Oh, hey friends! It’s been a long week of gift guides galore, but that doesn’t mean that is all that has gone on around here. Oh, no. Lots of good things have happened this past weekend and week, some of which I’ve shared on Instagram (@kristy7graces). If you read my last Currently Confessing post, you might have read some not so fun stuff about my health and whatnot, but let me just tell you: your prayers are working! I’ve had a pretty good week. I’ve even felt more energy to get. things. done. So with that, let’s discuss what’s currently been going on in this blessed week of mine.
ONE.
Wearing…
The festive things. Charlotte received two very cute little festive Christmas shirts in the mail this week, and I could not be more pleased with them. They are super soft, and I just love the baseball tee design. Now if only she had some red Chucks to match…but back to the point. These shirts from Positively Oakes are so cute, and I am so happy to have found this brand! They have the most darling clothing and accessories, and I love supporting small businesses started by mamas.
My little reindeer loved this shirt so much she decided to roll in the mud in it. True story.
Good thing we still have this one below. I’m so excited for her to wear it. “Jingle Bells” just screams happiness to me, and I’m sure my little muffin will be screaming with happiness in this shirt, too. Because she loves to scream for some reason. Toddlers.
Image via Positively Oakes
TWO.
Thankful for…
Box of Christmas Cheer Exchange! I mentioned this gift exchange a while back, and this week, I received a very special box. It came all the way from Michigan sent by Tiff at Terry’s Go Round. I absolutely love everything in it! The delivery came at the most perfect time. I was busy working while Charlotte was napping, and I got a very nice knock at the door to welcome this box of cheer. We’ve been getting several packages lately because of Christmas shopping, but it was so nice to receive a surprise just for me. I love snail mail, and it is so cool to connect with others in such a fun way. I love this blogging community!
I’m super excited about this Mackinac Island Fudge coffee. Tiff sent me the coffee beans whole, and it’s like she already knew me. We always buy the coffee beans whole, because it is so much better that way. After we grind up the beans, we make the fresh ground coffee in our French press. So excited to try it! And I’m also excited about this dark chocolate hot chocolate. :)
Another cute thing I loved was this milk bottle. I have been eyeing these and similar ones in Target, but I’ve always refrained. Now I have one! (Don’t mind Chapman photobombing the picture. He is stubborn as all get out.)
It was the perfect box of cheer. Thanks so much, Tiff!
THREE.
Excited about…
The Nutcracker! One of my most favorite traditions is going to The Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker with my mom and sister. I think we have been going every year since 2005 or 2006. I can’t really remember the exact year, but it’s been a good time each go-round. We always sit somewhere different in the theatre, which gives us a new perspective of the ballet each time. Sometimes we even fall asleep in our chairs during the first act, but that’s okay. We laugh and make memories about it. We wake up in intermission, go have a cocktail, then enjoy the best part of the ballet which is the second act. We’ll be attending this Sunday night, so it officially means it’s Christmas! I think this will be the last year that it’ll be just the three of us. Next year, we just might take Charlotte with us, but we shall see. Here’s a walk down memory lane from the last six years. And yes, we color coordinate every year.
FOUR.
Shopping for…
Everyone. If you missed any of my gift guides, I’m linking them below. I know you’ve probably been swimming in gift guides lately, but I tried to give practical information about the options for the littles and to tell some funny stories in the wish lists for the Mama and the Daddy. And I think I’m hilarious, but you can be the judge. ;) Have you found a good gift guide for teen girls and boys though? I have one of each to shop for, and I do not want to give gift cards. Thoughts?
FIVE.
Loving…
This song. I have raved about Hillsong UNITED’s Oceans song more than once here, so this woman’s voice should not sound unfamiliar. She’s belting it out in this very ‘pop’py tune, and I love it. It is the BEST running song on my playlist right now. Awesomsauce! If you purchase it on iTunes, be sure to get the live version. It’s so much better live. When I first heard this song on my local Christian radio station, I almost thought I had it on a different station, but no. It’s just that great. A Christian dance song. That’s new to me, sister! I’ll take it. I hope you love it as much as I do. The words are just what my soul needs to hear right now, too.
Go be the light, sisters! Have the most amazing weekend! We’ll talk soon, okay? But before you go, if you know about teen gift ideas, please shoot them my way. I’d greatly appreciate it! And if you have something that you just want to get off your chest or sing praises about, I’d love to hear that, too. Blessings to you, now and always.
You can see where I’m linking up on this page.
Ohhh the nutcracker! I’m totally jealous :-) sounds like fun. I found your blog on Friday Favorites :-)
Hi Erin! It never gets old. It definitely gets us ready to celebrate the reason for the season. :) Have a great weekend!
Charlotte is just the cutest! And, the Christmas box you received looks so fun! Happy weekend!
xoxo
Kat
Thanks, Kat! I’m thrilled with the box. I sent my own box of cheer to another blogger, too, and it was such a fun process. It was my first time to join in on a blogger gift exchange and it was definitely a cool experience. Have a great one!
