Black & White Nursery Design

When I found out we were pregnant it didn't matter to me whether it was a boy or girl. All I knew is that I wanted a healthy baby and a black and white nursery. Not because it was gender neutral but because it was chic. 

Now, black and white nurseries are all the rage but two years ago when I decided I wanted one, they were not. 

My husband didn't see my vision. He thought our son was going to grow up to be "Beetle Juice" junior. I can't tell you how many times I heard that! 

My entire family tried to talk me out of it. Don't you want a sweet frilly pink nursery? Or a cute blue and white room full of trucks and teddy bears? "NOPE." I told them, "I have a vision in my head and I just need you to trust me." 

I have done all of the interior design in my home and my mothers beach condo in Ft Lauderdale, Florida and I know sometimes my creative little mind thinks outside of the box but I just knew this was going to be a home run. 

I added pops of gold to break up some of the patterns in the room and compliment the room's hardware. I also opted to put the crib in the center of the room for a different look and feel. Ikea storage closets added to our lack of space and they were so affordable. Although they almost caused a divorce during install. I swear sometimes you have to have a PHD to figure out those directions. 

Now, I get more compliments and questions regarding the theme than ever before. Thus, I decided to blog about it and give you all the links you need if you're expecting a little one anytime soon! 

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A Family Tradition

    "La famiglia e tutto."  The family is everything. That is the motto in our home.

    Dallas and I have been together for twelve years and married for eight. We have always put each other first when things got crazy in our lives. We're a team. Much like any team sometimes you're the coach and sometimes you're the player. Dallas has "coached" me through many obstacles in my life, from my struggles leading up to competing at Miss USA to my inpatients trying to conceive. 

   For the last few months, it has been my turn to be the rock of our family. Early October, just before Cashton's first birthday, Dallas got news that his company was in a reorganization period. Unfortunately, despite being one of the top producing managers, his company was forced to cut his territory leaving him back at square one and in the market for a job. 

   As you can imagine, the end of the year is not the best time to be on the job hunt as companies are closing out their year and going on holiday. Since then, Dallas has had some great opportunities but nothing that has quite fit the bill. 

   Luckily, I have just signed a new contract at work and my blog is really taking off! Thank you to all who have taken the time to keep up with it and/or shop through it! You have no idea how much that means to me. 

   None the less, we are staying positive in the face of misfortune. Dallas is truly an asset to his industry and I am confident something amazing is on the horizon for him. In the meantime, we are sticking by each other and with our family tradition of family photos at the peach trees every spring. 

   We started this tradition last year when Cashton was just six months old. My girlfriend Catrina of Catrina Earls Photography, is the most amazing photographer and captures the perfect vision of love in her film.  

   She always books "mini sessions" for spring when the peach trees are in full bloom. The way I see it this is a fun way to look back and watch Cash grow up before our eyes.

   It is also meaningful to me to be able to look back at these photos of Dallas and I and watch our love change and grow as a couple and as parents. I can honestly say that I am more in love with my husband now than ever before. 

   It's funny, you think you love someone wholeheartedly when you get engaged and that love grows even stronger when you walk down the aisle, but the love that comes with having a child is so intense no one could ever prepare you.

   For me though, that love was not JUST for Cash but for Dallas too. I will never forget watching Dallas cry in my birthing suite at CMC Main. I had never seen Dallas cry before. It took me so off guard and in that moment I knew our love for each other grew that day as well. 

   Don't get me wrong, as you can imagine with a newborn there were tough sleepless nights that we wanted to kill each other but that is what got us through it. Family and love. 

   Dallas has always supported my crazy endeavors and I am so thankful for a man who wants a strong independent woman to stand BESIDE him. 

    He understands my creative side and when I wanted to live and work in India for four months, he said: "Go for it!"  

My crazy radio career? He loves it.  My love for fashion growing into a semi-successful blog? He admires my passion. 

 I honestly couldn't ask for a better support system. He even lets me dress him up in cute clothes and takes the blog ride with me. 

Here's what we're wearing :  

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