it's the holiday season

The other night {shortly after my last post} the holiday fever caught me, and I have been decorating ever since. It used to be that Mike didn't get into the holiday spirit, but he has come over the the merry & bright side, and even helped me trim our tree. 

When I pulled out the decorations from two years ago {yes I did not put anything up last year for fear that Violet would try to eat it all} I realized that I didn't have that much to work with, so I knew that I needed to find some other items to help deck the halls. I headed to Michael's {it would have been Hobby Lobby if it weren't closed on Sundays}, TJmaxx, Target, and the Dollar Tree. 

When I walked in Target I saw the cutest gift bags right off the bat, and couldn't resist buying one of each with the idea of using them somewhere as decoration. That is when I thought that I should put them in inexpensive frames and hang them on the wall. Here is what I used:

And this is how it turned out. I thought that I would use the frames as-is, but the frames were nothing to write home about. I had some gold craft paint lying around, so I used a paper towel to wipe some paint on the frames. This really jazzed up the dollar store finds; I love that they have a vintage feel. The total cost was $12 for the festive framed prints.

Now this is the tree that my mom got Mike back when he was a little bit of a Grinch. I picked out the silver & black themed ornaments, and Mike picked out the pickle {kinda hard to see in this shot}. It always gets a spot front and center.

The flowers I picked up the poinsettia flowers at Michael's and traded out the Ikea daises seen in the upcycled glasses post.

Both of the table runners are from TJmaxx. The dinning table runner was just purchased this year, and the coffee table runner was from last year when our dinning table was MUCH smaller. The glass bowl was one that I picked up at Ikea for four bucks, and I filled it with ornaments that I picked up at the dollar store.

The best part was enjoying a home made chai latte by the tree.

advent calendar

On Thanksgiving a friend gave me a great gift, and something that his really getting me into the holiday spirit, and advent calendar! The beauty of an advent calendar is that you can start counting down the twenty four days until Christmas starting on December first. 

This is where the draw back of this awesome calendar lies... it is NAIL POLISH! Ayn got me a nail polish advent calendar! I am pretty sure that there is nothing better in the whole world {that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is also how I feel.} I have been looking at this master piece in amazement, and trying very hard {and succeeding} not to open it. 

Here is a little taste of what I {and in-turn you} are looking forward to...

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Yes, those are adorable mini bottles of polish just waiting for December to roll around. For those of you who are not familiar, Ciaté is the genius behind the caviar manicure, and included are four different color micro beads for said manicures. December is looking good. 

This was truly such a thoughtful gift, and just goes to show how luck I am for the amazing friends that I have.  Ayn, thanks again I am so happy that you are a part of my life. 

Five days and counting...



 

polish please | a little vampy

I feel like I haven't really posted anything nail related in a while, so I might as well tonight. I love the way that this mani turned out {I cannot stop looking at my nails}. I made an agreement with myself that I would not buy any more polish until I wore everything I own at least once... yeah that didn't happen. 

When I was strolling through Target {always dangerous} I was over in the clothing department {no where near the polish} and there was a gift giving display that had clutches, accessories, and you guessed it, POLISH. I looked around for a little while, and picked up each color carefully looking at it, and then convincing myself that I really didn't need it. I put back one after another, almost like I had will power, until I ran into this gem:

Bobbing for Baubles by Essie. Self-control, shmelvf-control, I NEED this. The love was instant, and into my basket it went. This of course was only a gate way polish; I needed another fix, and off to the polish aisle I went. That is when I made friends with this baby:

Your name didn't lie, you are Beyond Cozy, and beyond gorgeous! I would love to say that I left it here. Two polishes, and out the door, but I did pick up this top coat. That is when I called it a day, and came home to make some magic. This is what I came up with...

In real life {opposed to blog life} it is a little darker, and a little less navy. This could be the easiest color that I have ever applied, it could have almost been a one-coat deal. The glittery goldish-silver also was very nice to apply {I haven't always loved the way Essie polishes apply or dry, but this was such a pleasant surprise}. After I applied the colors to my nails, I thought that there was a little too much contrast between the nails, so I used a little scotch tape to create the glitter triangles to the bottom of my index finger nails.

Not only am I super stoked on my latest creation, I also just got over 1,000 page views here at baileynicoleblogs! Thanks everyone for your interest in my ramblings!

first wedding post | backdrops

With everything else going on in my life, wedding planning is a wonderful escape, and stress reliever {at least when it comes to the decor, not really the whole budget part}. Of course, I have blown up my pinterest account(s) with a board planning all things wedding. 

Some decor that I have really been focused on are backdrops. I love the added color and texture, and with the backyard budget wedding that it looks like we are planning... these fit in perfectly with the venue and budget. 

Paper or fabric tassels hung on a line, lining the back of a table. This would be easy to make, and to make in the colors that nest fit your theme. They are delicate, and light, but fill negative space and create interest.

  

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A simple paper chain! I can't believe how beautiful this looks. It is a far cry from the paper chains that I would make to count down days to an event {birthday or Christmas}. The gradient look adds sophistication to a simple and nostalgic concept.

  

  

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Below is a link to the tutorial for this amazing garland. Hanging behind a sweetheart table, this would be lovely.

 

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The last piece of inspiration are strips of fabric swagged with white lights to add interest to a ceiling or rafters. The fabric could also be hung vertically in colors coordinating with your wedding colors. 

