2018 Christmas Gifts

This is much less a gift guide ('cause I kind of have a love/hate with them and certainly dislike putting them together myself haha) and more a recap of sorts. I love giving gifts and thinking of gift ideas for our family and friends, so I wanted to document what I/we gave everyone this year. And who knows, maybe it'll spark some inspiration for someone (although some of these are relatively specific to the dorks in my life ;) ).

MOM
My mom is one of my favorite people to shop for. I love getting her things she wouldn't normally get herself or things that show how well I know her. She's incredibly adept at remembering the little things people mention to her, so I love being able to do that for her by getting her things she thinks no one remembers her mentioning.

This year, she's getting Michelle Obama's book, because obviously, pom pom slippers to replace the ones our family dog pulled the pom poms off of, an infuser mug for her tea because she CRIED when the one she got from Sammy one Christmas and used every day broke a few weeks ago, a stunning Anthro bowl (that I also got for myself because it was on sale for $6!) that reminds me of our trip to Paris, and the "Frozen Lake" candle from Bath and Body Works because she became obsessed when she smelled mine.

 DAD

My dad rarely buys himself things, other than, like, candy, so I always get pumped to buy him stuff. He always gives us kids a list, unlike my mother, so this year, after splitting the cost of the air purifier he wants, we each got him a few things ourselves. I got him the pillow from that informercial because he asked for it, and a cast iron pan because he wants to try his hand at baking pizza in it. He is such a DAD sometimes.

SISTER

My sister had a very detailed list #classic but I'm glad because I'd rather spend my money on stuff she's actually going to use and enjoy. She had several products listed from Glossier, so I went to the site, felt like someone's grandma after looking for a few seconds, picked a few items, and goodbye.

   

BROTHER

My brother's birthday is on the 23rd so he's notoriously hard to shop for around this time since you have to have enough gift ideas for him within the same shopping window. And he never gives a list, so thanks a lot. But, forever a favorite to shop for as well, I don't usually have a hard time. For his birthday he's getting a gourmet sauce/honey kit because he is the king of condiments in our family (and is probably about to get twenty more sauces from our family members between his birthday and Christmas) and I always get him a few pieces from J. Crew for Christmas because he's another one who rarely buys for himself, especially clothes. I like to think he likes when his older sister buys him clothes because he values my taste, which I'm sure his future girlfriend will LOVE and won't think is creepy at all. Merry Christmas.

GRANDMA

My grandma has become slightly harder to shop for in recent years because Christmas is a little somber for her although I know she tries to not let it be. My grandpa passed away on Christmas Eve in 2013, so this time of year is extra hard on her. In the past I've gotten her sentimental gifts that usually have to do with him or books written by people who have lost their spouses, but I try not to give anything that's over the top in that regard. This year, I did get her another book, mostly because she does love to read. I got her The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion because that woman is magical and it is about her losing her husband and daughter in the same year. Can you imagine? And then I got a Groupon for a photo blanket and decided to have a small one made for her with a picture of her, my papa, and all her grandchildren. Sammy's cousin had a similar blanket made for their grandpa before he passed away and it was his favorite gift, so I think my grandma is going to really love it.

GOD PARENTS
My godfather (also my maternal uncle) is obsessed with his air fryer, so I got him accessories that I hope he doesn't already have! And my godmother (my paternal aunt) is getting these really pretty light pink champagne flutes from Anthro that remind me of how she used to decorate for Christmas before they downsized. She was also really into flamingos and vintage barbies, and the color of these reminds me of that vintage-pink-1950s-Christmas vibe.

FRIENDS
My larger group of friends and I don't exchange gifts anymore, which is fine by me because the season is already expensive enough—I'm just happy to spend time together. But Chelsie and I have always exchanged gifts and I also exchange with Morgan.

When Chelsie and I were in the SJP pop-up shop in New York, we both promised each other we would get the other a SJP candle, so we gifted each other that. And then I got her a pair of Barefoot Dreams socks and she got me a lovely, lovely "Christmas in Your First Home" ornament that I love.

I got Morgan a blanket that says "this is my Hallmark Christmas movie watching blanket" 'cause her and I are obsessed, a Harry Potter bath bomb like the one she got me last year, and a spoon that says "Accio Cocoa" because she loves HP and cocoa!

IN-LAWS
Sammy and I split the purchasing responsibility at Christmas, so he buys for his family and I buy for mine. His mom asked for espresso cups from Crate & Barrel, so we got her those. And Sammy had a bracelet made for her with her dad's signature engraved on it. His dad asked for wireless headphones, so Sammy picked up a pair of Beats for him.

Sammy got his brother the original Nintendo which is what his brother got for him as well haha. I can't wait for them to open together, they're both jealous of the other right now haha! And for our SIL, I picked out a pair of super soft pajamas, the "Leaves" candle from Bath and Body Works 'cause it's her favorite, a bottle of her favorite wine and some chocolates.

Our niece is getting new toddler towels (a suggestion from her mom!), bath toys, bath crayons, a few outfits, and several animal books I snagged from work.

One of Sammy's grandma's is getting a candle and Italian fruit cake (she's not one for large gifts, so we're keeping it simple!) and the other is getting a manicure/pedicure gift certificate.

Sammy's aunt and uncle on his mom's side are getting a large photo blanket and we think it turned out well! And his cousins (his aunt and uncle have two sets of twin girls!) are getting "self care" packages I'm making with face masks, bath bombs, and fuzzy socks. They're also getting bridesmaid proposals the same night they get their Christmas gifts, so that should be fun too!

His aunt on his dad's side is getting a book because she's a big reader like me and some Intelligentsia coffee because I've mentioned she should try it. I hope she likes it!

We also do a gift exchange with cousins on his dad's side of the family, so I got another pair of Barefoot Dreams socks for that, a candle, and a face mask.

And since it's his cousin's son's first Christmas, we got him a sweet little one-piece lounge outfit and a Christmas book from my work.

SAMMY
Sammy and I haven't exchanged gifts in the last five years because we usually do our Christmas trip, but we couldn't go this year because of Sammy's work schedule. But I wasn't totally bummed since I knew it was going to be our first Christmas in our home and was really looking forward to opening gifts in the morning and all that. Of course our plans have changed again haha because Sammy decided to switch shifts on Christmas day and won't be home in the morning, so we're doing our Christmas morning on the 26th :) REGARDLESS, we decided to exchange this year and it's been really fun to shop for him. His birthday is in February so I kind of screwed myself because I have no more ideas left haha so I'll have to get thinking next month, but typically, that's the only other time I buy him gifts. We don't really exchange gifts on Valentine's Day or for our anniversary, and his love language definitely isn't receiving gifts, so I don't have many opportunities to buy stuff for him! He's another one who rarely buys for himself, and it's always fun to buy for those people.

He gave his mom a thorough list of ideas, so she passed it along to me after she had purchased a few things from it. We agreed on five gifts each, so I got him a few 3/4 zip sweaters, a flannel shirt, and new slippers from J. Crew (that's one gift since it all fits in one box haha), a docking station for his PS4, the Echo dot/hue light thing I have no idea what it is, a Michael Jordan mug cause he wanted a new mug, and an ornament that combines our engagement with our love of the solar system. I'm so excited to open gifts with him!

I put the date we got engaged and the location and then added a quote "I'll give you the moon" (from It's a Wonderful Life) instead of our names or "our first christmas"

PUPS
My sister had mentioned that she got something for Henry so I internally groaned and started looking up things for her and my mom's dog haha. WHICH I should have been doing anyway, but since I'm a jerk, I didn't. But they have gifts now! I got my sister's dog, Clara, a toy that disperses treats as it rolls and since she's got a bunch of energy, I thought that was a good idea. And since my mom's dog/our family dog doesn't have a ton of energy and LOVES blankets haha he's getting a brand new one he doesn't have to share with anyone.

And for our best guy, several new toys and bones 'cause that's exactly what he needs *eye roll*. I wanted to get him toys that were crazy durable and would keep his attention, so we got a few of those, and then I got him a candy cane shaped bone for his stocking. He also has a new bow tie for Christmas day as well ;)

STOCKINGS
Since my parents divorce, I've taken on the role of filling their stockings. That first year they were divorced, it killed my little eighth grade heart to think they'd wake up on Christmas morning and not have anything in their stocking—ha! So I've done it ever since. Since I haven't heard my siblings talk of any other plan, I figured I'm still in charge even though I don't live at home anymore haha. My dad and I decided no stockings with him this year, which is fine by me 'cause it's one less thing to buy for. But I'm still going to do my mom's. So far I've picked up a sleeve of shortbread cookies haha she truly loves those. And that's it haha but I usually pick up travel size beauty items, Target dollar section finds, and candy for hers and call it a day.

