Tomorrow's To Dos

Deck the walls

Posted on April 3, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Come on down update: While the giddiness of seeing The Price is Right live is surely not to wear off until after the show, I must find a way to get through the next few weeks without daydreaming of spinning the big wheel.

Tonight, I did just that in the form of hanging out with this cute kid:

[me and the Bean]

Her big girl room furniture comes on Friday, so Marcus and I were over tonight to help get things ready for its arrival. Of course when I say we, I mean Marcus helped tear up carpet and remove staples and I ate some pizza and came home to blog/watch West Wing (I’m almost done!). I can’t wait to set everything up and start the decorating process!

First up, I’d like to find some girly (but not too girly) art pieces for her walls. A while back, I came across an awesome illustrator on Etsy, Katie Vernon. I am obsessed with her work and think that one of her pieces would be a perfect fit in Sid’s new big girl room. What do you think?

[check out her work here & here, and blog here]

Posted in Decor, Friends | Tagged art, big kid room, Katie Vernon, nursery, wall art | 1 Comment

Come on down

Posted on April 1, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Hoppy Easter update: The long Easter weekend was filled with sweets, treats and cute little nieces!

[my contribution: lemon Easter egg cupcakes]

[the bunny nailed it this year: my old school Easter basket and some of its contents]

[watching Curious George with the Bean on Easter morning]

[annual Branstad ladies Easter egg hunt]

[promising first signs of spring]

Last night, as the festivities were dying down, I received this group text from my mom:

Yes, you read that right. I am going to the live rendition of The Price is Right that is coming to Des Moines in a few weeks! Growing up with the show, thanks to my Grandma Dreiling, I am pretty knowledgeable on most of the games and am a natural-born Plinko player. I’ve already registered to (hopefully) be a contestant, now all I have to do is brush up on my retail priced items and decide whether or not to make t-shirts. Uh-huh, I’m that excited. Nicole Branstad, COME ON DOWN!

Posted in Family, Holidays | Tagged Easter, The Price is Right | 4 Comments

Hoppy Easter

Posted on March 29, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Thursday is the new Friday update: Having Fridays off is the best!

[Karl loves Fridays too!]

As most of you know, it is Easter weekend and with that comes family get-togethers, the annual search for my old-school basket chock full of goodies and trying not to OD on Reece’s Peanut Butter eggs.

When looking for the perfect Easter outfit, I find it fun to wear color (hey, it’s Spring!) and keep things easy since we’ll be running around most of the day. Pops of color, stripes and florals are huge right now, and I think they would look lovely for brunch, lunch and/or dinner!

[tee, skirt, necklace, clutch, wedges]

What are you wearing for your Easter celebration?

Posted in Family, Fashion, Holidays | Tagged Easter, german shorthaired pointer | Leave a comment

Thursday is the new Friday

Posted on March 27, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Bean’s big girl room update: My mom came across some old pillowcases while cleaning out her hallway linen closet recently, and decided I should inherit them. I wasn’t quite sure what I would do with them, but knew something would come up. And it did: the Bean’s new room!

After working my hand stitched monogram magic on them, they will be a perfect fit for her new twin beds.

[I agree with Reese Witherspoon who said, “My rule is, if it’s not moving, monogram it.”]

Tomorrow is my Friday for the work week since I decided to have another three-day weekend. (Use ’em or lose ’em!) I’m sure I’ll spend my day off preparing a few Easter dishes for our gatherings this weekend. They (the moms) trust me with the veggie trays and a dessert. I think I can manage that!

What are you in charge of for your family’s feast? Got any tried and true dessert ideas for me?

Posted in Decor, Family, Holidays, Recipes | Tagged Easter, monogram, pillowcase | Leave a comment

Bean’s big girl room

Posted on March 25, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Think Spring update: I finished off my staycation to-do list (and then some) over the weekend. Check it out!

[painted my nails in OPI’s Vodka & Caviar]

[slept in – Karl was good at this!]

[snagged some goodies at T.J. Maxx]

My plan for tomorrow is to finish working on a special gift for the Bean. I am helping my sister design her new big girl room, and so far things are going great. I still can’t believe how more grown up she is every time I see her! Here is the inspiration board I put together to get the design juices a-flowin’.

