*new traditions*

Saturday night Tyler and I started a new tradition....picking out and chopping down our own Christmas tree at the tree farm in our little town. Clark Griswald style of course. :) 

I don't know why we never did this before. 

Hot chocolate, an unseasonably warm evening and Christmas music made for the perfect start to the holiday season! 

Happy holidays indeed! I love this time of year!! 

xoxo, renée

cupcake catastrophes

This, my friends, is a mississippi mud cupcake. 

Yes. I know. 

One of the moms I know made them and sent me off with one on my way home. 

Apparently they are a bit top heavy. All those marshmallows or something. 

I sure hope my car enjoyed it...the few bites I got were pretty darn good. 

today was a monday, that is for sure.

Oh man oh man, today I was TIRED, how about you?

 After such a long, fun weekend....I feel like Monday already was just not fair. I hung out with a few of my favorite kiddos today and we did make up homework like maniacs. Fractions to percents to decimals oh my! To be in fifth grade again, no thank you. So much homework!! 

Today was dreary too. And rainy. But I'm hoping that rain will turn to snow soon, so the decorating for Christmas seems a bit more legit. I can't sing along to Micahel Bublé without a little snow falling!! I mean right!!?!?

Hope everyone had the best Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Really. Now....on to the holiday season! 

Found: silvers and grays

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Just a few pretties to start the week! Happy Monday!

love this quote.

here

sunday*swoons: katherine hepburn

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Isn't she beautiful? Katherine Hepburn is one of the few actresses that I feel is just classically beautiful. Her style and elegance is conveyed through even the most unposed and spur of the moment photo. 

One of my favorite films starring Hepburn is Adam's Rib, with Spencer Tracy. The Philadelphia Story is a close second and sometimes a tie for first depending on my mood. What's your favorite Hepburn movie? 

You can check out a few fashion inspiration boards that draw from Katherine Hepburn's style here. 

let's get this party started.

Like I said in my previous post....tomorrow is the big day at our house, when the Christmas boxes get to come up and the holiday music is allowed on the record player once again. 

Gotta love the vintage Christmas albums. So cool.  

I posted about this album playlist last year, but I had to share again. It's such a great line up of holiday music, when you need a break from the oldie but goodies that play on the radio nonstop. 

You can listen to Hey, It's Christmas here. 

Other holiday musics that will be on repeat tomorrow during our tree adventure is the She & Him Christmas album as well as Michael Bublé's new holiday album. LOVE. THEM. BOTH. 

Do you have a special holiday playlist or album? Please share!! 

thanksgivings.

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving this year was getting to spend time with my family, talking with my mom and sister while the last few dishes were put on the table and laughing when our family dog decided he wanted in on the meal too! He's a stinker. 

Pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes from Rachel Ray. SO GOOD. And easy. I promise!!

There is much to be thankful for every day of every year. It's the little things and the small gifts and the tiny gestures that accumulate into a great overwhelming feeling of thankfulness on this particular day. I am so grateful for my family and close friends and all of the many blessings God has granted me, I really can't stress that enough. 

And for reals, my mom makes the best Thanksgiving dinner around. I don't know how Ill ever top her....the five cup salad alone is so delicious! 

How was your Thanksgiving? Our weather has been amazingly beautiful already this weekend, I can't even believe it! 

I had a pretty epic night of Black Friday shopping with my sister and two friends, we didn't even get home until 6am! It was so fun chatting and catching up, despite a two hour mishap at Target. But we recovered with Starbucks and a successful trip to the mall for new jeans and gifts for the men in our life. Totally worth it, every year makes for a great story even if we're not really looking for something specific. But really. It's just a fun adventure every time. :) 

Tomorrow is THE BIG DAY. 

I have been waiting for two weeks, Tyler has Saturday morning off officially and we are decorating the house for Christmas!!!!!!!!

