ocala par-tay!

Twinkling eyes and rosy cheeks~
Sweet Sally Kate will be here in just a few short weeks!

Please join us for a soiree full of love~
As we honor Holly and her precious little gift from above!

A whimsical winter land of the sweets baby shower was held for Holly this weekend in our hometown. The soiree was just fabulous and the mom-to-be is looking rather marvelous these days. Five weeks and counting until Sally Kate's due date and we can't wait! Friends and family were there to shower both Holly and baby with essentials and frilly, and totally necessary, adornment. I think Ms. Becky put it best when she said that January babies are the best! Agreed.

mom-to-be with the hostesses

party favors!

gingerbread is tradition ... we used to make them for our annual
holiday teas, but in recent years they've become
monogrammed favors for bridal showers
and now baby showers :) {thanks lane!}

holly with elizabeth and rebecca

rian, pamela, and mc

love you.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

smells like Christmas~

It’s Tuesday night, but it feels like a Monday to me. Getting back into the groove of a work week is always a challenge for me after spending a leisurely weekend with friends. Chadwick came for a visit from North Carolina this past weekend. Since Chad was feeling under the weather when he arrived last Thursday, all agendas were out the window! So instead, we had a wonderful weekend of lots of rest, lots of laughs and way too much tv. It wasn’t until Sunday when Chad started feeling well enough to venture out of the house…I knew when his appetite and humor resurfaced he was on the up and up!

However, as with all Tallahassee visitors, I was still able to show him a taste of Tallahassee. We ate the most delicious food all weekend long—which means we frequented several of my most favorite places! We ate homemade chicken tortilla soup for the first half of the visit and then dined out at some local spots like Bella Bella, The Mockingbird Café, and Kool Beanz Café. Another highlight was The Cake Shop cupcakes that we had not one, but two, three…well let’s just say we had our fair share of sweet treats!

On Sunday, we put up my Christmas tree and I decorated it while Chad instructed me on home safety (i.e. Christmas tree lights). As an advocate for safety in interior design, he made it clear to me that I don’t exactly abide by my rules at my own house :)

As this season gets busier, it was just so nice to spend a relaxing weekend together—not worried about the hustle and bustle of life but rather simply enjoying each other’s company. ‘Tis the season~

chadwick and I

my beautiful new ornament

new holiday living room arrangement

picture book

holly's tallahassee baby shower brunch on saturday

the mom-to-be looking fabulous at 7.5 months

holly with the lovely hostesses: cara, aunt reba, aunt rhonda, and renn

flowers by moi

(lane the peonies were used in honor of you, dahlin, since you sadly were unable to attend)

look who came to town...meghan!! other special guests included sister amy, page, and rian~

after the shower I had to say goodbye to my page who moved back to birmingham on sunday...she's the last of the college friends to high tail it out of tallahassee...good thing she's planning a summer wedding in b-ham...wedding soiree roadtrips here I come :)

holly and amy attended the nutcracker the night before...they can't seem to leave the snowforest...

...so I joined them in the land of sweets for the marzipan hookup!

digging into the delicious brunch buffet~a rising menu adapted from the monogram shower given by rian and I

gift time!! I'm thinking "who doesn't need a boppy!?"

from aunt sister

with grandmommy...or kitty...or grankat...any ideas, we must decide soon!

me and rian...another mom-to-be...of THREE!!

marcus and daddy came by at the end of the brunch to load up all of the great gifts and eat left-overs...

on sunday, the nursery elves came to work their magic! it's not quite finished but here's a sneak peek~

wickedly delicious

M & D arrived in town late last night with a car load of goodies which included our family pup/ traveling companion Roxie, a Betty Cakes cake topped with fresh flowers compliments of Suz, and my personal favorite ~ a trash bag full of Frasier Fur cuttings to sprinkle around my house. Now it’s beginning to not only look, but smell like Christmas too!

But let’s get to the point of this post…the most amazingly sinful hot beverage I had last night! Starbuck’s new Espresso Truffle. The name alone almost says it all. It’s their signature hot chocolate mixture with a shot of espresso - doesn’t it just sound divine! Mine was served in a short cup (yes, SB still makes this size but does not advertise it, go figure) sans the whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. I would describe it like this: putting a Dove dark chocolate in your mouth and then taking a sip of a latte. ooooh it’s good. The above description is actually something I partake in quite frequently, as in…for my breakfast. What, you’ve never tried it before?? If not, I highly recommend you do! Or you can just try the Espresso Truffle—same thing. It was the perfect hold over drink on this crisp Tallahassee night while we anxiously waited for m & d to arrive.

