Christmas Q and A!

I found this cute survey on one of my new fav blogs, You, Me and Anthropologie. Since Christmas is 19 days away ( eeeek!) I thought I'd jump in on the holiday fun. Plus I'm drinking a peppermint mocha ( skinny with half the syrup pumps) so I'm feeling super festive.

What's your favorite Christmas cartoon?

Definitely the Grinch but Charlie Brown is another close favorite. I seriously wanted to live in Whoville at some point in my life.

What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Oh goodness, I'll just start the list :)  Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause, The Holiday, The Family Stone, and The Christmas List. If you haven't seen the Christmas List you are missing out! Its an old ABC family movie and is my all time fav.  I still make sure I DVR it every year.

What's your favorite Christmas song?

Wowsers. How much time do you have?  Well my recent favorite is my sister in law Katie's rendition of Mary Did you Know but since she I'm sure won't sing it for the blog, I'll leave you with a few more.

Anything by Manheim Steamroller. Amy Grants first Christmas CD, Mariah Carey, " Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC ( part joke, part very real) or Judy Garlands " Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Oh and Stevie Nicks "Silent Night".

Where do you spend Christmas?

Our families are both in VA and we are in CA. We try to do 5 or 6 days at home over the holidays. J and I's parents now only live about 5 minutes away from each other. When we got married we decided on the whole " alternate years on Christmas Eve and Day". Last year we had a wonderful time on the farm for Christmas with his parents. This year, we are staying at my parents for Christmas Eve and morning. Either way, it's always fabulous and we get lots of family time in!

Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

We open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest of them on Christmas morning. Normally something from my Aunt Lynn. On Christmas morning it's very methodical and it always has been. We all have spots that we sit around the tree and it's my sister Blair and I's job to pass around the presents. Once we all have our gift piles, coffee/mimosas, and mom has a notepad we are ready to go! One at a time we open, " oooohhh and ahhhhh" while mom makes us Thank you note lists. She's the Best!

Do you have stockings?

Stockings are always one of my favorite parts! We do those first and they are always laid next to the presents off the mantle when we come down the stairs. Dad always gets a huge bag of peanut M and M's in his to start so we obviously snack on those all morning. Our stockings are full of candy, sometimes jewelry, DVD's and other little gifts.

Which reindeer is your favorite?

Prancer. He just sounds fun.

How are you at wrapping presents?

Pretty darn good if I do say so myself. It's one of my favorite things to do. 

Do you go out shopping the day after Christmas?

Nope, try to avoid it. Now a days, J and I are normally on a plane back to California the day after.

Do you buy a Christmas dress/outfit every year?

If my husband is reading this than no. But, yes. I've already got mine this year since Milly gave it to me last year for Christmas :) It's the perfect Christmas dress that I'll pair with a black blazer, tights and ankle boots. Done and Done.

Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider, or Egg Nog?

Hot chocolate ( salted caramel if there is a choice) and Egg Nog. Really, just Egg Nog flavored things since the real Egg Nog has something like 20 grams of fat in it. Yikes!

Gingerbread man or frosted sugar cookie?

Frosted sugar cookies for SURE! My sister in law Kelly and Milly make the BEST sugar cookies. They are seriously famous! I'm attempting the family recipe this weekend with J so we will see if I'm a true Kennedy or not!

Real tree or fake tree?

My answer is real overall. We grew up with huge real trees, so did hubs. When we moved, we decided on a fake tree since we are gone during Christmas. I just so think we scored the most beautiful fake tree and have hung Christmas tree scented ornaments on it that work like a charm. You get the smell without the real tree. When we have kiddos, it's real all the way.

Put up your own lights or drive around and look at other people's lights?

Both! This year we were fortunate to have our landlord cover our house in lights for us so it worked out well! One of my favorite things to do is walk around the neighborhood at night and look at all the pretty sparkles!

Happy Holidays!

Misc. Monday via Pinterest!

I'm linking up with Carissa over at lowercase letters for a few wordless and  misc things I'm loving today.

Hope you all survive Monday!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Our beach bungalow is currently in the process of having its halls decked and I couldn't be more excited 

about it. 

The second we put away our dishes from Thanksgiving....

The Christmas music started making it's debut. Along with our tree, some/all the ornaments I could find 

and decorations galore. 

Nothing says cheer like a bowl full of glittery ornaments, some Christmas Virginia Living issues, 

gorgeous candles and my husbands prized antler bar tool set. I simply call it a reindeer this time of year.

