Christmas Card Sneak Preview!!

It was so hard for me to make a decision on my Christmas cards this year!! I originally wanted to go with a fun, "Safari Christmas" theme, but it just didn't work out for us to do our pictures where I planned. SO...we went for option two:) The pictures still turned out great, but didn't exactly match up with plan A! Here is a sneak preview of our cards for this year...

I thought they turned out pretty cute! I wanted to put "Merry Christmas Y'all!" BUT...that part of the card wasn't editable. Still cute nonetheless. Can't wait for them to arrive!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Shower!

My SIL's baby shower was last weekend. She got SO many cute things and will be good to go in the clothes department:) Here are a few pictures...

My SIL, Me, and My cousin Vanessa...

Gift from Aunt LuLu:) You can't really tell, but there was a cute Coton Colors ornament and a Mud Pie burp cloth that were just precious...the rest was pretty much the essentials!

More of the gift from me...I got the vinyl decal for the bucket off etsy and was very pleased with the way it turned out. My brother is a pro golfer, so of course a golfer's daughter must have a polo dress! Ha!

And one of the mom-to-be so you'll actually believe me that she's preggers:) Her bump looks bigger in real life!! Only two months to go!!!!!!!!

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Very Thankful!

I did not take one single picture today...shame on me! However, we ate some wonderful food and had a great time with family. My brother and his wife weren't able to come, so it was a slimmer crowd than usual. We don't have a big family anyway, so when one or two are missing it makes a big difference at the dinner table!

My mom cooked: turkey and dressing, green jacket salad, peas, green beans, sweet potato casserole. I did the corn and my aunt brought some collards. For dessert, I made a pumpkin/gingerbread trifle, mama made chocolate delight, grape salad, strawberry pretzel salad and my aunt brought cheesecake. We had plenty to eat needless to say! Oh and of course, I can't forget the cranberry sauce and pickled peaches:)

I hope you and your families are having a nice thanksgiving today. A few things I am thankful for:
*The good Lord and all he blesses me with continuously.
*My sweet hubby.
*My parents, brother, grandmothers, and family beyond.
*Sadie Mae:)
*Good friends
*My job-as many days that I say I hate it...at least I have one!
*A nice, warm place to come home to.
*And all the little things in life that often go unnoticed!!

Happy Turkey Day!

Operation Christmas Child

The church I grew up in, where my parents still attend, participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaratin's Purse each year. I have participated in the past, and knew I wanted to do it again this year! Boy did I have a hay-day buying for these children today. They give you certain stipulations on what good and bad gift items are. I did a boy box and a girl box this year! If only I could make boxes for all the needy children in the world.

OUR church also helps out needy families. We fill grocery bags with canned goods and non-perishable food items that are donated to local families in need.

If feels so good doing good deeds!!

The Shopping Has Officially Started!

I woke up this morning and headed to college town to do some shopping!! I wanted to buy so many things and did come home with lots of stuff, but still have SO much left to do! Usually, I will buy several different things and determine later who gets what...unless I have a specific item to pick up for someone! Today, I focused on our bosses, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. I also needed some staple gift wrapping items:)

I found some great cookbooks! I got two each of these...one is Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics and the other two are Williams-Sonoma Christmas Cookbooks.

Here are some super cute gift bags I found. I picked up several of these. The polka dot boxes are for P's office. I'm going to do red velvet cake balls and fill the boxes with those. The other polka dot bag is a really cute wine bag for the neighbors. And I'm so excited about the gift tags...they are perfectly preppy-pink and green!!
Aren't these cocktail napkins precious?! I'm a cocktail napkin junkie:) Not too sure who will be getting those, but I picked up lots! The hand towels also do not have an owner yet-but I'm going to monogram them for someone!
These were probably the only thing I bought all day that I really didn't need. They were too cute to leave in the store and I can find someone to give them too:) The reindeer ones say, "Blitzen's Wife, Glitzen!"

We are giving parents and grandparents some of our Christmas card pictures, so I picked up some frames since they were 50% off at Hobby Lobby!!