Posted in Decor, Design, Family | Tagged big girl bedroom, weekend | 3 Comments

Think Spring

Posted on March 22, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Chop and snip update: I had the day off (SPRING BREAK!) so I filled it with staycation errands of course.

[go for a run: favorite workout song right now]

[get a haircut, but ended up not going as short]

And since I had the entire day, I had to spend a little time with the Bean too! Duh.

[hard at work on our computers]

The only things left on my staycation to-do list for the weekend are painting my nails and sleeping in. Horrible, I know. It should be known that I’m not that great at the whole ‘sleeping in’ thing (just ask Marcus), but I plan to do my best on Sunday morning.

Hope you all have a fab weekend. One that is warmer than mine will be. THINK SPRING!

Posted in Beauty, Workout | Tagged haircut, Mumford&Sons, running | Leave a comment

Chop and snip

Posted on March 21, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Oh this is ladies night update: Checked G.N.O. off the staycation to-do list tonight with some super lovely ladies. Sometimes there is just nothing better than girl talk, a raunchy game and red wine.

[have a girls night out, check]

Ever since I saw the post Chopped from Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere, I’ve been wanting to get my hair cut. And that is exactly what I’ll be checking off of my staycation to-do list tomorrow. This is what (I think) I’m going for…

Are you thinking about getting a new ‘do soon? A little spring cleaning of the hair follicles perhaps? Do share!

Posted in Beauty, Blogs, Friends | Tagged Cards Against Humanity, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Elizabeth Olsen, Emily Elizabeth, Emily Schuman, haircut | Leave a comment

Oh this is ladies night

Posted on March 20, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Staycation update: I checked a few things off of my staycation to-do list over the past few days. Check it out:

[catch up over latte at Smokey Row with Kiley from A Sequin Dress at Breakfast]

[try a new recipe – Stuffed Pepper Enchiladas via LaaLoosh]

Tomorrow night I am heading over to my friend Valerie’s new house that she (+ her fiance) are doing a little reno work on. I love seeing old homes get a new lease on life and can’t wait to see what she is doing with hers.

I have known Val since high school and she has one of the coolest jobs around as an art teacher. She’s even more awesome because she’s a fellow blogger and writes about her experiences and projects over at Miss Arty Pants. And if that wasn’t enough, she even has her own Etsy shop, InValYoubles, featuring all sorts of fabulous handmade accessories. I definitely suggest you check both out!

[my fave pieces from InValYoubles]

Posted in Accessories, Blogs, Friends, Recipes | Tagged Invalyoubles, Miss Arty Pants, Smokey Row, staycation, stuffed peppers | Leave a comment

Staycation

Posted on March 18, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Green with envy update: It was a tough weekend as evidenced here:

and here:

It is Spring Break here in Des Moines this week which means the office is eerily quiet and it takes half the time to get to and from work. While my co-workers and friends are lying on the beach somewhere sipping fruity beverages out of coconuts, I am stuck here in Des Moines where spring refuses to be sprung.

Trying to remain optimistic (and not discredit the groundhog forever), I am taking this opportunity to make a few plans for a staycation. Here is my list for the week:

Are you spending spring break close to home or in some tropical locale?

Posted in Travel, Work | Tagged german shorthaired pointer, Karl, spring break, staycation, to do lists | 2 Comments

Green with envy

Posted on March 15, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

March mojito madness update: Over the lunch hour today I had the chance to participate in a lunch-n-learn session in our Wellness test kitchen. It was fitting because it was all about smoothies and juicing.

After I got off work tonight, my fam came over and I whipped up a batch of these bad boys to enjoy while we waited for the big showdown game to start (KU vs. Iowa State).

[frozen green mojito recipe via Joy of Smoothies]

They are so refreshing (plus a healthier take on the original) and I am already dreaming about sipping one poolside come summertime!

Will you be heading out to any St. Pat’s festivities this weekend? I’m thinking about checking out the parade tomorrow afternoon if the sun decides to come out. If you are celebrating this weekend, be safe and be sure to remember to wear green – you don’t want to get pinched! People will be envious of your emerald awesomeness if you show up to celebrate wearing any of these festive items:

[blouse, necklace, belt, flats, tote]

Posted in Family, Fashion, Holidays, Recipes | Tagged green, green smoothie, mojitos, St. Patrick's Day | Leave a comment