Gettin' my FALL on

I have never decorated for fall before. This is our first time in a house and the first time I have felt like I have any extra room to spare for seasonal decor. I needed a wreath for my door and My Mom and I got this one put together and I am so excited to be ready for fall! This container usually has lemons in it but we found this autumn inspired conglomeration with acorns and pine cones and baby pumpkins that gave a fall like spin on my glass container.
Next in our shopping expedition we came upon this glass pumpkin which we thought was so cute. I have a hard time with decorations - while I love what other people do I just can't get into too much of the crafty cute holiday decorations. I think it it my minimalist nature when it comes to knick knacks. I thought this glass pumpkin was simple and fun. I need a few more little accents but I plan to keep it at an elegant minimum (also I plan to build my collection and not do it all in one year) I will probably be more prone to do more when I have kiddos to help out and who are excited about it (so not for a while yet on the explosive fall decorations)!My Mom also surprised me with a few fun things for the house. I had seen these little white flowers at a store when I had visited her in Springfield and she brought me some! We splashed them around in a few places in the house. This is the guest bathroom:Another project we tackled was my horrible flower arrangment. I had bought a few things for it and found the great vase at a yard sale and then it has just kind of sat there waiting for me to make it look good. Mom and I hit SoHo once more for some filler to really spruce it up. I take almost no credit at all for the end result.Thanks Mom!Contributing to my recent fleur de lis obsession, my Mom brought me this great wine bottle cork. Isn' t it cute? It is wrought iron. She suggests I put it on an empty wine bottle and fill it with dish soap by my sink. I thought that was an adorable idea! I found this while we were out shopping. I have wanted a recipe book holder for a long time (not because I cook so much but because they are cute and I have wanted one ever since they had one in the Ballard Design catalog). It also keeps the fleur de lis thing going. I don't want to collect only those things but it is kind of like polka dots to me - I just love em'!I found this little bookend at Ross for like 3 dollars. I brought it home and spray painted it black (of course!). My kitchen really got some sprucing up throughout my Mom's visit.But, my room got the best of it all! My Mom brought me some vinyl lettering expressions because I had been going on and on about wanting something to go over my headboard. We have some plans in the works for some sconces but this is what we accomplished with the letters and I really love it! In case you can't read it it says, "All because two people fell in love!"Last but not least we went to the beach. We almost religiously go to Anna Maria but this time we decided that we wanted to show Mike around Clearwater so that is where we headed. It was a cloudy day but still nice and relaxing. I am so happy we were able to go and that the rain held off until later that evening.
The boys played football on the sand and I convinced them both to do the heisman pose so I could post a funny picture! Notice how Mom and I aren't in the beach pics? I'm sure you can agree that we generally don't prefer photos in swimsuits. (wink)

So that was our fun weekend! We had such a blast decorating and hanging out together! I can't wait till we all get to see each other again!

Baby, it's cold outside...NOT

Don't you miss everyone saying 'NOT!' all the time? Or 'Psych!'.....gosh the 90's were weird!
Anywhoo - so most of the people reading this are in the middle of some sort of blizzard while I am down here sweating my butt off in this sudden humidity and heat in DECEMBER! Will I ever adjust to this weather? It could easily be 4th of july coming up instead of Christmas. Christmas! Ooooo I love this time of year! I just want to go move into a shopping mall. All the garland and the lights and the sales sales sales and credit card applications...it's just...sniff sniff....so beautiful...
Well, we have been engaged for a week...AND THE HONEYMOON IS OVER! j/k but, suddenly this whole planning thing is upon us and apparently we need to jump on board and get things started. I don't want to be Bridezilla but I am already pretty overwhelmed. It's stressful already because basically what we found out is that we need to decide on the guest list, the venue, budget, and bridal party first and foremost. So, the guest list is easy (especially since we know that only like a tenth of the people will actually be able to come to the wedding) and venue besides being like the most difficult decision ever! is a major factor concerning budget of course and then people b/c ..well, it's in FLORIDA! We have weighed the pros and cons though and we really think that Florida is what we want. We want the beach wedding and we want to be able to plan it here and we want it small and intimate. And wedding party is hard because we don't know if people (especially friends) will be able to make the trip. We have both traveled for weddings before and we know how expensive it is. So, that being said - I am overwhelmed
I have already pondered the words, elopement. I guess we just have to take it one step at a time. The good thing is is that Kyle (my fiance') is totally up for planning and I am really beginnning to appreciate that fact that he wants to be involved (although he did look at me like I was a crazy person when he walked in my door and saw me own the couch with the laptop completely surrounded by Bridal magazines). p.s. i am addicted and can't leave any store without buying one.

So, what else is new? Kyle and I are both completely pumped about Christmas, I feel like a little kid because I am so anxious to get the tree up - but, mostly we are excited to go home for the holidays because there's no place like home for the holidays. For no matter how far away you go, if you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays you can't beat home sweet home.
hee hee... We are just so ready to be able to hug family and talk because we didn't get to do all that when we announced our engagement. The only bad thing is is that we won't be together for Christmas. But, it's only a few days I guess and next year we will be married and we will definitely spend it together. As Mr and Mrs. Hall. How does that sound? Leslie Anne Hall? Kyle said that my initials will still sound the same LAW and LAH..I think L.A.H. sounds like an airport. Well, I have a good 11 months to ponder that one. For now I have to think about colors and theme I guess. It is going to be a fall wedding so I will probably stick with that concerning colors. Although it would be fun to pick some awful color like chartreuse or aubergine and a nice fluffy taffeta bridesmaid dress..you know..just for kicks and giggles. j/k I do of course have my wedding parties best interests at heart.

So, 2007! It should be a good year! My prayers are that Kyle and I have a much healthier year than this one has been. I think we will make a pact on no hospital visits. We are both doing much better though-with all of our ailments and hopefully we will continue to do so and get back to being young as opposed to old and sickly retired to Florida.

Alright, I guess that's enough gab for one day. You Oklahomans bundle up and stay warm cuz, baby, it's cold outside and be careful on the icy roads! Lots of Love and hugs!

-L