Cordless blinds for the nursery

I can't tell you how bad I HATE blinds with cords!!! Loathe may be a better word. I absolutely refused to put blinds with a cord in the nursery, so I went out on the search for a better alternative.

I thought I vaguely remembered seeing some type of honeycomb type blind that you could push up and pull down without the use of a cord. After a brief google search ("cordless blinds") I found a bunch of options for blinds that are made of "light filtering fabric" that does just what I want!!

Here are the options:

• Remote control cordless blinds (Bed Bath and Beyond)
  These were awesome - but pretty darn expensive.... and I really dont think I need a remote, it's not like the windows are inaccessible.
  
• Ready Shade Cordless Blinds (Bed Bath and Beyond)
  Loved that these had a peel and stick "technology" so that you didn't have to drill or screw anything. They also can be cut to size using the included tool. The price is also really good at $24.99 - $34.99.
• Cordless Pleated Shade (Domestications)
  I liked the fact that these came in colors other than ivory and white. I think the chocolate or linen color would be good for blocking out a little more light. These are also at a great price ($19.99 - $39.99) and come in 13 different sizes.

I think I will try the Cordless Pleated Shade.... (pictured below). I really like the linen color and think it will be a nice accent. I wish I could see the color in person, but I'll check out the return policy before I buy and let you know what I find out! Yay! No cords!!!!

Changing over to new layout

In my attempts to stay current on the blog and hopefully create something people read - I have changed over my layout so that I can add widgets. I have been stuck in the "Classic Layout" for quite some time - but coming from a website background - I guess it's understandable.

Anyway, this may mean nothing to you - but I wanted to warn you that the layout may be messed up - please comment back if you notice something that is not right. I'm trying to get it fixed asap!!

Thanks for the patience!

Things I'm looking forward to...

Even before we started talking about having kids, there were a few things that I have looked forward to. The closer it gets to ACTUALLY having one - the more things I get excited about! I thought this would be a good blog topic... a list of things I'm looking forward to once the kiddo is here.

These are in no particular order:

1. Scholastic Book Fairs - I used to love these things!!
2. Making Easter baskets and Easter egg hunts (and tooth fairy visits, and putting together bikes at 2am for Christmas...)
   
3. Tent-forts with sheets and sofa cushions
   
4. Going to games/recitals
5. Birthday parties
   
6. Halloween costumes/dress up days at school
   
7. Being a room mom
   
8. Girlscouts
   
9. Girlie stuff: tutus, glitter, makeup, dresses, tiaras, etc.

What are you looking forward to when your little one arrives? Or if you already have kids, what are some things you really enjoy doing that you couldn't do before you had them?

I suck at blogging...

Ok, I totally suck at blogging... but I think I've finished my last 'major' commitment so maybe I can stay on track.

Over the past month I've been trying to finalize my design ideas for the baby room... and I think I'm pretty sold on purple/green as the room colors. I'm still sticking with a vintage theme - and at first thought it wouldn't go with purple... but the more I'm researching - it's very much a vintage theme color. Wow, that was a run-on sentence if I've ever seen one.

Here is my idea board. I'm pretty sure that is the "built to grow" crib and glider we are getting... we have to go back and check it out again and then just decide! Ugh, I hate decisions. The glider is RIDICULOUSLY comfortable. It doesn't recline, but it's positioned perfectly so I don't think I'll need



More detail on the fabric. The purple floral print will be the bumper pad and curtains. The other fabrics I'm still deciding on for accents. I really want to find a good stripe as an accent, but purple fabric just isn't that popular right now.




I love the idea of silhouettes, but was concerned that I couldn't pull it off with the new color scheme until I saw the print of the queen (in the shot above) on a vintage purple paper. I may not use purple against my purple walls, but I like the idea of it.

Here are some other good ways to use silhouettes with fabrics and patterns. I saw this in a magazine and then was thrilled to find it online (I hate scanning stuff haha - although I DID just get a new printer/fax/scanner that I'm excited to try out! It's wireless too!!)

Ok, so that's the major thing that's had me preoccupied recently. I also just finished working at a race expo for a friend, so now that it's done, I will try to focus on blogging and getting the room FINISHED!

Photographing Kids - Photography Tips

Ok, this is a totally "cheat" blog entry because I'm back dating it so that it will fall behind the one I just wrote haha. Yeah, lame - but whatever - it's good info.

I came across this blog while "Stumbling". It's a few good tips on how to photograph your kids. I keep seeing all these pictures of my friends kids and there is so much STUFF in the background - messy rooms, dishes, etc. And I think this is a good quick lesson to show that you dont have to be a great photographer to take good pictures. Just take your kids out of the clutter and follow these simple tricks and VIOLA - awesome pics!

How To Take Great Photos Of Your Kids - from the Alpha Mom blog.

The past month...

Yes, it's been almost a month since my last entry... and it's been a crazy month to say the least.

My Granny, who I was very close to, passed away on the 18th. She was in the hospital for about 3 weeks with problems relating to breathing. She had high C02 levels, and they couldn't seem to get her oxygen and C02 levels stabilized long enough to make a difference.

She passed very peacefully in her home and is now with the Lord. Fortunately, two days before she passed, Chris and I had the privileged of telling her that our child, her 9th great grand child, was going to be a girl! She was the 1st to know (other than me and Chris) - and was also very proud to be the 1st. I'll never forget the smile on her face after we told her and showed her the ultrasound pictures. She was a very, very special lady and her memories will live on in this child and in many of us!!

This is her obituary - I will post the revised one from her funeral program as soon as I get it.

CASTLEBERRY, Edna Born Edna Carlise Brown, daughter of Joseph Waverly Brown and Minnie Bell Stephens, Edna died peacefully at the age of 86. Her family operated Brown Dairy in Chamblee where Edna attended Chamblee High School and played basketball. Edna married Charles Sylvester Castleberry while he was in the military in 1941. The two returned to Chamblee and founded Castleberry's Appliance Store where she worked as a bookkeeper for 64 years until her passing. Her son Curtis continues to operate the family business to this day.

Edna enjoyed many hobbies. Her favorite being golf, gardening, quilting, love of animals and sewing for every friend and family she could find. Edna was preceded in death by brothers, Robert Franklin and Joseph Conrad Brown and sister, Mildred Louise Scott. She is survived by one brother, Johnson Waverly (Dub) Brown; her daughters, Beverly Castleberry Winsness and Cynthia Castleberry Bell; son, Curtis Brian Castleberry, niece Nancy Scott Kidd; 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Just days before her death, she was delighted to have been told that great-grandchild 9 will be a girl.

Funeral services will be held on Monday February 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. from H.M. Patterson and Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Rd. Burial will follow in North Atlanta Memorial Park in Doraville. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.