grateful: Valentine's Day Recap

I was extremely blessed this year.




Rainforest Alliance Certified flowers from T (plus flowers from my Daddy delivered to my work!)...


...an antique book of poems...


...pewter candlesticks from the Shirley Pewter Shop for romantic dinners for years to come!


...complete with hand-dipped candles similar to these!

T also gave me chocolates, some books on tape for my ride to work, and a new "bride and groom" charm for my charm bracelet. How blessed I am to have T (and Daddy!) in my life!

How was your Valentine's day?

details.

Life is pretty crazy down here right now, but I'm trying to stop and smell the proverbial (and literal) roses. Some details from my day:


T went out to pick up some groceries last night, and came home with these. They weren't artfully arranged or even seasonal, but they were just what I needed in my countdown-to-Christmas frenzy. I love that boy.


All of our pretty Christmas glasses (a gift from my mother) and dishes are washed and put away; there won't be time to do it later, since I'm working the day after Christmas up until we leave for our little New Years getaway.


Now that all my cards are sent out (as of a week ago, thankyouverymuch!), I can look at all of the Christmas cards we've received from friends sans a single pang of guilt. That little blue crèche was a gift from my Grandmother; it sat in the window of her living room every Christmas for as long as I can remember.


We hung only a few ornaments this year (on the ficus in our living room).


Of course, we always keep a little bit of Santa Fe close at hand (another gift from T's stepfather).


I've got my Vermont Originals hat...


...and my Hunter boots, all ready for whatever weather Christmas brings us here in Virginia.

When you finally get a chance to stop and take a breath, what details from your day will you make time to enjoy?

grateful.

With little over a week to go until Christmas, he giving has already begun in our family! Between T's mother and father, and my parents (who all live in different cities), we can't be everywhere at once on Christmas day. So, our gift giving gets spread out over all of December!

Our first gift of the season:



Isn't it beautiful? Travis' step-father made it to our exact measurements. I love it! We're going to use it in our kitchen for cookbooks and pretty kitchen things. The shelves are adjustable to accommodate Veganomicon and I Know How to Cook!

This isn't the first bookshelf my future SFIL has made for us. He made this for T for our college graduation:

(excuse the top shelf mess...T just sold all his law books from this semester, and we haven't "refilled" yet!)

This is my favorite part:

It's a tiny piece of marble from our college library steps that future SFIL found while they were renovating our junior year. He picked it up and saved it for two years for this very special project!

I love handmade gifts. What's your favorite handmade gift you've received?

do!

Our bags are packed! T & I are all ready to go up to DC for the weekend (that's not all clothes...we've got some laundry to do, too...). We've got a busy weekend planned complete with dinner at Neisha Thai with my favorite cousin, a potluck with some old high school friends, and our first 5k!

What are you doing this weekend?

do!

After a week of rain and cold, T & I drove down to Kitty Hawk, NC for one last summer-like weekend.


The cottage


Our walk (across the street) to the beach


My future dog-in-law (T's sister's dog, Penelope)


The beach!



With a busy work/school/social schedule, this little bit of beach is going to have to last us for a little while (there's nothing like that salty ocean air).