Christmas at The Carters...part 2

Hey there!  I am linking up with a fun blogger, Andrea, & sharing my Christmas decorations!  I love looking at other house decor - and ESPECIALLY during Christmas!  Enjoy!

I used to love anything and everything Christmas - and my house was a modge podge of Christmas decor.  Over the years I *think* I have toned it down a little (although the hubs would say 3 Christmas trees is not toning it down - ha!)  We have a huge tree in our front room that is my "Mommy tree" now.  All red, white & silver ornaments.  With corresponding wrapped presents. #recoveringperfectionist  It makes me happy.

Through the hallway is where I put our Christmas cards.  I hot glue ribbon to the top of the door (don't be afraid to hot glue stuff to walls or doors...it peels right off!) & then I glue on the cards when we get them.  I love having them all displayed where we can see them versus in a basket or bin like I used to do.  By the end of the month I usually fill up two doors worth & it makes me happy seeing all of the smiling friends & family in our lives.

(from a few years ago)

Dane's playroom tree was sort of a new addition this year.  I had it in our sunroom & it was another girly tree - pink and silver with a tiara on top - ha!  But we put colored lights on it this year, and covered it with sentimental ornaments from when Devin & I were kids + some fun ones we have collected since we have been married.  I have a few new ones that Dane and I have made together and I think this tree will soon be a quick favorite!

my little "Danedeer" ;)

Our living room tree is brown and gold to match our decor & is a real one!  We have gone to a tree farm the last few years to pick it out, and that was always a fun tradition that Devin & I both did with our families growing up.  And that fresh balsam smell?  Oh my.  Forget the Yankee candles this year & just get a real Christmas tree!

Our nativity scenes are fun to put up every year and we now have four!  We have a nice Willow Tree set (off limits to toddler hands), a magnetic one for the fridge, the Little People set that Dane LOVES & this set from when I was a little girl.  The pieces are "stuffed-animal like" and I remember playing with it every Christmas.  We were never allowed to put baby Jesus out until Christmas morning either - His birthday, of course!  Dane loves playing with this one too, so I have it set up in his playroom.  He seems to catch on to things so quickly and loves pointing out the different people.  The funniest thing happened last week when he pointed to a picture of my baby nephew and shouted"Jesus!"  Precious.

I have a few things in the kitchen that I like to put out every year.  I know a lot of people like to put Santa pictures up for Christmas, and I want to continue doing that also!  I have Dane's last two years on the big guy's lap and am looking forward to getting his picture taken this year!  I also put out a Devin/Abigail fave...when we went ice skating at Rockefeller in NYC!  It was snowing and SO pretty and just a fun picture to display for the holidays.

And that is just about it for Carter Christmas decor.  What are your favorite Christmas decorations?  Please share!

Merry, Merry.

Be Their Favorite Toy.

I think we have a cute house.  Not too big, not too small.  Of course there are things about every person's house that they wish they could change.  We would love to have a basement...maybe a one-story ranch with a basement.  And I would love to have a Carrie Bradshaw-sized closet.  #closetgoals  But, you make do with what you have & our house has been great for our little family of 3.  My beloved bright pink sunroom was one of my favorite parts of our house.  White leather couches, custom window treatments and no-boys allowed.  Not kidding.  But being that I live with one very tall boy, and one very small boy I knew deep down we needed a renovation.  A cute toy room for my little boy.  

So, the past 6 months were filled with Devin constructing a massive toy bench & custom bookshelves.  Because who wants to pay $30 for bookshelves when Daddy can make his own for a fraction of the cost?  #timthetoolman We decided to keep the bright pink walls & I think they work fine for now.  And who knows - maybe a little girl is in our future at some point?  :)

As we were putting everything together & moving toys over, I immediately thought of some recent advice I had been given.  My sweet kindergarten parents threw me a baby shower when Dane was born and they made a book of motherhood advice for me to read.  One note always sticks in my brain and I think about it all the time.  This mama's advice was to be my child's "favorite toy."  She went on to explain that when her son was in preschool they were asked by their teacher what their favorite toy was.  He said, "My mom is my favorite toy because she always plays with me."  Wow.  And I could just picture this mama doing that because she was that type of mom.  The lay-on-the-floor, play trains & dress-up type of mom.  The type of mom I want to be.  Sure - there are days when I check my phone too much & just want to sit & catch up with The Today Show, but then I always think about that note.  I want Dane to say that his mama is his favorite toy.

The days are long but the years are short, & before long the toys will be put away for good.  So let's read & dress-up & play trains & build blocks & color (in the lines, of course) while we can.  

Coffee Date Friday

Happy Friday!  And, even a happier Friday while on Summer break.  I am enjoying the stillness that comes with summer & being off of school.  5 AM alarms, dress pants & story time have been traded in for coffee at 9am, sweatpants, & finally tackling my book list.  No bunnies in dresses or picture books included on this list, though.

If we were having coffee this Friday, I would tell you...

* That I have been baking up a storm.  Homemade soft pretzels, strawberry shortcake & different kinds of cookies have been on the list.  I have a great taste tester also...who almost always approves.

* My new favorite place to dream read is in the nursery.  There is just something about rocking that is therapeutic.  Now, I am reading World War Z about a zombie apocalypse which I'm sure should not be allowed in a baby's room.  But, I am mainly doing this to be prepared for the movie release in a few weeks.  Hellllllo, Brad Pitt.  You can save me the world from zombies any day!

