Guest post from Tiffany from Delightfully Chic

First things first- I want to send the best well wishes to Lindsey and that sweet little angel Tilley-Gray (don’t you all just LOVE the name) who will be making her big debut into the world anytime now!! 

When Lindsey asked me to stop by Fifi Cheek and share the launch of Delightfully Chic I was absolutely honored and thrilled!

So…world as we await the arrival of Tilley-Gray let me introduce you to Delightfully Chic!

Launching tomorrow…December 1^st!!

I hope you all enjoy the collection as much as we do…Stop by, indulge and don’t forget to say hello!

Ps…make sure to subscribe to the DC emails and be the first to know when the store goes LIVE! 

Tomorrow is the Day

I'm getting induced tomorrow, Thursday, December 1. It doesn't look like Miss Tilley-Gray has any intentions coming out on her own, and as she grows to a healthy weight inside my body, I won't be able to have her naturally if she gets much bigger. I am so excited to meet her finally and to see Grayson with her for the first time. For some reason, that is one of the things I am most excited about. 

The induction process is a bit nerve racking. I have to call in at 5am to see if the hospital has a bed open, and if they do, we will go in at 7am. If not, we have to keep calling until they have availability. Once we are at the hospital, they will start a series of things on me and then it's a waiting game. Please keep us in your prayers tonight and tomorrow. I know that will have been covered in prayer this entire pregnancy and I am so thankful for that. 

The house is clean, the cars are clean with full tanks of gas, the pantry stocked, the dogs groomed, the bills paid, the Christmas decorations are up, and our bags have been packed (at least mine and Tilley-Gray's) for three weeks. I'm a planner by nature, so you know I had to do a few things extra for this delivery. They are totally unnecessary, but doing them is my way of coping, of bringing a sense of calmness and control over tomorrow.

Tilley-Gray's overnight bag

I know that she doesn't need her own bag, but I wanted to take swaddle blankets, and onesies, and her baby book, so it was just better that she had her own bag. I found this one at J.Crew and had a girlfriend add the applique with her monogram. I love how it turned out and know that she will be using it a lot when she starts to visit her grandparents.

Hosptial Sign

I wanted to have a sign that we could put on the door of the hospital welcoming all of our visitors. I found a shop on Etsy and the designer was so great to work with. 

(There is a tiny hyphen in there for those of you wondering)

A Hosptial Gown

This was so important to me and I was lucky enough to be gifted one by the sweet people from B.Y.O.G. There is something about being in a gown that hasn't been worn by other people and that looks good (aren't these gowns precious?!) that brings a sense of calmness to me. The fabric is incredibly soft and it came in sizes, meaning that it is proportionate to my 5'1" frame. During our birthing class, I held up a hosptial gown and those things are definetly one size fits all. My good friend Millie Holloman has also offered to take photos of the birth and it will be so nice not to be in an ugly blue gown during those first precious moments captured. 

Tomorrow at this time, I may just be a momma, and that is so incredible to me. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. 

In the meantime, I have a fabulous line up of guest bloggers that will be filling in for me while I take some time out to be with this precious babe.

xoxo

Prep

There is a reason that prep has been in style over the decades. Classic never goes out of style. 

By Malene Birger Silk-Crepe Blouse / Day Birger Striped Top/ Tom Ford Sunnies / 

J Brand Coated Denim Leggings / J. Crew Darby Loafers / Tory Burch iPad Case / 

Hermes Clic-Clac H Bracelet / Kate Spade Pearls

Pregnancy Essentials

I was lucky enough to be on the end of a long string of friends who became pregnant. I have heard tons of funny stories, was given great advice, and have seen each one of them go through their pregnancy, delivery, and now mommyhood with such style and grace. Here are a few of my must-haves for all of you new mommas-to-be out there that will hopefully get you through your pregnancy too. 

1. Jenny McCarthy's Belly Laughs Book

This is the one pregnancy book that didn't completely freak me out. It's hilarious and informative and after reading everything she went through (she had the worst of the worst), your pregnancy might seem like a breeze. 

2. A few good pairs of maternity jeans

Don't skimp on these, you will wear them to pieces until you are 9 months pregnant and can't fit in them anymore. That's right, you will be too big for maternity clothes. Buy a size or two up and just go ahead and embrace them. The belly band thing didn't really work for me, so I went straight from rubber banding my pants to maternity pants. Shopbop has the best selection. 

3. Power Momma Spanx

These saved my life through wedding season. I know you might be thinking "why in the world would you want to wear spanx when you are pregnant," but I promise, they make things so much more comfortable when you are wearing dresses and on your feet all day. 

4. Cute maternity tops

Go ahead and just buy a few maternity tops. I went to my favorite boutiques and bought a size up, but could only wear those until about month 7 or 8. It's not a pretty sight to see your bare belly in the reflection of a Target mirror when you have a regular shirt on that you think is passing for a maternity shirt, believe me. It happened this past weekend. Not pretty. Asos has really cute tops that aren't too expensive and Old Navy makes the softest, longest t-shirts for under $10.00. Just go ahead and get you some, because that belly will get bigger than you can imagine. 

