Christmas was pretty low-key at TLC this year, but it seems like life has been moving at a peppier pace than usual, so it was nice to slow down and let the fullness of the holiday sink in for a few days.
(Thank you for surprising us with the snowy Christmas card confetti, Deborah!)
About a week before Christmas, however, I had a bit of a creepy run-in with a handsy guy that decided to follow me around Target (grrr). Luckily, my Mom came up to visit/Christmas shop with me around that same time, and man was it fun to run around with her like we used to back in the day.
Ya know…back when leaving the house without bullet-proofing your bangs was not an option…
Which reminds me, if I ever start separating my hair into quadrants again, promise me you’ll make me step away from the aerosol.
Anywho, Kev and I kicked our old, malfunctioning stove to the curb about a month ago, and although we don’t really spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen, I was stoked that my Mom and I found a new, stainless steel-look stove, (the kind that looks just like stainless steel but that’s made to repel fingerprints- yay!) on sale at Lowes while we were out shopping.
On Christmas Eve, Kev and I plugged it in and fired it up for the first time. We fried up a big piece of ham, threw together some (boxed) au gratin potatoes, and just because we were feeling extra giddy about the new stove, we even tried our hand at Ree’s oven-roasted asparagus. (Holy scrumptious spear alert, Batman!)
We had a ton of fun snapping pics and shooting video together that night…
http://vimeo.com/34310324
We spent Christmas day with Kev’s family in Montgomery, and we’re looking forward to ringing in the new year, here at TLC this coming Sunday.
And speaking of 2012- I wish you a fun and fresh New Year…full of possibility, discovery, adventure, and becoming.
PS- The winner of our FLOR carpet tile giveaway was Christyn who blogs at GreyStables.blogspot.com! Congratulations, Christyn!
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Separating hair into quadrants! Hah-made me smile! Hope you have a great New Years too!
Jessica
Thank you, Jessica! 😀
slowing down is always good when you have been as busy as you guys have. here’s to an adventure filled year full of possibilities made into reality!
all my best….
kelly
Thank you, Kelly! We have 18 articles to shoot and write for HGTV.com in January, so we’re looking forward to relaxing for just a few more days while we can! 😀
18!! Oh my gosh! That is ALOT!!! I hope you have a slow down February break after that.
The video was adorable. I hope you are able to use your dining table/chairs soon! And I am soooo sorry about the shopping incident – yuck!
Question – I could not locate it on your site but am wondering what kind of camera you use to shoot video. We would like to replace our camera. I am looking forward to Kevin’s new site in 2012!
Thanks, Kel! 😀
We actually have a table and dining chairs, but we only eat in our dining room like twice a year- LOL!
We have a Canon 30D and and Canon 7D (it shoots pictures and video), and Kevin is working hard to finish the site in the other room as I type this comment! 😀
Fun and Fresh New Year…………. I love that! I so love reading your blogs and all your little notes. My house seems empty without all the Christmas trees and decorations. We have yet to fill the rooms in our new old house:) I put the Christmas decorations away to get ready for an already busy (good busy) 2012. I’m excited to get some things accomplished. Happy New Year to you and Kevin. Keep up the wonderful projects. Hugs.
love the video
and photos
looks like a wonderful evening together.
alison
Thank you, Alison. It was a really special night and I’m determined to create many more just like it in 2012! 🙂
Such a cute video! I wish I had known you were looking for a new stove. You could have had ours. I’ve been threatening for a while to replace our stove with a vending machine.
I actuallly almost rear ended a delivery van in front of your house on about the 23rd. A larger vehicle was in front of me and at the last minute moved over into the middloe lane to go around the delivery van. I didn’t even know the van was there until the car moved out of the way. Glad I did’t cream your new stove! LOL
Oh my, Amy! I’m so glad you saw the van in time to avoid an accident! :-O
You two always make me smile, thank-you! Happy Healthy New Year!!
