Upgrades

Hubby and I made a huge purchase on Tuesday that I could not be more excited about. We have officially started the upgrades to our little home. We are replacing our kitchen counter tops with solid granite (right now they are tiles) as well as our bathroom.

Voila, the inspiration for our kitchen ...

We have about one-third of that space ... our kitchen is small and with not much light (a detail that is difficult to change due to our condo's layout). But I love the dark counter top with the white cabinetry. We have existing cabinetry that we are going to stick with for now and add knobs to make it look more custom. We will stick to these classic stainless steel knobs you see here. Our floor is travertine, not as cool as this black and white - but still, it will be a huge improvement.

Tonight we are getting one last quote on extending our wood flooring into the Master and Guest bedroom before we make our decision. Nothing says "We're married" like a date night that includes getting a flooring estimate ...

I will keep updates of our progress - next step is to inspect our granite at the granite yard - woo hoo!!

The Guest Room

One of my most favorite rooms in a house is the "guest room". With all of our family, and many of our friends being out of town, the guest room is one room that I really want to get right! Ever since we bought our place and started combining our stuff, decorating and nesting has been quite a process.

This weekend my mom and sister came out to Dallas for an impromptu visit which made me refocus my attention to the guest room.

I'm not in love with the bedding anymore (I am incredibly fickle ...) and I think I am going to change the bedding to an all white ensemble. And secondly, we have officially decided to extend the wood/laminate flooring into the guestroom (and master for that matter ...) which will make a huge difference. But, with only a few days of warning, obviously these things couldn't happen over night. Even if your guests are staying on a futon or air mattress, there are still some a few thoughtful touches that can be added to make someone welcome during their stay in your home.

1. Fresh Flowers

I love fresh flowers. They are proven to lower blood pressure, make people optimistic, and make a room pretty!! Put it in your guest room (or the room that is serving as a guestroom), the guest bath, the living and dining room, etc ... I think you should have fresh flowers any ways whenever you can.

2. Ample snacks/cocktails/breakfast options.

Before sister and mom came out, I went to Central Market and stocked up on dips and spreads, scones, fresh juices, cheese etc ... My mom is a Coca Cola lover so we grabbed a few cans of Coke so if you're guest can't wake up without a good cup of joe, get some fresh grounds. I fill the fridge with wine, champagne, etc ...

3. Instructions on how to work electronics.

Every one's TV and electronic system is different. Every one's coffee maker is different. Every one's shower is different .... you get my drift. Take the time to type u all of the channels and leave a little list (like in a hotel) that says , CNN is 32, HGTV is 57, press "xyz" button to start the coffee maker, etc ...

4. Toiletries

Mr. SG and I save any of our unused toiletries for our guest bath. Consequently, we have many products, slippers, etc ... anything else you can't save from a hotel, we make sure we have from the travel section of Target, i.e. mini-toothpaste, hairspray, Advil, etc ... The newest thing we were thinking of adding to our guest bath are a pair of robes embroidered with the word "guest" so that loved ones in our home can swaddle themselves post shower .. no one likes to get caught in a towel, running back to the guest room!!

I ordered a bunch of robes for my bridesmaids to wear while they were getting their hair done for my wedding (they were monogrammed, of course ...) and I used http://www.towelbathrobe.com/. You can get a great robe for around 20$.

5. Pictures of you and the guest

Put a picture of you and the guest(s) in the room. I have heard this suggestion before and don't always remember to do it, but never-the-less its a nice touch.

6. Water

Every May, Mr. SG and I travel to Jacksonville, FL to attend The Player's Championship at Sawgrass. Our good friends (and a ton of our family) live in the area and we always stay with MHB and JBB, Mr. SG's good childhood friend and best man and his wife. I love their guestroom and I swear, we always have the best nights sleep!! But one of the most memorable details is the water carafe they had set out for us! I found the greatest water carafe to add to your guest's bedside at William-Sonoma! Now, they'll never have to make the awkward walk in their pajamas to your kitchen! 8. Add your own special touches ...

Make sure they know where the spare blankets are, keep your closets stocked with board games and a spare key so they can come and go as they please. How about making a list of the area attractions - art museums, zoos, restaurants ... Make your home a loving place for guests to come and find joy in it!!

Martha Stewart Wine

The first week back in the ol' classroom has been wonderful. The kids are generally great, I am feeling in the groove (as much as a long-term substitute can, I suppose) and I am fully taking advantage of this blessed learning experience! That being said, a girl can only get through so much before she needs a good glass of wine!

Enter, Martha Stewart.

Apparently, according to this USA Today article, MS came into the vino scene in 2007! How did I miss this??!!

