2013 in Review

  I celebrated the New Year with some close friends in Cougarville, aka Michael's Cafe in Bensalem.  Never in my life did I have to worry about my husband being hit on by someone my mother's age.  Ew.   But we had a blast, got way too drunk a little tipsy and said hello to 2013.




Our little community grew by 4 pounds 10 oz when our neighbor and dear friends Jenny and Greg welcomed their son, Townes Edward into the world.  Six months later, Hunter would begin a rivalry that would quickly dissolve.

 Hunter celebrated his second Valentine's Day with his sweetheart, Jenna, and I blogged about my Toddler Friendly Valentine's Day Snacks

I was on the ball with the blog in February and blogged about giving up make up for Lent, our dresser turned buffet and did a review of our beloved HOVAS (still the most popular keyword for traffic)

At 17 months, Hunter became a full-fledge, climbing, ornery toddler.

After snagging a rug off Craigslist, I officially declared the nursery DONE

                                     

JEGs was able to sell his 2001 Jetta and purchased a much more reliable 2005 Subaru Legacy



and in the same weekend, Hunter got himself a new set of wheels, too.

 We quietly celebrated Easter with Hunter's first egg hunt around the house (he kind of understood the concept), but the highlight of the weekend is when he got to visit Mommy at work and see all the planes and helicopters.

and in an epic showdown, we invited some neighborhood friends over for a Pizza-Off to determine the best pizza place in the area.  I still say Dante's won.





March was also a rough month because my Uncle committed suicide in a very public manner on St. Patrick's Day.  It left me with a lot of unresolved anger towards him, but made me appreciate my family as we gathered around to support my mother and help settle his estate.

Our Bubbers turned 18 months old and I couldn't believe that he was no longer my baby, he was a little boy now.

...especially when our pediatrician gave the ok to make his car seat forward facing.  I died a little inside that day.

We realized around the beginning of the month that we weren't going on vacation this year, so I started taking random days off to use up my PTO.  JEGs and I took a random Monday off together and had, what we called, a "Pre-Baby Saturday"-- basically we did all the things that we would have done on a Saturday before Hunter was born.  We dropped him off at daycare, and went back to bed.  We slept until 10.  We grabbed lunch at a local Mexican joint.  I sipped margaritas with my quesadillas.  We came home and just leisurely laid around the house and were able to have an actual conversation.  The weather was unseasonably warm, and it was awesome.

I also spent a hilarious night in West Chester, PA to celebrate the bachelorette party of my friend Whitney.  The night began with a champagne toast and ended with me bumping into my high school crush in front of a pizza place and asking him to protect me while I ate.  Yeah.  

Three weeks later, Whitney married her gentleman caller, Max, in the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended.

We spent Memorial Day weekend with some close friends, where Hunter tried to make some moves on 2-year-old Cora

Later in the week we cleaned up the planting beds in the front yard and planted some hostas and impatiences with the help of my neighbor, Amy.

With half the year gone, June was a busy month.  I shared my plans for the bedroom and continued my birthday tradition of painting a room to celebrate my 32nd year.

Our little monster turned 20 months old, and was proving to be all boy

                                        

A memorial service was held in my uncle's honor and it helped me come to terms with my feelings.  Family I haven't seen in years came in to share moments of his life, and help spread his ashes.  My cousin Tara (Hunter's godmother) and her boyfriend came to stay with us, and we finally got a picture of the two.

I also checked out this awesome place called Painting With a Twist in Skippack, PA.  They set you up with a canvas to paint, and you can bring your own beverages and snacks to nosh on while you release your inner Monet!  So much fun, and I want to go back again!

I was so excited to host my first Fourth of July BBQ this year!

JEGs and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary by spending the weekend in Lancaster, PA to attend the wedding of our very dear friends, Mike and Kaitlin.  Actually, not only did we attend, but JEGs was the best man!  It was such a sweet, home-spun affair, and I swear, one of these days I am going to blog about the whole thing.

Hunter turned 21 months and reminded us that we are still  rookies at this whole parenting thing.  

             

After the craze that was May/June/July, we kind of kicked back and just enjoyed August.



We checked out a local Musikfest, and Hunter experienced his first bus ride.  He talked about it for DAYS.



This month I got a double dose of Shannanigans when we were invited to Gabe's birthday party, and then a week later, Kim from NewlyWoodwards came into to town!  It was so exciting to finally meet Kim after years of stalking her life reading her blog.

Hunter and the birthday boy, Gabe

                           

Such a horrendous picture of me.. but these things happen after copious amounts of wine

             

We started the month out with a perfect trip to Margate for Labor Day weekend.  Hunter behaved so well, we spend some quality family time together and it was just fantastic.  Best weekend ever.

We welcomed another member of the IKEA sofa family into our home as we made the guest room/play room a little more useful.

