{It was awesome & a small tribute!!}

Ahhhh.....the holiday season is coming to a close. One final hoorah - New Years Eve (which come on people, I'm 8.5 months pregnant. The hoorah will be pretty mild this year) - and then it's onto to 2012. Needless to say I am SOOOO excited for what the New Year will bring and I anticipate myself being the HAPPIEST girl around!! :)!!! All of that being said, this 2011 holiday season went off without a hitch. It was festive, it was yummy, and it was actually . . . relaxing. After celebrating Hanukkah with my husbands family, it was on to Christmas with mine. I did all of my wrapping on Christmas eve day (listening to holiday tunes, of course), and spent a ton of time eating and chatting with the people that I love most! I didn't have my camera out for much of the weekend, but trust me when I say that it was a very happy time.

Just for the record, here I am at 32.5 weeks along.....

(this picture makes me look much smaller than I am/feel (I guess black is slimming). I feel pretty uncomfortable in my jeans now...I am ready for him to come out (lol)!!!

And now, back to my holiday spiel. Even though as I grow older, the holidays (for me) are less about presents and more about family, I did want to share one gift that I gave this year that I put some thought into.

Back-story - I don't talk about him too much on here, but my husband is a wonderfully sweet and funny guy. He has a huge heart and is SOOO excited about the upcoming arrival of our little boy in February! As he relates to this post, he has not traditionally been a Christmas celebrator. He grew up Jewish, and his family is amazingly festive and fun during the holidays...it's just a different kind of festive than having the tree, stockings, and jolly-big-fat-guy that a lot of us identify with. I am in love with his mom's enthusiasm when it comes to the holidays. She makes it clear that it's not about getting, it's about being good people in the world and loving wholeheartedly. She truly is an amazing lady. In regards to "our little family" and how things will go in the future, I have been planting the seed that while I am not really a religious person, I am a VERY festive and traditional person, and I have such fond memories of celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah (my dad is Jewish too) as a child. I really want our kids to have similar traditions to the ones that I have always cherished; the best of both worlds, we would always say. Soooo.....this year, I did get my husband a "Christmas" gift (well....a holiday gift that I put under Ali's tree and gave to him on Christmas morning).....


Ok, so I don't have a picture of the actual gift (ha!), but that was the card attached to it. I got my husband a super cool backpack filled with all of the "baby essentials" that he will need when he and Oliver venture out into the world together!! You know....a changing pad, diapers, wipes, diaper creme, powder, burp cloth, dirty diaper disposal bags, toy (you get the idea). Now I know that Ollie will be attached to me mostly in the beginning (being that I plan to be his food source), but if and when his daddy is ready to take him on a solo adventure (and give mommy some much needed alone time that I am sure she will be craving), he will be all set!!

I wanted to make sure that my husband knows how much I appreciate him and how much he will be needed during this special time. He is a very hands-on guy, and I feel SUPER lucky about that! So, I hope the gift showed him that I am looking forward to being "Mom and Dad" with him and that I can't wait to see him with his very own mini-me!

Now we get to wait in anticipation to see who he will look like most. Here is an adorable picture of my husband (the little Jewish boy) dressed up like Santa back in the day..... (ha!)

Look at that double chin and those hazel eyes - SO cute!! Oddly enough, I can't put my finger on any of my baby pictures at the moment, but once I do, I will post some. It will be fun to compare and contrast!

And finally, just for fun, here are some pictures of my husband and me from 2010 (some of our engagement photos)....



...and soon....baby will make 3! :) YAY!

xo Happy Tuesday!

-lisa

{Christmas Eve Eve}

The holidays are finally here people!!!! Tonight I will celebrate Channukkah with my in-laws (matzo ball soup and potato latkes = YUM!!) and tomorrow will start the beginning of "Tamale Mania" (also known as Christmas Eve & Christmas Day) with my side of the family. Go here to see the ins-and-outs of making this delectable dish.

This is such a happy time, especially this year!! I am finally 32 weeks (8 months) along with baby Oliver!! The gap is closing in, and I am getting SUPER excited. I can't believe that he will be here -- and a whopping 10 months old -- next year at this time :)!! That puts a giant smile on my face!!

Some of our holiday joy this year.....

Our holiday card.....

(SORRY!!! I didn't get my act together to send a card to some of you far-away-friends (you know who you are!!) - SO sorry!! I'll do better next year (when the picture has a cute smiley baby face on it :) !)

The card holder in action....

(ok, so I never actually got around to hanging it up this year....I suck - lol)

& last but not least, some tamale's waiting to be eaten (by me :) )...

YUM!!!

Happy holidays to you and yours!!! I hope you all stay warm and cozy!! :) xo

-L

{Binky Bag AWESOMENESS!!!}

Hi :)
So, I received one more hand made AMAZING gift for my baby shower that I didn't mention in my previous post.......a custom made "Binky Bag" from "Happy Baby Designs". Rebecca is the owner of this FABULOUS etsy shop and she is too sweet for words!! She made Oliver his very own "Binky Bag" that matches his nursery perfectly.

