Happy Monday! Or end of day Monday so maybe Happy Tuesday! Lets wait to see if all of my kids are in daycare tomorrow and then we can see how happy it is…

Ugh, the struggle, am I right?! With Covid these days, I feel like we’re even more cautious to keep them out if they have any symptoms since daycare says if they have 2 symptoms, they need to be out (which these days, there’s 98 so it’s hard to really say) and had to have Clementine home last week two days due to an ear infection. The week before that, we had Annabelle home 2 days due to a cold (was negative for Covid thankfully!) and then Magnolia was sick with the stomach bug the next day and then the twins were exposed to Covid at daycare and they were out 10 days. I’m not kidding… I think my kids are out of daycare more often than in it and it’s a miracle if we get a full week of daycare for all 3 kids! So here’s to hoping they’re all in it for the rest of the week…. fingers crossed!

Anyways, over the weekend we had our last Christmas with my Dad and Stepmom. We traveled to them (about 2 hours away) for a few hours and it was our first trip longer than 30 mins with the twins in the car since we moved here in August. Kinda crazy – and of course, I thought if we timed it right then they’d nap in the car 2 hours and on the way home………… yeah we made it 25 mins for naps and then they were all awake for the remainder of the drive. Gotta love that. Thankfully they didn’t really cry too much at least!

We weren’t able to all get together for Christmas this year (for my family) so we had it separate with my Mom, the week before Christmas…

And then my Dad this past weekend.

It was a quiet day for my family christmases with just us and my parents but it’s been nice to catch up and the girls loved the one-on-one time! Hopefully this summer we can all get together!

We were with my in-laws Christmas Day to celebrate and it’s honeslty the first time we’ve been with any family on Christmas since before Magnolia was born. Crazy to think that! But with Covid and Magnolia’s birthday on Christmas Day, we have alwasy spent the day(s) by ourselves. It was definitely chaotic this year and we’ll probably re-evaluate timeline for Christmas day next year!

Can’t believe the first Christmas for the twins is over – it honestly flew by so quickly. It’s been a bit of a rough year so I’m not sure we felt super in the spirit this year (even though we did make sure to do some fun things for the girls!). Hoping it’ll be a more calm year and we’ll be more prepared for the holidays to come!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Wishing you a wonderful and loving holiday even if it’s not how you’d normally be spending your holiday this year! We’re home by ourselves this holiday season and while it’s not our first pick – we’re making the best of it and making new traditions!

Kristi

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved Valentines Day! I didn’t have a boyfriend often during this holiday so it certainly wasn’t because of that – like legit, before Logan, maybe 1-2 years total of having a boyfriend for Valentines Day?! I just have always loved celebrating LOVE! I get it, we could and should celebrate that all the time but let’s be real, that just doesn’t happen!

Im allllll about that pink and red too. I mean, can you get more girly?! I just love it all! I’m always looking for cute heart things to wear for the week of Valentines Day and anything with free shipping, is the only way to go!

Here’s a few super cute options, if you’re looking! I’m debating which to order for myself!

Women’s heart pullover

Love a good plain top like this – and it has great reviews (which I hear now a days, doesn’t necessarily mean much but still, makes me feel better!) and it seems so comfy!

Heart Sleeve Pullover

This is one of my favorites! It’s subtle so you can wear it all the time (which, for me, is wear hearts all year either way but in case you’re questioning it!). Great reviews again – with actual peoples pictures which is what I always look for!

Heart long sleeve top

I love this option since it’s lighter and is just so darn cute!

So I was going to order this last one I’m sharing… however…

“Off the shoulder” heart sweater

I was just telling logan (as if he really cares 🤣) that it’s so weird to me when bloggers continuously show tops that really are vneck – and not wide neck vnecks as off the shoulder tops! Like clearly it stays for a picture but when you’re out and about.. it’s not an actual off the shoulder top! Something that tends to annoy me – clearly! Ha! So I’m refraining from ordering this one for that reason. It’s so cute and it is a wider neck so if you’re not moving much, it might stay off your shoulder.. but as a Mama who’s constantly moving and picking Magnolia up, this is a no go for me!

