Hello there Friday!! pillows, playhouse, bra's and more

Seriously how is it that March is nearly over?  Time is just flying by and is it possible to take a rain check on your own birthday?  Because I was coughing something miserable last week and totes didn't get to enjoy my birthday to it's fullest.  We still did most of the things we had planned and had ourselves a delicious Irish Meal (made by yours truly) with one of my besties but is it even legal to have your birthday when you're not feeling 100%?

In other news, we are about 17 weeks from little man joining our family and that means that I really need to start figuring out how to design a together room for the girls.  Ellie's room is the bigger of the two, so obviously they'll both be living in there.  Bunk beds are what make the most sense for their tiny space but I'm having the hardest time with the thought of parting ways (temporarily) with Ellie's vintage bedframe 😢.  While Ellie is more than willing to share a bed with  Finnley, I am just not sure how practical that is...

Anyways....on to this week's Five.

ONE

I've been on the fence about getting a pregnancy pillow but when I came across this one and figured I could use it for nursing as well I decided to go for it.  I actually got it on Amazon and with my free Prime shipping it was totally worth it.  I've been using it since it arrived and y'all I am a total convert. The real reason why I wasn't sure if I wanted to get one or not was because I wasn't sure how I was going to make my bed with it...but I decided I needed to put my vanity aside and just get the damn thing.  It's large and in charge and is perfect in every way (much like Mary Poppins) and I learned that I can just put it in the back behind all my pillows and none is the wiser its on the bed during the day.  I have a feeling this pillow is going to last way beyond the 17 weeks I have left of this pregnancy 😉.

TWO

I've been on a Netflix binge lately watching gardening shows. Love Your Garden and Big Dreams, Small Spaces.  Both of these shows actually take place in the UK so it's fun to listen to their accents and jargon but I'm just loving the inspiration they're giving me and it's taking everything in me to not grab a shovel (and my credit card) and not do all the things.  Because if there is one thing that gives me life it's my garden.  I've got all sorts of plans now and just want to get started but a garden is ever changing and never done so I'm just putting ideas on paper and will hopefully get a couple of them done this year.

THREE

It's spring time which means we're ready to start hanging outside more and both girls are one year older meaning they can play more independently outside.  This also means that we are ready to start work on our Playhouse makeover again (update 1, 2, 3). If you follow me on Pinterest be sure to check out my Playhouse board for all my inspiration.  We got to work on it a couple weekends ago and finally got the beadboard up on the ceiling!!! I have a couple more items to check off before we can start moving the girls toys and stuff inside and I'm hoping that we can make some headway on it this weekend!!  It's been a long process to convert this old chicken coop into a play space I feel is safe for the girls but I know that the end result is going to be amazing!!

Here's what is left:

 The Short List

* stain and install 2x4 beam along center of ceiling

* install trim boards on ceiling to cover board gaps

* caulk seams on ceiling boards

* paint ceiling/trim boards

* install linoleum flooring

* add baseboard

The Long List

 * paint windows 

* add trim around windows

* add trim around doors

* finish building, painting and installing dutch door

* add beadboard wainscoting to back wall

* paint trim and wainscoting

* stain, build and install ladder to loft

* stain, build and install loft railing

*DECORATE!!

* paint exterior and trim

* remove old coop metal roof

* pour cement patio

* add picket fence around patio

* build, paint and install flower boxes for windows

Y'all I know I'm crazy but I just can't help myself.  The more we get done and the more inspiration I get the more I want to do to this cute little space that I hope the girls will love for years to come.

FOUR

With my ever growing boobs during this pregnancy, bra's have been super difficult.  I used to be able to go into the shop grab a cute bra in my size and buy it.  Since my girls have grown I had to go in to get resized and am in utter disbelief at what size I have to now look for, then the first bra I got didn't fit so well and rubbed me in the wrong places, so I returned it and tried out a new one which was a different brand and was much tighter around my rib cage making breathing uncomfortable so I exchanged it for a larger size and that seemed to make the difference.  Meanwhile I was contacted by Cake Maternity to try out a couple of their bras and not only do they fit well and can be used for nursing but they're super cute as well!!  Hooray for keeping my girls in check!!

FIVE

I went to my first Centering appointment this week and I have to tell you I was actually pretty excited about it.  Centering is basically group OB appointments.  I was intrigued when I found my midwife but then didn't think I would do it since the group they offered me was not ran by my midwife, but when I spoke to her about it she told me I could join her group even though my due date was a week off of the rest.  So I signed up and it was actually pretty fun.  Our appointments are 2 hours long, but we still get private time with our midwife to check out baby and then the rest of the time we get to talk about pregnancy related information and ask questions and share experiences with each other.   I am so looking forward to getting to go through this experience with a group of women and form some relationships as well. 

♥ Ashley

 

Lately...a February edition

We got a new TV for Christmas that allows us to use Netflix and Amazon video and the past week and a half I have been spending my "nap time" very efficiently with binge watching Downton Abbey.  I jumped on the band wagon during season 3 and have since become obsessed with it.  Now that Ellie and I are home for naps I get to catch up on the first few seasons, while simultaneously watching the Final Season.  Not only am I watching an episode during naps but I'm also staying up late at night watching at least 2 episodes a night...I am exhausted in the mornings...haha

So that is where I have been lately, watching Downton and not blogging.  I think that my inspiration is waning and I am having a nice break from it.  Although I did document our day last Friday for a DITL (see previous here and here!) post and I am hoping to get that completed here pretty soon.  Courtney reminded me that life is going to change quite a bit once we bring #2 home so I want to take some time to seriously relish in these final weeks with just me and Ellie.  I got a text from #2's birthmom the other day and she is a few days shy of being 33 weeks!! Eeek!

I have been productive during naptime though, so don't think that I am just posted up on the couch eating bon bons all day!! haha.  Downton is my reward for getting some Farm Chores completed.  During the winter the weather is less than ideal with all the rain, so we tend to forgo some of our duties on the farm...like mucking out the horse pasture.  I have to admit there is a lot less poop now that we just have one horse back there (I miss you Jazz).  So I have been spending the last few days getting Rags area cleaned up...and I still have many wheelbarrows left to go!!  Like most things in life, if you just keep up on it and make it part of your daily routine the mucking out goes rather quickly but since we have been super lazy the last few months I have a lot of catch up to do!  It's been much easier to do the goat pasture instead and we have kept that one cleaned up pretty well so that one is just a quick cleanup weekly.

In addition to getting some much needed farm chores completed I have also been able to keep up with our house work and have done some more donation runs and organization in our closet, Ellie's closet and #2's room.

Speaking of the nursery, we made a trip out to our local HomeGoods and I found this!!

I think it's perfect for DIYing into the chandelier for the nursery.  I was originally thinking about doing this DIY but ultimately was wanting to get a metal orb light fixture and for $12 I couldn't pass this up!  I am just hoping that its going to be relatively easy to put together and actually work!!  Hopefully I will be on top of my game and take pictures of the process to blog about...but I'm not making any promises.  Additionally I have some touch up painting to do on the walls in the nursery as well as to prime and paint the closet doors and baseboard.  Then after that its really just cleaning out the rest of the shelving (donating 10 years worth of my Martha Stewart Magazine collection) and then decorating!!! I am so excited!

What have you been up to??

♥ Ashley

linking up here

F R I D A Y

Somehow it's Friday and Christmas is almost officially out of our house. I like to wait until Epiphany to clear it all out mostly because I think I should have Christmas decor out for longer than my halloween stuff. Ellie is going to be so sad when our trees "disappear" but I'm sure she will get over it.  

ONE

I am hoping to simplify things in our home this year. I started with Christmas actually by not putting out all my decor and I have a confession I liked it better. My house seemed cleaner but just as festive!  So organization is one of my main goals, oh and de-cluttering, this year. 

TWO

The Walking Dead has been playing in our house since the first episode premiered. I have been present in the room for almost every single episode but not always paying attention (thank you blogging, IG and FB). However, I watched the last season this fall and needed to know more. Thankfully AMC had my back and had a marathon on New Years and Thomas made sure to record them for me. I am addicted. Things are making so much more sense now and I cannot wait for February 8 to get here. I mean I can wait but can't, you get me right?

