holiday cookie-ornament exchange: fayetteville style

 it's that time again.

time to 

gather

celebrate

eat 

and 

exchange

set up was pretty much 

same as last yeas in dc

minus my two 

out-of-town v.i.p.s.

okay

i lied.

this year we added

berries in our champagne

who couldn't use some antioxidants?

found boxes

with cellophane tops

for guests to take cookies home in

added a little sparkly  monogram

(you know how i love me some monograms)

and topped it off with a little personalized calligraphy 

ornament pile

lovely guests

am i the luckiest?

how do i always seem to 

find the most amazing 

women to surround myself with?

thanks, ladies,

for an amazing kick off 

to this holiday season.

would love to know

what traditions you've got

to kick off your holiday season.

christmas fayetteville style: porch and mantle

nothing i love more

than live greenery draped around 

a grand porch

love the presence it makes

throw in a leyland cyrpress

or two...

 mantle is simple this year

 picked up this greenery 

on one of my daily morning walks

gotta love 

free

 throw in my fave color: lime.

a sparkly coral sprig, pine cones

and white lites.

done.

tell me how you do christmas?

would love to hear...

blazer love

bought one of these diddy's

and am 

loving it 

more than i ever thought.

oh so versatile

 

 have to say

i consider it a top ten piece

 in any closet

 any climate

any season

with wide legs

or cropped skinnys

you in?

i can do anything good...

the holidays make me feel

like this sometimes.

how bout you?

kind of a trend around here: jumping

had the most wonderful thanksgiving

(even though mr. man was far far away)

hope you did, too.

table was decked,

food was scrumptious,

and the company was even better.

drank prosecco with fresh rosemary,

haven't tried it?

you should.

mmmm mmmm

one thing team brookes tends to  mark

special days with...

jumping.

so we did not stray

took a couple of these

also landed our xmas card pic yesterday.

you'll see that a little later.

promise.

enjoy your holiday weekend.

as always, 

i give you thanks

Psalm 30:12
that my heart may sing to you 

and not be silent. 

O LORD my God,

I give you thanks.

 

happy thanksgiving

2011

peacocks and pinecones: my thanksgiving table

love 

love 

love

having thanksgiving in my home

the food

the smell

the company

the after-dinner walk around the hood

and of course 

the piece de resistance

the table

all dressed up and ready to 

par-tay

i have yet to set it

the same way 

two years in a row

i know

crazy to some

guess it feeds

my creative urges

 this year

it's 

peacocks 

and pinecones

maybe with a little

monogram thrown in for good measure

interested in past 

thanksgiving tables?

check it out here

9 people

2 missing

both in a combat zone

protecting our freedoms

thankful

for the

loved ones i am surrounded by

and the table that's big enough 

to feed them

this is,

people,

my fave holiday

of 

all 

time

 kicks off

the season of giving

you see.

 and isn't that 

what life is all about?

tell me about how you celebrate

this glorious day

and of course

your table setting

and those you gather with