O Christmas Tree

Since we were in North Carolina last week, we went to a Christmas Tree farm to get our tree last Friday.  If you are in the Highlands/Cashiers area, go to Grandy Mountain Tree Farm. They are awesome and so friendly. They even have a large nativity on the hill that would be great for pictures.

We picked out the perfect tree.

As we were leaving the farm, we had the perfect sunset over the mountains.  This picture does not do it justice.

As of today, we have the tree standing in the house with lights and ornaments, but I feel like it needs something else.  I am hoping to go to Hobby Lobby and find a few felt balls to make garland like the pictures below.

West Elm Felt Garland

Hopefully I will have pictures soon of the finished product.

Christmas Mugs

The Christmas Season is officially here.  This is my favorite time of year. We cut our Christmas Tree at a Christmas tree farm yesterday (blog post coming soon.)

One of my favorite things about this time of year is HOT CHOCOLATE!! When I drink hot chocolate or even coffee, I like to drink it out of a cute mug.  Today I am going to share a few mugs I found that are great for the Christmas season.

One | Two 

Three  | Four | Five



Williams -Sonoma has a great hot chocolate that comes in many flavors.




via

I have tried the Classic Hot Chocolate and the Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate.


You can also use the hot cocoa recipe on the back of a Hershey's Cocoa container.

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Hot Cocoa

Friday Favorites

Today I am linking up with Erika for Friday Favorites.

Today I thought I would share my favorites gift ideas for Christmas.

One

Kate Spade Glitter Earrings

I am sure you have seen other bloggers talk about these.  So cute!!

Two

North Face Thermoball

My husband and I both have this jacket in black.  I am sure we look really cute walking around in matching jackets! Ha! This jacket is so light and warm.  I definitely recommend it.  I personally think the cut of this jacket makes one look slimmer.

Speaking of matching jackets, we both have this jacket as well:





Marmot Rain Jacket

We love this rain jacket. It comes in twenty different colors. Seriously! It is great for all reasons.  It even comes in a XXL for women.



Three

Sorry for the bad picture! I saw these in Wal-Mart this week and I thought they were really cute.  This would be perfect for a boys room.  I would not mind them in my room if we had them in a cabin or hunting camp. If you do not like this pattern, they have many others as well.  You can buy them online as well.  Here is the link:

Flannel Sheets

Four

Last week, I shared in this post that I was going to buy the red Pottery Barn ornament this year.  Well, I went to buy it yesterday and it was already sold out.  So I ended up buying the white one.

Pottery Barn Ornament

When I was ordering the ornament, I also found these moose items.  I love moose and cow items, so this was right up my alley.

Soap Dish

Catchall

I plan to use this year round.

Five

I got these branches out of my yard and just spray painted them white.  These branches are from a dogwood tree. I can't wait to use them this week as I am decorating for Christmas.  This is such an easy DIY project.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Asheville, NC

Yesterday, I went to the Spa at Grove Park Inn with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. We arrived a couple of hours before our facial to enjoy the pools and steam rooms.  The Spa is a cell free zone so I could not take any pictures, but here are a few from their website.

Grove Park Inn Spa

One of the pools has underwater speakers and when you float on your back, there are stars on the ceiling to view.  They have hot tubs with water falling into them and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms. They provide you with a robe and slippers when you arrive and then you can relax all day.  I chose the Classic Facial for my treatment.  I highly recommend going at least once if you are in the area. 

This time of year at Grove Park Inn is beautiful.  They have Christmas trees at every turn, and they even have a Gingerbread House Competition on display. Here are a few pictures of the decorations:

After the Spa, we ate a late lunch at Tupelo Honey Cafe in downtown Asheville.  I had the fried chicken with milk gravy that was amazing.  It might have been the best fried chicken I have ever had.

Here is a list of their current locations.  

Tupelo Honey Cafe Locations

They usually open about 4 locations each year.  I heard Dallas and Denver are on the list for next year.  Be sure to check them out!

Friday Favorites

Today I am linking up with Erika for Friday Favorites.

I am glad this week is over, but it is really sad we wish our life away.  We need to be more present in time and enjoy all of life's moments good and bad.  I think this is especially important as we go into Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We really need to cherish the time we spend with our family and friends. Try to make things simple, and do not be stressed.  I want to challenge you all to remember the little moments and memories that will be made.

