The Gaylord Texan ICE! 2013

November 25, 2013

This was our 2nd year to return to the Gaylord Texan ICE! exhibit. You can check out my post from last year here. Every year it just gets better and better! I absolutely love it and there is nothing like the ICE! experience to get you in the Christmas spirit. We don’t get cold weather a lot here in Texas so this knocks a lot of folks socks off! It’s 2 MILLION POUNDS of hand-carved ice sculptures and slides!

This year’s theme was The Nutcracker. It was so much fun to see our favorite scenes from The Nutcracker carved in ice accompanied by the original Tchaikovsky score. This year there was a bonus ice area that transports you to the iconic holiday sights and sounds of New York City. I love NYC…so naturally I loved seeing it carved out in ice.

It takes a team of 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China to carve out all these ice sculptures. These talented craftspeople spend more than a month creating a one-of-a-kind display.

So, I hope you enjoy our journey through ICE! at the Gaylord Texan:

From the moment you walk into the lobby you are transported into a Christmas wonderland. It’s just magical.

Here we go! We are ready to start our ICE! journey….

Some of the great scenes from The Nutcracker.

Connor going down the amazing ice slide. He went at least 3 or 4 times!

Walking through the NYC display. I absolutely loved this fun display of NYC at Christmas time.

Me and my big boy!

‘The very end is the Nativity…love that they honor the true meaning of Christmas!

If you are visiting DFW during the Christmas season I HIGHLY recommend visiting the Gaylord Texan. The hospitality and scenery are above and beyond. There is always something to do at The Gaylord Texan to keep you busy. The rooms are so nice too! I’ve stayed a few times 🙂 So excited to kick of the holiday season with one of our favorite Christmas events ICE!

Jingle Jingle!!!

November 19, 2013

This kiddo can’t wait for Christmas…I think it’s going to be the best year yet! Love you boo!

Now, if I can only get Ter-Bear to get my tree down???

Connor’s School Pictures 2013

November 18, 2013

Our Christmas Cards from Cardstore

November 15, 2013

“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Cardstore. I received complimentary cards and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

When searching for our Christmas cards I always like to do my research. I want a pretty card and an equally cute picture to send out to all my family and friends. You all know I’ve been swamped with Christmas photo sessions lately….and I’m loving every minute of it! I hope I get to see some of those photos in my mailbox. Nothing blesses my heart more than seeing a family I’ve taken pictures of on a card.

This is the one time of year you actually get something in your mailbox instead of your inbox. I just LOVE getting actual mail. Nothing is more heartfelt and personal than a card.

Sometimes clients will ask me who I recommend for their Christmas cards after photoshoots. So, while searching for my perfect Christmas card this year I came across Cardstore. Cardstore is an innovative online resource that removes the hassle from mailing out holiday cards. Once you create your custom cards with personalized pictures, messages, and signature, Cardstore will print, stamp and send the cards for you – helping to take one huge item off my already full holiday to-do list. It’s so nice to know that at least ONE thing is crossed off my list!

Here is a little preview of a card I was looking at from Cardstore. Cute huh?

Cardstore was super easy to use. I just uploaded the pictures I wanted, personalized my card, and then I got to proofread every inch of my card before sending (Something I always worry about after I finalize orders). There are so many fun designs and options to choose from it was very hard to make a choice! If you’re looking for quality and something that will stand out from all the other Christmas cards this season I highly recommend using Cardstore.

Cardstore Promotions & Discounts

From 11/14 – 11/20 Cardstore is offering $20 off your $50 order

From 11/21-11/26 Cardstore is offering 30% off holiday cards!

My Lil Prancerciser & Holiday Finds

November 13, 2013

I got Connor these slippers the other day at Target. They were $7 bucks….best money ever spent. He loves “Prancercising” all around the house and he asked to wear them to school…but ya know…we don’t want him to get a reputation or anything! Here’s my little Prancerciser….. OMG. Have y’all tried these Muddy Buddies? It’s sort of like puppy chow, but you can buy it now instead of making a mess in your own kitchen. Another Target find. These are the peppermint version, and my favorite, the peanut butter chocolate. SO GOOD! Loving Bath and Body Works “Snowday 2013” candles. Does it sound like I’m ready for Christmas anyone? How many of you have your tree up??? DON’T LIE NOW! Ha ha! I will probably put ours up in a couple weeks….I can’t wait 🙂 Happy Hump Day!

Glitter Christmas Photos

November 12, 2013

We took some Christmas photos this past weekend with my sister-in-law’s family and Connor’s BFF Ellie. I call them the “twin cousins” because they are less than a day apart in age. They just adore each other.

I’ve been slammed on the weekends with photo shoots. If you want to see some that I’ve been working on click the “PHOTOGRAPHY” tab at the top of the site. I love watching these families grow and I just love taking photos period. I just LOVE it! Maybe one day I can do it more….but for right now it’s just on the weekends.

So, I wanted to try something fun with the kiddos & picked up some glitter confetti. You have to be quick like fox to take these type of pictures. I may try to take some again when I have more time…..but here are the kids and their “glitter” photos! So much fun!

Love & Sacrifice

November 7, 2013

For the last few weeks I’ve been telling you all about Folgers’ The Best Part online community. It’s a place dedicated to brightening your every day. The Best Part posts inspirational stories, encouraging quotes, & good news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—and encourages fans and followers to share that optimism with their family & friends. Because when optimism is shared, it grows, making an even more positive impact on our world.

I got back today from a trip home to Arkansas. I had the chance to visit with my grandma and talk to her about things going on in my life. These moments are precious & there are definitely few of them now that I’m an adult. So when I go home to visit I try to soak it all in. I love taking photos, so I was super excited to take some senior pictures of my cousin, Lindsey. I was talking to my Grandma about my love of photography and telling her a story of how I got my new camera. A couple of years ago I was really really wanting a new camera but we couldn’t really afford it. My husband had a really nice watch he got for graduation, and he sold it so that I could have my new camera. I know there are times he probably regrets selling that watch, but that meant so much that he did that for me. He loved that watch. But he also knew how much I loved taking pictures. It was the sweetest gesture, and I’ll never forget it.

So, I was telling my grandma about that story and she told me the story about the Magi.

On Christmas Eve, with only $1.87 in hand and desperate to find a gift for her husband, Jim, Della sells her long, beautiful hair for $20, and eventually finds a platinum fob chain for Jim’s watch for $21. She found the perfect gift at last and runs home and begins to prepare dinner, with 87 cents left. When Jim comes home, he looks at Della with a strange expression. Della then admits to Jim that she sold her hair to buy him his present. Jim then gives Della her present — an assortment of expensive hair combs, useless now that her hair is short. Della shows Jim the chain she bought for him, to which Jim says he sold his watch to get the money to buy her combs. Although Jim and Della are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realize how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how priceless their love really is.

I had never heard of that story until this past weekend, but apparently it’s been around for a long time. It resonated with me after I’d told my grandma what Terence had done so I could get my new camera. A timeless tale that came full circle into my own life. Stories of love, hope, and giving. That is what Folgers The Best Part is all about. Sharing YOUR story so that it can resonate in someone else’s life and make a difference.

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