Last week, while shopping at World Market, I found a bottle of her Chardonnay for around 5$ ... I was initially drawn in by the label which is stunning and reminds me of our wedding invitations ( which I have yet to post about ...) Then I saw that it was by MS and I was intrigued. But THEN I saw that it was 5$ and I was sold.

Well, I uncorked this baby and it is delicious ... I cannot believe I am drinking 5$ wine. And since the USA Today article said she was intending to sell it for 15$ a bottle, I am wondering what happened ...

As I type this I am plotting to perform an ambush on Mr. SG and ask to swing by World Market on our way to dinner with a friend tonight. Little does he know, his scheming wife intends on buying a whole case of this delicious deal (if they still have it!!!) Though he loves a good deal on wine so I am sure he will happily oblige once my plan has been revealed.

In Summary ...

We took some time and traveled back to our families in Florida where we spent our first Christmas together. These two weeks have been a whirlwind and though I got to catch up on my rest, the trip wasn't exactly "restful" since we were bouncing around from my Mom's house to my Dad's to Mr. SG's parents and grandparents ... we wanted to see everyone!! Se below are a few pictures to summarize the holiday since I was a negligent blogger.

Our first big social event as Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin ... my little sister's Debutante Ball! I am actually wearing the bridesmaid dress from my wedding that she wore!

Here she is with her sweet escorts in her beautiful dress - she was by far the most stunning Debutante.

We wrapped up some last minute Christmas shopping and were reminded what a paradise Florida is when we spotted Mr. Egret hanging out on a shoppers car - note the beautiful sunset and swaying palms - this is just a parking lot!

Christmas finally came and it was chilly enough that we were able to light a fire at my house. We spent Christmas Eve with my mom and sister and reveled in the fact that for the first time in our lives we were able to snuggle up together and wake up next to each other on Christmas morning! The night before Christmas we gave my mom and sister pajamas that matched ours so that we could all be coordinated come Christmas morning. We had Christmas Day dinner with Mr. SG's parents and grandparents - it was delicious!

I took this picture a few days after Christmas ... the big Doberman on the right is sweet Bella and the hairy dauschund is Hobbes to the left of her. Just days after our wedding we found out Bella was suffering from lymphoma and had just months to live. Sadly, this was her last Christmas and we had to put her down on New Years Eve. Bella was a wonderful dog who will be truly missed.

This is a cropped version of our New Years Card ... a twist on the Christmas card that we couldn't do because we were so busy in the weeks following the wedding. We rang in the New Year with delicious champagne and some of our oldest and dearest friends. Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and leave on our 19 hour drive from Sarasota, FL to Dallas, TX .... we loaded all of our wedding gifts, suitcases and even our little dog Scout (who had been vacationing with her grandparents since we were traveling and working so much after the wedding) into a rented minivan and took off!

Picture one ... not so bad. But that's nothing ... Check out our guest room below!! I spy Waterford, Riedel, and Cuisinart - Oh My!

And finally, our living room has been taken over ... won't this be fun to unpack!

Mr. SG and I feel so blessed to start this decade off with so much love and support. We are happy to be back in Texas but already missing our family and friends. Stay Tuned - I will get back in the blogging grove! We have home improvements planned, trips to make and a life to get on with! Happy New Year!

Christmas Q & A

I found this on Preppy Little Dress, a great blog I stumbled upon today. If you like it then copy and paste and put it in your blog! Or, just leave a comment with an answer to one of these questions ....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both – But I prefer paper if I have time! And real ribbon, preferably grosgrain!

2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually at least a week into December.

4. When do you take the tree down? After the Twelve Days of Christmas, of course. So January 6ish …

5. Do you like eggnog? Uh, I’d rather have champagne please! Or spiked cider … yummmmm.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My American Girl Doll, Samantha! Or the Easy Bake Oven ... how to choose!?

7. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone else, though it is helpful when my Mom or sister make a list!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself …

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes! That reminds me, I should get that while I am home since I now have my own house to decorate.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail – except this year, our wedding pictures didn’t get to us in time for a Christmas card so we are going with a New Years Card!!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The one I didn't receive ... I always wanted one of those little electric cars - like a Barbie Jeep or something and my mother, ever so careful that I don't crack my skull open, never obliged ... every time I see one I still get jealous. Sad.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I know it is not a “classic” but I adore Love Actually. The Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas are always on my play list.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I collect things as I find them – a trick I learned from my darling mother.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I am going to this year … but shhh, I can’t say what it was so I don’t get caught!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas Cookies! I love my mom’s Raisen Drops. Maybe I’ll post the recipie if you’re lucky!!

