miscellany monday- holiday update.

oh goodness... it has been quite a long time since i've updated the blog! so many things have been going on that it has been crazy!

sean graduated from college! (hurray- cofc alumi!)

we headed to chapin to celebrate with his family for a while and do Christmas...

i got to create my own Christmas city from some of sean's mom's collection... she has tons of it- this was just a small sample, the top of what i did is above sean's head in that picture, the bottom looked like this...

see that snow? it was created by pulling apart cotton balls... no, i am not joking. sean gave me a wonderful new camera for Christmas- the last time i got a new camera i had braces- the camera was still working well but it didn't take super great pictures like i'd like it to be able to do, while i am itching to get my hands on a cannon rebel (which still hasn't come, haha) i will be using a wonderful point and shoot- it is a cannon powershot a3100 is- bonus: it is red, which makes it festive. i have been taking pictures like crazy! here's a picture of my mom's new nativity- besides the fact that "baby" Jesus looks like he should be walking around (and is actually bigger than one of the sheep) i think it is quite nice!

we also went with my friend lindsey to the clemson vs. college of charleston basketball game, which clemson won! go tigers!

so happy that clemson pulled out a win! (well, at least i was!)... Christmas day was wonderful- my mom and i opened presents that morning and then went over to a family friend's house for the rest of the day, which was simply great. i was way too spoiled this year, mom really outdid herself with goodies and sweet presents.

super warm sweaters!

fun serving pieces!

mom is starting a cross collection for me, how sweet!

then, on sunday afternoon sean came back into town and we did Christmas all over again with him!

stocking stuffers from my mom, haha.

my present from sean... i was hoping that it would be willow tree and it ending up being...

ding, ding, ding... WILLOW TREE!

i'll spare you the millions of pictures that have been taken of this sweet nativity scene (you're welcome). i am so excited that we will have it for our own home next year! i love it so much!

wow. that was a lot of catching up to do... oh well- at least life has been caught up- i will try and post more this week! go over a link up and share your miscellany!

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

[1] oh Christmas tree. the tree is now up in the house. last night we put lights on it and it shines oh-so-bright... the lights are my favorite part of the tree, not really to put on, but i think that they make the biggest impact on the tree!

[2] the weather outside is frightful. the low for tonight is 19 degrees... excuse me!? that is simply too cold.

[3] this is the Christ. tonight my church is having a free concert, if you live in the charleston area- head out and see it- it is going to be wonderful.

monday, december 13th, 7pm

the gaillard auditorium
77 calhoun street, charleston

for more information about the concert, go here.

[4] tiny tim. i sprained my ankle really bad a little over a week ago and still can't walk quite right, as i walked out of the house on my crutches my sweet, sensitive fiance called me "tiny tim"... how endearing. talk about being a scrooge! :)

go link up with carissa and make sure to keep it random!

just a thought.

craft project gone all kinds of right.

sometimes i try a craft project and it fails miserably... however, this time, i decided to try a project that looked simple enough that there was no way to mess it up aaaannnnnddd it worked!

i found the tutorial at sugar and spice mommy and decided that i would try it out on my own! go to her blog to check out the full step by step, but it was so easy and turned out great- i love when a project has instant gratification, it makes me feel better about myself and the success of the project!

what i started out with:

scraps of fabric (truth be told, i had to go and buy some fabric, because i just don't have fabric laying around the apartment)

sharp scissors (to cut fabric into strips)

long pins (i used quilting pins, 1.75 inches)

string (i used a big spool of natural jute)

styrofoam balls (i used 2.5 inch balls, worked great!)

i started out the project using some burlap because i thought the burlap would be an awesome contrast of materials with the jute, but it just did not lay quite right, so i had to abandon those efforts- maybe something will come to me on how to use it, i only have 1/4 yard, so it wasn't too much of a travesty. 

it worked best when i tried some thinner twill material with small patterns, anything large probably wouldn't be the best option because you cut it all into strips. then, start wrapping the strips around the ball until all of the styrofoam is covered, it took me two or three strips to do this. using a quilting pin, stick the pin into the ball to hold the fabric in place as you tie off a hook for the ball and then stick the pin through that knot and into the ball. that's it... easy as pie. (if you find pie easy to make, that is!)

i did make more than two, but here are a couple

make sure to go check out ashley's blog... i love reading it and she has some great crafting ideas! this project was sure a success and i plan on going back to the store to get more balls to make some more ornaments! you could even make them just as balls and use them as decorative balls in a vase or bowl on a coffee table!

