'TIS THE SEASON FOR BLACK WHITE & GOLD

So Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year. However it seems like the first two years that we were married we never had time to do any fun decorating. (school & work can do that to a girl) And this was the first year I was really able to put forth any effort. 

So as some of you know I'm the biggest fan of black and white. I could live in a black and white world & be perfectly content. I'm a lucky girl because almost everything at my work is black and white along with everything in my house. In fact, the guy that came to deliver the mattress today said, "Wow, you guys really like black and white don't you." – I most certainly do. So what else would I do for Christmas besides black, white & gold. 

I wanted to keep it simple, yet sophisticated and just couldn't get myself to do red and green in my primarily black white and wood home. So, here are some of my favorite pieces. 

1. My "Ugly Sweater Christmas Throw": I fell in love. $25 Home Goods

2. My hot chocolate station: Apothecary- Tai Pan, 1/2 off; Gold Plate- Tai Pan $2; Small Jars- Tai Pan $2.50 for all 3. Fill jars with Hot Cocoa Mix, mini marsh mellows, chocolate chips, peppermints & anything else you may want.

3. Merry & Bright Chalkboard: Chalkboard I made a while ago. Used a projector to project design & traced with chalk and hung beaded garland scalloped around the top.

4. Advent Calendar: Advent Calendar I designed and attached to rope and hang across my mantle. I wrote little love notes to the husband for each day. 

You can download the PDF for this advent Calendar and make one here.

5. My fabulous wreath: Purchased at Home Goods for $40 dollars. After about a half hour pacing back and forth deciding on whether or not I should get it. I decided that a wreath that perfect was meant to be.

6. Christmas Card Garland: 20ft. of live garland purchased from Lowes for about $12 dollars. After securing it tightly to the banister (not swooping) I wrapped a cute natural ribbon around the garland and clipped my favorite Christmas cards on to show them off.

7. Glitter Deer: Jake about died when I walked around the corner at TJ Maxx with this in my hand and the "I have to have this" smile on my face. It was about $12.

It's not very much and we don't have a tree up yet, but, I love it. And it's the first time that our house has been festive around the holidays. So eat drink & be merry this holiday season and enjoy the feelings it brings!

BREAKING BACK.

Today is a very important day. A day that might change my life – besides deciding to try and start blogging again, today is the day that we get a new mattress. Now, to some people this may not seem like a big deal at all. But it is... it sooo is. Let me explain:

Before Jake and I were married he had a giant California King mattress. It was a few years old (I'm not exactly sure how old) and it was placed on some old "under the bed drawers" (pretty sure they were from that famous waterbed bedset. Some of you should know the exact set I'm talking about.) with some plywood connecting the drawers and the mattress plopped on top. This bachelor setup was , hilarious, ghetto, functional, but was just not working. Pretty shortly after we were married I kicked the drawers out and we slept on a mattress on the floor. Pretty quickly after we decided that wasn't going to work either. Hoping that no longer sleeping on the floor would solve all my sleeping woes and after looking at the outrageous prices of California King platform beds, we decided to build our own.

It didn't take long to realize that the mattress just wasn't working. Jake and I woke up with pain in our backs and slept tossing and turning into the night. I loved going to hotels (even the cheap ones) so that I could finally get a good nights rest on a half-decent mattress.

I have been having a really hard time sleeping with nightmares, getting sick in the night and just being uncomfortable and so Jake decided maybe it was time his irritable wife got a little sleep. So we headed over to the mattress store and picked out this beauty.

After laying on all the beds and looking for the right amount of cush vs. support and reading reviews at sleeplikethedead.com we decided to pick up a Tempur-pedic Cloud Supreme. (Which just happened to be one of Oprah's 2012 favorite things I'll have you know. http://www.oprah.com/gift/Tempur-Cloud-Supreme-Mattress?editors_pick_id=40387 which we got for much lower than the price tag shows on the website) I'm putting my trust in Oprah and hoping that I love this bed instead of returning it in search for a new one.

If I ever wake up I'll keep you updated on how we like it.

RECOMMITTING– MAYBE

The worst part of blogging is actually having to take time out of my day to blog. I'm not very good at it. As you can tell from the fact that it's been 7 months (yikes) since I last blogged. Luckily time has flown by and I have barely noticed my lack of commitment. So, I'll start off with a quick update on the last 6 months.

Ready, Go!

+ We're are selling our townhome. We've loved it while it's lasted but are looking to settle into a     more modern permanent solution.

+ I am still working at Rain and still loving it. Jake is still jealous and wishes his job was quite as cool as mine.

+ I got a brand new niece, here name is Prentice Kaye Tibbs. She is one wonderful squishy delight. (+1)

+ Since we put our house up for sale our home projects have slowed down dramatically... making me, mostly bored.

+ We've been obsessed with watching Modern Family, Grimm, Suburgatory & Revenge.

+ Jake drew out for the Elk Ridge deer hunt and took off for a week without me to be one with nature. (He smelt like nature when he got home) He shot a big innocent  deserving deer & we are now waiting a year for the mount (which will be placed in the garage) and have tons of deer steaks that I am refusing to cook. (+2)

+ I'm not pregnant. I know, I know, married and graduated what's my problem? But I thought I would clear that up since there have been some off rumors. *scowl*

+ Jake and I just celebrated our 2nd year anniversary. The best part about that is that WE STILL LIKE EACH OTHER! We took off to St. George to enjoy some relaxing golf and great shopping! (+3)