seriously, why am I THIS picky?

it is 1 in the morning and I am staring at the monitor trying to find outer packaging envelopes that don't make me vomit on the way to the post office. IT IS RIDICULOUS! I have wrapped my outer packaging in kraft paper from the beginning. do you know why? (I hope you know the answer!). it is because it is very "laura ingalls". well, now that I have a packaging manager, she insists the process I use takes too long. it really does. 23 packages took us 3 hours the other day with BOTH of us doing it. I resorted to buying the ugly, white tyvek envelopes. it took her 2 hours for 21 packages. big difference, huh?
I couldn't look at the packages in the basket. they were ugly. it was no longer cute packages that would make people happy when they opened their mailbox. it was more of a, geez, that company needs help with their packaging. this is the silly part, these


I don't mind because they are matte. and these I love


but only if they are grocery bag kraft and not the manilla envelope. and I love these


but hate all the writing on the back of them.
is this really what keeps me up at night?

official residents!

WELCOME TO INDIANA!
the cost of you to become *official* residents is $647.
total cost breakdown:
2 drivers license $42
2 new titles $30
2 new registrations on 6 year old cars $575

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
oh, and the best part, you are NOT allowed to show your teeth for your photo. you must keep your mouth closed.

i might have to settle

I really want to get our house put together. our family room is complete. check. our kitchen is complete. check two. bedroom almost finished. it is the dining room that I really want finished. I really, really want the pottery barn table but the price is outrageous and we wouldn't be able to get it for about 4 more months, I think. I would rather have something similar and have a table than to continue eating on my husband's plastic tailgate table! so this is the table I am thinking about with the bench.


and this rug


I love it!

things I love: kitchen edition

these hand-made wash cloths from my mema


vintage pyrex bowls


AND storage containers


these 3 dogs


cinnamon toast on homemade bread


and a hubby to share it with

sunday find

have you seen
THIS?


I love big, chunky frames! especially this one because it is distressed. you can have anything you want painted on it. so perfect for a nursery! hand-painted by super talented dreaming giggles design

new business cards

since moving, we switched our phone number and my 800 number is no longer. most people contacted me by email anyway so I didn't think it was too big of deal. my old business cards had my 800 number on them so I had new designed. check them out (click on it to enlarge):


I LOVE them. they are not your typical business card size, they are 4.25x5.50 and fit perfectly with our new gift notes! thanks vicki!!!

lollipop flower

a few months ago I purchased new collars for all of the dogs from mimi green. they are by far my favorite collars we have ever had.
AND NOW THIS:


how cute are these? this is the only time I've wished we had all girl dogs. sophie is getting a lollipop flower on her collar. she will be so sweet! she needs it!

i am a dreamer

one of my favorite childhood memories are our family vacations. we would all pack in our minivan and inside waiting would be an envelope with a crisp $100 bill. it was our reward for doing well in school and was our spending money. I think I had the money spent at our first stop. I bought 2 cash registers with my money (different vacations and one pretty close to the picture above). my dad would carry them to our hotel room so I could play with them. when we arrived home, I had a table in our garage where I set up a store and would play after school. sadly, I no longer have those cash registers but I think about them quite often. I have always wanted to have my own store. in high school I would daydream in class about having a pie store. my sister and I named it "pies and such". and when asked by the yearbook my senior year where I would be in 10 years I said I would be driving in a jeep with my golden retriever going to my pie store. it is almost true.
before we moved to indy, I knew I wanted to have my own store. I have known it since I started tiny sprouts. yesterday we stopped on mass ave and I could see my store sitting there. I want to have all things you can't purchase at a mall and everything started by mom's or women. it will be unique. with hardwood floors, colored walls and a vintage feel....


a few of things I want to have are vintage children's books


great art


new for baby


tiny tales kits


and of course, tiny sprouts!


my dream will come true. and hopefully soon.

a few random things about me

I have been struggling lately with things to write about. I don't know why so I thought I would do a post of random things about me:

1. I hate cooked eggs. especially hard-boiled eggs.
2. crooked bumper stickers really bother me
3. in college I had a greek roommate who roasted greyhounds and ate them at a cookout with friends (like a pig roast.)
4. I love laura ingalls wilder
5. one of my biggest pet peeves is people wearing shoes in the house, especially the bathroom!
6. I have a men's ring for an engagement ring.


7. I strongly dislike capitol letters. for any and everything.
8. I have an obsession with pilot v5 pens (thanks to my dad!)
9. I can't sit next to people eating if I can hear them chewing
10. I never read instructions or measurements.
11. milk makes me gag
12. I LOVE popcorn. any kind.
13. I have been collecting baby clothes for my kids since 1999
14. a few days before my wedding, my dog was running and lightly ran into my toe and my entire toenail came off. so much for a beachy wedding!
15. I cry every time I watch the little house "a christmas they never forgot"
16. I am scared of heights and stairs with the holes in between them.
17. I can never sleep in. I always wish I could but I can't sleep past 8:30
18. I hate to read (I know it is awful!)
19. I have to change out my pillows and bedding every other month.
20. when I was 19 I actually took my sister's information to the dmv and got a fake drivers license with her name and my picture so I could go to bars
21. I once went 120 mph to get to my friend's rehearsal dinner. I was obviously pulled over and the police officer said he chased me for 9 miles to try to catch up with me. he almost arrested me for wreck less driving. now I am the slowest driver ever.
22. I once ate an entire box of nutty bars


23. I think it is weird when people feed their kids chicken fingers/nuggets AND french fries.
24. I knew after 20 minutes of talking to my now-husband that I was going to marry him. it took him 4 years to know!


