Let the Good Times Roll....

What a WONDERFUL Christmas we had this year!! Most people get depressed when it's all over-- but not me-- i'm always moving forward :) NYE next weekend for Quinny's 21st is just on the horizon, as is 2012!!! :) BRING IT ONNNN! Before I slam full speed ahead, i'll jog you through some Christmas Weekend shananigans.


Steph & Jason came to town on Friday & we had a wonderful festivus at good ol' Classics in Westerville. Surprisingly we didnt see 100 people from our high schools days--whew--and to follow Classics we decided to celebrate the Eve of Christmas Eve by driving through the 'Festival of Lights' at Alum Creek. Steph & I are always obnoxious the stars of the show in comparrison to our meek husbands, so once again, they were prolly fed up with us by the end of the night. Oh well--we had fun :)

Jas & Steph

Festival of Lights @ Alum Creek

We jumped out of our car & 'broke the rules' for this shot, big shock. I'm more surprised our husbands didnt drive off & leave us standing there....

I was pretty impressed with this cascading light bridge display....

Great times had by all!! Seeing them for Thanksgiving AND Christmas sure made for an awesome holiday season. Oh, and my gift from Steph was a gorge Kate Spade bangle bracelet. Lurrrvv. To add to that bracelet, Blair got me a GORGE Michael Kors (obsession) chunky roped gold bracelet (was on my Pinboard on Pinterest). The poor (smart) guy had to ask my Mom how to find the site, sign on & find ideas of what I wanted. Good thing she's addicted to it & knows just the place & how to's....



Next on the agenda was Christmas Eve & Christmas morning at The Albright's. Lovely living only a mile down the road from them these days! We didnt have alot of drive time this holiday whatsoever, which made for a GREAT Christmas. We did midnight mass Christmas Eve/brunch the next am and got in a great catnap before Christmas night with my immediate family at Mom's house. Highlight of the Albright's this year: I officially have my own stocking to join the clan <3 Oh, & Blair stumbling across Cody's firefighter jacket for some hilarious 'modeling' pics. REAAARRRR...

Blair, Andi, Trent, Paige, Cody, Quinn

Bowchicawowwow..

Mom & Dad's Christmas was wonderful as well this year. Always great gifts & good times. Best Gift Awards there come from Grandma Binion with 2 story books made for future children. One is all about 'The Misadventures of Mollie B' (her childhood memories turned into adventure stories) & another book that's her voice recorded actually reading the book. I couldnt flip past page 4 without bawling. Will try again later :) Mom & Dad got Blair & I a washer & dryer for the new pad which is awesome b/c that's def one of those things you hate to buy yourself. An obviously practical gift that we both love. Future Munchkin Baby Little was already receiving gifts which was hilarious, excited to invision having a 6 month old niece/nephew this time next year <3


Always thankful for a wonderful, blessed, safe and joyous Holiday Season!! Now, for some detox & healthy eating adjustments this week + TONS of water. It's time to get back in the saddle and get this bod right! I hope you all had an amazing holiday filled with lots of love & laughter. Onto the New Year.....




xoxo,
Andi

IN CONTRACT

We are officially IN CONTRACT!!! We finalized all the paperwork & are now waiting to hear back from financing for the clear & then on to scheduling our first date @ the Design Center to pick out all of our decor goodies :) :) :) :) Blair is even excited for that portion of the home buying process.


We took our SOLD sign to our muddy lot with some mini bottles of champagne to celebrate. Whats a celebration without some bubbly, right?! Rain must have strong celebratory significance in our lives as (again) the second we got out of the car it started to downpour (flash back of wedding day)....<3


Once again, rain boots knee high, off into the puddles I went!

The wooded lot my Babycakes demanded! This will be the look at it's worst. Cant wait for the Fall foliage to fill in on top of added trees, while chillen on the back patio....

Cheers all! So happy & so thankful!! Great way to roll into Christmas weekend <3

Red Stag Rd-- HOME!



