#TistheSeason

I just love Christmas time! And it has been especially fun this year with Molly as she starts to really get into things. Such a joy to live your childhood again through your own kiddos.

It is also the last Christmas as a family of 3! Eek! That sounds crazy. In 3 short months we will have another family member so we are trying to really enjoy all the holiday festivities and good family time we have now with just M. Next year will be very special with the baby's first Christmas but there will never be another year where its just our little family of 3. Soakin it up!

I made a Christmas Activity list this year with some ideas of fun things to do together. So far we are progressing through the list quite nicely.

We have had so much fun doing all of this and more!

And of course...our visit to see Santa Claus! She did so good this year. She told him what she wanted for Christmas and that she has been good (ish). ; ) And she smiled for the picture...she just wasn't looking at the camera. Something to work on for next year!

Merry Christmas from The Vincents! We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

Tis the Season

Its only taken me until Christmas Eve to put up a Christmas post. Very unlike me if you know about my love for this season. But its that love that has kept me from blogging about it...things have been crazy ya'll! Between shopping, decorating, events, and more events, preparing to travel back home and now being back home I have not had much time to blog. But I am sweeping in at the last second to put some holiday goodness up on the blog.

I spent two days decorating the house, we don't really have that much stuff but a toddler makes the job a little harder than it used to be.



The outside lights are Chase's job and he recruited my brother this year as well. We go for the classic large multi-color lights. I love the old school look.



We also get a real tree every year. I grew up with a real tree and the thought of ever getting a fake one just doesn't sit well with me. They are so beautiful and the house smells so good. It wouldn't be Christmas without the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree.



Our tree is decorated with a mix of old and new - classic and modern. My Grams gave us a Hallmark ornament every year growing up so most of those are on the tree as well as some other special ornaments commemorating important events. This one is my favorite, its the one we got the first year it was the three of us.







And our beloved elf Ellie is also back this year from the North Pole. Molly has really gotten into her this year and every morning runs around the house looking for her. "Where Ellie?! Where Ellie?!"



We also got a little snow/ice storm earlier this December, which is very rare for Dallas, so it really helped us get into the holiday spirit! Look at my cute family...so lucky and blessed this season!

Merry Christmas to all!! xo

Halloween 2013 Recap

I can't believe its November. Which also means my baby is turning TWO in a few days. Wha?! I don't want to talk about it. Instead lets go back in time and recap Halloween.

We kicked off Halloween with a fun, family friendly, costumes required, chili and pumpkin carving party. Chase and I decided to bring back some 90s game show fun and went as Supermarket Sweep contestants. Best show ever!

"Hey, the next time you're at the checkout counter and you hear the beep, think of all the fun you can have on, Supermarket Sweep!"



And Molly and her BFF Weston dressed up as Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion. We even taught Molly to say "No place like home" and click her feet together (which somehow we didn't get on video!). Weston also had a very mighty ROAR!



When actual Halloween rolled around it was time for trick or treating. Last year Molly was an adorable ladybug. She had just started walking and was so cute trying to stumble up to someone holding out candy. This year was a whole other ball game. She was RUNNING up each driveway holding her basket and ready to say "Trick or Treat!" And then it was "another house, another house." I think we might be raising a Halloween pro.





There were several very impressively decorated houses that proved to be a little scary and a witch that we are still talking about to this day (maybe forever!). You can see the concern on her face as I tried to get her to pose with Chase.







Molly ended up with a very sizeable amount of candy which we are s-l-o-w-l-y letting her have. Girl is candy crazy! I have also had to explain to her at least once a day that she can't go trick or treating -- it only happens once a year.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Onto the next holiday...

Simply Fall: simple/modern fall decor

Fall is by far my favorite time of year. It doesn't hurt that my birthday happens to be in October, THE best month. Something about the crispness in the air and the smell of something hearty cooking in the crock pot. In Dallas Fall takes its sweet time getting to us but that doesn't mean I can't make my surroundings feel like Fall as soon as the calendar hits October.

My aesthetic is self described as modern rustic. A mix of timeless mid century with straight lines and a minimilist outlook but with a bit of rustic charm thrown in. Who knows if anybody else thinks it looks good but I like it. So when its time to decorate for Fall I like to keep it pretty simple. Nice oranges and yellows, some warm textures and pumpkins. Lots of pumpkins.



hello. and welcome.



