Nuts and Bows

A Post Dedicated To Baskets

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:00:00 +0000

I will be the first to admit that I am a full blown basket hoarding addict. Especially the really pretty woven ones with an ethnic print or a lid. Oh man...Don't even get me started on a basket with a lid (hasthag all the heart eyes). Last week I revealed my DIY mid century modern inspired shelving unit. Something that I forgot to mention was that the main reason behind the need for the shelving unit was to store my baskets!

My love of baskets really came about after I had Ender. Our home is a little on the small side but I was determined to make every square inch functional. The beauty about baskets is that they are pretty and serve a purpose like storing all.The.TOYS!! Also baskets are a great place to store diapers and wipes so you don't have run all through the house while your 18 month old throws a tantrum and gets you know what all over your freshly mopped floors...Lets get real those floors haven't been mopped in ages but I digress.

When you are living in a space that has to be multifunctional you have to look at your home decor in the same way. For example we have a large ottoman that is stored underneath or shelving unit that we keep all of our shoes in and it doubles as seating for when we have extra guests over. It is a different way of thinking when approaching interior design but having a home decor piece perform a form and a function it makes your limited space stretch even further. That's what we like to call win/win design!

Source List:
-Stripe basket: Zara Home
-Ethnic basket: Thrifted
-Ottoman: Target
-Small wicker baskets: Target
-Wire copper basket: Homegoods

Mid Century Modern Shelving DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:30:00 +0000

The downstairs level of our house is all open, and not to mention small so it needs to fill a lot of needs while looking good! I am a big believer in baskets and whoever dies with the most baskets wins. They hide everything and by everything I mean all of my son's toys. I knew that I wanted to create a wall shelving unit that would flow with the rest of my house, store/hide all of the things, and a place to display my decor. I am a diehard mid century modern design lover. I love that the clean lines and simplicity let the design speak for itself. I am also an over decorator which is a nice pairing for the simplicity of mid century modern design since the space won't feel "too" much...but I'll let you be the judge of that ;)!

If you would like to create your own mid century modern inspired shelving unit then you are going to want to hit up your local home improvement store. I will include a list of the supplies that I used to help!

Supplies:
-Rubbermaid 70" upright twin closet racks (I used 3)
-Brackets (I used 11 of the 12" in length brackets)
-Mounting kits
-12" wide wood planks to cut in various lengths to fit your space
-Level (I purchased a 4' long level it came in handy when making sure that your racks are upright)
-Drill
-Wood stain (I used a mixture of honey and dark walnut)
-Poly top coat (I used a gloss poly since the wood I purchased was cheap in every sense of the word)

Things that I have learned from doing this project:
1. The install of this project is a two person job. You need someone to keep the level straight while you are marking the areas that need to be drilled.
2. Measure. Measure. MEASURE! What helped me was measuring me wall before hand and coming up with the midline first and measuring your side pieces equidistant on either side and from the edge of the wall or area you are placing your wall unit.
3. Don't be afraid to make your space multifunctional. You can do it all and make it look good while doing it!

Spring Wreath DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:30:00 +0000

We did the annual front yard spruce up a couple a weekends ago. When all was said and done our front door stuck out like a sore thumb. We couldn't have this. I knew I wanted to add a wreath that would compliment our yard, so I thought that some simple greenery with a subtle yellow color would look great. I also wanted something that I could leave up for as long as I wanted and it wouldn't look out of place as the seasons change. I have looked at Target and various craft stores for a ready made wreath but I couldn't find what I wanted that wasn't $60. $60...For a wreath?? You gotta be kidding me! I knew I could DIY one for a fraction of the cost. All I needed was a little imagination.

Materials:
(I brought all of my materials at Hobby Lobby)
-Grapevine wreath
-2 bushels of a boxwood type leaves
-1 bushel of yellow type leaves (really technical terms here)
-Floral clippers or pliers
-Floral wire (pick something with a low gauge so it is easier to twist)

Directions:
1. Clean up any twigs that are sticking out from your circle or oval shape of the grapevine wreath.
2. Clip the separate stalks away from the bushel of leaves.
3. (This is how I arranged my wreath but feel free to do it however it makes sense to you) I started by placing a piece of a boxwood stalk in the middle of the side of the wreath and securing it with some of the floral wire. I then placed one of the yellow leaf stalks on the outer side of the grapevine wreath and secured it with floral wire. You guessed it you will then place a boxwood stalk on the inner side of the grapevine wreath and secure that with wire.
4. To keep the yellow leaf stalks looking random I would rotate the placement of them around the wreath. Like I listed above since I started with the yellow leaf stalk on the outer side of the grapevine leaf the next stage I would place the yellow leaf stalk in the middle and a boxwood stalk flanking either side. For the next phase I would place the yellow leaf stalk on the inner part of the grapevine wreath with two boxwood stalks beside it.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have circled the wreath.
6. Use access stalks to fill in the gaps to make the wreath look full and fluffy.
7. Hang your wreath and enjoy!

