Wish List: Christmas Decoration

Warning: Hubs, if you're opening this... please close now. That is unless you want to buy me some or all of these items. 

Last year, I fell in love with all of the Pottery Barn Christmas ornaments & decorations. Loved it so much that, I told my husband that we needed a second tree, primarily because I wanted to buy every single thing from PB. Go ahead, ask me if I did just that... YUP! I did! 

So this year, although I am not going to buy an entire new ornament collection, that doesn't mean that I don't have an on-going wish list. 

Here are some things I that I need in order to decorate... 

                             

 So what kind of things are on your Christmas decor wish list? 

Sources: Pottery Barn 

Thankful For- Part III

In just a few days it'll be Thanksgiving- turkey, family, stuffing, & apple pies oh-my!! For the last 10+ years, my husband and I go to both families houses. So you know what that means- turkey overload. 

Normally by about noon, my husband is ready for a nap. I on the other hand would rather be spending time with family & eat one meal. 

So here are more things that I am thankful- all year round, not just Thanksgiving...

FIFTEEN: Sick Days/Company Holidays/Vacation/Work from Home. I am so grateful that I work for a company that offers 5 sicks days, 10 company holidays, and 10 vacation days. And we have the opportunity to work from home, if and when we need to. 

I freaking love it because we all know that you go to bed healthy & wake up sick as a dog the next day, when you least expect it. And everyone needs a break from the 5-day work week every once & awhile. 

SIXTEEN: My green thumb. Well, people say if you can keep a plant & pet alive, then you're ready for a baby. Well by the looks of my plants... I can definitely keep them flourishing, that's for sure. 

My Dad, my whole life had plants everywhere- indoors and outdoors. He loved his plants! He would always tell me before we got off the phone, that he was going to go water his 40+ plants. He could make plants grow that no one else could. So it is pretty awesome that I have been able to successfully grow 5 of his plants. He is hopefully looking down on me & his plants- thinking "good job sweet pea"! 

SEVENTEEN: Starbucks. Two words: Chai Tea. It helps me get through work days, or any day for that matter. And well, I just love everything about it. 

EIGHTEEN: Target. I am thankful that Target has so many nice, affordable decorative items for our house. What I love even more is when I see a cute furry stool at Anthropology for $280 and then I find a similar one at Target for $50- score! And it provides me a gazillion frames to help me with my frame addiction. Also according to my husband, it is my home away from home & I am okay with that. 

NINETEEN: Cards to my Dad. The other day I was going through some of my Dads stuff & I found a batch of cards that I made for him. Unfortunately, he was only able to open one card from the batch before he died. It started with "I love you more than you'll ever know...". If there is something from this to be grateful for, it is that, that was the last thing my Dad ever read. 

TWENTY: I am thankful for the "zoo" that I call my backyard. No need for an alarm because our neighborhood geese will wake you. And we also have three white ducks (that our neighbor bought for his 9 yr old child-- genious!) We also have several different types Herons, which he has named "Mr. Miyagi".
It is so peaceful out there & although many of the birds are loud & annoying-- it is so nice to watch them out there loving life.

TWENTY-ONE: Cooler weather. Please stay awhile... although I know you won't. 

Almost time for Thanksgiving... :)

25 Days of Christmas Bucket List

There are so many fun, festive things to do for the holidays so what better way to make sure I do it all, then by making, yet another, bucket list. 

1. Host an Ugly Sweater Christmas party 

2. Decorate every.single. room in our house with festive Christmas decor 

3. Send Christmas cards to all my sweet loved ones 

4. Buy a real Christmas tree 

5. Make yummy, smell-good cinnamon ornaments

6. Donate canned/boxed food & clothes to a local food bank 

7.  Drink hot chocolate with tons of marshmallows, while looking at Christmas lights 

8. Make s'mores on a stick (hubby's favorite treat)

9.  Watch Home Alone & Home Alone 2 (ya filthy animal)

10.  Always wear festive nail polish (glitzerland galore)

11. Breakfast brunch on Christmas morning 

12. Watch The Griswolds Christmas Vacation & love it for the hundredth time

13. Put reindeer antlers on my truck & giggle at all the awkward stares from people 

14. Make Christmas goody bags for my co-workers 

15. Make gluten free gingerbread cookies 

16. Hang & stuff stockings

17. Take a night stroll through downtown St. Augustine 

18. Put up Christmas tree #2 in the loft 

19. Buy a new Christmas wreath 

20. Watch Elf 

21. Walk in the Festival of Lights 5k

22. Kiss my love under a mistletoe 

23. Host a cookie exchange (yum!)

24. Make a yummy Christmas chex-mix snack 

25. Be thankful for another fun holiday season with my family 

So, what festive things do you have on your Christmas Bucket List? 

