Chanel Moving Forward

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NYE Recap + 2016 Word of the Year

Happy New Year! We are already three days into 2016 and having daddy home for four days straight is ending. Tomorrow starts back to real life and a new year, which is always so exciting and bittersweet. 2015 was a great year for us, mostly due to the fact that we welcomed Evelyn on January 10 so this time last year we were in total baby mode and filled with excitement and nerves. Her first birthday is a week from today and I’m still in denial. This week I’ll be in full party mode but now I’m still soaking in the fun memories from the holidays.
Our NYE was pretty low key in terms of staying in and having an early night. But definitely high energy since there were 9 kids, 10 adults, a balloon drop, lots of homemade yummy pizzas and plenty of booze and champagne jell-o shots. I loved having the kids with us so everyone could celebrate together. Holidays are more fun when you can experience them through your children’s eyes. Being with my family and best girlfriends was the perfect way to end the year and I wouldn’t have asked for anything different. buy zovirax online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/zovirax.html no prescription
Since I have one year under my belt as a mother of two, it’s definitely been an eye opener and balancing act. Therefor making my 2016 word of the year Balance. I watched this video of Jada Pinkett Smith discussing how hard it can be to be both a wife and a mother while also taking care of yourself and I could not agree with her more. It is so challenging to give equally to motherhood, your relationship, work, friends, family and then try and find time for yourself at the end of the day. This year I am definitely focusing on balancing my life and everything in it. All while trying to be the best mother and wife that I can. buy flomax online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/flomax.html no prescription
{headband // shoes // leotard}
This guy is growing up so fast! He will be FOUR this year. Looking back at last years NYE he seemed so tiny and still like a baby. Now he is a full blown threenager who speaks in full sentences, has his own opinions and gives me the “MOM” eye roll. He’s the cutest little devil and I need to spend more one on one time with him not that Evelyn is out of the baby stage and doesn’t require so much around the clock attention. I’m looking forward to some mommy son dates in our future 🙂 Here’s to another great year! buy lexapro online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/lexapro.html no prescription

Christmas 2015

Our Christmas was a whirlwind experience this year. I feel like it crept up on us even though we had things ready for weeks. It was definitely the most fun holiday my husband and I had in our seven Christmases together, mostly due to the fact that we had two kids to set up for this year. I love that we have a son and now a daughter so we can experience baby dolls + strollers as well as police cars + fire trucks. Once kids reach the age of two I think that’s when they can finally start to understand Christmas. Last year with Henry was super fun but he didn’t really understand the story of Santa and how he “works.” This year was much better and he finally grasped how he brings toys, puts kids on the nice list, lives at the North Pole, etc. He named our Elf on the Shelf Noddy and loved finding him every morning (even though a lot of nights we would forget and then throw him someplace fast in the morning when he asked … like the couch, the tree or the kitchen table).Christmas Eve was pretty low key at our house during the day. It was pouring rain so we watched holiday movies and ate marshmallows until nap time. buy priligy online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/priligy.html no prescription

We went to my moms house for dinner with friends and family. My brother is in town from Boston and the kids love him so it was really special. The food was excellent of course and included stone crab claws, shrimp, baby potatoes with caviar cream and endives, brussels sprouts apple salad with walnuts and blue cheese, honey baked ham and mushroom marsala on toast points.

 

 

 

 

 

The best part of Christmas Eve though is setting up the living room for the kids. We cleared out some of the furniture and pushed the couches back so we could really maximize the space and so the kids could play with their toys in the middle while we sipped coffee and watched “A Christmas Story”. We vacuumed and dusted and made sure everything was clean and perfect for them, mostly Henry since Evelyn is still too young to understand what’s going on. Next year we may even let them fall asleep next to the tree. buy bystolic online https://cpff.ca/wp-content/languages/new/bystolic.html no prescription

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas morning went off perfectly. The kids woke up around 7 and Henry could hardly contain himself. I always record his reaction to his Santa toys because those are the things he wanted the most. You can see this years video here. Evelyn just kind of wandered around playing with boxes and chewing on wrapping paper, which was to be expected. We made sausage balls and coffee crumb cake and unwrapped presents well into lunch time. Henry enjoyed a nutritious breakfast of cookies. We love how long the morning lasted and really got to appreciate every gift that was opened and every smile and laugh as our family of four.

 

 

 

 

shirt // mug
the kids Christmas loot!

