life lately
{enjoying this || breakfast with the best team everrrr}
{relaxing with this || big poodle by the fire}
{dying over this || meeting harry connick jr. backstage at his show – he’s soooo dreamy}
{making this || beautiful wreaths with beautiful friends}
{eating this || chrissy teigen’s delish chicken noodle soup}
{celebrating this || mom’s birthday at the hip hop nutcracker!}
{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.
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 –
[christmas parties]
[ridiculously big christmas trees]
[gifts from your mom that are just too perfect]
[ugly sweaters + bowling]
[christmas movies in the backyard]
[pure relaxation in front of the fire]
[impromptu photoshoots at work]
[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
Just rest. And drink wine.
November 1 comes with a myriad of emotions. Joy and childlike excitement for the holidays. Subtle, but ever-present melancholiness for those no longer with us. And often times, stress and anxiety with the overwhelming amount of so much to do, to buy, to see.
We’ve been so busy the last few months, and the next two will be even busier. I love all the things we’re doing and all the people we’re spending time with, but it’s so important to rest – something very hard for me to do sometimes.
A couple of months ago, I had the foresight to book a weekend getaway just me and husband for some pure relaxation together. A weekend of solace in wine country … in Missouri! We heard about this little town called Hermann, Missouri with wineries, breweries and adorable B&Bs. {More on this later – you know there will be a dedicated blog post with pictures and reviews.}
My hope for this weekend is that we can turn off the noise, enjoy each other’s company and re-center ourselves. This way we can go into the holiday season with thankful hearts, a positive attitude and the reminder to sometimes say no to (good) things, and just rest.
Oh, and did I mention I’m staying off social media for the weekend? No facebook, no insta and no snaps … just wine and my husband. Just the way I like it.
xo xo
12 Days of Christmas [Picturebook]
[Husband’s company Christmas party at Barn at the Springs]
[First of several holiday movies watched – Love Actually]
[Team Christmas party, with our very own Snapchat filter!]
[Night on the Fayetteville square + dinner at Tiny Tim’s]
[Friend Christmas party with photobooth fun + telephone pictionary]
[Christmas Eve with the in-laws]
[Early Christmas morning || Very full hearts, indeed]
[Christmas Brunch at Mom’s || Have yourself a merry little cocktail]
[Christmas evening at the Aggus’]
[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 …
I 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
{the piano bar}
{the hashtag}
{the RED decor}
{the peppermint and chocolate macaroons}
{the macaroon lovers}
{the RED shoes}
{the santa hat cuties}
{the beauties dressed in RED}
{the snazzy community group}
{the bestie}
{the favorite}
xo xo
A Griswold Charlie Brown Christmas Rap
Thanksgiving is over and I’ve officially moved on to Christmas. I don’t know what it is about this year, but I’m really getting in to the Christmas spirit. I turn the tree lights on the second I get home, and I’ve been listening to Christmas music more than usual, dancing and singing in the kitchen last night as I was preparing dinner. So I’m going to do a series of holidays posts over the next few weeks – holiday decor, gift guide, fashion, party tips, etc.
But first, I want to make sure all of YOU are in the Christmas spirit. Below are some of my top favorite moments from Christmas movies and TV episodes over the years. If you’re not in the spirit after this, you might just be the Grinch!
LOVE ACTUALLY
GLEE
ELF
COMMUNITY
THE O.C.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
GILMORE GIRLS
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
xo xo
life lately {holiday edition}
{celebrating mom’s birthday on the Fayetteville square 3 days before Christmas}
{Christmas with the fam}
{snuck in some relaxation}
{confirmed birthday plans, now only 22 days away …}
{kisses for 2013, NYE at Petit Bistro}
xo xo
Chewy Chocolate Coconut Bars {recipe}
There once was a time in my life that I would bake the days away, and cook, and bake, and cook. Oh to be a sophomore in college again with an abundance of free time and nothing to fill it with. (except baking) These days it’s rare, because it’s not at the top of my list for things I want to do after working all day. However, I’m trying to bake some for the holidays and upcoming parties and family get togethers, so to start …
Chewy Chocolate Coconut Bars
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter
2 c. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. shredded coconut
* * *
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In large bowl, cream the shortening, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.
Slowly blend in flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut. Spread the mixture evenly in pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.
* * *
Even Olli wants to bake more this holiday.
xo xo
You may also enjoy: {recipe} French Dip Crescents, Pumpkin Lovin’ , {recipe} Mille’s chili
5 {things I’m thankful for} + 5 {quotes from the day} + 5 {turkey day photos}
5 {things I’m thankful for}
Two incredible families who we got to spend Thanksgiving with
Our baby (puppy!) who we didn’t have last year
An abundance of food and drink
A husband who keeps me laughing and loving in our second year of marriage
The good Lord who blesses us with all of these things
* * *
5 {quotes from the day}
“Did you see her mimosas?? They were, like, clear.” – in regards to why someone was being extra chatty
“The dog was just WASTED!” – an unfortunate story about a dog who ate a bag of Columbian pot
“I used to get phone calls from pre-school saying he was being too touchy-feely.” – in regards to my loving husband
“Trivia: Who wrote the original score for this musical?” – while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
“You better be taking care of my daughter, because she’s the light of my world.” “Yes, sir. She’s the light of my world too.” – father to son-in-law
* * *
5 {turkey day photos}
{mimosa bar}
{beautiful mother/chef/decorator/hostess}
{incredible tablescape by my mother using old wooden doors for the table tops}
{Happy Thanksgiving, XO the Aldermans}
{sibling love}
Baby, it’s cold outside
Don’t get me wrong – I love Thanksgiving, and I had a fabulous one with two wonderful loving families we are so blessed with. But the second Thanksgiving is over you can’t help but feel Christmas is in the air! Fortunately, I have a mother who is an amazing interior decorator and we spent all day Saturday decorating the apartment for mine and Kyle’s first Christmas. ♥
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones and can share in the Christmas spirit all month long, and of course not forget the true meaning of Christmas.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
{Christmas tree painting from RiffRaff}
{Angel collection from my aunt}
{Nutcracker on the bar}
{golden whimsical trees from Sam’s Club}
{Ho! Ho! Ho!}
m.davis xoxo 