***MERRY CHRISTMAS***

I'm taking the week off from blogging to focus on the holiday season and just enjoy myself - I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family and full of yummy treats (and some special presents!) 

I'll be back next week to pick up where we're leaving off...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just a Friendly Reminder

Human is human.
Equal is equal.
Love is love.

The sooner we put aside all of the things we use to "define" ourselves into separate groups, the sooner we can come together as human beings and just exist in this world.

Why can't we have love for our fellow men and women, without labels or judgment or damnation?

Why can't we all have our own opinions, different as they will be, and still just get along. I don't agree you with. I don't believe as you do.

That's okay, the world still keeps spinning.

Why do we insist on spending so much time fighting each other all in the name of defending our opinions or beliefs? It's exhausting - to me, it'd be so much easier just to love one another. Or at the very least, to respect one another enough to not stand in judgment of one another.

Love is love is love.

And who could stand to deny another person of love?

Not me.

{via}

RE: THIS

M O N D A Y - L I N K S

You didn't really think they killed Brian Griffin did you? (Yes, I did, actually)

38 Awesome Christmas Card Ideas - and yes, my kids are #38

Everything Lisa Leonard creates is beyond amazing: I'll take this or this or this!

Still looking for DIY Christmas gift ideas? -> here is an amazing complete list (if you're a bit of a procrastinator like me, but you still enjoy hand-making items!)

These Christmas cookie sandwiches look so pretty and sound so simple to make, I think I might give them a try! (found via Amanda's Friday Fancies list)

Congratulations to Palardy - named the SEC's #1 punter! (GBO!)

Cooking Semi-Disasters Inspired by You

There's a reason you won't find a recipe post on this site (or a "What I Wore" post either, for that matter!) - I am by no means a good cook (or dresser? clothes-wearer? what's the word I'm looking for?) AND I KNOW IT. I'm okay with being mediocre at a lot of things, actually. 

And a lot of you out there are good cooks (and fancy clothes-wearers) apparently, because my IG and FB and Twitter feeds are flooded with lovely photos of delicious-looking meals and treats. One such lady (Rachel/A Southern Fairytale) has had the power to make me drool at my computer (or phone) screen for a few years now. She posts recipes that seem to be family-pleasing and hearty, two things I look for in a good recipe, and while some of her dishes are above my level of experience, I feel like I could recreate nearly all of her recipes with ease. 

So...the other night...I'm innocently trolling along IG...and I see a photo that looks self-explanatory enough. Chips covered in chocolate. Not that hard, right? Even I can do that! I thought quite confidently to myself.  

I have chips. I have chocolate. I'VE GOT THIS ONE IN THE BAG. 

Over-confidence in the kitchen should be the first warning sign of any disaster - you see, I don't own a double-broiler. That's the first thing I realize when I go to melt the chocolate. And I've watched enough Food Network in my day to know that, in order to melt chocolate and not have it taste like burnt tar, you really need a double-broiler. 

PLAN B

I take two of my Paula Deen cookware pots -that are already warped and crooked thanks to my husband, who lovingly tossed them a little too hard several years ago after I let them sit in the sink for a few days...or weeks- and I decided I could just do a make-shift double-broiler. And it kind of worked. Sort of. 

My chocolate started sort of melting. But not really, so I added a dash of milk (making this shit up as I go, believe me) and some chocolate syrup and voila! we have melted-ish chocolate. 

I then grab my bag o' chips to discover A) they're pretty dried out and not so pleasantly crunch anymore and B) they're mostly disintegrated into a thousand morsels at this point.

PLAN C

I take the best of the worst of the chips and just do the damn thing, because I've made it thus far melting my chocolate - I am past the point of no return. The chips aren't big enough to hold by one half and dip by the other, so I keep burning my fingers in the sort-of not-really melted chocolate. And on the bottom of my crooked make-shift double-broiler. 

But I am determined! 

I stand by my stovetop and dip chip after chip, until I've filled the (very last piece left in my container) tin-foil completely with chocolate covered chips. CHOCOLATE CHIPS! Get it?! Hardy HAR Har! 

And then it hits me....

I remember, I don't even like chocolate. How will I even know if this is edible? Or good? Cue: Rhealen Jo - my little up for anything, try everything once taste taster.

She eats one, gives me a "hmmph" kind of shrug and goes back to her cartoons. Well, hell. 

