One of my new favorites this season...

This has been stuck in my head for the last few days and I love it! 
Merry Christmas!!

Why I Love Christmas!

I don't just love Christmas time....I BIG PUFFY HEART LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

I don't know where my love for Christmas started, but I LOVE it! 

It is so incredibly magical, and there are so many wonderful reminders of what the season truly means.

A few reasons why I LOVE Christmas...

Christmas Eve Communion

This has always been a favorite tradition of mine.  My dad would serve communion in the church lit only by candles and Christmas lights, and we would go as a family and listen to the Christmas story.  Communion looks a little different on Christmas Eve for us, but it is still a huge part of my Christmas.

Christmas Music

I was fortunate enough to grow up with many different types of music in the house.  Christmas music is hands down the best around!  Christmas isn't complete without Bing Crosby singing with the Andrews Sisters, Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas", or the Boston Pops playing "Sleigh Ride".  I am just happy when I hear it.  There are many more songs that I absolutely love to hear at Christmas, but those three are the best!  

Christmas Lights

I love to drive around and look at displays of Christmas lights.  It just makes me feel like a little kid again waiting for the next surprise!  I love to see Nativity scenes on display!  It reminds me that the Light of the World is coming!!   So much fun to drive around and look at them!!  This year I am making Lou take me to look at lights :)  Sidebar:  I CANNOT stand the blow-up decorations.  I also love to see the candles in the windows.  My grandma always had them in her window and I love to see them in others. 

Christmas Cards

I LOVE to get them!  I love to see pictures of families!

Christmas Eve at My Parents

I can't even remember when we began doing finger foods on Christmas Eve, but we have kept on doing it and I love it!  We have a veggie tray, sausage balls, pinwheels, little smokies, rotel and chips, etc.  Just a low key dinner and it is enjoyable!  

My Stocking

I used to think that I was getting jipped because all of my friends got lots of stuff in their stockings, but once I got older, I realized that my parents were continuing on a tradition with me.  I only get an apple, an orange, and a few pieces of candy, in one of my dad's white socks.  And I look forward to it every year.  

I love it.   

The Christmas Tree

Just love to decorate it.  Love, love, love.  I have been collecting ball ornaments for years and this year Lou and Jake added their ornaments to our tree.  It is no longer my tree, it is ours :)

Christmas Trees in Church

 Seeing the Look on Braxton and Thatcher's Faces on Christmas Morning

Businesses closed on Christmas Day

Decorating the House

Hearing Merry Christmas

Christmas Movies

Watching Holiday Inn, Santa Clause the Movie, A Christmas Story

Singing Christmas Carols at Church

Smell of Cinnamon and Peppermint

Christmas Specials on TV

The list goes on forever...I just love this time of year!!

 

 

 

Long time...

I haven't written in a LONG time. 
I have had lots to say, just not sure how to say what I needed to. 
Good things are happening, wedding is coming along great!
I've got a few things to share that I just want to talk about.
One day I will get to them...

In other news...
This weekend we took Jake to the beach!
I loved just sitting there with my toes in the sand...
And....I got in the water!
I usually only go a little in the water, but I got brave!!

I want to keep up with my blog better and I need to. 
Hope things are great in your world!

Elizabeth

Elton John Concert

Last night, Friday, April 5, 2013, I finally checked off something from my bucket list!!  I got to see Elton John in concert!!!  Lou bought me tickets for my birthday, (and a friend also bought me tickets as a thank you gift).  I was SOOOOOOOO excited!!  And it was AMAZING!!!!  I was so giddy, just about coming out of my seat when he walked out on stage!!  He puts on a show, and of course there was no opening act because there is not one needed, and there were no special effects, because he is one!  We had excellent seats and I could see him perfectly!!  I had the best time!!!

We went to eat at one of our favorite restaurants and it was soooo good!  Of course I had my diet coke!!  

This was our view.  When we walked into the section I think I was in shock that we were so close to the stage and that I would get to see him so close.  I walked to my seat with my jaw on the floor.

The two of us.  I can't thank Lou enough for sitting through this with me.  It was not his cup of tea, but he was such a trooper.  

