Simple and Easy

Once I figure out what the hell I am going to do with my kitchen this is a great update to the chairs.

Directions from Pottery Barn Style House

recipe one: Dining Chair Cushions & Headboard Covers

YOU'LL NEED:

Screwdriver

Tailor's chalk

ScissorsStaple

GunBatting (optional)

Fabric by the Yard (Five yards is ample for covering six seats or one headboard)

1) Turn chair over and unscrew seat from frame (some seats in older chairs simply pop out). If the padding is in good condition and there's only one layer of fabric over it, proceed to Step 3.

2) If there are multiple layers of fabric, remove all but the last one. If the padding has become flat or lumpy, remove all the fabric and cut a sheet of batting 3 inches bigger than the seat all around.

3) Cut a square of fabric using the seat shape as a guide, but make your fabric 5–6 inches larger on all sides. Lay the seat upside–down on the fabric (with the batting layered in between, if you are re–padding).

4) Wrap fabric (and batting, if any) around seat and staple to the bottom, beginning with the front center, then back center, then a center point on each side. As you work, pull the fabric firmly but gently, smoothing out wrinkles and checking the front periodically to be sure the pattern placement is correct.

5) Continue to wrap and staple, from your center points out, stopping about two inches from the corner on each side. Then gather or pleat the fabric at each corner before wrapping and stapling, to ensure smooth, neat coverage.

6) Trim excess fabric, re–attach the cushion to the chair, and have a seat. Tip: Consider pattern placement before you cut your fabric. For instance, you might want a stripe to run down the center of each seat, or you might want some seats to be striped vertically and some horizontally.

My name is Bre and I am addicted to

Real Housewifes of Atlanta

I found this great article on yahoo that fills in some blanks and rumors...It is so awful that my new little addiction is not returning next year.

Kim

We were shocked when Kim claimed to be 29, but the bloggers dug in on this assertion and confirmed with DMV records that she is not a lady who lies about her age. We find that refreshing. However, on-air Kim claims she has been getting Botox treatments for years. Isn't a 29-year-old a little too young for that youth-defying procedure?
The big mystery surrounding Kim is her sugar daddy, Big Poppa. Apparently her main squeeze wants to remain a mystery, but the bloggers can't get enough of this story and have uncovered his identity: He is a married commercial real estate developer, well known throughout Atlanta.
Signature quote: "In Atlanta, money and class do give you power."
Favorite on-air moments: trying guacamole for the first time, unsuccessfully spelling cat "k-a-t," butchering every song she attempts to sing.

NENE LEAKES

Online blogs claim NeNe did the show because she really wants to be an actress, even though she claims to have participated in the show to promote her domestic violence foundation, Twisted Hearts.
Reports have also surfaced that our favorite housewife is a former "dancer."
Signature quote: "I don't keep up with the Joneses, I am the Joneses."
Favorite on-air moments: singing an offensive ode to her former BFF Kim behind her back, learning how to add fractions, talkin' smack about Sheree 24/7.

LISA WU HARTWELL

Behind the scenes, Lisa is probably the housewife with the most interesting and sordid past. She was previously married to R&B star Keith Sweat. According to the blogs, she has two kids with him, but they are not featured on the show. It's unclear who has custody of the children. Scandalous!
Lisa claims to be an expert businesswoman, dabbling in both real estate and jewelry sales, but she hasn’t always had the success you’d imagine, and she filed for bankruptcy in 2007.
Apparently, Lisa has also gone by multiple aliases in the past, including Sharon Millette Wu, Sharon Lisa Sweat, and Lisa Wu Sweat. WHAT?!
Despite appearing to be one of the more stable housewives, Lisa apparently got into a huge fight with Kim, who now allegedly has a restraining order against her costar.
Signature quote: "If it doesn't make me money, I don't do it."
Favorite on-air moment: pretending to be besties with DeShawn the entire season while secretly hating her.

DESHAWN SNOW

Deshawn claims never to have seen her 15,000-square-foot mega-mansion before she walked into the decorated home after it was completed. Wouldn't that be nice?
OK, there isn't much else because, unlike Lisa, this housewife doesn't have such a secretive past.
Signature quote: "I always knew I was destined for greatness."
Favorite on-air moment: crying in her lavish bedroom as her tragic fundraiser fell flat.

