I've Been Nominated :)

So as you may know, I started this blog last year right after giving birth to my little girl, Lillian. I have had so much fun using this as my creative and mommy outlet and as a way for me to get my own personal time and just have fun. I have met a lot of amazing bloggers out there and discover new ones to follow and fall in love with every day. I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Vicki and Livi and Heather of Broken with Remedy! I am so honored and so grateful to be recognized by you ladies and it really means a lot to be nominated for this award. This award is for bloggers with less then 200 followers, and blogs are nominated by other blogs. 

I have answered 11 questions that they have passed on to me below. Then I will be nominating 11 other bloggers to answer the same questions. 

1. How did you decide on the title of your blog?

I wanted a title that perfectly reflected what I was going to be making the blog about, everything from my passion for fashion to my adventures in mommyhood. Polka Dots are one my favorite prints to wear, to decorate, whatever, I love polka dots, and it reflects the fashion aspect of the blog. Pampers, is the brand of diapers I use other then Target brand and the combination had a nice ring to it, and reflects the mommyhood aspect of the blog. So there you have it, Polka Dots and Pampers! 

2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why?

Passion! I have always had a passion for everything creative, style, and the fashion world. It's what guided me to the fashion degree I hold and the career path I chose in college. I am also passionate about my family, my husband, and daughter Lilly, and I've always wanted to be a good wife and mother, so taking time away from one passion to focus on the other was the best decision I made. Now I'm working on balancing everything and trying to reconnect with my creative and fashion side. Passion is what you'll see in my blog :)

3. What's your favorite pastime other than blogging?

Other then blogging or anything fashion/shopping really, my favorite pastime is the mountains. Hiking, climbing, exploring, and just anything outdoors are things I like to explore whether I'm in the mountains or not. The mountains are my favorite place on earth, so just being there is adventure enough for me.  

4. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?

I love being able to create things and just talk about things I'm interested in and want to talk about.

5. What recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you most like to try yourself?

I'd most likely would try the DIY Garland from Old Clothes from Vicki and Livi's Blog craft for holiday decoration, decor for Lilly's room or for special event deocration. I really love this idea and more then likely will be trying this soon :)

6. Where does your blog inspiration come from?

Fashion and my daily life as a mom. 

7. What one country in the world would you like to visit? Why?

Well I would visit both Italy and Greece on the same trip. I have always wanted to visit these two beautiful places and explore and eat incredible food :)

8. If you have children, what are their names? If not, what are your favorite boy and girl names?

One girl named Lillian (Lilly).

9. A long lost relative leaves you a large sum of money. What do you do with it?

Well it depends on the amount of the large sum. My first instinct of course is going to be a shopping spree and buy all the clothes, shoes and handbags I want! However, I'd probably do practical things with it, like pay of any debts, maybe buy a new house, car, put some away for Lilly, maybe start a business, and use a little for shopping :)

10. In your opinion, what is the best blog post you've written so far? (Include the link!)
I don't know if I have a favorite. They're all my favorite :)

11. What is your favorite food?

Food: Pasta / Dessert food: Cake  

And here are my nominations (based on number of facebook followers for their blog page):

Mary @Mary Morelli Personal Blog
Bex @Butcher's Niche
Julia @Writers Block Near You
Jen @La Vida Life as it Comes

Samantha @Moving Peaces
Amanda @Fun in the Oven
Alexandra @With a Heart in Danger
Rebecca @The Glitter Diaries
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished
Jenny @ The Littlest Way
Shelby @Shelby Clarke Blog

These are the steps to accepting your award:

• Answer the 11 questions given to you by the person that nominated you (see below). Please comment on this post with your link when you are done so I can see your answers!

• In your post, link back to the person/blog who nominated you and give a little thank you shout out.

• After completing the questions, nominate 11 bloggers with under 200 followers on the social media platform of your choice, and give them 11 questions of your choice.

• Notify your nominees of their nomination, and provide a link to your post so that they know what to do.

These are your questions (I loved the questions I was given, so I've kept them the same!):
1. How did you decide on the title of your blog?
2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? 
3. What's your favorite pastime other than blogging?
4. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?
5. Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you most like to try yourself? 
6. Where does your blog inspiration come from?
7. What is one country in the world you would like to visit? Why?
8. If you have children, what are their names? If not, what are your favorite boy & girl names?
9. A long lost relative leaves you a large sum of money. What do you do with it?
10. In your opinion, what is the best blog post you've written so far? (Include the link!)
11. What is your favorite food? 

Congrats, ladies! I loved finding your blogs and I will continue to read them! :)

Mommy Uniform: Fall Edition

So on days when it actually feels like fall here I have been living in my go-to fall pieces: my military jacket, skinny jeans, flats or my ankle booties. This combination of pieces are just what I have been gravitating to on a daily basis this fall and the pairing options are endless. From denim shirts, to plaid, to basic or graphic t's, these few pieces make for unlimited amounts of fall outfits. Rotate the skinnies for cords, or a black skirt, or whatever your style fancy may be and you're whole fall wardrobe is complete with just a few pieces. 

Out running errands in my Old Navy Jacket, Banana Republic Striped T-shirt from the summer, Walmart Skinnies, Nine West Flats from a few years ago (similar below), and Bow Wallet/Clutch from Kohls :)

Mommy Uniform by nataliemorelliwaters

Old Navy brown jacket
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy blue jeans
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy ankle boots
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy flat shoes
oldnavy.gap.com

Color Combo to Try: Blush and Grey

One of my favorite color combos to try right now is blush a grey. It's such a light and airy yet chic look and can easily be incorporated to anyones personal style and wardrobe. From comfy and casual, to business and work, to dressing up and going out, this color combo is sure to stand out and is the perfect combo to try this fall. 

