Merry Christmas

Hoping everyone is with family and eating lots of good food!

Alan and I had so much fun sitting around the fire, opening gifts, and kissing under the mistletoe.

I will be cooking lots of French cuisine with my new Julia Child cookbooks, and needing a gym membership to work off all the butter, cream, and other fattening ingredients often used in French cooking.

After experiencing nine Christmas services at Highlands, this beautiful snowy restful holiday came at a great time.

I love my church.

 Not many people can say that... I'm glad I can.

With Christmas day coming to a close, 2011 is near and it's going to be the best year yet.

The year begins with 21 days of prayer and fasting, then a trip up to Minnesota, followed by Highlands 10th Anniversary!

My aunt Amy started this amazing blog called "The Table", the people are incarcerated for various crimes but have found forgiveness in the Lord and want to tell their stories. I think Amy and I will begin a small group this next year in January where we write letters to these brothers in Christ and post their stories once a week. It's a different kind of prison ministry. I couldn't be more excited!

Merry Christmas

Tis the Season

Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Volume I & II

Old Navy Ruffled Cardigan



Old Navy Sapphire Blue Tights




Sweet Grey Shirt Dress



Ruffled Yellow Tank

Revolutionary Chemex Coffee Maker

Alan and I have our first Christmas together as a married couple this year!

We are starting to make lists (mostly for fun) of things we would like to give eachother as well as other people.

We will also be having a Christmas party so I'm getting geared up with festive recipes and ideas.

If you have any traditions that your families have, I would love to hear about them!



A Proper Estate Sale

Alan and I went to estate sales this past Saturday..

I would just like to take a minute to inform the general public on estate sale etiquette when having or attending such an event.

 

When having an estate sale:


1. Proper signage is important- Brightly colored and well written (no ghetto cardboard box/duct tape thing please) I would even venture to say balloons would be a nice touch.


2. Try to have a price on as many items as possible. (The whole- "Just ask about the price" thing gets very old and half the time people will not ask because its an uneccessary hassle)


3. On number 2 though, almost always mark up a little because bargaining is fun!


4. Be nice...Bake cookies, or something to that degree


5. If you have but a few items...just donate them don't bother having a sale...


6. Um...also going the half-priced route for the second day is really nice


7. For best success have your sale fall not during football or holidays...


8. Etsy.com is a wonderful tool for crafters everywhere but you could put some of your handiwork in your estate sale (if it is good)


9. Have plenty of change. We recommend only taking cash...If taking checks be sure and get a phone number and drivers liscense # if your worried about fraud. (It is nice to have 2 $20's, 3 $10's, $100 worth of fives, and $30 in ones. = $200.00 total)


10. Finally enjoy it! Its a wonderful thing to take that weird heavy "buy something" pressure off people and have some good non-offensive music playing in the background. Hearing a pin drop in this circumstance is not ideal.

Dinner with the Slatterys

I have fallen in love with a new book... it is none other than the classic

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking"

Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck

I am learning so many useful things!

I will attempt a few of Julia's special recipes when we have people over in December.

Alan has decided to take up spicy fresh dishes from Asia...

While I will study the savory, buttery French way of cooking!

One thing in particular I look forward to is souffles, you always hear of the famous French souffle...

so my goal is to have one success by new years eve!

Hold me to it...for real!

New Life

Marriage is a gift.

Having someone to walk through life alongside you, loving you for who you are.

I thank God every day for Alan.

I know there are storms ahead and we will meet them when the time comes but right now in this season of preparation...we are getting to fall in love all over again.

The journey has been intoxicating so far and it just gets better every day.

The Lord is faithful in all things, and He has shown himself true to His word on many occasions.

God is good.

Mom's Advice 1

I am an "IS" personality, I did not used to care about order.

Now however I'm looking at this ever growing pile of stuff in Alan and I's apartment and can't help but feel like I should be on that reality show "Hoarders".

My mom taught me growing up that in your house everything should have a "home"

Meaning that all items should have a place to return to when your done using them.

Dishes go in the cabinet. Books on the shelf. Towel hung back up.

I used to loathe this way of life.

Now I can't help but cling to my mom's wisdom, roll my sleeves up and start organizing.

P.S. I will probably be having a LARGE yard sale soon

The Friendship Porch

I live in Woodlawn with my fabulous Aunt Amy and we decided to do lead a small group!

We are calling it "The Friendship Porch" and we will be using Lared's character

development principles as subject matter!

I am so excited about this, and cannot wait to build relationships with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

(This week is on motives)

yes please

I rarely find things that I "really-want-and-might-HAVE-to-purchase" but above are a few treasures that have caught my eye.

TOMS premiered their new linen TOMS and of course the yellow are my favorite.

Every woman needs a signature perfume of some sort. Burberry orginial for women is heavenly, but as goes for any perfume please go by the less-is-more rule.

Finally, after much thought the last picture posted is that of my wedding band hopefully!

