pajama + books baby shower: part one

we’ve officially reached that point in life where are friends are slowly starting to dip into parenthood.

how exciting!!! i can’t wait to pass around all of their babies! and eventually have our own {i actually can wait on that last sentence}.

i’m throwing my first baby babies shower this weekend for my friend kayla & her twinsies. twinsies, yall!!

just thought i’d share some pretty sweet invites that i made for her “pajamas & books” themed shower.

i’m especially proud of myself for making these using only craft supplies i had on hand. that’s either really impressive & thrifty or really sad that i have so much junk on hand that i could make these. you be the judge.

i used plain ol’ microsoft word & some fun fonts from {dafont.com} to make the invite. i downloaded a free library card template {check here} and printed those of creamy manila paper.  i ripped out old book pages to make the paper airplanes & tied it up with some twine {you can buy here for a good price}.  the envelopes i had on hand {but you can buy here for pretty cheap}.

i’ll definitely share more pictures from the party real soon!

style post: birthday style

like i said before, we were traveling on my birthday. i wanted to dress fun but still comfy. this was perfectly comfortable but still happy enough for a breakfast date, a few hours on the road and dinner with my grandparents.

top: old navy // shorts: urban outfitters {got them for $5 on sale last fall!} // shoes: target

sweet & simple.

birthday spoils.

i was so spoiled on my birthday, you guys.

i woke up super early, because we were traveling and had a pile of beautiful things set before me. ben takes requests for my birthday, because i don’t so much love surprise. it doesn’t make it any less special though.

i must have walked past this table every time we went to target and said “i really like that table.”  i wasn’t trying to hint or anything, i just say what i think. last time we were at target, i just said “yep, i want that for my birthday.”

this mug from starbucks caught my eye a few months ago and ben got it for my birthday. i totally forgot about it. aren’t the colors awesome? way better than the old city mugs.

he bought me this set of bowls that i’ve been wanting from anthro ever since we got married!

don’t they fit in just perfect?

of course, i bought a few other things for myself since you get an anthropologie birthday discount. like this ceramic berry basket.

and these two spotty-dotty towels. 

i’m so thankful that ben doesn’t fuss about girly colors in the house. he actually really really likes that blue color {fist pump}.

also, he bought me this sweet colander. colanders are a weird weakness of mine.

see how many i have? weird. but i love them.

especially for holding fruit on the table. especially, when you have more than two apples.

oh, and did i mention birthday breakfast? two words: french toast. {or belgian waffle, if you're ben}

now i’ve really got to plan out how to spoil this man on his birthday next month.

25 things i'm glad i did before turning 25.

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isn't free birthday starbucks the best?

i turned 25 on saturday!

i missed the memo on making a “25 before you’re 25” list. i don’t know when you’re supposed to do one of those, maybe when you turn 16 or 20? i like the idea though. since it’s too late, i thought i’d do my own version of the list.

25 things i’m glad i did before turning 25.

1.     learned to tie my shoes. because we all know how obnoxious velcro shoes are. oh, is that just a teacher pet peeve? nonetheless, i like being able to tie shoes.

2.     tried curry, sushi, calamari, poached eggs and all the other foods that are really delicious but sound really freaky when you’re 10.

3.     rode the really scary, tall roller coasters at six flags. i think there was a short window in my life where i wasn’t too scared to ride those rides, and i rode them. pretty sure that window is now closed, so i’m glad i got that out of my system.

4.     got married. i’ve found that a lot of people think 22 is too young to get married, but i’m sure glad to have found benjamin when i did. i really love this young & married, childless stage of life and wouldn’t trade it for a lifetime supply of m&ms.

5.     learned how to eat, cook, and live healthy. i’ve learned to love fruits and vegetables that i used to hate. i’ve learned to enjoy having an active lifestyle and to be conscious of how i'm taking care of my body.

6.     developed a sense of style that’s my own in the way i dress, decorate, and live. its way easier than trying to keep up with everyone else’s expectations. plus, i love color.

7.     read lots of books. loved lots of books. i have my mom to thank for that.

8.     traveled. in the country & out of the country. you learn all kinds of new and amazing things just by getting out, seeing and experiencing. its invaluable.

9.     lived with roommates. i loved living with roommates in college and wouldn’t change that experience for anything.

10. had pets. lots of different kinds of pets: dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, pony, goats, ducks, bunnies. pets teach the best life lessons when you’re a kid.

11. took dance classes, gymnastic classes, did cheerleading, girl scouts, played clarinet in the band, played volleyball and more. i learned what i was good at and, equally as important, what i’m not good at.

12. learned how to curl my hair. it’s the small things sometimes.

13. went to public school, ate school lunches, and rode the bus. all those “horrific” things that parents don’t want their kids to experience anymore.

14. found a church that feels like home with people that feel like family.

15. challenged myself to turn my hobbies into a business. big step out of my comfort zone.

16. learned to love coffee. i really thought it would never happen. and then i met ben kerr.

17. geeked out about things like harry potter, blogging, and lost. it’s good to be geeky sometimes, it teaches you to get over yourself and just enjoy life.

18. accepted my pale skin for what it is and stopped trying to be tan. freckles are cool, you know?

19. had braces, twice. you’re glad too.

20. learned how to navigate around downtown Atlanta.

21. valued my own hard work and started to see my worth as an artist and as a teacher.

22. laughed a lot. and kept my panties out of a knot.

23. took classes that i loved and classes that i hated in high school and college. it taught me a lot about who i am, what i enjoy, how i learn, how i relate and how i want to teach others.

24. became an aunt jordy to the coolest niece ever.

25. lived to celebrate another year of life with the man i love beside me while counting my blessing one by one.

our baby bird friends.

remember this picture? when i told you about the bird living in my hanging basket?

you may have already guessed, because you surely have great deductive reasoning skills & you learned all about animal life cycles in second grade, but our bird friend is a mama! she's built the cutest little sideways nest {so her babies don't get wet when i water the plant -- smart mama!} and she's filled it with the tiniest, sweetest fluffy baby birds. they make my heart so happy!

everyday when i get home from work, i scoot our little porch chair to the very edge of the porch to stand on. it's kind of dangerous and i look like a fool to anyone driving by, but i just have to check on those cute little birds. sometimes they're asleep and sometimes they look at me and sometimes they do that little open mouth baby bird thing. i just can't even describe how adorable it is.

i try really hard to get good pictures of them, without actually getting all in their area and disturbing them. you can barely make out too little birdies in the picture, but i promise they're there. and lots more too!

even as i type this, i'm laying on my couch looking out the window and i can see mama bird flying back and forth to and from the nest. its so cool, you guys.

it's the little things in life.