Happy New Year!!!!

2011 has been an amazing year and I hate to see it go, but I know that 2012 will have so many wonderful things in store for us and I'm really looking forward to finding out what is to come!
As for resolutions, well, I'm being a realist this year.  There are so many things I want to focus on; continuing to make my house a home, focusing on my health, and most of all focusing on my family.
I'll be posting more about how I'm going to be doing all of these things throughout the next week.  I'm excited to share all of the things that I have found that work for me.
But as for tonight, I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Source: google.com via Kathe on Pinterest

O Tannenbaum

"How often has not at Christmastime

A tree like you given me such joy!"

We had so much fun decorating all of our Christmas trees this year.  Drew and Emma both have their own tree in their bedrooms.  The loved decorating them and it was a very special moment for each of them to be able to put the topper on each of their trees.
Every night my heart is so warm when I see them looking at their Christmas trees.  They really get so much joy from them.

Emma's Tree in her window makes a nice addition to the front of the house. When her blinds are open you see in addition to all of the bushes lit, a Christmas tree in the front bay window, and her Christmas tree in the top middle window.


Drew's Christmas tree sits perfectly on his train table and can be seen from the back yard.

Emma's Upcoming Room Make-Over

I am completely in love with Mary Blair's artwork. My favorite things at Disney are pretty much all designed by her. I love "It's A Small World" and what girl doesn't giggle at the thought of riding The Tea Cups? I know I do.
It's time to make Emma a "big-girl room" and Mary Blair is the main inspiration. I cherish the memory of riding The Tea Cups with Emma for the first time and I want to represent that.  I also love Emma's personality which is both colorful and very girlie.  So that will definitely be a part of her room too.  I'm excited about figuring out how it'll all come together.

Source: addisonswonderland.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: addisonswonderland.com via Mary on Pinterest

I love this lamp (here is the tutorial for it) and the little boots next to it that I'm sure come from Joyfolie

Source: dearlillieblog.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: dearlillieblog.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

I really can't wait to get started after the holidays!

Holy Chevron!

So you know how this time of year all you see are the "top 20 lists" and how people are looking back at the year? Well one thing that I have to take note of from 2011 is the all mighty Chevron. It was EVERYWHERE! Seriously, Pinterest it or Google it and look at images. If you have been following any kind of styling, you'll see Chevrons somewhere in there.
For example:

Source: Uploaded by user via Robyn on Pinterest

Source: musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Source: littlemisspennywenny.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: modernchichome.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: nailasaurus.blogspot.com via AliGlam on Pinterest

Source: thehouseofsmiths.com via Mary on Pinterest

You see what I mean. If you branded ANYTHING this year, you probably have a Chevron in there. If you had your hand in any DIY projects like making rugs for your home, you probably had a Chevron in there. If you let a professional interior designer anywhere near your home, there are Chevrons in there somewhere! It was out of control!
But, with all of that said, I actually do love them, so it's a trend I'm thankful for.

A Merry Christmas Snuggle

Remember my post about snuggling up with Drew at Christmas (I was pregnant with Emma at the time) and watching The Polar Express?

Well, tonight is the night for us to do it again as we have every year.  So here comes the hot chocolate, Christmas PJ's, Polar Express, and precious time with my babies.
Merry Christmas!

Rudolph Pancakes

We have been enjoying our slow mornings together now that Drew is on Christmas break and we don't have to rush out of the door in the mornings.
I saw the idea to make these adorable Rudolph Pancakes on Pinterest.  So we enjoyed some this morning.  I love Christmas!

A Business With A Good Sense Of Humor

I love doing business with a company that has a good sense of humor. Without giving away too much, I'll tell you that I got a package that I ordered for Colin for Christmas, and when I opened it up, this is what I saw:



Obviously this little guy is not what I ordered, but how funny to find this little guy amongst the packing peanuts!

