I’m in the process of figuring out all the baby goodies I’ll need for our baby and I find it crazy that most places don’t have a lot of “in store” stock of the items that go on registries.  Almost everything has to be purchased online and shipped.

I know the world is super technologically saavy now and that some people would rather shop online than go to a store and touch and feel items, but I just find the “all online thing” to be weird!  I’ve bought tons of baby gifts over the last 10 years and I’ve always been able to grab a list at the store and get to the shopping.  I love shopping in the baby section!

So, after comparing prices I decided to go with Amazon for my gift registry for almost everything and Target for a few items that could be purchased in store.  I will admit that there is a plus to the new online registries…you can add a notes section. I think this is cool because it allowed me to put messages like, “will take hand me down clothes” or “something like this,  not necessarily the same” or “would take a clean, used one” – it also gives the ability to set a priority on certain items like, “must have” or “like to have” or “would be nice to have” – so people know the most important items.

Personally, I can’t wait for garage sale season…just because something is a hand me down, doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. Plus, it’s new to me!

Now that I have the registry thing finished I can start focusing on making things!!  I can’t wait to get started!!

But today…James and I are off to the QC to meet my mom and go to some babies stores to browse for fun

Update!
James and I met mom at Babies R Us and they had a ton of stuff that the website said you could not get in the store. So, we took a scanner and added stuff to that registry. I will be updating Amazon to reflect what can be purchased at the Babies R Us stores in Cedar Rapids and Davenport.

We also found a consignment shop that only has baby – kids…got some excellet purchases for about $1.50 each. Sweet!  It’s called Once upon a Child.

Babies R Us:
http://www.toysrus.com/registry/search/index.jsp?_flowExecutionKey=_cAE60A750-8F7C-A473-36DE-0194401500CC_kB25617C5-66C9-25A7-E4C0-40F8B7A69D83&overrideStore=TRUS

Amazon Registry:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/2CJCEDHPHCZFI

Target Registry:
http://www.target.com/RegistryGiftGiverCmd?isPreview=false&status=completePageLink&listId=rJT-FXE3iowvi0iPpLqlRw&registryType=BB&isAjax=false

Jumping into blogging after months and months is a huge step. Where do I start? What do I write?

Well, how about something crafty and some things that have inspired me.

James and I are expecting a little baby boy Piper to arrive around June 25th.

That means that starting today I have approximately 20 weeks to make a whole lotta fun stuff for my little boy.  I visited Pine Needles last Monday and picked up 26 yards of fabric to make a bunch of fun stuff [the sale was buy 13 yards, get 13 free...serious deal!].

Below is a link to my flickr set [Baby Piper Projects] that has the fabrics I purchased and a fun little alien toy pattern picture I plan to make from Melly and Me.

Also included in the flickr set are some pictures of the patterns that I plan to use to make Baby Piper’s room super special.  I probably won’t do all the quilts, but I am drooling over the quilt that encompasses the tags within the squares. Awesome!!  I really love making tag blankets, but I never thought of putting the tags directly into the baby quilt.
Note: Those patterns were free from Robert Kaufman’s website [lots of free patterns there!].

Baby Piper Fabric & Pattern Set

Next up…more things to make for Baby Piper!!  I have all this fabric and I have 20 long weeks [ha!] to make things.  Well, at least I have the fabric and ideas.  I noticed the expense of changing pads, diaper stackers, bibs, and burp cloths and thought…”If I can make this stuff and give it to my friends, how can I not make it for my baby” – well, the changing pad and diaper stacker will be something new, but I’ve been making receiving blankets, tag blankets, bibs, and burp cloths for some friends at work recently and decided to make a bunch of stuff in the fabrics I’ve purchased to help decorate Baby Piper’s room.

Here’s how I started:  I purchased plain brown sheets, a white quilt with brown edging, and a brown and white crib ruffle with a gift card from Target.

Bacati Quilted Baby Quilt
Circo Brown Sheet Set
Bacati Stripes Crib Skirt

This will be the basis for Baby Piper’s room and then I’ll add in all the color with everything else I’ll be making!  Very exciting…even more exciting once that stupid King size bed is outta the room!!

Now, below are some of the patterns I plan to make in addition to the patterns that I’ve already made.

Changing Pad Pattern To Go
Changing Pad Pattern
Diaper Stacker Pattern
Burp Cloth Pattern  [I've made burp cloths, but you gotta check out what she uses on the inside - brillant. All the others I've seen just use batting.]
No Sew Valance [just plain awesome and easy!!]
Wall Art [maybe a smaller set for a baby's room]

Well, I think that’s all for now, except one more baby picture. This shows his spine, but I love looking at his baby belly in this photo

My niece, Natalia, turned 4 years old on Wednesday (Dec. 7th).  Here are a few of my favorite shots! The rest are on my Flickr site, in the Natalia set!

