etsy ecstasy: autumn

boots, scarves, pumpkin spiced lattes and the state fair are the things i look forward to the most during this time of year.  after this short list has been enjoyed, im cool if we just fast forward to spring. however, i did find a few items on etsy that would help make this time of year a little more cozy and enjoyable :) 

{click on the picture to shop}

infinity crochet scarf - kelly green from e & c seasonal sale

vintage yellow ochre chevron striped afghan from mansfield ave

vintage enamel white and blue polka dot mug from go go berlinette

slouchy hat beanie crocheted from ct handmade

1970 brown leather, lace up, riding boots from dingaling vintage

cherry blossoms

i saw this video on boho baby bump and just had to share it.  



happy monday!

high 5 for insta-friday

today im linking up with lauren, jeanette and rachel to share the little things from this past week that makes my heart smile.

ONE:

saturday morning, i headed to the flea market in north raleigh.  its a small one and i rarely get up that way.  i stopped by my favorite shop, susanna's antiques, and instantly feel in love with this red cabinet.  the best part is that it was such a great price, i didnt have buyers remorse at all.  right now, im using it as a buffet but im wondering if i want to bring the bakers cabinet down to the dining room and taking this up to the nursery to be used as a changing table.  either way, it is an awesome and very useful addition to the benfield household!  

TWO:

on saturday night i got to put my new buffet to the test.  we hosted a spaghetti dinner for our neighbors.  we have had the pleasure of meeting several neighbors briefly and they seemed great.  what better way to get to know them then by throwing, what could potentially be, a really awkward dinner party :).  our dining room table was full of people of different ages, races and backgrounds all breaking bread with people they didnt really know before walking in our home ... it.was.awesome!!!  i am so glad i didnt chicken out.  i have been meaning to have them over for a month or so but i always had a great excuse.  the biggest one was that my house wasnt clean.  well, hello, i stayed home from work last week to clean my house for the shower.  when our church congregation was challenged to share a meal with someone i told husband that we really didnt have much of a choice.  so i made a crap ton of pasta, salad, bread and brownies and then we waited.  i didnt even ask for an rsvp on the invites, i just decided that if no one showed up that it was totally ok ... we would just eat spaghetti for the rest of our lives. every single person showed except for one guy that had to work.  i would like to extend the challenge that i got at church 2 sundays ago ... share a meal with your neighbors or ask some coworkers to lunch.  the point is to eat and live as a community, loving one another.  

i dont have an instagram picture of the dinner or people but i did have just enough spaghetti left to make baked spaghetti to freeze for after mister gets here.  it felt pretty good to prepare something i know we will really need later when momma doesnt feel like cooking!  

THREE:

on sunday, i headed to meet my parents to ride to a mini family reunion in little washington, nc.  we had a great meal and had a great time catching up and just being together.  

i was also able to take my fabric to my mom's cousin to recover the rocking chair cushions for misters room while in washington.  im hoping to go back and pick it up in a couple of weeks.  

FOUR:

its been pretty humid and rainy all week.  i was so pleased to look out my window on thursday morning to see the sun poking through the trees.  i couldnt help but smile.  

FIVE: 
after work on wednesday, i had some awesome ladies over for tea and coffee ... and some yummy pumpkin bagels.  we had a great time relaxing in my mostly clean living room talking about nothing and everything.  it was such a simple and lovely evening!  

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!

34 weeks pregnancy update

update:

• 34 weeks = 8.5 months
• as of tomorrow, only 5 more weeks (35 days) from my due date
• mister should be around 4.25 lbs and 18 inches long
• no changes in his movement from last week.  on friday night, husband really got to feel him moving around when we stayed up watching a movie. 
• my movement:  not a lot of change here either.  
• sleep:  also, about the same as last week.  
• energy level:  i have seen a lot of change this week in energy.  by about 10 am and then again at 2pm, im ready for a nap.  this is fine except for the fact that im at work and siestas are frowned upon. 
• nursery:  on sunday, i dropped the fabric for the rocker off to my mom's cousin.  she is recovering the cushions and im stoked to see how they turn out.  last night, i played around with our awesome baby monitor and i think i will have to rearrange the room a little to make sure the camera can see into the crib well.  after thats all set, i will start putting together the collage wall.  i was at the flea market on saturday and i found a really great piece to use as a shelf and photo display.  i am waiting for something i ordered from etsy to come in and only need a few more picture frames.  the wall is really coming together in my mind ... lets just hope it doesnt look rediculous when i put it up. 
• belly button:  in
• stretch marks:  none
• we went to tour the hospital on tuesday night.  the staff and rooms seem great.  there was something oddly comforting about being in a room with a bunch of people going thru almost the exact same thing as you.  all the women in our group looked to be in their 3rd trimester and if i had to guess, i would say that maybe only one other couple already has a kid. 
• i finally signed us up for a birthing class.  it was too late to get us into one at the hospital and i had a hard time finding a local place that didnt seem to have an agenda.  unfortunately, its only 2 weeks before our due date so i have to make sure we wont loose all our money if i go into labor before we make it to the class :)

nursery sneak peek

wise wednesday

nursing covers and unicorn hair

source

let me start by saying that im pretty cheap.  this is something that husband points out to me quite a bit.  i am especially cheap when it comes to needs like tires, gas, doctors visits, etc.  i also have a really hard time overpaying for some items like a bra, maternity clothes in general or a nursing cover.  

and now, the point of this post: 
do any of you mothers out there have one of those DRIA nursing covers?  they seem to be one of the most overpriced products out there.  i mean, sure its made of awesome jersey knit material and its super functional, but im pretty sure it can be homemade for about $15 and with very little knowledge of sewing.  i would love for someone that has one to leave a comment about it.  was it everything you hoped it would be and more?  i have zero intention of purchasing or asking for one but i still feel like their pricing should be justified somehow (which they tried to do on their faqs page but im not buying it).  

the only way i would pay $80 for this nursing cover: 

• if it comes with a $3000 savings bond to be used for child's education. 
• guaranteed no pain when breast feeding
• it was sewn together with unicorn hair
• helps melt away any and all pregnancy weight within 2 weeks of purchase
• with every use, the nursing cover tells you things like:
• "you are an awesome mom" 
• "keep up the good work"
• "you look pretty today"

i have seen a few DIY tutorials online so i might give one a try and let you know how it turns out.  now, if only i could get my hands on some unicorn hair ...

fall bucket list

i have seen a lot of bloggers posting wish lists or bucket lists for the upcoming season.  i figured it was time i shared mine as well.

fall 2012 bucket list:

1. have a baby

dont get me wrong, there are a lot of other things i want to accomplish this fall, but if none of the other things happen, ill be ok.  as long as i get to meet my little mister i think i will be satisfied.  

im looking forward to this path im headed down :) 

happy october!