The Queen’s Chronicles
December is just always the very perfect way to end a year. So many people pouring joy into the community, Christmas carols on the radio, twinkly lights all around. All of it makes my heart grow twice the size! We had an amazing week spending time with our friends and family and supporting some of the organizations in our community who do such amazing work! Come take a peek.
I shared this holiday look as part of the Ageless Style Linkup. You should totally hop over to see all the looks shared by a great group of fashionable ladies.
Having my house decorated at Christmas just makes me feel so peaceful and this year is no exception. I only changed a few things but shared them in my Holly Jolly Home tour.
I followed along with The Greatest Gift last year and while I am a couple of days behind at the moment I love reading the story and I know I will catch up before the big day!
I shared this picture on instagram this week…the day I realized my comments could now be liked and I would RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION every time! I’m sure I’ll be able to cut this off if I want but it was a shocker. I guess it was balanced out with this cute new sweater I snagged on Cyber Monday.
Wednesday was the annual food for families food drive and I was able to volunteer with the moms from our Young Mens Service League. I love being on the Brazos Valley Foodbank board and truly think it has opened my eyes to what actually may be the need in a community. It’s not always who you think.
I also shared a little gift guide for the girls in your life! My friends, mom and daughters are always the very easiest for me to buy for! Oh…and I have this little issue with purchasing one for me and one for them sometimes. The wine opener arrived and it’s awesome!
Coldest day we have had so far this year and the fire alarm started going off in our building. We were not impressed to have drill on such a cold day.
It was NOT a drill. A suspicious package which turned out to be some poor prospective student’s application complete with some battery operated lights, shut down our building for 3 hours!
I headed straight home and snuggled on the couch for a bit with this snuggle bug.
Thursday night, Dillon and I volunteered with some other moms and sons at a local food pantry. It has been humbling to see the food actually placed into the hands of those who need it.
Our favorite elf BJ has not shown up this year. We think he may have found a new home to visit since our little munchkins have grown, so I showed off a little walk down memory lane with some great ideas on how to Unshelf Yo Elf!
I’ve lived in this community for 26 years and finally made it to a Christmas parade thanks to this fun little girl who is always up for an adventure.
Keith even joined us when he got to down and we had a little date night with our baby girl. It won’t be long and she will be the only one left at home and probably dying to get away from us so we are soaking it up!
On Saturday, Carly and I headed to Wharton and hooked up with my brother’s family to celebrate my mom’s 71st birthday and my Mamaw’s 90th!
I was dying y’all! I am so glad my mom is such a good sport because holy cow had I known they were literally just going to start dotting her face with whip cream as they sang some Spanish version of happy birthday I had never heard before I would have stopped them!!
We also had lunch with Mamaw and took her shopping on Saturday. Here she is in one of her new tops. This girl loves to shop! Her closet was a wreck though so I organized it all for her and hopefully she will have an easier time getting dressed each day.
Carly is convinced she is Mamaw’s favorite!
Sunday morning I grabbed some donuts and we sang happy birthday to Nana on her actual birthday!
So….I must brag for just a minute on my amazing friend Holly. There was an unmet need that came about a short 3 weeks ago in our community and out of blind faith she took it on. Not only did she have to raise $20K in 3 weeks, she also had to organize the delivery of food, find a location, organize the actual packing of the food and schedule the 240 volunteers who signed up. She will say she did not do this alone, and obviously no one person could, but she was a HUGE part of this mission being successful. HUGE. Without her taking a chance and betting on this community we live in there are so many who would have been without this holiday season.
1500 families will receive two bags of food to help over the holidays! The turnout from the community, both monetarily and physically to serve, was amazing! It makes me so proud to say I live here!
My boy was a trooper right up until he got super ill. I have absolutely no clue and can only imagine it was possibly food poisoning based on how rapidly it hit him.
Besties serving together! I really hope these boys will always feel a sense of community and be willing to step up when there is a need.
And these two, I have no doubt they may be starting their own little blessings in bags someday.
I barely saw this guys face this weekend so we settled into our favorite spot when I got home and cooked up some chicken noodle soup together.
It was delicious!
