Merry Christmas

Christmas 2015

December 28, 2015

This year, Christmas was very different for us, but it was very special. SR’s first Christmas was perfect. We were surrounded by loved ones and had so many exciting things happen. Maybe it was the magic of Christmas?

My precious little niece took her first steps to SR on Christmas Eve and almost brought me to tears. It was so sweet. On Christmas day, SR pulled up for the first time on my dad and then did it two more times that afternoon…we can’t get her to stop, now. Now for the real magic? SR also slept through the night for the first time since she was 2 months old. It was amazing. Ryan and I have forgotten what it was like to get a full night of sleep. It was amazing. We were very blessed this year with lots of family and delicious food and I couldn’t ask for more!

We woke up Christmas morning at my parent’s house and opened presents from Santa then ate a big breakfast and opened presents from my parents. After that we watched Christmas movies all day and played dominoes. I colored in my new coloring book (adult one, of course) and it was perfect.

How was your Christmas? Did you do anything special this year?

It’s the Holiday Season

December 23, 2015

I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve! The holiday season is upon us and we have a fun day planned starting off with Christmas with my in-laws and then going to see Christmas lights with my little sister! After that, we will be getting the kids in bed so that Santa can come visit them and put certain things together under the tree! 😉

Coat: c/o She In // Booties (Sold Out similar here) // Bag (similar) // Top // Leggings

It has felt very wintery the last few days…until today. It has been warm and rainy. I am super bummed because it is supposed to be around 80 degrees on Christmas Day. I guess that means no fire in the fireplace for us this year, but that happens more often than you know here in Alabama. I am so looking forward to the festivities over the next few days! I can’t wait to see the look on my children’s faces when they see what Santa brought them, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the new year! We are so blessed and continue to find joy and peace in Christ every day. What more can you ask for than that?

This week, my best friend had her baby girl and my cousin found out the gender of her twins! They are boy/girl wins! I can’t wait to meet these precious babies! I am so thankful for these huge gifts this holiday season.

What are you thankful for this holiday season? Do you have big plans tomorrow?

Last Minute Gift Ideas

December 22, 2015

If you’re anything like me this year, you may be doing a lot of last minute shopping. Thank goodness I am pretty much finished (finally), but I wanted to put a few things together for those of you who still have a few more things to get. I know I wouldn’t mind receiving any of these! A lot of them would make great stocking stuffers, too!

Alex and Ani Bangle // Kate Spade Notebook // Pom Pom Scarf // Moscow Mules // Cozy Socks // iphone case // beanie // Clarisonic // nail polish // lipstick

Have you finished your shopping?

Mad for Plaid Christmas Party

December 21, 2015

This weekend was filled with so many fun-filled Christmas memories. Saturday we decorated and threw our big annual Christmas party for our big (and still growing) family. It was so much fun seeing everyone and getting all of the cousins together. This year’s theme was “Mad for Plaid”and we all wore some form of plaid! We ate great food, watched football and enjoyed some much-needed family time.

Sunday we went to church and heard a wonderful Christmas message that really encouraged and inspired us. I saw my best friend who is having her baby tomorrow and go all caught up with her and we had so much fun talking baby!

Tonight we finally find out the gender of my cousin’s twins and we are so thrilled we can’t hardly stand it! My guess is that she is having one boy and one girl, but we will find out soon! This year, we have so much to be thankful for. It is always an encouragement to me when I see families who are struggling and are still so positive or friends who are very ill remaining faithful and content in their time of need or trials. It makes me realize that we are so blessed and have every reason to be praising God in this season. I hope that no matter what you are going through, or if your life is actually going very well right now, to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas, spread the good and bless someone this holiday season. Even if it is just with a little smile. You have no idea what a smile can do to brighten a person’s day. 🙂

Have you attended any holiday parties this year?

Things are Getting Christmas-y

December 18, 2015

While it’s no secret that things have been a little crazy over here since our move, we are getting very Christmas-y over here! Presents and officially started being wrapped, I’m 2 small gifts away from being through with my Christmas shopping (I hope), and we have been baking up a storm these last two weeks! I even took the kids to see Santa yesterday! Finally!

Why is Hamp not pictured you ask? Well, this Santa (or should I say “Ho Ho”?) loving boy was so excited to wear his special Christmas outfit, and cowboy boots to meet the big man himself! He talked about it the whole way to Bass Pro and he was giggling while we waited in line. When it was our turn to sit in Santa’s lap, one of us freaked out and started screaming and crying. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone but…

SR loved Santa! He held her for a long time. She stared at him and grabbed his beard a few times (bless him) and he just giggled and giggled. Santa told us all about his 10 month old granddaughter and how much SR reminded him of her. Who knew Santa had grandchildren? Not I!