25. I am known for layering my clothes. I wear 3 pairs of pants in the winter, 2 pairs of socks and 3 shirts. then I add a coat on top. I think I am cold.
26. I've worn the same color of lipstick since I was 15. and when I found out they were discontinuing it my mom and aunts bought me 25 tubes!
27. I have one pair of earrings and will never change them (it was my first christmas present from my husband).
28. I recently learned that reindeer really can't fly (why didn't I know this?)
29. I have worn the same shoes for 4 years and they were handed down to me.
30. I will NEVER wear high heels. I have the widest feet. for my wedding I had my grandmother knit me shoes to wear so I was comfortable and stylish. at least I thought so!

family room finish

our new home has been harder to decorate than I imagined. the rooms are much larger than I am used to. I love small rooms because they are so cozy. today we finally put the final touches on our family room. the problem was our rug. it was way too small. but they are so expensive and we didn't want to settle for a so so one only to buy a different later. so we waited. I stop into potterybarn today to check on the color of a rug and the salesperson said, oh, that rug is on clearance. I knew it was $50 off already but still wasn't ready to spend $549 on it. she brought the rug out and I saw this


and so now we have this


next will be curtains, some more pictures and big candles on fireplace.
ew la la, I can see it now!

spring is near

today on our morning walk I noticed all the trees beginning to bloom. how refreshing. now I believe we moved to indy at the perfect time. seeing the winter end and the spring begin. I walked past a yard of tulips and it reminded me of our trip to washington dc 3 years ago. all the tulips were in bloom and it was beautiful.

goods

how cool is this concept?


goods for goodness’ sake
my friend, lara, from tiny-tales started this new venture and I love it. shop (fun) and all proceeds go to the charity of your choice (so cool)! she has one of my favorite designers, vickie, from three wheel designs


and I love lara's design of the babysitter notes:

new fiestaware

I love fiestaware. I have been collecting it since 1999. I used to store it under my bed and dream of the day I'd have a kitchen to put it in. fiestaware recently added square plates. I think they are really cool.


I have so many place settings though. ummm, I think 26. it is ridiculous.
it is fun to display it though!

stress ball

i sold this


and purchased a new rug for our home. I figured at least the rug would bring me happiness. I'm not sure if anyone else has used one of those fertility monitors but to say it stressed me out is an understatement. I hated that thing. I guess I wouldn't have if I'd be pregnant but it just wasn't right for me. I have decided to try to eat a bit better and look forward to our 4 year anniversary that is a month away. I am looking forward to a nice, long relaxing trip to a special place. I'd tell you but I am planning the anniversary this year. pictures later...

date day with elsa

today was a really fun day. bry and I took elsa on her very own date with us. we first started out by eating at our favorite place, the cheesecake factory. and then.....BUILD-A-BEAR!

the people there were really nice and cheerful.
elsa can be shy at times but quickly warmed up


this was her favorite part, washing her new koala, lyla


and by the time we were ready to go she was a giddy-giddy-gumdrop


we then went to the playground


and since it was lyla's birthday, we celebrated at cold stone and sang happy birthday to her!


love that little e!

our first overnight visitors

it is so fun having kids run throughout your house. the dogs adjusted quite easily. stewart had no problem making friends. is this not the cutest picture ever?


and santos had to get his cuddle time in


so stewart found a new friend


i love these kids and dogs!

nice words

I have some super sweet babies to share with you and lots of nice compliments from people! thank you to those who make my day by sharing your kind words and photos of your babies!

from sloan's mama:
"hi tracey,
just wanted to send a pic of sloan in her new tee. i LOVE it. we love the door pillow too. SO CUTE. best, julie"


from katie's mama:
"Thanks for the response. I hope you know how much we love your talent. It made such a statement in the pictures. You will forever be with us. Thanks. Katie, Kris and Kash"



from jessie's mama (and also the super talented mama from NESTING)
"This has always been one of her favorite dresses because it has her name on it and above all, it is PINK. I am going to keep it as a keepsake for her to remember. Thanks!!! Love, Jessie (& Nora)"


from taylor's auntie:
"Hi Tracey...Just wanted to share a cute pic that my sister in law sent of my niece Taylor in her precious outfit that you did!! It is so cute!! Thanks...you have great talent!! Kim"


customer service is EVERYTHING in a business. I like to take care of my customers if something ever happens. like when I ship the wrong package to them! this has only happened 3 times in my 5 years of business, but when it does I am super embarrassed!
"Hi Tracey,I just wanted to let you know that I received the "pumpkin" outfit that you sent. It - of course - is supercute! That was really generous of you and you really didn't need to send me another outfit however it is much appreciated :) I'm looking forward to my "pumpkin's" arrival and dressing him/her in the outfits from your company! Thanks again, Ellie"

dining room fun

we are on the hunt for a dining room table. I am usually not too picky about my furniture but this I am. I want this to be a dining room table we keep forever. and I want a big one. these are our contenders right now.
this is from pottery barn and is HUGE. that is what I love about it. plus it is really chunky and heavy.


table 2 from reclaimed wood and from etsy:


for chairs, I don't want your typical. I wanted to find chairs at thrift stores and reupholster them. except I don't know how to do that. I thought these would be really fun.





I love mismatched. thrift stores finds might add more character though and I could select funkier fabrics....