How did this happen?

Weekend before last Sweet Pea and Mr. Pearl attended their annual Daddy/Daughter dance at our school. Both of them look forward to this evening and they always have a wonderful time. Daddy is still the apple of my girl's eye and she is adored by him. Just as it should be. Boys take note, you have some big shoes to fill! (truly okay by me, she doesn't need to date until she's thirty or so, right?) What I cannot figure out is, where did my little girl go? Who is this young lady standing by my husband? This year, there was no sweet, little dress in sight. Sweet Pea instead wore a cute little number with sequined sleeves and some absolutely fabulous and oh so chic ballet flats that were handed down from Aunt Holli. She didn't want to wear her "beginner" heels that were the shoe du jour not so long ago.

My baby girl is growing-up and I love the young lady that she is. But where did my little girl go? Sweet Pea does not like me to mention her on the blog, so I will catch some grief for this but it is helping me cope. Cope with the sadness that my Disney Princess loving little girl is now a tween and cope with the happiness of seeing glimpses of the wonderful woman that she is becoming. Sniff. Sniff. I am also writing this down to have something to look at on those days when she is a not so lovable teenager. Remembering this sweet thing may be what saves her!

xoxo,

Krissy

A Little Peek...

The front porch still has a ways to go, as a new slate floor has yet to be installed.

Home sweet home - at last!

Hello lovelies! I have missed everyone around the old blog and I am finally back! We moved into our new home two weeks ago and although not completely unpacked and settled-in, it's getting there! I thought I would share a few glimpses of the final product with a full reveal when I get every thing in it's place.

I had a sweet neighbor tell me that she felt moving was right up there with death and divorce on her list of "things she hates most". After this move, I am starting to agree with her. We moved out of our old house, only the new one wasn't ready. Our contractor said he needed two or three days at most. Two weeks later, we were able to move. All of my material possessions sat in trucks in our driveway and we lived out of suitcases at my parents' home. (God bless them!) On the bright side, the more than inconvenient delay made us all appreciate our new nest that much more.

The trumeau mirror that I found in Roundtop last spring has a place in the front room

This lime green Ann Sacks tile makes the kitchen!

Both of my boys are tucked away upstairs. They share a bathroom and I cannot wait to share the fun details!

This is Sweet Pea's room - so far, it's my favorite room in the house. I guess it brings out my "inner tween".

Glad to be back!

Krissy

Loving This

...casual, dining area from House Beautiful. Thoughts?

Krissy

photo via: House Beautiful

Tommy Boy

Tommy Smythe and his smart bow tie and fabulous interiors!

Love the pattern play here.

The claw foot tub at the end of this hall is to die for!

This powder room makes me want to do some painting and the collage of mirrors - wonderful.

Red lantern - red range knobs. And the tile floor...

I have to admit that I have a little crush on Sarah Richardson's assistant, Tommy Smythe. He is just the cutuest thing and oh, so talented in his own right. Tommy is the yin to Sarah's yang; the peas to her carrots. I found pics of a home up north in Canada that he decorated and I wanted to share. The interiors are just bursting with style and personality, just like Tommy.

Happy Monday ya'll!

Enjoy!

Krissy

photos via: House and Home

Vent in Style

Love the elegant, simplicity of this one.

This is one of my favorites!

I have been working on the finishing touches for the new kitchen. I am down to the design of the vent-a-hood. Mind you, my kitchen is a modest, galley kitchen. It will have everything that we need in a cute, little space. I am excited, but having a hard time reigning-in my desire for some spectacular, over the top vent-a-hood. Somewhere, there is a happy medium and something with style and appropriate scale. Thank goodness for my contractor and his level-head. The final design is still in the works, but these pictures are the ones that used for my inspiration.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Krissy

pictures via: Pinterest

In Love With Chester

Chester in a lush, gray velvet

Traditional Chester in worn leather

Chesterfield that is! Yes, I am smitten with this classic, sofa design; the low profile, fabulous arms (large enough to perch on) and the tufting - oh, the tufting. Chester is at home in a clubby, cigar room or a glamorous, Hollywood regency salon. I love that about him. He is a real gentleman, yet in touch with his feminine side. Chester looks good in well-worn leather, lush velvet or even a linen. He is a real Renaissance man; a jack of all trades. What are your thoughts? I have actually ordered my own Chester for the new home and I cannot wait for his arrival. Pictures will follow.

