Last Minute Gift Ideas

Despite the fact that we are in the mid 80's here in Florida...

Christmas is THREE DAYS AWAY.

No matter how many times I say, "NEXT year I'll get all of my Christmas shopping done early."

...Never fails.. I am that person who is still in stores shopping on Christmas Eve, practically

being asked to leave as the doors are closing. Whoops!

So here's a few cutie, last minute gift ideas for girlfriends or co-workers.

Everyone loves a good Starby's giftcard.

Spice it up a bit with some craft brown crinkle paper

in one of their throw away cups. 

OPI Nail Polish

Ulta has had some killer deals recently with their OPI nail polish.

Wrap her up with some tulle, curl a little ribbon and BOOM.. cutie last minute gift.

Reindeer Candy Bars

via

Mason Jar Snow Globes

via Martha Stewart

Seriously SUCH a cute gift.. just.. make sure your lids on tight. :)

#falalalamess

via

Bottle of champs! 

You simply cannot go wrong with any form of alcohol- wine, champagne, vodka.

Get yourselves a festive printable and you're good to go.

Happy last minute shopping folks!

Pet Paw Ornament

FACT: 

Americans will spend approximately 5 million dollars this Christmas

on presents for their fur babies.

That tells me that I am NOT the only one who goes overboard

this time of year on my pup, despite what Bryan tells me.

I picked up a little paw print ornament kit near one of the registers at TJ Maxx recently.

Seriously, $4 dollars how could I go wrong?

I am such a sucker for anything near or even in the vicinity of a register.

It's like it's practically already purchased, no? 

Anyway here's our end result and how to master your own..

The kit looks a little something like this:

Start by squeezing the clay to break it up a bit. Once it is no longer firm,

mend it into the circular tray. Use the rolling pin to smooth any bumps.

Next, grab hold of your victim, even though he is peacefully eating his dinner.

Squish his manicured little paw into the clay, holding for a few seconds, reminding

your pet to hang tight because it will all be worth it in the end.

#obsesseddogmom

Next, use the straw to make a hole in the clay for the ribbon.

Allow it to dry overnight and finish with ribbon aaaannd a bow!

Now go hang that baby right smack in the middle of your tree.

Not so bad right, Jake ? 

He has been through worse... like our Christmas card shoot for instance... 

Happy pet torturing ornament making!

1st Annual Christmas Cookie Bake

To say that the women in my family have an obsession with Christmas would
be saying it lightly. We always rotate who hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
and it has always seemed like the month of December just goes way too quick.
This year, my FIRST Christmas being back home since I was in high school,
we all decorated per usual, but we decided that we would all host some type of a get together,
more specifically for us Christmas-obsessed women.

Grandma: Christmas Cookies
Me: Christmas Movie night & cocktails
..ok, let's be honest, they will all be involving cocktails..
Aunt Sherry: Santa Wine Bottle Crafting
Mom: Ladies' "Favorite Things" Party
{JUST hosted by girlfriends' Favorite Things party- post coming soon!}

Behold, our Christmas cookie baking chaos:

 

 

 Such a fun day! And as you can see I was getting quite
camera happy snapping some pictures for the family dessert recipe book
..still in the process!

Anyhow my kitchen is still loaded down with treats and we are
LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AWAY FROM THE BIG DAY!!!!
I really didn't think a spring wedding through obviously...
Dieting during the holidays?
Im-frickin-possible.

Happy 13 days before Christmas you little bakers! :)

Weekend Merriment

Oh hello again Monday morning.

I have not missed you.

Linkin' up with Miss Sami to share some shenanigans:

1 // Christmas Town at Busch Gardens! I have not been to Busch Gardens

in YEARS so when a friend had a few extra tickets to his company Christmas party-

he REALLY had to twist my arm but we eventually accepted.
2 // World of Beer with this fabulous lady- we are still irritate at the fact
that they built a WOB in what is basically a retirement community.... WHY..
3 // Wrapping up some Christmas shopping. Bath & Body Works had a ridicccc
sale this past weekend- buy 3 items, get 3 items free. Which the shopping addict easily
turns into buy 12 items, get 12 items free. Oops.