I've been giving Sammy a stocking ever since we started our Christmas trip tradition, but they've always been tiny ones, so I'm excited to fill a regular size one for him. This year I'm throwing in a bottle of wine from 19 Crimes (which I think tells the story of a real crime featured on the bottle when you use their app), a bbq sauce, mini bottles of liquor, a wifi outlet thing, Christmas tree Snickers, and fruit snacks (because he's five and LOVES them).

ANGEL TREE
I picked a three year old girl this year who sounded so darling based on what she asked Santa for! I usually pick more than one kid, but I just couldn't swing it this year. One day I'll be able to take a bunch! But my angel asked for a doll and stroller, play doh, and clothes. So that's what she got! I got her a doll and stroller, some play doh and a play doh set, and a nightgown that came with a matching one for her doll. I hope she likes them—I loved thinking of her as I shopped.

MISC

I'm still on the fence about my coworker gifts, but I think I'm leaning toward bottled sodas and lottery tickets (because I kind of loved getting a lottery ticket from a coworker last year haha). I put out a basket of water bottles and fruit bars for the delivery workers that drop off a million packages to our door (which isn't a gift by any means but I wanted to include it here haha). 

For our mail carrier, we did hand warmers and a candy bar. And for our neighbor we're closest with, we picked up a really pretty parsley plant (she's Italian) and wrote her a nice note.

Phew! I think that's all for us this year. I love giving gifts and I feel like I get to do it twice this year because we're asking a lot of bridal party members around this time as well. I'm so excited eeee!

Happy Wednesday, all. xo

Wedding Check-In -- No. 1

Happy Friday, all! I wanted to take today to do a little wedding check-in of sorts. I'd like to do several of these posts intermittently as we're planning just to document the process. I created a few prompts I hope to use for each check-in.

Wedding Details
Date: October 3, 2020
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Current Guest Count: 300+ (We know, we know...)

What We're Inspired By
Sammy and I are always inspired by people who seem to be able to harness a specific style effortlessly, and these people tend to be our family members, specifically our cousins. I am endlessly inspired by their ability to make their homes and celebrations so lovely and classic with seemingly little effort. We're both inspired by what I call a base taste (and this is how we are in everything from our home decor to our fashion aesthetic) which is simple, classic, and timeless. But then we're each drawn to a specific "twist"; he, modern, me, vintage-esque. Luckily, we both like one another's twists ;)

We're not looking to do any theme, except maybe play to the season's charm. We're drawn to many neutrals and greenery, clean lines and timeless accents. And since we're both extremely close to our families and hold them, their histories, and their stories in such high regard, we're always inspired by ways we can incorporate family traditions/elements into our wedding. I've tried very hard to incorporate a personal aspect into every decision we've made because it's important to us for our wedding to feel personal and specific to us.

Having said that, some specific things I've pinned that I'm/we're (I haven't shared all these with Sammy yet—ha!) inspired by:

While Sammy isn't as big of a snacker as I am (I take things to a whole new level), we both definitely like our snacks, so I thought an idea like this would be really cute (and cheap! and easy for the venue!) for favors. We're also both very autonomous, so we're all about anything that shows our individuality, which is somewhat hard within the industry when everyone is becoming "one soul." *major eye roll*

We're going to have an enormous bridal party, so I'm not sure if we're going to have everyone stand up with us during the ceremony, so we may need rows of seats reserved for the bridal party, or even just our parents and grandparents, and I love the simplicity of this instead of having a RESERVED sign on certain chairs.

I definitely want lanterns to line the aisle during the ceremony. BIG fan of lanterns. And I love how it looks with these chairs which are what our chairs will look like (and I love the alternating size of lantern).

I initially was dead set on having one color and having all bridesmaids choose whatever kind of dress they wanted as long as it was in that color family. And then I saw these dresses haha. I still don't like the idea of one dress in the exact same color, so if I choose one dress, I would want to mix and match the colors—I'm thinking whatever this nude color is, champagne, even cream, and then dark-ass ox blood. I'm sure this dress only comes in one color haha so that plan will get shot to shit, but I just adore the effortless simplicity of it. 

