Home for Christmas

This is pretty much what I looked like yesterday-car filled up with gifts and luggage and well just stuff.  I pack a lot normally, but being gone for over a week, plus Christmas present is a lot of stuff to pack and organize.  Thank goodness I have a big car to fit all of it in!  I packed up and headed to Greensboro yesterday.  I'm here to spend the duration of Christmas and could not be more jazzed to kick off the celebrations.  There is nothing better than being home for Christmas, all the family traditions and people dropping in for cocktails-love it!  Cheers to a fabulous rest of your week, I'm peacing off the blog until after Christmas.  Be sure to check me out on Instagram, you know there will be some cute shots of M3!

PJ's

J Crew nightgown, $72 / J Crew pajamas / J Crew long sleeve pajamas / J Crew cotton pj / P J Salvage pajamas / Splendid button front nightgown / J Crew pajamas, $48 / Honeydew Intimates pajamas / P J Salvage long sleeve nightshirt / Topshop short sleeve pajamas

Weekend

The best margarita in Charlotte-"The Friend Zone" at Ruru's

Fahrenheit rooftop

The hot chocolate dessert...and yes that is cotton candy surrounding it!

A gorgeous view of Charlotte

The most cozy throw ever-today it's 30% off!

I met this sweet little lady Sunday afternoon

Friday

Happy Friday!  It's the last weekend before Christmas, have you finished your shopping?  I'm pumped to say I'm done and am just enjoying being surrounded by all the Christmas cheer.  This weekend, I'm taking a chill pill and just getting everything ready before I peace out on Tuesday.

Enjoy Rascal Flatt's, "I'll Be Home for Christmas."  One of my favorite country Christmas renditions.  I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Christmas Presents for the Dudes

Tumi 'Alpha Bravo - Everett' Essential Tote, $315 / Timex black jewelry / Shwood sunglasses / Peter Millar Chesapeake Quilted Cotton Jacket, $310 / Peter Millar Cotton-Cashmere Quarter-Zip Sweater, $155 / Nike Free 4.0 Men's Running Shoe. Nike.com / Nike Ignite Midlayer Men's Soccer Shirt. Nike.com / UGG Australia 'Ascot' Suede Slipper (Men) / Barbour bar tool / S well stainless steel cup holder / Men's Pendleton 'Thomas Kay' Wool Throw & Carrier

Christmas for M3

Nursery Rockers / Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Hardcover) / Melissa Doug Classic Toy Bead Maze / No Spill Bubble Machine / Melissa Doug Alphabet Sound Puzzle / A Teepee Cushion to Call Your Own Set Orange Stripe) / UGG Classic Short Deco / Melissa Doug Farm Animal Train Set / Crayola 8ct Pick your Pack Pirate Treasure Crayons

Weekend Love

Lunchies at Cafe Monte

Soo many choices....

Decisions, decisions....don't mind my pale legs

Mama Jill and I in Tory Burch

Ugly Christmas Sweater party...except mine wasn't ugly (throw back to the 90s...Mama Jill painted mine)

Bertolli-A Quick, Delish Recipe

I don't know about y'all, but I have been super busy this month, so I enjoy quick dinner recipes.  I love pasta, but I especially love to whip up a simple, yet delicious, flavorful pasta dish.  For the dish below, I bought one of the new Bertolli Riserva sauces to punch up my dish.  I chose the Bertolli Riserva Marinara with Parmigiano-Reggiano and boy did it not dissapoint...super flavorful with just the right amount of punch.  I used one of the fabulous tips on Bertolli's website when sautéing my spinach.  I use fresh squeezed lemon juice, to get the most out of my lemon-I used this trick: roll the lemon on a hard surface before cutting to get the most juice out of your lemon.  My simple, yet delish recipe is below.  Make sure to click here for a coupon to buy your own Bertolli sauce!

Ingredients:
-Pasta (I used brown rice pasta-my new jam)

-Bertolli Riserva Marinara with Parmigiano-Reggiano

-Spinach (I used a whole bag)
-oil to sauté the spinach (I used Walnut oil-so trendy I know)
-1 lemon
-Parmesan (if you want to top it off)

-Cook the pasta according to the packaging

-Sauté spinach over medium heat with a healthy dash of oil

-Roll your lemon on a hard surface and then squeeze directly onto the spinach while you sauté

-Drain the pasta and toss in the spinach

-Warm the Bertolli sauce in the microwave and then pour over pasta dish

-Mix together and sprinkle with some parmesan

Bon Appetite friends!

Be sure to check out Bertolli's website for tips along with their Facebook and Tumblr pages.

