A Look Back at 2010

Whew do I have a ton of blogs to read! I've been enjoying the company of my best friend who flew in Wednesday from New Jersey!

So many things have happened this year!

Let's see, major 2010 things that happened:

• I got engaged! Yay!
• Logan turned 1.
• Chris got promoted.
• In turn, we moved 1100 miles away from home
• Chris's brother got engaged to his girlfriend right before Christmas
• We bought our first house, not technically closing until 2011, but we started it this year

Minor things
      We visited the states of Kentucky and Arkansas
      We went home to visit our family in Aug.
      I held Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner for the first time
      I made some friends on this blog and in our new state

We also had our fair share of downs this year. We've worked through them and pushed forward! With that said, I wish everyone a safe and happy new year and much luck this coming year! I know it'll be filled with ups and downs but I'm hoping more ups for everyone. I make no resolutions because when I don't keep them I get down on myself but I do have a few goals!   Hugs and kisses to you all for a bright New Year ♥

A Real Simple Apple Pie

I wanted to make this pie for Thanksgiving but I didn't own a food processor until my birthday so I made it for Christmas Eve instead! It was oh-so-delicious and gone by the end of the weekend! I got the recipe out of my favorite magazine Real Simple. Here's the recipe:

Gingery Apple Crumb Pie

Ingredients

Homemade Piecrust or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
1/2 cup cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 pounds apples (about 5; such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Empire), peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions1.Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 375º F. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2.In a food processor, pulse the butter, ¾ cup of the flour, and ¼ cup of the sugar until large clumps form. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
3.In a large bowl, toss the apples, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and the remaining ½ cup of sugar and tablespoon of flour.
4.Transfer the apple mixture to the crust, sprinkle with the crumb topping, and bake until the top is golden and the apples are tender, 55 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

You can definitely taste the real ginger in the pie. I used a store bought pie crust and it was still good!! I promise!

Christmas Recap!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. We enjoyed our holiday with Logan and my parents and sister but I missed being able to see Chris' family too, even though we were able to see them with Skype or talk to them over the phone.

Christmas Eve:

I made an apple pie for Christmas Eve. I'll post the

recipe later.

The Legos were part of our Advent Lego Calendar!

Christmas Day:

I got my Cricut! Yay!!

We had so much fun entertaining our family! I just wish everyone lived closer together so we could've seen everyone. I missed that alot. I was so excited that we got a flurry for part of the day, even if it didn't stick! Logan was sorta interested in Christmas this year but not so much. Maybe next year he'll open all of his presents instead of just a few! Ha! Today is a relaxing day and I hope everyone gets to do the same today.

Have Yourself a Merry Christmas!

image via

I'm signing off for the rest of the week!

Parents are coming and I still have loads to do.

But I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

May Jesus give comfort to those who may need it this Holiday season.

 Lots of Love,

Krystle

Christmas Favorite

Aside from the movies, the music, the lights, and my absolute favorite, the tree, Christmas cards are my favorite thing to get in the mail! I love feeling remembered, ha! Last year we hung them on the front of laundry room door (which, I didn't take any pictures of). This year I hung them above the fireplace!

Our cards have grown since I took the first picture =)

I couldn't find a wreath for above the mantle so the cards were perfect for up there!

With that said, I'm going to throw on some Christmas music and start tidying up around here.

Christmas is only 3 days away and I have 2 days before to get our place together.

Contract Pending..Yikes!

We got our contract on the house yesterday! There's something exciting and daunting about seeing

online, next to the house you're going to buy. Half of me is excited and tickled to pieces about this new adventure, while the other half of me is dredging up every little bit of "what ifs". I keep pushing that half back down. It's only going to feel more real after we do our inspection, which is THIS Friday! I honestly thought they did inspections closer to closing time but that doesn't seem to be the case.  