I was able to make my wreath with some stalks to spare for $20! Keep in mind to wait for your craft store to discount their floral department before you buy. I believe at Hobby Lobby it is every other week and use your weekly discount coupon for your grapevine wreath. You could even keep it up year round and it will look great saving you even more $ to spend on those cheeseburger vans you have been eyeing...oh...maybe that's only me ;)!

Mud Cloth DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:30:00 +0000

I am a huge supporter of the ethnic fabrics that are all over the place in interior design right now. I am however not a huge supporter of the cost of said ethnic fabrics. I knew that with a little time and a white paint pen that I could come pretty close to the real deal.

Materials:
-Black cotton fabric (I think I used a yard per pillow since I believe the size of these pillows are 26x26)
-White paint pen (I ended up using 2 and bought mine at Joanns)
-White or cream cotton fabric for the back (I used a yard per pillow)
-Inspiration photos for patterns
-These items are necessary but I used them to help keep my lines straight:
-Fabric cutting mat
-Fabric cutting ruler

Directions:
1. Measure your pillow and cut out your fabric accordingly.
2. Find some inspiration pictures of patterns you like on Pinterest.
3. Lay your fabric on your fabric cutting mat.
4. Determine if you would rather go with a more free hand pattern or a structured pattern. (I went with a structured pattern. The right side of my brain demanded it).
5. I decided to create my own pattern and to keep it within a structured pattern. Each stripe that I did varied in widths from 1inch to roughly 2 inches. The spacing I used to in between each stripe was a .5 inch to keep the pattern uniform.
6. This is where the clear fabric cutting ruler comes in handy. Back to the right brain comment that I mentioned earlier, I had to have the lines straight. For goodness sakes do not be like me! Please free hand the pattern. It will save you a lot of time!
7. Next up is the paint pen part. Either free hand your pattern or use a ruler to create your pattern. You can't go wrong! Just have fun with it.
8. Once you have your pattern complete on your pillow top you are going to want to iron it to prep it for attaching the back.
9. I used an envelope enclosure. Here is an easy tutorial to create an envelope enclosure for a pillow.
10. Insert your pillow and throw it on the couch!

Easter Tablescape

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:30:00 +0000

In all of my almost 31 years on this earth I have never hosted an Easter party. This year is the year friends, and can I just say that I am really excited! The menu is planned and the Easter egg hunt is a go. The last thing I had to do was to put together a tablescape. Which was not hard to do. Have you seen the Easter section at Target? It deserves all of the heart eye emojis and is where I found all of the paper goods for the tablescape. Easy peasy target squeezey...yeah that was a bit of stretch ;)!

Sources:
Paper goods: Target
Easter eggs (plastic and glitter), grass, doilies, and craft paper: Dollar Tree
Milk glass vases: Thrift store

HAPPY EASTER FRIENDS!

Easter Egg Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:30:00 +0000

These pancakes just make me so happy...Well all pancakes just make me so happy! It's pretty much like eating dessert for breakfast but socially acceptable. Win/win! However, these pancakes bring in the elements of: color, shape, and festivity. That's what I like to call a win/win/win my friends!

Supplies:
-Pancake batter (pick your family's favorite)
-Gel food coloring
-Griddle or fry pan
-Butter to grease
-5 Squirt bottles (I picked mine up at Family Dollar)
-Spatula
-Knife (Sometimes the batter would spread out from under the egg shape so I used I knife to cut the pancake back into an egg shape)

Directions:
1. Separate your pancake batter evenly amongst your squirt bottles.
2. Add gel food color to the squirt bottles. Place the cap on top and shake. Keep adding food coloring until you have reached your desired color for each bottle.
3. Turn your griddle up to 350 degrees or your frying pan to medium heat.
4. Grease your griddle.
5. Take a squirt bottle and squeeze out some batter in the shape of an egg. Fill in the shape and add a contrasting color as a design to the top (you will only have a design on one side).
6. Cook the pancake until bubbles form on the surface then flip.
7. Cook the other side of the pancake just until it is set.
8. If the batter runs out of the "egg" shape you created feel free to trim off the access.
9. Repeat until you have a whole "basketful" of "eggs!"
10. Eat and ENJOY!

Watercolor Easter Eggs

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:30:00 +0000

This tutorial is a crazy one that went wonderfully wrong. I started out wanting to make these beautiful marbeled Easter eggs. I followed all of the steps and when I went to rinse the eggs off...there was no marbling. Not even a hint of marbling. After I got over the initial, "these aren't absolutely perfect" shock I decided to just rename them and roll with it. Here we are! Just turning lemons into lemonade since 1985!

