Pine cone garland - check!

Remember this post from last year? Well, I finally gave the pine cone garland a try. Severen and I collected some cones (spruce, actually) in our yard and at the park. Then during nap time one day I got out my baker's twine and went to work. I really like how it looks on the mantel. Can I leave it up all year?

I'm also thinking about making some pomanders (thanks for the inspiration, Karen!) to have around. Having a house smelling of clove and orange sounds pretty heavenly to me.

Baby's room, 5 months later

What was once "the baby's room" is now "Severen's room." And Severen is 5 months old, which means that things are starting to change around here!

For the last month or so, Severen has been sleeping in his own room on his floor bed. We splurged on a really nice mattress and I bought a new, softer rug to go under it. He loves it! We also moved the changing table out of the room (put in the closet, actually, as shelving) and we change him on the floor now. We was just getting too wiggly to be up so high. Also, this way eventually he will be able to crawl over to be changed.

The floor bed concept is pretty cool. The idea is that when a room is safety-proofed, it becomes completely accessible to the child because he/she is able to leave the bed after waking and move around the room without help from parents. I like the idea of more movement and independence on Severen's part, especially as he gets older. And wow, I am amazed at how much this kiddo can move! I never know where I am going to find him in the morning - usually somewhere on the floor, just chilling out.

I will be honest, after I set up the mattress/changing area this way I looked around and felt pretty uncomfortable. I mean, to my eyes/brain seeing things on the floor = mess. Of course that isn't the case here, but there is no denying that having lots of things on the floor really changes the aesthetics of the space. But now, after several weeks, I'm really into it. When you walk into Severen's room, you know that it is intended for him and all the learning that he has ahead - and that is a good thing.

The best thing about the set up right now? I can nurse him in bed or lie with him and rest/read books. It makes naptime/bedtime cuddling really easy and fun!

A dresser on my dresser

I am very picky when it comes to jewelry boxes. Most of them are pretty ugly, I think. Faux leather exteriors and red velvet interiors don't really do it for me. So when I found this box a few weeks ago I was so excited! It is a miniature dresser (it used to have a mirror on the top, too) with tiny drawers. The lining is a butternut-squash orange. The best part to me? The ring drawer.

Happy happy happy to you

 

This is the first holiday in my 30+ years that I have not spent with either my family or my in-laws. Special circumstances (we are due on the 28th!) made air travel impossible this year so we have been working to make our house cozy and comfy for just the two of us. It is also our first winter in our house (we were in California last year) so it really is new territory for us all around! I snapped a few photos around our house this morning . . .

Whatever you are up to this weekend I hope you have a restful, fun few days. I leave you with this excellent Christmas song by Ray Charles. Someone paired it with old photos from the 40s and 50s, which just makes it even better in my opinion. It makes this pregnant lady cry!

Like at school

I don't know why, but I really want a pull down map - you know, the kind that used to be rolled up above the chalkboard in elementary school? We didn't have a map of France in my little classroom in Iowa, but if I had one in my house today this is the one I would want!

Image courtesy of midmoderngoods on Etsy

Pine cone garland

How sweet is this pine cone garland? I'm going to start collecting pine cones on my walks and hopefully have one of these up in time for Thanksgiving festivities chez moi (we are hosting our families again this year). This looks like a DIY project I can handle.

Photo and project idea courtesy of Behbehblog

You can see the house now!

We made some big changes to our yard and house last month. Here is the before/after! The original garden was planted by a retired couple who, according to our neighbors, spent hours outside everyday tending to it. We knew that wasn't possible for us so we adopted this motto: more grass, less garden. All of the plants/shrubs are babies right now but they will be fuller next year. We also hope to plant two trees and flowers in the spring. For now though, everything is pretty pared down. And don't you love the brick on the first storey? Soren spent hours scrubbing away the white paint and working to expose the original brick. His efforts were the talk of the neighborhood!

My dresser

Moving back into our house gave me the opportunity to rethink my jewelry organization. I decided that I really want to be able to see my jewelry all the time. It's so beautiful, why not make it part of the decor? That means no more tiny boxes and tins hiding everything away. Now most of my necklaces are hanging and my big jewelry box is open and tidy - for now! My grandparents and my dad are also out where I can see them every day.