Easter Sunday

I suppose this can be a What We Wore: Easter Edition....although really its just an Easter post...which is good b/c I feel torn on WIW wednesdays because its a bit self focused (although I like knowing that I can come up with atleast one post each week even while I am so busy!)

I spent Easter in Church Hill.  At the time we made plans, my parents were moving into a new condo in Jackson and I didn't know if they would be at the Brookhaven house or Jackson condo for the holiday and no one else was coming in town (that I knew of) - plus there was a baby shower and wedding in Church Hill/Natchez that evening so we decided to spend the whole weekend with Dave's family.  Last minute, my grandparents and aunt and uncle came to town but I still stayed in Church Hill because that was our original plan. And although I missed my family, I am glad I did.  It was so much more restful.  I am grateful that our families live a little over an hour apart because we can and will continue to be able to see both families every holiday, but travelling between houses for holidays is exhausting so its nice when we can have an entire weekend in one place. I can definitely see the plus of just alternating some holidays....maybe Easter will be one of those!  I think that figuring out holidays will be one of the most difficult things for Dave and me-- such a blessing to both come from closeknit families, but it does create problems when planning things out!

I realized on Good Friday that I had been so busy with wedding planning, work, etc that I had failed to get an Easter dress-- showers, engagement party, rehearsal dresses? YES.  Easter - not so much. In Jackson, I would have just worn an older dress, BUT Church Hill is old school and Easter Sunday gets your Sunday Best which includes a new dress.... I didn't want to wear a dress I was saving for another event so I quickly ran to LOFT because they were having a 40 percent off sale.  They were sold out of my size but called the other LOFT in town so I ran over there to pick up my dress from hold.  All that to say, Good Friday shopping is as awful as day before Christmas shopping (although not as bad as day after Christmas)  The roads were packed, the stores crowded, stressful.  But success, I was able to find a dress and still get packed and to Church Hill literally 2 minutes before Good Friday Service!  LESSON LEARNED: Easter shop ahead of time!

It was a fun weekend -- seeing Dave's family, celebrating a sweet baby on the way and attending a wedding, relaxing, and of course, a good SOUTHERN EASTER DINNER.

We attended a wedding at Longwood Plantation Saturday.  It is an old southern mansion that was never finished (on the inside).  In the middle of building it, the Civil War broke out and afterwards, and afterwards, the house was never finished.  The first floor is decorated but the second floor is not -- all that exists is the bricks-- which actually makes it look really neat (different from every other southern plantation you can tour).  Also, its an octagonal house.  The food was on the bottom level and the band and dancing and drinks were on the second floor.

Dress: from a store on the Square in Oxford, MS a few years ago

Shoes: Red wedges from Judy's

Sweater: Gap

Earrings: Simple Joys

Here is my sweet guy and me Easter Sunday...

Dress: LOFT (SALE!!)

Necklace: Blue Door Boutique

Belt: Banana Republic

Shoes: Madden Girl (you can see them in the next picture)

DAVE:

Suit, Shirt, Tie: BELK (sale)

***This is his interview suit we bought a few weeks ago. Seriously, doesn't he look adorable?  Usually he is in student attire, so I love when he dresses up!***

With Dave's Family on Easter (minus his brother in law Conor who could not come due to work on Saturday) on Easter Sunday..... (Clearly I look more like his sisters than my own, ha - atleast in coloring and hair color) 

Possibly the BEST part of the Weekend was Sunday afternoon in Jackson.  We left after Easter lunch and got back around 3/3:30...  I packed a few boxes, did some laundry, made soup and sandwiches for dinner and we watched TV on a rainy lazy afternoon.  SO RARE and MUCH NEEDED!

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter weekend full of friends and family.  Certainly Easter can be celebrated alone --- the empty tomb is just as amazing, with or without others -- but it is good to rejoice with other believers and enjoy the blessing of eachother!

Picture Post: Valentines

Yesterday I had a fro-yo lunch date with this hunk.....

and had beautiful flowers delivered to work...

and made a yummy cake...

and had dinner cooked by a sweet man...

and most importantly, spent the day with this cute man....

