wards&kirnans take on atlanta&nashville

Oh, hello. Blog on the back burner, indeed. Felt good to take a break, now so much to share... our wonderful trip down south (which took place a few weeks ago) and tons of fun home improvement-y project updates (momma's got her nesting urges back) to come. Ryan and I had decided that we wanted to get away for a weekend or so before baby girl comes, and before I got too humungo (ha, seems as if we were a bit too late for that) and cranky (that too). Ashley suggested we try to get away together as couples, and our trip down south took shape!

Ashley's recap is so great and I'm going to cop out with providing details and let her post tell all... but of course I must share some pictures.

First up, traveling with the big belly and thinking I'm so cute as I stroll the airports with Ryan and then catching sight of myself in the bathroom mirrors and realizing the stares I had been getting were probably out of incredulous-ness over my largeness, not out of thinking I was adorable. And then I spilled Jamba Juice all over myself and let the ridiculousness ensue. 

Next, brunch with the Dukes' in Atlanta and failing miserably in avoiding skirt mishaps. 

Followed by Franklin Fun with the Myers'. Ohhh I could just move right down to Franklin, and I don't say those things lightly. I kinda like the people we visited too. 

Next: Nashville, baby. SO. HOT. But so fun. 

And, back to Franklin for our last morning for breakfast and to document our departure sadness. 

The trip was too short, much fun, and filled with yummy food (except the Embassy Suites breakfast... bleh) and an abundance of Starbucks. So grateful for these amazing friendships that have been formed (and have lasted!) through this crazy blog world.

And, yay, my blog address is now www.embracethespaceblog.com! Fun fact!

sleepy thoughts & father's day

 

Oh, sad, neglected little blog. I want to say that I will be more faithful, try harder, blah blah, but the truth is, this space is probably going to get the back burner for awhile, and that's okay.

I slept really badly last night. The combination of a thunderstorm, a growling stomach, a 3 year old hogging the middle of the bed (who had meandered her way to our bed at 3am because of the storm), a hot bedroom (apparently our AC unit is too small for our house... nice), and a baby in the belly thinking it was time to party all made for a sleepy momma this morning. So, as Brynlee watches Angelina Ballerina next to me I have been fighting the urge to go sort baby clothes and have been trying to just go back to sleep. How can I be so tired yet so awake? And now Mac is chatting with his blankies and stuffed doggy... time to rise and shine!

We have been busy lately with summery activities and family parties. We also think that we have decided on a name for baby sister, but I think I'm going to let it marinate in our minds a bit before it's official.

 

And, a late happy Father's Day to my daddy and my babies' daddy... we sure are the lucky ones. 

 

friday night thoughts

I've started this post a few times, paused, and deleted. I'm not sure why I'm in such a writing rut lately. Perhaps I feel like I have nothing to share, or perhaps it's because there's so much I have been wanting to share and just let the time slip by and it feels like it's "too late" to share. I haven't pulled my regular camera out in weeks, and haven't touched a sewing project in longer (my good old machine's STILL in the shop. Yes, that's months now.) and feel guilty. Yet, I also don't. 

How about just a little list of what I have been loving lately: 

- Ashley's post on having (or not having) and identity as a blogger. 

- The new #SheReadsTruth community and the growth I've already felt since it was created. 

- How Brynlee calls hand sanitizer "hanitizer" and olives "olivers". 

- The hot, steamy weather of this past weekend, and the sleepy rainy weather of today and (coming up) this weekend. 

- A sweet flower delivery surprise from my love today. Just because. 

- How Mac will try to sing "Jesus loves me" when I sing it to him and how he is learning to count. 

- The super strong kicks I've been feeling (from the outside!) from new baby sister. 

- The inspiration (and fading overwhelmed-ness) I'm FINALLY feeling to design and decorate the kids' rooms and nursery. 

- Potting flowers and yardwork and sitting on the deck after the kids are in bed. 

- New rugs and the feeling of our house becoming a home. 

- A few new cute (maternity) items of clothing. 

