We did a crazy thing. After starting a family last year we knew we would eventually need more space. After much back and forth about when to buy, where to buy, how much we could afford now v. later, being disheartened by the prices of things in our current location. Basically, everything that was aesthetically our style in Arlington VA is deep deep into seven figures and the ones that were within the tippy top of our price range would require a lot of work - which we would have little left to make happen. We came to the realization that we aren't really players for even semi-desirable homes in the Northern VA area, so we decided to do the thing we NEVER thought we would do and look our in the suburbs. Specifically at a planned community down in Stafford, VA.

We only knew about it because my in-laws live a short 5 minute drive from the community. We thought it would be fun to check out a model home or two back in January, not thinking too too seriously about it. We left Isla with her grandparents for the afternoon and ended up being blown away by one of the models that seemed to check all our boxes. We went back in February, multiple times and again in March. Having the knowledge that we could have a brand new beautiful forever home just 45 mins down route 95 was becoming louder and louder. By April we decided our dollars just went too much further down there to not move forward. It was the best decision for our family, and we were ready to buy. We had serious in depth meetings with the home builder representative so we knew the lot and model but when we got there, someone else had purchased the one we were looking at. We felt deflated...for about 30 seconds. Turned out the mirror image lot that was previously unavailable had just become available again and we were in luck. We reserved the lot, came back the next weekend to work out our structural plans, and here we are. We don't expect to break ground for a few months but we are so excited about this whole process I wanted to share the very beginnings here.

This next chapter is going to be a very new one for us with lots of learning to do. We have very little now as we live in a small one bedroom + den apartment so while moving to a big house is a dream, it's also very VERY intimidating. I can't wait to document the build, the design, and decorating process! Big things happening for the Soybel's in 2019.

The deets: IKEA shelves, basket inserts, & drawer inserts; Stokke crib; LittleMoosebyLiza crib sheet (#6); RugsUSA rug exact one also here; Target mirror, wall paper, floor lamp, and elephant basket; Anthropologie knobs & changing basket; Amazon hangers, changing cart, & shelves; Overstock table lamp; pot was made by me at a pottery place; Soybean sign was a baby shower decoration; PBK laundry basket & night light; Cuddle and Kind lamb doll; Bla Bla puppy doll; Ubbi diaper pail; Hatch sound machine.

Okay first off, let me say the word "nursery" is slightly over-stated for the actual situation I have created here but "baby wall/general baby area" didn't have the same ring to it. If you are a city dweller or small apartment lover like me and are trying to figure out how the heck to fit a baby into the picture then this is the post for you. 

We all know how awful moving in a city can be and and my husband and I truly love the space we currently live in. I could seriously go on and on about all the things that make it my favorite place we have ever lived - the short walk to metro, grocery store, pharmacy, and restaurants, quick work commute, tons of natural light, a huge terrace, it really is just a place with a happy vibe. We moved in the weekend after we got engaged and were the first people to live in the unit. We got married and came home here. We found out we were pregnant here. The thought of leaving it and throwing a new huge life change into the mix all in one year just seemed overwhelming and scary so we decided to try to make it work for at least one more year. That way we can tackle this new parent thing now and moving can be something we worry about later.

Seems like a great idea until you realize how HELLA STRONG those nesting emotions are. They came in HOT and all the sudden I needed the baby to have her own space and it had to be stylish and functional and not interrupt the apartment vibe too much. OKAY? Tall order, right? Just for reference, this is what the space was before - your basic office/den. We tried to get the most out of the space by getting rid of the desk (we put this floating corner desk in another part of the apartment), adding fun wall paper (the perfect square was a great candidate for peal and stick), swapped out the rug for something more crawl around friendly, and converted our beloved Kallax Ikea shelves that we have had for approximately 100 years into little closets using perfectly sized inserts and these rods.  It worked out pretty great but we clearly still needed a changing space. The changing area spills into our bedroom - we just put a cart in the corner and added a changing basket to our dresser which is right next to the den/nursery so even though it's not in the den we think it worked out. Everything we purchased is pretty affordable (I don't think anything is over $100!) but we did splurge on the crib since it has wheels and can convert from a small bassinet size to a regular size crib (space comes at a premium in our apartment). It just seemed like the perfect fit for our current situation. For baby's shoe storage I just covered some cardboard boxes in some of the extra wall paper I had lying around. We are overall very happy with how the tiny space came out! We'll see how living in a place with no walls goes - will report back on that possible disaster choice later but for now the nesting monster inside me is satiated.

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For all the details on my outdoor home decor see this post.

Nothing brings me more joy than spending time over the holidays with loved ones. I love the baking, I love the cocktails, I love the scents, I love the music, I love being able to dress up, I even love the craziness of it all. Each year the weekend following Thanksgiving I put on some holiday tunes, light a spruce fragranced candle, and get jolly decorating my apartment. It's not a huge production and usually only consists of me and my husband but this year I decided to make an evening of it and elevate the experience by putting together a little outdoor leftover dinner table on our terrace and opening up a couple bottles of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines. Considering how much love went into making these dishes to begin with, why not celebrate them twice? 

Obviously, a beautiful table setting is only made more magical with a little bubbly. For as hard as we work and how much stress is felt during the work week, I feel that a long weekend is something to be celebrated in itself so we heated up our favorite dishes from the day before and had a cheers to the start of the season with Gloria Ferrer, California’s most awarded sparkling wine house. The Sanoma Brut was great with our turkey and the Blanc de Noirs, which was my favorite, went great with our leftover homemade apple pie. I had a friend come by to help us finish the bottle and enjoy a little relaxation by the tree (and maybe indulge in a Hallmark Christmas movie).

Gloria Ferrer has received over 500 gold medals and 50 90+ ratings in the last 5 years and I can definitely see why. They taste delicious and are reasonably priced for such great quality. I will be stocking up on that Black de Noirs and bringing them as gifts throughout the season. Who wouldn’t love to unwind with a gorgeous glass of bubbles by the twinkling lights of the holiday? 

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The deets: IKEA table; Target rug; Amazon chairs, tree, tea light holders, & string lights; Gilt napkins; Cupcakes and Cashmere basket; Crate & Barrel napkin rings, plates, utensils, and glasses; CB2 planter.