***2013***

I hope your NYE and 2013 is filled with.......

A LOT OF TIME WITH FAMILY...

SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS...

LOTS OF PRAYER...

FUN TRAVELS...

LOTS OF DESSERTS...

A FEW GLASSES OF WINE...

MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE OF THIS.....



Ice Skating FUN

Last Night we went to a Hospital party at the Skate Park with my Dad, Ansley and Blaise.  It was a fun time, although 30 min max skating for me-- none of us were very good at it except for Blaise.  We don't ice skate much here in MS as you can imagine!

Here are some pics at the party...

We went down the ice slide......

We attempted to skate....

It was a fun FREE family outing!

12 cheap Christmas date nights

1. Cocoa and a Christmas movie, snuggling on the couch

2. Ice skating!

3. Decorating a Gingerbread house (10 dollars for a premade house at walmart, plus a few extra packs of candy!)

4. baking holiday cookies!

5. Local Christmas play (this one is a little more expensive!)

6. Make some cocoa, hop in your car and tour the Christmas lights.

7. Take advantage of the Free Christmas Cantatas at local churches

8. Go to the Bass Pro Shop (or anywhere else with a free santa) and take a picture with santa!)

9. Deliver gifts or go shopping while listening to Christmas music and enjoying a holiday milkshake or holiday coffee!

10. Take advantage of the fun holiday events your town offers - a singing christmas tree, an outdoor movie night, etc.

11. Pick out a tree and decorate it!

12. Take a day or night where each of you introduces the other to a family tradition -- special holiday breakfast food? Special cookies? a great cider recipe? a certain book you always read?

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

Today I am linking up with Kelly's Korner to show you how young poor 20somethings do Christmas decorations.  I have a few nicer pieces (like some adorable ornaments and a fabulous wreath!) but a lot of hand me downs and cheap dollar tree/walmart/target decorations.  I think I am going to invest in some day after Christmas decorations for next year.... thats often times where I find a few nice pieces!

The thing is, I have already hosted two Christmas get togethers and my roomie is hosting one next week, people always tell us our Christmas decorations are so festive -- which goes to show you that you can make your home feel cheery without having a lot of money.  I can't wait til the day I can afford fancier Christmas decorations -- BUT until then, my tips are: (1) walmart, dollar tree, target are your friends; (2) buy a few cute pieces from nicer stores and mix them in with your cheaper decorations; and (3) accept all handmedowns.

If you can only invest in 3 decorations: decorate a tree, buy a wreath and decorate your mantle.  These are the most bang for your buck!

I do have a fairly big collection of trees, santas, and snowmen...a few are from cute giftshops and a few are cheap ones from walmart etc all mixed in together!

I love this little candle holder... (a half off Christmas Eve purchase from a local gift shop!)

My Auburn tree - I think the crooked star is fitting for this season!

Cheap Tinsel from Dollar Tree mixed with my Christmas Village!

My roomate bought these sparkly bells and we hung them from the (ugly) light fixture!

This is by far, my favorite part of our holiday decorations -- my friend painted me that picture and we combined our Christmas trinkets and some hand me down stockings with lights to make a fairly substantial mantle for our little rental house.  Aren't those tinsel trees adorable? You can buy fancy ones for 10-20 bucks a pieces but mine were $1 each at dollar tree!

Our tree....yes, it is Charlie Brown-ish but it was 15 dollars on sale prelit!  Next year I want to buy a real tree but I knew that having a real one this year was near impossible because I (and my roomies) am gone so much and didn't know if I would water it enough!

An old tree from my mom that she used to put on our porch, I topped it off with a bow and some old school big colored lights for a fun little tree in our living room!

12 Favorite Family Holiday Traditions

Continuing with me "12 days of Christmas" series and linking up to Kelly's Korner's Family Traditions today, here are some of my favorite family traditions....some of these traditions aren't as strong anymore since we don't all live at home, but these are the memories I loved growing up and I will likely pass on many of them to my kids...  I seriously wish every single person in the world could experiance Christmas at my house, it truly is the most wonderful time of year.  My mom is like a Christmas guru and had a good balance of fun traditions and a focus on the real reason for Christmas.