Supplies:
-Hard boiled eggs
-Gel food coloring
-Cool Whip
-Spoon
-Vinegar
-Container
-Paper plates
-Paper Towels

Directions:
(Again I need to preface that I totally messed these up so if you follow this tutorial you may very well just end up with beautifully marbled eggs!)
1. Add 2-3 T of vinegar to the eggs turning them to make sure they are coated.
2. Scoop some of the Cool Whip into the container. About 2-3 inches in the bowl.
3. Add about 10 drops of the gel food coloring to the Cool Whip. Add as many colors as you would like 10 drops at a time.
4. Use your spoon to swirl the colors into the Cool Whip.
5. Gently place the egg into the Cool Whip and rotate it gently until it is generously coated.
6. Place the egg onto a paper plate and set it aside.
7. Add a few more drops of gel food coloring to the Cool Whip and swirl.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 until you have colored all of your eggs.
9. Put the eggs in the fridge and let them sit with the excess Cool Whip on them for 8-12 hours.
10. After letting the eggs sit for the allotted amount of time rub the excess Cool Whip off with a paper towel, Make sure that you do not use too much pressure or rub too hard.
11. That's it! Just display, eat, and enjoy your beautiful eggs!

Shades of Blue Easter Eggs

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:30:00 +0000

Blue is my favorite color to use during the holidays. Blue Christmas lights make me weak in the knees. If only I could convince my husband of the magical power the color blue has on the holidays. As you can see where I am going with this it was only natural for me to make a blog post about blue Easter eggs!

Supplies:

-1 dozen of eggs

-2 bottles of blue food coloring

-white vinegar

-6 12 oz minimum cups

-6 spoons

Directions:

1. Hard boil your eggs.

2. Set out your six cups. You might want to label them to keep things straight.

3. Add one cup of boiling water to each glass.

4. Add 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar to each glass.

5. Add 2 drops of dye to the first glass and mix.

6. Add 6 drops of dye to the second glass and mix.

7. Add 10 drops of dye to the third glass and mix.

8. Add 20 drops of dye to the fourth glass and mix.

9. Add 45 drops of dye to the fifth glass and mix.

10. Add 60 drops of dye to the sixth glass and mix.

11. Submerge an egg into each glass and let the eggs sit for 5 minutes or until the desired color has been reached.

12. Replace the eggs into the egg carton to let the eggs dry.

13. Display, eat, and ENJOY!

Mud Cloth Easter Eggs

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:30:00 +0000

It's Easter egg week on the blog! First up for today is mud cloth easter eggs. African mud cloth home decor is such a huge trend right now. Why not translate it into easter eggs?! The best part is that this DIY could not be any easier. I would have my 18 month old do it...but then again there are permanent markers involved and I like my stuff ;).

Supplies:

-Hardboiled eggs

-Sharpie

-Inspiration pictures

Directions:

1. Find some inspiration pics on Pinterest or from some of your favorite home decor Instagrams

2. Either copy some of the patterns from your inspiration pictures right onto your eggs using your sharpie or just free hand a pattern. You really can't go wrong with this DIY.

Ender's 1st Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:00:00 +0000

This blog post goes under the, "better late than never" category. Eh, so it has been 6 months since his first birthday, but who's counting? I had a blast planning. Actually, I always have a blast during the planning phase. It's the executing phase that I become a giant ball of stress. I wanted the party to not have a particular theme. I just wanted it to be fun and colorful. Originally the party was suppose to be this big huge bash, but on account of the giant ball of stress that I mentioned earlier I had to scale back. I have to say that I am so happy I did. I was able to spend time with my little man and all the people that love us and him. (Oh and the rainbow cake makes another appearance)!

I can't wait to throw my little Endy bear many of more birthday parties. I am already scheming his next birthday. It may or may not involve a red trolley, and a tiger named Daniel ;).

Rainbow Cake Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 18:30:00 +0000

I should probably preface...I am not a baker...nor cook for that matter. This blog, and the entire left side of my brain tells me that I am so here we are. I have made this cake a total of two times and it has been a total hit. This cake is super easy to make, really pretty, and perfect for your St. Patrick's Day party...actually for any party...or just for your standard weekday. This cake it aims to please!

Rainbow Cake Recipe:

Ingredients:
-2 boxes of white cake mix (I bought the Pillsbury brand with the pudding in the mix)
-eggs
-milk
-butter
-gel food coloring (it has to be the gel kind because the liquid won't give you as vibrant of colors)
-8" round baking pans

Directions:
1. Follow the steps on the cake box for making the batter. Add an additional egg to what the box calls for. Replace the water with milk (I used whole milk since that is what my little man drinks) and replace the oil with butter. This will make for a super moist cake!
2. Separate 1-1.5 cups of batter into 6 separate containers.
3. Mix in the gel food coloring into each container, I didn't count how many drops of dye I used per color. I just eyeballed it. Keep in mind that the color in the container will be the color of the baked cake.
4. Place the batter into a greased 8" round baking pan and bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Take the cakes out of the pan and let cool completely before frosting.

