everyday inspiration

Posts tagged “christmas

life lately [christmas week edition]

[great christmas party at samantha’s to kick off the week of festivities!]

[non-christmas event – celebrating Mom’s birthday with drinks at 21c]

[celebrated with this fun crew + made (double batch!) boeuf bourguignon – it was a hit!]

[potentially a new christmas eve tradition with husband – make your own pizza night, including english muffin pizzas husband loved making when he was a kid]

[zero christmas morning pictures (which included chicken + waffle brunch!), but post-brunch and presents included relaxing and nap time]

[finished the day with a wonderful dinner at the in-laws!]

Not pictured: a quick trip to Little Rock to see more family, including my 98 year old grandmother – we’re so thankful for all of our amazing family and such a wonderful Christmas.
Now to see what 2019 has in store! ❤

xo xo


Picturebook: Girls Weekend in NYC!

F R I D A Y 

[the BEST post-flight stop: jacob’s pickles]

S A T U R D A Y 

[Christmas Market Tour: Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Bryant Park, Saks windows, Strand Books, Pete’s Tavern + a ride on the SUBWAY]

[fun night in West Village listening to jazz at the Village Vanguard]

[then stumbled upon this AMAZING french restaurant, Boucherie)
[pictured: french onion soup]

S U N D A Y 

[photoshoot in Brooklyn]

[amazing brunch at Cecconi’s Dumbo]

[mid-afternoon snack, obviously]

[rooftop bar (too cold) then dinner at Eataly pop-up Serra Alpina by Birrera – it was MAGICAL]

[MEAN GIRLS! such a cute, funny show!!]

M O N D A Y 

[woke up at 5:30am to sneak a ride in at PELOTON before our flight – husband even rode the same ride at home and caught me on camera (getting ready for the ride, ha!]

[until next time, new york! I’m sure it won’t be too long …]

xo xo


Christmas + NYE Picturebook

C H R I S T M A S 

[the start of Christmas break means Mom’s birthday – fun celebration at Midici!]

[Christmas Eve with this wonderful family + a new baking favorite: salted caramel cookies]

[Christmas morning love]

[celebrating Christmas evening with another wonderful family]

B I G  C E D A R
[a few days of rest and relaxation at this amazing place]


N Y E
[the best Hotarman-masquerade house party ever]

[Cheers to 2018!]

xo xo


Picturebook: Christmas in DC

C H R I S T M A S   D A Y 

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{Woke up (suuuuper) early and hopped on a plane to Baltimore to spend Christmas with Husband’s dad, stepmom, sister and her husband. We hadn’t spent Christmas with them in a very, very long time so it was extra special. We ate, drank, played ridiculous games and stayed up laughing until 4am.}

M O N D A Y 

img_1541{Woke up (suuuuper) late (did I mention we stayed up until 4am…which means we had been awake for 24 hours…) then shopped and explored Georgetown, which of course was adorable}

T U E S D A Y
[first day in DC]

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img_0311{We had so much fun walking around the National Mall and exploring the monuments. My favorite was the Washington Monument behind us. How great is this candid picture?!}

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img_1623{Stopped for lunch at the famous Old Ebbitts Grill – seriously one of the best reubens I’ve ever had}

img_1717{Quick stop at Arlington Cemetery on our way out of the city – it was absolutely gorgeous and I would love to go back and spend more time walking around}

img_1723{The boys and their cigars after an amazing fondue dinner at home}

W E D N E S D A Y
[second day in DC]

img_1734 {The perfect start to the day – Mari’s famous huevos rancheros! We seriously talk about these all the time because they’re so delicious.}

img_1743{Holocaust Museum – the museum and this quote in particular were very moving and convicting, a must-see museum in DC}

img_1759{Smithsonian Museum of American History – very packed, but very cool. We even saw the Hope Diamond!}

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{STRANGER THINGS BAR! You would not believe the line to get in to this place, but it was totally worth it!}

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{Dinner at Founding Farmers was incredible! Pictured: Shrimp & Grits with andouille and bacon (more like gumbo), Not Pictured: the best cornbread and fried green tomatoes I’ve ever had, and husband’s chicken and waffles he claimed were the best he’s ever had}

T H U R S D A Y 

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img_1846{Visited the new MGM Grand Casino – played slots, lost money, drank beer, oh and ran into Sarah Jessica Parker selling shoes – no big deal!!!!!}

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img_1985{Spent the evening exploring Annapolis, which was seriously the cutest town ever. Then stopped in a wine bar and had the most fresh crab tostadas with tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice. It was so good we had to order another round!}

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{We then stumbled upon this cute little underground gastropub for our last supper – not pictured, but seriously delicious … pig wings!!}

What a trip! I’m not sure how we got so lucky with such amazing family on both sides, but we sure are thankful. It will be a Christmas we never forget!