Feminine Chester (I am in love with this entire room)

Chester in drag? Maybe Chesterette?

Another fabulous space with Chester holding court

Chester McChester in green

Chester twins!

Lavender Chester

All-over tufting Chester

Patchwork Chester

Classic Chester

My favorite Chester - Chester Jack

Happy Monday all!

Krissy

All photos via: Pinterest

Plates, Dishes and China - Oh My!

I am pretty sure that this is Lisa Luby Ryan from a while ago. Love.

Gingham background and majolica = perfection

This is the home of actor Henry Winkler.

This is from artist Lisa Porter. She hand-painted the walls, but it's the collection of plates that I love.

I am sitting here listening to the rain falling outside, taking a break from packing for a while. It is a cold and snuggly kind of day. I have been carefully wrapping my "stuff" and I realize that I have an obscene amount of plates. Yes, I could use them to eat off of, but most of these have been hanging on my walls; boxes and boxes of them. I have a bit of a plate problem. I know that many design bloggers out there have declared dinnerware on the walls as passe, but I rather like the little round jewels. What do you all think? Plates as art or should they be tabled? (that was funny!) I'm for plates, but packing them up is a pain.

More majolica and toile.

Blue transfer ware - I love the contrast with the pale green walls and I love the happy four-legged guy, too.

Have a good one,

Krissy

Photos: the above photos are from my archives - pulled from various magazines over the years, I am sorry that I can't source them, but if you know, please tell me!

Today...

Today I lost a sweet friend to a nasty disease. Today, my friend Amy passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Amy is survived by her husband and two children; ages eight and three. I feel so sad that my heart hurts. I wish that I had something profound to say to her family and all those around me who are hurting. I know that my God is bigger than this suffering, but accepting this is so hard. I am praying for Amy's family and all that are touched by this disease. Each day that we have with the ones we love is a blessing, for there are no guarantees.

Praise be to the God and Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 3-4

Krissy

Do you ever...

Do you ever get so overwhelmed with all that fills your plate that the only thing that you want to do is stay in bed? Maybe I am the only one. This week, it has taken numerous cups of coffee and sheer will to lug myself out of bed each morning and do what I have to do. I am persevering and the pile 'o boxes that are packed for the move is growing ever larger. We have finished one science fair project and we are working on a penguin report and a famous Texan report with a power point. So much for the teachers easing the minis back into school. Don't they know we are tired from the break?

xoxo,

Krissy

photo source: unknown (I pulled it from my archives)

Welcome 2012

We have hit the ground running into the new year. We said good-bye to 2011 very quietly here at home. This year is going to be a busy one, so I guess this was the calm before the storm. The mini-pearls start back to school this morning and Mr. Pearl and I are going to start packing-up the house to get ready for our move in a few weeks!

I am looking forward to each new adventure and although I don't like to make "resolutions" per say (I feel it just sets me up to fail), I have set a few "goals" for 2012. I am going to live in the moment. For me, this means embracing the craziness of three school-age children that are still (but not for long) dependent on me for a lot. I will miss this when it is gone and I don't want to regret the attitude with which I perform my everyday tasks. This will require daily, if not hourly, reminders! I also want to read the Bible this year. Yes, cover to cover. I have not ever attempted this and I have a Daily Walk Bible that I have purchased to walk me through. I also have a goal to get organized. I am leaving this open, as organizing my entire life will never happen, so I am going to organize this and that, as I go. Yesterday, I started by putting seventeen years worth of pictures in chronological order and put them in new, fancy photo boxes from the Container Store. Yes, I spent my New Year's Day on the floor in a sea of photographs from me and the mister's entire married life. Whew! If I don't organize anything else this year, I will consider this goal accomplished.

I wish you all the best for 2012 and that you accomplish all of your goals!

I will leave you with some photos of our all too short Christmas break!

Cousins on Christmas Eve

The Minis all received electronics from Santa

and it made for a very quiet and calm Christmas Day. Yes, a gift for everyone!

Christmas Day lunch and cracker crowns!

Happy 2012!

Krissy