a holiday home tour

happy december, my friends!

i hope you're doing well and enjoying this wonderful season.

i know it's been a while, so i'll see if i can give you a quick catch up, then send you over to where i am today!  we've been busy little elves decorating our home for our very first christmas, establishing our own traditions, and i've been training for my first half marathon.  crazy, huh?

it'd be really crazy if you knew where i've been and where i am now (more on that to come, but exercise used to be a major chore and i'm truly enjoying it and feel the best i've ever felt.  major victory if you ask me!).  oh, and i'm jet settin' to NYC for the first time on monday!  eee!  sounds like a season of a lot of firsts if you ask me...and it's been a season full of lots of laughter and growth, for which i am very thankful for!  

step into our holiday home over at Mattie's blog, somethings, today!

can't wait to see you there!

p.s.  Mattie designed our *very first* christmas card for us this year!  she's major talent, so check out her work here and fall in love.  can't wait to share the final product!  until next time...

gift of giving

it's hard to believe it's already november!

holiday season is in full swing according to the retail industry.

this time of year it's easy to get caught up in what's on our christmas list or shopping for the perfect gifts for our family and friends.  now, don't get me wrong, i get a lot of joy and satisfaction out of find just the right gift for the special people in my life (and making my own wish list, for that matter), but yesterday i was struck with a strange internal battle. 

i spend a lot of time on this blog talking about the things i'm thinking about or wishing for and it's easy to forget the many people in this world who don't have that luxury. 

our church showed a video for operation christmas child and i was overwhelmed by my "me centeredness" and feel challenged to give to this great organization.

take a minute to check out this video.

and don't miss (adorable american idol winner)
scotty mcreery teaching you how to pack a shoebox!

this christmas season, let's send some love to children in other countries 

and share with them an eternal hope!

"we love because He first loved us..." -1 john 4:19

on the brain

we've been welcoming a lot of beautiful new fabric at the store post furniture market and elizabeth hamilton's new line has me absolutely swooning!  especially this great green.  i'm picturing it in bedrooms, breakfast rooms and more importantly, on the walls of powder rooms.  that's right, all of her fab fabrics come in wallpaper.  as if it weren't good enough!

OPI's "nein. nein. nein. ok, fine" is claiming it's territory on my nails this fall...

can't. take. it. off.  love it.  

now.  these lululemon pants have won me over.  to be honest, i didn't understand the workout gear craze.  i especially wasn't on board when i walked into the store and immediately felt like julia roberts in pretty woman.  alas, i bought a pair of these and it's revolutionized my latest barre method obsession.  

we ate this baked shrimp in tomato feta sauce over steamed rice last night and i'm already looking forward to leftovers.  seriously.  make this.  so easy and delicious.

speaking of working out, it's taking a real effort to not eat all of our leftover halloween candy in one sitting...i'll let you know how long i practice self control.

finally, these shoes are beautiful and perfect in every way.  i'm quite certain i would never take them off.  ever.  

happy november, y'all!

what's on your brain these days?