life lately (according to Instagram & other cell phone pics)

a handmade beanie from my talented Aunt, for Ronin... it has a matching blanket too. 

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we make Bear act out keyboard cat.

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watermelon & sweet corn = summer love.

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organizing baby shower goodies. talk about spoiled!

also? nesting FTW.

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she thinks those gifts are for her.

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I finally hung the map art that I talked about doing way back when (originally inspired from here).
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post-physical therapy bump.
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this was my baby doll for breastfeeding class.
I did not want that thing anywhere near my boobs.
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so, there's a little sneak peak into what's been going on lately.
you can follow me on Instagram by clicking that little icon to the right!
have a great weekend, readers! 

Friday loves

these curtains from Urban Outfitters. 

why am I just now realizing how affordable their window treatments are? 

I'm thinking these may be residing in our living room soon. 

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a thorough spring cleaning checklist. 

also known as: I'm nesting and I need help. 

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I'm usually not a fan of wall decals at all. 

however, I am really digging these circle name designs. 

I think they'd look great on a nursery wall above a crib or changing table!

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fo free: 830 printables - from lined paper, to budget sheets, to music paper. 

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I want to print this and frame it. 

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DIY: chalkboard paint + basic wooden blocks = creativity & fun for hours.

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how to: introduce pets to a new baby. 

I will definitely need these tips in a few weeks.

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this site is chock full of creative and unique gifts for all occasions.
like this modern personalized drink tub:

how awesome would this be as a housewarming gift?

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Mrs. Stroller's thoughts on breastfeeding.
I love this, as breastfeeding is one of the things I'm most worried about when it comes to having a baby. 
I really want it to work for us, but I am aware of all the issues that could arise.
fingers crossed that Ronin & I have a successful BF relationship.
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these baby shoes. 

anchors and sail boats?
SQUEEEEEEE.
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Happy Friday, lovahs!

Friday loves

a smartphone wallet. 

aka the perfect little clutch for carrying minimal stuff.

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the top 100 best children's books.

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how to: create a home management binder.

dude. I love this. I NEED to be more organized at home, and this is one step I can take to accomplish that. I think once my nesting really kicks in, this will be one of my projects to take on.

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free: birth plan tool.

and another.

both of these were extremely helpful in creating a personalized birth plan for us. 

while I know a lot of people laugh at birth plans, there are a few things that I want to remember to do/to avoid during labor, and I know that having it written down will prevent me from forgetting to mention it.

I basically filled in the info in the second one and copied the results into a Word document. 

and then, when I found the tool in the first link, I just took some of the information from that and added to the document I had already created, since it contained some more options that I hadn't yet considered.

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John & Sherry's new DIY headboard. 

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how to tell if your eggs are still fresh:

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this ridiculously cute & creative love story.

holy crap, I can't imagine how much time it took to make that!

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this rug from Urban Outfitters. 

I need this for my entryway. right now.

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5 best places for party supplies.

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my baby shower is tomorrow, so I'll hopefully have a recap of that next week! 

I'm so excited to celebrate baby Ronin with my friends and family. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my feet don't swell up TOO bad. 

from what I hear, the menu is full of delicious goods, so you can't beat that! ;)

OH, and thank you all for your suggestions on my shower attire! the navy dress was a slam dunk among voters, and so that's what I'll be wearing.

Happy Friday, folks!

Friday loves

this story. 

a man saves a kitten from the engine of a Mercedes vehicle.

so heartwarming! the world needs more people like him.
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how to: remove permanent marker from wood floors.
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this dress from Motherhood. 
I might have to stop in and try it on. 
it would be perfect to wear to my shower!

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green cleaning alternatives.
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a picnic party. 
it would be fun to throw one of these just to have an excuse to see good friends!

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the nitty gritty on cloth diapering.
loads of CD info in that post!
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free download: a book for dad!

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how to: clean makeup brushes properly.
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Bradley & Morgan's sweet adoption tale.
bonus: more cute kitties!

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HAPPY FRIDAY! 

Thursday thoughts

play along with Sar today...

[1]

we watched a video of a vaginal birth in our birth class on Tuesday night. I've seen one before (my 11 year old brother's), so nothing about the process really shocked me. what DID surprise me was how emotional I felt watching that baby being placed on his mother's chest. I had to stop myself from bursting into uncontrollable sobs and embarrassing myself in front of a room of strangers. I cannot wait to have that moment with Ronin.

[2]

baby LBL's nursery makes me happy. I want to live there. he/she is a lucky little baby to have such handy parents! I'm so excited for Cole & Jus and can't wait to "meet" their little bundle.

[3]

I changed my mind on the bedding for Ronin's room. after finding sheets at Pottery Barn Kids for MUCH less than most Etsy shops, I decided to change it up a bit. I'll post sometime soon about the actual shop and the quality (the pieces arrived this week) once I wash them and get them in the crib, but here's what I ordered:

[4]

my official last day of work is August 3rd. it's pretty surreal to think that for the first time in 12 years, I won't have any income. frankly, it scares me quite a bit. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to be able to stay home with the babe, but I know that a part of me will miss the independence that comes with having a (paying) job.

[5]

I am SO FUCKING TIRED of people telling me that we will give up on cloth diapering. look, I get it... people tend to be threatened or intimidated by ideals that are not "the norm" in their social circles. but guess what? it's none of your fucking business to begin with! if I mention that we plan on cloth diapering, don't shake your head and respond with "yeah, good luck with that... we'll see how long it lasts." I don't know what it is, but it seems as if people inhale some stupid in their brains when they're around pregnant people. 

[6]

on a happier note, Mama cat loves little brother already. you're welcome for the cute. 

also? I just realized that I can't talk about anything non-baby related to save my life. 

WTF happened to me?!

Happy Thursday!

lately, according to Instagram (and cell phone pics)

I finished Insurgent, which is the second installment of Veronica Roth's YA trilogy.
it was, as expected, absolutely fucking brilliant.
it might kill me to wait another year+ for the third book.

Bear is still handsome. 

... and lazy.

2 more days until I get to see my BFF!
I can't wait for her to show me the city. :)

Sonic tots are amazing.

Ronin had his first IKEA trip.

our possible paint choices for the nursery, all Premium Plus Ultra paint from Behr.
from left to right: Misty Morn, Atmospheric, French Court, and Voyage.
we bought samples to put up on the wall and see in different light. 

love this fat face.

a rare sighting - ALL 4 kitties snoozing within a few feet of one another. 
L to R: Lily, Bear, Mama, and Pheobe.
silly felines. 

Happy Hump Day!

lately, according to instagram

I think it's safe to say that I'm obsessed with instagram. 

ever since I downloaded the app on my phone, I've been using it like crazy. 

so here's a little peek at what's been going on... 

I re-read Divergent (finished yesterday) in preparation for the second book of the series,
Insurgent, which was released last week.
I forgot how much I loved this book last year.
Tris & Four = SWOON.

oh, and I feel as if I should also mention that
I have devoured all three books of the Fifty Shades trilogy.
and they were so hot that I might read them again. 

Mama Cat approves. 
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Daddy & Mama Cat brushing sesh.
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my BFF got married & moved to NYC. 
we're visiting her & hubs for Memorial Day weekend.
I cannot wait. I miss her dearly.
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handsome baby daddy.
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Bear is handsome. 
and lazy.
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yes, I am still craving pickles. 
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tomato sammich for dinner. 
SO DELICIOUS.
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HAPPY HUMP DAY, yo.