I thought I’d share a few options for your littles to match you – or at least be decked out for Valentines Day!

Baby Heart Outfit

This outfit is $13.99 and totally matches the top sweater you could get for yourself!

Heart Pants outfit

Obsessing over these pants?! 😍😍

The next one is a total match for a Mommy + Me outfit with the top above!

Heart Onesie Outfit

Magnolia is wearing this sweet romper for her Valentine party at “school”.

Valentine Romper

It’s not Amazon, but it’s pretty darn sweet! I’m pretty excited! 😍

She has a Valentines Day party next Friday so she’ll be decked out with some treats in tow!

Do you guys do big things for the holiday or just lay low as if it’s any old day?! We won’t be doing anything crazy but I love celebrating even the littlest holidays with our sweet girl!

Kristi

Happy Monday! Can you believe we’re ONE week from Christmas?! I really can’t! Normally I’m crazy in the spirit but this year it’s been a little tougher.

I did, however go to the Bachman Holiday House this past weekend that I’ve shared so many times and it as usual, it did not disappoint!

The theme of the shed was ice fishing at the lake and it was seriously so cute!

The front porch is always a favorite of mine! I could just imagine snuggling up with a large cup of hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music! Doesn’t t sound magical?

The bedrooms are so dreamy!

I legit want every room in our house to look like them!

Usually there aren’t so many sale tickets but it was the last day of the tours so they were making sure to get rid of everything!

How fun are all the things above the beds?! I would never think of half those things!

The last bedroom was turned into a gift wrapping room and y’all…

I need it! How cute is this?! Wrapping paper on the windows even??

And I loved this idea for a checklist – I swear I love making checklists but I lose them more often than not!

They even decked out the small bathrooms and it just shows, you don’t need a huge room to make it cute 🙂

I’m obsessed with the sleighs turned into shelves.. now I just need to find some old sleighs to turn into shelves!

Even the toilet paper holder was a sleigh!

How smart is this makeshift bar area?! So perfect for a small area you need to fill!

Next year, I’ll go a lot earlier for a tour to get ideas before the holidays! It’s just amazing what they do this same house every year!

They show this house 3 times a year, spring, fall and holidays so if you’re in the Minneapolis area – you should definitely check it out! 😍

I still need to get 2 white elephant gifts for Christmas! Does anyone else do this?! If so, I’m all ears for ideas for gifts! Aka please oh please give me some!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend and are ready to rock the last week before Christmas!

Kristi

My oh my.. it was my 2nd annual Cookie Exchange on Tuesday and while that doesn’t seem like much… it’s one of my favorite events every year (aka this year and last… 🤣🤣).

How it works: I send out an invite a few weeks ahead of time. Have everyone send me their recipes a week in advance and I put together a book for everyone to have a copy! This year, I did an EBook because let’s be real… I lose all things paper!

I have all the girls bring a dozen cookies per person and we have fun, sip wine, play games and enjoy cookies!

We vote on a winner and there’s always a prize for the best cookies!

Last year we did Christmas charades and family feud. This year we did two Minute to Win It games and they were hilarious!

The first game was a candy cane competition where you had to pick up candy canes and put them in a bucket. Sounds easy right?!

Try it with only using a candy cane 🙂

I got a whopping 2……. Ashton was our winner with 9!

The next game really had us girls crying! It’s called… Bottoms Up!

How it works… tie string around your waist to make a belt. Tie a longer string to hang down and attach an ornament.

You set up empty cans and have to use your booty to get the ornaments to knock down the cans!

It was so funny! And one other thing.. you only have 60 seconds to do each game!

Then we chatted more, ate cookies and voted for our favorite!

