be merry.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." 

Luke 19:10

Praise God that He would demonstrate His love for us by sending us His only Son!

He came to seek us out, to find us and save and redeem us--by no merit of our own!

What a tremendous, undeserved gift.

In the words of my niece, Harper, earlier this week, "Jesus is for celebrating!" 

We are to celebrate Him everyday, not only on one day, after we open presents, in between parties, and if we have time...

I think we are probably all guilty of this, and I was reminded by a three year old that Jesus is indeed for celebrating--all day, everyday.

We have an incredible reason to be merry--this season and every season.

Merry Christmas!

gobble.

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

goodies.

Lots of new goodies in the shop today!

AND...did I mention FREE SHIPPING?!?!

Use code "FREESHIP" at check out.

(I love free stuff)

Also, have you had your family Christmas photo taken yet?

...Or ordered your photo Christmas cards?

No?!?

Well, you better hurry up and visit my sister at Fresh Grace Photography and get the ball rolling...slackers.

And, just because everyone needs to laugh at some weirdness on Sunday afternoon (try not to wake everyone up from their afternoon nap)...go here and then here.

Happy Sunday!

listy.

1. My sister, BIL, and the little people were in town this weekend. We had a lot of fun, even though Auburn lost and Uncle Brent had to work!

2. Harper's imaginary friend "Chica" is no more. According to Harper, "She's gone. She got loose." Little did we know that Harper had been holding her imaginary friend captive all this time?!

3. There is a new Greek restaurant in Panama City.

4. I may or may not have eaten there 3 times in the last 7 days.

5. I painted my toenails AND my fingernails today. I don't usually 'do' painted fingernails. I'm not sure what happened, but they are painted.

6. My parents went to Auburn today...which means I was taunted with iphone pictures.

7. I didn't do any chores this weekend. No clean clothes. No vaccuuming. No grocery store.

8. I did go to the liquor store. And then I made sangria. And it was SO GOOD.

9. My new camera is here. Still in the box. Help?! Sister?!

10. I managed to gain 10 lbs. since May. I'm not sure how this happened. Ok, that is not the truth. (See #3 and #4)

11. Starting tomorrow, 6pm-7pm (most nights) is excercise time.

12. We (Urban Grace) were chosen for a REALLY fun and exciting project earlier this month...not sure if it can be announced just yet! Stay tuned.

13. Brent just asked what I was doing--I told him I was addressing my "people". All 18 of you.

The End!

big girl purchase.

With the guidance of my photographer sister and some first anniversay money, I made this purchase today.



Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR



And this...



Canon 50 mm 1.8 Lens



This means that my sister will no longer have to take and edit my photos for my etsy shop AND that I can have new things posted more often!

It also means that she will no longer get paid in jewelry and that she will have to start purchasing it like everyone else....kidding!

Or am I?

new shoes

A few months ago, I was employee of the month. The competition was really fierce, but I was victorious (aka had the most "billable" hours). And, seeing as how Allison had won the month before, I didn't feel so bad. So, with the EOTM title comes a prize of your choosing. I chose shoes. Toms. Bottle Green Cord Toms. They are unbelievably comfortable and very fallish! Unfortunately for all of you, I think they are already sold out!

Then, a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon these Minnetonka Mocs at the local TJ Maxx. I remembered that Allison had just bought them in grey the week before. Mine were $29.99 and worth every penny. 

tub licker: a photo series

photo shoot

Erika took photos of me this morning (assisted by Allison) in order to add my profile to the website.

We walked around Seaside for about an hour "borrowing" people's vacant porches and outdoor furniture.

I even changed clothes behind the chapel.

Scandalous.

These were our top choices:

Click here to see which one made the cut!

this week

I worked...

I drove home...

My business cards came in...

This morning we went here...

And took a little Publix sub picnic with us for lunch. The water was perfectly clear and NO seaweed. I could have stayed all day....but some college football (FSU) was calling someone's name...



HAPPY WEEKEND!

hehe.

