When Holidays Collide, an ode to pre-Thanksgiving Christmas c h e e r

While I admit last week's weird, hotter-than-usual, November weather was pretty rad compared to snow storms and rain downpours...I'll also admit that a big part of me is ready for sweaters and scarves. This next week promises just that, rain and weather that dips into the 50's, so that's fabulous in my book. I feel as though I'll be happy about it for roughly 2 weeks and then I'll be over the cold again, but I'll plead not guilty until such a revelation comes ;)

And since we're on the topic of November. I know everyone thinks Thanksgiving gets little to no attention, and while that's true to an extent, I've had some thoughts brewing about that lately. For me, the Holiday season includes Thanksgiving and Christmas. Is this normal for anyone else? I always assumed it was, kind of until recently. Why does everybody freak out about people decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving? Is there a secret code somewhere that says "Green trees in homes wrapped with twinkle lights must not be looked at while one gives thanks"...?? Just because a person puts up a reindeer decoration and starts burning freshly cut pine scented candles, it by no means suggests they're any less thankful than a person who hangs a "Thankful banner," and sets their table with turkey place holders. Nope, it really doesn't. Look, I still have gourds and a scarecrow out...but I also have an elf on my kitchen table!

I understand all of the people who hate that it's become a pushed hallmark holiday and I'll agree with you wholeheartedly. Retailers have turned this holiday season into something it was never intended to be. So, let's take back the things we love about this Holiday season and just enjoy it. Enjoy the fact that people are excited for a season where they get to spend time with more family and carry on years old traditions. Understand that for some people, part of gearing up for the Holiday season includes decorating *gasp* BEFORE Thanksgiving, and they will still be just as thankful as you are when they gather with their families. For other families they're home suffers an identity crisis between elves and scarecrows while they're excited for both of the holidays around the corner.

*note* If you're one of these said "Holiday haters" before the day of Thanks, I'd hope you won't be wrapping up your goodbyes at 7pm Thursday night so you can stand in line at Best Buy ON Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving at 8pm is not Black Friday. By shopping on Thanksgiving, you've completely taken away somebody else's time with their family who is forced to work their minimum wage, retail job away from their families and contradicted your "no Christmas before Thanksgiving anthem." More often than not, these are the people who sing their Christmas anthems early in the season, but I felt as though it was important to note this :)

This whole anti all things Christmas before Thanksgiving has always baffled me, so I hope this opens some people's eyes to the fact that it really doesn't matter what decorations are up, what music is playing or what date Thanksgiving falls on. All people celebrate the Holidays in unique ways so let's not make people feel bad for enjoying things differently than you do. I for one, absolutely love to decorate for Christmas so I don't think I should have to defend that love to people who enjoy having turkeys all over their house. I'm really excited for Thanksgiving and don't plan to overlook it this season just because I have an elf decoration on my table and a Christmas movie on my TV.

Fall is still here but little by little winter is showing her crisp self to us which means we're nearing twinkle light overload [something nobody can be upset about], loads of Christmas posts, and vlogmas by some of my favorite youtubers. These are all things I'm thrilled about. You'll have to excuse me while I drink my pumpkin spice chai and watch a Lifetime Christmas movie.

See what I did there? Pumpkins colliding with Christmas ;)

He left death in His grave

We are celebrating today and everyday that our risen Jesus is alive and sitting on the right hand of the Father! 

we dont really celebrate valentines day...but flowers are always okay

Valentine's Day. I've had an inner battle with the Hallmark holiday the last couple of years. I love feeling spoiled, and getting flowers, spending time with my love, and the happiness that comes with a little holiday spirit...but, it's really a tad too commercial and....pink for me. Valentine's Day was always super fun as a little one because I got loaded up on candy hearts and paper card Valentine's from my crush-of-the-year. However, now that I'm married and practice love daily, I could do with out the pink overload, and $5 raise on flowers for a week. Never the less, I see it as an excuse to continue our love more, on the same day as everyone else. So we acknowledge the hearts and such..but keep it mellow.

Our day consisted of a nice morning walk, where we found this cool knotty tree and critiqued the houses we do and don't like in our cute neighborhood. After our walk, Jeff went to class and I ventured to a 4-hour shift, making lattes and shaken tea lemonades for the coffee drinkers of America. When I got home from work, my lover was playing video games and had a nicely arranged tulip bouquet with red wine on the counter waiting for me. After the video games were ex-communicated by el wifey, a lovely dinner of zucchini, bread, and chicken cordon bleu was prepared by the hubby.

