Black and white staircase

I recently spotted this black and white staircase over at the Land of Nod catalogue. I love the aesthetic...neither too modern or too traditional. But replacing my current builder's-grade colonial-style staircase would be too expensive. Maybe just sand it down and paint it black and white?

Sophie on a roller coaster

See how she puts her arms up? I love her fearlessness!
 

Tangled

Just three years old and she already wants to have long, blonde hair. I have no idea where she gets this from...certainly not our family. Is the desire to look like a Barbie doll instinctive?

Cox Farms

Has it already been a year since we last visited Cox Farms for the Fall Festival? It's amazing how the years fly by...this year, we were visited by my cousin Ashley from New Jersey, who became our nanny extraordinaire! I've said this a million times, but I have an amazing family! They constantly visit and help us out with the kids, which is the only way Darren and I are still relatively sane. Sophie had the most fun this year, even though the weather was quite dreary. Grace was docile and sedentary, so it all worked out very well for us. Thank you Ashley, for all your help this year!

Virginia Beach

We just came back from a short weekend trip to Virginia Beach--the first time our family has been there together. Since coming back from Atlantis earlier this summer, I knew I had to adjust my expectations for the beach, but we had a great time! The weather was perfection and the kids both had a blast playing in the surf. I couldn't have asked for more!

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Yesterday was my five-year wedding anniversary.  People always say "time flies", and in my case, I feel it's so true!  It feels like last year when I was graduating from law school and preparing for my wedding during the summer of 2006...and now, five short years later we've made our first real home together, changed jobs, and completed our family with two great girls.  It's been a wonderful journey so far...

On our honeymoon in Carmel, CA.

...but the real point of this post is about my other passion.  Decorating.  I've been lusting over a fiddle leaf fig tree for at least two of those years, but haven't been able to pull the trigger on one because of its price.  Well, to my surprise, Darren went out and bought me one as an anniversary present!  Other women might desire jewelry, handbags, clothes...I got my perfect present...my fiddle leaf tree!

My new fiddle leaf tree...it's in a gorgeous terra cotta pot that I bought today.  I'll also pick up some moss to cover the roots.

Here were some inspirational images I obsessed over before I got my tree...

images via Elle Decor and House Beautiful