Chocolate and Hot Pink Drama

A little drama for your Wednesday. If you are like me, you don't need anymore drama in your life, but this space is worth it! I just love this room! The drama, the hot pink pops...dramatic and fabulous.

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Hope the rest of your day is drama free!

Krissy

Rustic and Elegant - Kitchens

I have been in a rustic mood lately. Perhaps it is because the cold, winter months make me yearn for a cozy fire in a ski lodge somewhere. Perhaps it is because my oldest child is winding-up hunting season and has asked me to prepare his venison for him (not my fave, I prefer to work with antler sheds, not the rest of the animal. Just saying). Perhaps it is just because. Whatever the reason, I hope you like these rustic, elegant spaces as much as I do!

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xoxo,

Krissy

A Belated Holiday Recap

Hello lovelies! Yes, I realize that we are already finished with the second week of January, but I never posted on our Christmas. Forgive me. The mini-pearls were back to school this week and I was back to work and now it is Friday. I know you can relate.

Our holiday break had a dark cloud over it, as my sweet Sport was sick with pneumonia and Fisherman had an respiratory infection. Not fun. Fisherman recovered after the first week and was able to get in some time in the outdoors with a buddy and all was right in his world. Sweet Pea complained a lot, as the sickness cramped her social schedule, but we had some dear friends stand in the gap and keep that girl busy; her favorite thing to be! So, our break was quiet and we stayed home more than we would like, but not all bad. I am happy to report that Sport has a small, lingering cough but he is doing much better and back at school!

Today, the temperature is supposed to be 70' and sunny, but turn 40' and nasty tomorrow. No wonder we are sick! It is hard to believe that with the beautiful morning outside my window. We had a cozy, cloudy, white Christmas. Just enough to make everything pretty and not mess-up the roads. We Texans love us some snow! So, here is Christmas 2012...

 Christmas Eve, Sweet Pea and I went alone to my Aunt's home and we all skipped church (first time EVER!). The boys all stayed home and slept, as they were not feeling well.

These are my 30 year old reindeer slippers. They have holes in the bottom and have seen their better days, but it's tradition! I love them! Oh, if they could talk! I got them when I was twelve and have worn them every Christmas since.

Love this of my girl and her daddy.

Look at this sweet, sick face. He really tried to rally. Presents make everyone feel better!

This is my baby brother, the fabulous Uncle G! He is an original and has the greatest sense of humor EVER! He makes you smile, just by 'being'. So, it was no surprise that he donned a new Christmas sweatshirt this year. Read it carefully and please don't be offended. Yes, we love Christmas Vacation and have many running family jokes around it. This was too funny!

 This is how Texans act in the snow; as if they have never seen it, because we haven't, at least not very often. Yes, my sick boys are wearing shorts, in the snow, without coats. Don't judge. I was lucky to get them in their Christmas shirts. They figured they would be inside all day and it would be stuffy, hence, the shorts. My male children spend a lot of time worrying about being too hot. Anyone else?

 Don't you love their Cowboy boots? Yes, that was to protect them from cold. (you may laugh)

It really was pretty. I have to share my favorite moment from the day: when the snow started, all sixteen of us were gathered in the family room opening presents. We burst into singing "White Christmas". The Mormon Tabernacle Choir we are not, but it was really neat.

Hope you all had a memorable holiday!

Here's to a happy and HEALTHY 2013!

Krissy

2013 Inspiration

Happy 2013! I cannot believe it is finally here! I love the beginning of the year. There is so much promise; a fresh start; a clean slate. Who's with me? Mr. P organized the attic when he lovingly put away all of our Christmas stuff. I am so thankful, but now the rest of the house seems like a complete disaster! I will work on organization later, I want 2013 to be a year of creativity and I am going to start with a new inspiration board in my office.(read- place to display all of the paper and photos that I cram in a drawer in said office) That is getting organized, right? Here are my inspirations. What are yours?

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 www.houseandhome.com

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xoxo,

Krissy

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and blessings in 2013! This year, Sport designed our Christmas card and chose the verse  inside that reads,

"The gift of God is eternal life

in Christ Jesus our Lord."

-Romans 6:23

xoxo,

Krissy

It's Almost Time!

