freebie storage labels + getting organized

 

Way back before I had kids I saved this post from Making It Lovely that had a great idea for storing the never-ending mountain of baby and toddler clothes. They just grow so quickly. I love the idea of storing the clothes in clear plastic containers by size. It just makes so much sense. {Yes that is a big mess in the photo, on either side of the boxes, that I really tried to crop out. I'm not organized quite yet, but getting there}.

The designer in me couldn't help but make some pretty labels which I printed onto letter-sized paper, cut in half and stuck inside the box much like Nicole did. You could also print them onto a letter-sized label and stick them onto the outside of the box as well. They won't wobble as much that way!

So, I am sharing with you my 'designer' baby clothing storage labels in hopes that you will be inspired as I was, and perhaps a bit more organized too. 

Click the banners below to download PDF's of the girl or boy versions {newborn to size 2...just updated to size 5...just updated to size 10! Also updated - new 'maternity' and 'other textiles' labels.} and print away. You may want to print two copies so that you have 4 labels, one for each side of the box. Enjoy and happy weekend! 

UPDATE (May 17, 2016): I've made a few changes to the labels from suggestions I've received over the past few years. Hopefully these suit your needs a bit better! Please let me know if you have any other suggestions. Thanks!

 

a high-spirited garland

My obsession with Pinterest has completely escalated in the past few weeks...there is just SO much eye candy and information on there that it's hard to deal! I recently spied this beautiful 'High-Spirited Garland' from BHLDN which totally inspired me to start the decorating process for the new baby's room. She will be here very soon! {I must admit...I feel a tiny bit of guilt here. For Sage's room I took two months to decide on the paint colour, had about 50 swatches taped to the wall, and laboured over every little design detail. Without the luxury of time, I've had to make some quick decisions, however I'm quite certain she will still be happy with her new room and especially her high-spirited garland!}.

We've decided to go with a soft avocado-y green on the walls and coral/watermelon-y accent colours. And so the other day I went shopping on Tonic Living to purchase some fabric samples. How very exciting to receive them in the mail yesterday, and to see how all the colours came together. I keep staring at the swatches.

I will use my sample pieces to make a flag garland, inspired by the BHLDN one, but I would also like to make a few pillows, especially in these purty patterns. So much to design and create! My mind is spinning. 

[FABRIC SWATCHES FROM TOP LEFT: Garden Damask, Green Tea; Flatiron, Coral; Cross Section, Honeydew; Zoo Pals, Pink; all from Tonic Living]

happy valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I was pretty excited this year that I got to make Valentines for Sage's daycare. Not wanting to give chocolate or candy at all {the kids in her class are between 18 months and 2}, I went with stickers instead. Three sticker books for $1 at the dollar store - score! I whipped up this little card, stuck the sticker book on the back with a glue dot and paired them with a matching custom labelled envelope. Simple and sweet.

For Sage's teachers, I ended up making these cute little morsels. They are super easy, look adorable and are indeed the perfect combo of salty and sweet. Here they are waiting to go in the oven. I forgot to take an after photo...whoopsie. Mommy brain times two I guess. 

Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

a new purse

I've been combing the land for a new purse! Something cool and funky but mama-friendly too. Since Sage was born, I've been using a cheapy cheap H+M gray purse which I actually get many compliments on, but it has seen it's day and is starting to fall apart. That, and I'm finding it a tad too small.

I like a long strap so I can sling it around my shoulder, especially when my hands are full of kids and car seats. I've narrowed it down to these two beauties from Urban Outfitters.
 

 

My first choice is this Deena & Ozzy Buckle Tote. It's a great colour and apparently looks much more expensive in person. It's simple and purty and just what I need.

 

  
This Deena & Ozzy Zip-Front Moto Satchel is pretty awesome too...love the colour. I'm worried it is a bit too deep though. Big is good, but I don't want to be losing my keys in there.

