Closet Organization

I'm pretty certain that the nesting stage has kicked in. I'm beginning to feel the urge to get in our closet and do some serious organizing. The same goes for the pantry, the garage, and our laundry space. All spaces are currently tidy but I just want them to be extra organized. I thought I would use this week to post inspiring images that will give me {and maybe you too} some motivating ideas for sprucing up certain rooms in the house.

The below picture of Mariah Carey's closet is *wishful thinking* but I had to show it. And this is just the "shoe section"!

Here are some images of orderly closets that are more realistic!.....

Even small walk-in closets can be made over to be uncluttered and beautifully organized:

Hiring a company to do a professional closet overhaul can be expensive. Here are some ideas where the standard wire shelves are used yet provide the same element of organization at a small fraction of the cost:

Even really small closets can look incredibly lovely once they are superbly organized:

Another inexpensive space saving idea are hanging canvas sweater/shoe organizers:

I will be back to showcase organized children's closets!!

Do You Like to Save Money?

Yesterday I tuned into Rachel Ray and caught her segment on money saving tips, relating to coupons. I have "attempted" to be conscious of money saving coupons but "finding/cutting/organizing" them is nothing that I stick to. Why? I don't know. They end up expiring before I remember that coupons are lingering somewhere in the house!

I really want to get better at the whole "cost saving" approach, especially when it comes to food - whether grocery shopping or dining out. Coupons abound in many places {in magazines, newspapers, and online} and I need to get with the program. Why pay more when you don't have to?

I was in awe watching Rachel Ray's show yesterday, listening to a die-hard super saver share her tips on saving {you can see a video here and read her tips!}. She saved $70 on just one trip the grocery store! And a married woman was told how she could save close to $6,500 a year on just her grocery bill alone by taking the time to seek out coupons that would only take her 20-30 minutes to find, clip, or print out, per week! {click here to watch the video and read the tips given to her to make money-saving easy!}.

At the end of the show's segment, Rachel informed her viewers that she has uploaded a plethora of 20% off coupons on her website {go here and grab them!}. The coupons that are posted are valid through October 24th and there's many great stores and restaurants that you can snag a coupon to!

Let's get to saving, shall we?!?!

24 Weeks Today

All week I have been miserable...vomiting every day. Today has been the worst of all. I just can't believe that I am 6 months pregnant {today} and STILL dealing with "morning sickness". It's so draining...both emotionally and physically. I am so exhausted by the changes that pregnancy has put my body through.

But with that said...

I have come across so many disheartening stories in which women have lost their babies through a miscarriage {some women, well into their third trimester, have gone in to get a standard ultrasound at their next appointment only to be told by the Doctor that a heartbeat is no longer detected}, others have lost their baby to a birth defect, the ending of life support, delivered a still born baby, or battled a serious illness while being pregnant and in some severe cases the mother has passed away after delivering her precious newborn. My heart breaks when I come across sad endings such as these.

Just this week, one of the above scenarios happened to one of my readers, who is a fellow Christian. We had begun to get acquainted with one another outside of our blogs and began exchanging emails. When I heard of her devastating news this week I reached out to her, and while composing the email I discovered how I should be perceiving my own pregnancy.

My pregnancy has been what I consider unbearably rough - hospitalization, 20 pound weight loss, on a variety of medications, car sickness, still dealing with terrible nausea and vomiting along with all the other side effects that comes with pregnancy {which are too long to list}. I pray my way through the natural concern's that I think many first time mom's {or perhaps mom's in general} have - you just want your little baby to be healthy and whole and you try not to think about any of the thousands of things that could go wrong. While some women have a happy glow through all stages of their pregnancy and claim to love everything about being pregnant, I am just not one of those women. I really wish I was...and I thought I would be...but I'm not. There are few people who understand when I tell them that I have had to go through spiritual warfare, especially in my earlier months, because of what I was going through emotionally. The severe sickness was just too overwhelming. I couldn't believe how hard it was hitting me. As much as I wanted children and always saw them as a part of my life and my future, I have told both my husband and my mother that if I had known ahead of time all that I would go through with this pregnancy that the decison to get pregnant is one that I would need time to seriously consider {yes, it's been THAT rough} - perhaps that's just the thinking mentality when you're body has gone into a whole new unfamiliar, unpleasant realm. But even through my tiresome state, I know how incredibly blessed I am to have conceived when so many women cannot, and while even though I have not enjoyed one single thing about being pregnant {which is disappointing}, in all actuality things could be so much worse. So I make a conscious decision daily to have an attitude of gratefulness and thankfulness, and feel honored that God has purposed for me to be a mother. I feel blessed that despite how I feel, I am bonding with our little girl who is growing inside of me. I talk to her, sing to her, pray scriptures over her, am excited to shop for her, and I love her immensely even though she hasn't come into the world yet. Being a mother is going to be an incredibly fulfilling responsibility that will bring great joy and an overwhelming amount of happiness that will be worth everything that I will have endured for 9 months.

photo credit: Liana Lehman

Fall Home Decor

I'm looking forward to when the cool air hits Atlanta. Right now we're having days and days of torrential downpours, accompanied with humidity; I'm anxiously awaiting the glorious fall foliage to show face, the forecast change that calls for wool sweaters to be worn, and am anticipating the days that begin and end with hot chocolate.

