Getting in the Christmas Spirit

This month as been a whirlwind of fun! I have lots I want to share with you, but first I wanted to show you our Christmas decor before it's actually Christmas! Then I hope to be back blogging more regularly - iPhoto please work!

Last year I just couldn't get into the Christmas spirit around our house and we didn't even put up a tree. We just didn't feel like dealing with it since we were in a small house and didn't know where to put it, plus we had a 4 month old rascal of a puppy. I know, we were scrooges! But this year has been a 180 for us. I've been really embracing and enjoying the season. Ryan and I put up decorations inside and out the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving, I've been listening to Christmas music in my car, and (for the most part) I've felt ahead of the game on gift shopping and wrapping. Maybe it's also because it's our first Christmas in our first home. Or the snow we had last week. Whatever it is I'm liking it and I'm excited to have our own Christmas at home on Christmas Eve Eve. We'll be opening our stockings, cooking dinner, sipping wine (and hot cocoa) and relaxing by the fire. Then we'll be off to Huntsville to spend the rest of the holiday weekend with our families-- wahoo!

Our Christmas tree still all wrapped up in her home for the holidays

In previous years we've had to buy skinny-mini trees since we would take an end table out of the living room to make room

This year I asked for the fattest one they had!

All decorated!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Now it was time to sit back, relax and cozy up by the fire

Other Christmas touches around the house...

It's snowing!!!!

See!!

Sadie was loving it

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are. Amen.

Master Bath Re-do

Oh I am so excited to show you what we've been working on recently. We found a vanity that we LOVED at one of our favorite shops around town - Nadeau. We were looking for a furniture-looking vanity and knew we wanted a marble top... then we saw this beauty that had it all wrapped up into one.

They had only gotten 2 of these in the store and one of the marble tops had broken, so we knew we had to decide fast if we wanted the 'good one' or not. We went home that night to measure the space and left a voice mail after hours saying "we'll take it!". That night I picked out and ordered a pretty little sink to go on top, a slick new faucet and a new light fixture. And the very next day we went to pick up our new vanity, and that is how the master bath re-do got underway. That next weekend we made our way to Lowes to pick up the supplies to cover the tile on the walls with beadboard and of course wood for the chair rail, corners, etc. We grabbed some primer and white tile paint and got started!

But first let me remind you of the very blue...

BEFORE

Only slightly better, this is how we've been living with it...
BEFORE

The process of putting up beadboard over tile was not as easy as we imagined, and it took much longer than we expected since we obviously couldn't nail into the tile. So one week and 10 tubes of Liquid Nails later...

And I am so proud (as usual) of my hubby and his awesome house renovating skills. He is a miracle worker! He did everything (well I helped a little, but probably was just more in the way) in this bathroom and the only thing we had to pay someone to do is cut the holes in the marble top for the drain and faucet - AWESOME!


One more time...

BEFORE

AFTER

We still have some tweaking to do, i.e. raise and center the light fixture, touch up the paint here and there, re-silicone the shower perimeter, and paint the shower tile solid white (we're digging the blue floor after our transformation so that will stay!). We are LOVING our new master bath!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope you all have a great holiday weekend and safe travels to and from! Don't forget to count your blessings and remember how much you have to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

And if you watch SEC college football and know what the Iron Bowl is continue reading... (my friend Carol sent this today... not sure who wrote it)

Twas the Night before the Iron Bowl, when all through the land,
The media morons were still in search of one eighty grand.
Cam wasn’t worried, he had not even a care,
The only thing puzzling him was, “Who is this Bear?”

The bams were all laughing and full of themselves,
Each one convinced there would be something else.
Thayer and Schlabaugh had broken the news,
And Finebaum was convinced there must be more shoes.

When out of the east, there arose a great fuss,
As each Auburn player made his way to the bus.
On toward t-town the driver did go,
It was just about time for Cam to put on his show.

Their plan was failing and lies being exposed,
As Cam rode on the bus and peacefully dozed.
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But their miniature coach, awestruck with fear.

Standing five feet tall, a lively ole prick,
I knew in a moment it must be Lil’ Nick.
Curse those “War Eagles” his minions they came,
And he snorted and snarled as he called them by name.

“Now, Thayer! Now, Finebaum! Now Schad and Schlabaugh!
On Herbstreit! On Holtz! Yes! You’ve assisted the cause!
To ESPN, Fox News and them all,
Now bash away, bash away, bash away all.

We must tell more lies about cheating and cash,
Or pray to The Bear that their team bus will crash.
They are almost here and I don’t have plan.
No one has stopped him, he just ran and he ran!

I have watched so much film and I’ve plotted and schemed,
But he is so much better than I ever had dreamed.
He zigs and he zags and I swear that he flies,
He does things on the field not seen with my eyes.

We will not stop him, like so many before,
They will move the ball at will and easily score.
Our fans will be furious and then start to clamor,
When Cam jumps in the crowd and leads the reverse “rammer jammer”.

So off to Texas I will run, as fast as I can,
And meet with Jerry Jones, since he is the man.
I will leave bammer hanging and holding the bag,
Merry Christmas you rednecks, now print that on bamamag.

- Author Unknown


WAR EAGLE!!!

iPhoto Blues

Our iPhoto is frozen! :( As soon as we can get it up and running again I'll be posting away!

Until then, hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Sneak Peek

Ryan and I are back at it again!

Once we found this we knew it would be perfect...

... so this became part of our bedroom decor for a week...

I can't wait to show you what we did with it!! ... Full post coming soon!

War Eagle Weekend

Ryan and I ventured down to Auburn (first time back this year!) a few weeks ago to celebrate Taylor and River's engagement (tailgate style - so fun!) and of course to cheer on the Auburn Tigers against LSU. This game happened to be a highly anticipated one since both teams were undefeated prior to this match up! We couldn't have asked for better weather and we loved every second of being back on the plains.

We stayed at Nick's lake house on Lake Martin -- gorgeous!

Saturday morning ready to make our way to Auburn

Being back on campus always brings back so many fun memories - so proud to be an Auburn tiger

Some of the girls at the soon-to-be Price's tailgate

Taylor and Linds

Patty, Ryan, me and Erin

More of the girls - war eagle!

Rivers and Taylor -- Congratulations! So happy for you guys! So glad we could all celebrate together -- Auburn style!

Love this girl so much!

The Tiger Walk, an Auburn tradition, -- cheering on our football players as they make their way to the stadium

bff

The mommas and us!

Beta tailgate #1

Me and kiki! xoxo

Beta tailgate #2

I even saw Ashy on our way in the stadium! Congratulation on your engagement! So happy for you!!

Saying we were pretty high up would be an understatement, but at least we had pretty views of the entire stadium and campus!

Ryan and I literally ran up the ramps to ensure we didn't miss the eagle fly. I think the upper deck ramps are a combined mile long. At least it felt that way in heels! So worth the sore feet to see our beloved Nova fly!

I love it when the band takes the field... the excitement is building!

Go Auburn!

I heard the rumors, but once I saw the USA formation I knew...

We were having a fly over!! Such a thrill every time. It give me goose bumps!

Go Tigers!

And now the team is ready to storm the field!! And the crowd goes wild...

Erin and me

Patty and Erin

Ryan and me - WAR EAGLE

LSWho!? Game over and still undefeated! I said it's great to be an Auburn tiger!