- Oh, and a big one: the She {hearts} It Baby Boom Virtual Shower... I have the great opportunity to review a bunch of great pregnancy/mommy/baby products and companies and there will be lots of giveaways starting too. 

 

 Have a great weekend!

simple lace cuffs

I shared a little tutorial a few weeks ago on how to make some easy lace cuffs. In case you missed it, here it is!

Today, I'd love to show you how I made these cute, kinda Anthro-ish lace cuff bracelets!

Let's get started!

Materials:
-one or more piece(s) of lace or crochet-look lace (you don't need much, only enough to wrap around your wrist)
-1/8' braided elastic
-buttons
-plastic wrap
-cup or other small cylinder
-fabric stiffener
-scissors
-needle & thread (coordinating color with your buttons, if desired)
-optional- Fray Check (even though I didn't use it, and if you use enough fabric stiffener you definitely won't need it)

1. Wrap the lace around your wrist and cut to desired length.  I taped the lace on my wrist to see if I liked the length.  I ended up using about 6" for my wrist, but I've been told that my wrists are kind of small.  Wrap the cup (can you tell I have a 2 year old?!) in plastic wrap.

2. Wrap the lace around the cup and tape in place.

3. Arm yourself with the trusty miracle worker, A.K.A. the fabric stiffener.

4. Spray the heck out of that sucker!  I soaked the lace with the fabric stiffener (I did this step out on my deck; it might be a good idea to do this step outside) and came back a few times to re-spray.

5. Let the lace sit at least overnight or until completely dry.  Your lace piece(s) should now look like this.  If you so desire, run a thin line of Fray Check along the cut sides of the lace pieces.  However, I didn't do this and I'm pretty sure you'll be safe if you just use a ton of fabric stiffener.

6. Now it's time for buttons and elastic.  Aren't those buttons pretty?  I thought they looked very vintage-y and for $1.10 for two, I was sold.

7. Stitch one button onto the end of the lace, making sure the button is sewn VERY securely to the lace.  See how coordinating thread might have been a good choice here?  Oh well.

8. Now for a coordinating button!  Ahhh buttons.  Here's my collection.  I love hoarding collecting buttons, fabric, thread, paper... it's a problem, people.

Found the winner!

9. Attach a strip of elastic measuring about 1 1/2" to the other cut end of the lace and secure the coordinating button on top of it to conceal the raw elastic edges.  I tend to get a little over-zealous in carrying out my plans (which I make up as I go along) so sometimes I forget to take pictures of crucial steps.  This was one of those times.  But fear not, I made another lace cuff and I remembered the second time. :)

Here's the second bracelet:

Cute and easy, right?

I am in love with these lace cuffs!  I wore one a few weeks ago with a simple outfit and I felt like the bracelet just gave my look a little something extra and special.  And extra special. :)  Enjoy!

Linking up at I heart naptime, six sister's stuff, today's creative blog, kojo designs, and tatertots and jello

guest post @ The Letter 4

I'm sharing a little tutorial over at The Letter 4 today. Stop over and find out how to make these cute, quick, EASY lace cuffs. TGIF!

finding my feet

So I'm going to do something a little crazy. I have been wanting to run a marathon for awhile now, inspired by my SIL Leah. I've run on and off throughout the past 10 years or so, but never more than a mile or two at a time. I ran the RWC Homecoming 5k a few years ago and that was the extent of my race experience. So when Raechel (whose blog I've read for ages) extended an open invitation to get a team together and run the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis in December, I died a little inside, knowing that there would be pretty much zero chance that I would be able to participate. Not only did I want to have a great goal like running a half (and have the accountability because I would HAVE to run it after being sponsored and all) but I thought it would be just so great to meet up with some blog friends in real life. So, after talking with Ryan and hemming and hawing for a long time, I pulled the trigger and registered for the race.

I am so stinking nervous. Not about meeting friends I've only known in blogland in real life (since this is not the first time we've traveled great distances to do so... that was one of the BEST trips ever!), but I am scared silly to run those darn 13.1 miles and literally not fall over and die during or after. I have worked up to 5 miles, and being part of a great team is encouraging me greatly. The Nike+ challenges that our team have been participating in have stirred in me a deep rooted competitiveness that I didn't really know was there! I definitely have finally, for the first time ever, truly experienced a runner's high. I'm addicted!

