it's getting Christmas-y around here

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that we put up our tree last weekend. Yep, that's right, we're those people. We haven't busted out the ornaments yet, but we did string up the lights and we're all loving the soft glow each night. We also lit up a few trees out front and have hemmed and hawed over how to get some lights up on the roof without having to pay someone hundreds of dollars.

Last night Evie discovered a few packages of bead garlands and went to town. Fantastic job, I say.

Joi just posted this fun DIY Christmas art she made and I think it's so fun! I'm thinking of blowing off work and showering and chores this morning to paint my heart out. Isn't it festive?? I love the gold edge.

Also in the spirit of jumping the Christmas gun, we went to see Santa last night! Evie was alllll over this. She knew just what she wanted to talk to St. Nick about: RUDOLPH. They had quite the convo about where he was, his nose, if she could pet and hug him, et cetera.



I also got my wreaths up! I ended up making mine with faux swags. We're not even sure they're supposed to resemble boxwood, but they were the best I could find. I'm wishing I had made them a little bigger, but they'll do for now! Cross it off the list! I'll try to take some pictures to share soon of them hung.

So have you started decorating for the holidays yet?? Tell me I'm not the only one! :)

Put a wreath on it

I totally have Christmas and holiday decorating on the brain. I can't wait to drag everything out of the attic and deck our halls. If our roof wasn't so steep and unclimb-able, I know hubby would have strung up our lights the day after Halloween.

Anyone with me??

In our living room, we have 4 big windows overlooking the backyard. Which I love. I haven't put up any window treatments yet, and actually I'm not sure when I'll get around to it. I love the unblocked view and all the light that floods in.

So what I would love to do is hang 4 pretty wreaths on those windows, like so:

I would really love to have some gorgeous, preserved boxwood wreaths but they are so stinking expensive! And I no longer have access to any real boxwood clippings. Sad face. So I've been trying to come up with another wreath idea I can DIMyself. I like (and have made) a book page/leaf wreath, which I like. But I feel like the greenery of the boxwoods would bring that natural feel I really want...

So if you have any sources for great, CHEAP preserved boxwood wreaths, help a sister out! I've heard Trader Joe's has some around Christmas, but we don't have those around here. :(

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet??

A fun family visit

Last week my sister, brother and sister-in-law all traveled back to our home state for a visit. So Evie and I made the trip up to hang out with everyone before Daddy came a few days later. We had such a fun time and I am so, so thankful for my girl's sweet personality at times like this. She remembers everyone, knows their faces and names, asks about them and picks up right where we left off, even when we only get to see some of my family once or twice a year. I know this is special and it could be a really tough transition, trying to make up for lost time and getting reacquainted. It makes my heart so happy to see her run to my brother or yell for one of her (many) grandparents by name and get so excited to see everyone. It makes living far away just a little bit easier.

Now on to some pics. We hit up two zoos while we were in town and had a lot of fun. We miss everyone already!

Lilac Row at VIMD & a Giveaway!

I wanted to share a few pictures of our booth at the Vintage Market Days: Urban Fairytale event. I can literally take no credit for our booth... my mom was a rockstar and came into town a day early while I was recovering in the hospital to get everything set up. Then my friend Sarah jumped in and helped with some finishing touches and they basically ran everything!

I can't tell you how excited I am to have Lilac Row be a part of Vintage Market Days. We had to skip out on the May event this year, because I was just too overwhelmed with building our house and I didn't want to stress about it. Since we've been at the event since the beginning, I really wish we hadn't missed out this spring, but such is life! The two amazing women who organize the event have done such an awesome job and work so hard for their vendors and shoppers.

The warehouse before all the vendors set up.

 

  

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to shop and say Hello! If you haven't Liked our Lilac Row Facebook page yet, now is the perfect time! I've put together a little giveaway over there for your chance to win one of these fun linen and stripe Oklahoma pillows. Don't miss out!



 

 

 

 

Five on Friday {Baby Ballet & Bandwagons}

1 // I started to feel a little back to normal this week, after my whole appendix fun. It's been soo nice to just be home with my girl, hanging in our pj's if we want, cleaning random parts of the house, snuggling on the couch and checking things off my to-do list. I'm still sore and get worn out after a few hours of "normal" life, but feeling better every day. So thankful.

2 // My girl started ballet class this week! We were both super excited. I just love seeing her little toddler belly and thighs in that leotard. Is that just me?? I just want to squish her! So I do. :) She did so well and loved every minute of it.

3 // Emily's honest post really resonated with me this week. Over and over I see comparison steal our joy... especially women, mamas. But we were all created to do and be something different. And all of it brings glory to God, if we're doing it to honor Him.

4 // I have a little stash of fabrics and items in a tub (somewhere!) for Evie's big girl room... I'm finally getting excited to start working on it. Or at least planning it! What I'm NOT excited for? Switching her to a big girl bed. :( She has never once tried to climb out of her crib and we're not super eager to make the switch, but know it needs to come at some point this fall.

5 // And finally, I took the plunge and joined the Instagram world. I've had the app forever, but always used it privately to edit random photos on my phone. I would love for you to come follow along and let me know your handle so I can follow you, too!


Happy Weekend! Linking up with these fun girls: