Light Fixtures

This was the Birthday of the Light Fixtures.  It was kind of accidental, but I got a lot of light fixture for/around my birthday.  And I couldn't have been more excited!!

Light fixtures being your favorite birthday gifts : a sure sign you are getting old. 

This was the first one, a birthday gift from my parents. And boy, is she a beauty!  She lives in our entryway.  Perfect mix of statement, yet understated.  I just love it. 

After our fun trip to New York, this was a surprise that I came home too, from my amazing Hubby.  I mean, the thoughtfulness of getting the gorgeous chandelier for me, but also of putting it up for me as a surprise!  It was the funnest surprise to come home to. :)

 Speaking of light fixtures, this was the first one Hubby and I tackled.  It was a total DIY project, and man are we proud of this puppy.

 

These suckers go for like 80 bucks online.  But we used glass from an old (read:ugly) fixture that came with the house.  We got a cheap mini-pendant lamp kit from Home Depot, and voila!  I love it. 

Another surprise light fixture, was this one that Hubby made as well!  This hanging lamp was actually my idea.  These lamps are ones that Hubby uses in Mantown, and I always loved their industrial look.  They are like $7 at Home Depot, which was exciting!  I love when things that I think are cool, are actually really cheap as well. 

So the only thing we didn't like about this fixture was that the part that attached to the ceiling didn't match the rest of it.  So here is what I did to fix it!

1. I got a can of semi-gloss black spray paint.

2. Haphazardly tape newspaper up to the ceiling.  Make sure you use the most minimal amount of tape. 

3. Begin spraying.  Totally forget that spray paint drips. Start panicking.

4. Try wiping the light fixture and window sill immediately with wet paper towel, watch it smear around and not work at all.

5.  Take out the Magic Eraser, and magic erase the surfaces.  Become even more marveled/frightened of the Black Magic Eraser and it's mystical cleaning powers.

6. Suddenly realize you are still wearing your rings.

7. Magic Erase your rings.

8. Return to your project and quickly finish spraying.

 

This did not come off after multiple scrubs.  You should probably be more careful than me.  My motto is craft now, fix later.

 But look!  My light!

 I love it so much.  Yay, $7 work lights - turned - ceiling lights!

Yes, my sink was full of dishes.  That's why this picture was strategically taken.
Yes, I chose to spray paint before doing my dishes.  Ya gotta have priorities, that's what I always say.
No, I never say that.
It's time to mop my house.  Let's see what makes it's way ahead of that chore today. :)

This Day.

This day will be remembered as the day that I caught the bug that has been going through the house, no matter how much I tried to resist.

As well as the day that Reagan was THE HAPPIEST and giggliest I have literally every seen her.  I needed that today.


This day will be remembered as the day when Reilly acted 4 times her age, and said things like "How are you feeling now, Mommy?" and rubbed my face.  I needed that today, too.

This will also be the day that none of us, even for a second, entertained the thought of changing out of our pajamas.

Now I am feeling a bit better, and Hubby is fixing tea and soup.

Even on a day like this, I find that God provides everything I need. And for that, and these people who I live with, I still find reason to be thankful for days like this.

Party Details

 These are all the fun things that we prepared for Reagan's big day!  I have so much fun picking a theme and making all the decorations and thinking of food ideas.

 I printed all the pictures that I took each month and made a little display of her growth.  I love looking at it!

 Here's the tissue paper puffs, which were the funnest things ever to make.  SO magical.

 Reagan banner, made from paper so pretty that it shouldn't even be considered paper.  It's literally covered in glitter.  And if your wondering who took that gorgeous photo, it was of course Gina Lenz.  Go get pictures taken, tell her Kate sent you!  For real, you won't regret it.

 A close up of my little beans pictures.

 Reagan Birthday hutch!

 

Reagan Birthday calendar!  We kind of get excited about birthdays. :)

The inspiration for the whole "Lucky Charm" theme was this dessert!  I didn't really follow the recipe, but instead layered vanilla pudding, fresh whipped cream, and lucky charms.  We put it in the freezer just to let it set for a half hour, and instead forgot it in there and left it in for about 5 hours. HA. But I recommend it partially frozen!  My brother named it "Death By Vanilla", because it is a vanilla-lovers sugar-filled dream.

 

Some of the beverages, water with lime and cucumber and iced green tea.

 

Sister's AMAZING creation!  Green sangria - containing every green fruit imaginable (pears, green apples, limes, honeydew melon, kiwi, grapes), white wine, champagne, and some Midori melon.

Like I said, AMAZE.

 Magically Delicious cupcakes :)

All the desserts!