And picking out our tree at the local tree farm. As well as listening to Christmas music. And watching Christmas movies. Annnnnnnd going to breakfast. I love breakfast foods. 

We need this day together and I couldn't be more happy it's tomorrow! 

Happy weekend! 

<3

renée

gratitude.

::in no particular order::

baking cookies with a sweet little girl

heated car seats 

warm and wooly slippers on my feets

my husband

starbucks holiday drinks and those red cups of merryness

our home, the comfort and safety it brings

rereading good books and still getting butterflies

the sister. and sister dates. 

my blow dryer

a holiday season and extra many reasons to be with family

chinese food takeout

great songs on the radio just when you need them

friendships

modern medicine and doctors

the inventor of the camera. genius.

birds that fly by overhead and awe me

annnnnd the little doggie who loves to cuddle in my lap as soon as i get home.

where would i be without her? 

Happy *almost* Turkey Day! 

xoxo, renée

sweet photo frame hoops::an easy DIY

I found these vintage embroidery hoops at this local antique store last weekend and knew exactly what I wanted to do with them! Have you seen Ruche's holiday gift guide yet? I loved this project and thought it would be the perfect way to display some of my favorite instagram shots.
I can't wait to hang them in our bedroom...and even better, I can switch out the photos when I want too. Total plus, as I am always falling in love with new photographs of Tyler and I. It's a problem. :)
This little project took about forty five minutes and was really very easy! I think they would make the cutest gifts too.... don't you?

Have a lovely Tuesday!!
xoxo, renée

just a peek....

Of a fun little D.I.Y I have planned for this week.....

Pretty much any crafty project involving vintage curtain material is a win in my book. 

xoxo, renée

weekend roll call::instagrams

This weekend involved a local theater production of Annie AND a holiday show! A close family friend and her two girls were performing in Annie this month so we were excited to see the show on Friday night. It was SO stinkin cute. I love any theater production involving children, it really just makes for such an entertaining performance. Love it. 

Saturday Tyler and I spent the evening at a local holiday expo show with his parents. There were craft vendors and decorations as well as Christmas music!!!!!!! And we got a chance to send a holiday card to a soldier overseas which was awesome. We each filled out our own card and left a sincere message. I used colored pencils. :)  

Follow that with late night Chinese food and it was a pretty perfect Saturday in my opinion. 

AND boy oh boy it was cold this weekend. Hence the fluffy hat in the first photo. Mr. Chipotle man may mock it, but my ears were warm the entire hour my sister, friend and I stood outside in the cold waiting for Breaking Dawn Thursday night. 

Speaking of Breaking Dawn.....did you see it? Oh my. 

Happy Monday!! 

sunday*swoons: pretty collars

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Ohhhhh man, I just am in love with all of these! I feel like pretty collars are simply the most fun accessory you can add to your outfit. I can't wait to try adding a collar to some of my more boring tops and dresses! Amanda has a pretty easy tutorial for adding a shirt collar to plain top here. Its detachable too, so you can even add it to your favorite top without worry! 

Tyler is off to the football game again today but this time he's taking a friend instead of me! Totally okay, I got my fill last Sunday. Instead Ill be hanging out with one of my favorite little ladies while her mom and sisters perform with the local theater group in Annie. Tyler and I saw it on Friday and laughed the whole time! It was so cute! I can't wait to spend some time with her today, I have a feeling there will be a lot of board game playing going on. :) 

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday! 

xoxo, renée

holiday gift inspirations: Ex Libris Journals

I love finding unique art and photographs to hang in my house and Meaghan's shop Ex LIbris Journals does not disappoint! If you need something pretty to frame or hang or gift to a friend....check out her shop. It's a fun place. :) 

The "I want to have adventures with you" print is by far my favorite. 

If you want to see my past holiday gift inspirations, check here. Happy Friday! 

pinning for foods::yumminess

Lately, I've been kind of obsessed with finding yummy treats for the holidays. I want to make them all and I know that is a big leap of expectations, especially since I'm not the baker in the family, so I thought I'd narrow down my favorites and start there.....