Sources: Pinterest

Lovely & Oh-So-Pinteresting- Takes Thanksgiving

If you've been following me on Pinterest (if you're not, you should), then you know that I have been giving you an overload of wonderful Thanksgiving things. 

 I am obsessed with the white pumpkins, caramel apples, apple pies, apple cider... and the list goes on. 

This year we are having Thanksgiving at my moms, so I have been helping her find pretty Thanksgiving tabletops. I am loving the tabletops that have a personal touch to it, blue/green gourds & tons of white pumpkins. 

For the name tags & place mates, we are using white pumpkins (shocker!) and we're going to make place mates, so everyone can write down that they are thankful for. 

And of course I am pinning mounds & mounds of food for Thanksgiving Day (you're welcome). This year is going to be a little hard for me because I am gluten free. So I have to be bring my own goodies, which is fine because I have found some yummy things. 

Apple Pie 

Caramel Apples 

Pumpkin Pies 

Pumpkin Crispies 

So if this post doesn't make you want Thanksgiving to be here right now... well then, you're crazy !! 

Sources: Pinterest

Thankful For- Part II

This time of year makes me so happy... holidays are so great! It's truly all about being with family & being thankful for everything you've got.

Here are another weeks worth of things that I am thankful for... 

EIGHT: Home. Our 1st home together. I am thankful that my husband and I have a place that we can call ours. A home that we can start a family in. A place to make memories & be together. A home we can be proud of, since we have worked so hard to have it. To enjoy and entertain family & friends. And of course plenty of space that we I can decorate & make our own. 

NINE: My SUV. Black Beauty. I am so thankful & proud of myself that I was able to buy a brand new vehicle on my own. And even more thankful that I can afford the outrageous car payments each & every month. A vehicle that has plenty of space for when our family expands some day. 

TEN: My sistOR. Satan. I am thankful that  we have a bond that no-one can break. She has so many dreams & goals, all of which she continuously works toward achieving. She is a risk-taker, a loyal friend, a Marine, an Officer & so much more... To say that I am proud of her would be a complete understatement. It makes me so happy that when there are happy times, sad times, fun times, and crazy times in life, I have a sister that I can count on. And that makes me truly thankful!

ELEVEN: My Auntie Kathy. I am thankful to have such a wonderful, caring aunt. Always there to talk, gives countless health  advise & tips (when I am freaking out). Constantly opening her heart & her home to anyone; making them feel like it is their own. Works so hard, every week & rarely complains. Makes any sacrifices for her family because she loves hard & cares. She is fun to be around, trustworthy, and I am so grateful for her in my life.

TWELVE: MaryAnn. Worlds kindest & most welcoming step-mom. I am thankful for her in so many ways. Mostly because she was not only a great, loving wife to my Dad, she was also a caregiver to my Dad in his weakest moments. She put herself second when my Dad was sick. A bit of weight was lifted knowing she was with him. She loved my Dad on his good days & his bad days. Stuck by his side until the very end, always making sure that things were done the way my Dad would've liked. She has welcomed my sister & I like we were her own. She is always there for me. And I am grateful for our daily "touch base" texts every single day. My Dad may not be here to meet his grandbabies someday, but I know she will love enough for the both of them.

THIRTEEN: Gluten Free Food. My saving grace. Removing this from my diet has relieved so much pain & suffering that I once had. Being gluten free is SO hard, so trust me when I say that I am so extremely thankful for gluten free foods. More restaurants and grocery stores are carrying GF products, which makes me oh-so-happy!

FOURTEEN: I am so thankful to all of the different kinds of doctors & nurses that helped my Dad try & get better & to be free of cancer. When my Dad passed away, they were pretty sure that the throat cancer had gone away; due to intensive treatment, wonderful smart doctors, & caring nurses.
I am thankful that they did everything in their power to try & cure him, keep him calm, reduce his pain, & to respect his wishes until the very end. It takes a true, hard-working, & dedicated person to be in the medical field & I truly admire each and every one of them.

Just a little over a week until Thanksgiving... I cannot wait to be with family & have some yummy food. 

Gallery Walls Galore

I am back at it with the gallery walls... with my husband lurking around every corner saying "what the hell is up with you & all these damn frames?". I literally should be forbidden to go down the picture frame isle at Target. It is bad news (for hubby!!). 

So far I have 3 walls going with beautiful wall galleries. They are all very different, which is what I like. 

Downstairs/ Livingroom Gallery Wall- I wanted to do black frames with white matting & all black & whites photos & prints. And to spruce it up, I made some white, ivory, and gold frame garland. I love the way it turned out. It really filled up the blank, white, boring wall above our couch. 

