Changing up this Friday a bit and linking up to Aisle To Aloha’s It’s The Little Things post~!  There’s just too many things that made me happy this week not to share! 

1. Receiving this picture of me and my 2 year old nephew in my inbox (next time i’ll need to teach him to take the lens cap off ).  Thanks for taking this picture, Jenny!

2. Getting packages in the mail every day this week, some for myself, some for baby a la mode (wonder what my neighbors think).  Thanks Josiah’s Nest for these super stylish clothes!

3. Finding an antique shop in the town I just moved to. 

4. Baby movements, flutters and kicks were the best part of my second trimester, now onto the third!  Eeeks!!

5. And lastly, I love picking winners for the giveaways on my blog, it’s so exciting to know that someone will be getting a free item or shop credit to a shop they adore!  Well, I don’t pick, but my “Pick Giveaway Winner” tool does.  Soooo… the winner of $30 credit to Sense ‘N Sensibility giveaway is Andi T. from Striving to Be a More Godly Woman!!  If that is you, please send me an email at sandyalamode(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!!!

We have a busy weekend ahead of us and I’m super excited about it.  We have a birthday party and a baby shower to attend and a ton of DIY projects to work on (and hopefully complete)!  See you all on Monday! Don’t forget to enter the Maple Boutique giveaway!!

What little things made you happy this week?

Today I’m going to be linking up to Gussy Sew’s Inspiration Workshop for the first time ever!  Basically every week she emails people a prompt and they blog about it on Thursday, it can be interpreted in your own way, LOVE it!  So this week’s prompt is your favorite DIY posts.  As you know, I’ve totally been on a crazy DIY kick lately, especially with my post earlier this week on my No Sew Fleece Blanket~!  And with a little one on the way, all that is on my mind is baby stuff and more baby stuff… so here we go with some of my fave DIY projects for little ones (hopefully I’ll find some time to make ALL of these in the near future)!

Ashley Ann Photography came up with such a cute way to organize her baby’s closet, this is a MUST DIY on my list as well. 

Love this cute little soft blocks tutorial from Zaaberry!  The use of different colors and types of fabrics is sure to be stimulating for baby.

First of all, I LOVE this pattern.  Second of all, Prudent Baby seriously has some of the best baby tutorials and posts ever.

This mustache pacifier is just way too cute, thanks Paper Seed for the whimsical and cute idea!

Little baby toes need to be kept warm with little baby shoes.  Stardust Shoes shares a great tutorial!

This is a GENIUS present idea for a baby shower.  It’s a onesie and receiving blanket made to look like a cupcake.  Sarah Ortega, thanks so much for this idea.  I want to make this for ALL my friend’s baby showers now, foreals.

Changing diapers is probably one of the least glamorous part about being a parent… so why not make the chore a little bit more fabulous with a wonderful Noodlehead diaper pouch!

What are your favorite baby DIY tutorials?

 

Entries for this giveaway have been closed, thanks!

{shop} {facebook} {twitter}

I am so super excited to introduce this wonderful online boutique to you!  The clothes are fashionable, cute, and TOTALLY affordable.  Maple Boutique is seriously a shop that you’ll want to save to your bookmarks and check back often for new stock!

{MEET THE BOUTIQUE OWNER}

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you decided to open up shop?
I am married to my best friend and we have a 3 month old little girl, Abigail! We live in a small town in the southern California mountains called Wrightwood. Abigail comes to work with me everyday- complete with a pack and play set up in the corner J and we occasionally walk to work!

I opened Maple in June of 2008 and we just launched mapleboutique.com which I could not be more excited about! I graduated from FIDM (the fashion institute of design and merchandising) and majored in Merchandise Marketing. While going to school I worked at a hip little boutique and learned that was what I wanted to do! From there I worked on the other side of fashion as an Account Executive for Kensie Clothing. My territory was 13 states, I worked various trade shows and traveled to work closely with specialty stores from all over and still my desire to one day open my own store was strong! In 2008 my dream came true and I have now been the proud owner for 3 years!

2) What is your favorite color combination?
I am really loving sea foam mint and deep plum together! I use to be vary matchy- matchy but as my sense of fashion has developed I am liking unexpected twists more and more- like a pop of color!

3) What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Ooh chocolate! I am definitely a chocolate kind of gal!

