December Around The Web

December has come to a close, and I’m having a hard time processing that we are leaving 2023, the year Grant was born! All month was filled with first Christmas activities: we went to our church’s Kristkindl Markt, had brunch with friends in town, took Grant to see Santa, survived a family stomach bug, attended Dale’s work holiday parties, I had my holiday dinner club favorite things exchange, our family visited Enchant KC, we got to meet baby Daphne, celebrated Dianne’s birthday, visited Union Station and Crown Center, and had a magical Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/26th visit to Lawrence! The last few days of the month were spent enjoying Smith family time and heading back to Enchant for New Year’s Eve! Around the web, I was especially inspired by these beautiful ornaments by Mille Amber. Hopefully next year I won’t miss the chance to purchase one! Take a look at her work here.

  • I also hope that I get a chance to try making these beautiful dinner rolls next Christmas!

  • London has the most beautiful holiday decorations! I hope to visit in person someday.

  • A bit of Christmas lettering inspiration

  • A new to me letterpress studio, the deep emboss is just so stunning.

  • Would you try this DIY? I would love to try a larger scale version in the doorway between my living room and dining room

  • After having a chance to try royal icing cookies this year, I could not stop watching these videos!

  • One of my favorite memories this December was making salt dough ornaments. This was the recipe I used, and despite Grant not loving the handprint ideas we had some super cute Santas to share with his teachers and family!

  • Saving this for inspiration in the new year, I would love to embroider on a sweater for Grant

  • I don’t have plans for a sparkly NYE outfit this year, but Grace always has the best roundups

Merry Christmas, friends!

Royal Iced Sugar Cookies for #My5Days

In early December I had the chance to take a royal iced sugar cookie workshop from the talented Bernard Shondell for Hallmark’s #My5Days. During the workshop he shared tips and tricks for baking the perfect sugar cookies and taught us how to decorate using royal icing. I absolutely love how my cookies turned out and can’t wait to get them out of the freezer for our Christmas Eve party!

November Around The Web

Hello, friends! I’ve once again gotten behind on my “around the web” series, but am happy to be back this month with a few favorites. Time has flown by since I returned to work from my maternity leave, but we had a lovely November. The month started with a Froends weekend in Nashville (where we also got to spend time with Grace!), I attended two Friendsgiving celebrations (Dale’s co-workers and my college friends), took our family Christmas card photos at the Nelson, Dale took his first set of board exams, and we had a wonderful first Thanksgiving with Grant! Around the web this month I came across these stunning headpieces by Wolf & Moon. I’m currently dreaming up an occasion where I could invest in one in the future, but for now I’m taking in all their beautiful work on their website.

Extra Grateful this year

August Around The Web

August was a month of transition! We spent lots of time with my sister, Grace, before her move to college and tried to soak up time at the pool with my friend Sonya and my family. We also fit in time with friends (Chi O Brunch with Ashley, Sunflower Festival with Austin and Ali, dinner with Sydney and Salvador, and brunch with Laura and Ashton) and at the end of the month Grant had his first flight when we traveled to Nashville! I can’t believe this was my last full month of maternity leave before I will return to work in September. I am beyond grateful for this time I’ve had with Grant!

  • Around the web, I am already enjoying subtle shifts to fall fashion. I’m obsessed with this late-summer sweater roundup from Julia.

  • Also loved Liz’s August outfits recap

  • Living in an old house we rely on a lot of lamps vs. ceiling lights. I don’t have any more spots for these cuties but really enjoyed the roundup

  • If you are from Kansas City, this is SUPER nostalgic!

  • A wedding that stopped me in my tracks. Especially the stationary.

  • I couldn’t help but purchase Grant one of these Rock Chalk bubbles. Can’t wait for it to arrive, just in time for football season!

  • Bad on Paper is one of my favorite podcasts, you should all pre-order Becca’s book!

  • My sister, Grace, also has a new song out: Gatsby’s House. Take a listen!

  • Lastly, a podcast I must listen to soon. Jurassic Park became a favorite during the pandemic.

enjoy that end-of-summer sunshine!

July Around The Web

Every month that includes a holiday feels extra special this year as we celebrate with Grant! For his first Fourth of July we participated in the neighborhood popsicle parade, went to the pool and then enjoyed our traditional fireworks and homemade ice cream at Turkey Hill a week late. This month we also spent time swimming with Sonya, visited Pryde’s with my mom and Sophie, experienced a terrible storm, watched Grace preform in Footloose, visited friends in Wichita to meet Baby Zoey and Baby Casey, Grant turned four (!) months old, celebrated my dad’s birthday and last (but not least) saw The Barbie Movie! Grant and I also spent time breakfasting/lunching with friends (Mary, Matt, and Heather) and had my cousin, his wife wife and baby over for brunch. I’m so grateful to still be on maternity leave and really am soaking up every minute!

Hi, Barbie!