He wore a bright, sparkly red suit with blue eyeglasses.  It was perfect!!

 

We were so close to the screen which made for great close-ups!

 

A video of Elton John singing.  Fabulous!

Definitely a night I will remember forever, and so glad I got to spend with Lou!!

Skin and Sunscreen

So, I am not one to brag most of the time, but growing up and until recently, I have had really good skin.  I have very sensitive skin, and would have the occasional zit or two, but nothing major.  Nothing I couldn't handle.

I am also one to not wear a lot of sunscreen on my face because I was afraid it would cause break outs and it would always burn my face.  So I just opted to get burnt.  I have always been so incredibly pale, that I wanted a little color on my skin.  And I have even gone to the tanning bed.  I thought if I got some color on my skin before I went to the beach, I wouldn't get burned as bad.  Now I am paying for it.  

Before I was a teenager, it was hard to find a cleanser that would not cause whelps on my face.  Even walking through the perfume section at a department store would cause whelps.  I still can't use fragranced hand lotions because my hands will turn red and swell.  Not like huge swelling, but noticeable.  My sister and friend did not believe me, so I took them to Bath and Body Works and put some lotion on my hands to prove it.  Yeah, redness and swelling.  Fun times!!

I have always been complimented on my skin, one because I am pale, and the other because I rarely have problems.  Well, that was until about three years ago.

I started showing signs of Rosacea.  Red patches on my cheeks and small bumps, but not pimples.  My dad has had it for years, and I was hoping I would not have to deal with it, but I do.  It comes and goes, but lately it has gotten worse.  I was not wearing any foundation, thinking it was possibly making it worse, but I would wear it for special occasions. 

I also had a bump show up on my nose over a year ago.  I kept meaning to make an appointment to a dermatologist, which would have been the smart thing since I had insurance at the time.  The bump would show up, really red, make me look like Rudolph, and then go away.  I was only putting foundation on the bump because powder was not covering it.

After finding out a friend had a skin cancer removed, I knew I needed to get this bump checked out.  I made an appointment with a dermatologist here in Murfreesboro, and went this past Thursday.  As soon as she walked in she could tell I had Rosacea.  I had only put on eye makeup that day. 

Can you see all the redness?  And of course my bump on my nose. 

After we talked about my rosacea, she looked at the bump on my nose and immediately said it was a precancerous spot.  I was actually relieved it wasn't full blown skin cancer.  So she said they would do a small treatment that would get rid of it and it was like a small chemical peel.  All I could think about was the Sex and the City episode where Samantha gets a full face chemical peel and it was AWFUL!!  So they did the procedure and it wasn't that bad at all!  They said it would turn a few colors and then the skin would fall off.  So looking forward to that!  HA!

So back to the rosacea.  I'll be honest, I rarely wash my face at night, and sleep in my make-up.  I always found that when I did wash my face before bed, I would get a small break out.  So I just didn't wash it.  Well, I go from not washing it at night, to a full blown night time face cleansing routine. 

I have to take an antibiotic, which I had to shop around for the lowest price because it is EXPENSIVE.  Then I had to get two different face cream medicines.  One they graciously had a sample, and the other one cost $217.  BUT, they gave me a prescription card and it only cost me $60!!  They saved me some serious cash.  I also have to switch my moisturizer and foundation, but they gave me a sample of a moisturizer/foundation/sunscreen combo which again is expensive, but I need to start taking better care of my skin because I am not getting any younger, and I have been in denial about getting closer to 40.  I still have 7 years.  One plus of the moisturizer is that it smells like sunscreen and I LOVE the smell of sunscreen. 

So now I am an advocate for wearing sunscreen and taking better care of my skin.  I can't change what I did to my skin in the past, and I can't change that rosacea seems to be hereditary, she even asked me if I looked like my dad, meaning that must have something to do with me having rosacea.  But, I can start taking better care of myself.  So I must go start my nightly routine.  And then repeat in the morning.  It will be worth it!! 

This is day one of meds and new foundation/moisturizer/sunscreen.

Have a great night!

Old Photos...

I LOVE old photos.  

I love the black and white prints, and the clothes, and the expressions, and the styles of everything.  My family has a lot of old photos and I have taken a few of my grandparents and framed them.  

