High Chair Refurbishing

Eeeeek! I am so excited for this to be my first “Design” post. I created this section of my blog because I absolutely love interior design, DIYs and all things aesthetically pleasing and I knew that it had to be included on my site. Over the last year, my husband bought his first home and I had the pleasure of decorating and really making it a home, but now that we are married and I am officially moved in, I can do even more of that in our space. I have so many things that I wanted to be able to show off and share and not everything makes it to my Instagram, but I am hoping that my blog can be a space for me to really document as many projects as I can and feature a lot of home decorating over the years, especially when the time comes for us to build and move into a new home.

This high chair was something I eyeballed at the thrift store over a matter of weeks and when they marked it on sale for only SEVEN DOLLARS, I knew the time had come to bring her home. I have a love for older items with character and what has more character than a wooden high chair with lots of carvings? When I first brought it home, I had a hard time deciding to paint it because I love natural wood and loved the particular color of this wood. I asked opinions from a few friends and I had them telling me that painting it white might look girly and since I had a son, I would want to leave it natural or paint it an orange or brown, but those colors weren’t sitting right with me and I went with white. I am so glad that I did and couldn’t be happier with the way it looks. It was everything I had envisioned.

My inspiration came from a Pinterest photo where the photo was featured in a toddler’s birthday photos, which I really wanted the high chair for, but didn’t find it in time. This high chair is Brooks’ full time high chair that we use daily for every meal and it is super easy to clean and buckle. Everything is super sturdy and safe. The white is sometimes hard to scrub clean if I miss a spot and the food hardens, but if cleaned immediately after a meal, there are no problems!

After a few weeks of using the high chair, I noticed a substantially large crack in the top of the tray that I was afraid would get food and water shoved down it and cause it to rot. I took the tray to my grandfather, who is an amazing woodworker, and he was willing to fix it! He ended up having to take the hardware off and snap the entire thing in half to properly clean and fit the pieces together properly and when he returned it, it was good as new! It’s polished and functions perfect!

The tray was something I never planned to paint mainly because I knew with all the ware it would take, there would be a good chance of chipping or water damage and I didn’t want to chance the paint getting into his food whether or not it wass toxic. I absolutely love the way it looks with the painted chair and unpainted tray. It’s so unique and antique looking. An instagram page that focuses on refurbishing called @revivefurnishings saw the post I made on my Instagram of the high chair when I first finished it, and made a beautiful chair themselves completely inspired by my chair, which I thought was pretty cool!

I’m going to leave a few photos below of the refurbishing this chair just for fun. The whole project took 3 coats and then a round of touchups and that process is fun to see. But first, here are some tips I will give to those of you who want to try doing this yourselves:

1. Don’t just get any paint. Buy paint that is specifically made for wood. I used regular wall paint (like an idiot because I had no idea what I was doing) and while it hasn’t caused any issues, the paint holds to the wood much better and goes on less tacky.
2. Don’t use a polyurethane that is going to leave a yellow coat on top of your paint job. You want to find one that is NOT oil based because the oils are what leaves the film causing the yellowing. Make sure you do some research or ask the workers at your local hardware store for advice on the best clear coat to protect your work!
3. Before beginning the painting process, clean the surface really well and allow to dry. If you paint without cleaning there could be dirt, hair, (and in this case) food, that will cause bumps underneath the paint and any moisture will prevent the paint from adhering to the wood.

Thank you so much for reading ❤

xo Abigail

Baby Names I Love But Won’t be Using

If any of you know me at all, you know that I am a baby name lover. I am in multiple name groups on Facebook, ask everyone about their names, and constantly research the meaning and origins of them. I also, sometimes, start telling strangers what they’re names mean completely unsolicited. I definitely got this trait from my mom who also loves names and it’s a topic we can talk about for hours. I love seeing new ones or watching my favorite uncommon ones get used, but when it comes to naming your own baby, things get tricky.

Over the years, I have watched many YouTube videos about baby names and there is one trend that’s called “Baby Names I Love But Won’t be Using”. It’s always interesting hearing the names and the reasons why they love the name and why they won’t or can’t use them. Now I don’t have a YouTube channel despite many people telling me that I should daily vlog, so I thought it would be fun to put this trend to hop on and put into text on my blog!

