I finally did one of my Pinterest pin's that I've been wanting to do since I saw it. A burlap wreath with our initial in it. Something like this

Picture from Susie Harris Blog DIY wreath

I have found them already made on Etsy going for $85 or more. Those ones are BEAUTIFUL! And if I could, I'd just be lazy and buy one. But I just couldn't wrap my head around paying that much money for something that I could make myself for a fraction of the price. After doing this project I can see why they cost so much. Plus they are so much more interact than what I did. But still, if you are looking for simple and cheap, this is definitely a project that you can do yourself.

  So I'm apologizing now for the lack of my own DIY pictures. I had more but I lost a bunch of my pictures when my computer crashed and the iOS8 update erased my phone. But on we go...
  I purchased my burlap and wreath wire at Joanne's Fabrics. I used coupons that they always have and I got these supplies for less than $15. You will need:
            1. 16 inch wreath wire (or whatever size you are going for)
            2. 4 inch burlap (you will need to buy 2 rolls of the burlap. I made the mistake of buying one and had to go back to the store.)
            3. 12 inch wood letter.  I purchased a Single Vine Letter from the Etsy shop Scrappin Plus. I highly recommend them! The 12 inch letter was $6 (not including shipping).

      For the wreath, I searched through pinterest for the how too. I came across the blog Top This Top That and followed her instructions. For some reason I had a really hard time grasping how to start the wreath and how to get it flowing. I'm still not sure why I had such a hard time at first, it really is pretty easy. There is no right way to get the burlap to look all fluffy and stuff. Once I realized that, I got into a rhythm and it looked like its suppose to.

After I finished the wreath I put the letter on to see how I wanted it. Below is how I decided I was going to place it after I painted it. 

 For the wood letter, I had white paint in the house and glitter spray. I did about 4 coats of paint and than sprayed it with glitter spray. It seemed so flat without a bit of shimmer. My house is kind of far from the street so it's not like you can see the glitter, but I think it helps when the sun hits my door.

 

 After the paint was dry I used the extra string that was hanging off the burlap to tie the letter onto the wreath.
   

And the final look...
    

  

I think it came out pretty good! I'm still not sure how they get them so big a fluffy, maybe a bigger burlap? But I still like it a lot. 

And here is my front porch with my fall decorations. I have a halloween-ish bow I think I might add to the wreath to dress it up. But I'm not sure. I have Fall wreaths that I normal hang but I'm so proud of this one that I can't bare to take it down yet.

  

I hope you enjoyed this and get inspired to do your own. It really is easy and I had the whole thing done in one day. Thanks for stopping by! 

Xo,

 Nikki 

Fall fashion for the Littles

With Fall comes the new school year and (the best part) new clothes! We ALL love new clothes!
   Thankfully I didn't need to get much of anything for Zoe. I went through the bins of clothes I had from Lilly and my nieces, and Zoe has MORE than enough clothes in her size. She actually looks like a walking BabyGap ad. Of course I got her a few things but the fact that she has at least 10 pairs of jeans should explain how set on clothes she is.
  Finding all that was a HUGE relief because Lilly has nothing! Well I shouldn't say nothing. We were able to reuse a few shirts and some leggings from spring. But besides that, she needed pretty much everything.
  As usually, Carter's was my go to and Osh'Kosh just has me loving everything lately! I did get Lilly a dress from Old Navy and I bought her jeggings but I had to send them back. They just didn't fit her right. I love the camo prints, floral prints, bright colors, plaids, and chambray that's in fashion right now. I picked up just about all this for Lilly. They both got new shoes from Stride Rite this fall too. I finally got Lilly a pair of riding boots and I just love them on her! Below are a few pictures of the outfits I've bought for the girls and links to where you can buy them.
 

Plaid Flannel Dresses

    I bought this Flannel Dress from Old Navy for Lilly. My intention was to have her wear this for picture day at school with her ridding boots (below) but when she put it on it was just too big. I mean, you can picture the whole outfit, right? Adorable. But it just didn't look right. Although it is a little big, Lilly could wear this. But she needs different shoes. You could pair this with some flats, but I think a pair of booties would be perfect.









  

Lilly doing her thing, haha!

The chambray button up is from Carter's. Zoe has the same shirt (you'll see it in the picture below of the outlet haul). Leggings I believe are from Carter's too. Her boots are the Annaleigh from Stride Rite. Lilly lives in leggings. She's just not built for jeans yet. I've always had issues with them fitting her right, but I swear any time I buy a pair she gets one use out of them and than she complains they are too tight. If any of you have this same issue and have found a brand that your kid loves, please let me know! Lilly received so many complements on this outfit when we ran to the store. I swear the only thing she was missing was an infinity scarf.

This was a haul from a trip to the outlets. The girls' Uncle was so awesome and said "here's some money, go shopping for my nieces." You don't have to tell me twice! :) It's all from Carter's, GapKids and the boots are for Zoe from Stride Rite. Most of the Carter's clothes are all on sale right now. So I'd head over and grab those items at the discount.

TLC Glitter Tunic

 I got this tunic from Osh'Kosh for Lilly and the leggings below. I also picked up just plain black leggins for Lilly. I love this combo together. I love the football style tunic, I want one in my size! (I know Target has some for us grown ups. A beauty vlogger I watch did a haul on them and I did see it there.)  The tunic is actually a little big on Lilly and looks more like a night shirt, but she's only going to keep growing. 