This years favorite was Elaine’s Christmas Crack! 😍

It really is the best time! We were missing a few girls but they’ll be there next year I’m sure! 🙂 It’s been a bit of a rough year for personal reasons and I wasn’t feeling the most Christmasy.. which if you know me is very UNLIKE me!

I actually wasn’t even sure if I wanted to have this party.. but I’m so glad I did! These girls are something special 😊

I’m already looking forward to our next get together and next years Exchange!

What holiday traditions do you do every year?! I’m always looking to make new ones 😊

Kristi

Happy Friday!!

Two consecutive blog posts?! Keep ’em coming, right?! 😉

This Friday Favorites is a little different because I want to chat with you guys about a fun little contest I’m going to be having!

Do you remember when I shared some tips for a perfect front door?!

Well… while shopping this weekend, my Mama came up with this brilliant idea… Let’s do Christmas/holiday front door contest!

Um… yes please!

So here how it’s going to work… In order to enter and participate, you just have to email me a picture of your front door/house (happilyevergriedls@gmail.com) after it’s all dolled up – before December 1.  I will then share and allow people to vote for a winner!

A winner will be shared on December 8!  How fun is this going to be?! I figured December 1 gives people enough time to decorate after Thanksgiving (if you wait until then ;)).

Want to know what you’re going to win..?!?! 

A few of my favorite winter/Christmas things!  I’ve started accumulating and will share once I have it all 🙂 Some things they include are a good winter candle, warm fuzzy socks, favorite Christmas candy/treats, a fun ornament, Starbucks gift card, my favorite lip balm and a few other things! It’s definitely worth it!

To enter:

1. Decorate your front door/steps/porch

2. Take a picture of it (or a few for good measure!)

3. Email it to happilyevergriedls@gmail.com

4. Get ready to vote and share until you WIN!

Sound like a fun time to get us all in the spirit?!

I can’t wait to see all the beautifulness shortly! And even if you live in an apartment – a good wreath and doormat add so much 😉

Let’s get decorating!

Kristi

I am totally failing at this whole blogging thing this week… I mean, I haven’t posted since Monday and it’s my favorite week of the year!  I wish I could say that I was busy doing fun Christmas things but I was busy packing and baking… Oh yeah, and cleaning!  #adultingsucks

While packing for Christmas Eve this year (that’s when we get all dressed up for church. Christmas is more of a casual day) I couldn’t help but turn to J.Crew for our holiday outfits!  I fell in love with my husband’s shirt when I saw it in the store (it just screams holiday to me!) and knew that it’d look great with this sweater for Christmas Eve (and any time, because let’s be real, he looks great.. just saying! ;)).

As usual… when I have some kind of idea for fashion, he obliges.. well I say, as usual but let’s be real, he usually says no and pitches a little bit of a fit but this time, he was all in! 🙂 AKA he didn’t have to completely pack for himself this way!

My dress is sold out but this one is fun and off the shoulder (under $60); I also love this one and this one!  Plus, if you order by 12:00 pm today, you can get it delivered to you by Christmas!

Please ignore the fact that my skin literally blends in with the snow… I’d like to say I’m the fairest of them all.. but let’s be real, I need a tan!

Gosh, I love him and a good holiday picture ❤

J.Crew is currently offering 40% off with GIFTNOW so if you’re looking for a few last minute gifts or holiday outfits, head there now- such great deals that they aren’t always offering.

And one more because I just love these outfits and any pictures that my husband smiles in 🙂 In case you didn’t know.. its a bit of a struggle with him getting a good picture.. hello goofy faces! So it’s nice to have a few he smiles in 🙂

If you’d like to see the outtakes… this blog post would be WAY too long! ha!

Any way, I’m clearly rambling so i’ll put you out of your misery and move on.. we’re off to our first Christmas of the year with lots of games, presents and some family time.

Try to soak up the last few days of Christmas. Merry Christmas Eve Eve! ❤

 Kristi