Monthly Archives: December 2011

Making Ron Swanson proud.

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(I inherited my Dad’s crooked smirk.)

The rest of our evening was spent Christmas shopping and watching Parks and Rec. Pretty good day indeed.  

Also, I am trying to find a new theme. Can’t decide if I like it or not. I will probably change it a few 30 times or so until I find a good one.

Happy Monday!

$$ Tree+Michael’s+Stolen Goods=Christmas Decor.

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Christmas mash-ups. Please enjoy.

(World, meet our mantle attached to our awkward island fireplace. We also have vaulted ceilings that I am trying to figure out. How high is too high to hang something when your ceilings are so tall? This picture was also taken before we got our stockings.)

(Woa! Like magic there they are! These stockings are courtesy of Target and cost more than all my decorations combined. I am all over the place when it comes to decorating and I figured my plan for Christmas decor would change from year to year, so these big red socks -a baby one for Lems- were a must have.)

 

(One reason I was so excited to find these apothecary jars at goodwill -back when we lived in Austin- was for the day that I could put Christmas ornaments in them. Everyone did it so I figured it would be a thrill. Meh, it was OK. I think I need to add more to the big jar. Maybe next year. My bird-cage -from Ross- is filled with white poinsettia toppers. The “garland” on the mantel is made from greenery I stole from the front of our street and the white leaves are from a candle holder from Michael’s. Oh! And the gold and silver stuff in the smaller jar are also candle holders from Michael’s.)


(Our tree! I plug it in as often as I can. I love this little baby. My wonderful sister-in-law gave this to us last year. With our fireplace being in the middle of the room it was weird trying to figure out where this dang tree was going to go. So we pushed it in the corner by the couch. Hoorah! My after Christmas goal is to find a tree topper and a tree skirt.)

(You were probably thinking to yourself, “What is behind the awkward fireplace island?” Well wonder no longer. Garnished with more stolen greenery, my Santa (which my sweet dad gave me last year -pictured below-) fits nicely.)

(And finally, or first depending on how you look at it, is our front door wreath. My crafty supreme mother-in-law and I created these from Pinterest. Fancy fancy.)
 I am kind of in love with my house and am sad that I can’t keep these decorations up all year.

Bottom line: I think Christmas decor should reflect you, your style and your memories.

“It does not have to be perfect to be beautiful.” -The Nester

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Let’s pretend we are at Thai Pepper.

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I found this recipe on Pinterest the other night and just had to try it out.

It is called Easy Pad Thai, and it did not too long to convince Jordan and I that we needed to try it ourselves. Here is the site if you would like directions. True to the name, it really was pretty quick to prepare. Maybe 15 minutes?

The only variation that we made was more brown sugar than it had been originally called for and we let them fry-up a little longer in the skillet. Other than that, we were pretty impressed with ourselves. We also listened to Thai music on Spotify while eating. I think it made it taste better.

 Word to the wise from the unwise: Make enough for both of you to have leftovers. If not then a sneaky battle for those precious last noodles will take place.

Something Beautiful.

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I saw this video a few weeks ago and, without even knowing the entire story, I cried like a little girl. At work.

For those of you who know me I can pretty much cry about anything. A good commercial, old photos, the thought of going to Harry Potter World…the usual.

The whole story of this beautiful video is on their blog. This couple adopted a sweet little girl from Uganda named Rinah. Their story of faith and patience, while waiting for their daughter to finally come home with them, was so inspiring. God’s timing is beautiful, at times frustrating, but perfect.

May I never forget this. Even in my own time of questioning and waiting.

 

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

Thankful thanksgiving.

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I love thanksgiving.

For the past 3 years I have been able to take part in a wonderful Parnell tradition. Super Thanksgiving with the Crawfords and their family/extended family (Super is not part of the actual title, but I feel it is appropriate considering how many people are there. And in fact each of them are super.) I love this family, I love that I they are so welcoming to newbies in their home, I love that we sing before we feast, I love when their Gran makes her way to the living-room to cheer on her Cowboys,  I love all the sweaty headed babies that run around, I love how happy this tradition makes my husband, I love the abundance of food there is to enjoy (oh, and seconds/thirds/fourths.)

I am thankful for my in-laws and being continually welcomed into this extended family.

Later that evening we were invited to spend some of the holiday with Jordan’s good friend JC, his wife Karissa, and his family. His family is the epitome of  the word hospitality. I was so happy to eat an amazing Filipino noodle dish (Pancit) that I can’t get enough of and getting a hug from his sweet Lola.

We are thankful to have friends like JC and Karissa.

Friday morning we left for Midland to see my family and my parent’s new house. They just moved in about a week ago and I could not be more happy for them. They love the new space and my mom is being super spoiled by her humango bathroom and closet (and their garbage disposal and dishwasher, which they are still deciding if they will make use of these two things or not.) This was also a great  trip for Lems because she got to spend time with her cousins Squints and Joey. These three looked ready for Christmas in their sweaters and onesie PJs (complete with a butt flap.) My parents also gave us some of their old furniture to re-create and make our own (along with an old typewriter, roller skates, and a Vacancy sign. Jordan was in Heaven. I am so glad that we have the same taste in vintage pieces.)

I love my family and am beyond thankful to call them mine.

Lastly, in exactly 4 days Jordan will be home for good! Yay husband!

I am thankful for my out of this world best-friend-British-Guard-impersinating-husband.

~HAPPY DECEMBER TO YOU ALL!!~