Elf Arrival {Organized}

Picture #madewithStudio

Can you believe the holidays are upon us already? 

The holidays are a perfect reason to get together with family and friends and reflect on the past year and dream about the next.  Here is hoping even your holiday planning is filled with joy and not worry.

I love to give all holidays the attention they deserve, so forgive me for posting about Christmas before Thanksgiving, but my mother-in-law is coming over from Wales and I am just so excited for her to share this time with us.  

I have already been thinking about where each decoration will go, what candle scent will fill the home, and all the shopping that I want to get done so I can enjoy every moment without the known holiday stress.  

One of my {newer} favorite traditions is The Elf on the Shelf and I am super excited for Archie {our elf} to make his appearance again on December 1st.  If you have an elf you know all to well that you must start thinking and planning early! To help you with your planning I have created two printables to keep you organized during all of the antics. 

A list to get all your ideas written down and to make sure none are repeated {24 days is a long time} and then a planner to make sure you have all the supplies needed to pull off the chosen antic. When organized the Elf is such a fun addition to your holiday tradition. 

Get your copies now, and start planning! {Download Here}

Happy planning! 
Share some of your creative ideas in the comment section.

First Christmas

Since Christmas of 2011 Andrew and I have spent and celebrated all holidays across the pond from one another.  This year was different.  This year Andrew and I were together.  

Making memories and starting traditions, doing things our way. 

Here is a look into our very first Christmas together.

We started celebrating and waving our holiday freak flag at the beginning of the month.  We sang along with the Zionsville high school students at the holiday concert, we visited Christmas at the Zoo, and downtown Indianapolis to see some of the best Christmas lights around, and made ugly sweaters for the party of the year.  

As December 25 quickly approached we ...

...built our first gingerbread house as husband and wife.

...took a picture with Santa at Memorial Hospital.

...made the best purchase of 2014

Basketball with snowballs, anyone?

Who doesn't want to wake up and be covered in snowballs?

...we went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Jude then to my aunts house for food, drinks, laughs and a visit from Santa.

...we then came back to my parent's home and had our family Christmas.  We tried something new this year, since Jesus was brought three gifts we each received three gifts from my mom and dad.

Here is a look at each of us opening a few of our gifts:

Mom and her new Keurig

Dad and his new winter hat

Matt and his Green Bay Packer Owner bobblehead

Anne and her pink "solo" cups

Andrew got new guitar picks

...we spent Christmas morning with my mom's side of the family.  The adults play a Chinese gift exchange and year after year it still proves to be a good time and really brings out our competitive side.  The kids search through all the wrapped gifts finding the ones with their names on it then wait patiently for the 'go ahead' from the right person.
Christmas morning is always busy and only the beginning of more celebrations to come. 

Ellie celebrated her first Christmas and met my favorite baby doll, Geoffery.

Isn't she just precious? She just loved Geoffery

Christmas morning is always busy and only the beginning of more celebrations to come so some get a nap in anyway they can.

Christmas afternoon we pack up and head to Grandma & Grandpa LaFree's for more gifts, family, food and endless laughs. {unfortunatly I didn't get any pictures from this Christmas}  

Christmas is always a full day, but I am so thankful all my family is able to get together and share this time together.  I love that Andrew was able to experience the crazy with me.  It was such a blessing, one that I didn't know I was missing in my life, when I was able to wake up next to my best friend on this day of celebration and family.  

Long distance is hard but the outcome truly proves to be worth the wait.

Our first Christmas is in the books and now it is time to get ready for our first full year living together, celebrating all holidays and seasons together and making memories of a lifetime.  

Making the most of what we have, where we are is exactly what we will do. 

We are blessed. 

Ellie sure thought the snowballs were lots of fun too!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Cheers to a happy 2015!

xoxo

Eat, Drink, and Be Ugly

Friday Night Framily Dinner turned Ugly!

A new tradition is born!

Friends, appetizers, and ugly sweaters.

I can't wait to see how this evolves over the years.

All calories were removed before serving, so enjoy seconds and thirds if you please.

Who has the ugliest sweater?

Such a cute ugly couple

...and the winner is...

The ugliest sweater is homemade by me and all goodies were found at Goodwill!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo

Lights, Tigers, and Bears...Oh my!

The Christmas Season is one of my most favorite seasons.

This time is so magical and a beautiful way to wrap up the year.