Last weekend was so uplifting for me.  I had my best friend in town visiting and we spent 3 days hanging out with some of the most wonderful women with creative minds that I know! There was a lot of fun conversation and cheering…and FOOD!  I literally can’t wait to have another weekend like this. I feel so rejuvenated and I hope everyone knows how much I enjoyed spending time with them!

I managed to have a really productive weekend…sometimes when I have a fun weekend it doesn’t end up being productive, but this weekend was different.  I created 9 single page layouts and 1 two page layout…I also performed “the washing of the fruit” – Deb helped with the ceremony and the washing

More photos in the album labeled “Walnut Retreat”

Laughter & Smiles
photos by Shaganman Photography

This little sweetheart turned 8 years old today!

http://www.2wheatens.com/photo-albums/the-2-wheatens/100_0990/

James and I love her so much!  And Booker loves her, too!

I’ve been wanting to get some prints up on the walls for awhile now.  I finally decided to order three color prints, using Persnickety Prints, sized at 11″x14″ – and I plan to use them together in a scheme on the wall in the guest bedroom.

I feel like the pinks in two of the photos will compliment each other and the yellows in two of the photos will compliment each other.

I’m excited to put these together and see the outcome. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get them before Friday and hang them up before James and I leave on our mini vacation.  If not, I’ll probably be able to get them up in the guest room before Deb comes to visit!

Next up…I’m hoping to locate some of my old black and white prints and hang them in the living area. We’ll see!

Prints:

I decided I needed to start blogging again…and the best way to motivate myself was to put up a pretty little header.  I took the photo that is the Header when Deb and I went to the Botanical Center in DesMoines…years ago!  It reminds me of her and the fact that I started blogging was because of her, so I figured it was fitting to make a blog header out of something that reminded me of her.

Along with that…I was super excited to figure out how to change the color of my fonts and the background on my blog, so that everything matched. It was originally blue, purple, and red. I decided to change it to pink, gray and black.  I had to go into the code and change the code color, which was semi-scary for me. Usually, I contact Deb and have her, have J fix it up for me.  I’m not at all interested in doing this all the time, but today I’m having a peaceful afternoon to myself and decided to give it a try.

I added some videos to the Ear Candy section, added some new Etsy shops that I love, updated some links, and deleted all my Norwex (my Norwex website is now www.rachelpiper.com).

I’d like to start filling you all in on all the fabulous things I’ve been up to, but it doesn’t equate to much of anything.  I’ve been super busy with my new position at work and I’ve been reading a lot, catching up on my shows, pinning on Pinterest…all while spending lots of quality time (when not at work) with JP and the 2wheatens.

Reading FYI…

The Hunger Games = a must read! I read all three in less than a 48 hour period of time!  I cannot wait for the movie to come out. Exciting!  Extremely well written and totally lives up to the hype…although, sometimes it’s quite graphic.

James and I have been planning a mini vacation. Mom is going to babysit the 2wheatens while we head up to Minneapolis to see the Sexy Liberal comedy show (James’s idea) and go to the Mall of America. It should be really fun. 

The following weekend…I get to see Deb!  And we’ll be able to spend a nice weekend with a bunch of great ladies in DesMoines, so I’m really looking forward to that, too.

To celebrate my mom. 

It might seem like an odd picture to choose to celebrate how much I love my mother, but the story behind it is simple. 

I am overly independent.  I’ve always just sort of done my own thing. Answered my own thoughts.

However, when I need my mom she will always come to me.  A phone call in the middle of the night, babysitting the 2wheatens, or washing my dishes

This picture shows her washing my dishes after helping us move for two long days…and she is still smiling after all those hours of being with the overly obsessive ME!

I love you, Mom!

used: [Robyn Meierotto, Agnes Biro, and Jopke Designs]

Tomorrow is the last day to get a FREE super scrapbooking kit through the designers at DHD (Design House Digital)…it’s also the last day of their [inter]National Scrapbooking Celebration. Extra freebies and discounts!

The free kit is part of a Blog Hop…it’ll take a little bit of time to get all of your downloads, but it’s totally worth it.

I started on Robyn’s Blog, of course.

I just read a post on thekitchn.com and saw an excellent way to keep away from using the plastic bags in the produce section.  It was a link to an old post from last summer, but they are available on etsy and I bought one large and one small as a bundle for $22!  I’m super excited!

These bags can also be used for bulk purchases of beans and grains, which is fantastic!

Here the website of the woman I purchased from on etsy – post shows photos:

Ambatalia

Happy, plastic free, Tuesday!