A moment in time...

For anyone who does not follow us on Facebook, here is a glimpse of what you missed a few weeks ago.  We discovered through some neighbors a super talented mom/photographer who loves to take pictures of difficult children.  Perfect!  As much as I try, it's so hard to take pictures of your own kids.  With birthdays coming up, I figured it was time for something more official.  So here you go!  Syd and Fletcher, ages 3 and 2.  If you live in the Houston area and are interested in the photog's info, email me.

A few of our faves...

Before and After - The Bedroom

Nearly a year after I first began this project, it's finished.  Almost.  Although it is 90% done, it may very well take me another year to finish the final 10% so time to share some photos.

It's been a year full of home refreshment.  You may recall the other before/after projects we've done around here.  There was the cabinet refinish.  Then the dining room.   And the chair - which has now made it's way into our bedroom!

Here was our bedroom before.  Functional but blah.  Boring builder beige paint, no window coverings, nothing on the walls and random exercise equipment (collecting dust).




And the after!!!

We painted the walls a soft gray, replaced the carpet with beautiful hardwood that now runs through our bedroom, living room and dining room.  Got a new bed, bedding, bedside tables, drapery and lamps!  Whew.  Total overhaul.  The walls are still a bit bare but I'll get to that eventually.

The lamps (a TJMaxx find) were originally for the dining room but ended up being too big.  Perfect for the bedroom though!  And this bedside table (again TJMaxx) was one of my favorites.  My designer/neighbor friend found it and only partially convinced me over the phone we had to have it.  Sometimes I'm a hard-headed idiot.  She was so sure, she bought it, hauled it to our house and of course it was perfect!

Finding an appropriate "match" for the other side of the bed wasn't so easy.  And was made inordinately more complicated by my own online ordering incompetence.  

I'll bore you with the details.  

Once I finally settled on a simple covered round table, I found the perfect solution on Ballard Designs.  Easy peasy.  Ordered.  Done.  Then it arrived.  Apparently I never measured.  Or else completely ignored my measurements (this was a theme - had similar measuring issues with drapery but will spare you those details).  It was the size of a breakfast table.  WAAAAYYYY to big for this space.  Plus, the color of the tablecloth was way off!  Of course, returning something that large isn't so easy.  But I packed it back up and shipped it off.  Measured... and ordered the replacement on the same day.

Sometime that night, it occurred to me that I recalled seeing two different heights offered for that table.  Oh no!  Could I have possibly ordered the wrong one - again?  Oh yes, I did.  Called Ballard.  Too late to cancel shipping.  Another return.  Another order.  This time, it was on back order.

Finally, at least three months after the process began, I received my new bedside table.  Tablecloth color is still not quite right but it will do.  And less than a week later there appeared a mysterious Nutella smudge on the tablecloth.  I figure after it's washed a few times it should be just right.  

  We love our new space!

This floor lamp is still trying to find a permanent home - it has lived in our living room, the office and is settled in here - for now.

I'm pretending in these photos that the hideous exercise bike is no longer present.  Sadly, here it rests.  I moved it a dozen times to get just the right shot of the otherwise pristine bedroom.  Neighbors, if you're interested, it just might show up in the garage sale this weekend!!!

THREE

It's been a busy summer and fall.  With both kids birthdays so close together and little time for planning, we decided this year we would forego parties and take them to SeaWorld in San Antonio.  

That was, until a certain little girl made it quite clear that she was ALL about her birthday this year and wanted all her friends to come over for a party.  Her enthusiasm was just too much to resist.

So what started as no party, became an entire week full of celebrations!

First, we celebrated with relatives on a weekend trip to Ohio.

Then on the morning of her birthday, I got up super early (like 5 minutes before the kids) and slaved (opening that can was hard) to make delicious cinnamon rolls for their breakfast.  This face made us smile!

But it was this face that made us laugh.  Check out Fletcher's reaction to Sydney's morning birthday treat!  Don't worry - he got a cinnamon roll too.

After school (and cupcakes there), she got to pick dinner (Chick-fil-A, of course) and then we opened presents.  Sydney is ALL about princesses and playing dress up.  Good thing because she is now fully stocked with all sorts of girly costumes!

Check out the precious cake our local grocery store just happened to have on hand the day of her birthday.  Told you I was the un-planner this year... not only did I not bake a cake, I didn't even call and order one.  

And as if that wasn't enough celebrating, finally the little princess got just what she wanted.  A party.  We invited a few of her best girlfriends over to play dress-up and eat cake.

Fletcher was happy to tolerate tutu's and sparkles for more cake!

Sweet and Sassy

We all carry childhood scars.  Some heavier than others.  Thankfully, mine are feather light, but scars all the same.

You see, when I was very young (maybe 3), my mother took me to a salon and chopped all my hair off.  On purpose.  It was the Dorothy Hamill look.  Any of you reading this over the age of about 35 are nodding your heads in understanding.  Regardless of it's fashion at the time, it was short.  And I looked like a boy.

Case in point.  Made even more acute next to my adorable little sister in her blond curly pig tails.  Scarred.  For life.

So, you will understand my hesitancy to ever take scissors to Sydney's hair.  Despite plenty of super cute little girls with their bobbed haircuts or bangs, I have refused to cut hers.

However, the time had come for a slight trim.  Just to even things up a bit.  Sydney's good friend and neighbor needed a trim too so her mom and I decided to make it a fun girls event.  This morning we visited the most incredible little girls salon (the perks of living in the city), called Sweet and Sassy.

I attempted to take a quick pic of Sydney pre-haircut.  This is her usual "Don't Take My Picture!" pose.  But look - she's wearing the boots again (and thank goodness because she has outgrown all of her sandals and I gave them all away just this week without even thinking of our fun girls event).

The salon really is outrageously cute.  They have this little area in the back where the little princesses can put on a fashion show after getting all dolled up.  There was a birthday party underway when we got there and Syd was super excited to watch the princesses dance and walk the runway.

Time for haircuts!  Her friend, Chloe, was up first.  Gone were the excited giggles.  Something about getting into that chair strikes fear in the heart of small children.

Syd enjoyed watching poor Chloe's torture.  But when it came time for her turn - whoa, no!  She ended up in my lap for the whole cut (hence, no pictures).

She finally settled down enough to be blown dry in the chair by herself.  But still very wary.

Bolstered by promises of lollipops, she even braved the curling iron!!!

This is her ?smiling? for the camera.

I think my favorite is the glitter spray!

 More glitter for their faces.

Now it was THEIR turn to be princesses and walk the runway.  Sweet and Sassy for sure!

Followed by a girls lunch complete with umbrella drinks.