Our House at Christmas

Last Christmas I did not get to enjoy Christmas in our new home. Thankfully we escaped to my parents lots which is always beautifully decorated, but last Christmas was not the greatest in our home. We were doing major renovations because Jordan has a chunk of time off, we had our kitchen in our living room all December! It was such a mess, there was no room for a tree or anything really! I had also just gone through my second (and late) miscarriage of the year, so it was not a very cherry time :(

But this Christmas has already been wonderful. Aside from being crazy busy with Primary and work, our home feel so cozy! I can just feel the warmth of Christmas when I come home, and the three of us have been watching lots of Christmas shows and just spending time together in our home!

Our tree. I had never bought Christmas decorations since we got married in December and our center pieces were Christmas balls. So I just used those. But last year on boxing day I went to Greenland garden center and re-did my tree! Such great sales, and I've been excited all year to finally decorate my tree and put it all together!

My plate wall for the holiday season. I added a couple Christmas plates! And added my "Merry Christmas" blocks with pine cones. Man I love these edges - thank you honey for you amazing craftsmanship!

Christmas center piece. Buckets from Michael's, like $1.50 each. Mine pine cones from Dollarama, and I got the plate from Pier 1 last boxing day, the plate is really cute, I was trying to think of a way to show it more, but oh well. I still think this works.

My dear friend Tara made this for me last Christmas. It found a home at our front entrance on the ledge, Avery loves looking at the characters. I also used it for Family Home Evening this past Monday for Avery to learn the real Christmas story. Thanks Tara!

Up close look at the advent calendar. We had one similar to this growing up as kids and I loved it! My mom was making one to send Blake on his mission so I joined her an made one for our family. We got the trace for the stockings on Martha Stewart's website. They were very easy, and then I found this cute ribbon at Michael's. The numbers are stickers I found at Michael's too, they obviously weren't sticky enough to just stick on the felt, so I glue gunned them on. The first thing Avery does in the morning is runs to the stocking to get her treat!

The tree with some presents under it. I have no had time to get much Christmas shopping done yet, but me and Avery did have a fun shopping date with Auntie Taren this week and got a good jump start on Christmas shopping.

Small simple pleasure

Hi All!

My Aunt Tonya gave me a sweet reminder that I need to update my blog because she likes to look at it! I thought that was nice, made me feel good :) So thanks Tonya! And my blog is always looming in the back of my head, but I must say it definitely has taken a back seat! I know everyone in this fast paced world is busy... but I gotta say, our little family has a full plate lately!

In July I was called as Primary president in our ward, what a shocker... and what a wonderful blessing. I love this calling, love the children and my presidency and all our wonderful primary workers! Its truly the best place to be! But yes, added to my already somewhat full plate. I'm working 3 days a week, which is manageable. And I do love my job, its nice to do something I love and am good at and work with such a great team :)

The other thing that has been added to our schedule is Jordan has decided to pursue his CMA. He is doing his course every Saturday from August - March (this complicated my work schedule slightly) and it is a lot of work. Which means he is studying every night pretty much. Anyways, I'll stop being a complainer... I can tell you one blessing that comes from being busy. You make the most of your time, I've never been such a productive busy bee! And when me and Avery have Mommy and Avery time we have a great time! Soooo nooooo offense blogging friends, but that is why my blog has been neglected. When I actually have spare time it is usually spent with Jordan or Avery or catching up on Primary work! But I still love you all and after October Primary will have slowed down (we have our presentation on the 24th and Halloween party on the 30th!)

So I thought I would share some things that bring me happiness, mostly some home things... some little finishing touches I have been doing lately. Jordan is in the midst of baseboards right now, and after they are complete I will definitely do a before and after post. Its quite incredible what we've done with this old house is a year!