{GIVEAWAY}

Win $25 credit to Maple Boutique!

To enter:

1. Visit Maple Boutique and leave a comment with your favorite item!

For additional entries, leave a separate comment for each action.
2. Be a Google Friend Connect follower of this blog
3. Like Maple Boutique on Facebook and leave a comment saying I sent ya!
4. Follow @sandyalamode and @mapleboutique on Twitter
5. Sign up for the Maple Boutique newsletter and let me know you did!
6. Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway (make sure to include @sandyalamode and @mapleboutique in your tweet) and include the link (one entry each). 

Feel free to use this tweet:

I just entered to win $25 credit to @mapleboutique clothing shop on @sandyalamode! #GIVEAWAY http://bit.ly/o680q5

This giveaway is open to U.S. readers only and closes on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12PM CST. Good luck!

Don’t want to wait?  Take 10% off your order with code “sandyalamode″!

Entries for this giveaway have been closed, thanks!

So as I mentioned in my previous post, I have a serious case of nesting right now.  Part of me hopes that means baby will come early, but not too early… a couple weeks early would be perfect!    Can you tell I’m anxious to meet our little baby a la mode?  Anyhow, part of my nesting right now contains multiple DIY projects that I want to make.  The list gets longer each time I go to the fabric or thrift store.  Thus my need for a 3 day weekend of 30 hour weekend days.  A couple weekends ago a few friends and I got together for a Craft Day (genius I tell you, it’s the only way I can get my DIYs done without distractions and with help from friends) and decided to make a fleece blanket~!  The first one I made was awhile ago for my friend Melissa, but I didn’t get to picture document that one, so I made sure to take pictures of this one.  It’s super easy and will keep baby nice and warm. 

1. First I bought two coordinating fleece fabrics that were 72″ (2 yards) by 54″.  Place them so that the right sides are facing the outside.

2. On each of the corners, cut out a 7″ square.

3. Along the perimeter of the fabric, cut strips that are about 7″ deep and 1.5″ wide.  (This part is the most tedious part and was the hardest to keep straight.)

4. Tie the two fabrics facing each other together into a double knot.  Do this all the way around blanket.

5. Ummm yea, that’s IT!  Your no sew fleece blanket is DONE! 

6. Now I’ll just need to convince Jojo the monkey to let Baby a la Mode use it once he’s born…

Final measurements came out to be about 68″ x 50″ with 5″ strips.  I love the adorable monkey fabric so much!  Both pieces were purchased at Joann’s.  And it’s a perfect print for this upcoming winter too~!

Know of any other easy DIY baby projects?

dress: ruche | tights: francesca’s | boots: steve madden | necklace: pretty things by meg

this weekend was sure a busy one and i could totally use another day of it just to relax.  on friday night, marv and i used our free pay on demand movie credit and watched bridesmaids!  haha yes, we’re WAY behind on the times, don’t laugh!  but anyhow, now we totally see what the hype was all about, it was one hilarious movie.  for any of those more behind than us on the times, you MUST go see it!

then on saturday, we headed to an in town fall fest where i picked up a medicine cabinet (which i plan on turning into my jewelry storage box)!  i also got a baby bib from a local etsy artisan, wild juniper!  it’s always great to meet other etsy sellers!    then that evening we went to a neighbor’s housewarming party where almost all of the ladies there either had small kids or were pregnant!  it’s always great to meet other moms and mom-to-be’s!  then we had chick-fil-a for dinner, YUM!!

and on sunday, we headed down to the plaza art fair where we saw some really great pieces of art, met up with my parent’s friends who had a booth there, met up with a new friend that just moved to KC, bought some dresses for special occasions and then hunkered down and bought a dining room table for our eat in kitchen!  and now i totally need to look for dining room chairs to go along w/ it and a rug!  yea… a lot of shopping has been going on here!  :/

bump update: 27.5 weeks

- out little baby boy is about the size of an eggplant now!

- belly button is still an innie but i feel like it will soon be an outie any week now

- still haven’t heard back on if i have passed my glucose tolerance test yet, should find out this week~

- baby kicks and movement are in full force

- i have a serious case of nesting and it doesn’t help that we have a new house with so many spaces to fill still!

- craving fruit and chocolate milk, not necessary together

- i’m all about turning my short dresses into shirts/tunics, exhibit above

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun?