Prepping for Sandy

The East Coast is bracing for the Frankenstorm, Storm of the Century, A Once in a Lifetime Storm, Hurricane Sandy, the Cone of Uncertainty...or whatever you choose to call this supposedly whopper of a storm we're getting over here today and tomorrow.

When Hurricane Irene struck last summer, it was clear how unprepared we were for the event of a major storm. Luckily we only lost power for a day, but it was still a wake up call as to what we would need when another storm struck.

This weekend we spent a little time gathering supplies and braving the stores to stock up on some necessities. Here are a few things we made sure prepare.

Stock up on candles, flashlights and batteries.

Immediately following last year's hurricane, Shaun ordered two 100 hour burning oil candles

a compass, two good flashlights

and a camping knife, all of which I immediately stashed away in a little plastic bin in our den closet. Oh and with the flashlights in mind, it helps to have a pack of batteries for the flashlights in your emergency kit.

Car check.

Shaun filled the car with gas and made sure all of the tires were filled with air. In the Prius, a full tank of gas will get us about 450 miles. If for some reason a giant tsunami comes out of the Hudson River, Pittsburgh here we come!

Tidy up the terrace.

Shaun put a tarp over most of our items on the terrace (table, chairs, deck box and grill) and bungeed it all to the fence. He also tied down our flower and plant boxes. In case of strong winds, we don't want any flying objects crashing into our door or windows..or those of our neighbors' either.

 

Wash all laundry & dishes.

I washed all of our towels and undergarments. I don't want to be stuck without clean underwear in the event of an emergency. I also made sure to run our dishwasher and wash dishes now as they are dirtied. If we lose water, the last thing I want are rotting smelly dishes in the sink.

Water & ice stash.

On Saturday, we started filling up plastic zip top bags with the ice from our ice maker. We then stored the bags in the freezer. Perfect for keeping the freezer cool in case we lose power and can also be used for water once melted. We also filled up all of our water bottles and travel coffe cups in addition to stocking up on a few gallons of water and a case of individual water bottles.

Food.

Luckily we are usually pretty stocked with food on any regular day, but it's definitely something to keep in mind when prepping for a storm. We picked up a few things to make in advance and have on hand throughout the week, in addition to some fruit and veggies for snacking.

Charge it up.

We are making sure to keep all of our electronics plugged in and charged all day today. This includes our phones, computers, Kindles, etc. 

Have fun!

We have books and board games at the ready to provide entertainment in case we lose power. Otherwise, we've got a DVR filled with Homeland, Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, American Horror Story and The Walking Dead ready for viewing. 

Stay safe everyone!

What are your emergency preparedness tips?

Five Things Friday

I am so in love with this Friday.

I'm ready to get through this work day and hit the weekend. We have dinner with friends, a Halloween party tomorrow, nursery work and a bit of Frankenstorm prep too.

This week felt like a long one yet I've basked in all things Fall.

{a gorgeous Fall wedding}

My cousin Veronica got married last weekend and it was such a gorgeous wedding. We all prepped at my parents house and spent the evening dancing, eating and celebrating.

{DQ pumpkin pie blizzard}

It's only available until October 31 and I'll be having them frequently until next week.

{pumpkin spice cupcakes}

Just when I haven't quite had enough pumpkin, I whipped these up for dinner at our neighbor's house last night. Recipe coming next week!

{new statement necklaces from bauble bar}

After seeing my sister Kimberly's sweet collection of statement necklaces, I went on a little shopping binge for myself. I am obsessed with all of my purchases! If you'd like an invitation to Bauble Bar, let me know...you'll save $10 on your first purchase!

{earl grey tea in my favorite tea cup}

I'm usually a coffee drinker - and have continue to have a small half caf each morning since I've been pregnant...but on some mornings - especially those gloomy chilly ones - I love having a piping hot cup of earl grey. Somehow it feels so special.

What are your five things this week?

Any weather-related emergency prep tips?

Lavender + Light Blue Nursery for Baby Girl

Since I announced that I had a little something special cooking, I've gotten a lot of questions about what we plan to do for Baby TAA's nursery. 

This has been one of my favorite projects that I've ever tackled. Picking out sweet and soft baby things for the room where we'll take home our little baby girl...well, it doesn't get much better than that!

I've never been a 'pink' girl, even as a child. And I knew that our baby girl's nursery wouldn't be filled with pink either, but instead serve as a pretty accent color. When we had our home painted last year, I intentionally chose a light, soft blue for our 2nd bedroom knowing that it would also work perfectly for either a baby boy or baby girl someday. With light blue as a base, I started planning the nursery. To compliment the blue, I chose lavender as the signature color, with splashes of light pink and yellow thrown in.

I put together a little moodboard to give a peak as to how I hope it will eventually come together!

clockwise from top left:

Brooklyn Nursery Bedding, Pottery Barn Kids: I took one look at this and fell in love. It's feminine without being overly girly and I adore the mixed patterns and colors. Could it be more perfect for a lavender and light blue nursery? I know the bumper isn't actually supposed to be used until baby is older, but I just love the pretty paisley pattern and so I'm happy to have it for show until it is safe for use.

Baby bunting flag, Etsy: I have seen so many nurseries online that have sweet little bunting flags and I think it would be a lovely addition to Baby TAA's nursery. I found some pink, purple and blue scrapbook paper that I can't get enough of and so I plan to DIY my own with this. I'll keep you posted!

Eden White Pendant Lamp, CB2; When we had overhead lighting installed last year, again I chose this simple white pendant knowing that it would suit a modern nursery someday. And for $59, you can't beat that.

Baby animal artwork, Trafalgar Square's Etsy Shop: What is it about baby animals that just make my heart melt? Though our nursery won't have a true theme, I love animals and so there will definitely be some sweet animal artwork and accents. I'm obsessed with every single print from Trafalgar Square and bonus - they are running a sale that ends today! I also plan to DIY some artwork as well, so I'll keep you posted on that.

Lena Lamb plush, Gund via Macy's: Animal love continues. I love little lambs!

Cosmopolitan Lavender Rug, Overstock.com: I searched far and wide for the perfect lavender rug and finally went ahead and ordered this little beauty. It's in transit as we speak and I hope that it lives up to the plushness and beauty of the photos. Not to mention that the website photo also pictures the rug on hardwood floors which match ours almost exactly. And for the price? Have mercy (yes, I did just pull out an Uncle Jesse reference).

Closetmaid cube & fabric drawers: We actually already own the little white cubby and I plan to order some lavender and pink drawers to hold toys, books and other goodies for my little sweet. I haven't decided yet if it will sit vertically or horizontally...if horizontally, I may also get a nice cushion for the top so Baby TAA can sit on there someday and read :)

Oh and lastly, the color of our walls is reflected on the board. We chose Benjamin Moore's Sweet Bluette for a nice, soft light blue that isn't overly saturated. A year later and I'm still in love with this color!

So that's what I'm loving for our little nursery thus far. We are planning on a white crib and white dresser/changing table so fit in with our modern loft. This weekend we are also getting to work on updating our closet situation and I cannot wait to share that with you in the coming weeks!

What are your favorite nursery must-haves?

Do you prefer themed baby rooms?

If you were designing a nursery for baby girl, what would be your color picks?