SHEREE WHITFIELD

While Sheree has two children with ex-NFL star Bob Whitfield, bloggers claim she also has a 23-year-old daughter. Apparently in an interview in Essence magazine, she identified this alleged daughter as a "friend." Oh, snap!
During Sheree's "She by Sheree" fashion show, we never actually see one of her garments on display. Interesting!
Signature quote: "People are intimidated by my success."
Favorite on-air moment: telling Kim that she's a great singer while not laughing at the buxom blonde.

How can the season be ending just as all these juicy details are emerging?

What do you think? Modern or Traditional

I love the pottery barn black and white table set. I love the color and I love that I can paint my current furniture to get this look. But the traditional kitchen I found on http://www.ratemyspace.com/ would look great with my cabinets.

We've Got This

I feel like Rocky after he ran up to those steps...I feel like I am going into next week with knowledge and the ability to successfully get knocked up. I figure if Nate & I get it on from Sunday to Sunday it is bound to happen. I am going to pay attention to cervical fluid (blah) and vaginal sensation (giggle) and have lots and lots of sex!

Fingers crossed!!!

Aww...how I love a good list!

Okay I know I am not pregnant (yet) but I came across this today while at work **cough** and I wanted to keep it. You know how much I love list.. I got it from Stick Baby!

At least one month before due date
*Install car seat
*Keep Hospital Bags in the car you will use or by the door you will be leaving from.
*Have a neighbor or designated person to watch the house/pets/ or other children.
*2 pillows with garbage bags over the pillow like a pillowcase, then w/ pillowcase
*barf bag or two, since people in labor may throw up
*towels
*A list of last minute packing items (ID, license, fruit, frozen items, etc…)

In General
*Your Birth Plan
*Your insurance card and any hospital papers you will
*Pediatrician info
*folder for new paperwork
*cell phone

For Labor*Warm socks
*Lip balm – All that puffing and panting and also dehydration, lip balm is a must)
*Loose underwear (did not use, the mesh underwear the hospital gives you are a godsend, ask for extras to take home)
*Snacks (fruit, nuts, popsicles, etc….) (did not use)
*Sour Suckers (sour ones curb thirst where the sweet ones will make it worse)(did not use)
*Hair band or tie (unless you want sweaty matted hair stuck to your forehead) (did not use but should have)
*Video/still camera (for your lovely shots of labor)
*Pillow (From home with not so good pillow case……..fluids…enough said)
*Pen and paper (if you are in the early stages, you are a list maker, journal writing, or well anyways, just in case) (did not use, too much going on)
*Ipod or music (did not use, too much going on)
*Roll of toilet paper (hospital paper is cheap and scratchy)
*Slippers (non-slip and once again take them off when things start to get nasty)*toiletries
*talismans (picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring) (did not use)

For your partner/coach
*Change of clothes (especially if they plan on staying the night) (did not use, DH just wore the clothes he came in, we were only there for a day and a half).
*Pillow/blanket (check with the hospital first – however, your own will be more comfortable) (did not use our blanket, the hospital had plenty to spare)
*watch with a second hand for contractions (did not use, the monitor tracks your contractions anyway)*mints/gum/mouthwash (sometimes the birth partner needs to be really close during labor)(did not use)
*remember your partner can leave the hospital...pack light

For after delivery
*Fresh nightgown (with openings in front if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Nursing bra (if planning to breastfeed)
*Nursing pads (even if you plan to bottle feed as you may still leak)
*A going home outfit for mom (did not use, I just wore my pj's home)
*Lanolin cream (if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Bathrobe (for the trips to the nursery)
*Baby Book (for all the vitals and getting the feet and hands stamped)
*Boppy nursing pillow
*Dermoplast/Proctofoam: for numbing your sensitive parts (did not TAKE, the nurse gave me dermoplast, definately used though)
*Spare nightgowns (you will leak) (I just wore one nursing top that came with my nursing pj's, you won't want to mess up your nice gowns or pants, blanket cover your bottom half the entire time anyway)
*Nursing Tank (did not use, see above, just wore pj top)

