It's What's for Dinner: lunch salads

I may keep having babies just to keep having people bring meals.  

We have been spoiled these past 4 weeks.  But I've needed to figure out some good lunches to have on hand and my friend Trader Joe once again does not disappoint.  Recently discovered several ready-made salads and this salad takes the cake!

Spinach, quinoa, garbanzo beans, edamame, cranberries, tomatoes, carrots and a carrot, ginger dressing that is amazing.  It would be a great one to try to make at home too!

Behind the Scenes: DIY chalkboard

So, I made a chalkboard a couple of months ago...

Well, actually, to be more accurate...

My friend was making a chalkboard.

She offered to pick up supplies at Lowe's for me too.

She bought the wood to build the frame.  She bought the wood for the chalkboard.  She bought the chalkboard paint.

It gets worse.

Her dad built me my frame.  She painted the chalkboard paint on my board.  And the second coat.

So, basically, I bought red paint and painted the frame.

Then brought it to her and she glued it together.

Then Dave hung it.

So, I did a DIY project with loads of help.  That's how I roll and I'm fine with that.  

And grateful for friends who laugh at me and then help me.

This is a great, cheap project from somewhere on pinterest that I am loving having on my wall.

I'm using it primarily to have verses on it that I help Graham memorize or truth on it that I need to be reminded of.  

Last week it was simply part of Psalm 16...You are my Lord, I have no good apart from you.

This week it's...

I'll tell you tomorrow how this has rocked my world this week.

Homestyle: MJ's Nursery/Guest Room Remake

Wanted to let you behind the scenes of MJ's room/our guest room do-over.

Can't believe I didn't take a before picture...but there was really nothing to take a picture of except a bed with bedding that clashed with the gray walls.

So here it is...

Macy Jane Turner

I'm so happy to be back to blogging but even more happy to announce the birth of our sweet daughter, Macy Jane Turner who debuted on April 26th at 12:38pm at a whopping 9 lbs. 5 oz.  What?!?!

Here's the story for those of you who are interested and for those of you who are not, it'll be back to normal Simply Chic Mom posts tomorrow.

Day before Due Date

Woke up at 8am on my due date with my first contraction and it was a legit one.  They kept coming at 3-4 minutes apart and by contraction number three, I was on my hands and knees in the bathroom and then in the kitchen :)

We left for the hospital by 9am after quickly arranging childcare and hearing the midwife say, "yes, you should head here right away."

The strangest part of the drive was driving through downtown Chapel Hill and seeing students we know from church.  No, we did not stop to say "hi".

Made it upstairs and signed paperwork (there is a glitch in the system that you have to sign papers as you lean over the desk trying to deal with the pain). 

They took me into triage and at this point, I'm thinking "I did this once with no epidural but I'm not sure I want to do this again."  The midwife then checked me and let me know that I was at 7cm!  Dave, meanwhile, was parking the car (another glitch in the system- I was afraid he'd miss the birth with how long he was gone).

This guy is un-phased by labor!

My friend/doula, Jill, arrived by 10:30 am and had me take a walk into the hallway.  After about 4 steps, I felt like pushing!

The midwife came back in to check and I was at 9 1/2 cm.  She said she would break my water and I could have this baby now.  I, feeling scared of pushing, wanted to take a bath first.  Dave and Jill would have none of it :) - it was time to have a baby!

Pushing a 9 pound baby out was not the highlight of my life but I'm grateful for a skilled midwife and the encouragement from Dave and Jill.  She was born at 12:38pm...4 1/2 hours after my first contraction.

Meeting Macy was a highlight of my life.  Loved her immediately and can't believe the emotions of having a daughter.

Travelstyle: back from vacation

Back from California and refreshed by our last vacation as a family of three.

Beachy morning walks

Junk food and sunsets

Cousin time (Graham with Turner)

I love my nephew.  He's sweeter than I could've imagined.

Dave's sister who looks more like my sister

Beach days

As Graham would say, "We went on so many adventures."

Lots of sunshine

Now we wait for baby girl to arrive... 40 days and counting...

Babystyle: baby girl shower

Re-living a wonderful day of celebratory anticipation of baby girl's arrival.  

And if you are looking for an event planner, my friend who helped create so many of these details would love to help create your event.
You can contact Sarah Lilly: sarahashlilly@gmail.com

Behind the Scenes: Harlem Shake

Here are some of my friends:



And here is my husband's staff team:






And both of these were posted on facebook within an hour of each other.


Too much Harlem Shake in my life!!!!!!!  (and how have I avoided both videos successfully?!)