This Unfamiliar Road

I have found myself to be incredibly busy this Christmas season! I can't believe it will be here in 5 (FIVE!) days.

This year has been extra fun with Peyton. Although she doesn't fully "get it" she is certainly in awe of all things this season.

We had fun at the Christmas tree farm, but P didn't understand why we had a tree inside!



We ran into Santa at my work Christmas party :) She was all about talking to him, but wasn't a fan of sitting in his lap



And of course, we had to make time to go to North Point Mall to see the real Santa. I'm serious y'all. This guy has been around since I was a little kid, and he hasn't aged. He is all things Christmas spirit.

They all warned me. They told me this would happen.
"Time flies by"
"Enjoy her now-it goes by fast"

I listened, but was never able to fully realize just how fast time goes by until I was living in it. I blinked and my newborn is 18 months old. Seriously, how did that happen?!


 Day to Day:
Peyton sleeps about 7:30pm-7:30am with one (~2 hour) nap during the day. She is still a great eater, although I am having to get a little creative with veggies. I can always sneak them in with mac n cheese, or give her a chicken pot pie to eat :)
Our Junebug has 11 (almost 12) teeth to chew all that food!


Favorites:
Oh goodness-our girl just LOVES technology. She can easily navigate my iPhone and enjoys playing games and looking at pictures (of herself of course).
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has become a new favorite (like, this week) and I love that it can buy me at least 20 minutes.
Peyton is ready to read a book all the time, and loves blocks, shape sorter, legos and anything she can open/close or put a lid on/off.


 Skills:
Time for me to brag on my child. She is one smart cookie.
Peyton can identify 20+ letters...I mean everywhere we go, she is pointing out letters she recognizes. She loves it.
Little Miss can recite her numbers (in order) 1-10 and actually understands when there are 2 objects.  "BOOKS! Yonnn, Twoo"
She knows most of her colors (and her favorite is purple)
We have to really watch what we say because Peyton has become a parrot-repeating everything  (and quite articulate too!).
It's amazing what she picks up by watching us/listening to us talk!

Don't worry...it's an empty container!

Peyton is really turning into an affectionate and nurturing toddler. She gives kisses and hugs freely and exclaims "BESS YOU!" to anyone who sneezes.
Oh Peyton Caroline,
What a blessing you are to us! Your spunky & goofy personality is so entertaining and you surprise us with something new every single day. Your gentle, kind heart and genuine concern for others makes us so proud. You will make a wonderful big sister (or nurse!) one day. Keep smiling sweet girl. We love you!

Mommy & Daddy

Well friends it's been a busy week! Unfortunately, I have not been busy celebrating Thanksgiving or enjoying the season with the family...I've been working. A LOT. Ohhh the life of a nurse :)



I am back with the last installment of this super fun series- A Few of My Favorite Things: Gifts Under $100.
I have loved these weekly posts, and they have certainly put me in the Christmas shopping mood!






ONE A point & shoot camera. This Nikon Coolpix is a great little camera with all the bells & whistles. If you are not a professional photographer, this is perfect to catch all of life's little moments!

TWO KitchenAid Hand Mixer Let's be honest- we all want that $400 KitchenAid stand mixer. It's pretty. But unless you bake frequently, do you really need that? This hand mixer is brought to you by the same company and it's a great tool for the more "infrequent" baker. These range in price from $50-$99.

THREE Start or add to a collection! A china collection can be costly, but what a great gift to start or add to an existing collection for someone! (Obviously, this can apply to any collection).

FOUR Cufflinks.Monogrammed cufflinks. Such a personal gift for the man in your life, and these have quite a price range (even as low as $20!).

FIVE For the baby or kiddo on your list, you can't go wrong with a cute set of PJ's. Add a monogram and you are all set :)
This set comes from my favorite embroidery shop-Southern Stamp Embroidery. (Shop local, friends!)

SIX You can't go wrong with gift cards. Although I used to think these were a little impersonal, now I see so many varieties of gift cards! Is your recipient a coffee lover? Or a movie guru? A bargain shopper? You can find a card for anyone and make it personal.

Well, that wraps up (haha...get it? "wraps up") our Favorite Things Christmas series. We will be back to our regularly scheduled blogging soon!

Don't forget to link up :)

I am back for the second installment of the Christmas linkup! This week, our focus is Favorite Things: stocking stuffers. So much fun!

Stocking stuffers are my fave because these gifts are typically inexpensive (typically) but require some thought and creativity!


ONE. I am a sucker for Aveda products. These trial sized lotions and lip balm are perfect for dropping in a stocking!

TWO. Am I the only one who struggles with the 4 inches of iPhone cord? I think anyone with an iPhone could use an extra charger...with some extra cord!

THREE. Ok, if you are looking for a nicer gift for the stocking, you can't go wrong with James Avery jewelry. It's unique, well crafted, and won't break the bank!

FOUR. Magazines!! These can be such a fun and personal gift. You can find any topic, too: Southern Living, trashy gossip, fashion, fitness, food & crafts. Tie 'em up with a ribbon and you've got a great stocking stuffer!

FIVE. Did anyone else know you can buy OPI minis? I've just discovered these...so exciting! You can purchase a sampler pack and give someone a variety of colors!

SIX. Infinity. Scarf. Add a monogram for a personal touch! Perfect for cold weather :)

Hope you're feeling inspired by this list. Remember to link up!

