Thoughts from Alice W.

Rustic Spring Mantel

Easter came very fast this year. Too fast for me to decorate for in fact.

The other day, however, I got the urge to do a mantel vignette in honor of spring (even though it has still been snowing here as of late). I knew Hazel would enjoy some fresh new decorations...

Large apothecary jars act as nests for Robin's eggs that I purchased at Home Goods awhile back. To keep with a rustic, farmhouse feel, I added one of my favorite old scales and some wire baskets filled with eggs.

I recently won a giveaway from Sandi of Wayside Treasures and she included lots of pretty things like a  peat pot that I filled with more eggs. 

I added a "clothesline" banner with vintage flashcards and mini clothespins. Hazel is really into the alphabet these days so she loves it..."I...I...I" she says pointing at any letter...

A few years ago I made some collage eggs that I had planned to sell but ended up loving so much that I kept them. I added them to the apothecary jars.

I think Hazel's favorite part of this vignette is the cast iron rabbit (he's my favorite too)...and the little bunny figurine...

I also love this little "Rabbits for Sale" card that I found some years ago...don't know anything about it but find it very charming...

White doves flank each side and my collection of ironstone pitchers lines the back.

Hazel had a very fun Easter, as did I, preparing her basket and an "egg hunt" for her...

I purchased some inexpensive baskets for the kids, but spruced them up with handmade fabric bunting banners spelling out their names in Scrabble tiles. Since Hazel is still under two, I could get away without much candy...we only included some chocolate "Hazelnut" carrots for her to enjoy and filled the rest with books, markers, constructions paper and a bunny of course :).

Owen received a little book, a soft football and socks in his basket :). I filled plastic eggs with little "treasures" like stickers, Cheerios, Goldfish, and bunny animal crackers. Hazel enjoyed finding them all that morning.

We also made a quick "diy" pair of Easter bunny ears from construction paper and a headband for them to sport (only lasted about two minutes on each but was still fun)...

All in all we have been very blessed. These two kiddos sure are growing fast. I am loving every single day that I get to spend with them. They are my world and I love filling their days with creativity...magical moments...wonder...and faith.

Till next time...

a taste of winter in April

We woke to a world covered in snow on this late April day.

And it keeps on coming.

Since it was a mild winter, I wasn't too bothered by it, but instead tried to find the beauty in it all.

Just like all of my other days lately...striving to find the beauty in them.

Some days are harder than others, but most days...I can see the sun shining even when the sky is gray.

Wishing you many blessings...

 

"The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us." 

Psalm 118:27

 

Till next time...

Loving Easter Wishes

 

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
   he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 
   and by his wounds we are healed."

~Isaiah 53:5

 

Wishing you a joyous Easter!

 

Till next time...

the ups and downs of hazel days...

Hazel is growing so fast...it is hard to believe she is almost 7 months old already.

{5 months adjusted for being premature}

Life is full of her laughter, sweet smiles, soft spoken ramblings...

{and high pitched screams when she is testing out her voice}

She can hold her head up on her own now, enjoys books and grasping toys.

She is infatuated with the iPad {and TV, unfortunately, if she can find it within her sight}. 

She loves her hands. and just recently discovered her feet.

She sleeps through the night now {for the most part}, but has started the dreaded stage of teething.

She takes regular naps and is up to play a lot more during the day. We have so much fun together.

After coming through pretty severe postpartum depression, things are looking better for me.

I get up and enjoy my days now. and her. Which is so different from how things were a few months back.

The world was a dark fog that I thought I would never get out of.

I wanted to hide. and run away. never to be found.

I dreaded my baby's cries. I dreaded her. I didn't talk to her or sing to her or laugh with her. I wept over her.

I survived with her. and spent the rest of the time sleeping, hiding in the dark, wishing I could have "my old life back."

 

I also lived with tremendous guilt because I heard so many times "you must be so grateful she is home"

and "enjoy every minute. it goes by so fast". and I hated hearing those words.

because I couldn't be grateful or joyful.

and some days I longed to just bring her back to the hospital and say,

"hey, who thought I was responsible enough and capable enough to care for this person?

because I am not! trust me!"

 

Thankfully, my ever faithful husband helped me to see through the fog and reach out for help.

It took awhile, because I was believing the lie that it was "just me". That I was, obviously, "not meant to be a mother".

I looked at her and wept daily. telling her that I knew she deserved better.

Telling my husband that I knew they would both be better off without me.

I really believed that during those dark days.

 

I finally reached out for help from my nurse mid-wife and began treatment.

I feel peace about my decisions because things are so much brighter these days.

Although, I will admit I still yearn to run away every now and then.

But, thankfully, now I know I can get through whatever is headed my way so I don't have to.

I am responsible. and capable. So capable.

 

I do so wish more moms would not be afraid to talk about how hard it is.

and that every day isn't peaches n' cream, and sunshine and rainbows and laughter.

some days just plain old suck.

{sorry for my crassness}

And if you are the kind of mom who never has those days...my hat is off to you. 

but I am also done feeling guilty that I am not.

