Home for the Holidays II

I love the holiday season! This year holds many firsts for my husband and I. While we have been married for over a year, our first year of marriage was a whirlwind of traveling that didn't seem to end until a few weeks ago. Crazy and insane I know, but it made for a great first year! 

This year will be the first in our new home, our first Christmas tree together, our first time putting holiday lights up on our house, well you get the idea, many firsts. The day after Thanksgiving we put up our holiday lights and decorated our tree. I just love how our house feels!

Our Tree

My husband's mom brought over all of his childhood ornaments and together my husband and I went through them. He shared his special memories of each one before we put them on the tree together. 

The Stockings

I have not yet managed to get our stockings embroidered. That is on my to do list for this week. I am going to put our names on one side and our nicknames for one another on the reverse side. I think this is a really cute way to make them both traditional and uniquely special. 

The Hanukkah decorations have not gone up yet, but they will be coming shortly. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for anything really wonderful but I have yet to encounter much. I did find an absolutely beautiful candle sculpture that I plan on using for a menorah. Stay tuned for more holiday decorations!

I know I will always remember and cherish this holiday season with special fondness.

Beginning Our Traditions

Rituals and traditions enrich our lives and make them unique and special. This year will be our first year in our new home and the day after Thanksgiving my husband introduced me to a new tradition, one that I know I will cherish for many years to come. 

From this year forward, every day following Thanksgiving we will go out together and choose a special ornament for each other. My husband's only instruction was to look for something that reminded me of him as he would do the same and choose something special for me. What we chose may surprise you!

When I saw this ornament I knew that I had found the one for my sweet boy, a green tractor. There's a country song about a big green tractor that sparked his love for these objects. Ever since then, whenever I see one I think of him. This summer while in Italy we found a model of a vintage green tractor and it now sits in our living room. I knew this ornament would conjure up many wonderful memories and when my husband saw it I knew I had made the right choice! 

A Big Green Tractor for my Boy

As for what my husband saw that made him think of me...he could not have chosen a sweeter or more meaningful ornament. He chose a black London taxi cab, fashioned after the old style London cabs. You may be thinking this seems like an incredibly odd choice for me, but let me explain. My grandfather was my entire world and he passed away a little less than five years ago. Patrick and I met shortly after  and therefore they were never able to meet one another. Patrick has always known how special my Grampsie was and how much he meant to me and he has always made a concerted effort to include him and honor his presence in our lives together. 

My Grampsie brought an old London Cab over from London years ago. Our family still has it and it has long been a goal of mine to restore it and bring it back to its original glory. Having recently visited London my sweet boy explained that when he saw this it made him think of me and Grampsie. 

My London Cab

I feel truly blessed to have such an incredibly thoughtful husband and I look forward to beginning many other wonderful traditions of our very own :) 

Thanksgiving Inspiration!

I am far more confident in my ability to accessorize an outfit than I am in my ability to cook, let alone a turkey for the holidays. A friend shared this with me and I believe I've found my culinary guru! Mary Risley is both hilarious and inspiring. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh... and Good Luck with the Turkey!

A Table for the Ladies

Tomorrow evening I'm hosting a girls night at our house! It's going to be a casual evening with the girls but I wanted to do something fun for the table. I love candlelight, sparkles, and let's not forget bows so here is how I combined some of my favorite things...

The Table Theme

 Napkins folded into bows accented with sparkly napkin rings,

 mercury glass votives,  

pine cones for a seasonal touch, 

set against a plaid metallic linen. 

 Place Settings

Metallic plaid linen napkin, 

large white square plate,

simple silverware

The Table

Candlelight, bows, sparkles

 Little Touches

I love these mercury glass votives, these are from Pottery Barn but many retailers are now carrying them. Also, I used one my favorite silver bowls to display a gathering of pine cones from one of our trips to Lake Tahoe. I like the juxtaposition of the pine cones dark colors and rough texture to the delicate features of the rest of the table. I like to create contrast and depth and I think this is a great way to achieve both. 

Thanks and Giving

Thanksgiving is almost here and as I prepare to celebrate with my family I am reminded of how fortunate I am. One of the things I am most thankful for is my health. I became sick when I was 18 and I continue to struggle with health issues. There are good days and better days, never bad days. I believe we choose to see things and live either positively or negatively, and I choose to see and live the good. 

In the spirit of giving thanks, one cause that I have always admired and supported is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Their holiday Thanks and Giving campaign is a great way to give back this holiday season. Any store bearing this logo will make a donation to St. Jude's for selected products. Whenever possible I try to purchase these products. 

Yesterday evening I purchased these wonderful candles at Pottery Barn. They smell delicious and come in pretty mercury glass votives.  I use small candles in our kitchen and these will look great in front of the pictures I have on the counter. 

These candles are excellent gifts for the holiday's. I love being able to give gifts that have a deeper significance.  Every donation makes a difference and helps to spread awareness. 

Forever and Always, Part II

I love pictures. 

I love pictures that capture moments in time.

I love pictures that capture moments in time, forever suspending memories never to be forgotten. Memories and minutes to be cherished forever and always...

Here are a few of my most treasured images

A Fairytale

 My Dad and I

My Heroes

My momma and my Gran

My Grampsie's medals were woven into my bouquet and I carried him down the aisle with me

My love

Husband and Wife

I will always cherish and remember this moment

Forever and Always

I love pictures. 

I love pictures that capture moments in time.

I love pictures that capture moments in time, forever suspending memories never to be forgotten. Memories and minutes to be cherished forever and always...

Here are a few of my most treasured images

The Wonder Years

I've clearly loved fashion from a very early age and grasped the importance of accessorizing. Check out that purse and those shades.

One of my most sacred pictures. My Grampsie and me. He remains the quite gentle voice guiding my life and not a day goes by that I don't wish for a few more minutes of his unconditional love and grace. 

 Clowning Around! My sister and I in our handmade clown costumes for Halloween. 

My Grampsie was a pilot and from early on I loved anything having to do with flight. Gran and Gramps found NASA astronaut suits and we rocked them! 

Out in 10...

One of my best friends and I were able to connect for an impromptu dinner tonight! Only catch, I had just finished a long day and had taken a shower and thrown on some sweats. I didn't have time to spend hours getting ready so here is what I put together to get myself out the door in about 10 minutes...

Jewelry
I tend keep my jewelry either simple or I like to wear multiple pieces and layered them. Tonight I was in the mood to stack some of my favorites.

Michael Kors watch, tennis bracelet that was a wedding gift from my parents, David Yurman cuff bracelet, green beads, gold link bracelet with my initial from my sister.

All together

Handbag

Burberry Large Tote

Shoes

Black Suede Booties

(I changed the coloring so the details could be seen better, they are a deep black)

The Outfit

Black leggings, a black poncho top and a persimmon cashmere wrap
No makeup, just blow dried my hair and ran out the door!