'Tis The Season!

...To be exhausted! Between driving, lots of much needed time with my ever entertaining family, and even some last minute shopping my time at home in Atlanta was definitely a whirlwind. I wouldn't have it any other way though; I even miss the holiday traffic...well not really.

On a walk with my dad while I was home he explained that Christmas always reminds him of his parents and the traditions that they used to share. While this is definitely true, this Christmas more than ever I was thinking about the people that I will be sharing this special time of year with beginning in 2012 and every Christmas after. Blair's job gets a little crazy during the holidays so I am excited to make our new home (wherever that may be!) a special and "Christmas-y" place for both of us.

And in other festive news, Cally and Dave are engaged!!!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Banks!

So excited for these two and can't wait to celebrate with them this weekend at the lake when we ring in 2012 together! I hope each of you had a very merry Christmas and have been enjoying the most wonderful time of the year!

Mary

Holiday Hopping

A little Christmas cheer from the camera...

A weekend in Greenville

Dave & Cally

Beau!

The boys

Ornament Shower in Atlanta

Guys enjoying some holiday cheer

Girls looking festive!

Emma, the brave one who tackled Lenox 2 days in a row!

Sunday Brunch with the Willis cousins

Thanks for browsing!

Mary

Four

Besides the sounds of the season, I am feel like I am busy watching the days fly by. I cannot begin to fathom the fact that 2011 is coming to an end and soon the year of the wedding will be here! This past weekend Blair and I went to Atlanta for an "Ornament Shower" hosted by my mother's best friend Terri and her husband Jim. We had such a great time (and hope our family and friends did too!) and also got a few wedding items checked off of our list.

Anything With Bacon

I took Friday off from work and drove to Atlanta Thursday night so I could spend the day with my mom and sister. We hit the ground running on Friday with a visit to Sun in My Belly. This is the restaurant that Mom and I have selected for the bridesmaids luncheon and I am so excited! It is in Decatur, which is an old, unique neighborhood in Atlanta and also where my dad grew up. I wanted to be able to incorporate parts of or places in Atlanta that are special to me and my family during our wedding weekend and I think Sun in My Belly will do just that! The restaurant got its name by means of a quote from Picasso who, when asked what compelled him to create, responded with "The sun in my belly". And create they do! Laura got "The Kirkwood"; a traditional eggs, bacon, and biscuit breakfast. It was delicious, their biscuits are awesome.  I ordered "Alison's Famous Pimiento Cheese & Bacon Omelette". I have a bacon weakness (thanks Dad) and it did not disappoint! Mom ordered a great salad, which Laura and I each took a few bites of just to say we ate something remotely healthy. It was so nice to spend some time with them and imagine what that very same place will be like when it is filled with all of the girls and women that will make our wedding so special.

Laura's, "The Kirkwood"

Mine. Aweosme.

Well Deserved

Saturday morning when Blair arrived we had a meeting at Ansley, our reception venue. We were asked several questions about details of the big day and it was in helpful in that it allowed us to get a better idea of things that we still needed to get done. The staff there is extremely helpful and it makes the long distance planning much less stressful. Since neither Blair nor I live in Atlanta currently it was nice to be able to visit Ansley together, especially while it is decorated for Christmas.

After our meeting we headed to lunch at Flip Burger, one of Blair's all-time favorite places to eat in Atlanta. I treated myself that a Krispy Kreme milkshake (that's right) and Blair ordered a Bloody Mary. I loved being able to sit down, just the two of us and enjoy a day together in my hometown at Christmas. It was a great trip and made us both so excited for everything that will follow!

Mine. Awesome...Again.

One happy camper

Thanks for reading!

Mary

False Alarm

One night last week I was snuggled tight in my bed when I awoken my the awful sound of glass shattering. I grabbed my cell phone (don't ask me why) and ran into the bathroom that connects to Sam's bedroom. I hear this whisper of a voice saying "Mary? Mary?" and I know that Sam is awake and also heard the crash. We call Marsha, whose room is at the front of the house. She did not hear anything but seeing as Sam and I are both pretty terrified at this point, Marsha decides that she should still hide in her closet as a precaution. Sam and I cautiously make our way up the hall, armed with "The Peacemaker", the baseball bat that Sam keeps under her bed for situations just like this one. This is what we found:



The culprit.

It was SO loud. I thought someone was about to jump through my window. Despite the tragedy of losing a few ornaments, this is what we learned: Our emergency plan of calling Sam's boyfriend who lives across the street repeatedly on his cell phone is not effective as he seems to be a very sound sleeper, we should just call the police if we think we actually are all about to be kidnapped. Also, Marsha has a great hiding place in her closet, Sam and I couldn't find her, we could only hear her voice. And finally, I need a new escape plan as standing terrified in the hall with my cell phone isn't exactly the most proactive plan of action.

I hope your holiday season has been slightly less terrifying! Blair and I went to Atlanta this weekend for an ornament shower in our honor and I will share stories and pictures soon. I hope you all had a great weekend and thanks for reading!

Mary

The Season of Giving

Usually I pride myself on being an excellent gift giver. I know exactly what to get for every person on my list. However, this year Christmas has really snuck up on me. I don't know if its the warm weather that has been throwing me off lately or what but I am having a severe case of gift-giving block.

Image via Pinterest

I have my parents gifts covered and know what I am getting for Blair (Blair: It is not a puppy, stop asking) so it's really Laura and my cousins holding me back. I like to get things for my sister that I can really picture her loving and maybe not wanting to get for herself. This is not to say that I am not in the Christmas spirit, tonight my co-workers and I celebrated at our office Christmas party and this weekend Blair and I are traveling to Atlanta for an ornament shower and I am so excited. I hope you all are having a very merry holiday season so far and thanks for reading!

Mary

We Need A Little Christmas

Candy Cane Lane

As Sam said after we put up our oh so glamorous lights, "It's the most beautiful house in Columbia!". Truly. Hope you all had a great week and are getting into the Christmas spirit!

Mary

Thing 2 is 22!

A very happy birthday to you Sister!

Like I told Laura, today is the one-year anniversary of her 21st birthday! People tell you that birthdays after your 21st are depressing, etc. but I strongly disagree; you only get to live your twenties once and I can't believe my little sister is in hers! Wishing her a day that is just a special as she is. Happy Birthday Stinkbomb!

Thanks for reading, hope you all had a great weekend!

Mary