its so hard to say goodbye

It's so hard to say good-bye. (Has anyone else been singing Boys II Men songs since the Sing-Off?)

Goodbye Nana & Grandpa. 

What a wonderful Christmas we spent together complete with magical snowfall on Christmas night, leaving us snowed in the day after. So memorable & enjoyed I have nearly no pictures to document it. Gifts were plentiful, but just icing on the good-enough-on-it's-own cake. Just the way we like it.

Not having grandparents in my life as a child (that spoke English anyway) I'm blessed by both sets my kids have. They are loving, patient, generous, and long-suffering. 

I hope your holiday was filled with family & friends to share good food & conversation with in your comfy pants.

We'll miss you guys! 

(I know I did as soon as 6am rolled around & the kids ran to my bed & not Nana's!)

PS: Happy Birthday Aunt Tara!

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Merry Christmas!

We wish you & yours the MERRIEST!

And yes, we're a little extra joyful around here this year,

expecting #3 in June!

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Eat the good ones or save them for guests?

We made cookies. Every day this week. As soon as Lilah went down for a nap, Carter & I got cracking. Within the 1st half hour after he woke up he'd begin asking when it was time for Lilah's nap.

I have to declare ahead of time which things are grown-up jobs on the recipe. He wants to do it all. And he wants to know what age he'll be able to do the rest.
He is intentional & sincere, as much as his 4 year old boy impulses allow.
He had to assist through 4 days of my choices before we got to his "cut-out" cookies.

Today, when Lilah woke up I gave her 3 cookies to decorate on her own. She smiled & climbed up to decorate. She wasn't even finished sprinkling before she asked "I eat?!"

Carter said "NO!!! We have to save them for our guests, Lilah!"

I stepped in & said "Instead of fruit for snack today, how about you can each pick a cookie that you decorated?"

Carter: "Well, okay. But only the ugliest ones. 
Because we have to save the best ones for everybody coming over tonight"

Lilah had already eaten half of her cookie.

I've asked this here before,

"If I take credit for how thoughtful & kind he is becoming, 

do I also have to take credit for how...uh..

hungry...

and selfish less thoughful she is?"

PS: This is a yummy & easy icing recipe. I did vanilla & added coloring. Think I'll use it next time too. Pin It

Before you pile into the car, more FREE music

Hey, be sure to check out yesterday's post (I added a couple more later in the day), for FREE Holiday music dowloads for the grown-ups.
Before you pile into the minivan to travel over the river & through the woods to Grandmas, download this FREE album for the kids here (& pack earplugs for yourself)

And check around for more free music there at Amazon. The more I searched, the more I found.
Again, Toy Jackpot is so fun! (& FREE)

BIG FAT THANK YOU to the lady that saved Christmas at Amazon just a few days ago when I noticed all of my Christmas presents were out for delivery to my old house across the country! She worked magic. Praise God for Indian women that understand the American obsession with presents this time of year! All items arrived here yesterday, no extra cost to me. Yay! Amazon!

***DETAILGAL ADDED: NEVERMIND!! What was I thinking? This AND kids in the background on a road trip-HOLY BANANAS!  Been listening to it at home this morning & I'm going to need some Advil. The kids should learn to love the good Christmas music anyway. Pin It

Is it time; I can't wait! Free Holiday music

"Is it time yet? Is it time; I can't wait!!"

Did you know you can download Toy Jackpot & other Holiday songs for FREE here?

And Amazon has 25 days of free Holiday music downloads here. 
I thought You're Here was so pretty; meaningful lyrics through Mary's eyes. Pretty sure it will replace Breath of Heaven in Church Christmas plays now. (I love you, Amy. Nothing will replace your Tender Tennessee Christmas.)
Also includes:
Away in a Manger by Mindy Smith & Silent Night by Sixpence.

Happy to see Sara Groves in the mix, but I wish they'd chosen To Be With You or Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Not a big fan of the one they chose. 

Just 3 more night-nites!!! I can't wait! Pin It

Christmas story set in a digital age

You're going to want to watch this one full screen.


Bravo Igniter Media. Loved this! Pin It

for me, for any her

I had nothing on my Christmas list this year. Nothing.
Then once I moved back East & remembered how cold it is in Dec, I added "a robe, warm slippers, boots, gloves, & cozy sweater" to my mental list.

(robe-bath & body works; slippers-ll bean; sweater-jcrew; gloves-anthropologie, i think!; boots-target)

Since I don't want this post to be completely selfish, I thought I'd add what

I'd grab at Target for just about any gal. 

Make a themed gift out of a few or just one or two would do.

mossimo boyfriend cardigan,mascara,merona ruched gloves, sonia kashuk brush set & glitter glows eyeshadow palette, the help, burts bees lip set, pashmina, cable knit slippers. Pin It

Friday Finds...free shipping day!

Today I did loads of shopping online.