I have full confidence now that I am the best mom for my little girl and

that she will grow up blessed for having me.

and I am thankful to God for bringing her into my life and bringing life back into mine after she came.

 

Till next time...

{if any of you reading this are struggling with PPD...this website helped me a lot:

http://postpartumprogress.com

I highly encourage you to reach out for help. I have learned I am not weak for suffering with this illness,

but strong for surviving it and coming out the other side}

nursery inspiration

I must confess, my previous post was mostly all shot in my dining room...not the baby's room. 

When I set up the vignettes for showing off my baby collections, I didn't realize people might think I was way ahead of the game and already had things set up and ready to go.

Far from it actually.

The room that will be the baby's room is currently mine and Josh's bedroom...and it is still loaded with boxes and piles of clothes from when we moved in.

Not very inspiring let me tell you.

But hopefully in a few months time...it will be.

Today, I thought I would share some images found on various websites that are inspiring me.

And which will hopefully motivate me to get things going on that nursery once we know what little Baby W. is.

I thought I died and went to heaven when my sister shared this nursery with me from Baby Lifestyles...

I scoured the internet trying to find this crib...only to find it came with a $7,145 price tag at Petit Tresor.

It is part of the Notte Fatata Collection.

I asked Josh if we could get it. He said, "sure, just as long as it turns into a bed that we can use for the rest of our lives." 

{He was kidding of course}

The rest of the collection is just as stunning {and just as pricey}, so while we won't be getting anything from it, it does serve as some amazing inspiration.

Another source of great {but also pricey} inspiration is Restoration Hardware. I am always enamored when the newest catalog arrives in the mail...

I love the soothing neutral palette above, as well as the iron crib.

But I think I love this collection even more {minus all of the pink}...

I love this furniture set. The color is "French Gray"...so dreamy...

This crib is more "reasonable" if you will, at $899 plus shipping. Still a little too steep for me though.

Love this changing table...as well as the adorable gray baskets.

Will definitely try replicating this somehow in our nursery {only hopefully for a lot less}.

Restoration Hardware has tons of fabulous storage solutions including several industrial style baskets which I love.

They also have some cute toys too...

Another inspiring online shop, I continually find myself drawn to is Layla Grayce...where I found the crib and bedding that I desperately want...

I will admit, I spent several weeks contemplating this Vintage Iron Crib.

I have been desperate for one for the nursery and really tried to convince myself that $1540 plus free shipping was a good deal.

And it is...if you have a lot of money you want to spend.

I like to stick to a tighter budget though whenever possible.

I tossed and turned a few nights trying to decide about this crib. I am also in love with the bedding {it is the best to fit my style that I can find}, but comes with a price tag of $705 if I get it in the color I want with the pillow and blanket.

Which got me thinking: Linen fabric at our local craft store is about $14.99 a yard.

Plus, I have an aunt who is an expert with the sewing machine.

In conclusion: I am hopeful that she will help me create my own unique vintage inspired bedding for our nursery and save us a ton of money.

Yet, I still couldn't get that iron crib out of mind...

That was until I found a forum of other mothers who wanted one desperately also but didn't like the prices they were finding.

One of them mentioned she got a wooden Jenny Lind crib for far less money and even was on to her second child and planning to use it again.

I instantly searched to find what it looked like...and much to my surprise, I really came to like it.

Now, mind you, this one does require a bit of an imagination...

This crib comes in a few different finishes, and is available at a variety of stores including Target and Wal-Mart.

I ended up finding it at an online store for only $169 with free shipping.

We could even get the matching changing table with it for about $260 also with free shipping.

My plan is to get the set in white and hopefully find a non-toxic antique glaze to coat them in for an aged look and to dull the bright white color.

{If anyone has tips on that I would welcome them - never done it before myself}.

I think Josh was fairly relieved.

Even though I know he wants me to have what I really, really want.

Which is one reason why I love him so much.

But again, I am a budget conscious girl, and if I can save without sacrificing style, I will certainly do it.

Something I may splurge on however, is this light fixture...

 

It is $270 {would end up being more than the crib and changing table!}, but I think it would look adorable in the room.

The ceiling is low, however, so we may have to look around for one even smaller.

Josh is worried he will hit his head when he goes to get the baby at 2 in the morning....

If I could find a reasonably priced vintage/antique one, that would be ideal, but would prefer to find a flush mount crystal fixture which seems hard to come by.

Another source I will of course be spending some money on is Etsy.

It is filled with lots of vintage touches that will be perfect for the nursery as well as unique handmade items for the baby...

I created this vintage inspired nursery treasury showcasing some of my favorite items and ideas for the baby's room.

So there you have it, what has been inspiring.

I am eager to get my energy back {which I am happy to say I have actually started having the past few days!}, so that I can share more with you as we prepare for Baby W.

Till next time...

 

{p.s. thanks for the tips on checking Craigslist...I definitely have been looking but the style I am looking for just doesn't seem to be popular in this area. sigh...}