Introducing…

 

Born 11•21•12 @ 12:04 pm

7 pounds 3 ounces

Thanksgiving 2012

As we are preparing for the arrival of our little butterball.  I thought I'd post our past menus in case you're looking for a little inspiration for your menu.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year I tried a new appetizer recipe, Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip.  It was ok.  Nothing I would actually make again.  But one I would make again is the Roasted Green Beans with Balsamic and Parmesean = YUMMY!

Thanksgiving 2010

We didn't cook this year but that didnt' stop me from coming up with a menu!  Some stand out options from this menu:  Paula's Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars (to die for!) and PW's Soul Sweet Taters.

Thanksgiving 2009

This is the first year I made Lime & Ginger Cranberry Sauce and I have been HOOKED ever since.  It has become my one item I *must* have on the table.  I may be the only one that eats it but I lurve it.  It makes an awesome tangy addition to those leftover turkey sandwiches as well.  SO yummy and SO easy!  I also touch on the idea of brining your turkey.  You should NOT skip this step.  I promise it will be worth it.

For this year, our plan is to have everyone at our house since we can't really travel anywhere.  So depending on Baby L's arrival will determine what day we celebrate.  This year's menu is as follow:

Citrus Rosemary Turkey & Gravy
Crock- pot Mashed Potatoes
Mom's Stuffing
Lime & Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Strawberry Salad - one of my fav's!
Memama's Corn
Sweet Potato Casserole
Squash Casserole
Steamed Broccoli
Carole's Macaroni Salad
Parker House Rolls

Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Cake
Lemon Squares
Scrumdidlyumptious Chocolate Pudding Dessert

Can you say, YUM?!?!  I can't wait!!  What's on your menu?  Any must have items on your menu?

A weekend in pictures...

{36 weeks}

{A finished chair for the nursery}

{a beautiful fall sunset}

{more celebrating for Baby L}

{cupcakes make life ~ oh so good}

{ ♥ this girl!}

BABY shower!

This past weekend we had our very first BABY shower!  And oh were we showered with love and gifts!!

These wonderful ladies went above and beyond to create a fun, inviting and super special atmosphere  for celebrating "Baby L's" soon arrival!

There were so many fun details to take in.  The food, decor, special touches.  I know that they spent so much time planning and crafting to make this day an unforgettable event!  

The ladies chose a "Lamb theme" that was featured on the invites, cupcake toppers, and even in the decor. Cindy made a pair of beautiful pillows that had a felt lamb appliqued on them.  And Shannon even did special artwork that featured sweet lambs.  I'm telling you these girls don't miss a detail!

After enjoying all kind of wonderful finger food goodies. (The Caramel Apple Shooters were to die for!  Thanks Julie!!) We opened gifts.  And the generosity was dumbfounding!!  So many cute outfits and DIAPERS, WIPES, toys, homemade items and more.  Baby L is blessed beyond words.

{Super excited about these homemade onesies for each month to photograph Baby L's growth from Aunt Dewey}

{oh and check out the lamb pillow!}

{Sweet Natty being my trash girl}

And the gifts just kept coming!!  I will save you from the super CHEESY grin-fest I was having.  Wow!  What can I say - I was a happy mama!!

After the gifts, we played a little Baby Pictionary.  The garland played 2 roles = super cute decoration along with Pictionary clues!

Another super cute idea they had was a "Wish Tree".  Everyone filled out tags with advice, suggestions and even some FREE babysitting offers!  These will be great for the baby book!

I was so happy to be surrounded by so many friends and family!  It's rare that all of us girls are together at one time so this was a special moment!!

{Baby L's:  Cousin/Aunt, Great - Aunt, Grandmom L, Mama, Mimi & Aunt Daina}

{and wow - that bump is bumpin'!}

Thank you again ladies for a day so sweet & special!!!  

{And special thanks to Aunt Liz for being the photographer!}

Cozy & Warm

Don't you just love the feel of fall...  the cool air, the rustling of leaves, the smell of a fire burning, snuggling under a cozy blanket.  Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons.  As we are settling into the new house, (We actually made our first fire the other night!) I still think of the coziness we had created at Sheffield.  So when I saw Apartment Therapy's "Room for Color" was going on, I decided to enter our Cozy & Warm living room.

I really enjoyed this paint color by Behr - Ground Ginger.  When the light filled the room the warm yellow-y golden tones went really well with the orange accents.  In the early part of the day when the sun wasn't as bright you got more green undertones.  I love a paint color that changes with the light.  It makes the space that much more interesting!

I grounded the space with deep chocolate browns.  The kept things weighted but balanced.  A mixture of old and new pieces make the space feel "collected" vs. too matchy matchy.

If you would like to you can go and vote for my space on Apartment Therapy as one of your favorites.  Just click here and it takes you right to Katy's Cozy & Warm space.  FYI - you do have to "sign up" for an account but if you haven't ever checked our Apartment Therapy it's a great site with LOTS of fun inspirational spaces!!

Soon I will show you how these furnishings are looking in the new casa.  They make a space that's new to us feel like HOME that's for sure!

Plotting out the hallway

I haven’t figured out the best way to show y’all the new house yet…  do the whole before ~ progress shots??  A little as we go???  Decisions.  Decisions.  Well I can’t decide but I thought I might as well share with a little project I tried. 

In the past when I’ve hung artwork, I’m a “that looks good there” kind of girl.  I don’t spend a lot of time hemming and hawing – I either like or don’t.  It’s either too high or too low.  Too left or too right.  Just put a nail in the wall and call it done.  What can I say – the opposite of procrastination.  But I will say I look at some of these awesome “gallery walls” and think maybe all this planning and plotting makes sense. 

a great example of a mixed collection from Abode Love

Love this concept of playing off the horizontal line from Martha Stewart

How cool to have no space at all between each frame…  Lily Rose

So I attempted the plan…

    

I plotted out the size of the collage on the wall and a drop cloth.

Then placed all the pictures in the arrangement I liked.

Cut out paper for the size of each picture.

Measuring from the perimeter I placed the pieces of paper on the wall with thumbtacks where the actual nail would go.

And slowly but surely the walls were filled with photographs.

So…  the final question is… Was all that planning & plotting worth it?  For me… not so much.  I would have rather just started one and added on from there.  It’s a lot of steps.  I do like to plot out on the floor how things will layout but all that paper cutting and measuring just isn’t for me. 

At least one project done!  Only 124 left to go.