What’s Up Wednesday {December}
Today I’m linking up with Shay, Mel & Sheaffer for this months What’s Up Wednesday! The questions are in green so check it out and join the fun. Also joining Jessi and Jenn for What’s Hap- “Pinning” Wednesday.
What we’re eating this week….
We finally have winter in Texas which means soup is on the menu. I cooked a double batch of Paula Dean’s potato soup on Sunday and we have had enough to have for a few nights and some to share with friends. My family really loves this one. I have everything ready to go for Taco Soup tonight and hopefully the house will smell yummy after it cooks all day in the crockpot.
We also made chicken noodle soup and not a noodle was wasted. I do not use a recipe but this is so super easy. I grab a rotisserie chicken and bring the meat to a boil with a 32oz package of chicken broth, a package of lipton onion soup mix, some celery and onion. I let that simmer a bit and then throw in egg noodles. So yummy!
What I’m Reminiscing About….
Love seeing pictures of years past with Santa pop up on my timehop. This one always makes me laugh! Carly Jo was NOT impressed with Santa that year in the least.
I shared a sweet Christmas memory of a year when things were a little broken but joy was still to be found.
What I’m loving….
Still loving my Holly Jolly Home! The twinkling lights and cozy flannel sheets just make it my favorite place to be right now.
What we’ve been up to….
Lots and lots of baking and delivering sweet treats to our friends and family. I shared a few recipes yesterday as part of Show & Tell Tuesday!
We love serving in the community and when our besties come along it’s even sweeter. This is probably the 6th or possibly even 7th year we have volunteered with the McBerty’s to ring the salvation army bell.
The kids of course make it a competition to see who collects more during their “shift” and the girls typically are singing and dancing and I would venture to bet bringing in the $$. Typically a shift is 2 hours which makes it perfect to split between the kids so no one gets bored.
What I’m dreading….
Honestly, absolutely nothing right now! I’ve felt so peaceful this holiday season.
What I’m working on….
A new blog design! I’m hoping over the holidays I will be able to narrow down all the changes and have it up and running on a new platform early in the new year. Katy & I are also working on putting together a new linkup calendar for 2017! What kind of topics would you guys like to see included?
What I’m excited about….
Christmas break! One of the highlights of working in higher education is being off an extended time during the holidays. I’m adding a few extra days of vacation as well so today is my last day of work until January 5th! onight I also have a date night with my oldest daughter, Jordan, and I am super excited for some one on one time!
What I’m watching/reading….
All my favorite Christmas movies! So far I’ve watched Elf and Love Actually and lots of really cheesy Netflix Christmas movies with terrible acting but still happy ending story lines!
Currently I’m reading Winter Street and am hoping to finish the other two books in this series over the break. I’m loving it but just not finding much time to read currently!
What I’m listening to….
All the Christmas music of course! I love it all but have been listening iHeartRadio at work and through Alexa at home and my favorite station has been Christmas Country.
What I’m wearing….
Trying to look Christmasy in this bipolar Texas weather is sometimes a challenge! Last Saturday it was 80 and on Sunday 39! Crazy.
More layers and adding some green for what could be another holiday look!
Swing dresses and tall boots have also been heavy in the rotation. They are an easy piece to layer nd dress up or down.
This may have been my favorite of the week! I wore this yesterday and it was warm enough for the cold weather but still worked for the office. This scarf is just hard to beat.
What I’m doing this weekend….
Celebrating Christmas! All my babies will be home and we will celebrate with the Janacs on Saturday, our house Christmas morning and then head to my moms to continue the Christmas celebration with my brother and his family. It’s probably my favorite 3 days of the year!
What I’m looking forward to next month….
A quick trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico! We have not been skiing since 2003 so my two youngest have never been and really never seen snow. Hoping there will be enough snow for them to ski by then.
And this boy will turn 15 on the 15th of January!
What else is new….
PJ’s! Everyone needs new pajamas at Christmas right? Last year I grabbed the PJ Salvage pajamas and they are super soft and cozy but this year I went back to an old fave.
Victoria Secret pajamas just work the best for me! The biggest complaint I always have is the pants getting too short after washing (or one too many Christmas treats if I’m 100% honest). Most of the pj’s at VS come in tall sizes!
And while long pajamas are cozy when it’s cold, let’s be honest, I’m 47 and sometimes nightime is no time for cozy! I love Victoria Secret sleep shirts too and I couldn’t resist this one while they are currently 2 for $40.
BONUS: My favorite memory of 2016
Impossible to pick one favorite memory for 2016! My best memories, however, are always ones when I have all 5 of these people with me. It doesn’t happen often enough anymore and I so treasure the time when it does.
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Hope you all have a super Wednesday!