As we ate our yummy dinner we watched the show Africa, because we're a pretty educational couple, and finished it out with a round of Ridiculousness...just to keep things in perspective.

Once we were fully stuffed with dinner, naturally we needed ice cream. So, we ended our date night with a little Coldstone and the movie Liberal Arts. The world celebrated love yesterday...and though it's commercial, and very pink...our world can use more love so I won't argue with it :)

adios winter

February already? I swear winter came and went faster than it's ever done before. Can't say I'm upset about it. We've definitely had our share of cold winter days..but it's been bright and sunny for the most part, and our front door is wide open for a majority of the day.

I've been pretty lazy in terms of decorating for Valentine's Day, but I feel like I might gain a little motivation this weekend. I cut a few paper hearts and now I need to dig in the V.Day Box for last year's goodies. OH, and my blogging mojo might be back for good...feels good to pop in daily, if for no one other than myself to read and connect with my creative juices.

Happy February to you :)

christmas, brought to you straight from my iPhone

yes, it's true. i slacked off this year...brought my camera and didn't even take it out of the trunk. ya ya...bad photographer, you don't have to tell me :) i do however own an iPhone 5 now, so the quality of pictures will be drastically improved from past posts. and my app editing skills far surpass the beginning days of instagram filters. but just you wait, one of these days i'll turn mega-blogger on you and whip out my fancy pictures when you least expect it.

who am i kidding? that won't happen *wink

so, if you don't follow me on instagram this post will be way more interesting to you...and if you do, just hang tight..maybe i'll fit in more than 150 characters for my pic descriptions and surprise you with my charm and wit, or is it whit? no that's a name. it's definitely wit.

we started out the morning at my nana and grandpa's house with all my extended family. we've had pretty much the same traditions since we were little, when we celebrate Christmas morning at nana's. as  littles we were especially antsy to run upstairs and see what lay under nana and grandpa's tree as soon as we arrived to nana's. we usually showed up between 10 and 11, said our hello's and merry christmas's, then darted up the white stairs into the living room with the view you see below. where we would then frenzy into an "every man for himself" Christmas present opening event.

my grandparents have literally the coolest house i've ever been in. and i never fully appreciated their house until i started dating jeff. i mean honestly, who sees this view every single holiday for 24 years and doesn't appreciate it until the last 5 years? i guess you just take things for granted when you're young. i feel truly privileged to spend my holidays, birthdays and family parties at this house. i have so many wonderful childhood memories here, and just as many in my adult life. i can't get enough of my fun family these days.

me and my boy...me and my little cousin while we were opening presents 

the BEST Christmas breakfast we've ever had. that would be bacon quiche with bacon chunks on top. my belly is still content from this meal 24 hours later.

cousins doing dishes...don't mind the vampire eyes. i'm still convincing my mom that she doesn't need to use her flash indoors ;)

It was the perfect Christmas with family and fires in the fireplace :)

+ + +

and a couple pictures from Christmas Eve with Jeff's family, of the kids opening our presents to them. love how excited they were!

merry christmas!

Sharing a bit of Christmas around our home, wishing you a very blessed, and Merry Christmas with your loved ones!

I've thoroughly enjoyed all things jolly and bright this year. I've soaked up all the Christmas decor in my house, drank in the beautiful sight of Christmas lights with each house I pass, and thanked my Savior for coming here to this earth in a wee little manger for me.

It's a time to be thankful and celebrate with family and I plan to do just that over these next two days. Not everyone has that luxury this time of year though. To the soldiers serving overseas and on duty away from their cozy homes, to those serving on our law enforcement, to the UPS drivers, to the firemen, to the Starbucks barista's who are working this Christmas Eve, and day...thank you. Thank you for protecting us, thank you for serving us, thank you for driving around to give us presents that we ordered too late, thank you for keeping us caffeinated. I know you'd rather be home with your families, sipping on hot cocoa and watching your littles run around...or maybe playing a game of scrabble, possibly Christmas caroling..whatever your traditions are this holiday season. I wish you could be doing those things. Thank you though, thank you for the sacrifices you're making to bring us a safe and happy Christmas.

To the families of those serving, to the family of the UPS driver, to the family of the barista, to the family of the walmart worker, to the family of law enforcement..I'm sorry your loved one is working today. I wish they could be with you, sitting by the fire enjoying this holiday. Thank you for your service, thank you for raising a dedicated worker. Thank you for your sacrifices this holiday season.