At $40 for shipping, I think I'll wait for the free Canadian shipping promotion that comes up once in a while!

here we grow again: 6 months

Here I am, just a touch over the 6 month mark. If you compare this photo to my 5 month pic, the growth has been unbelievable! Now I know why I've been exhausted and dragging my, ahem, butt the past few weeks. I thought it was just because I've been running after a very busy toddler. That, and I've expanded immensely. With still 3 months to go, looks like I may end up as giant as last time 'round {seriously, people asked me all the time if I was having twins}!

putting together a big girl room

While we are searching for ideas for the living room and dining room we realized that baby #2 is going to be here in 3 months. Holy smokes! So we better get working on the rooms for the littles...pronto! I've been gathering ideas for Sage's 'big girl' room. Here is some inspiration.

I had clipped the above photo from a 2010 Style at Home magazine article, as it just struck me as fresh and so pretty for a little girl's room. Sage has a little turquoise dresser (more greeny than the blue pieces above) but I thought a pink and turquoise room might be really sweet. 

I love the Marimekko fabric they have stretched in the image as art, the freshly painted furniture and light walls. Instead of white walls I may go with Gray Owl (2137-60) a Benjamin Moore colour I have used in the past which is warm and neutral and beautiful. 

This print was purchased a while ago, from Eva Juliet, a Montreal Etsy seller, and has been just waiting for Sage's new room.

Here is Sage's turquoise dresser, a pic from her old room...it's adorably sweet, but I have to admit that it is a tad small, especially as she gets older, so we might have to rethink this one a bit...

This pillow would look pretty cool, to add in a pop of pink.

Hmmm...I'm loving this colourful Jenny Lind bed too, although white may be nice and classic.

Hello turquoise chevron rug from Urban Outfitters!

the quest for a dining room table

Toddling right along with the design of our house - we come to the dining room! Our front door opens into this big, empty room that currently contains my daughter's cardboard playhouse and a random mess of toys. It needs a lot of work.

I've had my eye out for dining tables for a while now, and I have something pretty specific in mind I guess. I've always wanted something rustic looking and giant. A place where we can spread out and do crafts or homework and also host a big dinner party. I don't want to worry about getting sparkles on the table or wine stains. Bring on the mess and bring on the fun!

A few years ago I mentioned this table from Restoration Hardware and it's still one of my faves. It has always remained in my mind as my ideal. That paper airplane never did fly through my window carrying a large cheque, so this still one may be a bit out of budget. Wahhh. 

But on the Restoration Hardware website it looks like there are now a bunch of additional rustic, reclaimed wood table options. This Farmhouse Salvaged Wood Rectangle Extension Table is quite beautiful too - much more rough and chunky than the Trestle table. I lurve.

There is a store called Woodcraft in Toronto that makes custom tables. It's pretty cool actually - you choose the style, wood, finish and stain, and then it's ready for you to take home within a few weeks. Their website photos aren't the greatest, I have to admit, but I do like a lot of their styles and when I visited their showroom I really loved the simplicity of their Long Loft Table. They had some cool stains in Driftwood and Antique and you could choose a 'rough-sawn' look too for a more rustic effect. This is an option.

In a recent West Elm email I also saw this beautiful Boerum Dining Table. It's not as unique as the top two, or as 'chunky', but I do like the rustic-meets-modern effect of the table, as well as the cool colour. And the price...definitely it's the best price! I haven't seen it in person so that could be a whole other story. 

So the hunt for a cool, chunky, rustic, humongous dining room table continues! I'll keep you in the loop.

Jerusalem Sage

My sister mentioned to me a while back that there is a plant called 'Jerusalem Sage'. Why is that interesting to me? My first daughter's name is Sage. We gave her that name because it sounded strong, wise, natural and beautiful. And a little bit rock star! It's actually traditionally a boy's name but we loved it.

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but we had trouble conceiving the first time around. I had a pretty severe case of endometriosis and we tried to get pregnant for two very difficult years, visiting many doctors and trying pretty much every therapy - medical and alternative - to get there. 

In August 2009, we travelled to Israel for my sister's wedding, and during that trip we stopped in Jerusalem for a tour and visited the Wailing Wall. My hubby and I hoped, wished, and prayed on that wall for a little bundle. Less than two months later {with the help of modern medicine} we were pregnant with Sage. 

And that is why Jerusalem Sage is pretty cool to me. I wonder if I can try growing it in my garden this summer.