Click the image for all my faves!
Let’s Get Social
Merry Christmas my gorgeous friend! I hope your three days of merry are super happy and leave you with lots of laughter and love. I have really enjoyed your blog this year. Here's to next year! xoxoxox
I love how much you have instilled giving back in your kids. I need to be better about getting my kids (and myself for that matter) into community service projects. They would love to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Looking forward to seeing the new changes to your blog, and joining in next years link-up!
I still need to watch some of my favorite holiday films. I've definitely been seeing a lot of the Hallmark films though! those are just easy to throw on some nights. hah
I really love sleep shirts. Love the brunch one.
Yay for a long holiday break. I work at a college, so I have a couple weeks off, which is nice since my brother's kids are in town!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
If you ever want to get started on Christmas themed books that are fast reads check out The Mistletoe Promise and The Mistletoe Inn.
I can't wait to see your new blog design and I love your link ups. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
VS Jammies are the Best!! I love the nightshirts! Look at that cutie turning the big 1-5!! Yay for a ski trip, we usually do one but limiting trips due to building a new house in 2017. Whoop whoop nice long break for mama!! Enjoy every second, especially having all the kiddos together!! xo
Bipolar weather indeed! Merry Christmas, Shelly!
Christmas movies are always a favorite!! I'm looking into updating my blog design as well, but I'm so overwhelmed and don't even know where to start!!
What a happy, festive post. Those pjs make me want to order some too… and what a good looking family!!
I LOVED the Winter street trilogy! Such a fun and festive feeling to the whole post. I love it.
I so hope to read them all over the break! I always start out the year strong reading and finish it strong….maybe in 2017 I'll be able to stick with the reading all year long. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
I received my order yesterday and have totally slipped right into a pair this morning to lounge around in. 🙂 I ordered the silky leopard print pj's too and they are pretty fabulous. Merry Christmas Sarita!
It is really overwhelming and I know I could not do it myself. I actually set aside some money and knew my blog designer would be having a cyber Monday sale so I bought a package then. Now…I just have to get my act together and send her the layout information and I really, really want to be intentional about what I love because the first time..ehhh…I wasn't. 🙂
Ugh…so crazy! Merry Christmas Laura!
Seriously…a new house!!!!! That is so exciting! Keith and I go back and forth all the time on this one. We only have 7.5 years before Carly Jo graduates and I am really wanting to stick it out until then so we would no longer be limited by school zoning. If he is still working in the Austin area when she graduates I would totally be interested in venturing out. Can't wait to see you go through the process….so fun!
I am LOVING all the stripes and patterns you have been wearing. I hope you enjoy all of your time away from work and that trip sounds amazing. Also I want to come eat chicken and noodles with y'all Russ thinks its "gross and bland" that crazy, CRAZY man.
Thanks Jessica! Hopefully Katy and I can think of some good ones…at the moment we both have Christmas brain. 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations Stephanie!
I am a huge fan of sleep shirts most of the year too Lauren. Working at a university for so long has definitely spoiled me….I mean we still get spring break! We only get a few days then but it's still so nice!
Jenna, I will be honest, I always had a passion for giving back but really didn't know how to get involved or was insecure about getting involved. I'm thankful for my friend Holly who has taught me lots and lots of ways to give back. My big kids didn't have the same experience but my little two definitely have.
Merry Christmas Amanda! Hope you guys have an amazing weekend.
I love all the Holiday outfits, but I've got to be honest…the VS pajamas are my favorite! I'm all about being comfy lately!!
Enjoy having all your kids together this weekend!!
That brunch shirt hahaha I so need me one 🙂 and yes, it's really challenging to dress for Fall/Winter here in Houston too. My wish is for temperatures to stay consistently low. Sigh. Now that would be perfect 🙂 Happy Christmas to you and yours, Shelly!!!
I have that book on my list from the library – can't wait for it to become available!! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
So much goodness in this post! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Loved reading about what you've been up to – so much fun! Enjoy the break from work,it's definitely a job perk of working in education!
I have seriously worn the brunch nightshirt so many times since Christmas! I love their sleep shirts…so soft and perfect for the 80 degree December we are having…blah. Hope you had a wonderful holiday Sheela!
Lol…I'm cracking up at Russ's thoughts on chicken noodle soup! Keith is not a huge soup person but he does love chicken noodle and potato soup so I count it as a win. Riley was home for the holidays and turned his nose up too…he said soup isn't manly.
YES! Sounds exactly like something that Russ would say. I think I am going to make some soon and just put out all the hot sauce and chili flakes :P.
Girl…I have lived in the brunch nightshirt! They are just so soft. I bought a fair isle pattern too but Jordan confiscated it. 🙂