Auld Lang Syne...Happy 2012!!

It's the first post of the new year! I cannot believe it's 2012--I swear last year moved at warp speed, but I can't help get excited at so many things coming up in twenty twelve.
We had the most fantastic 3-day weekend and it was a blessing to be at home celebrating the new year. Friday night, we went to Zanie's to see John Caparulo's comedy show. I had never been before, but we had so much fun...an adult evening for sure and he was hilarious, just like when he's on Chelsea Lately.
Saturday, we had my parents and Jeff's cousin Eddie over--we grilled for lunch and enjoyed the gorgeous 60 degree weather and ate ourselves into a coma before doing it all over again for dinner that night. Jeff wanted to try something new so he made BBQ which was great...I feel lucky I have a guy who can cook so well {when he wants to!}. We played games and watched the ball drop and talked all about our new year's resolutions, and I successfully made it until 1:45AM so I felt like a sober rockstar. 

celebrating the last NYE of just being the two of us

 smoking their NYE cigars...haha

 our tasty dinner...BBQ, ribs, asian coleslaw, and cheesy corn on the cob

 evening attire ;)

 jeff playing with chloe and bella

 watching the ball drop

Sunday morning, I got up to make monkey bread and a sausage and egg casserole for brunch. Then we said our goodbyes and hubby and I worked to get our Christmas decorations down. That night, we met up with Lauren and Andy for dinner and to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The story followed the book really closely and I cannot wait to dive into the 2nd installment of the trilogy.
For my last day off, I went to the gym to get my first 2012 workout in and then did some shopping for the nursery...I PROMISE a progress post is coming this week! We spent the night watching mindless television and catching up on RHOBH and my other junk shows including The Bachelor--I gave it an entire hour before saying hasta la vista to Ben...I just can't handle him.
Happy New Year friends--may this be your best year yet!! OXOX

Oh Joy! A Wonderful Christmas

I might still be in a food coma from all the incredible holiday tasty treats I consumed the past 4 days, but at least I can say it's giving me the necessary "energy" to get back into the swing of things. Is it just me, or does anyone else go through withdrawals immediately following Christmas? No more holiday tunes on the radio, no more shopping for friends and family, and neighbors taking down their trees and outside lights... oh I can't help but get a little saddened at the thought that it is all over and I have to wait until next year...winter blues, perhaps?
This year, stayed at home and spent Christmas in Nashville with my family since we had travelled to Hilton Head to spend Thanksgiving with Jeff's side. I have to admit, it was so much fun being able to spend the night at my parents' house and wake up with them on Christmas morning to open presents...a very happy heart indeed. Here's the recap of our festive family fun: {I am forewarning you, too, picture overload!}
Christmas Eve, Jeff and I ran around town, having one last pre-holiday workout, picking up a few last minute things, and then packing the car to head to Mom and Dad's...that afternoon, Mom and I got our dishes ready for my grandmother's house, baked sugar cookies, and then got ready for the evening's festivities...church and dinner at Ruth's Chris.

Mom and Dad's house all decked out for Christmas

 My banana coconut upside down cake...see here for recipe--yummy!

Slaving away in the kitchen ;)

 Mom looking gorgeous on Christmas Eve!

 All dressed up!!
{before anyone asks, the dress is from Asos Maternity}

My hubby and I celebrating our first married Christmas!!

After dinner, we drove around downtown checking out some of the fun, festive lights adorning the neighborhoods and then went home to call it a night...we were stuffed and exhausted and wanted a good night's sleep since Santa was coming!

Dad on Christmas morning

 Our fun hats, courtesy of Mom...oh he is such a good sport ;)

 Mom and me anxious to open presents!!

 Stocking time!!

 Mom's new Wayfarers!!

 My favorite present this year...hubby did good!

 Matching LL Bean Beach Bags...great minds think alike!

 Dad's gorgeous new watch!

 And finally, I was able to surprise Jeff with new Ray Bans, too!

After we finished playing Santa, we got ready and headed to Gran and Papa's house to meet up with the rest of the family for an afternoon full of fun...first on the agenda was taking in Gran's holiday lunch followed by present time--woo hoo!! Then we all gathered around the table for a new game--Farkle! If you haven't played, it's a new must...so much fun and of course our competitive natures were out in full effect. After eating leftovers for dinner, we called it a night and headed back to the parent's house to watch The Hangover 2.

Let's be honest, I look absolutely humongous pregnant, but by this point,
I was going for comfort, not for style...haha!

 Lauren and I all festive in our red!

 The adorable basket Lauren made us for Christmas filled with homemade sweets

 I dont ever think I have seen my Gran so happy before...she said it was the best Christmas having her whole family at their house and she beamed all day ;)

 Gran and Papa

Such an amazing Christmas filled with the best family... God is just SO good! We must have been extra nice this year since Santa was very giving this season, too...fun present recap to come, and we all agreed this was the best holiday yet. Even Caroline racked up some adorable presents from our family, which made my heart melt. Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating with the special people in your life!! OXOX

It's the Most Wonderful Time...December is Here!

Can you believe it? The month of December has finally arrived--I have to admit, I've been stalking it for at least a good month or two. We bought our real tree last night and we'll be decorating it tonight {pictures to come} and our Chrstmas cards are officially on their merry way to friends and family. A little jump start on my list so I can have some time to ENJOY the holidays!

This year, we have so many fun events and things going on that I want to soak up as much time as possible doing the things I love most:

Watching favorite Christmas movies. Tomorrow night, us girls are getting together to celebrate our yearly tradition—pizza, cookies, and snuggling up to watch Love Actually and The Holiday! Cannot wait.

Shopping with Mom…our tradition starts when we get in the car—Barbra Streisand’s Jingle Bells is immediately played to get us in gear and then it’s off to Starbucks for a little warm goody before we head off to the stores to attack! Once we’re done tired from carrying around bags all day, we call the boys and meet up to rendezvous.

Dicken's Christmas. Another annual tradition we simply cannot miss. The streets of downtown Franklin are transformed with fun characters dressed up, hot sugar plums to purchase, and the local shops are open to do some holiday browsing and shopping...it's something we do every year and one of the things I look forward to most!

New York City...not a tradition by any means, yet this year 8 of us are heading north the weekend before Christmas to frolick in Times Square, sip on some frozen hot chocolate courtesy of Serendippity, settle in on Broadway for The Lion King, navigate our way through Central Park, dance on the lifesize piano at FAO Schwartz, take in the tree in Rockefeller Plaza, bargain with my favorites in Chinatown, and indulge in some of the best food you can find. The itinerary is set, and we've got so much fun planned I can hardly wait! 15 days and counting...

Christmas Eve. This year, we'll be heading to my parents house for the day to spend time with just us 4. We get all dressed up, head over to church for communion and a candlelight service to sing our favorite holiday carols, and then treat ourselves to Ruth's Chris for a festive dinner. It's something we started doing years ago and it's a tradition I hold near and dear to my heart...then it's home to sip on some hot cocoa, play a few board games, and then call it a night so Santa can come and visit.

Let the season OFFICIALLY begin!! What are some of the fun celebrations you have planned for this year?