(Lov) // "Meet me Under the Mistletoe"

This "day" will probably end up being Brendan's favorite of my little project.  AND... we'll just leave it at that. :)

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Mimi's Gingerbread"

Mimi is Mary Sue Smith, my paternal Grandmother.  She was and is still an inspiration to me in all things "womanly".  Even though she has gone to be with the Lord, I am lucky enough to have many of her recipes.  On the 5th day, I made her Gingerbread... one of my very favorites.  I don't think Brendan even had any until the next day, and even then it was only a little bit.  He's more of a pie kinda man. But Lydia LOVES it. She keeps pointing to it on the counter each time she walks by and lets out a big "YUMMMM". I was joking that it should actually be called sugar cake... since it has an ENTIRE POUND of it and just a tiny bite of ginger. Oh well, it's the holidays! The gym will still be there in January.

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Lydia Lou Who"

On the evening of day 4,  I dressed Lydia up like Cindy Lou Who from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and we watched the movie (animated 1966 version) while eating homemade coconut macaroons (snowballs).   

"He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!  And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."

Can't you just see his heart growing?

"Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand."

Thank you for your beautiful words, Dr. Seuss!

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Blue Genie Art Bazaar"

We had a nice, lazy Saturday.  Brendan had a double header (a gig playing bass in two different bands) later that night, so I think he appreciated having some time with his girls... doing a whole lot of nothing.

The only thing special we did was go to the "Blue Genie Art Bazaar". This event  has become a yearly tradition for us. Brendan strolled around entertaining Miss Lydia while I  purchased a few items.  Being a small business owner myself, I always try my best to buy and gift from local businesses, artists and crafts people each year at Christmas.  It's SO important to support the people and things you love in the city where you live. The products may be slightly more expensive, but they are always unique and usually hand made.

// 1. Lydia made her first Christmas Ornament (with Nana's help)! // 2. We had a delicious quiche for brunch. // 3. I stocked up on some of my favorite candles.  // 4. I liked this Art for Lydia's room. // 5. They were showing ELF in the theater at the Bazaar! // 6. A worn out bug.  // 7.  A worn out Daddy.

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Movie Under the Stars"

Friday night is usually our date night...Lydia stays with my Mom allowing for Brendan and I to spend some much needed alone time together.  Even though It had been raining all day and I was still dealing with a slight cold, I couldn't pass up the chance to see "A Christmas Story" on an out-door screen!  This lovely (and free) event was part of the Austin Shop Crawl and benefited Toys for Tots.

It was held in one of our favorite food trailer parks- SOFI Food Court and began at 6pm.  I managed to keep it a secret from Brendan until the very last minute.  He of course was a great sport and kept asking "What is it?! What are we doing" all day in a sweet excited voice. We were some of the first people to arrive and got a prime spot right up front.  He enjoyed the free beer while I enjoyed some mint tea from a coffee shop located next to the park.  We held hands and talked about the movie...how many times we had seen it, Brendan's Red Rider BB gun he had growing up, etc. Once the movie started, we couldn't help but quote lines to each other. It was a fantastic way to spend our date night.

Afterwards we ate dinner at one of our favorite spots... 24 Diner.

He had the chili.  I had the waffles.

B enjoying his cheese plate. 

After Dinner we made a quick stop at the grocery store and then headed home to enjoy some hot chocolate, listen to Christmas music on Pandora, and finish decorating the house before Lydia came home in the morning. Minus one minor argument over how frustrated I get when I'm decorating, we had a perfectly wonderful evening.  Brendan even surprised me with a reminder that this (the process) is supposed to be FUN...that it's not all about the end result (something that I tend to focus on a little too much). I am married to a wise and kind man who is actually helping ME when I had originally set out to help HIM.  Tis the Season.

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Let it Snow!"

Wouldn't you know, I woke up Thursday morning with a cold.  I had planned on starting this project with a bit more of a "bang", but my head and chest must have had other plans.  So, I will save my original idea for a day when I'm feeling a little more "cheerful".

So I spent my morning doing something that my husband actually taught me how to do just last year...making snowflakes!  I'm not really sure how I made it 33 years without having ever cut a snowflake; you'd at least think I would have done it in school as a child. Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas where actual snow is such a rare occurrence.  Alas, by the end of the day, I can now say that I am an expert snowflake cutter.

And there's nothing quite like a detailed task like this to take your mind off of how bad you feel.  So snowflakes, I thank you.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with all the snowflakes once cut; there are so many cute and creative options:

* display them in the window
* tape them together to make decorative place mates or a table runner
* turn them in to ornaments
* turn them into coasters
* hang them from the ceiling
* make a long paper chain to drape across windows
* add them to a gift or card for a personal touch

I decided to hang them in the two main windows in our living room.  I used patterned scrapbook paper...so from the inside they are extra pretty and on the outside they look just like traditional white flakes. I arrange some in the shape of a Christmas tree on one window and a snowman on the other. I think it turned out pretty great!

My husband liked them and said he was proud of me.  I'll take it. :)

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // "Will you Merry Christmas me?"

For most people, the month of December is an extra enjoyable time; each day leading up to the joyous and wonderful day of Christmas.  But for my husband (who is probably the happiest and most even tempered person I know), this time of year tends to make him uncharacteristically withdrawn, stressed, and dare I say "scrooge- like".  It is understandable.  After all, he comes from a gigantic and divided family with past experiences that have left him feeling that the holidays are nothing more than obligations, expectations, and pretense.

This is especially difficult for me since some of my best experiences and memories are rooted in this time... particularly Christmas. Even though my own feelings and thoughts on the why and how to celebrate this holiday have changed over the years, it's still a special day that I very much want to share and enjoy with my new family.

After having a very strange and obligatory Christmas at my father's house last year (it was Lydia's first), I vowed in the car on our way home that next year... this day will be spent with just US in OUR home creating our own traditions. There would be no getting up at the crack of dawn to head to my father's house... wishing we were still in our pajamas, opening presents, and watching our little girl play with tissue paper in our bed. No eating a hugely inappropriate meal at 11am (that included a ham, turkey, AND a crown roast).  No breakers constantly being tripped because the life sized glowing manger scene in the front yard is sucking up all the electricity. No feeling resentful, uncomfortable, and out of place.

As December drew closer, I began to get super excited about beginning all things festive!  My husband...not so much. We had what ended up being a pretty great conversation the other night about it all ... what our childhood Christmases were like, the best gifts we ever received (I even cried a little when sharing mine), how we found out that Santa wasn't real (For Brendan, a pretty awful experience), and how we wanted to spend it this year.  We finally came to the conclusion that it was difficult for Brendan to get excited about Christmas because he had never experienced it's fun, joy, and magic.  Then I had an idea: "Will you Merry Christmas me?" - a project to "de-Scrooge" my husband.

During the month of December I am going to do something special for him and our family each day that is related to Christmas in hopes that, like Scrooge, he begins to feel some tenderness and depth of feeling towards this holiday. Some days will be simple while other's will be extra special... every day's "something" being documented on this blog. He seems genuinely excited to see what all I have planned (I think I heard him whistling a Christmas song today) and I'm bursting at the seems to get started!

Until tomorrow...God bless us, everyone!

(Lov)e,

-k.