Christmas Around the House

I thought you all might enjoy a peek of what our home looks like for Christmas.  Most everything around our house this time of year has some sentimental meaning for our family.  I love how unpacking our Christmas decorations leads to a trip down memory lane.  It reminds us of our roots and is hopefully building those same roots in Caroline's heart for years to come.  

These are my childhood Little Golden Book 

Christmas stories

We are hosting Christmas this year so this is where we will be enjoying Christmas dinner

Our Advent tree with ornaments courtesy of 

A Holy Experience

My grandmother's nativity

Stockings knitted for each of us by David's mom

Christmas dishes given to me by my best friend Ansley the Christmas David and I were engaged

Dickens Village church from my grandmother

And finally a night shot

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Holiday Baking

Yesterday we finally finished the last of our Christmas shopping!  I could finally check that off the holiday to do list so today Caroline and I tackled some holiday baking.  Last year we made gingerbread men so this year we decided to try frosted sugar cookies.  

We followed the recipe from Annie's Eats.  They were buttery and delicious!

White Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 cups sifted flour

Directions:
Cream butter.  Add powdered sugar.  Blend in egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt and flour.  Chill dough until firm.  Roll to 1/4" thickness on well-floured surface.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Place on greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.  Cookies should not brown.  Frost and decorate when cool.

Tutus & Ballet Shoes

Amidst the usual hustle and bustle of the Christmas season we have had some additional festivities this year filling our holiday calendar.  

At the beginning of the school year Caroline started taking a little beginning ballet class for 3 to 5 year olds.  She absolutely LOVES it!  She is a huge fan of the book and show series Angelina Ballerina and this has been her opportunity to live out her dreams.  Every Tuesday when I pick her up from school she barely wants to do anything but change into her leotard, skirt and ballet shoes and head off to ballet class.  

After much practice these past few months, Caroline and the other girls in her His Steps class had their first opportunity to show off all that they've learned at their Happy Birthday Jesus performance.  

It just doesn't get much cuter than a group of little girls with their hair pulled back in buns wearing little pink tutus.  Such sweetness!

The girls did such a great job showing off the techniques they've learned and having fun.  We were so proud!

It was David's first time getting to see her dance.  He couldn't take his eyes off of her.  It was so precious!

Caroline's cheering section also included my mom, Aunt Rosie, and my sister.  She is one loved little girl!

To commemorate her special day Caroline received her first piece of real jewelry from Mommy.

And a musical jewelry box from Nana.

What I'm Listening To

The temperatures have been so warm around here lately.  It has me longing for some cold, snowy weather.  It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it feels like spring outside.  So today's musical choice reflects my longing for some fluffy precipitation. 

David and I snuggled up with the twinkling of the Christmas tree lights and watched this crooner's Christmas special last night.   It was the perfect ending to a hectic day.

Surcie

The Christmas season was my dad's favorite time of year.  He would get giddy with excitement and anticipation as soon as Thanksgiving arrived.  

One of our favorite Christmas traditions was him taking all of us girls shopping.  He was always a meticulous dresser and had a love for really nice things so he always had great taste.   We would spend an entire day from morning till dark trolling stores and taking lunch and coffee breaks to refuel and rest our feet.

Heading off in Papa's truck

Snack break at Starbucks

Last year on our shopping trip Caroline and I rode on a little train

Part of this tradition, included him buying a little surprise gift for my sister and I that he called "surcies".  For those of you that have never heard of this word, here's a little background.

A surcie is a Southern tradition of giving a small, thoughtful present to someone you love.  They are not intended to be reciprocated and are usually unexpected.  It's a simple way to let someone know they are special to you.  

Some surcies that he gave me over the years included perfume, gold earrings, shoes, winter coat, and more.  He always wanted to buy something a little bit frivolous that at least my practical self would not ordinarily purchase.  That's what made them so fun!

Caroline receiving a surcie

To remember him, I plan to keep the surcie tradition alive in our home.  This Christmas I have a few surprises up my sleeve.  I'm excited to shower those I love with a little way to say "You are special to me."

Heavenly Rolls

I have always wanted to learn how to make homemade rolls.   So when I saw a pin on Pinterest for amazing homemade whole wheat rolls, I instantly knew it was a recipe I wanted to try.  I'm so glad I did!  

These were the easiest things to make and they didn't leave my kitchen looking like a disaster zone. You can't ask for more than that right?!  

Look at that buttery goodness!  It's hard to eat just one.  

I followed the directions from An Oregon Cottage.  She did such an amazing job and was so detailed with her instructions, I am not even going to attempt to post my own play by play.  So  do yourself a favor and click over for the recipe and head straight to your kitchen.  You'll thank me later when you're eating them hot out of the oven.  

What I'm Listening To

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of all the hubbub of Christmas shopping and think to yourself, "If I hear George Michael's Last Christmas one more time on the store speakers I will lose it!"  I know, it totally squashes my Christmas spirit when that happens.  

