Where I'm From

As part of Blogtember, today's assignment is to talk about where/what we are from.

Awhile back, I did touch on a Cookbook my grandmother sent me that had a lot of town history in it.

Today, however, I don't need to talk about the history of the town. I need to talk about the history of me and my childhood in this town.

Welcome to Palestine, Tx.

I was born in 1980 in Palestine. We lived in a white house for a few years until we could afford my mom's dream home. A 2 story home with picture windows.

I lived in this house when I learned to tap dance.
When my cat had kittens
When the old lady next door poisoned our cat, Mr. Flowers, for getting in her birdbath.
When I started Middle School and High School.
My bedroom was that window upstairs by the chimney.
I fell down the stairs, a LOT.

Here is my High School:

Sadly, it has been redone so this is not what it looked like when I was a student there...

I even looked on Google Maps at a photo of my Grandparents old house, when I spent most of my life. It has changed too. So drastic I didn't even do a screen shot.

It's interesting when you move away and grow up. You want to go back to those places that built you and reflect, yet things constantly change and you have to rely on your memories.

My cousins and I rode our bikes to Anderson Park to play in the fountain.
I rode infinite loops through the parking lot of the shopping plaza to see my friends on Saturday Nights.
I graduated on the football field in the largest class the High School had seen. (I'm sure that's not the case now).

I grew up saying yes ma'm and no sir.
I grew up with bread and butter on the table at every meal.
I grew up watching the dogwoods bloom every year.
I grew up going to school with all the same kids from K-12.
I grew up in a small town.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

50 Shades of OH YEAH!

Did you see who Christian Grey will be?

Source: Charlie Hunnam

Oh yeah... Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy.

Ok fine, I'll watch the movie.

But it will still be at home in the living room.... I was embarrassed enough reading the book, much less going to see the movie with 150 other people!

September 1st - AKA Fall Freakout

Every year, on September 1st, I freak out.

It's fall y'all!

I don't care if it's 95 degrees outside, I get that Pumpkin Spice Latte and lap it up.

I don't care if my grass is fried, I bake a loaf of Williams Sonoma's Pumpkin Bread:

I don't care if the mosquitos are as big as bats, I haul out my Pumpkin Warmer and Pumpkin Roll Scentsy and plug it in.

Want some? Order here SCENTSY

Lee has learned to just accept this first of September freak out and just watches me as I start pulling out decorations and washing my scarves so they are fresh and ready for the first cold snap in November.

Do you love Fall? How do you will it to show up?


Also - I am participating in Blogtember. I have been absent lately and I am hoping this is what I need to get those bloggy juices going again.

Our Summer

Since I was MIA most of the summer after moving, I thought I would do a catch up.

After moving, we took full advantage of being new pool owners.

Logan got Strep.
Twice.

So we broke out the train set to entertain him while sequestered.

I've spent a lot of time on a huuuuuge project

A rendering of what the Reception area will be like

My mess while developing the final selections

In July, Lee and I went to Hawaii while Logan hung out here with his Pappy and Pogo!

Since being home, we do normal things like grocery shop

These carts SUCK

But these parking spots are GREAT

 Play with Logan's hair

 We eat a lot of breakfast...

Hi Mike Wisowski

In the playroom with Teddy waiting for crumbs.

Waffles on the couch...

And we drink a LOT of coffee...

We've settled nicely into the new house. I am going to make a few changes, just because I can't help myself.

Summer has been pretty great, and very busy.

And boy am I ready for fall! Who's with me?

To blog or not to blog

I haven't been around for awhile. Once we moved life got totally insane. There has hardly been a weekend all summer that we haven't been booked.

I'm ready for my favorite season - Fall.

I'm ready for boots and sweaters and leggings.

I'm ready for pumpkins and football and going on neighborhood walks.

I've been having trouble getting into the blogging mood. After working an insane day and then coming home to Logan and Lee - blogging seems like another "job." another thing on my to do list I can't get around to.

I haven't stopped, but I don't think I can keep up a heavy rotation of interesting and original posts.

Stick with me if you want to hear Logan stories and updates as I re-do this house. It's not to my taste and I plan to be here a LONG time...

Let's gear up for fall and below 90 degree weather, shall we?

New house!

Boy oh boy... moving was harder than I anticipated!

For now lets get on to showing you around our new home!

Front

I had the front door painted red because it just MUST have a red door!

Living Room

 I do wish it was a little larger so that the sofa didn't have to rest against the built in but the computer really serves as a hub and we use the laptop or iPad for most of our internet usage anyway.

Dining Room

 Whoops, forgot to move a few things out of the way! The chandelier isn't my taste but that is something I can work on. Logan looked at it and said "Happy Birthday!"... yeah the candles are a bit much kid.

Kitchen! 

I am enjoying the large pantry for sure.

View from Kitchen over the breakfast table to the Den/Playroom

Playroom

I am still working on storage in here but I wanted this space to be comfy and fun. That's why I loved the yellow cabinet and orange side table (in photo above).

From Den to Kitchen

I am loving this open floor plan because earlier today I was cooking dinner and Logan was playing in his Den and it was nice to hear him and see him!

Loooong hallway!

Logan's Room

 This room has tons of shelving, actually a little too much! It's also the only room I didn't paint....

Master Bedroom

View from our Bed

Guest Bedroom. complete with fish....

Back of our house.

We are iffy on the "as seen on TV Sunbrella canopy!" But it does keep the sun out of the back of the house which helps with the heat.

This is the view from the Den. Hello Pool!

Putting in that safety gate was the best thing we did. Now I don't have to hover over Logan all the time when he is outside.

That's about it! We finally have 2 bathrooms, which I forgot to photograph. The shower is really open in the master - lee even gets water everywhere! We may put up a curtain. I don't really like being so .... exposed.... while showering!

Logan did wonderfully with the change. He only cried a little the first night and after that he doesn't seem phased. I think having the same bed and everything helped really show him it's his room and it's safe.

Have a great week!

What I'm Loving

I don't see a lot of What I'm Loving Wednesday out there anymore, but I wanted to go on and share a few things that I have been hooked on lately!

Please don't judge me. I love this show. I could be the 80's theme, or the fact that it's Carrie Bradshaw all over again, but I can't stop watching.

The smell is GONE. I didn't find any splotchy and streaky areas at all. I am so pale I am translucent and I need all the help I can get as the dresses and shorts are brought out for the Spring.

I don't often try new products since my face tends to be sensitive. This arrived in my Birchbox a few weeks ago and I turned around and ordered a full size immediately. It's creamy but not greasy and has no scent at all. Try it, you'll love it!

What about you? What are you loving?