A Home....

This mirror is really the beginning to our home. I saw it last summer and loved it! I've often thought about it since (that's when you know you HAVE to have it!). It is going to be a great focal piece nestled in a little cove practically made for it, in my entry way. I love it because it's got great dimension, has that old, imperfect feel, but a great classic statement piece.

But before this mirror can come to our house, there are many to-do's that we are trying to accomplish. Drew has been calling all the subs lining them up. One of the best things about Drew is that he has great ideas and can vision a project finished. Me on the other hand, I'm realistic, likes to save a buck, and can't picture construction projects too well. Drew won on our war of ideas and I'm so glad he did. Luckily my father-in-law was over (he is the best for construction ideas/projects) and he and Drew executed the idea. So instead of studying for my test today, I watched carefully so that my countertop granite didn't break.

Our pony wall that Drew and I hated came down and a new bar is getting built...then some paint...THEN the mirror!

Valentine's Brick Oven...

Valentine's was 80 degrees and gorgeous. I read in my Food Network Mag about doing pizza on the grill so we cooked up some mini pizza's with heart pepperoni and ate outside. It was wonderful! We stayed out and talked/played until it got dark, which was perfect for our glowstick straws that I picked up. Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Karate

Braden has done so well at karate and Sempai (his teacher) said that he thought he was the 'most improved' over the last 6 months. He loves going to karate and has picked up on all the karate rules. This past week he advanced to a yellow belt. It's a pretty big deal when you advance to another belt and the parents are part of the ceremony by taking the old belt off and then putting the new belt on. After, they are presented to Sempai with their new belts. He loves watching the boys who compete and often tells me he wants to be as good as they are. We are so proud of Braden!

FOUND

Downtown Mesa is the best! It's that quaint, small town, old school feel but restored with some awesome shops. One of my absolute favorites is FOUND. It is a store owned by the same owners as Domestic Bliss. Everything in it is wonderful! I get giddy every time I go inside. I think it has taken me awhile to finally decide on what "Tanya's style" is. It has evolved and been influenced by many creative people and outlets, but when I first saw the decor and furniture I fell in love! I think that it speaks my name-- a mixture of traditional/classic & rustic/vintage/timeless pieces. I've got some furniture on the way from there and I absolutely LOVE everything. Can't wait!

House File

One day when Drew and I have a basement, I'd love to do something fun like this for sleepovers or grandkids (I know grandkids are awhile down the road). They are super simple, but the concept is so clever. My kids are wanting a hanging bed so bad!



Here is another option. This modular bed system is so cool. It would be fun for an attic bedroom, as well. I'd love to do three! The more the merrier! Especially if it's a sleepover!


First photo, second photo, third photo.

Temple Night!

I think that sometimes it is hard for kids to remember the true reason why we celebrate Christmas when there is so much commercialism around. Every year we take a night to visit the temple lights and see the statue of Christ in the Visitor's Center to remember the birth of our Savior. This year it rained on us and was actually really chilly for AZ, but we still loved seeing the nativity and talking about the events that led up to Jesus' birth.

Second Favorite!

There are so many little things that I love about Christmas: singing Christmas hymns in Church, the musical Church service the Sunday before Christmas, the bell ringers at the stores so my kids can give change, the hustle and bustle of the stores, family time, sleeping in during winter break, etc. BUT, after my #1 fav of getting and giving Christmas cards is the annual Kimball gingerbread contest. This year Chandler and I pre-made the gingerbread houses so that it was all about the decorating. We also did them Christmas Eve, which I think will be a new tradition. It was a blast! There was some serious competition spirit that night! Tabitha brought edible red spray paint and made a brick row house (Philly style), Chandler made stained glass sugar for her gingerbread, Dad strung lights around his roof, but Monica took the award home for her true gingerbread style.