Today's song choice always pulls me out of my George Michael induced grouchy mood whenever it comes on. It's the perfect antidote.  

All I Want For Christmas

In case you are headed out Christmas shopping, here's my dream wish list for this Christmas.  I better get my letter to Santa in the mail pronto!

1. We've been married for almost 10 years and we still just sleep on a mattress on a frame.  It's time for a grown-up bed!  This one from Pottery Barn is dreamy.  

2.  A classic pair of gold hoops is perfect for any outfit in my opinion.  I've been searching high and low for a pair just like these.  

3.  I've wanted a professional quality camera for a long time.  Friends in the know say this one is the best for a beginner like me.

4.  If you know me well, you know that I have extremely thick, curly hair.  My hairstylist Sari Catherine swears this iron is the secret to taming my mane.  I just call her the hair whisperer.  

5.  I love pillows!  I think these fun prints would really jazz up my living room.

6.  I need some new skinny jeans and I've been told for years that there's just nothing like a good pair of designer jeans.  For my body type I heard this brand is just the ticket!  

Happy Shopping!

The Scent of the Holidays

One of my favorite ways to create an inviting atmosphere in our home is to make it smell really good when someone walks in the door.  I know when I go to someone else's house, if there are yummy or comforting aromas when I walk in, it's like a warm hug to my senses.  It instantly draws you in and puts you at ease.  I love that and want people to always feel that way when they come over.  

I wanted to share with you today an easy way to make your home smell amazing during the holidays and it doesn't include baking.  What's the secret you may ask?

Simmering Potpourri

via

Here's how it works:
Just fill a pot with water, add dried peel from one orange, whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks or sprinkle ground cinnamon.  Boil for a few minutes then turn heat down to simmer all day.  Add more water periodically so you don't burn your pot.

My mom has this really pretty copper simmering pot that I steal/borrow this time of year just for this use!  

For more simmering pot recipes check out this list for lots of combinations.   Sit back and enjoy your house smelling amazing!

What I'm Listening To

It's officially the Christmas season now and I wanted to share with you one of my all-time favorite Christmas albums.  Nat King Cole has such a timeless, smooth voice making his "Christmas Favorites" album one that I never get tired of listening to.  

This album is full of all the Christmas carols I love to sing.  It reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ our Savior.  It also contains one of my absolute favorites, "The Christmas Song".   

I'd love to know what you're listening to to get in the Christmas spirit this season!

Crumb-Topped Apple Pie

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I sincerely hope that none of you has to fight the crowds at the grocery store for last minute ingredients.  But....if you need to bring something for your family's Thanksgiving meal and you're still searching for recipes I have the one for you!  It's worth fighting the crowds for if you don't have the ingredients at home!  

I am a huge fan of apple pie and this one David has named "The World's Best Apple Pie"!!  It's that good ya'll!  And the best part is it's so easy!  Almost as easy as unwrapping a Mrs. Smith's and sliding it in the oven, which is what I used to do before finding this gem.  

Since I love you guys I wanted to share it with all of you!  

Crumb-Topped Apple Pie
(Adapted from The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook)

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup uncooked regular oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup butter, melted
4 cups peeled, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Combine first 5 ingredients; add butter, and stir until blended.  Measure 1 cup firmly packed mixture; set aside for pie topping.  Press remaining mixture in bottom and up sides of a well-greased 9-inch pie plate.  Arrange apple slices in pie plate; set aside.

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan; stir in water.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; stir in vanilla.  Pour hot mixture over apples; crumble reserved topping over pie.

Bake at 350 for 42 minutes, covering with foil during last 15 minutes to prevent browning too much.  

Trust me, if you bring this to dinner your family will be SO impressed and your pie will be devoured!  

What I'm Listening To

For this week's edition of "What I'm Listening To" I wanted to get us started off for the holiday season. I have to confess that I've been listening to this album for at least a week now, practically nonstop.  

I think it would make for great background music during your family feast on Thanksgiving.  

This music makes me feel like a kid again every time I hear it.  It's so timeless!  Here's a sample to give you a taste!

Favorite Fall Salad

I love salads, especially ones with fruit, nuts and cheese so when I saw this picture it was love at first sight!  This salad has become my new favorite lunch this fall.

Here's what you'll need:

Baby spinach

Red onion, thinly sliced

Pear, sliced

Turkey bacon, crumbled

Dried Cranberries

Walnuts

Feta

Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette

Toss everything together and enjoy!  Your tummy will thank me! 

What I'm Listening To

This week's installment of "What I'm Listening To" shows David's influence on my music choices.  He introduced me to this week's band, Shiny Toy Guns.  Their new album is a favorite around here.  

Dance parties usually break out in our house while dinner is cooking and this album has been the musical choice for many dance parties.  It also makes great music for workouts.  

