POLKA DOTS & FASHION LINK-UP

Hi all!! As you know Wednesday's around here are fashion link-ups with my dear sisters from TBB so I am tickled Polka Dot to bring you this darling chambray top and burgundy vest for the Wednesday Fashion Post!

This Polka Dot Chambray fabulous find is even on sale right now for 1/2 off online from a darling boutique

The vest is from Amazon and it was such a great deal. Looks like a $100 vest but got it for less than $20. It comes in 10 COLORS!!! 

For size reference it runs one size small so order up one and it should fit perfect!

The inspo from this outfit came from Pinterest of course and when I saw this combo on the model, I knew I would be searching for a polka dot chambray!

I, of course, had to add some baubles.

Threw with it my beloved white jeggings, favorite leopard clutch from Old Navy and I.N.C. Riding boots from Macy's and just love how it all came together. 

xoxo

RED VELVET LUSH and A PROGRESSIVE DINNER BLOG HOP

Just the words Red Velvet make me so happy! I was so excited about this comfort food progressive meal blog hop with three of my fellow Blended Blog sisters Katie, Christy, and Leslie. Katie has drinks, Christy, a yummy spinach salad and Leslie; Chicken pot pie!!I was most happy that my category was desserts so I could share this beautiful and festive sweet sensation with you all! 
Yum  

You may have heard of the Lush desserts before, with the pudding and creamy cream cheese layers on top of delicious short bread? I've had and chocolate and lemon, but after I saw they now make red velvet Jell-O pudding mixes I decided to make it holiday inspired and create a red velvet lush dessert!

Boy am I happy I did! I created this as one of the desserts for our Thanksgiving meal primarily so I had lots of guinea pigs to try it out. It was an on for a while mean success and one that I will definitely be making again.

what you'll need

RED VELVET LUSH

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 stick of butter, melted

1/2 cup of chopped pecans

1 (8 oz) brick of cream cheese, softened

1 cup of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 (16) oz tub of Cool Whip, divided

2 (3.4 oz) packages red velvet pudding mix

3 cups of milk

Shaved white chocolate or other desired garnishes

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Melt butter in a medium microwave safe bowl. Stir in the flour and pecans. Press mixture in a 9 x 13 pan and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely. Next, beat together the powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla until smooth and fold in 1 cup of the Cool Whip. Spread over the cooled crust. For the next layer, mix together the pudding mix, milk and then fold in another cup of Cool Whip. Spread over the cream cheese layer then spread the remaining Cool Whip. Garnish with white chocolate or any other garnish desired. Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

If you haven't already, make sure you hop over to Katie's blog for the beginning of our Progressive Meal Blog hop with her yummy drinks.

HAPPY TASTY TUESDAY SWEET FRIENDS!!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Tuesday Talk // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Recipe Sharing Party~YUM // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Two Uses Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend Wake Up Wednesday // Handmade Hangout // Simple and Sweet Fridays // Throwback Thursday // Share It // Too Cute Tuesday // Sweet and Simple Fridays // Grace At Home // Inspire Me Monday// Creativity Unleashed // Two Cup Tuesdaye // The SITS Girls // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Snickerdoodle Sunday // Dishing It & Digging It // Diary of a Real Housewife // Feathered Nest Friday 

xoxo

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS....LET'S TALK

This Month's "Let's Talk" Theme is Christmas Tradition with with Momfessionals Andrea and Erika! Last Year I told you all about our 9 Family Christmas Traditions.

Today, I'm excited to update and throw in a few more. Traditions mean so much to me and our boys are even becoming deep rooted in tradition and often talk about our rituals. When and if we deviate, we often hear about it. Case in point , our first "Un-tradition" of the season

Every year the day after Thanksgiving, we go chop down our Fraser Fir Christmas tree. Mr. Nine and I made a decision to buy a fake Fraser Fir from Balsam Hill and we could not be not be happier! However, when we asked one of them what he thought about it, he said "It's nice, but we don't have the memory of the chop down." Just insert the knife in my heart. The way I look at it though, they have the memories growing up doing it and as new chapters have started, sometimes so do traditions.  

Tree Lot photos of the past

However, these boys still have tons that stick including putting up the outdoor and ledge decorations and self done family pics the day after Thanksgiving. 

Family Photo of the past

Family Photo of the past

Family Photo of last year

This year...actually will be using a summer family photo for our Christmas card.

Grandma and her boys

The Toast! We are big "toasters" and Every Birthday gets toasted with Sparkling Grape Juice, a tradition since they were little. 2 of them have Birthdays around the Holidays so one always happens Thanksgiving weekend!

 2016

2009

The Santa Purse comes out about now and stays til December 25th. I love this thing with it's fluffy balls. The balls have gotten dingy over the years since I first got this filled with Bath and Body products about 15 years ago. I get oodles of complements on it where ever I go.

Finally, it was sooo nice having the 2 on the right home from college with us this weekend. Tradition is now sending them back with some goodies to study up for finals. They will be home in 2 1/2 weeks for a nice long Christmas break and I cannot wait!!

I'm excited to bring various Christmas posts the whole month of December including recipes, holiday cozy fashion and you can get excited with me about A gift idea of Christmas Money Jars on Monday, December 5th, My Christmas home tour on Monday, December 12, and Holiday Nails and how I do mine on Monday, December 19th. It's going to be a great Holiday Season!

And make sure you come back tomorrow when 3 of The Blended Blog ladies and myself showcase a Progresive Holiday Meal Blog Hop!! I've got dessert! It's going to be Yummy!!

