Bunco

When Katie put together this bunco group, I had no idea how much fun I would have.  I've known most of these girls for awhile now but I really enjoy getting together with them more regularly.  Funny enough, most of them I know through blogging.  But now only a few of us still blog.  Instagram is the new blog ha!

Last Wednesday I hosted.

I set up 3 tables since there were 11 of us.  I put two snacks on every table - one sweet and one salty!

Mills was hanging with Kevin but the girls wanted him to come hang out with us.  So he did and loved seeing all of his girlfriends.  I was the least popular one in his eyes, for sure.  Every time I went over to him, he backed away, afraid I was going to make him go back in the bedroom.  Haha.  And he hid under the tables getting TLC.  SPOILED POOCH!

The bunny was the ghost player!

Front row L to R - Sarah, Mills' blurry head, Katie, Lauren, April and Rachel.

Back row L to R - Me, Kristen, Anni, Elizabeth, Michelle and Mindy

Such a nice, genuine group of girls.  I'm thankful for them!  We're all at the same stage of life and it's fun to compare stories and have girl time!

Our Weekend

We had a much needed just us weekend.  It included dinner at home Friday night, I got served french toast in bed on Saturday morning (complete with a syrup heart) and getting things done around the house.

My friend Sarah and I hit up a couple consignment sale.  We got a ton at the Posh Closet one in south Charlotte!

Saturday night we went to Elevation for the 5pm service and then had dinner at Ruth's Chris for something different.  We never do that fancy of a meal so it was a nice treat!  We both got the same steak - the petite filet oscar style.  

Sometimes you just need a night out the two of you with some water and sweet tea! ;)

Sunday it was super nice in Charlotte so Mills and I took a nap outside while Kevin worked a bit.  I gave Mills a bath out there and he felt a lot better.  He hadn't had one since mid-February or since his surgery so he was extra frisky after he got dried off!

We also went to brunch with Kevin's parents at their club.  They had mashed potatoes and bananas foster on top of pancakes...um yes I gained weight this week I bet!!  It was nice chatting with them and catching up.  I'll have to fill you all in on what they gave us for the baby on Thursday's update.

Sunday night ended with a visit to the local ER just to find out what was going on with Kevin.  He thought it was kidney stones or diverticulitis.  It was the later so he is on a soft foods diet for awhile until it calms down.  He's okay though, I promise.  

This pooch is playing nurse this week!   ;)

Five on Friday

It's been a busy week!  On Wednesday night I hosted bunco at our house....this was with a group of girlfriends, not the neighborhood girls.  I'll do a post on it next week.  I spent the earlier part of the week getting ready for that and our house decorated for Easter.

ONE - one day at lunch this week I had an extra hour and went over to Traditions in Park Road Shopping Center.  Why had I not been there?  Everything is gorgeous.  I ended up getting a really pretty tray for my bathroom counter.  But the real reason I went was to look at chairs.  We are still on the hunt for one to put in the den.  I found lots of options here!  We'll probably go this route instead of Pottery Barn.

TWO - lunch with my girlfriends...free therapy!

THREE - I found this in my work notebook when I opened it Wednesday at work.  My notebook had been on our counter at home since I worked from home Tuesday.  Made my day.

FOUR - He helped me get the house ready for bunco.  Here he is blowing off the driveway (and holding our mail) ha.  

FIVE - did anyone else get the 40% off your purchase for Piperlime.com since they're shutting down?  It came in the mail, is good until 03/23 and you can use it up to five times!

Week 23 Pregnancy Journal

How far along? 23 weeks

Size of Baby: Large mango - almost a foot long and weighs just over a pound

Gender: Not finding out!  Kevin told me if we use our girl name that he wants to call her by her first and middle...aka a double name.  I think it's super cute but it surprised me he wanted to do that.  

Weight Gain:  None.  I talked to the doctor about it last Friday.  They aren't concerned one ounce.  She said I may only gain about 15 pounds the entire time.  I'll be thrilled with that.  We shall see.  

Maternity Clothes: No.  I wore my regular jeans last Friday and hope I can keep that up for awhile.  I bought a bella band but haven't used it. 

Nursery:  I think the crib is getting delivered in the next couple of weeks.  I already have all the bedding for that.  The closet is pretty much cleaned out and there are now clothes hanging in there!!  We won't paint until we finish our bathroom renovation so we can have the painter come in at once and do it all.  I do know we are going with SW Agreeable Gray.  

Movement: Yes!  I'll be glad when Kevin can feel it. 

Symptoms:  Ribs still killing me.  I did feel one pain free day this week and that was Sunday when I was on my own schedule and not sitting for long periods of time.  That was really nice.  I'm more conscious of what I pick up heaviness wise because I learned my lesson last week.  It's just frustrating not being able to do everything.

Sleep: Good.  Not using one of those big pillows.  I told the doc I wasn't sleeping much because I was so paranoid about being on my side.  She said, "I'd rather you sleep than be on your side the whole night."  So that solves that.  She did say that if I'm laying down watching TV (which if you know me, is pretty much never) then be on my side.  

Cravings:  None.  I'm pretty much eating just like I used to.

What I Miss:  I'd really like to feel like myself but I'm thankful for the experience and I know come July I'll be normal again.

Best Moment This Week:  My parents sent us the stroller for an early shower gift.   That was reality seeing that at our door ha!  Also, washing all the baby clothes and putting them away was super fun.  It's becoming more exciting, I must admit.

Looking Forward To:  Getting the room put together more and I may get a massage this weekend to see if that helps my ribs/back!  

