Oh Ina Garten...

The Barefoot Contessa is my all time favorite food network star. I've watched her for years and years. I think the thing I love most about her is the fact that she makes fancy food and that's not something I'm used to so I love to try and recreate her dishes. Truth be told, I've made countless meals from her recipes and either I can't cook her dishes well or her food is a little too fancy for my palate because it just doesn't turn out well.

The only thing that I have made of Ina's that I've made repeatedly is her Brussell Sprouts. Cut the ends off, toss them in olive oil, some salt and pepper. Bake at 400 for about 30 - 35 minutes and they are absolutely delicious.

I've tried her mushroom lasagna - um, no! The other day I watched her pasta episode, which I've seen countless times but each time her lobster mac-n-cheese looks divine so last night I made it.

I will say this - it looks delicious. It is very creamy and the baked bread crumbs on top give it just the texture it needs, but the seafood just doesn't mix well with the mac-n-cheese. This is a fantastic mac-n-cheese recipe, and one that I will make again however I will leave out the lobster. Some times it's about tweaking someone's recipes and turning them into your own. So thanks Mrs. Garten...I finally have found a creamy mac-n-cheese!

*****

For the past few months Cadence has been an early riser. I'm talking 6am that kid is up bright and early. Well this morning I couldn't sleep so I got up, turned the living room light on. Well it woke her up and the pets so this is what was going on at our house this morning at 6am.

*****

If you have ever seen the Elf on the Shelf, the movie, then you have seen the little elf in the beginning who has the mail cart loaded with letters to Santa rushing into meet Santa to give them to him. Well each time we watch the movie Cadence always says it's Olly, turns out, it is!

He even brought a bunch of tiny little envelopes, all addressed to Santa to prove it!

The night before last he was found hiding in our tree with a new ornament just for him...

Can y'all believe only one week to go?

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas {and other midweek randoms}

It's so hard to fathom that we only have 8 more days until Christmas is here. 

As of today my shopping is absolutely complete and it feels oh so good to say that. 

A few more things to wrap when I get home and my Christmas tree will be completely trimmed with presents below. 

If you've been a reader for a while then you've heard me talk about the James Island lights in Charleston. It's a huge light display they put on annually and it's stunning. The first night we went to Charleston we got to James Island earlier than we thought and would have had to wait an hour for the park to open, so we decided to enjoy the city of Charleston instead. We tried again this past Saturday night and that was a huge mistake! The line was at a stand still for 8 miles. We wouldn't have been able to see the lights until 1am if not later and that's no fun for anyone so we turned around and headed right back home. 

With Cadence's birthday being  yesterday we opted to try for a third time around and I'm so glad we did. We got right in, it wasn't busy at all and the lights were stunning - not to mention how happy it made our sweet birthday girl!

As I said before, there are thousands upon thousands of lights, but here are a few of my personal favorite...

They also do a huge sand castle each year.

Our advent calendar is coming to a close. With only eight more things to do leading up until Christmas Day - I just can't believe it. Today's "to-do" is play a game. So I'm sure when we get home we'll be playing our new Elf on the Shelf game that Cadence got for her birthday yesterday from Olly. It looks fun and I'm sure she'll love it. 

***

On a separate note I have been in the mood to travel. Our week long trip in Disney seemed like ages ago and I am so ready for another getaway. Obviously I know that we are beyond blessed to have the means to be able to travel and we're very fortunate in that fact but that doesn't mean I don't love to travel when I can and I've been in the mood for another getaway. I search Trip Advisor New York daily. If I can't be there at least I can look at pictures!

I don't know about y'all but daily around 2/3 I get so tired and just want to go home. It's the slowest part of the day at my job and I guess that's part of it but it seems that 2pm forward just drags by so slowly. I can't wait to have some time off work for Christmas. We have two Christmas parties this weekend and then next week the big day arrives!

Love this time of year!

Six.

Six years ago, on a Tuesday just like today in fact, I gave birth to the best blessing that I could have ever been given, Cadence. She is such a light in our life. She is truly the sweetest most kind hearted little girl I know. She cares for others. She's strong willed but at the same time wears her heart on her sleeve. It's so hard to believe that these past six years have flown by as quickly as they have. I'm so happy to call her my little girl.

It was PJ day at school and she wore her Elf on the Shelf PJs

With it being her birthday Olly brought her a present, the Elf on the Shelf game with a note saying that she can now have him all year long, by gifting her the game.