 The marquise solitaire ring that I have would slide into
the middle of the two bands above and look stunning:)

journals

I was just at Panera with Miss Sarah, and after a delicious
 but simple breakfast we walked to Barnes and Noble.

We first looked at books about interior design and houses,
 but then as always we were drawn to the journals.

Our favorites were created by Chronicle Books and I thought I would share a few!

surprisingly good

I love watching movies based on historical figures.

However movies such as: Elizabeth, The Duchess, and Marie Antoinette
 end with a beheading or the heroine having to choose duty over love.

This movie, although there is some conflict, is one of the greates love stories I have seen in a while.

Maybe one of the reasons I love it so much is it reminds me a little of Alan and I with the letters written, giggling over a chess game, and they way they want to go through
 life together without one person trying to control the other one.

It is beautiful ,suprisingly innocent, and a great story line.

do it yourself

Ta Da! The two pictures above are projects from yesterday's rainy day endeavor.

My walls are now turquoise, with white trim, and the ceiling is a neutral.

We decided to just clean the beautiful (much loved) hardwood floors, deciding they would look better with a good shine then to be painted over.

We are touching up trim today and I will move my bed and other oddities into the room before I post updates!

I cannot wait to tackle the bathroom!

This is project number 354,904,923...I am joking sort of

This will be Amy and I's next project is to get the mismanaged cabinets

 looking similair to the set of drawers in the second picture.

We hope to have the majority of the drawers painted and ink color but with bronze distressed touches.

so close

I thought I could not assist God in growing something...but I did!

1st picture- Beans, Roma, and Baby Pepper

2nd picture- Spinach

3rd picture- delicioso cilantro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is amazing to watch something so insignificant grow into something so beautiful.

Yes normal plants can be beautiful, not just flowers.

I think humans are drawn to plants and nature in general because it is so close to God's original plan.

No man made additives.

Pure beautiful natural gifts from God.

I cannot wait to put these gifts to use

belle mariée

Darling accesories from Untamed Petals and again..BEAUTIFUL construction of the dress.

Definitely considering the latter of the hair accesories for the big day, who could resist?

This is my second visit to Starbucks today, I will appreciate having internet at the house

so very much when we get it installed next week.

I have this weird craving to wedding plan today, weird right?

But alas today is not a day for that, with a storm ravaging the land

Amy and I are going to paint my room the "hot" color of the year... turquoise!

We peeled the top of the can and loved the color so much that we painted a swatch up

on the kitchen ceiling just because
....oh amy:)

bridesmaids should still look lovely

This is the Kennebunktport dress from ModCloth (Vintage Inspired by Indie Designers!)

I love the shape of this dress and think it would be flattering on all the ladies.

I think I will choose alternate colors though and if we can get away with it,

maybe some incredibly delicious TOMS too.

rummaging & recycling

This past Friday night everyone in Pelham had a chance to put anything out on the curb that they did not want. My uncle George and I went around neighborhoods looking for "treasures" and did not come up empty handed!

My finds of the night were the following:

Porch swing, Rocking chair, Office chair, Vintage Suitcases, Recipe Box, Desk, Lamp, Two Shutters, Bathroom Sink, and A Few Other Oddities

 

I'm thinking of painting and then hanging the shutters on a wall inside the house somewhere and using it as a place to have mail or magazines or maybe as an almost inspiration board.

Maybe sanding down the rocker just a bit and adding a fresh coat of paint.

After some serious cleaning, we will put those suitcases on display somewhere...

I will post all the amazing diy happenings of these beautiful free items!

old souls

Coming up with date ideas is not that difficult once you get a little creative.

Instead of just watching movies on the couch and eating takeout why not change it up just a bit?

Think of the things you both enjoy doing together.

Alan and I are old souls.

This summer will probably consist of us:

1.going to pick peaches and blueberries at a farm

2.relaxing on our porch swing

3. maybe a train ride

4. attending a symphony

5. picnic at the gardens

6. going to estate sales

7. visiting morgan creek vineyard

8. adding vintage flair to our wedding ideas

9. go to the farmer's market

10. read poetry under a big oak

There are so many things to do around Birmingham.

You just have to get a little creative.

tempête de pluie

It feels so good to write again.

The overcast skies and the soft rain against the window makes for a perfect background.

Lately everytime it rains I can't help but remember the last scene in "Breakfast at Tiffanys" and have a chorus of Henry Mancini's "Moon River" escape my lips.

Yet another phrase comes to my head as well from Song of Solomon where the bride enquires the guards asking "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"

My heart can relate oh too well with both women, having my own husband-to-be five states away from me.

You think I would be used to the distance by now since he moved back in June 09, but unfortunately I haven't. Goodbyes are hard I have come to find out. I think we should write a survival book for other couples who have to overcome the distance as well.

Beautiful songs to listen to on rainy days:

1. Possibility- Lykke Li

2. Meadowlarks- Fleet Foxes

3. La vie En Rose- Louis Armstrong

4. Sea of Love- Cat Power

5. You will not relent- David Brymer