I cannot believe it has been ten years since that fateful day. I will still remember that day, hundreds of investors in town for our annual investor conference. And how the conference was immediately shut down and the TV Screens brought in allowing all to watch the events unfold from the Georgetown Ritz. I remember starting to walk home with my sister who worked nearby before finally finding a ride….and the feeling I felt when we drove by the Pentagon seeing the smoke.
For those who lost their lives that day, who have lost their lives since and those who continue to serve in an effort to keep us safe. I will never forget.
Hope you and your family enjoy this quintessential summer holiday!
Nicole Hill Gerulat for Real Simple
We are headed to the neighborhood parade, the pool, husband has plans for his smoker and fireworks with friends. Hope whatever you have planned, the day is great!
It’s Black Friday and the frenzy of the holiday season has officially begun. While I’d love to do a post on holiday gift ideas, I know my family and friends read my blog and I don’t want to give away any secrets. I have to admit that I really detest shopping and try to do as much online as possible!
Here is a fun idea for personalized gifts that I did last year.
Personalized Market Totes via The Craft Pantry on Etsy.com
I am not sure about you but I have a growing collection of eco-friendly bags for the grocery store. I thought these were cute personalized totes that I would have been happy to add to my collection. I am a sucker for anything personalized and always think it is a nice touch when gift giving.
I also usually do peppermint bark and rum cakes as well. I love edible gifts…although my waistline may not benefit from receiving them! I am still trying to decide whether or not these are in the cards this year…as the movers arrive in just over 2 weeks…we’ll have to see.
How are you making your gifts personal this year?
I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
image via Martha Stewart
We are hosting but with lots of help from family. We are looking forward to a weekend of fun and laughter, football, holiday movies, games and too much food. We have lots to be thankful for!
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, comment and occasionally even email me offline. When I started this blog earlier this year, I had no idea of the friendships I’d forge and inspiration I’d gather from a group of like minded people. I am so thankful to have this outlet and to share it with you.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend surrounded by loved ones!
Martha Stewart I am not, and holiday-themed decorating, typically not my thing. But, now that I have a daughter it all seems a little more fun to see the holidays through her eyes. At 22 months, she is really starting to “get it” more….which makes it all the more fun for me.
On Thanksgiving we had dinner over at my parents’ house. We were late because I waited until the morning of to assemble the place cards I had decided I wanted to make. My husband was laughing at me as I was stressing over getting these turkey’s just right….but soon was helping me get them done. He took care of the eyes, and each had an expression odder than the last. It was fun!
Christmas Eve and Christmas were at our house, easier than lugging all of Maddie’s presents over there. I opted for much simpler place cards for this dinner. (Looking at this pictures vs. the one I posted earlier this week makes me glad I sent back these chairs as they arrived incorrectly with nail-heads….which didn’t fit the look of my room.)
So, now I have started to turn my attention to Easter. And, whether or not you celebrate, the themes are distinctly “Spring.” I love this collection of inspiration I found, where else, but Martha Stewart.
Knowing my mom, who really is a Martha Stewart, she could probably whip up most of these with items on hand. The first reminds me of her the most. I could see doing the cookie arrangement for an afternoon tea party with Maddie’s friends. Perhaps if the weather is nice we could actually decorate the cookies….on the deck of course!
I am thinking these could be modified to include place-cards. I think they are so sweet. Maddie loves to collect sticks…so she could play a hand in this!
photography by Beth Dreiling Hontzas for Southern Living
And how cute is this simple idea for a little favor? From Martha Stewart, of course!
I was in the mall the other day and noticed that the Easter Bunny is available for photos. I think we are going to plan a trip this weekend. Maddie is obsessed with her pretty Easter shoes….
Here she is last year at just under a year old.
And, here’s to hoping it goes better than the trip to Santa in December!
Hope you have a great weekend!
