Harper's Playtable Makeover

I felt like a real, live Elf working in Santa's workshop for the past few nights. After Harper went to bed, Brandon & I headed out to the garage, listened to some Christmas tunes & went to work on a very special play table for Christmas morning. I think Harper is going to LOVE her new little mini-workspace!!

We bought this Ikea Latt table for $20 (it is available online!), stained it, dipped the legs & added a roll of paper underneath to make it extra functional. This was such an easy & cheap DIY, we are so happy with the result!! Here is a quick rundown of how we did it. The table comes unfinished, so we used Minwax Wood Stain in a dark finish (this particular one was Jacobean 2750), which actually has almost a metallic look to it once it is applied over the original light wood. The stain was applied before the pieces were assembled so it is easy to cover all surface area. We only did one coat of stain because we didn't want it to be too dark.

Once the stain was dry, I applied Frog Tape to the bottom portion of the legs & used Behr semi-gloss paint to give the legs a dipped look. I got a little tape happy & applied it again another inch above that piece to add another block of paint, this time using Martha Stewart Gold Metallic Glaze. Just to warn you though, this did not dry like I thought it would, it took a few very thin coats in order to get it to dry smooth & streak free.

We let it dry in the garage for another night & then came the fun part, peeling off the tape!! :) We also  picked up a roll of drawing paper from Ikea, one small dowel & two dowel holders to screw into the underside of the table (length wise) so that Harper could easily flip paper up onto the table top for coloring.

I hope this inspires you to get creative with this table! It is such a great price & so versatile that you can customize it so easily to fit your style.

   

 A plastic container from Target, this adorable star pillow (that is actually going to be part of her big girl bedding!) & these fun crayons were the perfect accessories for this little table. I can't wait for her to see it!! :)

You can find more of Harper's Christmas List here! :)
Also, I just want to say THANK YOU for all of the sweet comments on our advent calendar activities! I love hearing your feedback, ideas & how you have been inspired!! I am always determined to find ways to bring a little fun & festiveness into the everyday. So cheers to all of you who do too!!
And I totally felt like Dr. Seuss with that last sentence.
XO

Advent Calendar & Toddler Activities

 With a little over two weeks left until Christmas, I wanted to share our advent calendar & activities that we have been doing to count down to the big day. I got this advent calendar on clearance last year after Christmas & was so excited all year about getting to use it!! I hung it in the playroom & love how festive it is!

I planned these activities in advance, knowing a few things that we had going on during the month & of course, to avoid doing anything elaborate on busy weekdays. I wrote each activity down on a piece of paper, folded them up & stuffed them in the advent calendar stockings. Some came with little gifts (stickers, hair bows, etc.) but mostly they are just activities. Here is our list! :)

24. Decorate the Christmas tree!

23. Help daddy hang Christmas lights outside. (This one included red & green glowsticks to play with & bring to the bathtub after).

22. Color pictures to send to grandparents.

21. Wear reindeer antlers & go surprise daddy (with coffee!) at work.

20. Washi tape decorations on the wall! See picture below, Harper loved this!

19. Stickers! Decorate wrapping paper & wrap presents. This was a total shitshow, but I think she really had a lot of fun with it.

18. Breakfast with Santa. My husband's company puts on this event every year, it was all fun & games until it was actually Harper's turn to sit on his lap. She totally lost her shit when I tried to hand her over, so we snapped this quick pic & hit the road.

For the record, she calls him "Salty," which is definitely fitting after seeing her reaction to him.

17. Drive around to see Christmas lights in the dark. Harper LOVED this, we will probably do it once or twice more before Christmas.