What We're Working On

I was adamant that we try to get the venue solidified before the new year just so we technically didn't need to plan one more thing for an entire year haha. If only so we had an exact date chosen which allows us to vendor shop at our leisure. So right now, we're not working on much after the venue search frenzy. And it's been nice to just enjoy the holiday season without Our Wedding being the focus which I was very against, especially since it's our first Christmas in our home and with Henry, so I want that to be the focus.

It's been nice to just come across wedding-related things organically rather than actively searching for them. I guess the only active thing we're doing is finishing up our bridal party proposals which has been so fun for me (and hopefully Sammy too!).

What We've Done
-We have officially booked our venue! We will be getting married on October 3, 2020 (which is insanely crazy to say/write/type etc.) at Geneva National Resort in Lake Geneva. We have a large guest count but can't afford or ask our parents to pay what most venues that can accommodate us want to charge, so the venue search has been a struggle. I was really set on getting married downtown. I just love the city so much, we both do, so that's where I focused the search initially. Turns out, a lot of spaces just can't hold all of our friends and family, and the ones that can want to charge a criminal amount of money. So, I started to extend the search outward where I could get my outdoor space which was a high item on the criteria list (and something that was hard to find downtown).

Sammy and I have always really enjoyed Lake Geneva. His mom's family's picnic is there every summer, he and I took our annual Christmas trip there last year, and we just generally enjoy being near water. I think we're both inherently connected to it and calmed by it, so it was kind of no-brainer when we went and toured Geneva National.

We had such a wonderful experience touring the venue that I knew we wouldn't have any problems planning our wedding with the staff there. I'm really excited to start brainstorming how to utilize all the spaces we have available to us and I'm even more excited we're going to have our outdoor ceremony after all. I was so excited to get a coordinator assigned to us but then a little bummed when she told us the next official step (our tasting!) won't happen until this time next year—ha!

I'm also really excited that it's going to feel like a destination wedding without all the hassle of an actual destination wedding haha. Lake Geneva is actually closer to our house than downtown Chicago is, so it feels like you're "getting away" without the travel aspect. Plus I think it makes the whole weekend feel more like an event because most close family members and our whole bridal party (hopefully) will be staying up there from Friday night to Sunday.

-We have begun asking our bridal party, as I mentioned, and I've enjoyed it SO much. This was one of the things I've been looking so forward to and I'm happy that it's lived up to my expectations. I've asked all my girlfriends and my sister and all the ladies in Sammy's family will be up next. I'm highly considering adding one more cousin to the mix which will make my bridesmaid round at lucky sixteen. I KNOW. But we're Italian, I'm not sure what you want from me. And before ya judge, Sammy has twelve groomsman, okay? You know, I keep saying, this is truly a wonderful "problem" to have. We have so many people we're genuinely close to and love and want as part of our party. It's going to be so much fun.

My ladies all got individual "proposals" which has been so fun for me to put together. I really didn't want to do the same thing for each person because each person is an individual and I wanted their gift to reflect that. I do have groupings of proposals that are the same depending on who they are (my girlfriends got similar ones, Sammy's cousins got similar ones, etc.) and how old they are.

One of my girlfriends got a "The Office" themed (since we're obsessed) proposal where I put a note inside a teapot that looked like the one Jim gives to Pam in the show.

These were the proposals I did for my girlfriends and I think they went over really well! I included a note on the inside of each box lid with something I share with each of the girls. This one was Chelsie's, my matron of honor, and it was Sex and the City, naturally.

I made cards like this for my sister, SIL, and two of Sammy's older cousins. And my sister got a combination of things I gave my girlfriends and things I'm giving my SIL and Sammy's cousins.

And then this necklace as well. I found a crystal necklace for my granola sister (who am I kidding? I have crystals in our guest rooms for guests—ha!) and it's actually so stunning in person.

A terrible picture I took in the car of my brother's gift, but you get the idea. I'm going to try to make the remaining tags on my Cricket machine or something.

We went to my mom's for dinner last week and asked both of them there which my mom lived for.

My brother told Sammy he was "honored" and I can't even with him.

 Dead for this picture.

