Falliday Decor 2018

Eeeeeeks! I love decorating for the holidays. I get it honestly, too. My mom would completely transform our house every fall and Christmas. And by completely, I mean every last knick knack was removed and replaced with a seasonal knick knack.

I'm not there yet. Give me time.

Now, we aren't big 'halloween' people. You will never find me putting a witch towel, ghost figurine, or anything else of that nature in my house. That's just not my jam. What you will find is a plethora of pumpkins, a lot of leaves, and ample amount of acorns and several scarecrows.

I usually decorate for fall around mid-September, but this year I was actually decorated by the last week in August. With our due date of early December, I'm shifting everything forward. So I was decorated for fall when it was still 90+ degrees in Texas, and I'll be decorating for Christmas (...brace yourself) today. 

I know I know I know - I'm decorating before Thanksgiving. And don't get me wrong, usually I am ALL about giving the pilgrims and turkeys their spotlight and not getting my ho ho ho on until the weekend after Thanksgiving. But alas, since we are getting a new addition this year and technically have no idea when she's coming, I have to front-load. 

Cause if I don't, my mom and sister will be forced to decorate my house while I'm doing that whole newborn thing, and we put up four Christmas trees in our tiny home. We DO Christmas. So it's a lot to ask of a person. Even your mama and sister. 

Okay - back to fall. So this year was actually my first year to decorate our married home with fall decorations. Last year we were getting married around this time, so we went straight from wedding into Christmas. So in a way it felt like all my decorations were new since I hadn't seen them in two whole years!

Which, speaking of, I always like documenting our decorations each year for a couple of reasons... 1) I like that it serves as an inventory of my decor - super helpful when I find something at a store that I 'need' but can't remember if I already have something similar, and 2) we're not in the house we'll be in forever (well, at least I hope not - we're already busting at the seams!). One day I will want to look back and reminisce at our first little house as a family, and these posts are perfect to do just that (like this post about the falliday decorations in my last apartment as a single woman, or this post about my fall decor in the house I shared with Kelsey). Me and posts about decorations go way back :)

But alas, let's get down to a little tour of this year!
Also, I'm not a professional photographer - so thou shalt not judge the photo quality.

Welcome to our little front stoop :)

I could have swept the leaves off the mat, but I just wanted to show a little authenticity. 

..not really, I was just lazy.

My sister gave us the door hanger at a wedding shower last year (she knows me well), and we all know the story behind my dad and I building the little welcome post. We actually also have/had a cute little flower bed to the left with a fall flag, but with the crazy month of storms we had here in Texas, the little flower bed is no more. Wamp wamp.

Here's our little entryway when you walk in. This piece of furniture is new this year, so it was a blank slate when it came to decorating. Luckily Kirklands was available to help a girl out!

This house basically has a larger living room that feeds into a breakfast 'nook' and an open concept kitchen. And as far as fall goes, that's where all of my decorations reside. Like I said, I don't have enough decor for all the rooms yet. I'm working on it :)

The mothership. 

There is nothing I love decorating more than a good mantle/hearth! 

I've said this before, but the little montage on the bottom left will always have a special place in my heart. The first year I decided I wanted to embrace fall decor (back in 2012 or so), I asked my mom to go to the Hob Lob with me one weekend I was home visiting my parents. At the time my mom was (rightfully) focused on taking care of my grandmama, so it didn't look like the trip to Hobby Lobby was going to happen...

But then my dad stepped in. And that sweet man took me to Hobby Lobby, looked through all the (extremely overwhelming) aisles with me, and got on the floor and started putting together a little 'setting' - all right there in the middle of the aisle. So that basket, bale of hay, scarecrow girl, and pumpkin/leaves I will forever remember as my first fall decor!

I think he did a pretty good job, too! It's like he's watched my mom decorate for two decades or something... :)

To the right of the fireplace we have my little pub corner:

Fun fact: that pub table is actually the sign in table my dad built for our wedding!

...I also am realizing I can't remember at all what 'everyday' decorations went here before I put out the pumpkins. See? This is why I need pictures in a post.

I am still as obsessed with my subway art today as I was when Lisa gave it to me 4 years ago. I drew out the above on a really janky piece of scrap paper, and she brought it to life. It's such a fall staple in my house!

Next we have some subtle fall decor on the TV console...

I am completely obsessed with these extra large acorns I found at Hob Lob this year. They just make me SO happy!

