Holiday Lights at Mimi & Papa’s

Happy holiday break, y'all!  How's it been?!!! We have traveled, ate a LOT, walked a LOT, shopped a LOT and are now about to bring in the new year. I just can't believe it.  Time...slow down!!! Every other year we are in California for Christmas.  My parents live in a little town called Willow Glen,…

Elfie is SOOOO CRAZY this year!

Anyone else have an Elf on the Shelf?  Oh my, the search is REAL each morning!  High, low, in food, wrapped in ribbon.  This little guy has been all over the house causing creative mischief.  Oh and the giggles that ensue.  It's so soooo worth it to be up early every morning watching the mad…

Homemade Gift Idea

Homemade granola: a tasty treat for your family or for a lovely homemade gift idea!

The Perfect Christmas Dessert

Hey Ho!  Christmas is just around the corner people.  Can you believe it?  Presents are purchased and dinner plans are a-brewing.  Last week I went to our annual Christmas bunko night.  It's a fun and festive evening with neighborhood ladies that have been gathering for TWENTY YEARS!  Isn't that amazing and so special?!  I feel…

Advent Calendar

There are so many traditions around this time of year.  Most of them, I truly enjoy!  But the kids LOVE THEM ALL!!!  When I was little, I remember having an advent calendar at home with little ornaments that you velcro'd to the felt tree and by December 25th, that felt tree was decorated from stump…

Cheers to the Holidays!

I love love LOVE a signature cocktail!  It sets the mood for the evening, whether it's a girls get together, a family gathering or just a dinner party with friends. I don't know about you but I have been pinning away ideas for ages and was a bit stumped as to what I wanted to…

The “Halls are decked” for 2017

Aaaahhhh!  *Sigh of relief*  I have officially put the holiday boxes away and what is out is out. What didn't make it out, isn't coming out this year, and I am OK with this.  I am REALLY OK with this!  I am so OK with this that the birds are chirping and the angels are…

Wrapping 101: inspiration can come from ANYWHERE!

OK, so the Monroe girls (me, my sister and my mom) have a serious problem.  We are a lliiiiitttttllllleee over the top when it comes to wrapping our Christmas gifts.  First, we come up with a theme. Yes.  Seriously.  No joke.  Every year, all our presents coordinate.  NO, not with each others (man, that would…

One room done!

Hello and welcome to our house!  *sigh*  I can thankfully say, *another sigh* I can welcome you into at least the entry and the front room of our home!  *teehee*  The rest of it is still a big heaping mess!!! (aaaahhhh!!!!)  But, I can officially say we have made it past the boxes!  Wooohooo!  Let's toast…

Stockings

So...I said I was going to keep this year light, with the Christmas decorations, right?  And I have (kind of...or at least by Manos standards).  I started in the front room. The concept came from the antlers.  How oh how did a girl from Cali end up marrying a hunter?!  Well...she went to school in…