Lemon Buttercream Recipe:

Ingredients:
(Let me warn you that the frosting for this cake calls for a crap ton of sugar!)
-2 bags of powdered sugar (the 7.5 cup each bags)
-4 sticks of softened butter
-1 cup of milk
-3-4 teaspoons of lemon extract

Directions:
(I actually made this in my kitchenaid mixer and did it in two batches)
1. In a mixer whip the butter
2. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low until the sugar is incorporated in the butter.
3. Add the milk until the mixture becomes smooth. The cup of milk was just a roundabout guess.
4. Add the lemon extract and mix till combined.
5. Place a doll-up of frosting on your plate that you want to display your cake. Place the purple layer of your cake with the flat side down.
6. Frost the top of the layer and place the next layer so the flat side is laying up.
7. Repeat steps 5-6 until or cake is assembled.
8. I placed my frosting and my cake in the fridge to let it chill so it would make frosting the outside of the cake easier.
9. Scoop a big doll-up of icing on top of the cake.
10. Work the frosting into an even layer on the top so it spreads over the edge onto the sides. I used an offset spatula it worked great!
11. Work the frosting along the sides with your spatula at a 45 degree angle to make for a clean edge. 12. Once you have the frosting how you like it get a glass of hot water and dip your spatula in it warming it up and then make another pass around the edges. The warmth of the spatula will make for a really sharp almost glossy edge.
13. Put the cake in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
14. Eat and ENJOY!

Tutorial for gold coin cake topper HERE!!!

Lucky Charms Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I've decided to dub this week, "St. Patrick's Day Treat Week!" I have to admit that I had totally forgotten how ugh-mazing sugary cereal is. I even had flashbacks of Saturday morning cartoon watching while eating a huge bowl full of Lucky Charms while I made these tasty treats. mmmmmm.....They really are magically deicious ;)

Lucky Charms Treats Recipe:
-6 cups of Lucky Charms
-3 tablespoons butter
-40 medium marshmellows

Directions:
1. Heat butter over medium heat until melted.
2. Mix in marshmellows. Constantly stir the mixture until the mellows are melted.
3. Remove from heat and add the mixture to the 6 cups of Lucky Charms stir quickly to coat.
4. Quickly transfer the coated cereal into a 13"x9" pan. To make it easier to smooth the mixture out dip your fingers in water and press the cereal into an even layer.
5. Eat and enjoy!!

St. Patrick's Day Cake Topper

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I whipped up this adorable cake topper this weekend. I should mention that I have no idea what made me think that I could just whip up a cake topper, let alone a cake. The cake was really touch and go. At one point I had to toss out one layer since it crumpled into pieces and I was one meltdown away from throwing the whole thing out! Alas, I was on the universe's good side and everything ended well. I mustered my inner Ina Garten and showed that icing who the real boss was!

Materials:
-Plastic gold coins (I found mine at hobby lobby or you can find some similar HERE)
-Floral wire
-Wire cutters
-Hot glue gun

Tutorial:
1. Cut wire to your desired lengths. I decided to vary my lengths for some whimsy.
2. Hot glue your cut wire onto the coin and sandwich another coin on top.
3. Place in your cake and enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:00:00 +0000

I don't know what it is but ever since I became a mom I have this sudden urge to celebrate every single holiday. Even the non-essential...ahem New Years and St. Patrick's Day just to name a few. It's almost as if a part of your DNA switches on once you give birth. Every single one of my instincts are telling me, "Must celebrate all holidays...Must make them over the top." Good news is it is really fun, and we can all benefit from it! Here are some St. Patrick's Day printables to help deck your halls...cause you can still deck your halls after Christmas...or maybe that is just the new DNA talking ;).

CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD ST. PATRICK'S DAY PRINTABLES

The Walking Dead's Daryl Dixon//Norman Reedus Cross-Stitch

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:30:00 +0000

My sister is one of the biggest Walking Dead fans. We are talking like over the top obsessed. She never misses an episode and she legit cries when a main character is killed off. It was a real touchy subject when Glen went missing. I knew that I just had to get her something Walking Dead related as a gift and because I love nothing more than to torture myself I decided to cross stitch her a Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) portrait. Now this cross stitch is not for the faint of heart. It took forever! I contemplated quitting on a daily basis. In those moments I decided to look to Daryl for inspiration. Has he ever quit and just surrendered to the zombies? NEVER! So neither could I, and I have to say I am so happy I followed through. I mean who else has a cross-stitched Daryl Dixon to call their own? My sister that's who...well and you if you'd like. You can find the pattern HERE. Good luck!

Valentine's Day Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 14:30:00 +0000

I can't believe it is almost Valentine's Day. I swear I was just wrapping presents for Christmas. Time flies! I am not a huge Valentine's Day person, but I thought this year I would give it an honest effort. Nate is going to be out of town for Valentine's weekend so I decided I would get some of my girls together for a "Galentine's Day" lunch (Leslie Knope would be so proud). My ladies are sophisticated. They need/deserve sophisticated valentines and that is what I am going to give them. If you are in a pinch and need some sophisticated valentines for the sophisticated people in your life feel free to download these printables. Happy Valentine's Day!!

DOWNLOAD VALENTINE'S DAY PRINTABLES HERE

Ender Nathan 09.02.14

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 21:00:00 +0000

The past 5 months have been a whirlwind. I bet you can guess from the lack of posting that I had our sweet boy and life has been turned upside down for us ever since. I have finally found a moment to sit down and am ready to compile Ender's birth story. You know birth stories can be a funny thing. You are either really into them or not. So, for nostalgia's sake here is our birth story.

