The month of December

Earlier this week I posted about the decorations in my house for the Christmas holiday (that are still up by the way). Just as I had the same problem putting them up, I'm now having difficulty scheduling a time to take them back down.  So my white Christmas tree is now going to be a winter tree and probably a Valentine's tree to follow.

So...back to the month of December. Here is a photo review of some of the things that went down.

//I got this new piece of art off Etsy: CoCo Draws//

//I worked at WKNO many days, including over my highly coveted teacher holiday//

//A lovely package from JewelMint arrived at my doorstep.//

//December means recital season for my many music students, 

Handsome thought he needed to give a little recital himself//

//Speaking of recitals, I sang the Vivaldi Gloria with a Methodist Church here in Memphis.//

//I hadn't done any solo work like this for a year or so, so this was fun.//

//In mid December I turned in my 2nd Masters document.

I was awfully glad to check that puppy off the ol' list.//

//HANDSOME did his regular begging act for most of the month.//

//Christmas break rolled around and it was time to actually decorate the house.

This included the bar cart, which is now fashionably adorned with multi 

colored tooth picks in an appropriate Moose holder curtosy of my Dad.//

//I managed to paint my nails, something I hadn't done for a while.//

//New Year's Eve came, which allowed for some adjustments to holiday decor, 

though not a total take down, after all Christmas wasn't officially over.//

//We spent NYE with new friends and old friends in Midtown Memphis.//

//2013 arrived with a good food and laughter//

//Resolution, anyone?//

//Always nice to start off with a fresh coat (of nail polish at least) for the new year.//

And just like that, January is here.

Spring "cleaning"

Well...I'm not into cleaning.  But I am very interested in moving furniture around. So instead of cleaning...I'm participating in "spring moving 2012" (within my house).

When I buy furniture, if I can't put it in at least 2 spaces...I don't buy it.  What this means is a lot of my furniture matches, is within the same color palate and is also within the same size range.

Case in point...this buffet.  As of today, this 3 piece has been in 3 different parts in my house.
This spot (pictured below) is the 2nd place. Prior it was in our dining room.  The truth is, it's actually a little bit on the large side to sit in the hallway.  It works, but the center piece sticks out just a little further than is easy for a passer by.

What did do?  Here is the new set up. 

The moral of this story is that I figured out that I like having

 something in the hallway to set my purse and keys on.  

And the hallway is just long enough that I think it breaks up the long space.

Question: Where did the 3 piece buffet go? 

Answer: The Sun room

In order to move the buffet in...

I had to move some other things around to clear the way. 

The blue velvet sofa just moved to the other side of the room. 

The white chairs on the left are now on the right.

Pause for a break. Or as Handsome says...

"PAWS" for a break. 

I got the two side pieces in easily. 

The had a rest.

The center piece was a little bit more cumbersome.

Insert one of my hide rugs and away we go. 

There.  They're all in place.

Now it's time to play with my toys. 

As of today, things are in a bit of a standstill...

I was tired....and stopped for the evening.

I'm still playing. 

More on the "spring move 2012" later.

Vignette Rehearsal

On Saturday I worked on freshening things up. 

I moved some furniture around...a norm for me. 

I moved some books around, etc....

and moved my newly recovered Chinese stools. 

They did have a dark green silk top.  

They are now adorned with a white ostrich.

Fortunately, Handsome was on hand for consultation.

He reminded me that I had to many stacks of books. 

So...I moved the stack that are sitting on the stools. 

 

...and reworked the stack on top. 

That was enough work for Handsome....

he retired to the sun room for a rest.

...and so that was Saturday. 

I can't believe that was 4 days ago...more soon.

Christmas Holiday 2011

I haven't posted for a long time.  So long that I actually forgot my password.  That's an indication that it was to long, right there.  I didn't need a date to tell me when my last post was...just that simple neglect and ability to forget.

 You remember me, right?

I've been cheating on blogger with instagram, pinterest, and twitter. Quite frankly my attention span has somehow become shorter and instagram what with the picture and 1 sentence post is all I'm able to pay attention to.  Again, pathetic I know.

But as time has gone by, I realized that I missed Christmas.  You must think I'm a Grinch or something.

As per my regular blogging ways, here are a few photos to guide you through the happenings of our
visit to Kansas.

 Christmas Eve Dinner in Memphis

 Geoffrey and I after Christmas Eve Services for 2011 were over!!!!

 On Boxing Day, we headed to Kansas.

Handsome was not exactly "thrilled" but he got over it. 

He HATES riding in the car for the first 20  minutes, then he's fine. 

 I read my new Design Sponge book the entire way through Arkansas. 

 ....and held hands with my husband. 

 The drive looks like this a lot of the time while 

driving through northern Oklahoma. 

 We finally reached my parent's home in Eureka, Kansas. 

Pulling up in this driveway always makes me happy. 

 This is my Dad.  

I'm giving him a special shout out...

he's a super cool guy. 

 Looking down the hallway at Mom and Dad's house.

We didn't put up any Christmas decor at our house, 

so I was happy to see it in full force during our visit.

 When I was younger I wouldn't have cared much about 

the wine glasses on the table, but now at 

my current age (ahem), they are oh so delightful.

 Mother always finds the best home decor accessories. 

It has become impossible to take things out of her house

and bring them back to Memphis. The jig is up, 

 Geoff and Dad reading new cookbooks.

The library of cookbooks is quite extensive...

This is a good thing because the food options are endless. 

 If it's not in this kitchen...it does not exist. 

 I'm sure my Mother is going to LOVE this photo.

But none the less, it's pretty and the rolls were good!

 One of the holiday traditions between my Mom and I 

is that we have a "matchy-matchy".  This year for Christmas

one of them was our Kate Spade Bow Rings. 

 While in Eureka, we went to Wichita for a day trip.

Something we did nearly every weekend when I was growing up.

 My Mother wears lovely shoes. 

An interest and love I have inherited. 

 Dinner "out" in Wichita.  

Mom and Geoff were scoping the seating 

options like a couple of hawks. 

Which makes sense, they were hungry!

 Mother and Dad have a couple of really 

lovely porches at their house.

This is one of them upstairs. 

We spent some time in here our last day in Eureka. 

 Oh yes, and Handsome. 

While we were in Kansas he did not waist not nor want not. 

He drank his water at bedside on a silver platter. 

...and then attempted to drive the car home to Memphis.