Christmas Phone Dump

Here are a few pictures I need to "dump" on y'all.

I feel like it has been a while since I have blogged, I do apologize, the Christmas season has taken all of my time and I need to catch up!

Christmas has come and gone and I can't believe it! I am a little sad about it! I will have to fill you in on Christmas later.

 

This was from a few weeks ago at our tacky sweater party that I had to share. Aren't we cute?

 

I went out after Christmas shopping yesterday looking for the babies for next year.

 

Look at these cute PJ's, they were half off and pretty gender neutral and I thought I could add their names in lime green for next Christmas.

 

Then, I found some Christmas ornaments that I can have personalized for... $6!!!!! And I even bought the last girl one.

 

Here's a picture of the boy ornament. The girls is just pink. They re made by Glory Haas. Super cute stuff!

Look at the cute little owl!

This was a few days before Christmas. I had my family over for some "family time" I made lasagna and we (some of us) watched Home Alone.

And this is my ornament this year that my lovely Aunt sent me! How cute?

This was the other night. We had our first fire and snuggled up watching The Holiday.

This is a friend of mines Christmas gift.  A little yorkie-poo named Roo. How sweet is she?

And here is me and my Bub on our way to see a movie on Christmas Day.

We saw Parental Guidance, which was pretty cute.

 

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. I will share more soon!

 

My Heart is Sad

Friday was a sad day. I was at work when I got on Facebook and some people had posted about a shooting at an Elementary School. I was in shock and thought, "That can't be true, who on earth would ever do such a thing". But it was real, and even today I woke up wishing it had all been a dream. Those poor parents who lost their lil babies, I can't even imagine....it breaks my heart.

Max Lacado had a great post about it....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-lucado/a-christmas-prayer_2_b_2302548.html

I sure do love this picture. Jesus with the little ones crowded around them.

Dear Jesus, please comfort these families in their time of grief. Let them find hope in you, that you are in control and that these parents will see their children one day. Help these families to forgive, which only you can help them do. Send people to love on them. We know that you have a plan and will find something beautiful to come out of such an ugly situation. Thank you Lord.

Also, if you haven't seen, this Tuesday is a Blogger day of silence.

Christmas Elf and Some Other Stuff

These are my beautiful Hydrangeas my husband bought me at work. He has never brought me flower to work and I have always told him I would love it if he would. Major brownie points!

 

 

I hung wreaths in the 4 back windows of my living room and I made burlap bows to go on top. My house is SO Christmasy!

 

And just in case y'all didn't believe me, here is the proof... my award!

 

Don't y'all love this time of year...? I run to the mailbox everyday. This is all Christmas cards I got in 1 day! Loving it!

My friend and I went to Bonefish the other night for dinner, she is having her baby on MONDAY! So I made her a cute little ornament and wrapped it all cute-sie

 

On another note, I have always looked forward to having an Elf on the Shelf when I have kids. However, my Mom gave me this little elf, which my Husband has named Kevin and has decided to have his own Elf on the Shelf. Here is just a few examples...

 

In my lantern on the kitchen table

In our bed tucked in the covers with hands behind his head watching Sports Center... HAHA!!

 

Hanging from the kitchen cabinets.

And I have also found him in my bathroom drawer, and also buckled up in my front seat.

Christmas Baking Day

My Mom and I traveled to Nashville yesterday for a fun day of holiday baking, I had to share what we made. It was a lot of fun and we were all worn out by the end of the day!

We made these cute Christmas cookies, and found them on Pinterest, you can also see the recipe here

And we also found these "Grinch cookies" on Pinterest.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
• 6 to 8 drops green food color
• 1 egg
• 1 package Andes Mints
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in chopped Andes Mints and chocolate chips

2. Drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.

 

We then made Paula Deans Peppermint Bark, so easy and so yummy!

Ingredients

• Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
• 2 pounds white chocolate
• Peppermint flavorings, optional

Directions

Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.) 

 

We also made these Magic cookie bars (We found the recipe on the back of a can of cond. milk) Also yummy and easy!

 

These are yummy as well, they taste like thin mints but all they are is Ritz Crackers, dipped in some melted chocolate with some peppermint extract and sprinkled with crushed up candy canes. Super super easy!

 

Then we made Oreo Bark (I cannot find the recipe) and Greek Baklava (my Moms recipe, I will have to get) , yummy!!!

 

For lunch we had a Greek salad, spinach pie and this other tomato basil soup appetizer. All you do if poor 2 things of tomato basil soup, mix goat cheese and cream cheese and spoon in the soup. Broil for a few minutes until brown and eat with bread seasoned with olive oil, basil, garlic salt and pepper... Mmmmm Mmmmm....

 

I think that is all... do you think that's enough? HA. What a fun day of laughs, Christmas music, and baking... who doesn't love this time of year?



Gender Reveal

We found out (well 75% sure) the gender of our 2 little ones! Our appointment went wonderfully and everything was perfect. Heartbeats were 157 and 158....

