Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Weekend Recap

I had a wonderful weekend!  Friday night we went to dinner for the husband's birthday and then drove through the neighborhood and enjoyed all the beautiful Christmas lights.




The husband's birthday was actually on Saturday so he opted to wait to open his present until the morning.  Sammy loves watching her dad open presents.


I think she was hoping something would be for her.

During the day on Saturday we had Christmas lunch with the husband's mom, sister and our niece and nephew.  I was excited to set a pretty Christmas table.


I chose some of my grandmother's dishes with the green edges to go with my red place mats.


I think it turned out well.  I just wish I had put the plates on the chargers for this picture.  Next time.  :)

The husband and I served beef tender with roasted asparagus and mashed potatoes.  The sister-in-law brought petits fours from the fabulous Moeller's Bakery.  Yum.

They looked pretty one one of my grandmother's trays.

The kiddos got to open their Christmas presents from the husband and me.  We will be with my family in Mississippi on Christmas morning this year, so this was our Christmas morning with them.  I scored cool aunt points by picking out clothes that both kids were excited about.  Go me.


Jett said he is not going anywhere without this vest.  Good thing it is reversible.

Pretty in pink!

We also gave the kids the game Headbandz.  They loved it.


On Sunday the husband and I got massages and vegged out in front of football and A Charlie Brown Christmas.  We watch the DVD every year on the husband's birthday.

(source)

This week is going to be packed with work and celebration.  I can't believe Christmas is only a week away.  How did that happen!?

I hope you have a fantastic week!!

stillbeingmolly

Monday, December 10, 2012

Weekend Recap

We had a wonderful weekend down in Galveston!


The view from our room at the San Luis Resort was pretty nice, I must admit!  However, the beach was not the reason for the trip...my dear friend and college roommate Liz got married!!


I had the privilege of hanging out with her in the spa while she got her hair done and then we returned to her room where I did her makeup. 


Kasey, the fabulous owner/photographer from Monkey Tree Photography, was there to take pictures.  Liz, Kasey and I all became friends in college.


We got Liz all ready and then she was off to the venue for more pictures.  Gorgeous bride!!


Liz and Diaz married Saturday night at a beautiful church in the downtown historical district of Galveston.




I thought Liz's dress was beautiful!




The reception was at the Ashton Villa, which was a lovely venue.  It looked like an old home with a grand ballroom.

The husband, the bride, Kasey, the groom and me!


Dear Friends


 The Funky Monkey Photobooth was there providing pictures and fun!


It was a wonderful weekend full of friends and fun.  Thanks Liz and Diaz for including us in your day!!  I hope you have a super fun honeymoon!


stillbeingmolly

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Stockings

Quick post this morning to report that my stockings arrived!  I hope you are not sick of my Christmas decoration posts yet.  I have a feeling there will be more before Christmas.

Anyway, I ordered our stockings from Pottery Barn Kids.  I was glad I thought to look there, I started with Pier 1 and then regular grown up Pottery Barn.  Pottery Barn Kids had a much bigger selection of stockings and lots of them were good for grown ups...and cats and dogs...yes, Sammy and Trixie each have a stocking as well.

Hung with care.  :)

The fireplace is now complete.

Happy Tuesday friends!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Weekend Recap

My weekend consisted of sleeping and decorating.  I was recovering from strep throat, so there was more sleeping than really anything else.  So let's talk about the decorating!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas tree is up and I think it is one of the prettiest trees we have ever had.  I still want to add a bow below the star, but I didn't get to it this weekend.

This Santa was in with my ornaments, I believe he is a Krinkle.  He was a gift from the sister-in-law and has found the perfect home in the new Wells wreath.

Love

The husband said that was just what the wreath was missing.

When we got the tree the husband had to cut some branches off the bottom so I used them in my door bucket on my front door.


The door bucket is from Willow House...they are phasing out their home goods, so if you want one...now is the time.