* Last Sunday was National BFF Day.  I hope you called your BFF or did something special for them.  And if not, then I declare today National BFF Day, too.

* I check my tomato & pepper plants everyday to see if they are growing.  They aren't.  Pretty sure I have faulty plants...which means no BLT as requested by you, Dad!

* A good friend of mine & fellow adoptive mommy recently started a blog called Rene With One E.  If you want to be entertained by pictures of her adorable boys or behold her famous chocolate chip cookie recipe (future post, Rene?!), then click away!

* I did a little DIY project that turned out really cute, I think.  It involves mason jars & spray paint.  It's getting fancy up in herrrr.

What 5 things would you tell me if we met for coffee?  
Feel free to link up to your blog, too!

Um, you know this room is for a baby right?

If I had my way, I would live in a warehouse.  No, but seriously.
Dark, cold, steel...& more darkness.  Kind of like the Bat Cave, I guess.

This would be my dream kitchen.

But, sometimes I don't get my way.  I guess my husband prefers to not sit on metal couches & walk around on concrete floors.  Whatevs.  

I still like my kitchen, though.  It at least fits the dark criteria, I think.  And, I'm pretty sure that we are the only people on the planet that took windows out of our house floor plan.  

When we decided to adopt, I was SUPER excited to decorate the nursery.  But, we were told not to do anything because we would just be sad walking by a finished nursery with no baby.  Well, I don't do things I'm told.  Ok, I do.  Just not with this.  So, the planning started.  However, anything that screams "baby" scares me.  ABC blocks, rubber duckies, goo-goo ga-ga, safari animals, etc = bleh.  I knew I didn't want any of that.  Again...cold, dark, concrete - that's more my style.  I started talking with Devin about my "vision", which usually results in trips to Lowes. And more trips to Lowes.  Talks began of a painted ceiling, a prison-esque plain-as-day crib, & a custom made mustard yellow changing table.  Enter rapid beating heart.  But, luckily I married the most laid-back man ever.  Even though deep down he might have hoped for a "Daddy's Little Slugger" quilt & matching wallpaper border.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.  

 After our nursery discussion, he kindly & quietly responded with, "You do know this room is for a baby, right??"  I kindly responded with the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How rude."  Yes, I did know the room was for a baby.  I just didn't want it to have anything baby-like in it.  Is that too much to ask?!?  

Don't answer that.     

Several months & numerous shopping trips later...it is finished.  Diapers stacked, tiny pajamas washed & folded, books waiting to be opened.  All ready for sweet baby Carter.  

My vision came to life.  

crib // Pottery Barn  bedding // Land of Nod

  

artwork // kindergarten class 2013

  

banner fabric // JoAnn's

changing table // grandpa carter

alphabet print // Michael's

rocker // Godby  curtains // painted

fake baby // libby

office shelving // target

artwork // kindergarten student 

Hope you enjoyed Baby Carter's nursery!

me // happy, excited, nervous, scared mama-to-be

The time that I painted curtains.

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was filled with fun, friends, family, food & any other good words you can come up with.  Preferably ones that start with F, I guess.  Mine was filled with all of those things.  I also declared it Carter Project Weekend.  We got several things done around the house and man does it feel GOOD.  It doesn't get much better than crossing things off your to-do list.  Ok....there are a lot of things better.  Like not having a to-do list to begin with.  Ahhh - a girl can dream.

The Carter Project Weekend consisted of installing under cabinet lighting, planting an herb garden, baking cookies for us co-workers & putting up curtains.

Curtains sound easy enough.  Except for I couldn't find any that fit the "vision."  You know, the ones you know will look SO good in your (insert room here).  I could have had them custom made, but I ain't got time for that!  This baby could come tomorrow & I just know they will be looking at the curtains first.  Ha.

So, I remembered that one of my close friends at school had painted her curtains & they looked major FAB.  While Devin was with his buddies at the race all day, I set out to do some project-ing.  If you are in the market for painting curtains, you will need...

You will also need an entire day to do this biznazz, which was not in the plan. 

Set everything up in the garage, tape your stripes (if that is what you want) & paint away!  I did two coats, & probably could have done three but my painting patience was gone.  Dry thouroughly & then beg your husband as soon as he walks in the door to hang them.  And, he did.  

Here is the finished product.  Pretty nice from a distance...just don't get too close.  Kind of like most things we know & love - they are better from a distance!  ;)

Photobomb by Libby.  

Already Wednesday.  2 more days to fill up until the WEEKEND.  I am filling one night up by delivering double chocolate chip cookie dough brownies to a new neighbor.  I sure hope the encounter doesn't end up like this one.

DC tested & approved.

I hope you are filling up the rest of your week with something good!

Merry.

Once upon a time (back in 2011) there was a boy. A very thoughtful, yet practical boy. He got his girl photography classes for Christmas so she could learn how to use their fancy new camera. The classes expired on December 15, 2012. Plenty of time. But, the girl became consumed with watching reality tv, taking daily trips to Kroger & avoiding cleaning at all costs, so she forgot all about the classes (although she still dearly loved her camera). Finally, the boy signed her up & she went one week before the expiration date.
The end.

Enjoy the merry happenings in the Carter house.
Sparkle close-ups courtesy of my new photography skillllz.

I hope your home is filled with merry things, too.
With the most important thing centered around this.