Date Night at Powell Gardens

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours was incredibly busy, but so eventful. So much so that I woke up this morning with a low grade temp that is not going to slow me down! I've popped some Advil, been the grocery store, and I'm going to start working on McKinley's healthy snack for tomorrow's Holiday Party. It never stops!

On Friday night, McKinley had a sleepover with Meme and Granddaddy so Joel and I headed out on a fun little date night. He heard on the radio that morning about a fun Festival of Lights display at Powell Garden. It's a lighting exhibition, curated by the gardens Horticulture staff, and it included botanically-themed lighting displays. It began at the gardens entrance and stretched along a mile-long walking path through six of the seven themed gardens. It was so nice to be out on such a gorgeous winter night enjoying the lights of the holiday season.

While we walked, there was a fun filled tent of tables and chairs, crowds of people, and a bonfire ablaze. Turns out, it was a little concession stand of drinks! We both partook of hot chocolate spiked with peppermint schnapps and it was the perfect accessory to our continued walk through the gardens. It's funny how we spend our nights alone these days. We still go to dinner from time to time, or on a fun adventure like this one, but we always seem to find ourselves talking about McKinley. We will eventually change the subject to something less important, but then we find ourselves back on the topic of our kiddo. He is definitely the center of our lives!

Here are some pictures that Joel snapped during our winter stroll. And, I am checking that off our Holiday Bucket List!

We decided that if McKinley had been with us, we would have spent at least an hour just watching this train display!

 

I am obsessed with this wreath! I want one for my house!

 

If you have time, try to get out to the garden. The display goes through January 7th so there's plenty of time left. It's so pretty and such a fun night. The walk is the perfect way to work off all of those holiday treats. And it's lovely date night, if you can get away. 

What did you do over the weekend?

XO,

Andrea

Holiday Bucket List - Week Two

Can you believe we are a little more than a week away from Christmas? It's flying by and I still have so much to do. I want to get cookies baked and decorated, decorate the gingerbread village I purchased a couple of weeks ago, wrap a few gifts, bake a view gifts, spend some time with friends, and get ready for the big man in red! It's a lot! 

But, the holiday bucket list is coming along nicely. I have a few things planned throughout next week to prep for the weekend. Lots of things to check off the list. And, I'm thinking the list doesn't have to end on December 25th. The holidays run through NYE, so let's shoot for accomplishing the list by the first of the year. And, maybe it will snow by then to check some of the winter things off the list. 

We haven't decorated a true gingerbread house, but McKinley hosted his first holiday cookie decorating party last weekend and the kids decorated graham cracker houses. It was so much fun and I loved watching the kids get creative. Like I said, I have a gingerbread village for us to decorate next week and we can officially check that off the list!

McKinley creates a holiday craft every year and then gives it as gifts to family. This year is the snowman clothespin. Isn't it darling? Great aunts and his great grandmother are getting one and I hope they love them! I do!

The holiday cards have been sent! My dad is our annual family photographer and he did an awesome job again this year. Happy 2017! Another holiday candle is lit! I love the smell of pine and this one is amazing

Last weekend my hubby put up the antique aluminum tree complete with vintage Shiny Bright ornaments. Isn't she a beauty?

I checked off watching Polar Express because that movies runs all year long. My son can't get enough of the movie. I'm sure we will watch it again soon. And I've lived under a blanket in the evenings watching Hallmark Channel's Christmas movies. Old and new favorites have been recorded on the DVR so I can go back and watch at anytime. Loving Sleigh Bells Ring, The Mistletoe Promise, Christmasland, With Love, Christmas, and I'm looking forward to the premier of Christmas Next Door this weekend. 

Where are you on your list? What things are you checking off? What do you have planned for the week? Share with us! I would love to hear about all your holiday fun.

Happy Friday!

XO,

Andrea

McKinley's Holiday Cookie Decorating Party

Sunday was probably one of the best days ever! McKinley hosted his very first holiday party for five of his friend and it consisted of holiday cookie decorating. I asked McKinley weeks ago what type of cookies he wanted to decorate and he immediately answered with gingerbread houses. As most of you know, if you read the previous posts, I wasn't going to make gingerbread houses or buy them. I ended up using the super helpful instructions found on Pinterest for building houses out of graham crackers. 

