Apartment Design - Tina and Bree

I often get approached by family and friends with design questions. Needing an eye for an entryway, a new furniture layout or sometimes just an addition of some accessories to their existing furniture. Sometimes I can be of assistance and when I can pull something together and they love it, I feel really good. In my professional life I mainly work in commercial and medical spaces so its a nice change of pace to be able to select the squishy stuff!

We all know that when you live in temporary spaces; I.E. renting, that it can be daunting to decorate. You can't paint (unless you want to un-paint) you can't change architecture, you basically can only accessorize. My aunt and cousin are renting an apartment and wanted to do something fun and girly with their living space as they have dubbed it "The Maxi Pad." In a recent trip to everyone's favorite Swedish home store Ikea, they picked up this whimsical art piece. It was that, and this living room post by Amber Interiors that I had to work with. Enter their living room:

A little bit on the plain side because they haven't picked anything yet. An ottoman, a side table and three navy throws that came with the white chenille sofa. Not exactly the look they wanted. I was tasked with coming up with accessories to go with the artwork, a rug, draperies and maybe a gallery wall. Here's what I came up with:

They both like an older feel, my cousin likes Mid-Century Modern (duh we are related) and my aunt likes an old world feel, so trying to marry those two concepts together, while keeping it feminine wasn't too much of a challenge. I brought in light colored drapes to open up the room, texture in the pillows and some fun artwork for a gallery wall. Maybe adding in a tray with some flowers to their coffee table and some other tabletop items and it should be complete! Hopefully we can pull it together and get a photo of it assembled. Just thought I would share! Links to selections are below!

Magical Thinking Rug: Urban Outfitters

Amelia Drapery: Pier One

Multicolor Patchwork Lumbar Pillow: World Market
Plum & Bow Andanda Kilim Pillow: Urban Outfitters
Blue & Brown Embroidered Medallion Pillow: Pier One
Metallic Beaded Pillow: Pier One
Yellow Chenille Pillow: Ikea
White Sweater Pillow: Ikea
Bright Side of Life Hanging: Pier One
Natural Vine Heart Wall Decor: Pier One
Champagne Burst Mirror: Pier One
Water Snake Lady: Ikea

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! :-)

Tri Colored Rotini with Sausage and Mixed Veggies

In an effort to start getting back into blogging more I am trying to catch up on some DIY and food posts that have been lacking around these parts. We have focused a lot on our little one, because honestly that's what our life is about right now. Our love for our daughter. But I know that sometimes a little change is good. I am going to try and put together a list of recipe's that are quick and easy for nights when you need a 30 minute meal. Honestly....those have always been my go to, but now with a baby that needs to be fed, bathed and in bed by 8pm this makes our nighttime routine a little harried and I look for quick and easy more often now!

Also, since we are doing a mixture of BLW and natural steam puree's for our little one I wanted to get more fresh ingredients on the menu for us as well. Monkey see monkey do type of idea. We can't expect her to eat healthy if we don't make an effort as well.

With that said, I am Italian by heritage and that means I love PASTA! Not only is it quick, it's also inexpensive and filling. Enter our newest addition to the weekly mix. Tri-Colored Rotini with Sausage and Mixed Veggies. I sent the hubby to the store for the ingredients and either he missed them or our store sucks and didn't have them (more likely) but he couldn't find zuchinni. So yellow squash made it in instead.

Ingredients
(1) package Hot Italian Sausage
(1) orange or red bell pepper
(1) yellow squash or zuchinni
(2) roma tomatos
1/2 cup onion
(3) cloves garlic minced
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Tri-Colored Rotini pasta

Directions
1. In a skillet brown your sliced sausage until thoroughly cooked. While this is cooking dice and chop all your veggies. Once your sausage is cooked, remove from pan but leave any drippings. Drizzle olive oil in your pan and saute your veggies and garlic until onion is clear and the veggies are soft. Add salt and pepper and stir. Mix in your sausage until everything is combined

2. In a stock pot boil your water and cook your pasta until it's al dente. 

3. Drain your pasta and toss your mixture and pasta together until well coated. Serve!

This recipe literally from start to finish was under 30 minutes and was made with all fresh ingredients. The hubby agreed also that it was needing to go onto the list, which is always a win to me! I hope you enjoy! We did!

The Elusive Bucket List 2015

So....for those of you that have been following me for quite some time you will know what I am talking about already. Every year I compile a list of things that we as a family complete together. Now that we have added in our little baby girl, the list will probably change as we add baby/toddler friendly options in and new experiences with her. We have crossed a couple off this list last year, and I will include them in this years list.....just so it seems like we are utilizing the list! Haha. I know its cheating! But hey, there's nothing wrong with that! If you click on the Lifetime of Memories tab above you can see a running list of things that have been done thusfar in our relationship, and I will continue to add new experiences and blog links for reference! Hope you all enjoy!