I've said before that the thing that I love most about Atlanta is the changing of the seasons. Below is a picture that I took outside of the apartment that I lived in when I moved to Georgia and experienced my first fall:

My pregnancy has my energy levels pretty low, but I look forward to sprucing up our home next year with pretty accents that welcome in autumn. Here are a few beautiful touches that bring the outside, in:

Warm hues that combine brown and orange...and I just love that table runner. Also, notice the orange floral piece in the mirror.

photo source: Christina online

A pretty wreath on the outside of the door that welcomes guests:

photo source: My Lifetime

I love the blending of the colors in the below room...copper, mustard, olive green, brown, and ivory. Loving everything from the foliage on the fireplace mantel, to the branch candle holders, to the comfortable looking throw that's on the chair...and the bench that infuses warm, rich, inviting colors {and not to forget, an actual fire in the fireplace!}:

photo source: Decorators Home

Pretty pillows like these make for a great accent to any chair:

photo source: My Lifetime

Having a dinner gathering with friends/family? Spruce up the table by creating a beautiful, simple tablescape like this one:

Photo Source: Carolina Panache

It's easy to change up bedding. I could "fall" into this gorgeous bed with total ease:

Photo Source: The Decorating Diva

An easy way to spruce up the kitchen with fall colors...add some towels like these ones:

And we can't leave out the sweet treats! Fill up apothecary jars with cookies!

And serve up pecan pie!

Photo Source: Food Hype

Looking forward to fall arriving!!

Baby Travel System

While taking a lukewarm bath yesterday, I saw {for the first time} little Ilah kicking. Usually I just feel her sweet kicks, but yesterday I saw them when I looked down at my stomach. Our little girl is getting so big! I know these "sweet" kicks will soon turn to "painful" ones so I'm just enjoying these precious movements while I still consider them cute and bearable!

My husband came home from work with these yesterday...

When I was working, I used to get teased by my boss that my then boyfriend/fiancé must own a floral shop. I would have flowers in my office nearly every single week. I'm truly blessed that I have a wonderful {and romantic} husband!

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BACK TO BABY...

I have been spending countless hours researching which car-seat and stroller to buy for Ilah. I've been comparing brands, seeking out reviews, evaluating weight and size of the units, safety harnesses, head support, comfort, etc. There is so much to consider; ultimately safety is THE most important factor.

I was pretty set on the below Safety 1st Travel System, Lexington:

I have found good reviews on it, and I like the neautral fabric pattern:

Here's the matching pack-n-play:

Then yesterday I came across the Graco Quattro Tour Travel System, Marlowe:


Again, I've also read good reviews about it and it's also a gender neautral color:

The matching pack-n-play:

There are so many options on the market!! It makes the choosing process a hard one. My husband and I have seen/felt/"test drove" the first car-seat/stroller travel system in person; the Graco one can only be ordered online but it has a few more qualities about it that make me lean towards wanting to get that one. I'm hesitant about "online only ordering" but then again, with free in-store delivery, we can always return it if we don't like it once we test it out in person.

I have yet to find a plethora of outstanding reviews on any one stroller/car-seat combo, pack-n-play, high chair, swing, etc. Naturally, every mom has her own opinion as to what features are most important - and while some rave about a certain product, there's another mom that wishes she never bought it.

I'm in the middle of doing a side-by-side comparison on the above units. Other than that, do you have any advice on how I should go about choosing?!

Nursery Decor & Crib Bedding - Sneak Peek!

Ilah's nursery is slowly coming together. Nothing is hung on the walls just yet but all of the decor has been purchased; we're still deciding on which crib to buy for our precious little girl to sleep in. Right now we're leaning toward crib #3.

Here's a sneak peek into some of the items that will be in baby Ilah's nursery:

Beautiful stenciled wrought iron letters that spell out her name...

Here are just a few of the items that have been purchased to go in the nursery, which also shows you the color scheme of the room...

