Christmas 2011 Recap!

We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you all did also. I still can't really believe that MMB and I have already had our first Christmas as Husband and Wife, time is flying by...Our 1st Christmas was everything I could have hoped for and I feel so truly blessed. However, this year was a bit crazy for us. We decided we wanted to spend it with both sides of the family! A little harder than it seems when my family is in NY and his is in Boston. We decided to do Christmas Eve with his family and then wake up Christmas morning and head right down to NY to spend the day with my family. It actually worked out perfectly but I can't say that I didn't have a holiday break down or two in the days leading up to Christmas. Santa MMB and Santas Mama and Papa G were so very generous in their gift giving and I know I am one lucky girl!

Our first married Christmas Tree!

I made this card wreath last year and I still love it...

but I also filled up the front of the fridge with cards, guess I need another card wreath.

Just love seeing our cute family and friends!

Santa Came!

We spent Christmas Eve with MMB's family.

Here is our niece CEB wearing her monogrammed apron

and chef hat that we gave to her -- so cute!

After Christmas Eve Dinner, we headed home to open up our gifts.

MMB loved his signed Larry Bird jersey...Santa Wifey did good!

Here I am wearing 2 of my fun gifts,

my Christmas pajamas and my Kate Spade Bow Hat!

The aftermath...

We made it to NY on Christmas morning

and I got into my matching pajamas with my sisters.

My sister MKG got MMB a cute gag gift...

a beer holster!

Beautiful Table!

Our first married Christmas!

A couple of things that I am loving right now...

Ahh, I can't believe Christmas will be here on Sunday. I feel like I have been running around like a chicken without a head. I am so, so very excited for our first MARRIED Christmas but I am also so sad not to be spending Christmas Eve with my family. We will be doing Christmas Eve with MMB's family here in Boston and then waking up bright and early on Christmas morning and driving down to NY to spend time with my family! This means I have to be extra organized and have all my gifts wrapped and ready to go since we will be hitting the road so early on Christmas Day. How do you all split your Holiday's?

Totally random but I am loving 2 things right now...

The first is this fabulous sweater from Banana Republic, I actually have it red and just LOVE it. So soft and it looks great on, I have worn it with jeans and cords. I am going to be picking this sweater up in every color after Christmas (hello SALES!).

Button-Cowlneck Sweater

These totes from Ballard Designs are awesome!

I have ordered a few and put gifts inside them. Love the look.

And at $12, how can you beat it!

Great Read!

Really loved this article entitled...

"30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself"

You Can Read It Here!

A lot of it was things we already know but it is always good to be reminded.

#7 Really hit home with me,

especially with my professional life and getting the KAGency going!

#5 Is something I am always working on and I get a little better at it everyday.

#22 Is what life is all about, right?!

Which of these 30 things really resonate with you?

Black Elastics...

I have a connection with my black hair elastics...you rarely see me without one on my right wrist. My Mom joked that I would have one on my wrist at my wedding, yes laugh, but what was pulled off my wrist before I put on my dress. Oh, you know just a black elastic. I think it is a comfort thing, I mean I even do it when I am heading to a nice wedding and I have had a blowout and I know I am NOT going to be putting my hair up but I just have to have the elastic, just in case. I mean I always try to cover it with a watch or my David Yurman bracelets but it's there. Now that I am a married lady and 27, I think it is time to give my black elastics to the elastics fairy....

To help me transition, I have found a few pony holders that masquerade as jewelry!

Rock-Candy pony holders from L. Erickson - love these!

Teardrop Pony Holder from Colette Malouf - this would be perfect for school!

Twistbands!

Super fun, look great for working out and claims not to dent or damage hair!

Please tell me I am not the only one with an affection for black elastics?!

Loving.

One of the wedding presents my sisters gave me was a custom monogrammed (my new monogram) necklace. They had it made by our family jeweler and I just LOVE it. Such a thoughtful and special gift. Obviously it is a keepsake item and was pricey, not something you're going to give to your girlfriend as a Holiday gift. But I just found a fun alternative by Moon and Lola. They have created an acrylic monogram necklace that comes in 20 shades!

You can't see the detail in this picture but you get the idea!

Close Up!

Moon and Lola Necklace...$58

Classic monogram necklace but bolder, more colorful and acrylic.

Holiday Entertaining...Host a Cookie Swap!

This post is part of today's link-up over at According to Nina...

I love the Holiday Season for many reasons but one of the main reasons is because there is always an excuse to throw a party! Last week I hosted a cookie swap for my girlfriends. We had a great time and it was such a fun evening. The great thing about hosting a cookie swap is that it can be as formal or as informal as you want. I decided to make mine somewhere in between. I am pretty busy this month so instead of making myself crazy by having to do all the cooking, each guest brought cookies and an appetizer. I made 3 hot and heavy appetizers since I was hosting. It worked out perfectly and we had so much food! I also asked all the girls to bring a printed copy of their cookie and appetizer recipe for each guest, a fun little extra.

Delicious Cookies!

(heart the be merry sign!)

I put together these fun little boxes

for the girls to put their cookies in!

I got the boxes from Oriental Trading and I printed off the labels!

I made tented cards for all the different cookies!

My Peanut Butter Blossoms

Thought these cocktail napkins were so fun!

Nantucket Stroll Video!

I took a little video while we were on Nantucket for Stroll weekend. It actually wasn't as much video as I thought I had taken but you will get to see a little bit of town and the mini planes we fly over to the island on! Hope everyone had a great weekend. We are heading back to Boston tomorrow and I do not want to leave FL!

Wedding Ornament by the dahl house!

Our favorite new ornament this year

was created by the dahl house!

It is our wedding ornament and I just LOVE it!

I have written about the dahl house many times on this blog. It is just such a wonderful company and Whitney (the owner) is so talented and thoughtful. To design our wedding ornament, she actually took the time to look through our wedding photos to get the feel of our big day. Our monogram, date and the colors blue and yellow were consistently seen throughout our wedding and I am happy that they are reflected in the ornament.

The ornaments make great Holiday gifts for everyone on your list. At this time of year, I am going to so many Christmas parties and I have already ordered ornaments for all of the hostesses! At just $15, the ornaments are priced perfectly for a hostess gift and I just know they will love them!

Use the code HOLIDAY20 to receive 20% off your order at the dahl house. The code is valid through tomorrow December 5th! So, shop now!

Be sure to like the dahl house on Facebook, they will be holding a special giveaway on Facebook in the next week or so...you won't want to miss out!

and we're off to ACK for Stroll Weekend!

Happy December! We are off to Nantucket for Stroll Weekend. It is one of my favorite weekends of the Christmas season and one of my favorite traditions with MMB, this year will be extra special because I will walking around the island with my Husband (still love saying that!). Stroll weekend is such an enchanting time, everyone comes back to the island and all the stores, shops, and restaurants are open! There are even carolers singing Christmas songs and all of the stores decorate a Christmas tree on Main Street, of course, I think Murray's has the best tree! Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook, I will be posting lots of pics and happenings from Nantucket this weekend!

Heart ACK!

I finished my ornament wreath.

Now I just need a to hang it!

I also finished addressing my Christmas cards, now I just need to stuff and stamp them.

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!