Weekend Activities

Last weekend we went on a date to a new cafe/bar in Lincoln called Toast. This wonderful little place is located in a new community north of Lincoln called Fallbrook. I had no idea it existed but it is the coolest neighborhood ever--definitely changed my opinion of north Lincoln.

The reason we chose Toast is because they are serving our cupcakes at Serendipities as dessert every day so I just had to see them in their glory! We shared a cherry vanilla cupcake for dessert and it was delicious. I would expect nothing less from the best cupcake shop in town :)

 This is my everyone-is-staring-because-we're-taking-a-picture awkward face. 

I also tried to get a head start on my Christmas decorations this weekend. My inspiration this year is completely natural--pine cones, feathers, branches, etc. It's fun (and cheap)! More Christmas inspiration to come!

Ultimate Christmas Music Guide

It is exactly 5 days until I can blast Christmas music through my house without feeling guilty!
(I broke the rule once, woops.) Christmas isn't Christmas without great music which is why I will share with you the necessities for this holiday season...and every holiday season from now on.

The classics are obviously essential. Elvis, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Beach Boys, James Taylor, and most importantly A Charlie Brown Christmas (my absolute favorite). If these aren't in your itunes yet you better get started!

Though the oldies are timeless, there are a few newer albums that I will be adding to my collection this year...

1. The Lower Lights: Come Let Us Adore Him

2. She & Him: A Very She & Him Christmas (I cheated with this album already. Shh)

3. Michael Buble: Christmas

4. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors: A Neighborly Christmas

5. Jars Of Clay: Christmas Songs

 6. Hillsong: Born is the King (this has a few good ones)

The downside to Christmas music is that it's slightly expensive and you only get to use it for a month. So I'm proposing that we Christmas music lovers unite and each buy and album and then share! Let me know if you're interested :)

Traditions

This will be our first Christmas together as the Faeh family.

I was brought up in a home that cherished the holiday season and the traditions it brings. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my dad would play Elvis' & James Taylor's Christmas albums while we set up our tree. (And, of course, there were years when Kali and I would fight the whole time about who got to put the angel on at the end.) It is one of the fondest memories I have as a child and I plan to carry the tradition as Truman and I start our own family.

As the Christmas season approaches, I'm starting to compile a list of things I'd like to do. After Thanksgiving, we plan to find ourselves a cute and slightly wimpy Christmas tree.

While decorating the tree, we will listen to Elvis' & Phil Spector's Christmas albums (along with other classics like Charlie Brown, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, etc)

We'll finish the day snuggled up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa while watching Meet Me In St. Louis (and probably Elf). 

These are just a few traditions I'd like to start as a family, but I also understand that most traditions don't start out by being planned. That's probably what makes them so special. 

I'd love to hear what other families have for traditions so do share!

Thanksgiving Feast

Fun, fun weekend at the Faeh household.

We tried something a little different this year and had a Thanksgiving feast with our closest friends. I wanted to tackle the challenge of a turkey and thankfully, with the help of my dear mother, it was a success! I gathered what little decorations we had leftover from our wedding to sprinkle our home with fall and threw our very first party as a couple. I anticipate many more gatherings in the future.

My wheel are turning for New Years Eve....

Cozy

 I have the greatest friends ever. For my birthday, my best friends stopped by and showered me with goodies. My favorite being the warm and cozy sweater blanket :) They know me oh so well. I gave the blanket a test run this evening and never want to part from it. The perfect thing for snuggling on a couch and watching Gilmore Girls with my guy. Beans is very fond of it, as well.

 We have been snuggling all evening.

And, of course, beans had to pretend to rip it apart to show how tough she is. Love that gal.

Many things to be thankful for today...

206. Old family memories

207. Laughing at work

208. Sun rising early

209. Warm, comfy blankets

210. Unexpected "I Love You's"

211. Small holiday accents

So Thankful.

Thanksgiving used to be one of my least favorite holidays as a child. No gifts. Pumpkin everything. Family watching football all day. But as I grow older, this holiday is slowly climbing the charts to be one of my favorites. Maybe it's because this season of life is really teaching me to be thankful all the time (not just for a month). I have been keeping a "thankful" list since this summer and I thought I would share my thankfulness this month. I'll try to post frequently since I have so much to be thankful for!

191. Early morning radio music

192. The first snow

193. Big, white flakes

194. Carpet lines

**I came home from work the other day and Truman had vacuumed the entire place! This doesn't sound like that big of deal but if you know Truman, you'll know that he never cleans. I felt so loved :)

195. Clean home

196. Thick socks

197. Start of holiday season

198. Bright orange trees

199. Extra hour of sleep

200. Morning snuggles with the bean

201. Falling asleep on his chest

202. Afternoon peace

203. Kali's frequent visits

204. Glenn Miller on the record player

205. Grocery shopping with Truman

I love living so close to people we know. Especially Kal. She comes over all the time and I LOVE it. I want our house to be an open door to family and friends.

I was feeling crafty this weekend and decided to finally make some chalkboards for our home. It was really easy and a cheap way to decorate a home on a budget! We're having some friends over to celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend so I felt it was necessary to do a little fall decorating, as well.

Truman got to choose the quote for the week. We watched a documentary on Bob Dylan once and Mr. Dylan told an angry guest to "be groovy or leave." Truman thought it was great.