Fabulous Finds ~ Glam Gift Guide for Good Girls...

Happy Wednesday, ladies! I'm sure you're all basking in the glow of your Christmas tree, Christmas cards are signed, sealed, and on their way to friends and family, presents are wrapped and under the tree, and you're plans for this evening include watching It's a Wonderful Life and sipping hot chocolate by the fire.

No? 

You mean your tree is leaning slightly like mine? And it's not lit because you were sweating to death and just ran out of energy after trying to straighten it for 2 hours? And your husband groans and complains at the mere mention of a family Christmas photo for those darling cards you have dreamed up in your head? And you can't think of a single thing to get your mother-in-law? 

I hate to break it to you...I can't do a darn thing about your leaning tree or your Christmas cards, but I can offer you a few suggestions for those special someones on your Christmas list. And let's just all agree to live by the motto...one for you and one for me! After all, Santa...we've been very good!

I'm a huge fan of this wine barrel lazy susan. It's perfect for entertaining or decoration. this is from Pottery Barn and you have the option of having it monogrammed. 

Oh, how I love the. The clean scents of Jo Malone are perfect for anyone on your list. The body cream is amazing, the perfumes are fabulous, it's sure to be a hit!

Yes, please! 1 please! I love this tote from Madewell. It's no fuss, stylish, great colors, and it can be monogrammed. 

Need a great hostess gift? Are you in charge of ordering office gifts for clients and bosses? Look no further than this giant caramel apple. When I was in college, my best friend's mom sent her this package of goodness. Being the generous good girl that she is, and knowing the chocoholic that I am, she happily shared. I have never looked back! The presentation is beautiful, the taste is absolutely delicious, and you would be shocked at how far 1 apple goes. They are huge. I love you, William-Sonoma.

My mother in law gave me this cookbook several years ago and it is probably my all-time favorite cookbook. This is an oldie but a goodie from the Junior League of Houston. This is perfect for a newlywed, for your mother-in-law, or as a perfect little stocking stuffer for yourself. Remember my whole one for you and one for me philosophy? You'll thank me later. 

Last but not least...these guys are on my wish list for this year. I absolutely love this Casa Recycled Glassware from Pottery Barn. These glasses are gorgeous, they are the perfect size, they fit so well in the hand, they are a great weight, and I love the lip at the top. Once again, an item that can be monogrammed if you so choose. I've been eyeing them for months and months and I'm hoping to find them under my tree!

I teamed up with 5 other fabulous bloggers who have more great gift ideas! Follow from blog to blog in our circle to see everything on The Good List for those glam girls in your life. Next up is Faith from 

The Adventures of Faith. Stop in, say hello and get some great ideas!

Merry Christmas and happy shopping! 

House Divided...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was relaxing, it was full of family and wonderful food, and it was full of thanks. We have so much to be thankful for. In all honesty, it couldn't help but be bitter sweet...this was our first Thanksgiving without my Papa. That was hard. My Nana and Papa were always the Thanksgiving hosts and being at their house when a huge part of our family was missing...it just didn't seem whole. It's definitely hard to lose someone you're that close to and who has been such a present and active part of your life, but in this time of Thanksgiving I am so thankful that God blessed me with a wonderful Papa, my mom with a wonderful dad, and my Nana with a wonderful husband. We miss him, but we know he had a Thanksgiving feast in Heaven!

The sweet side of that bitter coin was having my entire family together and getting to find out what these bitty babies are! On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, we had our 16 week ultrasound and we were able to see 2 very healthy babies. 4 chambers of each beating heart, 20 fingers, 20 toes (holy moly...that's a lot of fingers and toes!!), 2 brains (how on earth can they see all of this these days...technology is so cool!), kidneys, bladders, kicking legs, moving arms...it was just a wonderful miracle. All of this was wonderful and worthy of thanks and praise to a good God who has blessed us so immensely. After all of the healthy T's were crossed and I's were dotted and our babies were given an A+ for development it was time to talk turkey. We wanted the money shot!!