Everything went down Labor Day weekend. I had been having braxton hicks contractions (or what I assumed were braxton hicks. Hello naive new mom over here) for weeks but on that Labor Day Monday they seemed different. I was experiencing more pain along with the contractions and they lasted for quite a bit longer. I, being my mother's daughter thought nothing of it and went out shopping with my mom and sister for the day. You can't keep me from a good deal even at 9+ months pregnant and in active labor. Watch out clearance racks everywhere ;).

The morning quickly became the afternoon and we were back at my mom's house making homemade salsa for our barbecue that evening. The contractions were still coming but nothing intense and nothing worth timing. I did however start to feel nauseous which I do remember my cousin telling me was a sign of active labor. My again, naive self of course chimed in and chalked it up to eating too many chips and salsa at lunch.

We decided to head home at around 8 PM that evening and I resorted to feeling exhausted and over heated on the sofa. A typical evening for the pregnant me. At about 8:15 though things took a turn. My contractions became noticeably more intense and painful. I decided to download the app that times your contractions. At that point my contractions were coming every 5 minutes and lasting anywhere from a minute to a minute and a half. I thought ok this could be it. I told Nate how I was feeling and I started texting my mom asking her thoughts. She told me to get in the bath and if I was in true labor the bath would let me know.

I climbed in the bath and my contractions were still coming but they were not as frequent as they were before. They were coming at anywhere from 5 minutes to 7 minutes apart with a 1-1.5 minute duration. The bath pretty much had the opposite effect on me. I decided since this bath isn't doing anything to get out and get into bed. Then the contractions started up again. Dang they were painful! I had Nate call my mom to see what she thought and we all decided to call the hospital to see if they wanted me to come in and get checked. Their instructions were not much help. They told me to come in when I could barely talk through a contraction, or if my contractions were less than 5 minutes apart consistently, or if my water broke. Thanks a lot nurses.

I thought well if the bath helps to calm things down a bit then I am going to climb back in since I was miserable. I climbed back in and tried to relax. Ha, trying to relax while having contractions that is a joke in it's self. My contractions did however slow back down again from every 5 minutes to every 7 minutes. While I was in the bath this time Nate and I both looked at each other and thought this could be it, but if it's not lets make sure we have a bag packed (yeah just goes to show how prepared I was at almost 39 weeks. I still didn't have a bag packed)!

Nate was running around frantic packing our bags. Since my bath water was cold I got out of the tub, wrapped myself in my robe, got into bed, and we both knelt down to say a prayer. We prayed that these contractions would either stop so that I could rest or that we could have a clear sign that I was in labor and know to go to the hospital. I kid you not about 10 minutes later, my water broke. Talk about the weirdest feeling in the world. To say it is like peeing your pants would be a huge understatement. All I could keep telling Nate was that, "it just keeps coming!" I was so so scared and started crying. Nate was so sweet and came over to console me and help me up. He just smiled at me and said, "this is it, we are having a baby and it is going to be amazing."

As soon as I could make it to the car we grabbed our disheveled bags, hopped in, and raced to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital to find there is no valet in the middle of the night. Um, hello hospital? What about the pregnant ladies in active labor??!! We parked the car and Nate asked me if I wanted him to get a wheelchair. I had a burst of energy and said heck no lets get in there. My thought process was the sooner I got in there, the sooner I would get that beautiful thing called an epidural and all this pain would go away.

We made it to the check-in where they wanted me to fill out paperwork...IN (again). ACTIVE.LABOR! After scribbling what sort of resembled my name on the dotted line they took me in to the examination room where I changed into my gown and laid down on that cold table/bed. My contractions had become farther apart but much more intense in pain by this time. The nurse came in to examine me to see how far along I was. Then she said something that I didn't even think was possible. She said "um-so there is something in your birth canal blocking your cervix...it feels like a hand??!!" WHAT?? A HAND?? She called for the experienced mid-wife to come check me. She checked me and determined that it wasn't a hand but it was a FOOT! They paged the doctor on call to come and do an ultrasound to see what position the baby was in.

The doctor came in and performed the ultrasound to find that our baby was breach. which was a shock for Nate and I since my doctor had assured me every visit the past several weeks that he was head down (head...butt...same diff right)? The doctor walked out of the room while the nurse told me they had to rush me into surgery for an emergency c-section. Looking back everyone was so calm, which in turn made me feel so calm. I am so grateful for that since I would learn later after delivery just how severe my case was (and side note that I was dilated to a 10 before Ender arrived)!

The doctor rushed back in with yet again more paperwork. Listen all I want is the drugs were the thoughts going through my head. I signed the paperwork and the nurse rushed to get my IV in so we could hurry into surgery. By this time Nate had been updated our families. They were in shock at how things had taken such an urgent turn. Nate was sent to a different room to change into his scrubs and they started wheeling me into the surgery room. By this point I was in excruciating pain. The nurses and the doctors kept saying just a little bit longer and we will get you your epidural.