16. Lights on the tree? I used to be the white light police in my family. However, now I appreciate the fact that all holiday décor was most likely put up with a heart full of joy so I will admire any light, gaudy or stylish … but for the Southern Grace household, there will only be white lights …

17. Favorite Christmas song? Santa Baby … but as far as hymns go, I love Once in Royal David’s City and O Holy Night.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home is where the family is … but from now on, that involves traveling …

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donder and Blitzen … but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?? (That would be Rudolph …)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Growing up, an angel … when I decorated the tree for my roommate and I in college I had this beautiful pearl and crystal topper that looked like an old broach … it is beautiful. But I am toying of starting my own tradition which is that the broach topper stays on until Christmas and then on Christmas Eve, we change it to an angel … kind of the way you wait until Christmas Eve/Day to add Jesus to the manger … But, we would need to have our own tree in our own house to begin said tradition.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Naturally, we open our matching/coordinating pajamas on Christmas Eve so that we can wear them and look cute on Christmas morning. Then everything else waits to the “big day’.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people lose the meaning and bad attitudes ensue …

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? My favorite theme is natural greenery. Anywhere you can have live holly, live paper whites, live amaryllis, live poinsettia, live garland, live wreaths, live trees … I like it alive!!!

Me and my dear friend, MEH, in front of my little tree when ACR and I lived together during college. You can almost see the pretty pearl and crystal broach topper!!

Whirlwind Week

So it has obviously been a while since I have put the ol' fingers to keyboard and the simple excuse is because I have been busy beyond belief. Since we last chatted, the Mr. and I took a weekend trip to his beloved Pittsburgh to attend the Pitt V. Cincinnati game. This was actually my wedding gift to him and oh how I would have loved it if the Panthers could have pulled one out for us but they lost, tragically, by one point in a game that can only be described as dishearteningly epic. By the way, it was freezing (as in hovering around the 20's and SNOWING for the entire game) As you can see by this picture below, tailgating at Pitt games actually involves ... a car ... unlike my four years tailgating on the Boulevard at SMU.

While tailgating last Saturday, I had this odd inclination to check my email. I had been subbing for the past two days for the teacher who was preparing to go on maternity leave and though she was two weeks away from her due date, I just had this feeling that her bundle of joy would be arriving early. Lo and behold, I checked my email only to discover that she had gone in to labor early that Saturday morning. My time had come! So enter in the second reason I have been missing in action ... this week has been CRAZY adjusting to my new schedule.

I don't think my husband truly grasped how hard teaching would be. And in this situation I have an unbelievable team to work with and for the most part, the lessons are totally planned out - I just have to make sure there are enough copies for my new crop of 140 students and that their assignments are graded. But never-the-less, the earliest I have made it home this past week was 6:15 PM ... and I get to school at 7:30 AM. Considering I have five, 50 minutes periods where I do nothing but stand and talk, this teaching gig is unbelievably exhausting!! But I will tell you my little secret ... at the end of the day, I walk to my car with my legs aching and feet throbbing with the voice of a man and I have never felt so fulfilled in my life. Granted I have only been teaching for 7 actual school days but I could have easily had the opposite experience where I end my day going "Get me out of here!!" So I take this as a good sign ...

Anyways - I will try my best to update this little blog better throughout this week. SO many exciting things to chat about how will I choose! My sweet sister, AEW has been accepted to The Florida State University (FSU) so woo hoo for her!! She also has her debutante ball coming up in just 6 days!! For this, Mr. SG and I will be journeying home to Florida and then will stay the week and spend it celebrating with family and loved ones.

Have a fabulous Monday everyone!!

The Front Door Mat

Here is my front door mat - not blatantly Christmas but I really like the design. I could also use it for Valentines Day! Mr. SG was not this mat's biggest fan at first. We found it at Nordstrom Rack (the Nordstrom outlet) in their home section back in November. I think it was between $12 -$15 dollars and is the TAG brand. Anyways, he doesn't understand my need for holiday appropriate front door mats (getting the Halloween mat was quite the discussion but ultimately I won when I found one on sale). So we fought about this silly little mat while in Nordstrom - it ended when I said, "Fine ... whatever you think."

We continued on shopping in the area and as we passed the store again, I said "That really was a nice mat ... Are we really not going to have a Christmas mat?" The next week while I was at home tying up last minute wedding details, Mr. SG snuck back to Nordstrom and bought the mat in secret. It was waiting for me at home when we got back from the airport. What a nice surprise ... then I felt like a brat. But I was happy to get my festive foot wiper after all.

Thanks for the mat dear ... doesn't it look good after all??