I did find myself a top for like ten bucks at TJ Maxx and got a baby gift for my SIL-baby shower next weekend!!! Yay:)

Christmas Shopping

This time last year, I was almost completely finished with my Christmas shopping. And those gifts I had not purchased yet...well, I at least had a remote idea about what I was going to buy.

This year? Um....haven't thought one thing about it. Think I'm going to be in a mess. For some reason, I'm feeling brave at the moment and am contemplating hitting Black Friday full speed ahead!!!

Am I crazy? Probably...but I need to get it done and let's face it, I need to find some deals:) When your property taxes almost double, somethings got to give!!!!!! Did I mention those are due just a few days prior to Christmas Day? What idiot decided that? I probably don't want to know.

Have you guys started shopping yet?

Engagement Party

My BFF growing up is getting married in March. We celebrated on Saturday night at her engagement party!!! It was so fun:)

I didn't take many pictures but here is one of a group of girls from high school:
From left to right-the bride:), Mandy, ME, Anna.

It was GREAT catching up with everyone. Some people I had not seen since high school graduation...which seems like forever ago!

Here is a picture of the bridesmaid dress for her wedding...I think they are going to be so pretty!

Snail Mail

Well, I've lost two followers in two days...guess my leave of absence from the blogging world made an impact on some peeps:) Ha!

I am starting a Snail Mail list, so if you would like to be on it please leave your mailing information in the comments section. OR...you can email me at lifewithluluandpete{at}gmail{dot}com. I have really enjoyed getting mail from blogger friends and want to return the favors:)

Hope everyone has had a great Monday!!

Sneak Preview!!

Here are a few pictures from our photo session this week!! There were so many good ones, but here are a few for your viewing pleasure:)

We had so much fun taking these pictures for our Christmas cards...I'm having a hard time narrowing them down! Check our her website, she is SO talented: www.erinrenephotography.com!

Birthday Gift to Self!

I have been looking at this bedding for probably six months! Well, I happened to luck up because the sweet owner of the store said she'd give me 60% off if I'd take it:) And my mom assured me that you NEVER leave something in the store when it is 60% off!!

The only things I need to go with it will be a few more pillows, some fresh paint on the walls, and window treatments!!!

Mountains-Couples Trip 2009!

We have been taking trips with two other couples for the last three or four years. We always try to go different places and this year we headed to the mountains in North GA Halloween weekend. We wanted to stay far, far away from GA/FL and it is always great to be around your besties for your b'day. P's grandmother has a cabin there and who doesn't like a free place to stay?! We went a few years ago when only two couples were engaged and one was dating...my how things change over the course of a year or two! All three couples are married now and there is even a baby on the way for one couple:)

I'll try to let the pictures speak for themselves...we didn't take any cute group shots, because the girls pretty much stayed in PJs all weekend and the boys...well, they did boy stuff!

My birthday ice cream cake:)

P and Jim made this jack-o-lantern for the baby! Jim drew the letters and P got out the power tools to carve it! So sweet:)

We had a great time. I hope we can all do it again before the baby arrives in February!!!

Birthday Recap

I'm about to play catch up in the next few posts...bear with me:)

My birthday was great, despite the fact that I'm another year older..ha!

We had dinner with friends the night of my birthday...these are the girls. Why don't guys ever want to take pictures?!

They gave me some really fun gifts, although they should have given me NOTHING! Isn't this plate adorable?! I love it...I thought about putting it in my kitchen first, but it matches my guest bedroom so I think I'll put it in there:)
A cute coffee mug....Lord knows I need my daily fix of coffee!
And who doesn't need a bottle of wine?
The next night, we ate supper with my parents and it was oh-so-good:) Isn't this cake super cute?? I LOVED it! My parents learned a long time ago that money is the best gift for me!
My in-laws gave me...yes...a vacuum cleaner! Ha! I actually asked for one...weird, I know:) And some money for a rainy day!
My brother and SIL sent me these fun gifts-a cute mug with a fun quote, cocktail napkins, and a mud pie casserole dish I mentioned liking awhile back! Finally, my gifts from the hubs...he gave me this awesome digital camera and a new coffee pot! I know ya'll think I'm crazy for wanting such domestic birthday gifts!!!

I had such a good birthday week!!!