Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sugar High!

When twins are quiet...you know something is going on.
It's after lunch, I'm in the laundry room folding some towels.....Trent and Lila have been quiet for probably five minutes. That's strange....
I open the dining room door and see THIS!-----



More of the mess!



They've eaten every single {with the exception of about 4 that Chance took care of} little iced Valentine's Day cookie in that little plastic tray....so, all my photo props for my Valentine's Day items!! Sugar lovin stinkers!! Chance and Maci helped clean the floor up and Trent and Lila are still running around the house with a sticky mess on them, haha.
















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**SALE** Single Cupcake Stands can be purchased in sets of 3 {you pick colors} for $12/set with $5 shipping!

That's BUY TWO GET ONE FREE with $5 shipping {and shipping is free right now with Coupon Code GRANDOPEN}
 

Visit my shop, contact seller, and let me know what colors you would like and I will set you up a custom listing on Etsy!

Domestically Swanky on Etsy



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Monday, January 16, 2012

Domestically Swanky on Etsy

I've been buuuusy the last few days starting my crafts and spending time with my hubby and kids. I got this crazy idea in my mind that I was going to absolutely, for sure, have items FOR SALE on Etsy tonight {Monday} and I almost did...haha. I mean, I guess I did because, I had items listed but I didn't make my official Facebook announcement until 12:04am! Darnit! :)
I'm really, really, really excited about Etsy. I really hope it's everything I've built it up to be in my mind to be. I sure don't plan on making millions with it but, I'm hoping to enjoy the whole crafting process and I plan on treating it as much like a business as possible! I know Trent and Lila will take up lots of my time but, that's one good thing about Etsy...it's on YOUR TIME.
Right now I just have cake and cupcake stands listed but, I plan on adding more items as I make them! I'm inspired daily by other creative people, so who knows what I'll come up with! I hope everyone enjoys what they see and please, please, please let me know if there's something you're interested in that I may not even have for sale. I can customize orders and offer my crafty skills!! Don't forget to let me know any ideas that you would like for your home - decorative things, party decor, I'm all for it! Thank you everyone who is already supporting me {especially my sweet hubby, Jerry!!}



Visit Domestically Swanky on Etsy! Thank you!!





Free Printable but totally how I feel! :)

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Friday, January 13, 2012

Changed Lives


That's a biiiig belly and some big ole swollen legs!



This picture means so much to me. It's the moment of just Jerry and me as a family. Moments before our babies came into this world. We knew, without a doubt that we were about to experience a love that we had never known. We knew that our life would be forever changed. I have to admit, having twins especially..it was a bittersweet moment. On one hand, you're so completely excited that you're about to bring babies into this world and on the other hand, you know things are about to change between the two of you so drastically! I was also pretty upset that I hadn't been able to see my doggies {that I wasn't able to say my official warning/goodbye to before delivery} in a few days because, I was admitted to the hospital a few days before. Although I was extremely excited about welcoming Trent and Lila into this world, it is somewhat scary when you're welcoming two. We knew everything would be fine and we had a lot of helpers that we could count on. Just the normal anxiety of having a baby, I guess. Oh, and I was pretty much scared crapless about getting a catheter and IV. I had never had either one of those things. I'm not normally an easily stressed person but, I was scared. I got an IV in my hand which did hurt like crap. I'm not a big fan but, I did survive. I swear, that hurt worse than the spinal and the healing of the c-section.

I remember my Mom came in the morning before I was whisked away to the surgery room. She brought us a card that was sweet and when I was leaving the room I started crying like a baby! I'm sure those nurses thought I was overly hormonal, haha....oh, and I was! I remember being rolled into the surgery room and Jerry had to wait out in the waiting area while I got my spinal. I was still crying like a baby and said "I love you!" which was probably close to inaudible, haha. They rolled me on in and the nurses {and whoever else was in there!} were so nice and comforting. The Anesthesiologist was really good too. I barely felt the spinal and that thing kicked in within in a second! They had me throw my legs back on the table and they did the catheter then {thank you sweet baby Jesus!} So, I felt nothing! A few minutes later, Jerry was able to come back in and things got started. I had some maaaajor nausea from the spinal meds, so first they had me smell an alcohol pad {which helped with mild nausea} and then she finally had to shoot me with something to get it to go away because I was about to hurl. Jerry was so sweet holding my little alcohol pad though until I was sure I wasn't going to be sick. That would really stink {literally} getting sick while having your c-section. Ugh.

