SIX WEEKS OLD!!

On Saturday Bentley was SIX WEEKS OLD! 

He had a very eventful weekend. On Friday night he hung out with Uncle Joey, Auntie Kristin, Tyler, and Ava. Saturday he visited with DeeDee and Dup, and then spent the day with all of his crazy Unkees at our friends' engagement party. We had a relaxing Sunday morning at the Cape house, and then headed home for a day at the lake with friends. 

 

Have a great day!

~E

It's WEDDING DAY in Florida...

Today my best girlfriend, my dear and crazy friend Trish is getting married.  WOOHOO!  I've known Trish for many years and we have had some GREAT times together since we were young.  It's strange to think that we are now old married ladies, I have a newborn baby, and I know she won't be far behind in that category (WINK WINK).  She has found a wonderful guy, Tyrone, and we couldn't be happier for them.  Although I was supposed to be in Florida and stand up as her Maid of Honor, the timing of Bentley's arrival and some post-delivery complications did not allow for a trip to Tampa this weekend.  I am sad that I cannot be there, but so incredibly happy for the two of them on this special day!  Chris, Bentley, Hurley, and I wish them an incredible and HAPPY WEDDING DAY!

We love you both and cannot wait to see you!  Bentley is looking forward to meeting his Auntie and Uncle!

LOVE AND CONGRATS!

~E, Chris, Bentley, and Hurley   

YAY for Friday!

Bentley is happy it's Friday and wishes you a wonderful weekend - YAY for Friday!  He is also very excited because tomorrow his Auntie Trish and Uncle Tyrone are getting married, so it is an extra exciting weekend!

Enjoy!

~E

ETSY, Glorious ETSY

So I promised that I would tell you about Etsy...

Etsy is a social/e-commerce website ~ truly an online shopping experience.  Items include everything from home decor, accessories and furniture, to clothing and jewelry, to arts and crafts.  Pieces range from handmade to vintage items.  It is such a fun shopping experience, and wonderful in the fact that it brings you great finds and unique pieces from individuals and very small businesses all over the country & the world. From people like stay-at-home Mom's, for example, who may otherwise not have the chance to share their creativity on a broad scale.  There are truly thousands of sellers, and such neat items up for grabs at reasonable prices. 

Although there are SO many sellers and SO many items to browse, I find it to be a very well organized and well put-together website.  Inventory is broken down in detail by category as well as by shop name, color, and a variety of other search capabilities.  You are able to track and keep a history of all your purchases.  You can communicate with sellers before and after you make a purchase, as well as provide feedback on your experience with a particular seller.  In "Your Etsy" profile you can also save your favorite sellers so you can easily check back with their store for updated products. 

You HAVE to check it out (although, it is addicting so be careful)!

Also, if you are into blogging (and not just checking my blog because you are family and feel bad for me...hehe) check out Etsy's blog, The Storque.

It really is a creative and fun shopping experience.  I have made many purchases and over time will share sellers with whom I have had wonderful experiences, and who produce great products.

Have a great day!

~E

ROOM REVEAL: Family & Dining Room

As I mentioned in a previous post, our house was built in 1927.  It is a colonial/craftsman style and the floor plan was not very open when we first moved in.  When you walked in the front door the stairs to the second floor were right in front of you, there was a narrow hallway that ran down the middle of the house, and on the left of the house were two small rooms separated by a closet.  It felt very confined, each room had a door and there was lots of dark beadboard.  
 

(This was the front living space, and there was a similar room on the back of the house that I apparently didn't take a pic of.)

We immediately knew we wanted to knock out the long wall of the hallway, and the closet/walls in between the two rooms to make one large "great" room.  A few months after we moved in that was our first big project, and then we refinished the original wood floors ~ which were beautiful but had not been cared for.  Four years later and LOTS of hard work, here is the finished "great" room - our combined family/dining space...

 

More of Strazz-Land to come!

~E

Happy Friday!

Bentley wishes you a wonderful weekend!

(Look at those GUNS!)

~E

Another "Fresh Coat Friday" Feature...

Life in the Fun Lane is one of my favorite blogs...and my coffee table is featured this week on Fresh Coat Friday!  YAY!!

Thanks, Holly! :)

~E

Baby Bentley Update...

Since he is now ONE MONTH OLD I thought I would give you all a quick update on how Bentley is doing.  To sum it up...he is AMAZING!

He is the most incredible and precious little man EVER.  We are absolutely so in love with him and although we are exhausted, we are LOVING this parenting thing! :)  And its not as scary as we thought it would be! ;)  The thought of being a "Mom" was terrifying - NOT GONNA LIE - but I LOVE IT.  I LOVE hanging out with him, cuddling with him, and just watching him sleep in my arms.  It's incredible when his big eyes stare up at me. 

His little faces and expressions make us laugh!  (His expressions take after his Daddy...) He is also very strong (VERY VERY strong...his Dr. pointed it out in his first week)!  He's been picking his head up and kicking around since he was only a few days old, and he has just become stronger and more active (I wonder who that comes from?! Here's a hint...NOT ME). Every day he is more and more awake, staring up at us when we hold or feed him.  

