deck the halls.

The halls are decked! The greenery is up and the citrus garland is hung. Now I can officially sit back and enjoy the season.

Merry Christmas from our humble abode!

little helper.

Ann Bennett has been the best helper lately. She picks up her toys without being prompted and loves to help me cook dinner. Today she helped me rearrange the pumpkins on the front porch and fold laundry. All the heart eyes for this cutie!

day trip.

On Saturday, we took a day trip to Atlanta to hit up Scott Antique Market and spend the day with my parents. I am so thankful that they decided to join us because Scott's and toddlers don't really go hand-in-hand. Around nap time, Brooks and AB were ready to dip out, so we had to cut our time there short. Our main goal was to find a dresser for the new nursery and we were successful, so I consider the trip worth it!

 We will be visiting my parents at the lake in March and Mom and I plan to spend another day at Scott's with hopes to find a rug for the nursery and a few other odds and ends. I can't wait—for both lake time and shopping!

house tour: the kitchen.

I'm slowly, but surely getting around to taking pictures of the new, er, newish house. Up first on the "official" tour: the kitchen.

I have absolutely loved having an open kitchen large enough for family and friends to gather in and around. It is truly the heart of the home and turned out to be one of my favorite rooms of the house. 

house tour: the dining room.

new house glimpses: volume six.

One of my favorite rooms in the house is Brooks' bedroom. I hope to share more details soon, but for now, here's a peek:

P.S. That bed, though…

new house glimpses: volume five.

Next up: our entry. To me, it says "home, sweet home." There are so many pieces in this little space that tell a story. The suitcase and military foot locker belonged to John's great uncle, John Robert Bryant. We inherited them, along with his coin collection. The suitcase houses boxes of film, a vintage camera, and old letters. The old milk jug was a freebie that John and I got from a house we looked at several years ago that was for sale. It was their trash, but our treasure. The gate is from John's parent's barn—with some engravings from John and a friend when they were younger. And lastly, the antique galvanized tub was a wedding gift from all of my best friend's moms; sweet women who have loved me so well.

These days, I'm all about finding places in our home to display furniture or knick knacks that bring me and mine joy...and purging the things that don't. My motto, as of late, is "less is more." Therefore, a yard sale is coming soon...

new house glimpses: volume four.

Make your bedroom your sanctuary. And get a king size bed. 

Game changer.

new house glimpses: volume three.

Church pew sittin'. All we need is a runner and our front hallway is complete.

new house glimpses: volume one.

I haven't shared much of anything about the new house, yet. Except for the fact that moving with a three year old and a one year old was no joke. Moving across the street was no joke, either. I believe approximately 47 trips were made to and from. The day of our closing, our painters broke my favorite (discontinued—oh, the horror) lamp and the DirecTV gent cemented a metal pole smack dab in the middle of our backyard (really?!). So, naturally, I cried to him. And every one else who came into contact with me.

You literally cannot pay me to move again. Not until my moving wounds heal, at least. I don't foresee that happening for, oh, ten plus years.

Lo! We are in and on the road to settlement. We have a never-ending list of to-dos and lots to buy, hang, or purge, but it feels like home. Our hearts are overflowing.

I am going to periodically share some snippets of the house…until it is ready to share in its entirety.

Up today: our new runner. This may be my favorite purchase for the new house, thus far.

Coco seems to like it, too.

Happy Friday!

featured.

Miss Ann Bennett's nursery has gotten quite the attention lately. I feel so honored!

West Elm Birmingham "regrammed" a picture that I had posted on Instagram for the world to see a couple of weeks ago and today the amazing Joni Lay of Lay Baby Lay (eeeeeeeeeek!) featured it on her blog!

I am kind of freaking out. Sort of like the time I had a dream that Michael Bublé and I were an item and I woke up actually believing it. Boom. 

ann bennett's nursery.

The next stop on our house tour: Ann Bennett's nursery a.k.a. our old master bedroom. 

The inspiration for the room came from The Alison Show mobile that I purchased just weeks after finding out that we were expecting. Because we did not know if we were having a boy or a girl, I pulled colors from the mobile, starting off with a gender neutral base: a black crib, blue dresser, yellow rug, bronze lamp, and natural wood elements. It wasn't until after Ann Bennett arrived that we added the final "girly" touches, like the Moroccan pouf, wall art, and crib skirt. 

The room has really come together and I am super in love with it…that is, the room and the sweet baby girl who sleeps here.

Sources:

Crib - Davinci Jenny Lind, Ebony

Crib Skirt - Three Sheets

Crib Sheet - Target

Rocking Chair - Nursery Works Sleepytime Rocker

Pouf - Etsy

Side Table - West Elm

Rug - West Elm

Pendant - West Elm

Mobile - The Alison Show, Fiona

Armoire - Craigslist (Hardware - Anthropologie)

 Dresser - Craigslist (Chalk Paint - Cece Caldwell, Chesapeake Blue)

Shelves - IKEA brackets, spray painted

Curtains - Pottery Barn Kids

Framed Art - Hobby Lobby

Vintage Horse Tray - Etsy

Embroidery Hoop - Etsy

Floor Lamp - World Market

Table Lamp - West Elm

Pillow - Etsy

Baskets - Target

Laundry Hamper - Home Goods

Horse Painting - Commissioned by my talented sister-in-Law, Lea

Wall Color - Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore