Christmas Eve

Just came home from my Mom's for Christmas Eve. The girls are in bed and Santa's snack has been carefully positioned in the living room. We had a great time visiting with the family. We all went to church, ate and opened presents. Here are photos from tonight. Merry Christmas!

Sister's Toast to a Merry Christmas

Brother-in-laws

Getting ready for present opening

Meebs and Lela hug

Bri and Kabuki

Amber and Me

At home, setting up

Snacks for Santa and Reindeer

Christmas Festivities

The girls and I have been busy decking the halls and making merry. Here are some shots of what we have been up to. Every year we make cookies and build a ginger bread house together. Both girls also had Christmas concerts at their schools. This has been a really great holiday season, the girls are able to experience so much and it is really cool to see them try things on their own.

Meebs carefully decorates

The Bird getting started

Meebs' creation

The Bird working her magic

Meebs marching in at her concert

Meebs 3's class

The Bird waves hello from stage

The Bird back center

Working the crowd

The Bird and her teacher

Kit

Raising the house

Meebs goes first

The designer is proud of her efforts

Cleaning up

The bird decorates her sides

Little sis wants in on the pictures

Sweet Birds

Little sis still wants in on the pictures

The bird trying to work with Meebs on her back

Finishing touches

Its Finter in Florida!

Yep, in Florida, Fall and Winter come at the same time. So I put up the tree last week and this week I am raking leaves with the girls. Makes for an interesting conversation with Meebs who is learning her seasons at school. I first used the leaf blower and raked piles for the girls. Then we got creative with tennis rackets and a waste basket to help finish the job. The girls had a blast jumping into the piles.

Golden Girls Kitchen

Sometimes my job is very funny. As an interior designer my goal is to make environments for people that are functional and beautiful. But what happens when a client doesn't want to be updated and loves what they already have? Well, sometimes my job is just making it happen. I searched high and low for the perfect "Golden Girls" fabric and I finally found it. And believe me it wasn't easy. The client needed new window treatments because her were sun rotted, not because they were out of style. Her kitchen was and is still is a perfect time capsule of 1987. I hope you can tell the before from the after.
And just so you know she was so pleased and happy, she told me, "It is like I have a brand new kitchen!" All said and done I am happy if my client is happy.

Yes those are pink verticals

Tulip wallpaper to work with

Notice the pink outdoor kitchen

Chrome Craft dining set on casters

New shaped cornice with banding and window cushion

Pink Grout

Slider door

Thank you for being a friend!

A Fine Mess

A couple of hours ago I walked into the bathroom to find toilet paper piled on to the floor. I asked my youngest Meebs to clean it up. I got the girls ready for bed and tucked them in. Once they were settled I started to pick up the girls things and walked back into the bathroom. This is what I found to my surprise.

Swags and Jabots Ala Meebs

 It is the most delightful swagging of toilet paper I have seen since high school!

Simpler Life

I came across this quote a few weeks ago and it does sum up my life at this point. The more I slow down and enjoy the small things put in front of me the more peace and joy I have. The trick is not just laying my peace and joy aside when life's obstacles come at me.

She turns away from luxury and ease to the plainer home, the simpler life, the humbler surroundings- without a murmur.                         J.R. Miller