{PHOTO FROM HERE}

some more news...

living room makeover

In the summer we moved into a new house, and I hate to say that we've barely done any decorating! Mainly we've unpacked, organized, and have continued to organize. I have so many ideas and am itching to get going on the decor. 

This is a view of our living room right now. It is a bright, beautiful room with fairly high ceilings and in terms of decor, it is a blank slate. So much potential! You can see our paint options on the wall. I think we are going with the middle one, a soft bluey gray. We are also thinking of a salvaged mantle, built-in shelving and cabinets on either side of the fireplace, hardwood floors, a cool lamp, more seating, blinds for the bay window on the left and possibly a window seat with drawers for storage for the bay window. The TV will go above the fireplace {I know, I hate that too, but it creates more space and there is less risk the kiddies will topple it}. We have big plans. Now only if we had the extra time and money.

Here are some images for inspiration as we inch our way through our living room makeover.

{unfortunately I've lost the source info for most of these pics but many of them can be found right here}.

here we grow again: 5 months

Here is my latest pregnancy photo. Looks like this baby might be on the bigger side again, since my tum is larger than I was at 5 months during my first pregnancy. What can I say, I grow them big and healthy! My first baby was 9 lbs. 11 oz.

Click below to see months 2 to 4.

ohdeedoh feature!

How wonderful to find out that my daughter's first birthday, a Picnic Party, was featured on Apartment Therapy's OhDeeDoh today. As if Fridays weren't cheery enough!

Last year they also featured Sage's nursery so I feel quite lucky to be recognized by them, especially because I check out their website quite often as a resource for children's room inspiration and product info. You can peek at the 'Best Kids Parties' post here. Thanks so much OhDeeDoh!

happy new year!

Apologies for the late new years greetings however we have been very sick in this house the past few weeks. Between a couple of colds, ear infections, a terrible reaction to Amoxicillin {poor Sage had the most horrifying rash} and then strep throat, it really has been one thing after another. 

So happy belated holidays and happy 2012 too. With baby no. 2 cooking away, it looks like this will be a fruitful year! 

client highlight: introducing...sonny jackson

I has the pleasure of working with Sonny Jackson recently to design a website for her new company, Sonny Jackson, Chartered Accountant Professional Corporation.

What a wonderful experience it was! Sonny had a vision of what she wanted for her website: a bulletin board that had her information 'pinned' to it. Something rustic with a vintage vibe - not to stuffy or dry, as many accounting websites can be. She wanted a bean counter image to add some relevance and interest. But it was important that the website be professional enough to present to bigger clients.

I love the colours and the feel of the site. It came together beautifully {probably because Sonny was so organized and efficient and easy to work with! I would definitely hire her to be my accountant, no doubt}. Please take a peek at her brand new website, and the services she offers. Congrats Sonny!

cool kitchen

My dad bought this little beauty for Christmas our Sage. It's the KidKraft Espresso Kitchen. And she is going to love it. Hey, I think I'm in love with it! Many-an-hour will be spent playing with this kitchen set, opening and closing the doors, drawing on the chalkboard, and making cool 'meals'. Her Grammy is getting her pots and pans and fake food. I'm so excited for her to see it! Boy Christmas is just so much more fun, seeing it through the eyes of kids.

goop app

I got my GOOP email today, and they introduced a new GOOP City Guide app. The illustrations for the app really caught my eye - I love these little delicate watercolours, and they remind me a bit of the Daily Candy watercolours that are so pretty too. Illustrator Bernadette Pascua created these. They are so cute and are reminding me to break out my watercolours! I haven't painted in forever.

The next time I'm in NYC I hope to check out some of Gwyneth's fave spots.

here we grow again

During my first pregnancy, I documented my burgeoning belly in photos each month and I decided to do the same this time around. I am four months along now. These are my belly bump photos so far. Here we go grow again!

i'm on pinterest!

Yes, I'm a bit behind the bandwagon. I've been resisting the urge for a while as I figured it was just one more thing to add to my To Do list...but last week I activated my Pinterest account and wow is it a lot of fun, not to mention a tad addictive. It's exactly what I love to do - finding inspiring images, sharing them, viewing other inspiring images too. I'm still working on my collection so my boards are still rather empty. But check back soon {or follow me!}...because it really seems like a lot of nerdy fun.