Flurries

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Today will be a flurry of laundry, tidying, last minute wrapping, packing, and traveling. Mark and I hit the road today around lunchtime--ten hours spent on the blacktop stretching from Maryland to Georgia. I fully anticipate drivers with their fists clutching the wheels--glaring ahead, steering with defensive intensity--as if Christmas itself hinged on their getting home early for the holiday. I may let Amp drive...

This weekend is going to be filled with so many wonderful things that any traffic woes will be worth it. To name a few happy moments ahead: our family Christmas celebration on Saturday, wedding dress shopping with a good friend, hugs from my little nephews--and plenty of opportunities for good food and laughter.

So, I will probably be absent from Amp&Abi until after the holiday. I'm going to take a little blogging break and enjoy the eggnog, sausage-cheese balls, and Christmas cookies to the fullest. (Hmm... Is it bad that I only listed food there? I will be enjoying all the other holiday aspects as well!) But I promise to return with more stories and photographs for you to enjoy...once Santa has come and gone.

In parting, here are a few lovely holiday links for you to enjoy:

a pretty calendar for the new year

this Christmas red clutch

a blanket to snuggle in

some woodland-themed cards

the big list of last minute gifts

a hot mug of spiced chai

this winter Pinterest board

Merry Chistmas

and a Happy Holidays

to you all! 

Patina & White

 Daydreaming about

worn leather, 

rainbow patina,

chipping paint, 

creaking hardwood,

and crisp white-wash.

Some pretties

for the future: 

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Which is your favorite? 

One Buck Beauty

There's just something about having a bouquet of fresh flowers on your kitchen table. 

Our nearest grocery always has a few baskets right at their check-out lines, overflowing with one buck bouquets. Of course, they're just little dyed daisies...but they are fresh and bright and make me smile to look at them. I bought them on a whim--fancying they would brighten up the onset of winter, now that December has arrived. Yet, surprisingly enough, December dawned beautifully this weekend: azure skies, chilly but gentle weather, and a cool, winter sun. And, if the weather man isn't deceiving us all, this lovely climate is here to stay for a few days. Which is fine by me. Being at home alone, churning out job applications, and missing my fellow is a little less daunting and dreary with sunlight streaming through the windows. 

Our weekend, then, was filled with red and white daisies and that broad sky--but also a fun card night with some friends, a little Christmas shopping, a good bit of Christmas wrapping, and my first attempt at baking tilapia. How was yours?

In parting, here are a few lovely links I enjoyed over the weekend: 

• Speaking of flowers, here are some lovely flower arrangements from A Beautiful Mess. Feathers, anyone?
• a beautiful DIY project: this pom-pom cowl from Purl Bee. Reasons I need a sewing machine...
• a bright and eclectic Paris-inspired house tour
• another stylish home tour. I really spend too much time on Apartment Therapy, don't I?
• a recipe I'm aching to try out
• a lovely Pin-terpretation of winter 
• my weekend Etsy favorite finds: here, here, here, and here
• and, lastly, my two favorite December desktop calendars: this one and this one

Have a wonderful Monday! 

Lovelies 11.20

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Day 20: Today I'm thankful for my sweet sister Heidi. She's the kind of woman I think all women cheer and root for. A woman who runs from before the sun comes up until after the sun goes down. She dazzles the customers and bosses at work and then cuddles on her two baby boys at home. Makes money for the company then makes dinner for her family of four. She'll tell you off in a minute if she thinks you're wrong, but she's also the sweetest, most tender-hearted woman I've ever met. I've seen her pull over to help a stranded kitten or lost dog on the side of the road, and I've seen her exercise unlimited amounts of patience with her toddler son, when I long ago would've pulled my hair and probably his out too. Basically, other than my husband, there's no one else I'd rather have by my side and there's no one else who I can guarantee always has my back. So today I give a hearty thanks that she was born before me and put up with my goofy little-girl-ness, ponytails, plastic ponies, and all, for all those years before I grew into--I hope!-- a tolerable woman and friend and little sis. 


There. See? I'm remembering this November-Give-Thanks thing. It helps when I sign on facebook and see others faithfully logging in their grateful little status updates. But honestly, I think there's something wholesome about taking a moment, everyday, to sit down and come up with at least one thing for which you can shout out a thankful praise. It reminds me of how much I really do have to praise and laugh and smile about.

Today, I'd  like to share with you some little lovelies for which I am also thankful. These finds mainly are gleaned from my Pinterest boards, Etsy favorites, and blog roll.

Here you go:

• this mid-century stoneware
• this Flannery O'Connor quote
• this fantastic Colorado house tour
• my new favorite Etsy shop -- TheScribblePad
• a feeling of winter
• a cup of steaming homemade spice chai tea
• a slice of Guinness chocolate cake
• one of my Christmas wishes
• a cardigan to fuel my black-and-white addiction
• my new favorite blog-to-read
• a post about the reasons behind blogging-- personal and otherwise
• a beautiful, powerful song that can mean anything you need it to--mommy, wife, or friend

Only a few more days until tummy-stuffing, family love, and turkey-induced sleepiness! Prepare your pantries, waistlines, and over-worked ovens! Turkey Day is one its way!

Have a happy Tuesday, friends.