Beach Blues

  There is no doubt in our minds that we made the right choice moving back East. We are back in our hometown with both sets of parents, siblings, close family friends etc. With the baby coming in January, this is exactly where we wanted to be. J loves his new firm and we are settled into our new house, ironically in my childhood neighborhood. With that being said, every now and then I miss the sound of the ocean and the salt air. 

Our California house was 100 yards from the water and the views are something we feel so lucky to have had. Something about the sun setting over the water just makes you stop and be thankful. 

Today, thanks to Pinterest, Im headed back to the ocean.

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                                                   Our beach

                                    

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Love is in the air!

The windows are open, it's crisp out side and I've got a homemade latte. 

Life is Good. 

We've had a busy few days and there is lots to be thankful for this Wednesday.

I'm Loving:

Our Stroller! 

We debated back and forth between a few models and this Baby Jogger City Versa proved the be the best for our lifestyle. It has a patented " one pull" fold system, seat that can go either way, pram height car seat when the infant seat is installed, plus tons of accessories we can purchase to make our bambino comfy and cozy.

Mama Mio Tummy Rub

This has got to be THE BEST stretch mark prevention solution. It smells amazing, is non greasy and is highly recommended from moms and celebs alike. I may or may not use it on my arms and legs sometimes too because I  just can't get enough. My sweet bf Kate knew it was the perfect " Congrats your having a baby gift" She knows me too well :) 

Fall Pinterest Crafts

This chilly weather is calling for a fall craft, decorating day. On my hit list...

 

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The fab 5
On Friday,  the high school besties, Anne Stewart, Maria, Liz, Megan and I will be in the same place for the first time in over 3 years.  I. Can't. Wait. Mexican fiesta at our casa on Saturday will def be a great time! Margaritas, guacamole and some great quality time!

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And as always, I'm loving my amazing husband and our sweet healthy baby boy :)
Very blessed indeed. 
Everything has checked out perfect and we even got to see his precious face on a 3-d machine at our last appointment.
Talk about surreal.  I may be biased, but he is perfect :)


Have a Great Day!

Giddy for Urban Grace

Yall, I have to let you in on one of my obsessions, Urban Grace Interiors. I have never seen anything from the super talented Erika and team  that I didn't LOVE (and immediately tried to re-create). The gal is not only super cute but can do no wrong design wise. Don't believe me? She just finished designing the Coastal Living Ultimate Beach Home in Rosemary Beach Florida. Could you just die!

I can't possibly admit how many times a day/week I scroll through her design portfolio and drool. 

Go ahead. I'll wait. 

Amazing right???

Take a peak inside the Ultimate Beach Home...

Just the tip of the iceberg my friends. Media room, kitchen(s), bunk rooms with IPad ports, neutral calming spaces with natural materials, a to die for back yard etc. etc. etc. 

Total swoon. Happy Thursday!

Lovin' Much!

This Wednesday I'm feeling super thankful and am loving lots!

A link up with Jamie should do the trick!

                                         

I'm Loving...

My trip to Savannah to see my grandma and family.

Tomorrow, my dad and I are taking off to  the Peach State for a much needed few days in the deep South.  I'll know we've made it when we stop at the boiled peanut stand.

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That we just celebrated our 2 year anniversary!
We have done ALOT in the last 2 years and there is no one I would rather do it with. We
had a great dinner out in downtown last night with a fabulous mocktail for this gal.
We couldn't believe that next year we will need a babysitter!

  Non- baby nurseries
 I think there are a million adorable nurseries out there. Whether you go pink and girly
or blue and nautical, up to you. I personally want our babes room to feel like they could grow with a lot  of it.  Slight baby, not over the top. The walls will be some form of grey.

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A little busy but loving the gray walls, dark dresser and more formal rug

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Homemade Butterfinger?
I saw how they made Butterfingers one morning on our cross country trip. Thanks Food Network.
 These days, when I see something I want, I gotta have it. I proceeded to get a Butterfinger at almost every rest stop/ gas station we stopped at from Oklahoma City to Memphis.
 I have since curbed my awful habit.
In comes this Pinterest recipe that looks too good to be true. As soon as I can get my hands on some candy corn this will happen.

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Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!!!

Baking weather?

     Yesterday, while running to the grocery store, something bright orange caught my eye. What?! PUMPKINS! Tons and tons of pumpkins lining the outside of Kroger. For 2.3 seconds I forgot that it was 85 degrees outside and let myself drift into fall. Immediately, regardless of the weather, I had to bake. I'm not ready for pumpkin pie or sugar cookies but I had seen this recipe floating on blogs and Pinterest and knew I just had to. Not only was it super simple but it made the house smell amazing! 

Plus, it's a Southern Living recipe... how bad could it be??

Cream Cheese Banana Bread

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3/4 c. butter, softened
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. sugar
2 large eggs
3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
1 cup roughly chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in bananas, pecans, and vanillla. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8x4 inch loafpans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. Cool bread in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.


Make it. You'll love it.

Funny how that happens....

What was intended as a short blogging break, turned into a super long blogging hiatus. (And between you and me, I missed it!!!) So much has happened since February so a mini catch up is in order before I jump back in!

We moved back to Virginia! As much as we love love loved California and our life there, it was time to make the move back East. J loved his job but got the chance to interview with a firm back in Richmond and he took the opportunity. It's a mid sized firm where he can keep doing the same work but on a slightly less intense scale. Now, he will never have a 9-5 ( does anyone?) but the hours are much more family friendly and conducive to a life outside of the office. Double Yay!!

The biggest news, and contributing factor for the move, is....

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We are over the moon excited to welcome a sweet baby into our little world in January!!! We feel very blessed that everything has been smooth and wonderful. All has checked out perfectly and we are half way there!  It was super important to be near the grandparents and family, which are all in Richmond.

J found out he was offered the job, accepted, we packed our house up in California and headed out driving back East within about 2 weeks. IT. WAS. NUTS. Regardless, we are getting settled in our new house and excited for the next chapter!  Let the blogging and nursery planning commence!!!

In Progress

Under Construction......I'm making over the blog!


 Nothing fancy, just streamlining and simplifying.

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! 

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