coco

"No Grayson, Coco not a toy, Coco my best friend!" That's what I heard Lucy frantically tell her drooling baby brother the other day as he reached for the doll to know doubt use as his latest teething object. Lucy snatched up Coco before he could get to her and skipped off to the other room.

Lucy has never been attached to any of her toys. She likes them all but doesn't seem to notice or mind if one mysteriously vanishes {is donated}. She doesn't have a favorite lovie or blankie either so I didn't really think much would come of the simple little doll I made her for her second birthday back in February. Boy was I wrong. This doll and this little girl are almost inseparable. Coco's been through the wash so many times I've repaired countless popped seems and recently I had to replace her skirt which was lost somewhere in Saugatuck- if anyone sees it blowing down the street ; )

Lucy+Coco=BFF

thirty-one things

Today is my birthday and I'm 31 {or 30 again as I like to say.} I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you 31 random thoughts and/or things about me....

1. I'm a lefty. The world was not made for us southpaw's {spiral notebooks are the worst} but who cares because I swear it's true that just about every lefty I've ever known has also loved to be creative.

2. I love to knit! I'm not great at it but I love the way it feels like "exercise" for my brain. I like to look at a pattern, be scared to death, learn it and then be so proud that I accomplished something new.

3. Is it weird to anyone else that tomatoes are classified as fruit? C'mon.

4. My right eye twitches like mad when I'm tired or stressed.

5. I quit watching the news in the mornings about 3 weeks ago. I realized it was making me very anxious and that's no way to start the day. I wish I would have noticed this years ago.

6. Our son Grayson was nameless for the first 24 hours of his life. I couldn't make up my mind.

7. I wish I were a runner.

8. I'm almost finished reading {this} book. It's starts out kind of slow and is teency bit out there at times but overall the author makes some really great points and it's worth reading.

9. I love coffee and sugar free redbull.

10. fall is my absolute favorite time of year.

11. One day I would love to learn another language.

12. Cooking for my family makes me really happy.

13. I wish my hair were thicker. It's always been baby fine.

14. I love to play sports. Volleyball, tennis, basketball, softball, kickball, snowboarding...

15. I've learned to never hold a grudge- just let it go regardless of whether the other person does or not.

16. Shoe size 8

17. Eye color hazel

18. I'm nearsighted.

19. My all time favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice. It's so beautifully shot and always makes me feel so warm and cozy. I watch it every time it's on television.

20. I'm kind of a history nerd *thanks dad*

21. I really want to get a kitten for Lucy but I know we don't need another cat. The other two would be really pissed.

22. I have family in Sweden and Finland and an open invitation. I wish airfare weren't so crazy expensive- I dream about all four of us heading there someday.

23. I have a scarf obsession.

24. I spell it with the "h"

25. The cute boy I married is and always will be my best friend. 

26. I have two tattoos and I hate them both.

27. I'm very close to my mom. We talk on the phone multiple times a day and she comes for lunch at least once a week.

28. I have a couple of really great girlfriends I'm super thankful for {you know who you are!}

29. I look like a straight up serial killer in my newly renewed driver license photo.

30. I'm a sucker for anything with a bird on it.

31. All I've ever wanted to be is a wife and mother and to be creative. I'm living my own dream.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

our living room updates

We've lived in our house for a little over two years now and the last area to really get any attention paid to it was the living room/ dining room. I recently got the urge to just get some basic things done in there though. The big one by far was painting the ceiling. That was the worst, messiest, most time consuming project I think I've ever tackled but by far the most rewarding. The ceiling was riddled with water stains from a bath tub overflowing upstairs when the previous owners lived here. It also how do I put this... "sparkled." Honestly I'd never seen anything like it but apparently somebody thought it would look really sweet to pepper the ceiling with glitter {thats's the 70's for ya!} So needless to say it was time for a fresh coat. The result left us feeling like the ceilings were about a foot taller and so much lighter and brighter. 

I also wanted to make a sofa change but since it's not in the budget right now to buy the one I really love I shopped our home and brought up one from our sunroom. It replaced a gigantic sectional and also as a result made things feel more open. Above it hangs my favorite thing that I've brought home  lately- a driftwood sunburst. It was handcrafted by a local artisan from driftwood found on the beaches in my hometown of South Haven, Michigan. I love it for it's size, texture and personal meaning. My trusty blue bench made a trip down from the foot of our bed to in front of the picture window for extra seating. 

In the dining room I added a cream dresser which we are using as a buffet. I love having a place to stash all of the extra table linens etc.. as well a place to serve off of while entertaining. It was from a batch of furniture orginally delagated to Elizabeth Gray but I couldn't help but keep it for us. {I have a feeling furniture shuffles like this are going to become more and more common lol} 

busy bees

You know your blog is slacking when your husband sends you this text "gurl you need to update that blog of yours...." The busier I am the less time I have to feel guilty about my lack of posts. That said though I really do enjoy it, it's just been such a crazy fun time around here.

Lucy headed off to her first day at MDO last Friday. I know it's only one morning a week but I still miss her. I was so proud of her though- she took to it like a duck to water and fit right in.

Gray turned 6 months. He's thriving and doing so well with hitting all his milestones. He's the happiest baby. Actually both our kids were such happy, good babies- I'm sure they'll get us back in their teen years lol! 

I've been running up to Elizabeth Gray at least once or twice a week to restock. These are a couple lovelies I'm taking there this Wednesday.

It's been so worth all the craziness just hearing all of the sweet and positive feedback I've been getting from complete strangers. The simplest act of a few kind words can really go a long way in the morale department. 

Nick's been so supportive too, hanging out with the kiddos most of Sunday so I could crank out a ton of work.

If you're local come and visit us at Elizabeth Gray {here}. The city of Carmel, IN where our shop is, is hosting a huge arts festival this weekend- it should be a great time! Also look for out interview coming out tomorrow in the Current in Carmel paper under the "Now Open" section. Thanks to Derek at  Current for giving Elizabeth Gray a shout out!

If the weather gets sunny I'd like to photograph and share some updates to our home. It can't be all work and no play around here!

Have a happy Monday and a fabulous week!

new beginings

Psstttt..... I may have just maybe made a big leap yesterday. It's been a dream of mine for a while I've been trying hard to come up with a solid plan for maintaining my stay at home mom status all while still contributing to our family's yearly income. I popped into my favorite antique mall Friday and fell in love with a beautiful second floor space with a gorgeous huge window overlooking Main St. I couldn't pass it up. After calling the husband and getting a supportive "go for it honey!" I signed on the dotted line and before I knew it I had myself a lot of work to do. After the market I had planned on doing was rained out I knew it was a sign and I  spent yesterday instead moving Elizabeth Gray into it's first home.  I went back once more and finished up today. I feel so blessed and excited to begin this new chapter in my life. I know I'm right where I need to be.

Elizabeth Gray is located inside the Carmel Old Town Antique Mall on the second floor in the heart of the Carmel Arts and Design District. 

Like Elizabeth Gray on Facebook and be the first to see our new things before they land in the shop!
http://www.facebook.com/shopelizabethgray 

38 W Main St
Carmel, IN 46032
(317)566-1908
Business Hours
Monday-Sunday, 10:00am-7:00pm
Closed Only Thanksgiving and Christmas