2 Days ~ Pretty Little Christmas Things

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

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via Fried Green Pickles

via Budget Wise Home

via A Beach Cottage

via Pinterest

via Fashionally Bombed

3 Days ~ Christmas Week Thoughts

• Only 2.5 days left of holiday shopping!  Sad that Target already has spring clothes out...
• It was 75 degrees here in Charleston today, I'm OVER it, what happened to "its beginning to look a lot like Christmas?"
• Our UPS driver told me that he had over 350 deliveries yesterday, give them a little cheer when they deliver your package on time!
• A couple of my friends saw NEW YEARS EVE last Friday night and said it was great, I hope Mr. R and I can go see it while on break.

• Mr. R and I had an ornament exchange party last night with some of our friends and it was a GRAND time.  I got an adorable snowman ornament and Mr. R ended up with a dog bone ornament for Tucker.  I tried out a a new look for the dining room for the festivities and it looks very pinteresty...

• In WONDERFUL news, my Grandaddy is going to be released from the hospital tomorrow!  He had a heart attack on Monday and we are so happy he is doing great!  God is Good!

5 Days ~ Great Gifts Under $25

Need a last minute little something for someone on your list?  Try one of these!

ANTHROPOLOGIE MONOGRAMMED MUG $4

LUGGAGE TAGS VIA MORE THAN PAPER 4 FOR $25

FORNASH BANGLE $25

CAMO IPHONE CASE VIA JCREW $9.99

2012 DESK CALENDAR VIA ROSITA DESIGNS @ ETSY $20

6 Days ~ My Top 5 Christmas Movies

Mr. R and I are TOTALLY in the Christmas spirit now!  We just got back from a wonderful weekend in Spartanburg with *MOST* of the Reynolds/Bowdish/Strout family (seriously missed the rest, you know who you are!).  We had a Christmas night out with Mr. R's brother and his wife and some friends to the Piedmont Club (I got the filet and crab cake duo, so did Mr.  R) and then to see the Santa Land Diaries at HUBBUB.  If you have not see this wonderful monologue, especially in Spartanburg, its awesome!  Sunday, we celebrated traditional Christmas with Mr. R's family and exchanged gifts.  We love our new convection oven, Big Green Egg Accessories, these lamps for the guest bedroom, and other goodies!!!  Will miss you guys SO much on Christmas Day!

Can you believe there are only 6 days left until the big day?  One of my favorites things to do for Christmas is sit back with some popcorn, a glass of wine and a holiday movie with my loved ones.  I think I could watch these movies over and over...whats your favorite?

DRUMROLL PLEASE.......

5. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Duh, who doesn't love this Christmas classic?  I am a little ashamed to say that I did not actually ever see this movie until I was about 22 years old...

via Rotten Tomatoes

4. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

I am still a little frightened by the Abominable Snow Man but sure do love Burl Ives and the Misfit Toys.

via Wikipedia

3. THE *NEW* GRINCH

They did such a wonderful job with the remake of this movie.  Jim Carrey really rocks as The Grinch and the music just puts a smile on my face.

via Hollywood Movie Costumes & Props Blog

2. THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Now I know this is not technically a "Christmasssy" movie but I have been watching this movie with my Chamberlain family since I was born.  It means the epitome of family time and Christmas to me.  "The hills are alive...with the sound of music...lalalalalala"

via Amazon

1.  LOVE ACTUALLY

Yup, its a chick flick but DAMN this is a good movie.  Not only is it my favorite Christmas movie its probably one of my favorite movies of all time.  I can watch it over and over and not get tired of  these fabulous actors and story line.

via Amazon

9 Days ~ Crazy Cat (and Dog) Lady!

Clearly I am not the only one who likes to dress the pets in their holiday finest and think they just LOVE it.

Here are Raleigh's especially festive looks from 2008 and 2009:

 

I can't help but a get a kick out of craziness that some people put their pets through for a Christmas shoot.  Luckily my kitty will let me do just about anything if he is half asleep.  Take a look for a good laugh...

via People Pets

via People Pets

via People Pets

via ShelterTails

via Trompyx

via People Pets

via People Pets

11 Days ~ Holiday Inspiration

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12 Days ~ Stocking Stuffers

Whose stocking are you stuffing this year?  Mr. R and I are spending Christmas with my family in Raleigh and we pick names from a hat.  Wonder who I have this year???!!!!!  :)



via Safety Girl



via Like Cool

via Beer Savers



Tocca Mini Perfume
via Anthropologie

The Fisherman's Ultimate Knot Guide
via L.L. Bean



Goody Double Wear Ponytail Holders/Bracelets
via Target

16 Days ~ Fah, La, La-ing

Nothing quite gets my heart pumping with Christmas merriment than those first notes of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas."  Music has a way of giving you chills throughout your body, taking back to a nostalgic place or simply bringing a smile to your face.  I tend to lean towards the more traditional Christmas carols that you would find in church on Christmas Eve but I also enjoy that of the likes of  NSYNC "Merry Christmas Happy Holidays," a little Justin Bieber "Under the Mistletoe" or even "I Want a Hippopatomas for Christmas."  When choosing your holiday playlist on your Ipod this season possibly try some of my favorites and see if you might just love them too!!!

"GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMAN/WE THREE KINGS" 
BARENAKED LADIES WITH SARAH MCLAUGHLIN


"12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"
STRAIGHT NO CHASER


"WELCOME CHRISTMAS"
GLEE CAST


"OH HOLY NIGHT"
CELINE DION


"HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS"
JUDY GARLAND FROM MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS


"CHRISTMAS EVE SARAJEVO"
TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA


"DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY"
TCHAIKOVSKY

Christmas Countdown: The Christmas Card

There is a reason (well MANY reasons) that this is the "most wonderful time of the year." Plainly put, I love Christmas.  I am one of those people who starts thinking about it and gets excited when Target puts their Halloween costumes on clearance and makes way for Santaland in the middle of October.  I count down the days until the light 40s radio station makes the switch to holiday music and secretly (well not so secretly, I make Mr. R listen) jam out.  Everyone has those little things at they look forward to during the Christmas season.  Between now and the BIG DAY, the Reynolds Wrap-Up is going to be dedicated to the season of giving, peace, love and happiness to celebrate the coming of Christ (as well as Santa Claus...I hear Buddy the Elf knows him!).

One of the very FIRST things I start looking for (and seriously in like September) is the Reynolds Christmas Card!  Most websites have great deals on last year's design or discounts for ordering early.  Unfortuneatly you have to make alot of decisions which I am not very good at...one photo vs. multi photo, 4x8 vs. 5x7, flat vs. folded, photo paper vs. stationary paper.  This year I checked out Shutterfly, Snapfish, Minted, Tiny Prints, designing my own and then finally decided on something a little different...Etsy.

SOME OF THE CONTENDERS...

Option #1 via Shutterfly

Option #2 via Shutterfly

  

Option #3 via Shutterfly

via Minted (obviously NOT my children!)

AND THE WINNER IS...

This design was done by the fabulous Andrea Gerig Designs on Etsy.  She designed the card for $15 and sent it to me as a high resolution JPEG file.  I, in turn, printed to my hearts content via Snapfish as a 5x7 on photo paper.  It could also be done on cardstock.  LOVE!