In other non-house related news UPS came to my house last night and dropped off a box with these wonderful titles in it:

Now I know I have a Nook and I rave about it ALL the time but you I just couldn't pass up a deal when it presents itself. HarperCollins has an advantage program for News Corp. and its sister companies employees and thank you Chris for having a job with one of their companies because I was able to get 65% off the cover prices for all these books. So instead of paying $68 and change I paid 27 and change! You just can't beat it! So I'll have to alternate between reading books (old school) and reading them on my Nook! Plus once I'm done with the books I can hand them down to friends who want to read them too.  Who knows when I'm gonna get to read though. I need to be packing and painting and then unpacking and painting! Ha!

21 Months

You've come a long way in a month

You're vocabulary is increasing and becoming clearer

Paw print, blue, clue, apple, tree, three, bye are new words

You jump, for real, both feet off the ground (floor)

I'm sure it's a real treat for whoever lives below us

(I'll remember to apologize when we move out)

Your favorite TV show is Blue's Clues

(Could you tell from the above vocab? Ha!)

You've become real good at opening the fridge

and pulling out what you want.

Your favorite toys are still Tonka Trucks and Little People

Thankfully, you still LOVE to be read to

and still love to look through books and "read" them.

You're still a picky eater, some days you eat lots, and some

days you eat very little, but I've been told that's normal.

We started giving you regular milk, again,

and you seem to be doing well with!

Chocolate milk is your favorite but you

don't get it all the time!

It's a blessing to get to wake up

to your smiling face and your beautiful eyes.

It's a blessing to hold and play with you all day.

It's a blessing to kiss you good  night

and wish you sweet dreams.

There are only ten days until Christmas!

I can't wait to see you open your

presents and say "Whoa" and "Wow"!

I know it's gonna be a hoot to watch ♥

Offer Accepted and Other Things

We officially accepted a fair offer on the house, last night. Now let the fun begin! I'm so excited, nervous, and have only had two panic attacks so that's good! Ha! Honestly, though, I can't believe we're going to be homeowners. We, hopefully, will be closing on the house in January of 2011 and probably won't move in until sometime in February!

This weekend we we've all been sick. Blech. It's not fun, especially, when I need to get some shopping done and sent out this week for our family back at home. We pushed through, though, and got most of the stuff done, wrapped and sent out. Go us! We even got to do some wrapping done for Logan's stuff, but I'm still feeling blech and so is everyone else. Poor Logan's got some teeth coming through on top of not feeling well!

We've also had some pretty cold weather, here in the Memphis area, and I'm loving it! I've had a Starbuck's hot chocolate at least once everyday! I'm sure I've gained some major pounds in the last week but I love warm drinks and soups on a cold, fall (winter?) day! So that's why you see pretty pictures of warm drinks.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Here's to a great week ♥

images via

Cottage Contemporary

Jesse at Good Girl Gone Glad is contininuing her Q & A series and this week she asked us to define our style. I honestly don't know what my style is but I know what I like so I Googled "cottage contemporary" and had this come up as a search result:

Image from Coastal Living.com

It is definitely what I like. High ceilings, an airy feeling, cottage like, cozy and by the sea!  I don't know if my style is a rigid cottage contemporary because I always find I'm mixing different styles (which is probably a faux pas) but if I could find out how to execute my ideas then this is something you might see in my house!

Don't forget to head on over to Good Girl Gone Glad and see how others are defining their style ♥

Wishin' and Hopin' and Prayin'!

That we get the house!

Honestly, though, I don't know if

it's going to happen.

Apparently there are games to be played!

Well, these games aren't fun and I'm not

a game player. At least these

kinds of games.

I wanted a smooth transaction

so that we could buy a house

and make it a home.

Chris is driving me nuts with his whole

"This is how the game is played"

expression. I don't like it!

So I'm wishing and hoping and praying

that something will change

with this game of negotiations

so that both parties can agree

and be happy!

Weekend Recap!

We've had a busy week since Thursday!

It started with Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park on Thursday!

Their light show is soo cute!