 

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I am so excited to actually start planning and start the projects. Yeah for DIY and crafting!

loss

As I had mentioned in an earlier post, this year has been tough for me... and for my family. Just under six months ago we lost the most incredible woman to walk the earth when my grandmother passed away. She was a strong, loving, nurturing person who put all others before her. She raised eight kids and took care of her younger siblings when she was still a teenager after the passing of her mother. She also did an amazing job with all of her grandchildren {I consider myself incredibly lucky to have known her, let alone be one of her grandkids. She loved her grandchildren more than anything else in the world.}

This week, my grandpa joined my grandma and left this life. He was a strong man who lived a hard life, but always sought out joy {in his own way}. We lived states apart and spent a lot of time apart, but had a huge connection that nothing could stop. Whenever I went to visit my grandparents, it always felt like I was at home. This I will forever miss. 

A week before my grandpa passed I called him to let him know the good news that I had {our engagement}. This was something that I dreamed about telling my grandma; she would have been so happy for us. I am so glad that I got this moment with my grandpa, and that I got to share something good with him, something happy. 

Now they are together again. 

Grandma and Grandpa Wilson, I love you both so mush and miss you more than you will ever know. You both make such a huge impact on my life. I look up to both of you, and hope that I can create what a part of what you two had. I'll keep an eye on everyone for you.

baby shower

This past weekend my mega best friend Shawna threw a baby shower for our friends at her house, and I got to help! Michelle and Omer are the first of our friends to have a baby, and with that knowledge, you know that this baby is going to be spoiled rotten. 

Shawna and I came up with at theme for the shower food, kids favorites! So at this Jack-and-Jill shower we had pigs in a blanket, mac 'n' cheese, PB&J {with the crust cut off}, and cupcakes! We also had fruit salad, and an amazing salad that Omer brought.

Papa and Momma!

Since it was a co-ed shower we wanted to make sure that the boys had as much fun as the girls. We stayed away from some of the shower games that you typically see {and there was no way that I was going to eat melted candy bars out of diapers}. Shawna put together a "how many babies in the bottle" guesstimate game, like the great teacher that she is, and we decorated onesies for baby Alex. I forgot to get a picture of the onesies, but some of our friends have a sick hilarious sense of humor that thankfully Michelle and Omer appreciate {Let's just say there was a g-string, a flaming skull, and the phrase "They shake me" adorning different onesies.}

Mike got very into shopping for the baby, and  think that we went a little overboard, but baby Alex is totally worth it. The adorable theme for Alex's nursery is outer space, and we knew that we wanted to get something to help decorate the nursery. We decided on a mobile, but this was easier said than done. It seems as though one cannot find a mobile at the typical baby stores that doesn't have some sort of animal dangling from it. This is not a bad thing, but not what we were looking for.

 
So I started doing some research and the only thing that I could find that matched the theme were ones like this and this on Etsy that were beautiful but a little spendy. So I went to my new favorite store Hobby Lobby to get the raw materials to create something for Alex. {More details on how to make the mobile will pop up in a later post.}

the mobile was a hit

Congrats to Omer and Michelle! We are all so happy for you and your growing family!

I did want to leave everyone with a bingo sheet filled out by Shawna's husband, a game that we played as the gifts were opened. Needless to say, Shawna is NOT letting Dan register for baby gifts on his own when the time comes...

I don't know why, but the "cordless power drill" really cracks me up.

 

i said yes!

I know that I promised the other day that I would get back to everyone with details about my exciting weekend, and that I had news a details of what transpired to post on Wednesday, but let's face it... I was late! I swear, I have a good reason.

This past weekend Mike popped the question, we are now officially engaged! And I am so EXCITED!

Mike had planned a trip to Flagstaff for our anniversary for this past weekend. I went into this weekend very hopeful that something great would come of it, and thankfully it did. Mike isn't usually the planner out of the two of us. When it comes to outings/ dates he has his say, but I am usually the one to initiate the conversation, especially when it comes to trips to Flag. We meet in Flagstaff the first week of college and have been together pretty much ever since. I fell in love with Flag the first time I visited, and new that I wanted to live in the amazing town for at least the duration of higher education. When Mike started applying for medical school, I knew that my love affair with Flagstaff would have to come to an end, but that we could still see each other on the side. 

Maybe even a moth before the trip, Mike asked what I wanted to do for out eighth anniversary. When I had no suggestions other than dinner, Mike mentioned that we should try to go to Flagstaff and that I should request time off for a weekend trip. This weekend worked perfectly for both of us. Mike was in between blocks, and there weren't any other manager requesting the weekend off. 

The week leading up was very busy for me, and filled with early days {which I am not necessarily fond of, or good at}and a lot more on my plate at work than normal. By Friday I was so happy that the weekend and our trip arrived.   

We headed up to Flag and spent the first part of our day walking around down town, eating at Mountain Oasis, picking up coffee at Late for the Train, and walking around campus. 

After our walking tour of Flagstaff we headed to the hotel to get ready for dinner at the most amazing restaurant, and the place where we went for our first anniversary, Josephine's. I can honestly tell you that I haven't had a better meal before in my life. This restaurant is in a converted, cute, old craftsman style house and we ended up in the same room where we ate seven years earlier. Mike meal was good, he ordered the special, but let me tell you mine was GREAT!

After the meal we went back to the hotel and I could tell that Mike was acting a little different {I thought that it might have been the VERY strong Manhattan that he had with dinner} but it turns out her was getting ready to pop the question. It seemed like it happened so fast, but in slow motion at the same time. He got down on one knee, and I cried. It was perfect. 

So after sharing the news with family and friends, I wanted to share it with the world. Let the planning begin!