I have had these for years, but I have more at my parents house that I want to print and frame.  

I think it is so important to remember my family history, 

and I like to be reminded of them when I look at their pictures. 

 

 This is my dad's mother.  I have had this picture in my room for a long time and I love it!!

These are my mom's parents.  I think they look like Hollywood stars!!

My mom has many pictures of them on the beach and they are just amazing!

This is one of my favorite pictures ever - just love it!!

This is my dad's dad.  He died in 1947.

Funny story about this picture - it always sat on the dresser in the extra bedroom at my grandparents house.  One day when I was 11 or 12, I asked who it was and my mom said it was my grandfather.  I then asked who the guy in the living room was.  I didn't know my grandpa Doc was actually my step-grandfather, but of course he was always my grandfather.  

This is my Grandpa Doc.  He was in the Army and fought in WWII.

 This is a picture of my dad, and we always say that my nephew B looks like him, or really looked like him when he was more a baby/toddler.

This is a picture of my mom, her sisters, and her parents in the 70's or early 80's.  

One day I hope to have built in shelves and plenty of room to display old family photos.

A few years ago my sister put together a photo album for my mom and my dad each of family photos, and I enjoy going through them, so one day I will go through them, pick some, and show them off. 

 

 

 

  

Redecorating a little...

Pinterest has ruined me.

Since August I have painted my kitchen, living room, closet, bathroom, and now my bedroom. 

(I chose the wrong type of paint for my bathroom, so I have to repaint it someday.)

I LOVE IT!!  I feel like I have a new house!!

I have also decided on what I want my bedroom (soon to be mine and Lou's bedroom) to look like and how to make it not so girly.  It really wasn't girly to start with, but it just needed a change.

  I had pinned so many ideas, but never just fell in love with any of them, and then I saw a color palette and I knew that's what I wanted.  I took my phone to Home Depot and tried the best I could to pick out a color and I think I did a pretty good job.  

I started painting about two weeks ago and started with the tallest wall in my room.  I like the vaulted ceilings most days, but this day I was not a fan.  Lou had brought over a ladder, but it was only a 6 footer, I think.  I had to stand on the last step before the top of the ladder to barely reach the ceiling to tape it off, and I had bruises on my legs the next day from where I was leaning on the top of the ladder.  Needless to say I was not going to do that again.  

I finished two walls, even took down and cleaned my blinds so I could paint the inside of the window.  I was in cleaning mode.  I even took another idea from Pinterest and used a dryer sheet to wipe down the baseboards.  Apparently dust is not supposed to stick.  I am more worried about the enormous amounts of cat hair that I found behind my bed.  Ew.

The color palette (not sure if that is the way to spell it) I am using is a lighter blue with a hint of gray, a navy blue bedspread with yellow and gray accent pillows.  I am so excited!!!

I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and looked at their curtain selections and bought one of the gray chevron panels.  I put it all the way to the ceiling, but after sending the picture to 2 friends and my sister, they all said to bring it down, so I put it in the middle.  I have to hem the curtains, but that will be a breeze.  I also used my 40% coupon and saved some cash!!  They were not expensive to begin with, but I love saving money.  I had bought the gray chevron pillow cover earlier in the week, so I knew it would go perfectly with the walls. 

 (And yes, that is a Sonic cup in my floor.)

Lou loves the color and said that it was very calming, so I am proud of myself!!  

I loved the color I had on there, but it was hard to match bedding with.

I had shelves on my wall, but now I have an armoire in the nook.  That armoire has been there and not been there more times than I can count.  I can't ever decide where I like it.  

I have a dresser that my dad made for me when I was in high school, and as soon as I saw the colors in the Pinterest pic I knew it would match the furniture of the bed, my armoire, and the dresser.  

Excuse the mess.

This is all I have to finish, but I am too afraid until I get a taller ladder.  And it would be a good time to replace the smoke alarm battery that has been out for a few years.  (It took a bar stool and a screwdriver to get it out when it was beeping every 5 seconds.)

I am so excited (how many times can I say that) about what it will all look like when it is finished!  

