Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Seaside, FL at Christmas Time

Last night was one of those nights where Tyler and I didn't feel like cooking. Paying someone else to do it just seemed easier, so we made our way to our most favorite place in Florida - Seaside. I've mentioned this town before. Long story short, we visited in May, left our hometown and moved two months later in July. We loved it that much. 

We've been here for 6 months, and we don't plan on leaving anytime soon. If you could create the town of your dreams, this would be it - white buildings, the sound of the ocean, sand steps away from your feet, candy shops, locally owned restaurants, bistro lights every night, live music. Yes, this is your dream town. It's ours, too!

Back to last night, we ate at Pickles (which has the best hamburgers in town). Who knew grass fed beef made that much of a difference?! I cannot get over these burgers. They ain't Wendy's price, though!! Our tab for 2 burgers was $30. But we are so willing to pay for something that tastes this good!

After dinner, we were roaming the town. I could not be more serious when I say it was 7 o'clock PM and we were the only souls in sight. No tourists (that's March-September). It was quite nice. It's our first winter in this town, and it did not let us down. The lights are so magical here. Check it out for yourself!






















See what I mean? What a beauty!!


Wine Christmas Gift

When I was home for Thanksgiving, my mom and I were talking about Christmas gifts. You see, I'm usually the middle man when it comes to relaying what the family wants for Christmas. Dad wants a TV? I tell mom. Brother wants a couch? I tell parents. Mom wants a canoe? I tell dad. You get the picture. This time, mom was telling me ideas for neighbor gifts and for Tyler. Below is the idea she gave me for neighbor gifts, and I just think it is so fun!

Given to me was a rag with a sugar cookie recipe on the front. Not knowing how to properly tie the rag around the bottle, I preceded to look up a "how to" on pinterest. Seconds later: bingo! I had a uniquely wrapped gift in 5 seconds.




If you're a last minute shopper, I couldn't think of a more perfect gift. Besides, what girl doesn't want a little bit of sugar and wine?!


5 Favorite Ornaments on Our Tree!


CAR TAG // When Tyler and I were in Wyoming for our honeymoon, we told each other that we would purchase a Christmas ornament for our first Christmas. We ended up finding a really cool license plate and decided to stick it on our tree. It turned out super cute!

MUSHROOMS // Tyler and I purchased these mushrooms in 2011 when we were Target shopping one Christmas. We knew we'd one day have a home and would need ornaments. Two years later, they're on our tree!

OWLS // I love the symbolism of owls. I find them to be mysterious, bohemian. They can come in any colors and look any way. I love owls!! We have about 7 owls all over our tree.

TINSEL // I saw this rainbow tinsel at garland and gasped. If it's colorful, it has my name on it and this was screaming KAYLYN!

POPSICLES // We had to have a touch of Florida on our tree. Popsicles on a hot summer day were just the ticket! :)

I stepped back to look at our tree and giggled. It is so far from a themed tree. Most people wouldn't find that it makes sense, but I am enjoying it because everything has meaning to me. Do you have a themed tree this year?

Bits of My Week






1. A Christmas MESS!
2. My new Canon 50mm f1.4 lens.
3. What our weather looked like on Christmas day - POURING rain and tornadoes everywhere.
4. Every year, someone manages to burn the sweet potato casserole. This year, it was in FLAMES. I almost used the fire extinguisher. We replaced the marshmallows, and it still tasted delicious!
5. Because i'm obsessed with breakfast and always manage to post a breakfast picture on here.
6. Shopping for guns. Cause it seems like everyone needs one nowadays with crazy people shooting up schools. Watch your back.  You don't wanna mess with a southern boy and his gun.
7. Organizing my jewelry.
8. Because FINALLY it's not too warm for a fire around these parts!
9. My closet is filling up with tons of things for my and Tyler's home! I'm so excited!

Christmas Eve 2012

It's approximately 5 minutes 'til midnight on Christmas eve.

The party has ended. The last of the guests have left. The rest of the food has been collected and stored in the fridge, plenty to last us all week.

The boxes that our Christmas pajamas were just in have been torn into, leaving remnants of shredded paper across the floor. With full bellies, the family bids adieu until morning.

I tiptoe to my room, laptop pressed tightly against my body. I jump in bed, prop myself up with 4 pillows in an old iron twin I've been sleeping in since I was 5.

The house is quiet.

...

My bedroom lights are off, but the glow of my Christmas tree helps me see. From my bedroom window, I can see houses across the neighborhood lake, still lit up like they're pleading, "Santa Stop Here!"

I am thinking of all the kids who can't sleep tonight because they're impatiently waiting for the man in the big, red suit.

And I'm thinking of the kids in Newtown that, before 9 days ago, would also be in their warm beds, hiding under the sheets and frozen in their tracks because they could've sworn they heard a noise coming from the fireplace.

The house is quiet.

...

I'm not tired.

Maybe it's still the kid in me, anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus. Maybe it's that i've had too much caffeine from all of the Coke I drank tonight. Or maybe, just maybe, it's that I can't stop thinking about how it's the last Christmas where I will sleep under my parents roof before I get married.

You're right, it's not that big of a deal. This will always remain my house, and I'm welcome here whenever I want. I can stay here next Christmas Eve if I wanted. I can still open my annual Christmas pajamas and expect the knock of a little sister at my bedroom door the next morning, waking me up earlier than planned because she can't wait to open gifts.

But it's not the same thing.

And that makes it bittersweet.

So, I thought I'd let you know that tonight I'm lying my head down, reminiscing on past Christmases and memories made as a kid - 22 pairs of pajamas, dozens of cookies made for Santa, hundreds of wrapped presents, thousands of butterflies in my stomach, and the constant celebration of 1 savior that was created for us so that we can have eternal life.

I hope you and yours are having a blessed Christmas. Below are a few pictures of my dad's family coming over to our home for Christmas Eve!













Every Christmas, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!









The fiancé loved my new pajamas