 

We went to my moms again for Christmas dinner which was another buffet of yumminess. My husband helped cook while the kids opened more presents and played with their new toys. Dinner consisted of a mushroom burrata lasagna and veal meatballs with marinara sauce. Dessert was a trifle tiramisu and I could have eaten the entire thing.

 

 

romper // headband // shoes
It was nearly 75 degrees so both the kids wore summer attire since it was too hot and muggy for my planned holiday outfits. Such a bummer because they were super cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did things a little different this year and took all our decorations and trees down the day after Christmas. Usually we leave everything up until January 1 but with two kids, all their toys, a new kitten and Evelyn’s first birthday coming up, we needed to clean so we could think straight. Henry was super sad and kept saying “But I don’t want Christmas to be over” which was super cute and we explained to him that if Christmas was year round then we wouldn’t appreciate it as much. Our four day weekend was filled with lots of family, play time and togetherness. 2016 is right around the corner and next Christmas will be here in a blink of an eye for sure. We’re really trying to savor every moment we have together!

 

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

Thanksgiving break really starts the holiday season for us. We love having 4 full days together with no firm plans and having time to soak in being a family. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without watching the Macy’s parade and Henry loved seeing all the huge balloons. We had my family over for an early dinner and it was so nice to all be together. My brother came home from Boston and spent most of the day snap chatting my baby to female friends. buy avapro online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/avapro.html avapro no prescription

 

 

 

{Henry’s sweater/ Evelyn’s top, leggings, boots}
Black Friday started a little slow since everyone was still in a turkey coma. I made some yummy cinnamon butter while Christmas music played and we did some more decorating. After morning naps we decided that the crowds had probably dwindled so we headed out for some shopping. My husband scored a new TV which we are both obsessed with. It has the built in Roku so we have been streaming everything through Amazon, Netflix and HBO and are seriously thinking of ditching our cable. We also hit up Target for some stocking stuffers for the kids which was a horrible idea since Henry took every toy off the shelf screaming “Santa needs to get this for ME!” buy dilantin online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/dilantin.html dilantin no prescription

 

 

After Evelyn went to bed Henry and I made Christmas cookies. With December nearly here and Henry being at the age where he can really enjoy the holidays, we’ve decided to try and do something festive every night. What a better way than to start with baking. He is obsessed with “cooking classes” as he and my mom call them. He loves to help anyway he can in the kitchen, mostly by taste testing after every step. buy sinequan online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/sinequan.html sinequan no prescription

 

On Saturday we spent some time with my dad who just moved back to Atlanta and my brother who was still in town from college. We ended the night with dinner at Fellini’s for the best pizza. Evelyn had her first pizza experience and loved the crust.

 

 

 

 

Sunday we had our 3rd annual Christmas breakfast with some friends (this year with 4 kids!) We made bourbon bacon, fried donuts and ham, egg & cheese muffins. With a side of mimosas of course. The weather was unusually warm so the boys were able to play in the back yard like wild men and got a ton of energy out. After our breakfast sugar coma we all napped hard and I was quickly longing for days pre-kids so I could stay in bed all day.

 

 

 

 

 

We ended our amazing break with festive popcorn and Elf on the TV. The popcorn was thrown together in under 10 minutes and super easy (and delicious). Mix together popcorn, m&m’s and marshmallows. Melt red candy melts in microwave or double broiler. Drizzle on the popcorn mixture, stirring with a spatula and add sprinkles. The best thing about this is you can swap out and add anything. Next time we will try some pretzels and butter finger bites (my husbands request) and perhaps some white melted chocolate. Toddler hands and colored chocolate are not the best combo.
Here’s to another memorable Thanksgiving break in the books!

 

exploring

The past 2 weekends we’ve started leaving the house once the kids are awake to explore new parts of Atlanta. We live and work in the suburbs and don’t get much time to head to the “big city” so we’re trying to make an effort to explore more Atlanta neighborhoods and their surroundings. Our first trip was to Historic Roswell, where my husband and I met, rented our first house together and got married. If we could choose somewhere in the north Atlanta area to live, Roswell would be it. Aside from all the memories we have there, it is up and coming with tons of new construction yet still keeping the historic elements. Henry loved walking running up and down the quaint streets and trying to open all the doors of every restaurant and shop we passed. 