Your box of Christmas Cheer looks fabulous!! So glad you joined the exchange :)
I love it, Astleigh! Thank you so much for co-hosting. :) It was so much fun to do.
Love that song and love Hillsong! I just recently posted a a gift guide that might be helpful with that teen gift. :) Ipsy bags or a popsugar box are both gifts that are loved too.
http://www.dirtroaddaydreams.com/last-minute-gift-guide/
Oh, very cool suggestions! Thanks for that. Now I just need an idea for a teen boy. I think I can get my shopping done by Monday if all goes well. Here’s hoping! Have a great weekend!
ohhh my gosh those little Christmas shirts are the cutest and completely spiked my baby fever haha! and that song is So good. I haven;t done any of those swaps but yours makes me think it would be a great idea!
Haha! Uh-oh about the baby fever. ;) It’s crazy how stylish these little babes can be. She is always dressed better than I am most days. And the swap was a success. I’ll definitely look to doing another one if the opportunity presents itself. Have a great weekend!
Love that trip down memory lane of you and your sister. Such sweet memories.
Thanks, Shelly! It’s funny how I remember each year by what we wore. Lol. My mom certainly enjoys memories, too. Happy weekend!
Love your nutcracker tradition–that is so fantastic!!! And Charlotte looks adorable with that bow in her hair. As far as teens…. they really are tough to shop for. If you’re more of a safe-than-sorry gift giver, I’d go with a gift card. For boys, perhaps an itunes or app store gift card :)
Thanks, Daisy! Yeah, I always give them gift cards. It’s for my baby cousins that are in high school. But I guess that will be my last resort. ;)
You seriously have the best style ever! You and Charlotte always look stunning! Have fun this weekend at the Nutcracker and I’m glad you are having a better week!
Oh, thank you so much Amanda! I can clean up pretty nice sometime. :) And this weekend I get to do it twice, because Saturday is my husband’s company Christmas party. I was going to mention that on here, but I’ll just share on Instagram. ;) It should be a fun weekend.
I loved reading this post! Such fun things going on in your world even in the midst of the chaotic season. I created a gift guide for young adults last year and the items are still just as great this year. (http://imperfectvessel.com/the-ultimate-frugal-christmas-guide-young-adults/) Hope you and your sister have a wonderful time at the Nutcracker; I’m sure you’ll look great!
Thanks, Bree! I had fun writing it. :) I’ll definitely look at your post. Thank you so much for taking the time to point me in that direction! We most definitely will enjoy ourselves. Have a great weekend!
Ohhh the nutcracker! I'm totally jealous :-) sounds like fun. I found your blog on Friday Favorites :-)
I’m glad to hear that you’re having a better week. I struggle with depression brought on by/ aggravated by hypothyroidism and can relate to how hard it can be. I think of it as a darkness and sometimes it’s hard to find a light- happy to hear that things are brighter for you right now.
Thanks for sharing the shirts and Christmas cheer exchange. I’m off to check out both of those now!
Cheers, Amber at OurCharmedLife.net
Oh, Amber! It’s been an uphill struggle as I’m sure you know all too well. I always think of these episodes as being stuck in a quicksand. You can see all the beautiful scenery, but something literally has to pull you out. This week has been better though. I’ve really been focusing on prayer, and it has really helped me. I’ve also been focusing on the positives. I force myself to remember all the little things I should be thankful for and it helps me smile. :)
You’ll love that shop, I’m sure! Happy internet browsing!
Charlotte is just the cutest! And, the Christmas box you received looks so fun! Happy weekend!
xoxo
Kat
Your box of Christmas Cheer looks fabulous!! So glad you joined the exchange :)
Love that song and love Hillsong! I just recently posted a a gift guide that might be helpful with that teen gift. :) Ipsy bags or a popsugar box are both gifts that are loved too.
http://www.dirtroaddaydreams.com/last-minute-gift-guide/
ohhh my gosh those little Christmas shirts are the cutest and completely spiked my baby fever haha! and that song is So good. I haven;t done any of those swaps but yours makes me think it would be a great idea!
Love that trip down memory lane of you and your sister. Such sweet memories.
Love your nutcracker tradition–that is so fantastic!!! And Charlotte looks adorable with that bow in her hair. As far as teens…. they really are tough to shop for. If you're more of a safe-than-sorry gift giver, I'd go with a gift card. For boys, perhaps an itunes or app store gift card :)
You seriously have the best style ever! You and Charlotte always look stunning! Have fun this weekend at the Nutcracker and I'm glad you are having a better week!
