Tuesday, December 21, 2010

a little more of december around here

i feel like i have so much more to share before Christmas day
so hold on to your seats as this post may be a bit all over the place!

first of all i must tell you something funny.
i have received a few emails / comments from readers wanting to know why dantheman
isn't in the christmas card.
well....
niether am i!

i'm not sure whether i should be sad that someone would think i'd send a card with everyone in the family
except my honey
or flattered because someone thinks maybe one of the girls was me!


either way...too funny.
to be honest, my face ( and dan's) has only been on the big card
maybe twice.
so please don't think i'm a meany & left off my sweet man!


if you're looking for a last minute quick gift idea
try whipping up some of darby's cinnamon honey butter
seriously delish!


found my little tiny jars at kroger
& cute tags from my sweet friend melissa



years ago when the girls were young
we painted this platter for dan's parents as a gift.
each year when she would pull it out i regretted not making one for myself.
this summer as we packed up their home
we came accross many christmas items,
 many of which i'm certain she forgot she even had.
this one nearly broke my heart
as now
it is mine after all.

this will be dan's first christmas without both his parents.
i know it will be a bittersweet holiday for my tender hearted man.

smk & her sweetiepie under the mistletoe
(snagged from her facebook account)


& one with  her bestie too

i love nativity scenes
maybe i should keep mine out all year.


world's softest tshirt ever
has become a frequent player in my wardrobe

my three favorites literary series
 in order
are
harry potter
chronicles of narnia
& lineage of grace

this book is filled with 5 novellas of  women in jesus lineage.
i will need to do an entire post on this book
amazing
i highly recommend it!

speaking of narnia
(another topic deserving of it's own entry)
i'm also re-reading voyage of the dawn treader
we thought the movie was fantastic!!!

the spiritual connections between aslan and our heavenly father
are beautiful & powerful



we take our christmas drinking cup inventory seriously around here.


we especially love the starbucks collection
that is growing rapidly



remember when i told you i've bought nothing new this year.
well i caved.
these cute little cups from target
made the cut afterall

picked up a couple of these at tjmaxx

some festive tervis tumblers from a fun friend

these are my most absolute fave santa mugs.
a dollar store score from years ago
there may or may not be over a dozen up in my cabinets.


a little best friend gift giving time
( i know i feature smk frequently...but since she's heading to college...one day soon...i am capturing all the fun memories possible)






a little father daughter time
after daddy arrived home late one evening.
thought it was so sweet she didn't want him to be all alone.


madison grace all glammed up for her christmas party
which included a horse &buggy ride through old town norcross.
charming little town for sure!
she is my resident shoe lover
( & yes her eyes really are that blue)



a favorite centerpiece that reads
'twas the birthday of a king'


super fun ornaments from a super fun friend



it will be a sad day in january when i pack these pretties away




was thrilled to be featured on the Holiday with Matthew Mead blog



wow.
seriously you are a rock star reader indeed if you hung in there for that!

xo

34 comments:

slip4 said...

Paige, Merry Christmas from Richmond, VA! I love your blog and wish that I had discovered it earlier. Your posts are often thought-provoking and it doesn't hurt that you and your daughters are all beautiful!

Biz said...

Could your daughters be more beautiful or your decorations more exciting and fun! Your posts lightens my day! Thank you for sharing and I hope you have a blessed Tuesday and a Merry Christmas.
Biz
http://busybizblogs.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Of course I hung in there for all of it! Your images really put me in the mood {for the holidays, silly!....not that other thing!}.
xo~Jill

Jboo said...

Holy smokes -- this would be a long comment if I said everything I wanted -- like I LOVE all your special touches; your girls are adorable -- whoa - love those stockings and shoes on Madison; Caroline is darling to keep Dan the Man company at the table . . . and I could go on and on! :)

Have a wonderful, special and Merry Christmas!

Janet

Privet and Holly said...

Feeling misty,
here....This
post was a gem.
The outdoor shot
of your lovely
girl had me thinking
of my parent's Atlanta
days and flying there
when my own girl was
tiny....It's all
going way too fast.
Love to you today.
xx Suzanne

Kerri said...

I just love,love,love your blog! I have two little girls, 3 and 1 1/2, and I hope they are half as sweet and beautiful as your girls when they are older. I am definitely going to ask Santa for the book you mentioned as a last minute gift. Thank you so much for sharing and have a very Merry Christmas!

Farmgirl Paints said...

Okay first of all loved that little candy cane tumbler. So cute. I think you should leave out a manger scene all year round. That's a fab idea. And I love Francine Rivers. I'll have to look into that series.

Free Art Printables said...

I love all of your wonderful, little holiday touches Paige! I hope you and your beautiful family have a wonderful holiday my friend! Merry Christmas! Jen

sandra lee said...

Just love all of your cheery cups, mugs and tumblers! Your girls are so pretty and blessed to have a sweet Mom like you!

Talia said...

Paige,

I am SO sorry. I did think you were one of your daughters and that is why I wondered why your honey wasn't photographed as well. My apologies.

Your blog is beautiful and like you, I raised my girls alone. (their father passed) Thank you for the beautiful posts, pictures and sharing of your incredible faih. God is GREAT! I know this each and every day.

Many blessings to you and your family during this Christmas season and always.

A Thrifted Market said...

Love your blog..of course I hung in there! Merry Christmas to your beautiful family!

C Pohl said...

Love your blog, love, love the ornaments made by your friend, does she sell them, would love to have one!

thank u 4 sharing

c

Susan R said...

