christmas funnies

I'll be back to blogging within a couple of weeks, but until then here are some of our outtakes with both sets of our parents, who all came out from CA for the holiday.

I'm not sure if we will do Christmas like this again, but regardless... we all survived and still like each other.... kind of ;)

lift them up in prayer

"As much as she's needed here and missed by her mother, brother and me, Ana beat us all to paradise. I 
love you, sweetie girl." - beautifully stated by Jimmy Greene, a grieving father

Charlotte Bacon, Feb. 22, 2006

Rachel Davino, July 17, 1983

Olivia Engel, July 18, 2006

Josephine Gay, Dec. 11, 2005

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, April 4, 2006

Dylan Hockley, March 8, 2006

Dawn Hochsprung, June 28, 1965

Madeleine F. Hsu, July 10, 2006

Catherine V. Hubbard, June 8, 2006

Chase Kowalski, Oct. 31, 2005

Jesse Lewis, June 30, 2006

James Mattioli, March 22, 2006

Grace McDonnell, Nov. 4, 2005

Anne Marie Murphy, July 25, 1960

Emilie Parker, May 12, 2006

Jack Pinto, May 6, 2006

Noah Pozner, Nov. 20, 2006

Caroline Previdi, Sept. 7, 2006

Jessica Rekos, May 10, 2006

Avielle Richman, Oct. 17, 2006

Lauren Rousseau, June of 1982

Mary Sherlach, Feb. 11, 1956

Victoria Soto, Nov. 4, 1985

Benjamin Wheeler, Sept. 12, 2006

Allison N. Wyatt, July 3, 2006

Daniel Barden, Sept. 25, 2005

This is the most user friendly link I've found on the victims, letting us in on who each of these angels are. Please take the time to read about each and every one of them. Grab a tissue, you will cry.

***

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit." 

Psalm 34:18

* This is officially my last post for a few weeks.

merry christmas & a blogging break

!!! Merry early Christmas !!!

I'll be hosting my in-laws and my parents over the next 2 weeks and can't wait for them to arrive!

Our parents are great friends, so it'll be nice spending Christmas together... in our home.

I plan on getting out of all cooking for yet another year and am one happy girl because of it :)

I want to fully emerse myself into this holiday season and our family's visit, so I plan to take a break from blogging until after the new year.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

charlotte blogger ornament exchange

All of us Charlotte bloggers met up for dinner at Aria in Uptown for some blog talk and an ornament exchange. Always great to see these ladies and wish I could have chatted to more of them! 

We all know that I decorate my home in a classic and rustic manner. This Crate and Barrel ornament is made for me and my style... Thank you Mariel!

Merry Christmas to all my Charlotte blogger friends!

apparently i've been living under a rock

While I was surfing the web and browsing online stores... my usual pastime... I stumbled upon Tiny Prints personalized iphone cases. Um, news flash -- Tiny Prints sells more than paper items? I truly did not know this! Have I been living under a rock? I mean, for just $40 you can create an iphone case to your liking. Such a great gift idea for the person who has it all. Eh ehm, my mom!

 And because I feel like I spend so much money throughout the year on cute address labels, I've decided that it's about time I invest in a good rubber stamp or embosser. Which one do you like better?

Moral of the story: Although Tiny Prints is my go-to online store for invitations, announcements and greeting cards, they offer so much more... including Erin Condren planners!

christmas decor home tour

This year I decided to forgo purchasing any new Christmas decorations. By utilizing what I already have I realized I don't really need another thing! I did, however; end up with a few barren spots, of which I filled with Christmas candy, candles and pointsettas. All in all, it looks much like last year -- cozy, comfortable and traditional -- just the way I want my holiday house should look!

 Family Room

Family Room Fireplace & Mantel

  Dining Room

  Living Room

 Entryway

  Kitchen

 Breakfast Nook

 Steelers snowmen with our fur-baby snowman, Cali

 Garage Entryway

My primary decor colors are very nuetral with lots of soft greens and rustic woods. My house transitions great throughout the seasons and compliments Christmas colors perfectly!

Outdoor

This will be our 2nd Christmas in our house and we are so ready for our parents to arrive to celebrate!

* I feel compelled to add that my "tree skirt" is actually a twin sized sheet from a set I found on sale and bought for this very purpose last winter

* Every Christmas item on my kitchen ladder is a hand-me-down from mil (Bry's fav pieces from childhood) and aunt... Love them all!

* I need a nativity so badly, but am waiting until after Christmas sales. I'm cheap :)