My mom and I had purchased all the necessary items a couple of weeks ago and got to work on Friday of last week. It took us a couple of hours, and a bottle of champagne later, to complete the project and they were so cute! We used sugar cones for the trees and I ended up going back over them with green icing late Saturday night. It was totally worth the extra effort too. They were darling! But back to the graham crackers. My mom was responsible for cutting out the houses and I made up a batch of royal icing and worked to glue all of the houses together. Awesome team work!

Saturday I spent most of the morning setting up the table. I purchased a throw away table cloth at the Dollar Tree so that I just had to scoop everything up at the end of the day and pitch it! Best $1 spent! With only six kids decorating, the table spacing was so easy. Three on each side with all of the candy between them. 

The candy toppings were a huge mix of things. Starlight mints in red and green, mini M&Ms in the same colors, sugared drops, and mini Starburst dots. The kids also used the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows from the hot cocoa bar. 

For the final set up, once the trees were all green, I added a cute pair of moose antlers to every kids station. I mean, who doesn't need antlers while decorating cookies!

And then it was time for the kids to arrive! Here's how it played out. 

  

I'm honestly not sure who had more fun! I know the kids did, but I did too. It was so much fun watching them create their own houses and then decorate gingerbread men. And I loved that moms stayed to help the kids as we rang in the holidays together. It was just a wonderful afternoon. 

If you have the time, and energy, this is definitely a party to add to your holiday list for next year. I promise, you won't care how much time it took to prep. Every minute is totally worth it.

XO,

Andrea

Holiday Bucket List - Week One

It's been a week since I posted the Holiday Bucket List and I'm checking in to see how your progress is coming. Ours isn't all that far along, but it's early, right?

We put up our tree the week of Thanksgiving. It seems to go up earlier every year. It used to be an iron clad rule of mine that the tree, or anything holiday related, didn't go up until after Thanksgiving. However, over the last couple of years, I feel like it brings so much joy to our family that it's just needed! Isn't that what this time of year is all about? Comfort and Joy! But, I don't put up just one tree. I put up several. Our main tree is in the living room, a pre-lit red tree is in the kitchen, McKinley's holiday tree is in his room, and I'm debating on if I'm going to put up the Barbie tree or the antique aluminum tree in our den. I'm leaning toward the latter. 

 

I've had Christmas scented candles going for some time now, but my favorite is the Yankee Candle "Holiday Wish". I can't really pin point the scent. It's basically Christmas in jar!

McKinley's annual visit with Santa took place last weekend and it was magically as usual. Jordan Photography has the best Santa's, our favorite is Santa Jerry, and their photos turn out perfectly every time! We've been using them for years. If you're in the KC area, you need to use them! 

This weekend is going to be full of holiday cheer. McKinley is hosting his first Holiday Cookie Decorating party on Sunday and I'm so looking forward to the fun afternoon. His friends are decorating gingerbread houses (I'm making them out of graham crackers), while sipping on hot chocolate and snacking on actual gingerbread cookies. I'm going to try and squeeze in a light viewing at Deanne Rose Farmstead tonight, but saving our family lighting viewing for the weekend of Christmas. And, McKinley informed me this morning that Granddaddy is putting up their tree today and we're helping him decorate it this weekend. See what I mean about a weekend of holiday cheer!

What has been checked off your list?

XO,

Andrea

All She Wants for Christmas....

Did you know that Christmas is only 19 days away? Have you started your shopping? I have and I'm close to being done! McKinley is getting the bulk of the gifts from Santa, no surprise, but I do have some others gals to shop for and I think I've got them covered with these darling gift ideas.

Everything you see here is super girly and I'm totally okay with that! Do you have that girl in your life that loves to read? Then she's totally gonna want to curl up with a good book from her Book of the Month subscription while under that soft cream throw! I would never leave the couch with that cozy blanket around me! It's from Pottery Barn and they are offering 20% off your order! Check out their site and get the code. The Book of the Month appears to be pretty easy. Sign up your reader for a monthly subscription and they get to pick out the book they want to receive. Gotta love a gift that gives monthly! 

How about that girl that loves a good glass of bubbly? Do you know her? Well, she's writing this post right now! How cute are these uber chic stemless champagne flutes? I love the gold confetti! A modern take on the flute and I need them STAT! Head on over to Crate and Barrel to get yours. Also, how darling is that J.Crew tee! Definitely need to pre-order mine today. Speaking of J.Crew, those fuzzy leopard print slippers are EVERYTHING! And, you don't need pajamas to wear them. She could totally pair them with jeans while padding around the house.