He also wrote her some fun little things with lipstick on the mirror

This morning I sent her to school with three dozen cupcakes adorned with pink, blues and tons of sparkly sprinkles per her request. I sure hope she has a great birthday at school. I know that if a child has a birthday they have special birthday glasses they get to wear and the entire class sings to you. She was much looking forward to it. Now to get home and play the game with her and Tarl. I love how special birthdays are, especially to children.

I am ready to get this week done. I hardly have to work at all next week or the week after and I'm ready to just relax without the hustle and bustle of every day work flow.

Can you believe we're in the single digits now? Only 9 more days y'all!

Monday!

Monday, again?!

Although it was a four day weekend, well, sort of, if you count Thursday and Friday being in bed burning up with fever and getting plenty of exercise running back and forth to the bathroom vomiting. The virus that has been in my house was no joke. Cadence and I bounced it back and forth off each other and as soon as I felt up to it I lysol-ed my entire house! I pray it's gone, for good!

Here's what Olly's been up to...

The girls who won the school pageant were asked to participate in an event yesterday afternoon to support Toys for Tots. We were there to support and even met Santa!

We also went and saw our local Christmas lights with my sister and her family.

The Journey at Savannah Christian Church was wonderful. If you live in or around the Savannah area I suggest you visit - such a treat!

I'm ready for Christmas and can hardly believe it's only 10 days away!

Midweek Randoms

In our home we always have popsicles, always. Cadence and I killed a box of rocket pops this week with our sore throats. We couldn't taste the flavor to save our lives but the coolness of them sure felt nice.

Tarl went Christmas shopping for me last night. Each year he looks forward to going one night in December. He grabs his Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, shops and then has dinner at Logans Steakhouse or Carey Hilliards after because I'm not a fan of those two restaurants.

When he pulled up last night I ran outside dying to see what he got me, but of course no luck! Only 15 days until I have to find out though!

I only have a few items left on my Christmas list. My secret Santa that my family participates in, a few items left on Tarl's list, and my boss. After that I'm done. I honestly don't mind buying gifts though. I actually look forward to it (when I have the spare cash). I love looking around for something that fits that person perfectly, wrapping it with care and watching their face light up as they open it.

How about that Sons of Anarchy series finale (as in it's completely over) last night?! I've been a hardcore fan ever since it started seven years ago and cannot believe that it's over for good. Very sad to be honest, but the way it ended...bummer! Don't worry I won't spoil it for you if you have your DVRs set.

My family and I are attending The Journey tonight put on my Savannah Christian Church. It is our first time doing it and we've heard nothing but excellent things about it. I'm excited to see the production as well as Cadence learning the true meaning of Christmas. You can learn more about The Journey here.

This morning Olly drew on some of our pictures in the hutch. A mustache on Cadence along with bushy eyebrows. A Santa hat and beard on me and elf ears on Tarl.

I've had a blast with Olly this year. I'm not going to lie though. There has been two nights thus far I've had to wake up at 4am to use the bathroom and completely forgotten to move him and rushed to move him just so I can get back in bed. It happens.

My local radio station reads a letter each day to help support local families impacted by cancer this Christmas season. Whether it be a mom, dad, or child. I cannot imagine having to be in the hospital on Christmas Day being sick or worse, having a sick child. I just want to remind everyone to be very thankful for their health and the health of your family. It's the things like that, that cannot be bought. I praise the Good Lord each day for the health of my loved ones and pray daily for their continued health. If you or someone you love is having a hard time this year and would like some extra prayers I would be happy to do so. Just email me and let me know. Listening to those letters each day serve as a strong reminder of the many things I have that I take for granted daily. Thank you Jesus for everything that you do for me!

Playing Catch Up

My family has been sick since November 30th - so ready to have a healthy household again! Cadence was sick last Sunday - Thursday. I started feeling bad Friday afternoon but got worse on Sunday. Cadence started feeling better on Thursday then Sunday night her fever spiked and came back rearing it's ugly head. Took off yesterday to mend myself and take her to the doctor. She was negative for strep, flu and a bladder infection. Her X-rays were good so they think she got a back to back virus. I'm sneezing my way through work today with a raw red nose, watery eyes and the voice of a mouse but I'm here. Cadence went all night without a fever so I'm praying to the Good Lord we're finally starting to get better. It's hard having the Christmas spirit when you're not feeling well. Kindergarten is no joke folks. Cadence has always been a healthy girl with only about two colds a year, I think we're on #5 since she started school back in August...cooties are contagious!

