This Christmas season, I have been feeling exceptionally stressed. I'm doing more than ever; cooking, baking, crafting, buying, wrapping, and especially traveling, so I think that might have something to do with it. We just finished decorating our Christmas tree last night (which feels like a lifetime ago already), and our decorating of the house earlier that afternoon. On Saturday, I went to Atlanta with Handsome to surprise my aunt for her birthday (sidenote: I called her from the car and we chatted about X-Mas gifts and uch, and then walked up to her door and asked if she wanted some company grocery shopping-the look on her face was priceless!). I got back Monday afternoon and haven't stopped since! Here are some pictures of our Christmas tree- it's a live tree, with lots of feathers, sparkly twigs, and silk poinsettias stuck in for some fullness.
Our creche
Christmas Eve I'm spending at my Aunt's house-we of course have to watch Santa go by the house on a fire truck that night. It just doesn't feel like Christmas without that! Christmas Day is going to be at my Grandparent's house (9 a.m!) with all 20 of us, breakfast made by me and my dad, and then heading over to my boyfriend's aunt's house for Christmas dinner. I am so excited to see everyone and to give the gifts I've made. What are your plans for the Holidays?
Today I'm linking up with Gussy Sews for an Inspiration Workshop on Holiday Decor. I've been pinning like crazy these past couple weeks and have found some really pretty ideas. I guess if my house at Christmas had a theme it would be New England-style: lots of greenery, cranberries, and candles. We have white lights on our Christmas tree and outside on bushes and in garland around the door, and we usually stay in the red, white, and green color family. However, seeing some of the fun ideas on Pinterest has really got me thinking! Here are some ideas that I've used and some that I'm incorporating this year.
Wreath I made last year for bf's mom, Arlene (she does a copper -themed tree)
Wreath Mum and I made together
Christmas tree from last year- every year we try to make it different. We have 4 totes of just Christmas ornaments, so we have to be selective.
Living room
Love this idea! We can never hang ours with regular holders because ours are too heavy with presents!
A great way to save the cards you get from family and friends and look back on every year
Love the simplicity of this- we have an antique wooden child's shovel that we decorate with a swag and hang on our back door.
Stars are perfect at Christmas!
Handsome and I have been collecting pinecones on our hikes to use in Christmas decorating- I'm doing this with some pops of red.
Tell me about your ideas! And don't forget to enter my Holiday Giveaway!
Today, I'm encouraging all of you to TAKE A DEEP BREATH. The holiday season is fast approaching, and our lives are filled with shopping, decorating, driving, visiting, shopping, praying, cleaning, cooking, and yes, more shopping. Take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay. I promise!
In fact, one reason I know it's going to be okay- is this...I'm announcing a giveaway! The winner gets my very special homemade brownies in a festive holiday tin, some some other special treats, and a shoutout right here (see, you feel more hopeful already!). I'm trying to drum up more followers, so, to enter, make sure you're following my blog, and comment below. This giveaway ends December 20th at midnight, EST.
For additional entries: follow me on Twitter, tweet about this post, and/or follow me on Pinterest!
Happy Holidays! xoxo, Kate
P.S. It's Handsome's B-Day tomorrow- love you buddy! Thanks for making these past two and a half years so much fun :)
Inspired by a post on my Southern Twin's blog, A Little of This and That, I decided to follow her lead and be completely honest with you guys. All twelve of you. Now it sounds like I'm going to admit some huge secret, like I'm really Madonna's daughter, or I stole a case of Junior Mints from the local supermarket. Well, I didn't. Not that I'm in the habit of lying either, but I like the idea of learning interesting things about everyone. So here we go...
I am weird because...
I do accents at random times of the day- my best ones are British, Scottish, French, Southern, and Boston (that last one is a given).
I prefer to listen to classical music when I'm driving. I can't NOT have something sweet at the end of dinner...I'll just keep eating otherwise. I sometimes crack myself up in public places when I'm alone. I have a huge weakness for McDonald's sweet tea. I can go through the drive-through without buying anything else, too. I am a good friend because... I don't bother my friends by calling them/texting them too much. I'm a good listener. I offer good advice. (at least, I think it's good advice) It's easy to pick up where we left off when you see me.
(I started to write my own down and realized I was going to say the same thing anyway, so...thanks April!
I am a bad friend because... I don't catch up with people enough.
Sometimes, when people text/call/email me, I don't get back right away because I've answered them back in my head...does that make any sense?
Sometimes I overcommit and then secretly end up being angry with the person for asking too much even though I know it's my own fault for saying yes. I am sad because...
I only have 12 followers! This is depressing, people. Tell your friends, relatives, neighbors, and that crazy cat lady down the road that they should follow my blog. I have 53 followers on Pinterest and 55 on Twitter- obviously I'm doing something wrong.
My knees have been hurting, cracking, and popping beyond belief lately, to the point where it hurts to go up stairs and kneel in church. I'm scared because my Dad, Grandmother, and Aunt all have had knee surgery. I am happy because... I'm making new friends (yes. I'm aware that that statement makes me sound like I'm 5 years old and it's my first day of Kindergarten) I have several new books on my Kindle and some of my very favoritestTea
I'm crafting and creating and feeling good about myself. I am excited for... Christmastime! Cooking and baking! Making gifts!
Wrapping gifts!
Going to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations
Hello friends! Due to unfortunate circumstances beyond my control, I had to postpone my New York trip. I know. I'm unbelievably bummed. But on to happier things! I wanted to share with you some interesting things that I have pinned on Pinterest lately- if you're not following me...well, to put it lightly, you're CRAZY. Mostly because I'm a pinning fanatic. Or maybe I'm the one that's crazy...