My entry table and accessories, Hydrangea tree and lamp ("Lamp Berger", best thing for home fragrance) compliments of "Posh At Home!" You guys gotta stop by the store, it is truly wonderful! We have new things in all the time, sooo different from what you usually see in Edmonton :)

My birdies, when Jordan finished this ledge on the wallpaper wall I knew I wanted a little family of birdies... I finally found them at "Tin Box." Down the road from our store. I've decided I'll add to our birdie family as it grows - I've told Avery its a Daddy, Avery and Mommy bird! So now everyday she looks at the birds and says "Daddy, Avery and Mommy!

Front Entrance, finished it off with a mirror, and my fall blocks which says "Give thanks"

Oh and of course our family! Talia is walking! This was at our house Sunday, we hosted my Mom's birthday dinner, great time!

Me and my grandma - she is who I got my strawberry blond roots from - I may be embracing them more soon... shhhh, we'll see :s

Jordan and my Great Grandma Bernice - looking good for 86!

Nana and Talia - I love her sneaky face here!

And my favourite little sweet pleasure right now - AVERY! I could go on and on about the amazing wonderful little girl she is growing up to be! She is so funny, quite the comedian, she has an incredible memory (almost knows 3 different songs), and learning more and more everyday, she knows all her colors and can count from 1-11! I'll save more bragging for another post!

Patience in Decorating

So I had this thought since many times during the day I have decorating thoughts pop in my head, that maybe I'd share them on my blog! So who knows how often I will do this, but I'll try and give you some tips I've learned or picked up along my own decorating travels or while helping others.

So tip for today: have patience when looking for that certain Piece! Sometimes when accessorizing or adding those finishing touches to our homes we get impatient an even though we know that certain piece we are looking for we just want to finish and get it now! So we might see something that is similar or sort of along those lines... and just get it cause then we've finished off our house! But... that piece is out there, I promise you. Whenever I do decorative consults and we come up with a piece that will work in a specific spot I tell them, not just wait. Do lots of looking around and just wait! Its hard I know, it may take a week (depending how diligently you get out to look) and it may take 6 months, but you'll find it! Its sooo much better having patience and waiting, than getting some half a$$ (excuse my french, but there's the dollar signs so it doesn't count, haha) piece that just doesn't cut it and then... 2 months later you find that perfect piece. Especially if your on a budget, your husband will say "well you already got that vase 2 months ago, you can't just replace it with that, we can't afford that!" Big example of that is I wanted something on top of Avery's shelf in her room, I just waited and then went to my aunts cabin one weekend at pigeon lake, and this adorable stuffed giraffe (that is too cute to play with, so its an accessory) was there in this cute store in pigeon lake! I would show you a picture but Avery's napping right now.

What reminded me of this little advice was I was out with my wonderful Nana (who probably inspired me to go into the field I'm in) and she helped me finish some floral arrangements in my house. She is very good at floral arrangements, and I've had this vase and slowly added arrangements to it (every time Jordan comes home he says "there's more stuff in that vase every time I come home") haha but just needed a bit more and couldn't figure it out. So we found some perfect fillers that I never would have thought of, and it looks so cute! Also I wanted a unique frame for a cute picture of Avery to go on a shelf in our room, and after lots of looking and waiting I found just what I was looking for at Winners last week.

Also while I was out with my Nana and Mom this week, my mom had one of those moments too. Shes been looking for something to go beside her fire place, they moved in last summer! And low and behold.... she found it this week! And its perfect!
So be patient because its worth it!

So I've convinced Jordan to conquer the back splash his weekend, so even though we've painted and hung pictures and all that since I last posted reno pics, I'm waiting till the back splash is done so there will be more to show. I guess these pics show the pait color, I went dark and love it! I was sort of freaking out when we started, but since its dried I just love it!

And I'm going back to work next week, I start Feb 18! I will work Thursday, Friday and Saturday at is super great store down town called "Posh Interiors." Its close to home and they are soooo willing to work with me being part time and being a mom and giving me a set schedule. And I'll be back working with clients doing what I love, so wish me luck!

Happy Valentines Day, enjoy time with your sweetie this weekend! I'm looking forward to it :)