"almost time for Christmas Vacation"...

We kicked off Christmas this weekend with our first holiday party of the season... The parents-to-be {in just under 4 weeks...yes, she is a wonder-woman! ...the cute couple I didn't get a photo snapped together} hosted a hilariously funny, good-time watching, same old jokes saying, priceless character portraying good time with a "Christmas Vacation" themed party!! {If you dare admit...is there anyone out there that hasn't seen this Christmas "classic"?}

A few ventured to dress the part...and it was hilarious!!! Joey and Shea as cousin Eddie and Catherine... Joey of course played the part to a "t"! I just loved Shea's "outfit"...jingle bell earrings, knee length corduroy/velvet/poly/blend skirt with elastic {and pockets!}, black velvet Christmas shoes with red berries, themed non-matching to the shoes socks, holiday headband, cotton turtleneck complete with presents, and a screaming holiday vest...priceless!

They sprinkled the house with "themes" from the movie... it was all so clever and funny to stumble upon...

the {fragile} windmill & nuts ...

...there's Clark...aka the host ...

recognize these moose cups?? ...

the cat...or whats left! ...

the squirrel... the culprit of so many problems! ...

Such a fun time!!! ...it was the perfect kick-off to pulling out our Christmas tree...which of course has its own little "saga" story...more later!

a "little" visit...

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend after recovering from your turkey coma and overwhelming blessings of thanks! We had a treat this weekend...the Diller littles and their momma came to visit {via WV}!! {Dr. Diller couldn't make it due to work and we missed him!} Hubby had to work a lot {and was on call} while they were here...but it didn't slow down the littles from catching up with their "big b"! They played hard when he was able to be here...

guess who is getting covered in blankets and kiddies??? ...

...their "big b"!

It was such a treat for me to catch up with their momma too! We miss having them right down the road...but were so so grateful that they ventured down on Friday and feasted on Thanksgiving leftovers with us!!! We love you so much Dillers and miss you always!! Thank you so much for coming to stay with us!!!!

we are so full & thankful...

I have always been taught that "blood" isn't what makes you family. By my mom instilling that in me...I have learned that I can breath and still function with where God has taken us on days like yesterday. We are so far from the traditions we know, but at the same time it allowed us when we were newly-marrieds to form our own. We missed our family yesterday, but are so thankful for all we have been given. Because even though there are miles between us and we are journeying a while in the north...somehow, someway, and for some reason...it just feels exactly where we are supposed to be right now...and today...I am so thankful for all He has given me and for giving me a content heart as we walk this side of the Texas border!

Hubby and I are so thankful and beyond blessed to have such treasured friends to spend the holidays with while we are so far from family. We usually spend Thanksgiving with the Dillers {they were a day late this year}, but with hubby and Dr. Diller both in Residency now their new working jobs didn't allow us to be on the road over the holiday. So I was so so thankful that Joey and Shea wanted {and were willing} to let me host Thanksgiving and spend the day with us.

We are so blessed to have such Tyler, Texas homegrown friends on this journey with us. God obviously knew what he was working on when he allowed our paths to cross at such a time as this...all the way in PA when Shea and I grew up 3 streets from each other with mutual friends...and never met. God is so good!

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you." -Frederick Buechner

Joey & Shea brought the Greenb*rg this year...

Hope your day was full-filling and fulfilling of thanks too!!

getting ready for turkey day...

Happy Thanksgiving Eve friends!! I have been busy with preparing for tomorrow...the hosting part of me!...knows its in the details...and I am working on tying them up today...so tomorrow I can take it easy and enjoy so much that we are overly blessed to be thankful for!

...the decorations {this little guy was my travel companion last week...thanks mom!}

...the dishes...

...the fire... {my new favorite thing about our house!}

...the menu and early food prep... {the potatoes will be boiling soon!}
...the table setting... {thanks mom for the gorgeous green suede tablecloth!!...handmade of course with love!}

My parents sent us a box of goodies this week...included was this collection of beauties {to me anyways...} that my mom was so generous to share...lush trims, silks and upholstery fabric swatches, crepe paper ruffles {yummy!}, burlap ric rac, and more...

so I got busy playing and creating...and I'm almost finished with the placecards for tomorrow... {aren't they looking cute...mom passed along the idea of the tiny cones...little mini cuteness!}

As you can see one of my mom's love languages {great book!} is gifts. She is always so generous in making sure that even though we are far from home {we have always spent our married Thanksgivings away from home because of medical school and now residency} that our home still feels warm, loved, and blessed. Hubby's parents always send us the guest of honor...the turkey so that our table tastes like home. Among many other times through our journey up north I have learned and am reminded that we are so blessed and loved even though we aren't there with everyone else.

