Inspiration Board #1

For years I have been reading/browsing the photos of my favorite design blogs for ideas.  I have a folder on my desktop called "lookbook" (thanks Lauren!) and this is where I stash all of the photos I love and want to remember for the future.

Along with this house hunting process comes a strong erge to nest.  The fact that I am pregnant (!) could have something to do with it as well, which is why I have been looking at a lot of nursery designs.  Unfortunately I don't have any room for nesting in our apartment, but that doesn't mean my imagination isn't going wild!

Buy Modern Baby has an awesome blog run by Esther. She has created over 30 inspiration boards for baby/kids rooms.  Looking at hers inspired me to create one of my own.  Now, keep in mind I have 5 more months until the arrival of our little mouth so Im sure things will change.   I change my mind a lot.  Heck, I don't even have a room to decorate yet, but I can dream.  Ha!  I may not stay with these colors/design, but I do know that the room will not be too baby.  I want to furnish it for me and add accessories/artwork for the baby.  Makes sense, right?

This was really fun to create, I see more in my future.  Nursery inspiration board #1: 

1 -  Yellow Moroccan Pouf
2 -  Grey wool rug
3 -  Joya Rocker (also like the white leather option)
4 - Armoire (a Craigslist score that will soon be painted)
5 - Map wall decal from Etsy
6 - yellow/white chevron fabric for curtains
7 - Tripod floor lamp
8 - Olivia Crib
9 - bird mobile (made by my mom/me-pattern here)
10 - yellow painted dresser/changing table (future find on Craigslist!)

Some other ideas that I have seen elsewhere and would like to incorporate into the nursery are this awesome wall o' books.  The room was designed by Elizabeth Sullivan Design. I love the striped ceiling too!

This picture is from Refresh Design Studio. The alphabet was decorated at a baby shower.  I love this idea (hint, hint)!  With all the crafty people in my family, these would turn out great! 

This little paper pom-pom/lantern "chandelier" is really cool too.  It is from Live the Fancy Life.  The grey wall color is right up my alley as well.

Well, this is just my first attempt at throwing together some inspiration I have been pouring over.  Ahhhh...So fun and exciting to decorate...even if it is just virtual [for now].

The Verdict

Well, as the picture indicates,  we are not getting the house that I showed you the other day.   Remember I said that we offered and they countered us in 4 hours?  It was moving so smoothly....until....they got greedy.  After agreeing (via emails) on all the details, we were due to sign the papers and make it official.  Well, the next morning, instead of the final paperwork, we get a group email stating "We have received multiple offers on this property.  Please submit highest and best offers by noon Tuesday."

 WTF??    

How can they accept more offers when we already agreed on the selling price and all other details??  Supposedly our emails prove nothing legally, but how about ethically??  Can you say screwed?! We are pissed to say the least.

This house was not perfect by any means.  There were many changes that need to be made.  Remember the list?  But at 104k, it was a no-brainer.  Apparently others were on the same line of thinking.  Im afraid this will be the case with all of the foreclosures at a steal of a price.  Although this is a buyers market, the competition is tough.  We need to be quick in offering and we need our agent to be on top of the paperwork.  Period.

Ahh...Dissapointment settles in....but I am on my way to being over it.   I'll move on right after I tell off the selling agent.   I will say something along these lines:

Dear J Steadman and Associates Inc.,
Im glad that you are able to overlook any moral/ethical obligation so you may receive 1k more in commission.  You can be sure I will spread the word all over the internet, Atlanta forums and to personally to anyone who will listen.  The public needs to know that your company is not professional, trustworthy, nor ethical.

In the mean time, I will just tell myself that there MUST be something big wrong with this house.   It was on the market for a long time and has had two deals [that we know of] fall through. The house was probably not structurally sound to build the 2nd floor and this is why the owner never finished the staircase.  Yes! That's it!  We would have found out with the inspection, right?  Right!

I know we can find another house that we like just as much or better.  As my sister told me the other day, that's "just my luck."

**Also, last night we spoke to the winning bidders agent and  found out something that makes us feel a bit better:
The highest bid for the house was $20k more than what we offered.
Fine.  Take it.  Goodbye.

Pobrecito Titi

A week ago, while we were still in San Diego, Titi came home one night [after exploring outside for a few hours] without his collar.   

We thought maybe it came off while he was squeezing through a fence.   Later that night I pet him and he made some strange noises and moved from the bed to the closet.  Weird.  In the morning he didn't wake up with us as usual, instead he stayed in the closet for 2 hours.  I investigated and there was a bump on his back and it seemed painful.  The next day the the pain seemed to subside, so I thought it was getting better.

After a couple days, I started to get worried.  Titi didn't have as much energy and the bump that had seemed to be going away was now bigger and more painful.  I made an appointment at a vet for Saturday morning. 