We finally made it into the surgery room and they were all ready for us. The anesthesiologist had me roll onto my side and uttered the stupidest thing I have ever hear, "umm k I am going to need to to hold very very still right now," AGAIN with the: I was in active labor! I was dying! Hold still? That was the last thing I thought I would be able to do. He missed the first time and told me if he was unable to get the epidural in this second time they would have to put me under. Looking back I feel so horrible at how I treated all the doctors and nurses. I was screaming in pain and just told them, "hurry please hurry." Lucky for me he popped that sucker in on the second try and I felt instant relief. After I was completely numb all I could do was apologize for my horrible behavior, when looking back was not that bad. I was so glad they were understanding and on my team. I will say this though to whoever invented the epidural I could just kiss you. It's a beautiful thing.

They had my arms strapped to the table which felt like I was in straight jacket, but I guess they use them because some people pass out during surgery and what not. They were prepping me and kept on reassuring me that they would take good care of me and our baby. Which they completely did. I was so grateful for everyone in that room that evening. They began cutting me open. All I could feel was a bunch of pressure and tugging. They must have forgotten about Nate, perhaps due to the urgent nature of everything so they ran to get him. It felt so amazing to see his face when he walked in. Here we go. Here comes our son.

Due to the position Ender was in I had to have another incision made vertically since his head was wedged underneath my ribs. (Just to clarify the vertical incision was just up my uterus and not through to my skin, thank heavens). There was so much tugging and pulling. Nate looked over the drape and said he was afraid they were going to pop off his head they were tugging so hard ;). Several minutes later our sweet little boy was born at 2:55 AM. Nate just looked down at me with tears in his eyes and said "he has your eyes". Wow my eyes?!

The nurse grew very worried when he didn't come out crying. I guess that can happen with c-sections since the baby isn't pushed through the birth canal which helps relieve that fluid that may be in their mouths and throats. She suctioned him out and we heard a faint little cry, which was relieving. They were still nervous so they brought him over for me to finally see him. It was so amazing and he was beautiful. Even though I was only able to see half of his face and was slightly drugged he was the cutest thing I had ever seen. After they let me have my moment they took him to the NICU to see if they could get him to cry a little more to get that fluid out while I got sewed back up.

I had to wait another couple of hours before I could really hold Ender. Longest two hours of my life! Nate however did come back to my room and showed me all the pictures he had taken of him and told me all about him. We just smiled and happy cried. I couldn't wait to hold him! Our families decided they couldn't wait and came down in the middle of the night to meet their new family member. It felt so good to have my mom there, it was just what I need. The doctor that helped perform my surgery, the same one that performed the ultrasound on me came in to check on me. I just kept on thanking her. Thanking her for taking care of me and of my baby and for knowing just what to do and how urgent my situation was. She gave me the biggest hug. She was just so sweet.

After what seemed like forever the nurse told me it was time! It was time to get wheeled into my room from my post-op room and meet my baby! They wheeled me in first and then brought Ender in. All I could do was stare at him. He felt and smelt so good. It was an out of body surreal experience. This little boy was just inside me and now he is here looking up at me from my arms. He was just beautiful.

It's funny looking back on all of this. My whole pregnancy I was so worried about giving birth. You hear so many horror stories from other moms while you're pregnant you just expect the worst. For me though, when I was there in the moment I just felt an overwhelming sense of peace. I know that my Father in Heaven was looking out for me, he had his comforting arms around me the entire time.

What happens after baby is for another blog post, another day. All I have is gratitude in my heart for what happened that day. I am grateful that we had even made it to that point in the pregnancy since my first ended in loss. I am grateful for everyone who took care of me/us and how they were so calm which in turn made me feel so calm. I was/am so grateful for modern medicine because if without it things would have ended quite differently for Ender and I. I will always look back on that day with such great fondness and love. It was my first day as a mom, and it has been exhausting ever since...but in the best way possible ;).

Nesting

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:00:00 +0000

{One of the many projects I've been working on. Tutorial here and the fabric is from JoAnn's}

I've been a little M.I.A. lately around here. I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. I went into full nesting mode. I shopped till I couldn't shop any more. I sewed till I wanted to pull my eyeballs out (which isn't very long, sewing is not my strong suit). Lastly I have been working my little fingers to the bone on the nursery.

These past few weeks have been challenging for me. I have come to realize that I haven't been facing reality. I tried to fill up my days with all of these tasks so that I could I guess function. I am going to be a mom. We are going to be parents. And I am scared to death. I don't know how many times I have heard, "you're never ready, you just go with it." As a perfectionist at heart this just doesn't gel with me. I want nothing but the best for our son (as I am sure any mother feels). I am just worried if that is going to be me. These crazy hormones I swear ;)!

I turned 38 weeks this week. This little guy could be here in mere days or weeks. I can't believe that we are nearing the end. It seems like I have been pregnant forever (what does having a normal body feel like again)? I have decided to make a conscious effort to rely on faith more this week. To pray constantly for guidance and comfort. Hopefully I can convince my perfectionist side to take some much needed time off!