(I left out the obvious ones like Christmas Eve Service and Communion, opening gifts, reading the Christmas story, cookies for Santa, etc...because these are traditions almost everyone!)

(1) Decorating the Tree Traditions

Decorating the tree at our house involved Christmas music, cookies and cocoa/cider! It was always an event! Our special "decorating" cookies were really just peanut butter with chocolate kisses, but at that time, I thought they were very unique and special cookies we usually got at Christmas, particularly when decorating the tree!

(2) New ornaments each year.

Everyone gets a new ornament each year and we each get to look back and see our past year's ornaments and hobbies or interests (soccer, ballet, cheerleading, college football). We used to get the dough ornaments but now we go to Calloways a couple days before Christmas when the ornaments are half off.  Last year, my whole fam couldn't go so Marley and I went and bought us all ornaments. We took our job seriouly, no lie -- it took an hour to pick everyone's ornaments out.  Mine was special yet silly, but that will have to be discussed in another post.

(3) Radko Ornaments, Nutcrackers and other holiday collections

About 10 years ago, my mom, Marley and I started collecting Radko glass ornaments - one a year. Now Ansley is joining in!

My dad has collected nutcrackers for years and we have dozens that go up at Christmas!

(4) Special holiday plates-- one set for brunch/christmas eve  and one for dinner!

(5) gingerbread house decorating

We loved decorating gingerbread houses and did it every year!

When I was little, mom would often make the graham cracker houses and have our friends over for a decorating party....and by little, I mean as recently as my senior year of high school :)

(6) A week of movies after Christmas.

So many movies come out the week of Christmas.  Since we were out of school or home for college during those couple weeks before/after Christmas, our family went to see a lot of movies together, always a treat.  Sometimes we saw a matinee and an evening movie!

(7) One gift at a time and the gift "god"/dictator

Some families dive into their gifts, and although there is nothing wrong with it, I love how we go youngest to oldest, each opening one gift at a time. We all grab coffee and cocoa and cinnamon rolls and settle into the den for presents.  This way I get to see my sister open her gift I bought her and she gets to see me open my bracelet I want, etc etc.... Christmas takes awhile as we stop often to get more cofffee, clean up paper and ooh and ahh over someone else's gifts...but as my mom says, Christmas comes once a year, so why not relish in it?  Also watching eachother open gifts taught us the value of giving, not just getting, gifts.  Even as a kid, I can remember being so excited to get each member of my family a gift!

We used to call marley the present "god", but that could sound well, bad, so we call her the dictator now.  She has usually helped mom wrap a lot of gifts-- and the gifts are in the living room under the other tree (we have two trees) so she will pick out everyone's gift each round...and she usually has an idea about which gift we should open next.  My brother in law jokingly pointed out she was like a gift god/dictator on his first Christmas with us.  :) We may tease her about being the one in control of gift distribution, but she does a good job and no one else wants to volunteer for the job!

(8)  Christmas eve PJ's

Every Christmas eve, we open our pajamas to wear for Christmas morning. When I was little, they were holiday themed and matched the other kids.  Now, they are just warm pajamas for winter.  I think this is one holiday tradition I will change a bit for my kids -- I will give them pjs at the beginning of Christmas season or advent so that they can wear their pj's all december!



Christmas Eve, late 80s??


P.S. You know you are southern when you are not allowed downstairs to open gifts Christmas morning until your teeth are brushed, face washed and a hairbow is in your hair!

(9) Christmas light tour.

We always go look at Christmas lights...when I was little, we would bundle up in our pj's one night in december and take cocoa with us.

(10) Baby Jesus

Baby Jesus did not go into the manger until Christmas Eve....I think this was probably my earliest picture of Advent: the whole creche set up without the baby, waiting on Jesus' arrival!

(11)  Game night

Recently we have started an annual game night with two families that we are close to here in my parents hometown.  It is always a blast.

(12) Sleeping in the same room.

Marley and I started this tradition by default: we shared a room.  As we got older, we would sleep in the kids rooms with them, eagerly awaiting Christmas.  All 4 kids in one bedroom!!  I loved this :)


WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS?