Our hearts have been heavy the last couple of weeks and I can't begin to fathom the ache in the hearts of all those affected by the tragedy in Newtown. I can only hope and pray they feel the vast amount of prayers flooding their way, especially over these next two days.

Thinking of the precious angels Heaven gained a little over a week ago. You will continue to be in our prayers, Newtown families.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays wherever it is, whatever you celebrate!

christmas randoms | traditions | updates

 

I'm sure I've mentioned in past posts that our best friends live right down the street. It's been so much fun and over the last few months I feel like I've become even closer to those boys and John's girlfriend, Nicole. I'm so blessed and thankful to have such great friends in my life. But I'm not one for sappy things so let's move on ;)

John and Nicole cut down trees a couple weeks back and later that night all the boys put the tree up together. I asked them if we could play Christmas music and drink hot chocolate while they figured out the tree. But apparently that's not what boys like to do? With beers in hand, they strung lights and screwed the base into the tree. 

I played Christmas pandora anyway and I think they secretly liked it. 

Jeff's unit had a Christmas party...it was run by men, in a cold hangar. You can imagine how that went.

I came home from work one night, surprised to find Christmas lights hung on our house. Sometimes those husbands do surprise you. I'm a lucky lady.

And last but not least, our mother-daughter Christmas baking day. We successfully burnt a round of peanut blossoms, added too much butter to our lacy oatmeals, cooked in an uncalibrated oven and burnt ourselves twice. Oh, and neither of us really like to bake. But it's tradition, and it's fun so we do it :) Love you momma.

There it is. My Christmas updates rushed into one post at the end of the year, miserable fail...but it's here none the less :)

tis the season

to be jolly...

So naturally that means there will be a lot of Christmas music playing, hot chocolate consuming, Christmas movie watching, Egg-nog steamer drinking, pretty picture taking, and church Christmas program going. 

I've slowly added more Christmas to our house each day, searching tutorials on Pinterest and creating with items I've found in my craft boxes. This is just a sneak peek of the transformation our little home has seen so far. Once everything is set in place and I decide whether or not I want to a red ornament, red and green ornament, or randomized ornament tree...we'll have some pictures up. The dilemmas I face as a home makin lady, man oh man. 

The days over here are spent playing with my new iPhone 5, [and by playing I mean taking and editing hundreds of pictures] because this camera is AMAZING. Mingled in there are editing real life pictures that aren't just instagram squares, working like 25 hours a week...give or take, and lots of family and friend hang outs. It's pure joy. The holidays are in full force and I'm ready to embrace it all. Last year around this time I was cramming for finals and working more than my holiday thumping heart could handle, so this year I'm soaking in all things jolly and bright.

Oh and one more thing...who else thinks it's the coolest thing ever that among Jingle Bells and Rudolph songs, like 95% of people are also subconsciously singing songs about baby Jesus every day this time of year? I like that.

Here's to lots more Christmas music and glitter-ized everything.... :)

Apple Hill

Earlier last month my family took a day trip to Apple Hill, famous for clusters of apple orchards scattered through winding roads, freshly squeezed apple cider, and all sorts of apple goodies. I loved going there as a little girl because it was always significant in my mind as the official start of Fall. The same was true for me and my twenty-something self.

Most of the orchards are accompanied by a sort of craft fair where they sell home made treats and crafts. I should have taken more pictures of all the fun little trinkets...but I was soaking in all things that "my little-girl-at-heart" associated with the official start of Fall so I forgot to grab the camera for some of my favorite spots :)

valentine's day recap

Mr and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day in three years together yesterday and it delivered quite nicely. I was slightly out of practice on the Valentine's celebratory-ness because Mr's been gone with the Army for the past two years. I don't think I paid much attention to lover's day these last couple years because of that. To be honest, I think it's a totally commercialized, hallmark holiday and I don't know how I feel about it. But, as I said yesterday..we can always use more love.

I spent 9am-6pm taking notes in class so I couldn't wait to get home to my lover. I was greeted at the door with a clean-cut, nicely dressed Mr. He had Pandora's "Love Songs" station playing in the background and directed my attention to the beautiful hand made bouquet sitting on our in-table. I told him he looked nice and that he was the best lover ever and then he told me to get dressed and ready because we had dinner reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in town. Spoiled? Yes!