I don't have pictures of the remaining proposals yet because they're not all officially put together, but we'll be asking all of Sammy's older cousins, brother, and SIL when we host our Christmas get together on the 22nd, I'll ask his younger cousins on Christmas Eve, and I'll ask one of my first cousins on Christmas Day if she's with us.

The older cousins and my SIL are getting a box like my sister with a monogrammed stemless flute, mini bottle of champagne, and gold candy scattered throughout. The younger girls are getting boxes with the gold candy too but filled with these monogrammed candles (in rose gold) and hair ties instead of the champagne. 

And my first cousin is getting these gemstone bracelets because she's also super granola like my sister ;) the pink is rose quartz and the black are lava beads that you can rub essential oil into and wear. I'll make it look pretty in box with a cute card too. I think she's going to be really surprised which should be a lot fun.

As you saw, Sammy got all his men the same thing because #classic. He had black Yeti koozies monogrammed and added each guy's favorite beer with a "groomsman" tag hanging from the neck and called it a day. They're super cool and a great idea. I was impressed when he told me.

-We've officially have an officiant! We've asked my cousin to officiate which is going to be so special. She's got this fantastic performer quality to her personality that's going to lend itself so well to officiating our ceremony. And we're both writers, so I'm excited to write the ceremony with her and share that experience as well.

What We're Looking Foward To
I think we're both looking forward to allowing this next year to include planning but done so on our schedule and time frame. We're going to be two days shy of a two-year engagement by the time we get married, and having a longer engagement was very intentional (even though all venues are already booked for 2019 so we'd have to pick 2020 anyway haha) just so we'd be able to plan leisurely, if we choose to. Knowing us, we'll probably have 90% of things planned by this time next year (haha can't wait to look back on this post and laugh at myself!) just 'cause we're planners by nature, but I'm looking forward to the option of not planning if we don't feel like it.

I'm also looking forward to enjoying the early stages of being engaged! It feels like we've been engaged for a year already when it's only been two months. It's crazy. I think sometime in the new year our family is going to throw us an engagement party which I'm crazy nutso excited for. And for a Lake Geneva wedding show that should be taking place at the end of February. I'm trying to max out on all the early stage things before much is planned when your engagement still feels relatively new.

Next Steps
Next steps are to enjoy being engaged and leisurely start to "vendor shop" as our coordinator puts it. I really want to nail down our photographer first, if possible. I've been following one for almost two years now that I absolutely adore but has recently relocated, so I'm not sure she'd be able to do it. I want to reach out really soon though!

How We're Feeling

I'm relieved and happy to report that I feel like just within this last week or so we've finally found our groove. Getting engaged in October (one of my very favorite months) was thrilling and romantic and picturesque and amazing and all the wonderful things it's "supposed" to be. But it was also surreal and overwhelming and sometimes uncomfortable and a little stressful, if I'm being honest, when happening right before my birthday, two impending trips, one month after we got our puppy, and just before all the major holidays (and everything that comes with those).

I spent the first two months back and forth between high emotions: one day I would be filled with joy and oh so excited and the next, or often later that same day, I would be filled with immense worry and doubt. Those are hard emotions to swing back and forth between. I'm still figuring it all out, and therapy has definitely helped, but I think giving myself grace, realizing I need more time than others to adapt to change, and giving myself that time has made a huge difference.

And I take solace in knowing that even though this is a big change, our relationship hasn't changed at all, which I think was an irrational fear I was dealing with in the early weeks of our engagement. I also take solace in recognizing when it seems like Sammy might be struggling similarly. We're not the couple that regularly checks in with one another in terms of our emotions. Maybe we should be, but what seems to work for us is allowing the other the space they need to work through their own shit and have the trust to know if we were really struggling internally, we would come to the other for support. I've appreciated the moments when I may answer a wedding-related question a little too quickly or with a short response in the hopes it will end the conversation entirely and quickly, that he's never pushed or prodded for more information. And I've extended the same to him.

It's odd to go through something like an engagement, a milestone in one's life our society has constructed an entire industry around and told us exactly what it's supposed to look like, and feel alone a lot. I've been trying to lean into those feelings and honor that they're there instead of pushing them away. But now that I think we're on the upswing, I'm really looking forward to enjoying this time together and as a future bride, a term I've always been a little uncomfortable with but also dreamed about.

The journey so far has felt like a constant exercise in walking the line; going back and forth between emotions, balancing between how a role or experience is supposed to feel vs how it does vs how I want it to. But such is life, no? A balance act. A constant exercise in walking the line.


