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easy.trees-y.
The special events just keep coming. Can you believe is is already time for chilly nights, biting wind, and Christmas lights. We braved the chilly weather yesterday and found the perfect tree. These adorable, puffer north face jackets kept us toasty warm despite the biting wind, I highly recommend them!
Tractor rides out to the farm, visits with Santa, and hot chocolate were all parts that accompanied the day. The farm we go to has been in operation for nearly 300 years, and is one we have visited off and on for at least the past 15 years. There was concern this year when the property went up for sale that the beloved tradition for many would be in danger, but it seems as if the new owners plan to carry on the legacy. Crisis. Averted.
Check in to my Instagram page @fashionmeetsjess soon to see some video compilations of the fun, from fake tree sawing to real tractor riding – it’s all in there! As we speak, snow is lightly falling back home for what should be a minor dusting, but is yet another example of Christmas taking hold this year.
until next time. jess.
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black friday. red lipstick.
Black Friday. Red Lipstick. I felt it only fitting to do a beauty post with the boldest of color lipstick on a day when retailers only think about Black. And who doesn’t want to have some fun with bright red lips every now and again, especially during the holiday season.
When our family was just Tom & I, we used to line up early in the morning (or honestly, just after midnight) at the Tanger Outlets for a fun shopping experience for the two of us and some good doorbuster deals. Now that we have little ones, we don’t out shopping as long lines, lots of people, narrow aisles and double strollers don’t mix well.
Today we traded in the hustle and bustle of retail shopping with the relative calm and biting cold of the tree farm close to our home. We were able to pick out our annual tree despite the cold, and enjoyed a wagon ride with the kids and a quick visit with Santa and his workshop.
Interested in shopping my look? Feel free to check out this shade on my Amazon Affiliate site:
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases on this site.
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give.thanks.
My, How the holidays do come and go so quickly. One day we are watching the kids enjoying Trick or Treat, the next we are watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, prepping apple pies and turkey desserts, gathering with family and giving thanks for all that we’ve been given.
With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it is kind of nice to still have a day dedicated to the simple act of eating and giving thanks, to whomever that might be.
Today we watched the parade on TV through the eyes of children, watching closely for floats of Spiderman or princesses. We know there will be a day in the future that those childhood wishes no longer exist, so we give thanks every day for the blessings we have been bestowed.
After dinner we got the kids ready, took some photographs, and headed to eat with family in the most “normal” setting we’ve had in almost two years, and, of course, enjoyed some turkey, mashed potatoes, pies, treats, and the like.
Give thanks, today, tomorrow and for as many days as you are blessed with, for not one single one is ever guaranteed. Our lives are busy. So busy. There is always something else to do on our honey-do list. One more chore to complete. One more task to cross off the list. But days like today help to refresh, refocus, and remind us to live in the moment, for the moment, and that no moment is ever guaranteed.
Many blessings to you and yours,
Jess
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don’t wait. decorate.
our season prep continues today as we move towards Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe November is almost over and December beckons around the corner. With a below 30 degree chill outside, the weather has already brought in some of that Christmas spirit.
After several days of bringing up bins and decorating, we have gotten down to the final few items. We spent today mixed with enjoying the kids being home from school, to finishing up the few pieces of garland and starting getting some of the outside lights ready for Christmas.
While Tom was outside working on the lights, I snapped the picture above with the benefit of some great natural light. My green, long North Face coat paired with a CC beanie were the perfect accessories for a cold Fall day.
The large, bedazzled blue ornaments typically are part of our front-door display, but are still in limbo this year as we work through the difference options this year.
Tom, I, & the kids also had the opportunity to make little turkeys from: brownie, a nutter butter, little candy eyes, candy corn feathers & a twizzler gobbler.
Our apple pie still awaits baking, but it is common for us to peel, slice, and sprinkle the apples in during the Thansgiving Day Parade procession.
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visits with santa.
you better not pout. you better not cry…
We took the littles for a quick little photo shoot with Santa. The little ladies were in awe but little brother was a bit uneasy. We expected Cam to have some concerns about the big man, but he was deadset against the meeting.
After the initial tantrum, we were able to get him settled with mommy hiding behind the couch. If I had a side-angle shot, you’d see me doing whatever I can to keep Cam together long enough to get a quality shot. Some people wouldn’t care for the candid shots of Cam crying but we find some of our our favorite photos tend to be shots like these that really display unique emotions. Photos are a snapshot of a moment in time, and they let us relive and recreate a moment that would otherwise be gone forever except for the memory of those moments.
We have been doing a shoot with Santa for the past few years and every year I pull out the old photos and it amazes me at the growth these kiddos go through from one year to the next.I always blow up my favorite shot from the session and order it on canvas ( Easycanvasprints.com). I have a wall in my home of all the past and present Christmas canvas shoots. Ill upload a photo of the wall in a future post.
I love these years so much and I love to watch the sparkle in their little eyes as they beam with glee over the excitement of the holiday season, may these years never come to an end.
Jess
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Tis’ the Season…to decorate
A tiny glimpse into the glory that is Christmas decorating season, an absolute favorite of mine. Throughout this past weekend our garage was loaded up with at least 20 large tubs of holiday decor, plus some reindeer, throw pillows, blankets and a whole lot of artificial trees.
The kiddos and I blasted some Christmas music, broke out some hot chocolate and got to work sprucing the place up.
We flocked this beautiful tree outside this afternoon. If you are looking for that classy, white frosted look pick up some flocking powder (amazon -24.99 dollars) and simply add it to any artificial or real pine tree. It took us about 15 minutes to complete (I can’t promise it won’t be a bit messy and you may have some kiddos that look a bit snow tinged when done, but its well worth it).
With only a few finishing touches left to go and the “real” tree to be found and placed (Friday), the home is feeling all decked to the halls.
** This amazing illuminated, canvas, Santa photo was purchased from Kirklands and is one of many various images you can buy. They are so cute and easy to use with a simple switch of a side button. I have this one currently hanging in Autumns bedroom, Santas workshop in Camerons and a Christmas train and fireplace in Natalie and Savannahs room.
Stay tuned for more of the finished home/holiday decor. and check out my instagram for a short (pretty awesome) little reel of our completed master bedroom.
Love , Jess
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more.decor.
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dad.kids.
Daddy loves him some kiddos. 4 beautiful, sweet, loving babies. Quick visits to daddy’s office require walks down to the local bakery for some sweet treats.
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movie.nights.
Movie nights are a big deal around here. Winter is for cuddling with warm fleece blankets, hot chocolate, popcorn, and theater candy.
Summer is for blow-up movies by the pool, air-popped popcorn, and cool summer nights.
Either way, despite the crazy, busy lives we lead, these 4 little bundles of joy help keep us grounded in the fact that life is lived in moments, not years, and a few more things checked off the list won’t be remembered in 10 years, but time spend enjoying a good show with them lives on in our heads and theirs.
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ya’mama’ha
It took more than a year. Ordered in mid-2020. COVID-19 and all its disruptions led to a slower production. Record winter freeze/storm in Texas in Feb ’21 was the real problem. Foam product destroyed, and no foam = bad for boats.
After 12 months of waiting, we got the call the our boat order had “been cut” from the 2021 production line, but we’d have first shot at 2022.
Low and behold, Yamaha came through with a beautiful AR250 just before season’s end.
Looking forward to many seasons of boating around Rehoboth and Indian River Bays, the Delaware Bay, and the Lewes Canal.
