Tag Archives: christmas

Oh Christmas Tree Part Two: You really are quite lovely

Posted by Courtney on December 24, 2012 5 comments

In the midst of all the hub bub I realized I never shared the finished product of the enormous Christmas tree we decided to welcome into our home this year.

While we have this beautiful tree in our great room, we’ve already priced artificial trees of this size for next year, so we don’t have to battle the needles or cleanup. Typical consumer!

It also cracks me up that my husband has already warned me that we have to saw our tree into thirds and push it out the window for when it’s time to come down. Should be eventful to say the least!

Click here to see the before pictures of our ginormous tree.

Truth is, I love it, it’s just still comical to walk into that room and be greeted with such a monster. At least it smells good! Perhaps I should give that big fella a name?

I wasn’t completely prepared to decorate a tree of this size, but I did the best I could. My family pulled together and brought over extra lights for us to borrow, plus I was able to score some deals on ornaments at Michaels, so it all worked out.

tree Collage1

Today is the day where we really get to enjoy it. We host Christmas Eve so now we get to all sit and stare at it, and pose in front and take pictures.

Looking forward to the holiday with family, and enjoying the last Christmas we’ll have with just our little girl. Three weeks from today we’ll be getting ready to welcome her new baby brother!

Merry Christmas everyone, hope your holiday is magical!

Gift ideas for the dog in your life

Posted by Courtney on December 12, 2012 20 comments

I am dog obsessed through and through, that’s the only way to explain it. My dog is my buddy, my best friend, my first baby if you will. So, it’s only fitting that he makes my gift list for Christmas.

He’s four years old, and he makes that list every year. But I’ll admit, it’s starting to get tough to buy for my furry friend. I’m not really into buying him repeat gifts. Not because he’ll EVER know the difference, because I actually care.

Riley snoozing after we all opened presents last Christmas, 2011.

I’m obviously not going to buy him clothes, books or a gift card, so I can cross out those ideas.

In the past, I’ve filled his stocking with new treats and bought him toys as gifts. This year I think I might shake things up a little.

Here’s a list of some things I’m considering getting. They’ll either benefit just him or both he and I. Not exactly the meaning of Christmas right there, but let’s be honest, he won’t know the difference either way!

While, I’d love to buy all of this, I’m probably just going to pick one. My husband would have a cow if I went overboard. He thinks I’m a bit over the top with my Riley. (Gasp!)

1. A new leash
We’re actually using the same leash Riley’s had since he was a puppy and it’s starting to look old and raggedy. We also have a hand-me-down retractable leash that has seen better days. So, I’d like to replace one of them.

I’ve had my eye on the Freedom Flexi Grip.


This leash features a retractable design and braking system to give your pet the feeling of freedom while letting you keep your four-legged friend nearby. The nylon cord leash features a chrome hook and a strong plastic case with an ergonomic design for comfort.

Suggested Retail Price: $19.95 to $34.95
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Oh Christmas Tree…how lovely are your branches

Posted by Courtney on December 10, 2012 23 comments

Let me start this by saying I love Christmas. I will continue to say that over and over in my head as I continue to write this.

Back in November my husband, toddler, dog and I went to a local tree farm to tag our tree. That’s nothing unusual right?

So we’re there, looking at all of the beautiful trees when my husband said he really wanted to get a larger tree this year. Like 10-footer larger….so I was like OK, sure, that could be fun.

Stay with me…

Tagging our tree in November!


We have high ceilings in our great room above the garage so we knew it would fit height wise, what we didn’t know was how difficult it would be to get in the house.

For some reason, the tree farm didn’t net the tree or wrap it with rope, so as you can see in the picture it is literally just hanging out in all its glory.

I had this genius idea of putting a tree bag around it to protect my house from needles, but it didn’t fit and it lasted about 2 seconds before it ripped on its way into the front of the house.

We enlisted my neighbor’s help to get the tree into our house. I feel bad, because both he and my husband were legit sweating trying to push it through all of the hallways and stairs. However, they were laughing the entire time about how ridiculous our plan was going. The tree scraped everything in its path!