For Baby
*Going home outfit for baby (we actually had JR in his own clothes the entire time)
*hat/cap (babies lose so much heat thru their heads…even in the summer)
*receiving blanket (Once again, check with hospital first, bring a heavy one if weather is cold)*sock/booties*sleeper
*CAR SEAT!!!!!!!
*You may want to bring an extra cute outfit for the pictureExtras or Activities (usually non-essentials)
*Make-up (No one looks good after, but you can pretend) (did not use, planned on using, but just didn't care)
*Towels (Dark towels….most hospital towels are scratchy) (did not use, theirs are good enough, you're not going to want to rub anything against you sensitive areas no matter how soft or scratchy)

Extra tips
*Bring your baby book…and let the nurse know you have it and they will stamp it for you
*You may want to bring an extra empty bag just in case you get gifts at the hospital
*Some hospitals charge for parking...beware
*Hospitals usually will take pictures of your newborn….bring some extra cash for these (did not use, at our hospital, we wouldn't have paid for pics at the time anyway)
*You can usually wear the same clothes home you came to the hospital in.
*Some Hospitals will give you a pre-labor tour of the nursing center,take it.
*Get a list of things the hospital will provide.
*Wash the baby clothes you’ll bring to the hospital
*Remember gowns = easy access
*Make sure your labor shirt is short sleeved (They will check your blood pressure a lot and those pesky i-v’s.
*Fill out the forms during your last trimester…makes admittance so much quicker.

*Most important* Your baby MUST travel home in an infant car seat. Have it installed in plenty of time*

For a Caesarean make sure your partner knows where the extra maternity pads are.
* Cell phone & Charger
* Lap top
* Video to watch

What Not to Bring
*Jewelry (unless it’s a religion symbol)
*Lots of cash, credit cards, or any other valuables

How old am I?

The word cervical fluid makes me cringe. I received my answer to getting knocked up in the mail yesterday and I can stand to look at the pictures. do I really need to see what my cervic looks like? Or sticky fingers. C'mon lady! But I am going to have to get through it if I want to feel like I am in control of this baby making machine. The tips sound pretty basic look for CF that looks like eggwhites....bllllahhh!! so gross. A girl has to do what a girl has to do I guess. I hope this is the month it happens bc if Nate things I am sticking my finger way up there to feel the tissue he is out of his mind. Okay this has gone to a place I didn't want it to go.

A good thing is one of my lifetime friends Courtenay is pregnant and due in May. It is so much fun talking to her about pregnancy and babies. When I had Ethan I was my only school friend to have a baby or be married. Now 8 years later they are finally catching up. I love that we have this in common now.

Family Pics

for our christmas cards this year we hired Miss Phom from http://missphom.com/blog to do a monring in Neptune Beach. Me and the 2 divas headed out on a beautiful November morning. Man I thinking my boys a so handsome. Check out som eof the teaser..I don't know which ones will make it on the card yet. I order a card template from My Lil Creations during your buy 1 get 1 1/2 off time. I love what you can create with photoshop. I expect my cards will cost about an 1/8 of the price than ordering it from a photographer.

A little more crack before I start work

Decorating is in my head

Yaritza and I have been obsessed with decorating ideas for our homes. Nate is on his way to buy the above shelving unit across town. $150 off ebay. I love it! I have been missing shelving space in our new house and this will take up that giagantic wall in the dining/living room space. Check out the picture frames. How simple and inexpensive. Oh and I love these from pottery barn which I think I could recreate for a little less and bring some fun color into the room.

I have a few favorite decorating blogs.

• http://j-a-girl.blogspot.com/
• http://workingwomansguidetodomesticsuccess.blogspot.com/
• http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/
• http://brynalexandra.blogspot.com/

Now if I could only get that money tree to finally bloom in the backyard!

Strike 2

Second month of trying to conceive and Aunt Flo came on strong today. It is so crushing. Isn't weird 10 years ago I would have held my breath while waiting for the single line to appear but now I sit waiting and waiting for the second line. Court said once you stop trying it will just happen but I can't stop. I want it more than anything right now. So I am going to solve this problem like I do everything else...a good self help book. I bought this book that has great review Taking Charge of Your Fertility and then I am going to get that BP themometer. We've been having more yanky panky which has been GREAT! I think it has brought us alot closer too. I just want to be around him and cuddle next to him. I hope we become pregnant soon I hate the disappointment of those darn sticks. Fingers crossed and prayers answered that it works. Meanwhile to add to my baby name list...i like Sophia :O)