Christmas lights are probably my favorite part of the season.

Three years and counting it is now tradition to visit Christmas at the Zoo 

for the best display of lights, hands down.

{Tip: visit with your besties to make the trip even more memorable}

A few of the many attempts to get the perfect selfie

My most favorite part...

Being able to begin the tradition with my husband!
After 3 years of spending the Holidays in two different countries
we are finally together for our very first Christmas together.

Most animals were cuddled up and sleeping but we sure enjoyed the thousands of lights that lit up our way from one end of the zoo to the other.

Well, hello there Big Ben, am I in London again?

I promise that is Andrew and I and not just a random couple

Every year there is this tree and it is always one of my favorites.
Isn't it just beautiful?

We couldn't leave without going to see Santa {from afar} and
decorating cookies in Mrs. Claus' kitchen

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Hope everyone found the magic in the season and their hearts were warmed with family, friends and so much love.

xoxo

Holiday Adrenaline

We plan, plan, plan for the holidays and then in a blink of the eye it is just over; especially when Christmas is on a Tuesday and everyone has to go back to work on Wednesday! {reality check not welcomed} All the shopping for gifts, baking goodies, making plans to see as much family as possible, getting dressed up and making sure everyone around us has a perfect day and then in a few hours it is all over! Phew! I love the holidays and the adrenaline rush it gives us all.  I love seeing the joy in everyone's face, from parents celebrating with their little one for the first time to grandparents that have had the same traditions for years and they still don't need changing!  Social media makes it so easy to share and keep everyone up to date and I loved scrolling through my Facebook feed and Instagram wall to see all the happy, joyous, and excited families!

I had a wonderful time with both sides of the families! I love spending time with family, I wish we were able to get together more often {and we already find random reasons to make it a party} because I love my family!

Next random party for the LaFree's

We are crazy but we know how to have fun :) On Christmas Eve we went to mass as a family! My two-year old cousin was there and kept asking to see "baby Jesus in the ranger" haha! She also knew that Christmas meant it was Jesus' birthday, if you asked how old Jesus was she responded and very confidently that Jesus was "two" I guess in her world, two is as old as you get.  Wonder what she thinks of me? After mass we headed to grandma and grandpa's for dinner, presents and the most uncensored conversations I have ever had with family!  Grandpa, who is normally pretty quiet even spoke up and had the rest of the family laughing so hard!  It was a great evening all around, and LOOK what dad got...

A baseball cap, cheese head!

...He LOVES it and can't wait to show it off at the bar for the next Packer's game!!

Anne got some PJs and  Lamb Chop slippers she was excited about

When we left grandma and grandpa's we came home to have our own family Christmas.  Santa needed help this year so he delivered early and asked mom to pass them out, funny thing was no gifts were "from Santa" Hmmm... We had a nice Christmas here at home too! I got fun, adult things such as, a kitchen mat, a portable heater, a hand mixer, cookie sheets, electrical tea kettle, clothes and a vacuum!

I was excited for all of these because now that I have my own place I really enjoy being able to use these things (and not just store them) and make my apartment more like a home with each addition! I can't wait to get back and vacuum my floors! {this is when you know you are an adult} Best gift of all from mom and dad, hands down...

...all three of us got one and we were all super stoked! HAHA.  {and this is when you know you are poor} I also got some Royal Mail to open! Of course some of my favorite goodies and some new to try along with adorable personalized gifts.  For being so far away and not being able to spend much time together they sure know me well.  I love them all and miss them very much!

On Christmas morning mom made us breakfast, biscuits and gravy and cherry turnovers! Yummy!! We got ready and headed to Warsaw to have Christmas with the Ganser side.  My little cousins were a ball of energy {more than normal because Santa had visited them the night before, of course} playing with all their new toys and showing them off! I took turns playing guitar with Olivia, how do I look Andrew? Think I am ready for a band?

Olivia definitely looks cuter, doesn't she?

We continued our tradition of the White Elephant gift exchange and this year we were all pretty civil with one another and I guess that happens when all the gifts are good choices! Either way we all had fun and ended up with something we liked! I got a new skillet and serving spoons! We ate another amazing holiday dinner topped with more desserts than I needed and shared in great family time.  Christmas is exhausting and the road trip home was very telling of that...