When Justin gets home later that night, I show him my hard-work. See?! See?! SEE:

He, too, was ambivalent at best. And thus, there sat on my counter a pile of "chocolate chips" that no one really cared about eating. I took them to our baby-sitter, and she enjoyed them (thank you Sandy!) - so THERE. 

I suck at life, and I'm never going to even attempt to get creative in my kitchen ever again. That is until the next time I see one of you out there post something delicious-looking, and I mangage to trick my brain into thinking I can do something totally off the wall, like say, recreate a five-course meal with nothing but light bread and Funyuns. 

I am (not the) master of my own kitchen. And I (don't) like it that way.

M O N D A Y - L I N K S

This is Not a Photograph of Morgan Freeman. This is insanely cool!

Why You're So Sad About Paul Walker's Death - Danielle posted this one, and it really made sense once I read it.

Love food? Love Instagram? Buzzfeed gives you 22 Instagram Accounts to Follow in 2014.

The most "powerful" photos and/or the "best" photos from 2013.

One of the cutest candy (or dog treat!) jars EVER.

I used NuvaRing for nearly two years, and this Vanity Fair piece really caught my attention.

I'm so glad Rebecca is back to doing Gone Style posts - they're wonderful!

A Good Handful of Years - the sweetest (or should I say most bittersweet) post!

Don't forget to Elf Yourself this holiday season! Here's our little video!

That's some good-looking broccoli.

Brides Throwing Cats.

Do Parents Pick Favorites? I really needed this read, so glad to have found it (via this post from Rebecca, which is also an excellent read)

Benedict Cumberbatch Reads R Kelly's "Genuis" = GENIUS!

Jaxon - Month 11

This is the last official monthly post before our sweet baby boy turns ONE! next month :) How can that even be possible? 

I love this boy, and I've said it a million (and one) times, but there is just something so *special* about him to me. He really and truly is a "momma's boy", and I never understood what that meant 'til I had a son of my own. I used to think it couldn't be that different having daughters vs having sons, and my girls were what I always called "momma's girls" (and still do!), BUT it really is different with a baby boy.  I need to write a post about that, I have so much more to say...

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT JAXON!

At eleven months old, Jaxon is thiiiiis close to walking. He's so brave (and so bull-headed) that he's going to walk sooner rather than later...even if it kills him! I've never seen a baby so strong-willed and determined to do something in my life! He throws caution to the wind, and where I've watched babies slowly ease into new things, he charges full force with gusto and grit. Believe me, he has the bruises and scratches to prove it. There is no full-proof baby-proof anything when it comes to dealing with him -- he's adventurous, a true explorer. 

Jax had fun helping me open Jameson's new carseat! 

We recently lowered his crib (and removed all the extra frills, like the bumper pad) because this baby of mine is inching closer to big-boy status, and it's breaking my heart! 

He has four teeth (two on top and two on bottom) yet thinks he can eat things like candy-canes and pork rinds. Seriously, this kid ate an entire candy cane by himself -- his big sister RJ had one, so he had to have his own, too! And there was no "let momma hold it while he licks it" kind of eating -- he held it, he bit pieces off and chewed them up. I nearly had a heart attack watching him do it! 

Jax loves his animals still, especially dogs -- we let Buddy in the other (cold) morning when Justin was out of town (he doesn't allow animals in the house!) and Jax followed that poor dog around the house the entire time! 

His role as "little brother" is quickly turning into one as "little bother", which is equal parts adorable and aggravating. I love to see him attempting to play with his sisters, but his style of baby-roughness doesn't always mesh well with their baby dolls and block-building. He's a bit of a "King Kong" in their downtown Manhattan, so things can get ugly quick. Still, the relationship he has with his sisters is too precious for words, and I'm so thankful to watch my children grow and learn together. It's just the greatest gift one could hope for. 

I can't wait to experience his first Christmas with him - his first birthday - his first time meeting the new baby of the family ;) This has has been a wonderful year of "firsts" with my first (and only! he will be the only!) son, and I've done my best to treasure every second of it. 

The bond I have with this boy is immeasurable, something so rare and unique to me, I find it hard to put into words. I love him, and he loves me, and I hope he always stays a true momma's boy. 

Happy 11 months, Jaxie Buddy! 