We are using this artwork in a client's nursery:

These are SO quirky and fun...they have "female" creatures too. The artist sells on Etsy. They are SUPER affordable and come in all sorts of sizes.

I really like the Otter. I'm pretty sure he has a British accent.

Check them out... Berkley Illustration

Happy Friday!

dinner reviews and what not

Hi there.

So, last week I made PW's Beef with Snow Peas and the Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork. Both delicious. Both make A LOT. Both "reheated" well as leftovers.

PW calls for low sodium soy sauce...she isn't kidding! All I had was regular. Still edible, but a tad salty!

Then there's the pork. Not only was it delicious, but SO SO SO easy. One (double) word: crockpot.

I know I promised a way for you to help me with staying the course with my weight watchers...but I forgot to do what I was planning....but I will! Down 2 pounds this week! :)

We have been really busy at work these past few weeks. I'll **try** to remember to take some pics of some of the pretty things we are working with. Residential design is throwing gasoline on my burning desire for an old cottage...or a new cottage!

Labor Day weekend was fun. Mom, Dad, Lauren, Michael, and the girls came to visit. Mom and Dad opted to stay at a rental...I have no idea why?! Since the weather was yucky (impressive, but yucky) we ate our way through the weekend.

We have no food (besides hotdogs) in our house at the moment. Dinner should be interesting.

Chinese?

i didn't forget about you.

The last few months have been REALLY busy.

Moving me. New job. Moving Brent. Working. Beach guests. Working. Wedding shower. Working. Bachelorette party. Working. Wedding. Working.

Whew!

I think you get the picture.

The job is still fabulous, as are my co-workers.

Brent LOVES his new store in Lyn Haven (aka Panama City). He has not been this happy in a LONG time, and it is great!

So, back to "bloggy" things....

Here is what I will be cooking this week:

PW's Beef with Snow Peas

Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork

So, we will see how those go...

On another note, I have started going to actual Weight Watchers meetings again. I may have established a way for all of you to help keep me accountable...stay-tuned on Friday.

drapery.

I think I have decided on drapery panels for our luxurious apartment living room.

It's Schumacher's  "High Voltage" in "Espresso". The scale is huge, so the impact should be huge!

Hopefully Brent will like it...he should just be glad to be out of Montgomery (hehe)!

some little things...

Well, first of all BRENT GOT HIS TRANSFER!

He's having to take a step back to assistant produce manager, but he decided that living at the beach with his wife (and NOT alone in Montgomery) was well worth it! He's so smart.

Second, Paula, in our office, introduced me to the most wonderful thing. Ever. Tazo Organic Chai Tea concentrate. I always get a Chai Frappuccino at Starbucks (introduced to me by my MIL)...those are like $4 for the tall (or small, as I like to call it). Good news...the concentrate (32 0z.) is on sale at Publix right now for $2.90! It's in the tea/coffee section. Just add equal parts of concentrate and milk and ice--SO YUMMY!

Third, I am helping Mom and Dad "freshen" their kitchen--it's been the same since we moved in in the late 80's! We will be selecting a paint for the cabinets, countertops, backsplash, wall color, range/oven, window treatments, etc. Stay tuned for the before and after!

Getting Started....

a list.

1. My sister and her family are coming tomorrow.

Beach Baby 1



Beach Baby 2

 2. Everyone has been asking how my job is going. I am not exaggerating when I say it is FABULOUS, and the girls I work with are even more FABULOUS!



View from a jobsite...

3. I am already getting annoyed by "tourists"...even though I was one until a month ago. Oh well.

4. Last night I made FOUR collage bracelets for Sweet Auburn Studio. They take a long time to make--trying to decide what fits where, and then actually getting it to "stick." I have also made some rings from vintage cluster earrings...all yet to be photographed. Little does my photographer know that this will be a working vacation for her.

5. I haven't worked out since...I have no idea. That will be changing after next week. Boo.

6. Harper turns 3 next week. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! She is my "fay-bert" (favorite) Harper.