I'm not rushing to get it all done, one because it costs money, and two because I have learned that I don't have to do it all right away, but I have started and that is at least something.  I went back to Hobby Lobby to get the second panel for the other window and picked up another pillow cover, but this one is a coral chevron.  I think it will look really good with all the other colors I am using.  And the plus is that I had some pillows in colors I didn't like anymore and they fit perfectly into the pillow covers!!  More money saved!! 

More decorating posts to come soon.  Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Headbands, Scarves, and More...

I've had a lot going on lately, and a lot on my mind, but mostly all good stuff!

I do have a few things to share...

There is a new store called Polka Dots and Happy Thoughts in Nolensville, (the town I grew up in, and where the church that I work MDO is located.) How could I not go in with polka dots in the name.  I decided to check it out after seeing so many cute pics on their FB page.  

Yeah, I should not have gone in there.

I bought the cutest Glory Haus Frame, a Predators Tervis Tumbler for Lou, and these headbands called Banded.  They don't slip off your head.  

(Now, I have a big head (in size) and I have always had a hard time finding a headband that I can wear all day without getting a dull ache where it stops, or being able to wear it with my glasses and sunglasses.  I tried the Goody brand stretchy ones, but they would always slip off.)  

So, I thought I would give these a try.  The first one I bought was navy with white polka dots.  Right up my alley since I am recently obsessed with the color navy, and I've always loved polka dots.  I purposely coordinated my outfits so I could wear the headband.   I just love that they add a little fun!!

 

I am not being compensated in any way for posting about these, I just love them!!

The other day I thought I would curl my hair and wear it in a cute ponytail and add the headband.  Well, it was pouring rain that day, so the curl didn't do too well.  

Hence the 70's fly away hair.  So I made a little bun with my ponytail.  

 

Can you see the horrible pink bathroom paint?  That is next on my list to paint.

I even went back the next week to buy a black one so I could wear it with other stuff.  Yeah, I really like these headbands!  

I LOVE Glory Haus frames and this one incorporates my new obsession, chevron.

I am late to the chevron party because I figured they would go out quickly, but my friends say they will stay around for a long time, like stripes and polka dots.  I'm all for that!!

I saw this frame and knew it would be perfect for my room makeover!!  

I have the perfect picture for this frame, just need to get it printed out.  

My other newest obsession has been scarves.  I have been wearing them for a while, but lately I have been on the hunt for some really cute ones!!  Once I learned I don't have to match perfectly and can throw in a pop of color here and there, I have been excited to wear some that I have had for a while.  

This particular scarf I ordered from Old Navy online.  The funny thing is that when I wore it into an actual Old Navy store, I was complimented by the sales people and they didn't have it in their store, and didn't know it was an ON scarf.  It is light and I just love it!!  

I am really working on my fashion choices lately, and even though I am not small, I can't let that stop me from dressing cute.  My self-confidence has been up lately, except for the night I went to David's Bridal with one of my bridesmaids and looked at myself in the full length mirror.  But in my defense, my jeans were hanging off of me and I had worked since 6:15 that morning.  

So I will end this particular post, but I have more to share.  

Probably not a good idea to wait to do them all in one night.  

Rest of the night randomness...

I cannot believe that tomorrow is the first day of MARCH!!  And we are expecting snow.  Tennessee weather has to be the most random weather ever.  One day we can be wearing flip flops and the next day it is snowing!!  Never a dull moment! 

My new job, well I started in December, is going great!!!  I love working with my kiddos and have met some really amazing people!  Also, I am working at my home church's Mother's Day Out, and I absolutely love it!! 

My schedule is different, but I don't mind it at all.  I feel like I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing now. 

I started wearing foundation again.  I had stopped for maybe over a year, I can't even remember, but I have rosacea (sp?) and it flares up every once in a while, and I just need better coverage.  Also, my powder was not looking good, so I decided to start taking the extra time in the morning to put on foundation.  I have been much happier with my makeup lately :)

I started painting my bedroom so I can get some things done.  I really could not find something I truly loved for the bedroom that would not be too girly and not to manly for when Lou moves in.  Well, I was looking on pinterest and saw a color palette and I knew that was what I wanted.  I went to the Home Depot to pick out paint and got a few samples, and then Saturday just decided to go for it and bought the paint and started the process.  Half the room is done, and I plan on finishing the rest this weekend, because if it snows I won't be getting out, unless it is to Sonic. 