Okay...what is it about seeing Miss C with her Daddy that just warms my heart? She is a sweetie pie.
I think that Bausch and Lomb should come up with an amazingly blue contact lens and title it "Madison Grace Blue", those are one of a kind eyes.
I love that you found some of the sentimental things from your folks place. I did as well, you'll have to see my latest post on my blog.
I noticed that BOTH you and Dan were missing from the ol' Christmas Card, c'mon...you need to get in there too from now on.
I'll just keep quiet since we haven't even taken our photos yet. I think ours will have to be the Happy New Year Card cop out.

Two Become Three said...

Paige, I just simply ADORE your blog. I must write you an email to introduce myself, but I'll just say I grew up in Atlanta and am now living in Hawaii -- and am a mom of a 2 and 1 year old little boys!!! (but I'm one of three girls! :) ) thank you for writing and sharing your heart and lives with others. You are a gem.

Kiersten Johnson said...

Okay...I absolutely love your family. Each of one you are so adorable. Would you like to adopt a 26 year old ;). Merry Christmas from me!

Shannon said...

Laughing at all your Christmas cups and mugs they are all so cute I can see why you have ended up with so many :) I also LOVE the Harry Potter books but I haven't read the other two so I will be waiting on that post about the other book!
Beautiful pictures of your girls.

Lemonade Makin' Mama said...

I had comments about nearly every photo as I read, (all of them festive and full of holiday cheer) but my hoodlums are demanding breakfast so I've got to scurry. Loved the Narnia movie and adore the books. Congrats on the Matthew Mead thing! You are the rock star. :)

Mwah!
Sash

Tiffany Day said...

Hi Paige,

Sorry I haven't commented in a while - been reading though! These kinds of posts are my favorite - i like random stuff :) Love all the decorations - so sweet Caroline sitting with her Daddy.

Your post yesterday, brought tears to my eyes - thank you for sharing your heart. Amazing what you went through and how the Lord was with you and brought Dan to you. He is good isn't he??

You truly bring joy to my heart - and are such a ray of light. And you make me think - i like that.
thank you for being you!

MerryChristmas to you!

xoTiffany

Tracy ~Seeking Refinement~ said...

amazing. love the christmas mugs. love the mistletoe, move the matthew mead cover!!!

DEEP SIGH - so fabulous...YOU ARE!

xoxo

Nancy said...

Oh, so pretty as always! And yes, I DID mistake one of your girls for you. I didn't count them, lol.
Thank you for sharing. Your family, faith, and home are lovely!!!

Nina Diane said...

well, maybe it was a long post but I sure enjoyed it! Merry Christmas Paige. hope you and your family have a wonderful time!!

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

Merry Chirstmas! I love this post! I have so much to say...hahaha!
I love the ornaments from your friend. What a great gift!
Your girls are precious!
I love the blue shoes.
Please post soon about the F. River books. I have not read that series. But, I keep planning to.

christina said...

i loved every bit of this post honey, but my girl, madison is rocking the tights and shoes!! love love!
xoxo

Tina said...

Dear Paige, I cannot tell you how much I love visiting your blog! You have been, without a doubt..., the biggest inspiration to me this year for many reasons! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for being YOU (OK, just have to add I am not some freaky stalker, lol!). Loved this post, always so wonderful to see your girls, and that pic of your 'little bit' with her Daddy is just too precious for words! Love your Xmas glasses and of COURSE your gift wrapping is featured...as it should be!! Wishing you and your beautiful family the most wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Hugs to you from me ~ Txx

Missy said...

Welp, I'm a rock star, because I hung around to the end :) I seriously love all of your finds. I think you and I just might be soul sisters :) I'm with you on the Christmas Card thing...only the little graces our card. Merry Christmas sweet Paige!

Kelli said...

I just love stopping by here. I love those ornaments sent to you from a friend and I love the tags on the butter. Joy is my word for this season and I especially love the joy tags. I will have to look into the Lineage book...sounds SO very interesting. Daddy/daughter time...priceless. I hope you have a very Joyful Christmas!

Jodee said...

Love, love, love the handprint plate! I hope you have a great Christmas!

Danielle said...

LOVE the center piece..and the starbucks cups! Cinnamon honey butter sounds so good!

Anonymous said...

hey paige! your family is so beautiful! i sure hope that you all have a wonderful christmas! and congrats on being featured at matthew meads blog! you are a true delight! xoxo

Debby said...

So funny. When I read the post about your husband missing from the picture, I thought she mistook you for one of your girls. How sweet and flattering. I love your blog. Your pictures are always so good and capture a very happy family. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Bravehearted Beauty {formerly LLH Designs} said...

I must be a rockstar...though I must confess it's so easy to hang in there for all of your posts! I especially love your sweet little glittery three piece nativity.

Merry, merry!
Linsey

Tammy said...

Paige- well..first ..I could NEVER not finish reading one of your posts..nope.not.ever!
The Christmas cup/mug collection is so FUN! and that sweet little nativity...precious! But what's REALLY precious is that pic of your little one with her Daddy!:-)
I put several books on my Christmas list this year...I've got to quickly add this F.Rivers book...I read Redeeming Love a few years ago and loved it!
So much goodness in this post...I maught have to go back and read it AGAIN!!
Merry Christmas to you sweet friend!
Tammy :-)

Wendy said...

So much fun stuff packed into one post! Looks like Christmas at your place is a party!

All That Jazz said...

I always love your posts and visiting here! ;-)
Merry Christmas to your darling family!!
~michelle~