Sweet Christmas

I'm headed to Greensboro to spend Christmas with my family and cook Christmas Eve dinner.  I love the traditions that we have continued and the new ones we have welcomed, such as me hosting Christmas Eve dinner for both sets of grandparents and random friends that are in town.  One of my favorite traditions I have with my dad is to ring the Salvation Army bell.  We have done this since I was a little kid and will ring the bell on Christmas Eve per usual!  I'm taking a little break from the blog, to rest up and be present with my family.  My parents and I are heading down to the Cayman Islands on Saturday for a week for some R&R, so check back here in the New Year!  Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, spread the sparkle and cheer to everyone around you!

Giveaway to Old Navy!

Mary // Chelsea // Magen

Daisy // Emelia // Steph

Tracey // Sarah //  Christina

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Playlist

Tiny Print Champagne Toast / inslee by design

A Christmas song to kick off your weekend!

If I had to name my favorite Christmas music-it would be the Rat Pack (Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin) and Mariah Carey.  Hellooooo complete opposite ends of the spectrum, but I love them both!  Mariah Carey's, "All I want for Christmas is You" is one of my absolute faves and NEVER gets old!  I'm continuing my festive celebrations by going out again tonight and then packing this weekend for home and the Cayman Islands-super excited!  I cannot believe Christmas is around the corner, very excited to head home Tuesday to be with my fam!  I hope you have a great weekend!

Packing for the Cayman Islands

J Crew loose white tee / Mara Hoffman red swimwear / J.Crew cuffed shorts / Tory Burch sandals / Kate spade sandals, $130 / J.Crew acetate sunglasses / Tildon vintage hat, $40 / Bric's Men's Olive Life Nuovo 21" Trolley / La Prairie hydrating mask / Fresh lip care / Sun Bum sun care, $17 / iPad Air 2 Apple Store

Peppermint Fudge

I made this delicious fudge for our work party.  It is super easy and delicious and very festive!!

-3 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
-1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
-8 peppermints (I put them in a ziploc and beat them with an ice cream scooper)

Line and 8x8 pan with aluminum foil and spray the foil with non-stick spray.  Combine the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a double broiler over medium heat (or you can just put them in a pot and cook it really slow on low heat constantly stirring).  Heat until melted, about 5-7 minutes and immediately pour into the pan.  Use a spatula to smooth the fudge and spread the crushed peppermints on top-I used a lot and lightly pressed them in so they would stick.  Refrigerate for 2 hours and then cut into small pieces.

Dream Items

Christian Louboutin high heel pumps / Kate Spade special occasion shoes, $365 / Leather purse / Yves Saint Laurent black handbag / Canvas purse / Cartier rose gold jewelry / David yurman bracelet / Alexis Bittar earrings

Weekend

Friday, Mama Jill came to play for the day-we shopped, lunched and had blow-outs, basically the best day ever!  I had my two friends, Catherine and Erin come over for bubbles and snacks before we headed uptown to see the Nutcracker.  Cross that off the Christmas bucket list!  We had a late dinner at Aria, the best Italian food in the city and then finished the night at the Ritz.  The gingerbread house above is made with real candy and the smell of deliciousness hits you as soon as you enter the Ritz lobby!  We made a friend at the bar and enjoyed more champs and people watching!  After a fancy night out with my girls, I headed to my favorite family's house and babysat for three boys overnight so their parents could enjoy a little stay-cation!  To say I learned a lot about Star Wars, Pokemon and just boy-speak is an understatement!  We checked out the Christmas lights, made birthday cards, hit the park and played Candy Crush-all in all a very well rounded, full of adventures type of weekend!      Excited that we are in the home stretch before Christmas, which means I have a party pretty much every night this week, so I'm hydrating until the first one!  Have a fabulous week!

Talladega

I am obsessed with Eric Church, as you can probably tell since I feature his music a lot on this blog of mine.  I just love his honesty, his raw lyrics and it doesn't hurt that he's a North Carolina boy!  The song 'Talladega' was a favorite of mine as soon as I listened to his album and the video kills me with sweetness and sentimental thoughts.  Enjoy this gem while I go mark some activities off my Christmas Bucket List!

For the Dudes

UGG Australia shoes / Belt / Peter Millar Men's Suede-Trimmed Quarter-Zip Pullover / Polo Ralph Lauren Danbury Quilted Car Coat / Neiman Marcus Men's Cashmere Solid Fringe Scarf / Patagonia Men's Classic Retro-X Fleece Cardigan / Alfred Dunhill Men's Chassis Slim Credit Card Case / Ray-Ban Men's New Wayfarer Classic Sunglasses / Men's Ascot Chesnut / Holiday decoration / GO PRO Hero3 white edition

Sparkles

French Connection brown dress / French Connection black dress / Free People blue dress / French Connection top / French Connection pants / Kate Spade black pumps / Kate spade shoes / Kate spade jewelry / Kate Spade leather belt / Kate Spade hat / Kate Spade glove / Grey glove

Christmas Bucket List

I love this time of year and since there is so much to do and see, I made myself a Christmas Bucket List!  What are your must dos or sees for the season?!?!?

• Donate toys to children 
• See the Nutcracker
• Drive around and look at all the lights, especially the street that takes can good donations
• Ring the Salvation Army bell with my dad
• Drink Hot Chocolate
• Bake, bake and bake some more
• Decorate a nugget of a little tree
• Go to the Ritz and check out their massive gingerbread house
• Have fancy cocktails with friends
• Dress up and go out on the town....lots of sparkles!
• Take an epic nap with the Christmas lights going
• Watch the Holiday and Love Actually

Weekend

Despite this face, M3 fell in LOVE with Santa and got super cozy to the point where my parent's thought he was going to take a little nap on Santa's lap! 

What's not to love-Chocolate, sparkle and bangles.....started Saturday at Petite Philippe

Cocktail time with friends

You know it's a fun night when you have an iphone selfie of yourself in the cozy coupe...BOOM!

Sunday, I drove to Greensboro to spend some time with this sweet munchkin!

True love, M3 is such a dream

He's getting so big and growing way too fast, he is obsessed with Mama Jill's helmet!

Mama Jill and I were rocking our matching sparkly sneaks from Kate Spade.....these make me smile all day long!

Uptown Funk

Can we talk about Mark Ronson's collab with Bruno Mars on the song, 'Uptown Funk'?!?!?!  Holy crap, this is my new jam.....I have been grooving to this song since last week, aka singing at the top of my lungs, shaking it down in my house and in my car (it's harder than it looks).  This collaboration is off the charts and I know that all the future dance parties will have to have this song on the playlist!  So go on and shake it down to Bruno, it is the perfect getting ready song!

Groovy Baby!! 

(can't you just hear Austin Powers saying that about this song?!?!?)

Gift Ideas for M3

Nursery Horse Rocker / J.Crew Kids' Happyeti moose hat / Melissa & Doug Classic 30-piece Wooden ABC Block Cart / J.Crew Boys' wool Southwest-stripe shawl cardigan / J.Crew Kids' Playforever Crop Duster Mimmo Aeroplane / Long John Pajamas In Organic Cotton / J.Crew Kids' Playforever Mini Speedy Le Mans / Melissa Doug Vehicles Puzzle

Date Delight....a fab recipe!

Full Disclosure......this is not the most glamorous looking appetizer, but it sure does taste divine!  My mama made me her assistant cook Wednesday and we whipped these bad boys up in no time!  See below for the recipe and trust me when I tell you they are delicious, just ask one of my 20+ cousins who tried them Thursday :)

-Dried dates that are pitted (mama Jill bought hers from the Fresh Market)

-Two small logs of goat cheese

-Chopped pecans

-2 packages of prosciutto  

Cut the dried dates in half long ways.  Cook the prosciutto until it's crispy aka well done in a skillet over medium heat.  Mix the goat cheese with the chopped pecans and cooked prosciutto.  Stuff the mixture into the date and voila a delicious tasting appetizer.  It has the best of both worlds, something sweet and something salty!  The prosciutto gives it a delicious crunch, but you can also refrigerate them and eat them the next day!

Turkey Weekend

I headed to Greensboro to kick off Thanksgiving with LOTS of family, we are talking 50 for lunch at my grandparents farm on Thursday.  My parents and I headed to the beach Friday for the rest of the weekend.  I was able to see my bestie Megan and her hubs Andrew along with lots of friends at the beach!  To say it was a whirlwind is quite the understatement....below are some pics!

Trying the new moonshine.........it was ahmazing! 

My gorgeous mama with my sweet babe of a nephew M3....they are so dreamy!  Look at that fierce hug action!!!

My sweet nephew.....I think he was in awe of either the amount of food or the massive amount of people!

Mama Jill and I decorated our tree Thanksgiving night!  These two elves never stop, like ever!!

A peaceful moment with mama before we rushed off to pick up Mufasa (our new nickname for my dad, our fearless leader)

We hit Eagle Point to hit golf balls at the range.....it was an awesome afternoon filled with LOTS of laughs!!

This is what happens when you take two women to the range.....a worn out papa Murray!

Alexis Bittar

Alexis Bittar bracelet / Alexis Bittar gold jewelry / Alexis Bittar gold bracelet / Alexis Bittar gold jewelry / Alexis Bittar stud earrings / Alexis Bittar ring / Alexis Bittar teardrop earrings / Alexis Bittar drop earrings / Alexis Bittar stud earrings

Nordstrom Giveaway!

:::Brought to you by:::

 Becca // Shane // Nicole // Mary

Jamie // Samm // Magen // Kippy

Morgan // Katie // Cat // Lauren

Caley // Sarah  

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway