2012: A Year in Review

Well, today is the very last day of 2012. 

Before I ring in the New Year with refreshed hope and new inspiration, I thought I'd share a recap of my first year of blogging. (technically I started this blog Oct. 2011 so it's been just over a year)

I've picked a favorite post from each month of 2012 - here's to another adventurous year of blogging! 

  jan / feb / mar / apr

 may / jun / jul / aug

sep / oct / nov / dec

I'm excited for a new year and a new outlook! My goals for the blog this year are polishing my photography skills (and learning to use my brand new DSLR), having a steady blogging schedule, and livening up the blog design!

Most of all, I'd just like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all my amazing readers! It means so much to me that you're along for the journey with me! Whether you've been here since the beginning or you just started to follow along I'm so happy you're here!

Baby's first Christmas.

Christmas was so much fun this year! It's always fun, but having a baby around makes it a hundred times better. Elliott wasn't too into opening gifts, or even playing with them, but having him there with us for all of the festivities added so much joy. We got up early, in true Elliott fashion, and took him to see what Santa had left for him. After he had dumped out his stocking and turned the living room upside down, we opened gifts from each other as a family, before heading to my parent's house to open gifts with them and my siblings.

It started raining early Christmas morning, and it turned to snow by dinner time. This is the first snow in Little Rock on Christmas day in 80 years, so you can imagine how excited we were, until... the electricity went out. We lost power around 4:00, right as we were getting ready for Christmas dinner at my grandparent's. We quickly grabbed as much as we could before we lost daylight and headed to my parent's, who thankfully had power, to get ready.  We enjoyed a very quick dinner with my Dad's side of the family before heading back to Mom and Dad's in about 5 inches of snow! When we arrived they were without power too, but we lit the fireplace and put E to bed, and enjoyed a glass of wine by candle light before the power came back on around 10:30.

Our neighborhood wasn't so lucky, our house was without power for 48 hours, spoiling everything in our refrigerator and freezer. So, we spent 2 days at Mom and Dad's, and were forced to miss Christmas in Arkadelphia with Gary's family due to icy roads. But that didn't stop Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Gina and Uncle Zach from seeing Elliott. They loaded up and headed to Little Rock, booking a room at the Peabody since we were still without power. Right about the time they made it here, our power came back on and we were able to spend 2 days with them before they headed home to Texas.

It's been a whirlwind week, but it's one we'll never forget... baby's first Christmas and first snow in one day! I had to wait 27 years for a white Christmas and he gets one on his first year! What a lucky little boy. Stay tuned for some super cute pictures of our little snow bunny.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

As a little girl we spent Christmas eve at my grandparent's house eating dinner and opening gifts, but a few years ago, my grandparents retired Christmas eve and my Mom took over. She cooks dinner and we watch family videos from Christmases past. This year, we needed no entertainment, as Elliott provides it. It's fun to watch 8 adults sitting around staring at one baby, like it's the first one they have ever seen. What did we do before he came along? 

After dinner we came home and got E in his Christmas PJs and Gary read him the Christmas story before bed. This is another tradition from my childhood. Every Christmas eve, my Dad would read us the Christmas story and my Mom would film. It's been so fun the last few years to go back through and watch them. I look forward to watching Elliott, and our family, grow in the videos over the coming years.

Long after Elliott and Gary went to bed, a certain little "elf" was up sewing stockings in the workshop, but finally, around 3am, "the stockings were hung by the 'chimney' with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."

(I'm @ Room334)

Hey lovelies, happy friday!

Today I'm guest posting for Elana over at Room 334. Here's a preview of my festive outfit.

COME CHECK IT OUT!