This past Sunday we headed about 20 miles south to the Inman Park area with a stop first at Paris on Ponce. They have the most beautiful painted brick walls which are like a work of art in themselves. I knew I had to get some pictures of the kids in front of them. Henry’s favorite part was waving to all the bikers and joggers on the Belt Line and yelling “good job!” as they ran past. We visited Krog Street Market for a cookie break and to sit in the AC for a bit. Even at 10am, Atlanta is hot and humid as hell. There are some amazing murals down the street done by artist Greg Mike, who I had never heard of but am now obsessed with his work. Henry kept referring to squiggly one as bath bubbles. (what). The big cat face was my favorite and I am wondering how I can convince my husband to have that recreated on our bedroom wall … 

Already thinking of our next adventure! 

Weekend Wrap Up

Our weekend was jam packed and so much fun, and it really put me into the Christmas spirit. Friday night we took it easy and Jan made an incredible dinner (pan seared steak with Morimoto’s famous sauce and some Bok Choy) and we watched our favorite show Grimm. Saturday we were up bright and early, as usual, to head down to the Westside to do some holiday shopping and have lunch. It was so fun to get out of the suburbs and experience city life. This is hands down one of our new favorite spots. It is super kid friendly and so unique. We stopped by the Tinsel and Twine event to get some stocking stuffers and take pictures with Santa. Henry didn’t cry this time, yay! It was the most amazing set up and everyone was so friendly. It is going on next Saturday too so those in Atlanta should check it out. Afterwards we hit up Jack Spade, Seed Factory (which Henry was obsessed with. We got him some nice wooden toys for Christmas) and Simplyput Paper. The weather was pretty chilly so it made for a good holiday vibe (it would be weird to shop for Christmas gifts in 72 degrees weather like we had on Friday). After some shopping we ate some yummy mexican food at La Fonda and then headed back home for some naps and to prepare for dinner.

We had our friends and their seven month old little boy over for dinner Saturday evening and I was super proud of Henry for practicing his sharing skills. To be fair, each time he shared a toy he would later take it back but we’re making progress! Sunday we had some other friends over for brunch with their little boy too. He and Henry are only 5 days apart and I am pretty sure they are gonna be bff’s and future heartbreakers/troublemakers. Jan and I love hosting and entertaining and it was the first time we could bust out the Christmas dishes and festive paper straws. We made a mini feast which included french toast, ham/egg/onion/pepper cups, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage and some homemade bread courtesy of our friends. I may have eaten myself into a food coma. Since it was a rainy Sunday both the boys wore their Christmas jammies and looked too cute for words. I was wishing I had twin boys. My husband was not.

The rest of Sunday we enjoyed Christmas movie by the fireplace and I was even able to get a few hours of work in. This week I start 3 full days in the office with Henry going to daycare 3 days too. I hope he adjusts well and I hope I don’t miss him too much. Here’s to another week! 

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25 Books of Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching I have felt the need to get into the spirit a little ahead of schedule (meaning, before Thanksgiving). We had our Santa pictures taken at Phipps Plaza last week and Henry also had some taken at school a few weeks ago. ABC Family started their 25 days of Christmas and I have decided this is a good time to start our countdown as well. I have been seeing on blogs and instragrams that families are doing the 25 books of Christmas, reading one different Christmas themed book each night. This is such a great idea and I am so glad Henry is finally into books because I know he will really enjoy them. The books I have selected are a mixture of old and new. Some were found by my good friend Josie at her local thrift store and others were purchased on Amazon and at Target. One of my favorite bloggers, Lesley Graham, recently posted about wrapping the books up and opening one each night {see her post about it here}. I am definitely doing that next year with Henry. It will be such a surprise not knowing which book he will draw. We don’t have a full set of 25 books yet but I am thinking we can add more next year. Here are the books on our list and ABC Family’s Christmas Countdown schedule! 

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Five Things Friday

Happy Weekend! Five things Friday is coming from rainy Florida today. {We’re in town to see my in laws/ Henry’s grandparents}. Am I the only one excited about seeing all the Christmas decor in the stores? I tell you, it wasn’t more than a week after Halloween (and some even before) that decorations were popping up. Fine with me! Last Christmas was our first year with a white tree and ever since then I was hooked. I love the look and feel of the modern white tree and white and silver Christmas accessories mixed with the classic red. I just bought the new Michael Buble Christmas album and Henry and I have been enjoying it our car rides. It’s never too early for Christmas music and it definitely extends the holiday season. Here are a few items on my Christmas want list this year. 

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