Fiddle Fig Leaf

For quite a while now, I've seen pictures of beautifully designed rooms with these awesome Fiddle Leaf Fig trees that just brighten up the whole space. I instantly get jealous and throw myself on the ground crying.  I have had the WORST luck with plants and fish!  I gave up on the fish thing, but I cannot, for the life me, figure out how I keep killing my plants.  However, last year I bought a snake plant, and by some miracle, it's still alive...and doing good!  Encouragement!

I was drooling over some pictures on Pinterest one night and came across a little gem of a blog called Joe&Cheryl. She gives very detailed instructions for how to care for a Fiddle Leaf  Fig and even gives suggestions to commenter's.  So in a brave moment I saw this baby one at Lowes and just went for it.  It's now home and sitting happily (for now) in my bright living room. I'm feeling confidant, following the instructions to a T, and keeping fingers crossed that this pretty lady survives.  In the meantime, here is some of those pictures I was drooling over.  Now you want one too don't you...

*Photo sources from top left: The Marion House Book, Harpers Bazaar, Emily Henderson, Domaine (designed by Jonathathan Adler)

I'm Baaack!

I've been absent from the blogging world for a little while now. Part of that was because...well..life. The other part was because we we've been working on shifting things over to the Cheeky Nest and doing non-stop projects. However, as I increasingly lay awake at night thinking of all the fun stuff I am NOT blogging about, I thought it was time to get back in the game. If only to help me sleep better at night. So pardon our dust while we still work through some kinks on the blog, but I am super excited to get posting again. I have a TON of fun and easy (always easy) DIY tutorials that I've been wanting to share. Then of course there's my ADD decorating - always moving, always changing. It'll be crazy and a little bit spazzy, but fun for sure!  Hold on tight!!

*pic via 

Mommy Moments

A sick girl and bored/cranky 3 year old does not a happy mommy make. 

I realize that everyone has a different idea about how to discipline kids. I've also learned that every kid is different and responds differently to things, so what might work for one may not work for another. That is the monkey wrench that my 3 year old has thrown at me. He is the kid that calls your bluff, won't stay in time out, and can throw an Oscar worthy temper tantrum. I used to sit next to his door to make sure he didn't come out when he was throwing a fit or in time out. However, I now have a 6 month old, so that's not happening. Instead, we went out and bought a lock for the outside of his door. Best $15 bucks I've ever spent! Turns out that once he realized no one was there to hear his performance, he calmed down a lot faster. Also, me getting some distance from that made it so I could face the situation with more patience and calm. 

So today, as he's throwing a fit while I'm typing, I want to say thank you lock on the door.  Thank you for my sanity. 

Got any gems for dealing with a strong willed toddler?  PLEASE share.

Have a Lovely Weekend

The weeks are just so busy these days that I get really excited for the weekends. We've started a little tradition on Saturday mornings where we do something fun for breakfast. Last weekend I made Swedish pancakes and the kids gobbled them up. Also, it's officially LOVE month! Brace yourselves for lots of "love" posts in the coming days.

Have a wonderful, lovely, and slow weekend everyone.

Source: dondalees.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

A New Year

Do you do resolutions?  Do you ever keep them?  I, like many people, have tried it and failed miserably.  It's a good gesture though right?  Start out the year with lofty goals.  This year I decided not to go for the high failure rate, but instead reach for common sense stuff.  Just focus on being emotionally, physically, and spiritually happy. So here's my list of quasi resolutions:

1. Ignore the pull of the perpetual "to-do" list and just enjoy life more.  Especially with my kids.
2. Do something creative every day.  Even if it's small.
3. Be more active.  I'm so much happier when I do this.
4. Go on more dates with husband.  No one spitting up on me or whining, just me and him.
5. Read more.  I don't ever do this anymore.  I miss it.
6. Keep in better touch with friends.  I'm horrible at this, but it doesn't mean I don't think about ya.
7. Be happy.  Try and look for the positive side of things.  Even when it's hard.

That's all I have for now. I'm sure there are a few I've forgotten that I'll think of the second I post this, but there it is.  Happy New Year dears, hoping 2013 makes all your dreams come true!

Photo via*

Christmas Magic

I've been sick for over a week and didn't get to do my Christmas post!  I've had the after Christmas funk today, so I thought doing a post would help me hang on to my Christmas spirit a little longer.

Christmas evolves with you and changes over the years, especially when you have kids. My favorite thing this year was watching my kids.  Doing with them some of the fun traditions that me and husband had when we were kids and watching the excitement and magic of it on their faces.  Catching Santa's boot print, seeing the milk and cookies gone... It brings back those same feelings that I had when I was a kid.  My mom was/is AWESOME at creating that Christmas magic for us and I feel so very blessed to be able to do that with my kids.  Anyhoo, I hope you all had a wonderful and memory filled Christmas. 

And just for fun, what were some of your favorite things about Christmas this year?

Happy Anniversary

13 years ago I married my very best friend in the whole world. Today he is still my best friend and there is no one else in the world I'd rather be with. Thanks for all the memories and good times my love. I can't wait to see what's to come. Happy Anniversary babe. I love you more than 10 million M&M's!!

Aloha!