Thank you, Laurie-Jean! 😀
Yikes about the creepster, that can ruin a good day. Thank you so much for all your inspiration- I enjoy your lovely spirit that shines through your posts. I look forward to the new year, and pray you have an awesome blessed 2012.
Thank you, Sheila. 🙂 I hope you have an AMAZING 2012, too!
Congrats on the new stove! We watched as the truck was unloaded – so exciting! Thanks for all the wonderful uplifting moments from this past year and many more to come in 2012. Happy New Year and of course, War Eagle!!!!!
Thanks, Debbie! Hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday up there on the hill, too! 😀
Your video was delightful! I love that you guys eat at your couch. My husband and I do the same thing, even though we have a kitchen table, dining table or our kitchen island that we could eat at. Something about the couch just feels so cozy. 🙂 Happy New Year to you both!
Love the video – the music is perfect for it.
Your big hair cracks me up – I had a perm through most of the 80’s and I have one photo of me and three friends with the same hairstyle and we all look like we are sharing one big wig! Our street is having a New Year’s Eve party with each house being a different decade – we are the 80’s so got some great music lined up and am going for the big perm look again! Can’t wait!
Happy New Year to you both – hope 2012 brings you even more success and happiness x
You are a brave woman posting that hair pic. haha Love the video.
Happy New Year!!
Here’s wishing you and Kevin and very good New Year!
It sounds like you had fun with your mom (aren’t mom’s great?) and with your family over Christmas. The new stove is very exciting – I went shopping on Boxing Day for a video camera and came home with a new dishwasher. Yeehaw!
Well the good news is you are looking better as you age! I hate looking back at pictures and wondering, what was I thinking? Happy Holidays!
A nice low key Christmas sounds delightful…
Love that video! You guys look so happy, no matter what you’re doing. I’m getting to spend the holidays with my grown daughter as well, although it took breaking her leg for that to happen, poor thing. I’m glad to be able to spend the holidays with her, especially this year, as this may be our last for awhile. Her fiance is serving in Afghanistan and when he gets home in February, he’ll have a new assignment and who knows where they’ll be. Hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year and I hope to see you on TV with your new show!!! Lauri
Your video made me smile. Your Christmas seemed so calm and peaceful in comparison to mine. I wish you a happy new year as well.
Happy New Year! Looking forward to a ful TLC 2012!
Your hair looks awesome! Love the new color on your Holiday card!!
Love the video! Esp the last photo of you from outside. Amazing and intimate. Happy 2012!
Ew about creepy target man. You have an awesome year too! You guys are so stylish it’s kind of intimidating… 😉 Can’t wait to see more inspiration in 2012!
what a sweet glimpse into your christmas! enjoy your new year at tlc! 🙂
Drove by your house today while running errands…all was quiet. However, the folks next door had a trailer full of cool chairs/seats. Now, why do I think you guys will have something to do with that???? Hummmm….
Boo to creepy, handsy men at Target! Yay to new stoves, shopping with mom, yummy Christmas Eve dinners, and cute puppies who keep you company! Happy New Year!
Kat 🙂
I am not sure why I was in tears watching you
and Kevin. I do know how lucky and blessed you are
to have found each other, to make it all work and fit and have a best friend always.
I never had the just us time when we were young.
We have it now and love it, sprinkled with 2 grand babies
makes life even sweeter right now.
I always always just love watching you both together.
Merry Everything and a New Year of love and laughter and peace.
Congrats to the giveaway winner!!
And Happy New Year, Layla + Kev 🙂
I think I would probably let you borrow my Aqua Net so we could both sport that awesome big hair. Mine looked the same in 1992 and I gotta say there’s a part of me that’s sad that part of the 80’s hasn’t made a comeback. I’d love to see if I’ve still “got it” in the hair dept! 🙂
Glad you had a great holiday and enjoy you New Years festivities no matter how you choose to celebrate!
Happy new year Layla and Kevin! I loved this post. Honestly, you two are the sweetest couple in blog world!