Hamp did get really excited to take his picture with the snowman. I love how cute Bass Pro shop always sets up their “North Pole” for the kids. It is seriously adorable. We like to go there for Santa because they give you a free picture and allow you to take your own. I love that!

Hamp and SR helped me hang their new ornaments for this year (from Pottery Barn Kids) and it was pretty precious. Tonight we are getting ready for our family’s big Christmas party happening tomorrow! As always, I’ll be sure to Snapchat the event, so follow me (logancan)! Have a great weekend and I hope you get all of your shopping done!

Do you have any holiday events this weekend?

Holiday Gift Guide: Baby’s First Christmas

December 17, 2015

This is SR’s first Christmas. I learned with my son that the first year is full of exciting firsts. First tooth, first foods, first steps, first holidays. It is all so exciting and we all swoon over every little accomplishment. This year, things are very different for us because we are living at my parent’s house, but I want to make sure that we still do all of the special things with SR that we did with H so, I did what I do best and made a checklist!

-Get baby’s picture made with Santa

-Buy baby a special gift

-Buy her first Christmas ornament

-Buy baby a Christmas outfit

-Buy her some “My first Christmas” gear (We received this adorable bib c/o from Sew Cute In Carolina on Etsy)

-Pick out cute Christmas PJ’s

-Read her Twas’ the Night Before Christmas

-Bundle her up and take her to play in the snow (if you’re lucky enough to have any)

Here are a few items I love for Baby’s first Christmas:

Bib // Ornament // Crochet Santa Set // Christmas Bow // Onesie // Pacifier

What would you add to your baby’s first Christmas checklist?

A Merry Christmas in Tulle

December 16, 2015

Merry Tops: Sweet Sprouts // Tulle Skirts: c/o My Fab Boutique // Heels: Sole Society // SR’s shoes: My baby shoes

Guys, I’ve been wanting a tulle skirt for…ever? Blame it on my ballet background, but I’ve always had a fascination with tulle and all things fluffy, feminine and elegant. When I found My Fab Boutique’s skirts on Etsy and saw that they also made them in baby sizes, I died. I love matching SR! It is so much fun and so sweet to me! I feel like she is already a little mini me and I am having way too much fun dressing her. She is definitely turning into quite the little diva, but a really sweet little diva. She is an angel baby! Despite her throwing up every 5 seconds and having every reason in the world to be upset and fussy, she is still always smiling and that is the biggest encouragement to me.

This is SR’s first Christmas! I have been trying to make this the most special Christmas for my kids despite not being in our own house. We are finally getting settled in at my parent’s and having so much fun. The kids are absolutely loving being with their cousins and they are all playing and getting along so well together. You never know with a two and three year old how they will do from day to day, but it has been surprisingly easy and they have done great!

This weekend is our big family Christmas party and this year’s theme is – A Plaid Christmas – which is right up my alley! You guys know how much I LOVE plaid! Hince our “Merry” tops! I can’t wait to see everyone! Also, we are less than a week away from finding out the gender of my cousin’s twins, so I am beyond excited about that! I’m ready to start shopping for those little nuggets!

Matching with SR in tulle was so much fun and I know we will get a lot of wear out of these fun skirts! Despite the wind the other day, we had a lot of fun twirling on the golf course behind my parent’s house and I mean, who can resist a baby in tulle? Not me!

Do you like to match your kiddos? Are you attending any holiday parties this weekend?

Christmas Traditions + Peppermint OREO Cookie Ball Pops

December 15, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OreoCookieBalls #CollectiveBias

Family holiday traditions are so important I remember after Ryan and I got married, we talked a lot about establishing traditions for our family because we were being pulled in so many directions from both of our families. I think we attended over 10 Christmas gatherings between our two families and a work and church party. It was nuts. It left very little time for our own Christmas celebrations, so we talked heavily about it that year and decided to make a list of traditions that we will make time for every year no matter what. These have become especially important since having our babies.

Christmas Traditions Every Family Should Have:

-Decorating the Christmas Tree together

-Driving around town to look at Christmas lights

-Seeing Santa Claus

-Baking Sweet Treats

This year, We chose to make our own rendition of the OREO Cookie Balls! We ran out to Walmart to purchase our ingredients and made Peppermint OREO Cookie Ball Pops and a few Peppermint OREO Cookie Balls. They were delicious! My favorite part was the memories we made in the kitchen together. My son was covered in melted chocolate and my husband enjoyed eating them once they were made. This recipe is so easy to make! The only tip I have is that if you choose to use peppermint sticks instead of regular sucker or cake pop sticks, dip the OREO Cookie Balls once in your white chocolate and then once they cool, insert the peppermint stick before dipping them a second time. This gives them more coverage which is best when dipping anything dark into white chocolate. It also held the peppermint sticks better (because they are so thick) if they were already dipped once.

