Holli Anne's 2014: Week 6-7

Well, I'm not proud of skipping a week on these, but sometimes life just happens, huh?

These last two weeks were full of big-time nesting, enjoying my little family and definitely feeling the love! So. Much. Love.

Here's what went down:

Pins I'm pinning: I GOTTA have this Sprinkle Cake for my birthday. And this super simple wall art is inspiring a little project for my little man.

Books I'm reading: Finished Harry Potter #3 and have been reading For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. (It's for a book club I'm in...I'll be back to Harry Potter this week!)

Movies I watched: The Lego Movie. It's flawless!

Things we're doing: Finishing touches on baby nursery. Cleaning everything else because, why not?! (I can't sit still!) Trying to wrap up things for maternity leave.

Highlights of the week(s): REAL progress on our home! Annual Valentine's Day Date: Waffle House + Lego Movie (it was very fancy). Baby shower from my coworkers. Super sweet visits and surprise baby gifts from friends and family. Just feeling super loved and excited for our little guy to get here and feel the love too!

Hope you've had a wonderful couple weeks!

-Holli Anne

Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 6-7

Every time I get super busy, I usually do it at the same time as Holli! We're twins so it's cool. This week  we're both a bit behind on recaps but, you know, #life.

So here's belated 6 & 7!

 Week 6 // 7

Inspiring pin(s): Gally Cook One Piece Palm Print // #ColorBlock

Book I finished: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead // Family issues put reading on the back burner for Week 7

Book I'm currently reading: Frost Bite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead & Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I WILL finish this book this week!

Blog I'm loving: Design Improvised // Inspiration Nook

Blog post I can't get enough of: Studio Kitchen Makeover by Oh Happy Day // Utah Snapshots by Inspiration Nook

Word of the week: Contention // Absolution 

So, what went down? Week 6 was all about dealing with my back pain and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the blog, work, and writing! Week 7 was an emotional roller coaster. My estranged grandmother had two massive strokes (that she miraculously survived) just after my mother got out of rehab. Somehow, though, it brought the three of us closer than we've been in years. Also, had an adorable Valentine's Day weekend that was calm, fun, and just right. Boy Tyler got me seasons 1 and 2 of Castle (one of my top five favorite shows), an awesome decoration for the entryway (blog post on THAT later), and a box of chocolates (with mustache decorations) / typewriter card. I gave him a bacon beer koozie and a book about Dancing with Cats from Modcloth. Oh, and Arby's. :)

Don't forget to see Week 6/7's posts: Valentine's Day Roundup (Even though it isn't V-Day anymore, doesn't mean this post isn't still relevant! You could easily use these for any celebration or just because!)

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

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Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 5

 Week 5

Inspiring pin(s): Golden also PANTONE Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchard Nature

Book I finished: Last week was hectic! I didn't finish any books, barely reading any at all! Ahh!

Book I'm currently reading: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I need to finish this book!

Blog I'm loving: Design Love Fest

Blog post I can't get enough of: Tim and Hannah's Affordable DIY Self-Sustainable Micro Cabin — House Tour by Apartment Therapy

Word of the week: Arctic

So, what went down? SNOW! Considering that I live in Florida/am from Alabama, this was a big deal. Our little city shut DOWN for two days and work understandably slowed. So when the cold weather moved on my life became hectic! 

Don't forget to see Week 5's posts: Inspiration: Green & Gold / Super Simple DIY Desks / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 5 

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

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Holli Anne's 2014: Week 5

This week was crazy because it snowed in the south! If you don't live down here (or if you do), you probably saw some silliness on the news about people being stuck in their cars overnight because of our snow, but that didn't happen where I live, so it was just fun! Plus, my husband and I got a couple surprise days off work and used them to work on little man's room. Bonus weekend!

Here's the run-down of the week:

Pins I'm pinning: Maybe it's the fact that our house is almost back in order, but my pins seem to be heavily organizing themed. I love this to-do list method.

Books I'm reading: Finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. Why am I just now reading this series? Better late than never I guess! I'm hooked!

Movies I watched: (I don't watch a lot of movies but I figured this could be a fun category since I DID this week). Fargo.

Things we're doing: Painting walls gray (check). Painting furniture white. Staining desks. Building Websites. Playing in snow!

Highlights of the week: SNOW (duh!). Lovely date night with my hubby. First visit to Chipotle...yum!

