Merry Christmas

From our family to you and yours! May all be merry and bright. See you next year!

"It's Christmas Eve and we are going to go celebrate being young and being alive."

Ornament Swap

Southern Weddings keeps me busy each holiday season with their Gingerbread Barn Building Competition and Ornament Swap. Last year I swapped ceramic dogwoods and peaches as you'll see here. This year I made winedeer. You'll see my little guy below:





He makes for the best Christmas craft, so I encourage you to save corks all year long. 

A Very Merry Bestie Christmas

In our eighth year, we opened presents, had a slumber party and curled our hair.

Here we are last year, and here are all the years since A Bestie Christmas began in 2005.

Merry Christmas, and may you make this holiday season your bestie one yet.

Holiday Hop

Hoppin' from place to place...

• Colored denim is the closest match to dressing as bright as Christmas lights. 

• I enjoyed the office holiday party where I did Christmas pose in my tacky sweater. 

• Cara and I frolicked at a Santa Pub Crawl. I see one elf and a bag of bows. 

• December GetLit involved PJs and children's Christmas books - cuteness all around.

Home Happenings

Tiny Crocheted Nativity | Pom Pom Garland | Flannel Skirt | All Lit Up Bar Cart

Jingle Bell Jog (Elves Run the Show)

A little three-mile run through campus, in elf attire, makes for a very spirited day.

More on Gingerbread Barns

While we didn't take home the prize this year - look who's barn is the opening act:

See SW's full recap here. So proud. {My Gingerbread Barn Building Recaps: 2012 | 2011}

Happy Hollerdays

This week I enjoyed a fun class on tablescaping at Furbish Studio with lots of Carolina gals, wine, snacks (including cupcakes!) and prettiness all around - complete with time to shop.

I learned a lot about making little wow moments throughout your home, and that your home should tell the story of who you are, what you love and where you hope to go in the world.

I was inspired to make a few small changes in our own home - Home Happenings to come.

... Complete with time to shop? This cheery Christmas camel came home with me.

Gingerbread Barn - Round Two

I had such a blast at last year's Gingebread Barn Building Competition, that I was so excited to compete again. I'm always happy to be at The Carolina Inn, so I'll take any excuse. 

Once again we enjoyed delicious hot chocolate and festive Christmas cookies.

We worked and worked and worked - I think Santa would hire us as elves.

Here's our southern masterpiece - complete with a monogram and snowman. 

And here I am with teammates Cara and Laura. 

While we didn't win best gingerbread barn this year, we definitely won messiest. I'd say the messier the more fun that was had, and we certainly had a great time. Merry, Merry!

Hi, Nice Space!

Hi, Nice Space! showcases real people who have a really eye-catching space. 

"Just another night in New York City, snow comes down, looks real pretty..." - TSO

{Fantastic curating and attention to detail by one of my favorites, Maura.}

Details: You'll see the Michele Armas abstract Maura got on One Kings Lane, the mid-century buffet she refinished with her dad and her bar cart (both Salvation Army finds!), her Furbish tray, the shelves her beau proudly installed and vintage wallpaper Maura framed for the bedroom. I can't wait to see what holiday accents she's up to this month!

Brunch at The Carolina Inn

The Carolina Inn is just the cat's pajamas. I love this place all day. My mom and I made a visit to enjoy a delightful brunch and lots of stunning Christmas decorations. 

Lovely holiday piece of The Carolina Inn by Elaine O'Neil... 

Hi, Mom!

THIS hallway - it gets me every time.

Cozy fireplace. 

All of their eats are great, but there is just something special about their mushroom soup. 

 The pastry chef did a beautiful little number on this gingerbread house.

I love walking around to see the 12 Days of Christmas display. 

I still need to find two turtle doves and four calling birds. Happy Holidays!

TSO - Take Three

Jen and I had an awesome date together - we wined and dined at Bella Monica and then headed onward to see Trans Siberian Orchestra. Their show was insane - per usual. 

The best part was that Jen's husband Nick won these tickets for us! Nick wrote into the radio station to explain why he should win, and well, we won! GREAT surprise. Go, Team, Go. 

Olive Outfits

My very own tacky Christmas sweater has been purchased. 

It had me at gold accents and bows, and I can't stop wearing it. 

P.S. I was doing some maintenance on my car, set the above bow ring on the engine, and proceeded to slam the hood shut onto it. It was squashed (so sad) but salvageable (happy day), and that's the story of my bow ring - at least now it has its own unique look.

Home Happenings

Decorations are up...

... for the most wonderful time of the year. 

My Water Tower Town

This is where I grew up - Concord, North Carolina. I absolutely love coming back to visit. I have the same stops on my agenda each time I return. This way I can get my hometown fix. 

I love walking up and down the main street - Union Street. It's lined with beautiful homes, the tunnel of trees that I love and quaint shops. Oh, the shops... I always find treasures. 

A few blocks away from the main street is a lovely little garden - Memorial Garden. 

I've enjoyed many "photo shoots" inside these gates - especially during tulip time. 

In the spring you can honestly relax here for hours and be as content as can be. 

There are also (of course) beautiful churches...

And my favorite lunch spot - What-A-Burger #2. I take the number two bit seriously as not all locations are owned by the same person. My neighbor growing up owned this What-A-Burger location, along with a few others, and we would have serious business chats. 

For example, there is nothing like slushy ice. I remember they changed it on me, and I was so sad. I walked on over to the owner's house to ask him about it and express my concerns (over ice!), and voila, you'll see slushy ice still making it into the cups today (it's the little things).

My order is the same every time, Diet Cherry Lemon Sun Drop and the chili-cheese dog with a side of onion rings and fries to share. It's the best (and cheap!). ... And that's all I need - a little walk, some shops and What-A-Burger #2  - to make my hometown visit a success.

Here & There

I enjoyed an entire week over Thanksgiving to relax and play. My parent's lake was beautiful.

My Dad and I had a grand day together that included swinging at a childhood park. Oh the memories... and we both forgot how much fun it is to swing - it had been way too long. 

I got to see Kathleen! Her and Brad came with me to my favorite high school Japanese joint. It's one of those take-out places, but they actually ask how you want your steak cooked which still impresses me. I continue to be on the hunt for a convenient place that does this. 

I enjoyed a sisters lunch at our favorite - La Farm Bakery. This pumpkin spice latte was yum. 

This bakery is great, and I believe their day prior to Thanksgiving orders can attest to that.

Hank and I enjoyed seafood and sidecars - I'm all for Thanksgiving Eve cocktails. 

I ended my Thanksgiving Break with a Carolina afternoon of tailgating and football. Cheers!