Ingredients:
-1 pkg (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
-36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups)
-4 pkg. (4 oz. each) semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted (I used vanilla almond bark)

Optional Ingredients:
-1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
-Peppermint Sticks
Make it!
-MIX cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.
-SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min. Dip balls in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.
-CUSTOMIZE it with your own ingredient additions or decorative skills.
-REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Check out more delicious holiday OREO Cookie Ball recipes here!

How to Spread Christmas Cheer + Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

December 14, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareTheHoliday #CollectiveBias

The holiday season is such a special and fun time for families. It is so easy to get caught up in absolutely spoiling your children and loved ones this time of year, but I think it is very important to focus on other people and their needs as well. For some, the holiday may not be so warm and fuzzy and Hallmark movies and baking cookies to wrap up in your Rubbermaid TakeAlongs. It is a very painful time for many.

I know several people who have lost children during the holidays, lost a parent, gone through a divorce, lost their job, etc. It can be a very tough time. To me, life is about focusing on other people more than ourselves. Yes, it is important to take care of ourselves first so we can care for ohers, but imagine how wonderful this world would be if everyone focused a little bit more of their time and energy on other people.

A couple of weeks ago at my church, our song-leader challenged us to make someone’s day by doing a random act of kindness. My mom had actually talked to me about this very thing several days prior and we had already made up in our minds that we would do this in our town. Here are a few ways to brighten someone’s day and spread Christmas cheer this holiday season:

Pay for someone’s meal

Deliver a goodie basket

Pull up someone’s trash can

Visit an old people home

Take a meal to someone who is sick

Open a door

Let someone go before you in line

Write someone a hand written letter

Drop a $5 dollar bill on the sidewalk or a shopping mall… just because

Bake a sweet treat and deliver it to friends and family

This past week, I thought I would bake my grandma’s favorite “candy” which is technically her yummy chocolate covered peanut butter balls recipe. They are a family favorite and I can’t get enough of them. I love making her recipes and learning how to cook and bake like her because to me, she is the best. After I ran to Walmart to grab my ingredients and Rubbermaid TakeAlongs, I baked a batch of these delicious treats (and ate one), I placed them in pretty red and green Rubbermaid TakeAlongs and put a big bow on top. I delivered them to a family friend and a family member who is struggling this season. It definitely brightened their day and it really made me so happy!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 box powdered sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter
Chocolate flavored almond bark

Directions:
Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer while you melt the almond bark. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and dip them into the almond bark. Place them on wax paper to dry. They dry very quickly.

I absolutely love Rubbermaid TakeAlongs because they come in Holiday, red and green prints and are microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe! They also feature Quik Clik Seal™ technology that prevents spills and leaks when transporting food. Rubbermaid has been making their food storage containers for 80 years now, and they have really helped me make my holidays a little bit easier. I saved a couple of Rubbermaid TakeAlongs for myself so that I can have them on hand for holiday leftovers or if I get the urge to bake more treats for someone else.

Be sure to take advantage of Rubbermaid’s special Ibotta $1 Off Of Any 2 Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Products rebate offer exclusive to Walmart shoppers.

What would you put in your Rubbermaid TakeAlong? How do you plan to help brighten someone’s day this holiday season?

Christmas Traditions + Our Christmas Card

December 11, 2015

In my opinion, Christmas traditions are what make the holiday so special. There is something in the ritual and the things we can always count on that make us look forward to these events. We have lots of traditions in my family. We decorate the tree as a family. We read Twas’ the Night Before Christmas and go look at Christmas lights every Christmas eve with my sister. We bake and decorate Christmas cookies ever year with my in-laws. The list goes on and on. These things are always so special and so much fun. They are the things I look most forward to every holiday season.

Another special tradition we do as a family is send out Christmas cards to our family and friends to let them know we are thinking about them during this special time of year. It always makes my day to receive Christmas cards in the mail, so my hope is that our cards will brighten someone else’s day as well. It is so nice to know that you are thought of.

This year, we had family pictures taken at a Christmas tree farm which was a first for us. I couldn’t have been more happy with the way they turned out. I knew immediately after seeing them that I needed to pick out a beautiful card to place our photo on this year. It was a no-brainer for me because I had just been perusing Minted’s holiday cards and fell in love with so many of them. There are so many choices and they are all beautiful. The one we chose definitely suited us and our photo, I think, but I also loved this one and this one. They were close second and third options. Now through December 14th, Minted’s holiday cards are 15% off $150+ and 10% off $100+!

I received our cards in the mail earlier this week and was so excited and pleased with the quality of the cards and the envelops. Envelop thickness is a big deal to me. Who wants a beautiful card with a flimsy envelop? Not me. I definitely notice those little details and I was very proud to send these cards out to our friends and family! They also arrived very quickly, so if you are late ordering your holiday cards this year, definitely check out Minted!

Have you ordered your Christmas cards yet?