Kitchen Cabinets - not pretty, but re-org'd

So, I took some time to deal with the horrible under the sink cabinets yesterday. A few days ago, that scenario I talked about in the previous blog with Sean looking for something underneath there basically played out word for word. Thus, it was TIME.

After I organized it, it seems much easier to find stuff, which is great. I was looking at it, thinking, it would be so much better with a cute fabric on the back wall, new contact paper, all new cabinets, etc. But, we all know, that is not happening. I wish I could show you a pic like this:



Image via Better Homes & Garden

Instead, here are my before pics:





Here are the after:

Diaper Bag...accomplished!

I have been looking for quite a while for a diaper bag that I really liked, with no luck. I was doing the whole debate of 'do I want a regular purse or do I want a real diaper bag?'. Anyways, I started checking out Etsy, and found this great bag. I contacted the company to see if I could wash it (thinking ahead to the first spit up/spill, etc.) and it is completely machine washable & dryable. YEAH!

I was going to go with the standard black, but I decided to be a little more bold and go for this yummy red. I have read lots of great things about this company and their craftsmanship, so I am very excited to see it in person!

Moop Market Bag in Rosewood


Image via Moop Shop

Fun with Baby Gifts

So, this is one of those projects that I have been meaning to do for a long time. I finally took the time to do it last night. I had so much fun making these! I found this idea on Oh Happy Day. I used Anna Maria Horner fabrics.

Some of you may be seeing some of these arrive in the mail soon...you can probably figure out who you are :)

Julie & Julia

We saw Julie and Julia on our anniversary the other day before we came home to cook a yummy meal. We thought it might give us some inspiration...did it ever!

We have been craving the bruschetta ever since. So, today, I thought we were going to have a low key day around the house; however, Sean convinced me that we should go to the BC home opener. Long story short, we did go, it was fun, and after about 7.5 miles of walking to and from BC twice, all that kept me going was the thought of making some fresh bruschetta.

Please, go get some fresh bread, tomatoes, basil and garlic, and have some for yourself. It was delicious! You can get the actual recipe that they used in the movie here.

Nesting - Chapter 1

So, you moms, how many of you went through some crazy nesting? Sean is convinced mine has started long ago - thus asking "Do I have front row seats to the Morrow nest fest again today?" However...I am not convinced the best of it has even begun yet :)

I have had conversations with Sommer and Krissy lately about having so much to do, and not seeming to be able to accomplish it. We just keep making list after list (who doesn't love a list?), but instead of checking off my infamous boxes, I just start a new list. I have a list of things I need to accomplish soon, a list for Sean, a list for must-dos before the baby, etc. They are never ending. Bottom line, I need to kick myself into gear...ASAP!

Here is the start of my pre-baby list...(this doesn't include the million things I still need to do with the nursery)

1. DEEP CLEAN the house - baseboards, maybe walls, windows...everything!

I have this huge fear of going into labor earlier than expected, and the house not being totally clean/perfect. I am one of those (I think most of us are) who can't relax until the house is clean, and I REALLY don't want to bring a new baby home from the hospital and feel like I immediately need to clean. That WILL happen if it is not just so. I have asked my sweet husband to make sure that if I get too huge/uncomfortable to clean, that he somehow ENSURES that this deep clean happens. It can be my "push present" (which deserve a post of their own), I don't care...just make sure it is clean.

2. Purge more crap from our house.

With the arrival of so many wonderful baby gifts...we are realizing even more that we need to simplify our lives. Does it ever end? We just did this a few months ago when clearing out the room for the nursery!

On this note, I am trying to model myself after my brother. I tend to think I am relatively organized (which I have talked myself into, it is not really true), but then I visit Ryan and I open one of his cabinet doors and I can see each and every cleaning product, sponge, trash bag and there is all kinds of spare room. He has everything he needs, it is all extremely organized, and easy to FIND! Anytime I ask Sean to get something out of the cabinets under the sink it goes something like this...

M: Sean, can you get me a new sponge?

S: Sure...where are they?

M: Under the sink...

S: *almost immediately* Meghan! I can't find them....

M: They are there, keep looking.