WARNING!  THE FOLLOWING CONTENT MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR PERSONS WITH A WEAK STOMACH. 

The vet said he would have to shave Titi's beautiful fur to take a closer look.  What they found was this:

We left Titi there for a few hours because they had to drain the abscess (an infected puncture wound, usually from fighting with another cat).  When we picked Titi up a few hours later, I was horrified to see this:

A rubber pipe was pushed through Titi's skin to drain out the liquid from the TWO abcesses they found under the fur.  I cried.  

"What in the hell did they do to my sweet kitty?"

 I was equally horrified at the bill. 

We were sent home with pain killers and a bottle of disinfectant to clean the wound 2x a day.  Titi has to wear this pitiful cone on his head.  I feel so bad for him, he is trying to groom himself and just ends up licking the plastic.  Pobrecito!

{my pitiful little cone head}

The good news is that tomorrow the drain comes out and they'll stitch him up.  He is sleeping a lot and seems to be healing.   He will still have to be a "cone head" for a few days so he doesn't tear out the stitches. 

My heart aches for my little Titi. My poor helpless Titi.  I have been babying him, I guess my motherly instincts are starting to kick in:)

Thailand, Italy or Mexico??

Would you believe that this June will be my 10th wedding anniversary?  10 years!
This calls for something special, right?  A trip of course!  We have so much going on but this may be our last trip solo for a while.  We are exactly decided where to go yet.

Option #1 Thailand

Option #2 Italy 

Option #3 Mexico

These are our choices listed in order of preference.  Unfortunately they are also in descending order of most distance,  time needed and cost.

I really wish Thailand could happen, because that trip needs to be done without kids (though not impossible, it would be preferable).  I have wanted to go there for a long time and this may be our last chance for some years.  We need a month to make this trip worth the 2 days it takes to get there.

Italy is a great second option as Ernesto has never been.   We could fly into Rome and then take a train south to the picturesque town of Positano (where I have never been, pictured above).   The Almafi Coast.....come on, it just sounds romantic, doesn't it? The only con is that I won't be able to drink wine.  Oh the horror!  We could do this trip in a week, but we would make it two just to make sure we aren't rushed.

Third option is to visit Mexico, and that could never be a bad choice.  Its a quick flight, inexpensive and it's Mexico.   We would pick an area that we haven't visited before.  It would be a great time to pick up new textiles for our future house.  Mexico is only a three hour flight so one week is easy here. 

We are still weighing this and once we know if our house deal is going to go through with a closing of May 26th we can set a date.  Im shooting for leaving May 10th.  Perfect because we can back to our new home!!!

So what would be your top 3 destinations for a big anniversary? 
(....and I don't want to hear anyone say Canton, Ohio)

Could This Be Our New Street??

Back in January, right after we found out our big baby news, we started house hunting.  Ernesto took me to look at this house:

This 2 bedroom (with unfinished basement and 2nd floor) borders the neighborhoods of Old 4th Ward and Inman Park and is literally a 2 minute walk from where we currently live so we knew the location would be perfect!!   The outside is so unique, with a cute little garden and trellis for growing vines.  We peered though the windows and instantly fell in love with the high ceilings, bamboo floors and french doors opening the living room up to the front porch.

In short, the house went under contract that day, only 2 days after being listed.  Although not surprising at all (since it was a foreclosure listed at only 104K) it was disappointing.   We moved on and  looked at a bunch of other houses.  Below are two houses we made offers on but did not get. Both were livable, but needed updating.

{3 bed home in Old 4th Ward}

{2 bed Home in East Atlanta Village}

The other day our realtor called us [while we were still in San Diego] to say that the first house we looked at  was back on the market, the offer had fallen through.  Funny enough, Ernesto and I kept watching to see if that might happen.   Just our luck, IT DID!!!!

We submitted our offer yesterday morning and they accepted it that afternoon, plus added a 2-year home warranty which we didn't ask for!?  I understand this is rare because the house is a foreclosure and is being sold "as-is" by the bank, so we were happy.

Speaking of "as-is,"  there are several things that we want to change about this house, but the only things that MUST be done before moving in:
     - buy a refridgerator (other appliances are included and are nice)
     - tear out yuck carpet from the bedrooms and lay new floors (either matching
        bamboo to the living room floor or new hardwoods throughout)

     - patching walls and painting every room

{bamboo floors in living room}

{kitchen appliances...double oven...swoon!}

{ugly bedroom carpet}

 Other fixes/ideas: (not essential at first)
     - new kitchen cabinets
     - mosaic tile back splash
     - change slate floors in kitchen and baths 
     - convert main bath into smaller powder room, thus opening kitchen
     - drywall and add french doors in basement, converting to studio/office
     - finish 2nd story, creating 2 more bedrooms
     - fence back yard or plant tall cypress as border

There are a few "weird" things with this place.  I guess the previous owner had a "plan" to finish the attic into a second story.  He built the staircase...to nowhere.  Really, at the top of the stairs, there is nothing.  Also there is a window leading to the basement staircase instead of a door.  What???  Yep.  That will have to be changed.