If you live in the area I definitely recommend seeing it

if you've never been.

Friday was my 26th Birthday! Woo!

We had dinner at Coletta's, wish was good.

Then came home to have cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes.

They aren't Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes but they

were delish!

(I love me some cupcakes!)

Logan enjoying his cupcake!

My Jonathan Adler Nook cover! Love♥

Is it weird that I asked for a food processor?

I can't wait to use it!!

Saturday Logan had his pictures taken

At 8:20 in the AM! Yes early in the morning!

And he did wonderfully

Here's my favorite and this year's Xmas card.

After that we did some Christmas shopping.

Sunday (12-5) was a milestone day for Chris and I!

We made our first offer to buy our first house!

This is the one we've picked to hopefully,

if all goes well, call home. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

I've got some blog reading to catch

 up on once we've done lunch and naps ♥

Christmas Layout

I just got around to scrapping Christmas from last year, which was Logan's 1st Christmas. We had about 3 first Christmases with Logan and tons of fun just watching him interact with his family.  I scrapped "Christmas with the Parks" a few months back so here is Christmas 2009.

"Merriest Day"

How cute are the tags?! They were a bit of work but they are cute.

Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: We R Memory Keepers:

White Christmas "Winter Mittens", "Ho Ho Ho", "Wrapping Paper",

& "Santa's Helpers"; Embellishments: Ribbon: CTMH in Cocoa;

 Glitter Brad: American Crafts; Accessory sheet: My Mind's Eye-

The Merry Days of Christmas; Layout credit: CTMH Magic

by Jeanette Lynton "Final Act" 

I still have Logan's meet with Santa and another Christmas with the family layout to do! Then, I can possibly go back and finish our hospital pics and months 3-11!

Oh, Christmas Tree

You really are so pretty! Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree it's been a real journey! And for our Fraser tree it's been a journey! We went to Cedar Hill Farm in Hernando, MS, to get our tree and they shipped these trees in from North Carolina. It's to hot down here for them to build this particular type of tree. Anyways, I absolutely fell in LOVE with that farm! I think watching Logan just run and be happy made my heart melt for this place. We got to see some goats and pigs and Logan was just to funny trying to mimic me making the animal sounds!

The first tree I saw didn't feel like my tree, but the second tree was it! It is so pretty.

The drive home was nerve-wracking, at least, for me. We've never had to drive such a long distance to get a tree home, so we took the long way home, went the speed limit, and made it home, tree and car intact! Yay! 

Sorry for the bright light!

Again, I apologize for my amateur photography, I just wanted a pic where you could see the lights

Here she is all decorated and lit! I was gonna do ribbons in place of my traditional red garland but I think with my twinkling lights and my ornaments it would've been overkill so we're going garland-less this year and it looks just as good!

Honestly, I just posted a whole post on a Christmas tree! Hope you didn't become bored but out of all the Christmas decorations the tree is my favorite! I'll have to post the rest of the decor once I'm done with it all!

{Snapshots of Life}

{4:00 PM}

We were creating memories on Thanksgiving!

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

♥

Head on over to eighteen25 and see who else was creating memories at 4pm!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving's Day!

xo ♥ xo

Thankful.

I'm so thankful for so many things and I think for the most part we are all thankful each and every day for what we have but it's also nice to have a holiday that reminds of these things, people, and places that we are thankful for.

I'm so happy and thankful for airplanes because they flew my future in-laws in from New Jersey to spend time with us and with their grandson. This, in turn, makes me thankful for family.

We had a such a great visit with them. We went to the Peabody Hotel and saw the "marching ducks". They really ran but Logan loved it! We went to the Fire Museum and the boys were in Heaven! We ate a Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken! Yum-o!! They have absolutely the best cole slaw EVER!!! 

Sunday Chris and his parents, with Logan, went to Bass Pro Shop. Logan was able to see Santa and he was very scared. There was photographic proof to prove it and as soon as I get it off the site I'll post it because it's the most pitiful and funniest picture ever! His grandparents looked great in the pic though!