Imagine my excitement when I found that today is  

ONE DAY ONLY FREE SHIPPING DAY, 

arrive in time for Christmas Day!

All of the sites I needed to do my holiday shopping were participating. SCORE! Guess procrastination sometimes pays afterall.
All the Pottery Barn sites are participating (excluding furniture) NO MINIMUM ORDER
LLBean.com (no minimum + get $10 gift card, for every $50 you spend)
Amazon.com ($25, eligible items-sold by Amazon),
Disneystore.com (no minimum. plus buy 1 get 1 free deals: check special offers)
Target.com (spend $50, eligible items)
Toysrus.com (spend $49)

Check out this site for more information.

Be sure to check the site that sells the thing still yet to be crossed off of your list!

Wish I'd known about this yesterday when I paid a bundle at the post office to ship gifts (& ended up stranded in a broken down SUV in a snowstorm, without my iPhone. the last part may be the most "gasp worthy". Thankful for the kindness of strangers.)

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you're my present

We had a house full this weekend. I loved every minute of it. The kids running around, taking every toy out of it's place & that belly laughing that I love to hear so much I nearly cry.
One night, sitting at the table after dinner, Carter (my 4 y/o) reached over and grabbed a Christmas bow & stuck it on his pretty little 4 y/o friend Avery and said, "you're my present".
She smiled, sparkly-eyed & replied "what do you want a kiss or something?"


If her mother & I weren't right there (thank God! could you imagine if we missed out on such a moment?!) I wonder if it would have been followed with a kiss or if they'd just have moved onto the next thing like they did.

Am I getting old if all I want for Christmas is a full house all season long? 

image source: weheartit.com

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Friday Finds...MerriMINT

I have to say I'm not a big fan of Yankee Candle, but get this NORTH POLE in a tart warmer and you'll fall in love with the subtle peppermint-y Christmas scent. In love! Got a Car Jar too. Yum! And maybe I have a plug-in too. Really. It's perfect for the season. Not overkill.

The other 2 I've been using for a while, but I am turning to them daily.
If you haven't tried Aveda's Hand Relief. You must. Your hands will thank you.
Get it here & get free shipping & a free sample with AVEDAFS.

And the Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Conditioner. Love!
I'd say the two would make the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your list.
Male or Female. Really. They've got a body & shaving bar in their line too.
PS: Another minty favorite in this category, for men. Redken For Men Mint Shampoo & Conditioner (the conditioner makes it) Pin It

5 free cards & free photo calendar

What a great way to bypass the holiday family letter, still sharing the highlights, huh? 
This card is included in the 5 free cards promotion at shutterfly.com.
Use coupon code FIVECARDS. Spend $50, get free shipping. Coupon code SHIP50.
I ordered mine from them yesterday. With free shipping option (3-7 days) it could arrive as late as Dec 17th. Time to get a move-on if you haven't ordered yours yet!

Today: Free photo calendar at vistaprint.com 
& 50% off holiday cards (heard good reviews about the matte finished 5x7 postcard sized cards)

 

Did you see CentsationalGirl's you-could-so-do-this corkboard turned card holder here?

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savoring the season

Super duper busy these past few weeks.
Eating my weight in these clementines. Told my kids they could have them whenever they wanted & they're holding me to it.
Christmas decorations are up & making this new place feel more like home.
We've done more community activities in the past week here in VA then we did in 5 years in TX.
Bonfire on the beach with hot cider watching brightly decorated boats parade by was my favorite.
Each day, on the way out to this or that activity,
I think "bring my camera? no, leave it. savor it."

I hope you're busy savoring the season; decorating, Christmas card-collecting, and treat-eating!
Highly recommend grabbing a crate of Cuties next time your in the grocery store. YUM! Pin It

It's Dec 1st!

Ahh!! It's December 1st! I'll tell you what I'm thankful that detailgalblog doesn't have any paying sponsors because I failed miserably at keeping up my thankfulness posts before Thanksgiving. Sorry to my few readers that were waiting with bated breath. Thankfully most of you are my personal pals and you know exactly why blogging fell off the to-do list.
I'm back. We've settled into our home in VA and the tree is going up today.
We live a couple blocks from the historic inn pictured above and every where we go, it looks a lot like Christmas. I can hardly wait to start new traditions here in such a magical place for the holidays. I'm racking up quite a list of must-experiences.
I'm sorry that I got lost in family visits and decided to let detailgalblog suffer while I ate comfort food with some of my favorite people in the world. I thought about posting, really I did. But then all I could think of was "my kids running around with their cousins" "getting to linger at the table with my sisters and brothers" and "real Buffalo chicken wings, fingers, pizza" ,"souvlaki and warm pita bread dripping with mouth-watering Greek dressing". And who wants to read a list of thankfulness filled with food and family members.
Truth be told, I hope you were surrounded by people you love and loaded up on quality time with them as much as you over-indulged in pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
I'll try not to get lost in the magic of the holidays and share what I can with you.
24 more days!!!

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