What I'm loving Wednesday!!

Here is what I'm loving on this rainy Wednesday

Hosted by Jamie

1. I'm loving the note Jason left me on my car the other day when the windows had frosted over. It brightened my day!!

2. I'm loving that I have almost all my Christmas shopping done. I only have Jason and my dad left - the two hardest people to shop for. 

3. I'm loving all the Christmas movies on TV.  Just puts me more in a Christmas mood when you can come home every night and watch them. These are some of my favorites:

 google.com 

Source: google.ca 

Source: imdb.com 

4. I'm loving that Lucye's birthday was yesterday, and we celebrated by getting her a cupcake from Three Dog Bakery. She chowed that thing down in no time =). 

5. I'm loving that I am hosting my first cookie exchange party at my house this weekend. Y'all I'm a little nervous. I'm just afraid we will exchange cookies that will take all of 10 minutes, and then we will just be staring at each other for the next hour and a half! Any suggestions??? Has anyone else ever done one?

Source: livinglocurto.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

6. I'm loving that my BFF, Jacque,  is coming into town this weekend. I haven't seen her in over a year!! She lives in Seattle so she doesn't come here very often. I see a lot of laughing, inside jokes, and hanging out this coming weekend!!

What are you loving today?

Weekend Update

This weekend was busy and productive. Lots of things were checked off my list and I got to enjoy some quality time with the hubs and good friends.

Friday night, we had our home group meeting and ended up making smores outside and just talking to late. A good time with great friends. No pictures because once again, I forgot. I have too much fun with them. I promise I don't make these people up =).

Saturday morning, Jason and I had a breakfast date at Corner Bakery (yum!) and then went shopping for Christmas gifts. We then went and saw the movie New Years Eve. I thought it was really cute and way better than Valentine's Day. I would definitely recommend seeing it - lots of famous people in it.

Saturday night, Jason and I  had dinner with some good friends of ours, Josh and Jessica and their little one, Brooks. We ate at this little cute place called 5th street cafe near Frisco square. The food was really yummy and decently priced as well.

After dinner, we stopped by Frisco square to look at the lights and take a few photos around the Christmas trees. We didn't stay long though and ended up going to a coffee shop down the road for the rest of the evening. I had Mexican hot chocolate (a specialty at Sertino's) and it was really delicious. I need to find one of these places close to me because I can't make the trek to Frisco every time I want one =). (Update: That's the only one in the Dallas area right now - boo!)

Pretty lights!

Me and Jessica at Sertino's

On Sunday, we did more Christmas shopping and went and signed a lease on a new townhome that we will move into in January (we are so very excited about that!) We went to church and then came home and watched the Help. So good a second time around as well.

Overall, a great weekend. Can't wait for the next one - only five more days!

Better to Give

I just love picking the perfect present for someone I love. It brightens my day when I see their face light up when they open my gift and are excited about it. Although sometimes they don't make it easy because they either don't know or don't want anything (ahem, Jason, ahem), I still like to get find something that I think they will at least enjoy.

So just in case you can't think of any good ideas for those people who may be a little bit more difficult to buy for, here are some ideas that are thoughtful and won't break the bank:

Source: verabradley.com  

-A Vera Bradley wallet that has a clear opening that you can put a gift card in from their favorite store or Starbucks

Source: subscription.realsimple.com 

-A subscription to their favorite magazine - How fun would it be to get a magazine every month or so for the next year and be reminded of the person that got it for you?

Source: geekwire.com 

-A subscription to netflix for 6 months or a year. Who doesn't love movies or live streaming on their TV?

-For a couple who has small children you can get them a gift card to their favorite restaurant and movie tickets. And added bonus: if you live close by, you can offer free babysitting for the night =).

Source: punjammies.com 

Punjammies! Who doesn't love a pair of pajamas for Christmas? I know that my mom gets us a pair every year. Plus with these pajamas you are helping support an organization that rescues girls in India from forced prostitution. So in a way, their gift helped someone else!