A close up on the little cubbies with two things to note: 

1) Those 2-lb purple weights I bought when I first found out I was pregnant so I could work out my arms for all the baby holding. I've lifted weights once since I got them. 

2) If you look closely, you can still see the tags on the basket. I am notorious for wanting a 'trial period' with things I buy to see how I like them. And then x months later you can see the tags still on them. If you take a stroll through my house, you'll likely find no less than 10 tags still attached to things. I get side-tracked. Sue me.

Our little coffee table - that usually has about 6-8 pumpkin themed cooking magazines on top, but I removed for the picture :) I also usually ensure the Baylor coasters are on top, but considering the OU colors worked better with my decor, Jeff won this round. :)

And THIS is probably my very favorite spot in the house - no matter what time of year!

I. Love. My. Coffee Bar.

And those pumpkin mugs from Pottery Barn are just the icing on the cake. (Pssst: they're actually on sale right now if you need some of your own!) I know we're decorating for Christmas today, but I most definitely left these pumpkin mugs out for the time being. I told Jeff this box could not go to the garage yet because it was necessary that I drink coffee out of this mug on Thanksgiving while watching the Macy's Day Parade!

My little pumpkin spice mason jar painting makes me happy. It also was five whole dollars at Michael's. That also makes me happy.

Now, since we don't have a formal dining room, this little breakfast table is all we have - which I love, but I really like to leave it 'set' for holidays. ...well, and every other time of year. I just think a set table makes you feel on top of your game. Plus it makes you look way fancier than you really are. 

 Like those are paper plates on top of chargers. Again - the fancy nancy is allll an illusion!

 A little neutral sign to give you a break from the orange/rust, as well as a plant my mom told me was impossible to kill yet I've had to work to bring it back to life about 6 times. Sigh.

And just because it's not a true holiday without some festive dish towels (that you aren't allowed to use). Jeff LOVES these... :)

And what might be the most important fall decor of all - that was a new addition this year - is this one of a kind original art piece made by my 6-year old niece. Just. For. Me.

It says FALL. Who needs to be subtle when you can just SPELL.IT.OUT.

And that concludes our little fall home tour this year! This took my mom and me about 1/2 day to decorate. Christmas will take us about 5 days. We have a healthy amount of fall decor, but it's going to look like Christmas puked in our living room. 

CAN'T WAIT.

And because it's a real feel of like 10 degrees outside, I will leave you with this:

May all your winter naps be in front of a roaring fire :) 

Until next time,

Katy

Thanksgiving 2016

Ah, Thanksgiving week.

I love Thanksgiving week. 

A week full of family and ridiculous amounts of food that kick-starts you into the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, please. 

This week also reminds me just how doggone lucky I am to have my family. I'm sure everyone thinks their family takes the cake, and I am no different. I am obsessed with my family. 

And y'all they're a crazy bunch. And give me some seriously good blogging material. 

The crazy kicked off on Monday morning when Jeff and I set out for the 5 hour drive to my parents' house. A couple hours in, we got word that my sister and the kids (who were about 20 minutes ahead of us), were on the side of the road with a flat. 

So then this happened. 

Of which I told Amy that we were quite fortunate that he was with us. Because if it had been just me, all I would have been able to offer is company while she waited for AAA. 

Yay for handy future hubs. So he worked on that....

...while the peanut gallery took selfies. 

And played in dirt.

We still had a good 2.5 hours to go on the drive, so Amy had to actually go get her tire replaced before finishing the journey. 

Which means we got the kids. 

It was just quite ironic, because as we left Dallas we turned on Christmas music and Jeff made the comment that we better enjoy listening to road trip music of our choice while we can (you know, before it changes to Kidz Bop on repeat). Then 2 hours later we have a car full of kids. :) 

But alas, everyone finally made it safely to Beaumont. 

And life got a little too real for Jeffrey :)

Every morning, I would wake up early to get some work done before the "house" woke up, and one morning I woke up and heard giggles in my dad's study. 

Then I walked into these two having a moment :)

My dad originally set out to do his Bible study, but Easton wanted to read about numbers (not the Biblical chapter kind) instead. I think my dad was okay with that!

So Jeff has only been to Beaumont a handful of times, but a staple of those in Beaumont is breakfast at Cracker Barrel. And Jeff has never been to Cracker Barrel. And I'm pretty sure that's unAmerican. So we remedied that. 

Oh, and snuggled with Easton some more. You'll see him a lot during this post. We're kind of obsessed. And he's kind of a hoot. 

