It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I have a few more items to get, but overall my Christmas decor is complete.  

My step-mom did a wonderful job with the outside lights

Hubby is going to add some lights to our trees.

My first Christmas manicure of the season

Thanksgiving Recap

We hosted Thanksgiving this year in our new home.  This was my first real Thanksgiving as the hostess, and I was nervous about how it would all come together.  Thank goodness for Honey Baked Ham and Bojangles.  I am not a fan of their ham, but love love love their sweet potato souffle.  It is always a huge hit.  I also got their cranberry walnut chutney this year.  Oh my gosh, where has this been all my life!  It is so good y'all.  


We ate fried turkey last year and wanted to do that again this year.  Unfortunately, our friend who cooked last year has a 9 month pregnant wife, so we were on our own.  I was a bit skeptical when my husband suggested Bojangles' fried turkey, but it was delicious, and was ready in about 2 hours!  I usually don't want turkey again for Christmas, but wouldn't mind this fried turkey again.

This was the line outside of Honey Baked Ham on Wednesday.  So glad I went the day before.  A friend was  in that line and she ended up waiting 1 1/2 hours.

I was a little underwhelmed about the table decor.  It didn't have that wow factor to me.  Oh well, I am definitely excited to try something different next year.  

I obviously need some serving dishes, so forgive my bootleg setup.  I made the cornbread dressing and my MIL helped me out by making the green beans and mac and cheese.  

 I have started putting up my Christmas decorations, and only have a few more items left to get.  The only place I went on Black Friday was Hobby Lobby and I am so glad I did.  I went again this week and there is hardly anything left. Can't wait to show the finished product.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Halloween

Sorry for the blog-cation.  Between preparing for our Halloween party and preparing for us to be out of town 3 times this month, I had to take a break.  


The party went even better than we expected.  Everyone had a great time.  Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures.  With the party being on a Friday, and getting some last minute things, I only had a few minutes to get ready before guests arrived.  Then I was drinking playing hostess.  If I get any additional photos from guests, I will share those as well.

This is only some of the food, however I forgot to take any more shots.  I also had the cheese dip in a cauldron beside the chips cauldron, as well as shrimp cocktail and wings. The wings were in the oven keeping warm.  My sister-in-law made some amazing swedish meatballs and oreo balls which are also not in the pictures.

"Brain Freeze" punch made with cranberry juice cocktail, frozen lemonade from concentrate (thawed) and ginger ale

You can't see this very well, but we had a fog machine outside.  Inside was lit with red lights in the entryway

Drink Menu-- the signature drinks were a hit.  My favorite is not on the menu.  It is a jolly rancher cocktail with cotton candy vodka (by pinnacle) blended with jolly rancher candy and Simply Lemonade raspberry lemonade.   

After several tries (and fails) with making a dessert, I found these at Walmart.  They were cream filled and delicious.  I will definitely get these again.

Everyone loved these in our guest bathrooms

Kitschy wall/floor decor

Graveyard  shift

Favorite costume of the night.  Michael Myers scared everybody.

A blurry pic of me and the hubs as Barbie and Ken.  A lot of people thought I looked like Nicki Minaj, so I will probably reuse the wig next year and go as her.  

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween

Hodge Podge

My sister in law bought us me a slow cooker 4 months ago and I am just now trying it out.  I have never used a crock pot before, and am now obsessed with finding recipes.  This is one of the best inventions ever.  Cooking is a snap now.  It was hard for me to work a 9 hour day, exercise, and make a home cooked meal before 9pm.  I made this sandwich a few days ago and it was oh so good.  The picture I took on my phone got deleted, so am borrowing this from Jonna.  We had corn on the cob instead of chips.

I made this dip this weekend for the Carolina game since we had an away.  It got rave reviews.  I think it needs some sour cream to make it even better.  I am going to be making this for the Halloween party. My plan is to put it in a cauldron and serve with blue tortilla chips

I made this recipe last night.  I used 2 cans of broccoli instead of one.  Quick and easy, and we will be eating that again tonight.  I am not a huge leftover fan, but so far, I am enjoying the savings in time and money. 




What I wore recently to a surprise party

Teal shirt from Off Saks, Old Navy Black Skinny Jeans, Nine West shoes

My current nail polish- sorry, not the greatest picture. This is OPI's Chopstick-ing to my Story and my royal blue jeans.  Just noticed this looks very Florida Gators-ish.

And last but not least, a few more Halloween decoration shots

I am all over the place today.