We were sad to see them go today! Logan had a pouty face after we dropped them off. I'm sure he's missing them...I know I am. I think I need to start planning our New Jersey trip soon!

Taste Tester

I have a newly appointed taste tester!

Isn't he cute?! 

His mommy attempted in making homemade icing

and by the looks of Logan eating the frosting

I must've done a good job!

Yay!

If you're curious I made a Vanilla Frosting from Everyday with Rachel Ray

Apparently this recipe is from the confectioner's sugar box but anywho here it is:

Ingredients:

2 1/2 sticks (10 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk  (I did 2 tbsps)

Directions:

1.In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. Beat at high speed until fluffy, adding an additional 1 tablespoon milk if necessary.

Getting To Know You

Well, really, me. Jesse at Good Girl Gone Glad is doing a Q&A series, where she asks a question about stuff we like and then we link up at her blog! Fun and a great reason to post when you have blogger's block! So today's questions are:

Q.) What is your favorite throw back band?

Someone you grew up listening to

and will always love.

&

Q.) Who is your current music obsession?

So my favorite band from when I was growing up is definitely Bon Jovi & Journey!! My guilty pleasures who I still break out into full dance to are N*Sync & Backstreet Boys! I'm not ashamed! Ha! I listened to others like Bruce Springsteen, Heart, the B-52s, Genesis, No Doubt, to name a few but I definitely listened to an array of artists and genres!

Joey Fatone was my LOVE! My friends were all about Lance, Justin, & JC!

My current music obssessions are Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum, Lee DeWyze, The Script, Ingrid Michaelson, & Sara Bareilles!

If you want to join in on the Q&A, head on over to Good Girl Gone Glad!

Jesse has the sweetest blog and some amazing ideas!

House Love!

Over the weekend, Chris and I saw four more houses that looked like potentials. We were going to go back to this house:

but decided that the cons were to great, even though, the sellers were going to address several of the issues we have. I haven't completely put it off, it's still a potential but as the week went on I started to give some thought to this house:

We went by it one night and as I pulled into the driveway I had that at home feeling! Since that night I've fallen in LOVE. Sure it needs to be remodeled and it's missing a tub and a fireplace but all of these things can be fixed with time! I'm in LOVE with this house. So we went back to see it on Sunday and my love for it has increased, especially, after meeting some of the neighbors!

However, we haven't stopped looking and we probably won't until we are signed, sealed, delivered on a house, preferably my LOVE house! We also saw this house:

This house had very few cons but it lacked that "I'm home feeling" and I can't believe I'm saying this because honestly all you'd have to do to this house throw up some paint and move in! It is a contender though!

This week we'll be taking a break from viewing houses because Chris' parents will be in town! Yay! We haven't had anyone visit us (except my mom) since we moved to TN. Logan will be thrilled to pieces to spend the weekend with them, as will we!

20 Months.

I feel as though if blink 18 more times my little bundle of joy will be 18 years old! Time goes by much faster with a baby! Does it go by twice as fast with more than one?

Anyways, at 20 months:

• You officially say NO. Grr.
• You can point to your nose (and other areas of your face, hands, and feet) and you say no for nose too
• You LOVE your Tonka Trucks
• You try to open doors (and sometimes succeed)
• Mommy and Daddy are your favorite words! Ha! You've also learned to say Matt (for Uncle Matt) and Pops (for Grandpop)
• You were NOT a fan of Halloween! Maybe next year.
• You know exactly what to do when you have to sit in a shopping cart....Think I shop much!? Ha!
• You are definitely in the action, whether I'm scrapping, putting out decorations or fixing something and the same with your Daddy, you're there in the middle being a "little helper".
• You and your binkie are still BFFs...Hopefully, sometime during your second year you guys can break up.

I wish you could stay at 20 months for a little while longer! Love you! ♥