Work It Wednesday: Little S. Room Inspiration (and some plans)

So, hey. The inconsistency is probably irking the heck out of you, right? Me, too. 

I sat down, yesterday, and decided to really DECIDE if I was blogging for me or blogging for other reasons. Seeing as other reasons for bloggers to blog might include money and I don't make any, I'm definitely blogging for moi. Glad we got that squared away. That said, I am pregnant, exhausted, and completely absent-minded. I quite literally want to kiss the feet of all of the working or schooling pregnant women who have kept up with their blogs full-force. If I was a SAHM, which ahem I will be very soon, I would dedicate a certain portion of my day to blogging. Right now, that time has to be evening and frankly, after working 9 straight hours with 4 toddlers, my evenings consist of making dinner and crashing. Hard. And you know what? That makes me SAD. I miss blogging regularly, so Self (that's me) and I (me, again) decided to make a blog schedule to help Absent Minded Momma (also me - p.s. did I tell you pregnancy splits my personalities?). Admitting there's a problem is the first step and asking for help is the second. I admit that I'm behind and I'm asking myself for some assistance.

So, here's what this means for all of us - We all knew when I changed my blog name from "Fashion Momma" to "A Little Bit of This" a few months ago that I'd be stepping away from basking in the glory of my wardrobe. I mean, I still love getting dressed and it's super important to me. But let's be real, in my line of work, looking nice is just about the thing AFTER the last thing on the list of things to do/worry about. Weekends are my runway. I plan to take better note of them. Otherwise, here's how the schedule will go:

Meal Plan Monday

I'll go over our meal plan for the week (Mon-Sun) and one recipe.

Tuesday

Formerly "Trendy Tots Tuesday," I still plan on making this a day about Little S. 

Work It Wednesday

Our house is going to be going under some serious changes over the next year or so. First on the list is Little S.' room since she's giving her furniture to Bean and is getting a big girl room for her third birthday this month. I'll be sharing either projects I'm working on with the house or otherwise.

Things I Love Thursday

I'll share things I'm loving from the week.

Friday

A free day - probably for an outfit, make-up, hair or accessory post.

Saturday

My pregnancy weekly measurements begin each Saturday, so I'll take Saturdays to share how I've been feeling during the week and post a gratuitous belly shot to keep track of my (enormous) growth. I'll also talk about things we're doing to prepare for Bean, etc.

So, it's Wednesday. Let's get started on the inspiration for Little S.' major room makeover! I'm so excited and although my vision's a bit hazy as far as where we are and where we're going, I have a great color palette and some furniture ideas. My biggest struggle is this: Little S.' room will double as our guest room since Bean is taking over our current guest room. So it has to be inviting and spacious, but still fun and pretty for a little girl. We'll also be in this house for A LONG TIME, so we have to make a room that will grow with our girl. I'll show ya what we're 'twerkin' with first. 

I'm actually immensely embarrassed to show you those photos because S' room kind of exploded post-Christmas. We haven't really unpacked (hence duffle bags) or put away the clean laundry... or toys since we got home because it's been my intention every weekend to start getting rid of things and storing clothes that don't fit (ie: 80% of the clothes in her room). But then, I don't make time. And that's that. So here's where I sort of want to go with the room.

all images from Pinterest

We're also giving S. the guest bed so we don't have to get rid of it (nowhere to store it, either), which means she'll be going from toddler bed to a full. And we're a bit concerned about the falling out thing, although she pretty much wakes up in the same position she falls asleep in. We were thinking about putting the box spring directly on the floor, but that would really mess up the carpet, so I absolutely fell in love with this idea.

via urban nest

I really want to peg the bottom with shorter pegs and tightly cover the box spring with a turquoise and white or lime and white fabric (probably not striped since we want to stripe one wall) and use chic white under bed storage. What do you think of the plans so far?

Resolve

It's 2012.
You know, in case you missed that whole New Year's bit.

I, for one, laid on my in-laws' sofa, watched my little one fall asleep on the floor at 20 minutes to midnight, and wondered why I didn't feel anything. I kept hearing Jenny McCarthy say things like, "What will you do to make 2012 the best year ever?" and "People are so full of faith and optimism for the new year!" And I was lethargic from two weeks of whirlwind travel, exhausted from a headache I couldn't shake, and sad that I couldn't think of any resolutions! I usually try to make one or two, but I don't usually stick to them. At the beginning of December, I resolved not to make any resolutions since I knew I just wanted to continue living my life in a forward direction and make the best of the huge changes that are about to come.

And then, I woke up in the middle of the night last night and had to put some resolutions in my notes on my phone. Thank goodness for iPhones, BTW. I have recorded many a baby name in the middle of the night. (Side note: Baby will be referred to as "Bean" through my pregnancy. We will share the gender when we find out, but the name remains confidential until birth!) Anyway, I finally realized that I do have some big things on my mind and for once, my resolutions don't include losing weight.