Snips and snails? Sugar and Spice? A double dose or one of each? Give us the deets!! Our sonogram tech had absolutely zero problems identifying the first...within a few seconds she said, "It's a BOY!!" I thought Dave was going to come out of his chair he was so happy!! I think hunting trips, golf games and a Texas Tech jersey flashed before his eyes. It took a little longer with Baby B...in regular Baby B fashion, it was being a total wiggle worm and doing everything possible to keep us from seeing the goods. But finally, SHE moved into just the right position..."It's a GIRL!!" My mom's already been talking about a cheerleader outfit  for Miss Priss and a jersey for Little Mister! We are just OVER.THE.MOON.

That night we had dinner with my family and we spilled the beans...a little girl and a little boy...I'll say it again, praise God from whom all blessings flow!

My sister and brother-in-law brought these cute cups so we used them at the restaurant! Our reveal was letting everyone open a small gift that was personal to their personality and a little card. For example, my brother plays professional baseball in the minor leagues, so his note said, "Will I be a talented baseball player and get to play in front of thousands of fans like my Uncle Taylor?" Or my Uncle Bill, who is a school teacher. His note said, "Will I be a teacher like my Uncle Bill and touch hundreds of student's lives?"

After everyone read their notes and opened their gifts Dave and I said that of course these kids can be whatever they want to be...we know they will always have the support of their family just like we have always had. But, while we don't know what paths they will choose, they will always be daddy's little girl and momma's little boy!

Let the naming and the shopping begin!!

The Rainbow...

 First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for your sweet emails, comments, words of encouragement and excitement, but most of all...I could never, in a million years, thank you for your prayers. Yes, my mom, sister and close personal friends read this silly blog- that does little more than ramble about my little life- and I understand (and still greatly appreciate!!) that they would pray for me. But I have received messages from high school friends, college friends, and people I have never met in real life who have sent encouragement and told me they are praying for us. Y'all...I just have no words. Because Thank you isn't enough. God placed every call, every card, every email and every one of you in our lives at just the right moment.

I am 16 weeks along now, and in these 12 weeks since we found out there have been many wonderful moments. Obviously, there aren't many surprises along this journey. We've been at this for over 3 years now,  and we've been really up front with our struggles and no doubt we've been on prayer lists from here to Timbuktu! Close family and friends pretty much knew when we could expect a yes or no and it was a really public let down each time. Our last attempt we ended up flying under the radar. My sister had just gotten married, my Papa had passed away, we were gearing up for my brother's wedding...everyone just had a lot on their plate and we didn't want people (read: my mom :) to worry any more than they have to. This process hasn't just been hard on us, and I know that. Our parents have carried the weight of the world on their shoulders wanting so badly for us to have a family. So, we decided this would just be our little secret.

We had tried for 2 months to begin our treatment and we had set backs on the doctor's end. 1 month they had a 6 week lab closure and then the next month my doctor was going to be on vacation. That's when my attempts at being patient and content and understanding of God's plan really began to feel overwhelming. Some of you may remember this blog post that explained all that came out of that moment of darkness. What came out of that darkness was light. Light from the face of God shining on me. Reminding me I'm not alone, reminding me that He is good, reminding me that the plan is perfect and the timing is perfect. And if you'll recall, there was a rainbow. :) I told y'all how I was sobbing on the plane, fumbling for my camera in my carry-on stuffed below my seat...just marveling at God showing himself right there in that way.

