Guest bedroom: idea board

There's a reason why I haven't shared any other parts of our finished basement (other than the guest bathroom & my office nook)--none of them are decorated yet & are looking quite sad. 

There's only one solution: get decoratin'.  Decorating lets the sad out.

During one of Quinn's naps (in her own crib, thank goodness, though she only power naps for 30 min each time), I threw together an idea board for the guest bedroom. Why?  Because it helps me to corral my ideas & see how they work collectively.  I had told Mr. FC that all along I was envisioning a "Ralph Lauren aesthetic" (the Parisian flagship store is my favorite) for the guest bedroom.  I don't know if I accomplished that but I managed to cobble a mix of styles & metals together: nautical/vintage/Colorado-ness & silver/pewter/aged brass. 

It looks like a hot mess. 

Mr. Lauren, if you're reading this (which I'm sure you are): Ralphie, forgive me. 

1 & 1/2 & 2/3/4/5/6/7
(All basement walls were painted in Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, which I'm too lazy to change right now.)

****************** In other news ***********************

 A few weeks ago Mr. FC noted that our child resembles a Monchhichi.  

Does that make us bad parents? If you're an '80s baby like myself, you know what I'm sayin':

I think the resemblance is uncanny/adorable/awesome.

Most productive day ever, seriously.

{ Will be back next week with a few home décor updates. }

33

I turned 33 on the 3rd (of January).  I hate to disappoint you but though I'm getting on in years, my sense of humor has not matured at all.    Having a birthday right after the holidays usually means people never really remember your birthday/are so over festivities/sometimes give you combined Christmas & birthday gifts (lame). Kidding. Totally serious.

All joking aside, I really don't mind.  Low-key is my middle name & I did just that by celebrating quietly with Mr. FC & Quinn.  (Hiro was around somewhere but he was too busy unearthing the mammoth bone he got/buried for Christmas.)  We've tried a couple restaurant outings with Quinn but she's not a fan yet, so instead Mr. FC brought home sushi from one of our favorite places.

We put the iPod on shuffle & I cracked open a bottle of wine.  I snapped this photo because it was not staged at all, promise.  I laughed so hard, I almost cried.  

For the judge-y folks: I had less than a glass & made sure I was w/in the safe breastfeeding window specified by my midwife/doctor.

Mr. FC spoiled me with a Kindle Touch 3G
(I talked him down from the Kindle Fire--I just want to read books on my Kindle, dammit). 

Also, thank you to my in-laws who showered me with giftcards galore, a beautiful bouquet & a lovely scarlet pashmina.
(My family doesn't do birthdays--it's a Buddhist thing/long story.)

All in all, a sweet birthday spent with the three people I love most.
One of them is furry, guess which one (hint: it's not Mr. FC).

{ taken w/ my camera phone, pardon the blurs }

{ Hiro after a snowy romp on my birthday. }

Any other January birthdays out there?  Happy Birthday to you all!

Here's to a brilliant year!!

P.S. I'm way behind on my blog reading, my apologies! Hoping to catch up soon.  Just know that I appreciate each & every one of your comments.  If you're a lurker -- I appreciate you too.

Tarjay hits the bullseye

{ Awww, thank you so very much to everyone for your super sweet comments on Quinn's 1 Month photo!!!!  She gets major creds for really amping up her cuteness factor during that photo shoot.}

I ran in to Target* the other day for stuff (toilet paper, paper towels, the latest issue of People mag**....you know, just the essentials) & couldn't resist racing thru their home décor collection aisle (Quinn was getting fussy....come on girl, mama needs her décor fix).  I haven't gotten excited about their last few collections but am really digging this season's***.  I'm sure people all over Blogland have posted this, but here are some items that caught my eye:

{See more here }

* In college, when Target started getting fancy, my friends & I would call the one in the ritzy neighborhood "Tarjay" & the one in the not-so-ritzy neighborhood "Targhetto". 

** I feel slightly less guilty for reading People.  Forget Us Weekly & CNN; if I see it in People then it's like, real news.

*** The opinions above are my own.  I was not paid or compensated for posting this.  I wish.  (Target & People Magazine:  call me,  mmkay?)

QUINN: 1 MONTH

To document each monthly milestone of Quinn's first year, we'll be taking photos of her with these lovely monthly stickers from Sticky Bellies.  They were a kind gift from my blog friend Carly who is also the brilliant creator (sidenote: I've "known" Carly for years now, since back in our days on the Nest's Decorating & Renovating board).  I couldn't be more in love & impressed with her creations & the success of Sticky Bellies.  These reusable monthly stickers are so convenient, especially for folks like me who don't have the time/patience to bother with Photoshopping such things on to onesies (besides, they're much more adorable than anything I could've created).  Thanks so very much for thinking of our little Quinn, Carly!!

With the hustle & bustle of the holidays, we lagged in taking Quinn's 1 month photo. The girl was 2 weeks late making her arrival into our world, so I'm sensing a trend.........  Technically these are pics of Quinn at 1.5 months. Better late than never. =]

"Get me out of this chair..........."

Quinnie Girl~

We loved you from the start but as each day passes, our love for you grows even more. We're bursting at the seams with adoration for you over here.  