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Linking up with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Show and Tell Tuesdays // Wordless Wednesday // Inspire Me Monday // Share The joy// Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Share It // Creative Monday's Blog Hop // Thoughts on Thursday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // Dishing It & Digging It // Tuesday's at Our Home // Hello Monday

xoxo

FRIDAY FAVORITES.....BLACK FRIDAY EDITION

Whew, it's one month til Christmas peeps. Let the warmth and fun of the season begin which will include lots of good leftovers, sweet treats and shopping!! No Black Friday in stores for me today but instead eating and chilling with my beautiful family!! Here's to all you wonderful friends, may your weekend be grand and full of deals and all things that make you smile!!! 

1. Shopping ONLINE and Free Shipping
One of my favorite things to do is shop but around this crazy insane packed and line filled times in stores, my preference is online shopping. You cannot beat some of the sales right now and free shipping is a MUST! Whatever retailers don't offer free shipping are making a huge marketing mistake.

2. Christmas Tablescape

I showed you my Fall tablescape Here. Boy do I Love a  good Tablescape and I found the perfect mixture for the place settings at Pier One. Aren't these going to be so cute!! Deer Antlers Napkin Ring Holders HERE.

3. Week's Attire

Thank heavens for a 3 day week!

T.J. Maxx Dress, Steve Madden boots, Nordstrom Cardigan

Macy's cardigan, Eddie Bauer Dress

The Loft cardigan, target gingham shirt, Charming Charlie beads

4. Vince Gill Concert
My mom and I love older country music and Vince Gill was huge in the 90's. He is an amazing entertainer and married to Amy Grant, who I also love. He played for 3 hours!

Such a cute couple!

Incredible guitar player.

5. Decoration Helpers
Today, these boys will be climbing up ladders again to help mom get my outside decorations and high up ones. They are the bet helper and I appreciate it so much! Decoration House Tour on the blog set for December 12th.

HAPPY GET YOUR CHRISTMAS ON WEEKEND!!!

Linking up with  Amanda // Friday Favorites  // Oh Hey, Friday  // High 5 For Friday // 5 on Friday //

ANTHRO PLAID RUFFLE FIND, WUW & FASHION LINK-UP

Is your bird thawing??? Are your fingers ready to click away and do some serious online shopping or will you grab a Starbucks in the wee hours of Friday and fight for your right of the BEST Black Friday deals? Hard to believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving! 

Let's talk about dressing for the food feast! We tend to dress pretty cas on Turkey day so a nice, pretty relaxed shirt is always good! Sweaters are too hot for the heated kitchen. This Anthropologie shirt had just the right look, colors I love and the pretty little ruffle factor was the clincher. 

It's also another TWO-FER post for Mel, Sheaffer and Shay's What's UP Wednesday for a special week early Thanksgiving Edition. 

We do not have an Anthropologie store near by. In fact, I've only ever been in one once. A little pricey but they do have good sales and if it is a piece that I know will last me a long time and will be somewhat timeless, I'm sold for the quality and uniqueness of their lines. 

I never really used to like blue that well, but it has really grown on me over the years, this hat and these boots from Aldo are a couple of my favorite pieces and I thought they looked pretty cute with the shirt. The wine colored bag was a Nordstrom sale purchase from Soul Society and I am so in love with it! It is sturdy, just the right size and the inside has a leopard print which is darling.

Now Let's Get to What's happening in The "Nine" Neck of the Woods

1. WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK: Better Than Restaurant Bourbon Chicken, Chicken Fajitas and.....

Recipe HERE

.
....Ready to hear our Thanksgiving Menu? Here Goes: Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Rolls, Green Bean Casserole, Crack Green Beans, Sweet Potato Crisp Casserole, Deviled Eggs, Cranberry Relish, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cheesecake, Red Velvet Lush (recipe to come next week), Mom's Cheese Ball and Reese's PB Ball. Whew, I'm Hungry...Let's eat!

Here are the green Beans one more time in case you need this recipe

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT: Family Trips like my favorite: the Cayman Islands

3. WHAT I’M LOVING: RED; Red Cups, Red Salvation Army Kettles and Christmas Red everywhere

4. WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO: Enjoying time with our Boys home from college and lots of decorating. Drinking Lot's of Tea... I drink mine with Purvia and Skim Milk.

5. WHAT I'M DREADING: The Holidays coming to an end..they go so fast; soak up every second!!

6. WHAT I'M WORKING ON: The Outside decor and lights and Wrapping Presents!

Front Door last year

7. WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT: The HOLIDAYS and all that goes along with them!!!!!!

8. WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING: Watching : Goliath....Billy Bob rocks in this

Reading: No One Knows by J.T. Ellison

9. WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: Christmas tunes of course!!!

10. WHAT I'M WEARING: Vests, Wraps, Ponchos...

11. WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND: Spending Time with the kids, Movies, chill time. etc.

12. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH: The Whole Month of Christmas where people seem to be a lot nicer to one another. Love the warmth in the air!!

13. WHAT ELSE IS NEW:

BONUS: Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition: This is a crazy one and I'll get  picture this year, but my mom throws the dinner rolls to us all...hilarious and fun!!

OK, now after you link up your fashion fantastic, go make a Sweet Potato Casserole, Crack Green Beans, or prep some other delicious sides because it won't be long and you'll be getting your turkey on!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WONDERFUL FRIENDS!

xoxo