They would like the closing to be May 26! Yikes!  It's all happening so fast!  It really would be perfect though, we would have all summer to work on it.  Yay! Wish us luck that everything goes smoothly!  I will post more/better pictures once we seal the deal.

No Internet = Productivity?

Well, it is not by choice, but my internet access has been very limited during our San Diego visit.  At first I was bummed, but soon realized that there was something else I could be doing as I drink my morning cup of coffee  [other than blogging and reading blogs].  I sit at the kitchen table with my journal, write down what I dreamed the night before (I rarely forget them) and sketch out a couple Zafiro designs, then I....wait for it......make them!!
I have been so productive!  Even since our trip to the Tucson Gem Show, I have not wanted to even look at gems, but I needed to get inspired again.  I have two Zafiro Jewelry shows coming up this month:  Delta Museum Sale on April 14th (at the Delta campus where I used to work) and then the huge annual  Inman Park Festival.  I have done this show in the past and it was great.  Actually,  it was the first show I ever participated in and that crowd gave me the confidence to start selling my jewels.  Im happy to say I will be set up again this year with a new collection.  I will post my booth location closer to the show which runs April 30-May 1.  My sister is coming in from Ohio to help with the show and also get in some needed girl time, so I am looking forward to that.

In other news:  Ernesto's sister had her baby yesterday and she is a beauty! 
Emotions (ie: crying sobbing) overwhelmed me when I walked in and saw Adrianna holding the [still unnamed] little one.  This was my third crying episode this week.  The previous two were totally inexplicable, but Im pretty sure this had something to do with the fact that I will be lying in that bed in another 6 months.  Also, the last time I had seen such a new-newborn was 20 years ago when my sister had Kelli.  It was amazing to see this precious tiny baby swaddled in her blanket.  Peacefully sleeping, she only stirred when we peeled back her hat a couple times to see the full head of curly dark brown hair.   She is so gorgeous, it was hard to believe she had just been born 2 hours earlier.  Congratulations to Adrianna and Jorge!! I hope we can compete, haha, just kidding!

A few other highlights of our trip so far:

• Lunch at the Corvette Diner
• Climbing Cowles Mountain
• Dinner at Dumpling House (the best Chinese I have ever eaten)
• Running on Coronado Beach
• Sunday morning menudo with the extended Espinoza family 
• Many, many games of Hand and Foot with los padres
• Crossfit and more running
• Training Titi to come inside with the ringing of a bell
• Day trip to Julian, California, a quaint little mountain town all about apples (apple pie was a must!)
• A driving tour of homes in La Jolla
• Delicious home cooked Mexican food by mi suegra

We have another week in San Diego then it's back to the grind of Atlanta. haha!  Well, I do have two jewelry shows, thank you very much.  Plus, my dear friend Lucy has hooked me up with a part time job at the studio where she teaches yoga.  More details to come, but I am happy that I will be able to go to unlimited yoga classes at the studio.  Perfect for this pregnant girl!  

Hello from San Diego!!

sweet kitty?

From past experience, I thought Titi would be fine on the plane with me.  He had already flown to Ohio once, and had endured many road trips.  I was traveling by myself Thursday evening and luckily I snagged a seat in first class.   I would have slept soundly the whole way (as I often do on flights) if it wasn't for a crying little kitty.   Titi attracted attention from the other passengers and it wasn't good.  A few people came to see what kind of "animal" I had in my little kennel as the noises he was making did not seem like those of a cat.  I did what I could to calm him down as the plane raced for take off.  Was this preparation for what is coming later this year?  A crying baby on a long flight??  Yikes!

I felt helpless and because you are not able to take your pet out of the kennel during flight,  it was very hard to console him.  After take off I slid the kennel out from under the seat and set it on my lap.  From there I squeezed my hand in the side zipper and pet Titi for the next 4 hours.  I was able to doze off when he [finally] relaxed only to have the flight attendant tell me it was time to prepare for landing and the kennel had to go back under the seat. Not good!  Titi went into a rage and I thought he was going to bust through the fabric.  Thank god the guy next to me was a pet lover.

Titi may not be a good flier, but I have to give him props for adaptability!  This kitty doesn't mind at all visiting new places.  In fact, he seems to love the adventure and exploration that come with a new environment, just like his mama and papi!