Great friends. Great food. Great wine. All the ingredients necessary for another successful "Ciwcle" Thanksgiving party.
To top if off, we had a fire pit, some 90's tunes, and a fun card game.

{here's last year's party}

This year, it was a good old fashioned BBQ and my husband, the grill master, did NOT disappoint!

What I just love about this group of friends is the authenticity. We've been a group for quite a while, so it's a comfortable place to be. I hope everyone has some friends you feel you can just be yourself with.

Guess what? I was too busy enjoying my night to capture any of it. Managed to gather everyone for one group photo :)


'Tis the Season for great friends, great food, and great wine!

This edition of "favorite things" is extra special because I'm joining a linkup over at
Cheers Y'all!



I'm excited because I get to show off a few of my personal favorites...things that are on the top of my Christmas wishlist. Be sure to join in on the fun!



ONE. New Stockings. Am I the only one who was drooling over the PB Kids catalog? Although I do love our Target stockings, I think it's time for an upgrade :) I love this classic style...and I think it would be easy to add to this collection when the time comes!

TWO. Fleece jacket. The NorthFace Osito is nice, and I am loving the fresh grey/white color. It's one of those items I really need but will never buy for myself!

THREE. You can never have too many frames. Especially orange chevron ones. Enough said.

FOUR. Along with a new pair of boots comes the need for boot socks. These are adorable and they look so cozy! I would love a big thick-yarn sweater to go with them! :)

FIVE. We are way overdue for a pop of color in our bedroom. Pillows are a great way to add in some fun and I love how this yellow compliments our grey!

SIX. This mantle. Have you ever had a project you've been dying to complete but just don't know how to get started? Or, in my case, don't want to spend the money on the materials? I just want to have this mantle in my home. And I want someone to do it for me!

Hope you enjoyed perusing my favorite things. Stay tuned for the next linkup in this series :)

It's that time of year again!
Although I'm not ready to begin shopping or deck the halls, I am so excited to pick out our Christmas cards.

I'm usually a Shutterfly girl, but I had fun perusing other sites this year for a little inspiration. Here are my favorites:

Via Shutterfly

Via Minted

Via Tiny Prints

Via Shutterfly

Via Minted

Via Tiny Prints

Oh I can't stand the cuteness!

There are lots of great deals for getting a jump start on your Holiday greeting cards so get going :)

The toddler stage has been lots of fun so far!


As a parent, it's impossible to know what "the best" thing is for your child. It's all trial & error-with products, food, discipline, etc. However... here are some things that have made our lives a little easier...and Peyton's toddler-hood more fun!




Pocket Bibs. You will not survive self-feeding without pocket bibs. Toddler coordination is not the greatest at first, so this is super helpful to catch all the 'extra'!


Fisher Price SpaceSaver High Chair. Speaking of eating...you'll need the proper chair! I love this SpaceSaver chair- it reclines for infant feeding and the back can be removed for a booster later on. This chair will truly grow with your child and it doesn't take up your whole kitchen!



The First Years Jet Stroller. I went way too long without an umbrella stroller! I did lots and lots of research and found that this one is the most budget-friendly with all the bells & whistles. We are loving it!

Leap Frog My Discovery House. Peyton got this as a birthday gift and 5 months later, she still loves it! Of course, the buttons and noises are fun-plus it teaches opposites!

Munchkin Bath Scoop. You're going to need a place to store all of those letters! This scoop is a great size and has held up very well. P loves to "tidy up" when bath is over.



Playskool Walk 'n Ride. I just love a toy that will grow with my kiddo! This was a great walk-behind toy when Miss P was first toddling. Now, we have turned it into the rider...and it's a whole new toy! This was actually a consignment store purchase, and well worth it!


Food Pouches. Where would I be without these pouches?! This is an easy, quick snack that P can easily feed herself. And they are super healthy-hiding some veggies with fruits :)

Favorite Books. Peyton has always loved books so we have quite the collection at our house. These are the 4 books we rotate through at nap & bed time...her absolute faves!

There you have it: my must haves for the toddler world. Are there any items that your toddler can't live without?

It's that time again!

ONE. Fave blanket
This blanket was a birthday gift from the BFF and I have been lazy ever since! haha- Seriously, every time I see it folded up on the couch I completely forget about my to do list and just enjoy curling up under it for a moment.

Via HomeGoods

TWO. Target Cartwheel
WHY haven't I discovered this before?! An app where you can add Target coupons to your "cart"-and these are coupons that you actually USE. I am loving this so far. (Note: I was initially turned off because you have to sign in through FB, but it doesn't post anything-it only shows you what other FB friends have saved...who cares?!)

THREE. Happy Anniversary
This week, my BFF is celebrating 2 years of wedded bliss to her hubby. Christa and David are such an amazing couple and they are fabulous Godparents to our sweet P. Here's to many more happy years!


FOUR. New Boots
I was in desperate need of some new brown boots and I found the perfect pair at the outlets! One of those rare occasions where I bought the first pair I laid eyes on-they are comfy and cute! There is something about a good pair of boots that just makes an outfit, right?


FIVE. 17 months
Another month in the books...our little girl is now 17 months old. Can you believe it?! She continues to surprise me every day and I love being her Momma.


Until next week!