Happy Valentine’s Day from the Nashville Moms and our little Valentines!
February 13, 2013
Dylan’s Valentine 2nd birthday party
I decided to do a pink/heart/Valentine theme for Dylan’s party this year. Partly because she loves all things pink and partly because I knew it would be super easy. Win win. I did just a tiny bit of crafting and mostly slapped up dollar store doilies around the house and called it a day. Here are some pics from her party!
I feel like I cheated myself out of a fun card-making opportunity but I just went the easy route this year and did free e-cards from Paperless Post.
My Dad got Dylan this sweet little ballerina jewelry box for Christmas so I had to use it to anchor the balloons.
Super cheap and easy goody bags- oversized lunch bags, cut along the edge with decorative scissors and secured closed with some washi tape (my current obsession!). Inside: the girls got hairbows from Forever 21, heart stickers, a few other little random hairbows, and some fruit snacks and mini m&m’s (Dylan’s favorite special treat). The boys got star stickers and a matchbox car inside their along with the yummuy treats.
I cut the large 2 out of a cardboard box and covered it in pink doilies. The kraft paper heart garland is strung together by my sewing machine and the Dylan banner is doilies as well. 
My sweet parents bought Dylan two pink roses. 
Two child-sized tables were covered in art paper and topped with crayons, cards, stickers, and doilies to color and decorate.
We chose to do her party during “brunch” time so the food is simple: cheese and crackers, sausage balls, fruit, cranberry/white chocolate scones, and cake. The cake is my best friend’s mom’s recipe. She made this cake for Stephanie every single year on her birthday and I might have to do the same for Dylan….it is SO good. I will check and see if they are ok with me sharing the recipe!
Somehow I missed getting a photo of all of the heart garlands across the ceiling….which was of course my favorite decoration. I might have to put them up again just for a photo. You can see a small bit of one of the strands in the photo below. We had four of them that went across the living room!
So many friends were there to celebrate with us!
Her very first princess dress! Thanks Matilda! 
We made Dylan a playhouse for her room….stay tuned for a post with photos of it!
February 4, 2013
DIY: heart garland
I have been working on a few simple decorations for Dylan’s upcoming 2nd birthday party and wanted to share this garland with you. We are doing a “heart” theme which is super easy this time of year obviously. I love making bunting and banners and all kinds of crafts but was wanting the least time consuming option this year. I came across some pink and white doilies at the Dollar Tree. Hello- cheap! So I bought a few packs and used some string I had on hand and just threaded it through the holes already in the doilies. I have one across the mantle (even though it is hard to see so I might add some kraft paper behind the pink hearts) and I have four long strings to hang across our living room. I love the way they turned out and even more how cheap and easy they are.
- JOY
February 1, 2013
to do: Tweed’s semi annual sale
February 1, 2013
to do: Run For Adoption 5K
We wanted to let you know about this great 5K that is happening in just a little over a month from now, on March 2 in Murfreesboro. It benefits a local family who are adopting 3 children from Columbia. For more information, see below and then click here to register.
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Jeremy Young, a local Pastor at City Church, and his wife Tori, just got word that after 2 1/2 years that it is time to go to Colombia to bring home their three children.
For more on their story please visit www.jeremyjyoung.wordpress.com
All proceeds from race ticket sales will go directly to Jeremy and Tori bringing home their three beautiful children.
Adult Tickets: $30
Children under 12 Tickets: $15
January 31, 2013
introducing Hazel June
Hazel June Arnold
Hello sweet readers! We have been somewhat busy these days with the addition of the sweetest little one! She entered the world fast and furiously in the wee hours of December 4. I am currently working on writing and rewriting her birth story, and will hopefully post it, as well as links to some others that I found incredibly inspiring, soon. We are sorry for our absence, but have some fun posts coming up, so we hope to see you back here soon!
August 15, 2012
what they wore: toddler style
For Matilda’s 2nd birthday she got this adorable kitchen! She was so excited to show it to Dylan and the two of them had so much fun playing chef!
Dylan’s top is from Baby Gap, bloomers are thrifted, and her purple sneakers were on clearance at Babies’R'us. Matilda’s top is from Target, pants are from Baby Gap (last year), headband is from Zuzii, and her moccasins are handmade by Freshly Picked.
August 13, 2012
shop: thrifting goodness
If you have read our blog at all you know that Rachel and I are huge fans of thrifting. I live just down the street from my favorite thrift store in Nashville and always look forward to their half price day. I went in today, not looking for anything specific, and left with two bags of goodies (29 items to be exact) for a grand total of $23.45! Here are some of my favorites that I found today:
Thrift stores are great places to find books. These are obviously too advanced for her now but I love their vintage charm and think they will look great on her bookshelf. These were 40 cents each.
I am planning to give Dylan a big hat box or pretty vintage suitcase filled with all kinds of dress up treasures for Christmas, so I am on the lookout now for things that will work. I found three head scarves, one regular scarf, and a cute little purse. All items were $1 each.
I feel like I never have enough bloomers or pants for Dylan so here I have three cute bloomers that will fit her probably even next summer. I am a stickler for never wearing a dress with only a diaper under it. Bloomers are like baby/toddler accessories! The polka dot skirt is too big for her to wear now but possibly will fit next fall. I have a huge stash of things I find that will work as she grows. For either $1 or $0.50 each these things are hard to pass up
Two tops for fall, $1 each.
The crocs are for my nephew and cost $1.50 (not too bad since they retail for over $30!), the leather clutch is for me ($1), and both bottoms are for my niece Audrey, they were $1 each! One from Gymboree and the other from Baby Gap.
I love to put Dylan in little cotton dresses, they are so easy and comfortable for her. The one on the left is baby Gap for $1! 
This was my favorite find for Dylan. I love the stripes and the big buttons on the back. I think she will wear it tomorrow with some leggings I thrifted last time! $2 for an entire outfit is my kind of outfit!
I do not venture into the adult clothes often but do peruse the furniture and housewares every time. I have found several great pieces of furniture for $25 or less and all kinds of other random goodies (like sheets and records and jewelry and on and on and on)
August 8, 2012
what they wore: toddler style
We could not resist putting our girls in their similar style outfits. Who doesn’t love a good romper?! Dylan is going for a more classic baby style while Matilda is rocking it looking super trendy and put together. We both kind of wish we could wear one like Matilda’s! How comfy and breezy does it look?!
Dylan’s romper is from Baby Gap. She is wearing tan Saltwater Sandals that I got for $8 at Essex! Her little cream hair bow is from Forever 21. Matilda’s romper is from Lula In London. They currently have a HUGE sale going on and everything in their shop is 75% off. We ordered a few adorable items a few weeks ago, including this romper (which is only $14.50 right now!). Her shoes are from Target (she refuses to take them off once they are on too! its adorable!) and her headband was handmade by me! (I sell them locally at craft shows, and have an etsy shop, that I need to update.)