Need to stay warm while outside? Look no further than this darling beanie from Stella & Dot. I personally own it and she needs it as well. The poms come in chocolate and cream, yes you get them both, and they simply snap off to change them over! I love versatility! Also from S&D is our ever popular Engravable line. Such a personal piece that every girl will love! These necklaces are perfection. And, I can always create mock ups for you prior to ordering. Check out my site!

Lastly, I am obsessed with Casetify! I have several of their phone cases and I could keep collecting them. Their designs are amazing! But why not keep it simple by simply giving her a single initial! Go with first or last name, it doesn't matter. It's sweet, personal, and will always make her smile!

Check out the gift ideas below!

Seriously! Aren't they all gorgeous? And couldn't you see your friend, daughter, granddaughter, etc in each and every one? Who will be the lucky recipient?

Happy Shopping!

XO,

Andrea

McKinley's Holiday Cookie Party

This year I've decided not to host an adult holiday party. Instead, I asked McKinley if he would like to host his own kid friendly party and he immediately said yes. I thought it would be super cute for him to host a holiday cookie decorating party for nine of his friends, ten total with him. I asked him which type of cookies he would like the group to decorate and he insisted on Gingerbread Houses. How could I say no! Gingerbread Houses it is! 

As you know, I love to send out personalized invites for parties, but for this one, I took the Evite route. I found the most darling invite with Gingerbread men dancing in a line. I realize it wasn't a house theme invite, but if you could see these Gingerbread men high kicking like the Rockette's, you would go to for it as well. And besides, the Gingerbread House was something about raising the roof and that didn't seem terribly appropriate. Dancing men it was! 

I've spent time on Pinterest, like I do when it comes to finding inspiration for my parties, and I've found tons of useful information. For instance, I'm making the houses out of graham crackers! Genius, right? I wasn't really going to bake my own gingerbread and then try to cut out house pieces. Nor was I going to invest in a ton of those pre-made houses. This graham cracker time saver, and cost savings, is a savior! However, I will be making my own icing. It's super easy too. It's confectioner sugar, cream of tartar, egg whites, and water. You need it to be a little thick so it acts like glue. I plan to make these on Friday so they have time to dry and harden. Oh, and how adorable is this idea for a tree in the yard. Take a sugar cone and turn it upside down on the board. Darling! (I found the idea from That Mommy Blog.)

I've already purchased all the goodies for the houses. We got round peppermints in red and green, spiced gumball candies, mini candy canes, mini chewy Starbursts, and so much more. Each child will get their own bag of frosting to apply the candies and to create snow on the houses. And, I'm thinking of added coconut for each child to create 3-D snow! I found the cutest idea to place all the candies in a six cup muffin tin and place them down the table. This allows each kid access to candies within their reach. Also, I'm going to take large rectangle cake boards and cut them down to individual boards for each house. That way they have a creating surface and a way to transport them home. 

If time permits, I want to make gingerbread cookies for them to eat either while their decorating or after. I'll have Christmas music playing and I hope to have time for them to watch a classic Christmas movie. Possibly Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman. And you're going to need something to sip on and I plan to have a hot cocoa bar. I've been inspired by my research on Pinterest to recreate one of these three stand versions. Are they not the sweetest things you've ever seen? My mom found these Santa and Mrs. Clause mugs at Pottery Barn and they are perfection! (I have an antique version I've collected but would never dare use.) I found my three tiered stand at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. And, I can take it apart and lay it flat when not in use. Love the space saver version!!

This is the Pottery Barn version. So sweet!

How cute are these mugs? See the foursome above. It doesn't include the Reindeer or the Snowman.

One last thing. I've asked all the parents to stay so we can all toast in some holiday cheer. I'm thinking of serving a mulled wine, but I did just see a peppermint vodka hot chocolate that just might make the cut! Nothing like a little warm drink to help keep us in the holiday spirit.

I'm pretty sure I'm more excited than McKinley for this party. And I hope the kids coming are as well. I think it's just as important for them to have a special event to attend during the holidays as it is for adults. Now, I may find time to throw something together last minute for friends. But if I don't, this will last me all season long!

XO,

Andrea