Thanksgiving 2014

We spent turkey day this year in Pennsylvania spending quality time with both sides of our family. We got into town Tuesday night in order the beat the snow then spent most of Wednesday cuddled inside watching the snow come down and prepping some food for the big day.

This year I was in charge of the pecan pie, homemade rolls, and some roasted vegetables. I turned to the trusty Pioneer Woman for both recipes and they did not disappoint. I also love her step by step instructions with pictures, it gives me more confidence to try new things because I can make sure it looks right every step of the way.  The rolls were a labor of love considering they had to sit and rise for multiple hours, but they turned out delicious! This Georgia girl also represented well with a pecan pie, but beware this pie is not for the faint of heart when it comes to sugar. There is lots of it! But perhaps that is why it is so yummy.

This year Jameson's sister hosted and I love going over to her house for the holidays because she has such perfect decor and this year she did not disappoint! Isn't her chalkboard adorable?

Friday morning we packed up for a quick trip to my grandparents house to spend some time with my aunts, cousins, parents, and of course grandma and grandpa! We enjoyed (another) big, yummy meal and spent the night engaged in a rather intense game of Phase 10. I am so grateful to have been able to spend time with them! Saturday we headed back to State College so the boys could go to the last football game of the season. All in all we had such a wonderful time with all our family and returned back to Michigan on Sunday with full stomach's and even fuller hearts!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! 

This is our first Valentine's day as a married couple and we have wild plans consisting of work all day and dinner at night! With the craziness that is life recently I will be so happy to sit down with my love and catch up over delicious food that I don't have to cook myself. My meat and potato loving boy made reservations at a local steakhouse and I cannot wait to try the food! I also want to remember to take some time today to tell everyone in my life how much I appreciate them. Beginning with my grandma because today is her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!! 

Side Note: Aren't they just absolutely adorable?

I hope y'all enjoy today with whomever you spend it with. May we all cherish our family, friends, coworkers, spouses, and anyone else God puts in our path today.

I would love to hear from you! What are your Valentine's Day plans?

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Dear First Married Christmas Tree,

I am not going to lie, I was slightly worried about you. I have heard many horror stories about the struggles of getting a real tree. Apparently picking out the perfect size, getting it home safe and sound, and putting it in the stand up straight are quite difficult tasks. But I must thank you because you are perfect and made all of those things incredibly easy. Almost too easy. But nevertheless you are currently hanging out in our family room and spreading your lovely evergreen aroma throughout our humble abode. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with you in the upcoming weeks. Thanks for bringing the festive Christmas spirit into our home and into our hearts.

With Love,

Have Yourself a REAL Little Christmas

I knew Thanksgiving was later this year but O MY GOODNESS Y'ALL  it is just sinking in that Christmas is in 19 days and I there is so much yet to do. First thing on my list should be take the fall wreath off the front door. Most of our neighbors have their houses decked out in lights and garland and hanging tree ornaments...meanwhile I still have my burlap orange and burgundy wreath gracing the cover of our front door. I did finally throw out the pumpkins last week so that was a giant leap in the right direction.

Although let's be REAL here if the fact that don't have my Christmas wreath up yet is the worst of my problems then I am doing mighty good. In fact I was reminded of how blessed I am while driving to work yesterday and listening to the local radio show surprise a family who couldn't afford a REAL Christmas this year. In between wiping tears from my face (yes I am a sap and I cry at the radio...just deal with it) I was reminded how fortunate I am to be able to not only afford to buy gifts for all my loved ones, but I am also blessed beyond measure to enjoy it with the people who mean the most to me.  The REAL Christmas is about love and joy. The REAL Christmas is about spending time with loved ones and celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because it is by His blessing that we can even celebrate the Christmas season. So in between all of the decorating and wrapping and hot chocolate and christmas music I am making it a priority to remember to slow down and appreciate the REAL  important things about this season.

So in the next 19 days I do hope to get that lovely fall wreath down and put up a nice evergreen one with the largest red bow north of the mason dixon line, but I will do it with joy and happiness instead of anxiety and stress because that is the spirit in which I hope to celebrate a REAL Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2013

To some families Thanksgiving is nothing more than another Thursday where there happens to be some turkey on the table to eat. But NOT for this family! We do Thanksgiving and we do it BIG! For as long as I can remember we have done Thanksgiving at my parents house in Atlanta with my grandparents and Aunt Dorothy. They come every year, it's just tradition. Some other Thanksgiving traditions of ours include:
1. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Like most families we always watch the Thanksgiving Day parade throughout the morning. Nothing prepares you better for turkey than big balloons of cartoon characters, marching bands, and cheesy lip syncing performances. And of course we can't forget about Santa Claus! He officially rings in the holiday season by closing out the parade.
2. Shrimp. We have shrimp with cheese and crackers around noon every Thanksgiving to hold us over until the big meal. Grandpa and Grandma are in charge of getting it the day before from Fresh Market. We all tag along, drink some festive sample coffee, wander the isles of yummy food, and usually walk out of the store with way more peppermint candies than one family should ever consume.
3. Turkey Cook Off. In recent years we have had 2 turkey's at our dinner table. My mom makes the traditional oven roasted turkey. My dad deep fries a turkey. Then we sit around the table eating both and deciding which we like better. Nothing like a little turkey cooking rivalry to spice things up a bit!


Dad and his deep fried turkey - Mom with the oven turkey

4. Barnes & Noble. We always make sure to make a big family trip to the bookstore on Black Friday. Grandma and Grandpa treat everyone to a book to two!

This year Jameson and I, along with my parents, woke up early to go to a workout class at my parents gym. It included lunges, squats, running, jump rope, planks, push-ups...sounding fun yet? I definitely felt the burn but it was great getting an early morning sweat in so I felt less guilty about the apple pie consumed later in the day.
The meal prep this year was a tag team effort. Grandma and Aunt Dorothy prepared the squash and rutabaga. Ryan did the mashed potatoes and cornbread stuffing.  Mom and Dad did the turkey's. I made green bean casserole. Needless to say we had plenty of food and nobody had to slave too hard in the kitchen.

The table spread

We ended the day as any true American would: lounging around on the couch and watching football. The Lions won!! And Matt McGloin was starting QB for the Oakland Raiders. I never thought I would see the Scranton Slinger be playing in the NFL let alone starting on Thanksgiving Day. Even though they lost he still made us PSU fans proud.

I am so thankful I got to spend quality time with my family this year for Thanksgiving. Since we have gotten older and moved away family reunions are fewer and farther between, but every time we get together I am reminded how truly blessed I am to have them as family.

Val, Aunt Dorothy, and Jameson

With my sister Lindsay - please ignore my awkward claw hand