Trent came right out. He must have been ready to escape from Lila! She was probably trying to ride him like a horse like she does now. When Trent was coming out, I didn't feel anything. No pressure, no pulling, nothing. When they were trying to get stubborn little Lila out, I felt some pressure...nothing like I imagined and nothing painful. She finally came on out and we had two perfect little babies in basically two minutes! I got to see both of them and Jerry got to finish cutting their cords. He held Lila and Trent got sent to the nursery to get some oxygen because he wasn't turning pink fast enough. They said it was pretty common and not to worry. They probably say that to everyone. They did keep assuring me that he was fine and it wasn't anything serious, at all. I trusted them and really wasn't that worried. I wanted to see him, of course...but, they are professionals and know what they're doing.

We were back in our hospital room 30 minutes after surgery started. Lila was able to come back to the room with us. Jerry carried her from the surgery room to our room. She probably loved all the extra attention! :) Jerry and I wanted to have some alone time with the babies before everyone came in that was in the waiting room. After trying to breastfeed Lila, we waited and waited and Trent was still getting oxygen, so everyone just came on in to see Lila. Pretty sure everyone fell in love right away! :) Several people had already seen Trent from the nursery window and the nurses had apparently given a thumbs up to them so, we knew everything was ok. He was finally able to come to our room. I insisted on holding him first, of course...he was so little. Two whole pounds smaller than Lila. I remember everyone being there that morning to see them. I had to eat crackers and jello. After everyone left, I tried breastfeeding Trent. He wasn't a big fan of latching. I remember Mary coming by and I could hardly talk to her because I was feeling so nauseous. I had to call the nurse and she gave me some meds that pretty much put me to sleep and we had a REQUIRED nap time {which I kind of regret now} for what seemed like all day! We missed so many sweet friends that came by to visit. Pretty much the rest of the day was a total blur. I remember holding them and trying to breastfeed some more. I remember Patti and Nancy coming by that evening after work but, everything else just sort of blurred by. Busy day, I guess..right? The next day or so was mostly focused on trying to breastfeed and healing up from my surgery. We were able to go home right on schedule and in time for Thanksgiving! Thank goodness! 

It really doesn't seem like it was over a year ago. I really don't miss those early days. They were good babies and I still don't miss it. We are so thankful that we are able to experience life with these adorable little babies. They're the two best gifts we've ever received. I'm pretty sure they're the absolute cutest, most precious kids around! :)


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Thursday, January 12, 2012

T & L's 1st Birthday!

It's been two months since Trent and Lila turned 1. Time really does fly! I just wanted to share some pictures from their first birthday party. Not to brag...but, I feel like it's one for the record books and I hope they enjoy every picture we have of it when they get older!



I made several things for their party and I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. The yarn pom poms {with the help of my sweet friend, Mary} turned out so cute. Those little table decorations with the popcorn boxes are probably one of my favorite elements of this party! I've also probably never seen many decorations cuter than the small yarn pom poms on the tops of their individual cakes. I purchased .pdfs from etsy.com for the cupcake toppers, favor tags, highchair garland, and lollipop tags. I just cut them either with scissors or a decorative 2" hole punch {great investment!} A party feels so much more special when you've done more personal decorating, I think. So thankful I have the creativity and some of the time to get it all done!




The Birthday Babies -
Trent wore suspenders and a personalized carnival shirt. Lila wore a tutu that I made with a personalized carnival shirt! Thanks Tea Party Designs for the iron-ons! 




Jerry had an idea to dress up their highchairs, so we made the names and strung out yarn under the tray topper. I also made these 1st Birthday party hats - so easy! Just printed out a template, cute a white box and then folded accordingly. I cut out # 1's from felt and stuck those on with double-sided tape and stuck one of the pom poms on top and a cute trim around the bottom. No gluing, only used tape. I took a hole punch and put a hole on either side to string through the yarn to tie it under their chins.