What a fun Christmas cheer care package! We also love the Houston Nutcracker. I have been taking my daughter since 2004. Maybe we need to start coordinating our outfits! Here’s a post I just did on our 10 years of Nutcracker ballets. http://txtanya.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-nutcracker.html
That is awesome! I think we’ve been going for the past 10 years, too! :) It’s such a fun tradition. How awesome of you to do that with your daughter. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it all the more the older she gets. Happy week and holidays to you!
I loved reading this post! Such fun things going on in your world even in the midst of the chaotic season. I created a gift guide for young adults last year and the items are still just as great this year. (http://imperfectvessel.com/the-ultimate-frugal-christmas-guide-young-adults/) Hope you and your sister have a wonderful time at the Nutcracker; I'm sure you'll look great!
Hi Erin! It never gets old. It definitely gets us ready to celebrate the reason for the season. :) Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Kat! I'm thrilled with box. I sent a box to another blogger, too, and it was such a fun process. It was my first time to join in on a blogger gift exchange and it was definitely a cool experience. Have a great one!
I love it, Astleigh! Thank you so much for co-hosting. :) It was so much fun to do.
Oh, very cool suggestions! Thanks for that. Now I just need an idea for a teen boy. I think I can get my shopping done by Monday if all goes well. Here's hoping! Have a great weekend!
I'm glad to hear that you're having a better week. I struggle with depression brought on by/ aggravated by hypothyroidism and can relate to how hard it can be. I think of it as a darkness and sometimes it's hard to find a light- happy to hear that things are brighter for you right now.
Thanks for sharing the shirts and Christmas cheer exchange. I'm off to check out both of those now!
Cheers, Amber at OurCharmedLife.net
Haha! Uh-oh about the baby fever. ;) It's crazy how stylish these little babes can be. She is always dressed better than I am most days. And the swap was a success. I'll definitely look to doing another one if the opportunity presents itself. Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Shelly! It's funny how I remember each year by what we wore. Lol. My mom certainly enjoys memories, too. Happy weekend!
I’m excited for you to try the Mackinac Island Fudge coffee–it sounds delicious! I really need to start grinding beans for better flavor! :) Thanks for participating in the exchange!
It was so good! And thanks again for co-hosting! It was such a fun experience. :)
Thanks, Daisy! Yeah, I always give them gift cards. It's for my baby cousins that are in high school. But I guess that will be my last resort. ;)
Oh, thank you so much Amanda! I can clean up pretty nice sometime. :) And this weekend I get to do it twice, because Saturday is my husband's company Christmas party. I was going to mention that on here, but I'll just share on Instagram. ;) It should be a fun weekend.
Thanks, Bree! I had fun writing it. :) I'll definitely look at your post. Thank you so much for taking the time to point me in that direction! We most definitely will enjoy ourselves. Have a great weekend!
Oh, Amber! It's been an uphill struggle as I'm sure you know all too well. I always think of these episodes as being stuck in a quicksand. You can see all the beautiful scenery, but something literally has to pull you out. This week has been better though. I've really been focusing on prayer, and it has really helped me. I've also been focusing on the positives. I force myself to remember all the little things I should be thankful for and it helps me smile. :)
You'll love that shop, I'm sure! Happy internet browsing!
What a fun Christmas cheer care package! We also love the Houston Nutcracker. I have been taking my daughter since 2004. Maybe we need to start coordinating our outfits! Here's a post I just did on our 10 years of Nutcracker ballets. http://txtanya.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-nutcracker.html
I'm excited for you to try the Mackinac Island Fudge coffee–it sounds delicious! I really need to start grinding beans for better flavor! :) Thanks for participating in the exchange!
The Nutcracker is my favorite! I love going to watch it. I took my class to see it last week, and even though it was a kid version, it was so good. I really want my husband to take me to the fancy one soon, though! :) I think it’s so funny y’all fall asleep during it. Sounds like something I might do! Hehe.
You took your class?! That is the best teacher ever!
You’ll be happy to know that we did not fall asleep once this year! They were so on top of their game and did a beautiful show. I think we’ve dozed off in the past because we’ve seen it so many times. Hehe. But this year it was great! I even noticed some things I hadn’t before. I can’t wait to take Charlotte with us next year. :)
The Nutcracker is my favorite! I love going to watch it. I took my class to see it last week, and even though it was a kid version, it was so good. I really want my husband to take me to the fancy one soon, though! :) I think it's so funny y'all fall asleep during it. Sounds like something I might do! Hehe.
That is awesome! I think we've been going for the past 10 years, too! :) It's such a fun tradition. How awesome of you to do that with your daughter. I'm sure she'll appreciate it all the more the older she gets. Happy week and holidays to you!
It was so good! And thanks again for co-hosting! It was such a fun experience. :)
You took your class?! That is the best teacher ever!
You'll be happy to know that we did not fall asleep once this year! They were so on top of their game and did a beautiful show. I think we've dozed off in the past because we've seen it so many times. Hehe. But this year it was great! I even noticed some things I hadn't before. I can't wait to take Charlotte with us next year. :)