Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving with the ones they love. Let us all be thankful for our blessings today and everyday.

Favorite Things Link-Up

 

Time for the second installment in the Favorite Things Link-Up with Cheers Y'all and Down with the Dearmores. Today's list is all about stocking stuffers! In additional to the usual chocolates and clementines, I think small, practical goodies make the best stocking stuffers.

 

 

1. Gift Cards. To me gift cards are one of the easiest and most practical stocking stuffers. It can be to someone's favorite restaurant, itunes, bookstore, etc.

 

2. Hand sanitizer. You can never have too much of this stuff! Along the same lines travel size lotions are a great addition to any stocking.

 

3. Fun socks.We're not talking boring white socks, but fun, colorful ones to keep feet warm and happy during the cold winter months.

 

4. Travel size perfume. These are the perfect size for trying to new or having an easy way to bring your favorite fragrance on the road with you.

 

5. Chapstick/Lip Gloss. I can't get enough of these eos lip balms but any kind of fun lip gloss or someone's favorite lipstick would be perfect.

 

 

What do you hope to find in your stocking?

Marriage Advice

Anyone who is married usually acknowledges that it isn't perfect. Marriage is hard work and takes communication and commitment, amongst many things. While P and I were engaged we got all kinds of unsolicited marriage advice. P and I dated for seven years before we got engaged and had lived together for almost five so we kind of felt like we had it under control. And while for the most part we do, there are still new things we are learning about marriage and our relationship.

When asked to give marriage advice to a wedding magazine, Kate at The Small Things blog offered the following: "The best advice I got before getting married was to not ' set your husband up for failure.' In other words, don't expect him to read your mind or do certain things without you telling him it's important to you that he do them. When I expect things from Justin that I never even mention that I wanted, and he doesn't deliver, it's simply unfair for me to be upset with him! It's much better to communicate your needs with your husband so he has an opportunity to impress you and love you the way you need to be loved."

I love this piece of advice. It encourages communication and supporting one another. I admit that I have been guilty of setting P up for failure as it is described above and hope to make a more conscientious effort not to in the future.

Happiest day of my life!

What's the best favorite marriage advice you received?

Favorite Things Link-Up

For the next three Tuesdays, I'll be participating in the Favorite Things Link-Up!

Today's Favorite Things list is all about my favorite things, i.e. what's on my Christmas list this year. Honestly it has been hard coming up with ideas this year. I think it is a combination of having already been blessed with so many wonderful new things for our home and just getting a little older and therefore not needing/wanting as much. Nonetheless, I was able to come up with a few things I wouldn't mind unwrapping.....

1. My French Life by Vicki Archer. I spotted this book in a little shop this summer and took note of it right away. I'm a sucker for all things French and beautiful books.

2. Kate Spade The Things We Love book. I have been wanting this book for a long time and think it would make a great addition to our coffee table.

3. Sennheiser Addidas Sport Headband Headphones. I have been wanting some non-ear bud headphones for working out for a while. I recently read about these and they have gotten pretty good reviews in terms of comfort, stability, and sounds quality. I like getting workout related items for Christmas because it keeps me motivated!

4. Chanel No 5. Over the past several years my perfume collection has grown quite a bit. My all time favorites are Kate Spade Twirl (sad it's discontinued but still finding it at TJMaxx!) and Ralph Lauren Romance. I've always wanted to have a bottle of the classic and perfectly French, Chanel No 5. I've already hinted to P that this is high on my wish list!

What are some of your favorite things?

TGIF!

Happy Friday! Let's get to it with the five random things on my mind today:

1. I'm excited for Friendsgiving tomorrow! It will be a fun evening of food, drinks, and laughs with good friends. We'll be bringing P's grandmother's Derby Pie.

2. Calvin is graduating from the Old Town School for Dogs this weekend. He has been in school for three weeks and the improvements have been amazing. Walks are 100 times more enjoyable for all three of us and he seems less anxious. Our last one-on-one session with his trainer is tomorrow and we can't wait to see what he learned this week.

3. On Sunday we are finally trying Le Diplomate with our friends Erin & Ed for brunch. We have been wanting to go here since we heard it was coming to the neighborbood. Le Diplomate is a Stephen Starr restaurant. We have tried a couple of his restaurants in Philadelphia and have high hopes for this one!

4. I'm starting to get excited for Christmas! We ordered our Christmas cards this week and I've even started a little gift shopping. I'm not quite ready to listen to Christmas music and really wish the stores would wait until at least the week of Thanksgiving to start playing it.

5. I'm just happy it's Friday. It's been a long week!

Have a great weekend!

Thank You Veterans!

Thank you to all of the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country. I am grateful for your dedication and support every day.

Many of my family members have served in the military, all the way back to the Civil War. I grew up in a military family and currently support a military program office for my job. I have always had great respect and admiration for those in uniform.

Today I want to especially thank my mom, dad, step-mom, grandfathers, aunt, cousin and countless friends who have all served or continue to serve.

Friday Five!

 

I missed the Friday Five last week so I'm back at it again!

 

1. After a brief hiatus from cooking (we've had a lot of dinner plans and weeknight activities lately), I whipped up the No Bean Smokey Chili from Newlywed in the North and it was so good. It had just the right amount of kick and I was surprised to like a chili without beans so much. They hubby loved it and had more than one helping which is the best thumbs up I can get for any meal.

 

2. I stumbled across this Christmas Pledge earlier this week and really love the concept of getting all of the stressful and "crappy" (their words, not mine) stuff done before December 1st (except decorating the tree!) so that you can really enjoy and celebrate the season and true meaning of Christmas. I know I won't get all of my Christmas shopping done by December 1st but I've already started some and will definitley order our Christmas cards before then.

 

3. I am looking forward to another weekend filled with family and friends! Tomorrow my husband, sisters, dad, step-mom, and I are going to the Navy vs. Hawaii football game at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. We got the tickets for my dad back in August as a birthday present and are excited the game is finally here. Then on Sunday I'm heading up to Pennsylvania to spend time with my grandma before staying the night at my bestie and goddaughter's house.

 

4. Do you watch Scandal? It is so good this season.

 

5. I think the cold weather is here to stay. I even heard rumors of chance for snow next Wednesday! Crazy!

 

Hope you have a great weekend!

WillowCroft Winery

This past Sunday my mom, two sisters and I ventured to the WillowCroft Winery in Leesburg, Virginia. We were celebrating my older sisters 30th birthday! It was a beautiful fall day and we could not have asked for better weather. The fall foliage was breathtaking and the wines we tasted were delicious. We bought a few bottles of wine and drank one of them while enjoying a picnic we had packed. It was so nice to spend time with my mom and sisters!

My mom, sisters, and I at WillowCroft Winery
 

 

Showing off her new Caps hat. We spoiled her with 30 gifts for her 30th birthday. Ranging from nail polish and a nail file to a "30" minute massage. She loved it!

 


Enjoying our feast and wine



We stopped at a little pumpkin patch on the way home and we couldn't resist getting this picture

 

 Happy Birthday Meredith!