I am obsessed with scarves.  I have bought a few new ones and just love to wear them!!

I stopped at a new little store in the town I grew up in, and where I work at MDO, and they had these really cool non-slip headbands.  I bought a navy and white swiss dot one and LOVE IT so much I went back this afternoon and bought a black one!!  I have never liked wearing the hard headbands because I wear my reading glasses all the time and they start to hurt my head, but these are great!!  I have tried to squeeze my eyes and move my head in every which way to get it to come off and it hasn't!!  I can wear it all day!!  Also, these headbands benefit an amazing charity called AMAZIMA.  For each headband sold it provides three meals to a child in Africa.  The young lady who started this charity is from Middle Tennessee, but has done amazing work in Africa. 

I am soooo ready for Spring.  Ready to wear my flip flops.  Ready to wear capris.  Ready to sleep with my windows open.  Ready. 

I am also excited about finding a wedding photographer and finally picking an accent color for my wedding.  I just get excited thinking about it!! 

I have been tracking my calories and working out a lot more since I have got to get this weight off to fit into my wedding dress and I am proud of myself for really thinking about what and how much I am eating.  I want to do it right. 

I think that is all for the night. 

Valentine's Day 2013

Lou and I are not huge celebrators of Valentine's Day, but for Christmas I had bought him tickets to a concert in Nashville that happened to be on V Day.  I had not really heard any of the songs of this band, but was going to go to spend time with Lou.  

Well, the day before Lou called me and said he had free tickets to the Preds game.  I asked him what he wanted to do since they were his tickets, and he said he would rather go to the hockey game!  WOOHOO!!!  Not that I didn't want to go to the concert, but I was so excited we were going to the game instead!!  

(Even before we met I had gone to Preds games, but it had been years since I had gone, 

so once we started dating, I was excited to start going again!!) 

I met Lou at work that afternoon and we went to one of his favorite stores, and then went to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Nashville.  

We went to park the car and had about 45 minutes to kill, so I took a quick nap in the parking lot - Haha!!

Our seats were way up in the nosebleeds, and I am excited to have free tickets, but being up that high makes me so nervous.  I don't feel good about standing up and cheering when they score, so I usually just sit there and watch.  I know I am a chicken.  

Well, we went in and thought we would try to get our seats upgraded and to check about getting some engagement pictures done in the arena with the ice down.  Well folks, they put us 6 ROWS FROM THE ICE!!!!!!!!!  OH MY WORD!!!  Lou kept laughing at me because I was just staring at the players during warm-ups.  There are some good looking hockey players!!  It was just so cool to be that close!!  I will admit it was a little harder to see the whole game and my neck got a workout, but we were so thankful for the opportunity to sit so close!!

Mike Fisher - Carrie Underwood's Husband

Pekka Rinne at the goal!!

The Face-Off

Lou and me :)

We had a great time and excited to go again soon!!

Also, I told Lou that I wanted to buy him a new hockey sweater and get his name and favorite number on the back.  He told me not to, but he does so much for me and I wanted to do this for him, so I told him he could pick out which one he wanted and what he wanted on it, or I would have to guess and that would probably not be good - haha!!  

Here is what he picked out and I love it and he loves it too!!  He even bought a new shirt to go under the sweater.  It looks so good on him, and I am just happy to be able to do something for him!!

It was a great day all around and I could not have asked for a better Valentine's Day - even though we don't really celebrate the day - haha!!

My 33rd Birthday!!

Yes, I am well over a month late on posting about my birthday, but better late than never...
My 33rd birthday was on a Wednesday, and I get to work at 6:15 am on Wednesdays!  I made sure to get up and curl my hair so I would attempt to look cute, and I think I did - haha!!

