curated nest

And so it begins… I am currently 39 weeks and 2 days and let me tell you, the aches and pains of pregnancy are absolutely real at this point. I have been really lucky during this pregnancy overall, though. I hadn’t really started feeling horrible until about 38 weeks. The back pain increased, walking turned into waddling and pregnancy insomnia is now in full effect. You know it’s bad when I’m writing this blog post while currently bouncing on a birthing ball.

Here’s what’s been happening since I gave a true pregnancy update or written a pregnancy post:

Baby W’s nursery is done. I am currently waiting for this custom bow holder from Magnolia Sweet Things (I love Etsy) and this rug I ordered from Overstock.com as the final thing to go under my rocking chair so it stops sliding when I sit in it. I kept her nursery somewhat neutral, going for greys, whites, blush pinks and golds. I have butterfly decals on the wall where her crib is and a grey rocker custom selected for me by Curated Nest (check out my sponsored post with them here).
We took all our classes. Per my healthcare provider’s instruction, we completed the three classes they strongly recommend we take prior to our little one’s arrival. Those are: breastfeeding, newborn care and preparing for childbirth. The most informative and bearable was the preparing for childbirth class. We even met another couple who is due a few weeks after me, so our little one with already have a playmate around the same age!
Hospital bags are ready. Baby W’s bag was ready at 36 weeks and I finally finished packing mine last weekend. I know, I know… it’s just hard to truly pack when I’m still using things on a daily basis (brushes, deodorants, etc), but I bought some travel sized items to take with me and everything is packed.
Car seat is installed. We officially installed the car seat in my car. Thanks to my father-in-law, we got our Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System that comes with a car seat base for easy (and safe!) install. We’re surely ready to bring our little one home from the hospital once she decides she wants to make her debut.
Labor playlist is ready. If you didn’t read yesterday’s post, I shared my labor and delivery playlist with you! Music has always played a big part in my life, so I can’t imagine going through something so monumental without music. Here’s the post if you’d like to check it out.
Trying to kick-start labor. I know I really shouldn’t be trying my hardest to get this little one out, but I am just so uncomfortable at this point. I’ve been googling ways to kick-start labor and they range from nipple stimulation and lots of sex to castor oil and drinking raspberry leaf tea. At the time this post was written, lots of raspberry tea has been consumed. We’ll see which of these options helps!

How did you feel this close to delivery? I’d love to know in the comments!

This post is sponsored by and in partnership with Curated Nest

At 34-weeks pregnant you would think that my little girl’s nursery would be completely set up and ready to go for when she arrives this December. Guess again. While my nesting instinct has kicked in in terms of getting the house cleaned up and organized for her winter arrival, my little one’s nursery is still very, very bare. The only thing I have in there right now is a full length mirror that has a frame I need to repaint, a desk lamp and and canvas art that reads “Spread the Sparkle.” With working full-time and being really tired at night, finding the time to actually sit down and order my nursery decor is surprisingly difficult for this soon-to-be millennial mama.

Enter Curated Nest. When interior designers – and recent first-time moms – Erin Coren and Lina Galvao were designing nurseries for the bundles of joy, they realized that new parents needed an easier way to shop and design their own nurseries. They needed a one-stop-shop. So Erin and Lina took their interior design talents and started Curated Nest, a website where soon-to-be and new parents can go to browse their creative nursery styles, purchase all the furniture and décor they need, or use their online interior design services for something truly custom.

Perfect for millennial parents who love to do everything online, Curated Nest’s online interior design service is an option not to miss if you’re waiting until closer to delivery to design your nursery. You can purchase the Petite Nest ($149) or the Dream Nest ($349) where you can have your nursery, toddler room or playroom custom designed for you by Lina and Erin.

The Petite Nest option is more of a kick start to designing your nursery. If you’re the creative type who just needs some guidance, this is probably the option for you. Here’s what you’ll get:

Complete a brief questionnaire and send back to Curated Nest so they can gauge your style.
Send Lina and Erin links to your Pinterest or Houzz boards, as well as any registries you have open as well as any photos of the room you can provide.
One week after you send them the questionnaire, links and photos, Curated Nest will send you a custom nursery style board with products tailored for your lifestyle and design.
You can purchase anything you like straight from your personalized link on their website.
While there are no revisions at the Petite Nest level, you can upgrade to the full online interior design service, Dream Nest, to reap those benefits, a complete personalized experience.

As for the Dream Nest, you can choose to design your nursery (toddler room or play room) and you’ll get everything in the Petite Nest package plus:

Revisions
Access to Curated Nest’s secret designer vendors
Floorplan showing exactly where every item will go
Personal shopping and checkout page
Detailed designer’s style notes and setup guide
Registry concierge where Curated Nest will help you share your custom design on your registry, build your registry and offer a 10% discount (Baby Nest option)

I had the fantastic opportunity to try out Curated Nest’s

After completing my questionnaire and sending links to my Pinterest board, Amazon and Babies ‘R’ Us registries, Erin and Lina scheduled a 30-minute call with me a few days later. We were able to get to know each other a little more (which is SO important) and they were able to gauge my style a bit better while I was able to see how well our personalities would mesh and how well they understood my vision for my little girl’s room.

One-week after that phone call, I received my style board. I have to say that Lina and Erin nailed it on the head with my style. I consider myself a classy-chic-subtle glam type and have a vision of greys, pinks, golds and whites for my baby’s nursery. My style board from Curated Nest was spot on. Here is my style board:

So in love with what they suggested, I ended up purchasing a few things right away: the rocking chair (the beige wasn’t calling my name, but the chair in grey was) and a fitted crib sheet they recommended with a floral, watercolor pattern. I’m considering buying a few more items as well, including the cat pillow, which they selected in honor on my original baby, my black and white cat! Perk: Lina and Erin only suggest products they’d buy for their own kids. That is a definite plus!

My overall experience working with Curated Nest was fantastic. Erin and Lina really listened to what I had to say during our phone call and I could tell they referenced my questionnaire, links and photos while creating my style board as it features products I would have picked myself. As a soon-to-be millennial mom, this is a service I highly recommend. I didn’t have to leave my house or get changed out of my comfy sweats and it keeps things simple and easy.

Check out the slideshow below for a close up of some of the products in my style board.

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Have you tried Curated Nest’s online interior design services before? I’d love to know in the comments below!

Pregnancy Update: 39 Weeks

Nursery Inspo: Kick Start Designing Your Nursery with Curated Nest