Titi is loving the fenced yard at Ernesto's parents and has [not surprisingly] figured out the one hole that will let him escape to the school playground just behind it.
On thing that has suprised me is that mi suegra loves my kitty!  (that's right dad!)  She (along with all the other Espinoza's) are not pet people but she loves Titi. 

Ernesto arrived on Saturday.  I wanted to come a couple days early to be sure not to miss Adrianna's (his twin sisters) baby shower.  She is due April 4th and has to be one of the most beautiful and glamorous pregnant girls I've seen. 

The shower was so sweet largely in part to the delicious cake. White with strawberry and cream layers. Mmmmm  Oh and....she is having a girl as scripted on the cake!

It was great seeing everyone, and like every get together here, there were lots of pictures taken.  Here are all the sister-in-laws.

Me, Adrianna, Veronica, Beth, Erin

 Not to steal Adrianna's thunder, but I did get quite a bit of attention from all the tias and sobrinas for my tummy.  We did a little comparison.

Haha!  [Almost] April Fools!  My belly is not that big, it is just my little trick.  Come on, I am only 14 weeks!  I do have a current belly shot coming to VivaCindy, and yes you can see that my 4-6 pack is slowly but surely fading away.........

It was fun shopping for a baby gift, and since I am partial to stripes these days, I got her these two adorable outfits.  Also the book (pictured right) will be a beautiful documentary of the little niñas first years.  Congratulations hermana!

** due to limited internet access (ie: at the bookstore only) posts may be spuratic in the coming weeks.

Too Soon for Baby Shopping?

Today at Marshalls, I was perusing through the baby section.  Nooooo, not for me, Silly.  My sister-in-law is due in April and her baby shower is this Saturday [in San Diego].  I found some really cute gifts for her too.  It was fun shopping for a baby!  I have noticed that I am more interested in baby stuff now, but I haven't actually purchased anything for myself.......until today

When I saw this belly casting kit, I couldn't pass it up!  Just last week I was thinking how cool this would be.  I don't know why it didn't cross my mind that my husband is a master paper mache-er.  Remember his Halloween mask?  Oh well, he will still be the master!   This kit comes with everything you need and cost me $12.99, half price of Amazon and other stores.

The directions say to make the cast 2 weeks before your due date just in case you go into labor early and haven't done it yet. Only 27 more weeks!  I will have to think about what I'd like it to look like, because you know it will be hanging somewhere in my house.  Natural white? Ooooo or maybe gold leaf???  Totally exciting! 

Did any of you made a cast when you were pregnant?  I would love to see how it turned out.

Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head

I had been to Hilton Head once 4 years ago but it was a quick 24 hour girls trip to escape Atlanta at a nice hotel.  I saw the beach in front of the Westin.  Period.  I was glad [on my trip last week] I was able to see more of the island.

We stayed at Sea Pines Plantation,  a 5,200-acre, master-planned golf and boating community in the Carolina Lowcountry.  Inside the gates there are nearly 2,700 homes and over 1,000 villas, one of which my parents rented all week for a steal of a deal ** See details at end of post 

Besides spending quality time with my parents and playing cards every night, I got in a full week of exercise.  The guys played a lot of golf and my mom and I pushed our limits at the yoga classes offered at the fitness center (love!)  We were also on our bikes everyday to explore the miles of paved trails winding through large plantation. 

You must be careful speeding around the bends on your bike.  You may run over this...

 The aligators were all over the plantation and looking pretty scary.

Even though the beach was beautiful, it was windy and chilly so we didn't hang out  too long.  One day though, the sand was packed tight at low tide.  We took off on our bikes in the direction of the wind and we flew at 25 miles per hour.  It was awesome!

Sea Pines has a forest preserve that encompasses 605 acres and features nature trails, lakes and is home to about 350 species of birds.  We strolled along the paths with the Spanish moss hanging over us like clouds . 

Thanks again to my mom and dad for inviting us!  We had a great time!

** Did you know that if you are in the military or ever have been (no matter what length of time)  you are eligible to rent condos around the world at discounted prices?  Check out the Armed Forces Vacation Club to see what is available.

Hilton Head Island

Hi there!  I am writing from Hilton Head Island.  My parents rented a condo at the Sea Pines Resort and asked if we would like to go. Uhh...hello?? Of course we want to go! This place is amazing! There are over 20 miles of paved bike trails, horse stables, gardens, a marina with shops & restaurants, miles of beach and golf galore for the guys. 

We took a long bike ride yesterday and again this morning.  There is a nature preserve to hike and  yoga classes to try.  It's going to be a great week!!

Oh! The huge Live Oak tree covered with spanish moss in the above picture? Well,they are everywhere here and it is so magical.