On Wednesdays, I get off work around 11 so I headed to the restaurant I have been going to on my birthday for years!  Mom and Lou met me at the Franklin Chop House!!  Nothing fancy, but I love going there and it has become a tradition for me :) 

I went over to Lou's after lunch and took a good nap - another birthday tradition for me :)

Lou gave me my birthday present and I am SOOOOOO excited because he gave me tickets to see ELTON JOHN!!!!!!!!!  He is coming to Nashville in April and I am pumped!!  He is on my bucket list. 

The day after my birthday I went to dinner with Ashley and Miss Lyla and we tried a new Mexican restaurant and we ended up going on Trivia night!  We almost won!!!!  It was fun and we plan on going again soon!

All in all I had a great low key birthday.  Just the kind I like :)

Christmas 2012 - Part 2

After Christmas Eve Communion, the family headed to my parents house

(Lou was not with me because he had to work on Christmas Day).

I'm not sure when it started, but we have eaten finger foods for Christmas Eve dinner for as long as I can remember.  It is my favorite meal!!  We have turkey sausage balls (my bro-in-law is allergic to pork) and they are actually better and less greasy than regular sausage balls.  We also have a veggie tray (I stay away from the raw veggies), cheese dip with Rotel and tortilla chips, pigs in a blanket, and I can't remember what else, but it is always good.  We all eat and then usually hang out, but my aunt and uncle were there so we exchanged gifts with them :)  It was so good to have them because they were here for Thanksgiving and then moved down here a few weeks ago!

My sister and her family started a tradition a few years ago and they make Christmas shirts for their pajamas.  They boys could not wait to put theirs on and they looked so cute!!!  They pick a theme each year and this year was snowmen!!

The boys took Legos and on one added a Santa hat, and took Ninjago Lego snakes and taped them to two Lego men to make reindeer.  Creativity at its best!!

B put bows on T's rear end.

Santa stopped by!!

B with his HUGE Lego set from Santa!

My sister got a banjo.  We are in for some fun!

Part of the Monster Fighters Lego set. 

Lou and I at Opryland Hotel for Christmas Dinner with the family!

B and T with the finished Lego project!!  B was so proud!!!

Santa had to do a few flyovers to make sure the boys were asleep and they were so excited it took them a while, but they finally drifted off and Santa made his stop!!  The next morning the boys were so excited!!  We all opened presents and then hung out until it was time to get ready to go eat!  We have gone to the Opryland Hotel for years to eat on Christmas Day and each year we enjoy eating the food and sitting in the middle of all the decorations!  Since Lou had to work, I picked him up when he got off and we met the rest at the restaurant.  There were 12 of us who ate this time and every year the number is different, but we still have a great time!!

Once we got home we pulled out some games and had two groups of people playing.  It was a relaxing night and just a good time all around!!

It has been a great Christmas season and I am ready for what they new year has to bring!!  

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!

Love,

Elizabeth

Christmas 2012 - Part 1

The Sunday before Christmas, Lou, Jake, and I headed to church and then to my parents house for a Christmas lunch!  We also exchanged gifts for Lou and Jake with my family since they would not be there on Christmas Eve or Day, and it officially started the Christmas rounds :)

On Christmas Eve, I was up bright and early to head over to Lou's grandparents house to open gifts with Lou, Jake, and Lou's grandparents.  I made my normal stop at the Sonic to get my drink, and then headed to Lou's!  They made breakfast and as we were eating Jake was jumping to get to open his presents!

Bright and early!!  I called my mom and she had not even woken up yet!!

My addiction.

I sent this to Lou to mark that I can be on time and even early :)

Jake about to tear into some presents!

Lou's grandfather watching Jake! 

Lou smiling as Jake is handing out gifts.

Jake and Nannie

Beautiful surprise from Lou!!  Has earrings also!

Lou and Jake

Lou and I

My surprise!!  He does good!!

 That afternoon I headed home and took a short nap before heading to Christmas Eve Communion at my home church with my dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephews.  Mom stayed home to finish up our traditional Christmas Eve "dinner".  I really enjoyed the service and was so glad that I went this year!  I just realized that we sat in the same seats we sat in every Sunday!  We were the preacher's family that sat in the back row - haha!!  Good to see faces I had not seen in a while :)

Part 2 coming up next...

Love,

Elizabeth