 

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

[one] the last few days at home were great- it was so nice to be able to relax and be in mount pleasant. over break we tried wedding cakes and they were so good... and that is actually an understatement. my stomach is still thanking me for letting it taste that deliciousness. 

[two] good news- my favorite shows from last week provided me with some delightful wedding dance inspiration... many thanks to dancing with the stars and glee.

first up, "tootsie roll"... dancing with the stars- the actual dance starts around 1:43

and, "marry you" ... glee- the video is mirrored for some reason- i don't know why it was recorded that way.

for the record, i'm just kidding... i don't know how people would feel about us bopping down the aisle like that... haha.

[three] i didn't really get to do any black friday shopping this year, i didn't really have anything that i wanted to buy, but i had to work so it wasn't really an option- i did get a few good deals though!

[four] one fully week of classes and then 3 days of exams separate me from being finished for this fall semester- hello extra long Christmas break!

[five]  our engagement announcement was in the paper on sunday- page 4G in the post and courier... if you live in charleston would you be a doll and save that page for me!? (pretty please!)

[six] i am subtly (or not so subtly) hinting that i want a willow tree nativity scene for Christmas this year... i just love it!

what is your favorite Christmas decoration to put up in the house? 

link up with carissa- it is a miscellany monday!

just a thought.

abc's of thanks

i'm linking up with rachel at finding joy and creating my "abc's of thanks." there are so many things that i am thankful for, some are silly, but they are serious too- we should always seek to give thanks to the King for the riches and mercies that he has bestowed on us.

 
a air conditioning- while this may seem silly, if you have ever had to go an extended period without it, you know what a blessing it is
b books- anyone who knows me knows that i find literacy of the utmost importance, plus- i love just sitting down and reading a great book
c cookies- sometimes you just need one
d dancing- in all situations a dance party makes the day better
e energy- it is what gets me through the day 
f friendship- i am so grateful for my wonderful friends in my life
g grace- the biggest gift we have been given, and it is more than enough
h home- i love being home and the sense of security that comes along with that word
i ice cream
j Jesus Christ
k kickin' back and relaxing- especially weekends that are filled with this- delightful 
l laughter- not only does laughing provide a wonderful abdominal work out, but it adds years to your life- double bonus, plus- a simple smile can turn around your entire attitude
m mi madre- my mama- i love her and am thankful for her each and every day- i don't know what i would do without her
n nature- the beauty of God's creation around us is truly a love language between us and our Creator
o organization- call me pathetic, but i love to organize things and love the feeling of accomplishment when a task has been finished
p pictures- having pictures of places and people that i love around me brings me comfort
q quiet- simple silence to rest and relax
r receiving (and giving) hugs
s sean patrick alford- excited to the moon and back that he is going to be my husband
t transportation- the ability to get from place to place
u understanding
v vacations- i haven't been able to take a "real vacation" in a long time, but i love having time to get away and enjoy just being with people i love
w worship- the ability and freedom that we have to worship the King
x xerox- can you imagine how hard it would be to make copies without them?! 
y yogurt
z zoo- though this might be the only word that i know that starts with "z," i actually do like the zoo and am so glad that i have been able to go to some great ones- how else would i have been able to feed  giraffe or see an elephant up close?

now it is your turn to go and link up... do it!

just a thought.

it is beginning to look a lot like christmas!

one of my favorite things about Christmas time is getting cards in the mail- we put all of the cards along the fireplace on a card stand and it is so much fun to take a look back at them! somehow or another i am always in charge of getting the Christmas cards in order and this year shutterfly is offering a free 50 card promotion- how incredible is that!? i've used shutterfly in the past and have been so pleased! we are even using a shutterfly book for the sign in table at our wedding- i just ordered it last week, i am so excited to get it in the mail soon!

i have so many favorite things... let's start with photo cards...

they also have great products that can be used for presents...

calendars

personalized mugs

the options are really endless- you don't even have to use them for seasonal gifts- once i get my book in i'll be sure to share about it! go here if you want to get in on this great deal and get free cards too!

just a thought.