Note to self: I think all christmas decorations are beautiful. I really do. I choose however to only use 

white, gold and silver when given an option. A few dashes of green and red are necessary to keep 

me married.

A little dash of Christmas Martha etc. Plus more candles. 

I apologize for A. The blinding lights and  B. The non styled bookcase ( I was unpacking 

decor/organizing). Our tree fits perfectly against the

wall of windows into the courtyard. Plus I can see it across the way when I'm cooking or we are eating 

in the dining room.

$20 bucks if you can spot my new coffee filter wreath!  It looks teeny but it's a 24 inch round, our 

fireplace just happens to be 6 feet across.

 I don't think I could have glued one more coffee filter on.

Ahhhh, who can honestly say that they don't like twinkle lights?

That's as far as I've gotten for now!  Kitchen, nooks and dining area to come! 

Source: dyidreamer.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

What Im Loving!

Well hello there strangers, especially David! 

I'm surprised they didn't shut down my URL and kick me off the blogosphere. 

Even though I've been busy there are too many things I'm loving this Wednesday.

A link up with the gorgeous Jamie? Don't mind if I do.

Yall, this show is my new guilty pleasure. Yes, the plot line is the same every week but Rachel Bilson is the cutest and I constantly try to convince J we need to find our own Bluebell to settle down in!

I have been loving Coffee-mates holiday creamers! A little peppermint really makes it feel like Christmas! The pumpkin was fabulous and next on my list is eggnog!

I made a coffe filter wreath for our chimney this holiday season. This is not my wreath but a general idea. Super cute and super neutral, just my style. Mine is sans ribbon and + one sparkly bird.

My sweet husband bought me tickets to see Wicked up in LA this weekend for my birthday! He knew I had been wanting to see it forever so we are heading up north for a mini getaway. So excited!

Revlon fire color burst gloss. The PERFECT Christmas red.

Black Cherry lipstick. Looks crazy dark but it's crazy amazing. I would have worn this on my wedding day if I had discovered it sooner. Be warned, it is very plum but I can't stop wearing it!

I'm Loving that we are staying at Mr. C's hotel in Beverly Hills for our getaway. It is to die for. 

I'm seriously loving dark dark walls. Swoon.

My interior doors would all be painted black. All of 'em.

Happy alllll most December!!!

Misc. Monday!

First off, let me just say, " Hi, Mom!"...She told me she was sick of reading about the Southern Living Dream house on my blog. Please, as if you could get sick of that house. 

I thought I'd do a little Misc Monday link up. Cheers to Monday!

Source: favim.com via Sara on Pinterest

1. This was the first weekend we've had "just us two" in probably 2 months. We have love love loved all our visitors and trips but it has been so nice to just sit. relax. clean and regroup. I got caught up on all the sleep I needed ( by taking a 4 hour nap Saturday!!), we hit up the local farmers market, I repainted our bedroom furniture, cleaned the house from top to bottom, went on a great walk with a gf, and even broke out the Uggs. Yes, a little unnecessary but it was kind of chilly here on Friday night  so I jumped the gun ;)  I can not wait for fall!

Over sized button up, riding boots, leggings, scarf, neutral? Yes please!

2. We had the best time in Sonoma with our friends A and R. The wedding we attended ( a co-worker of hubs and R) was SO GORG! The sun setting over the vineyard, long barn tables, flowers, romantic touches and perfect weather. It was seriously out of this world. They looked amazing and anywhere that serves mini- sliders and fries during cocktail hour is A-ok by me! We had the best time partaking in one tooooo many vineyards, relaxing, eating and enjoying wine country for the weekend. We discovered a few new fav reds as well that are going to be household staples from now on! Super fun!

I of course didn't take any pictures which is sad but oh so typical. I think A took a few so I'll have to see what I can get my hands on.

3. I'm currently rocking " You don't know Jacque" by OPI and it makes me happy. It's my transition color into Fall.It's what I wore on our wedding day and is one of my alllll time favorites.

4. To further force Fall upon Southern California, I'm making this Southern Living Pumpkin Crisp to take to my JL Potluck Tuesday. I have been craving pumpkin like no ones business. That and boiled peanuts. But really, that thats another  story.

 annnnnd....
I think thats enough misc for one Monday!
Have a great week!

WILW

Happy Wednesday Ladies! 

A little bit of a wordless what I'm loving.  Have yall seen the Southern Living Idea Home 2011?? It's on the water in Texas and it is perfection! It's rustic, light, open, airy...and the list goes on and on. I'm in LOVE.

Link up with Jamie and get on the love bandwagon.

See, I told ya?