Milestones

Tomorrow Becky turns 21. I can't believe it - I feel old. I remember praying SO earnestly for a sister (for years and years) and finally she came along. Red, curly hair, and blue eyes, just like I had asked God.

I'm sure my parents thought I was nuts...praying nightly for a red, curly-haired sister with blue eyes, but the little girl I loved who I helped watch during church service in the nursery had those features and I was convinced those were the BEST features any baby girl could have! Genetics be darned, prayers can influence that stuff, right?

Well, evidently they do because, lo and behold, that's what I got!

During her early teen years she hated me for it, as she straightened her hair into a helmet of frizz. Obviously now she knows better;)

Do you know my parents let me name her? Really. Talk about a lot of power to give a 6-almost-7 girl. She very well could have been named Stacyelle. WHICH was my favorite name ever. I loved putting -elle on the end of all names, making what was surely to be the next big name of the decade.

It didn't catch. DEVASTATING, I know.

Well, now it's 21 years later and she's starting to hit all those really big milestones of early adulthood. And it's SO fun. We're more best friends than we are sisters and that's definitely the best part of it all. So as any good friend would naturally do, we helped her move into her first place this last month...and we documented for you all, aren't you lucky?

The new homestead - it was getting prepped for painting, so this is the best shot I have right now, but I'm sure it looks much better now.


The gang, drill included.


Creativity is key...get it? This was outside Becky's new house when we arrived, inspiration left behind from a former tenant maybe?


Becky's requisite "first place" photo


The cutest vintage dresser Becky scored at a local Goodwill in Kingwood, isn't the little bow detail at the bottom adorable?


Vintage finds mixed with my old, old, old jewelry armoire that Becky made her own with a coat of pink paint.


Seriously, I was so proud of that piece back in the day. It came with a matching vanity set and it was my most prized possession. So, it's fun to see it have made it this far. Which also makes me think - where the heck is my big sister? I need some furniture and cool hand-me-downs stat.

Proof I was there too; well a sweaty version of myself was...


And now, if you'll excuse me...I'm off to Austin to share a toast with Becky for her 21st. And possibly to look for someone who wants to adopt me as their little sister? Austin's weird enough, it could happen;)

August Redux....

So August isn't over, but it might as well be. I feel like I'm having one of those "Dude, where's my car?" moments except it's more like "Dude, where's my life?"

Where did the first part of August go? I think I blacked out in early July.

We have been so busy, but only because we are SO blessed to have so many wonderful friends who have decided to make the trek out to see us this summer. And it's been SO much fun!

John and Kendall came out the last weekend in July and helped us usher in August....and we hadn't seen them in THREE years! Hours flew by as we talked late into the night and played multiple rounds of Beanie (only the best game ever which they introduced to us, thanks J&K!)

(Best group picture award goes to ....US!)

The fabulous news is that I'll be seeing Kendall in just another few months for her baby shower, they're expecting in early January and I'm SO beyond excited!

Then shortly after their visit we had another Oregonian couple come out - Ty's cousin and wife - Matt and Beth. Or as I kept calling them when I was tired late at night, Bat and Meth. That's a fun twist, huh? We took them to Kemah and it was H-O-T out there on the boardwalk, but we had tons of fun!

(The Gulf! So pretty...and STEAMY hot., I think I lost 3 lbs. of water weight that day!)

(The Fam on the Boardwalk)


(This cracks me up, you know the Seagull's got to be thinking "Why you gotta be a no-person in a yes-world?!)

THEN...immediately after Bat and Meth left we helped moved Becky to Austin into her first place because my parents were moving Matthew to ASU. We have a ton of pictures from the move to Austin, and I still need to upload them since we just got back a day ago....stay tuned!

Orange You Glad?

My hair is orange.

Yup, that's right. I've made a huge boo-boo and trying to get my roots to not look SO blonde against the dark brown it was colored below, has now resulted in a shade of orange. Ty says I'm dramatic, but people...I implore you - when I have ever been dramatic???

Okay, so I can be a wee enthusiastic from time to time. But really people. It's a shade of ORANGE.

So a few things have been decided.

1. I'm going back to blonde, or a shade of, by my 28th bday. That gives me about 3 months. Not long, but hopefully long enough so I don't fry my hair completely and have to go all Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby on you all.

2. I need to cut off some of the length and I need more style. But this is where you come in - any suggestions? I'm willing to take it up to the collarbone but not above, because that results in mushroom face explosion (it's a real diagnosed condition). AND I'm keeping the bangs in SOME form, because without them I have five-head, a la Miz Tyra Banks.