Pumpkins! I will admit, I have even added a few more since this photo was taken, along with a ginormous purple mum. I added some fun gold and black touches to a few of the pumpkins to liven them up a bit. And of course we will be carving one of them.



The entryway is one of my favorite spaces in our entire house. It always feels so clean and tidy. Mostly because we never actually DO anything in that space. (ignore my husbands drill)



I enjoy mixing real pumpkins with "fake" pumpkins in different textures and materials. Including paper.



My make shift mantle (we have no fireplace/mantle!!) is my absolute favorite. I removed some of the "every season" items and added in layers of Fall. I did a couple quick diy canvas art and filled the bird feeder with candy corn. Throw in a couple pumpkins and perfection!



Not overdone, just simple and clean Fall tossed in a few key places around the house.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Holiday Weekend Recap + Sprouts Giveaway Winner

Hello hello! Whew...it took me all of yesterday to find my non-holiday weekend groove again. We had a blast enjoying our 4 days off as a family. We packed in LOTS of activities and I am still exhausted from it all but it was so worth it.

Before I dive in lets first say a big congratulations to Amy Adelsberger! Congrats Amy, you are the winner of my Sprout Organic Foods giveaway! I will contact you to arrange the shipment of your treats. Thanks for entering!

If you missed the giveaway post you can read all about their great organic and healthy foods on my last here.

Okay, so back to our 4 day weekend. We were so busy and on the go so much, plus having lots of fun, that I forgot to take pictures of most of our adventures. But I did get a few great ones.

We kicked off the 4th of July with a local neighborhood parade. This year was the 50th anniversary of the parade and its in a beautiful neighborhood with tree-lined streets and lots of young families.

Molly thoroughly enjoyed the suckers that were being thrown from the floats and she was a champion flag waver by the end.







For the rest of the holiday we enjoyed an afternoon cookout at a friends house full of good food, baby swimming pools, fun games and fireworks. The party went into the evening hours and we kept Molly up a lil late to watch the firework show and then watch Daddy pop a few fireworks of his own. I was worried she would be scared of the loud noises but she loved the fireworks and wasn't phased at all. Should have known, our little daredevil.

Friday we spent a relaxing day together as a family and hit up the local pool. Our first pool day of the summer and it was so much fun.

Then Saturday we hosted a pot luck brunch for a few friends at our house. The menu was so good! Mini pancakes, crockpot breakfast casserole, spicy sausage croissants, donuts, fruit kabobs and of course mimosas.









By the time Sunday rolled around I was flat out exhausted. We ended the weekend watching Daddy play softball and eating popsicles.

We hope everyone had a fabulous 4th!

Get Your Hunt On!

Last year when Easter rolled around Molly was only 4 1/2 months old. She was all smiles and sported a super cute bunny onesie with a mini tutu. Adorable. We got all dressed up, went to church and then to brunch. She sat up was propped up next to her Easter basket and wore some super cute bunny ears. A great first Easter.



This year we had a running, jumping, full of energy toddler for Easter (an early Easter, I am out of town on actual Easter). So that could only mean one thing, an Easter Egg Hunt!

The Dallas Arborteum, one of our favorite spots, was hosting an Easter breakfast and Egg Hunt for members. And they had one scheduled the weekend prior to actual Easter (when I wouldn't be out of town). The stars were aligning.

We got up extra early, it started at 7:45am, got all fancied up in a cute dress and practiced our hunting and gathering strategies at home before we headed out. I could already tell she was a natural.

We fueled up with breakfast and did a few crafts to get in the spirit.





Then it was time. They called us all to the lawn on the Arboretum and we watched as all the bigger kids got ready to attack. I whispered to Molly, "You go get em girl!" And then they were off!


All the colorful eggs ready to be hunted.


Was a little windy.


Look what I found!


Two at a time! No stopping this girl.



She was a little distracted at first by all of the people but once she got the hang of it there was no stopping her. She would spot an egg she wanted and take off!

It ended up being a dreary day with a very cold wind so we stopped to investigate her loot and then take a few family pics before heading out.





She absolutely loved it and her Dad might even take her to another hunt this weekend. She told me she was dying to go again.

Hope everybody has a wonderful Easter Weekend! And get your hunt on!