I'll be HOME for Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Stephen and I purchased our first home together this past August. The house we lived in before was Stephen's before we got married and he was very good at letting me transform it from a bachelor pad to our home, but buying one together and making all the decisions together has been great. We are really enjoying making it our own.

Our Home

Welcome!

I have tried to make a transition this year from glitz and glitter to a little more rustic Christmas decor to go more with the day to day decor of our house. My mom brought me this angel on one of her trip to see me and I knew exactly where she was going to go! I love her:)

The window panes are on the mantle all year but decided to incorporate them into the Christmas decor. I love the way this turned out. Simple but love it!

The enitre view!

The NOEL banner was one of my pinterest projects.

And our tree is in the study. There wasn't really a good place in the den and I thought I wasn't going to like it here, but I love that we can still see it from the den.

I had not planned on putting up a tree this year but I was surprised! My parents were here visiting one weekend and my mom and I came home from shopping and Stephen and my dad had put the Christmas tree up{sans decoration}. But nonetheless, I was impressed!

This is our breakfast area

I love having a set table:)

I have had this Santa picture and it fit perfectly right here:)

And finally the room I have been wanting...Dining Room! I am such a traditionalist!

I could not wait to get a hutch and put my china on display! And I painted the
12ft ceilings in the room--it was a JOB!

And here it is!

I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve

For the past three years we have spent Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve with our great friends we consider family in Cabot! We look forward to this day each holiday season! Thank you Cara and Davy Carter for the great hospitality!

Group Picture:)

Pretty ladies

Three peas in a pod

The Tiptons

Cara with her famous corn dip!

Cara and April

The Hostess with the Mostess!!

One Year Later...

Dad and I after his final radiation treatment

August 2010

August 2010 was a great month because my Dad was finishing his treatment. August 2011 has been a fabulous month because my Dad got great test results!!! My Dad had another lab test and his results came back low which means he is cancer free:) We give all of our thanks and praise to the Good Lord above!! So to honor my Dad I donated 11 inches of hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to be made into a wig. The wigs are made for women battling cancer to bring a little bit normalcy back to their lives.

I had discussed this with Nikki, my stylist, before {like a year ago} and she told me that I was not donating my hair we could find someone else to donate it for me! lol!  I prepared her with a text that morning so that she wouldn't try to talk me out of it:)

We measured and cut!

An 11" red hair ponytail that is headed to Pantene to be made into a wig! I hope that I see this on one of my patients one day:)

 

Thank you to Nikki for doing such a great job! I want be back for a long time:) Now on to biotin and horse shampoo! At least that is what I hear makes your hair grow...And I have already purchased both!!

The Big Top

I was so excited for this past weekend. I packed up all my breakables and tried to child-proof my house for the weekend. My twin nephews came to visit for the first time!! We always go to their house because it is just easier for everyone, but I was excited to have them all here.

My sister in law,Courtney, and I took them to the circus on Saturday Morning, while the big boys (Stephen and Nick) played golf.

Before the Circus, excited about the elephants!

Although Guy held onto me tight and watched out of the corner of his eye.

And Kline watched the whole things from Mom's lap

They had a great time!

Snow cones, anyone?!

walking on a wire with someone on his shoulders...impressive!

Finally, THE ELEPHANTS!

So cute!

I just think it is amazing that these enormous animals can move around like this!

Horsey standing up!

We had a great weekend! Stephen and I are ready for them to come back!

Three Wonderful Years

On June 7, Stephen and I celebrated our third anniversary!!

We celebrated by staying at the Capitol Hotel in Little Rock. This is were we stayed the night of our wedding. I just want to put my wedding dress back on every time we walk back through those doors:) It was perfect since it was a week night, so we just packed our bags for a one night stay down the road.

Champagne was waiting on us in our room.

Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Tipton!

Then we headed downstairs to enjoy dinner at Ashley's.
Neither one of us had ever been here for dinner, but it was perfect for our special occasion.

Everyone that came to our table wished us a Happy Anniversary!

We felt very special!

Our menu was even personalized!

We had a great night! I love our life together! We have had a wonderful three years and I can't wait for 100 more! We are so blessed to have the love and support of our awesome family and friends!
I love you Stephen!

Drapes Made with Love

I have been wanting drapes for a long time (three years in June..to be exact)! So this year for my birthday, my fabulously talented mother made me drapes. I mean how lucky can I be to have custom drapes made by mother:) It just makes our home feel more "homey"!! I love them!

My Beautiful Drapes!

A close-up of the fabric. I love all the colors in the fabric!

The "Big" Picture..

And a little spring decor! I am just loving the weather outside!

Happy Spring!

{ And thanks again Mom! I wish I had inherited all your talents:) }

Happy LOVE Day!

Stephen and I started our Valentine's celebration last night by going to see Just Go With It. It is the movie with Jennifer Ainston and Adam Sandler and part of the movie was filmed at The Grand Waliea Resort where we stayed for our honeymoon! We had no idea, so it was a great surprise. We definitely want to go back there...someday!! I am looking forward to a dinner prepared by my hubby tonight! I hope you all find yourselves surrounded by love today!

Stephen and I on our honeymoon in Hawaii