Monogrammed Monday: Holiday Ornaments



via Etsy


As I type people are decking their halls, and whats more fun than a tree sparkling with monogrammed and personalized ornaments?  Thats right...nada!  Happy Decorating!


via Libby Oswald




via Etsy



via Etsy



via The Monogram Divas




via The Palm Gifts



via Etsy



via Etsy



         

A Whole Lot O' Thanks

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!

Mr. R and I are spending this turkey day in good ol' Charleston.  He is working and I am truely grateful to be spending my Thanksgiving afternoon with some of our best friends, the Brewers, and Mrs. B's family.  Tonight we plan on cooking a nice steak and sides and sitting back to revel in all we have to be thankful for this year.  Some highlights of our gratefulness to God, in no particular order...

• my wonderful husband, dog Tucker & cat Raleigh
• 3 loving parents, a wonderful stepdad, 1 sister, 2 brothers, 1 stepsister and 2 amazing sister in laws
• loving memory of a greatly missed father, 3 grandfathers, and 2 grandmothers
• 4 beautiful and healthy nieces
• 3 living and loving grandparents
• a home, food on the table and water to drink
• the beauty of North and South Carolina
• employment
• our health
• friends who are more like family
• music and laughter
• bicycles, real estate and association management for without, we would not be employed

Pretty Little Thanksgiving Things

via Two Twenty One

via Etsy

via Home Stories

via Mochatini



via Good Housekeeping



via Women's Day

via Better Homes & Gardens

via Centsation Girl

Hello Fall, I've Missed You Old Friend

You wouldn't know it today in Charleston, with the ridic humidity and the monsoon-like tropical weather, BUT today is the first day of FALL, i.e. MY FAVORITE SEASON.  This means lots of yummy scents and some exciting times in the Reynolds household.  Maybe we can finally get our oven fixed and I can bake some pies...mmmmmm.

BEST CANDLE EVER (and most economical!)
If you want the most inviting fall & holiday smell ever (for an el cheapo price) look no further.  WALMART's Mulled Cider candle for $3 a pop.  Even mini sized for a whopping 99 cents.  I buy in bulk and my office loves it!

SAVING SOME AC COSTS!
The weather in Charleston is finally tolerable.  Which means I can finally leave the back door to the screened in porch open and open the windows.  Rals the cat ESPECIALLY loves this.  He can meanader in and out of the screened in porch where he pretends the chase birds, stalks lizards and calls on the occasional lady cats that walk by in the neighborhood.  Here the little sh*! is during the hot weather making a lot of ruckuss trying to get out. 

"LET ME OUT!"

TV IS BACK...FINALLY
Mr. R and I can stop watching House Hunters re-runs and my DVR is about to get to full capacity with all the new goodies on TV!  The season premiere of Criminal Minds was AMAZING and we can't wait for Sunday's Amazing Race episode.  Mr. R loves Gloria on Modern Family and we are both loving the new show Up All Night.

   

VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November marks our first vacation in a year (and our FIRST ANNIVERSARY!) and we can hardly wait.  7 full days of fun in the sun on a Carribean Cruise with my family!


Going cave tubing and ziplining in Belize and can't wait for all that yummy food and drinks!


WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FALL?

Monogrammed Mondays (woops its Tuesday!): Wreaths

Well darn it.  I totally meant to write yesterday but Labor Day just got away from me.  I was such a lucky, lucky girl and had Mr. R home ALL of the three day weekend with me.  Quite a blessing!  We had a fabulous one, spending time with GREAT friends, the Brewers, the MacCoys and Miss Strange, celebrating the beginning of football season at our house and then at The Roost in Avondale.  All of our teams (NCSU, Clemson & USC) WON!

My friend Mrs. MacCoy showed me these adorable wreaths on her Pinterest account and they are a MUST for my holiday decor.  I am thinking of spray painting gold with a big, live wreath!  Here is my idea...plus some other goodies!



via Southern Proper Monograms

"Wreath" Monogram
GREAT for holiday or everyday stationary
(I used the "Nelly Flourish" for our wedding stationary)
via Tart Workshop

Fresh Evergreen Wreath
via Southern Charmz



Pesto Cream Cheese Spread

So good, you can't have just one!  Try this wonderful spread with crackers (I served with Ritz Air Crisps) as an appetizer.  I made it this past Sunday for our little dinner party and it was quite the hit.

This is a more "Festive" photo I found,
perfect for holiday parties, right?

 

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES

READY IN: 1 HOUR

INGREDIENTS:

(2) 8 oz package regular cream cheese

4 tbsp preferred pesto ***I used Classico Basil flavor

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Soften cream cheese in microwave.  Mix with parmesan cheese and sour cream.  On a flat plate or serving tray, create desired shape (I did a "mound") of cream cheese mixture.  Top with pesto.  Refridgerate for 45 minutes for thicker consistency.  Serve with preferred crackers. 

SUGGESTED ADDITIONS:

sundried tomatoes

pine nuts

almonds