16. Make S'mores & dance to Christmas music.

15. Christmas play at Church, wear your pretty new bow!

14. Make & decorate Christmas cookies.

13. Go see baby sister (ultrasound!!) & bring treats to the doctors/nurses.

12. Bring toys to the toy drive (and get a donut while we're there!)

11. Make snack necklaces & watch Elf.

10. Visit animal shelter & deliver doggy treats.

9. Make Gingerbread houses.

8. Grandpa comes to visit! Put on our Santa hats & go pick him up from the airport.

7. Make hot chocolate (chocolate milk for Harper) & Christmas popcorn.

6. Go to the bookstore to play & pick out a new Christmas book.

5. Make homemade red & green playdough.

4. Festive breakfast today! Make Christmas waffles.

3. Write a letter to Santa & a birthday card for Jesus.

2. Make cookies & reindeer food to put out for Santa tomorrow.

1. Candlelight Christmas Eve church service & open special present under the tree.

Next year when Harper is a little older, I'd love to incorporate more about the meaning of Christmas, with stories to read each day. So far, we are loving all of the activities & it has been such a fun way to countdown to Christmas.

Wishing you all a very merry Monday!!

19 Weeks

I can't believe we are almost halfway there!! Although I feel like I have been pregnant forEVER. This pregnancy is just not quite as easy as the first, much more exhausting, feeling like I am constantly huffing & puffing just to get around. Crawling around on my hands & knees picking up blueberries off the floor after lunch sucks. And after a long day in toddler town, I really wish I could have a beer. Is it April yet?

 Maternity Leggings | Red Hello Sweatshirt

How far along: 19 weeks

Gender: Girl!

Weight gain: 6 lbs.+ (Doctor's appointment is later this week so we will find out how much damage was done at Thanksgiving)

Maternity clothes: Still mostly wearing regular clothes & maternity leggings. I am loving the stretchy material of these GapFit breathable long sleeve tees, they are perfect for a still somewhat small bump & I LOVE the thumb openings in the sleeves for cold weather!! ;)

Stretch marks: No

Belly button in or out: In, but I think it's going to be an outie in no time.

Sleep: Good minus my all night stuffy nose.

Best moment this week: Baby girl has a NAME!! We are going to wait to announce it until she is born, but we are so excited about it! I am also excited to order her a Christmas stocking when they go on clearance after the holidays! ;)

Worst moment this week: Having the worst cold all week! I have been exhausted & all around miserable.

Miss anything: Not looking (or at least feeling) like I am wearing a Santa suit day in & day out.

Movement: Lots of it! Feeling baby girl move a few times a day.

Cravings: Pomegranate, oranges & sweets of any kind.

Queasy or sick: Sick of my cold, not really a fan of meat for the most part (except the occasional steak n shake burger!) and starting to have heartburn at night.

Looking forward to: Ultrasound this week!

  Also, amidst all of the Thanksgiving chaos, I forgot to post last week's picture, so here it is! 18 Weeks, Gobble Gobble!!

 Sorry for the worlds worst lighting in this room too, these pictures are always so blurry & the quality sucks compared to every other room in the house. But I really wanted to do the pictures in the baby's soon to be nursery, just for sentimental reasons. :)

Festive Friday Giveaway

Happy Friday!! Hope you all are kicked back, enjoying a cocktail (or a root beer float in my case!) & watching your favorite Christmas movie by the light of the tree! In the spirit of Harper going to see Santa in the morning, we have the most festive giveaway this week! :)

You know we love our Santa baseball tees & now you have the chance to win a matching set of your own! We are so excited that our friend Katie at SaSea Decor has generously offered one lucky winner a $50 credit to her Etsy shop!!! We not only love all of her festive designs, but all the clothes are beyond comfortable! Doesn't get much better than that! ;) Plus, you can score anything in her shop for an additional 20% off using coupon code BELIEVE.
All you have to do is enter below! These giveaways are my way of saying THANK YOU for being such loyal readers & for all of your sweet comments & support. I love you all & hope you have an amazing weekend!!
XO

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Decking the Halls

It sure is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! It has been so much fun decorating this year, Harper has been a great helper! Well, despite her ripping ornaments off the trees & launching them down the hallway yelling, "BALL!"

We are going to be hosting a little holiday open house for some of our friends & family that will be in town, so I am really excited to turn up our holiday tunes & put the bar cart to use! ;)

Harper is obsessed with the plastic Santa platter that we keep on the bottom shelf, I can't wait to make our cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve to put on it!