engagement pictures.

a few weeks ago we took some engagement pictures around charleston and mount pleasant- the first morning that we did them we got off to a late start, which ended with the sun shining in our faces- so we had to do a re-do a few mornings later- but we got some good pictures!

this picture was taken with a little construction crew watching, and then almost backing into us... bahaha.

iron gate along the battery- love it!

and then i made sean get into a freezing cold fountain... that is what some of the pictures below are from...

apparently i just like black and white pictures... this is the picture that is going to be in the paper (but it will be in black and white... of course).

linking up with hannah today... go check her out!

just a thought.

fall is so fabulous.

so, after an entire week of thinking about how wonderful fall is, i then open my e-mail to find this pleasant surprise...

yep, 50% off of halloween decor at world market... so, i of course head over to see what i can find... and honestly, i couldn't find anything that i liked! so sad. in the header there was a cute little owl and pumpkin, but that isn't even for this season. so sad.

such a friendly looking owl, yet no where to be found.

so, i headed over to potterybarn, my home away from home... and i sure found some fun purchases things that i wish i could buy there!

decorative owl with lights - find it here

pumpkin candles (available in white or orange) - find them here

rustic metal pumpkin - find it here

and just because i have a decorating bug, i went over to target, because let's be honest- while potterybarn is fab.u.lous, i just cannot always (or ever, as the case may be) afford it.

nito vine pumpkin - find it here

mini spooky wreaths - find them here

thanks for letting me share my disease... i hope that you find something festive to decorate your home with! i also love fall decorations that aren't specifically halloween, that way i at least feel like i've gotten more use out of them!

what is your favorite way to decorate for fall?

just a thought.

top two tuesday.

top 2 tuesday- favorite fall decorating/party ideas.

{one} a festively carved pumpkin... a necessary part of any fall decor. i just love these- they look so beautiful when they are lit!

find the DIY here- thanks martha stewart for making my owl on a tree seem not so exciting...

{two} a fun seasonal wreath... i love the way a door looks with a wreath on it... check out this one from martha stewart- her ideas are so wonderful!

find the instructions here- this one looks so simple and you could change the candy based on your color scheme!

just because i can't pick only two things... one more fun idea!

{three} unique indoor decorations... tin-can jack-o-lanterns!

find them here.

link up and share your fall ideas- i just can't get enough of them! i love, love, love this season!

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

happy monday! time to link up and share your randomness!

{one} i like to put lemons in the garbage disposal and then grind them so it smells lovely... i particularly like to do this when company is about to come over... don't judge.

{two} with another win for the tigers this weekend i am feeling extra lucky!

the only advantage of sitting on the top deck is a view like this!

{three} fall break is just.around.the.corner... and i must say that i need it!

{four} wedding planning is going well... for real. date-check, church-check, reception place-check, photographer- check, musicians for ceremony-check, website- check! :) let me think that this is progress people, i know that there is still much to be done!

{five} while cheering at the game this weekend my engagement ring suffered an accident... the band broke... i cried, but it is going to be ok. we have to get it reset, which means i am going to be without a ring for awhile, but it will be ok in the end.

{six} last week my clemson ring came in the mail... i am in love.

{seven} engagement pictures are happening this weekend, i am so excited- my friend (and maid of honor!) rachel is taking them and it is going to be great!

{eight} dana and i watched rocky horror picture show in honor of the fact that glee is doing it this week... it was beyond weird, and that is an understatement. 

this isn't from watching the movie, but it is from the social this weekend... i just happen to love it a lot. a whole lot.

{nine} fall break is just around the corner... i know i already mentioned it, but i am just.that.excited. this is the first time i am seeing sean since his fall break... which was at the beginning of this month- not a fan. but it has gone by pretty fast and i've been super busy- so that has been a blessing!

{ten} this weekend we had a crusade social that included carving pumpkins... i love carving pumpkins- i'd say that all around- this weekend was a success (minus the broken ring and the defective jeans that i bought at target and then returned)!

in the process of creating a masterpiece.

final product: an owl sitting on a tree... kind of

{eleven} i love toms, i have a pair in olive green that go with everything (or so i like to think!) and michelle at living a life of love is giving a pair away! go over to her blog for a chance to win!

i love them in red! i think that these will be my next purchase!

remember to link up! 

just a thought.