  

TLC Leggings in Shimmer Camo Print

  As for the camo leggings, I love them! She has a few other basic tunic tops and these are so versatile. Plus they have the glitter on them and Lilly is ALL about the glitter. I swore I had purchased a pair of camo leggings from Carter's for Zoe, but I can't find them in her closet. So, I think it was more of a thought that clearly never become a reality.

Sateen 3/4 Sleeve Pintuck Tunic

              This Pintuck Tunic is from Carter's. It's on sale for $9.99 right now. Lilly loves it because "it's like a dress." I love it because it's girly and I love the army green color. We pair this with the pink leggings that have rose's and the same army green (^^) petals on them. I'd love to put a link up for you, but I can't find them any where on the Carter's website. Sorry!! But you might be able to find them in the store still. 

   I swear you can never go wrong with tunics and leggings at this age (for both my girls). Lilly LOVES to wear dresses and I love to see her in other things besides the same 3 dresses. So tunics seem to be our compromise. Plus she looks so darn cute! 

   And lastly I picked up this halloween shirt for both the girls in Osh'Kosh. It's on sale of $4.99 right now, I'm pretty sure that's what I paid for them as well. Can't beat the price!

Well, that's most of what I got the girl's for the Fall. Now if both would just stop growing I'd be happy. :) Like I mentioned before, most of this is on sale right now. Clearance plus their additional percentages off. I wanted to show some other things I got for the girls but most of it was sold out. Boo... But that's what I get for posting almost a month after everything came out. Carter's has all their PJ's up to 50% off (GREAT deal since they are normally over priced), even their holiday PJ's are on sale. Osh'Kosh just posted their Columbus Day sale, 50% off everything. I'm surprised Carter's hasn't posted their sale yet but I'm sure it's coming.  Hope you enjoyed this and thanks for stopping by!

  XO,
    Nikki

Starting Over

   So it appears my sad attempt at starting and keeping with a blog didn't last very long. But I'm back at it. Maybe I'll make it past a month or two of posting ;) Just seemed like life caught up with me and to sit down and write just seemed out of the question. Which is sad because I actually enjoy doing this. I may not be the best at it, but its nice to just sit down and pour my thoughts into something. Most of my thoughts are what has been going on in my life, but none the less I enjoy it.\
  Since July: 
  Our summer didn't seem too crazy but the weeks just flew by and its now the first week of October. I took the girls to the beach twice and it was FANTASTIC. I was so worried about Zoe hating it and she loved every minute of it. Just sitting in the sand and playing, happy as a clam (pun intended). Lilly is my fish (pun intended, again) so she loved every second of getting into the water with her friends. And the beach we went to was just beautiful. Natasket Beach in Hull, MA. We have always lived close to a beach on either coast that we have lived on (benefits of my husbands' job) but living here I would say has been the only place that we aren't less than 10 minutes from a beach. But it is so worth the almost hour drive to get to it.

Lilly & Zoe's beach trip

   Than Hubby and I went to Florida in the beginning of August for my best friends baby shower. It was such a great trip! I got to see my best friends that I hadn't seen in over a year (I was pregnant with Zoe the last time I saw them). Happy tears were coming when I saw them (especially my pregnant bestie when I saw that beautiful baby bump). We had so many laughs, lots of baby talk (sometimes I felt like I talked too much, but I think, hope, I would have been told to shut up if it was too much. ;) ), great food, and of course tears- lots of tears- when it was time to go. I meet all those women in the last four years and I always find myself wondering how I didn't know them my whole life. They have defiantly made an impact on my life, my girls lives, and I will cherish them forever. My besties beautiful bundle of pink arrived in September.  
   Zoe has grown leaps and bounds. She finally started walking about a month a go. It's that adorable "drunkin' baby/how much further apart can her legs get" walk. She's such a little character and it's such a blessing to watch her grow and learn new things every day. Lilly started her 4 year old preschool in September and loves every minute of it. She has also started gymnastics and I'm pretty positive we have found her calling. She LOVES it. Sometimes I think she just gets excited to jump on the trampolines, but I keep telling her that if she wants to get really good at it she has to listen to her teacher and follow directions (something she has to work on in ever aspect, but you can only expect so much from a 4 year old). Her last class I watched her follow her teacher around like a little shadow. So I think I'll be classifying myself as a gymnastics mom from now on. And I couldn't be prouder about that!

  September had a birthday, literally, every week to celebrate. Three of my best friends, little brother, a new baby, my Aunt's and Hubby's birthday.  September is a crazy month! Plus we had a wedding at the end of the month. That was a BLAST! We got to get away for the night, my Step-Mom and sister came to watch and spend time with the girls. We got to see old friends, made new ones and just really enjoyed ourselves. Something the hubby and I both really needed. The bride looked like she walked out of a Vogue bridal photo shoot, just stunning!
     

Hubby and I at the Wedding

                            
  Well, I think that's been our life and major events in last three months. All caught up and ready to continue one from here. Fall is here, Halloween is around the corner and its time to get the costumes, decorations out, and go apple and pumpkin picking. LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of year! 
  Thanks for stopping by!
  XO,
   Nikki