Source

Sailing
Attend a country concert
Attend a sporting event (Kings, Lakers*, Dodgers)
Surf/Boogie Board
Hiking
William S. Hart Museum
La Brea Tarpits
Griffith Park Observatory
Gene Autry Museum
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Sign
Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels
Disneyland
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Descanso Gardens
Rodeo Drive
Grauman's Chinese Theater
Attend a TV Show Taping
Renaissance Fair (April-May)
Magic Castle
Indoor Skydiving
Crystal Cathedral
Lucky Strike Bowling
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Morro Bay
Hearst Castle
Grand Canyon
Club 33
Hot Air Balloon flight (Not likely cause I am CHICKEN! But there it is)
Snowboarding/Skiing
Go to a Farmers Market
Pick a Pumpkin from a Pumpkin Patch (Welcoming Fall at Lombardi Ranch)
Meet a local blogger, or schedule a blate
Attend local churches to find a spot where we fit
Take a cooking class
Pay off all credit cards (Officially debt free)
Make the bed everyday for a month (0/31)
Eat in for 1 month (0/31)
Attend a Horse Race
Go to the zoo
Buy a home
Make a piece of Furniture
Revamp a piece of furniture
Finish 5 books


*Olvera Street via the Metrolink
*Lake Tahoe
*Camping
*L.A. County Fair
*Play in the snow
*Wakeboarding
*Kneeboarding
*Kayaking
*Wine Tasting
*Catalina Island
*Zip Line
*Visit a new state (*Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Florida)
*Visit a new country (*Mexico, *Caribbean, England, Ireland) (Not likely but its on the list)  

* - Already have been together, & would like to re-experience
Text - Completed task YAY!

Watch Emma Grow - Month Six

I know, I'm late with this post. January has taken its toll and I wanted to wait until after Emma's 6 month Well visit to have updated stats. Month 6 in Emma's life was full of tons of excitement and adventures!

We started off the month with her first two teeth! Two days after her 5th month birthday she cut both lower central incisors. She was drooling for months and really going to town with her teething rings, plus I could feel them coming in also....it was just a matter of time. Two days later I got bit for the first time.....it was so not fun. But she usually only grazes me with the teeth and it's never on purpose. Most often how I am hurt is because she grabs my breast and scratches them.

Since it was Christmastime we made a trip to see Santa and got the best Santa photo ever! She had no fear with him and it was awesome! We ordered new stockings and put up Emma's first Christmas tree complete with a little photoshoot. We had such fun celebrating Christmastime with her and she was spoiled completely! I know I haven't posted about the holiday's yet. Trust me, those posts are coming.

Another fun thing that happened was Emma's first official trip to Disneyland!!! We went during the holiday season because of the lights and decorations and just overall experience during the holidays. Stay tuned for that post as well.

Other than those teeth there weren't many developmental milestones to speak of. She has become a pro at rolling back and forth from back to tummy....and most times prefers to be on her tummy now. Funny how things change. She got a stationary jumper from Santa and loves jumping around in that! We thought that crawling was going to happen before the new year, but she just barrel rolls to get where she wants instead. She will push up completely onto her toes, but doesn't quite understand that moving forward happens on her knees. She's very close to sitting up on her own also. It's quite exciting to watch her grow, but bittersweet to think that she's growing so fast too. We are just enjoying all the things to come and going along for the ride.

This Month Stats:

Weight: 14 lbs 7 ozs (20%)

Height: 25.5" (38%)

Head: 17.25" (84%)

Updated weight: 15lbs (24%)

Last Month Stats:
Weight: 12 lbs 10 ozs (23%)
Height: 23.75" (26%)
Head: 16.5" (73")

Eat: Still going strong with the breastmilk. I had a scare with stress and pumping. I started to see a decrease in my supply so I started to take an herbal supplement but noticed an even higher decline so I stopped taking it. I think the decrease was stress related however. I still pump every two to three hours at work and usually bring home between 9 and 11 ounces. I think that she doesn't like to eat off the bottle because of a good day she will eat 10 ozs but most day's its about 7 so we rely on those night feedings still....which is fine with me as I love snuggling while she eats. When we are together she feeds on demand....and I will offer the breast every two to three hours. More often than not she will take it.

Sleep:
Sleep has been interesting this month I cannot lie. We have gotten back on track with getting her down, but keeping her asleep has been more challenging. I think it is coupled with all the excitement and much too much stimulation that this month brought as well as a dramatic decrease in temperature. She went from waking every two and a half hours to waking every 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Momma was going crazy! We stopped letting her sleep past 5 PM to combat the 9-10 pm falling asleep times because it was affecting her ability to go to bed on time. We are working on the sleeping at night, but our pediatrician said that we cannot cut any nighttime feedings or start a sleep schedule until she is well established on solid foods. Updated schedule:

7:15am - Wake/Breastfeed
7:30-9am - Diaper change/playtime
9-11am - Nap
11am - Bottle Feed/Breast Feed
11-1pm - Playtime
1pm - Bottle Feed/Breast Feed
1:30-3:30 pm - Naptime
3:30-5pm - Playtime, mommy gets home and feeds. We eat, read and sing.
Between 730-745pm she gets bathed, then lotion and pj's then we read a book or two or three. Then if she hasn't nodded off yet I rock her asleep. I feed her most often right before she goes to bed.
11pm-12am - Dream Feed

Diapers: Sill in size twos. Working through the last box from the shower and we utterly hate this brand. We cannot wait to be done with them and back to our beloved Pampers!

Milestones to date:

Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)

First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)

First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)

Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)

Lost Belly Button: (8 days old)

First Walk (2 weeks old)

First Smile: July 27th (3 weeks old)

First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)

Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud: Sept 25th (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: October 28th (3 Months Old)
Found Her Feet: November 2nd (4 Months Old) 

First Teeth: December 3rd (5 Months Old

Photo dump:

Emma visiting Santa

Disneyland Outfit

Excited for Disneyland

First Visit button....duh

Daddy got me a book almost as big as me!

Hanging my first ornament

Mommy went a tad overboard on the books for Christmas

Celebrated Hannukah with Grandma Lady via Facetime

Nakey baby reading time with daddy

Love my moosey!

Went to a friends murder mystery 80s birthday

Family

Dozing on Christmas Eve

Xmas PJs

Santa Came!!!!!!

Jump jump jump!

Mommy snuggles

My blue eyed beauty

Playing cards on NYE

One last 2014 family photo

Sticky uppie hair!

Last bath of the year