Well, you are very sweet to say that, Lisa. 🙂 And I hope you have an amazing new year, too!
you two happy makes me SO happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love ya,
mom
Thanks Mom!!!
(You made me all teary-eyed!)
😉
Wow, I am loving that old picture of you! You should see my Glamour Shot from 1993…holy bangs Batman!
Awww your mom being so touched and making you so touched touched me! So sweet! <3
You and Kevin are amazing and I hope and pray that 2012 brings you all the love & blessings God has to offer!
Happy New Year! Low key is welcomed here!
You guys are too cute!!
Layla ~ Just watched your video and I noticed Kev & you have those wood decorations under your cupboards by your stove. Love it~ I was at goodwill a couple of weeks and say two pieces of wood taped together ~scooped those buggers up and have the same idea for my kitchen only spent $2.00 and is going to make my kitchen look like I spent alot more. Now about Ree’s asparagus I am going to try that recipe for New Years. I have cooked alot of her recipes and OMG she knows how to cook. Happy New Year to the both of you.
Adored the video! I hope Max’s bladder is healing well-this should help in the potty-in-the-house-department =) In 92 I was grad’ing highschool, and had some pretty wild hair myself-think big, permed, sprayed =)
Aw! Loved the video and the music, made me get a teeny tiny tear! Thank y’all for sharing, and happy stuff in the new year!
Love the fact that you both are so down to earth! Have a great New Year! XO
You and Kevin and your blog always give me inspiration and make me smile! I, too had bullet-proof bangs in the late ’80s and early ’90s! I ‘follow you’ (no, not like the creep at Target!) wherever I can find you, here, magazines, HGTV and love everything you do and how you make me laugh!!! Thanks for that!
LOVE this video…simple…happy…kind…loving…just wonderful! Thank you for sharing all your “good” stuff. You are a adorable little family. You will both make wonderful parents someday if you choose that path:) Happy New Years!!!!
Thank you Layla! And a happy, healthy 2012 to you and your family! I just love following your site. You are so sweet and so much fun! You make me want to be a better person! Very inspirational!
Well, that was my FAV video you guys have done so far! Just lovely….made me miss you even more.
🙂
shaunna
What a precious video! Sweet, sweet, sweet…
Awh ! That warmed my heart! Love it that the furry kids were enjoying Christmas as well! Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!
what a wonderful video! absolutely adored the mix of still images with the video. so well done! and so full of love.
it was terrific to know your christmas was wonderful, mine was as well. happy new year!
So happy for you guys! We just got a new oven too – what a difference. I can actually bake cookies without burning the bottoms now. (most of the time lol).
Happy New Year to you both.
Hugs,
Marie
p.s. this blog has been a wonderful gift…thank you!
Your video is so sweet and personal! Thank you for sharing it with us.
By the way, because of your gorgeous Pottery Barn curtains, I splurged the other night and ordered a blue set on Ebay….can’t wait until they come.
Thanks for the continued inspirtation!
Yay for your new PB curtains! That blue is so lovely, and I just know you’re going to enjoy them so much! 😀
Y’all are just TOO cute! Thanks so much for the DIY ideas and happy inspiration throughout 2011. A blessed New Year to you.
So precious! You kids are just P R E C I O U S!
Girlfriend, come to Destin and I will teach you how to make spot*on delicious potatoes! Easy as pie!
I am curious as to what Kev’s right arm says? What are the words behind his symbols? Inquiring minds wanna know.
My girls are coming down from Kansas City in mid Jan and we are going to get new tattoo’s. All we can talk about is tattoo, tattoo, tattoo.
Many blessings for you both in 2012. It will be your BEST year yet! Love to the 4 legged babies as well. xoxoxoxo Ter’e
And to think, I used to be so upset that my hair wouldn’t hold like that back in ’92. LOL. I can’t help but wonder what we were thinking and it frightens me to see some of those styles coming back. I saw a student walking down the hall wearing acid jeans before Christmas break. Shudder.