Christmas Twenty Thirteen // One King // Vlog no. 8

Rule One: The Doctor lies.

As do I...at least in this case.  Because I have one more Christmas post to share.  Rather, a vlog...

Amazingly enough, I've actually begun to feel more at ease singing in front of people.  Which is really good, because I do love singing.  Still working on calming my pre-performance nerves, but they're not nearly as bad as they used to be.  It does help when you're doing it to bless others and for the Lord, not for the applause...although, applause it nice, too. *smile*

How about you?  Do you enjoy singing or playing for others?  I want to know!

Christmas Twenty Thirteen // The Day

Here I sit, cuppa peppermint tea in hand, typing up my final Christmas 2013 post.  I still can't quite grasp that this year is almost gone.  It's been the happiest and also one of the hardest years of my life, and the Lord has blessed me throughout all of it.  But this isn't my years end post, this is my Christmas Day post...

I've had a beautiful Christmas this year.  Honestly, they just keep getting better as the years go by.

My Christmas began on Christmas Eve.  Still recovering from a bit of a cold I picked up somewhere, opening my dear friend Winnie's package - clearly marked "open December 24th" in red ink - was just what I needed to cheer me up. *smile*

beautiful handmade fingerless gloves + yummy Christmas goodies + tea = a warm and happy person

Later, my bro and I settled down on my bed to watch A Christmas Story while feasting on summer sausage, saltines, cheese, and chocolate.  It's tradition!  (Only I skipped the chocolate this year since I've been recovering from that cold.)  There is no other film which gives me the giddy feeling of being 10-years-old and joyously anticipating Christmas morning like A Christmas Story.  They so perfectly captured what it's like to be a kid, and it's contagious.  By the time we're finished, my bro and I are bouncing up and down on the bed...we're both over 21.  Still kids at heart. *grin*

Bonnie thought we were selfish, not to share our sausage with her. ;)

And then, before you know it, it's Christmas morning!  We opened presents with my mom and dad and then dad read us the account of Jesus' birth from Luke 2.   My daddy surprised me with a new lens for my camera (a 55-200 mm), and my bro gave me a Star Wars graphic tee shirt (I may or may not have sent him a link and told him to buy it for me;).  My dad gave my mom the entire dvd collection of Road to Avonlea, so we watched a few episodes while I peeled potatoes for our Christmas dinner.

After feeding the animals, I got to work on the rest of dinner.  Bro was in charge of cooking the ham and mashing the potatoes, while I put together candied yams and a pecan pie.  I had never made a pecan pie before, so it was experimental.  It ended up being cooked for too long, so it was more like candied pecan pie than an actual pie.  Well honestly, how do you tell when a pecan pie is golden brown??  Oh well...my grandparents brought cheesecake, so it was all good. *wink*

The ill fated pie, before it was baked to a crisp.

Dinner was delicious, if I do say so myself...and I most certainly do. *smile*

And after dinner was over, and my grandparent's headed home, it was time to sit, relax, and watch more Road to Avonlea while the Christmas tree lights twinkled.

Merry Christmas!!
How was your day?  Did you spend it with family, friends, or both?  I want to know!

Christmas Twenty Thirteen // Formal Jazz

o u t f i t

grey shirt // thrifted {Hospice}

plum tank // thrifted {Hospice}

plum tulle skirt // Kellie Falconer Design

headband // made by me

pearl necklace // made by me

grey ribbon bow belt // just a length of ribbon

plum flower & ribbon brooch // made by me

silver nail polish // Essie

Yes, I LOVE my plum tulle skirt from Kellie's lovely Etsy shop!  I feel like I'm a little girl again, playing dress-up, only it's dress-up for grown-up ladies!  It makes a blissful swishing sound as I walk, only I don't feel like I'm walking.  I feel like I'm floating on a cloud.  

I wanted to have my bro take some photos with the snow in the background, but it was 2*F outside that day.  No thanks, I'll keep my coat and boots on, if you don't mind.  Jenny took these photos for me at the Ladies Christmas Brunch.

I also wore this ensemble to the Spokane Jazz Orchestra Christmas Concert later that evening...