7. I have not been cooking since it has just been me...I've been eating lean cuisines and lunchables.

8. Mom and Dad have been touring around Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks this week...and texting me all sorts of pictures. The fact that I am not on vacation with them doesn't sting as much from the beach as it would from say...Montgomery.



Yosemite

9. Allison, Anne Scott, and I have been glued to the Casey Anthony trial ALL WEEK (Erika too, but from home as she's been sick). It's very addicting. Trail resumes Sunday!

10. Brent not only has to prep for Fourth of July Publix madness, but also inventory this coming week. Sounds like fun in the Gump!

11. Eleven. That's how many yellow fly bites I have on my legs. I cannot even explain to you how bad they itch. Bad. Very bad.

12. Happy Fourth of July!

my roomie.

Hi everyone!

So sorry these posts are few and far between...after "computing" all day just about the last thing I want to do is "compute" some more when I get home!

Plus, it's just me and a cat.

A brown tabby cat.

The one that tries to get in the shower with me.

And drinks the bath water with me still in it.

Also the one that sits on my nightstand in the morning and purrs loudly (occassionally leaning over to lick my nose and/or forehead) until I get out of bed.

Also the cat that fetches bottlecaps.

And brings them to me at 2:00 am.

(I have bottlecaps under my pillow.)

Also the cat that has sat in my lap 3 (THREE!!!) times in the last week.

Before these recent occurances, the last time she sat in my lap was...maybe December?

My cat is actually acting like a real pet.

Shocking!

towels.

Sorry it's been so long!
Things have been (and still are) a bit crazy.
Saw these towels at Target the other day.
SO CUTE!

Simply Shabby Chic "Lace Dobby" Towel Set

storm's comin'.

The friendly cow all red and white,
I love with all my heart:
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.

 

She wanders lowing here and there,
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day;

 

And blown by all the winds that pass,
And wet with all the showers,
She walks among the meadow grass
And eats the meadow flowers.

"The Cow" by Robert Louise Stevenson

new era.

As many of you know, I was blessed with a position at Urban Grace Interiors this past week.

I really do mean blessed.

Brent (let's just call him by his real name) and I will begin our drawn-out move to Santa Rosa Beach, FL next week. I say 'drawn-out' because he will have to stick around Montgomery until he can get a transfer sorted out--he's bummed he can't come down with me immediately. I'm kind of bummed too--but really excited at the same time about this new opportunity. Please pray for a quick transfer.

Waiting for this job was pretty painful--interviewing, having high hopes, not getting the job...

Repeat.

Repeat.

Wondering 'when?'

You get the picture.

I knew at those times of rejection (that's certainly how it felt) that God had something for me--and every single time I wanted it to be that job I was currently interviewing for--whether it was something I really loved or not.

But it wasn't any of those.

He saw fit to bless me with this one--one that I believe I will truly enjoy.

Another interesting bit of information...

My unemployment checks come to an end this week.

Next week I will be on the payroll.

I'm SURE that is just a coincidence.

Actually, I'm SURE it's not.

There are no coincidences with God.

“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall

give thee the desires of thine heart.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.”

Psalm 37:4,7a(KJV)

~ Photographs courtesy of Urban Grace Interiors ~

domino shaped void.

I have really been missing my beloved Domino Magazine as of late (as well as Cottage Living, but we'll save that for another day).

I personally like an eclectic mix of things in a space.

Potterybarn meets Anthropologie meets Flea Market.

I like a space to feel "traveled" and for each piece to look like it has a story of its own.

Here are a few of my departed Domino's favorites...enjoy (and reminisce)!



Oh the drama!
Love this use of pattern and the pop from the orange lamps.



This is a 'traveled' room.
I want to look at every.single.thing. in it!




Breakfast nook banquet. I need one.
And then I need someone to bring me pancakes.



Do I really need to caption this?



Fun desk. I love the mix she has on her wall.
A fish stamping and a candelabra engraving?
Yes and yes.



Breezy outside room.
Just add beer or (and) wine.
And rum.



Airy staircase.
You would probably float all the way down...



~ All photos courtesy of Domino Mag ~