    

     

The Mountains Were Calling

So this past weekend, we decided to take a very last minute, spur of the moment trip to see my mother in law and spend a day in the mountains. And by last minute, I mean my husband called me at lunch time on Friday and had this idea and I said I'll start packing! We left Friday evening after dinner so Lilly could sleep on the way up to his mom's house and then we woke up at 5 am on Saturday and hit the road to Boone, NC area. This area is one of my and Josh's favorite places and we love to visit any chance we get. The last time we visited the area was this same time last year for our first anniversary trip. Lilly had so much fun on the trip and my in laws loved it! We had a blast hiking, sight seeing, and light shopping. This trip was well needed for all of us and we look forward to doing it again :)

We went shopping on King Street and Lilly had fun on the street with Josh while his mom and I shopped around. She was fascinated with the leaves on the ground and wanted to pick every single one up and give it to someone. 

High Five For Friday

1.  Baby Shower went great last weekend and all the preparation paid off! It was great seeing some friends and family I hadn't seen in a while.

2. Josh and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with a Lilly-free picnic! Something I had been wanting to do just the two of us for like the entire 2 years we've been married...ha :)

3. I had a much needed shopping day with my momma this week and she got me some fabulous pieces that I won't be seeing until Christmas ;)

4. I started planning and shopping for Christmas gifts in August...yes, August! I start that early in order to plan out what we're getting, budgeting the items in and planning out purchasing those items. Our immediate family is almost done, just need a few more things, and now we can focus on Lilly's gifts and little gifts for each other. 

5. My husband and I have challenged each other to drink 1 gallon of water a day for an undetermined amount of time. I primarily drink water on a daily basis, but I definitely don't drink enough water during the day. We literally started yesterday and it's a little difficult to constantly remind yourself to drink, drink, drink. But just drinking yesterday, we could already feel a difference in our energy level. Can't wait to continue!

How was your week? Link up here!

2 Crazy Years :)

Just some little random facts about anniversaries:

Through history, each year of marriage corresponds with a different meaning and the gifts received. No one knows exactly when anniversaries were first celebrated but it is believed to go back to the Middle Ages. No one knows why various materials were chosen to symbolize each year either.  "However, it is generally believed that increasingly durable gifts were chosen for successive years to represent the progressive strengthening of the marriage relationship.  As the years go by, the gifts increase in strength and worth from paper to diamond." The traditional gift for a second wedding anniversary is something related to the material cotton. It symbolizes the need for a marriage to remain strong and be able to adapt to changes.

Found image on google

Tuesday was our 2 year wedding anniversary and we went on a nice afternoon picnic on Sullivan's Island. We enjoyed sushi and wine (like we had on our first date and the night Josh proposed) and some chocolate covered strawberries we got from a local shop to celebrate. It was beautiful out, just like the day we got married, 70 degree weather and not a cloud in the sky... absolutely perfect! 

Etsy Swap 2014

So this fall I participated in an etsy swap with a group of other bloggers and met two fabulous ladies. This etsy swap is like a secret santa kind of swap where you meet not only one, but two other bloggers in the process: one that you send something to and one that sends you something! I got assigned Bex of Butcher's Niche and loved browsing her blog and getting to know her and shopping for her. I received my etsy swap from Julia of Writer's Block Near You and let me tell you she really did a great job selecting the perfect things that I would love. 

Here's what I got:

Beautiful packaging :)

I am absolutely in love with this wristlet from Amanda Fair Designs!!! I was so happy when I opened the package and saw this and couldn't believe she picked something that is so me right now and just perfect! It really is so me and the colors I am loving right now :D

And she filled it with tons of goodies!

She knows me so well. There is nothing more that I love then office/school/planner supplies and these pencils, washi tape and post-its fit the bill :) The rings are perfect with gold, silver, and rose gold to go with everything! 

I really enjoyed participating in this swap and look forward to doing it again in the future :)

etsy swap

Winnie the Pooh Fall Baby Shower

I was very excited to throw my cousin her baby shower this weekend. I remember as soon as she told me she was pregnant I almost immediately said "I'm throwing you a baby shower!" She is due at the beginning of December and I was really thrilled that October just happened to work out as the perfect time for everyone to have the shower. Winnie the Pooh was my cousin's favorite thing when she was little so what perfect shower theme then a Fall Winnie the Pooh baby shower for her and her little man coming soon. I used all my own fall decorations that I already had from Walmart and The Dollar Tree from a few years ago and got some baby pumpkins to scatter around the house with some other DIY decor. I found the invitations from Party City which were perfect!

My cousin's dad made this awesome winnie the pooh sign! 

Fall scented hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works as thank you take-aways

Entry table with thank-you note envelopes for guests to fill out their addresses

The little winnie the pooh board books I found in the dollar spot at Target!

I made this banner with his name on it as shower decoration and she can use it in her nursery after!

The momma-to-be's seat at the shower

DIY fall banner kit found for $5 at Target made great decoration on the gift table.

My uncle also made this winnie the pooh honey pot for cards! 

Center piece on the food table

 (found the vintage toddler plate at an antique shop in the mountains this past summer)

Cupcake Station

Leaves scatter from Dollar Tree

My husband made these place card holders out of wood in our backyard

Vanilla Bee Cupcakes made by a local girl, Cakes by Cristy! So delicious

Made a cranberry, apple cider punch

(Cranberry juice, apple cider, and ginger ale with sliced apples)

My mom made these adorable momma and baby owl shaped cheese balls!

Fall plates, napkins, and utensils from The Dollar Tree

Used candy corn at the bottom of a mason jar to hold the utensils