The first time I did this, the words I got were crush, secrets, and read. When I looked at it again while posting this, I got leave, secrets, and dread. Yikes! Post below and tell me yours!
I'll leave you with this- a good weekend wish to you all!
xoxo, Kate
As you might have realized, I'm going to New York City (for the first time ever, I might add). Tomorrow. I'm a tad bit nervous and a whole heck of a lot excited. I'm going to see some friends and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, starring Harry Connick Jr. I'm going to try and get some touristy things as well, like Central Park, the Empire State building, FAO Schwartz, Tiffany and Co., and maybe even Katz's Deli (where that famous scene was filmed with Meg Ryan for When Harry Met Sally). Leave me some suggestions! Picture from here
I'm gonna call this one; "Kate in Costumes", because not all of them are from Halloween and because it rhymes and I like rhymes. I made a lot of these out of what I had in my closet or modified them in some way as to make them cooler. The deviled egg is a pillowcase with fabric paint and a slice of styrofoam ball. The woodland fairy costume I bought but then ripped all the bows and ribbons off and hot-glued silk leaves and flowers on to it. 4th of July was my friend's dance costume that I wore with my own accessories, and the librarian was the easiest one of all- all clothes I already owned. This year, I will be unable to participate in any Halloween festivities UNLESS it snows on Saturday- because marching band finals are on Saturday night. Darn it. This post is making me feel a little bit better though. Tell me some of your past ideas!
Halloween 2010- deviled egg and devil
Halloween 2009- Woodland fairy and Donnie (bf's dad)
4th of July and Jesus
Librarian
If you haven't stopped by my very bestest blog friend's page yet, you best do so now- A Little of This and That has some fabulous Halloween ideas. And we were both deviled eggs- which is crazy because I have never seen ANYONE else with that costume.
Recently I've been OBSESSED with making my own smoothies- breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner...etc.
My basic formula has been frozen mixed berries (Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries), frozen banana chunks (I cut them up myself as soon as I get them home- I prefer them with a little green at the stem and no brown spots), skim milk or almond milk, Stonyfield Yogurt....and, TA DA-
...a handful of spinach! Yes, spinach. No taste at all, and I know I'm getting some extra nutrients in there. Sometime I throw in some flax seeds, flax oil, almond butter, or frozen mango. I just read a recipe on Pinterest that adds rolled oats to a smoothie- not sure about it but I'm going to try it!
In New England, fall comes early. The trees are starting to turn in small patches, but right now most of them just have this dusty pink glow over them. Some pictures from last year and this year...
The capitalization in *ME* gives me a sense of importance (but I digress).
Inspired by a post on Accidentally, Kle, I decided to do a short little post about ME (self-importance again)
I am fully aware that most of these make me sound like a huge geek, but I'm okay with that.
1. I'm such a big band geek, that not just playing the saxophone for 9 years or doing marching band, concert band, jazz band, and winter guard in high school was enough for me. I went back to my old band director this year and said..."Let me help!"So now I'm an assistant color guard and visual instructor. This year, they're doing this music...
2. I'm a college student, studying Early Childhood Education, and I love it!
3. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter. Not obsessed to the point where I have posters all around my room, but I have read all the books more times than I can count, I can beat everyone I've ever played in Harry Potter Scene It?, and I'm a beta tester for Pottermore, J.K. Rowling's new website.
4. I love snow more than anything (being a New England gal) but I don't participate in any snow sports, like skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating. I do, however, sled and ice fish like NOBODY'S business.
5. I'm a ridiculously light sleeper. I have a noise machine that I have to sleep with every night, and I have wax earplugs for when I'm sleeping in the same room as another person. I wake up if someone breathes funny. Not fun.
6. I've always wanted to go hang-gliding. Not skydiving, not bungee jumping, just hang-gliding.
7. My favorite quote from a movie : "Thank you. That will be nice. Yes is being my answer. Easy question." Aurelia from Love Actually (my favorite love story out of all of them)
8. My favorite vegetable is spinach- I love all vegetables, but spinach is definitely my favorite!
9. My guilty pleasure is Mac n'Cheese. Kraft, Annie's, Velveeta, homemade, doesn't matter, I love them all. The best Mac n'Cheese I've ever had is at a place in Faneuil Hall called MMmac n'cheesee - seriously- that's the name. They make every bowl right in front of you- sauce and everything! Unreal.
10. My favorite color is cerulean- best crayon in the box, don't ya know?
I can't claim this as a "Insta-Friday" post, because I sadly do not have an iPhone and therefore cannot get the instagram app. However, I did just get my first smartphone (huzzah!) and downloaded an app called "picplz" that I love! It's similar to instagram but has a bunch of different options to edit your photos.
I don't know what it is, but every time I try to photograph my cat, he looks evil
My godson at his first soccer game of the season
Daisy from my garden before the storm
Angry ocean at high tide during Irene
Roasting some of my summer tomato crop to freeze
Storm brewing over the mountains
My grandfather's homemade pickles
Sidenote- would you like to know how he made "Jim's Pickles" ? He saved all the juice from multiple storebought jars of pickles, sliced up cucumbers really thin, and put them in the saved pickle juice. I cannot make this stuff up.
See that purple area? That "extreme" level? That's where I live, and where all of my family (except the Atlanta contingent) live. Super. It's ok, it's not like I was planning on moving into my new apartment on Monday, or anything. Seriously?!?
Would you like another comforting image from weather.com?
). Leave me some suggestions!
(my favorite love story out of all of them) 