Things were a bit rough at the beginning, what with your long-awaited arrival & my breastfeeding issues (TMI: my milk didn't come in for 2.5 weeks & so we supplemented with donor milk--thank goodness for that resource).   I was an emotional wreck & felt like a failure but was fiercely determined to keep at it.  Thankfully, I think we're starting to find our groove.

We hear some newborns are "good sleepers" from the start, but not you, our little firecracker.  Up until last week (your 6 weeks mark), you preferred to nurse every 1.5 to 2 hours all day and all night!!  You prefer to nap only when one of us wears you (you love the Moby baby sling/wrap).  It's the "fourth trimester" phenomenon & is normal at this age says your pediatrician, plus you're so new & this world is a little scary, huh?  The sleep training can wait; right now I'm just trying to soak up these moments of being so close to you all the time.  They do go by so quickly.

I was one exhausted mama but just when I was coming to terms with our arrangement you gifted me with 4 straight hours of sleep one night last week & have kept that up for a week straight.  I'll take it!  Thank you, baby girl.  You are a truly happy baby (except when you're hungry, then all hell breaks loose).  You are getting chubbier & starting to smile at us & coo & babble away now.  It melts our hearts like you wouldn't believe--we're helpless little puddles up in here.

Parenting is the hardest thing your daddy & I have ever encountered, but it's true what they say that things do get easier with each day.  There are some days when it feels like we're trying to reinvent the wheel (as our dear friend Heather so eloquently puts it).  Then, just when we think we're completely incompetent, & that you just might petition for somebody else to be your parents, you gift us with a breakthrough that makes us shake our heads in wonder.  Maybe sometimes we don't suck after all.

Love you to the moon & back, Q-tie Pie.

Toodles to 2011

As we bid adieu to 2011, I thought I'd highlight some of the projects that happened around Casa Freckles Chick this past year. After all, isn't this time of year about reflecting on what was & looking forward to what could be?

  Besides me growing & giving birth to a tiny human, here's what also got accomplished around here:

{FRAMED SEAFAN ART}

{DIY LINEN & NAILHEAD CORK BOARD}

{DIY CHANDELIER CANDLE SLEEVES}

{REFURBISHED DRESSER/CHANGING TABLE}

{RUB 'N BUFF FRAMES}

{GUEST BATHROOM}

{KITCHEN UPDATES}

{OFFICE NOOK}

{QUINN'S NURSERY}

(by far, my most favorite accomplishment)

I don't usually set New Year's resolutions because not setting goals means I never fail & that feels awesome  why wait till the end of the year for self-improvement?  My mantra for 2012 is simple: to enjoy the "now" & be grateful for what I have rather than lusting after what I don't have...........and as always, to remind myself to laugh lots.

What are your resolutions? Any wild New Year's Eve plans?

I plan to indulge in sipping some bubbly whilst curling up with Mr. FC, Quinn & Hiro.

Hopefully Quinn will sleep more than 2 hours at a time tomorrow night. ::fingers crossed::

Wishing you a happy & healthy New Year, my friends!

Thank you for making my 2011 fabulous!

Hey girl.....

........because I haven't really left the house in weeks (other than errands & one holiday get-together) & because I need a distraction from my sore breastfeeding nipps (I don't think this was what my lactation consultant meant):

{All images plucked from here}

Happy Monday =]

Still here (barely)!

Sleep-deprived? Check.
Teeth brushed? Can't remember...what day is it?
Sore nipples from breastfeeding? Check. (If things just got weird for you, don't read this other reference to my boobs. Or do. Either way really.)
House in shambles? Check.
Loving our baby girl? Check.

I can't tell you how much your comments on the birth of our Quinn Evie meant to us.  I read them during stolen moments at the hospital, during naptime, in the wee hours of the night whilst nursing. You all never cease to amaze me with your sincere kindness.  I'm constantly awed that you all take the time out of your day to read this blog of mine.  Heart touched, eyes misty.

Baby Bootcamp is kicking our asses but thank goodness for Mr. FC.  Teamwork is so important!  But all it takes is a sight like these to melt our hearts.  This little lady is the reason I missed the Twilight: Breaking Dawn premiere lights up our lives, truly.

{Photos courtesy of our friend Ben of Ben Klaus Photography. Thanks for the fun impromptu session, Benny!}

I thought about turning this one into her birth announcement.

Caption: Forget the onesies, buy effing earplugs. 

Love you Quinnie Cakes.

P.S. Thank you to the loverly Cassie for including Quinn's nursery in her This Really Melts My Butter round-up!!  What a true honor!  How I love & envy that girl (frenemy much?).  I do believe she & I were cut from the same cloth.  Destined to be Sarcasm Sisters.  The Queen Bees of dry humor.  

P.P.S. I'm working on writing up Quinn's birth story (thank you to those who've expressed interest in reading it).  In an effort to bring balance to this blog, I've also got some home-related posts in the queue & will be back with those as soon as I can get my act together enough to take/edit the accompanying pics.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

* Thanks so much for the adorable lilac flower accessory, Jenna!!  Love & miss you!!  =]