Go Ahead, Be Spontaneous!

I like to plan things. As in plan things to death until they aren't any fun anymore. I've been known to spoil a perfectly good Saturday because I wanted it to be just right or I felt like it was a big, fat wasted opportunity. But not last Saturday. 

I don't know what was different but I was super relaxed. Last minute we decided to drive to the Chicago area with the girls in tow to buy a used car off of ebay that we'd found like a day before (though we had been researching this make/model for a while). After picking up the car and also last-minute deciding to trade our old car in, we stopped for "lunch" at 3pm and even wandered next door for some frozen yogurt, not worried that Cetty was missing her nap. Yeah, really wild. And then to top it all off, we swung by the dunes on our way home, just because, and didn't have the girls in bed (still sandy) until after 10pm.  

This may not seem monumental, but the day felt so freeing. I experienced the efficiency of making a big decision without over-analyzing or second guessing. I trusted Bry and didn't feel the need to control every detail. I was spontaneous with the girls and it was really fun. Ahhh. 

And to think I could live like this all the time.

I have to give credit on the next three photos to Bry…who I recently criticized for not being able to take a good picture. (Sorry, Babe)

Look, I even spontaneously let Poppy walk to the car in her pink underwear because I didn't want to mess with wet legs and skinny jeans. Who knows what this new me will do next.

Home

I'm back! I was far, far away in Greece for school (and for fun), and although life here is beginning to seem normal again I still don't feel very productive yet. Actually on second thought, I can't say that I was overly productive before I left, so this may be as good as it gets.

What I can say is that since I've returned I'm more fully appreciating my home and more contentedly enjoying the lazy summer days with my girls (despite the fact that the AC is broken in our car). I've felt less of a need to run around doing everything, making it easier to say no to invitations and protect our evening and weekend time together as a family.

In celebration of staying home, I thought I'd finally start posting some photos of the house. When we first moved I put this off because I wanted everything finished, and then I put it off because I wanted everything clean. this obviously wasn't working, so I'll just have to take it one room at a time and ignore what's outside camera range.

Let's start with the nursery, because aren't nurseries the best? Oh, and sorry I don't have "before" photos. I went to all the work to take them for you guys but it looks as though I may have unknowingly deleted them at some point. I guess all you need to know is that the house was a complete disaster when we bought it. Built in 1928, broken windows, bad wallpaper, peeling lead-based paint…that sort of thing. But as a loving family member told me when she first saw it (because she couldn't think of any other encouraging to say), "Well, it has good bones…"

White lace slip from when I was little

Yellow paint and knobs from Anthropologie added to bench

Mid-century rocker from Urban Outfitters

Cetty's favorite stuffed animal from Aunt Alesa

Handmade elephant from Etsy, bought when Poppy was a baby.
Blanket crocheted by my mom for me as a baby.

Alphabet cards from Fawn&Forest

Gittery stars from Haus in Indy, mobile handmade.
Quilt handmade by Bry's mom for Cetty.