#Blogmas14: What Christmas Means To Me

Christmas to me is.....

FAMILY- The very first thing that I think of when I think about Christmas or the holidays in general is family. My husband has a huge italian family and it is one of my very favorite things about the holidays. My family has always just been my parents and I so we are used to a small low key holiday so we celebrate twice and they are polar opposites!

Foster with "Kiwi"- 2012

Foster with Nana- 2012

Foster with Auntie Meg- 2012

Foster with Papa-2013

Foster with Great Gram- 2012

Foster with his cousins (and dad) - 2012

Our family of 3 - 2013

Foster with Grandma and Papa Chesnut- 2013

Daddy, Mommy, Foster, & Bella- 2013

Gram and all her grandkids and great-grandkids - 2013

FOOD- Justin's family being italian does TONS of food for the holidays. About 40 types of cookies among other desserts. Gram makes handmade ravioli (both meat and cheese ones), homemade sauce & meatballs and more.... it is divine! I look forward to Grams christmas dinner all year. She also cooks a roast beef and a bunch of sides including yorkshire pudding (Justin's favorite).

Decorating cookies with my mom and baby.

Sprinkles are serious.

LOVE- There is so much love at the holidays and it makes my heart so happy!

TIME TO GIVE- I love giving gifts to my family and friends but even more importantly this is a season to remember those who don't have what we do. I try and volunteer at the food bank or other places during the holiday season. I also do angel tree children that I shop for. I just think this season is a great time the spread the love and help others.

MEMORIES- So many memories are made around the holidays. I wish that they came around more often ;)

#Blogmas14: Christmas Tree Reveal

Well, ladies and gentleman, I am going to have to apologize on this one because my tree is up and lit but the ornaments are not on yet. They were supposed to go on tonight but a toddler that I know was being extra sassy and bad tonight so he was told we couldn't decorate the christmas tree. Wednesday this tree is getting trimmed!

Here is our tree last year:

#Blogmas14: Gift Guide for Him

I don't know about anyone else but I think that men can be SO hard to buy for. My husband never knows what he wants, my dad has everything he wants because he goes out and buys it, and men are just tough to buy for in general. So, when coming up with a holiday gift guide for men I decided to pick things that I would love to see on my man. So if I were to build a dream man these would be things that he would wear. Most likely my husband won't wear half of these BUT my second husband will be someone that likes these things ;)

Scarf / TOMS / Wayfarers / Wallet

Razor / Cologne

#Blogmas14: Gift Guide for Her

I like giving more than receiving but since I need to make a list of gifts for women this year I am going to use my list as a reference. There are a few things on this list that appear on mine and some other things that I have and love that I think other women would love as well.

TOMS Wedge / Kate Spade Earrings / Coffee Mug

Sugar Lip Treatment / AE Sweater / Viktor & Rolf BonBon / Hunter Boots

#Blogmas14 Day 2

Day 2 of #Blogmas14 is well underway and I am so in love with today's topic... Favorite Family Christmas Card. I was unable to pick just one so I chose two. Here they are, 2012 & 2013, of your viewing pleasure. My how my baby boy grows!!!

Happy December! #Blogmas14

I decided to join in with a couple girls whose blogs I adore (Ash & Tay) to participate in the 25 days of Christmas on the blog.

Today is December 1st so it is time to get started with my first day of Blogmas14!

This girl is THANKFUL!

I know this post is a little late but I took the holiday long-weekend off to be with family and go out of town and I didn't even take my computer with me. For those of you that know me IRL (in real life) this probably knocked you off your chair. I am normally attached to my macbook pro but this year I wanted to really just soak in the family time!

I would like to share some of the things that I am most thankful for this year:

1. Foster: I am so incredibly thankful to be his mommy. He is blossoming into such a loving and polite little boy right before my eyes. The days when I thought I would never be a mommy were plenty so these moments are not ones that I take for granted. Every holiday, event, moment, and activity is made so much more special by getting to experience it through his eyes and with all of his excitement. He makes his momma proud.
2. Health: Minor health problems are nothing in comparison to the things that many deal with. I am so thankful for the health of myself and my family this year.
3. Work: Not only am I thankful to have a job because any do not but I have a job that I love at a place that I love.
4. Tonks: (my kitty) She is a ball of cuddles and makes my heart warm and fuzzy.
5. My pups (Boston & Bella): They may drive me crazy a LOT but I am thankful for their shenanigans and love.
6. Christmas scented candles: Yep, you read that right, these rank right up there. LOVE ME SOME CANDLES! They get me in the mood for the holidays.
7. Holiday Hand-soap: It is now at all sinks in my house and I wash my hands throughout the house to enjoy it. Yep, i'm odd.
8. WINE: Obviously. Enough said.

Linking up with The Collective! Head over and check it out...