The concert was FABULOUS!!  Far and above exceeding my expectations, which were high.  Well worth the 6 block walk from the car to the theater in 2*F weather while wearing dress shoes. *wink*  And the theater itself was beautiful, as you can see in the pictures.  Thanks to Kellie and Algy for the photos!

Our evening ended around 10:30 at Denny's, eating cheesy fries and hot fudge sundaes, with my bro entertaining the waitress with corny jokes.  The perfect way to end a perfect day, wouldn't you agree?

We are epic.  The end.

: :

Merry Christmas Eve!!
Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions that your family does every year?  I want to know!

Christmas Twenty Thirteen // Christmas Brunch

It's snowing outside.  Snow that looks like sifted powdered sugar, coating the ground with a frosty layer.  

Absolutely beautiful.

And I'm inside, warm and cozy, still in my pajama pants (some days, it's completely acceptable), typing away.  You see what I mean?  These are the days I love best.  The peace and quite.  Time to think and reflect.  Anyway...rambling a bit there.

Every year Grace Bible Church has a Christmas Ladies Brunch.  It's an elegant affair, with the three essentials - faith, friends, and food.  Am I right? *grin*

Dinah Raye did the decorating this year, with Laura, Rachel, and myself helping.
I think it looks just like a winter wonderland, don't you?

Jenny and I are totes adorbs.  Just sayin' it, 'cause it's true. *smile*

We played several word games, heard life stories from many inspiring ladies, sang Christmas carols, and, of course, ate the delicious food.

All of the serving was done by these guys...

And they did a wonderful job.  It was so nice not to have to help in the kitchen this time!

Thank you, guys!

I'll be sharing what I wore in an outfit post later.  But, as you can see, I did wear my Kellie Falconer Design tulle skirt...and I. love. it!

Up next, the outfit post and then the Spokane Jazz Orchestra Christmas concert!

Merry Christmas!

Does your church have a special Christmas event?  
Have you gone to any fabulous Christmas parties this year?  
I want to know!

Christmas Twenty Thirteen // Decorating {part two}

For as long as I can remember, this album by Mannheim Steamroller has been our official "Christmas tree decorating" music.  It really doesn't feel like Christmas till I've slipped the disc into the player and hit "play".  Isn't it amazing how simply hearing a favorite song can bring back so many memories of Christmas past?

I have to say, the "Christmas tree selecting" committee did a fabulous job this year!  We always cut down a tree from our property, it's usually a bit too big, and we have to trim it...literally.  But this year, it was like the small bear's bed and porridge from Goldilocks and the Three Bears - just right.

Decorating the tree with my family...it's so very special, especially knowing that the years that we'll all be in the same house, living together as one family won't last forever.  I'm looking forward to having my own family someday, but in all honesty and sincerity, I'm going to miss living my folks.  I'm so happy right here, right now.

The train always goes around the tree.  Always.  It's tradition.

Rather predictably, Merlin finds the tree quite fascinating!

Only six days till Christmas! *confetti* *fanfare*  I am so excited!!

Merry Christmas!

How about you all?  What Christmas traditions does your family have?  I want to know!

Christmas Twenty Thirteen // Decorating {part one}

Our Christmas festivities began at Dinah Raye and Roger's house.  Basically, I feel like they're my aunt and uncle.  Besides seeing them at church, I generally stop by their house once a week for a visit on my way to the library.  Which is where I was this afternoon, actually. They live about 10 minutes or so away from me, which is terribly convenient.  We always have a wonderful visit and they make me laugh so much. *smile*  So this year my friend Laura, myself, and my bro got to help decorate their tree.  Happy happy happy! *grin* 

We thought this bell snowman was cute.

And we thought this sheep had an oddly shaped head.  What do you think?

It's Christmas tree Laura!  We were looking for burnt out bulbs, and this happened. ;)

Of course, all of that hard work made us hungry.  These mortal forms require sustenance!  Donuts and hot chocolate are always a good idea.  So let it be written, so let it be done.

"I'm in shock!  Look, I have a blanket!"  My bro claims the tulle kept him warm.  Jury's still out...

Somewhere along the way, we found it necessary to string this sock snowman up with a string of lights...

We fit every single ornament they had on that tree.  What do you think?  Did we overdo it a bit?

Merry Christmas!