I had a mojito...my drink of choice as of late, and he sipped on beer while we enjoyed each others' company and waited for our meal. Honey walnut prawns, general's chicken and white rice. Get in my bellllly.

It was a great night spent with Mr and he earned himself some brownie points for sure. A hand made bouquet and love songs...could he be any sweeter?

I love you Mr, thank you for a wonderful first Valentine's Day as hubs and wifey..you far exceeded and made your lady feel oh so loved.

Oh and check out day two of these flowers...he done good my friends. he done good.

traditions and other holiday goodness

There's no doubt that Mr coming home has been the coolest thing to happen all year..as expected. It's safe to say that marriage has shown itself pretty 'round this little apartment. Lucky for us, Mr came home just in time for the holiday season so our family traditions shined their way to the front. Traditions hoped for, and those unexpected too. Remember when we were little and didn't understand why friends couldn't come over on holidays because that was designated family time? Not so when you create your own traditions. We started our annual "Thanksgiving Eve Sleepover" thanks to a few of our best friends.. who are like family to us.

Okay so there was a little alcohol involved, but it was their first time seeing Mr so obviously we indulged in some fun. Our plan was to have "spontaneous fun" so naturally I suggested we spontaneously watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade come morning. I guess that isn't what they had in mind as far as spontaneous goes. Whatever..I tried ;) But as the night progressed and sobriety kicked in we were all able to experience some powerful bonding through our God. Yes, I'm being real with you, alcohol and God all in one. That's the cool thing about being a Christian..we don't limit our spiritual experiences to a setting and time. God sets up the time, surroundings, people..everything. Our only job is to go with it.. respond. Our discussion went deep that night..and we all prayed together, spur of the moment type prayers..when you feel God tugging at your heart asking you to gather and kneel before Him. Don't get caught up in the rules of Christianity, it's the relationship and experiences with Christ that matter. Who says you can't drink a beer and talk about Jesus? He turned water into wine you know!

After our successful new Thanksgiving Eve sleepover tradition, we had a lovely Thanksgiving split between Mr's family and my own. We sat at the counter because there weren't enough seats at the tables, but it was next to the food, so obvs we weren't upset ;) Sitting at the counter was always a privilege when we were younger because the adults "couldn't see us" so as I engulfed my sparkling apple cider (I can't ever seem to get enough of that stuff) and took in the smells of our German Thanksgiving meal, I was content and so happy. Absolutely nothing compares to spending the first holiday after a deployment together and mine happened one week later.

Between the hours of New Girl, Call of Duty, paper writing and holiday familyness we found time to decorate for Christmas. My hope was to spend black friday listening to Christmas music, smelling the scents of cinnamon and pine tree candles while wearing Santa hats and decorating. Not super unreasonable, right? Three problems, work, schoolwork, and we don't own Santa hats. But we managed to decorate at around 10 p.m...still ringing in the holiday season on black friday just as I'd hoped :) Here's a sneak peek of our apartment, Christmas wonderland.

Nothing makes me happier than a house full of red, green, sparkles and Christmas garlands. And let's not forget the amount of baked goods that accompany the holiday before us ;)

Here's to

traditions & Christmas

<3

my grandpa

Our Fourth of July was somewhat laid back this year.

We usually spend it out at the lake or camping but with Mr being gone

and our friends being spread over the map I decided

to spend the night at my grandparent's house which overlooks

the river (amazing view) and watch fireworks from their

pool deck! My parents and one other family friend joined us.

It was a quiet but fun night, I always love

going to Nana and Grandpa's house.

We're still getting our grandparents used to technology

so every time I whip out the iPhone we have to remind them it's a

computer+camera+iPod+phone all in one.

It never makes sense to them,

and always makes us laugh.

Here's some video of Grandpa from the fourth,
in the first one he couldn't quite understand that my phone was taking video.
The second one he sang a song about me and I plan
to keep that video for ever and ever :)

**other note worthy moments from the night*
Dad and Grandpa serenading us throughout the firework show and
neighbors clapping after each song,
as they overheard the singing from their own back yards.
 This is only one of many clips..

Grandpa taking me around his yard so I can get the most opportune photos

with my iPhone..since there's a camera on it of course.

He was especially concerned that I get a picture of the vultures that hang out in his trees

and the garden he's been planting on the side yard. 

I almost think he's convinced that's the camera I use for photo shoots

and I'll continue to let him think that because it's cute.

Overall,

we made good memories 

had lots of laughs

and apparently sang for a good

portion of the night.