Model Home-- doors on R will be garage, and brick will be stone



Well, we can FINALLY say that we made a decision & have moved forward with OUR NEW HOME--eeeekkkk!!!! (insert applause) Hey, at least we can never say that we didn't comb the market and discuss ALL options for us. At the end of the day our hearts were set on this 5-level-split the day we walked through it. I love all of the windows, the open floor plan and it's practicality of space. There's no official 'office' (I'll be using the 4th bedroom for that or the couch as I have always done) or eat-in-kitchen AND dining (why don't people use their beautiful dining room more than once a year), it's all just aligned perfectly for what we're looking for. It's a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath 5-level-split (aka Blair's request for his own man cave floor was granted) with a full basement & wooded lot in the Glenross neighborhood off of Cheshire Rd (great amenities with the pool, club house & golf course). It's Olentangy Schools to boot and around the corner of the North end of Alum Creek for the dogs. We can see ourselves living here for a very long time & shouldn't really need more space than this house provides. I'm so excited for it to be done in June <3


Enjoy some pics of the model home below. It will be pretty close to this with it's kitchen colors and details, of course not including our decor & taste, as well as some of the rooms are missing  (I didn't feel it necessary to get ALL OF THE ROOMS)--so you'll all just have to come & visit us to see it's finale!!! Our exterior will be light grey & white stone vs the brick shown above and the garage will be on the L (reverse floorplan) but, alot of out of state friends have been requesting it's immediate details--so, ENJOY!




View of the front door from entry hallway

front door next to dining room

dining room with Wanescoting (love)

large windows

arched doorways (from dining to kitchen view)

built in extra storage/pantry

through the arches into 'living-sitting room'

half bath to right and steps up to Master (up again to guest bedrooms) or down to 'mancave floor'/family room

love the white spindles & vaulted ceiling (and my husband to the L) :)

view from LR to kitchen (white cupboards in our home too)

down the stairs to the mancave/family room

steps from there leading to full basement

upstairs to the Master, walk in closet is to the right, these doors wont be in our home (vintage/modern sliding Barn door instead)

Master bath/soak tub

Double sinks with toilet private at the end

up the stairs to the remainder 3 bedrooms & guest full bath

Is it June yet?!! ......

xoxo,
Andi

Christmas Cheer

Helped Meine Mutti decorate her Christmas tree today, with Atticus & Casanova in tow (big shocker)--some results of the holiday Cheer!!!
              

oh' Casanova!

Go figure, Mr. Scaredy Pants

Love Christmas Trees!!

 ...More pics to follow :)


Xoxo,
Andi

COOKIE FAIL

Evidence that we should NOT be professional cookie bakers.....

Nova & Bear making the dough

Cookie Comas

Cookie Beggar...

Busy kissing Atticus

While Blair did the work, duh.

Before...

...After. Yikes.

Our presh powder faces. They were SUCH great help @ eating our not-so-good cookies :)

....maybe next time we wont make them from scratch, but we sure had fun!!!!

xoxox,
Andi

Blog-spiration

I have been a mad addict to Pinterest, especially with the house decor planning on the horizon, but most importantly for Keesmees!!! I have found the cutest wrapping and gift tagging ideas, etc, but will leave that post until I have completed my final project. Stay tuned.

While flipping through a friend of a friends friends' blog (or something like that) I came across her opinion of the 'Top 10 Gift Giving Ideas'. I was immediately drawn to a grey (big shock, right?) felt case-looking-thing that I immediately personalized as my future ipad carrying case. --If only I could remember how I stumbled upon this blog i'd credit the blogger for crediting the creator-- Anywho, I was looking up the etsy sight to buy this lovely grey felt case with an "A' emblem "request to add" when I gave up because I couldnt find my wallet to order online. Days later (today) at Hobby Lobby I saw a grey felt case veryyyyy similar  exactly like it?!! The kicker, it was $3.99 *GASP!

Sooooo, I bought an 'A' iron on emblem and went home to do my first (beyond simple) 'project'. The final product--- ADORBS. Love it & fits like a glove. These would make great X-mas gifts for ipad users in your fam & you could easily add all 3 initials, last name, first name--etc. $3.99 people!! Just too good not to share :)

great pocket with a magnetic snap

the final look

xoox,
Andi 

Happy Holidaze

OK--OK--is it Christmas yet? New Years? JANUARY! ugh. I cannot focus on work & people have also already checked out which makes my life a bunch of dead ends. I'm A.D.D to the max these days.....


Now that they've been sent out--here they are--our Holiday Cards for 2011!!!! Arent our 4 leggers just so darn cute? Maybe next Christmas you'll get a card with a bun in my oven ;)


Happy Holidaze Everyone!!



Joy to The World from Blair, Andi, Casanova & Atticus
The Albright Family, 2011



back: 'Lots of Love For Your Holiday Season' -The Albright Family


Gotta Love Shutterfly!!


XoXo,
Andi