Art in the Kitchen

I love having art around the kitchen. We spend so much time in there, it might as well be personal! We needed something to hide the phone jack, so I hung this 2016 Birds of Paradise calendar. It's 13"x19" and its like having a new piece of art each month! I also liked this one illustrated by Miji Lee and this one full of pretty Floral Arrangements. 

I've had this sweet painting in each of our kitchens. I love seeing it right above my coffee tray in the mornings...

 Above the stove I enlarged a photo of my husband's grandmother because it makes me smile. Granny had nine kids and always looks impeccable in pictures. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed with three kids in the kitchen I look over at Granny :)

A few kitchens with artwork I love...

Photos via Pinterest

Happy New Year!

2015 was one for the books!! 

Our house flooded in Houston on Memorial Day, and we spent the summer at my parents' before moving to San Antonio this fall. It was a crazy turn of events but we're making the most of it! 

The hardest part was leaving in the middle of the night and having to move out the next day. Fred and Lela both came home from the hospital there, and our neighbors became life long friends. It could have been much worse, so I am thankful for that. I hope we'll look back at this summer and remember all the memories we made with family most of all!!

We bought our first house and I'm finally feeling settled just in time for Christmas. I loved pulling out all our decorations from storage...

Stockings I made out of fabric scraps and monogrammed by my Mom.

The nativity set we got in Mexico on Pearl's first Christmas.

My gold dollar store trees :)

Handmade angels from my mother in law on the kids' bookshelf and in their bathroom...

The snow owl from Jackson Hole that the kids insist being a tree topper every year. 

Our first Christmas in San Antonio.

The older kids decorated their own tree for their room. 

Sari ribbon from Mela & Roam on my pineapple sconces.

 My mother in law's dead trees from last year that I spray painted white for our mantel with fresh garland! Love a handmade Christmas!

And just like that, December is over and Lela Maye is TWO!! I'll be back to blogging in 2016. So long 2015!!!

Printstagram!

I love Instagram- especially now that you can get your pictures printed and shipped right to your doorstep!! There's all sorts of things you can do with your pics (stickers, minibooks, magnets) but my favorite are the squares. For $12 you get 48 mini squares or 24 full size squares. Just FYI: the pictures taken outside with lots of natural light came out better than indoor ones. They're printed on thick card stock so I've been using them as gift tags too. So many options!!

(Sand Dollars on a Jute Rug)

The Bigger Picture

I love looking at old family photos with all the vintage details in the background that make them so special. Things like furniture, wallpaper, and trinkets that usually have a story to go along with them. I never think to zoom out when I'm taking pictures because the surroundings seem so familiar.

While we were at my in-laws last weekend, I tried to include as much of the house as possible in each picture. The tiny hummingbird and ceramic turtle P plays with, her favorite hiding spots, and all the things she'll hopefully enjoy seeing someday.

It's obviously harder with a sleeping newborn, but I love the whole picture. So much more interesting with the purple bedroom walls and unmade bed. 
(Sorry Kate!)

I love seeing what's in the background too-like Will's self portrait- that will hopefully be ours someday!! I wish I had started doing this sooner with all of our pictures around the house.

Especially since our last two houses are starting to run together!  

Weekend Pics...

Game Day!!

My attempt at the kitten eye...

My mother-in-law's outdoor pillows that I'm coveting...

The Quilt Show...

And the sweetest niece a girl could ask for!!!

Living in Color

I've always followed The Photodiarist for her beautiful black & white photos so I was thrilled to discover them in color. Aren't they incredible?? Now that the days are starting to get longer I'm craving more color and sunshine!

The Photodiarist in Color..."for those moments when black & white won't do."