SO leave me a comment and tell me what to do!!! Orange you glad I asked?

Blog much?

My answer would be apparently, no. As if you couldn't tell! I think this has been the longest spell of no-blogging in a really long time. Not that I'm some major blogger to begin with, but geez, I can't seem to get my act together. Bottom-line, it's been busy over here!

So a little re-cap: there's been lots of shower planning for this guy's arrival. Then there was the actual shower, and my-oh-my was that loads of fun! And I have no pictures. Boo! But don't you worry, there are pictures to come, I just figured I should leave it to Julie and Sarah, because they're the pros;)

As soon as I got home from the shower, it was off to California for work, and well...I just got home this past Friday night. I'm home for a stretch now, and we have so many FUN things heading our way. Which you know what that means? Lots o'blog posts in the future!

John and Kendall come out from Oregon this weekend, Matt and Beth come out (also from Oregon) the following weekend, and then it's time to start moving Becky into her very first apartment! Which also means we have lots of home decorating in our future! For her upcoming 21st birthday we gifted her with this couch and chair:





Pretty fabulous little set for a first place, don't you think? She loves it as-is, which I have to agree with...so we're working on the accessories to match. So, I've got lots to stay-in-touch about over the next few weeks, and I'll do my best to stay on top of it all, so check back often;)

Happy Monday!

Perfection

One of the fabulous blogs I read, From the Right Bank, put out a challenge asking other readers if they could define their style in one picture. And immediately I knew my answer. I know this picture has circulated the blogosphere more times than I can count, but since I saw it in House Beautiful all those months ago, I've seriously carried it around with me. Every time I look at it, my heart skips a beat. Maybe it's the mismatched chairs, the color (yes, I'd even take the pink, and I'm not a pink person!), that gorgeous chandelier, or the way the artwork finds its place without looking forced, it's simply perfection.

(Design by Windsor Smith - she is a genius!)

Don't you agree? What's your style in one picture?

Some housekeeping...

So I played around with the background on this thing today on my lunch, and I'm not really pleased but enough was enough, so I'm letting it stand for now:)

In other news, it's been far too long since I've shared my most recent set of before-and-afters with you all! This one is probably my most favorite to-date because it was EVERYTHING I had hoped it would be;)

I had been on the hunt for a breakfast table and chairs set since we moved to Texas, but nothing was just right. So the IKEA set we had brought with us from Arizona stayed, and stayed, and stayed...and stayed in place some more:) Till finally one day I was perusing the most fabulous website ever (Kingwoodyardsales.com), which is really just a micro-site of Craigslist specific to Kingwood, and there it was! We picked it up and took it home that day. Needless to say, it took a month or two since that time to refinish and cover the set, but now it's right at home.

And let me tell you - this was the best $50, I've ever spent! Can you believe that? Just $50 for a table and five chairs. Killer. Add to that the clearance paint and fabric - and voila! I'm in love.

A chair's humble beginnings:


Almost there...


A close-up of the fabric - the detail is gorgeous! I love the gray against the mustard/linen color of the fabric. Just wait till we finally get this kitchen painted gray, it will be GRAYT;) jk. Great.


The whole deal:


And last but not least, to appreciate the table, you have to check out the column.


It was finally able to get some love and be put to use with Kelley and Patrick's visit, many Cheerios were had:) We can't wait for everyone else to come and put it to the test...let us know when you're on your way!

Matthew Graduated!

This last weekend Matthew graduated from high school - CRAZY. I am getting old, y'all. Like certifiably old. I remember bouncing this baby on my lap like it was yesterday, but here he is getting ready to head off to college! *sigh*

Speaking of college - Matthew's decided to attend Arizona State University...so you know what that means?? More trips to AZ are in my future! Not only will I get to check in on the kid, but I'll get to visit with friends...win-win situation I say!

So I'll keep it brief and share some photos, enjoy!

I was trying to get Mom and Matthew as they first embraced, Mom was about to lose it crying. Note all the funny faces in this picture...there's actually four family members in this pic, can you spot em?


HAHAHA - Mom crying. This is funny because it's a family thing to wipe our eyes about as ungracefully as possible. Oh, and to cry at all family events. Cracks. Me. Up.


Dad, Matthew, and Mom...fresh from drying her tears (happy ones;)


The G-parents came in town, my Grandma is a pee-wee. She kept remarking how short she was all day, as if she just realized she's only 5'2" that very morning;)


The whole gaggle of us, save for Ty who was taking the picture.


My Mom wanted one with all "the kids" so here we are in all our glory;)


And last but not least, just one of me and the graduate. I'm so proud of him!