yummm...

We had a lovely evening tonight with some lovely friends. They have been so gracious, giving, supportive, and encouraging during our transition to Pittsburgh. They showed us the town when we were considering Pittsburgh, drove us around for days when we were looking for a house, answered all hubby's questions about the program, and were so supportive during our entire transition to make sure it all went smoothly. We were excited to finally be able to do something for them this time! Hubby fired up the grill, I baked a side and tossed a salad...and whipped up a scrumptious apple pie! { If only blogger catered to the sense of smell...yummy!! }

We are so excited to have arrived in PA just in time for the next phase of their lives...the welcome of their first babe in December/January! What a special time!

lookin' good...

look who finally got a facelift and some t.l.c. today!!
remember her...
hubby has taking to this little darling...sanding, new paint...she's looking good!

PROMO

As promised...we have a promo underway!! T&T is participating in the nationwide promo for Baby Legs!! We are so excited to be teaming up with one of our FaVorIte companies! This momma is a genius and her products perfect for extra protection on those little babe's legs!

This is the perfect time to snatch up the baby legs you have been eyeing while getting a chance at lots of prizes including a trip to Seattle and even free baby legs! As always FREE SHIPPING ON BABY LEGS! There are several new styles and colors to choose from! Some exciting news too...for those of you who have always loved the jack and jill jester in the gift sets...they are individually sold now!! Here is a sneak peek at my a few of my favorites...

{ please note: gift sets excluded in the chance for prizes }

moving woes...

{warning...not a lovely post...some frustration and a little anger salted with non-caring customer service...must vent! Thought you might like to see that its not always "lovely" here...}

Thankfully we haven't had any damaged pieces, broken items, or missing things...that I know of yet! I find this quite impressive, but not surprising because we did have fabulous movers { thank you again hubby and andrew! }

HOWEVER...oddly enough I can not fully state this statement after this week! ... While I was in Texas I purchased another chandelier and shipped the new little one and the one we bought at Christmas to myself here in PA. One arrived a day early and the other a day late...ok...balances I guess. I was frustrated when the first one arrived because (a) the box wasn't marked "fragile"...what?! and (b) the prisms weren't individually wrapped as I had specifically asked and provided them with the bubble wrap...meaning that they had clanked and chimed and knocked together the entire trip from TX to PA. There was proof of this assumption from the fine glass chips scattered about the bottom of the box. I was overcome with gratefulness that they weren't visibly broken that I decided not to complain. Hubby hung it for me....

Day late chandelier arrives a couple days later...again in an unmarked "fragile" box. ok. first off...let me back up. I didn't just SHIP these breakable, glass, fragile, vintage, delicate lighting fixtures...I paid someone to package them safely as well! So when the 2nd non-marked "fragile" box arrives I begin to wonder what did I pay for and who runs a shipping business without fragile stickers and the assumption to use them on all boxes going through the door {secret...please don't share with my postman, but I mark T&T non-fragile boxes fragile sometimes if I want it to arrive with a little extra tlc.} So how does one make the mistake not once, but twice of sending off a breakable, glass, fragile, vintage, delicate chandelier unmarked "fragile" when you just spent time filling the box with safety peanuts?

Open the day late chandelier to find the bottom is off...it was actually upside down still wrapped in the bubble wrap. I assumed this meant they removed it so that it would fit in the box. Attempted to fix it. Couldn't. Made a call to the place...the gal claims she didn't remove it. Ok. I find it a little hard to believe that the bottom came off and flipped upside down all while being wrapped in bubble wrap. Long story short...its not fixed. I have had to send her pictures and I have a hole in my ceiling above our dining table where it should be resting, instead it is resting on the ground below the table. I am waiting on the owner to call me on Monday. Not likely as I have made every call to check on the status of their help in fixing this all week.

Hoping it comes out lovely. Hoping the owner truly works to fix this problem. Hoping to have light above our table this time next week. Hoping these lovely people can help fix it. Hoping any of you thrifty and creative gals know how to "easy fix it". Hoping to remember this when I am on the other side of a complaint. Hoping my customers never feel this frustrated with me.

most sincere thanks!!

thank you! thank you!! thank you!!! Thank you so much for all of your orders during our move...what support! I am so thankful! Your patience, support, and understanding of the delayed ship time was so very appreciated! I am finally caught up and all orders have now shipped!! If not already on your doorstep should be there shortly!