Centerfold Girl

"My blood runs cold, my memory has just been sold"  Remember that song?
Well, Colin's angels are the centerfold!
Both of us!  His Ducati and his wife!  Well, ok, not his wife herself, but her photography!!!!
I was pretty excited when I received our US DESMO 2012 calendars and flipping through it I saw that my picture made it as THE CENTERFOLD!!!!!  I couldn't believe it!  What an exciting moment, when you know that one of your pictures has been chosen to publish in a calendar.  And Colin was double proud because not only was his wife's photography chosen, his motorcycle is the subject of the picture!!!! in his garage (which, by the way, is another one of his babies.  haha)
Then, as if that wasn't enough, we kept flipping to see all of the pictures and discovered that we also made the entire November layout!!!  We were speechless and honored to say the least.
Thank you to Jim Calandro and Steve Carrell for putting together such an amazing calendar and including my work in the process.  I truly feel honored.

Annual Christmas Picture

Every year I take a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree. This year the picture was taken in the Christmas PJ's that Bobby (our elf on a shelf) brought us. You see, Bobby promised us that every year Santa will give him the kids' Christmas PJ's on Bobby's second night with us. This year they got some adorable snowmen PJ's. Of course Emma's are pink and Drew's are blue.
The picture shows just how much they have grown from one year to the next (and also how static our tree continues to be every year... I know, I know, it shows how lazy traditional I am).

The kids look so cute in the comfy little PJ's. Can you find Bobby? He left their PJ's under the tree that morning and he wanted to land in a spot that allowed him to watch them find them.

Here are some pictures from years past

Keeping Up With The Joneses

While we were in Orlando over Thanksgiving (more to come on that) we went out with the camera and took some gorgeous pictures. Karen's kids are so adorable and they really have the personalities to match! We had a great time and the kids were great little models (mom and dad were too). I just love how all of the pictures turned out and even more, I love the cute little video we made from the photo shoot.

Peppermint Dreams

Going to have some sweet peppermint dreams after enjoying these treats.  Don't you wish you could just go sliding down the red stripes of a peppermint stick, plunging into the pool at the bottom?

I love "soaking up" the holidays with the family.  When I saw Martha Stewart's peppermint egg nog, I knew we had to have some.  

Batteries Not Included

Peace on Earth.  Goodwill to Men.  We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
All sayings and titles that we hear over the holiday season.
But the one that seems to be everywhere for me is...

Batteries not Included!

Yes it is that time.  As much as I love to focus on the Christmas spirit, it is inevitable that we must shop until we drop to get it all done.  And this year for me, with two little ones, EVERYTHING requires batteries!  That, by the way, are NEVER included!  Luckily I freshen my flash batteries after every shoot whether they need to be changed or not, so I have a huge surplus of half used batteries.  Weird, I know, but it works for our household since we do have all of the toys.
So the way I see it, why not look great while you're out there shopping in the mix of things.
I love this ensemble created by jne on Polyvore.  I am finished with my shopping (Hallelujah!) but for one of my outings, this is the look I'm going for.




By the way, when I "Pinned" this to my "style" Pinterest Board, I realized that I may have a problem.  Apparently I am very drawn to wearing jeans and scarfs.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I'll go on a hunt for some more girlie looks.  I'll get back to you all on that one.
While I'm hunting for my new "feminine look" I'll leave you with this great video from Wendy's LookBook (one of my favorite fashion sites.... she's just so cute and funny).  So here is:
25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes

Getting Back To My Blogging Roots

Wow!

So it's been a while.  Hopefully my blog (and my readers) can be just like good friends.  Let's just pick up again like we spoke just yesterday.  It should be easy to slide right back in to things.
I've been busy.... happily busy..... starting my own business busy!
So that's why I've been gone, but I've been itching to get back and now here I am and it's going to be better than ever!  I can't wait to catch you all up on everything.  And there couldn't be a better time of year to pick up again.  THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!!!!!!  WAHOOOO!!!!!!!

Drew's in school, Emma is a hoot and Colin and I, well our souls are spilling-over full!
Life is good and here's a little peek at the kiddos from our Christmas card.