4 // Jake's pictures with Santa at PetSmart. Just.... weird. If it wasn't for dragging
my poor pup (in a Christmas sweater at that) out on a Saturday morning because I was
set on cute puppy pictures with Santa... I would have just turned around at the sight of this man.
He looks like he wants to eat Jake. No words.
5 // Sneak Peak of a quick backyard shoot!
{More Tomorrow!}

6 // Taking full advantage of living in horse country again- Horseback riding for Mom's
birthday!

Have a fabulous Monday lovelies!

Christmas 2013 Wish List

Hoooooly Holidays!

We are TWENTY days away from Christmas people! 

I am a true believer that it is better to give than receive... which is why I am practically

DUNZO with all of my Christmas shopping yet I haven't managed to share anything that I would want.

So I pulled a few items together for my tall, dark and handsome Santa Clause:

// 1 // A new MK wallet! I am in DESPERATE need of one.

When the woman at the bank counter awkwardly gawks at you due to the 

status of your current one... tis time. 

// 2 // Statement necklaces- Loving anything BaubleBar or Francesca's at the moment

// 3 // Sugar Bowl tickets! Oh please, oh please, oh please!??

Our Knights are looking BCS Bowl Bound this year and predictions say we're goin'

to N'awlins! GEAUX KNIGHTS! Win or lose... I will still be found double fisted on Bourbon St.

ONE MORE GAME!

// 4 // Seriously a girl can never have too many EOS lip balms. Hellooo stocking stuffer!

// 5 // Monogram Rain Jacket- Marley Lilly does 'em best :)

A girl can also never have too much monogram

// 6 // B&BW Candles! ALL of them! Hands down, the best smelling candles. 

// 7 // Infinity Scarves <3 Seriously who invented the infinity scarf anyway ? 

Now I can't wear any of my regular ones. Boooo!

Loving this fringe one that was recently seen on Groop Dealz!

Hope everyone is having as much fun Christmas shopping as I am.

One word: Amazon. 

Seriously, do it. :)

Thankful: Thanksgiving 2013 Recap { and table reveal }

Has it really already been a week since Thanksgiving?

Where has the first week of December gone??

I am way behind on recapping our day

{and sharing our fabulous new farmhouse table with you}

There. I said it. 

WE HAVE A NEW FARMHOUSE TABLE! 

Surpriiiiise! 

Well, if you follow me on Insta I guess it wasn't much of a surprise 

but let's go ahead and jump right into a photo dump from hosting our

FIRST Thanksgiving!

The table AND the dishes! 

[INSERT BIGGEST SMILEY FACE EVER]

The dishes were a HUGE thing for me this year. 

They are my Great Grandma's autumn dishes.

They were passed on to her daughter, and eventually my Grandma is

passing them on to my Momma. 

They are old yet still so beautiful. 

It was so much fun to have Great Grandma's OLD dishes

and our NEW farmhouse table. 

We're just jumping right into traditions these days :)

Getting my hostess on! 

Don't get excited.. it's cornbread casserole.

That and the sweet potato casserole were the only things I actually

tackled FOOD wise this year... well, and desserts.

Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Dip and.. Mom's Birthday cake!

I spy a little doggie trying to get in on Birthday cake action.

Every 7 years Mom's birthday falls on actual Thanksgiving day.

A birthday and a holiday- so fun!

It was a fabulous day and I was so happy everyone came

to our home this year to share it. 

I practically had all of my Fall decorations down once the last

person left our house on Thanksgiving day. 

Hey? A girl gets excited once the boxes of Christmas decor

start to come down from the attic, ok?

But it was a great day- I'm so blessed to have my family. 

My mom, my dad, my family who couldn't make it, my new, extended

family who will be welcoming me into their family as of March 1st. 

..aaand now it's time to break out the reds and greens, folks!