Stay tuned...a very special T&T promo is underway that I need to get busy blogging about...and update the homepage, and order inventory, and organize my new office, and unpack the files, and... wait...you don't want to be bored with my to.do list! Better get busy it seems to be growing!

a happy anniversary...

It was a lovely day! Thank you all for the well wish comments, texts, calls, emails, and cards! Hubby planned a wonderful evening! We ventured out and explored our new city. We enjoyed a ride up and back on the Duquesne Incline, a cable car system built in 1877. It was an amazing spot to view the city { ...I wonder if hubby knew it was voted the 3rd most romantic spot in America!! }

operated by a private society

going up...

{pay no attention to the HUGE bump on my forehead...
I simply attempted to knock myself out with the car door earlier...
not yet funny & quite painful! }

gorgeous original interior of the cable car

view from the top...

...amazing to find ourselves 4 years later to be standing atop a new city that we will begin this next phase of our journey in...oh the places God takes us!

the view...the Golden Triangle...the joining of 3 rivers on the banks of downtown

4 years...

6 years & 2 months ago I had a first date with the man I wanted to marry, 5 years and 2 months ago the man I met asked me to marry him, 4 years ago today I married that man. I knew after that first date that this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I told my mom...she was shocked...she shouldn't have been...she set us up. I guess she was a bit surprised at my certainty, a tad shocked at such good match making on her part, and a lot scared at "how soon" this would happen.

I knew he was the one...I recognized him and adored him from the start. He was an answer to prayer and made my heart jump...
Hubby...
I can't imagine life without you and I couldn't have ever imagined a life this sweet with you. You are beyond my dreams and more than I prayed for. God has blessed us immensely and shown us a love that others dream about. I adore you B and love the way you love me.
...Ash

"pleased" to make your acquaintance?

we met yesterday...I am not yet sure how I feel about it...how our relationship will be...will I cringe at its sound...will it interrupt time spent together...will I always be grateful for the pearls it will teach?

Hubby came home yesterday from his first day of Residency orientation with a new "friend"...his pager. I was working upstairs and heard this very unfamiliar sound and wondered downstairs to see if the smoke alarm was going off...thats when we met. Its like a new pair of shoes you aren't too crazy about yet. They match the skirt so you really need them and are grateful for finally finding them, but they will surely come with blisters.

So paging all customers {readers}...life as we know it is closing in about a week and a half...please proceed to the nearest knee for prayers!

landed in a new chapter of life...

After 2 days of 2 different travel schedules, 5 states, and 7 cities...hubby and I have finally landed in our new home in PA...together and at the same time! We are unpacking, arranging, and making ourselves at home in our new place...while hubby has orientation this week.
We celebrated yesterday with a purchase that hubby has waited on and is every guy's dream...a new grill! He whipped up dinner last night...burgers on the grill with fabulous grilled veggies...one great purchase!!!

Might pop back in soon with a few sneak peeks of our new place...until then I will be unboxing, unboxing, and unboxing!

our last days in Texas...

Our last few days in Texas came to an end so fast! We crammed in as much family, fun, friends, and food that we could!!!

{ hayden, ash.ash, and kensi...they double in size each time I see them! }

{ dinner, a movie, and late night coffee is
always a treat with old dear friends! }
emilie:andrew {and baby.on.the.way}, carrie:richard,
christy:john {newlyweds.to.be}, hubby:me

It truly was a blessing to be home for a few weeks. It went by so fast and still didn't seem long enough. There was much more I wanted to do, friends I wanted to see and those I saw would have loved to have seen longer, more food I wanted to eat, and two new babes I wanted to meet {welcome to the world Zachary Cooper and Riley Daniel!!}. I have resorted to the realization that it won't be long enough time for visits until we live in Texas again.

{ The little boys sure are going to miss Texas too!! }

a lovely day...

I just LoVe spending the day with mom! Who doesn't right? ...when you are little she lets you have your favorite cookies at the mall...when you're a teenager she buys the clothes on outings...and when you are grown...well she shares all your favorite shopping spots!

We enjoyed lunch with my lovely sis and Ms. Rebecca at Bernards...a fabulous, tasty treat in Tyler. All the way from the tapenade, to the roasted red pepper soup, to the tiramisu...lunch and the company were delish! We celebrated Ms. Rebecca's birthday {happy birthday sweet friend} and enjoyed girl time together...and discussed a possible future project together that I am most excited about {when it becomes positive I will share}!

