Crib No More

 

I reluctantly took apart the crib a week or so ago as it was time. Cheyenne stopped using it ages ago and only climbed in to jump. I guess putting away the crib is my way of acknowledging and mildly accepting that our baby is growing up and is now an active toddler who could use that space in her room more efficiently. 

Though the crib is packed away, we don't plan on parting with it. It signifies so much-but most importantly this was the crib we bought for our rainbow baby, our miracle baby, so yeah, we're hoarding the crib in our attic.

We love to snuggle and read as a part of our bedtime routine, so I created this cozy fort using this very cute teepee. Of course, you can't have cozy without twinkly lights. 

Cheyenne loves it so mission accomplished!:-) xx

First 3 images- photographer, Lea 

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The Playroom Refresh

Hi everyone! How are you? As mentioned in my last post, I have been busy rearranging our house, painting, and Spring cleaning. I have a couple projects in the works that I can’t wait to share once they are completed, and I am thrilled to be able to share one of those completed projects with you today. The playroom received a very sophisticated refresh(peek above) courtesy of the wonderful partnership with the team at Jonathan Louis. Scroll down to read all about how the transformation went down.

As many of you already know, this space is actually our formal dining room that we utilize as the playroom and it has changed numerous times to meet our needs especially after Cheyenne was born. However, one thing that remained constant throughout was the chalkboard’s existence. The chalkboard and its changing chalkboard murals courtesy of the hubs is now a thing so it definitely wasn’t going anywhere so it played an integral part in the decisions surrounding the refresh.

The Furniture Choices

Working with Jonathan Louis to choose the pieces was such a seamless process. This part was a fave because I was able to custom design the pieces and chose the configurations that would work best in the space. I chose the sofa configuration of the Leon collection and the child in me couldn’t resist the swivel feature in the Roundabout chair. I requested several fabric samples(some pictured above) and chose the yummy black and white Monolith Tuxedo for the chair and the Royale Evergreen for the sofa. 

While waiting on the furniture to be made, it was time to turn my attention to prepping the playroom. As I mentioned above, the chalkboard’s existence played a major role in the color choices, and since I was going with a black and white chair and green sofa, I decided to repaint the existing orange walls white. I simply moved everything to the middle of the room and repainted. Color is Sherwin Williams Origrami White. 

The Roundabout chair decked in the Monolith Tuxedo fabric came out exactly as I had imagined it in my mind. I decided to also cover the toss pillows in the same fabric and I am in love! It’s a conversation piece for sure! The chair is a curvaceous beauty and oh so comfortable, plus it swivels! The children have been taking turns spinning on it. And so have I:-).

And before we talk about this delicious sofa, shout out to the hubs for completing this latest chalk mural. It couldn’t be more apt. Now about this drool worthy Leon sofa, my oh my! Wrapped in the Royale Evergreen velvet fabric, it beckons for your touch/caress. It feels so good. I really love that it is not only family friendly since we could all fit on it with ease but its modern and low design is right at home with the rest of the modern aesthetic in our home. I added a pop of black and white on the sofa with the 2 throw pillows covered in the Scripps Kona fabric and the middle pillow mimics the colors in the chalk mural in its Kariout Heirloom fabric.

There is a T.V.(also a bookshelf with lots of Cheyenne’s toys) on that wall across from the sofa hence the very engrossed looks from Cheyenne and Ian. When they go to bed, this is where I curl up to unwind and watch something on Netflix. I am sure many naps will take place on that Leon sofa or even on the Roundabout chair. So, what do you think? To find a local Jonathan Louis dealer near you, click here for the dealer locator. Stay tuned for more project unveilings in the coming weeks. xx

6 Quick Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to School (with Wrangler)

It’s unbelievable how quickly the Summer flew by and now, we are counting down the weeks until it’s back to school time.

Cheyenne is

not happy about her brothers going back to school at all-that face says it all! Since the back to school routine can be a bit

harsh coming off the unstructured routine of the Summer,

I am usually mindful about finding ways to help the transition back to school a pleasant one for everyone

*This post is sponsored by Wrangler but all opinions are my own.

Here are 6 quick tips to help lessen the stress of back to school and make the transition easier:

Shopping: Clothes

During the Summer months, the kiddos tend to grow like weeds so shopping for back to school clothes is a MUST, especially in our household. Zion and Ian’s body type are quite opposites; Zion is slender and tall and Ian has more of an athletic built, so I have to be meticulous when shopping for their clothes. And this is why I’ve been particularly impressed with the Wrangler collection available at Kohls.