Things I'm blogging: Super Simple DIY Desks (our office space is getting done...yay!)

What's the scoop on your week 5?

-Holli Anne

Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 4

Week 4
 
Inspiring pin: Untitled by Jesús Garrido

Book I finished: Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 3) by Charlaine Harris

Book I'm currently reading: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton - I need to finish this book!

Blog I'm loving: A Subtle Revelry

Blog post I can't get enough of: A Donut Cake by A Subtle Revelry

Word of the week: Fandom

So, what went down? Well, awesome ole me had to go to the doctor and be told I tore some soft tissue in my back and to not use my right arm as much until it heals. The first half of the week was spent blog prepping, designing, and being a big baby about doing it all left-handed!

Don't forget to see Week 4's posts: Inspiration: Slice of Bright / Inspiration: Morning Coffee / What does your patio say about you? / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 4

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Holli Anne's 2014: Week 4

Birthday celebrating, Adobe and hard-core nesting essentially sum up my week 4. Here's the run-down.

Highlight of the week: My sweet husband's birthday, of course! Here's the recipe of the cake I made him (only I covered the middle and top with Oreos). 

Things inspiring me: My free trial of Adobe's Creative Cloud programs. Holy moly! They run so smooth on my little laptop. I had to make an annual report for work this week, and the laptop with InDesign had a run-in with coffee, so I had to improvise. It might be a bad thing for my bank account because I'm pretty sure I can't let these programs go easily!

Pins I'm pinning: Food with quinoa, like this Superfood Salad from Dreams in HD and this coconut quinoa breakfast from A Beautiful Mess. 

Books I'm reading: Finished Eye Spy by Kevin Hallock (ehh, it was alright) and currently reading (FOR THE FIRST TIME) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I can't believe I haven't read this series yet, and neither can anyone else so I'm getting on board!

Things I'm blogging: Inspiration: Baby Boy Nursery 

Don't forget to check out other Almost There posts from Week 4: Inspiration: Slice of Bright, Inspiration: Morning Coffee & What does your patio say about you?

Hope you had a wonderful week! 

-Holli Anne

Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 3

Week 3

Inspiring pin: Floral Inspiration photography by Ali Harper, flowers by Amy Osaba

Book I finished: Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 2) by Charlaine Harris

Book I'm currently reading: Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 3) by Charlaine Harris - And, again, I'm reading THIS book for the third time!

Blog I'm loving: A Beautiful Mess

Blog post I can't get enough of: DIY Framing Wood Corner Desk by Young House Love

Word of the week: Revamp

So, what went down? Business was awesome this past week! Three extra mini blog projects makes this blogger oh so happy! Also, I took this precious picture of the same-name beau!

What went down during your week?

Don't forget to see Week 3's posts: Inspiration: Custom Kitchens / Inspiration: Minted.com / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 3

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Holli Anne's 2014: Week 3

The beginning of this week was rough! Not in a bad way...just in a pregnant kind of way. Fatigue hit me in a whole new way and no matter what I did, I could NOT get enough energy.

As a result, I kind of did a minimal amount of inspirational things (or things in general). Finally by the middle of the week, I managed to get a second wind and accomplish some stuff, like taking down our Christmas decorations. (A snapshot of our first married Christmas is below!)

Here's the low-down on what's going on in Week 3, 2014:

Pins I'm pinning: Lots of furniture, nursery and home decor inspiration, especially since I wanted (and need) to be nesting these last few weeks before baby arrives. This baby nursery and this Ikea bed frame are really striking my fancy.

Books I'm reading: Eye Spy by Kevin J. Hallock...I'm trucking through but honestly, it's not really my cup of tea so far. I also started reading through the first draft of the book I wrote last year so I can begin making edits. Finally feeling inspired for that! Here's the "back of the book" synopsis.

Things I'm doing: Besides heavy napping and putting away Christmas, we've completely emptied our baby nursery for a fresh coat of paint and also bought a couple pieces of new furniture for our house (dining room table + dresser for baby clothes). I'm also enjoying the long weekend with my husband!

Stuff I'm drooling over: This line-up to the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta. Like, how good is this?!

Anyone have any highlights to share from their Week 3? Comment below!