LATELY LOVES

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

1// This quote totally sums up my life right now. Can't believe this baby boy is 34 weeks cooked. Needless to say I'm freaking out over here...Like I'm talking it's a constant state of panic over, "are we ready? Can we do this?" Any and all advice is welcome ;).

2// This post on how to share free printables on your blog was super helpful!

3// Really want to make this DIY tassel blanket.

4// Orange New Balance sneaks? Count me in!

5// This will be baby boy's first backpack. His dad will be so proud!

6// I feel like there is a nonstop argument of, " to ombre or not to ombre" going on in my head. This look is verrrry tempting.

7// This get shiz done printable is amazing.

8// If you follow me on instagram then you'll know that my pom-pom obsession is still alive and kickin'. This time baby boy's nursery was it's next victim ;).

9// How cute are these origami bows? I am already planning neighbor gifts for Christmas...It's a sickness guys and wrapping is my drug of choice.

10// I wouldn't mind wearing this to my baby shower this weekend. Looks comfy and dressy!

What are you loving lately?

RECREATED// A PRETTY VIGNETTE

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

If you think about it interior design is made up of little moments, or vignettes. All of these little vignettes join together to make a whole scheme. Lately I have been really into focusing on these vignettes. I find they can be really creative in their simplicity. Today's RECREATED does just that and is a real beauty:

{via}

Now isn't that a show stopper? If you break it down the design is rather simple. You have a credenza, a large scale piece of art, lamp, some books, and some vases. The interest comes in how all of the pieces come together to create a "design moment." They all play off of each other. The credenza with its warm rich wood tones offers contrast to the large scale painting because most of the coloring in the painting is blues (which are cool colors/tones). The brass lamp coordinates with the gold found in the painting offering more visual support to the painting creating an overall balanced look.

I wanted to keep today's RECREATED as close to the original as possible while still adding my own personal flair. All of the pieces sourced are readily available and decently priced. Here is what I came up with:

Source List:

1. Wall Color: Agreeable Gray

2. Maxfield Parrish Dreams by Jenny Prinn (less expensive option)

3. Stack of books

4. Black Medium Vase// West Elm

5. Mid Century Buffet// West Elm

6. Industrial Lamp// West Elm

7. White Ceramic Vases// West Elm

8. Metallic Vase// West Elm

9. Black Small Vase// West Elm

10. Origami Boat Bowl// UO

Moral of the story guys is that even your vignettes are important in your house. Make sure they are balanced in color tones, and scale. But most of all make sure that they contain things that you love! It really all goes back to those details. Details make the design (you can quote me on that ;) )!

RECREATED// GLAMOROUS POWDER ROOM

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Just because it might be one of the smallest rooms in your house doesn't mean it should be neglected. The powder room is a great place to really add a 1-2 punch to your home's decor. Chances are that most of your guests will be using the powder room primarily, so lets make it special for them! Today's RECREATED does just that. It might be small but it's mighty guys:

{via}

I love how graphic it is, from the black subway tile to the simple vintage print. By keeping the walls and fixtures white it allows for the wood to pop as well as the tile wall behind the toilet and all that natural light is gorgeous. That isn't something you see in a powder room right?

While I was recreating this room I tried to keep it as close to the original as I could while still adding my own flair. All of the items that are listed are readily available and decently priced. Most of the items could be picked up at your local home improvement store this weekend! Here is what I came up with:

Source List:

1. Carved Giltwood Mirror// One Kings Lane

2. Gemma Wall Sconce// One Kings Lane

3. Pedestal Sink// Home Depot

4. Kohler Sink Faucet// Home Depot

5. Flooring Pattern

6. Glazed Porcelain Floor Tile// Home Depot

7. Kohler Toilet// eFaucets

8. Black Ceramic Tile// Home Depot

9. Stack of red books

10. Vintage Poster// etsy

11. Frame for poster// Ikea

12. Art Deco Vanity Set// etsy

13. Glass Shelf// Ikea

14. Towel Holder// Ikea

14. Soap Dish// One Kings Lane

So guys there you have it. Don't skimp in your powder room give it the punch it deserves whether that be through black subway wall tile or a printed wallpaper, have fun! The powder room has a little light too and it just wants to let it shine....let it shine....let it shiiiiiine (sorry couldn't help myself ;) )!

MY UNIFORM

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

{Shirt c/o Belly Dance Maternity (20% off promo code for MV readers: MV20); Kimono (sold out), Similar, Similar; Shorts (thrifted), Similar, Similar; Sandals (sold out), Similar, Similar; Earrings; Watch, Bracelets }

If you want to survive a summer pregnancy guys here is what you need: an awesome loose fitting tee, a lightweight kimono, cutoffs, flat sandals, and a top knot. It makes for a cool and comfy recipe. On any given day you can find me in a variation of this outfit. Sometimes I throw on that pink robe that I talked about earlier...and nothing else ;). Just trying to beat the heat guys. No judgement here right?