xo xo


life lately

img_1237{enjoying this || breakfast with the best team everrrr}

img_1446{relaxing with this || big poodle by the fire}

img_1350{dying over this || meeting harry connick jr. backstage at his show – he’s soooo dreamy}

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{making this || beautiful wreaths with beautiful friends}

screen-shot-2016-12-23-at-9-21-46-am{eating this || chrissy teigen’s delish chicken noodle soup}

screen-shot-2016-12-23-at-9-23-29-am{celebrating this || mom’s birthday at the hip hop nutcracker!}

the-u-s-capitol-christmas-tree{planning for this || christmas in DC!}

We have a busy couple of days ahead with several fun Christmases, then we head to DC for the week to see more family. Wishing you all a merry and blessed Christmas!

xo xo


‘Tis the season

Yes, the holidays are craaaaazy. They can be busy and stressful and sometimes we just want to pull our hair out. I mean seriously, I posted this on Instagram yesterday, so I’m with you.

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And in all of that, we can so easily let the season slip by without truly remembering the purpose of this season, without cherishing the extra time we have with family and friends and without experiencing that little extra dose of joy.

Here are a few little things that have brought me extra joy this season –

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[christmas parties]

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[ridiculously big christmas trees]

img_1441[gifts from your mom that are just too perfect]

15193415_3485504609343_956750986888329339_n[ugly sweaters + bowling]

screen-shot-2016-12-14-at-5-59-59-pm[christmas movies in the backyard]

img_1439[pure relaxation in front of the fire]

img_1296[impromptu photoshoots at work]

screen-shot-2016-12-14-at-6-00-17-pm[annual date night to see the lights of the ozarks]

What’s bringing you extra joy this season? Take the time to think about it and cherish it, because as they say, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

xo xo


12 Days of Christmas [Picturebook]

IMG_9401[Husband’s company Christmas party at Barn at the Springs]

IMG_9443[First of several holiday movies watched – Love Actually]

IMG_9422[Team Christmas party, with our very own Snapchat filter!]

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IMG_9472[Night on the Fayetteville square + dinner at Tiny Tim’s]

IMG_9498[Friend Christmas party with photobooth fun + telephone pictionary]

IMG_9540[Christmas Eve with the in-laws]

IMG_9547[Early Christmas morning || Very full hearts, indeed]

IMG_9561 (1)[Christmas Brunch at Mom’s || Have yourself a merry little cocktail]

IMG_9559 (1)IMG_9563IMG_9568[Christmas evening at the Aggus’]

IMG_9592[Sadly, our final Christmas shindig got cancelled thanks to rain/flooding/tornados the day after Christmas. Instead of a Family Christmas Cocktail Party of 20, Husband and I ate the prepared food, drank the purchased booze and had a perfect little party for ourselves.]

Other wonderful Christmas celebrations not pictured: 
Annual Community Group favorite things party at Fred’s Hickory Inn
Weekend in Little Rock visiting two amazing families

xo xo


This is Christmas …

Screen Shot 2014-12-21 at 3.47.51 PMI shared a few weeks ago about the uniqueness of this Christmas and how challenging it is for me. I’ve been trying so hard to look all around for the love and joy and Christmas in the little things.

I go from feelings of sadness to happiness to contentment to anxiety nearly every day. I’ve been feeling like the month has been leading up to one big day that will surely be full of tears and discomfort. Then I realized Christmas isn’t about a day, it’s about a season, and I’ve had a damn good one thus far. As one of my favorite seasonal movies reminded me this weekend, Love Actually is All Around Us. 

This is Christmas … 

driving around with husband looking at Christmas lights, stopping for 20 minutes at one house enamored with a timed light show

volunteering at sharing + caring, putting together christmas gifts for families in need

spending time over dinner or margaritas with family, new and old

coming home surprised to find the christmas trees up without asking

enjoying a hot cocoa bar, talks about cat books + nerf gun wars at our CG christmas party

snuggled on the couch forcing husband to watch sleepless in seattle, and happy to see him enjoy it

listening to endless amounts of christmas music while cooking dinner

shopping for the perfect gift for my perfect friends and family

caroling on the square with my team from work + crying of laughter at how bad we are

shopping for the basic needs of others (socks, protein) + recognizing how much I have and how grateful I am

watching the first snowfall of the year like a little girl

being humbled by a sermon through the eyes of the wisemen

receiving christmas cards of my beautiful friends and their families from all across the country

xo xo


#mkREDparty

IMG_2850{the piano bar}

IMG_6265{the hashtag}

IMG_9620{the RED decor}

IMG_4818{the peppermint and chocolate macaroons}

IMG_1381{the macaroon lovers}

IMG_3963{the RED shoes}

IMG_8375{the santa hat cuties}

IMG_0351{the beauties dressed in RED}

IMG_2964{the snazzy community group}

IMG_2952{the bestie}

IMG_7900{the favorite}

xo xo