Here's one of my favorite tracks from the album.

Marriage

David and I are approaching our 10 year anniversary this year and it has sparked a lot of discussion for us about what makes strong, vibrant marriage relationships.  We have learned that healthy marriages don't just happen on their own.  They take work.  They require commitment, intention, and focus.

It has been a tough year here in the DeWeil household for a variety of reasons. To be honest with you, it has shaken us up a bit some days.  And we have learned that to have the vibrant, God-honoring marriage that we so desire that we have to fight FOR each other.  As Tim Keller said in his book The Meaning of Marriage, when difficult seasons come, we roll up our sleeves and get to work.

* * *

Some tools we've used to work 

on our relationship are:

1.  Fellowship - We've shared openly with close, trusted friends that we were having a hard time.  We talked through some of the issues we've faced and gotten their insight and perspective.  It also gave us the opportunity to ask for accountability and prayer.  Ultimately, being transparent and vulnerable with others felt like a life preserver to us.  It freed us from feeling isolated and alone in our struggles.

2.  Assessment - We gave each other a list of questions to answer about how we are doing in our roles as husband and wife and then set a night to talk through our answers.  This really helped us to understand how the other was feeling and what areas in our relationship needed improvement. (I'm including our list of questions at the bottom of this post.) 

3.  Dates - We've always heard the advice that it's so important to go on dates twice a month and then to take quarterly overnight dates.  In the past we've been slack in this area but when we make it a priority we see such a difference in how we relate to each other.  As a stay-at-home mom, it's crucial for me to get out of the house to feel like a wife and not just a mother.  Plus these times help us both to feel pursued and valued. 

* * * 

One reason I wanted to share all of this here on my blog is that I know how easy it is to look at others' marriages and think everyone else has it together and you are the only one struggling.  But I want to encourage anyone reading this that there are seasons to marriage.  Some seasons are tougher than others but its so worth putting forth the effort to improve your relationship.  Bad habits can be changed.  Forgiveness and healing are possible.  Don't give up!  

I loved how Keller describes it, 

"When over the years someone has seen you at your worst, and knows you with all your strengths and flaws, yet commits him- or herself to you wholly, it is a consummate experience. 

But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.  It is what we need more than anything.  It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us."

This is what makes marriage beautiful and set apart.  It allows us the unique opportunity to give a glimpse to this world of God's amazing, never stopping, never giving up, kind of love.  I'm so thankful to have experienced this myself in my own marriage.  This is what makes it all worth fighting for.

As promised, here is the list of questions we gave each other.  These are just some ideas to help you brainstorm.  Every couple can make their own unique list.

Questions for David
How can I show you respect?  In what ways have I been disrespectful?
How can I spur you on spiritually?
What ways do you see yourself leading our family and what are areas that need growth?
How can I live shoulder-to-shoulder (have fun and do things that you like) with you?
How can I support you in the next 6 months?
What would you like our weekends to look like?
What would you like to see different about our life/family?
Who can you be talking to for accountability?

Questions for Kelly
What is one of the biggest things you appreciate about Jesus and the gospel?
In what way can I help you process, encourage and spur you on in your spiritual growth?
What are two or three things that you feel like you struggle with the most and what can I do to create an atmosphere that will help you thrive in pressing on against those struggles?
Name three things that I can do to make you feel like the most special person on Earth?
What are one or two things that we could add to our evenings that we currently do not do that would make our evenings more meaningful?
What can I do to make you feel like I am leading our family in a positive direction?
How am I doing as a dad?
Let's share three things that we adore about each other.

 

Clean & Delicious

Eating clean seems to be a buzz word lately.  You hear it a lot when people talk about health and nutrition.  It simply means eating food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible.  I've discovered a great resource for finding some new recipes, Clean Eating Magazine!  

One of my favorite meals I've cooked from here is Stuffed Turkey Peppers.  They are so delicious!  I promise they won't disappoint.  

Stuffed Turkey Peppers

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup wild rice (I used Long-Grain & Wild Rice that comes in a box)
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 lb 99% lean ground turkey
• 2/3 cup low-sodium natural tomato juice
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 10 grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 4 assorted medium sweet bell peppers (red orange and yellow)
• 2 oz part-skim mozzarella 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, add oil and onions to a large sauté pan over medium-high. Saute onions for 2 minutes, then add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add turkey, juice and seasoning. Cook until turkey is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and black pepper, cooking, covered, for 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F.
3. Fill a large pot half-full with water and bring to a boil. Cut tops from bell peppers and remove all seeds. Add bell peppers and tops to water and return to a boil. Cook, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Remove bell peppers and dry on paper towel.
4. Drain rice and add to turkey mixture. In a glass dish, stand bell peppers and fill with turkey-rice mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella and add bell pepper top. Bake for 15 minutes.