JEGs and I also discovered Smallville, and promptly became obsessed.  We spent many night with a glass of wine and Tom Welling.

Hunter turned two.  years.  old.  *sigh*

                         

For the special occasion, we threw a Cars themed  party for him, complete with outdoor race track and cardboard cars!



Hunter and JEGs share a birthday month, and it has become an unoffical tradition to go pumpkin picking on Justin's birthday.  This year we checked out our local farm market and Hunter picked out his own pumpkin.

                          

Hunter's Clark Kent costume was a huge hit on Halloween

 I started the Couch to 5K program in September, and to keep myself motivated I signed up for a local 5K the first week of November.  My friend Jenny and I ran together and we did much better than I anticipated!  We finished with a time of 38:34!  

The middle of the month I landed in the hospital with kidney stones two days before I was hosting out of town guests and helping to decorate for a baby shower.  I finished up last minute crafts in my hospital bed, and the day of the shower I popped two Percocets to get the job done!

the guest of honor, Cassie, is to my right

Hunter spends some quality time with our house guest, McKayla.

The first week of December, we traveled to Pittsburgh to celebrate the birthday of McKayla, our friends Amy and Tim's daughter.  They hosted a Winter ONEderland party with an enchanting candy buffet

Hunter and JEGs with the birthday girl and her proud papa

After the party was over, we popped over to my cousin Tara's apartment to spend the night.  We had planned to stay until after lunch, but the weather forecast was calling for a little snow, but it quickly turned into a fair amount of accumulation.  As we started out it looked like this

and by the time we were 30 miles from our exit, it looked like this.

Eight hours later, we got home.  We were all sick of being around each other.

The weekend before Christmas we hosted a small holiday party for our neighborhood.  We ate munchies, sipped on champagne punch and played the most hilarious game Quelf.




The week before Christmas we got to see my cousin Tara again as she came to stay with us.  We spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas morning my in laws came to our house with gifts and brunch bread.  Hunter was excited to receive a circus tent, helicopter and tugboat from Santa, and JEGs spoiled me with a rose gold watch and tickets to see Phantom of the Opera in April.  BOO YA!

if you need him, he'll be in his fortress

Of course, I can't do a full recap without mentioning that the Monday before Christmas I rear ended someone.

It was raining, and the guy in front of me stopped abruptly to avoid going through a just-turned yellow light.  I slammed on my brakes, but it was raining and there was not much I could do;  I slid into the back of him.  Now my precious Sasha is sitting in our driveway, waiting for the weather to warm up just enough for JEGs to try to fix her.

There is our year in a nutshell.  There have been some highs and lows, and I am ready for this year to come to a close.  Tonight we are just hanging in the house (I have to be at work at 5:30a tomorrow) but I am really looking forward to 2014-- I've got some goals in mind that I am really hoping to achieve.   Basically...

source

 Wishing you all the happiest and safest of New Years!

Always & Forever,
  ME

Falconhead Holiday House Tour 2013

 Disclaimer:  this is the first time I am shooting in manual.  If the pictures suck.. well, deal with it.  I'm still learning..

IT'S CHRISTMAS YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!

Ermergherd I love Christmas so much.  This year I am so excited to share the holiday with Hunter.  The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we put the tree up during his nap.  When he came downstairs afterwards, he started saying "Oo! Itsa Christmas tree!!  It has yights (lights) on it!"  Every day he gets excited to "help"  Mommy plug in the lights.  

This year, we were able to trust Hunter to not bring the Christmas tree crashing to the ground and set it up in the living room again (last year it was tucked away in the kitchen).   The living room is a lighted ball of festivity

Can we be real for a second?  I am damn proud of this mantle.  Around Thanksgiving I started getting a vision in mind and this is exactly what I saw.  I love it so much.  

I really wanted a simple, classic look with lots of sparkle.   I broke out my chunky candle sticks from Party Lite (no longer available).  And of course added my 'Ark of the Covenant' deer that JEGs loves so much (heavy sarcasm).

In years past I've always gone very symmetrical, but this year I decided to add these BLOMSTER candle sticks from IKEA.  I.  LOVE.  THEM.  $14.99, y'all.  You can't beat that.   I am pretty sure these will never be put away.

Our stockings are hung with care, each with a jeweled initial.  

I love these stockings so much.  I might hit up the December 26th sale and grab one more.  You know, just in case...

Last year, I couldn't find an H for Hunter's stocking, so I had this dinky pin.  I was so excited when Target brought these back this year, I snagged it-- *gasp*-- at full price.  I know.  I must have really wanted it.

The garland was on the steps last year, but this year I wrapped it with some gold and silver ribbon  from Michael's.

I would like to remind the class that the JOY stocking holders were free on Freecycle.  Winning.  