Christmas Presents for your Bestie

J.Crew metallic shoes / Dogeared canvas bag / J Crew rose jewelry, $92 / Ballard Designs handcrafted jewelry / Tory burch jewelry / Sequin bead bracelet, $35 / Tory Burch matte eye shadow / Yves Saint Laurent paraben free makeup / AERIN lip care / Sephora Collection gel mask / AERIN gift sets kit / Tory Burch spring home decor / S well stainless steel cup holder

Thoughts for Mama Jill's Christmas Presents

Tory Burch pink top / White Warren cashmere poncho, $280 / Tory burch shoes / Longchamp leather handbag, $150 / Tory burch crossbody / Coordinates Collection bracelet bangle, $315 / Alexis Bittar dangle earrings / Alexis Bittar golden earring, $100 / Club Monaco black sunglasses / Tom Ford matte eyeshadow / Tom Ford lip makeup / Chanel perfume fragrance / AERIN beauty product / S well car cup holder / Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain

NC Vineyard Visit

Sunday-Funday taking a limo to local vineyards for Holden's birthday!

We had to make a pit stop and I found this at the local Citgo....I'm obsessed with local honey!  Ohhh the things you can find at small gas stations!

My new horse (I wish) Golden

Shhh we fed him carrots....who knows how the owners feel about that!

Clearly I was obsessed with Golden!

We stopped at three Vineyards....they were all considered boutique vineyards, but I was impressed with all three.  Dobbins Creek, Laurel Gray and Shadow Springs.  My favorite was Dobbins Creek, but this could be due to the fabulous owner, Charles....he was my absolute favorite and answered all of our questions.  Needless to say after celebrating with Holden all day, a burrito and an early bedtime were calling my name to close a fabulous Sunday!  Have a wonderful week!

Friday's in December

I hosted a Christmas party last night with some of my closest girlfriends.  We had the best time, it's a yearly tradition of ours to have a gift exchange with a theme each year.  We went with an indulgent theme last night and it was awesome to see all the different ideas.  Tis the season from hear on out to have lots of parties, dinners and events to attend.  I'm currently working from home staring at my sweet little nugget of a tree with Christmas music...it's my favorite time of year.

It was giving back Tuesday this week, but for me December as a whole is a great time to give back.  I chose two different groups to donate to-Wounded Warrior Project and Wreaths Across America.  The Wounded Warrior Project helps our service men and women and is a wonderful organization that my family and I have donated to for the last couple of years.  Wreaths Across America is a new organization to me, but they place wreaths on all the veteran's graves specifically at Arlington.  I encourage everyone to give back to someone or some charity this month!

As I've told you in the past, I'm obsessed with Chris Stapleton.  He was honored on the CMT Artists of the Year last Tuesday and I'm still in awe of his brilliance.  Below is a live cut of, "Fire Away" be prepared to be blown away.  I'm currently stalking his tour dates, finger crossed he comes somewhere close to me!

Have a wonderful weekend-go spread that holiday cheer!!

Ready for a Party

Pottery barn bedding / Pottery Barn outdoor decor / Water tumbler / Williams Sonoma kitchen gadgets tool / Paint brush / Cookie jar / Paint brush / Williams Sonoma cookie cutter / Pottery Barn mantel stocking holder / Pottery Barn candles candleholder / Pottery barn throw pillow

Red

Shirts top, $225 / J Crew v neck top, $130 / J Crew silk top, $130 / J Crew j crew t shirt, $52 / J Crew vest, $160 / J Crew red pencil skirt, $145 / J Crew clothing, $66 / J.Crew d'orsay shoes, $330 / J.Crew origami shoes / J Crew j crew flat, $180 / J Crew red leather purse, $185 / Illesteva red lens sunglasses, $385 / J Crew scarve, $210

A long Thanksgiving Weekend

Hello addictive pretzels...yogurt peppermint pretzels

Our gorgeous Christmas tree

Raleigh, just busting a chill

Obsessed with these JCrew PJ's...check out that monogram too!

M3 digging Mimi's Tory Burch shoes...

Chilling with Big Pappy

He saw Mimi had on patchology eye patches and decided to get in on the action...we now call them, "Magic Eyes"

Mimi, M3 and my bro, Michael at my grandparent's farm for Thanksgiving

Nathan giving M3 a new hairdo with a barbie brush....he loved every minute of it!

Mom and I had lunch with my bestie's Megan and Andrew and sweet angel baby Hayes!

We left Friday for the beach

My bestie, Kippy had her baby the day before Thanksgiving

Sweet baby Charlotte

Mimi with Charlotte

So in love with this gorgeous baby!

It was another world-wind holiday. From seeing all 50+ family members, having lunch with my bestie Megan and her fam to traveling to the beach and seeing my bestie in the hospital with her new baby...all such wonderful things!  Now it's on like Donkey Kong....tis the season for parties galore, Christmas music and last minute shopping.