THREE

Toddler Tuesday is coming back to the blog and I would love to have some more guest bloggers sharing your experiences! If your interested just shoot me an email and I will get you scheduled!!

FOUR

I don't know what it is but something about the new year gives me the inspiration to start planning Ellie's birthday! I know I have until May so it's a ways off but I am just so excited to pull it all together.  I was flipping through my December issue of Martha Stewart and saw this cake that is the inspiration for Ellie's party. Not sure if I'm going to make the cake myself or source it out but I'm just so excited about it!!

FIVE

Speaking of planning things for Ellie, I really want to start transitioning her into her "big girl" room. Due to our finances it has to be done on the cheap but that is totally ok. When we designed (I use that word very loosely) her nursery we had to have it be very gender neutral since we were adopting and couldn't be sure what we would come home with - so I want to make sure her toddler room is extra girly with a hint of rustic/country and vintage. 

To see where I'm linking up click here 

♥ Ashley

Bachelorette Link Up Bash!!

Well let's just say that this last episode of the bachelorette was a little obnoxious. Don't get me wrong, I love Desiree, but seriously. 

Her date with Drew was fun. He once again shared with her his love and devotion to her. They kissed. A Lot. And asked the camera crew to please leave. 

She had a down to earth, what happens when this is all over, reality check conversation with Chris about moving to Seattle (which she should because I live there). After beating around the bush she finally said that she could. It was like pulling teeth to get that out of her-I wonder why? (Brooks maybe?)

And then there is Brooks. She is in love and he isn't. She thinks he is but he has already told her that he is way behind her on his feelings. Remember she is running and he's just starting to jog? Oh well. what is the bachelorette without drama?

One thing Des, well actually like two. Of you knew Brooks was the one then why have all those make out sessions with Drew?  Also she said she doesn't know what it feels like to have passionate love reciprocated. News Flash how do you think Drew and Chris feel about you?

Well we have to wait until next week to find out of she stays or if she goes. I think she will choose one on the remaining boys. I like both of them better than Brooks anyways!

That's all folks!

-Ashley 

Bachelorette Bash Link Up

I thought I would link up to the bachelorette bash this week!  I have been watching the whole season and last nights episode was the men tell all. 

It was entertaining. Sort of. I think I get tired of who ABC chides to give extra air time to. We didn't need so much hot seat time with Ben or James. Did anyone else notice that James spray tan was horrid? Ben is a DB so is James. Why did they bring Jonathan back on-you know the guy on the first night with the "fantasy room key" straight out of the limo. 

It was nice getting some closure on the whole James/Mikey fiasco...NOT!  Neither one could own up to anything. Boys gotta stuck together even after you get thrown under the bus!  

Ben says that he is a certain way with a certain faith. But I don't think that you need to throw it in people's faces. If you are a Christian then people should know by your actions not because you tell them. 

Zak is hilarious. I started to like the guy as the season went on. But everyone has an angle. Ben for his business, James to get girls and Zak for a record deal. He is a good singer so maybe that will happen for him. 

The two part finale looks exciting. Can't wait to see what happens. 

I just hope that some day ABC Bachelor enterprise will stop using the rejects from previous seasons as their new bachelor/bachelorette. I want new people to get on there. 

That is all!

-Ashley 

RHONYC

I am a fan of all the Real Housewives shows on Bravo TV. The drama and pure ridiculousness that goes on on all of these series. On the first season of the New York Housewives, I was intrigued by LuAnn. I thought that she was an individual that had her head on straight. Then the subsequent seasons came on and she proved me wrong with ease. The last two seasons I have watched her turn into a bully and mean spirited individual. She really needs to think about her single "Money Can't Buy You Class" because she definitely does NOT have any. She is constantly criticizing others, picking fights and taking sides. While I do not think its a problem to take sides I do think that she needs to learn some common decency and get some class. Watching her in Morocco is APPALLING.

Does anyone else feel this way? Which City is your fave? Who gets under your skin?