The adjustable waist is perfect for both boys, but especially Zion who requires a longer length which sometimes

means the waist might be too big. Additionally, Zion

tends to be picky with certain aspects of his clothing because of his sensory issues; he dislikes tags or buttons

touching his skin so I especially

love the pinch protection feature where there is  fabric covering the button of the adjustable waist, so

picky boys like Zion can be comfortable and not worry

about the uncomfortable feel of the button digging into their skin.

The different cuts offer diverse ways of styling and with two very active boys who seem to

always return from school with holes in the

knee of their pants, the reinforced knee on this Wrangler collection is a delightful feature! 

Shopping: School Supplies:

Before I shop for school supplies, I usually search around the house to see if I have any extra or left over items
from the prior year’s school
supply shopping list before I go shopping.
You could greatly reduce cost by doing so and when you’re shopping for school supplies for more
than one, it never hurts to try and save when you can. 

Earlier bedtime

pic: Lea Hartman

It’s a great idea to move bedtime back an earlier time a few weeks before school starts. I’ve started to do this
already and the boys are not thrilled but the sooner, they get used to it, the better.

Limit Technology

I am usually good about limiting their technology use but nevertheless, during the Summer months their  use of their
IPads usually increase.
To get them back into a back to school frame of mind, they are encouraged to read more and we complete
Math and Reading activities together.

Set up a Homework Center

pic- Lea Hartman

Set a designated area for your child/children to complete homework each day.  They like to use my closet office(pictured above)

pic- Lea Hartman

or even in the kitchen at the table while I am making dinner. Make sure to choose a time where you are available in case your child needs your help.

Relax

It defeats the purpose of having a smooth back to school transition if you’re stressing out about it! xx

These Are Some of My Favorite Baby Products

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile... As a Mama of 3, I've done my share of shopping for baby products and I've bought almost all of the products that I am going to share with you and they are products I love. In Cheyenne's nursery above, the crib is one of my favorite designs. I love the simple modern lines. I love green products and used this mattress with all of the kiddos. Also, I love these white noise machines  so much, I also got one for my own bedroom. I even bring it on my hotel stays- a definite fave. 

I have the natural Trip Trap high chair pictured and I can't say enough great things about it!

a pic of Cheyenne sitting on our Trip Trap on the porch 

I bought ours when Zion was a baby(he is now 10) and I've used it with all the children. It's always around our dining table and has even been used for extra seating for grownups(it can accommodate up to 200lbs) when we entertain. 

Baby play pens may not be the most aesthetically pleasing but they are lifesavers! It helps to have a safe place for baby to play giving you a chance to you know; maybe brush your teeth:-). I bought
  this one when Zion was born and used it with both boys but I donated it to a local preschool, and needed another one when after Cheyenne was born. I bought the pink and beige playpen pictured above in the playroom. It's a generous size for the boys to be in there with Cheyenne and there is still additional room for more people. We love it!

I am also loving these swaddle blankets from our friends at  54Kibo and how adorable is that baby! 

These hand crocheted doll collection are the cutest and are perfect for baby to snuggle. Also, perfect for snuggling are the most adorable animal friends.

I would need a two part post to name all of my favorite baby products, so here is a list of my favorite baby products in one place. xx

* This post contains affiliate links

images:  1 and 7- Lea Hartman,  2-source

Weekend Recap- Birthday Shenanigans

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was telling you about the birth of Cheyenne and now here I am telling you she turned 1. It sounds cliche but the time flew by so quickly! There are really no words adequate enough to describe the joy she has brought into our lives. She is truly remarkable and we love her so much!

Many of you know she's a rainbow baby,  and her personality is as colorful as the rainbow, thus the idea of a rainbow party to celebrate her was born. Here are a couple pics...

that side eye though!:-)

Hanging out with Glory the fig

The rainbow cake was made locally by Sweet Boutique Bakery. I've used them here and here to celebrate Zion and Ian's first birthday parties. They are amazing!  I ordered the rainbow print as e file from Tess Guinery, then had it printed and mounted at a local Fedex store.

I also celebrated my birthday this weekend:-). It was a very special time for all of us. xx

almost all the images: Lea Hartman

Our Map Wall Featured on Instagram

I woke up this morning to a number of emails and direct messages regarding where to get our map wall/mural. When I opened Instagram, I realized we were featured on their page for the weekend's hashtag, #whpmatching. Way to go Stacey!

Our map mural used to be available on Amazon, but unfortunately, when I checked this morning, it's now listed as unavailable. Click here for product details. However, this map mural is very similar in case you're interested. 

Thanks for all the love on the post. xx


*This post contains affiliate links

Happy 6 Months Baby Cheyenne!

It's hard to believe that Cheyenne is already 6 months old! She has been such a blessing to our family and I am so grateful for her. We love you to the moon and back baby girl.

xx

images: Lea Hartman