Has it really been almost a month since my last blog post?! So much has been going on and I think I just needed that little break, but after an awesome trip to Hawaii, I feel much more happy and relaxed.  Our trip was filled with jogs on the beach,  lots of pina coladas and lying around the pool, and some fun nights out.  It's just so beautiful there that how could you not feel relaxed?? However, I'm now in the summer spirit and ready to start posting about summer fun.  How have you darlings been?

Between Us Girls

A couple weeks ago I had linked to a Glamour article about being comfortable in your own skin. This was the picture with the article. This picture and article struck such an emotional chord with me that I haven't been able to get it out of my head. 

Since I was 19 I've been so self conscious about my body image. Of course having kids made it worse. We have this Hawaii trip coming up and I've been dieting and exercising like mad to be "swimsuit" ready. This Victoria's Secret model image in my head makes me feel like I have to look a certain way to be happy. It's understandable considering the barrage of perfectly photoshopped women that we face every day. So seeing this gorgeous, radiant, confidant, NORMAL woman in a magazine was inspiring to say the least.

I think the whole "loving yourself" thing is one of the hardest things us women have to learn. It's a work in progress for me and I'm not quite sure to go about it, but it's something I'm working on every day. I still want to look a certain way in a swimsuit, but now it's more along the lines of healthy and happy.

What do you see when you look at this picture?

Flea Market Adventures

Our flea market adventure started a little later than we wanted it to, but if we missed out on anything I sure couldn't tell. I was immediately on sensory overload. Seriously, KID IN A CANDY STORE!! There was cool things everywhere!

I really wanted to see the antiques/vintage areas, so that's where we headed. Holy Moly! They had everything you could think of. From antique typewriters, vintage suitcases (had a hard time leaving these), vintage art, trinkets and baubles as far as the eye could see.

1950's bar stools. I went nuts over these!!

My favorite parts of the trip? In the antique section they had some of the coolest and most amazing furniture I've ever seen!  They were all so unique and many of them one of a kind. I don't think I could ever buy from a regular furniture store again!! And the prices? Half what you would pay retail.
If you are a vintage clothes lover you MUST go here. There were miles and miles of vintage clothes and shoes.  I could not believe the shoes!! I was so overwhelmed in this section that I didn't do too much looking, but my inner vintage lover was begging me to go digging through every single rack to see what gem I could find.  I promised that we'd do it next time.


So what did I buy?

This vintage dresser to be used as an entry table. My original plan was to re-paint it, but it's growing on me the way it is. What do you think? To paint or not to paint?

This vintage trunk. I'm planning on doing something cool with it for the little B's room. Any suggestions all you creative geniuses?

Sorry for the length, but it was seriously one of the coolest things I've ever been to. If you are ever in the area you have to do this. You will fall in love guaranteed! I'm now planning on being a regular, so you'll get to see more of my loot as time goes on.

P.S. I did not see any celebs, but there were paparazzi, so there may have been some earlier. However, I wouldn't have noticed if Tom Cruz was staring me in the face.

Thank you Husband for being my audio-visual guy and helping me get this posted.

Excuse My Lateness

It was sunny and 85 degrees yesterday and this was the perfect end to our day yesterday.  Jealous huh? We ended up staying to have some chow with my brother and family who were visiting.  We got home late, but it was oh so worth it.  However, I didn't have time to finish my Friday Favs before bed, so look for it in a bit. (I hope.)

P.S. Have you ever seen something (in my case a dress) that you cannot get out of your head? And have you ever totally forgotten where you saw this something?  I have this dress that is burned into my head, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it. A magazine? An online store? A blog? Ahhhhhh!!! It's actually keeping me awake!

My Love Story

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Back in 1997, I was being dragged (and I do mean dragged) by a group of friends to see the re-release of Star Wars. There were probably about 15 of us going and amongst that group of friends, was husbands younger brother. So I showed up to the theater and WOWIE who was that hunk of a man standing there with all my friends? Apparently, that night husband made a last minute decision to tag along. Fate? I immediately started scheming as to how I was going sit by him. Come to find out, he was also scheming. I enlisted the help of a girlfriend or two and got to sit next to him. It was an "oops I guess there are no other seats left" kinda thing. I had no idea what I was watching, but it turned out to be the best movie ever!

I was always getting little love letters or flowers from him and quickly fell hopelessly in love.  About 7 months later, he took me up to the top of a hill with a gorgeous view, at sunset, got down on one knee and proposed! (I have it on video, so I'll share the one day)

We spent the first 7 years of marriage having fun, traveling and going to U2 concerts. We've laughed a lot, cried a bit, and seen each other with the worst bed head imaginable. One Great Dane and two kids later, he is still my very best friend in the whole world and I couldn't live without him.  Love you mucho honey!


Pass it on and share your love story on this Valentines Day.  Let me know if you do cause I'd love to read.

She's 5!

There once was a little princess
who was tired of being four
She asked her subjects
could she be more
They baked her a cake
put candles on the top
even had a parade
before it all stopped
At last she was glad
got past her sad
for the day had arrived
when the princess turned five!

From this

To thisI can't believe it!

You changed our lives forever and we love you more than words can say. Happy Birthday Livie Bug!