Looks like this tree is coming in whether it wants to or not!

While I giggled a lot watching them shove this tree throughout my house, I also was freaking out a bit. There were needles EVERYWHERE! And the sap from the tree was so fresh, it was running down my walls and doors like wet paint. I’ve never seen anything like it!

Luckily I was able to wash the walls and they are OK, but my husband is on vacuum duty pretty much until the end of time.
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Unique gift ideas for new moms or moms-to-be

Posted by Courtney on December 5, 2012 15 comments

I’m at the end of my pregnancy and Christmas is around the corner. Double hooray! As we get closer to my favorite holiday, my family keeps asking me “What do you want for Christmas?”

That’s tough to answer because I have 5 1/2 weeks left until the baby’s here, so I don’t want MORE maternity clothes, but I can’t ask for post-partum clothes because I have no idea what my size will be after delivery.

I’ve tried to think of some stuff that will tie in with the new baby and here’s what I’ve come up. Below are some unique gift ideas to give a new or expectant mom for Christmas.

Confession: It’s not on the list but would make a great gift… just this morning I purchased myself a pair of slippers online. I ask for a pair every year, and I really wanted these (they’re black with sequins and fur!)…so I told my husband we can wrap them and put them under the tree from Chloé. Not really the way Christmas should be done, but I’m desperate for a new pair!

For the Fashionista Mom

Teething Bling

Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry


Babies love to grab and chew and because of that most moms don’t wear jewelry when their kids are young. Teething Bling is trying to change that and has created a fashionable necklace that serves a dual purpose!

It’s made from the same material as most teething toys and it’s safe for curious babies to handle and chew. Teething Bling products are non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex and lead free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety measure.

Celebrity moms like Tori Spelling, Ali Landry, Angela Basset and Holly Robinson Peete are wearing it too! I have three and can’t wait to use them with my new baby boy. I think I might gift one to my mom too. This could make a for a fun gift for an aunt or caregiver too!

Price: $19.99
Visit www.smartmomjewelry.com

For the Tech-Savvy Mom

Chic Buds

chicBuds

Moms ALWAYS have their hands full and with that said, it’s important to be safe while carrying on conversation while cruising in your car.
Check out these couture earbuds for iPhones and smartphones.

The earbuds are equipped with a high powered microphone and they’re comfortable too! Moms can nip distracted driving in the bud and reach for the only hands-free device designed to be as unique as the driver.

chicBuds offers three sizes of gel tips because one size never fits all. Moms can stay relaxed and carry on the discussion in style!

Available in both Blue and Pink.

Price: $24.99
Visit www.chicbuds.com

For the Expectant Mom

Prenatal Massage

Towards the end of pregnancy it’s tough to find any comfortable position. You can’t sleep on your back or stomach, and even sleeping on your side can lead to leg cramps. I’ve noticed I’m even uncomfortable sitting at my work desk for long periods of time.

So, giving a massage as a gift to a loved one or friend is a fantastic idea as it will really help the mommy-to-be in such a physically stressful time.

Price: An hour-long session can cost anywhere from about $60 to $150, depending on where you live.
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Holiday hit list: Songs on my iPod

Posted by Courtney on December 3, 2012 20 comments


Since the day after Thanksgiving I’ve been in full-on Christmas mode. I swear my favorite things about the season have nothing to do with gifts.

Well, I do like to shop and give to others, but the truth is- I LOVE the music, the movies, the food, the decorations, the sights, the sounds…all of that good stuff!

(Check out my post from last December with my favorite Christmas movies!)

While at work I stream my holiday Pandora channel on my computer, and at home, I cook and clean to music I’ve downloaded on my iPod.

Most probably think of the classics when listening to Christmas music, but I have branched out a bit because I listen to it all the time.

So, I thought I’d share what’s on my “Holiday Hit List” because they’re not necessarily songs you’ll hear on the radio.

If you’re looking for a song that’s new to you, or just plain ol’ different, you might want to check these out!

***Tip: Click the hyperlink for a preview of the song***
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