Bedroom Gallery Wall: At one of my weekly Target shopping trips, down the glorious frame isle, I found these awesome rustic light wood frames with ivory matting. I grabbed as many as my arms could hold & let my mind go running. I originally had no clue where I was going to out them... then I decided our bedroom would be the best spot. I filled some of the frames with photos & one of the frames I made a 3d print. I am planning on getting 2 or 3 more to complete the wall, but here it is so far... I love it! 

Loft Gallery Wall: This one took forever. The wall is so freaking big, that I really didnt know what to do. I did know that I wanted a variety of matted frames. And lots of them ! I wanted to put some photos & awesome prints up. 

So if you remember it started horribly like this... 

So wrong, on so many levels. My first thought, buy more frames. Not a problem- I am a PRO. 

So I literally bought about 10 more frames, order photos & prints.... & put my husband to work (He was thrilled!!!). A few broken frames, buckets of sweat & tears, and a few cuss words later... we have this beautiful wall of goodness.

 I love it & walk in the loft 10 times a day to stare at it. As a matter of fact, I was in there tonight, contemplating adding a few more.

So what do you think ? Am I gallery wall crazy or what!

Sources:
jandpaper
ssprintshop

Thankful For- Part 1

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is so close, which means Christmas is almost here & the year is almost over. Wow! 

Lately, on facebook,  I've been seeing all these daily posts of what people are thankful for. Last year, I totally missed out on this & this year I am 2 weeks behind. I figure I would play catch up with a post... 

A week worth of things to be thankful for... 

ONE: There are lots of things I am thankful for, but I am most grateful for the closeness of my family. I know no matter what happens in life, my family has my back. We love spending time with each other, can always be ourselves, and have a good time. 

TWO: My mom. She is my entire world. My best friend. She has been there for me more than anyone. She respects my decisions, good & bad. When I am sick, she comforts. When I am bitchy (which is often), she puts up with me. When I'm sad & upset & ready to give up, she encourages me & lifts my spirits. She would & has given me anything & everything I have ever wanted. I am thankful for our texts & calls everyday. She understands me, when most dont. She has taught me how to be hard working, how to love hard, and what a great friend & mother should be. I am beyond thankful for her. 

THREE: My husband. My high school sweetheart. My polar opposite soulmate. I am so grateful for the good times, bad times, & everything in between. I am so thankful for the relationship, marriage, & life he & I have built together. When I am stressed (which is always, about everything), he calms me down. I can always depend on him to give me something to clean, which I bitch about.. but wouldn't know what to do without the messes. He makes me try & do things I normally wouldn't do. He is the most hardworking man I know & rarely complains. He is carefree & lives life day-by-day, which I admire. I am thankful that he stands by my side, on my good days & bad days. I am thankful that I get to call him "my husband". And even more thankful that, one day, he will be the father of my children. 

FOUR: My education. Although it took, what feels to be an eternity to finish. . I am grateful that I was able to go to college. I am thankful, everyday, that my mom was kind & generous enough to pay for college; because of her I graduated with a degree & no student loan debt. College taught me how to work hard for what you want & never give up. 

FIVE: My job. To say that I am thankful for this, is an understatement. My job provides me the life I have. Warm water, electricity, a car, a home, food, health insurance, things I need, want, & love. It taught me to work well with others, to have an infinite amount of patience, & to try & be a step ahead of the rest. 

SIX: My Grandpa. My organization twin. The one I look up to. He loves his family more than life itself. He is funny & always has a story to tell. His face lights up when all his kids & grandchildren are in the room. He has helped me out in times of need & i am forever grateful for that. He is a good listener & a smart advice giver. He has shown me how a "real" man should treat his family & no-one will compare to him. I can count on him for anything. 

 SEVEN: My Dad. My angel. The first man to ever love me. I am thankful that my Dad moved to Florida. I am thankful that God heard my prayers & my begging & pleading for a little more time with my Dad. I am thankful that I got to have a cookout with my Dad for Memorial Day.I am thankful I got to sing my Dads last Happy Birthday & watch him blow out his last set of candles. I am thankful I could spend Easter with my Dad & make him his last Easter basket of snacks. I won't forget our last 4th of July together, as we watched fireworks in the rain. I am thankful for our game shows we watched & the last few dinners we had together. I am forever grateful that I forgave him for the past & moved on with our future. I am thankful that I was there when he took his last breath, to tell him that I loved him & how truly grateful I was for him. And I am most thankful..  because I now have an angel to watch over me forever & ever. 

Can't wait to share my next seven in a few days. 

So what are you most thankful for ???