Mills' Sleeping Positions

Mills is seriously part human.  Or maybe he's just a spoiled rotten golden retriever.  Either way, he is the funniest sleeper!  

Here he is next to my side of the bed with his head under the bed so he doesn't get woken when I get up in the morning and turn the light on.  

Crashed in the middle of the kitchen floor when I was trying to show him a couple Halloween cards he had gotten.

Curled up on his couch which is our ottoman.

Head off his bed and out like trout.  Must have been a rough day!

Back on his couch.

This is his newest thing.  I caught him up on our couch last week...he didn't let the pillows get in his way.  Squeeze right in there lil Mills.

This is outrageous but I put this ugly, gray, soft blanket out on my side of the bed and with the cushions that go on our bed when it's made, it's Mills lil area.  He almost always ends up there by morning.  iPhone cord included.  He doesn't care. 

The other night Kevin slept in the guest bedroom because he was getting home late and didn't want to wake me up...when I pulled the bedding back for him, look who jumped up there and wouldn't move.  He probably thought Nannie and Poppa were on their way.  

Back to his comfy area beside our bed.  SPOILED I TELL YOU!

All puppies deserve a pillow under their head.  

Sleeping in the hallway staring into the nursery.

Always on Mama's feet.

This pooch is a trip!  And we love him more than anything.  His world is about to change but that doesn't mean he won't get just as much attention.  He is my child and still will be in July!

Recovering Chairs with Tutorial

Well here is our dining room before the new rug and new chair coverings (and before I steamed the table runner).

Here is the new rug and new chair coverings.  You saw those on Friday I think.  

Next I did the breakfast table chairs.  This is the before...

This is after.  

Ah, I honestly don't know if I'll recover chairs again any time soon after doing all 9 of these (I still have one left that has stripped screws so I can't get the cushion off).  My friend Katie encouraged me to do them but I will say, they weren't as easy as I thought.  She must just be a professional ha!  I couldn't get the staples out of the old covering so I ended up just cutting all of the fabric off.  

Here are brief steps (please take with a grain of salt because I'm not good at this stuff!):

1.  Unscrew the cushion from the chair.

2.  Take off the old fabric - you're supposed to get all the staples out but there were about 500 in each of my chairs and I would have had to pry each out.  Ain't nobody got time for that!  I just cut the fabric off.

3.  I cut all my new fabric squares at once (I used regular scissors).  Be sure you measure the cushion correctly because as you can see, mine are wider in the front than in the back.  If you have a repetitive pattern like the one above, it's easy but if you use a large pattern like my dining chairs, you may have to get a little more fabric. I got 3 yards for 6 chairs for my dining and 2.5 yards for 4 chairs for my breakfast table.   

4.  Once the old fabric is off, center the new fabric, flip it over to the back then use a staple gun and go to town.

5.  The old chairs had a backing on the back so I got some of that stuff at the fabric store and put it over the edges of the fabric.  I think this is so strings don't hang down?  I'm not sure.  Some of my chairs I forgot it, most have it on.  

6.  Screw the cushions back onto the chair and wa-la.  You have new cushions!  

7.  Another step after 5 you could take would be to add the plastic covering over top the fabric.  I did this for one of our breakfast table chairs so la baby/other children would not mess it up.  Basically it's like covering your chair a second time - just with the plastic which you can find at the fabric store.

Weekend - Baby Prep

On Friday after my 22 week appointment (which went perfectly by the way!), I stopped by the lil baby boutique here in Charlotte called Shower Me With Love and got this lil gown on the right.  It has sea creatures on it including a crab (MD!) and another tiny crab at the bottom.  It's by Magnolia Baby and of course super soft.  I hadn't bought any clothes for the baby yet so this was extra exciting.  

I know it's weird, but I kinda do like being the one to buy clothes as I don't like any of that stuff with writing on it like "Mommy loves me" or "Aren't I cute like my Daddy" or any words for that matter.  And I don't like any of those cheesy multi color things...I'm weird I know.  I'm a TAD ;) particular in what I wear so I can only imagine how crazy I'll be for what this child wears.  Ha!

Friday evening Kevin and I went out for Italian which was a treat.  We went to a kinda fancy place and it was so good.  We both had leftovers for the next day which makes a fancy place more doable pricewise.  Or maybe I just think $18.95 is a bit ridiculous for a darn piece of lasagna!

Saturday my friend Sarah had asked me to go to the Myers Park Pres consignment sale which I had no clue what I was getting into.  

But my oh my.  All the Kissy Kissy and smocked outfits you could imagine for $10 or less!  Mills about freaked when I walked in with all the baby smelling stuff!

I didn't get this at the sale, Mom had gotten it for me in Pawleys over New Years.  Is it not adorable and appropriate being from Maryland?

Saturday night Kevin went out with a couple buddies who are going through rough times in their life right now.  I went to Target, Home Goods and Michaels by myself and had a big Saturday night.  Honestly it was nice to just browse around and not feel like I had somewhere else to be. 

Sunday I did baby laundry and hung everything on the lil hangers I got from Target.  Way too cute!!  I organized the upstairs closet some more, sold a few things on Ballantyne Bargains FB page and finished recovering chairs which was my big project of the weekend.  I'll post those pictures tomorrow.  

Overall, productive weekend and today I'm back to the grind!  Hope you all have a good week.  It's supposed to be 77 and sunny on Wednesday and I can hardly wait!  Today is in the 60's.  I love Charlotte in March!