SNOW!

it only seems appropriate to blog about SNOW! today as most of us here in Nashville are staying home and staying warm.

when my brother and his family were in town for thanksgiving, we took my nephew to Gaylord Opryland's SNOW! exhibit.  It was only it's second day of being open so there as much as there probably is now (given the real snow that just fell on top of it) but if you are 3 years old, you think it's awesome!!!  Here are some highlights!

this is a live reindeer!!!

 the snowman we built!

decorations of red...

as much as I would LOVE to buy new bedding every single month I'm quite the opposite when it comes to my seasonal decorations.  I tend to keep everything the same from one year to the next (as much as I've been able to).  Each little piece is considered an investment and it has a specific place and purpose.  Well, I broke my rules this year.  I got something new to go on the mantle.

Isn't it cute?! We got them in at Hallmark awhile back.  I saw it, fell in love, saw that it was the slightest bit damaged and got it for even cheaper!!!  I love how the bird on top ties in with my beloved bird vase.  So here is our new sign, with it's new "mantle decoration friends" looking like its been there every year before..

I also got this new little, what a I call, sweater tree!  I think it's super cute and warm and cuddle-y. 

In my mind it would go on the floor by the "fireplace" but Dylan thought it was his Christmas toy.  So now, it's home is the dentist cabinet along with some left over yarn balls I didn't use on my wreath.

christmas wreath in progress

it's still lacking one major part...BUT...at least it's on the door!!!

still have a dead mum and gourd on the porch.  baby steps folks...still taking baby steps.

children's gift idea

As more and more of peers have children...and my siblings have children...I find myself shopping more for their kids then for them. Sorry guys.

Anyway...while I was trying to find christmas gifts for my nephew I saw these fun tempory hand tatoos from The Container Store.  (I've since seen them at Paper Source as well but they are a few dollars more there). 

We did Christmas with my brother and his family over Thanksgiving and Sean had a zebra and shark on his hands for the weekend!  I highly recommend getting them for any little ones in your life!  They make animals and monsters.

my little Ron

The word on the street is that red heads are a dying breed.  As one lady told me a few years ago when I was very single, "it's because no one seems to be marrying red heads."  I was fully aware...thanks lady.  What she meant to say is that red heads aren't marrying red heads, making the gene more and more recessive.  sad.

As you know, I have red hair.  My mother has red hair.  My grandmother has red hair. and so on and so on.  Naturally I would LOVE to have a daughter and for her to have red hair (and thanks to friends and my mother, she already has a name and trip to Disney World lined up).  Sadly Josh has normal brown hair...UNTIL (dramatic music) he grows a beard (which I really love)...RED people.  There is red in the beard.

and now that Josh has proved has he is willing to risk his life for his friends playing wizard chess..

(or help me with a photo shoot...either one)

We may just end up with some Ron or Jenny Weasley's after all!

baby steps towards Christmas

When it comes to decorating for Christmas I am typically a GET IT ALL DOWN IN ONE DAY kind of girl.  Well, that just didn't happen this year. 

I mentioned in the last post that we lost all of our outside decor in the flood.  So, we started with the inside and the Christmas tree.  That lead to the mantle and a few other spots. Piece by piece it is coming together.  I don't like that it's not completely finished...but I'm also not at Josh's house everyday so it doesn't bother me as much.

Here is a mantle sneak peek:

and like I said...the outside is not decorated.  not only is just not decorated for Christmas, but it still has a gourd on the porch. GASP! I know, I know.  Please don't tell Martha!  It will be thrown away soon...right babe?! (hint hint).  I was going to take a picture, but you get this instead ...the x's mark what isn't there.

the outside...the very sad, dead, remains of fall.  but inside it's like a Christmas forest full of pine, evergreen, and everything merry.

How is your house? All decorated? outside AND in?!

addison and family

meet addison...

I got to spend some time with addison and her family last weekend.  Let me tell you, 2 year olds don't LOVE sitting still for pictures.  BUT...I think we got a few keepers in there...

and hopefully some christmas card worthy shots!

such a sweet family!