Holiday Bucket List!

Over a week again!

I apologize! It’s been a long, hectic, and tiresome few weeks, let me assure you.

My life has been filled with big brown moving boxes, lots of coffee, and a plethora of cleaning products…Moving is hectic, but it has been such a fun experience for Charles and I thus far. I got to go to Bed Bath and Beyond last Friday, spent 2 hours and way too much money, but I picked out everything we need for organization of the bathrooms and kitchens, as well as decorations. I also picked up all of the needed supplies to stock the guest bathroom {toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, loofah’s, etc}…I’m pretty pleased with my choices and even more pleased that the new house will have all new fresh items to make it feel like a fresh start! What an incredible feeling.

I thought I might give you a treat today and share with you my “Holiday Bucket List” thus far. Here are the fun things I want to do this holiday season!

·         Bake Christmas Cookies for all of the neighbors and friends! Charles and I do this every year and we have so much fun with it! We have already started the planning process for accomplishing this in our NEW house. It will be a hectic holiday so I’ll be having to make a set plan in order to make time for this.

·         Watch all of the Christmas movies I can watch. Needs no explanation, I’m pretty sure everyone does this.

·         Get an Angel from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Again, Charles and I do this every year and we have a blast doing it. It is so rewarding to help others, and especially children needing presents for Christmas.

·         Go look at Christmas Lights while sipping hot cocoa! Again, another tradition that requires no explanation.

·         Put up Christmas decorations to my dad’s Christmas CD. Many of you don’t know this, but my dad plays the keyboard/piano for fun, and he makes these amazing instrumental Christmas CD’s of his songs and of holiday classics and distributes them to the family every year on Thanksgiving. I listen to these cd’s religiously all Christmas season, and I can’t wait to see what my dad comes up with this year!

·         Make a gingerbread house! Sadly I haven’t ever made one…Pathetic? Yes.

·         Host Christmas Eve at our new home. Charles and I host Christmas Eve at our house for his family every year, so this year is no different. I want to do it BIG this year, with Christmas music, punch, ham, casseroles, stuffing, and the works! I am so excited to host my first big holiday!

·         Wear red lipstick to Charles’ work Christmas Party. Okay now this is a bit of an odd thing to want to accomplish, but I rarely wear colored lipstick or lipgloss, and I always think the ladies Charles works with look so fabulous, so what better way to stand out than red lipstick during the holidays and a fabulous dress?

·         Fall asleep by my new fireplace! Purely because I can

I’m sure I have a thousand more things I would like to do during the holidays {after all, it IS the MOST wonderful time of the year} I hope you all have a Happy Holiday season. Let me know what YOUR bucket list entails..I’m always looking for more ideas. Be a blessing today! <3

Fall Bucket List

It’s your lucky Friday, I’ve decided to share with you all my “Fall Bucket List!” Now as I previously mentioned, Fall is my favorite! Who doesn’t love fall? Fall to me means Razorback football, cider, pumpkins, crisp air, walks, yummy smelling candles, bonfires with friends, and just a happier Michele! There are several things I would like to do this fall, so why not make a bucket list and share with you? Sound good? Great!

Tailgate at numerous Razorback Football Games. Okay, now this is a given. Who doesn’t love putting up a few EZ Up tents, having a few drinks with friends, enjoying beautiful weather, and firing up the grill while waiting for the game to start! It’s the best time! If you haven’t ever tailgated before, you should give it a try. It’s a great way to show your team spirit and get outside for some fresh fall air! Plus, you never know the friendly people you will meet when you tailgate. Whether you go with family or friends (or both,) you’re sure to have a wonderful time. Check out my recipe for an easy tailgating dip that’s sure to make you the life of the party!

 

Feta Dip!

1 can SHOEPEG CORN (drained)

1 can BLACK BEANS (drained)

1 container FETA CHEESE

4-5 green onions, chopped

green and/or red pepper, chopped ( I like to throw in jalapenos for a kick!)

 1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon Cavenders

 

Mix it all together and enjoy! Can serve with fritos, tortilla scoops, or whatever you’d like!

Here is our Razorback Tasilgate! This is my brother in law and his girlfriend, and my future hubbie and I! WOO PIG!

 

 

Build a Bonfire. I absolutely LOVE a good fire. Who doesn’t like getting in a cozy sweater fall sweater (that I probably will get from Suite One…), some good music, and roasting a good ‘mallow? Because as we all know, first you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow. When the ‘mallows flaming you stick in on the chocolate. Then you cover with the other end. Then you scarf. For those of you who know that this is from the Sandlot, props to you! You’re okay in my book. For those of you who didn’t know what that was from, you’re killin’ me smalls! In all seriousness, I love the sound and the smell of a good bonfire. Even though I smell like smoke for a good two days, I love it!

 

Go to a pumpkin Patch. Okay, I know this sounds like something a little kid would do (and it is,) but who can argue that pumpkin patches are awesome places to take pictures? My plan is to get up in the morning, grab some coffee (maybe a White Chocolate Mocha, or maybe a nice chocolate chai tea latte, and head to the pumpkin patch with my soon to be husband! A lot of pumpkin patches have things for children to do (for example, face painting, hayrides, etc) and can be a lot of fun for the whole family! Grab a pumpkin to carve while you’re there and bring it home to have a carving party! Charles and I love having people over to watch football and carve pumpkins and it’s always so fun!

Our pumpkins from last year!

 

 

Have a photo shoot in a leaf pile. I know this may sound odd, but I’ve always wanted to do this! Again, it is great for pictures and I would love to make a collage of fall pictures to hang in the home. Fall is fabulous, and I just know we would have a blast taking photos in the leaves with our puppies!

 

 Read an entire book sitting on the deck at the lake house.  This one should be easy to accomplish! The view from the deck at the lake in the fall is just spectacular. Nothing would beat sitting with a cup of coffee and a blanket while reading a book and enjoying the peace and quiet! It’s a great thing, having alone time!

Here is the view from the deck at the lakeh house in fall! How could you not just LIVE here? Stunning, God's wonderful creations.

 

Decorate my home with fall decorations. This is a given. After going to Kirkland’s yesterday and stocking up on all of their fall candles, I can’t help but want to decorate my home with fall items! I’m pretty much obsessed with Kirkland’s currently; they have some amazing prices and really beautiful home décor. If you’re as obsessed as I am, check out their sale going on from today until Sunday. It is the perfect time to stock up for fall and get the best pick of items before everyone clears them out. Also, Bath and Body works has their 2 for $22 3-wick candle sale going on this weekend, so check that out (because paying $20 for one candle is ridiculous.)

These are the candles I purchased at Kirkland's the other day. They are $7.99 for this large size, and the scent payoff is wonderful. I also like the Bath and Body works 3-wick candles, but these are more cost-friendly!

 

 

Make an apple crumble, apple cobbler, etc. When fall rolls around, the delicacies change. I enjoy getting to make things like cobblers, pies, etc. that I don’t make all year round. It is not only delicious, but it’s good for the soul and y’all, it makes your house smell DELICIOUS.

 

Lay under the stars in a truck bed full of pillows and blankets. I have to admit y’all, I saw this on Pinterest (I have a not-so-slight addiction) and fell in love. Basically, you fill up a truck bed with pillows and big blankets and then lay outside and look at the stars. Charles has a truck, so this is perfect to try! Done. SO excited.

 

I have a lot more things I am looking forward to accomplishing in fall, but these are the things I’m really wanting to try! What is on your Fall Bucket List? I’d love to hear, maybe I can get some fantastic new ideas? I hope you all have as fabulous of a weekend as I plan to!

 

Until next time,

Michele