All three passed out in the back seat

Once home and everyone had a second wind we decided to play Scattergories and although this is not my favorite game I had lots of fun and kinda want to play again.  One round we rolled a "W" and one of the categories was "countries" After the timer went off we were all going around sharing answers, no one could come up with a country that started with "W" except me...

I looked at everyone in shock when I said "Wales?!" Everyone was like OH YEA...DUH! Anne says, please don't tell Andrew! HAHA.  I just had to laugh.  The family was coming up with all of these places I haven't even heard of but, Wales, I guess it was just too easy and obvious.  It was the perfect way to end Christmas Day!

Ronnie all snuggled in while we play our game

Christmas may be over but my holiday break is just starting! I am hoping to see some friends, that I miss so very much when living in Zionsville and enjoy the rest of the time relaxing and preparing for the next semester of school! I hope everyone had a blessed day with their families and remembered the reason for the season! God Bless!

xoxo

Spreading Cheer

Christmas 2012 is here! Holiday cheer is everywhere and I love it.  From Christmas lights, to wrapped presents and Christmas music you can't go far without being infected with the cheer.  I just love this time of year and how happy, giving and patient everyone seems to others.  It is such a great thing to see and experience.  Even in the toughest of times I like to do something that gives back and shows others that I am thinking about them and that I am thankful to have them in my life, everyday!  After all it isn't about the money spent but the heart and thought that went into a gift.  Someday when I have gifts I want them growing up not wanting the most expensive toy on the shelf but wanting the gift of experience and giving back to others.  I want to be that parent that does activities and crafts with my kids and turn around and spread our cheer to those less fortunate. It isn't expensive to give a smile! 

These little gift bags I put together for my neighbors! {Wishing you a Merry "Kiss-mas"} Just a little smile to brighten their day AND I got to tap into creative me :)  I didn't get a picture of it, but for the teachers I work with I put a pair of socks (a little random, I know) and nail polish in a gift bag with a note that said "wishing you warm and cozy toes all winter" So, the socks might seem random but with the cute little note it all comes together and who doesn't like a cute pair of socks?!

I don't know about you but I feel like 2012 has just flown by.  It has been a wonderful year full of so many adventures and blessings that I am very welcoming of 2013 and the new adventures that are to come. I am excited to be able to spend the holidays with my family.  The family time {and homemade food} is actually is my favorite part of the holidays and gifts are just a bonus.  I still long for the day when Andrew and I can spend a holiday together. "All I want for Christmas is you {Andrew}" This song and many others give me hope for the future! I can't wait to do those little things, like decorate a tree, walk hand in hand while looking at Christmas lights or even open up gifts in the same room together! I never thought of things as a big deal until the holidays came around and I realized I wanted to start making my own traditions with my love...someday! I am hopeful and patient! The wait is worth it, most definitely worth it!   

From Zionsville to South Bend...the sun was shining, Christmas music on and I was smiling and excited for Christmas 2012! Holiday cheer all over and I love it! 

xo

Lights, Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

 On my way to my friends house tonight I was in bumper to bumper traffic as it was 5 PM on a Friday and a car was attempting to get into the turn lane, she was obviously in more of a hurry than me because she thought squeezing between me and the curb was the answer...NOT! My beautiful, red HHR now has some of her silver paint on my bumper, I am thankful that everyone is ok and that the damage is not as bad as it could have been.  I will get an estimate hopefully this week and make some decisions...FUN FUN!  I guess 28 looks like this too :)

Once I made it to my friend's house birthday celebration continued Friday night when I went for Pizza and Zoo Lights! It was an amazing evening and a great way to continue  my "28 looks like this" adventure! Last year I visited Chicago and their Zoo Lights and I only heard good things about Indy's version so I had to check it out.  We had a beautiful night, we went close to closing so the crowds thinned out and the air was the perfect crispness yet not too cold that we were freezing. Here were a few of my favorite "animals" of the evening...

 I am a peacock! haha

 This one probably made me smile the biggest! A Red Panda!! My favorite zoo animal!

This was a great start to my weekend and end to my birthday celebrations! I am so glad I was able to experience Christmas lights to their fullest with great company! After my more eventful, than necessary trip to meet my friend this evening this was the perfect way to take my mind off of stressing and actually enjoy myself.  The evening was perfect!

 I just thought this one was fun :) (this was not at the zoo, this was a drive through light display)

xoxo