Also on the menu was: Irish Beef Stew (containing beer AND wine, to die for), St. Patty's Pesto Hummus, and Lucky Charm Pasta Salad. :)

Can't wait till our next party "on May" in Reilly's words!  The theme is already decided, and some decorations will be recycled because that's how we roll. :)

And Reagan's theme for next year might also be decided as well.  Maybe. Top secret.  Party planning is addicting! :)

Reagan's First Birthday!

 This weekend was Reagan Kate's first birthday party!!  It was SO much fun, so I thought I'd share a few million pictures. :)  Once the party started it was really hard to take pictures, so most of these are before or after the party.

 

The theme for our party was "Our Lucky Charm", since her birthday is in March we did a shamrock/green/St. Patty's/lucky charm theme!  Lucky Charm as in the cereal, not as in like rabbit's feet.  Our day started with Daddy eating a bagel, and his girls swarming him for bites. 

 Then it was time for the little beans to get dressed!  I mean, I could just melt looking at that face.

 

Thank you for getting me dressed, Mima!

 Big sister and I, sneaking tastes of dessert in the morning.  We are such rebels.

 Our day was filled with family and friends, and lots of love for our little beans.  I will always remember this day by what a little angel girl Reagan is.  She was happy and smiling the WHOLE day.  Like, she never even whined.  And she skipped her must-have afternoon nap, too!  She is such a little bundle of sweetness, that it's kind of hard to put into words.  (Both my parents and Hubby's parents tell us how Reagan's temperament is EXACTLY how he and I were as babies. So happy, so laid back, so easy going.)

We had lots of yummy things to eat, which I will show tomorrow.  We had lots of fun decorating and celebrating our tiniest family member.

 Hi friends!  Welcome to my party!

 Hubby and I love these pictures of us and our girls, but we were deciding if it's odd to have a picture of our family, with a picture of our family in the background! Ha. I still love it. :)

 Mima and Papa came to visit for the weekend! As did Mimi, E, and Uncle Matt.

 Balloons made Reagan kick and wiggle. :)

 Mama and Daddy love you, patootie!

 Beansie ate up a storm, as usual!  She loved her pasta salad.

 And her first taste of cupcake!  And all sugar in general!

 This will always be one of my favorite pictures.  I mean, you couldn't even plan a picture this perfect. Love that little angel face.

 Yum Yums!

 Big sister helped us open presents!  And she even got a few too. :)

 Big girls, just chillin' with their cookies post-party.

Our girls came over when it was close to bed time, as you can see by the babygirls body language. :)  It was a fun-filled day, ending with some wine and our first Beauty and the Beast viewing!

Happy Birthday, our sweet sweet baby.  We had the best time celebrating the first year of your beautiful life.

ONE!

 One day, you might get sick of me telling you how sweet you are.  But I can't find a better word to describe you, little bean.  You are such a sweet, gentle, happy little soul.  You are Reilly's perfect little sidekick, and boy does she love having you following her everywhere she goes.  You bring happiness to every room you are in, from the moment you enter it.  Whether it's by your adorable little faces, your giggles, or your sweet, calm disposition.  Anyone who spends longer than 10 minutes in the same room with you will comment on what an amazing little baby you are - so content, so happy, never complaining.

I just re-read what I wrote when you were one month old, and was once again struck by the similarities to how you are now.  You still love when your sister sings to you.  You are still the BEST sleeper.  Like, seriously.  You sleep 12 hours a night, and take 2 naps a day, each 2 hours long.  But then again, Mama would do the same if given the chance!

 And the reason you are such a good sleeper, is because you are such a good eater!  You fill that little tummy up, and then are ready to get your beauty sleep.  You had only breast milk until 6 months, and then started eating real food purees.  Since the moment you started eating real food, you have never ever spit out one bite!  You have loved everything you ate.  And now, you are eating totally table foods (and have been for a few months now).  You get all giddy when it's mealtime!

 You are the most excitable little thing.  It's not hard to make you smile or giggle.  You start your day babbling and shrieking happily in your crib, and end your day with your little thumb in your mouth and your head on Mama or Daddy's shoulder.  (For the record, I will be totally fine with you sucking your thumb until graduation.  Seriously the cutest thing ever.)

 You are such babbly, chatty little thing!  You have so many conversation with Reilly and I every day.  You love being one of the girls and being involved in all that we do. 

 You are just a little piece of heaven, baby.  If you are in our arms, you are happy.  If your sister is near you, you are giggling.  If you see your Daddy, you squeal.  And I hope that you always rub your eyes and cheeks when you are sleepy the way that you do, because it just makes us melt.

 You girls will be best friends, I can see it.  When one laughs, the other laughs. When one screams, the other screams.  It's hard to believe that it's only been one year since we have been singing our "Her Name Is Rea Rea" song to you.  You are a blessing to us each day, and we are so thankful for you sweet Reagan.

Happy Birthday Angel!!