Please feel free to visit our team page and become a sponsor. Every little bit helps this great cause. I'm super grateful for this opportunity, and I'll be sure to document my progress as December 3rd approaches!

late night newsy-ness

I know that's not really a word. I like to make up my own. I'm feeling chatty tonight and thought I'd do a big, messy post about a million things that I've been wanting to share but haven't yet. I am super wide-awake (even more than my normal night owl nature), perhaps from the runner's high I received after pounding out over 5 miles tonight?! More on that soon.

First off, do you love my new header? My sweet friend Erin designed it for me, along with my Etsy banner and logo. This girl knows what she's doing! Feel free to contact her through commenting on her blog or her facebook fan page for access to her graphic design goodness.

Speaking of my Etsy shop, I stayed up until at least 2am last night listing a ton of new items. And here I am again, flirting with 1am. I'm so excited about getting all of my new items listed, and I'd love to extend a coupon code just for my friends who visit here on the blog... through next Monday, 8/15, please enter the code "EMBRACE" at checkout for 20% off your order! Yay!

This past week was a little crazy. I made a quick almost two day trip back to NY to meet my dear, dear friend Alyssa's sweet new baby girl! Harper Lynn was born Thursday evening (the 4th) and I was able to visit the next evening. Then, the kids and I packed up and headed back to MA Saturday morning after I made one more quick visit to the hospital to love on baby Harper. Oh, she is so tiny. Poor Alyssa has had to deal with a bunch of post-birth complications, including (but not limited to) spinal headaches and crazy exhaustion. Plus she had a long, long labor and had a fever/infection when Harper was born, so they have had to keep Harper in the hospital for a few extra days. Fortunately (in a twisted sense) Alyssa is also still in the hospital trying to heal from her complications, so they haven't had to go home without baby Harper. Alyssa did inform me tonight that things are looking up for both of them, so please pray they will be able to go home soon! Alyssa is my HERO! She is amazing.

Holding tiny baby Harper made me realize how big my baby boy is getting... who by the way turned NINE months old on Sunday!

Oh how I love that boy. He is just so full of joy and has such a laid back, happy, silly personality. And now he has now been officially "out longer than in"! He is now waving, clapping, crawling and pulling up like CRAZY, letting go to stand alone sometimes, eating puffs and cheerios whole (well, has been for awhile) and totally just goes with the flow in everything. He absolutely says "more" and yells "NO!" all the time, but I'm pretty positive he just likes to say it since he says it randomly. Still no teeth, but I can totally see them under the gums. He is partial to me (which I might love just a little) but has not shown any signs of stranger anxiety quite yet. He has been doing his "shy boy" thing where he puts his head down and smiles when someone he doesn't know well talks to him. Cutest thing ever. He is a wiggle worm and will not lay still for even a second for me to change his diaper. I have to chase that naked booty all day long since he flips over and flees EVERY TIME right after I remove his diaper when changing him. He has a scream that could break glass, a smile that makes you feel like all is right with the world, and a laugh that you just can't help laughing along with. Plus he and Brynlee are totally becoming best buds, which delights me to no end. Never knew I could love so deeply and fiercely.

Ohhh Macky Mac, you have your momma's heart. I hope you always respond to "Boo boo"!


Sissy is busy being a big girl. Potty trained, putting on her own shoes and clothes, playing with big girl toys, singing entire songs, dancing, drawing faces on paper. I feel like I blinked and now she is a "big durl" who wants to do everything herself, in her own timing and in her way. I may or may not be able to identify just a bit.

She loves singing and playing guitar with daddy.

Love, love, love. Can't say it enough.


***


So, back to running. I'm running a half marathon! I'll write about the details tomorrow. I'm finally getting sleepy!

beanie and boo boo

Still racking my brain for a new blog name so I can make a new header... Mac's feeling left out! Any suggestions?