Christmas With My Family

My family seems to have a unique family tradition -- we open our gifts to one another on Christmas Eve.  THEN on Christmas Day we get our gifts from Santa!  I have learned over the past several years that this is strange and different from what a lot of people do.  This has ALWAYS been the way we did things, even when I was very small.  We go to Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church and then come home for family pictures, spirits, snacks and gift giving!
This year, J and I decided to stay the night so that we could have our Christmas Morning/Santa gifts on Christmas Day as my family has always done.
We went over to my parent's house around dinner time on Friday afternoon to eat some stew my mom made and to help bake some yummy treats, including Santa's chocolate chip cookies. J was in charge of the Santa cookies.  He did a great job!  I tried the batter and said "they taste very vanilla-y?" He re-read the instructions and realized instead of the 1 TEASPOON the recipe called for he added 1 TABLESPOON! OOPS! =) They were still really good....the dough however didn't rise properly haha.
Since it was going to be so late after church got out, we decided to do our family Christmas pictures and light seeing BEFORE church.  This was a great idea because there were a LOT of lights on at 9:30 vs midnight!
Here are some of the family pictures from before Christmas Eve Service

J and I setting up our new tripod before getting ready

My family goofing off during pictures =) typical.

Merry Married Christmas

We came home after church and changed into comfy clothes to open all the gifts under the tree =) I will have to do a gift recap on Thursday and point out my notables =) On the way home from church we stopped at our house to pick up Ruger since we were staying at my parent's that night.  He LOVED the stairs...once he figured them out haha =) We were awake until close to 3AM snacking and opening gifts!
Christmas morning we woke up and went to see what Santa brought us! For those of you curious, our Santa gifts are the 'big' gift of the year. =)

Obligatory Christmas Morning Picture =)

One of the neatest gifts I ended up with was a kit to make a paw print ornament with Ruger! It's very cool.  and there is a place on the back to write how old he was and the date!  I LOVE it!

Can you believe this big tongue fits in his head?!

He was SO patient! =)

Stay tuned tomorrow for Christmas with my In-Laws =)
What were some of your Christmas Eve Traditions this year??

Hair Cut

So I have a TON of recapping to do and some Christmas gift crafts to share BUT I figured since I made such a big deal about my hair in my WILW post last week, I thought I would share with ya =) PLUS I have emails galore to answer since we were closed on Friday!

As I said, I am a freak about getting my hair cut...as in I HATE to get it cut.  If I call to make an appointment today it has to be one for Tuesday or Wednesday.  Otherwise, I will cancel. I am not even kidding!  I can't schedule regular hair maintenance because I freak out and won't go.  In case you haven't figured it out -- I have a had a LOT of really bad haircuts. You may tell me that I need to continue to go to the same lady when I find one that I like.  My response?  I have been going to the same woman for THREE years and still have anxiety.  She has always cut my hair beautifully and I never feel upset with the outcome. But I have had SO many horrible hair FAILS that I just do NOT want to go!

So without further rambling on this really cold Monday -- and before you make fun of this Florida girl, it was 30 this morning with wind chills in the teens thank you!! =) -- Here are before and after pictures::

::Before::

::After::

I didn't think there was much difference to be honest but there is WAY more shape to it now. =) And although it's harder to see, there is a lot more angle to the front. =)

For those still with me - thank you for reading all the way through on this first Monday after Christmas! I hope you were all able to spend time with your families and loved ones! Tomorrow begins the Christmas crafts/DIY gifts and a recap =)

Happy Monday!

P.S. Hello and hugs! to all my new followers =)

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

This is my first time linking up for WILW!!! You can too -- here

I'm Lovin' -- That I got my hair cut today!!! I stress out BAD about haircuts even though I have been going to the same lady for 3 years.  Stress so bad that if I make an appointment too far in advance I'll chicken out and cancel!! So I have to schedule hair appointments within 2-3 days MAX of making the call.  Yeah I'm a freak -- don't judge!

I'm Lovin' -- That we are more than HALF WAY through the work day and tomorrow is my Friday!! I'm looking forward to having all day Christmas Eve off and spending it with my husband!

I'm Lovin' -- that we are celebrating our first Married Christmas! I'm so excited about it that I tell J all the time "Merry Married Christmas" soon! =) it's kinda dorky but it makes us happy!

I'm Lovin' -- that next week I can FINALLY share all my DIY Christmas gifts! It's been killing me not to share -- some of them are SO cute!! I can't hardly stand it!!

I'm Lovin' -- that I don't have to worry about it snowing -- EVER. bbrrrr it's pretty but I can't deal with that kind of cold silliness!!

I'm Lovin' -- my husband.  All the time. more and more. Every. Single. Day!  He's my rock and best friend -- I'm SO lucky!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve Eve OR Happy Christmas Wednesday -- whichever you prefer =)

The Family Christmas Poem

Every year for as long as I can remember, my dad has written a Christmas poem as our family Christmas card.  In this poem, he recaps the entire year in our immediate family and different things we have done and big events that have occurred. I thought I would share to help get you all in the holiday spirit -- and it rhymes! I always want to read Twas the Night Before Christmas after reading these!!  Enjoy!

Where has it gone the year two thousand and ten?
It's hard to believe that it's Christmas again
And so it is time for the annual poem
That comes filled with love from our Florida home.

This year the poem was to be a Haiku
But Donna and the girls told me that would not do
So I sat at the table and started to scribe
As rhyme after rhyme in my head did arrive.