...and I now realize {thanks for the reminder m!} that I haven't shared my harvest decorations...so welcome in and enjoy {but please let me know if you'll be staying for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow...I will need to make you a placecard!}

{ little Witty loves the fire too!!! }

and in case you are wondering about the outside and what snow in November looks like... it is beautiful, but in all honesty a little concerning to me...this seems so early for snow this year...will it be hanging around until May??

reflection...

In my quiet time this morning I read another chapter from a book I have been beyond inspired by. I closed the chapter and prayed for guidance and understanding...not of the "rules" of being a believer, but a deeper understanding of where God wants hubby and I to go on our journey and how He wants us to get there in His eyes...and not the world's. I prayed that while we are following Him that we are always an example... and it hit me...

I felt God speaking to me with an answer to all these thoughts in my prayer...all rolled into simplicity.

I hope that my example to others is not just an example of my beliefs and a testament to how I have been taught the Bible...my desire is for my example to be a reflection of my relationship with God and a testament to the pure joy, encouragement, strength, blessings, {and more} that I get from being in close union with Him. I had never thought of it this way. But its true...I wholeheartedly want to show others how to follow Him not through rules that I have been taught and the beliefs I have formed through those interpretations, but I hope that non-believers in my path desire to know Him through the reflection of Him in me. Then once that desire to learn more about Him is sparked I pray with help they find their way to their beliefs and interpretations and form a harmonious relationship with Him. What if some of my interpretations of the Word are "wrong"? What if many of my beliefs are "off mark"? I wouldn't want to have someone believe what I believe because I believe it...but I would be most humbled if God used me to bring someone to his feet because of seeing Him in me. What an overwhelmingly blessed gift that would be...for isn't that our journey after all.

picture problems...

ok...so I am having trouble with my picture cd that holds all of my Mistletoe&M*gic pictures...errr! I will not fret about it though...I will just apologize and promise to post when I get it fixed {when I have 3 hours to sit and wait while pictures open due to large files}
Instead...I will tackle all the tasks on my list as the lifestyle coordinator CEO of this household...must-get-it-back-in-order...{despite the fact that my CFO hubby did a fabulous job while I was gone}...
ahhhh the laundry, bills, menus, orders, Thanksgiving details, feed the hog {just making sure you were paying attention...remind you of a movie Christmas favorite??}, more laundry, HAV plates to make, mail sorting, Christmas shopping, thank-yous to write, Christmas crafting & decorating...on and on. All fun {well mostly}...but still staring and waiting to be tackled nonetheless!

{ image borrowed from superstock.com }

{recap} : home

Even though Mistletoe & M*gic was over a week ago now...I have just now landed with my feet on the ground back in PA. I got back from Texas in time to jet out the next morning to New Hampshire {which I just fell in love with...Manchester is such a precious small-town-feeling city!! I am excited to go back in Feb....more on that later.} I made it back from NH in time to help host a shower this weekend for some special friends patiently awaiting baby #1! So...here goes...a recap or 2!

..............

It was such a treat to be home for over a week {despite missing hubby and getting sick}...doctor hubby had a busy rotation this month so it worked out great...if I had been here I would have still been missing him as a hospital widow!

among the highlights of my first show {next post} I also...
-spent overdue time with my aunt and cousins {thanks so much for making the trek and picking me up from the airport Aunt Dora and Whitney!! It was such a treat to get to see ya'll!!}

-spent the morning baking with mom and Miss Lexi {is she not a doll!?!}

-got a much needed haircut {it was so sweet of my stylist/friend to come in on a "closed" day to chop off my locks...since I only get it cut when I am home}
-catching up with my brother after his {almost complete} first semester off at school {thanks for coming in to see me Dal! I love you!!}

-enjoyed getting to see my sister's new place {pictures to come later...housewarming party in the works...}
-catching up on family dinners {mom always goes all out!!}

-met my brother's new girlfriend {she's precious!}
-walked the catwalk in a style show at Mistletoe&M*gic {sister girl tricked me into it...thanks for being my backstage assistant as a compromise ChiChi!}
-enjoyed dinner and a great evening with hubby's family {we missed him!}
-ate at my favorite spots {oh how I missed those orange sherbet slushes!}
-decorated my mom's Christmas tree {so ready to put up ours now!!}

I feel blessed to have squeezed so much in during such a busy time "on my business trip", but there was so much more I wanted to do and time I wanted to spend with others. It is so good to be home though...spending time with hubby, loving on my yorkie boys, catching up on orders, catching up with all of you, embracing the snow, living with a fire in the fireplace {as we speak!}, and cooking for my love...there is a roast in the crockpot that I will be smelling all day {at his request}...

next post...the booth!

still here...

hello sweet friends! I have landed tonight in snow {almost covered} Pittsburgh {without my luggage...eek!} and I'm flying out to New Hampshire tomorrow early a.m. for a quick meeting. Once I make it back it town by the end of the week I will do a post up right and throw in some fun pics too...but for now...I promise I am alive and well...well alive, but not well...sick, horsely sick and I am off to spend some much needed time with my hubby and yorkies! I hope ya'lls week is going lovely see you again top of next week!!

preview party...