Now back to our Friday Favorites!! With Black Friday only one week away, I thought I would share my favorite Black Friday items that will be on sale.  We have made it a tradition were my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law all go Black Friday shopping together.  We usually make stops at Belk, Tanger Outlets, and Wal-Mart because those are the closest store to us without getting into to much traffic.

See picture
references below!


One

This is a great item.  I wear it everyday.  I love the Charge HR because it gives you your heart rate reading as well as your steps, miles, stairs, and calories. It will be on sale at Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy for $119.


Fitbit Charge HR


Two

We have been wanting a sound bar for our TV, so I thought about trying this one. It will be on sale at Wal-Mart for $118.


Vizio Sound Bar


Three

Target is having a great deal on apparel and accessories.  They are all 40% off.  This deal will be available at Target.com as well. They will also have 40% off sleepwear, handbags, wallets, jewelry, and watches. Here are a few of my favorite items that should be on sale.

Target Pajamas

Target Cardigan

Target Slippers

Four

Target will have a fire pit for $29. They have two choices square or round.  This would be a good cheap addition for the backyard. It would be perfect for those cool nights to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.




Target Fire Pit


Five

For the past couple of years, Home Depot has had fresh garland,  fresh swags/wreaths, and poinsettias on sale for Black Friday.  I noticed that Lowe's will have poinsettias for .99 cents this year.

I usually stock up on the fresh garland and swags to decorate our mailbox each year.




On Monday, I am going to the Spa at Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.  I am so excited, and I will report back to you next week on it.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Yearly Christmas Ornament

Every year I order an ornament to put our Christmas Card picture in.  For the past couple of years, I have been ordering the same silver ornament from Pottery Barn with the year engraved on it.   

PB Silver Frame

I feel like the silver is getting boring, so this year I am going to switch it up and start getting a different ornament each year.  Pottery Barn has a couple of different colors this year that are cute.

PB - White Frame Ornament

PB Red Frame Ornament

PB Gold Frame Ornament

I think I have decided to order the red because I think it will really stand out on the tree. We also have so many neutral color ornaments that I think this will help give it some color.

I have a confession to make though.  For the past couple of years, my frames are PICTURELESS. My goal this year is to print the pictures from the past years and get them in the frame! This shouldn't be to hard, right?


When I was looking for the picture frame ornaments, I came across these cuties:

Red Truck Ornament

Deer Ornament

Bear Ornament

Letter Ornament

Yummy!!

There is a local shop in Cashiers, NC that sells these Nye's Cream Sandwiches and they are so good! I just found where you can buy them online, and they are on Oprah's Best Edible Gifts List. Yes, they are expensive, but definitely worth it at least once.  I have tried the Peppermint Chocolate and the Coconut Chocolate.  The Peppermint (see below) was my favorite!

via

You can also look online to see if there is a store near you that sells them. 

Where To Buy

Friday Favorites

It's Friday!! It's Friday!!



Today I am linking up with Erika for Friday Favorites!

This week has been rough! Everyone has been out of the office this week, so that has left me with everything! On top of that I broke the printer and had a nail in my tire! I am so glad for this week to be over.  Even though this week has been rough, I have so much to be thankful for and thank God daily for all the blessings in my life!

So here are a few of my favorites for this week:

One

  Little Duck Farms - Pecan Brittle - BEST THING EVER

Little Duck Farms

Sorry for the bad picture, but if you are looking for a Christmas Gift for the hard to buy person or maybe a gift for yourself, I highly recommend this! The pecan brittle is very thin which is the way I love it.  It melts in your mouth.  They also have wonderful praline pecans and plain pecans to use in your Christmas cooking! Their packaging this year is adorable too.  The plain pecans and praline pecans even come with a little clothes pin to keep the package closed after opening!! I am serious, you MUST try it!! So good!!! 

Two

Microwave Bacon Tray

Nordic Ware Microwave Tray

This thing is a life saver! Ok.. or maybe just a time saver.  As I was growing up, we didn't know about this, but my husbands family has used them for a long time.  It is so much easier just to throw the bacon on and put it in the microwave then to worry about being popped my hot grease early in the morning!

Three

For the Love

For the Love

I am sure you have probably heard about this book because everyone I know is reading it. It is so good though! You should read it if you haven't already!

Four

"This Blood"

A lady at my church sang this song a couple of weeks ago, and I have been listening to it ever since.  This of course is not my churches version, but still good! 

Five 

The Southerner's Cookbook

I have not looked at this cookbook yet, but I think I would like it.  I am going to add this to my Christmas list!

Hope you all have a great weekend!