Crazy Family Christmas Shenanigans

About 10 years ago my family started a new tradition that has caught on like gang busters. We started getting bored with the usual "visit, dinner, visit, dessert, presents, midnight mass, goodbye's" because we didn't really get to enjoy each other because you were so focused with "making the rounds". So one year my Uncle Steve, who's a dentist, surprised us by secretly polling 100 of his patients and presented us with a Christmas version of Family Feud! It was hilarious and amazing and was the beginning of a beautiful tradition. Since then, every year there is a Christmas game that remains top secret until Christmas Eve when we all celebrate. The responsibility of coming up with the game rotates, so whoever is hosting Christmas Eve, is also responsible for the game as well. 

In the past we have played...

Family Feud, Christmas Murder Mystery, Survivor (2 times), Name That Christmas Tune, Christmas Charades, Christmas Picture Rebus Puzzles, Christmas Dice game (rolling a 2 and a 5 simultaneously), Wii  Tournament (we created characters for each person in our family)

This year I am in charge once again and we are going to play Minute to Win It Christmas version! I am so excited to see how ridiculous my family will be! Not a single person cares about making a fool of themselves, and usually we're a bit intoxicated which will make it that much more hilarious. If you haven't seen this game show, you really should! The tradition of a game on Christmas Eve has really brought my family together over the years and has created some memories that will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for my amazing family, whom I love and whom I know loves me for just the person I am. 

Empowering Women

A few weeks ago a friend of mine posted a link to The Brave Girls Club, an online website designed just for women, where they can come together to create an online community where positive self-images are instilled. This is for women who want to lead the best life they can live, all the while being brave in whatever challenge life may throw at them. It's one of the most empowering communities I've come across. 


Now granted I haven't had the time to really delve deep into the inner workings of this community, but what I have seen, is powerful, wonderful and exciting to find in my inbox daily. There is an email you can sign up to receive called "A little birdie told me...Daily Truth". This email is a little nugget of gold if you ask me! Each day it has something empowering, uplifting, inspiring or something that you just needed to hear that particular day. So many days in the last 2 weeks, these little daily truths, have spoken to me in just a way that I needed. Something my dearest and closest friends have told me before, but nothing that I believed. For some reason, I had to have it presented this way, to make me understand it and grasp it in the way it was meaningful to my life. Check it out...you won't be disappointed! 


One of the "owners" of this club is quite the artist and has created these inspirational images that I just had to post! I'm thinking of printing them and framing some for my desk, wall shelves, etc! I give all credit of these images to the wonderful women at The Brave Girls Club!

In a time when I am struggling with a friendship that is emotionally
draining; one where I'm giving my everything and not getting
anything in return...I SO needed to hear this. It's permission for me
to move on and not feel guilty. I'm protecting my soul. :)

I L.O.V.E this. It's so simple but yet so meaningful! Who
cares what others say...be yourself...do your thing...be you!

Simple. Profound.

Christmas Movie Magic

One of my favorite ways to kick off the holiday season is to snuggle up on the couch with blankets and friends, and mugs of hot chocolate (and maybe a bit of peppermint schnapps) and pop in Christmas movies! There are so many that I remember watching as a kid with my brother, on repeat, night after night. The love for  Christmas movies continues today, as I've compiled a list of holiday movies I plan to watch this year. Some I've seen, some I can pretty much quote line by line, and others I've never seen. Regardless, they are movies I plan to watch this season, and are listed in no particular order. I've put an ** by the ones that hold a special place in my heart. What are your favorite Christmas Movies??


1. Babes in Toyland**
2. A Christmas Carol
3. A Christmas Story
4. Elf**
5. The Family Stone
6. Four Christmases
7. Frosty the Snowman
8. The Holiday**
9. Home Alone**
10. The Muppet Christmas Carol
11. The Polar Express
12. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
13. Scrooge
14. A Charlie Brown Christmas**
15. It's A Wonderful Life
16. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
17. Love Actually
18. Miracle on 34th Street
19. The Night Before Christmas
20. Prancer

Snow!

Some people like to play in the snow...I however, like to put my Legos IN the snow :)

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

In honor of the impending holiday I thought it was only appropriate that I post some of my favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces and table settings. The rich color tones gives off such a cozy, inviting feeling that brightens up each room. Although I am not hosting Thanksgiving this year and will not need to create any sort of centerpiece, if I did, one of these would for sure be sitting in my dinning room.

I love the simplicity of this one, especially because all you use is
your own linens, fruit and gourds purchased at your local store.
Simple, straight forward, and gorgeous.

I don't think the centerpiece on this one is anything special
but what I do love is that the centerpiece isn't meant to be
the focal point. LOOK AT THOSE DISHES! How fun! This
is a great way to mix it up a bit and still have plenty of room on the
table for all the other "goods" :)

Again, I like the de-clutter look of this one. Who wants to
have to work around bulky centerpieces that block your
view of your loved ones and make it impossible to set
the turkey, potatoes and all the other fixin's on the table?!

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! How simple! I never thought about using
nuts to decorate like this. But how chic and simple but gorgeous!

Hands down my favorite! Just think of how versatile this could
be! You could do different plants for every season and it'd be
the perfect accent to your table!

Giving Back

Lately I have had a bit of a heavy heart, thinking about my life and how to make it more meaningful. I feel pretty selfish for not doing more for my community and others around me. Everything that I do revolves around me and what makes me feel good and rightfully so, it is my life, but I feel like there should be more to it. Yes, I give back by teaching young 5 and 6 year olds and really what could be more rewarding than that, but that's my job. I'm hired to do that. And although I love my chosen career, I am beginning to feel a pull to do more. I have been thinking of doing some sort of volunteer work, something that will help me to connect with others in my community and a way for me to give back. My first thought was Habitat for Humanity where I'd help build houses for those less fortunate but my immediate thought was "who would willingly give ME a hammer or power tool?!"....I'm rather clumsy and accident prone!. My second thought was Special Olympics where I could work with people with special needs. Ideally this would be what I'd chose, but you really don't get to connect with people much through that one because it's different people every time. But I LOVE working with people with special needs. Hmmm. 

I need some inspiration...some sort of sign that will lead me to the perfect volunteer situation.

"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others."

--Ghandi

My new inspiration

I have been wanting to re-do my bedroom and master bathroom but simply haven't known what I wanted. I think I've figured it out. I started off with my master bedroom a pretty, soothing shade of green but I've since decided I want something more neutral. After four years of green, I'm ready for a change. My master bath is pretty small and I had painted it a deep purple...pretty, but it just makes the space seem smaller. And childish.

I'm obsessed with grey. I don't know what's come over me but I LOVE GREY! It's soothing, and simple yet sophisticated and it's just what I've been needing. I want to paint the walls in both rooms grey (they connect so I need to keep it consistent) and accent with a greyish purple, white and black. Here are some rooms I love. Some more overdone than my taste for sure, but beautiful none the less.

Isn't this just to die for! I love the chic simple design
for a babys room. One any little girl could grow into and
love for years to come.

A different view. That mirror above the dresser pulls down
and turns into a changing table! I die! 

Not a fan of the yellow incorporated here
but I like the design on the wall in lieu of
a headboard. 

Although very minimalist, I feel like this is such a serene place
to retreat to.