This year for our family was better than most
because last March a wedding we did host.
Ashley and John told each other "I do"
And we witnessed the union of one...from two.

Their first year together has been a blessing to see
We gained a new son Donna and Me
John's a good man and he loves Ashley dearly
If you're around them at all you can see this quite clearly!

Soon after that, in May up the coast
Another event of which we must boast
This time the news is from Jessie you see
She graduated college with her teaching degree

She packed up her good and left Greenville behind
She headed to Florida for a job she would find
After months of searching her decision was made
She's at East River High School teaching ninth grade.

Doug followed Jessie after graduation,
He left Carolina without hesitation.
In November this year a ring he did buy
So there's another wedding coming in July!

Donna changed jobs, finally starting a career
Something she could no do in previous years
She's working for Homeland, which I think is nice
Working for a division they refer to as ICE

As you see from our events it's been quite a year
And I've tried my very best to capture it here
We wish you and yours the best Christmas Season
Remembering that HE is truly the reason!

There you have it -- from the hand of my father! =) I wish I would have acquired this talent =) Now I feel all rhythmic and rhyme-y ahaha! Enjoy your Tuesday everyone -- Christmas is a hop, skip and jump away! With the poem (which was printed on happy festive paper) they also sent a photo card:

Christmas Lights & DIY Wine Charm

Last Monday I arrived home from work and The Husband had surprised me and decorated the house! It was really sweet of him -- so I thought I would share.



Started wrapping the gifts!

We spent a little time at my parent's house Sunday afternoon to watch the Steelers play the Jets.  Their house looks great!

A couple gifts I have given/will give include wine glasses.  To make them more fun, I made some wine glass charms!  This DIY is thrifty, easy and oh-so-cute!

{Supplies}

Beads of your choice

Wire Hoop Findings

{Directions}

Add beads to your desired sized wire hoop.

Fasten around stem of wine glass.

TA-DA!! Yes, it's THAT easy!

Happy Monday -- 5 days until Christmas!

Bring on the Bling & Meaning

I received a lot of compliments about my nail polish from my Sneak Peek post.  SO I will tell you about it =)

It's OPI Bring on the Bling

The more you layer it the gold-er it will look.  The glitter in it is multi-colored with purple, green, red, light blue. It's awesome! and so festive! I will definitely be wearing it on New Year's!

We had our gift exchange at work today -- I ended up with a Panera gift card. After it was all said and done, I traded again with my manager and gave her the gift card.  I got from her a small book called "2".  It's a book full of beautiful quotes about love and partnership and life together...
My favorite quote is at the beginning::

"Then we sat on the edge of the earth, with our feet dangling over the side, and marveled that we had found each other"

-- Erik Dallard

There is one little section that I really hope to do with The Husband: it's a Couple's Mission Statement.  I really hope we do it -- when we do, I will share it with you =)
Here are a couple other quotes/thoughts from the book that I really enjoy:

"An enjoyable disorder characterized by feelings of excitement, anticipation, high hopes, recent memories of interludes, giddiness, and physical over-stimulation which occur simultaneously when experiencing a new love.  These feelings take over without warning and make it difficult to concentrate on anything by romance.  They interfere with work and safe driving, but should be experienced at least once in every person's lifetime."

--Urban Dictionary, definition of "twitterpated"

This quote made me think of our wedding day:

"To see coming toward you the face that will mean an end of oneness is - far more than birth itself- the beginning of life."

--Holly Roth

The book itself ignited a lot of thoughts.  Sometimes I find myself thinking "I wish I would have.." but I can't think anything like that. Every single decision, good or bad, brought me to the place I am now.  I can't regret anything I have done because, like I said, even the bad decisions led me to John.  God most certainly has a plan for us and a path for our lives.  We don't always end up where we think we should be but we do always end up right where we need to be.  Sometimes, I think I would have liked to have been more decisive and had a better idea of what I wanted to do with my life/college but I probably wouldn't have been an RA in college.  I wouldn't have met the guy I dated for 2 years.  That guy is the reason I met Marc who eventually introduced me to J. EVERY SINGLE DECISION I have made in my life has led me to this moment,

With These Friends: Who love me no matter what with no judgement or conditions

And This Family: Who is supportive and loving no matter what

and My Loving Husband: who has been my rock and my best friend

I am so thankful to have these people in my life.  I am truly blessed.  Don't regret decisions you've made - - they have led you to where you are right now, to those you love and those who support you. Hug your friends and your family and, of course, your significant other. Hold on tight and don't take them for granted.  Happy Friday everyone! Have a safe and marvelous weekend -- ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!! (can't count today since it's after noon haha)

Christmas Cookie Party

Last night, a group of girlfriends got together for a Christmas Cookie Party.  Some of us brought recipes/ingredients for specific cookies -- others brought decorating supplies and cookie cutters for traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies.

 

  

I brought stuff to make "Thin Mint" Cookies.

{Ingredients}

Ritz Crackers

Peppermint Extract

Chocolate Melts

Wax Paper

Sprinkles (optional)

{Directions}

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or (my way) in a microwave.

Add peppermint extract to chocolate to taste.

Dip the Ritz Crackers in the chocolate.

Lay on Wax Paper to harden.

If you have sprinkles, add to top of cookie/cracker as desired before the chocolate hardens.

Viola! Homemade Thin Mint Cookies! =)

We had a TON of cookies and had so much fun! It was a great idea for a girl's night get together!