(These models are obviously not pregnant, but you get the idea)

5. Johnson's Baby Oil

My skin became really dry and itchy as it stretched and the expensive stretch mark cremes didn't help. Johnson's baby oil was the best thing for me and I don't have a single stretch mark. Just make sure to put it on and let it dry as much as possible before you put on any clothes. 

6.  A good pair of running shoes

Walking is one of the very best things you can do while you are pregnant. Without fail, I walked at least 3 miles a day and I feel like my pregnancy has been so good because of that. A good pair of running shoes is the key. I have gone through two sets of shoes in the past 9 months, and these Brooks are by far the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever owned. 

7. Healthy Food

I know this seems obvious, but the past 9 months I have craved nothing but fruit, especially berries. Your body is an amazing thing and when I would eat poorly, I would pay for it big time later on that day. I snacked on raw almonds, berries, and smoothies with the occasional chocolate chip cookie (or 2) and it made me feel so much better than noshing on chips and candy. 

8. A Good Attitude

I've been told that I'm an eternal optimist (and not in the nicest way), but I really do believe that you can set your own path with your attitude. Yes, I had morning sickness and swollen feet and feel huge and uncomfortable, but it's been done by millions of women and will be done by so many more, so I knew I could do it too. My sweet husband hears about it, but I tried to stay upbeat and embrace all of the changes. There are so many people out there they can't become pregnant, so I feel  blessed that I became pregnant so quickly and with a healthy baby. 

9. A little pampering

Manicures and pedicures were my feel-goods during pregnancy. I had two massages and they just didn't do it for me. They did the trick for some of my girlfriends, but not for me. With a mani and pedi, at least when your feet and hands are swollen they will be well buffed and polished. 

10. Girlfriends
Above anything else, my girlfriends have been my source of strength and guidance. When I watched scary "Baby Story" episodes while on the treadmill at the gym, they were the ones that told me to turn it off. When I was having gloomy days and thinking "How can I ever be a mom", they reassured me that I could do. They have called me and prayed for me and I am so grateful for that. My family and husband have been incredibly supportive this entire time, but there is nothing like a good group of girlfriends to lift you up and make you feel loved. 

Due Dates are for Suckers...

or at least that's what Tilley-Gray thinks. That's right, no baby still. 

I have a peace over me, at least for now, that she will be coming out soon and I've made it this far, so what's a few more days? I've been told that a "well cooked" baby makes for a better baby who eats and sleeps better. I'm just so ready to meet her and I'm dreading the next few days home alone. I've been spoiled with having the husband's company for the past four days and am not ready for alone time at the house just waiting for something to happen. 

In the meantime, counting down the days, I have become slightly obsessed with finding the perfect wall calednar for 2012. 

Smock Paper

Linda and Harriet Watercolor Calendar

Letterpress Calendar from Paper-Source

Watercolor Calendar from Rifle Paper Co.

Watercolor Calendar from Linda and Harriett

Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Calendar

Which one is your favorite?

PS: Thanks for your sweet comments on my house! The candle sticks came from the store Glenn Harmon, which is closing and is having a huge sale! You can email the owner here to see if she has any left!

Weekend

How has your weekend been so far? Ours has been eventful/uneventful. Eventful in that we have been busy with house projects, decorating, and going out to yummy dinners. Uneventful in that Tilley-Gray still has not come. (Her official due date is tomorrow, Sunday, November 27) I know she will come out when she is good and ready, but let me tell you, momma is ready!

Thursday we had a great Thanksgiving with Grayson's family and hosted it at our house. It was such a laid back day, I forgot to take any photos of the family, but we did sneak in a photo of Grayson and me with the dogs and our Christmas tree. 

Grayson decorated our house with garland and lights. I love this time of year!

We also went to our "last supper" at Port Land Grill. Pregnancy really has gotten the best of me and I have been prone to order things like this goodness below. That's right, sweet potato fries with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. They were beyond good. I also had a Shepherd's pie for dinner and then we split tiramisu for dessert, but who's really counting at this point?

The weekend was also full of afternoon naps and snuggles with the dogs. Polly in particular likes to make  pillow forts. I'm glad that I invested good money in Kelly Weartsler and Lulu DK fabric so that my dogs can snuggle on quality. I'm sure that's what I will be thinking once Tilley-Gray gets here.

So her official due date is tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited! I have a feeling she might just be fashionably late, but who knows at this point. I will keep you all posted!
I hope you all have a great rest of the weekend!
xoxo

Thankful

Very thankful for all of life's blessings this year! 

I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

xoxo

Millie Holloman Photography...

Check out Millie Holloman Photography's new site here. Talk about awesome branding; I don't think it gets much better!
If you are in the market for a wedding photographer, baby photographer, or just want to have pretty pictures taken, Millie and her team are awesome. 

This video just makes me smile!

Millie from Millie Holloman on Vimeo.

Nursery

 I'm so sorry I didn't have a chance to post nursery pictures this weekend. I had grand plans to do so yesterday and decided that propping up my elephant ankles was a better idea. It's amazing how big they have gotten over the past two days!