{I will have to "back-post" next week when I have more time, but in an effort not to get too behind I wanted to share some sneak peaks... and thank so many of you that left such sweet comments and best wishes on my show and the thoughtful emails too! thank you thank you thank you friends! What a blessing to have so much support!}

Tonight was the Preview Party...if you aren't familiar it is the first peek that shoppers {paid tickets only} get to preview all the vendors and eye candy while enjoying live music, dancing, drinks, and fine food while wearing your very best of course! Very elite, swanky, and festive fun!! So the fun began tonight {well actually it started Monday...but the opening of shopping started tonight} and we partied past close...of course! {my feet aren't thankful} It was such a treat to see sweet old & dear friends and hug their necks!! Wow how I have missed so many precious people that used to be such an intricate part of my daily life!

mom & I

...my most hardest working volunteer!

{thank you hubby for filling orders while I am away...

I am so thankful for you too!!}

ms. rebecca, me, mom

...all jazzed up!

mom & ms. rebecca

...chosen sisters

I had to include a pic of my gorgeous mom in her tie skirt...she made this {lots of hours in this one ladies!!} Her skirt was the talk of the night...a most precious lady from Better H*mes & G*rdens mag was there and raved about it endlessly...mom of course was more than happy to tell her exactly how she made it and where she got each tie! ADORABLE!!!!!

leaving on a jet plane...

I am headed to Texas this weekend {yea!!} for my show next week. I am anxious to get there to hug necks, see my sister's new place, fill my parent's empty nest, catch up on dinners with family, celebrate my brother's birthday, meet a friend's new little babe, and ...I know...I am cramming a lot into a small amount of time! But this is a business trip and on my mind first and foremost is my first show. Oh...did I leave that part of out of this post? Yep...this is T&T's first show...and I am a nervous wreck! I'm not sure if its the flying or the show...I'll let you know when I land. I know it will be an exhausting blast...but I am prepared {...wait until you see my shoes!}

I have been buzzing around here checking things off of my to-do list. I really took on a challenge doing my first show out of town {I won't be able to run home for inventory}...but without my mom and Ms. Rebecca's help...it would be harder for me to do a show in town by myself. I am just a little nervous to get to my parents and see my inventory...my mom calls everyday with a new shipment that has arrived...I have a pretty little spread sheet laid out for my inventory, but I'm gonna venture not far to assume its going to look a lot different in real life and off paper! I have been doing my part here though...the above is a sneak peek at some ruffles I have been spending my evenings making and my price tags turned out pretty cute too I think! I have stocked the pantry, almost finished all the laundry and will have another talk with Stanley about how waking up in the middle of the night won't be cool or acceptable while I'm away...so hopefully hubby will be all set flying solo this next week.

...better get back to folding the laundry, painting plates, packing, and getting out of my pjs {just kidding on that last one...wasn't sure if you were still listening to my rambling!} I'm going to try and still post next week sneak peeks at our booth and then the show...but no promises.

PS...welcome all you new "faces" and friends-to-be. I'm so glad you have all ventured over from the nesting genius and I hope you feel welcomed and comfortable here! Thank you all so much for your sweet sweet compliments and comments on old and new posts. I am trying to reply to all the emails, visit the blogs through comments, and fill the orders for the treasures you so graciously bought and fell in love with through T&T. It will take me a bit to visit you all and I promise I will in a couple weeks when I return from my travels. {I think I have almost responded to all the personal emails...if not I hope to before I leave.}

vote...

It is a beautiful day today in PA...a beautiful day to stand in line for 1 hour and 15 minutes to vote...and that was a beautiful right!

{standing in line to cast our vote...the shadow of our opinions}

In the last several elections we have always been in different cities {states actually!} and I feel like a new voter every time! I learn a new system and machines and am always so nervous that I might mess it up! Everything was computerized this time...no pencils or chads...all the touch of a finger...and a "thank you very much for voting" confirmation page...nice and polite! {...even met a few neighbors while at the polls and topped it off with a fun afternoon lunch with my sweet friends and baby kisses...the best kind!}

Oh and in case you haven't heard...rumor has it that St*rbucks will treat you to a cup of coffee when you show your "vote stub" today. {I had never gotten a "vote stub" before...quite the souvenir! I think last time I got a sticker!}

ETA...not only St*rbucks is giving freebies...you can get dessert to go with that coffee and your election voting proof...free donut at Kr*spy Kreme and a free scoop at B*n and Jerry's too! If only our local Kri*py Kreme hadn't closed...

PS...thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for the excitement and support of my newest venture and for spreading the word too!!! Makes a girl blushingly feel good!