1. Chase your dreams. When you have a great idea, find a way to make it happen. So what if you don't have any money.
2. Cook good food for cheap. There are way too many resources out there to say it's too expensive to eat healthfully.
3. Make family time quality time. TV isn't quality time together. Spend the very small amount of time that all three people in your house are awake and together by engaging with each other. Try board games, building blocks, legos, acting out books, etc. Reserve movies for rainy weekends.
4. Organize. Recall your pre-mom years and channel that old desire to be color-coded and organized. Just don't put yourself in an anxiety-ridden lifestyle again. That wasn't fun.
5. Really listen when people (especially little people) are talking to you. So often, you think you're listening, but realize after someone completes a sentence or story, you're left wondering exactly what they just said. STOP what you're doing, make eye contact, and really hear what people are saying to you. The only genuine responses come from 100% attention on the current conversation.

What have you resolved to do in 2012?

Santa Brought a Tricycle!

If you close your eyes and think reeeallly hard about the classic toddler Christmas gift, what do you think of? Because I know I think of a shiny red Radio Flyer tricycle! And when Santa brought this baby to Grandma's house for Christmas Round 2, Little S. couldn't have been more excited! I'm so glad Santa was mindful that we have another baby on the way, because he brought the red instead of pink, which means we can reuse, no matter what!

love at first sight

trying it on for size

unsure about riding in the living room

so we took it for a spin in the empty school parking lot

and grandma helped a bit!

serious concentration... right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot

success!

Christmas!

Upon walking to the guest house at 3:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, I said to my mother, "I don't think I have what it takes to be a parent on Christmas Eve. Can we say EXHAUSTION? And I had all of my presents wrapped! I just joined the family assembly line to get everything else together and ended up with 4 hours of very interrupted sleep. 

That's one of the pregnancy luxuries I do NOT enjoy. Peeing five to seven times a night is damaging to sleeping habits.

My dad and mom watching Little S. make cookies with my aunt and cousin-

 Christmas morning - Little S. was armed with "Poodle" and her milk.

Greeting her cousins in the overflowing with gifts living room!

Little S. watched intently while she felt out how the gift-opening process was going to work.

Family photo!

The first gift of Christmas!

It was Hello Kitty jams from Gigi and Pop!

 And she put them on right away!

A Buzz Lightyear lunchbox from Pop! Sweet!

 

It's filled with Spiderman stickers!!!

Yes, my kid is awesome.

On the Farm ... Sorta

We had Christmas in Hampstead, NC, at my uncle's house. He lives right outside of town, but has a huge lot of land, goats that live in the field behind his house, and random sheds and gardens throughout his property. My mom and I took advantage of one of the sheds that had old rusted farm tools around it for Friday afternoon photos.

dress: Old Navy

boots: Soda/Shoe Department

And this is my beautiful momma...

My very best friend.

She wasn't too pleased when I made her cheese with me on Christmas morning, but I think the photo turned out really cute! Everyone was making fun of me for wearing lipstick to open gifts. My mom gave it to me the night before and I promise I just thought it was a lightly tinted chapstick. I didn't even look in the mirror before leaving the guest house and voila! The photo tells the truth. Coral on Christmas day, anyone?

A Holiday Beach Excursion

The Thursday before Christmas, my parents, brother, Little S. and I trekked from Hampstead, NC down to North Myrtle Beach, SC to visit some of my dad's family for the holiday. Lucky for me, my uncle lives 2 blocks from the beach and it was in the 70s. So what if it was raining!

dress as top: Target

maxi skirt: Old Navy

sandals: handed down from Aunt

necklace: The Word Jewelry

Also lucky for me? This skirt was on sale at Old Navy last week for $11.99 and it's super stretchy, so I'll be able to wear it for a LONG time through this pregnancy. 

P.S. - Thank you, second trimester, for calming down with all the yuck.

Bigger Elf Legs

On Sunday, we went out to lunch with my MIL and our cousins that live across town. Little S. insisted on wearing a dress and tights, so I decided to follow suit. Kid's a genius. I mean, it was only 40 degrees and dresses are much more comfortable than anything else. And this dress is a big stretchy knit thing with no seams that hit anywhere! Perfect for a casual, but comfy Sunday, of course.

dress: Ross, birthday gifted from Rochelle

scarf: Old Navy

tights: c/o We Love Colors

booties: Payless

Looking back, I wish I'd tied my scarf differently/shorter. But you know, hindsight's 20/20. I'm *SO* excited that we're leaving today to go to my uncle's to spend Christmas with family! Can't wait to hug my momma and my nanny (that is flying in from CO tomorrow!).

Little Elf Legs

Little S. has been nothing but a beacon of Christmas spirit, so over the weekend, we both donned elf legs. Today, she'll showcase hers!

dress: Target

chambray top: Thrifted by Rochelle

tights: c/o We Love Colors

bow belt: from one of my dresses

shoes: Nike Air Force, gifted from Uncle Ryan

There's really nothing those baby blues can't convince me.