Decorating the nursery has been a slow and steady process and one that the husband and I have really enjoyed together. Before we found out what we were having, I found the animal heads from Anthropologie and bought them right away, knowing that boy or girl, I wanted them in the nursery. I think that they are so fun!

In the beginning, we were going to use the crib that I had when I was a baby, but it was a drop-side crib, which the government outlawed this summer. Back to square one, I struggled with finding a crib that was gender neutral (we want to have more babies eventually) and fit with the style of our house. I looked at dozens of cribs, but in the end, I kept going back to Dwell Studio's Century crib. If you are thinking about this crib, here is a little money saving hint. I loved the crib so much, but with it already being expensive, I didn't want to pay $200 for shipping. I found free shipping at myurbanchild.com and after your first purchase, they send you a 20% coupon for your next purchase.

 So, I got the crib 20% with free shipping! 

The name bunting came from a favorite Etsy shop, which we also used in our maternity photos. 

My Aunt Deb made the bumper pad and the drapes and I'm so happy with how they turned out! The white fabric is just a cotton twill, a fabric that won't shrink when I put it in the wash. The other fabric is from Lewis and Sheron, which I got for 50% off because a sweet friend that lives in Atlanta where Lewis and Sheron is located went by with a coupon and then had the fabric shipped to me. 

The chandelier is from Ikea that Grayson spent an entire Sunday afternoon spray painting gold. It makes gorgeous shadows on the wall at night that I think Tilley-Gray will love. 

The glider is from Serena & Lily and it is beyond comfortable. White may not have been the wisest choice for a glider, but it is a slip cover, so it can be thrown in the wash.

 The gold pouf is from Nate Berkus for HSN.  

The dresser is an entire week's work of DIY. The dresser is from Ikea. I didn't want to buy a changing table, but the dresser was too short to function as one, so Grayson added legs that he found at Lowe's. The original plan was to have the dresser lacquered the coral/poppy color, but once it was in the room, I knew that it really needed to be white. The overlays are from My Overlays and I love how they add a little character to the dresser. 

These little guys were a gift and are one of my favorite things in the nursery. 

With just six days until her due date, I am so excited to finally meet Tilley-Gray. The nursery was a fun project over the past several months, and I can't wait to walk in to that room and see her sleeping in her crib or rock her while reading her books. I already love her so much and am anxiously awaiting her arrival. I know she will come out when she is ready, but I wouldn't mind one bit if it was sometime this week! I hope you all have a great Monday!
xoxo

Holiday Parties and Weekend Plans

Last night was Monkee's of Wilmington Holiday Open House. It's always so much fun to go to. They have champagne and hors d'oeuvres, a DJ, and 25% off the entire store. Every year, I see people that I haven't seen since the previous year and meet new friends as well; plus all the girls that work there are total dolls. This year was no different with lots of goodies including a trunk show from the New York City based store What Goes Around Comes Around featuring vintage furs and Chanel handbags and jewelery. Monkee's also had a ton of new holiday clothes and shoes in stock. 

This was one of my favorite finds of the night. Wouldn't that black dress be so great for Christmas or New Year's parties? I also am in love with the Kate Spade heels. Perfect for a cocktail dress or skinny jeans and a silk top and little jacket. 

This fur and bag are from What Goes Around Comes Around. I tried the bag on because, let's be honest, it would make the absolute best diaper bag ever, but I'm positive the husband would murder me if he saw a charge for $4500 anywhere on our credit card bill. It's pretty fab though, isn't it?

Vintage Chanel jewelry

Vintage Chanel bags from the 1980s and 1990s

Some of my favorite Chanel earrings

My favorite Chanel bag of the night, circa 1980.

Vintage furs from What Goes Around Comes Around. 

One of my other favorite items of the night was this jeweled jacket. I don't have a dressy winter coat and think that this might fit the bill. Perfect weight for Wilmington weather and would be great with cocktail dresses or jeans. I love the details.

Monkee's always has the best window displays for their holiday parties and this year did not disappoint. The photos don't do them justice, but all of their windows looked beautiful!

 After socializing for a few hours and catching up with old friends, it was great to go home and be greeted by Grayson and an anxious Polly Anna who just wanted a snuggle. (PS: She is looking a little raggedy these days but is on schedule to get a haircut next week. Bless her heart)

When I got home, Gray was watching the UNC game and it was the perfect opportunity for me to read the new House Beautiful that had just come in the mail. I almost stroked when I saw Society Social featured on page 28 under the subtitle "The Best." Isn't that incredible!? Roxy has come a long ways since she started last year and has ended up in one of the most prestigious design magazines out there. (I've told you that we are from the same home town and our parents live in the same neighborhood right?)

In baby news, I had my last doctor's appointment today before my official due date. I haven't progressed any since last Friday but my spirits are still high and I know she will make her debut when she is good and ready. I am just so anxious to meet Tilley-Gray I can hardly stand it. 

Tonight, Gray and I are having dinner with our new friends Shannon and Will Darrough and I can't wait! Oh, and I promise, nursery photos to come this weekend!

Have a fab Friday!

xoxo