Have I maxed you out on wedding stuff? I bet I have about 19 paragraphs ago. ;) I'm excited to have a festive weekend coming up. Girls night tonight to watch Christmas movies, a FULL day of nothing on the calendar tomorrow that I plan on filling up with many a festive thing, and a Polar Express experience with our niece and Sammy's family on Sunday. I can't wait!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

*bare with me when I post wedding-related stuff, I know it's not for everyone! but I also know how much I'm going to love looking back on these posts, so I definitely want to get them down while the memories and opinions and reflections are fresh. And if anyone has any advice to give, I would sure love to hear it!*

*Linking up with Andrea!

Weekend Recap / 2018 Christmas Bucket List

Hi all!

This weekend was a good, good, good one. So happy to be recapping it today.

Per the title of this post, it feels pretty lazy to include our Christmas bucket list at the end of a recap post, and it is pretty lazy. But we're heading toward the middle of the month, we've already completed a good portion of these, and I just want to get this on the blog for the sake of documenting so at the bottom of a random post it goes.

But first—the recap!

FRIDAY
Chelsie came over Friday night so we could make many, many cookies. My future MIL does this with her best friend and they make enough to last them through Christmas (and then some) and I've always thought having cookies on hand throughout the season was a great plan, so we decided to do it this year!

We made five different ones (started small this year) and we split the ingredients and the resulting cookies. I grabbed a frozen pizza from the store and had it ready when she got there so we wouldn't waste our time with cooking stuff for dinner or waiting on delivery.

We made white chocolate, peppermint, Oreo cookies (stupidly good), chocolate chip, peanut butter with Hershey kisses in the middle, shortbread, and pretzels with kisses and M&Ms.

We exchanged our gifts as well, which really means I got a gift and Chelsie got to HEAR about her gift since Amazon ruined hers. But first, she got Henry a Christmas gift which was so sweet!

When we were in SJP's pop-up shop in NYC, we smelled her candle and decided we would get it for each other for Christmas, so she gave me her candle (the part of her gift from me that Amazon ruined) and this insanely beautiful ornament for our tree. I love, love, love it. I told her her candle is on the way... and also got her a pair of socks from Barefoot Dreams.

Our haul.

And this guy watched over us all night and was pretty darn good except for eating one whole cookie and a Hershey kiss with the foil still on.

And I went outside to see her new car and we realized we didn't take any picture inside sooo we took a selfie in front of my garage hahaha.

SATURDAY
Saturday morning, Morgan and I met up and went to a "holiday faire" at the McHenry County fairgrounds. In addition to being a craft fair, they had events you could enter for best chocolate chip cookie, decorated cookie, crafted stocking, ornament, etc. Well Morgan and I showed up and no one else brought in their entry and it remained that way until we left. We were the only dorks in the county who entered cookies--ha! Morgan received an email this morning saying that she won first place (obviously...), but I, hilariously, have yet to receive my email, so either it's still coming, or I made a REALLY bad cookie.

After the fair, we stopped at Allen's Corner so I could introduce Morgan to the amazingness. And then we chatted for a little while at my house and exchanged Christmas gifts. I gave her a blanket that says "This is my Hallmark Christmas movie watching blanket" (because we're obsessed) and two Harry Potter items that have yet to arrive. She gave me (for my birthday and Christmas) this AMAZING mug I will use until I'm 1000 years old, a HP blanket (so I guess I'm officially a fan now), vanilla dipped spoons for coffee, and gorgeous hand sewn Paris themed tote bag.

I was happy to stay home all night cleaning the house (for a brunch I was hosting the next morning), doing laundry, organizing our guest room closet, and working on our Christmas cards (which still have to be sent out). I also got a chance to watch Dumplin' and I loved it. I loved the book, so I was glad the movie lived up to it.

Finished the night putting away a big pile of laundry, watching Girls Incarcerated (swear to God, I'm obsessed with our prison system), while Sammy clung to Henry as soon as he got home from work. You know, the usual.

SUNDAY
Sunday morning I planned a brunch so some of my favorite people could come over and see our house and Henry, and so we could all be together during the busiest, most wonderful time of the year. And so Sammy (before we went to work) and I could ask one of our cousins to be the officiant at our wedding.