Well, fast forward 8 weeks...we were able to go through out fertility treatment like we had done before and I was in the waiting period. The other times I had gone against my doctor's instructions and I had taken a home pregnancy test before my blood work just so I could attempt to prepare myself for the outcome. On the prior occasions,  as with the no less than 70 tests that had gone before it, it was always negative.  But on August 25th there was a light pink line. Y'all...there was a line!! In full disclosure, I had a chemical pregnancy after our first treatment. I got the most faint pink line you've ever seen....I held it up to the light, looked at it 100,000 times and I could make out the faintest of faint lines...there was a glimmer of hope. But when my blood work came in it was an agonizing 8 days of maybe but probably not because my numbers were so low. So when I saw that faint pink line...it was darker...it was there....but it was light...I just couldn't let myself fully "go there". I told Dave and of course, our hearts leapt a tiny bit at the possibility, but we just couldn't allow ourselves full acceptance and excitement...it's a complete "guard your heart" situation after years of "no's".

The next day was a Monday. August 26th, 2012. I sat through my work day wondering if there was any way we might really be getting our "yes". We have prayed about this for years...and y'all, we aren't promised a fairy tale ending. God is good no matter the circumstance, no matter if He answers the way we wanted Him to. He is God, not Santa. Praise Him that He sees it all...every one of us, and He weaves every story into perfection. HIS perfection. Not mine. So just because I wanted to have a baby doesn't mean that would be His plan. So I sat there all day wondering if this could possibly be it. I went home that afternoon, it was 5:20 when I was making my way home from work, and I saw the faintest of faintest rainbows. In fact, it was just a tiny tail and I wondered if it was possible that it was a rainbow? There was zero...and I mean zero (It's Texas, people!) chance of rain. Well, I got home, I took that last home test I had in my cabinet and y'all...It was as pink as can be. Clear as day....we were pregnant!!! Dave got home, I couldn't even talk I just showed it to him and smiled and cried! He, in his David Mendenhall- let's gather all the FACTS- let's not be impulsive-way was over the moon but really needed to reserve himself for the actual blood test and doctor's confirmation. Honestly, I get it. This has just been such a process that I always thought it would be fireworks and a parade the moment we heard "yes" but there is a part of you that is like, "Really?? Honestly?? Are you sure??" Because it feels like your heart just can't take another let down.

We sat in shock for about 30 minutes and then I left for Bible study. As I pulled out of our housing addition, there it was! Stretched across the sky as bright as day!

Can you even believe it? I called Dave crying and laughing at the same time. I said, "You have to go outside!!" He said, "The rainbow? I saw it on my way home from work and then walked in to you crying and holding that positive test. Pretty unbelievable." 

It was our rainbow. I'm here. I hear you. I love you. I have a plan for you....a plan to give you hope and a future. I don't know what to tell you. Other than I am so grateful. I am so overwhelmed. We are so over the moon. We absolutely cannot believe we're having TWINS! God, please, please bless us with baby....and He has gifted us two. And He also gave us an absolute appreciation for the miracle of every life. I have zero doubt that He is the author and the creator and I am overwhelmed at the miracle of a growing baby...at that 7 week appointment hearing those beating hearts...at 12 weeks seeing those legs kicking, arms moving...it's unbelievable. To God be the glory great things HE has done! 

In my July post I shared this verse with y'all...

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed shall come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." ~ Psalm 126:5-6

We definitely had our time of weeping and praise God...we're now rejoicing! Giving Him full glory and honor and praise for these precious, amazing blessings!! And, for the rainbow in the storm that always reminds us of His promises...He is always there. 

David and Tiffany Sitting in a Tree...

K-I-S-S-I-N-G....

First comes love....

Then comes marriage...

Then came years of praying for a baby...tears in the waiting...closeness with God that brings peace that passes all understanding...time for us to grow as a couple through the struggle to start a family...an understanding that God is good. Period. All praise and glory to God because of His abundance blessings...we found out on August 30th that...

Then comes a baby in a baby carriage! 

And because God can do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine, we were blown away when we heard two beautiful beating hearts on that ultrasound! Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

TWINS!!

