Vintage Cabinet Score!

Vintage, industrial furniture pieces have always had a place in my heart when it comes to interior design. For as long as I can remember, I've been searching online for an affordable metal doctor's type cabinet to use as a storage piece in our dining/living room. The only problem was that if I did come across one, it was either way too expensive or in not-so-good condition. So, the search continued...

Well, I hit the Craig's List jackpot about a month ago when someone posted a "metal cabinet" for $60. Apparently, this person didn't know what this cabinet was worth, or just didn't care as he wanted it out of his basement asap. I did my research and it turns out to be a 1940's Hamilton Cabinet Co. American metal hospital examination room supply cabinet. It was in pristine condition for it's age, just one of the legs was broken off and it was missing the glass shelves, totally fixable.


This is what the cabinet looked like when we got her home:

I knew I wanted to maintain the vintage look of the cabinet, so I decided to have it professionally painted a light, minty green color. I love the way it turned out!

With the cost of the cabinet, professional paint job, and new glass shelves (which I still need to buy), I maybe spent $350 total. The crazy thing is that I found my exact same cabinet, in so-so condition on an architectural salvage website for $995!!! It pays to be patient...I'm one happy gal. :)

life lately...according to my iphone

This post is a few weeks late, but the month of June was a complete whirlwind around here! Felicity finally got to meet her Uncle Mike and Uncle Ben. Our weekends were filled with seeing new sights and making new memories. We only have a year left here in the Boston area, so we're trying to make the most of it. Felicity and I went to our very first Red Sox game at Fenway Park with Mat's family. His family was rooting for the Braves (they're from GA) and Felicity and I were for the Sox...the Sox won! ;) Our little one is growing like a weed and she will be crawling anyday now. I'm nervous about this... Life is good.

My Sweet Baby

My Sweet Felicity,
You are a little over 7 1/2 months old today and your daddy and I are so in love with you, it's almost ridiculous. From the moment you wake up with your crazy bed head, you are all smiles and giggles. Your sweet laughter just melts my heart. Your personality shines bigger and brighter as each day passes and it's amazing to watch. As we sit and read books together, you like to scratch each little thing on the page that interests you with your finger. It's the cutest thing ever and I laugh every time. As you eat your fruits and veggies at dinner time, you take a slurp and immediately put your fingers in your mouth before even swallowing your food. This is proceeded by doing a face plant into your high chair and rubbing your messy mouth all over the tray. We can't help but just laugh at your silly antics. At night, when you're nestled in your bed sound asleep, your daddy and I tip-toe into your room just to get a peek of your beautiful, little face. It's so sweet how all four sides of your crib bumper are permanently bent because you cuddle and wrap your arms around them like a teddy bear.  You are definitely a cuddle bug, just like your daddy.  We are constantly staring at the baby monitor-Not because we are worried, but because we can't stop looking at you.  I tear up a lot just thinking about how fast you are growing. It seems like yesterday that daddy and I were in the hospital, scooping you up and taking you home with us for the very first time. You were just this tiny little thing that fit perfectly into our hands. Now, you're over two feet tall and growing like a weed. As sad as I am to see my little baby grow up, I'm excited for what the future holds. You fill our hearts with so much joy and we love you more than you will ever know.

Love,
Mommy

Current likes:
-Bailey giving you smooches (you adore her so much)
-putting anything and everything into your mouth...blocks, books, mobile, pillows...you name it
-bananas, peaches, pears, apples
-sitting in your bumbo chair and watching Yo Gabba Gabba
-reading books with mommy & daddy (while you try to put the book in your mouth & tear out the pages)

Father's Day - June 17, 2012

Father's Day at the German Car Show

Picnic at Castle Island, Boston, MA- June 2012

6 Month Photos

This post is almost 4 weeks overdue, but here are some of baby girls 6 month photos.

Can we say adorable?

Clutter Control

Here lately, I've been looking around my house and feeling the need to purge things. A few weeks ago, I ran across an awesome blog, www.theminimalistmom.com, and it has completely changed the way I look at "stuff."  The creator of the blog, Karen, discusses how living with less can actually give you more time, money and space. It sounds simple, but it's a little more complex than that. Every time I read one of her posts, it gives me even more motivation to purge things that are just taking up space in our lives. You see, I've never had a problem letting go of things. I've never really felt an attachment to material possessions like books, or a doll from when I was little, etc. My husband on the other hand, is the exact opposite and it can get very frustrating for me at times to get my point across as to why we don't have to keep every little trinket from our past. After all, we are in the military and have to haul this stuff around every four years until Mat retires. At the end of the day, experiences are what we often remember, not material things.

After countless discussions, Mat and I have made excellent de-cluttering progress over the last week and here is my car, packed to the gills to prove it.

My old prom dress that I let go. Why on earth was I keeping this thing??? haha

This was just the start of our pile, believe it or not. It more than doubled at the end. Oh, and this didn't include the donation pile I had dropped off a week earlier...a whole car load as well. Yikes!

More on the tedious process of going digital with our filing cabinet soon...

Boring Bench Redo

I've had this little wooden bench sitting in my basement collecting dust for about three years now. I bought it from the Christmas Tree Shops for $25 and originally used it for a coffee table at some point back in the day.

(Before shot: Please ignore the green painters tape :)

I wasn't too happy with the ikea shoe rack we had in our front entry, so I decided I would spruce this bench up a bit and use it instead.

With some spray paint (grey primer, white & glossy black) painters tape, and patience. I came up with this:

Now we have a cute little spot to place our junk as we come and go. :)

Noggin' News

Today was Felicity's bi-weekly helmet appointment and we received the best news...she only has to wear her helmet for 3 more weeks and not 8 weeks as we were originally told!!! I was so excited when I heard the news that I had to hold back my tears of joy before I looked like an idiot. :) You see, this helmet has been a huge part of our lives over the last couple of months and it's going to be wonderful, yet a little odd to see our baby girl without this thing on her head 24/7.  She has literally had to wear this helmet everyday, for 23 hours a day. It's almost become a part of her and we don't even really notice it anymore. I surely won't miss the constant removal for clothing changes, cleaning it everyday,  poor F's sweaty head and constantly worrying if she's too hot or if she's developing a skin rash.  I've dreamt of the days where I could just lay with her and kiss her little head without having to worry about this chunky block of plastic being in my way.

The decision to have Felicity wear this helmet was very hard on me in the beginning. The first day she wore it I was so angry and torn. I just wanted to burn it and I regretted our decision immediately after we got home from our first appointment. Luckily, I had my other half (Mat) to talk me into going through with it because at the end of the day, it's what's best for our daughter. Of course I always want what's best for her. I just didn't want my beautiful baby girl to have to wear this hunk of plastic and have random strangers gawk at her like she's a mutant from outer space. Most people we've encountered don't even mention the helmet but others have given rude stares and it makes you want to punch them in the face. People are just ignorant and have no idea what the helmet's about. That's just something that I've had to accept over time.

As trivial as this helmet may seem to some people, it's always a bigger deal to the parents and children who have to go through it. There is a plagiocephaly support group of over 3,000 members on the Babycenter website dedicated to lending a shoulder for one another going through the same situation. No one wants their child to be considered "different." Most people say that they don't care what others think, but deep down, we all know that's not the truth. It's sad, but true.

We are so blessed beyond measure to have this wonderful, healthy baby in our lives and I'm sure this is just one of many bumps in the road of parenthood that we will encounter. Good thing Felicity had her helmet for this part of the journey! ;)