on our first date of christmas...

This is our second year to do 12 dates of Christmas inspired by lovetaza and marci. So, now we can official call it our 2nd Annual "Dates of Christmas" (because there is no such thing as a 1st annual, people -no matter how many times it is used incorrectly.) This year we kicked it off by completing our outdoor lights at the new house and driving around the neighborhood looking for lighting ideas for next year, as well as making sure we weren't outdone by too many houses. ;)

After driving around listening to the XM Holiday Traditions station and admiring twinkle lights, we returned home to finish the last season of Fringe in the warm glow of lights on the mantle. After discussing the 5 seasons we watched together over the last few years, we went into the den - which we have formally renamed the "Christmas room" - where Tison read books to the belly. I think baby girl really liked it.

Here are a few pictures of our "Christmas room" decorating process:

Putting this village out every year really adds that Christmas warmth to the home. Since we (my sisters and I) have been collecting them since I was in elementary school - they have been a part of our Christmas tradition for what seems like forever. Every year when I pull them out of their little boxes I find something new that love about them. While we used to set up all of our village collections in one room at my parents, we have all taken our little part of the metropolis to our own homes. However, these houses make me call upon Christmas' past and gazing upon them always gives me that childlike feeling of Christmas.

lately through the linz...

life according to my iphone:

What can I say- pregnancy is tiring! By the time I have done the things, I am too tired to blog about doing the things! I have, however, been snapping photos along the way. Here is a "lately through the linz" update for ya...

We did some house hunting and we played some mini golf. I used this specially-for-me reserved parking.

I've craved burgers, I've watched my belly grow, I bought an outfit for little girl, and I have loved the fall.

We went to the new Dunkin' Donuts and it was so good- the chocolate filled ones are my new favorite, but their lattes are even better than their donuts!

We celebrated Andrew turning one, I visited Mom's Day Outs, I got to see baby girl sucking her thumb. AND we signed our lives away- err- I mean, bought a new house!

We said goodbye to the Dudley- my home for 5 years... we traveled to Canton and found this adorable halloween outfit for next year ;)

 We went on a road trip to Tahlequah, Oklahoma with Russell and Tiffany for Nick and Angie's wedding.

We held a successful work meeting, Tison finished the fence and the boys were welcomed into our new home, and I picked out chalk paint at Milling Around for the nursery furniture!

I read Divergent and loved it- Allison threw an amazing book club. We are currently reading Gone Girl.

We painted the nursery walls and the furniture and picked out bedding...

We celebrated Halloween at Kate's house with delicious treats and pumpkin carving.

 We made smores.

I went to Paul's wedding and watched Maggie dance, I started noticing Christmas items in stores already. We had special visitors from Chicago over for dinner. Aiden is such a precious baby girl! And Tison and I both dressed up for Halloween at work. Aren't we festive ;)

 Our friend Leslie threw a Halloween party and her house was decorated to the nines! Loved it. There was also a pretty heated debate about the rules of beer pong... yep, my husband led the discussion.

 The boys are having a ball in their new backyard. I am enjoying watching them play in this bigger space. We had the family over for 'family dinner' and Tison made homemade french onion soup!

I have been looking around at TJMaxx, Marshalls, Tuesday Morning, and World Market for home decor ideas :)

I am 26 weeks pregnant! Whoohoo!

 And we are still going strong with Movie Night every Thursday- last night we watched White House Down (a very silly movie) while dining on bbq bacon wrapped chicken, bbq beans, salad, hawaiian rolls, and rice crispy treats (a very good meal)!

Well, there ya go! We are all up to date now :) xoxo

baby blueprints...

Like most creative things, I procrastinate until I have a vision - and then once I "see" the space, I want to do it all in a day! Last weekend Mr. T and I painted the baby girl's nursery in Benjamin Moore's revere pewter. We are both in LOVE with this perfect neutral gray color.

The obvious next step is the furniture. After watching Annie Sloan chalk paint tutorials throughout my lunch break on Monday and Tuesday, I went to Milling Around on Tuesday night and purchased French Linen and Old White, the clear wax sealer, and an Annie Sloan brush to paint the glider, the bookshelf, the dresser/changing table, and 1930s bassinet I found in Canton, Tx. Once I started (at 6 pm) it was really hard to stop (at 12 am). With no prep work required with this amazing paint, I gave everything but the dresser a coat of paint and it looks fabulous. I will show you before and after pictures once I sand it to give it an antique finish and a clear wax it to seal it. I am going with very neutral and calming tones in the room - French Linen, Old White, Blush, and Gold Accents. I hope it is going to turn out very French Country, but we will see! We ordered the crib yesterday and it will be in Friday. Eeeek! T and I are super excited to see it all come together. I have pinned a million nurseries I love on Pinterest. This is a sketch I made of the layout I am going for in baby girl's nursery. (please no making fun of my drawing!)

I have been busy sending links to my mom and sisters to see what they think of crib bedding I have found online and getting their opinion on rugs, sconces, prints, basically everything... I am having so much fun dreaming up this little room that I decided to go ahead and draw out the front room as well. I don't have 1/2 the stuff I want to make it look this way, but that's the fun part - the search- right!?

I found out pretty quickly that I am really terrible at drawing chairs and anything to scale!

I am going to go with soft blues and tans in the front room area. This is my inspiration room from Blue Egg Brown Nest, whom I found on my crazy chalk paint youtube video time warp. She is just amazing.

Anyway, what do you think? Any tips on discount places to search for cool stuff in the Shreveport/Bossier area? I went to TJMaxx at lunch break today and had to walk away from some pretty pottery and glass vases... gotta finish that baby room before I move to another one! Hope everyone is doing well :) xoxo

a little of this, a little of that...

Is there any better feeling than when you tidy up and everything has found it's perfect place? Some of you might always put things were you got them- I, on the other hand, go through the house like a snail- you can quite literally follow my slime through the house... (ok, not literally. That is gross) I have always been like this, but as you might remember one of the few new years resolutions I made for myself was to be neat and organized. Last night I attacked my room with hangers, pledge, and a hammer. I finally hung this mirror I bought 2 years ago. I found cute hooks at Big Lots over the weekend that I am now using to hang my long necklaces. I think it looks nice under that ole mirror. The crosses were a birthday gift that I hadn't found a proper place for until now... so what do you think? Too much or just right? Happy Wednesday all!