I have so much to share with you all...This seems like such a silly post when the reality is that we are blown away by this answer to our many, many prayers. We are thankful beyond measure to the countless prayers that have been sent up on our behalf and those of you who have supported us, encouraged us, and prayed for us on this journey. In this week of Thanksgiving we are so thankful for God's favor on our family and the opportunity we have to experience the joy of expecting two miracle babies. 

God is so faithful. He is so good. Praise Him for these precious gifts coming in His perfect timing... May 8th, 2013! 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:21

I'm basically Horrible at this blogging thing...

It's true, I've been so MIA! I've had a million things going on and when I don't have something going on I have been taking the totally lazy road and sitting on my duff watching Dancing with the Stars, Duck Dynasty, Revenge, or something equally as stimulating. I usually never get attached to TV shows...outside of those amazing college years of Dawson's Creek, Felicity and Trading Spaces. But I have found a new level of relaxation and am really enjoying doing nothing.

My home, on the other hand, is not enjoying my TV marathon! I have a Christmas tree that is up, lit and fluffed and begging for ornaments. I was completely inspired and now I'm completely exhausted. I got out a few ornaments yesterday and then sat down and watched Castle. I'm neat.

So there is my really ridiculous version of my I haven't been blogging. Well, that and spending time doing this....

Did I tell y'all I saw the Chihuly exhibit at that Dallas Arboretum? If you're in the area and haven't gone, do it! It's breathtaking! I wish I had taken my read camera instead of my iPhone 3G which does these sculptures zero justice!

We rescued a dog from a sweet lady who is having to move to help a family member in her fight with cancer. His name is Wally...he's 6 months old, he's a MUFFIN, and I'm honestly not sure I've ever seen a cuter dog! My sister and her husband are going to keep him, but they have a little landlord issue at the present, so Wally is currently my Nana's cuddly companion! His previous owner said she "calls him Walter when he misbehaves." STOP IT! 

 I had to say good-bye to my best friend Liz (known on this blog and in my life as the Loj), her husband Daniel, and my boyfriend, Charlie. They are moving to Charlotte (literally driving across the country as we speak) and I am heartbroken. If you live in Charlotte and want a really loyal, incredibly kooky, loving, caring, hysterical friend, and her precious, funny, joyful, 2-year-old sidekick, Charlie...you just let me know and I'll put you in touch. *cue sobs*

This was Charlie-Man giving Avery hugs for no good reason other than a hug!! Sounds like the best reason to me! Love these kids...

In a moment of weakness I made these apple cider doughnuts I saw on Tasty Kitchen Blog. I proceeded to have them for breakfast, snack, dessert, and any ol' time I felt like it for the next 2 days. Make them this very minute. (Ps...I made the mini doughnuts rather than the full-size shown on the recipe)

These would be a really great breakfast for your holiday guests. :) 

Sandy = 1 My NYC Vacation = 0

Did y'all know that at this very moment I was supposed to be having lunch somewhere wonderful- like pumpkin waffles with cinnamon-apple butter at Penelope. Or I could even be building my own biscuit at Peels. But alas, I'm eating a PB&J sandwich at my desk. And it's all thanks to that total B, Sandy. 

My flight was scheduled to leave at 6am yesterday and we all know that didn't happen. No power, no subways, no food...basically total destruction. As bummed as I am that I couldn't go to my beloved NYC, and visit my sweet friends, and eat delicious food, and sing every song during Newsies (Yes, tonight I was supposed to be seizing the day...total toby!), I am just praising God that my sister-in-law, Kate and my sweet friend, Sarah are alive and well! And by well I mean completely displaced and holed up in Brooklyn with many of their closest friends in the closest of quarters...but they have found power! 

Power is completely out in Kate and Sarah's neighborhoods and there is no telling when it will be restored. It's just a mad house. So, thank you Lord for keeping them safe. And prayers with all of those who have been deeply and tragically affected by this terrible storm. Here are a few pics from Kate's neighborhood...

Night...with no power....in Manhattan....straight spooky and straight Gotham City, am I right?