of recent.

some favorites of recent.

gap body fit sweatpants. you can cut them to what length you want. brill.


(these aren't actually the ones i have. they must not sell them online)

winter berry candle from target.



nivea milk and honey chapstick.



my yarn & felt (i love felt) wreath i am making right now.



finished product to be posted on completion.

thankfulness.

chloe's first snow on her first thanksgiving.

a few years ago, i started this 'thankfulness' book. every person we spend time with on thanksgiving has to write in it. it's a rule. it's so fun looking back over the few years to see what we've all written. dad is always thankful for peanut butter...at least a few times. and rick's is probably my favorite every year. it's also fun to see how our families have grown. from traci being pregnant, to lucy and madelyn last year, and chlo and baby healey this year. and hopefully many more to come. last year at this time, we were praying and hoping for a chloe and a few weeks before christmas, we found out she was in my belly...God's timing is always perfect. so for us, this year's thanksgiving has been all the sweeter with her here. you know how some things are just happier at christmas?...starbucks, snow, ella fitzgerald, mashed potatoes (or maybe mashed potatoes are always happy)... well, some holiday things are just happier with a kid. besides my new daughter, a few other top things i'm thankful for...

-jesus' unending love.
-my matty. i am his #1 fan.
-being a mom and wife.
-nieces.
-our cg's.
-bacon.

although thanksgiving is a good time to reflect back on those things i'm thankful for, i pray that this year i'm ever more aware of God's goodness to me. because i have much to be thankful for every day.

i will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
i will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
i will be glad and exult in You;
i will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
psalm 9:1-2

it's that time of year...

to start thinking about holiday cards. last year i did not send any, but i'm hoping to this year if i can get my act together. i was hoping to do some family photos, but not sure that'll happen...everyone would probably rather just see a photo of chlo anyway. shutterfly has some very fun cards this year. i've never ordered from them before, but hear good things. here are some of my favorites. i didn't even get through all the pages cause they have so many options!

classy and simple.


i really like the man’s bow tie in this one. maybe i should get matt to wear a bow tie.


bright and fun.


i love these colors together.


maybe if you’re lucky, one of these cards will be coming to a mailbox near you (or in your front yard).



*for all you bloggers, shutterfly is offering 50 free cards if you write a blog post promoting them. i say that is a steal...and it really is. thank you shutterfly!

a keeper.

fact: i do not like to cook (baking is a different story)
fact: matt is a picky eater (but i still love him)

when i find a recipe that matt and i BOTH like and that i don't really mind cooking, it definitely is a keeper and goes on my 'go to meals' list.

thai honey peanut chicken

one note...i didn't realize that it was supposed to marinade for a few hours, so i marinaded it while the rice was cooking and it still turned out delicious. i'm sure it would be even better if you did marinade it beforehand.

the ingredients are simple and usually things you always have on hand.

speaking of keepers, she is another one.