On another note, if you’re getting ready to attend the theatre to see your favorite holiday ballet tradition The Nutcracker (which excludes moi!), below is a photo that will give you a good laugh! Something about a 7.5 month pregnant Snow Queen just doesn’t seem right…

a waterfront wedding

pre-wedding pose with the bride

This time last year I was relishing in the crisp December air along the Ochlockonee River, arranging flowers, and surrounded by all things...wedding! The wedding of my friend Kasey, sister of Kelly, was a downhome affair in none other than Sopchoppy, Florida. I arrived late Thursday night and was willingly thrown in to the whirlwind of planning, organizing and flowers--even managing to attend the Rehearsal Dinner and having my own room in their guest house amidst it all. Their ceremony and reception were held at her dad's river house and there was a huge posse of family and friends that made it happen. To top it off, Mr. Summers had a barge come down the river and set up shop at the edge of their deck...not too shabby to house the fabulous band and dance floor! The wedding was marvelous and it sure was a weekend to celebrate. Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Sprague on their first anniversary~

front entrance of the wedding


backyard view during set-up...the finished product was to die for!!

**It's official. Christmas has exploded in my house and I am loving it! Things I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks...an extended visit from mom, dad, and Roxie; sisters night; Holly's first baby shower; receiving Christmas cards; and a visit from JCB :)

a holiday of thanks

I am plum worn out and this mini vacay has gone by way too fast, but it has been so wonderful no doubt. As I am reliving the memories from this past week thoughts of family, friends, thanks, laughter, and of course food dance through my head. Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays (well they're all my favorite but that's besides the point here) and it has to do with the traditions and time spent with dear ones and as I like to say officially kicking off the holiday season! Our Thanksgiving goes a little something like this each year and we don't stray far from it...the Townsend family does it up big at Aunt Holly and Uncle Neil's house; we say we're eating at 1:00--no one shows up until 1:30; casseroles and pies of every kind are displayed on the kitchen island--some all-time favorites include corn casserole and sweet potato casserole; two turkeys are up for grabs--my favorite is Uncle Neil's smoked turkey...it melts in your mouth and I'm pretty sure you would've found me actually picking the meat off of this bird (can you even imagine?!); first and second plates are served after dad says grace; pies and seasonal desserts are devoured; next comes nap time (!!) and usually we go back home to take our naps but this year I fell asleep on my cousin's bed...while they rest of my family thought it would be funny to take a picture of me sleeping with my mouth wide open (unfortunately I don't own that picture or else I would post it for your enjoyment but many of you know that image); after we did finally make it home...nap was continued; when supper time rolls around we are back over at the T's for round two (please note this is one of the very few times I willingly and excitedly do leftovers!); night concludes with repeated family stories, more dessert, and laughter and we all go home stuffed and satisfied. My Thanksgiving, truly a blessing all around~

place settings at the kids' table where I still sit

my pilgrim shoes

cousin lacy lauren and norm

grandmother mary elizabeth and mom

sisters

michael (and yes, that is not a shadow but a beard of some sort!) and dad

who doesn't practice the time step in their kitchen on thanksgiving!?

marcus and holly

I love this picure...it's so funny and sweet at the same time~

their little girl will be here in just two months!!

i'm with the band

There was no Black Friday for the Radcliffes! But rather the day after Thanksgiving brought relaxation and a fun filled concert on the downtown Ocala sqaure. Free for All was a celebration of sorts put on by our church with several local bands and headlined by contemporary Christian rock group Fee. The crowd filled the light-lined square last night to bring praise and thanksgiving and to kick off the holiday season. Michael's band, The Orange Standard, participated in the event and they were so awesome! They did some original songs, covers, and ended their set with Feliz Navidad...what more could you ask for to shuffle in the Christmas spirit?!

But first, we had a special visit from Pamela and Eric earlier in the day!! We met them for lunch at Latinos on their way home to Tampa. It was just what I needed~

me and ella

pamela was not feeling timid this time to feel holly's belly :)

the funniest picture ever! setup--the parking lot of latinos...holly: let me lay down in the backseat of your car and the baby will start kicking! pamela: ooooooohhhhh, I feel her!

the orange standard, pre-show

vips working the merch tent

we're so proud of our baby brother!!

mom and holly singing on the square

dad on electric guitar

the band takes the stage...

which do you prefer, schweppes or triangles?