Friday, December 28, 2018

We Were Together ...

Once again we all find ourselves with another Christmas of magical memories
 tucked inside our hearts forevermore. 
The month of December started for me, as it has for the last few years,
 with our annual Christmas Open House Sale. 
It was a wonderful event as always.
 This year we had the pleasure of having Shay join us with the Runaway Rack.
She takes her lovely mobile clothing boutique, "Rosie",  all over for events
 and on December 1st she was parked in my driveway. 
This was the second event we have worked together,
 with our September Sale being the first. 
I made and sold countless knitted items all throughout the holiday season and I'm still filling custom orders. More than ever before my knitting needles seemed to be dashing through the days {and into the nights} with a speed all their own.
 I have all of you to Thank for that.
No words will ever convey how very much I truly appreciate
 your continued support of this business that fills my days,
 my life and my heart with great joy and happiness.
So...Thank You for being a part of my dream come true.
This Christmastide has been so full of fun and festivities, family and friends and moments of quiet reflection that I think it will be one of those years I hold close to me for all of my days.
There were photos with Santa...

And Santa and Mrs. Claus being played by my cousin and her husband.
Many of you know Kathy if you come to our sales events.
She and Mike had the honor of delighting
Chicago area children early in December,
 as they climbed upon Santa's lap,
 believing he could make all their wishes come true.
Amongst all the glitter and lights, the tinsel and bobbles, wrapping and gifts, family, friends and festive events that fill me up with the wonder of a child every time I begin to smell Christmas in the air...
There is one very special thing at the heart of it for me every December.
This year was extra special.
On December 17 Scott and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary.
All those years ago, on a very, very, cold Winter's night a nineteen year old girl gave her hand and her heart to a twenty-three year old young man to keep forever. Though the temperature dipped to twenty- one below zero and there was such a blizzard that it was truly a Winter Wonderland outside, the candlelit church was completely packed with our family and friends who had traveled near and far to bless us at the beginning of this beautiful journey...
And what a wonderful life it's been so far.
All the love that we've shared through the days and the years..
So many memories made and so many more to be made.
If you'd ask me I'd tell you that my very best Christmas gift every single year is My husband...
My marriage...
And all the blessings that have come from this bonding of two hearts as one.
Getting married at Christmastime just made it all seem a bit more magical to me.
I remember assuming when I was very young
 I would most definitely be a Summer bride.
Then suddenly I found myself getting married at
the most magical time of the year.
 Somehow it just seemed appropriate.
No matter when you plan a wedding, they are always beautiful and magical.
If you are currently planning one of your own the perfect place to shop online is
ever-pretty.com
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No matter what season the wedding you're planning is for,
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the fun and memorable event you always hoped it would be
 with their gorgeous choices and unbelievable prices.

Some years also hold many weddings to attend.
We had a year like that just recently.
 Sometimes the circle of people overlap,
 requiring a new dress for each wedding you attend.
This can become rather costly.
Let Ever-Pretty help you with your wedding guest dresses
I promise you won't be disappointed!
You can show up for your next wedding wearing any of these lovely dresses for under $50.00 and they could easily be worn for so many more occasions.
We all love to get dressed up for something special from time to time.
Especially when Love is in the air!




This holiday season has been a most joyous one for me and my family.
God has blessed me throughout these last 35 years far beyond
the greatest imagination of that teenaged bride of all those years ago.
 My heart is continuously warmed by all the people and memories
 that have become dear to me over the course of this life so far.
I look back and marvel that it all began...
with two little words...
standing in front of a candlelit alter...
"I do."

"We were together. I forget the rest."
Walt Whitman

*This post is kindly sponsored by Ever-Pretty.com
All sentiments and events are my own.*

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Frosted Rooftops

I love waking up to an early December morning with frosted rooftops and bare branches dusted so lightly that just the slightest sparkle of sunshine sets them to dancing. The air all around is sometimes a beautiful, thick white presence with a life all its own. We've had days of big, fluffy snowflakes and other days that were cold, clear and bright. No matter the weather, I love it all.
 I know that once December comes back to us every year,
 She begins to work her magic...
Hearts come together for special events throughout the month of merriment.
My daughter Chelsea went with Julius to the Lyric Opera in Chicago
 for a night of fun filled culture.
As you know, special events call for the most beautiful dresses.
During the holidays, we love to slip into something special,
 add a touch of lipstick and maybe a bit of sparkle here and there...
If you're looking for a gorgeous dress to wear to your
 Christmas Party or Holiday Event of the year 
has absolutely gorgeous dresses
 at affordable prices and they keep their 
New Arrivals section continuously updated 
to meet the ever changing world of fashion.
that will take you to your Christmas Party, the Opera and even to the Ballet... 
Once again December found us at The Peoria Ballet's Nutcracker.
This year's performance was the most exquisite one I have seen yet,
 under the direction of Artistic Director, Jorge Laico.
His choreography, along with my favorite Tchaikovsky music being played so beautifully by the Heartland Festival Orchestra, created a magical fairyland that swept me away to a land of snowflakes, frost fairies
 and all the possibilities of dreams that really do come true...
 if only we believe...
Gabby had two roles this year.
One as a Maid, which was an acting part.
The other as a Polichinelle, her dancing part.
 The Polichinelle's are the colorful dancers
 who emerge from Mother Ginger's dress 
and dance all about her throughout the scene. 
A special highlight for Gabby was having her "dead" pointe shoes signed by 
the professional ballet dancers who performed as guest artists this year from 
Chicago's renowned Joffrey Ballet.
Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili were completely breathtaking as the 
Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier.
There wasn't a single soul able to remain seated at the end of the ballet.
It was a truly magical night.
I look forward to it all year long...
Dressing up, settling into my seat in the theatre and then...
the thrill of the first strains of music floating through the air...

The whole of December always brings
 the wonderment of a child back to my spirit again.
With every tree I display, every twinkling light throughout my house and the ornaments that get placed just so, each day makes me feel just a little bit younger {at heart, at least} and makes me tingle all over with more and more excitement. It's almost as though I'm holding my breath along with millions of children across the world who are waiting for Santa's big night.
I hope it does the same for you, whether you're dashing off to 
a gala event in that gorgeous new evening dress
or staying tucked in the house with your family and mugs of hot cocoa.

May you have all the joy and wonder of a child inside your heart
at the beginning of each new day,
And remember when you peer out your
window on a cold December morning,
that frosted rooftops bring to life
the most magical moment.
Enjoy them all!
"The afternoon knows 
what the morning never suspected."
Robert Frost

*This post is kindly sponsored by Ever-Pretty.com
All sentiments and events are my own.*