Fa La La La La

12 ways to Celebrate Christmas as a Single

I am starting a new 12 days of Christmas series: posts on Christmas (motivated of course by hearing the song on the radio yesterday).  I thought it would be a fun theme to carry out.  First topic: 12 ways to enjoy and celebrate Christmas a Single.

(1) Read an Advent Devotional or celebrate Advent in some way!

Celebrate Advent.  Spend time praying, waiting expectantly on the Lord and reading through an advent calendar.  I bought a small one on sale for 1.00 (one of those tiny paper checkbook sized devos) at Lifeway Christian bookstore.  I also bought "The Purpose Driven Christmas".  Here is John Piper's daily devo (I am a few days behind and need to catch up!)   Celebrate the coming of the Lord, both two centuries ago, in the future and daily in our lives! (IF IT DOESN'T DOWNLOAD, EMAIL ME AND I WILL EMAIL YOU THIS EBOOK BY PIPER)

(2) Get your shopping done early - and make it a fun day!

Shop early so you can spend your last couple weeks before Christmas going to parties, with family, watching movies, baking!  And make it fun -- meet another girl for shopping and post shopping drinks!  Make sure to stop for coffee during your shopping excursion! This is a recommendation for all women, not just single ladies!  Shopping usually starts out as fun for me but gets old quickly - make it a girls days and enjoy the small blessings while doing so like warm seasonal coffee, Christmas music and lights!  This year, I can't do this because of the 7 days a week working schedule, but I do really think that if you shop early and make it fun and not stressful, you can enjoy your holiday more! (PS, I am practically finished shopping, I just didn't get to make it a fun holiday event this year!  But atleast I am done early!)

(3) Go to parties

SERIOUSLY, this is the best part about being young and childless...I don't have to think about if I can go to a party this weekend or if I have to find a babysitter, go to a pre-k Christmas program, etc...I just want to go so I go!  Particularly if you are new in town or a little lonely, say yes to every single party you are invited to!  Enjoy celebrating, dressing up, meeting new people, possibly meeting new men!  I certainly don't think Christmas parties are the reason for the season....but if we are spending a month celebrating, they are a fun addition!

(4) Decorate!

It doesn't have to be over the top, but buy a couple decorations each year...a wreath, a garland, a few santas, a nativity scene, a small tree.  Like so many other things in life, I've heard some friends say I'll decorate when I get married.  Only one year did I not decorate and I felt so sad....the holiday is supposed to be enjoyed by all, even those who don't have families yet!

(5) Invest in a couple "holiday" outfits!

Seriously, part of growing up in a southern family meant appropriately themed outfits.  I can remember wearing Christmas dresses and shirts growing up and posing for holiday pictures in them.  As a mother, you are buying cute outfits for your children and maybe even a fun shirt or two for yourself.  As a single, you should buy a "holiday" outfit - to wear to parties, church, etc!  This year, I purchased a gold sequin skirt.  Last year I bought a black sparkly skirt and I have a few "dressier" tops for parties.  Just like when you are a kid or when you will one day dress your kids, its fun to have a reason to dress up.  And you can wear holiday attire without putting on a tacky sweater! (More importantly, holiday parties are  great place to meet people so you want to look nice and feel pretty!)

(6) Find others that are lonely and invest with them.

There are others you know who are feeling lonely - probably lonelier than you.  I very much support donating to charities during the holidays (or any time!) but I also think we are called to minister to those you know.  Do you know someone who is new in town who might want to be included in some holiday events or want to have dinner with you? Is a friend stressed as a new mom or going through a divorce? Could you bring over a bottle of wine and a holiday movie? Are there other singles who don't have family nearby?  Could you plan a sunday night dinner?  Focus on others, I know its cliche and it doesn't fix all your problems, but we are called to love others like Christ loves us and I think we benefit from caring well for others!

(7) Send out Christmas cards!