Carly and I ended the night heading to see a live nativity scene a local church puts on each year.
Y’all, let me tell you, there is a stack of boxes so high in my bedroom and my kitchen table is covered with boxes and craft stuff and I really have had to talk myself down just a couple of times but making some of these memories fills my heart like nothing else can. Although the day to day is something that can really get me worked up, it is not the chaotic house that I remember most; it is the people and the moments we share together.
I saw a Walt Whitman quote this past week which read “We were together. I forget the rest.”. I totally soaked it up. I researched it a bit and found it was a little different in the actual poem but basically this same meaning. It’s really so true!
I hope you are finding joy in the holidays. Sometimes it is hard, especially if there is financial stress or a lost loved one. My prayer is for all of you to find peace in your heart this season regardless of your circumstance.
On Tuesday, Katy and I would love for you to join us as we Spiel the Beans about a favorite Christmas memory! Come link up your favorite memory with us.
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Let’s Get Social
It looks like you had a busy week, but filled with lots of memory-making moments. That is the best quote and one we should all remember. The messy house doesn't matter. The laughter and togetherness does. Have a happy week!
First, I love your red top in the first picture….you look fabulous! And second, I am so glad you made it to a Christmas parade this year! I love the blessing bags–so important to be giving in this season! And I just bought my mom the Ann Voskamp book for her birthday because I had heard such wonderful things about it! Happy Monday!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Holy cow, what a post! That first outfit of yours is divine! And your Mamaw is so precious I can't get enough. Your friend Holly is a rockstar. Period. I am so inspired by all the goodness you do girl!
Wow! So much goodness! Yay for holly! And yay for all the giving you guys are doing!
I always love theses posts. So uplifting. Have a great week my friend
Aaaahhh!!!! You made it to the parade! Seeing those photos put a huge smile on my face.
Haha….we DID Beth…finally! Hope you have a sweet week!
Yes! Busy and wonderful….but I'm here this morning have those anxious little feelings about the messy house. Haha…wish I was better at letting go for sure.
I hope your mom loves the book Sarah! I think it is really special and easy to follow. Hope you have a super week.
My friend Holly is a total rockstar. I'm all…just let me write a check! haha My Mamaw…there have definitely been some changes this past year to her memory but I almost think she seems more joyful lately and that makes me happy.
Thanks Kimm! Hope you have a super week too!
That chicken noodle soup looks and sounds so delicious and you two are simply adorable in the kitchen! Guess what guess what? I have chosen you as one of my favorites with that fur vest and red top style for Wednesday's features on the Blended Blog! Cheers to a festive week ahead!
That faux fur vest with your red top is so cute!! Chicken noodle soup – YUM, we're making some this week too! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
You are rocking that first outfit.
Love to see your kids giving back to society.. you've raised some good ones.
I was so shocked about the liking comments on Instagram, too! I sure hope they're not going to get all complicated on Insta like FB is. I love Insta because of the simplicity of it!
How sweet that you are able to volunteer, such a great time of year! And loving that holiday outfit, especially that leopard clutch! I was surprised too when I started receiving notifications on Instagram that my comments were liked. Now if only they can switch our feeds back to chronological! Cheers to a fabulous week <3
Green Fashionista
This post just armed my heart. So much goodness aside from the Christmas light "bomb" lol. It is just dripping with goodness. Woo hoo!
I definitely wish all the "other stuff" would just get done on it's own so I could spend all my time doing the fun stuff!
For real Kate….I feel like I'm seeing the exact same posts and missing so many others lately. Boo!! Hope your week is off to a pleasant start.
ugh….why can't we just keep a good thing!
Thanks so much Hena. We try to instill kindness in our kids and hope they will pick it up on their own someday.
Biana we totally have eaten every single drop of the soup in two days!! It was perfect.
Sweet lady you are too kind! Thank you so much for choosing this fun outfit…I'm so thinking it's going to be my Christmas look unless it stays 80 degrees and muggy. Boo
So many great opportunities in our community….it's my favorite!
I had all kinds of things I was going to add to my comment but then I got to the end and tears started so all I have is "thank you." Thank you for being the best.
Love you!