Bath Time!

I have been taking plenty of pictures lately, but they are mostly product related. I could post them here, but the products are still a secret! So, today during bath-time, I decided to grab the camera and take a couple of shots.





Jake was quite please to be featured in this blog post, as the fame and fortune from his debut in the Green Mountain Energy commercial has died down. He still thinks highly of himself and wanted to remind you all that you should too.

If you are interested in seeing Jake's cameo, I have posted it below.

Secrets Silversands Resort, Mexico

Usually, sorting through and posting pictures is the first thing I do when I return from a vacation. However, this time around life took over my schedule and I am just now getting around to it. It's kind of nice, saving this procedure for a couple of months after the vacation, because it really brought back a lot of memories. We had a wonderful time, and here are a few shots from around the resort.



The resort had several pools throughout the grounds, all sparkling and clean. There was always room for you somewhere, and the water was always cool and inviting.

One of the things I liked most about SSS, everything felt like luxury right down to the lighting. It was obvious they spent a lot of time and planning on the lights from the rooms to the restaurants and everywhere between.



See what I mean?

One of the lobbies at SSS, this area was huge with a variety of chairs and couches to lounge on. There is a bar right in the middle, where you were served at your seat any drink that you would like.

The beach was not huge, but perfect for strolling, sun bathing, or just relaxing. It was a beautiful view, and we could even see all this from our room.



This was the one of the most delicious appetizers I had during our stay.



Mmm, need I say more?

The resort sent up flowers for our anniversary. They lasted almost the entire 7 days!



The resort looked stunning at night. I never tired of the beautiful lighting and peaceful atmosphere all over the resort grounds in the evenings.

For more pictures, hit up the flickr album by clicking any of the images above.

Furniture Photoshoot

"Real Photography" or maybe just an excuse to post pictures from a furniture photo shoot this weekend, I'm not sure.

For one of our wedding gifts, my husband and I received a fabulous custom head/foot board from my Uncle. Flash forward over 5 years, we commissioned him to help us finish out the suite!

We received the furniture a week ago and it is perfect! He did a fantastic job of matching the new furniture to the head/foot board that we already had, which is no small task. We got everything moved in with the help of our dear friend, Greg, and finished arranging and hanging everything this weekend.



I feel like a serious adult now, having a complete bedroom suite and being able to store away all my clothes in drawers rather than assorted baskets all over the bedroom floor.



The handles were selected by Richard and I, based on our memory of the color of our headboard. I'm pretty please to see that it turned out well!



I may have furniture, but I am not ready to give up all my baskets just yet...



So there you have it, pictures of a staged bedroom! Yes, okay, I admit it. My bedroom is not nearly this clean and organized in real life.

A big thanks goes out to Allen's Sawmill in Mineral Wells, TX for the fabulous new furniture. This is the place to go for all your custom furniture and cabinetry needs!

Christmas Snow

Snow on Christmas Eve, originally uploaded by tmcpics.

Having grown up in Texas, I think it is safe to say I never expected to experience a "white Christmas."

I certainly didn't expect anything miraculously wonderful to come out of this Christmas, having just lost my grandmother only a few months before. Christmas approached and rather than feeling happiness or excitement, I was suffering from a deepening sadness. Christmas would come and go, gifts would be unwrapped, the family would get together, and whatever happiness that day brought, I predicted it would be fleeting and hollow. What is that saying... "Things happen when you least expect them"?

On Christmas Eve, we woke up to snow flakes. Little ones that melted as soon as they hit the ground. I didn't give much stock to their presence. We loaded up the car and started towards our Christmas destination. Only, the snow didn't stop. It got heavier and heavier until the ground was covered. Everything was white as far as the eye could see. The car was barely moving. Two hours later as our trip drew to an end, I was filled with... excitement. I felt like a child experiencing something brand new as we tromped through several inches of snow the night before Christmas.

I had known for months that Christmas would not be the same. We would do the same old things that used to bring comfort and warmth, but it would seem strange knowing she was gone. What I did not expect was to wake up and find a totally new Christmas. A new environment, a new experience, maybe a new beginning... I've never been quite that optimistic so it feels like a stretch. But I will recognize that there was something powerful and renewing about the whole situation.

This picture was taken only a minute after we arrived. My husband and I flew out of the car and into the snow immediately. I know the picture isn't great, but if one snapshot could capture that moment in time forever... I think this is it.