Hurley loves him, too and has been such a good big brother.  He'll sleep by Bentley's crib or come to make sure everything is OK if he hears Bentley crying.  I love being with both of our "kids" while Daddy is at work.  It doesn't get better!! 

He enjoys his little swing from Auntie Kristin and Uncle Joey.  He'll swing in there for awhile, gazing around and listening to the music it plays.  Before he leaves for work in the morning, Christopher puts on the iPod so Bentley can jam out to some DMB, John Mayer, and other good tunes for awhile.  We have been using his gym/play mat.  He stares at himself in the mirror, gazes around at the brightly colored accessories, and kicks around like crazy. 

We just had his one month check up this week.  He had been gassy so we have been working on that for a few weeks and it seems to be getting better.  He is now 8 lbs / 13.5 oz (30th percentile) ~ he's still a peanut!  He is 21 1/4 inches long (50th percentile) and his head circumference is 14 1/2 inches (50th percentile).  The Dr. said he is PERFECT - very healthy, growing and developing well.  So we haven't screwed him up yet! ;)

And naturally, everyone LOVES his full head of luscious, spikey hair. :) He's got a very hip 'do!

He is a wonderful, amazing baby and we couldn't be happier!  All is GREAT in Strazz-Land.  I LOVE MOMMYHOOD!!!  It's impossible not to love it when you have this gorgeous little guy to wake up to every day (although the last couple of nights there isn't as much "waking" up as there is just "staying" up!)...

Have a great day!

~E

PROJECT = Coffee Table

This was another oldie but goodie from Chris' parents.  When we first moved into our house they gave us this wood coffee table of theirs ~ not exactly my style but at the time we had NO furniture so I made it work.  In my crazy nesting mode this spring, I decided to refinish it.  This was the first piece I painted ~ Dad gave me my first "lesson" in distressing.   He used to make furniture so he showed me a few tricks and techniques, and let me borrow his tools.  

Here is the coffee table BEFORE...

...and here it is AFTER... 

And here's the reason for the sheepskin rug underneath (the BEST accessory there is!)...

A nice fresh coat of white paint does wonders!

Have a great day!

~E

ONE MONTH!!

Today Baby Bentley is ONE MONTH OLD!  I can't believe it has been a whole month already!

Have a great day!

~E

It Doesn't Get Much Better...

My little cuddlebug.  LIFE IS GOOD.

~E

SHOP: Anthropologie

I love Anthropologie, and the new catalog came last week.  WOOHOO!  Check out some of the new home stuff ~ below are a few of my FAVs. *The following photos are all courtesy of Anthropologie's website...

 Thought Bubbles Sheet Set
*I have no need for new sheets right now - but these are turquoise and I love them!

Soren Chair, Painter's Pallette

Josef Wingback Chair, Violet Orbs

Artist's Tenet Rug, Cool

Artist's Tenet Rug, Warm

Color Swatch Knob, Rainbow

*Anthro has THE BEST knobs/hardware ~ there's something for every style.

Color Swatch Knob, Blue

*LOVE LOVE LOVE ~ I need to find a new piece of furniture to refinish just to use these!

Whirling Dervish Wallpaper

*I am not a wallpaper person, but this would work on an accent wall or framed as a piece of art.

Loyal Tea Towel

*It's a bulldogge - NEED I SAY MORE?! Already ordered two. ;)

Anthropologie never disappoints!  Now if I lose this baby weight I can start shopping for their clothes again, too. :)

~E

BABY CLOTHES: Amy Coe

Amy Coe is a designer of baby products and clothes.  She has a line featured at Babies R Us, including accessories, clothing, bedding/blankets, and decor.  Her clothing is absolutely adorable!  Her line features modern, graphic, and somewhat edgy prints for boys and girls.  It includes everything from animal and Pucci-style prints to peace signs and rock 'n roll designs.  Check out a few of her pieces (for boys) on my beautiful little model...

Check out Amy Coe's line if you have a baby on the way - or know someone who does - and are looking for clothes or accessories that are cute yet a little edgy.  Her pieces for girls are just as cute!

Happy Friday!

~E

PROJECT = Metal Nesting Tables

These metal nesting tables were another little treasure sitting in the basement at Auntie Diane and Papa Joe's.  I should have taken the time to sand down the old ivory paint with some sandpaper or wire/steel wool but in the interest of time, heat, and a growing baby belly I just sprayed them with silver spray paint.

Here are the tables BEFORE...

.
..and AFTER...

  

For now, they 'live' in the mudroom.  It is easy to move one or both - that way if we have company or are sitting out back they can easily come outside with us to use for drinks, etc.

How pretty are these flowers?!  I was the lucky "winner" of the centerpiece at a baby shower this weekend.  Pink hydrangeas and other pretty pinks make me happy!

Have a Hurley day!

~E