A Night at the Nutcracker

How was everyone's Christmas?! I hope it was wonderful and happy. Mine definitely was! I spent it surrounded with lots of family. We're lucky to have so much of both our families nearby. My BIG present was the DSLR camera I've been eyeing. I couldn't be more excited!!! Now I can officially be a "real blogger" Haha :)

I figured I'd add to my last post and share a few more photos from our night at the Nutcracker and out to see the lights at Temple Square. (since I've been busy and didn't have a post planned)

(my lovely sisters, me and the Hubby after the ballet)

(the whole family - minus my mom the photographer - at temple square)

It was Ethan's first time at the ballet! He didn't appreciate the men-in-tights so much. He wore his glasses so he'd be able to see the stage better but ended up taking them off so 'ahem' things wouldn't be so....defined. Yep. I laughed. A lot.

And here's a few more photos of my lovely dress. Just because I'm so smitten. Someone asked on the last post, and yes, this IS the pretty vintage velvet dress I bought from etsy earlier in the month.

Outfit Details:

Dress - New Old Fashion Vintage (Etsy)

Tights - Target

Heels - Sears

Earrings - J Crew

P.S. I'm also posting at Flock Together today! COME VISIT ME :)



Merry Christmas!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is sending and receiving Christmas cards.  We hang them on a clothesline in our living room around the door frame, and by Christmas day it goes completely around and touches the floor on both sides! It brings us so much joy to see the faces of our sweet family and friends (many who are far away) beside our Christmas tree. Here's our card for those of you who read faithfully. I wish I had all of your addresses to send you a little Christmas cheer in the mail, but this will have to do. Thanks for following our family this year. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Merry & Bright

Merry Christmas Everyone!! Hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas Eve surrounded by all the people who make you happy! I might go MIA for a couple days....

Just wanted to wish you the happiest of holidays and share a few photos from Saturday night. After watching the Nutcracker (which was amazing as always) we visited beautiful Temple Square and admired all the pretty lights!

P.S. I'm also over at Flock Together today. We did a Secret Santa Exchange and I LOVE the dress I got from Katie. - It's actually quite similar to this one!

Outfit Details:

Dress - Vintage

Tights - Target

Shoes - Sears

Festival Of Trees

 A few weeks ago I visited the Festival Of Trees with Ethan and my family. They hold one every year and hundreds and hundreds of themed, decorated trees are donated. There's also wreaths, gingerbread houses and yummy treats! My photos didn't turn out so great that night so I wasn't going to post them but I decided to after all just so I could post something Christmas-y :)

This mini-tree was one of my favorites. It was made completely out of brooches and though I can't say for sure if they were vintage, it certainly gave a pretty vintage vibe!

I borrowed these darling ruffle bow shorts from the beautiful Erica of Sweets and Hearts. I've always wanted to try the shorts-over-tights look and the December weather definitely gave me that chance. The results were super comfy and pretty cute I think.

Yay for the weekend!! Last one before Christmas! Do you all have fun plans? Tonight we're dressing up and heading out to see the Nutcracker! I'm SO excited!! (hopefully the world doesn't end while we're there-haha)

Outfit Details:

Top - Papaya

Shorts - Swap from Erica through Flock Together

Tights - Forever 21

Socks - H&M

Boots - Forever Young

Bracelets - Gifts

My [top sales]man!

Friday afternoon I took off work early to attend a Christmas party for our family's business. Gary has been a salesman there for the past six years, starting as the Oklahoma rep in 2006. Since then, he has moved in house, and you may recall that he was top three in sales the past two years, coming in third both years. But, this year he increased his sales by 23%, earning him the title of top salesperson at Jenkins Enterprises in 2012.

I had an idea that he might be number one this year, so I invited his parents to surprise him at the Christmas party where they would recognize the winner. It was so fun to see the look on his face when I pulled up to his office with my in-laws in the car with me.

Elliott wanted to drink out of Dad's new cup :)

I'm so proud of you, Gary! You have worked very hard this year to keep your current customers happy and build your business. You are a talented salesman, an amazing father, and the husband I always hoped I'd find. I truly am the luckiest girl in the world.