I really felt like the dessert table was important! I made the table decor {popcorn buckets,} cupcake stands, lollipop holder box, and put labels on all the favors of cotton candy. I got the table skirt from a local party and the red and white striped fabric is from a local craft store. I hope people were impressed. I really wanted everyone to like it. Thanks to my mom-in-law for baking those delicious cupcakes! That was one less thing on my to-do list! :)








Trent and Lila's cousins Ben and Dylan were huge helps on the day of the party! Thanks guys!!








 We had a few games and a bounce house, so we had to have prizes...right? I got a bunch off of Oriental Trading. We had the duck pond game {yes, one kid ended up with her feet in the pond!} Kids {and adults} also played a game where you throw bean bags and knock down some cans, and cornhole.








 We had face painting too! Check out Nikki's Nifty Creations and book her for your next party!





Cake time! My kids tore those cakes up!











We appreciate so many people coming to the party! I know Trent and Lila felt the love! :) Thanks so much to all our helpers that day too! You know who you are and I hope you know how much we looove you! :)





Thanks Nicole - True Blend Photography for being here at the party and taking pictures to help us remember this special day!

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Master Bedroom Inspiration

So, we've been in our house for 2 whole years now. We've done some painting and some decorating in the living room, front bathroom, and a little in the dining room. Of course we did an overhaul on the nursery but, every other room is really lacking a few things! I'm always looking up interior decorating ideas. Today I really focused on master bedroom ideas. I found a few things that I love on houzz {my new love for all things interior decor} and I'm just going to share those - who knows...maybe someone will find my ideas inspiring! :) {Although, my taste is usually a little much for most people, lol.}

Here's my inspiration-
Source: houzz.com via Ashley on Pinterest



Obviously I found my inspiration by searching for orange and teal, haha...but, I've decided not to use orange in our bedroom. Even though it's my most favorite color and everything I own could probably be orange and white and I would be happy...I'm going to attempt not to go overboard with the orange, lol. :)

Here's my actual color palette and a few things that I believe would look really great in our room from polyvore-

Source: polyvore.com via Ashley on Pinterest



When Jerry and I were deciding on a paint color for the living room, we tried out a dark bright blue {think cobalt, but not quite as bright} on the fireplace wall. It didn't work for the living room because, we didn't have anything else to tie that color to the room. We've discussed this color before and both really like it. So, by gosh...we're going to use it in our bedroom! Our "sanctuary"...that's what they say it should be, anyway. :) Our walls are already an icy light blue in our room, so we're not going to paint, just bring that dark bright blue color in the room with accessories, paintings, pillows, etc.
I may end up adding one more accent color. We'll see. I was thinking a green but, who knows!
It seems like everything I found on polyvore was super expensive. I know I could get similar items for a lot less. I would definitely hit up Marshalls, Ross, Home Goods, TJ Maxx...I know those places would have what I'm looking for. I mean, have you SEEN the awesome lamps at Home Goods? OMG. I will need new bedding and new window treatments.
As we start implenting our new color scheme/design I'll post some pics!


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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Regular TV vs Media Player, etc.

Apparently not even half of us are watching regular TV anymore. See the recent survey conducted by Consumer Search here.

I know Jerry has been pushing me to get rid of our TV service and just use our media player as our 'TV'. I'm reluctant but, I guess he's really making more sense about it than I am. It would save us money, for sure and we really don't watch that much 'regular TV' now that we have the media player. Saving money is always good, right??
What would we miss? Maybe some UT games, but we could maybe stream those online whenever they're on and any local TV {i.e. news stations, etc} that we never watch anyway. :) I don't think Trent and Lila would miss it. I don't even turn the TV on during the day. Hmmm....maybe when we invest in one extra media player for our bedroom. We watch TV usually every night {except right now while our living room tv is broken and we're using the bedroom TV in the living room - so sad!} before we go to sleep..or I watch it in the middle of the night when I can't sleep because of babies or anticipating an upset baby, haha. {Do any other Moms do that?!}

Anyone else thinking of making the switch? Maybe I should think more about it.

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