Sick or not, here's what we've been up to...

Since Hector, our cat, went missing two months ago we've done nothing but search the streets, put up posters and spread the word on social media. Unfortunately he never returned and we never heard anything from anyone regarding his whereabouts. Ever since Cadence has asked for a kitten for Christmas. Our local shelter just recently posted about how they were offering free adoptions throughout the Christmas season and we thought it was the perfect time, so on Friday afternoon I picked up our little Sawyer, whom we are absolutely smitten with!

We were going to wait until Christmas Day to surprise her but with the shelter offering free adoptions we didn't want to risk the chance of someone snatching up this cute little fellow so Santa left a note stating that he wanted Sawyer to get used to his new family so he could enjoy Christmas comfortably and lovingly.

On Friday afternoon our local town had what they call a blizzard. They bring in snow machines and for $5 kids can play in it. They've done this the past few years but this was our first time attending and we won't be doing it again I can tell you that. Snow my a**, it was more like little ice chips mixed with mud. Cadence enjoyed it for about 10 seconds (enough for a few pictures) and then was ready to leave. The crowds were ridiculous. I swear everyone in our hometown must have been in attendance because you couldn't walk without being shoulder to shoulder with another person. The best part was the Festival of Trees next door. Cadence loved walking and seeing all the local trees and wreaths that people created, her Kindergarten class even submitted a tree with ornaments made by the students, even one by our sweet girl. You can put a bid in on a tree and I surely did - I'll find out tonight if I am the highest bidder. *fingers crossed*

We did enjoy the cake walk and I won a big cupcake so it wasn't a total bust, just thought the snow could have been a little bit better, especially for what you payed verses what you got to actually do and too many people at a time doing it.

She saw one of her school friends there :)

Saturday morning was Cadence's PJ breakfast party. This year we did a low key birthday bash. Parents and siblings only. Minimal decor and breakfast food. Heck, I even suggested everyone wear their pajamas - it was still a lot of fun and a lot less stressful!

Olly found out about her PJ party and brought her a special pair to wear for the day!

The party was a success and she had a blast. It was so easy not having to worry if my house was absolutely spotless. Moving the pets out of the way. Making sure the yard was perfect along with spending money on needless decorations. We kept the breakfast easy with grits, eggs, sausage, biscuits, gravy, store bought donuts and a fruit tray. Everyone enjoyed themselves and we may keep this low key tradition for a while.

For her birthday present we got her a much needed new bed spread with sheets. To match her bathroom we chose hot pink and zebra print. She was pleased.

After everyone left and we straightened up the house we gave her the rest of her birthday present, which was time spent at the winter carnival in Savannah and her favorite dinner, Japanese.

Savannah did great this year. They set up a small little carnival beside the Westin and all proceeds benefit local charities. We went straight for the ferris wheel at sunset with wonderful views of downtown Riverstreet.

We woke up the next morning to Chef Olly donning his chef hat and apron. He also brought Cadence a hat and apron along with some cookie mix. I figured he thought we could take the hint.

Monday morning he was trying to play Santa



and this morning



Love that little elf :)

Sick or not, I've spent some great time with my sweet girl and Tarl has taken good care of us between the several rolls of tissue paper, cooking chicken noodle soup, back rubs, belly rubs, snuggles and even doing laundry for me even though he dreads it. Couldn't ask for a better husband, daughter or even our sweet pets who come check on us when we're in the bathroom contemplating whether or not we're going to be sick. TMI? Maybe. But we've all been there, let's be honest!

Rosie didn't know what I was doing but that face was one of concern that I had to snap the picture. Priceless!

One of Cadence's favorite things to do is draw on her magnetic pad and guess who or what she's drawn - this one was easy to guess and impressed the hell out of me - she did great with daddy pig if I do say so myself!

Decorating gingerbread in between medicine - don't worry we aren't going to eat it with all the germs. I do however encourage you to decorate a gingerbread kit with your little ones. It's fun for all parties. Even Tarl joined in and helped to decorate it.

I pray that my little one and I are done with this virus/cold whatever it is. Coughing hurts, our noses are sore and raw from blowing it so much. Stiff necks, sleepless nights, fevers and body aches. Please keep us in your prayers. If all is well with our health we have some fun Christmas things planned starting this Wednesday...hope to share!

xo