Currently

33 weeks and "rocking" the bathroom selfie! This is the same bathroom that I took this pregnant-selfie with RJ back in 2011 :)

Loving: How "infected" Sidney is with Christmas spirit -- we try to do something Christmas-y every day, either listen to a few holiday jingles or (our favorite!) watch a Christmas movie together in the evenings. Sometimes we go wild and even bake sugar cookies -- just because! Christmas with your kids is one of THE MOST magical things on earth....unless your kid is like a certain two-year-old of ours and a total Scrooge! But I digress...

Reading: NOTHING. I'm a total failure at the moment and reading nothing. Wait, do other blogs count?! I totally do that. 

Watching: Well, The Walking Dead aired the mid-season premiere last Sunday, so there's nothing to live for between now and February. I'm kidding, I'm kidding (sort of) -- actually, the last few episodes leading up to last Sunday were so dull and dreary, I was thiiiiis close to crying foul. Luckily, that all changed! The Governor is dead! Daryl got to show off his badass skills! Rick came full circle and made Hershel proud (poor H)! Now there are a million and one questions and lots of new avenues to explore -- I'm excited once again! 

Eating: Frosted Flakes -- I know I'm nearing the end, I can't get enough of my beloved cereal. It's the one consistent craving/love I've had all four pregnancies.  

Anticipating: I won't say BIRTH or CHRISTMAS, so let's go with Jaxon's first birthday! It's hard to believe our little dude will be ONE next month -- he's just the bee's knees, and I'm so in love with having a son. I can't wait to celebrate his first year with (hopefully) fanfare!

Listening to: Timber - Pitbull/Ke$ha I HAVE NO SHAME, DON'T BOTHER JUDGING ME! 

Working on: Not biting my nails! I'm about 3-4 weeks into it, and so good so far. I've got nails for the first time ever in my life. Seriously, I can't remember a time when I didn't bite them, so to be 25 and finally overcoming this trivial little habit of mine feels like a major accomplishment!  

Wishing: For you all to have a warm and wonderful holiday season -- this time of year is precious and meant to be cherished, and I know that I'm doing my personal best to enjoy every second of it! I hope you do, too :)

Currently series inspired by Danielle.

lately

A good blogger would have posted an official Thanksgiving review post complete with lovely photos and tidbits of a glorious day. I am not a good blogger....obviously!

Our day was glorious, the food delicious, the family wonderful -- but I didn't take any photos. As goes of late, Justin and I are too busy taking turns stuffing our faces and chasing our kids to do much official photo-taking. It's something I want to remedy -- snap a picture (or maybe even two!) each holiday. 

We shall see...

Anyway, here's a generic "lately" post, which I haven't done in quite a while -- but something needs to go here, so here goes:

Our new Christmas tree! We upgraded this year and bought a 7.5 ft fancy KMart pre-lit monstrostiy - and I love it. This was taken pretty much straight out of the box before we fluffled any branches or added any ornaments. Still so pretty (and yes, I admit, this year I put up the tree two weeks before Thanksgiving - WHO AM I?!) 

To make room for the above-seen Christmas tree, we had to rearrange our living room a little -- Rhealen is very pleased with the new arrangement and has taken to sitting like this often. She's an odd ball, little thing.

He is THE cutest little thing in hats and beanies and toboggans, but he absolutely HATES wearing them - you have to tie them tight up under his chin and even then, he's figured out how to wiggle out of them. 

Oh, these two -- two of a kind, exactly alike, cut from the same cloth. You know the old sayings. They play better together than any daddy + daughter duo you've ever seen, but they also fight like cats and dogs. Living with the oldest one here has taught me a lot about how to raise the youngest one. Lord help me!

This is the "cake" I made for Thanksgiving dinner - and I use the term cake loosely, because it's more a chocolate catastrophe covered in Reece's Pieces. It worked, I guess. (I wouldn't know, I don't like chocolate!)

Cutie! And this one likes hats :)

Justin went out of town this past Saturday to visit some extended family, so while the Daddy was away -- Buddy got let in to play! Justin is very anti-dog-in-the-house (something about allergies! psh!) but we snuck in our favorite pooch for some kisses. It was a cold morning anyway! 

These two enjoy time spent in the kitchen with me - they'll gladly lick spoons and bowls and taste-test 'til they're stuffed. 

My sweet boy & me before the morning drop-off :)