Yay for finally being able to spill the beans!!! I am so excited about all things baby and I can’t wait to share every minute of this experience with you. First up, that means the nursery!!!! This past weekend my interior designer, Amy Berry, dropped off some fabric samples and so many of you wanted to know more. I’ll share with you what I shared with her and of course keep you posted as the nursery evolves 🙂

I’ve always known I wanted a pretty gender neutral nursery. I love the idea of a soothing grey + white color scheme with pops of light blue or light pink {of course depending on the gender of the baby!} With that being said, I love the color blue and am ok with that working for either a girl or a boy nursery {blue feels kinda like a neutral to me?!} but didn’t want to have pink everywhere unless we know for sure it’s a girl – do you know what I mean? So I told Amy that I was ok with some blue {regardless of gender} and then pink for things that could easily be switched out {crib bumper, pillows, etc.} keeping the main items {curtains, rug, glider, changing table} gender neutral in the grey/white color scheme.  Also, because we plan to have a few children, I knew I wanted this nursery to last throughout and be workable with both boy and girl babies.

The only thing I have thus far is my crib {also here} which I was lucky enough to snag over a year ago at a Blue Print sample sale in perfect condition for 1/10th the price. I was able to get the crib, which normally costs between $5,000 – $7,000, for several hundred dollars {what!!!!!!!?} I know. I’m honestly still kinda freaking out about it – can’t believe my luck! PS – if you want the look for less, I also really love this crib with the lucite slats!

Anyways – see my nursery inspiration below! I haven’t been able to find any one image or nursery that speaks to me as a whole, but I like certain aspects in each photo below. Don’t pay attention to colors for now – just look at details! Like crib bumpers, lighting, rugs, and the pretty white/grey color scheme.

What are your favorite colors for a nursery? Are you more gender specific or gender neutral? We are finding out gender soon and I just cannot wait!

all image sources found here 

Preparing for the holidays can be stressful – especially if you are planning on doing any hosting! I love having people over to our house, but I also spend 1-2 hours beforehand stress cleaning, arranging and making sure everything looks perfect before they arrive. No one wants to spend more time cleaning than they have to, which is why I’m so incredibly excited about the cordless Dyson V6 vacuum that I just scored on eBay.

It’s sleek and lightweight design make for a beautiful home tool. It’s also cordless which means I can use it in the most hard to reach places, or even areas that aren’t near a plug {like the stairs!} With two dogs and a hectic lifestyle, you wouldn’t believe how much hair and dust can accumulate, so having this cordless Dyson with three different attachable heads has been priceless. The power of all Dyson products is what sets them apart – and this vacuum is no different. With two different power settings, you can clean your home for up to 20 minutes without having to recharge.

There is no doubt this vacuum works well on the floors – picking up dirt from the carpet and hardwood floors easily. But where this vacuum truly shines is in other areas of my home. June likes to sit on one of our velvet chairs in the front room and her hair just sticks to the fabric like glue. It’s always been an uphill battle trying to get all the hair off, but with the Dyson’s brush head attachment and extreme suction power, I can clean it in seconds.  I also love using the ‘crevice’ attachment to suck up dust that collects on the baseboards, air vents and on top of bookshelves. Because the entire vacuum is under 5 lbs, I’m able to easily raise it above my head and get areas that are a little harder to reach. The crevice tool allows you to easily {& quickly!} swipe across each surface without ever straining or hurting yourself.

The best part? It’s currently on sale right now! Along with tons of other Dyson products, you can get 25% off with code JUSTDYSON. Although these items are all ‘refurbished’ don’t let this discourage you. My vacuum came in its original packaging and box with all the correct papers and looking brand new. If I’m being honest, I completely forgot it was ‘refurbished’ until just this minute. The vacuum was in pristine condition.  Anyways, eBay has the money back guarantee, so if your product arrives and you aren’t happy, eBay will refund your purchase price plus original shipping.

It’s been almost a year since I first experienced a Dyson product, but I plan on never looking back. The strength and power of these tools are unparalleled and I’m thrilled to finally own a product for my home that will make my life, and the entertaining I do, so much easier. Check out all the other Dyson products on sale here, and click below to see some of my other favorites.

photos: The Retro Penguin

Thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post

Coverlet Set: Linen Market Quilted 3 Piece Coverlet Set //  Sheets: Linen Market Ultra Soft Patterned Sheet Set

So excited to be celebrating the launch of Linen Market on eBay – an exclusive bedding collection that features high-quality, stylish bedding for less! How sweet are these blue floral sheets? They remind me of the bluebonnets that bloom in the spring all over Texas. I also love how crisp they feel! Absolutely perfect for summer {when our bedroom is running about 10 degrees warmer because of the summer heat!} This coverlet set it also wonderful. The classic geometric design is so minimal and chic, and it is the perfect weight. I love how many colors and designs both of these come in – and of course, the price. I can’t get over the incredible prices on these!! The fact that you can get a 3 piece coverlet set for under $60, and a 4 piece set of sheets for under $35 is literally blowing my mind. I just bought another set for my guest bedroom! eBay’s new Linen Market is incredible, so go check it out and let me know if you score any incredible deals!!

photos: The Retro Penguin

thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post!

Mark & Graham has been one of my go-to’s for giftable items for years. Their personalized gifts make it into my gift guides every holiday season, and I most recently fell in love with this personalized dog bed that I’m still pining after {hint hint, husband!}. Having recently received some wonderful items from their latest collection, I couldn’t wait to put the cute pieces to use for an impromptu happy hour with my girlfriends at my house. Hey, any excuse for wine + cheese with my galpals, amirite?

The Mark & Graham personalization options never cease to amaze me – I loved that I was able to choose from a wide selection of colors and styles, and I finally settled on this uber cool + modern two letter style for the stemless wine glasses & woven placemats, and the more traditional 3 letter style for the color fringe napkins. These designs perfectly represent the intersection of me and my husband’s often opposing styles – modern meets traditional.