(lots of clanging around, crap all over the floor, cabinet half way cleaned out now that it has thrown up all over the kitchen floor)

S: Meghan, I still can't find it.

M: *BIG SIGH.* Sean, it is RIGHT HERE.

S: Well, I couldn't see it b/c there was so much other stuff in there!


Just thinking about this makes me think that I need Ryan's help, big time. More to come on nesting...

One more note: Here is my thing about organization. I LOVE nifty gadgets/boxes/dividers that help you get organized, but I am too cheap to spend much money on them...time to get creative!!

Nursery Chair Update

So, Sean and I had a spontaneous outing yesterday to Hyannis out on the Cape. I was so sad that I didn't have my camera with me b/c it was such a cute coastal town. On the way home, we pass Ikea, so Sean was kind enough to stop. It is hard to go into Ikea and not allow yourself to be sensor-overloaded, don't you think? We made a beeline to the chair section, and sat in both the Poang rocker and Lillberg rocker. All the reviews I read were spot in, in our opinion...

1. Poang rocker - it is reclined too far (for nursing purposes)
2. Lillberg rocker - barely has any rocking motion. Boo.

So, back to square one. In the meantime, my parents gave Sidekick a cute club chair, so that will sit where we hope to have our own chair!!

I also liked this chair at Ikea, and it isn't TOO big, but again, not a rocker:


Picture from Ikea

$75.99

Okay, Stef...I know I will probably never come close to how good you are with coupons, but I saved $75.99 today at the commissary! That was 26% of our total bill. That totally made my week. When I saved $27 a couple months ago, I never thought I could beat that...how am I going to beat $75.99? Let the games begin...

Nursery Chair Dilemma

I was so happy when I finally made up my mind that I wanted a mid-century modern chair for the nursery to go with the eclectic mix of stuff we have for the room. I found an Eames rocker knock off on overstock.com. I usually am pretty good about reading reviews, but maybe I was so excited about the price of this one, that I ignored the reviews.

So, we receive the chair, and I couldn't figure out where the rest of the legs were. This chair seriously had to be made for children. Sean sat in it and his knees were pretty much to his chin. Thus, the chair has to be returned. :(

I have spent more time than I care to count looking at other mid century modern chairs, but can't seem to find one that looks good and rocks.

Also, our nursery is SO tiny that the chair must not be too big (thus, no gliders for me) otherwise there is no way we will be able to wedge it through these tiny doorways that we are subject to.

Can anyone help me?

Our chair that went back:


Other mid century chairs that I like, but they don't rock:

Egg Chair


Womb Chair



I was trying to find a regular rocking chair that had a bit of a modern look...what about this one from good old Target? I am not crazy crazy about it, but like that it is a little different, and I like the price...



Please help me.

Life with Boys

So, when we went to the Sox game on the 4th of July, I had a great afternoon chatting (notice I didn't say watching the game) with the extended family that Jeanine was working for, and they all have boys. They were telling me so many funny stories, and I walked away with a few top tips of the day...

So...(if anyone is out there)...calling all moms with boys...what are your tips for raising boys? I want to hear it!

Here were the tips I took away from the game:
1. Oxy Clean - Always have it b/c they will make a total mess of all clothes
2. Handi-Wipes - Always carry them in your purse b/c boys are always a mess
3. (Personal Favorite) - Superglue - Always have lots of tubes of this to glue toys together. The mom that told me this said that her sons always ask her to help put together their complicated Lego projects, and after she spends hours assembling, they take it apart. Thus, Superglue it together! PERFECT.

Please help me add to my arsenal of good tips. :)

Make your Own - Vanilla Extract

So, I never knew that it was easy to make your own vanilla extract...until my crafty friend, Brenda, was telling me that she makes her own. You just need some vodka, vanilla beans, and patience, and apparently, you are good to go. We had a little bit of Vodka left that I wanted to get rid of, and I finally splurged the other day and got some nice vanilla beans at Whole Foods. I just put it all together into a bottle, and I am going to let it do its thing for about 8 weeks now. I will report back once I have maxed out my patience :)

Here is one of the sites that I checked out for a recipe...
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2009/02/homemade_vanilla_extract.php