As the clock struck Twelve.

My sweet friend caught some photos of Michael and I as we celebrated the new year. Please excuse the cell phone quality, but I'm so grateful to have the moment on film!

xoxo

Industrial warmth.

Normally those two words don't go together, but these industrial kitchen lights do just the thing. I can't get enough of them!

photos via pinterest

xoxo

Tony, the kissing Llama

We had SO much fun with my sister home from Ecuador over the holidays, but throughout the 3 weeks, our photo-taking was far and few between. Luckily, we captured a few of my favorite moments: picking out the tree as a family, getting kissed by Tony, the llama (he walked right over to me and planted his lips on my cheek!!! Softest furry lips ever!), my dad jumping in on a photo with the Aaron Rodgers "belt" (like a true Packer fan), and of course, sitting on Santa's lap with Michael and a dancing Christmas tree hat!

I hope you had an equally blessed holiday with your family and friends!

xoxo

To You!

In 2012, please..

Happy New Year's weekend to all! and Happy birthday to my favorite gal pal!

I hope your night is filled with those you love, and lots of dancing!

Who will you be smooching at midnight?!

toast via Just Lovely, and photos via pinterest

xoxo

Let your heart be light.

Isn't that just adorable?!

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas :)

I will most likely be on hiatus for the next week or so to enjoy the last few days with my sister. Enjoy your family and friends!

xoxo

Fa Ra Ra..

countdown via anthropologie

Last year was my first Christmas with Michael's family. We drove down to Illinois in the morning, started the day with shots of whiskey, and each family proceeded to perform Christmas carols, complete with funny hats and instruments. All newcomers to the family must perform a song by themselves. It's like initiation into their crazy Polish family! Luckily Michael had warned me about this so I had a few weeks to decide on a performance. I was in choir and the school musicals throughout high school, so I contemplated singing a classic song like "Oh Holy Night." Given my sometimes awkward and nervous tendencies, I decided to go with a humorous route instead.

If you've seen the movie, A Christmas Story, please refer to their Christmas dinner at the Chinese restaurant when the staff dazzled them with Christmas carols...

Thankfully, their family is tons of fun and the song was a hit, and this year I can sit on the sidelines!

What are your family traditions? Do you take shots and sing like a goof!? I'd love to hear about it!

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

xoxo

Two many.

countdown via anthropologie

Christmas Eve is tomorrow!

Two days until Christmas. Two years (!!) to celebrate Michael and I being together, and too many smiles to even count.

Unfortunately we can't spend the night together, but the Christmas festivities begin as my parents open their home to 50 of our old dear friends. I can't wait to see everyone but I am slightly partial to crawling into bed and locking the door behind me.

Luckily Pinterest (and Elizabeth Taylor) gave me just the pep talk I need...

Party on, homies.

xoxo

Love for the Bookworm

Sadly, I lost the sweater competition to a man in a very similar sweater. Why are boys naturally funnier than girls? It's the sad truth. But I suppose I can't win the prize when I coordinate the party, so I accepted defeat with my head held high. (nerd alert, I know).

On a higher note, I did discover a wonderful gift for my favorite bookworms. Anthropologie (I promise I'm not typically so obsessed with the store to write about them every day, they just have awesome Christmas gifts and decor!) has an awesome collection of classics that look hand-stitched! One of my girlfriends is the queen bee of books, so I couldn't resist buying them (on sale!) to give her shelf a little glam!

xoxo