See.....

Isn't it ADORABLE!!?!! And not only that, it is going to be SO helpful once my little guy arrives. If I am anything like my sister (well, we are identical twins, so I am sure I will be) I am going to rely on the pacifier quite a bit (and if you are anti them, that's ok too, but I certainly am not). She has told me stories of searching around her crying baby in the dark, late at night trying to find the lost pacifier with no luck. This bag is the cure-all!!! All you have to do is be sure to keep the bag stocked (it can hold up to 3 pacifiers comfortably), and you will always have one at your fingertips.

Again, see......

There they are, just waiting to soothe my little guy :). Her shop has a ton of other beautifully made items (blankets, aprons, wash cloths, etc.), but rumor has it, Rebecca has big plans for the "Binky Bag" in the new year. She is so talented! I cannot wait to see where it ends up!!

Here is one last picture, just for fun.....


It is PERFECT!! Thank you so much Rebecca for your thoughtful gift! :) I will definitely share your info with my friends that are expecting or who are looking for a baby shower gift in the future.

Happy Saturday!

-lisa

{Generous friends & baby goods}

I am still waiting on more pictures of my AMAZING baby shower to be sent over, but in the meantime, although it is the season of GIVING, not receiving, I thought I would share some of the AWESOME treasures that I received as gifts at my baby shower. Obviously I don't have my baby in my arms yet, so my L-O-V-E for these items is yet to be 100% determined (depending on how he likes everything), but I am SO excited to try them all out and am stunned by the love and generosity that my friends have shown us.

To start (and this doesn't really go along with my statement above because I don't have to have my little guy to know that I already LOVE these items), my sweet and talented friend Cassie made me two amazingly adorable gifts....

First being this ADORABLE crate....
...and second being this very wise-looking Owl....
She shipped them all the way from Maryland, and they got here just in time for the shower. SO awesome!!! She is too sweet for words and I cannot wait to incorporate these items that were made with love into Oliver's nursery. :) Thank you Cassie!!!!

For these other items, they were on my gift registry because they either got great reviews or I just plain liked them (all images/products are from Babies R'Us).....

1) The Fisher Price Papsan Cradle Swing - My Little Lamb

(that baby looks so cozy!!)

2) Tommee Tippee bottles & accessories (several friends use these and LOVE them, so I thought I would give them a shot)
3.) The BOON Frog Pod Bath Toy Scoop and Storage...

4) The Summer Brand Video Monitor
5) The "Boppy" Flying Circus Play Gym...
6). The Skip-Hop Wise Owl Stroller Toy...

7) The Combi Pod Bouncer-Bee bouncy seat....

(This thing is adorable, and you can also hook up your ipod to the back for some tunes! I can't wait to put him in it!)

8. And the ever infamous "Gymnic Rody Hopping Horse in Orange" with the rocking horse attachable base...

(He is Sooooo cute and he looks great in the nursery already ;) )

I received a ton of other really nice gifts, but those are some of the cutest ones that I wanted to share.

I also got quite a bit of cute clothes, shoes, socks, etc., but I will wait until he is here and wearing the goods to show you all of that. Although, possibly my favorite item (in this category) are the baby TOMS that my sister bought...

The Tiny TOMS - Black Flying Machines:
They are sooo stinking cute!!!! I know tiny babies don't really need to wear shoes, but still.....could-not-resist!! :)

I am such a lucky girl and Oliver is a VERY lucky (and stylin') little boy!! I am 31 weeks now, and we are counting down the days until we get to meet him!!

Happy Thursday! xo

-L

{The BEST baby shower EVER!}

Head over here to see more about this AMAZING day......


Thank you SO much sister (and friends) for making me SUCH a happy girl on baby shower day. It was an amazing celebration. I am SO SO lucky!!

xo -L

{Maternity Goodness & a Holiday Q&A}

I am officially 30 weeks along today with our little Oliver, and I feel great!! :) He is moving around in there like CRAZY all of the time, and the doctor says that everything looks perfect! I am super excited for my baby shower this weekend and cannot wait to see everyone and celebrate!!

One of our best friends Kelly of Bubba-Loo Photography (we have known her since we were like 5 years old) snuck in a few maternity pictures of me the other day (I was 29 weeks) when she was taking Ali's family pictures. She is A-AMAZING at what she does, and I am so excited that she has agreed to take pictures of my baby shower, the nursery, and some of Josh and I this Saturday after the shower. Check out a few of the pictures she took.....



She does such beautiful work -- we are so lucky to have her around to capture such beautiful moments!! Ali is going to use some of the images as decor around the shower. :) it's going to look great! Thank you Kelly!!

Ok, now for some more holiday goodness.....





...it's MY TURN.......

**Q&A**

1. egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate FOR SURE! Me no likey Egg Nog at all!

2. does santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? My kiddo is still in my belly, but Santa will definitely wrap all gifts :)

3. colored lights on tree/house or white? I don't actually put up a tree at my home at the moment, but when I did in the past I preferred colored lights :) They are so pretty!

