Black Friday

If you know me, you know that I'm a tough girl.  I'm not intimidated by much.  I don't deal with peer pressure and wouldn't back down to a fight.  I'm pretty tough.  With one exception...I have major panic attacks and anxiety when it comes to mass chaos shopping. 

Don't invite me to a sample sale, a clearance sale, any sale where stampeding, line-waiting and pushing is involved.  I need a brown paper bag to breathe into just thinking about it.  I love shopping.  Love it.  But I need to shop on a Tuesday morning when the mall is empty...I need to look at the nice folded piles of clothes at the front of JCrew and not dig through giant bins with 50 other ladies...so needless to say, Black Friday scares me to death.  The word doorbusters makes me shutter.  So, what was I doing out on Black Friday?  I was sipping coffee and watching the madness from afar.  I enjoy watching the madness...especially with my family.

Love my girls!

She wouldn't look at me...but she was super excited to be spending the day with Uncle Seanie.

What do you do when you have a famous family member?  When you're in the company of a celebrity?  You go to Costco and ride around on the merchandise...we're practically the Kardashians over here.  Us and our glamours life.

Kensington decided to nap half-way through our Costco run.

And during dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, she played a puzzle game while resting against her uncle.  (I guess Black Friday wears her out too!)

After dinner, we checked out the lights in town.

Then we went and looked at Santa and his elf.

By the end of Black Friday, the kids were tired (and so was I!).  All of the people-watching was exhausting :). 

I'm home now...online shopping.  It's crazy out there!

PS: See how Uncle Seanie inspired my dinner tonight.  :)



The Rockettes

I took Kensington to a matinee performance of the Rockettes.  We had the best time!  It was my 3rd time to see their Christmas Spectacular and her first.  I just love my mommy and daughter time.

We stopped for lunch on our way.

She's trying not to smile...but there is a smirk.  She's ornery!

There's her smile!

She brought Rudolph to watch the show too and I bought her the Rockette doll as a memento (Erika Slaughter, please do not leave a comment about how she has too many of these dolls!  I know!  It's out of control over here!)

Group pic!

We had the best time!  I hope she always wants to spend time with me.



Dickens of a Christmas

The little town where we live (which so happens was named Money Magazine's 2nd best city to live in in the United States) has Dickens of a Christmas every year.  All of the store owners dress like Dickens characters, they close off the streets for a festival, it fake snows on you..it's magical.  We love to go.

Mom and me

Smith and Papa Jay

We brought along that guy.

Kensington went tubing down an ice slide.  She loved it!

Mom and me in the old-fashioned candy store.

Everyone sharing popcorn and watching the festivities.

I claim this stocking.  No one disagreed.

Christmas is here!  Don't forget to check out my foodie blog for all of your festive food!

And PS: The last time I wore this scarf,  received numerous comments asking where it came from.  I couldn't find the exact one but click here to see one very similar!  Have a great day!



Santa and Sleigh Rides

The Shull family has been busy, busy enjoying all of the holiday cheer!  Here is what we've been up to over the last few days...

We went to the Galleria and sat in Santa's lap.  The kiddos were super, super excited to see the big guy this year.

The next day, we went to the Gaylord Hotel and had lunch.  It's such a festive place to be this time of year.

Showing me his snowman cookie at the Gaylord.

My sweet girl had her purse too :).

Eating her snowman's scarf.  Not the best picture...but I just love her sweet little face.

XOXO

Then on Monday night, we had our annual carriage ride through our town.  My kids love the horses and carriage.  It's one of our favorite holiday traditions.

Disregard Smith...he was dancing and singing during photo time.  (Sigh) Boys.

We're making the most of this holiday season!



Tiny Gifts

Over at Mix and Match Mama today, I'm featuring some of my favorite big gifts to buy for yourself or others this Christmas season...but what about little gifts?  You know...the little things you need to have for your nieces and nephews...an extra little gift for your grandma...your kid's teacher at school...what should you get them???  Well, I have a little Tiny idea...

First, I'm officially O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with these Tiny Prints i-Phone cases.  How cute are they?! 

I really don't know which one I'm going to pick...they're all so cute!

I'm also pretty obsessed with other personalized Tiny Prints gifts.  I love their mugs...

...a grandma's coffee would totally taste better out of a cute mug with her grandkids picture on it!  And there are designs for teachers too (a mug with a bag of Starbucks coffee...the perfect teacher gift!). 

To see some other Tiny Prints gift ideas, click here.  Just because you're buying an inexpensive, last minute gift, doesn't mean it can't be personal.  I'm a big fan of personal gifts.

Don't forget, these are a few of my favorite Tiny Gifts...check out Mix and Match Mama for my bigger gift ideas.

Merry Thursday!







Fa, la, la, la, la...la, la, la, la

Wow!  Friday, Saturday and Sunday we did something Christmas-y.  It's been a fun and busy time!  Let's see...

On Friday night, we ate great Mexican food and then went to Frisco's Town Square for lights to music and fake "snow".

It's "snowing" on her.  She loved it!

This girl loves to wear those earmuffs!

Dancing to the music!

On Saturday, we did a lot...but I only managed to get this one picture of them eating Christmas thumbprint cookies.  Love my kiddos!

Then on Sunday, we finally let Kensington ice skate.  She has been asking to skate for about two years.  She talks about it all the time...so this was her big opportunity.

Sweet little skates.

Ready to go!

Again...the earmuffs.

She liked walking around on the carpeted area in her skates.

About to go out!

Scared.to.death.

She gripped the rail the whole time.  She was not enjoying her skating.  Apparently, it's harder on ice than she thought.

This is Kensington skating.  Andrew was out there with her (we didn't just throw her out there by herself!).

When it was all said and done, she said she thought she would be a better skater when she turns 6.  I guess we'll try again in two more years.  :)