There are tons of things to consider when naming a baby. How does the name sound with your last name? Does my spouse have family members whose names are too close to the names we liked? Does my SPOUSE even LIKE the names I have had saved in my notes over my entire lifetime?? (This was something I did not expect a man to have so many opinions on and it came as a total shock when naming our son LOL.) Is there an anagram for the name or initials that we DON’T want used as an insult later down the road? Do the syllables flow? How does it sound with our other kid’s names? Can we hear ourselves calling this name out for the next however many years of our lives? And so on. It gets hard and stressful and you don’t want to get it wrong because your child will be attached to this name forever. This name will be a big part of their identity!

Alas, here are some of the names I really love but won’t be using due along with the reasons why. I have included 9 girl names and 7 boy names. I think for me boy names that I like are harder to come across, whereas girl names have been easier, but will be harder to settle on if that time comes. I also have not included a BUNCH of names that I love since I’m not sure if we would use them or not. So first off, expect these names to be all over the place, and second, this is a very limited insight to my naming style. I go from classic names to very modern, trendy names and super indie, uncommon names. I was expecting these lists to be so much longer, but while organizing them, I realized that I have so much hope in so many names that it made it hard to put them on the definite ‘no’ list. I think we have a for sure boy name settled on if we have another boy, but you just never know until the time comes to actually name your baby.

Let’s start with the boy names! After a cute pic of my baby since we are on the topic 😉 …

BOY

1. Cove. This is a name I really loved when I was pregnant with Brooks and pushed for quite a bit. My husband just didn’t like it. I think he didn’t quite understand the name which ended up being fine because the August after Brooks was born, YouTuber Aspyn Ovard and her husband Parker named their daughter Cove and it completely ruined the name being for a boy for me. I will forever only see Cove as a girl name now and it fits their daughter perfectly!
2. Crew. I think this name is really sweet and simple. My son already has a one syllable name and I think I would want something that wasn’t one syllbale next time around. My husband also doesn’t like it LOL. A girl I follow on Instagram named her son this and spelled it C-R-U instead which I don’t like as much.
3. Slade. I think Slade is so COOL. It’s totally sleek and sounds so badass! I’m not sure it gives off the right vibe compared to Brooks so I wouldn’t use it for that reason alone, but I had thrown it out when I was pregnant as a possible name and it got shot down. We didn’t reveal what we were having until I was about 33 weeks along even though we found out at 20 weeks so we created a girl’s name when people questioned us about names. This girl’s name was Astrid and I think that Slade and Astrid would be really awesome sibling names if that’s your vibe!
4. William. I’ve always loved William but right before Gary and I got pregnant, his sister got pregnant! They had a little boy who it one month older than Brooks and named him ‘William Cal’! His dad’s and grandfather’s name is William so the name is absolutely perfect for him and even though he goes by ‘Cal’ and my sister-in-law gave me full permission to use the name too, I would never!
5. Charles. Nickname: Charlie. This is the name we had decided on for Brooks before my husband dove headfirst into his given name. My best friend and I called Brooks ‘Charlie’ all the way through my pregnancy after the Bemis family had their son Charlie who is just too cute. It’s just a cute little joke we use, but I don’t think we would go back to this name after almost using it for our firstborn.
6. Lyric. Lyric is traditionally a girl’s name even though I cannot envision it as one at all. I really love the vibe this name gives off and I would say it’s in the same realm as Slade and Astrid. I think it’s a little out there for me and I would be afraid for him to be mistaken for a girl which is why I wouldn’t use it.
7. Beau. I think this name is preppy and cute and goes quite lovely with Brooks, but I have a cousin named Robert who goes by Bo and he is the bo-est Bo I know (yikes that rhyme) and I don’t think it would be something my husband would want to go with for that reason. He doesn’t like the idea of reusing family names, which I think it crazy because my family is so big on it. Most the people in my family are named after another family member which I really love. A lot of the names that I love and won’t be included on this list are family names.