4. do you hang mistletoe? I haven't this year, but I do like me some mistletoe!! :)

5. when do you put your decorations up? Usually on December 1st.

6. what is your favorite holiday dish? The homemade tamales that we make with my mom every year. She does most of the work and they are TO DIE FOR! And also the Matzo Ball Soup that my mother in law makes as well as Chocolate covered matzo that my sis-in-law makes. It's YUMMY!

7. favorite holiday memory as a child? I agree with my sister and would have to say that my favorite holiday memories are when my sister, brother, and I would sleep in the den and my Nana's house on Christmas Eve. Also, waking up at the WEE hours of the morning and opening our stockings together in the dark, and then sleeping for another few hours until everyone else was ready to dive in to the presents!

One other VERY fond memory is going with our Tata (grandpa) every year to the Christmas tree lot to pick our tree. Most people think the price of trees can be ridiculous, but not him. He was always willing to spend good $ to get the tallest most perfect tree for us!

8. when and how did you learn the truth about santa? I don't remember.

9. do you open a gift on christmas eve? Nope. I am a Christmas morning gal! :)

10. how do you decorate your christmas tree? My husband bought me a faux potted topiary with lights already strung last year at an after-holiday sale, so I will put that out this year with some of my smaller ornaments that I have collected. Also I may put up a garland with ornaments too....keeping it festive around here people!!! :)

11. snow! love it or dread it? LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Granted, I've never lived in the snow, but from where I stand it is beautiful and fun!!

12. can you ice skate? In an A-frame ankle sort of way - LOL. Nothing fantastic but I can stay on my feet. :)

13. do you remember your favorite gift? My first big girl two wheeler. Ali and I immediately went outside and rode around the neighborhood. I was SO excited!!!

14. what's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Family and food! It is a must that we all get to spend time together!!

15. what is your favorite holiday dessert? I again agree with Ali - Pan Dulce (aka Mexican sweet bread). We get it every year and it tastes perfect after the tamales. Mmmm. And chocolate Matzo, as I mentioned earlier :)
.
16. what is your favorite holiday tradition? I hope to start some new traditions once little Oliver gets here, but for now, I love watching little Hayden and Noah open their presents and eating tamales and scrambled eggs for breakfast!!! :) happy day!

17. which do you prefer: giving or receiving? I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting, but I am a true sucker for giving!! I am the freak that LOVES going to the crowded mall in search of the perfect gifts for the people I love.

19. candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum.

20. favorite christmas movie? The Holiday

21. saddest christmas song? Nope. Can't think of any.

22. what is your favorite Christmas song? I've always really loved "O' Holy Night & The Little Drummer Boy.

:) happy Wednesday!
-L

{Holiday Cheer}

Sooo.......I got a wild hair up my you-know-what this year and decided that I wanted to make mason jar snow globes for my holiday decor. For some reason, I decided that I wanted to make A-LOT of them!!! They are all over the internet this season and for sale at high end retail stores....(Anthropologie specifically comes to mind)...

(LOVE Anthropologie!!)

....and after seeing them for sale at that Holiday Boutique/Flea Market that my sister and I worked, I knew I had to make some of my very own. I liked that I could keep them and use them as decorations for future years.

I wanted mine to be "winter wonderland" snow globes, not specifically Christmas, so I knew I wanted to incorporate some woodland creatures in addition to the typical trees and snow. I planned to cluster them on top of my fireplace like a wintery wonderland woodland menagerie :) I bought all of my supplies for inside the jars at Michael's and I found the jars that I wanted at a local hardware store. I wanted specifically "Ball" mason jars, so I had to hunt a little.

Happy trees :)

Once I heated up the glue gun, I started assembling them, and had a ton of fun humming holiday tunes in my pajamas mid-afternoon (no picture to document the pretty sight that was me, sorry guys - ha!). This craft is right up my alley - it takes little to no skills (ha!)


And after unfortunately running out of glue sticks, this is how many I was able to make....

What do you think?? Fun, right? And believe it or not, I still want to make more!!!!!! I'M OBSESSED (kind of like my sister is with her pom-poms!!! ha!)!!! I know, it sounds crazy, but I want them to look stacked full up there!! I added my vintage Ball jars (the blue ones) into the mix to add color, but they are empty because I need to fashion bottoms for them (they didn't come with lids when I bought them).

Here are some of them up close...






I LOVE them!! I am so happy with how they look up there and can't wait to make the final additions. I also think they need some finishing touches...maybe pretty ribbon/bows around the bottoms? Hmm...not sure. I'll have to mull it over for a bit.

In addition to my gaggle of globes, I managed to sprinkle a tad bit more of holiday cheer around our home....
Other than the that, I'm not really going to add any more "holiday decor" until after my baby shower this weekend (and not much more after that, really....most of the decorating takes place at Ali's). My sis has some adorable pom-pom garlands, buntings, and assorted crafts that she is putting together that are super-duper-Oliver-fantastic, so I am SOOO excited to see it all come together!! Yay!

Happy Monday everyone!

-L