{ DIY } December To Do List & Christmas Fonts

Leeeet's talk about Christmas today! 

I realize for most of you that may be an annoying statement, BUT

coming from the person who makes that comment in June, mid-November

is a perfectly acceptable time to be gushing over Christmas-ness.

Everyone has seen the Fall, Summer, etc. "to do" lists on Pinterest, yes?

They're usually the super fun looking printables made up of several different fonts,

framed, and then, more often then not, displayed next to a festive apothecary jar.
Ok so maybe I'm continuously repinning the same one? 

Since this is my first December back home in 7 years I am milking every 

last drop of Christmas out of this month. So I found an acceptable/cute

way to compulsively list-make for all of my December "to do's." 

You will need:

Your computer

Whatever paint app you typically use

Fonts (see below!)
Printer

Christmas scrap book paper

Twine

Magnets

First, click below and download some festive fonts.
The more the merrier!
No pun intended.

Next, go ahead and start your collaboration of all of your
"December to do's" and don't forget to use different fonts.
When you have thought of every possible holiday-related activity,
you're ready to print!
Add the scrapbook paper as accents and since we're from the south,
nothing is complete without either burlap or twine.

You can frame it or hang it or whatever you like but I chose
to display mine right smack in the middle of my kitchen on my
fridge where I know I will see it EVERY stinkin day in December.

And GUESS who else is equally stoked about Christmas??
THIS GUY!

Note: No animals were harmed during the process of taking this photo

Happy Friday :)

Dateiversary! And EIGHT years in Pictures

First off- Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served and

fought for this beautiful country. We truly are the Land of the Free because of the brave. 

Secondly- Happy EIGHT Year Dateiversary to main man, soon-to-be-husby,

cooker of amazing steaks, fur-baby-daddy to Jake, love of my life, 

best friend in the whole entire universe... Bry :)

I am feeling rather nostalgic today so I have a little treat for you all-
EIGHT (I don't know why I continue to spell out and capitalize this word)
years in Corin and Bryan...
Can I get a "YAAYYY??!"

2005

Out to eat- when we were the obnoxious 10%
tipping 16 year olds.
Thank you, karma, later on in my serving years.

2006

Halloween 2006.. dirty pirate hooker and Bryan's rather fitting keg costume

2007

Family snuggles at the river and our new puppyyyy!

2008

The start of a new business! And hair bleach! Weeeee!

2009

Celebrating 5 years at the Orlando magic game

2010

Cruising to Mexico and our FIRST vacation with both of our families.
Interesting to say the least..
COUGHmomatSenorFrogsCOUGH

2011

Valentine's Day in NYC

A very spontaneous weekend get away and one of my most FAVORITE trips. 

Heart is happy :)

2012

Pumpkin beers in Boston!

I will go ahead and say that discovering, not only pumpkin beer in general, but

that it is so deliciously accented with a cinnamon sugar rim was in our top 5 

favorite moments as a couple. It should have been a Shipyard commercial for crying out loud. 

2013

Engaged in Punta Cana

I would be completely lying to you if I said that looking back at those

photos didn't just melt my heart and bring even the teeniest tear to my eye. 

Cheesy as it may sound, it REALLY doesn't feel like 8 years ago that Bryan

asked me, on a FREEZING cold drunken camping trip night, to be his girlfriend. 

We have been through our fair share of ups and downs.

We have run all of Bryan's businesses TOGETHER and working together is not an easy task.

We are a team. We're partners. We're best friends. 

But mostly, we are in love.

I love you Bry!

Ok- no more sappy lovey blog posts for a while now! I promise.

Until Wedding Wednesday..

Juuuuust kidding.

BUT on another note... I am slightly irritated that once we are married 

we're technically no longer allowed to celebrate our dating anniversary.

EIGHT (there it goes again, people) YEARS that are just unaccounted for?

No... I'm sorry, but no. 

So cheers to 8 years and this new, fun word that popped up on Urban Dictionary..

DATEIVERSARY!