Has anyone else been dashing about this week? I cannot believe the weekend is here and Christmas is Tuesday! The mini-pearls had their last day of school yesterday. It was a half day full of carol singing and laughter and a bunch of us met for lunch at the Food Truck Park and enjoyed 70' weather, sunshine and fun! Sorry to throw that in for all of you that are buried under snow right now! The day turned out pretty good, considering that we woke-up to water dripping from the kitchen ceiling. Yes, we had a plumbing leak, in our new plumbing. I now have an early present of a piece of ply board covering a 2' x 3' hole in my ceiling, as the sheetrock person is already on Christmas vacay. Praise - it was warranted by the plumber, so the repair is free, but still... could have been worse! I am thankful that it wasn't.

I plan on spending the weekend cooking and enjoying my family. How about you? Don't work too hard, this is supposed to be a fun time! Here are a few more pics of my home that I haven't shared.

This is Sport's tree in his room. Most of the ornaments on it are ones that he made in second grade during their "Christmas Around the World". He is very proud of these!

This is Sweet Pea's room: lots of pink and green and her Nutcracker ornaments on her feather boa tree.

Merry! Merry!

Krissy

Our Holiday Home - Family Room and Kitchen

Hello all! I hope your week is going well. The Christmas countdown is in full-swing! Are you ready for the holidays? Today, I thought I would share our kitchen and family room. Lots of color and Christmas fun. 

I love this window seat that we put in the breakfast room. We can seat a crowd around the table and it makes it cozy in the kitchen. The kitchen is not that big, so I wanted everyone to be comfortable because everyone always gathers here!

This is my little hot chocolate station. The chimney in the background is our Santa countdown. A gift from a dear friend, we remove a brick everyday until Christmas Eve and Santa moves a little lower down the chimney.

This is our family room and where we have our big tree. The tree skirt was made by Mr. P's grandmother and is the twelve days of Christmas. I absolutely adore this!

This is Kawliga. I had him made for Mr. P as a college graduation present. He has been with is for our entire marriage and keeps watch over our home.

xoxo,

Krissy

Our Holiday Home - Den

 I would definitely say that I am a traditionalist when it comes to holiday decor. I love the look of themed trees or an all white look, but I just can't seem to get there in my own home. I love color and I love my Christmas ornaments! I am fortunate to have quite a collection of Radko ornament. For years, my mom owned a store that sold them and I was the excited recipient of many beautiful, gifted Radko goodies. The result? My trees are every color of the rainbow and well, I love them. 

This year, I put a small tree in our den. The "big" tree is in the family room where we spend the majority of our time, but both trees are full of beautiful glass ornaments and the ones that I treasure most, the handmade projects from my children and a few from my childhood that my mom has passed on to me. I have another feather tree in this room, as well. I guess that I if one is good, two are better. Right? The wooden creche is one that Mr. Pearl and I purchased on a trip to Germany. 

This Welsh dresser serves as an ever-evolving backdrop to various collections and family photos. I sort of use it as a giant scrapbook of sorts. The dresser itself was a gift from my mom and dad, and all of the tiny trinkets and mementos on the shelves have a story to tell about our family. It is fun to change it out and add to it.

The pictures with Santa are of the mini-pearls and Mr. P as toddlers. Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, they are all bawling. Yup, I framed pictures of my terrified children with Santa. Ok, worse, I made them stay on his lap for the shot! Please don't call CPS on me, they are priceless! And, they do not appear to be permanently scarred by the event. All of them went on to take happy Santa pics. I have posted on this here if you would like to see them up-close.

The little girl with her doll in this picture is my grandmother. How cute is she? The Santa ornament is one that broke at some point, but it still had some jolly left in it. The pocket knife on the ribbon belonged to my father as a child and says,"Deputy Sheriff" on it. The tortoise box is one that my grandfather brought back from Korea and the horse is an antique toy I purchased at an auction. The cotton comb belonged to my great-grandmother.

The mantel is a work-in-progress. Eventually, it will be a shrine to the television. Mr. P has plans for one where the estate sale mirror now hangs. Also a work-in-progress, our stockings. I lovingly needlepointed my firstborn child a beautiful one. My second born has one that is halfway complete in my closet somewhere. So, I made her a lovely "interim" stocking that she has been using for eleven years. My third child? A purchased one from Pottery Barn. Where is the love? I did, however, add some extra fluff to the train, but it's one of those "third" child things that I swore would not happen at my house. Never say never people!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the traditions that each family has around the decorations and celebrations. What is your favorite? Don't have one? Start one. It's not too late!

Happy Monday!

Krissy