Also, check out the Almost There blogs from this week: Inspiration: Minted.com & Inspiration: Custom Kitchens

Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 2

Week 2

Inspiring pin: It was often seen wandering the forest just outside of the village...

Book I finished: Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 1) by Charlaine Harris

Book I'm currently reading: Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 2) by Charlaine Harris - And, again, I'm reading THIS book for the third time!

Blog I'm loving: The Writer Diaries

Blog post I can't get enough of: How You Like Me Now, Grout? by Young House Love

Word of the week: Value

So, what went down? New marketing plans were created, LOTS of things were researched (for the blog and work!), and Twitter became my bestie for a few days!

What went down during your week?

Don't forget to see Week 2's posts: Monday's Suggestions 1/06 / Recipe: Chocolate Banana Coffee Cupcakes...oh my! / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 2

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Holli Anne's 2014: Week 2

This week was all about family and babies (well, singular baby...the one growing inside me!) My parents came to visit, we made some major progress on getting our house in order  and we got to see the baby again in ultrasound form!

I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and I'm not super into pregnant pictures of myself, but I thought this one would be a good round up of the week. (You can see that big belly down there!)

Here's the low-down on 2014, Week 2:

Pins I'm pinning: Looking back, most of them are food related (go figure). These banana rolls and overnight oatmeal in particular have my interest peaked.

Book I'm reading: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman...just finished last night. It's beautiful. And a lot of things. SO MANY FEELS.

Things I'm doing: Majorly working on our house. We organized ALL our art and office supplies, which was a major feat. We also got new table legs from Ikea in the mail this week, so our office project is almost complete. Post coming soon!

Noteworthy things: An 11-degree low in south Georgia and a new neighborhood coffee shop that sells Fairtrade Coffee (that happens to be delicious!)

My blogs from this week: Chocolate Banana Coffee Cupcakes. Yep, make these!

Best moment of the week: Seeing our baby on ultrasound form. The best part was that we didn't really get a good look at his face because he's all turned in the right position for birth. BUT, we did find out he has hair! Yay!

How was your second week of this year?

Tyler Anne's 2014: Week 1

I love Holli. She has the best ideas.
The one I'm currently digging?
Weekly Recaps! You can check out her Week One here.

Now, I'd like to throw down my own little recap!

Week 1

Inspiring pin: Don't Stop 

Book I finished: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Book I'm currently reading: Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 1) by Charlaine Harris - And, technically, I'm reading it for the third time!

Blog I'm loving: Allie NYC

Blog post I can't get enough of: 2013 End of Year Book Survey by Miss Riki

Word of the week: Reinvigorated

So, what went down? Brought in the New Year with loved ones, drank lots of sweet tea, and finished the first chapter of Novel #2!

What went down during your week?

Don't forget to see Week 1's posts: 2013 Report Card / Goals for 2014 / Holli Anne's 2014: Week 1

- Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
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Holli Anne's 2014: Week 1

If I have one regret about 2013, it's that I didn't document enough of it. I've always wanted to be a Project Lifer or a scrapbooker, but when I'm honest with myself, I know I'd never carve out the time to do it.

For some of last year I simply wrote down a Highlight of the Day in my journal, and those were pretty cool to go back and read. So I'm trying to do those again. But, I want something visual, so with the inspiration of some other bloggers, I decided I'm going to do a brief recap of the week on here. It'll have at least one image from the week and maybe even some of the blog's I'm digging, pins I'm pinning or books I'm reading.

This week (the 2014 portion anyway) was a short one. I've seen many people, along with their New Year's resolutions (or in place of), give themselves a word of the year. If you saw our New Year's Goals post, then you may know one of my major goals is to NOT freak out over things. So, I decided to give myself the word "Courage."

I doodled it on this piece of paper and stuck it in an old frame on my desk today. It's by no means fancy, but luckily hand-lettering isn't one of my goals for the year. (One of our friend's Allison is doing a 365 hand-lettering project that's pretty gorgeous, so you should check that out).

The courage to...
give birth to a healthy, happy little boy.
be a first-time mom.
adjust my schedule a million times as my little guy grows and his needs change.
guard my priorities and let the other little details go.
reject negative thoughts.
turn to others when I feel like I can't handle things on my own.
trust that things will always fall into place when they are supposed to.
trust myself.

Here's to a courageous 2014! Do you have a word of the year? Let us know in the comments below.

-Holli Anne