I just need to pick something for Thanksgiving to take to my parents. And make for myself. 

So many delicious decisions. And there's more. On that little thing called Pinterest. Oh my. 

1. Salted carmel pumpkin cupcakes.

2. Sweet potato cupcakes.

3. Hot cocoa cookies.

4. Crock pot apples.

5.  Tarts in mason jar lids. 

overwhelmed with treasures

Saturday my friend Sarah and I decided to trek down to a little antique shop (little being the operative word: it only looked little, in fact....it was almost never ending!)

I'm so glad my friend moved back home from DC.....we had the best time together chatting about decorating ideas and figuring out what to do with the awesome amazing vintage birdcage on a stand she found. Seriously, best find of the year in my opinion, even the lady who worked there was sad to see it go! 

This room of chairs just slayed me.... I mean, did you see the previous post? With the mismatched chairs? I die. 

The crafting section and the giant wall of postcards were by far my favorite sections....and we won't even start on the vintage doorknobs and light fixtures. Oh my. 

I can't wait to go back now that I have a better idea of what is in store for me. It was completely and totally overwhelming when I first stepped inside. To say the least. But I did okay, I think. I found some of the sweetest little treasures....

Have a happy Thursday! 

xoxo, renée

well hello there....

look what I found on the internets....

hellooooooo future kitchen table. i heart you. 

game day: a little date

Sunday Husband and I spent the day rooting on our home team, the Cleveland Browns. Anyone who knows anything about this football team, well....sometimes its hard being a fan. But my guy is pretty dedicated so every year we try to attend at least one game together. Rain or shine! Or windy frigid lake front weather. Brr. 

Sundays game did not go well in terms of the final score, but we had so much fun hanging out together! And eating nachos with amounts of cheese I would normally never consume....its just different when you are sitting in the stands! I love watching him get excited and I love how happy he gets when I ask a question about the game....it's the little things. :) 

DIY Chalkboard Message Board

I have a super duper easy project to share with you! All you need is one bottle of Martha Stewart Craft Chalkboard paint and a framed picture. Or even a frame with a thick piece of cardboard or thin piece of wood cut to size works too. I found mine at the local Goodwill. 

I applied two very even, thin coats to make sure the printed painting underneath was completely covered. You could do a third if needed too. After letting it dry over night....ta-da!! Fun little spot for love notes or reminders to bring home dog food. Whatever. :) I might paint the frame white, but I kind of like the gold hue also. We'll see! I loved using Martha Stewart's Chalkboard craft paint, it was really easy to paint with and I still have a lot left in the bottle! Which just means I need to find more things to chalkboard over....

Have a wonderful day! xoxo, renée

Update: The chalkboard paint can be found at your local Michaels craft store. It was about six dollars for a bottle but with one of their weekly 40% off coupons, I paid around $3.60!! I've written several messages on it and even waited 24 hours before erasing it, with no problems! Pretty much a perfect, easy to use chalkboard paint! :) 

sunday*swoons: striped

Lately I've been swooning over black and white stripes. 

I just realized I have quite a few of these items in my closet....I think I just gravitate towards them when Im at the thrift store. Stripes are definitely a part of my style right now, I think I wore stripes almost every day last week! It's ridiculous. 

Love these ladies who rocked the stripes look recently too! Great inspiration for tomorrows outfit.... :) 

From top left to right: Elsie//Kendi//Kelly//Krystal//Jessica//found on Paloma's pretty blog

eight.

Eight years ago somebody asked me out on a date. Even though I was dressed up as a black cat for Halloween and obviously too shy to do more than nod my head yes. 

A few weeks later he asked if we could be boyfriend and girlfriend at the end of our date because he was too nervous to ask at the beginning. 

Eight years later and I'm still so happy just sitting next to him. Sometimes its the most fun. 

Love you husband!!