favorite item. It is such a fun, creative, activity book. It's soft, makes a crinkly noise, is full of bright colors and things to grab and touch. Plus, like it's description says, it's good for tummy time. It comes with a $14.99 price tag. Worth it!

Calendula Baby Care from Weleda. We haven't used the samples yet. I'll probably throw them in the diaper bag and use them sometime.

Colton really enjoyed the book!

Then he got tired...

So, was it worth it? In terms of money spent, the three products alone add up to around $27.50 - that doesn't include shipping. I definitely got my money's worth! And, we got some good things which leaves me looking forward to next month.

If you want to know more, here is the Citrus Lane Facebook page.

High five for Friday

2014-10-17T09:16:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday to you all. I'm glad to be working from home today, enjoying the sunshine through my house and a cup of coffee.

One | I started a new leg workout. Truth be told, I've never been happy with my legs. So, I enlisted the help of the employee fitness center at my office. Alex set me up with a great workout plan that I'm really excited to dive into for the next few weeks. It's challenging and fun.

Two | Colton's Citrus Lane Box Arrived. Citrus lane is a monthly subscription that sends us new products for kids related to their age. We got 3 nice toys and some lotion samples. I'll post a review on my blog.

Three | Conversations with Colton. Oh my this boy can chat. We had a great little talk after his bath last night.

Four | FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa. I hate to admit this but I never used FaceTime until Monday. We tried it out with my mom and dad so they could see Colton. He thought it was more cool to see himself in the phone before my mom answered. Ha!

Five | Great Food. Last Saturday I was invited to an afternoon lunch, with my teammates, at one of our company Vice President's homes. His family is so nice and the food was so delicious.

Boho chic inspired e-design

2014-10-14T10:14:00.001-04:00

I love the Boho look but I've always been scared to try it. First, it's out of my comfort zone and second, it's WAY out of my husband's comfort zone.

Fortunately a recent e-design client loved this style too and asked me to help her to design a boho-chic bedroom with a sophisticated twist.

My favorite thing about this style is that nothing matches and at the same time, everything matches. The eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and textures will make this room so visually appealing.

If you have a space you'd like to have styled, I'd love to help you. Check out my e-design page for more information.