GIRL

1. Isis. I think this name is SO beautiful. It sounds so royal and feminine, but after the ISIS terrorist group gained so much attention, I don’t think we would get a good reaction in using it.
2. Georgia/Georgina. I think this name is really beautiful as well. It always makes me think of Georgina on Gossip Girl who I always thought was so pretty, but because Gary’s brother’s name is George and is called Georgie, we would not use it.
3. English. I think this name is so super cool. I came across it on Instagram and thought it was such a straight-forward yet odd name that I had to add it to my list. Again, this one is a little out there which is why I wouldn’t use it and the next name I feel is similar to this one as well.
4. Genesis. Gary and my mom both thought this name was just too weird and didn’t belong on a person. I love Genesis, but I can understand why they wouldn’t be keen on it and those reasons are why we wouldn’t choose to use it.
5. Astrid. The infamous Astrid code name. I genuinely really love this name, but when we chose it as our code name for the girl we were not having, Gary hated it. So much. He thought it sounded like ass-turd (which stung a little I’ll admit LOL). My mom had this on her baby names list as well and my dad disliked it also for the reason that you could hear the word ass in the beginning of it. I get it, but if you pronounce it the proper scandinavian way AH-streed, you don’t get that. It also means “divinely beautiful” which I find charming.
6. Evergreene. I think I made this spelling up, I’m not sure it’s been used that way, but I love it. I think a lot of people don’t understand the new style of naming which includes inanimate items rather than ACTUAL names meant for beings.
7. Clementine. I LOVE this name and Gary actually does too so why am I putting it on this list? Because it just doesn’t feel like it’s supposed to be part of our family. It doesn’t feel like the right fit and I don’t think it goes with Brooks well. I was really surprised when I asked Gary if he liked it and he said YES. I didn’t expect that kind of response, but I jumped for joy a little bit probably because if I could get him on board with one unusal name, there was a chance he might like some other ones I suggest in the future.
8. Capri. I think Capri is short and sweet and I imagine the island of Capri in Italy to be very beautiful and scenic which is a vision I like seeing whenever I think of the name. My best friend said it made her think of the pants so it kind of made me see a different side to the name that I wasn’t fond of, but originally I really liked it!
9. June. I think this one is also short and sweet and I really like that it is sort of old fashioned, but it doesn’t sound super feminine to me and I would like for our girl names to have a more feminine feel to them. I have a bunch of names with that old fashioned feel to them on our maybe list, but this is one I am pretty sure we wouldn’t decide on.

Well, that’s all for now! I don’t think there will ever be a part two to this, but who knows, maybe I’ll let my name loving side get the best of me and make another post! I think after my husband and I are done having kids for good it would be fun to release the list of names that I loved and didn’t use just to share my absolute favorites! As a name lover, I would love if people did this so I’m going to plan to!

Thanks for reading,
x Abigail

My Favorite Baby Must Haves Pt. 3

I promise that this will be that last baby must haves article! I know that 3 parts seemed excessive, but I truly feel like it was necessary consdiering all the things you need and wouldn’t know for your first baby. All the things I have included in this series are for ages newborn to older toddler and they are in no particular order. Our babies deserve the best and I wish I had known the things I needed so I could have invested in only the best from the start.

1. Angelcare Baby Bath
   We had two baby baths before this one. That’s because we didn’t know about this one. If we had known about the Angelcare bath, we would have had it from the start. My sister-in-law and some others I know had this bath for their little ones born around the same time as our son, but we already had two others in our possession. I know that the flower foam bath is cute and so is the plastic whale bath you saw, but this one is cheap and you ca use it all the way until your child can sit up in the bath by themselves. It’s simply the most effective one and and it comes in 3 cute colors!
   
2. A Boppy Nursing Pillow
   Whether you are breastfeeding or not, the Boppy nursing pillow is an item that is extremely helpful ESPECIALLY during those night feedings when you’re exhausted and barely awake. There have only been a select few people that I’ve seen who would classify it as something they never used and wouldn’t recommend, but I think the complete opposite. We used ours for about 7-8 months. It also doubles as a way to prop your baby up and helps with tummy time.
   
3. A Sleep Swaddle
   Babies are used to being hugged tightly from being in the mother’s womb which is why they’re swaddled in blankets as soon as they’re born. Dock a Tots and SnuggleMe Organics are designed to give babies that same feeling of being hugged and the Sleep Swaddle is as well. They make it easy to swaddle your baby (because ya girl never figured out how to swaddle properly LOL) and to change their diapers during the night. The one I linked is the same one I have.
   
