“The truth is, not everyone can change the entire world, and not everyone needs too. All we can do is give as much love in our lives as possible, treat ourselves kindly, and leave the world a more positive place than we entered it. That is all I can ask of myself, and I try…
Category: Christmas
Magic
“Christmas magic is silent. You don’t hear it – you feel it.” – Kevin Alan Milne May the magic of Christmas be yours, and may you be safe, joyful and blessed. I took this photo two years ago during Christmas in Tampa, Florida. This will forever be one of my all-time favorite images I’ve come…
Beyond Work
“Just be kind. Please. Just be kind. Especially during the holidays. Have an extra moment of grace, of understanding, of love. There are so many with stories of loss and struggle and hardships. And the illusions of the holiday and perfection and celebrations can make the hurt magnified. So just love. Smile more than you…
Brave Enough to Learn
Day 19 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Someone who inspires you. Answer: A number of people inspire me for a variety of reasons, but in the realm of gratitude, one particular person comes to mind as someone whose example has shaped much of who I am as an adult. Sixteen, seventeen years ago, I started…
It looks so nice parked in the driveway, Eddie
Day 6 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: A movie that’s comforting. Answer: Christmas Vacation. Or Elf. Or Home Alone. Or Preacher’s Wife. Or any Christmas movie I watch every year. I’m not sure this is what they were going for with today’s gratitude entry, but Christmas movies came to my mind instantly. When I bake Christmas…
Look for it next year, too.
Day 4 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Something in the room you’re in. Answer: Grampa’s chapel. Shown above, it was made by my Grampa more than 100 years ago, it’s one of the most precious things that I own, and I’m pretty sure I share it on this blog every year at Christmastime. But unless I want…
Soul
Today I put up my favorite Christmas decoration — my grampa’s chapel that he made for my grandma more than 100 years ago. He modeled it after the first church they attended together, also shown above. It’s one of the most cherished things I own — and not just because it’s adorable. It’s because of…
Holiday Recap – Florida Edition
A few highlights from an unusual Christmas spent in Florida this year. No snow? No problem. The monkey came home with me. We also visited the Tampa Museum of Art on Christmas Eve. This mug was part of an exhibit, but I thought he looked very holiday-appropriate. As was this fellow shopper in the museum…
Holiday Recap – Cookie Edition
I took my first cookie decorating class a year ago this month. I was so excited to make my own cookies this year instead of buying from the bakery. I still have a lot to learn, but that’s the best part.
Holiday Recap – Decorations Edition
Maybe it’s just me, but I think this year has been one of the most beautiful for Christmas lights in a long time. Day… …or night. (Okay, Cousin Eddie isn’t beautiful, but how hilarious is that??) (Tried videos because still photos just wouldn’t do. Hopefully they work.) The City Garden never disappoints. Santa baby had…
Christmas in the Desert
This was the view from the plane over Arizona — a trip that was our family Christmas gift. It was last-minute, very brief and it’s a long story, but what an amazing time! Here is the reason we chose Phoenix: my oldest son is a Rams fan; my youngest fan is a Cardinals fan and…
Brewery Lights
Finally! After calling St. Louis home for all these years, last night was the first time I got to see the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights. It was worth the wait. We even got to see it under a full moon! A few of the Clydesdales were available for photo opportunities. Even the lights are happy. (See…
Memories on display
I put up the tree this year. This sounds like such a routine holiday accomplishment, but it was a big hurdle for me. Last year, I couldn’t manage to pull it off. It was my first Christmas season without my kids at home and I was struggling with the transition. I couldn’t figure out the…
Garden Glow
“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” – Edna Ferber And there’s no better feeling than Christmas lights. Especially Garden Glow Christmas lights. Magical.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time…
…of the deer. I thought the deer at Laumeier Sculpture Park needed a little holiday inspiration. There. That’s better.
Aaaaand….
We didn’t even make it to Thanksgiving this year. Every year since 2011, during my holiday shopping I’ve found… Smushed Santas… …squashed teddy bears… …gutted snowmen… …pushed-in nutcrackers… …pinched teddy bear heads… …and punctured teddy bear heads. And now, may I introduce the 2017 inductee into the Mutilated Christmas Chocolate Collection: Pushed-in Snowman! I spotted…
Let Your Heart Be Light
Our annual trip to the Way of Lights at Our Lady of the Snows looked and felt a little different this year. Our car was a little more crowded with some new faces. But that’s the great thing about love — the more we give, the more we have. The circle can always be expanded. New…
May Your Days Be Merry…
I love this simple acts of kindness list so much. The original link is here. The accompanying photos are just a few from life lately. The Hello Kitty, panda, and heart wood are gifts from dear friends. I am filled with gratitude that, not only do I have wonderful people in my life, they know…
Tree Skirts and Santa Shirts
When I glanced at our Christmas tree this morning, I noticed that our new tree skirt appeared to be in a ball under the branches. Upon closer inspection, I realized our Violet was that “ball” and our skirt was just fine. It was just hard to tell where the skirt ended and the cat began….
Well Under Way
Behold, the Grump Tree. I found this silly thing at Trader Joe’s today and had to take it home with me. It’s like Dr. Seuss meets Charlie Brown. This was after my son’s girlfriend and I made these little cupcakes yesterday. A dozen penguins and a polar bear. (We ran out of momentum.) And Murphy…
My Little Chapel
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.” – The Grinch I don’t have our tree up yet, but I do have our newest little decoration up in the house. And no, it didn’t come from a store. And it means a whole lot more. Isn’t it the…
Time to Glow
Started the season off at my favorite place with one of my favorite events — the Garden Glow! I took my Little Sister and her mom with me in celebration of my Little’s birthday (after a trip to Build-a-Bear). It was my Little’s mom’s first trip to the Garden, let alone the Garden Glow. She…
Pugs Pulling a Sleigh (video)
That is all.
Restoration
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you.” – Anne Lamott Not only have I begun to purchase Christmas ornaments before Thanksgiving (including the lovely bully mug above), I have every intention of decorating the house this weekend as well. I can’t remember the last time I’ve looked forward…
The Tradition Continues
You know, I’d almost forgotten about it this year. In fact, I hadn’t even looked. Every year since 2011, during my holiday shopping I’ve found… …some innocent chocolate critter has been punctured… …squished… …smushed… …or gutted. I’d almost let this photographic streak of destruction snap. Then this afternoon, there it was, staring at me from…
hey there, friends 