I'm finalizing the custom crib bedding with a designer and have picked out the below swatches, to see and feel in person, which will arrive by mail next week. You may notice that I've changed up the color scheme of the bedding, which was originally gold and ivory, and have thrown in a few accent colors that compliment the decor that will be in the room.

Fabric option for the bumper:

Another fabric option for the bumper:

Accent fabric:

Another accent fabric {chenille}:

For the crib skirt:

Tassel fringe for bottom of skirt:

As you can see, the color scheme for the nursery is warm hues of gold, olive green, a soft rose color, and various tones of ivory.

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to meeting our little girl. We cannot wait for her to get here!! Although I'm over half way through my pregnancy, the 40 week mark still seems so far away. I wish I could hit a fast-forward button. As I've said before, I'm fortunate enough to not have to work so my days are filled with lots of relaxation, which equates to many hours spent in bed, but it also means that I feel that I've been pregnant already for a loooong time because the days don't seem to fly by like I felt they used to before pregnancy!

I look around our house at various times and envision our little girl gracing us with her precious presence...seeing her in her nursery, sleeping in a bassinet next to our bed, relaxing in her swing, eating in her highchair, etc. Our home will soon be filled with even more love and without being in denial, we also know it will be filled with many sleepless nights, smelly diapers, and overall, we will have to settle into a new way of life. But nonetheless, little Ilah will be a sweet new blessing, whether she is smiling or crying. And as I've said before, January can't get here fast enough!

Winter...Please Get Here Soon!

My favorite time of the year is winter. My second favorite is fall. What I love most about Georgia is the changing of the seasons. Originally from California, where it averages nearly 75 degrees year around, I will never forget my first year in Atlanta seeing the beautiful changing of the seasons.

When my husband and I returned from our honeymoon in April {go here and here to see pictures and read all about it!} we walked into our kitchen and saw a little "welcome home" gift from my mom...

I just love these mugs! I couldn't wait until winter rolled around so that we could start drinking hot chocolate out of them!

Inside of the mug, around the rim, is a scripture that reads, "I found the one my heart loves - Song of Solomon 3:4". And at the bottom of the mug, on the inside, is a heart!


We can't wait to fill these mugs with yummy hot chocolate this winter!


In fact, we didn't wait! We got out our Swiss Miss on Sunday night and we each had a cup of hot chocolate. The hubby's favorite is Dark Chocolate...

My favorite {which I just discovered as being my favorite} is French Vanilla...

What makes hot chocolate even better is delicious biscotti to go along with it...especially the kind with chocolate on one side!

Maybe next winter we will find ourselves in my favorite romantic country of Italy, walking up to a trattoria...


Where we can sit at a small table and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate together...

Ahhh....La Dolce Vita!

We've Named Our Little Girl!

We put a lot of thought into the name{s} that we would give our precious little girl. We wanted her names to flow beautifully, but most importantly, have great meaning.

The same day that we found out we were having a little girl, I started browsing for girl names. While laying in bed with my mom chatting, I was scrolling through a site on my blackberry and came across a beautiful name that stood out to me. I asked my mom if she liked it and she excitedly said, "Oh Jess, I love it!". My husband liked it as well. I couldn't wait to give our little girl a name and begin connecting with her by name.

It took several weeks before officially naming our daughter because my husband especially wanted us pray on all the names that we would give our little girl and not rush into naming her {our daughter will have two middle names - one that is special to me because it blends my middle name with my mothers middle name, and the other which derives from my husband's culture}.

We can't wait until we welcome into the world....

Ilah LeAnn Eniola

Name Meanings:
Ilah {pronounced eye-la}: Acquirer, Obtainer, One Who Succeeds
LeAnn: Favored by God
Eniola: {pronounced en-ee-oh-la}: Wealthy

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Last week when I returned home from a full day of shopping with my mom, I had a beautiful card in my mailbox from her:

It reads:

Until I was a mother,
I never truly understood
the miracle of life...
Like how a hand could be so tiny
and how a cheek could feel so soft
to my kisses...
And how a little head
could smell so good
and feel so warm against my face.
Until I was a mother,
I never truly realized
that a tiny baby
could fill my heart with so much love.

- Lee Franklin

The inside of the card read:

Wishing you joy
as you wait
for your little miracle
{Ilah LeAnn Eniola}.

Receiving that card from my mom meant so much to me. She is so excited to become a grandma for the first time and is already dotting over this little girl! When I'm on the phone with my mom I sometimes put her on speakerphone and put the phone to my belly so that she can say Hi to little Ilah! Funny thing is...Ilah gives a few kicks every time she hears her voice! So sweet.

January cannot get here fast enough - we can't wait to begin loving on this little girl!!