I kept it pretty simple. We did many mimosas, two dips as appetizers, and for brunch, my mom made two quiches, I found stuffed bagels at the grocery store (Bantam Bagels if you've never heard of them, they're real good), and my grandma made spinach pinwheels. 

Some boy was incredibly good all day, I was pretty damn shocked. Even after everyone left, he kept on napping and being such a sweet guy. We may be out of the insane puppy phase after all!

The women... I can't even describe how I feel about them. Being in their presence completely lifts me up. They are my church and my religion. And asking one of them to be our officiant was so fun. She and my mom teared up, and she was so surprised, even though she definitely shouldn't have been. (She was born to do this stuff!)

I truly love them (and their children) more than I can say. I was so happy to have them in our home and spend the day with them.

We sat around eating cookies and talking, while they asked me what songs I wanted to play at our wedding and I played a few through the TV. These are the best kind of memories and I'm so grateful for them.

It was a wonderful weekend and left me feeling rejuvenated for the week. Now—the bucket list! I want to handwrite this like I did our 2018 Fall bucket list and post it on the fridge, (which Sammy may add to if I have forgotten something!) but I want it here as well.

2018 Christmas Bucket List

FAMILY
Pick out our Christmas tree
This would be an example of me cheating a little on this list because I wrote this down after we already did it ;) we got our tree the day after Thanksgiving, just as I had hoped. We cut it down this year and I think that'll be the last time haha. I just want the tree, I don't need to make a whole thing out of obtaining the tree. Next year, we'll go to the church parking lot down the street ;)

Decorate the house
Another cheat. Done before I wrote the list! Decorating a home for this time of year is truly the number one reason why I wanted to buy a house. I can't tell you how much this means to me and I love how it turned out.

Decorate our gingerbread house
Doing this week!

Get Henry a festive bandana
Done! Plus a bow tie for Christmas Day ;)

Play outside in the snow with Henry
Done! We didn't stay out long because Momma can't hang, but I'm sure we'll get another opportunity or two before the season is over.

Do at least one festive thing with each of our extended families
We have plans this Sunday to have a Polar Express experience with Sammy's family. And we'll be hosting Cugini Christmas this year at our house with all of Sammy's first cousins.

I've already gone to a Christmas craft show this season with my mom, she's come to CL for the Christmas parade and tree lighting, and the brunch I hosted this past Sunday felt relatively festive. I also have traditions with my dad and siblings that I'm sure we'll do this year too. Always happy to tack on festive events/traditions each year with our families.

Host a festive gathering in our home
Done! And more to come!

Watch Home Alone 78 times
Well on our way.

Watch nostalgic Christmas movies/shows
Always a favorite. I've been trying to watch something festive almost every day.

Go to a festive event in town
Done! Went to two so far! I hope to squeeze more in or just more time downtown CL while it's all decorated.

Start a new tradition
This came about organically without even discussing the idea of starting a new tradition. Sammy mentioned to me he bought me an ornament as one of my Christmas gifts because he saw one he thought I would like, and then he said he wanted to start a tradition of getting each other an ornament each year. Check that off the list! And I can't wait to see what he picked out. I still have to find him one!

PERSONAL

Read three Christmasy books
I have one on my Kindle right now from the library, and should be able to plow through two more if they're "light" enough.

Do something festive every day
This has been easy and so fun. Whether it's having a cup of cocoa by the tree, reading by the tree, watching a festive movie, wearing festive pajamas, or all of the above, I try to do something every day that's specific to the season.

Continue my wrapping tradition
Every Christmas, once all of the gifts I'm giving have been purchased and delivered, I gather everything, make mac & cheese, grab a Coke, turn on Home Alone, and eat and then wrap all the gifts in front of the TV. I absolutely love doing it and now I get to wrap even more gifts because Sammy is decidedly not a fan of wrapping ;)

Start a Christmas tradition with a friend(s)
Another one that came about organically. I feel like we spend a lot of time making an effort to have traditions with our immediate families and significant others, which is obviously very important, but I think it's also important to make time for traditions with our friends as well. Chelsie and I started our cookie baking tradition this year, and I hope we carry it on until we can barely walk. My girlfriend is also hosting us this Friday for a festive girls night and I hope we're able to do that every year as well!


That's it for me all. If you made it this far, you're a saint. xo