4. A Bouncer Seat
   We had a cute, affordable gender neutral bouncer called the Ingenuity InLighten Twinkle Tails Bouncer from Target. It’s soft and the white bunny insert comes out making it easy to wash and an attachable canopy that lights up and has hanging toys to play with. The seat has the ability to vibrate and play music and nature sounds that you can adjust the voume for. There are also buckles so your baby is secure. I also just found that Target has a matching swing to the boucer so this is something I’ll probably look into for our next baby just so we have a matching set! Another bouncer that TONS of my friends have for their babies is the BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance. Babies love this one, but it’s very pricey! Bouncers are nice for babies who can’t sit up yet that way they are lying flat all the time and it’s nice to have a safe place to set your baby while they nap or when you need to get stuff done. I often times brought out bouncer in the bathroom while I showered that way he wasn’t left alone and was safe.
   
5. Snack Cups
   I only own one of these and I do not know why. I even got it at a thrift store. I SHOULD own like 7 of them because they’re so nice. These cups allow your baby to hold the cup on their own and retrieve the snack from the sup without causing a big old mess. They keep it all contained but obtainable for the kid. Brooks loves this because he is so independent and busy it allows him to feed himself on the go. Since I have not actually purchased these of my own I am going to link these cute, trendy, colorful snack cups for you because they are ones I really love and plan to get! You can also find similar ones here on Amazon.

Well, that’s all I have for now, but if in the coming years I find new things to share I will for sure make more posts about them! Good luck to all my new mamas (and dads) out there!

x Abigail

My Favorite Baby Must Haves Pt. 2

Hello! Just as I told you I would be, I am back with a part two this week so without any hesitation, let’s jump right into it!

1. Dr. Brown’s Bottle Set (& formula dispenser)
   I have tried a million and one different bottle brands and I’m not going to hesitate to say Dr. Brown’s are the best. I don’t care how many parts they have or how long it takes to handwash them. They’re the best. I said what I said and it’s worth the money. The parts on the inside of the bottle help to filter out air and prevent gas build-up inside your baby which leaves them more comfortable. There are three nipple sizes to make the bottles last longer and through multiple stages. The gift set comes with bottles, a bottle brush, all the parts and nipple sizes along with a shake top, pacifiers, and a formula dispenser for all my formla moms out there! If that item hadn’t been included here, it would have has it’s own number on the list!
   
2. The Stroller Fan
   Now this is the item I have never seen anyone have until after I had Brooks and I can’t believe more moms don’t have it! This fan is so useful especially because I had a summer newborn. The fan has bendable legs that allow you to attach it anywhere on the stroller and position it to blow cool air on your baby when you’re out and about on a hot summer day. This saved our life many times and prevented a sweaty, cranky baby. Again, in the color I hate, but my husband ordered it before I got a say hahaha! There are many other color options as well.
   
3. A Pack ‘n Play
   Occasionally we will have a night out and leave the baby with my cousin or a friend and having a Pack ‘n Play has been really handy when the people you have babysitting don’t have babies. We have taken many beach trips and stayed in many hotels and having your own portable crib is so comforting. It’s gone from New York City to Raleigh, NC and has yet to give us any issues. We love it and you will too. The set up of the crib is quick and easy once you’ve figured out how it works and has been used as a play pen during yardwork and painting out kitchen to keep Brooks contained and occupied while we got stuff done.
   
4. Baby Nest
   This is one of those things you actually see ALL the time, except cheaper. I love the Dock a Tot and think SnuggleMe Organics are adorable, but they’re extremely pricey and personally I just dont see the need to get something that expensive when you can purchase something that works just as well for a better price. This Baby Nest is cute, snuggly, and 100% washable. It’s nice for babies who can’t yet roll around. It’s safe and we were able to use it in our bassinet as well until her outgrew one. These baby nests also go by the name “baby loungers” so if you aren’t keen on the one I have and linked, you can search many other patterns on Etsy!
   
5. Silicon Suction Bowls & Plates (& catch bibs)
   Key word: suction. These plates and bowls suction to any dry surface you press them onto and prevent your children from throwing their food and snacks off the table or high chair and prevent so much clean up time. I love them and I specifically love Little Harmony’s plates and bowls! While you’re there, check out their silicon catch bibs.

I hope that these articles are helpful to anyone expecting a baby. It can definitely be tough trying to figure out what you need through the stress and excitement of preparing for a child. Next week, I’m going to turn out one last part of baby must haves. This was originally only a two-part series, but having decided that 5 items per list was a good amount, I found that I had about 15 items I wanted to include. So there will be a part 3 next week. After that, I want to go through some of the things I don’t think you need for your babies and maybe save you some money 😉

Tune back in next Monday!

x Abigail