Even though we moved the tree back into the living room, we still decorated with Hunter-proof ornaments.  We don't trust him that much.  Last year I invaded the Target after-Christmas clearance and bought all the felt and wood ornaments I could get my hands on.  

I still have a couple that have sentimental value.  This is something I inherited from my mom.  It was always a favorite of mine growing up (probably because it's gold and covered in glitter).

I also added DIY ornaments from the past like our glittered sea shells and this guy from 2010

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We are trying to enforce the "one finger" rule with Hunter.  It kind of works...

The banister got it's usual swag of garland and lights.

Since my child is 100 ft tall and can reach all points of the kitchen table, I needed a durable centerpiece.  I  set my jute trees on a gold charger with some pine cones.  Rustic at it's finest.  

The buffet got a make-under this year.  We hosted a holiday party this year, and I used that area for serving beverages.  I didn't want to have to deconstruct some elaborate set up for one night, so I went simple. with a linen table runner, two faux  trees in burlap, my other two candlesticks, and wreath in the windows.

I also put our nativity set up front and center.

I had this pine cone garland from last year leftover, so I quickly sat it on the window sill.

Are you guys ready for some night time shots?  Again, first time in manual mode, so bare with me..

Living room

Kitchen

extreme nativity... whooooaaaa

Just the tree (I am having a devil of a time getting that start to stand up straight)...

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy holiday!

Want to take a look at previous years?  Here is 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.  

Always & Forever,
  ME

The Lazy Mom's Guide to Fall Decor.

There is something about fallen leaves collected on patio furniture that I find slightly magical.  

I don't get too excited specifically for Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.  Truth be told, I could skip Thanksgiving altogether-- it's not my favorite holiday.   Ain't nobody got time for switching stuff up between September 1- December 1, so the name of the game is Longevity.

We have a new addition on our  front porch in the form of a wicker sofa.  I snagged this little baby and a neighborhood yard sale a few weeks ago for $35.  It's still in great shape and came with a matching coffee table that is currently residing in our basement.  It looks so much better than the folding chairs that we bought when we moved in together.  They were great when we first got them, but 4 years later, they were looking used and abused.

I added pillows that I made from a table clothes a couple years ago, along with our monogram pumpkin.  To this date, this is probably one of the DIY projects I am most proud of.

These train lanterns came out of a family friend's basement. I have an unnatural love for them.  

The glass table we've had for years (it came with the folding chairs), and the weather vain was something I picked up at a yard sale for a dollar when we first moved to Norristown.

                              

This wreath is probably one of my favorites.  I snagged it at Home Goods in 2011 and I love the simplicity of the twigs, leaves and wheat, but it still has the beauty of the single rose.

 I have a couple small gourdes scattered here and there, but this is the only thing I put thought into  in the house is the mantle. 

I love this leaf art.  JEGs found it in the back yard last spring.  We both loved how the only thing left are the veins, making it looks like a skeleton.  I matted it with some scrapbook paper and framed it.  I am secretly hoping to find more next spring so I could do an entire collage on a wall somewhere.

Oh IKEA, how I love your ROTERA lanterns.  These were actually part of a table centerpiece of a wedding we went to in 2011.  I may or may not have snagged four that day.

The greenery is actually party of a floral arrangement I got on clearance from Michael's and I just pulled it apart, sticking flowers and leaves in here and there. The large faux pumpkins were bought on clearance as well, and I am kicking myself for not getting two of the same size.  Or at least more.

Our mantle wraps around towards our staircase, and it's a decorating conundrum to me.  It's very skinny and long, and I never know what to put there.  This time I popped a candle in the corner.  Boom.  Done.  

 Simple, to the point... now let's move this season along so I can get one with my Christmas decorations!

Always & Forever,
  ME

Special Moments on Saturday Morning

In September, Hunter moved into a new classroom and the teachers made a simple request:  bring in a family photo.

You guys, it took me damn near a month to find a recent photo of the three of us.  The last one I had was from July 2012.  I had to fix this.

So I called upon my favorite local photographer, Kelly Miller, to get some good family photos for us. She did Hunter's newborn shoot (and by 'newborn, I mean two months old, because that's how long it took me to get around to scheduling it), and I trust her to make us look good.  As always, she did not disappoint.  

Kelly's really great at capturing the special every day moments, and just followed us around as Hunter ran around we explored this great spot she picked out.

This is typical play in our house these days

Also, I hope you'll notice his beautiful hair blowing in the wind as he runs.  I am NEVER CUTTING IT again.  Yeah, I am *that* mom, and I don't even care.

..and 30 minutes later, he was all played out.

Again, so many thanks to Kelly Miller Photography.  She is so great to work with-- I cannot say enough good things about her.  If you are local to the Philadelphia area, I highly recommend checking her out.  I wish wish wish I had hired her for my wedding.

Always & Forever,
  ME