Do you have any good ideas for those hard to shop for people? What are some of your favorite things to give to others?

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Here's what I'm loving on this COLD Wednesday!

Hosted by Jamie

1. I'm loving that I finally got the Christmas tree up and decorated! It's so pretty just to have the lights on at night.  

2. I'm loving the Michael Buble Christmas special that was on last night! I heart Michael a lot and his voice is amazing! A modern Frank Sinatra...

Source: google.com

3. I'm loving that Jason is so thoughtful. We went to his Christmas work party on Saturday night, and they had a Christmas gift exchange and he went a stole a Charming Charlie gift card for me because he knew that I wanted it. It was the second time to be stolen so it was frozen and it was all mine! Love that man - he is so great!!

4. I'm loving that the new movie New Years Eve comes out this weekend. I am hoping to get a chance to see it on Saturday. Hopefully it won't disappoint.

Source: newyearsevemovie.warnerbros.com  

5. I'm loving that my little Lucye has a birthday coming up next Tuesday. I think she might be getting a yummy dog cupcake to celebrate!

6. I'm loving that my work Christmas party is today at lunch. We are going to PF Changs. Orange Peel Chicken here I come. Yum!

Classy

This is how the "classy" wrap Christmas presents!

In pajamas on the floor with a glass of wine close by 

That's how the Racca household does it =)

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Here is what I'm loving this last day of November Wednesday!

Hosted by Jamie 

1. I'm loving that on Black Friday I got my hands on Season 1 and Season 2 of the Vampire Diaries at Target for $13 each. Love it!!

2. I'm loving the new Etsy app for the Iphone. Now I can feed my addiction while I'm away from my computer.

Source: markzhi.com on Pinterest

3. I'm also loving that a new shop made its debut on etsy this week! I knew this girl in college and she always inspired me with her artsy talent and she has finally opened a shop called Made in Howland! Go check it out!!

Source: adventuresinhowland.blogspot.com

4. I'm loving that I bought the 2nd book to the Matched series this weekend. I'm almost halfway through it and it's so good!

Source: amazon.com via Nicole on Pinterest

5. I'm loving that its finally Christmas season!!!! My decorations aren't all up yet but they will be by this weekend. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

What are you loving today??

Thanksgiving Weekend

Jason and I went to Louisiana to visit his dad and stepmom and two brothers, Jordan and Jared for Thanksgiving. Jason's twin brother, wife and kids were able to come down as well. It was a great time to be around family and relax.

I forgot to take pictures of actual Thanksgiving (shocker). There was lots of cooking and lounging around by everyone. Friday morning, we ventured out to brace the crowds for Black Friday. They weren't terribly bad but we went later in the morning. My steal of the day was getting the Vampire Diaries Season 1 and 2 for $13 each!!

That night, we ate boiled crawfish for dinner. I like crawfish but I am not a fan of taking apart the dead animal so I make Jason deal with that and I just eat it.  I think that is totally fair =).

 The table was covered in newspaper. This gets messy. Although I wouldn't know, I don't do the hard part.

 Jason making plates for both of us. 

 K looked at the crawfish and asked if it was a bug...ha! She ate some though and liked it. 

After we all ate dinner, we opened Christmas presents from each other. We won't see each other at Christmas so it was good excuse to open gifts!

 Jason and little baby K watching the festivities

On Saturday morning, we painted ornaments. It was really for the kids but I joined in on the fun because I'm really a kid at heart. 

 Little K painting her ornament

 My finished product - an ornament for little Lucye!

We also got to celebrate Jared's birthday while we were there. We celebrated by eating cookie cake and watching a movie. Happy Birthday Jared!

 Instead of blowing the candles out, he waved his hand over them. Clever.

And of course I couldn't go without a picture with my love. What a great relaxing Thanksgiving with wonderful people! Hope you enjoyed your holiday!