Day Uptown

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!! Can't believe it's all over! Now time to clean up and get our act together for the New Year!

One day last week the kids and I went uptown after nails and tennis camp!

Molly Anne lovessss to get Christmas nails done!

We always head uptown and valet at Ritz and the guys are sooooo nice! We love to see the set up in the lobby there. It's beautiful!


We miss the bears but still get their picture in front of the Bank of America tree!


This year we specifically went uptown to see the trains at 300 South Tryon so we walked over there. They both LOVED them! Definitely worth it. 




Had a late lunch at Amelie's. 




It was a fun little trip! Always love the quality time with them. 

Christmas Card 2023

What chaos that occurred behind this picture. It's never as if it seems!

I really wanted a picture of us on our boat, in the water. But then it was cold Thanksgiving weekend. We always try to take the picture of whatever was big in the last year so that's why I thought the boat was a good idea. This is versus a posed professional picture. I know, we all do what works for us. Well I may be doing that next year...because... 

Unfortunately the lot that we are storing the boat on is covered in bugs and sand burrs so yeah, you can imagine our circus. And then we were pulling out of the lot and I side swiped a wooden pole that was lower than my car. And that I saw in my side mirror before I hit it. I was SO mad. Still am. ANYWAY here is our million dollar Christmas card. Ahhhh!!

Life is not perfect and neither are we. Here we are!

Ready for Fresh and New

I don't know about you all but I'm excited for the new year and some fresh things! I'm also excited to use some gift cards I have burning in my pocket. I feel like I haven't really looked for clothes because I've only been shopping for gifts. ANYWAY, here are some finds!

ONE - love this color and how soft this sweatshirt is. 

TWO - this dress is so pretty 

THREE - these are my favorite "hanging out" leggings. I don't workout in these although you can. Love the blue!


FOUR - how fun is this top for NYE?


FIVE - this sweater for now and for early Spring. I see it with white jeans.


SIX - if you're getting back into working out in the new year, get these leggings and you'll be so glad. They wash and dry well (don't tell but yes I dry them), and are so comfortable. 

Ballantyne Hotel Gingerbread Lane

We were able to scoot over to check out the gingerbread houses at Ballantyne Hotel after school. It's a favorite tradition that we didn't get to do last year because it's was so crowded they closed it early! So we were on top of it this year. I think Molly Anne asked in September for me to put it on our calendar!

It's the holding hands that they did on their own for me!

They're incredible!


Mariooooo


A favorite

Taylor Swift one that our friend's girls did! 




Voting! Money goes to a local children's hospital.  

Meals for Christmas Week

I do best having a plan of what I'm feeding the crew that is here. It makes life so my easier to do one big pick up from the grocery store and one delivery from Wal-Mart. I joined Wal-Mart + las week! Woohoo. Here is my plan...

21st - chili - I don't have a recipe - I throw a bunch of stuff into the crock pot and hope for the best! Two things I do use for chili always - Chili-O seasoning packet and Italian Diced Tomatoes.

22nd - crab dip for appetizer, crab cakes, hasselback potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce (my chef friend Ashley says to use the green packet from the store)

23rd - breakfast casserole (similar but I only use 2 slices of bread) and cinnamon rolls (the can!), ham sliders for lunch, appetizers with friends for dinner (need to figure out what to make for these!)

24th - standing rib roast with horseradish sauce, creamed spinach, burgundy mushrooms, twice baked potatoes

25th - breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, MD crab soup and Cream of Crab Soup mixed for dinner with homemade cheddar biscuits 

Other things to make and have around:

Diana's punch

Bourbon Slush

Candied peanuts

Oyster crackers

Chex mix

Easy Weekend

We had a mostly low key weekend just like this puppy wanted!

Friday night we did Christmas with Kevin's parents, brother, girlfriend and niece! Reading the Christmas Story

Nerf gun!


When she opened Minecraft, her second big wishlist item after Taylor Swift tickets! ;) That's basically what she did all weekend ha!

Saturday flag football for Grady!

Then his friend Paisley had her 6th birthday party! 


We hung the rest of the day and played outside too. We eventually went to the club for dinner then drove around to look at Christmas lights. We even came home to pick up Mills so he could go see lights too! I'm sure he cared haha!


Yesterday I made my Mom's sugared peanuts. I had never made these I don't think, but smelling them cooking made me feel back at home home! 


We had quite the storm event in Ocean Isle so that'll be a mess to clean up next time we go down. One of us really should go this week honestly but we will see. 



Would anyone be interested in me sharing our menu for over the next week?! I have most of that together and thought it could be helpful to spark an idea for you! 

Busy week ahead! Talk soon. 

Grady Dubose Pictures

This is the sixth shoot (and last!) we have done with Dubose and definitely the hardest to narrow down! These pictures weee taken in mid October. 

Now I've had both children photographed at 10 months, 2.5 years old and 5.5 years old. I'm SO glad I have these. They are what I would grab if there was a fire. 

First I narrowed down to these 9....

Then I narrowed down to these 7....

Then to these four...

And we ultimately decided on this one. Now to wait 10 weeks for the print. Then will get both 5 year old ones framed! Can't wait!!!