I’ve noticed a few bloggers writing about their goals recently and it made me think about sharing my own. At first I thought that would be a terrible idea for me! It was scary and did not sound like a fun task at all. Why would I want to post goals for the month ahead for everyone to see so if I don’t complete them I would feel like a complete dummy??? Well, that answered my own question I guess.

The more I thought about it I realized that it would be a great idea to share mare goals with all of you. It will hold me accountable. Make me sit and think about what I want the month ahead to look like. It will make me intentional with my heart and this year. It will also help me complete some of that 101 list! Win/Win if you ask me.

Yes… most of these are on my big list of 101 in 1001 but number two is not. So that is good. I’m excited to see how this first month of goal making goes but I do have high hopes because I am happy about the goals I have made. I think they are well rounded goals… for others, for me but mostly for Him. I want to delight in His goodness during this first month of 2014 and all the months following.

Happy New Year friends!!!

Christmas Brunch.

With this being our first Christmas as Husband & Wife I knew I wanted to start some new traditions that will stay in place once we have a family of our own. When I was growing up I would always wake up Christmas morning and open my gifts from Santa and my parents and then I would be so bummed to leave the house and go to my Grandmas house for my Dad's side of the family Christmas day. The more I thought about it I realized that we could start a new tradition of serving brunch here at our house and invite my Dad and his side of the family. Peter and I love to host dinners and parties so this would be the perfect little gift to family from us also. When we were preparing for Thanksgiving I threw in the idea of a Christmas morning brunch at our house and everyone really liked the idea. And with that, a new tradition was born! 

We love our Chemex slow drip coffee maker! 

So glad I surprised Peter with this little gift before we got married. 

He spoils me every weekend with tasty coffee. 

My handsome waffle maker and coffee barista!

the spread: hot waffles, fresh fruit & my homemade quiche!

Mimosas and Christmas go together so well!

Dad surprised us with this awesome gift in our back yard!

So now I'm going to check off #18 on my 101 in 1001 list and I plan on enjoying this fun tradition every year we are in Greenville for Christmas! I can only imagine how much fun it will be when we have little feet running around and more family coming to eat with us! One day, but for now this was absolutely perfect!!! 

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve has always been spent at my Grandmothers house with my mom’s side of the family. It is one of my most favorite parts of Christmas and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it this year since there was a chance we would be in New Jersey but we stayed in town! This was the first time in twenty something years that Peter has been in Greenville for Christmas and I was honestly so excited to have him around for Christmas Eve with my family. We started the night with a Christmas Eve service in the church where we became Husband & Wife which was super special. I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect way to start the night... the rest of the evening was spent eating, laughing, chasing babies around and of course, a visit from Santa. 

Even the "older" kids love Santa! 

It really was such a wonderful night. Sneaking kisses under the mistletoe from my husband, snack on some Christmas sweets that I patiently wait all year long for, and seeing all the babies in the family really enjoy the Holiday this year. You can see the past couple of years HERE & HERE. I'm so glad I have this little blog to keep these memories and watch these babies grow up! I can't believe how fast they are growing but it is a lot of fun to watch them!

More Christmas tomorrow and sharing my first 101 in 1001 check off!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you lots of happiness on this Christmas day

& we hope Santa was good to you! 

with love,

C+P

Firsts.

Last year before Thanksgiving and Christmas I shared how I was feeling about all the changes that would take place this year. During all the plans, busy days and Holiday festivities I made a point to take things in. I wanted to prepare my heart for change this year. For the unknown and for all the firsts.

This time last year I honestly didn’t know what Thanksgiving & Christmas would look like for us as newlyweds. I had no idea where we would be living. I didn’t know who we would spend Thanksgiving with or where we would be for Christmas. It was all a big question mark but I knew that our plans would work out and everything would be fine. I didn’t worry about it.

Now looking back on this year and all the changes that took place I can see God’s hand in all of it.The way He gave us a Thanksgiving lunch with just us and our Moms. The way we get to spend Christmas with my family and New Years with Peter’s family. The way He worked out my vacation time just perfectly so we could do both. The way He meets us to answer our prayers and gives us so many blessings to be thankful for. All the ways of the Lord are amazing to me.

As I’m preparing for my first Christmas as a wife I want to take in all these moments. Realizing that some of them will turn into traditions & knowing that they will evolve and change over the years ahead. Most of all I want to be aware that the cause for the joy in our hearts during this season and every season ahead of us will be because of a King. A perfect Man that died for us. Giving up His life so that we could live. That is what Christmas is for. Him.

My favorite verse in my favorite Christmas song.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

2013 in a Bubble! // Part 2

Back again for part two of this thing! 
enjoy!!! 

July //

Tearing walls down and all that fun stuff!

Biltmore trip with these lovely women!

Celebrated our 5^th “First Date” Anniversary!

& a double date night to see Jersey Boys!

August //

The sweetest dinner with the sweetest ladies!

Our last shower thanks to Peter’s Mom!

& my DIY White Wash Fireplace!

September //

My wonderful Bachelorette Weekend in Beaufort!

Painting my pretty blue doors!

(Still one of my favorite parts of our home!!)

& a Mom/Daughter date night before I was a married woman!

October //

A lot of Honeymoon posts….

Because we got married!!!!

November //

Shared all the DIY painting in our Master Bedroom!

A late Halloween post.... better late than never!

& my 101 in 1001!!!

December //

Celebrated Joy's Birthday in Atlanta!

& two wonderful Christmas parties to wrap up the year!  

one at Mom's house!

& my first Christmas party at my house!!

2013 was an amazing year... I can't imagine 2014 being any better but I know that the Lord has even more amazing things in store for us. He is the reason for every blessing and gift in my life and for that I am so thankful.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

2013 in a Bubble! // Part 1

2013 was even better than I could have imagined… looking back on my 2012 in a Bubble post I couldn't help but smile and feel so thankful for everything that has happened the past two years. Life is short and it’s so wonderful and I’m so happy that I have this space to share a little bit of it. Here are a few of my favorite moments from 2013! 

January //

Ringing in the New Year in NJ with the Eliya family!

A late Christmas Celebration with my two friends!

& wedding plans were underway and I had my first shower!

February //

I celebrated turning 26!
(it was a lot of fun, obviously)

Snow in Greenville & Bella was not a fan!

We mailed out our Save the Date!!!

& I almost died in Colorado thanks to a sinus infection/double ear infection/altitude

but we also had an amazing time!

March //

Prepared my heart to become a wife with #areadyheart study

thanks to Nicole at BLOOM.

& we found Our House!

April //

Cooper River Run {Walk} with the Fab6!

& making wine with my Mom!

May //

Jane’s Wedding Day!

Another shower with my sweet family!

Birthday celebrations for my man!

& all the house work started!

June //

Our sweet friends gave us a Couples Shower!

& the awesome Kitchen transformation started!!!

Part two coming up soon!!