I also spruced up this wreath for the front of my house with some beaded garland.

.

And I bought this fresh wreath to put on my driveway door.  This is the door the husband and I come and go from the most, so I figured we deserved a wreath to make us smile too.  :)


I added the big red bow.  I used a roll of decorative mesh for this one and the one on the front door bucket.  It was hard to tie, but I am very happy with the result.

I am feeling much much better today and I am back to work!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

stillbeingmolly

How is your holiday decorating coming along?

Friday, November 30, 2012

Insta-Friday #9

This week has flown by and has been very disconnected much like this post is planned to be, but it is insta-Friday, so it will be packed with fun pictures.  Let's start at the doctor's office.  I was there yesterday.

Waiting to see the doctor.

I have strep throat.  Awesome.  So, today I am blogging from my bed.  I have been here most of the day.  I did have a great project though...Christmas cards...addressed and ready to mail.  Since the cards will not be on the blog until Christmas...here are some decorations in my house.

Newly made Wells wreath.
Twinkley
Invasion of the Santas.

Other than this all I have to report today is that I have some of the most beautiful nieces on the planet.






Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!  Stay healthy!!!

life rearranged

Thursday, November 29, 2012

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

After Thanksgiving I did some Christmas decorating.  I have a fireplace and mantle now and I was excited to decorate it.


Yes, that is the decoration storage box and some wrapped presents in the picture...I was that excited to snap a picture I couldn't wait to clean up.

I ruined two of our stockings by storing them too close to a red candle so I ordered new stockings for us all with our names on them.  I am excited to hang them when they come and I am sure will share a new picture.  Other than that I decided I needed the lights and greenery to extend the entire length of the mantle and my sister made the great suggestion of hanging a lighted wreath.  Off to Michael's I went!  I got a lighted wreath that was on sale for 15 bucks and I got beaded tinsel and glittery letters for 50 cents each.

Ta-da!

With the beads and letters the wreath set me back about 20 bucks.  I used my glue gun to put the letters on the wreath.


Festive, yes?

I also picked up some greenery for the dining room.  I couldn't let me new candle holders miss out, right?


My other new decoration this year are these ornaments from Willow House.


After the tree arrives this weekend I will share more of my decorations.  Have you started decorating yet?

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Lightened Thanksgiving Recipes

As I mentioned in yesterday's post the husband and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for family for the first time this year.  When I was planning the menu I decided I wanted to do some lighter recipes, including a large salad so that all the choices were not super heavy and high in calories.  I went over to one of my favorite light recipe sources, skinnytaste.com and did a search for Thanksgiving recipes.  I found this great salad.

Baby Greens with Goat Cheese, Beets and Candied Pecans

Uh-mazing.  Instead of cooking the beets myself, I used a can of whole beets.  I drained, rinsed, and cut them into quarters.  Then I let them sit in some of the salad dressing to marinate while I prepared the rest of dinner.  It worked out great.

Close up yumminess.

The other recipe I was looking for was one for sweet potatoes.  I don't know about you, but I am not a big fan of the marshmellow-y over sweet candied yams.  I wanted to do a lightly sweet dish of sweet potatoes.  I found that recipe too!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes Brulee

This recipe was SO easy.  I boiled and mashed the sweet potatoes on Wednesday and refrigerated them.  I heated them up on Thanksgiving and added the brown sugar for broiling.  Simple.

Ignore the little burned bit of sugar on mine.  We ate around it and it was delicious.  If you are looking for lightened Thanksgiving recipes next year, bookmark this page on Skinny Taste.

This year we skipped the green bean casserole.  My sister steamed up some green beans and then sauteed them with a little bacon, tossed in some roasted baby bella mushrooms and topped with crispy bacon.  Super easy...super delicious.


The prep and cooking this year was so easy that I was actually wondering if I was forgetting something on Thanksgiving day.  No, it was just that easy.  Loved it.

Happy Tuesday friends!!