This is one of those things that I avoided for awhile, thinking I will get married and send out picture cards....with family pics on them!  But, the truth is, I am an adult now and I have friends and I should send them holiday cards.  I always feel like such a grownup when I mail out my cards...and since I don't have a family pic to place in the card, I always right a personal note to the reciever.  I am fortunate to have friends all over the country and world and love the idea of sending them holiday cheer.  Plus, people generally send cards to those that send them cards.  and I LOVE getting beautiful pictures of sweet babies and couples to put on my fridge!! It reminds me of all I do have!

(8) Take a night in.

The holiday season as a single is simultaneously hard and fun!  It is hard for obvious reasons but since you have the freedom to go to every Christms party you want to without hiring a babysitter, it can be a blast to be single during December....BUT it can also be exhausting. My favorite holiday night last year was my 3 roomies and me curling up for Christmas movies, homemade cookies and sushi!  Families (by financial necessity or by plan) take nights in to relax.  You should to!  Pick a couple nights where you watch movies, wear your sweats, drink cocoa and bake cookies.  Invite a boyfriend or girlfriends over - or do it by yourself! But, either way, give yourself a deserved night in!

(9) Take a moment to mourn, so that you can spend the rest of the time celebrating!

This is very important.  Don't lie to yourself and pretend that you are happy with all of your circumstances.  Take time, whether it be 15 minutes a night before bed or a hour before facing the family celebration, etc to feel your frustration, petition the Lord, and confess your lack of contentment. Spend time praying and in scripture. I think that if you admit that your holiday season or life in general is not exactly what you pictured for this stage in life, then you can move on and celebrate and enjoy the good parts.  I think a lot of well meaning folks try to convince singles or those that are hurting that they should not be so self focused and remember what Christmas is about, which is not about us! But, taking time to address your hurt allows you to focus on Christ's coming with a clear heart!

(10) Do a few "child-like" holiday activities.

Grab some friends and go see santa! Bake sugar cookies. Watch Charlie Brown Christmas!  What were traditions you liked as a child that you feel you can't do now? Forget your preconceived notions on whats a family activity or an adult activity and do what you like!  I decorated a gingerbread house this weekend!

(11) Celebrate with the family you do have....

You don't have a husband and kids yet.  You do (most likely) have a family. So life could be way worse.  Make sure to celebrate with them.  Enjoy seeing them over the holidays. Enjoy the blessing  of having people you love who love you!

(12) But feel free to start your own traditions and holiday plays as well!

Enjoy your family, but don't feel pressured to be with them 24-7.  I think a lot of leniancy is given to married couples about starting their own traditions.  But singles are often times expected to show up  (I don't say this from experiance because my parents are pretty supportive of us doing what we want to do, but I know its an issue for many!)  Just because you are single doesnt mean you have to show up at every single family event this season.  You may miss a party or two.  You have the freedom to start your own traditions too!

Christmas Wish List

Linking up with E, Myself and I to do a "4 gifts" Christmas wishlist.

(warning: I am actually going to list thinks I need/want, could wear or read...  Yes, I do want peace in the Middle East and homes for orphans BUT the point of this post is to be fun, so quit reading if you are hoping for something noble and good...)

The concept is simple : Need, Want, Wear, Read!
(1) NEED.....NEW BEDDING!!  (remember this post on decorating my room???yep it hasn't happened yet....)  To be fair, although I probably should have, I did not ask for bedding for Christmas...it would be easiest for me to slowly assemble my room than get a portion of the decorations for a holiday...

  I am going to decorate my room AFTER the holidays when life slows down.... and have picked out most of the products (pillows, bedding, rug, etc) and plan on slowly purchasing it all...

as far as other "needs", I "need" a robe. (I say "need" because truthfully I probably don't need much...)

(2) WANT..... a Tory Burch purse!

(3) WEAR...   Colored Blazers, Denim Shirts, Flowy Tops and Pencil skirts!

(4) READ........


This young adult book written by a friend of mine...yeah, I'm too old, but I am so proud of her for writing a book!

I love Tim Keller.  I loved King's Cross, The Meaning of Marriage and Prodigal God....so I know I will enjoy this book as well!

SO WHAT WOULD YOUR LIST INCLUDE????