We added a photo wall a few weeks ago so I switched it out with some of my Christmas prints & our new family photos. Our tree in here is filled with classic gold ornaments & white lights, plus a cable knit blanket used as a tree skirt because after years of decorating, I still can't seem to just buy one.

So hard to believe that next year we will have FOUR stockings hanging on the fireplace! :)

I still have some decorating to do, but for now I am favoring my reindeer printed tissue box & Christmas cup filled with orange juice for a few more days. Pregnancy sure does a number on the immune system, my cold has been lingering for days! Hope you all are staying warm & enjoying all the fun that this holiday season has to bring!! XO

Sources:

Bar Cart \\ Santa Platter \\ Mr. & Mrs. Cocktail Glasses

Mercury Glass Dotted Hurricane \\ Oh What Fun Canvas Print

Wooden Picture Frames \\ Gold Picture Frame

Polka Dot Pillows

Christmas Favorites

The stockings are hung, the halls have been decked! We are so excited that Christmas is finally here!! The most fun, festive, peppermint-scented season of all!

I wanted to share all of our Christmas favorites, all the little goodies that make every day just a little more festive! Red nail polish, some plaid & holiday tunes are sure to put you in the holiday mood! I've also recently become obsessed with salted caramel hot chocolate & can't help but feel like it came straight from the North Pole! ;) It's that good.

Plaid Shirt \\ Eggnog Body Wash \\ Snowflake & Stripe Pajamas
Mr. & Mrs. Cocktail Glasses \\ 'Tis the Season Candle \\ Mistletoe One Piece
Oh What Fun Tee \\ OPI Nailpolish \\ Gold Advent Calendar
She & Him Christmas Album \\ Socks \\ Candy Cane Plush

Another holiday must have is some fresh evergreen! We love getting a real tree every year, but even a wreath or a garland from your local tree farm will do the trick. I always buy a little $5 bundle so we can put some on the mantle or in vases around the house.
We picked out our tree for the entryway this weekend & Harper had a ball helping me decorate it. She is in LOVE with all of the lights!! Every morning when we come downstairs she insists that we turn them on, she squats down to inspect them, points & says "mama! uh-oh! lights!!"

Hello Sweatshirt

She was so sweet & careful with each of the ornaments when we put them all on the tree. And of course, she had me tie some on her wrists so she could wear them as bracelets.

 It's true, she loves this time of year just as much as her mama!! So many fun things to pack into just a few short weeks! Can't wait to share more of our advent calendar & activities that we are doing all month long, so far she is loving it!
Hope you all are having an amazing December so far!!! XO

Our Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is over, our house is empty, but our hearts are full. We had the best time having everyone here over the last few days, I wish they could have stayed forever!

 We made cinnamon rolls & a "fruit turkey" for breakfast, Harper took one look at it & said "whoaaaaa....." She went right for the cheese feet & chocolate chip eyes. And she wanted to eat breakfast in the middle of the kitchen floor for some reason. Excuse our (my) bedhead :)

It was so fun putting the dining room to use, since it is usually just covered in toys! All of the food was so good, it makes me want to have the same menu for Christmas dinner! :)

After dinner & dessert, we spent the afternoon outside, playing bags, chopping pumpkins & sneaking in a few family pictures.

Only three of my four brothers could be here, my youngest brother had an emergency appendectomy just a few days ago so he couldn't make the drive. We were bummed once again to be  missing part of the family for Thanksgiving. Harper is obsessed with all of her uncles & especially her grandparents, I love hearing her say their names! :)

Feather Headband (c/o A Tiny Arrow)  | Velour Bow Dress | Gold Moccasins (c/o Freshly Picked)
Cream Sweater from Express a few years ago (similar here & here)

Such an great time & so much good food. Thank you to all of our family for traveling such a long way to be here, we loved having you & love you all so much!!

Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend!

Now, it's time to get our Christmas on! :) HAPPY DECEMBER!!