Mom and I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some of our favorite spots in town { we are loving this retirement! } We ventured back over to Miss Ethel's for some finds we should have gotten yesterday, dreamed about last night, and had to have today! Miss Ethel's is truly one of my favorite spots...the outside is hidden, the inside is full of everything you can imagine, and the shoppers always resell...she is divine and currently on the hunt for me a new.old sparkling chandelier.

Gibson Girl is another stimulation overload...you walk through this old house with your head in the air and your jaw on the ground...{hence the look on mom's face below}. She has thought of every detail and filled every nook and cranny with something neat. Mom found some great brown transferware and chic pearls.

cattle barons' gala...

We topped off Saturday's festivities with the evening at the Cattle Barons' Gala...THE summer social event in Tyler! It is always out in the middle of a ranch with great food, lots of cowboy hats, belt buckles, boots, familiar faces, hay, and lots of partying until way after the sun goes down. My lovely sis, hubby, and I went and met up with some friends of her's from work, Mark and his sweet wife Heather {who requested to go unpictured on "the blog"...hi Mark!}. We were lucky enough to have one of my brothers park us...Austin did just a great job!

This year's theme was "21 Gun Salute...Shootin' for the Cure". They honored 21 cancer survivors and fighters. The event benefits the American Cancer Society and raised over $575,000. This year's entertainer was country music legend, Randy Travis! We went to the "pre-event"...the VIP Baron's Reception and was able to enjoy him under the oak tree before the big show later that night on the big stage.

It was such a treat to catch up with friends and old customers I haven't seen since we moved 4 years ago! They went all out of course on the food...fried shrimp, quesadillas, lobster, rice and beans, grilled meat, and my favorite...avocados on the "half shell"...oh my goodness!!! Then...after 11:00pm...they brought out breakfast...biscuits and gravy, eggs, and cinnamon rolls! Scrumptious! I actually didn't take many pictures of the decor {surprise!}, but I did snap a pic of the decorations Ms. Judy and Ms. Rebecca did... these sassy cowgirls were the welcome outside of the poker tent. The other cool addition this year was the merry-go-round...too cute!!

congratulations hubby!!!

We celebrated hubby's graduation and grand accomplishments with a small family party on Saturday. The Smith's were so nice to let us use their farm. It was such a nice time to have everyone together! It was Texas themed and complete with several of hubby's favorites...ranch style beans, mom's potato salad, mr. goodbars, and hamburgers...to name a few!

wildflowers...

lovely weekend in texas...hope you had a wonderful one too! Friday was a day full of preparation for the big party on Saturday! We had a lovely party for hubby on Saturday full of family, good food, and a few dear friends...and fresh picked wildflowers! I headed out in boots, my denim skirt, a basket, clippers, and Miss Keylee to brave the heat and gather wildflowers... I never knew there was a method and Miss Keylee was sweet enough to teach me how! Look at that bounty of beauty!

headed to texas...

I am so proud of my hubby...I know I say it a lot, but I am so proud of him...his drive, his ambitions, his strength, his diligence, and his ability to sit for hours on end knee deep in his notes and books. He has been studying for the Boards Part III...and finally took it today! He felt good about it post test which was an answer to prayer. There is nothing worse than studying so hard and long for a test and have no clue how to rank your performance walking out.

Now...he is exiting the books and solitude and flying to texas tomorrow...pray for safe travels and a speedy flight!! I can't wait to see him!!!

good things...

Just like Martha...I can think of a few "good things" about my Texas Home. It is no secret, I make no bones about it, I have no problem sharing or shouting it, I will tell you straight, and my friends know it...this southern girl loves being home in Texas. Just to fill you in and to let you see...there are "a few" good things about home that I just love...

...surrounded by family
...time outside with the bigger sky
...shopping with the girls
...sonic {best fountain drinks}
...ethel's {hidden spot of unique treasures}
...friends from birth
...outside for the little boys
...canton {home of the best monthly fleamarket}
...our favorite restaurants with hubby's parents
...mom's garden
...seeing all the littles
...creative juices at ms. rebecca's
...redecorating my mother's house...everytime!
...sun on my face
...church
...homecooked meals by mom
...catching up with friends and family
...familiar faces anytime you're in town
...familiar streets
...hubby being able to be on the lake fishing or at the building tinkering with firetrucks
...dinner with the smith's {usually themed and always tasty}
...mexican food { i have now had it for the last 3 meals straight!!! }
...spending my nights and days in the house i was brought home from the hospital in!

shoppin, shoppin, shoppin

Miss Ashlynn and her new little yorkie girl!

mom's garden

now ...don't you wish you could come home to Texas for a visit too!?