GET THE LOOK// DESIGNER DIAPER BAGS

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

I have to admit one of the first things a thought about when I found out I was pregnant was, "what diaper bag am I going to use?" Vain as it might sound it's the truth! Before heading down this path of having a baby I didn't know there was such a world as designer diaper bags. I thought I was destined to use one of those creepy plastic ones they send you home with from the hospital (hashtag yikes ;) )! That just wouldn't do so the hunt was on and lucky for you I compiled all of my faves to save you the headache of surfing the web for days on end for the perfect bag, consider it pro-bono ;).

Source List:

1. Marie Antionette Diaper Bag

2. First Lady Diaper Bag

3. Marissa Diaper Bag

4. Charlie Diaper Bag

5. Pretty Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag

6. Marissa Rio Stripe Diaper Bag

7. Tiny Tot Harmony Diaper Bag

8. Denise Diaper Bag (sold out)

9. Preppy Nylon Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag

10. Floral Pretty Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag

11. Word to the Wise Francis Diaper Bag

12. Marissa Checkerboard Diaper Bag

13. Legacy Super Be Diaper Bag

14. Sophia Grace Diaper Bag

15. Pretty Nylon Pinwheel Diaper Bag

I ultimately went with the Denise Diaper bag. My husband got it for me for Christmas and I can't wait to start using it! What I love about it is that it has clips on the inside of the bag for it to hang off the handlebars of a stroller. Which should come in handy! I know a lot of these could seem pricey but you should treat yo self...or go on ebay and find it for half the price ;). Either way you deserve it! You did 9-10 months hard time ;).

RECREATED// B&W+ACCENTED LIVING ROOM

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

An easy way to incorporate color into your space is to keep your base neutral, like black and white base for instance. Having a solid base is a great take off point. It is easy to layer colors to create a well rounded space. Today's RECREATED does just that:

{via}

This space creates balance by letting the B&W base speak for itself by not layering too many colors on top of it. The subtle hits of aqua and gold lighten the space without it being too overpowering (also don't get me started on that light fixture...uhmazing)! If you were to leave the space entirely black and white it would still work but by adding the color I think adds another layer of design interest and personality to the space.

For this RECREATED I wanted to keep the design as close to the original as possible while still adding my own personal flair. All of these pieces are readily available and I tried to keep the pricing within reason (hashtag who isn't on a budget ;) ). Here is what I came up with:

Source List:

1. Karlstad Black Leather Chair// Ikea

2. White Martini Side Table// West Elm

3. Stockholm Rug// Ikea

4. Woven Diamond Throw// UO

5. Legs For Chair// Ikea

6. Karlstad Black Leather Sofa// Ikea

7. Box Frame Coffee Table// West Elm

8. Bubble Suspension Light// Olighting

9. Legs For Sofa// Ikea

10. Diagonal Frayed Pillow// West Elm

11. Lamb Pillow Cover// West Elm

12. Round Pin Tuck Pillow// UO

13. Pipe Side Table// West Elm

14. Seeds To Blossom Pillow// UO

15. Sanela Pillow// Ikea

16. Rustic Metal Table// UO

17. Oversized Bottle// West Elm

18. Wings Print// UO

19. Barometer Floor Lamp// Ikea

20. John Lennon Poster// UO

21. Magic Hour Print// UO

22. All Eyes On You Print// UO

23. Ribba Picture Ledge// Ikea

24. Turntable Print// UO

25. Sanela Curtains// Ikea

26. Today Wall Art// West Elm

27. Stendig Calendar// Need Supply

28. Eivor Throw// Ikea

Some tips for creating a neutral space with accents would be to:

1. Keep accent colors from 1-2

2. Use accent color sparingly

3. If using 2 accent colors pick one cool and one warm (for instance in this RECREATED the space incorporates aqua and gold)

4. Have fun ;)

5. Skip all the heartache and just use this board I made for you.

5 1/2. Aaaand you're done ;)

Hope that this helps with those design dilemmas that you may have been having. If you have any questions or comments let me know. I'm always just an email away ;).

LATELY LOVES

noreply@blogger.com (Morgan//Nuts and Bows) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +0000

1// I am on a serious crochet kick right now call it nesting, call it wanting to be an old granny as soon as possible...I donno but this blanket is calling my name!
2// Pom-pom party invites...need I say more?
3// Love this tutorial on how to create an easy wave for short hair.
4// I feel like gingham is having another serious moment right now. This dress would be perfect!
5// This 13 bulb chandelier is so pretty, love the sputnik feel it has.

6// I'm so ready for the next dance party! Thank you to whomever put together this how to thriller together. Uhmazing!

7// Seems like this time of year we have an endless supply of zucchini, and believe me no one is complaining. Thinking about trying out this recipe for dinner this week.

8// I'd love to have these sandals on my feet. Love the simplicity.

9// I want to make these tomato cage woven baskets for the nursery. They would be perfect for holding lotions and butt cremes!

10// Cobalt Blue kitchen cabinets...do you dare??

What are some things that you are loving lately?