Turkey it up!

It has been cold and dreary and wet; downright gloomy, if you ask me. The sky was swollen in very shade of gray--releasing rain that slowly pitter-pattered on my rooftop, leaving evidence of its presents with tiny vertical streaks on my windowpane. It served as an invisible wall --this sky-- holding us captive within our home. It gave us a mandatory mellow day of sorts. A day were we move a bit slower and cuddle under thick quilts a little longer.

I like these days, torrential downpours. They’re special because they don’t happen as often as they should, and we could all use a day of camping indoors with a good book and tea every now and then, especially with a little one peacefully cuddled up by your side.

adore soaking in his features

And you know what else I like? Girl’s wino night, because that doesn’t happen as often as it should either.  It was a soul-stretching, over-the-rainbow kind of night. We talked, confided in one another, laughed until our sides were in stitches and drank until our lips went numb --Just like good friends and good times should be.

We’re making this a regular happening... in the driveway... with wine in mason jars.

With Christmas around the corner, Krysta and I are going to make a Starbucks run for hot chocolate, peppermint cakepops on Friday afternoons.

Peppermint and Starbuck’s red cups are equal parts festive and delicious. 

I love duck lips

Thanksgiving is t minus 3 hours. We’ve written our To-Do List in preparation for Thanksgiving Day --categorized in sections of A Must and Would Like. I would like to have completed the whole list, but with being sick and an energizer baby, the A Must side of the list will do just fine.

Commence a quick House Shakedown with a little scrubbing and baking at 350 before guest arrives!

Dessert recipes coming soon—they’ll work great for upcoming Christmas gatherings.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Em

My pot of gold. (otherwise known as the BIG Thanksgiving craft post and a giveway)

We’re halfway into November, one week until thanksgiving, and I’m thankful.

November marks our sixth month that we’ve lived in Oklahoma, and while I attempt to turn a raw deal into gold, I’m reflecting on all the little things in my life that I’ve been blessed with. Sometimes we pay attention to only one detail, that we can’t see the whole picture. Sometimes we consume ourselves in one word that we don’t read the whole sentence or paragraph or even finish the chapter, much less the book. And while I sit writing our first chapter in Oklahoma, my mind keeps drifting to the promise of our next adventure --to be honest, this is the main cause of me not feeling grounded-- I’m constantly dreaming and fantasying of country-hopping and living the life a travel junkie. I’m craving to go, see, do.

While I can’t predict our future destinations, we’re creating our own little adventures and finding our own slice of heaven around town.

I’m finding beauty in streaky sunset clouds that sets fire to the sky.

And a flat caramel-toned landscape igniting a dreamy autumn glow that elegantly lingers over wheat grass.

And radiant sunrises equipped with magical rainbows --possibly with a pot of gold at the end.

Like I said, I’m turning a raw deal into gold… and this friends, is my gold.

Since we're on the subject of rainbows, I’m dancing on one as we speak. From the warm and fuzzy military Hallmark ads to over- the-top cheesy Kay Jewelers commercials --you know, where the couple is in a mountain cabin, and suddenly there’s loud thunder, so the girl jumps into the man’s arms, and he turns to her and says with a deep masculine voice, “I’m right here, and I always will be.”-- to Starbucks ads for peppermint lattes, I’m in a downright disturbing holiday-lovin’ frame of mind.
So first holidays first…. THANKSGIVING!

We’re having two other couples from my husband’s work joining us this year (my door is open if anyone on Tinker would like to feast with us!).  Since this will be our first non-family guest, I’ve bought tickets to ride the crafting train in attempt to make our home a little more festive.

I’ve made a Thanksgiving wreath, Thanksgiving banner, Thanksgiving napkin rings, and Thanksgiving napkins… and just for kicks, I’m throwing in the word Thanksgiving one more time, because I really do love the gathering around the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Here are a few cheap and easy DIY Fall Crafts:

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And so I’ll leave you now with a few delicious photos I took of my bambinos last weekend.

Happy Friday!

Em

A day of Thankfulness... and a giveaway reminder.

Brown sugar glaze drizzles down the ham, yeast rolls turn to the perfect shade of gold, and casseroles bubble over. Thanksgiving is here and we have delicious smells wafting through the house and stuffed bellies to prove it.

While my littlest babe naps, the bigger of the babes excitedly watches the Macy’s Parade. Krysta stares wide-eyed as floats, performers, and bands march on to the beat of the drum. She randomly exclaims, “OH MY GOSH, MOM LOOK AT THAT!” and “WHOA MOM, DID YOU SEE THAT?”  and “OH MAN, THAT’S SO AWESOME!”. The spirit of the holidays lives in this kid all year-round.

Linens and dishes are arranged on the table just so, and food is perfectly placed on plates, and ice clatters and glistens in clear glasses as sweet tea is poured, all making it a displayed work of art. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out! As we gather around the table passing around platters of food, conversing and laughing with one another, and the “mmm, this turned out well,” is about the time that I feel it. I feel the togetherness, the closeness, the thankfulness. This is what Thanksgiving is all about.

 

And of course it wouldn’t be a real holiday in Alaska without some fun in the snow. It had been snowing non-stop all day- which only made the day more magical- so we dove in. Literally.

We added more snow to our snowman, which was looking a little zombie-ish. He’s nice and plump now, just like our full Thanksgiving filled bellies. Krysta caught an ample amount of fat juicy snowflakes and rolled around in the snow until her heart’s content.

We even worked off our Thanksgiving meal by shoveling massive piles of snow that accumulated throughout the day.

my girl does it in style

On a side note: Look who came to visit us earlier this week. There’s a moose on the loose! This is pretty common, especially during the Fall and Spring, but it’s exciting just the same as the first time you spot one.

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