 

I made everyone cast their vote (mine was on the 1 boy and 1 girl, in case you were wondering). (I can't get this picture to flip...??)

 

We even got to skype with my little Bub in for the news... I can't wait til he comes home for Christmas!

 

I went after our appointment and bought 2 outfits, got brown gift bags and wrote "Baby A" on one and "Baby B" on the other.

 

I gave my Mom "Baby A" bag and I gave my MIL the "Baby B" bag and let them open the bags...

Here is what was inside... Baby A is a boy and Baby B is a girl!!! I could have died... Thank you Jesus... so thankful and pleased as punch! My heart is so full.

 

I had to share with all my Blog friends..... Happy Wednesday!

Weekend Fun!



This past weekend was a lot of fun, Friday my sister and I went to my moms house and had a baking night.

We made all sorts of things, buckeyes, peanut butter fudge, peppermint fudge, spinach pie, crackers, thumbprint cookies, salsa, and sausage balls.. super yummy!!

My mom made Spanakopeta (spinach pie) YUMMY!

Then Saturday I was full of energy and cleaned the house from top to bottom!

Then the Mr and I went to a Christmas party (notice my husbands super handsome tacky Christmas sweater) HAHA!

While we were at his party I got a text that I had won an award from the Chattanooga Apartment Association. Since their Christmas party was the same night as my husbands, I was not able to be there but I won LEASING CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR!! YAY!

And for the first time, I made White Trash/Christmas Crack...

here is the recipe, super easy...and messy. It makes a lot... so be prepared!

Ingredients

• 3 cups Cheerios
• 3 cups Rice Chex
• 3 cups Wheat Chex
• 1 cups Pretzel Sticks
• 2-3 cups m&m’s
• 24 oz White Chocolate (plus an extra 4-8 oz if needed)
• Powdered sugar-optional

Instructions

1. In a large bowl (or wok, or giant tupperware or punch bowl) combine the Cheerios, Chex, Pretzels and m&m’s. Mix them up a bit, making sure that everything is evenly distributed.
2. Meanwhile, over a double boiler, melt the white chocolate according to the directions on the package.
3. Once the chocolate has melted and is a smooth consistency, drizzle the chocolate over the cereal mix and combine with a wooden spoon. Make sure all the cereal is covered in chocolate. If you need to melt the extra white chocolate to cover all the mix then go right on ahead!
4. Once the entire batch has been combined, lay it out to dry on a large sheet of parchment or wax paper. Sprinkle with powder sugar. Let dry for 4 hours so the chocolate is cooled and hard. Break it into pieces and store in zip top bags or package it up into jars to give out as gifts



Running to the Mailbox

I love this time of year because I run to my mailbox to check for Christmas cards

 

 

And since I am not able to send you each a card personally, I decided to post it....

 

Merry Christmas from our soon to be family of FOUR!!!

 

Christmas Tour

 

It is my most favorite time of year!! Christmas time is here... come on it and have a cup of cheer!

Here is the outside... we light up the bushes, the garland around the front door and candles in the windows.

 

Our front door evergreen wreath with monogram

 

Front door... I am loving the lantern and the door mat that says "JOY"

 

I even picked some fresh pine from the back yard and added them in all of my lanterns... yup.. just call me Martha... HA!

 

My new Christmas flag that says "Tis the Season to Celebrate"

 

My new mailbox cover that says "Merry Christmas Y'all" I got it at Ace half off a few weeks ago and I think it looks perfect with my H flag.

 

Lets start in the dining room. I wanted it to have a more rustic/natural feel.

 

I even did a natural/rustic tree using burlap, black and white plaid and stars, pine cones, birdhouses, and my musical sheet ornaments.

 

And here is some close ups of the table...

 

Don't you love the natural garland?

I love the look of the cranberries in the jars with the twine!

I hung a wreath between the windows...

and added more pine needles to my lantern.

 

And now to the guest bath....

Little tree in a bucket... LOVE!

 

 

To the kitchen....

I still have yet to put a picture in the frame... but I put it on the counter.

Our kitchen table.

 

I have 6 of the red and white polka dot plates and the go with my white dishes pretty perfectly.

kitchen window.

More Christmas plates in the corner.

on top of the fridge. (I did add a red bow to the topiary)

And it is hard to tell but my lanterns on top of the cabinet have pine needles.

 

Moving on the living room...

cozy spot by the fire

magnolia wreath hanging on a mirror above the couch in the living room.

 

Drum roll please.....

I give you the Heath Family Christmas tree

 

I used all red, white and burlap and even tied in the plaid.

berry wreath hanging from my window pane near the tree...

 

And our mantle...

See the lanterns with the red balls?

I did burlap and red balls...

 

Thanks for stopping by y'all, come by anytime!... hope you enjoyed our festive home!

 

Check out the tour:

Kellys Korner

Thrifty Decor Chick

Romantic Home