 Uncle Allen showed up Tuesday afternoon and helped Jeff work on his ONE THOUSAND piece puzzle he got at the Hob Lob. I'm pretty sure he immediately regretted it when he opened the box. 

Oh, and Brookie helped too. 

After dinner one night, half of us decided to watch Finding Dory (seriously - such a good movie). And then I casually mentioned that ice cream would be good. And then Brooklyn proceeded to repeat that statement every 5 minutes. So we sent my dad out for ice cream.... 

...and he came back with 4 cartons. I love that man. We think the same way. 

And since Easton can't eat ice cream yet, we let him take a bath in the kitchen sink so he could still feel like part of the fam.

 Wednesday morning I woke up to a rain/thunder, and when I walked downstairs I couldn't find anyone. Then I proceeded to walk to the front porch where I saw my mom and E just rocking and watching the rain. 

So I grabbed a cup of coffee and joined them. Rocking on a porch during a monsoon whilst drinking coffee? All the good feels. 

And don't worry - it was like 70 degrees in Beaumont. We didn't have the baby in freezing rain. 

We were meeting my dad for lunch that afternoon, so Brooklyn made him some cookies for dessert. Baking cookies at 9a. That's how the Reeves roll. 

After lunch, Jeff and I did some work on the registry. And let me tell you what - when the people give you a registry scanner, you feel like you have ALL THE POWER. 

And ALL THE JOY. 

This is how B and I spent a good majority of the week - snuggled on the couch. I love this girl. 

Then she changed her face at the last minute and I just about lost it. I laugh every time I look at this picture. 

Then Wednesday night we proved what nutcases we are. 

So here's the thing, my dad is a self-taught master wood human. The stuff he makes is downright amazing. So when we built the cabin at the campground, he decided to build a kitchen table (complete with a lazy susan)...solely from wood he found on the side of the road. 

My dad's workshop is like foster care for reclaimed wood.

I mean look at that thing. That's also a chest he made from reclaimed wood behind it. 

Well, my dad really wanted to test out the new table, but there was no room to bring it into the house...

....so we ate dinner in the garage. 

Can't make this stuff up, people. Can't make this stuff up. 

Then I put my dad to work on another project for yours truly :)

So this little guy (who is ALL boy), has a very favorite place. 

And that place is the dishwasher. 

He just climbs up there like it ain't no thang. And has the time of his life. 

Cutest little dishwashin' stinker.

Now, I usually am in charge of the big Thanksgiving breakfast every year, but this year I told mom I wanted to actually cook the big Thanksgiving lunch. It's on my 30 Before 30 list, and since next year I'll be on a honeymoon, it was now or never. 

I love this crazy lady.

Thanksgiving morning is one of my favoritest mornings. We wake up, cuddle up, drink coffee, watch the Macy's Day Parade, eat monkey bread - it's just a good morning. 

And this year, all the girls looked pretty cute in our matching Ugg slippers. I saw them in Australia and decided they'd be perfect souvenirs for my favorite girls. And then I naturally had to get myself a pair....

PS - my mother's legs are so teeny. Woman has some rockin' legs. 

Then this guy was more than happy to help clean up after breakfast :)

After the parade, it was time to get ourselves cleaned up and put the finishing touches on lunch!

Uncle + Nephew; Aunt + Niece

I just adore these two. My little turkey trotter and my little butterball :)

My dad hates cutting the turkey.

And Jeff and I hate waiting for the last batch of rolls to get out of the oven.

Not the greatest picture (and we're covering half the food), but I loved getting to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner alongside my mama. At times it was frustrating (several recipes are a combination of multiple recipes/inside her noggin), but it's just always special sharing a kitchen with my mom.

After a period of straight up food-coma, we played dress-up with Brooklyn! My mom found my dress I wore when I was a flower girl (age 5), so we let Brookie try it on. 

All the feels. She is going to be the cutest stinking flower girl.

This is the last picture I took at home. I went up to bed and left Jeff with his puzzle. Four days later and this is his progress (and real-time emotion) towards that thing.

Then Friday morning we left in the wee hours of the morning to pick up Char Man from the boarder, watch the AMAZINGNESS that was the Gilmore Girls revival (seriously - so good), and begin transforming my tiny little apartment into the North Pole. 

Bless. 

And that was Thanksgiving 2016! Here's to hoping yours was pretty perfect, too :)

Happy Monday, everyone!

Until next time,
Katy